Ensenada Emerges as Overall Winner of
the Baja 500
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by connie ellig & david hopps; photo by connie ellig
Held May 29-June
1, 2008, the 40th
Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500
was a win-win situation for everyone involved including racers, fans,
sponsors,
organizers, Mexican officials and local businesses. Apart from several
minor
injuries inherent to the dangers of desert racing, the event ran
smoothly and
encountered no problems, an occurrence that can be attributed to
security
measures provided by the federal, state and municipal police and the
presence
of Mexican army and navy personnel.
 For the first time in the history of the Baja
500, the
pre-race Manufacturer’s Midway and Contingency, as well as the start
and finish
lines, were all located on Blvd. Costero adjacent to the historic
Riviera
Cultural Center. (In the past, the finish lines have been south of
Ensenada in
Santo Tomás, southeast of Ensenada in Ojos Negros, or on the
outskirts of
Ensenada.) “To place all the race activities on the coastal boulevard
makes a
lot of sense. As a result of having everything centered in downtown
Ensenada
against the scenic backdrop of cruise ships and Todos Santos Bay, the
city more
fully benefits from the race-related international media coverage,”
stated
SCORE CEO/President Sal Fish. “What was truly incredible about this
year’s Baja
500 was the outstanding professional planning among Mexican tourism and
government offices that ensured the security of an event of this
magnitude.
They really stepped up to the challenge!”
Since the conclusion of the 2008
Baja 500, Fish has received
a large number of e-mails from participants, fans and sponsors who have
positive comments about the race. “Many of them state that because of
the
safety and security of the Baja 500, they have a renewed confidence in
Ensenada
and Baja California, and will be making plans to be at the 41st Tecate
SCORE
Baja 1000 to be held later this year on November 19-22,” he declared.
Fish
additionally noted that SCORE hopes to have the start and finish lines
on Blvd.
Costero for this race too.
Felizardo Palacios, the Director of Proturismo (Ensenada’s
Tourist & Convention Bureau), was equally enthusiastic about the
success of
the race. Major Ensenada hotels had an estimated average 98% occupancy
rate on
Friday and Saturday nights, and local businesses received a much-needed
economic boost during the four days of the event. “Everyone deserves to
be
congratulated – the offices of the governor and mayor, the police and
military,
organizers and sponsors, land owners, and especially the well-behaved
fans
along the race course,” stated Palacios. “This impressive spirit of
cooperation
can ensure the success of SCORE races – and other high caliber
international
events – for many years to come.”
Green
Angels and Mexican Police Receive Slime at Baja 500
text
by connie ellig & david hopps; photo by connie ellig
SCORE racers,
sponsors and organizers have a long history of
“giving back to Baja” since the 1970s. Past and ongoing charitable
projects
have included the construction of a medical clinic (no longer
operational) at
Rancho Santa Inés, the “Greening of Baja” planting of pine tree
seedlings, the
expansion of the once-tiny El Oasis Orphanage in Valle de Trinidad, the
renovation of the Jardín de Niños kindergarten in San
Felipe, and fundraisers
for Rancho Sordo Mudo School for the Deaf in Valle de Guadalupe.
Through the
years, race sponsors like Instant Mexico Auto Insurance Services have
donated
ambulances to medical groups in Baja California.
The spirit of giving continued at this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja
500 desert race. As the grand finale of the May 30 media
conference held at the
Riviera Cultural Center, SCORE International CEO/President Sal Fish,
SCORE
Mexican Liaison Oscar Ramos, and the National Marketing Director of
Slime/Accessories
Marketing, Inc., Joe Bowman, presented several thousand dollars worth
of Slime
tire repair products to Mexican police agencies and the Angeles
Verdes
(Green
Angels) who offer free roadside assistance to motorists on Mexico’s
main
highways. Distributed worldwide, Slime is the official tire sealant for
SCORE
International Desert Racing and the preferred tire sealant of the
American
Automobile Association (AAA). Created and manufactured by Accessories
Marketing, Inc. (AMI) of Grover Beach, California, Slime “green goo” is
nontoxic, non-combustible and environmentally friendly.
A Baja aficionado for more than twenty years, Joe Bowman is
familiar with its highways and byways. “Flat tires create dangerous
situations
for motorists and are the number one reason for breakdowns on highways.
By
enabling the Green Angels and police agencies to fix flats fast with
Slime tire
sealant, they can get travelers off the side of the road and keep
themselves
safe too,” he said.
Muchas gracias, Slime, for “giving back to Baja” and truly
honoring the spirit of international friendship in desert racing!
Mexican
police and Green Angels received
donations of Slime tire repair products
from SCORE and Slime representatives at
this year’s Baja 500.
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