Ensenada, Baja California: Nightfall has descended over the bustling town of Ensenada, Baja California this evening as tired and tough off-road desert racers push the limits of man and machine in the test against the harshest terrain in the world. Each finishing vehicle is being greeted by hordes of crowds lining the street and only separated by a metal fence four feet high. As the SCORE off-road desert racers pull underneath the Tecate Tunnel, the fans go wild seeking autographs and screaming at the top of their lungs. This show is far from over.Here at the end of Avenida Ruiz, the street is illuminated brightly as the roar of desert racing machines approach the finish line. The Baja 500 remains one of the toughest off-road races in the world. Finishing is a huge accomplishment.
And only moments ago, the legendary Curt LeDuc, arrived at the finish line driving the #800 Flying Dutchman truck to capture the 6th Baja Championship in his career. Skyjacker Suspensions sensational driver, Curt Leduc, teamed with Nick Vanderwey in the driving duties and won the SCORE Class 8 Baja 500 Championship.
SKYJACKER'S CURT LEDUC CAPTURES BAJA CHAMPIONSHIP
BILSTEIN 6:30 P.M. BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Ensenada, Baja
California: Troy Herbst drove the Terrible Herbst Truggy
to victory this afternoon here in Ensenada. With no problems all
day long, Troy brought home the world reknown Truggy to a 43 second
lead over Danny Anderson who started in postion 29 in the field of
31 Class 1 vehicles. While on stage at the finish line, Troy
hoisted an icy cold Tecate cerveza into the air and exclaimed he
was happy to be back at the Baja 500 again, and thanked Team
Terrible Herbst for an outstanding job all day long. Troy joked
with SCORE officials after they announced his overall speed to be
45.60 mile-per-hour, saying, "We kinda held back some." Danny
Anderson's overall speed was 45.67 miles-per-hour and he was elated
to finish second to the overwhelming Terrible Herbst Racing
Team.
MARK MILLER WINS 2003 BAJA 500 TROPHY TRUCK CLASS
BILSTEIN 4:30 P.M. BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Driver of Record
Time
Class
Position
Steve Hengeveld 1x
09:33:48
Class 22
1st Place
Chris Blais
12x
09:55:58
Class 22
2nd Place
Ricardo Malo 302x
09:58:29
Class 30
1st Place
Philip Zieger
10x
10:04:06
Class 22
3rd Place
Sergio Vega
305x
10:15:04
Class 30
2nd Place
BILSTEIN 3:30 P.M. BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Ensenada, Baja
California: The Honda Red Rider Team of Steve
Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell came across the finish line here on the
East side of Ensenada in an unofficial time of 9 hours and 35
minutes. They conquered the 452.93 mile-course after a tremendous
day of classic Honda Red Rider riding. At the finish line, the 2003
Baja 500 Champion-Steve Hengeveld was mobbed by the papparazzi as
SCORE-International President, Sal Fish, congratulated Steve
Hengeveld in his sixth consecutive SCORE Championship.
2003 BAJA 500 CHAMPION~STEVE HENGEVELD
Steve said, "It was a tough course, but we had no
issues and it's great to be back in Baja and win another
championship." Steve commented that the Baja 500 is his favorite
race and he's happy to be at the finish line after a tough day of
racing.
BILSTEIN 12:00 NOON BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Ensenada, Baja
California: The race has moved into the interior of the
Baja peninsula. We are awaiting updates from the ORC crew spread
out among the race course as well as BFGoodrich Communications who
provides updates throughout the race. Score officials have
completed setting up the finish line and are now eagerly awaiting
the lead racers.
BFGOODRICH MOTORSPORTS SUPPORT TEAM
This tireless BFGoodrich Motorsports Support Team
led by "Big Jack" is only one of several aspects that BFGoodrich
Motorsports brings to the table when working a SCORE off-road
desert race. They provide complete pit operations, updated scoring
& timing and the all important emergency radio communications
with Wild Bill "BFG Relay 12" up on the mountain somewhere talking
to everyone. BFGoodrich Rocks.
FLYING HIGH~BAJA 500
SCORE CREW SETTING UP AT THE FINISH LINE
BILSTEIN 11:00 A.M. BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Ensenada, Baja
California: SCORE Officials reported via the SCORE
Operations frequency that Larry Ragland, who was suppose to be
driving the #214 Herzog Electric Pro-Truck, was scratched from the
line-up and did not start the race. At this time we are unable to
report for what reason Larry Ragland did not go off the start line.
