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Andy & Scott McMillin Capture SCORE Trophy Truck & Overall Four Wheel Victory and Norman/Cody/Holladay Win Overall Motorcycle at 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000
published on November 20, 2011 by score-international.com
photos
by botello/hopps photography

ENSENADA, Mexico – For the second time in three years, the Southern California son and father race team of Andy and Scott McMillin have etched their names again on the granite history of the world’s most legendary desert race and along with the team of Kendall Norman/Quinn Cody/Logan Holladay advanced their part in motorsports history by capturing the overall 4wheel and 2wheel victories in the 44th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. The season finale of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series ended late Saturday (November 19) in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
 
Andy McMillin, 24, and his father Scott McMillin, 51, of San Diego, teamed as they did in this race in 2009 to capture the overall 4wheel title in the granddaddy of all desert racing in their No. 31 McMillin Realty Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy Truck. The featured SCORE racing division had a race-high 29 starters.
 
1x norman crosses the finish lineNorman, Santa Barbara, Calif., Cody, Los Olivos, Calif. and Holladay, Buellton, Calif., team on the No. 1x JCR Honda Racing Honda CRF450X withstood the challenge to cover the 705-mile course in the fastest time of all 278 starters in the race. In the unlimited Class 1 that had 25 starters, 18-year old Justin Davis, Chino Hills, Calif., powered his Chevy-powered ESM open-wheel desert race car to his third class win of the year in his first year in the ultra-competitive class.
 
After complete review of the data tracking devices used by each vehicle in the race and with time penalties assessed accordingly for course deviations and/or speeding on the brief pavement seconds used as part of the race course, the results were declared official by SCORE International officials on Sunday morning.
 
As the finish line in the heart of Ensenada closed Saturday night at 10:18 p.m. PST for 155 official finishers in the 44th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, it was obvious that another memorable and colorful chapter had been added to the legacy of this popular desert race in the northern part of the magnificent Baja California peninsula.
 
With 278 starters leaving the Ensenada starting line on Friday morning, competitors from 34 U.S. States and 16 countries battled the rugged terrain in 36 Pro and seven Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs. Except for SCORE Trophy Truck, vehicles left the start line in front of the iconic Riviera del Pacífico Cultural Center in 30-second intervals and all vehicles had 32 hours to become official finishers in the race. (read entire press release)


Finishing a career-best fifth overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck was Clyde Stacy, 66, of Bristol, Tenn., who with Juan Carlos Lopez, Tecate, Mexico, finished in 15:40:38 (44.65mph) in the No. 18 RPM Off-Road Chevy Silverado. With numerous co-drivers to assist, the RPM Off-Road Team had an event record seven total vehicles entered in this race.

stacy



music without borders
Riverside-Ensenada Sister City Musical Cultural Exchange
On October 27, 2011, the Riverside Community Arts Association (RCAA) teamed up with the Mission Inn Museum and Foundation to organize “Music Without Borders,” a collaborative concert featuring the internationally renowned Ensenada Chamber Orchestra and Riverside Lyric Opera. The International Relations Council of Riverside, which promotes Riverside’s longstanding sister city relationship with Ensenada, was also involved in presenting the successful event that was held in the historic Music Room of the Mission Inn Hotel.
 
“We were thrilled to introduce this fine musical organization from Ensenada to this area,” said Mark Schooley, Executive Director of the Riverside Community Arts Association. “It seemed a natural thing to pair them with our own opera company, which is rapidly attracting attention from throughout the region with its own high level of performances. Reducing the distance between our two sister cities in this manner helps to connect not only the two international communities, but also the people from within our own community.”
 
  music without borders
“Music Without Borders” featured works by Mexican composers including the United States premiere of “Piece for String Orchestra” by renowned Mexican composer José Pablo Moncayo. The musicologist Eduardo Contreras Soto recently discovered this Moncayo piece, which had its world premiere in the city of Ensenada by the Ensenada Chamber Orchestra on September 20, 2011. This work, thought to be composed in the 1930’s, remained unpublished in the archives of Ediciones Mexicanas de Música, and was authorized for release to the orchestra by the composer’s family. In conjunction with the Riverside Lyric Opera, the Ensenada Chamber Orchestra (Orquesta de Cámara de Ensenada) also performed selections from Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

In March of this year, the Ensenada Chamber Orchestra and the Riverside Lyric Opera jointly presented a sold out concert featuring highlights from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at Ensenada’s historic Riviera Cultural Center.
 
