| The following story is a documentary of my experiences as a participant in the 30th Annual SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico on June 5,
1999.
The Baja 1000
I have only pursued the great sport of off-road
desert racing for 6 months, but already find it to be very
exciting, demanding, and challenging. My unique situation stems
from the fact that I live in Southeastern Indiana. The Midwest
offers several different types of off-road racing, however, none
compare to the thrills of flat out desert racing. Having been
interested in the sport for several years, I somehow never managed
to travel Westward to attend an event. However, my curiosity
finally got the best of me last year when I attended the Baja 1000.
After many attempts at trying to find a team to help chase and pit
for during the race, I finally hooked up with the team of Wes,
Scott, and Brady Wisdom, who raced a Class 1/2 1600 buggy.
Surprisingly, my first conversation with the Wisdom
Team was initiated via the Internet. Because of my enthusiasm and
interest they welcomed me onto their team to provide support during
the grueling 1000-mile race down the Baja Peninsula from Ensenada
to LaPaz. And "Wow!" that race turned out to be one of the most
memorable events in my life. It took 33 hours to complete and was
very intense, filled with excitement, worry, determination, and
satisfaction. At that point, I officially caught the "Bug" for
desert racing. Since that race, I have shown my devotion to the
sport by attending each of the SCORE races, despite living half way
across the country.
It was also at the Baja 1000 last year that I met
George Seeley, Jr., who has been a long time participate in Class 5
(Unlimited Baja Bug). Technically, I met George and the other
members of his race team, Bruce Anderson and Paul Buster, when I
hitched a ride with them from the awards ceremony in LaPaz down to
Cabo San Lucas. I needed to get to Cabo San Lucus for a departing
flight back to the Midwest. After several hours of race stories,
laughs, and insight into the sport, we made it to the airport. I
thanked George and the other team members for the ride and promised
to talk with them during the upcoming races the following year.
The New Season (1999)
The Laughlin Desert Challenge and The San Felipe 250
were the first two races of the new year. I was fortunate enough to
attend these races and hook-up with George Seeley Jr. once again. I
helped him out during both of these races as he finished first and
second, respectively. And let me tell you, George impressed me as
being a consistent, skilled, and fiercely competitive driver. After
these races George and I talked about the possibility of me riding
along with him as a co-pilot in the upcoming Baja 500! These
discussions finally lead to a definitive "yes" as George offered me
the passenger seat for the first half of the race. The second half
of the race would be manned by driver Bruce Anderson and co-pilot
Paul Buster. I knew that actually riding along in a car was the
next step to a better understanding of off-road desert racing, but
I had no idea that I would have the opportunity this soon. I was
very excited, anxious, and thankful from the day I was given the
opportunity. In fact, these feelings lasted throughout the next
6-week period leading up to the race. I went crazy during that time
frame, but kept busy trying to obtain adequate race gear and by
making travel arrangements to the Wild West once again.
The Logistics
On the morning of Tuesday, June
1st, George Seeley Jr. picked me up at the San Diego
Airport accompanied by his bright yellow Class 5 rocket ship. At
that point the whole "Baja Experience" began to take form. I
finally realized that in a few days I would be strapped into the
pristine racecar to endure a high-speed race across the untamed
desert. As we began our quest for "Baja", we stopped just short of
the Mexican border for groceries for the long week ahead. The
objective was to "pre-run" the course on Wednesday and Thursday, go
through Contingency and Tech Inspection on Friday, and of course,
race on Saturday. Pre-running, which is actually driving the course
prior to the race, is an event that many of the competitors do in
order to understand the terrain, seek out the best possible race
lines, and familiarize themselves with the difficult sections.
Contingency, which is the most exciting part of the weekend for
many spectators and locals, is where vendors and sponsors set-up to
display and sell their products.
The Joker Hotel
Tuesday afternoon we arrived in
Ensenada at the Joker Hotel. The Joker Hotel has been the hotel of
choice for the Seeley Race Team for the past nine years. It was
clearly evident from the time we arrived that this was a "baja
ritual" for George. He was no stranger to the management and
employees as they gathered around the racecar with smiles and nods
of appreciation. Once checked in, we unloaded the car and began to
converse with several other race teams that had already
arrived. 