Stay tuned for updated action as soon as we receive it.
BILSTEIN 10:00 A.M. BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Ensenada, Baja
California: SCORE reports several race vehicles broken
at "The Pepsi Stand," which is approximately race mile 17. In Class
10, Mark Landersman reported he was out of the race due to
mechanical failure and he was sidelined awaiting chase crews to
arrive.
LANDERSMAN & ELLISON RACE SIDE-BY-SIDE ON AVENIDA RUIZ AS THEY HEAD DOWN THE PENINSULA
BILSTEIN 8:30 A.M. BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Ensenada, Baja
California: Ryan Arciero and Mark Miller roared down the
riverbed that winds its way throughout downtown Ensenada, and made
the sharp right turn on Avenida Ruiz with the pedal mashed through
the floorboard. As they crossed from the pavement of Ensenada to
the dirt race course, the silver Trophy Truck was traveling well
over 100 miles per hour with Baja 500 spectators only several feet
away lining the race course. Only seconds later, the roar of the
700+ horsepower PCI Racing Trophy Truck driven by Scott
Steinberger/Jesse Jones and full-time right seat co-driver, Barry
Beacham of Race Prep Services, made the same turn and powered up
the Trophy Truck in search of his first Baja 500 win. Stay tuned
for more race action.
SCOTTY AT THE START LINE READY TO ROLL
VILDOSOLA & McCACHREN ATTACK THE BAJA 500
MARTY COYNE IN HIS 4 WHEEL PARTS TROPHY TRUCK
DARREN SKILTON ROCKIN' DOWN AVENIDA RUIZ AT THE 2003 BAJA 500
LARRY ROESELER RAGING IN THE TRUGGY
DALE EBBERTS & HIS RACING AFFAIR WITH THE BAJA PENINSULA
BILSTEIN 7:00 A.M. BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Ensenada, Baja California: The streets in East Ensenada are lined with the Baja 500 race crowds around the finish line even though the first racer is not schedule to arrive at the finish until early afternoon. Vendors are here in full force selling tamales, fish tacos, cold refreshments, t-shirts, hats and more. The curbs are lined with the kids and parents as they all wait for the Trophy Trucks, Class 1's and other vehicles to leave Ensenada this morning. The 4-wheeled vehicles are scheduled to race out of town beginning at 8:30 a.m. providing the motorcycles and quads an oppurtunity to jump way out in front and not tangle with the 4-wheeled vehicles 700+ horsepower vehicles.
In other early morning action, the Pro ATV's lead by #101a, Earl Thigpen of the Temecula Motorsports crew throttled out of town like they were chasing the Honda Red Riders Motorcycle crew. Co-riding is the experienced Baja racer and ORC friend, Brian Pinard, who displayed to the world of off-road racing his Baja expertise in the Baja 1000 last November. Expect this Temecula Motorsports Team to shine here at the Baja 500 and bring home the champagne to the Temecula Motorsports Shop.
Also fast out of the gate was Shiloh Strunk, from
the infamous Bucky Strunk Racing out of Arizona. Strunk Racing is a
favorite of Off-Road.com and Shiloh has been working hard towards
this Baja 500 race. The Strunk Team has been racing in Baja for 25+
years. Look for them to be in the hunt as they are currently racing
through the Baja Peninsula.
BILSTEIN 6:00 A.M. BAJA 500 RACE REPORT
Ensenada, Baja
California:
Residents of this
fishing town on the Pacific Coast were awaken to the sounds of
4-stroke thumpers pushing at 100-miles an hour this morning as the
Baja 500 kicked off from downtown Ensenada. The crowds lined the
street beginning at 5:20 a.m. this morning as SCORE-International
President, Sal Fish, personally gave each Baja 500 rider a send off
from the start line into the harshest off-road racing terrain in
the world.
Honda Red Riders Champions, Steve Hengeveld took
the Honda 1x motorcycle out of Ensenada, Baja California this
morning in grand style. Sliding his Honda motorcycle through the
asphalt downtown streets and then streaking east on Avenida Ruiz as
it straightens out towards Ojos Negros. Riding with the throttle
wide-open, the Honda Red Rider Team heads into the interior of the
Baja Peninsula in search of another Baja 500 victory.
ORC Staffers arrived at Avenida Ruiz finish line
location last night and were greeted by the local residents with
open arms. Situated at the race finish line where the asphault
turns to dirt, Team ORC caught the action this morning as the
motorcycles and quads rode out of town to conquer Baja.
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