First SCORE Baja 500

July 26, 1974 always remembered as historical date that began the legendary lasting legacy of SCORE

by Dominic Clark, SCORE Historian

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico – To everything there is a beginning and the launch of SCORE International’s remarkable history in Mexico came on July 26, 1974 when what has become the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization was asked to take over and officially produced its first SCORE Baja race – the SCORE Baja Internacional in Ensenada, Baja California.

     As SCORE has started its sixth decade this year, the Baja 500 was actually started in 1969 by the NORRA organization but because of legal challenges regarding the use of the name after NORRA was removed as the official U.S. desert racing promoter in Mexico by the government at the end of 1972, SCORE had to use the name SCORE Baja Internacional for over a decade.

FAST FORWARD

     Eventually then-SCORE owner Sal Fish was able to negotiate the use of the original name of the race and it became duly registered as the SCORE Baja 500. In 1973, the Baja 500 was organized and produced by a local tourism group called the Baja Sports Committee.

     The BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500, Round 2 of the four-race 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship, will be held May 29-June 2 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

REMEMBER: JULY 26, 1974

     With tremendous assistance from Nico Saad, long-time Ensenada tourism advocate and owner of the legendary San Nicolas Hotel & Casino in Ensenada, Mickey Thompson and his fledgling SCORE International organization were invited by the Mexican government to take over the Baja 500 starting in 1974 and become the exclusive U.S. promoter for Baja California.

     Thus came the birth of the SCORE Baja Internacional (legal issues precluded SCORE from gaining the rights to use the name Baja 500 until 1991). The first SCORE Baja Internacional (produced by Mickey Thompson and Sal Fish) was held on July 26, 1974 in Ensenada with 279 official starters and 173 official finishers.   But fans, media and racers alike have always called it the Baja 500.

     Noted Hollywood stunt driver and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Ferro won the overall 4-wheel vehicle title for the third of four times in his career in 1974, this time in a VW-Sandmaster open-wheel desert race car. The fastest overall motorcycle in this 1974 race was the Husqvarna with Mitch Mayes and A.C. Bakken sharing the riding duties.

START/FINISH LOCATIONS

     Ensenada has hosted the SCORE Baja 500 the most of any location. It has started 49 times there and finished 45 times there.

     Only six times has the race not been held in Ensenada at all. Because of continuing friction between the government and land owners, Sal Fish moved the 1984 to the desert near Barstow, Calif., USA and again in 1989 for the same reason Fish moved the race to San Felipe. The health pandemic forced it to be moved again to San Felipe in 2020.

     Because of the growth of the population in Ensenada, Fish started and finished the race in Ojos Negros in both 1991 and 1992.

     Again because the city couldn’t identify an appropriate route back into Ensenada, the race started in Ensenada and finished in Santo Tomas four times (1988, 1990, 1994 and 1995). In 1993, SCORE was forced to start the race in Ojos Negros and finish in Santo Tomas.

     Because of the world-wide health pandemic, it started and finished on the outskirts of Ensenada in 2020 and started and finished in San Felipe in 2021.

     From 1996 through 2019, the SCORE Baja 500 started and finished in the heart of Ensenada. The race started and finished for nearly two decades in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center and left town and returned to the city by running up and the Ensenada Arroyo (wash) for nearly two miles each way in front of upwards of 50,000 spectators to the outskirts of town and on to the Ojos Negros area.

     First because of elections (2019) and twice because of the worldwide pandemic (2020, 2021), the race festivities returned in 2022 to the area in and around the iconic Riviera del Pacifico CC.

     The most starters and finishers in the history of this great race happened in 2007 when 492 total vehicles officially started the race and 283 of them were official finishers.

