topes
09-25-2009, 04:24 AM
This year's Baja 1000 is scheduled for November 19th. Being newly retired and very bored, I've made the decision to mount my DR 650 and run the race... Well, observe the race at a safe distance. I'm an experienced Mexico rider with well over 20k miles south of the border with a hankering too see the greatest race on the planet up close before I die.
Word is, this year's race will be a loop that starts and ends in Mexicali. (I don't put a lot of stock in rumors.) I figure we can catch the race at a few choice points either on pavement or off somewhere in the desert. The main goal is to not be killed by a trophy truck or by another Merican tourist. I do plan to engage in some beer drinking and mingling with the native population as long as said beer drinking can be done in a reasonably safe manner. No, you won't bother me if you choose to remain sober.
Now, in regard to post race activities, I've flirted with the idea of heading for the deep southern nether lands of the Baja and taking the ferry over to Mazatlan. I've done the devil's spine, Highway 40, and found it to be an amazing 8-10 hours of wondrous twisties. (The dragon on steroids.) I'm perfectly willing to risk falling a few thousand feet to see the section between Mazatlan and Durango for the third time. We could finish up by running 40 to Torreon where we could take 30 up through Cuatro Cienegas and Monclova. We could come out at either Eagle Pass or Laredo. With all this said, I'm fairly open minded as far as routes are concerned and willing to modify the above itinerary should someone else care to join the trip.
You should know that I plan on surviving the trip and I will ride accordingly. If you're the type that drags knees through Mexican twisties without much concern for diesel spills or stalled buses, you're probably going to be riding alone quite a bit. I'm in no hurry and 300 mile days are just fine with me. (With the exception of the ride out to California on I10.) You should also be riding a bike that is capable of some moderate off pavement riding.
Other than the above conditions, I'm a mean old grumpy dude with a penchant for expressing unpopular opinions and you should not be thin skinned. I admire folks who have the huevos to tell me I'm full of beans. Also, I'm not your mother or your mechanic. I'd be more than happy to pitch in when stuff happens, and I expect you to do the same. (Had some bad experiences.) I'm an advocate of the team concept for Mexico trips. We leave no one behind and we all share the load when things go wrong.
Well, let me know if you're interested. This could be fairly adventurous.
Word is, this year's race will be a loop that starts and ends in Mexicali. (I don't put a lot of stock in rumors.) I figure we can catch the race at a few choice points either on pavement or off somewhere in the desert. The main goal is to not be killed by a trophy truck or by another Merican tourist. I do plan to engage in some beer drinking and mingling with the native population as long as said beer drinking can be done in a reasonably safe manner. No, you won't bother me if you choose to remain sober.
Now, in regard to post race activities, I've flirted with the idea of heading for the deep southern nether lands of the Baja and taking the ferry over to Mazatlan. I've done the devil's spine, Highway 40, and found it to be an amazing 8-10 hours of wondrous twisties. (The dragon on steroids.) I'm perfectly willing to risk falling a few thousand feet to see the section between Mazatlan and Durango for the third time. We could finish up by running 40 to Torreon where we could take 30 up through Cuatro Cienegas and Monclova. We could come out at either Eagle Pass or Laredo. With all this said, I'm fairly open minded as far as routes are concerned and willing to modify the above itinerary should someone else care to join the trip.
You should know that I plan on surviving the trip and I will ride accordingly. If you're the type that drags knees through Mexican twisties without much concern for diesel spills or stalled buses, you're probably going to be riding alone quite a bit. I'm in no hurry and 300 mile days are just fine with me. (With the exception of the ride out to California on I10.) You should also be riding a bike that is capable of some moderate off pavement riding.
Other than the above conditions, I'm a mean old grumpy dude with a penchant for expressing unpopular opinions and you should not be thin skinned. I admire folks who have the huevos to tell me I'm full of beans. Also, I'm not your mother or your mechanic. I'd be more than happy to pitch in when stuff happens, and I expect you to do the same. (Had some bad experiences.) I'm an advocate of the team concept for Mexico trips. We leave no one behind and we all share the load when things go wrong.
Well, let me know if you're interested. This could be fairly adventurous.