Charlene Does the Baja 1000 for 9 Days – Recaps, Pictures, Videos, Links

| December 21, 2009 | 1 Comment

I spent an amazing 9 days of Baja…I had the time of my life! The race that so many dream to compete in. The experience that so many desire to be able to speak of in first person. The race on the other side of the border that so many fear. I had the most amazing experiences around every dirt or asphalt turn.

I went south of the border with my good friends from Pirate4x4.com, where I helped cover the entire week Live for the website. It was a blast! They were racing in the JeepSpeed class (Jeep Cherokee) but I also took time to check out the UTV’s and of course all the trophy trucks.

Instead of trying to recreate my entire trip here…I encourage you to check out the coverage on Pirate4x4.com.

Start with the wrap up… grab a Pacifico, a bowl of chips and salsa and get ready for the trip of a lifetime. It is a great article on our entire trip…it has some great pictures, links to videos and more!
http://pirate4x4.com/trailreports/baja-1000-2009/wrapup.php

Then sit back and enjoy the 9 days in less than 10 minute video that I put together…Holy Cow! That was hard!

But that just gets you through the basics of the week… Dig in deeper by checking out each day’s posts and see the pictures and read about the adventures of the day. (Hover your mouse over the arrow in the middle of the screen and it will launch the coverage)

Sunday – We made it to Ensanada late Saturday night and started off our week with Pre-Running the Dodge! Can’t beat that! Oh, did I mention that the satellite that we used to get all the coverage back was mounted on the top!
http://pirate4x4.com/trailreports/baja-1000-2009/sunday.php

Monday – We headed out to Horsepower Ranch and Mike’s Sky Ranch for a day of Pre-Running and sight seeing.
http://pirate4x4.com/trailreports/baja-1000-2009/monday.php

Tuesday – We took the JK pre-running the last 1/3 of the Baja 1000 course.
http://pirate4x4.com/trailreports/baja-1000-2009/tuesday.php

Wednesday – I was able to catch up with pictures from the previous days adventures.
http://pirate4x4.com/trailreports/baja-1000-2009/wednesday.php

Contingency Thursday – has some awesome pictures from Contingency. You always hear about all the people…yes, they are ALL there!
http://pirate4x4.com/trailreports/baja-1000-2009/thursday.php

Race Day Friday – this is by far the most extensive day. It accounts for over 33 hours on the race course. Then at the end of the day’s coverage I posted over 30 driver interviews including Baja legends Ivan Stewart, Rick Johnson, Rod Hall, Sal Fish and many many more. Be sure to take time and check out these interviews!
http://pirate4x4.com/trailreports/baja-1000-2009/index.php

And if you thought that was all we got… We haven’t even opened the book to the UTV side of things yet…

It was a great race with the DragonFire team coming out on top:
OVERALL SPT UTV (660cc, 4-wheel utility vehicle)— Reid Nordin, Lake Elsinore, Calif./Hans Waage, Scottsdale, Ariz./Todd Romano, Park City, Utah/Larry Roeseler, Boulevard, Calif., Kawasaki Teryx, 24:32:37 (27.41 mph).
(4 Starters, 3 Finishers)

Here are some of the articles that we posted on the different teams as they concluded the 42nd running of the Baja 1000.

Official Finishers List for the 42nd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

DRAGONFIRE RACING AND MONSTER ENERGY TEAM GREEN KAWASAKI WIN 2009 BAJA 1000

Baja 1000 from the driver’s seat of a Kawasaki Teryx

Dragonfire Racing Kawasaki Teryx™ Dominates at Baja 1000

The 2009 Baja 1000 Second Place TAG Engineering Team (1802) Recounts Their Experience

ITP BajaCross Tires Dominate the 42nd Annual Baja 1000

With the JeepSpeeds running a similar pace to the UTV’s I did get to see them at a couple of different pits during the day and night that we were out there.

Here is my photo album of pictures, and I am working on wrapping up a video that will be premiered on the first episode of UTVWeekly TV!

Official Entry List:
SPT UTV (660cc, 4-wheel utility vehicle)

1801 Dave Roberts, Weddington, N.C./Robert Flau Sr., Lake Elomo, Minn./John McCarthy, Hudson, Wisc., Dragon Fire

1802 Thomas Graves, El Cajon, Calif./Joseph Graves/Soledad Martinez/Daniel Graves, San Diego, Yamaha Rhino

1803 Reid Nordin, Lake Elsinore, Calif./Hans Waage, Scottsdale, Ariz./Todd Romano, Park City, Utah, Kawasaki Teryx

1818 Peter Hajas, Wayzata, Minn./Steven Hajas, Delano, Minn./Scott Heber, Telluride, Colo./Scott Hoyt, Plymouth, Minn., TomCar

1819 John Cowley/Torsten Palm/Jesse Maier, Flagstaff, Ariz.

Thank you to Pirate4x4.com, Motive Gear, Ten Factory and Torchmate for supporting Pirate4x4’s coverage of the 2009 Baja 1000. If you liked this coverage…please let these sponsors know!

Video Assistance from Jeff Knoll, Josh England, Lance Clifford, Mark Harris

The 1702 Torchmate, Pirate4x4, Shaffer’s Offroad Race Team:
Leg One: Mike Shaffer , co-driver Steve
Leg Two: Camo, co-driver Eric Morales
Leg Three: Lance Clifford, co-driver Jeff Knoll

Chase Truck 1 (satellite truck): Lance, Jeff Knoll, Charlene
Chase Camo: Camo, Eric Morales
Chase JK: Mike Shaffer, Steve
Chase Truck 2: Shawn & Andy
Chase Truck 3: Josh & Adam
Chase Truck 4: John Cox, Matt Howell, Ben Holliday
Chase Truck 7: Jeff Mello, Mark Harris, Cousin Randy

1701 Eric Filar, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Jeep Cherokee
1702 Mike Shaffer, Dayton, Nev./Lance Clifford, Georgetown, Calif., Jeep Cherokee
1749 Justin Cook, Albion, Calif./Cliff Cook, Shingle Spring, Calif., Jeep Cherokee