ONLINE RACER ENTRY APPLICATIONS

     Racer entry applications are available at www.SCORE-International.com under Race Info on the SCORE Baja 500 page. Questions should be directed to SCORE Registration and Membership Director Shannon Lund at 775.852.8907 or [email protected]. Online racer entry applications will be accepted through 9 p.m. PT on Friday, May 17. Entries are also being accepted at the SCORE Ensenada office until 5 p.m. PT on Friday, May 24. On-site registration, including for late entries, will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, May 29-31

DETAILS

     With over 250 entries expected from 30 U.S. States and 20 countries, 45 competition classes are offered for Pro and Sportsman cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads.

     Most the world’s best desert racers will be in action at this year’s celebration of one of the top 10 motorsports events in the entire world.

     The Method Race Wheels Qualifying will be held on Thursday, May 30 for the SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend, and Trophy Truck Spec classes.

    SCORE Live will be streaming throughout race week on the SCORE website. Colorful Rat Sult is in his eighth season as the host and lead announcer of SCORE Live. Assisting him again at this race will be SCORE Media Operations Director Gabriel Garcia.

     All four 2024 SCORE races are being held on Mexico’s magnificent Baja California peninsula for the ninth consecutive year.

OVERALL CHAMPIONS

     Legends are born at the SCORE Baja 500.  Drivers with the most overall wins in the race, Larry ‘Mr. Baja’ Roeseler is on top with 12 (including nine on a motorcycle, two in an open-wheel desert race car and one in SCORE Trophy Truck). He also now has 18 class wins in this race.

     Second is Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart with the most overall 4-wheel victories by far with 10 (and he also has 17 total class wins including the 10 overalls).

     Third in overall wins with five overall 4-wheel wins is ‘Lightning’ Larry Ragland.

     With four overall 4-wheel wins each are Bobby Ferro, Robby Gordon, Bryce Menzies, and Malcolm Smith (including one on a motorcycle).

     With three overall 4-wheel wins each are Dr. Bud Feldkamp, Troy Herbst, Mark McMillin, Mark’s brother Scott McMillin, Andy McMillin (Scott’s son), and Rob MacCachren.

     With two overall 4-wheel wins each are Brian Collins, Bob Gordon (Robby’s father), Parnelli Jones, Corky McMillin (McMillin family patriarch) and Dan Smith (including one on a motorcycle).

     Besides Roeseler with nine, the leaders in overall motorcycle wins are Steve Hengeveld (7), Johnny Campbell, Paul Krause, Bruce Ogilvie, Kendall Norman and Justin Morgan with five each.

     With four each are Robby Bell, Ted Hunnicutt Jr and Mark Samuels and with three each are Scot Harden and Jonah Street.

     Also on the iconic overall winner’s list with one 4-wheel victory each are active racers B.J. Baldwin (2008), Mike Julson (1995), Curt LeDuc (1995), Harley Letner (2009), Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez (2015) Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr (2016) and Daniel McMillin (2020).

     Among active racers, with five motorcycle overall wins is active racers Justin Morgan (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), with four is Mark Samuels (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020) with three is Justin Jones (2018, 2019, 2020) and with two motorcycle overall wins each on two-wheels are Max Eddy Jr (2014, 2015), Justin Jones (2018, 2019), Ricky Brabec (2014, 2015), Arturo Salas Jr (2022, 2023) and Colton Udall (2013, 2016).

     With one motorcycle overall win each are active racers Shane Esposito (2017), David Kamo (2013), Roberto Villalobos (2017), and Juan Carlos Salvatierra (2022).

MANUFACTURER CHAMPS

     In the battle of manufacturers, several categories are presented.

     Leaders in overall car/truck wins are Ford Truck (15), Chevy Truck (9), Toyota Truck (8) and Funco and Chenowth with seven each, Jimco and Smithbuilt with three each, Sandmaster with two and with one each are Baja Boot, Chaparral, Jeep and Tatum.

     Leaders in overall Tire manufacturers’ wins for cars/trucks are BFGoodrich Tires (35), Toyo Tires (5), Western Auto (5), and tied with two each are Firestone Tires, Goodyear Tires and Yokohama Tires.

     The leaders in overall motorcycle wins are Honda (22), Husqvarna (13), Kawasaki (11), Yamaha (4), KTM (2) and with one each are Beta, Ducati, and Harley-Davidson.

