BajaHID Excursion 2011 Fun Run Aug 12-14th Logistics

[tcm glx]

ADMIN EDIT: This is a read-only thread for those planning the trip to post information. Any non-pertinent posts will be deleted.

Welcome to the second annual BajaH.I.D. Excursion fun run. This all started last year when Vic, Chris, and I decided the time between the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000 was just too much time away from Baja… and we needed a weekend down there, just for fun…. No racing, chasing, pitting, or anything like that, just a few buddies, a map, and a good time on the agenda. We wanted to experience the beauty of the Baja peninsula with no time constraints (within reason) nor the hectic pace of race related time schedules. There are far too many things to do & see and many fine people to meet that are neglected during race events. In 2010, we decided the run would be through beaches south of Ensenada and over the trails and roads through Santo Tomas and San Quintin. Iconic components of Baja such as the Shipwreck, the graded run along the beach, and the infamous rocks on the sand were the destination. We had such a great time enjoying the beauty of Baja and the friendship of the group; we decided we needed to make an annual run, and so here we are today. We have had such tremendous response to this year's trip; we have over 35 people and over 20 trucks participating. This year will turn out to be an epic trip!

Before moving forward, I feel it is important to thank a few people who are making this years BAJAHID Run possible:
• Chris and Vic, for being the masterminds behind the idea of getting together for some good mellow fun in Baja;
• Nick, who out of nowhere threw out the HP Ranch, which has now added an extra level of pleasure/symbolism to this trip;
• And last but not least, my pops….. who would not have had this any other way. He gave Vic and I the gift, of loving the desert. (We miss you pop!)

There are a fairly large number of folks participating and as with any large group, there are certain logistical challenges. On top of those challenges, there are the added challenges of traveling in a foreign country. Even though Mexico is our close neighbor and any of us are well versed in some of the customs and practices of traveling in Mexico, its prudent to reaffirm some of the risks associated with a trip of this magnitude. We've tried to identify some of those risks and provided some experience and insights to refresh each of us so this trip is as much fun as past trips have proven to be.

A chase book will be provided to each of the vehicles, we ask that you please take a few minutes and read through the trip book when you receive it. It should help you prepare for your trip as well as provide you some reminders and benefits of past experience. We will be posting several of those pages up on this thread so you can read in advance as well. Please be mindful that this is a fairly large group and with every large group your specific actions affect the rest of the group. So whenever possible respect the time constraints so we can maximize the fun time. Just to provide some insights into the challenges and to illustrate some of the time logistics, just to get the entire group across the border heading south, we expect it to take upwards of 60‐ 90 minutes. That's approximately 15 trucks at 5 minutes each (plus or minus) as the Mexican authorities inspect each incoming truck. We'll also have the challenge of fueling 20 trucks at Pemex stations along the way.

Thanks to everyone who has show interest and plan to attend… this year’s trip will prove to be a great time. I’d also like to recognize the great efforts of Todd Clements, Joshua Nettles and the gang at Horse Power Ranch. The team has put so much effort and made us feel so welcome through their tremendous hospitality. Of course, with a group this size we have to make sure we approach the event with safety in mind. We will have plenty of experienced folks but also those who are newer to the trip dynamics. That means we should be respectful of the experience of those whom have preceded us as well as the guidelines provided pulled from many past experiences. We should also ensure we honor the customs of our Mexican neighbors, we are traveling in their back yards (sometimes literally) and thus we need to be mindful of their space. We need to honor farm and ranch gates, always close those we find and clean up after ourselves. Watch your speed in and around farms, houses, ranches and animals. We need to avoid casualties, both mechanical and injury, which means need to drive alert and with common sense.

I’m really excited about this year’s trip; it’s a departure from last year as we have so many folks join in. It truly will be prove to be a great time for everyone. I’m really looking forward to the camaraderie with the group and looking forward to exploring the roads and trails of Baja!
Tony
BajaHID


**** The entire chasebook will be available via email within approx 10 days, PM or email me : t.rojo@yahoo.com for it. It will also be printed for the event, 1 copy per vehicle.

