RIDGE
03-10-2008, 09:09 AM
Well, my wife, Joey, and I were bummed I couldn't race this year's Baja 1000, so we helped one of the truck teams by transporting our friend, Camo, who was driving in the race on team PIRATE4X4.COM.
Joey
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/DrivingtoSanIgnacio2.jpg
Camo and me
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/MonsterGirls.jpg
We had to take Camo about 500 miles south of the border. Our plan was to follow the race truck all the way to Cabo San Lucas, where the race ended. On our way home, we wanted to take our time, visit with our friend Greg, and see some cool stuff! Well, we got to do just that, and here's how it went down!
This was our first taco stand stop out of Ensenada. They served goat (who knew they were good for more than just cuddling?) and the best tasting Coca-Cola you've tasted in years (if you're from the States). They taste sweeter for some reason, like Coke used to when I was a kid.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/BajaSet1018.jpg
Next stop, San Ignacio. It was 3am and we shouldn't have been on the road. It is a very dangerous road during the day time, but at night there are many drunken locals and semi-trucks on the road. The safest way to travel at night is behind a big-rig. We made it to our destination without incident...this time! Heavy rains had flooded most of the small towns we drove through and the mud was pretty deep in some areas. Here are some pictures of the mission in San Ignacio. Construction on it started in the 1760s and it is still used today!
I don't know what that red signal is above Joey's head. Do you think 'somebody' is trying to tell me something? Hahahaha.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/BajaSet1027.jpg
This was so high up without anything to grab on to, so I made do with what was there.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/KissingSteps.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/VansTurn.jpg
When Camo gets in the race truck, the chase crew, as we're called, has to drive like hell to keep up with him; which is just fine with me. Sometimes the chase trucks have to leap-frog pit stops if the race car is going too fast for them. Unfortunately, our team had a problem with one of the chase trucks, so we all had to haul butt! I think our drive through the mountains was more dangerous than being in the race car! What made the mountains so dangerous was Lance, the next race driver to get in the race truck, was not feeling well at all. That left the driver's seat open and I wanted in!!! Here is a short story of what happened next. I pulled this off Pirate4x4.com. Hopefully, you guys will enjoy this!
From Jeff:
"For those that were'nt there;
It was 2 or 3 in the morning. We're hauling [butt] outside of Loreto through the hills trying to keep up with Camo. We had just met up with Chris and Joey (Chase 7) via radio at this point and figured out they are who's in this old E150 van that shouldn't even be this far south in Baja, except for the fact that it's a total "walk away" (if this thing breaks down and you got a backpack and a thumb, you're better off than if you have a toolbox).
So right about the time we hit the windies with cliffs on both sides we find out Lance ain't coming to drive his leg, and discussion of who we're going to put in the drivers seat crackles over the radio. At this point we all have to push even harder to make time. Well, we're running behind the E150, that's E as in E-ticket, and Gerb has his hands full keeping it between the ditches, but I KNOW we're idiots. This guy in the van in front of us is laying down his [effing] resume, sticking corners in a drift and throwing it into the next one hard on the throttle so that the coils bind to get him the control back that the factory 1969 shocks gave up in '74. Now I'm thinking maybe he's Mexican 'cause he's using the road like he pays taxes on it from white line to white line.
We considered backing off as Gerb chirped the BFG T/As a few times in the turns, but decided to race the ETicket to the scene of the accident, so we could watch the whole show.
From my view from behind, I could see clearly through the passengers window several times and noticed that Joey was nowhere to be found. I assumed she must have taken a ride with a sane person. Only when we stopped this petite rocket climbs out of the bed in back of the van rubbing her eyes and yawning. Damn van guys get all the chicks.
__________________
Jeff Mello
From Dave: "...one thing i honestly never thought i'd see in my life was a 60's ford econoline drifting.... talk about impressive to watch, and that your wife never woke up!!!"
Here's a picture of the Jeepspeed race truck.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/PittingforRoggy.jpg
Well, I didn't get to drive in the Jeepspeed but I had fun trying to impress them! The team won the Jeepspeed class for the second year in a row.
Joey and I stayed in Cabo for a couple days but we were mostly just planning out our drive home. By the way, it was about 80* and sunny in November! Here is the drive into Cabo, which is obviously under big construction!
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/BajaSet1090.jpg
This was a little beach we found near Cabo.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/VanLovesBeachToo.jpg
On our way out of town, we stopped by Greg's house for some van talking, picture taking, and engine tuning good times! My van was so dirty from all of the mud, dust, and road grime of a 1100 mile trip, that we just had to get it washed! Greg washed his too at his favorite car wash. It was a smokin deal at $50 pecos ($5.00 US)! Greg lives on the second floor, which in Mexico, means somebody elses roof...literally! That's his dog standing guard by the stairs. While Greg and I talked and tuned up the van, Joey made us some dinner.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/BajaSet2003.jpg
...continued
Joey
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/DrivingtoSanIgnacio2.jpg
Camo and me
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/MonsterGirls.jpg
We had to take Camo about 500 miles south of the border. Our plan was to follow the race truck all the way to Cabo San Lucas, where the race ended. On our way home, we wanted to take our time, visit with our friend Greg, and see some cool stuff! Well, we got to do just that, and here's how it went down!
