Ensenada Gazette - Events and News from Baja California, Mexico

B.J. Baldwin Wins Overall by 7 Seconds at 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 500

from www.score-international.com
photo by david hopps

ENSENADA, MEXICO – In what will likely go down in history as one of the most classic battles in desert racing history, solo driver B.J. Baldwin held it all together for 441.15 miles of the rugged Baja peninsula to capture the overall 4-wheel victory Saturday (May 31) by a mere seven seconds over the veteran team of Mark Post/Rob MacCachren at the 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Mexico.

Driving the No. 97 Baldwin Motorsports Chevy Silverado SCORE Trophy-Truck, Baldwin, of Las Vegas, covered the grueling desert race course in 9 hours, 10 minutes, 47 seconds, averaging 48.06 miles per hour to win the closest overall 4-wheel vehicle finish in the 40-year history of the second oldest desert race in the world.

Post of Laguna Beach, Calif. and Las Vegas’ MacCachren, the reigning SCORE Trophy-Truck point champions, finished first physically in the elapsed-time race but the corrected-time results revealed their second place finish as Baldwin started 60 seconds behind Post/MacCachren No. 1 Riviera Racing Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck, but came into the finish line just 53 seconds after MacCachren had crossed it. (read SCORE press release)

Ensenada Emerges as Overall Winner of the Baja 500
text by connie ellig & david hopps; photo by connie ellig
first published in baja times newspaper

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!” (read entire story)

Green Angels and Mexican Police Receive Slime at Baja 500
text by connie ellig & david hopps; photo by connie ellig
first published in baja times newspaper

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. (read entire story)

Mexican police and Green Angels received donations of Slime tire repair products
from SCORE and Slime representatives at this year’s Baja 500.
score, slime and police officials

CEARTE Raises the Cultural Bar in Ensenada with Two Extraordinary Inaugurations
text & photos by connie ellig & david hopps

On April 23 & 24, 2008, the Centro Estatal de las Artes Ensenada (CEARTE) was the site of two highly anticipated events: the opening of a new art exposition featuring local fine artists, and the official inauguration of the Foro Experimental that completed the second phase of Ensenada’s State Center of the Arts. Both events were very impressive, thoroughly enjoyable, and served as further proof that Ensenada has a firm grasp on its own cultural identity.

On the evening of Wednesday, April 23, a vibrant crowd of more than 500 art aficionados packed CEARTE’s lobby and the Sala Ernesto Muñoz Acosta for the inauguration of “Autorretratos,” an exposition of large format self-portraits by 35 of Ensenada’s most talented professional and emerging artists. Nearly all of the exhibiting artists were on hand to pose for photos next to their paintings and explain their creative concepts to interested onlookers, media, family, friends and other members of Ensenada’s art community. Jaime Delfín, an established artist and CEARTE’s Coordinator of Visual and Fine Arts who conceived the idea for the exposition, was extremely delighted by the enthusiastic public response and the success of the opening reception. (read entire story )

Amanda Miguel Brings Mother's Day Magic to Ensenada

text by connie ellig; photos by connie ellig & david hopps

Traditionally celebrated in Mexico on May 10, Mother’s Day was a truly memorable occasion in Ensenada this year for 600 concertgoers who enjoyed a live performance by world famous Latin American pop star Amanda Miguel and her husband/producer, Diego Verdaguer, in the gardens of the oceanfront Casa de los Siete Patios. The evening concert, which was part of their “El Mejor Show Romántico de America 2008” tour, was presented by MPG Music Promotion Group in conjunction with Restaurant El Rey Sol and Club Rotario Ensenada Calafia, A.C., the latter of which received a portion of event proceeds to benefit Rotary projects in the local community. (read entire story and see photos)

Baja California Language College Honored by Sunset Magazine

ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA – The Baja California Language College proudly accepted accolades from Sunset magazine in their May 2008 issue. The Ensenada, Mexico based Spanish immersion college was ranked #3 in Sunset’s “Top 10 Smart Vacations.” The piece highlighted destinations where one can come home from a trip not just relaxed but smarter. Among other “Top 10 Smart Vacations” noted were Spirit Yoga and Hiking (Sedona, AZ), Geological Digs (Kauai, HI) and Learn California Wines (Yosemite National Park, CA).

