Family and friends of racers won’t all be sailing in the Lexus Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race this month. However, everyone can participate in many of the race events and welcome the boats as they arrive in Ensenada.
 
Along with the new title sponsor, Lexus, the race will feature a new headquarters at the Hotel Coral and Marina, a new finish line which is visible from shore and a Saturday night fiesta at Hotel Coral that will be an event for the record books.
 
For those not racing and wanting to join in the festivities in Ensenada, round-trip bus service will be available from Newport Beach, Dana Point and San Diego.
 
The 125-nautical-mile race starts on Friday, April 27, and the fun starts earlier:
 
-- Lexus N2E Race Launch Party will feature a display of race boats, Mark Wood Parrott Head Band, Woody car exhibit, children’s boat building and much more. This event is free and everyone is invited to join in the festivities on Sunday, April 22, 12-4pm. It is hosted by Explore Ocean and will be held at the Village of Balboa Fun Zone.
 
-- Yachtsmen’s Luncheon, Wednesday, April 25, 11:30am-1:30pm at Newport Harbor Yacht Club and everyone is welcome. Andy Rose, a co-owner of It’s OK, will be the featured speaker and share favorite Ensenada Race stories.
 
-- The famous Pre-Race Fiesta Thursday night, April 26, begins at 5pm at Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.
 
And, of course, viewing the race start at 11am on Friday, April 27, from the Balboa Pier is a great thrill.
 
Chuck Iverson, commodore of the organizing Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA), said, “Lexus’ presence elevates the race to a new level of esteem. NOSA is proud to have our two traditions of exceptional performance working together.”
 
Since its debut in 1989, Lexus has earned a reputation for high-quality products and exemplary customer service from its 229 dealers. Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader, offering five hybrids that provide the best in innovative technology and first-class luxury. When it began, Lexus offered two models of vehicles. Now, more than 20 years later, Lexus offers variations of 10 vehicles, from the sporty CT 200h hybrid to the V10 supercar, the LFA.
 
Click here for a complete schedule of 65th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race events and details about bus transportation, hotel reservations, crew possibilities and other information.
LOS ANGELES—Prominent Mexican racer Juan C. Lopez along with Cody Parkhouse, Mike Brown and Josh Frederick all drew pole positions in their respective division during Saturday’s drawing for starting positions in the upcoming 44th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race. The draw was held at the SCORE International headquarters in Los Angeles.
 
Round 4 of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series will feature over 275 entries, competing in 28 Pro and 7 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, and it will be held June 1-3 in Ensenada, Mexico.
 
SCORE is in its 39th year as the world’s foremost desert racing organization and this race is traditionally one of the most popular events on the SCORE schedule, with most the world’s best desert racers in action at this year’s 44th anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the original desert race produced by SCORE on July 26, 1974. (read entire press release)

The Baja Review is a new publication for our area. It’s a hard copy, print on paper newspaper with no breaking news. It’s published once a month around the 28th. The focus is good restaurants, wineries, hotels, music, outdoor life, events, and community. My agenda is to inform, comfort and encourage the English speaking ex-pats living here, to support and stimulate the Mexican economy, and in time, to reach and reassure the folks contemplating tourism in northern Baja. For 18 months I worked as the volunteer editor-in-chief for the Baja News. It was a great opportunity and I enjoyed helping. In December I gave notice, and in January 2012 I began this new adventure.
 
The Baja Review has some excellent writers: Tom Gatch, of Hooked on Baja fame, is doing the fishing column and a restaurant review column. Carla White, a local wine expert, is doing the wine column, Dave Kamena, who does the “outside edge” column for Baja Times, is doing a remodel column for us. Bob Yourell, of the local news in English on cable TV, does an occasional interesting column on Mexican customs. We have a surf column by the young and passionate Ross Armenta. Bunny Wingate, a funny, cheerful soul does some food reviews and occasional other columns for our entertainment. Bobby Foster and Hanunah Ross, the fascinating couple who brought us doo wop music from Las Vegas, have agreed to do a quarterly column on music and happenings around here. Sometimes I have a classical music review (none at the moment so the job is open if you’re interested!)
 
If you have something to send me that fits generally into the categories we focus on, you are welcome, less that 500 words please and nothing scary or contentious. Ads are cheap, $3dlls. a square inch. Call me at (646)155-0581 or e-mail at barbara.keller3@gmail.com with questions or submissions.
 
Because I’m good at creating and editing the paper but not so good at distributing the 6000 copies, I have set up a system I hope will work. Following are the places the papers will be dropped in bulk. Please feel free to go and pick up one for yourself, or 30 for your housing development, or business, or cafe, or club meeting, or dance group. I really wish I could take them all over but I am currently unable to do so. Thanks for understanding and for looking around for one to read and some to share.
 
>From South to North you can find the Baja Review during the first week of the month at:
 
PUNTA BANDA: Baja Mama’s Cafe in Cantu, cell tel. (646)137-0704.
 
IN ENSENADA: Café Orleans, 1370 Lázaro Cárdenas Blvd, tel. (646)178-3286; and L.A. Cetto Cava, Km. 108 highway north of Ensenada, (646)175-2362.
 
VALLE DE GUADALUPE: Ochentos Pizza in San Antonio de las Minas, tel. (646)156-8305; and L.A. Cetto Winery (in boutique), Km. 73 Carr. Tecate-Ensenada, tel. (646)155-2179.
 
BETWEEN ENSENADA AND ROSARITO: La Fonda, Km. 59, tel. (646)155-0308; Baja’s Click-on.com Business Center, Km. 44.4 free road just south of Puerto Nuevo, tel. (661)614-0513; Splash, Km. 52, just south of Medio Camino exit from toll road, tel. (661)164-0095.
 
ROSARITO AREA: The Mongolian Grill, Km 29.5, (2 miles south of the Rosarito Beach Hotel), tel. (661)100-6244; The Mail Room, (in back of the old Rene’s restaurant); Paletería La Fuente Ice Cream, 32 Benito Juárez Blvd., tel. (661)102-2858; International Mail and Business Center, Oceana Plaza, one block west of the main boulevard.
 
SAN ANTONIO DEL MAR: Plan B restaurant and bar on the east side of the highway.