Coco's Corner was decorated fancy style as he awaited the arrival of the racers, fans, pit crews and media on race day. The famous DesertRat and El Camote arrived to Coco's after a short hike in the mountains of Baja and shared a cold cerveza with ORC Staffers. It was a great surprise meeting our friends in the middle of the Baja desert without prior notice.

It was a few days before the race and when Team ORC arrived at the famed location. In the middle of the afternoon, ORC's Great White, a Ford Diesel F350 4WD, rolled into Coco's Corner and staffers were greeted by the Baja Legend and his son, who was down from Ensenada for the big race. Working feverently for the past three months preparing for the race, he only had a few finishing touches to put on the Baja 1000 most famed and legendary checkpoint.If you have ever visited this Baja intersection, then you know what we mean when we describe this fabled intersection in the middle of the Baja Peninsula. One of the first things to catch our eyes was the enormous checkpoint sign labeling the racers arrival to his house in Baja. The monster sign was draped above the race course as it made the turn back towards the ocean. Strung by two old stringers of wood and painted in typical Coco color, red, the sign spelled out "Coco's Corner," and was constructed of empty Tecate beer cans. And not only was the sign well constructed to withstand the elements of the harsh Baja weather, but it was wired to illuminate against the black night sky in unison with the stars that fill the Baja sky.

We commented about his near status as dubbed the "King of Baja," but he scoffed at the title and told us about a conversation he recently had with Papa Diaz. Coco gritted his teeth and made a face and said, "I am the King of Baja." And we wholeheartedly agreed. Viva Coco!!!!!!

Coco's Trophy Truck-It wasn't long before Desertbull was strapped into Coco's Trophy Truck parked just outside his compound. He offered us a complete tour of the checkpoint from the co-driver's position.Once buckled in, the roar of his truck filled the quiet Baja sky and we were off. We headed south on the course arriving a short time later to the checkpoint he had constructed for SCORE officials to work from. We jumped from his truck with the camera as he turned the truck around for a photo opportunity.Soon he was driving straight for us as we took action shots of him racing towards us. Back in the truck, we explored the famed Baja intersection as he described the variety of projects he's completed for the race.

Race trucks by Coco. This 1969 Ford F150 fire-engine red truck was just rebuilt by Coco and his crew. They completed the rebuild at his engine repair shop on the south end of his property near the campers. Coco runs a complete vehicle repair shop from his property.

We retreated to the frront of his property where the huge beer tent had been constructed in preparation of the race. Coco was cool calm and collective, although it was evident that he had finally got his race and was elated that it was happening as it did. We spoke with a veteran Baja traveler, known on a variety of Internet discussion boards as "Baja Explorer," and he was at Coco's Corner for the same reasons that many others are often there. He needed help. Baja Explorer had come down for the race and suffered a serious shredded tire on this devastating Baja road. Coco had a spare tire for him, but Baja Explorer was in search of an additional rim to mount the spare tire. Coco did not have the rim, but he sent the seasoned Baja camper to a small campo nor far away and the mechanical problem was completely solved. Coco and BajaExplorer both have amputated legs with artificial limbs, and these two guys stood there talking about having leg fights. Soon Baja Explorer was off to repair his tire and we got down to business.

ORC's MotoSat DataStorm High Speed Internet Satellite enabled us to broadcast from Coco's Corner after just a few minutes of his tape recorded interview. With the latest in technology, ORC covered the race from a variety of locations and posted up-to-the-minute updates.

It wasn't long before the MotoSat Datastorm Satellite system was up and running. With the dish pointed to the Southern Sky, we were soon on a high speed Internet link and we demonstrated the system to Coco and his son. It was then during our convseration with Coco that he pulled out his guest book and showed us Part I of this article published last month. Apparently, a fellow amigo read the article and delivered it to this famed location for him to read. He was all smiles.We reviewed the book and saw that it was filled with many racers quips and quotes while pre-running the course. Coco just smiled as we peppered him with questions. He hung around passing out Coco's Corner stickers and laughing with us the entire time.

On race day, Coco was up early and ready to handle all the activities at the official SCORE checkpoint. Many race teams had arrived to set up their pits at this location and it was crowded. There was an hour long delay in the start of the race, which meant racers arrived at Coco's Corner later then expected, but Coco and his guests were not disappointed. Honda's #1 Factory Motorcyle Team of Johnny Campbell, Steve Hengeveld and Andy Grider blazed through Coco's first. And an hour later, the first Trophy Truck driven by NASCAR's Robby Gordon, came through the in typical Robby Gordon fashion. Apparently, Robby's pit team failed to negoatiate Highway 1 from Ensenada to Coco's Corner in enough time and missed his arrival in the trophy truck. With Coco standing by, Robby Gordon jumped from his vehicle and fueled his own Trophy Truck, while many watched. It wasn't long before the crowd was dusted by the trophy trucks and Class 1 Unlimited vehicles blazing to this famous location for fuel, tires and a drink of water.

Featured beer of many, the icy cold Pacifico is regularly served to many a weary traveler on the dirt road leading into and out of Coco's Corner. ORC's Desertbull was privileged to ride shotgun in Coco's trophy truck for a tour of the property. What else can we say? Coco's Corner Kicks Ass!!!!!!!

Coco was in his heaven. By nightfall, the whine of the generator began and the lights of Coco's Corner lit up this checkpoint. The lights strung the sweeping turn to the left leading away from Highway 1 and out towards the large camp of ORC staffers in the Calamajue Wash. Once through the checkpoint, the SCORE racers were heading south to LA Bay. By late Friday night, the checkpoint had been closed by SCORE officials and the race was over for Coco. By Saturday, most everyone had vacated the area, and Coco's Corner was almost back to normal.

A few travelers here and a few there mixed in with some local visitors, Coco's Corner is definitely a place you want to stop if you even close in the area. If you're traveling down Highway 1 south of San Quintin, you'll want to keep a heads up when you're south of El Rosario and approaching a location marked as El Cucero. In the small pueblo of Chapala, you'll notice a sign pointing off to the left indicating Gonzaga Bay. Approximately 15 miles later, you'll discover the place known to many as Coco's Corner. If you're in the San Felipe area, continue south on Hwy 5 south of Puertocitos. From San Felipe to Gonzaga Bay is approximately 100 miles, but don't be fooled. It's one of the worst 100 miles you will ever experience. The roads is atrocious, but if you're a Baja traveler, you'll want this experience. Upon arriving to Gonzaga Bay, continue on the road for approximately 10 miles and you'll soon be upon Coco's Corner. If you visit in the summer, don't be surprised if the famed Baja legend isn't there, however, you'll always find someone there. Coco's staff is helpful and always willing to help. The rest of the year, you'll find Coco helping stranded Baja travelers or serving up some of the coldest drinks in Baja. Stop by and don't be bashful, Coco has a story or two for everyone that stops. The King of Baja lives at Coco's Corner, Baja Norte, Mexico. Check out www.racedesert.com to view the latest video clip of Coco just before the race.

	Some 685 miles from Coco's Corner in Baja Norte, Mexico, the SCORE Baja 1000 Finish line on the bay at the seaside village of La Paz, Baja Sur. Sponsored by Tecate beer.
	The mascot of the Super Burro in La Paz was wearing the uniform of our own superman who was crunching out pages for everyone to read. If he wasn't writing, he was flying Superman style.