Racers from around the world begin pre-running today at 8:00 am (PT) for the grandpappy of desert races, next month’s 50th annual BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000.
Registration is ongoing but to date, there are a total of 218 entries from 35 U.S. states and 18 other countries. Nearly 300 entries are expected in the 1134-mile event which starts with bikes and quads at 12 midnight (PT) on November 15th. Car, truck, and UTV classes follow with a start on November 16th at 10:00am Pacific Time.
READ MORE: 2017 Baja 1000 Race Course Revealed in Detail
Pre-running gives teams a chance to run part of the course on which the race is run before the drop of the proverbial green flag. Big-buck teams often build a special pre-runner vehicle, similar in concept to the machine they’ll be using during the Baja 1000, allowing the driver to replicate race-day conditions where possible. This avoids the possibility of binning the actual race vehicle before the event even starts.
Practice officially starts at Ojos Negros – 20 miles away from the actual start point – and stretches all the way down Mexico’s magnificent Baja California peninsula to La Paz. The race course has long been mapped out and GPS information prepared for this year’s massive 1134 mile route.
READ MORE: Vintage Classes Added for 50th Baja 1000
Well-known desert racers who have already signed up include Robby Gordon, B.J. Baldwin, and Larry Roeseler who is notable for his 12 overall wins in the SCORE Baja 1000. Rod Hall, the only person who has raced in all 49 Baja 1000s held to date, is also fielding an entry. Mr. Hall, who turns 80 on November 22nd, has 24 class wins and will be competing again this year in the Stock Full category with his eldest son, Chad.
Jumpstarting the festivities for this year’s Baja 1000 will be the massive SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the SEMA Show. It’s the fourth time around for this massively popular addition to the Baja, held Oct 30 – Nov 3.
Racers and fans know the Baja 1000 has changed its route over the years, so organizers have cooked up something special for the event’s 50th running. Starting in the heart of Ensenada, competitors will hammer over a 20-mile stretch to Ojos Negros, then head south before going back on Highway 1. The first checkpoint is at Coco’s Corner just after a new stretch of trails.
Three other checkpoints are located along the peninsula on the way to the fifth and final checkpoint at Loma Amarilla. The last stretch of the race is a blast towards the finish line in La Paz.
Qualifying for the first 40 Trophy Trucks registered for the event will be held at the Off-Road Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 31st. Off-Road.com will be there to bring you all the action live from the track.