View Full Version : San Felipe 250, march 14th
Here's the deal. Me, Todd Johnson and Jim from San Fransico are going to team up on Jims XR650 for the first round of the SCORE Baja series. Jim is paying all the fees and donating the ride(s), he's a Baja nut that needs some good riders. I still don't know why he called us, and he didn't have to call twice.
With good luck and grace from god we will do good and hopefully knock off some fast guys for a SAFE 30+ Pro win. Knocking on wood again.
We will add Eric Brown for the Baja-500 and possibly Harry Nevel for the Baja-1000. Harry loves the night sections (he's a little nutty).
If all goes well we can bring back a championship. I've never had one of those before.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
Good luck amigo :D
"More than bar wide is too wide ;)"
Hoonson
02/14/03, 11:51 PM
My memories of the 1997 SCORE San Felipe 250
We raced a JP framed Honda quad with a heavily modded 350X motor in it. My bro-in-law Steve Bolinger, Dan Haney (Whiplash #170)and I raced it as a team. Green Flag and whoop-de-doos for a long time...Pin it on dry lake bed and relax for a bit until Curt LaDuc's Trophy Truck (He raced a jeep cherokee then) passed me at atleast 130mph. I couldn't escape his dust. I actually remember ducking down as I crossed into it. It looked like a solid wall. Out of the Dry lake and whoops again until the checkered flag. Actually, it was pretty fun. We got 1st place in the ATV Sportsman class. San Felipe is probably my most favorite town to visit in Mexico.
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #21
BITD #Q70
I've been really wondering how nasty this race really is. I keep hearing about the biggest whoops on earth there. It should be real fun on a 300+ pound XR650.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
That does not sound like fun. I can say that now, but if I was there it would be a different story. I like the rough stuff.
Ben Hutchinson
Whiplash #32
BITD #940
ouuu, rough technical stuff, worst than lake pleasant run???? if so, I want to be there..... only if my quad stop breaking down i be okey ;)
2003 suzuki z400
whiplash #951
I have no limitations, only my quad has limitations......
Fistfull
02/18/03, 8:18 AM
quote:Originally posted by El Gato
It should be real fun on a 300+ pound XR650.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
I talked to the guy that bought my XR650 last weekend, we bumped into each other at the bottom of "Olds" in the dunes. He couldn't understand why the bike would not track through the whoops at the bottom of the hill. He weighs 165#, the bike still has springs in it for me (220#), I gave him the original springs for the bike when he bought it[?]. It was whuppin his butt
Lighten up Francis :D
Any body have an XR650 (and a screw loose in their head) that I could borrow to practice on?
I'd like to run it through some whoops to get the fill for it again. I'd hate to jump on a bike that I hadn't ridden in a couple years with a possible lead from TJ and start going down 50 miles of whoops. Kinda sucks to try to learn a bike as you're racing, and its also dangerous.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
Desperado
02/18/03, 8:33 PM
San Felipe is a tough one. Be prepared for ALOT of whoops, ALOT of soft sand washes. Hidden Bolders in the soft sand washes, insanely fast marbley roads south of Morelia Jct. Did I forget to mention about the whoops.....
My favorite part of this course is the section going through Matomi wash. One of the most scenic parts of upper Baja!
Eat your Wheeties, Jump alot of rope, But most of all, Be Safe, Have fun, and come home in one peice.
I'll be there. I'm staying at Pete's Camp, I will be with the Class 1 car of Mike James, The OUTLAW. If you get up this way I'll buy you a cool one...... After the race...... Good luck!!!!!!!
Thanks Desperado, I never turn down a free cool one.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
Phil Brooks
02/20/03, 12:13 AM
Dave, I do beleive that everyone knows that my screws were loosened long ago! Your more than welcome to practice on my 650. I just put on a XR's only muffler, XR's skid plate, uni air filter, rejet-carb, 4.3 gal Clarke, and there is a brand new 120/100/18 739AT in the trailer waiting for abuse. I do not have a ride planned as yet for this weekend, but if you post something or want to meet some where give me a ring. also, I will have both bikes at Gila Bend so you can ride around there as well. Phil # 611 Cell 602-505-2062, or E-mail PBBROOKS18@YAHOO.COM
quote:Originally posted by El Gato
Any body have an XR650 (and a screw loose in their head) that I could borrow to practice on?
I'd like to run it through some whoops to get the fill for it again. I'd hate to jump on a bike that I hadn't ridden in a couple years with a possible lead from TJ and start going down 50 miles of whoops. Kinda sucks to try to learn a bike as you're racing, and its also dangerous.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
Honda's Crash Test Dummies
Phil Brooks
02/20/03, 12:16 AM
Rick, If you can still get ahold of him tell him I'd like to buy those springs. Thx Philquote:Originally posted by Fistfull
quote:Originally posted by El Gato
It should be real fun on a 300+ pound XR650.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
I talked to the guy that bought my XR650 last weekend, we bumped into each other at the bottom of "Olds" in the dunes. He couldn't understand why the bike would not track through the whoops at the bottom of the hill. He weighs 165#, the bike still has springs in it for me (220#), I gave him the original springs for the bike when he bought it[?]. It was whuppin his butt
Lighten up Francis :D
Honda's Crash Test Dummies
Thanks Phil, I will be out of town this weekend and racing in Gila Bend next. I would love to spin that thinkg around a little after the Gila Bend race if they will let me on the course.
