View Full Version : BITD, Baja-300
Jeff Henson posted in another thread,
No but I will be racing the BITD Baja MEX 300 next month in Ensenada. Supposed to be 170 miles of "never raced on" trails. It's Best In The Desert's first venture into Mexico. Fish Tacos and DosXXs!! We've got rooms with the Johnson Motorsports guys who should be racing their new Roll Design Z400. I should be bringing some great pics back. Now if I could just get this slide scanner fixed.
Do you know any details about were all these new trails are. I love the Ensenada area.
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David Gronlund #57,
"I'm like a flag on that thing!!"
Paul400EX
08/15/02, 6:20 AM
d@mn rich race teams with they're roll design frames, you can't win in big races anymore without a ton of money, it's not like the old days, just look at nascar
2002 Yellow 400EX
Looking to get a WR426
/forum/uploaded/Paul400ex/wr426.JPG/forum/uploaded/Paul400ex/yellow400ex.jpg
Look in profile for the mods i've got on my quad.
Hoonson
08/16/02, 12:54 PM
Do you know any details about were all these new trails are. I love the Ensenada area.
Just sent in our entry form. As soon as I get a map and pit book, I'll get you some info.
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #150
Paul400EX
08/16/02, 4:31 PM
hey guys, i don't know if any of you know of custom cycle-atv in mesa, but one of their techs won the baja 500 on a 250r, and the owner, gary, iron manned it in 12 hours. he said he'd had a full night of sleep before the guys racing the z400 even finished.
2002 Yellow 400EX
Looking to get a WR426
/forum/uploaded/Paul400ex/wr426.JPG/forum/uploaded/Paul400ex/yellow400ex.jpg
Look in profile for the mods i've got on my quad.
hey guys, i don't know if any of you know of custom cycle-atv in mesa, but one of their techs won the baja 500 on a 250r, and the owner, gary, iron manned it in 12 hours. he said he'd had a full night of sleep before the guys racing the z400 even finished.
That would probably be the team of Kirk Schreier, Doug Reid, Tony Pedotto and David Wiley. They won the 250 Pro class at the 500. That Z400 that raced there looked pretty stock on the offroad.com website. The Johnson Motorsports team sould be racing their Z400 starting with the Baja MEX 300. They currently race the Roll Design TRX400EX with an XR650 motor. I'll post a picture in the racing photo album.
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #150
WOOHOO!!
Just got our Entry information back today. We will be first off the line in the quad experts!! Our number is Q70.
I scanned the course map and will post it here. I see we can't upload pictures right now though. The race starts at the Estero Beach Resort, about 8 miles south of Ensenada. From there it heads south-east through El Alamo and on down to Valle De La Trinidad. Supposed to be 170 miles of never raced on trails. Might have to carry a little extra fuel between Pits 1 and 2. 57 miles is kinda pushing the limits of my 4.5 gallon tank.The course then turns west and crosses the MEX-1 Hwy to Johnson Ranch where it turns north, paralelling the Hwy about 10 miles out. Back to the Hwy at Santo Tomas where we either ride a few miles on the highway, or right next to it. From there it's back up to the start finish line for awaiting DosXX's (I don't care if Corona does sponsor the race!) and celebrity hot tub! I can't wait!! <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #150
Edited by - Jeff Henson on 09/07/2002 7:59:06 PM
Edited by - Jeff Henson on 09/07/2002 10:34:41 PM
Here is the course map for the Baja Mex 300
/forum/uploaded/Jeff Henson/BajaMex 300 course map.jpg
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #150
Gato, Kawhuna and the rest of my fellow desert racers...YOU GUYS MISSED A GREAT RACE!
This was the most fun I have EVER had racing, even better than the SCORE events I've raced in. The course started on a short course track complete with plenty of grand stands at the Estero Beach Resort where we stayed. From there it headed out the wash lined with thousands of spectators (same one used for the Baja 500). I was to get on at pit1 near Urapan and ride to pit 3. Steve came in to Pit 1 with a rear flat tire after he smacked a pole at a cattle guard. It was really foggy off the start. It took us atleast 5 minute to change the flat as we left our spares in the truck about 50 yards away.
It was a little technical near the start of my run winding through hills and mountains. The course winded through some woods (dark and dusty!) where I high centered the Honda on a fallen tree while trying to pass a pro quad. Back on the trail again and we're headed up some mountain trails. These trails were just wide enough for a car. I dunno how the cars and trucks got through some of this part. To one side was the mountain and to the other, well, you didn't want to look down there. I was still behind that pro quad as I was having a hard time catching him in the dust. Shane Strunk caught me on his 250R and passed. Byron Seed on the DS650 wasn't far behind. Not long after Shane passed me, I came across him pulling his quad back up on the trail. He couldn't see in the dust either. He claims as I passed him I bumped his rear tire, almost sending his quad back over the edge again, but I don't remember that. <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle> We laughed about it later. If I did it was completely unintentional.
