Baja 1000 2016

[aki]

It's that time again. We are on the road, we'll cross the border Saturday morning. My plans changed a little due to my health issues and other's health issues. I am supporting a pro moto team 301x and Trophy Truck Spec team 288 (Mark Luhtala from West Palm Beach). My section is race mile 415 to 590. The race map is available in score international web site under race info and then baja 1000. The race starts Friday the 18th at 6 am pacific time and has 36 hour time limit. It can be followed live on the same web site. It'll be interesting to see what happens to Colton Udall. He plans to solo the race, he is in open pro class and seems to have Mark Samuels as his spare rider I suppose if something happens to Colton Mark can finish the race.
I will pre run my section probably twice Sunday and Monday, it ends up being a 300 mile loop because the last part crosses to highway 3 and I have to take the race course back to highway 1 to get back to my truck.
I'll try to post pics or video depending on the Wi-Fi situation.

[johnnyb300]

Aki,
Sorry to hear about the health issues. I hope they're only temporary.
As always, best wishes for a strong finish. Keep us posted.
John B.

[jes]

Aki,

Safe travels there and back, and all the best to you as you race your section!

[aki]

Just a quick update. I'm having some wifi and youtube poblems, so I have not been able to upload gopro videos.
We made it here a week a go in one piece. Our trailer hitch broke loose in Texas and had some scary moments.
I ended up pre running about 300 miles over two days early this week. We did the race course down south along the pacific just for fun. There were some incredible views out there, some places the 10-15 waves were crashing onto the race course where you had to literally dodge waves. I filmed my Dust To Glory moment, buddy of mine was about a quarter mile ahead on the course that was about 100 feet from the shore, I was able to get to the water line for about 1.5 miles and just pin it. We have to try that in Florida with all the beaches, riding is very good right at the water line. We turned around at San Quinton. and rode the north bound race course back which was pretty rocky and silty. We did a night ride from rm 520 to 590 which is a short cut between highway 1 and 3 that I have done many times and it was very fast, there was huge amount of pre run traffic, local traffic and cattle. There were accidents with rescue people, at one point we had to elbow our way through the cattle on the road.
The race is still going on right now. I chased my rider in 30 pro class, 301X from rm 430 to 520. It was difficult to keep up with him with the traffic on the roads, the trophy trucks caught up to him at about rm 500 and we were on the race course couple of times when it came to the pavement with trophy trucks passing us. It was pretty exciting driving when the trophys were trying to keep their 60 mph speed with truck, spectator and chase traffic just flashing lights and sirens on down the center of road.
We got done chasing our rider and were home by mid night. It seems that out team was 2nd in over 30 pro class.
My friend in Throphy truck class number 288, Mark Luhtala from Florida hit another race car 5 am this morning head on both driving 60 miles per hour at rm 590. He has been flown to San Diego hospital.
I'll post a video if I ever get it uploaded.