Sunset has covered the Western United States for more than a century focusing on travel, outdoor living, food and home projects. It has over 1 million subscribers and covers 13 U.S. states as well as British Columbia, Canada and Mexico.

College president Keith Rolle was enthused with the article. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be recognized by such a prestigious publication as Sunset. The news really came out of the blue. All of us in Ensenada are excited about the article as we head into the summer months.”

Ensenada is only 90 miles south of downtown San Diego and is easily accessible by personal car or public transportation.

The Baja California Language College is Baja’s premier Spanish immersion school. It has earned international renown for its legal, medical and executive programs as well as programs for educators, teens and children. For more information visit the Baja California Language College web site or contact Keith Rolle at U.S. tel. (619)758-9711; e-mail

Ensenada Photographers Honored
text by connie ellig; photos by david hopps, connie ellig & enrique botello

A small but select group of Ensenada photographers were recently honored for their artistic contributions to “Paisaje Natural del Estado de Baja California,” a book published by the Secretaría de Protección al Ambiente in coordination with the Instituto de Cultura de Baja California. Among the environmental and cultural officials who attended the special reception and book presentation held on April 16, 2008 at Ensenada’s Centro Estatal de las Artes (CEARTE) were Baja California State Government Subsecretary General Miguel Angel Barreto, Secretary of Environmental Protection Sócrates Bastida Hernández, Director of State Environmental Impact Thelma Castañeda Custodio, Director of Municipal Ecology Héctor Chávez, and the Director of the Institute of Culture in Ensenada, Vanesa Verdugo. (read entire story)

“Ensenada Live It Distinguished Visitor Discount Card” Now Available

ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO – The Ensenada Tourism Board, City Government and Proturismo are pleased to announce the “Ensenada Live It Distinguished Visitor Card” which provides travelers with up to 20% discounts at select hotels, resorts, RV parks, restaurants, shops, wineries, golf courses and spas, plus sportfishing, medical and a variety of other services in Ensenada. Offering a true savings value for its one-time cost of $12dlls., the “Ensenada Live It Distinguished Visitor Card” is valid through November 30, 2010.

Unlike coupons that can be used only once, the Ensenada Distinguished Visitor Card can be used for up to four people an unlimited number of times. The card is easy to use – simply present it to a participating merchant that posts the Welcome Distinguished Visitor Card sticker and receive the discount. The more it is used, the more savings can be obtained! (For a complete directory of participating merchants, visit www.enjoyensenada.com. Additional discounts will be added on a monthly basis.)

The front of the Ensenada Distinguished Visitor Card features a photo of 2007-2010 Ensenada Mayor Pablo Alejo Lopez. For confidence and security, the back of the card lists information and emergency phone numbers as well as a statement in Spanish requesting that civil and military authorities in Mexico offer assistance and courtesy to the bearer of the card.

In Ensenada the Distinguished Visitor Card can be purchased from participating merchants or the Proturismo de Ensenada Visitor Information Center located at the city’s northern entrance in the triangle formed by Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas (Blvd. Costero), Calle de la Marina and Blvd. Teniente Azueta. It is also available at the San Diego Visitor Information Center at 2688 East Mission Bay Drive, in San Ysidro at Instant Mexico Auto Insurance Services at 223 Via De San Ysidro and Baja-Mex Insurance Services, Inc. at 4575 Camino De La Plaza, and online at Baja Bound Mexican Insurance Service.

The third largest city in the state of Baja California, Ensenada is located on the peninsula’s Pacific coast only 70 miles south of the international border. With its mild climate, warm and friendly atmosphere, extensive calendar of annual events, and accessibility by land, sea and air, Ensenada has remained a favorite tourist destination among international and national visitors for decades. It is renowned for its fishing, seafood, canning and wine making industries as well as its excellent restaurants, superb shopping, ample array of services, wide variety of accommodations, sports and recreational activities, and many fascinating historical, cultural and natural points of interest.

The “Ensenada Live It Distinguished Visitor Card” is an excellent opportunity to stretch travel and vacation dollars even further to experience the warm hospitality, cosmopolitan charm and cultural traditions of Ensenada. For additional information about purchasing cards or participating in the discount program, contact the Ensenada Tourism Board at tel. (646)178-8588 or (646)178-8578; e-mail >From USA dial (011-52-646)178-8588 or (011-52-646)178-8578.