Later that evening, the rest of
our team showed up at the hotel. Bruce Anderson and Paul Buster
arrived in a white crewcab chase truck trailering a tricked-out
Ford Bronco pre-runner. The situation was getting better by the
minute! I was definitely looking forward to pre-running the course
over the next few days.
Pre-Running
Wednesday morning came early as
we got up at 6:30 AM to prepare for the long day ahead. Powered by
enthusiasm, we made sure the proper food, tools, and maps were
packed. Bruce, George, and myself set out in the pre-runner for the
start of the racecourse in El Sauzal, 4.5 miles north of Ensenada
on Highway 1. Paul took the chase truck to Ojos Negros, a small
town 25 miles due east of the starting line on Highway 3, to await
our arrival. As we pulled off the highway at the El Sausalito Motel
we saw the official start line outlined by SCORE banners. There
were several other racers there that extended "good lucks" as we
started our voyage up through the mountains. I began to realize
just a few short miles into the course why this race was so trying
for the drivers and their vehicles. We were jarred back and forth
in the Bronco, which was very well equipped, as we navigated the
roughest terrain imaginable. Miles crept by slowly as we crawled up
and down tight trails through rocks, woods, and washouts.
Certain portions of the course
were so rough that we had to stop and negotiate which route would
be best for the racecar. I was surprised that my past experiences
as a spectator didn’t do a scrap of justice for the different
types of obstacles and driving conditions that the participants
were faced with throughout the course of the race. In the past I
would go to heavily populated points on the racecourse, such as
road crossings, and watch as the trucks and cars zoomed by.
However, those "mainstream" spots were usually high-speed sections
that didn’t truly show how technical the racecourse could get
at times. The intense part of pre-running was when we would get to
a high-speed section or a highly technical section and I would ask,
"How fast will we be coming through here in the actual race?" The
answer would usually range from 2 to 4 times faster than we were
going at that point in the pre-runner! Wow! That was when my
adrenaline would start to accelerate in anticipation of race
day.
Mike’s Sky Ranch
Late in the evening we found
ourselves just north of Valle De Trinidad where the racecourse met
Highway 3. By this point we were all pretty tired, having trekked
nearly 200 course miles. The decision was made to push on to
Mike’s Sky Ranch, a motel/restaurant/bar in one of the most
desolate areas in all Baja. Bruce, who is a frequent visitor of the
famed local, knew that dinner was served at 7:30 PM each evening.
Looking at our watches, we realized that we would need to hightail
it if we expected to get a hearty meal. After racing down a twisty
fire road for about 15 miles in the pre-runner and chase truck, I
finally saw signs of life and civilization. I had heard many
stories about Mike’s Sky Ranch from people who had been there
and others who had only hoped to someday get the opportunity. I was
excited to be visiting for the first time and looked forward to my
short stay. Upon arrival, Bruce and George immediately began
showing me around. The place was a haven for off-road desert
racing. Everywhere I looked there were pictures, autographs, or
race paraphernalia from an assortment of racers from several
different eras. I was studying the décor when I heard Bruce
bark, "time for dinner, boys!" As I entered the dining room I was
pleasantly surprised to find a wholesome, steak dinner and several
Mexican side dishes awaiting me. After the awesome meal, I decided
to turn in for the evening. My room was scarcely furnished, but had
all of the essentials, just the way I liked it. I took a warm
shower before the generator supplying the heat and electric shut
down at ten o’clock. Mike’s Sky Ranch was the perfect
blend of everything I love about off-road. I will definitely go
back.
Final Preparation
The next morning we pulled out
of Mike’s Sky Ranch at 5:30 AM. The objective was to leave
early so that the chase truck wouldn’t encounter any head-on
pre-runner traffic on the way out. The only road leading in and out
of Mike’s was also part of the racecourse. I found this to be
extremely cool. I stayed in the Bronco and continued to run the
course for the next 50-60 miles as George took the chase truck out
to the main highway. Once again, some of the terrain was
unbelievable, including the switchbacks on the steep mountainsides.
I was not going to get to see this part of the course in the
racecar so I was glad I could ride along and encounter the
landscape. Later, we met George in the chase truck where the
racecourse intersected Highway 1, just south of Santo Tomas. From
that point we were done pre-running because Bruce and Paul had
already run the remaining portions of the course the prior week on
motorcycles. As we headed back towards Ensenada we stopped in the
small, quaint village of Santo Tomas for a well-deserved breakfast.