According to RCAA director Mark Schooley, who is also the chairperson of the Mexico Committee of the International Relations Council of Riverside, “The combination of both our Opera and the Ensenada Orchestra is very energetic and exciting. Ensenada is emerging as a great arts and cultural center and shares many arts related programming avenues in common with Riverside. I am excited about cultural exchanges featuring our artists and musicians partnering on projects with Ensenada, as well as our other international sister cities.”
 
For more information about upcoming Riverside-Ensenada cultural exchanges, contact Mark Schooley at U.S. tel. (951)682-6737; e-mail 
  
Ensenada musicians visited Riverside’s City Hall before performing in the “Music Without Borders” concert.
musicians at city hall


Baja Image Committee Holds 1st Expat Summit:
Promoting An Accurate & Positive Image Is The Goal
text by ron raposa, courtesy of baja times newspaper
photos by connie ellig

ROSARITO BEACH, Baja California, Mexico – About 70 community leaders in Baja’s expatriate community attended the first summit of the Baja Image Committee (BIC). It was organized for foreign residents who want to promote a positive and accurate portrait of the region. The two-day summit entitled “Building Baja’s Tomorrow’s Today” was held June 8th and 9th at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, which provided free lodging and meals for those attending. The event was a response to requests from many of the thousands of expats who live in the region. Many have expressed a desire to do more to help convey an accurate picture of life in Baja, especially to people living in the United States.
 
The summit featured testimonials from many of those residents, including some who said reports of scattered drug-related violence in recent years had made some friends and relatives reluctant to visit. Those concerns are considered a large factor in the decline in tourism and visitors the past several years, although a strong rebound has been noted this Easter and Memorial Day weekend, the traditional beginning of the summer season. The summit included a panel discussion as well as presentations on methods of gathering and distributing accurate and positive information, plus using social networks.
 
Hugo Torres, head of the Baja Image Committee and former Rosario mayor, said that “always telling the truth” is critical for such efforts to succeed. It is essential that government officials work hard to correct any problems that do exist, he added. Baja State Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos and Arturo Martinez, director of visitor assistance, told of government efforts to make visitors more comfortable and welcome, including the 078 assistance number which is in operation 24 hours day and seven days a week. Steven Kashkett, U.S. Consul General for Baja, also attended the session to give an off-the-record briefing.
 
Rosarito resident Ken Bell, who leads the expatriate committee of the Baja Image Committee, pointed out that much work remains after the summit to accomplish goals that have been established. Bell, along with Rosarito’s tourism delegate Cesar Rivera, were summit moderators.
 
Other speakers included Emerson College Professor Gregory Payne, who has established a Rediscover Rosarito project that he said can be applied to all of Baja. “You’re all your own TV networks,” Payne said, referring to the access that everyone has to post videos on You Tube and similar sites. Chris Hill, of the Live Mexico campaign, and representatives of Allison & Partners public relations also spoke.
 
Expatriate residents from Rosarito, Ensenada, San Felipe and Tijuana who attended the summit are expected to share information and strategies for promoting a full, accurate and positive regional image with others in coming months.

Photos top row: Hugo Torres, head of the Baja Image Committee; BIC panelists from Ensenada, San Felipe & Rosarito;  Baja California State Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos.
Photos bottom row: Margit Gantt, Juan Saldana & Vivian Scott at Ensenada Live It! booth; Joanna Jones, Jackie Alameda, Carlos Duran, Hugo Torres, Marty Alameda & Katrina Tinoco; John Pack & Cuba Gooding, Sr.

hugo torres bic panelists
juan tintos
ensenada live it! booth
group with hugo torres
john pack & cuba gooding sr.