     The leaders in overall engine wins for cars and trucks are Ford (18), Chevy (13), Volkswagen (13), Toyota (8), Porsche (5) and Jeep (1).

CROSSOVERS

    Among the drivers from other motorsport disciplines who have tested the Baja 500 have been Indy Car racers Rick Mears, Roger Mears, Parnelli Jones, Danny Ongias, Danny Sullivan, Jimmy Vasser, Roberto Guerrero, Michel Jourdain Jr., Johnny Unser and Mike and Robbie Groff, NASCAR’s Robby Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Boris Said and Brendan Gaughan, SCCA legend Elliot Forbes-Robinson, Pike’s Peak Hill Climb record holder Rod Millen, Drifting and Pike’s Peak champion Rhys Millen, World Rally Championship’s Armin Schwarz, Armin Kremer, Andreas Aigner and Harri Pavanpera, world motorcycle champions Malcolm Smith, Larry Roeseler and Destry Abbott, Motocross legends Ricky Johnson and Jeremy McGrath, Dakar Rally Champions Ricky Brabec, Cyril Despres, Marc Coma and Toby Price, XGames star Travis Pastrana, Sports Car champion Larry Connor, drag racers Don Prudhomme and Larry Minor and legendary SCORE founder and motorsports innovator Mickey Thompson.

GREEN FLAG—JUNE 1

     The motorcycle and quad classes will start at 2:30 a.m. PT Saturday (June 1) while the car, truck and UTV classes will begin their journey starting at 6:15 a.m. PT. SCORE Trophy Truck, TT Legend, Class 1, Trophy Truck Spec and the Pro Moto Unlimited classes will start one vehicle every 60 seconds race while all other classes will start one every 30 seconds.

    While the fastest vehicles in the elapsed-time race are expected to finish in approximately 10 hours, all vehicles will have 20 hours from the time each starts to become an official finisher in the historic race.

PRE-RUNNING

     Official practice, or pre-running, on the the approximately 486-mile race course for this year’s BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500, will begin at 8 a.m. PT on Saturday, May 18.

     The official SCORE Racer Brief, Penalty brief, course map and GPS files will be available by 6 p.m. PT on Thursday, May 16 on the SCORE website under race info/SCORE Baja 500.

COURSE PREVIEW

     With pre-running opening on Saturday, May 18 for the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500, SCORE President/Race Director Jose A. Grijalva and Co-Race Director Rodo Fernandez are putting together another memorable race course to challenge the world’s best desert racers. The final distance will be approximately 486.00 miles for the course which will run in a clockwise director over much of Mexico’s northern State of Baja California.

     It will start and finish once again on Blvd. Costero adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada. The colorful Contingency Day and Tech Inspection of all the race vehicles will also be held on Blvd. Costero on Friday, May 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.

BFGOODRICH TIRES UNMATCHED

     BFGoodrich Tires, the official tire of SCORE for 48 years, was honored after the 2023 season as the SCORE Pit Support Company of the year for the 32nd time.

     BFGoodrich Tires has been the choice of 35 of the 56 overall winners of the popular SCORE Baja 500 and 33 of the 56 overall winners of the legendary SCORE Baja 1000. BFGoodrich Tires is also the title sponsor of both iconic races again in 2024.

     BFGoodrich Tires also has been the choice of 30 of the 37 overall winners of the SCORE San Felipe 250, all three SCORE Desert Challenge races, the lone SCORE Challenge of Champions in San Felipe, the one SCORE Baja Sur 500 and one of the three overall winners in the SCORE Baja 400.

     BFGoodrich Tires has posted a contingency bonus for the overall winner of this year’s race of US$10,000.