During this rowdy, but fun meal, I once again realized that I was
with good company.
We arrived back at the Joker Hotel
around noon on Thursday and immediately began to make final
preparations to the racecar. The finishing touches included putting
in the window nets, securing the spare tires, attaching the light
racks, and applying the Off-Road.com decals. At this time I began
to prepare for my co-pilot duties as well. I adjusted the passenger
seat belts to fit snug, yet comfortably. I practiced getting in and
out of the car in a timely fashion. And, I became acquainted with
the location of the car jack, tools, and first aid kit in case of
an emergency. George coached me through the radio controls and the
air filtration system inside the cockpit. Once we attached the
course map and notes to the dashboard, the checklist of
‘things to do’ was complete. 
It was time to place the cover over the car for the
evening. George ordered all of us to lend a hand and help polish
the raw chromoly chassis to its natural luster and buff the
authentic beetle shell to a brilliant shine. It is truly impressive
how detail oriented the off-road racers are about their vehicles
appearance and finish before the races. They feel that the
racecar’s presentation is a reflection of how well prepped
the car is and how strong it will perform during the harsh race
conditions.
BFG Tire Meeting
Late Thursday evening we
ventured to the Estero Beach Hotel & Resort for the BFGoodrich
Tire Meeting. This was an event that allowed all BFG sponsored race
teams to drop-off spare tires and fuel to the well-coordinated BFG
pit crews. Since George has been sponsored by BFG for several years
they provide him with pit support during all SCORE races.
Throughout this race we would be stopping at all four BFG pits
situated at various locations around the course to receive fuel and
any maintenance required. It was a pleasure to be part of the BFG
effort since they sponsor some of the most successful and popular
race teams in the sport. Glancing around the room, I noticed many
serious racers that were always at the top of their class
standings. This definitely made me feel confident in our
team’s support throughout the long race. During the
presentation, a detailed course map was provided and race officials
explained important race information, course changes, and caution
areas.
Contingency & Tech
I arose Friday morning to a
sun-filled day with excitement in the air. It was time to take the
racecar through Contingency Row and Technical Inspection. I had
been to Contingency and Tech at past races as a spectator and knew
the kind of chaos that was in store. I grabbed my camera as George,
Bruce, Paul, and myself headed out the door. We decided to
participate in the "parade of cars" that would take place through
the streets of Ensenada prior to the opening of Contingency Row.
This was an event that Sal Fish, President of SCORE, had organized
in appreciation of the local community and visiting fanatics. I
chose to ride along in the racecar so I could get my first "real
driving experience" as a passenger. I climbed into the comfortable
cabin and buckled up as the massive 3000cc Fat Performance Type 4
VW engine grumbled through its warm-up phases. Upon arriving at the
San Nicholas Hotel we saw that many other racers had already
started to line up for the parade. Among the crowd was Ivan "Iron
Man" Stewart, who is a virtual living legend to the sport of
off-road desert racing. His prize winning Trophy Truck, sponsored
by Toyota, was perched in the pole position for the parade
lap. 
Behind Ivan was an assortment of
racecars from practically all of the 17 four-wheel vehicle classes.
It seemed that all of the participants wanted to arrive early in
order to get a good spot for Contingency and Tech. There was an
advantage in getting registered and approved early so you could
relax and rest for the remainder of the day. We pulled into
formation behind a Class 1/2 1600 buggy and in front of a Class 12
(Score-Lite) buggy. Once 10:00 AM approached the buzzing of VW
engines and the thundering of small blocks echoed through the
streets as 50 or more buggies and trucks rolled in a single file
line. People lined the streets in amazement as the entourage slowly
snaked its way through downtown Ensenada. 
After returning to the San Nicholas Hotel, Ivan lead
the line-up through Contingency. All engines were shut off as the
race teams began to push their machines delicately through the
crowded, narrow alleyway made up of vendor and sponsor booths,
known as Contingency Row. Thousands of people were hustling around
trying to get glimpses and touches of the finely crafted vehicles.