WorldBeat Center Opens a New Cultural Center in Ensenada
photo by connie ellig

culture beat wallENSENADA, Mexico – Opened in March 2010, Culture Beat Performing Arts Center was created with the goal of preserving the indigenous and African cultural heritage of the Mexican people through artistic expression. Since its opening, many international artists have performed at the center, such as Midnite, Sene Africa, Quinto Sol, and the legendary Skatalites, the originators of ska music. The center also provides a space for local bands to perform their music, as well as a space for local art, dance and music teachers to share their knowledge through classes. As a tribute to Culture Beat Center’s goal, the murals and paintings inside the center were inspired by cultures like the Maya, Aztec, Toltec and Olmec; there are many abstract ornamental designs that depict gods like the feathered serpent, mythical animals, demons, birds and plants. Located next to and above Librerías de Cristal on Av. López Mateos #688 between Av. Macheros & Av. Miramar, Culture Beat Center is open for anyone who is looking to experience and learn about the beautiful cultural elements that make the people of the world.


New Border Crossing Rules in Effect

On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government implemented the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative). The rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security. For more information and requirements, please visit www.getyouhome.gov

 
Book Review: Peter Fowler's Good Info for Gringos Living in Baja, Second Edition
by marsh cassady
baja times staff writer

Fowler 2nd edition cover“Peter Fowler gave me a copy of his book,” said Gabriella Mendez of the Hearing Aid Store in Chula Vista. “I’m Mexican American and visit Baja often. Even so, the book is very useful.” She was talking about the first edition of Fowler’s Good Info for Gringos Living in Baja. The second edition has just been published, and it is even more useful! For those of you unfamiliar with the book, it’s a guide to help both foreign residents and visitors to learn the ins and outs of living in Baja California and also to learn more about the people and the culture. If you are familiar with the book, don’t worry that the new edition has left out or changed anything you found useful. All the information is there, as well as new information, some in already existing chapters and others in new ones. The most important change is the book’s reorganization. That is not to say the first addition was faulty or wrong. But the second edition divides the information into two sections. (read entire book review)


Get Hooked on Hooked on Baja
hooked on baja coverEscape to a land of magical, natural beauty that offers a warm sun, a host of beautiful coastlines and some of the very finest saltwater fishing on the entire planet. Hooked on Baja by Tom Gatch gives you the maps, GPS waypoints, proper angling techniques, tackle and species information that you need to be successful when fishing and exploring the coasts of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.

Much more than a simple fishing guide, Hooked on Baja incorporates many true-life adventures from some of Baja’s foremost outdoors personalities along with travel information, deliciously authentic south of the border recipes and, for those who end up being ‘hooked on Baja’ themselves, vital information on how to go about purchasing and legally securing real estate property along the picturesque coast of the Baja California peninsula.

Hooked on Baja allows readers to step away from the hustle, bustle and traffic gridlock that are a regular part of life in many of the crowded urban communities north of the Mexican border. Discover a place where there are still countless opportunities for relaxation, recreation and retirement in an enchanting world where the fish are nearly always biting, and lines of pelicans are regularly observed gliding silently mere inches above the pounding surf. 

Released on September 15, 2007, Hooked on Baja is now available at Borders, Barnes & Noble and Costco warehouse stores in southern California, as well as through most major online booksellers.


Chewing the (Low) Fat with “Burro Bob”
text by connie ellig; photos by david hopps & connie ellig
author bob wiseman with cookbooksOn the evening I sat down to interview noted Southwest cookbook author Bob Wiseman, it had been a long twelve-hour day at the J.D. Hussong Chili Cookoff in Ensenada. We could hear the chili and salsa competitors celebrating and/or consoling themselves with margaritas and beer while singing karaoke in the bar. With great fortitude we resisted the temptation to join the festivities and instead proceeded with the interview.

As I discovered, a conversation with “Burro Bob” (as he is known in chili cookoff circles) can cover a colorful spectrum of topics ranging from Mexican and Southwest cooking to history, geography, travel, photography, western writers and fly-fishing. (read entire story with recipes)

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