WE'RE HEADING TO BAJA NOV.20-23. ARE YOU?

It's that time of the year again, when the granddaddy of all the off-road race's happens. Yep, the legendary Baja 1000. Or Baja Mil, as the locals call it.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year as the World's Foremost Desert Racing Series, the SCORE Desert Series returns to Mexico for the last of three races in Baja California. The race will be held Nov. 20-23, in Ensenada. A course map will not be available until October 24th, but Sal Fish, the boss at SCORE, has released a bunch of information for the competitors, and it would also be helpful to race-watcher fans to find an ideal spot for viewing, or snapping photos.

WHO, WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE

Nearly 225 vehicles, competing in 24 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, are to take the green flag in Ensenada, located 60 miles south of U.S. border at San Diego.

Attempting to cover a race course of approximately 780 miles, motorcycle/ATV classes will be first of the starting line at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, followed two hours later by the car/truck classes.

In the elapsed-time race, vehicles will leave the start line adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico convention center in downtown Ensenada, one every 30 seconds. The race will finish on the Northeast outskirts of town at the end of Avenida Ruiz.

Pre-race festivities for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 will center around the Riviera del Pacifico convention center downtown Ensenada on Thursday, Nov. 20. Traditionally drawing upwards of 50,000 spectators, the pre-race Manufacturer's Midway and display of all the race vehicles will be held adjacent to the San Nicolas Hotel, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday of race week. The post-race awards ceremony will be held at the Riviera del Pacifico on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 8 p.m.

THE BIG BOYS OF THE RACE!

Robby Gordon at the 2002 Baja 1000

There will be no less than 18 Trophy Trucks competing in this years race, and there might even be a few late entries. This is the most in years, and should make for some seriously good racing. Here are the heavy hitters, with their race numbers.

28 Alan Pflueger - This is Alan's first ever race in a Trophy Truck and he has "first start" off the line. Alan's new truck built by Porter Racing is a very proven design however other Porter trucks have suffered transmission failures at a steady rate in Baja. Without a doubt Alan and his team will be ready for the challenge having just clinched the SCORE Protruck points championship in just the second year of competition.

12 Brian Collins - A big, fast, heavy truck that may excel in the fastest sections of the course.

9 Darren Skilton - Although handicapped by horsepower, Darren is a steady driver with a strong chance of a podium finish.

1 Tim Herbst - Tim and Ed Herbst have dominated the SCORE, Trophy Truck class this year with what seems to be a perfected, four wheel drive system and a extremely determined and talented driving style all backed by a superb support team. If the big red truck gets by Pflueger, Collins and Skilton early on, the class win and possibly the allusive, Baja 1000, overall will be theirs.

8 Dan Smith - Dave Smith and Dave Ashley will win or break. There is rarely another scenario surrounding their efforts at the 1000.

3 Mark Post - Mark's driving skills are getting to be as exciting as those of his co-driver, Paul Welchel. The race can easily "go their way" and with that will follow the "win".

81 Mark Miller - Mark's superb driving skills ad the proven reliability of his little "Pro-phy Truck" have beat the class in Baja and can do the same again.

4 Gus Vildosola - If Rob MacCachren is sharing the driving duties, look for this truck to be consistently i"in the hunt". Rob is known to pressure the other drivers hard, then to bolt from the pack when the time is right.

7 Scott Steinberger - Scott is simply due for a big win. His truck is proven as are his skills. Jesse Jones shares the left seat to make a formidable team.

80 Larry Ragland - Larry is one of the "Baja 1000 Masters". His truck is proven and his speed on course is phenomenal. If he gets out front, the win is his.

43 Curt LeDuc - Curt is driving a newly constructed, Class 8 truck under the Skyjacker banner. Don't even think about the the lesser class vehicle slowing Curt. He entered in the Trophy Truck class to be in the front of the pack, a pack that he may likely lead to the finish line.

31 Robby Gordon - Robby is starting at the back of the pack in a brand new truck. The later is a true handicap against his effort however, his extremely exciting driving style and skills can prevail.

SOME OTHER HEAVY HITTERS

Even though the Trophy Trucks are the big draw, there's no saying that another class might pull the coveted Overall Win. Here are some serious contenders:

Dale Ebberts at the 2002 Baja 1000

Class 1

100 Troy Herbst - (Update 11.04.2003) This could easily be Troy's race. He is super fast in the big Truggy. Larry Roseler will take over the driving seat at the half way point. In his own words:

117 Dale Ebberts - "The most humble man in Desert Racing" is set to capture the points championship for Class 1. Dale did this all in an aging Jimco with half the horsepower of his competition.

102 Dan Martin - It's great to see Big Dan in the unlimited class. He has the skills and the solid support of his Checker Brethren.

123 Kash Vesells - Another great 1/2 1600 driver in fast class. Kash, like Dan mastered the fine balance of finesse and brute force at the wheel of limited car to take many honors over the past few years.

FOLKS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

While not in contention for the overall win, these guys are not only threats to win their class, but could finish very high overall, as well.

801 Dave Sykes - Dave has dominated Class 8 all year with the help of one of the most proven and reliable race vehicles on the course prepped by Tony McCormack.

1209 Kenny Freeman - Brother of Bekki Wik, (the fastest woman, desert racer) and dad of the Brian Freeman one of the fastest 2/1600 drivers in Nevada SNORE, racing. The Freeman family are a "racing legacy" in Las Vegas. They live, breath, eat and sleep Desert Racing and they will do anything to help the sport and those involved.

761 Kreg Donahoe - Another second generation desert racer. Kreg has taken some time out to push his fabrication business to great success. Count on him to do the same with his race truck at the Baja 1000.