The setting was carnival-like with loud music blaring, people
dancing, and street vendors selling food and gifts. As we pushed
our beautiful Class 5 car along, people continuously stopped us in
order to take pictures and get autographs. At times, I even found
myself signing autographs for the local children enthralled by this
exhilarating event that was invading their town. We finally wheeled
the car out of the limelight and into the Tech Inspection area. It
was here that race officials examined the racecar and each
participant’s race suit to make sure they met an exhaustive
list of the rules and regulations set forth by SCORE. After
receiving inspection approval stickers on the hood of the car and
on our helmets, we were officially ready to race.
The Night Before
The night before the race was
filled with nervous anticipation. I went to dinner at the popular
CasaMar Restaurant with George and several friends that came to
watch the spectacle and cheer us on. During the race they would
help chase and provide pit support at our driver change in Valle De
Trinidad. After many race stories from the past and a wonderful
meal I decided to turn in for a good night of rest. However, upon
lying down I realized that I was so keyed up for the next morning
to arrive that it was going to be awhile before I fell asleep. I
kept visualizing in my mind the events that may take place during
the race. I was fueled by the thoughts of our racecar powering
through the course that I had already encountered during
pre-running. I was thankful to be so close to fulfilling the dream
of participating in the famed Baja 500. Finally, my nerves settled
and tiredness set in as I dozed off.
Race Day
I woke up at 5:30 AM on Saturday full of energy and
enthusiasm. The butterflies immediately began to flutter in my
stomach. I wasn’t nervous about the task at hand, but anxious
to get started and have the car run flawlessly for the duration of
the race. I knew it was a long race that usually took its toll on
most of the vehicles. It is not uncommon for only 30-40% of the
vehicles to finish these types of races. However, I did know that
we stood a good chance to finish on top due to Seeley
Racing’s past track record, careful preparation, driver
skill, and passion for the sport. Intensity grew in George’s
eyes as our starting slot got closer and closer. The race began at
6:00 AM for motorcycles and 7:30 AM for four-wheel vehicles. Each
of the different classes started the race in a precise order from
fastest to slowest. Within every class there was a 30-second
stagger between each vehicle off the line. A drawing that took
place several weeks prior to the race predetermined starting
positions within the classes. We started third in Class 5, making
us car #503. There were 6 cars in our class so we knew we had two
Class 5’s to catch and three to hold off for the class win.
The race was calculated by time, but it was fairly evident how you
were doing throughout the race since the race was so long and all
of the cars started so close together. We would also be informed of
our position at each pit stop and through communication with our
chase trucks.
By the time 7:30 AM struck, the
Trophy Trucks began to scream off the line. At this point, I was
running on pure adrenaline. It was the moment that I had been
waiting for, the moment of truth! How tough is this race? How would
we finish? Would it be everything I anticipated? It was time to
answer these questions. As we crept closer to the start line, the
excitement was building as several thousand people began to focus
their attention our way. I could see the first Class 5 car (#501)
approach the line. As the flag dropped he shot off like a bullet.
At that point the race was initiated. Next car #502 inched to the
line and just a moment later was signaled to start. At last, it was
our time to shine. George calmly positioned the car to the line. As
the official raised his arm to motion our start, George revved the
motor as a throaty roar bellowed out. It seemed as if the
beautiful, mild-mannered car turned into a monster as we took off.
Around the first turn we sprayed gravel and dust as we hit the
dirt. At this point, I was already looking forward to the miles
ahead. We ripped up the mountainside with extreme power, force, and
agility.
We feathered through the turns
and dug-in down the straight-aways. Approximately one mile into the
race we faced our first challenge, a hefty ramp made by the
surrounding locals. From the cockpit it looked like a shear wall.
Having not been in this situation before, I didn’t know what
George would do. But obviously he did as he punched the gas and
lofted the racecar over the huge mound of rocks. It was the first
of many intense feelings that I would encounter as the front end
lifted and the rear end kicked off the lip of the ramp. It felt
like the car was going to nose dive and flip so I gritted my teeth
and scrunched up my face. However, to my surprise, the car landed
very smoothly on the King shock absorbers and bit-in for more
traction. Instantly George was back on the gas and we were off to
the next obstacle. The next 10-15 miles were just as intense as we
found ourselves running very fast in clean, crisp air. I was just
starting to calm down a bit when we came to the first road section
of the course. We would travel on the main highway with local
traffic for about 6 miles before returning to the dirt.