[tcm glx]

Friday, 12 August
0700‐0900 Gather at departure meeting point -
SHOW UP WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS!!!!
1702 Valkyria Lane, El Cajon, CA 92019
0930 Excursion Departure
1005 Tecate Border crossing
1200 DIRT ― Compadré Truck Trail
1300 Trail Lunch
1700 Arrive, Horsepower Ranch ― Ensenada
1900 Group Dinner @ HPR


Saturday, 13 August
0600‐0700 Group Breakfast @ HPR
0800 Hit the Trail
1630 return to Horsepower Ranch
1900 Group Dinner @ HPR


Sunday, 14 August
0600 Depart HPR for US Border
0730 Border crossing

[tcm glx]

These are important things not to forget!


1. PASSPORT
2. Mexican Insurance coverage
3. other picture ID (driver's license)
4. $$, (pesos?)
5. reservations Fri and Sat (HP Ranch and/or Santa Veronica)
6. pre trip maintenance checks
7. tools and parts
8. trip book
9. personal items
10. first aid kit
11. full tank of gas Friday morning at start point, (casa Webber)
12. cooler/ice
13. lunch makings
14. sunblock/hat
15. folding chair
16. toilet paper
17. camera
18. gloves
19. cell charger

[tcm glx]

Attached is Mexican Insurance Options, and Maps for Day 1 and 2

[tcm glx]

Baja tips, trail advice, etc etc

[tcm glx]

Things to consider

[tcm glx]

Checklists

[tcm glx]

A few other thoughts and comments guys:
1) The pages that are on this thread, you have the ability to print (right click).
2) We are preparing one chase book per vehicle that we know is coming
3) Race Radios are required for safety, and communication amongst the vehicles and people coming down
Frequencies:
151.715 BFG Main; Primary coordination
153.395 BFG; Secondary coordination

4) The times listed for departure is a hrad stop... must be ready, with a full tank of gas.
5) HPR is providing dinner and bfast both days (doesnt mean you have to eat there, just stating they are providing it
6) You will need to pack for lunches on the trail both Friday and Saturday

Lats but not least.....
7) This is a fun run!! We want to have a great time!!

[tcm glx]

Participant List as it stand 8-1

So looking forward to this trip!!

[tcm glx]

Save #9

[ChaseTruck754]

T - just got a notice from my dentist for an appointment Aug. 12th - Friday, came here to verify I'd have to cancel it and noticed you have the dates off in the 1st post here.

I'm sure everyone get's this is a Fri, Sat, Sun deal - but Friday is the 12th - not the 11th.

[tcm glx]

Thank you Steve, missed that!

[BajaF250]

T - just got a notice from my dentist for an appointment Aug. 12th - Friday, came here to verify I'd have to cancel it and noticed you have the dates off in the 1st post here.

I'm sure everyone get's this is a Fri, Sat, Sun deal - but Friday is the 12th - not the 11th.

Thanks Steve, Not Tony's fault... that was my bust... my fault... sorry! Typo!

[tcm glx]

For those who have a GPS, please email me at t.rojo@yahoo.com so that I can send you the file Tom has so graciously helped us build.

Thank you!!

[tcm glx]

Participant list added......

[BajaF250]

"Trail Gift" giveaway...

Tony and group have been scouring the community for some sponsorship for our Aug Excursion BajaHID.com trip. The intent is to gather up “little” gifts from participating sponsors as “trail” giveaways. We have had some great response from some of the local shops and we’ll be able to provide trail gifts to every vehicle that comes on the trip. Our sponsors thus far are: Autofab, Mirage Racing Products, Fox Shox, MasterCraft Safety, RacerX, Johnny Lightning and Off Road Magazine. Now don’t get your hopes up, we’re not giving away a new set of bypass shox or anything, most items are promotion items such as t-shirts and the like (actually there is a wide variety of items but don’t want to disclose what they are).