Pit 1 to Pit 2 was 57 miles. We had strapped a quart of gas on the quad but didn't need it. I came into pit 2 (Independencia) running on fumes. The DS560 ridden by Byron Seed came in right behind me. A quick fuel and I was off again. The course got really fast with some occasional nasty whoops. I saw a lot of 6th gear in this section, so much that I was praying the Honda wouldn't grenade. Eventually we got back into a short set of mountain trails and then headed down a granite goat trail to the highway. 40mph speed limit and no passing! If that wasn't bad enough, a slow moving hay truck cut us off as we entered Valle De La Trinidad. Shane, Byron and I (the three zonie quad teams) all bunched up behind the truck as we came into pit 3. We were supposed to do an air filter change here, but the adenaline was flowing so we decided to wait (bad idea). Teammate Sam got on took off toward Pit4. That was some of the best racing I've ever been in during my first leg.
From pit 4 to 5, Sam said the motor started to bog on him. He wasn't getting any top end. This was because the airfilter resembled a chocolate cake now. I guess we didn't have a filter available at 5 so they started reducing the main jet size. Steve got on and headed up the beach toward Pit6. The course hugged the Pacific Ocean. Try that in the states! It died again and steve jetted down a second time. Steve came into 6 where i got on once more. 30 miles to go...screw the filter!
The trail winded through several hills paralleling HWY 1 and eventually got into some washes where the locals were out in full force. Lot's of booby traps! Mostly they were building up the sand to make a steep 2 foot jump across the course. I hit a few almost throwing me over the bars. All in good fun I guess.
From there the course winded between several farm fields and was pretty wet in some spots from the irrigation. I hit some water which got on the filter and stalled out the motor one last time. A quick plug change cured it and I was off to the finish line. The course wound through some dirt roads in very populated residential areas. 80+ mph through town and people everywhere cheering. I was sure I could hear those trophy trucks getting close. Back on to the Short Course track
CharlieB
09/25/02, 5:58 PM
Nice and exciting naration of the race, I am glad you had so much fun. Maybe one day I will get a chance to run in a race like that.
Charlie
'02 YZ250 #82
'02 Chevy 2500HD 4x4
Sounds like a lot of fun. That HWY-1 is always bad with booby traps. It's a fun section, but dangerous. It sounds like you were close to the Baja track in a lot of places.
Congrats on your finish. I may have to get down for this one next year.
Do you know who O/A'd the bike race.
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I like dirt.
Mike Childress overalled (I can't remember his partners name). Danny Cooper also was doing well but I think he broke near the end. Whole bunch of XR650s out front. The turnout wasn't real big since this race was an optional points race to the Tonopah 300. Campbell and Hengeveld finished in 2nd. I think there was only seconds between them and 1st place.
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #150
WOW!!!! Mikey over alled, right on. He was one of my team mates at Al Bakers XR's Only. I never got to do a race with him, but he teamed a lot of races with Dayton in 2001.
I heard he signed with the factory Honda team and is riding with Andy Grieder. Here is Mikes web site if your interested.
http://members.tripod.com/mikechildress/index.htm
/forum/uploaded/El-Gato/sylangry.JPG
I like dirt.
Here is the link to official bike and quad results on the BITD site-
http://www.bitd.com/Baja300res/BajaMex300MCQ.html
Car and truck results are also on the website.
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #150
BITD #Q70
quote:Originally posted by Jeff Henson
Here is the link to official bike and quad results on the BITD site-
http://www.bitd.com/Baja300res/BajaMex300MCQ.html
Car and truck results are also on the website.
Where the heck was Team-Green? They still must be scared of the big bad Mexico Monster. (Just kiddin Dez).
/forum/uploaded/El-Gato/sylangry.JPG
I like dirt.
Speaking of Team Green...
Arizona Desert Racers Bill Williford and Ron Edwards finished 1st in the Over-35 amateur class and 9th overall on Bill's KX500. Did someone say "sandbagger"? [:p]
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #150
BITD #Q70
quote:Originally posted by Jeff Henson
Speaking of Team Green...
Arizona Desert Racers Bill Williford and Ron Edwards finished 1st in the Over-35 amateur class and 9th overall on Bill's KX500. Did someone say "sandbagger"? [:p]
I saw that in the results. What's up with the Amateur class. Bill is a Senior Pro.
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David, #57