101x Joe Desrosiers - "Team DP Racing". ( Class 21 Bikes) Joe is near "Johnny Campbell fast". Fresh of the class win at the Baja 500, the well organized team is a favorite for a class win and class points championship.

301x Larry Roeseler - (Update 11.04.2003) Larry is a Baja legend with more wins than most teams can count as starts. To top his his legendary status he will race two tough classes in this, the toughest off-road race on the planet. In Larry's words.

307x J.N. Roberts - Wow! What a blast from the past. J.N. dominated the desert and Baja in the late 60's and early 70's. (Editors note: J.N.was this middle aged man's childhood idol for years. J.N. it's great to see you back in Baja!)

Look for the Bilstein supported Wide Open Baja Teams to be out in force.

Now here's a fun one to look out for: In the Baja Challenge Class, the TV celebrity, Jesse James (race # BC 1) of Monster Garage and West Coast Chopper fame, is going to put it on the line. It'll be good to see him in the sport and it should net some great TV coverage. The inside word is that Jesse is a pretty good all-around rider/driver, and is said to be good people by those who know him. Welcome to the sport, Jesse. Make sure that you stick around!

Here's where the challenge starts. Jesse will be competing against Bekki Wik Freeman (#BC 10), who is arguably the fastest lady driver in the sport. She kicked butt in a 1-2/1600 and our bets are that she'll smoke Jesse.

THE POINTS STANDINGS: WHO'S ON TOP NOW? (from SCORE)

With some class championships on the line, here's how they stack up prior to the Baja 1000. And remember … a lot of points are at stake here.

The Herbst Brothers are leading in SCORE Trophy-Truck, while Ebberts/Castro Jr. keep their Jimco-Toyota atop Class 1 and have the Overall Point lead in 2003 SCORE Desert Series. Consistency has been the standard this season for veteran Southern California desert racers, Dale Ebberts and Ernie Castro Jr., who assumed the lead after five of six races in the 2003 SCORE Desert Series Even more remarkably, Ebberts/Castro are on the verge of stopping the incredible six-year run of Class 1 point titles won by Las Vegas' Troy Herbst. They have a 28-point cushion in Class 1, as well as assuming a one-point lead in the overall point championship chase.

In the hunt for the overall crown, they lead San Diego County youngsters Eric Allen and Adam Pfankuch, who have and comfortable 49-point lead in Class 1-2/1600 in their Jimco-VW.

But don't count the Herbst boys out. With two straight overall race wins, Las Vegas' Tim and Ed Herbst have assumed the point lead in the Trophy-Truck division for high-horsepower, high-tech, unlimited trucks. With a record 11 SCORE Trophy-Truck victories in the 61 races since the marquee class was introduced in 1994, the Herbsts are the only multiple winners in their class this season and also have a record SCORE Trophy-Truck season championships with three (1999, 2000, 2002). They drive the Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150.

Behind the Herbst brothers (who are tied for 8th in overall points with 303) in SCORE Trophy-Truck points, is the team of Gus Vildosola, Mexicali, Mexico and Las Vegas' Rob MacCachren, who won in San Felipe in their Ford F-150. Third in SCORE Trophy-Truck points are Laughlin winners Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Jerry Whelchel, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (Ford F-150) with 244 points.

Third in SCORE overall points, 23 points behind Ebberts and 22 behind Allen/Pfankuch, is SCORE Lite leader Brian Ickler, Poway, Calif. (Jimco VW) at 337 points. Just 17 years old, Ickler, who moved up to a faster class this year after finishing seventh last year in Class 1-2/1600, has had one of the most impressive seasons in SCORE history. He drove solo while winning his class in the first two races, split the driving with veteran Brian Ewalt in Ensenada to earn his third straight class win. He returned to drove solo again, finishing second in Henderson and winning his fourth race out of five in Primm. He plans on driving solo as well in the season finale.

Second in Class 1 and fourth in overall points are brothers Mark and Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore. (Jimco-Chevy) with 332 points. The Weyhrichs have two seconds, a third, a fourth, and a fifth in Class 1 this season.Rounding out the top five overall, and third in Class 1, six points behind the Weyhrichs, is Las Vegas' Troy Herbst, 37, who has won a record six straight SCORE Class 1 season point crowns in his Smithbuilt-Ford.

After their first victory of the year in Primm moved them ahead in Class 10, sixth overall with 319 points is the team of Steve Myers, Newport Beach, Calif./George Erl, Huntington Beach, Calif., in a Jimco-Toyota. James Golden, Costa Mesa, Calif., who is a distant second in Class 1-2/1600 in a Chenowth-VW with 310 points, is seventh overall after five races.

Tied for eighth overall with Tim and Ed Herbst is Ron Brant, Torrance, Calif., who is fourth in Class 1 with 303 points in his Jimco-Chevy.

Completing the top 10 in SCORE overall points is the team of Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif./Kash Vessels, Tucson, Ariz., who are second in SCORE Lite with one win this year in their Jimco-VW.

That takes care of the top ten four wheelers, but what about the bikes and the ATVs?

Steve Hengeveld and Johnny Campbell at the 2002 Baja 1000

Leading the motorcycle classes overall and the open Class 22 are American Honda factory teammates Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif., and Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, Calif. After winning the motorcycle season-opening races in San Felipe and Ensenada, the pair has now won six consecutive SCORE races together on their Honda XR650R. So guess who the smart money is on here.

The overall ATV and Class 25 leaders are John Gregory, Chula Vista, Calif./Doug Eichner, El Cajon, Calif. (Honda 4Trax).

What about last years winner Ruben Martin and Gilberto Santana on the Honda Rincon and the disputes around their Win?

Watch for the debut of the new Honda TRX450R with Honda's new Pro Red Rrider Tim Farr.

For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2003 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

Race@Off-Road.com