Coming just before the opening of the largest Pomona Off-Road Expo in the event's seven year history, DIRTsports magazine unveiled its Baja Charity Run to the public for the very first time. After months of planning, building and preparation, a large group of crew members, drivers and project supporters gathered for the official unveiling of three new vehicles set to attack November's Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 with a greater purpose than merely just racing.

The DIRTsports Baja Charity Run is comprised of three cars and three teams that will affect three distinctly difference charities at this year's legendary desert race that will see nearly 400 teams take on 1,000 rough miles through the Baja peninsula. This year's inaugural charity teams are a combination of the DIRTsports / EMPI "Elf" project (raising money per mile for Cure Autism Now), the rookie Full House Racing team (which will be contributing three "Jaws of Life" units to Baja rescue workers) and the veteran Wahoo's/Blue C/Herzog Racing Protruck team that is hosting a group of inner city youth.

Last week's unveiling not only set a positive tone for the Charity Run kick-off, it also provided an ideal platform for new announcements about the project. Monster Energy used the morning to announce their support of the effort, providing both product support and making a pledge to the Elf / Cure Autism Now (CAN) car. In addition, professional rock crawlers Jason Scherer and Clifton Slay were introduced as guest drivers for the Elf car, followed by the announcement that veteran off-road racer and extreme sports personality Cam Steele would take the final 124-mile leg in the little VW Elf sedan.

Former Baja 1000 champion Dave Westhem also announced his participation as a driver and supporter of the Wahoo's/Blue C/Herzog truck; coming out of retirement after nearly two years of being on hiatus.

Most significantly, a grand total of $25,000 in pledges was raised over the course of the weekend for CAN, with generous individuals and corporations offering various amounts of money per mile that the Elf completes in Baja. The highest came from the 4Wheel Parts retail off-road chain, with $5.50 per mile, while $5.00 per mile pledges was pledged by Herzog Racing, Tuff Country Suspension and Wide Open Baja. The overall goal of the Elf/ CAN project was to collect at least $50,000 in pledges.

"This coming together of teams, charities and the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 reflects the best of what DIRTsports Magazine is all about," explained Jim Ryan, group director and publisher, Advanstar Off-Road Group. "Our Off-Road Nation has always embraced the need to support the bigger picture, and putting our arms around these three great team and their causes was simply the right thing to do.

Since its organic growth from simple idea earlier this year, the DIRTsports Baja Charity Run has enjoyed the support of a large group manufactures, both from an individual team and project umbrella standpoint. The event is now sponsored by Off-Road.com, SCORE International, Blue C Communications, Wahoo's Fish Tacos, Monster Energy, the Fab School, BFGoodrich, Yokohama and Rally Tracker.

While still not confirmed, a special televised documentary about the DIRTsports Baja Charity run is being planned in association with several top-level broadcast and sponsorship partners.

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