Baja 500 Contingency

The SCORE series and in particular the “Contingency Row Fiesta” creates some of the biggest events each year in Ensenada. This year the party competes with the arrival of Vicente Fox, the President of Mexico whom is slated to be in town this weekend. It’s an easy bet that the tens of thousands of local and US race fans filling the street will dwarf those in attendance to see Fox.

With a reported 444 entries, which is the biggest turnout ever for a SCORE Baja race. The line of racers waiting to move through Contingency row and then through tech has stretched for a half mile or more down Caminito Lopez Mateo.

The Mexican rap/disco music push the crowd into a mob dance that raised a cloud of dust over contingency row

Race teams are mobbed by local kids whenever they have decals, posters or other items to hand out

We had a chance to speak to a few of the racers, all spoke about the tight technical section up in the Pine Forest between race mile 35 and 125. Scott Steinberger in Trophy truck #7 believes that average time for the winner this year will be no more than 42 MPH. Steve Hengeveld of Team Honda is looking for an average time of 45 MPH to win the race with Mike Childress his team, co-rider. We also asked Steve and Mike on why they chose to take a “rear start” position behind 18+ riders. They both mentioned that they were surprised that there were so many in the class and that was not in their plan. Regardless, they are confident that they will pass each rider and then be able to ride a more conservative race.

Incredible workmanship on the Herman Motorsports Class1 car gathered attention. See our photo gallery for more photos

Bike #2x, Johnny Jensen in Class 22 will kick of the motorcycle and quad start at 6am tomorrow morning. Mike Voyles, #62 will lead the cars and trucks off the line at approximately 9:15am. With the unprecedented entry field, we expect the last vehicle to leave the starting line at 11:30am.

The new UTV class will be last off the line tomorrow with three entries that will face a very long day

DP racing is fielding three bikes this year. 10x, Jesse Sharpe will be 10th off the line tomorrow morning.

We'll be back with photos and the unofficial starters list early tomorrow morning!