Baja 250
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| Pit Crew: Meg, Lynda, Sharron, Lisbeth, Linda & Liz |
We ended our Baja season with a bang! SCORE'S Baja 250 took
place on March 11th in the San Felipe desert. The course passed only seven
miles from our Baja home and what a party it was! The local entry was Team
Snarlin' Cholla, led by George Jackson, the local reptile expert and an
all-around nice guy. We joined our friends Linda, Lisbeth, Sharron, Lynda, Meg,
Nancy and Katie (whose husband/dad rode shotgun) at a pit stop 8 miles out in
the desert. A delicious shrimp taco lunch prepared by Lisbeth and
Sharron was enjoyed by all. Some legs of the race allowed the vehicles to
travel over 120 mph across the desert floor! The dirt road course at our
location was a twisted series of moguls and turns that proved very entertaining
for us spectators and an exercise in foul words for the drivers as they careened
their rigs through flying rocks, dirt, and dust.
While the 250 was an exciting event, it was also disturbing to
experience the transformation of the beautiful desert to a landscape of Tecate
cans, trampled brush, and destroyed habitat. Truckload after truckload of young
men and families arrived at 'our' spot with their nightclub sized speakers and
ice chests full of beer. More than one truck got stuck in the sand and, at
times, they pulled each other across the racetrack! There were no protective
barriers anywhere to keep people away from danger. One tradition is to try to
touch the car as it passes. Supposed to be good luck! At least one person dies
each year from this or other unfortunate incidents.
After the 'big boys' passed through (cooperate-sponsored vehicles with
chase helicopters, etc.), the crowd moved on down the course and we enjoyed the
remainder of the race with room to breathe. George ended up third in his class
(he was leading but stopped to help someone in trouble) and we ended up having
a great day and bumpy ride back to the Ranch in Meg's awesome Suzuki Samurai.
Can't wait till next year - what's on the menu Lisbeth?
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