The trail gift giveaway will be held on Friday night at the Horsepower Ranch BBQ dinner. It’ll be slight deviation of a “white elephant” giveaway scheme. For those unfamiliar, it’s pretty easy, but it does require audience participation. Here’s how it’ll work. All of the “trail gifts” will be in non-descript wrapping so you can’t tell what’s contained. Each driver of record will receive a number from one through 19 (or as many vehicles as we end up with) and a corresponding numbered tag will be thrown into a hat for the drawing. To determine the gift-choice play order, participants will draw numbers from the hat. Starting with one and up to the total number of participants, the players take turn in the corresponding succession.

Once an order has been established, each person takes his or her turn choosing a gift. The first person picks a gift, opens it, and shows it to the rest of the group. Then in turn, the participants choose to either unwrap a new gift or to "steal" a previously unwrapped gift. If a gift is "stolen," the person who had their gift taken from them gets to unwrap any unopened gift; and then, the turn passes. The next player can either "steal" an already opened gift or be adventurous and go for a wrapped gift from the pile. If the participant chooses to steal an unwrapped gift, the person whose gift was stolen now repeats their turn and either steals another person's gift (they cannot immediately steal back the gift that was just stolen) or unwraps a new gift. This cycle of stealing can sometimes continue for a long time until a new gift is chosen at which point the turn is passed to the next participant.

Since items can be stolen, the item in your possession is not actually yours until the game is over. However, a gift is "dead" or "safe" or "frozen" after it has been stolen three times. Once all of the gifts have been unwrapped and/or chosen and the last participant has receive his/her gift, the first to draw has the option to “steal” any remaining un-fronzen/un-dead items since they were the first to draw and they didn’t have the option to “steal” any of the already chosen gifts.

Thanks to our sponsors to make all this happen...

[BajaF250]

Raffle... for the El Oasis Orphanage

In addition, Bill Varnes from Mirage Racing Products has very graciously donated a 2010 SCORE 43rd annual Baja 1000 commemorative bottle (boxed) of Azunia Tequila (see pic). We’d like to raffle this off at the dinner and the drawing will be after the trail gift giveaway.

We all so easily enjoy the time and use of the land and resources our Mexican neighbors offer, it has become our backyard playground, especially with the difficulties we now encounter with the BLM closing down land access to our sport. In as such, we will spend more time south of the border to enjoy the vast opportunities to participate in our pastime. In as such, we should actively give back to some of the less fortunate to our “amigos” whose backyard we now play in. There are many opportunities to give and none better than to help support the less fortunate kids who now live at El Oasis Orphanage in Valle de Trinidad.

So, 100% of the proceeds from the raffle will go to the El Oasis orphanage in Valle de Trinidad along with all the stuff everyone brings down to donate. We’d like to ask a small $5/person buy in for the drawing and then and if you so choose, you can purchase any number of additional tickets at $1/ticket to increase your chances to win the raffle and provide a greater donation to Oasis. Some thoughts about giving to El Oasis:

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~Anne Frank

Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful. ~Author Unknown

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little. ~Edmund Burke

A little about El Oasis Orphanage, from their website:

El Oasis Orphanage is non-profit organization that care for orphan and abandoned children from Mexico.
In December 1997 we open our doors to receive 23 kids, brought to us by the Mexican Government to our custody.
El Oasis is today, home for 54 kids of all ages. Our commitment is not just provide food and shelter, but Christian Education and University for all of them who might be able.

More information: http://www.eloasisbaja.net/

[BajaBronco13]

Hello everyone,

Here is the list of items the orphanage could use. Every little bit counts, whether it's one or two tubes of tooth paste or few bars of soap.

[tcm glx]

Lowrance usr file just went out to all drivers!!

[BajaBronco13]

Tony may have mentioned this but do not bring jerry cans filled with gas. You can not import gas into Mexico and they will check this cans at the border when crossing. Just meet at Tom's house with a full tank of gas in your vehicle. Baja right around the corner fellas. Lets have a great time!

Chris