We were going at a good pace up the highway when
George signaled to the back and told me he was letting a faster car
pass. As it turned out, it was car #519, who started three slots,
or 1½ minutes, behind us. Just as I was thinking we had been
running pretty hard and should be catching slower traffic ahead, we
were overtaken. I was a bit startled until George told me not to
worry that it was a very long race and that we would see car #519
again in the near future. As we hit the dirt, we were running in
dusty air, which made it difficult to see and react to the twisting
fire road. Several times I didn’t know how George could see
because I sure couldn’t. However, we carried on at a high
rate of speed for many more miles chasing the elusive dust cloud.
Further down the course we passed car #501, which looked to have
taken a wrong turn. Over the next 15 miles we passed several Class
12 cars and various other broken down vehicles. We were now in
pursuit of car #519 and car #502, who were somewhere just ahead.
Continuing to cruise at optimal speeds, I reminded George that
there was a deep water hole approaching. Sure enough, we launched
over a small hill and nearly landed in the massive puddle. Locking
up the four-wheel disc brake system brought the car to an even idle
before crossing the water. As we exited the water hole, car #502
was sitting just off-center of the course. However, as we began to
build speed, car #502 took off. The drag race was on, or so we
thought. At first he looked to be challenging us for the hole-shot
into the next turn, but soon he shut his rig down realizing we had
momentum in our favor.
Once out ahead of car #502 by a comfortable margin,
the course turned into a hard packed fire road that welcomed fast
driving. The shoulders were so built up with gravel and dust that
the sweeper turns had natural berms. Traveling at a high rate of
speed, George feathered the wheel around every turn, as if we were
in a sprint car. However, one of the turns was a little tighter and
a little flatter than the rest, sending us flying parallel with the
ground into a barbed wire fence at approximately 75 mph. All I
could see was a fence post coming straight for the door panel, in
what seemed to be slow motion. As we made contact we the post, the
whole fence crashed to the ground taking out several other posts
that were attached to the wire. George carefully backed up to
release the car from a broken post and the entangled barbed wire
before shuttling back on track. It was a neat experience, but I
told George that once would be enough. We soon approached the first
check point and by this time the car was starting to run stronger
and stronger by the mile. This was obvious by the way George was
gliding through the gears of the Fortin 5-speed transaxle en route
to powering across the unforgiving terrain. When we passed our
chase crew at Ojos Negros, I singled them out in the large group of
spectators as we rounded a tight 90-degree turn like a fine-tuned
rally car. Bruce immediately called to us over the airwaves. When I
responded back, he told me that we had lost the antenna on top of
the car and that the reception was poor. I stated that we were
running strong and looked forward to seeing them at the next road
crossing. From that point, we entered the notorious pine
forest.
After catching slower traffic we found ourselves once
again in a cloud of dust. Anxious to catch car #519, we pounded
forward. After several miles, the dust had settled and a Class 10
buggy emerged. The buggy had stopped for a slowed Trophy Truck that
was lending a helping hand to a Pro-Truck stuck in a silt bed. Once
we cleared the obstruction and began to build speed I realized that
the buggy in front of us had a flat front tire that was creating
massive amounts of thick dust as he pushed into the corners. As we
chased him through the forest trying to get close enough to nerf,
or tap, his rear bumper signifying that we wanted around, we missed
a turn as dust engulfed our car. We ran over several fallen trees
and stopped as the bumper hit a stump. I was shocked, knowing that
this was not supposed to happen. George threw the transaxle into
reverse as both rear tires just sank into the loose ground. He
inched forward a bit then tried reverse once more. The same result
occurred as we sank deeper. At that point I became nervous and
instantly sprang from the car to examine the situation. There was a
fallen tree that was approximately 18 inches in diameter directly
behind our rear tires and another tree approximately 6 inches in
diameter and 6 inches off the ground directly behind our front
tires. Going forward was out of the question due to a large stump
anchored directly in front of the bumper. After figuring out a game
plan, I went to work placing logs and sticks in the trench that the
rear tires had dug from George’s failed efforts to back out.
I also built ramps that the front tires could scale in order to
clear the nagging hurdle. Once I ordered George that it was safe to
back out, I helped push the car from the front. With a few ghastly
attempts the car was finally freed from the hindrance.
