Rick Sieman

Each year, the Baja 1000 grows and each year, the madness in contingency row grows. Held a day before the race, tech/contingency is a cluster of city streets blocked off, lined with booths from vendors and racing suppliers, and mobbed by people who want to get close up and personal with the cars, trucks, buggies, bikes and ATVs.

You just don't wander south to see the Baja 1000; you go there to immerse yourself in the entire Baja experience. It starts when you cross the border, and watch the road riders take their helmets off and lash them to sides of their bikes. Right here, you realize they're all in search of a taste of freedom that's all but vanished in America. Yes, Baja is looser, and maybe you won't find all the comforts

A few years ago, the best off-road racer in the world stopped racing. Ivan Stewart, at the top of his game, simply did not appear at the races any more. All sorts of rumors floated around. But we figured out the best way to get to the bottom of things, was to sit down with Ivan and ask him some loaded questions.

With the Off-Road.com crew scattered all over the Baja peninsula for the 35th running of the legendary classic race, it fell to Rick Sieman and Fred Mooney to cover the happenings at the start in Ensenada

Get Mexican insurance before you cross the border. While you may not (or may) want full coverage, you should opt for the legal assistance for a very small extra fee. This give you legal representation in case you get in some sort of serious accident.

Casey Folks puts on some of the toughest off-road races imaginable, with most of them being held in Nevada. He also has a reputation for doing things right and treating the racers properly.

Curt LeDuc has been on the off-road racing scene for many, many years. He first caught the attention of the press when he gave Walker Evans the battle of his life at Riverside Raceway during the World Championships. At that time, everybody knew who Walker was, because he was a major force in short course racing, with full Dodge factory backing. And Curt LeDuc was ? who?

Feeling crummy about things? Worried about the threats to America? Stocking up on gas masks and anti-biotics?

November 2001 -- Get Mexican insurance before you cross the border. While you may not (or may) want full coverage, you should opt for the legal assistance for a very small extra fee. This give you legal representation in case you get in some sort of serious accident.