There is one week between the Gila Bend and San-Felipe races that I would like to hook up with you on and ride the whoops out at Four Peaks. That would work perfectly. What would be even better would be to take the bike down to Mexico and prerun on, but I would never do that on some one elses bike. I'd be to nervous to get it ripped off.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
Racerfisk
02/21/03, 8:48 PM
Yo El Gato - check it out - I rode the 450 @ the outer Sycamore loop & took it to the house & loaded up the 600 & went right back to the outer loop last Sat. Life is good! U don't need to practice because the bike will remind U in a hurry which one your on - The one that washes the front end out easily is the big one! The one that wheelies constantly is the little one! I laid the new one down dodging 4 wheelers coming @ me on the wrong side of the road. First big dent in the pipe so there is no looking back now. Break in period is over. Whats up with all the silt bed talk about the Gila Monster? What course R they running? I was going to show up (Surprise 700 Class) but I'm not going to risk it on the 2000 course that took out Jack. Save the silt for Mexico "ONLY". YO 611 - What UP? Been working 6 days per week 12 hrs a day since I last saw U guys. Not much time to ride & be sociable! Don't worry about El-Gato on your big ride - both of mine still work.
Hoonson
02/23/03, 12:57 AM
Speaking of WR450's..you guys see this 2WD version?
http://ymedc.introweb.nl/en/archive/enduro/WR450_2trac.shtml
Jeff Henson
CT310 TRX250R
Whiplash #21
BITD #Q70
Fistfull
02/23/03, 2:42 PM
I would love to try that out at Galmis.
Lighten up Francis :D
I saw that link, that is crazy......
2003 suzuki z400
whiplash #374
I have no limitations, only my quad has limitations......
David,
How did the race go?
#110 Dbag
I Practice like a Pro
Race like a beginner!
El Gato
03/19/03, 12:08 PM
2nd in class and 6th Overall bike.
We did pretty good. Todd started it, I finished it, and then we got real drunk. San Felipe is an awesome little town. It's just way the heck out there.
We started 8th in class and 20th overall so Todd had some work to do. He passed 14 people and caught 1st place in our class right before he was to hand it off to me at the mid point, but he made a wrong turn in a wash and got lost. He ended up on my part of the course and had to ride backwards to get me the bike. We lost about 5-8 minutes, but no problem I had it covered, so I thought. I rode my tail off and just couldn't catch up. I think first place actually put time on me. I didn't ride as good as I would of liked. We were on an XR650 and the course was rough and whooped out. I had to back way off to try and stay safe. I'm not used to that BRP and it showed. I actually had no dust nor did I ever see another rider, unless of course you count the thousands of locals and pit crews riding quads, bikes, cars, trucks, semis, motorhomes, etc.. on the race course in all directions. Very dangerous racing in Mexico, kinda like down down Phoenix but with never ending whoops.
We'll get them in the 500 for sure. My section in that course is more my style (Mike Sky Ranch, kinda like Whickenburg or Hiero).
The horrible part of the race was the bike racer who was killed by a trophy truck. The story I heard was that he either crashed or broke down on a blind sweeping corner. He was trying to get out of the way, but it was a little late. I talked to a person on the scene that drove up right after the incident and he was real shook up to say the least. He said that was one scene he will never forget. I couldn't imagine how the guy feels who was driving the truck. They said he couldn't get out of his truck for a few seconds because he was shaking so bad he couldn't get his seat belt off. I heard a story that the driver radioed back to SCORE officials and said he thinks he hit a bike racer, then someone else radioed that they need to get an ambulance out there right away, then a little while later someone else called in and canceled the ambulance because the rider was deceased.
I had also heard that a quad rider died in a hospital from injuries he received at the race. I have no proof to back that up, just a rumor.
David Gronlund,
Ride for fun, race to win.
More info on the deceased rider as well as where to send donations for a memorial fund at- http://www.off-road.com/race/2003score/sanfelipe/death.html
Jeff Henson
Whiplash #21
BITD #Q70
Those are the reasons why I'm having doubts of doing the 500 & 1000. I would love to do them, but the stories that go with them are not always good. My Dad is very nervous about us doing the 500 next year. Why does SCORE do this. Why can't they get some safety going. It would not be hard to make the trucks wait another two hours before they leave the start. I don't get it.
Ben Hutchinson
Whiplash #32
BITD #940
David, What class did you run?
Ben Hutchinson
Whiplash #32
BITD #940