When I finally settled back into the car, attached my
seat belts, and regained my breath I realized that I was terribly
hot and worn out. The whole event took less than 15 minutes but
seemed to be an eternity in my panic-stricken state. The good thing
was we were once again on course and running fast. The bad thing
was that many cars had passed, including car #518. This meant that
once again there were two Class 5 cars out ahead of us. Our car
appeared to have no damage and George was relaxed since he
didn’t have to get out to help. It was definitely a good
stretch of the race to start making up some of the time we had lost
from our earlier misfortune. Luckily enough, as we rounded a rough
turn we saw car #504 broken down on the side of the course. From
the stance of the car, it looked like he had rear suspension
trouble. As we hurried along we saw many more cars pulled off to
the side of the racecourse with major mechanical problems. But
finally, several miles from our first scheduled pit stop, we passed
the ailing car #519, which was sitting completely off the
racecourse with several people gathered around the rear cage of the
chassis. This was a great relief. We were finally out in front of
Class 5. I calmed myself just before the first BFG pit stop, at
mile marker 105, where we would refuel.
Upon seeing the well-marked BFG
signs, George caulked the wheels and eased into the pit area. The
setting was relaxed, much unlike I had expected. The support
personnel asked us if we needed anything, told us our class
position, and refueled the car in a near timeless sequence. Before
I realized it, we were back onto the course and remarkably only one
Pro-Truck had passed while we were in the pit. George immediately
regained focus. He knew we had many miles of clear air in front of
us. George and the racecar were fully dialed-in by this point. We
flew through the remainder of the pine forest with grace. The
course then began to smooth out again as perfectly grooved tracks
held the car in place around each and every turn. As we approached
the next road crossing at mile marker 135, George suggested I snap
a photo of the on-lookers with my trusty, disposable camera. As
soon as I took the camera from my race suit pocket, I saw a wall of
people as the course opened up to Highway 3. I firmly held the
camera out the front windshield snapping the shot just before we
skipped over the highway back onto the sandy surface.
I managed to take a few more
pictures from the cockpit but really couldn’t steady the
camera as I was tossed around with each bump and turn.
We hit a wicked pace as George
found his groove in the rough sections called Cerro Colorado and El
Alamo. This was a 25-mile loop that pieced together the two major
road crossings off Highway 3. After Checkpoint 2 we were back on
well-groomed fire roads where speeds reached 110 mph as the
tachometer needled at 5,500 rpm’s in top gear.
The rest of our portion of the
race was very quick until we reached the "goat trail" that
connected the course to Highway 3 once again. From that point we
cruised the highway for 8-miles at blazing speeds to complete the
first 200 race miles.
I could sense the ride coming to an end and was
already feeling dejected. I had the time of my life and realized
that it would be hard to surpass the experiences that I had just
encountered. Soon, we saw several members of our chase crew just
off the side of the highway waving us into the Checkers pit. The
Checkers are an historic pit organization in which George is a long
time member. This was where we performed the driver and co-pilot
change. With many helping hands, I managed to slide out of the
racecar so Paul could make a smooth transition into the passenger
seat. Bruce entered the drivers seat immediately upon
George’s departure. Once the final buckle was fastened and
the car was cleared for take-off, Bruce floored the gas and
launched back onto the course. I felt some relief, but knew we
still had to voyage nearly 250 miles before victory was complete.
George and I jumped into the chase truck and were off to the next
vantage point.
The Chase
Upon arriving at the Power Station at mile marker
235, several Trophy Trucks and Class 1 buggies appeared. This was a
good sign since these were faster cars that started much earlier
than we did. We figured we had at least an hour before Bruce and
Paul was expected to pass. As I repeatedly shared my experiences
from the first half of the race with friends, I constantly prayed
that the racecar would operate perfectly throughout the duration of
the race. At 2:45 PM Bruce and Paul topped the horizon and entered
into our vision. We hurried to the side of the road and cheered
them on as they rounded the sharp turn directly in front of us. We
noticed that they had a good pace established and that the engine
sounded very fresh. Next, we waited for the second place Class 5
car to come by the power station so we would know our precise lead
time. The last report showed that we had a 30-minute lead at the
driver change. At 3:25 PM car #518 finally passed, but did not
appear to be pushing the car to the extremes. We now had a
40-minute lead in Class 5. I instantly sighed in relief, realizing
that we could secure a class win if we didn’t encounter any
major mechanical errors or downtime. George and I ventured back to
Ojos Negros, where the racecourse would loop around and retraced
its earlier footprints back to the start/finish line. Upon waiting
at the BFG pit at mile marker 396, the crew served George and I
food and refreshments.
