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BionicCruiser

BionicCruiser

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Mar 3, 2003
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Albuquerque, NM
and it's not pappy saying it!:flipoff2:

we are prerunning parts of the course, and I am running a chase van. very fun. we saw a trophy truck today out on the trail. those things are crazy! tomorrow prerunning course sections down closer to San Felipe.
we're staying in a house in Ensenada till race day. ocean views from the back door and a bar literally 25 yards from the front door.
don't know how often I'll get net access, but contact Jill if you want the links to keep track of us. race starts Thursday!

see-ya!:steer:
 
whew, long day yesterday! the bikes have prerun about 100 miles each day so far. yesterday we were out by San Felipe. the first time we have been really checked by the military at the check points. tapping on the van with mallets and everything.
we didn't get back to Ensenada till after 10pm. got to see the sea of cortez though! I have suggested that we get photos up on a photobucket type site for viewing. we got some great video where the course runs right next to the highway yesterday. later, out of sight of us, one bike hit 90mph on the dry lake bed.
today is sign up/registration at the race HQ, and then tear down/service of the race bike. then it's pit/rider change strategy discussion. the basic plan is in place, and the maps on the computer are done.
ok, time to help out around here and get bfast.
 
Sounds like an adventure Shawn! Thanks for keeping us posted.
 
BionicCruiser said:
the first time we have been really checked by the military at the check points. tapping on the van with mallets and everything.
Click to expand...

Ya, that check point at Hwy 3 and Hwy 5 can be intense. They are usually in full swing for race week and the inspections can be more than usual. Like I said, keep an eye on them when they are searching and only let one person search at a time ... unless you have the eyes.

BionicCruiser said:
got to see the sea of cortez though!
Click to expand...

[sigh] Ain't she purdy? The Gulf south of San Felipe is the best. Wait until you see Gonzaga Bay. You won't want to leave. Enjoy. Be safe. Have a fish taco for me. You will quickly know why ....
 
pappy said:
... and only let one person search at a time ... unless you have the eyes.
Click to expand...

I'm trying to visualize exactly how one non-Spanish speaking 'merican would communicate to half dozen armed Mexican military dudes that they will not be allowed to search my vehicle except one at a time.

I've been told you have a brass set but that takes significantly more macho than Mikie is going to be able to muster.

-Mike-
 
Having spent time overseas in the military I can assure you that the line between "having a brass set" and being stoopid is sometimes nonexistent in the third world. I knew guys with "brass sets" that just disappeared...
 
Na, they expect it. Just keep the extra doors locked and unlock as necessary as you walk around the truck with them. Hopefully Shawn learned that they, for the most part, are nice kids. OK, they have assault rifles, but they are still nice kids. :grinpimp:
 
x2 with Pappy. Usually they're just doing a job and they are aware that you are watching intently. Sometimes they just sniff around, other times take you down to bare bones. I've been searched many times and never had a problem or anything go missing. However, I usually try to engage one of them in some conversation.
 
Usually true. It's a bunch of individuals though, and you don't know who or what the controlling attitude will be. Also depends on what you have to lose.
 
we are lucky to have 2 natives on the team. one grew up in Ensenada, the other's mother is from Baja. both are fluent and very familiar with procedures at these check points. we have 4 guys minimum in each van, so plenty of eyes. most times they look in the window, ask where we are coming from and are we in the race. then let us go. the one at hwy 3 and 5 pappy mentioned there are 2 check points within 1/4 mile, one on each highway. the whole area is lit up and excited about the race. kids run up asking for stickers, waves and smiles from everyone when they see the bikes.
yesterday went well. we got everyone checked in with SCORE. we had fish and shrimp tacos at a taco stand. more delicious food. one guy said his was to spicy. I asked what he put on it. he says just pico de gallo, and cheese. there's no cheese up there. it was habanero. he was hurting pretty good and we laughed pretty hard at him. the taco stands, you just eat till full, then tell them how many you ate and they total it up for you. seems very odd to have an honor system.
last nights dinner was killer. baja style fajitas. there was BACON in there! a lady in the dining room making the tortillas fresh in front of us. I'm certainly not losing any weight.
today we are stocking up for the race, and training on electronics, 1st aide (I'm giving that one), and race plan. Tom (the last rider to arrive)arrived last night, so he is prerunning to get used to the terrain here(all these guys are from Atlanta, Ga.). also, they are doing some night riding for practice. Scott(my brother in law/rider) is finishing up tune ups on the bikes this afternoon before the rides.
right across the street from us is going to be the fuel depot for the race. we expect to see tons of race vehicles going in there. that will be cool. those trophy trucks are so sweet! the buggys look fun too.
below I put in some pics for your viewing pleasure. it's hard to upload a lot because we are on a cell phone internet connection, which is a little slow. i keep adding more, so you can check often.
more later!

baja 1000 pictures by bioniccruiser - Photobucket
 
Yer killing me. Two things I don't cross the border with ... tortillas n creveza.

I am starting to get concerned. We may never see you again. It's hard to explain what Baja is. It needs to be felt. Both the natural history and it's culture. Enjoy.

Oh, and you suck ... cuz you are there and I'm not. :flipoff2:

:beer: <- BTW Corona is not an option. Pacifico is. Forgot to tell you that.
 
unfortunately Tecate is friggin everywhere! it's like budweiser, including taste, and I think you all know how I feel about that. they are sponsors of the race. the "beer stores" usually only 1 or 2 brands of beer. you have to go to one that sells what you want. the one closest here is Tecate...

DosXX is second easiest to find. the amber is acceptable. Pacifico third so far. have to try it again to see if I can do it. :beer:

however, no bad tequila so far!:flipoff2:
one of the riders keeps buying shots for everyone at dinner. I may have to get the Baja 1000 commemorative bottle. only 1064 bottles will be sold(actual miles of this years race). $70, but they are very cool.:cheers:
 
Sounds like a blast, Shawn! Keep the updates coming.
 
we had a malfunction with a internet card, so comm has been tougher since yesterday.
we have been very busy today. it's the final prep. we did tech inspection this morning. the town has exploded with people! contingency (the line where vehicles go through tech inspection) was crazy. I have pics for later. I am cooking dinner, so I have to go. the rest of the crew are packing vans right now. race plans/ crew meetings are about done, and we are about ready for a race! I have to be up very early to be out at rider change 1. the trackers will be running tomorrow and logging about every 30 mins. rider is a nonstop stream of location... I think. contact the nerve center in Atlanta if you need more info on how to track us. someone here should be able to post up the links. if you have them, please post.

and as we have been saying to everyone- "see you in La Paz!".
 
Ummm, that doesn't look good. The lead moto is past LA Bay, and 252 is traveling 0mph and hasn't made it to Gonzaga Bay yet. Also, if Shawn is Chase One, he is way off course. Almost looks like he is headed back to HWY 1 to try and meet in LA Bay taking a quicker route (4 hours ago). Problem is, from where 252 is, LA Bay is a long ways off. Hope he has fuel.

OK, 252 is back up to 36mph. Must have taken a pee break.:D

This is bitchin' technology.
 
Chase 1 seems to be either too busy/preoccupied to send out their tracking info. Or their tracking is not working. I figure they are too distracted, since the race still on.
S told me before the race that they met Jesse James down there with his trophy truck. I think he is entered as Jesse Jones.
 
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