Weekend Warrior - On the Way to the Finish: A Baja 1000 Checklist

In last year's DR web article "A Lot of Dust, A little Glory" we contemplated turning from a volunteer Honda motorcycle pit crew to an amateur Baja motorcycle race team. In 2005, we did in fact decide to throw our helmet into the ring and pulled off a finish. We have combined our knowledge from vast years as a pit crew, with what we learned in the 2005 Baja 1000, and prepared an amateur racer's checklist that everyone should have in order to make it to the finish line of the Baja 1000. We also give a little commentary on how things worked out for us during pre-running and the race.

1. Find Out What Motivates You To Get Into Condition

Physical conditioning is critical for the Baja, and you have to be motivated to start serious workouts about a year before the race.

Whenever I needed motivation at the gym I imagined that I was night racing the Baja, and a 400 HP sand rail, with 17 huge HID lights, was breathing down my neck. I know... it sounds ridiculous that such a vehicle could exist!

 
2. Get A Catchy Team Name and Logo

These days you just have to have a catchy team name and memorable logo. Our team name was Medicine Ball Racing and my son Charlie drew the logo. Our goal was to pass the big red XR 650 medicine ball around the course until we finished. Our team consisted of Rich Barrows, John Snyder, Kerry Ketchum, and Mike Kunz.

3. Always Have Enough Fuel

Do not go out into the desert without planning to have plenty of fuel. Pre-running 125 to 225 miles a day requires mucho fuel! Don't assume that a guy with a 7-gallon tank is going to share.

Note: It's probably legal to wear fuel in Mexico, but not recommended.

4. Pre-Run, Prepare To Pre-Run, and Pre-Run

Pre-running is life insurance for racers. Our first day of pre-running consisted of 50 miles of tough rocks followed by 75 miles of sand washes. In the northwest we ride on a lot of rocks, but at the beginning of our pre-running we couldn't believe how slow we were going.

Things got better after the third pre-run. We found that when not pre-running you have to prepare for the next day's pre-run. It is a lot like running a multi-day ISDE Qualifier, where you ride all day and then get as much service work done as you can before impound. In Baja, during late November, darkness becomes the impound time.

5. Ride Like Johnny

We're sitting in the middle of a 40-mile long section of big whoops catching our breath, when a friendly and informative guy rides up on a XR650. He says, "Boy, you can be riding the whoops out here thinking your Johnny Campbell and the next thing you know your on your head!"

We say, "Yeah, we know. Look at the back of the XR 400, it just got cart wheeled." We all got off our bikes in the whoops at least once.

 
6. Brighten Your Future

You go to have good lights for racing the Baja 1000. The brighter they are, the faster and safer you will be.

HID lights are the current rage. But, if your bike has a stator that is capable of 200 watts or more there are many options.

7. Drink Plenty Of Fluids

It is hard to say what is more dangerous: making Coco Loco's, drinking Coco Loco's, or riding the San Felipe whoops.

8. Be A Rock Star And Give A Little To The Fans

9. Prepare For The Worst; Check and Double Check

We checked and double-checked wiring, nuts, bolts, and fluids. We had back up plans for possible problems, and unfortunately, the worst happened when the bike's co-owner, John Snyder, crashed during pre-running two days before the race. He sustained a badly broken hand, was now out of the race and had to fly home. Implementing our plan, for going from a three to a four-person team, was a harsh reality. 10. Build Monster Karma

In our view, having good Karma means that you do right by others, and they will do right by you. You can build your self and your team good Karma several different ways. We do it by being friendly and helping out others when we can. For example, while pre-running way out in the desert, we gave a quad pre-runner two full gallons of gas out of our tanks to make sure he got back to his chase crew before dark. We came across another rider who had also run out of gas and was on foot. We ended up riding him double for several miles to help him out and we even changed a flat tire for another team during the race. Lastly, we tactfully asked one of the Monster Garage chase drivers (Brian) to talk to Baja newcomer, Jesse James, about being careful racing with dirt bikes. Brian reassured us that since Jesse is a "biker" that he would watch out for dirt bikes. You got to have good Karma for the Baja, because you never know when you will need it.

11. Get Past The Start... Way Past

Since your whole team is counting on you to deliver the bike in one piece, the first few miles it is especially critical to not do anything stupid. The start of this year's Baja 1000 was crowded with racers, celebrities, camera crews, and helicopters. It also had way more spectators then I had ever ridden in front of before. With all the pressure, I only did first-gear wheelies for the crowd.

12. Hang Tough and No Sniveling

Down to three riders on a brutal course, things were not the best for Team Medicine Ball, but we did not whine about it. While coming through the Matomi Wash we lost time replacing a leaky counter shaft seal and then we got thrown into a nasty combination of darkness, fog and dust that slowed us down even more. Up against the wall with our pits starting to close, we formulated a game plan to finish within the allotted time.

Next, we rode smart and borrowed gas when we could. At one point, we even left the racecourse and bought gas from a church, and then resumed racing. I cashed in some good Karma when I narrowly avoided colliding with a Toyota Tundra chase rig that was on the course. We eventually made up time and caught up to our own open Honda pits and then cruised to the finish, well within the SCORE overall time limit, of 30 hours.

13. Finish and Start Smiling— You Deserve It!

14. Lastly, Thank Your Sponsors

Pros may have just a few sponsors but for amateurs there is a lot of people that will lend a hand. We had lots of help with chase driving, bike set up, and race strategy and in the end it felt like we had lots of sponsorship. We thank the following:

Chuck Barrows
Jim Barrows
Dave McKay
Bruce Ogilvie
Roger McCoy
Phil Crosby
Paul Ostebo
Taber Murphy
Fred Ankeny
Denise Barnum
Fred Brown
Jeff Johnson
John Harris
Ned Suesse

Rocky Mountain Cycle - Colorado Springs
Procaliber - Vancouver WA
Apex Sports - Colorado Springs
Quad Team 54A - Loaned fuel
Two Guys at Lluna Colorado BFG Pit - Loaned fuel
Erendira Catholic Church - Became a Baja pit by selling fuel
Anderson's Cycle - Vancouver WA
Honda Pits