This was our first taco stand stop out of Ensenada. They served goat (who knew they were good for more than just cuddling?) and the best tasting Coca-Cola you've tasted in years (if you're from the States). They taste sweeter for some reason, like Coke used to when I was a kid.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/BajaSet1018.jpg
Next stop, San Ignacio. It was 3am and we shouldn't have been on the road. It is a very dangerous road during the day time, but at night there are many drunken locals and semi-trucks on the road. The safest way to travel at night is behind a big-rig. We made it to our destination without incident...this time! Heavy rains had flooded most of the small towns we drove through and the mud was pretty deep in some areas. Here are some pictures of the mission in San Ignacio. Construction on it started in the 1760s and it is still used today!
I don't know what that red signal is above Joey's head. Do you think 'somebody' is trying to tell me something? Hahahaha.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/BajaSet1027.jpg
This was so high up without anything to grab on to, so I made do with what was there.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/KissingSteps.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/VansTurn.jpg
When Camo gets in the race truck, the chase crew, as we're called, has to drive like hell to keep up with him; which is just fine with me. Sometimes the chase trucks have to leap-frog pit stops if the race car is going too fast for them. Unfortunately, our team had a problem with one of the chase trucks, so we all had to haul butt! I think our drive through the mountains was more dangerous than being in the race car! What made the mountains so dangerous was Lance, the next race driver to get in the race truck, was not feeling well at all. That left the driver's seat open and I wanted in!!! Here is a short story of what happened next. I pulled this off Pirate4x4.com. Hopefully, you guys will enjoy this!
From Jeff:
"For those that were'nt there;
It was 2 or 3 in the morning. We're hauling [butt] outside of Loreto through the hills trying to keep up with Camo. We had just met up with Chris and Joey (Chase 7) via radio at this point and figured out they are who's in this old E150 van that shouldn't even be this far south in Baja, except for the fact that it's a total "walk away" (if this thing breaks down and you got a backpack and a thumb, you're better off than if you have a toolbox).
So right about the time we hit the windies with cliffs on both sides we find out Lance ain't coming to drive his leg, and discussion of who we're going to put in the drivers seat crackles over the radio. At this point we all have to push even harder to make time. Well, we're running behind the E150, that's E as in E-ticket, and Gerb has his hands full keeping it between the ditches, but I KNOW we're idiots. This guy in the van in front of us is laying down his [effing] resume, sticking corners in a drift and throwing it into the next one hard on the throttle so that the coils bind to get him the control back that the factory 1969 shocks gave up in '74. Now I'm thinking maybe he's Mexican 'cause he's using the road like he pays taxes on it from white line to white line.
We considered backing off as Gerb chirped the BFG T/As a few times in the turns, but decided to race the ETicket to the scene of the accident, so we could watch the whole show.
From my view from behind, I could see clearly through the passengers window several times and noticed that Joey was nowhere to be found. I assumed she must have taken a ride with a sane person. Only when we stopped this petite rocket climbs out of the bed in back of the van rubbing her eyes and yawning. Damn van guys get all the chicks.
__________________
Jeff Mello
From Dave: "...one thing i honestly never thought i'd see in my life was a 60's ford econoline drifting.... talk about impressive to watch, and that your wife never woke up!!!"
Here's a picture of the Jeepspeed race truck.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/PittingforRoggy.jpg
Well, I didn't get to drive in the Jeepspeed but I had fun trying to impress them! The team won the Jeepspeed class for the second year in a row.
Joey and I stayed in Cabo for a couple days but we were mostly just planning out our drive home. By the way, it was about 80* and sunny in November! Here is the drive into Cabo, which is obviously under big construction!
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/BajaSet1090.jpg
This was a little beach we found near Cabo.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/VanLovesBeachToo.jpg
On our way out of town, we stopped by Greg's house for some van talking, picture taking, and engine tuning good times! My van was so dirty from all of the mud, dust, and road grime of a 1100 mile trip, that we just had to get it washed! Greg washed his too at his favorite car wash. It was a smokin deal at $50 pecos ($5.00 US)! Greg lives on the second floor, which in Mexico, means somebody elses roof...literally! That's his dog standing guard by the stairs. While Greg and I talked and tuned up the van, Joey made us some dinner.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/Baja%202007/BajaSet2003.jpg
...continued