At 6:15 PM, car #503 pulled into
the pit as Bruce and Paul grinned from ear to ear. Bruce commented
that the car was performing remarkably well and that they were
having a good time holding onto first place. After the fuel tank
was topped off and clearance was given, the racecar was back in
business. Wasting no time, we hurried back to the chase truck to
complete the trip to the finish line. As soon as we arrived, I
looked up just in time to see Bruce wheel around the last turn and
through the checkered flag. 
The crowd was so thick that
George and I had to muscle to the front of the police barricade
before joining Bruce and Paul in a victory celebration. We had
completed the race in just over 11 ½ hours, which was an
averaged of nearly 40 miles per hour. Bruce and Paul remained in
their seats as George and I pushed the racecar down a ¼ mile
runway exiting the finish line. We passed thousands of people who
extended congratulations and admired the totally thrashed buggy for
its courage and bravery during the race. We were all glad to finish
before dark and without any major mishaps. After several group
photos in front of the racecar with our hands proudly raised in the
air signifying the "we’re number 1" sign, we all went into
Ensenada for a little post race celebration.
The Awards Ceremony
Sunday morning we loaded the buggy
and pre-runner onto their trailers and gathered our
belongings. 
It had been a long week, but the
end result was very positive. The whole team wore big smiles on
their faces as race stories were exchanged. Later that morning
final good-byes were extended to Bruce and Paul who were heading
back to the States. George and I were going to stay in town awhile
longer and attend the awards ceremony, which was being held
poolside at the San Nicholas Hotel. As we arrived, many vendors
were set up outside selling race pictures and t-shirts. I walked to
each vendor table to view the pictures of racecar #503. It was very
flattering to see pictures of myself tucked inside the cockpit of
the high performance bug at various locations on the course. I
bought several of the pictures before making my way into the pool
area.
At 11:00 AM Sal Fish took the stage
and thanked all of the participants for an event-filled race and
the local community for hosting the event. Awards were handed out
to the first three finishers in each class. As Class 5 was
presented, George and I made our way to the stage. We were both
handed etched glass trophies that displayed 1st place
and a sketch of George’s #503 Class 5 Unlimited Bug. George
took the podium and immediately thanked his sponsors for all of
their support. He also expressed his thoughts about the race and
his appreciation for off-road desert racing. As George finished his
speech, he turned and introduced me to the crowd. I was fairly
shocked, but gained my composure and approached the microphone. I
first thanked George for the opportunity he afforded me and
congratulated him on his preparation and driving ability. I briefly
reflected on the race and outlined my introduction into desert
racing. I eventually returned to my seat, but not until a picture
was taken of George and I as we embraced our trophies surrounded by
the lovely Tecate Beer girls. 
The Beginning of the End
As we were leaving Ensenada, George
and I stopped at a small taco stand for a satisfying meal. No trip
would be complete to Baja, Mexico if you didn’t consume some
of the local flavor. We savored our final meal and waning moments
in Ensenada as we watched a line of race vehicles and fans scurry
out of town. On the long ride back to Los Angeles, where I was to
fly out late Sunday night, I reflected on the race and realized how
lucky I was to get the opportunity and to actually win as a
participant in my first race. I talked with George and made sure
that he knew I was available whenever he had another open seat in
his racecar. We also talked about the preparation and cost of
getting started in desert racing. My experiences were so bold that
I was already planning to purchase and drive my own racecar in the
SCORE/Laughlin Desert Series someday in the near future. If those
plans are realized, I just hope I’m as successful as I was
during this race with George Seeley, Jr., Bruce Anderson, and Paul
Buster.
I would like to thank everyone that
helped me before, during, and after the race for making a dream
come true. And, for more information about Seeley Racing,
visit
www.SeeleyRacing.com
on the World Wide Web. The next SCORE race is in
Barstow, CA on July 16, 1999.
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