SCOREscope

2024 SCORE SCHEDULE

     Here are the dates for the three remaining 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship which are being held in Baja California, Mexico for the ninth consecutive year:

BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500—

May 29-June 2, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels—

September 11-15, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000—

November 11-17, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

SCORE SPONSORS…

Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire and Race Title Sponsor, Ford-Official Truck and SUV, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber and Race Title Sponsor, Polaris RZR-Official UTV, VP Racing Fuels-Official Fuel and race presenting sponsor, Optima Batteries-Official Battery, Rugged Radios-Official Radio Communication, Sylvania-Official Light, Method Race Wheels-Official Wheel and Race Qualifying sponsor, Lasernut-Official Custom Metal Fabricator, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino.

SCORE Official Partners: The Satellite Phone Store, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance.

Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Baja California Secretary of Tourism, MEXICO Secretary of Tourism, San Felipe Foundational Municipal Council, Ensenada Municipal Government, San Felipe Marketing Tourism Committee, Ensenada Marketing Tourism Committee, Ensenada Hotel and Motel Association, Proturismo Ensenada, and Cruz Roja Mexicana.

     For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCORE-International.com.

SCORE Baja 500 (All-Time Starters, Finishers, Race Sites)

1969

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 163, Total Finishers: 73

1970

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 260, Total Finishers: 170

1971

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 226, Total Finishers: 114

1972

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 301, Total Finishers: 144

1973

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 333, Total Finishers: 138

1974

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 279, Total Finishers: 173

1975

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 365, Total Finishers: 155

1976

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 384, Total Finishers: 179

1977

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 384, Total Finishers: 161

1978

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 282, Total Finishers: 96

1979

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 283, Total Finishers: 139

1980

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 294, Total Finishers: 126

1981

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 277, Total Finishers: 117

1982

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 208, Total Finishers: 117

1983

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 192, Total Finishers: 86

1984

Barstow, California, USA

Total Starters: 174, Total Finishers: 84

1985

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 213, Total Finishers: 95

1986

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 277, Total Finishers: 174

1987

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 299, Total Finishers: 185

1988

Ensenada to Santo Tomas, Mexico

Total Starters: 237, Total Finishers: 147

1989

San Felipe, Mexico

Total Starters: 219, Total Finishers: 118

1990

Ensenada to Santo Tomas

Total Starters: 272, Total Finishers: 159

1991

Ojos Negros to Ojos Negros, Mexico

Total Starters: 254, Total Finishers: 163

1992

Ojos Negros to Ojos Negros

Total Starters: 209 Total Finishers: 138

1993

Ojos Negros to Santo Tomas

Total Starters: 198, Total Finishers: 110

1994

Ensenada to Santo Tomas

Total Starters: 212, Total Finishers: 109

1995

Ensenada to Santo Tomas

Total Starters: 251, Total Finishers: 172

1996

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 204, Total Finishers: 99

1997

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 214, Total Finishers: 98

1998

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 201, Total Finishers: 98

1999

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 221, Total Finishers: 120

2000

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 219, Total Finishers: 107

2001

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 249, Total Finishers: 146

2002

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 258, Total Finishers: 132

2003

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 260, Total Finishers: 147

2004

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 300, Total Finishers: 181

2005

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 345, Total Finishers: 179

2006

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 438, Total Finishers: 221

2007

Ensenada to Ensenada

*Total Starters: 492, Total Finishers: 283

2008

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 289, Total Finishers: 195

2009

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 267, Total Finishers: 174

2010

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 289, Total Finishers: 192

2011

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 254, Total Finishers: 154

2012

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 259, Total Finishers: 183

2013

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 276, Total Finishers: 156

2014

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 232, Total Finishers: 126

2015

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 210, Total Finishers: 135

2016

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 236, Total Finishers: 137

2017

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 233, Total Finishers: 148

2018

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 321, Total Finishers: 187

2019

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 245, Total Finishers: 144

2020

San Felipe to San Felipe

Total Starters: 129, Total Finishers: 78

2021

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 240, Total Finishers: 146

2022

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 259, Total Finishers: 174

2023

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 240, Total Finishers: 175

     *Event Record-Starters & Finishers

SCORE Baja 500

All-Time Start Sites

Times, City

49-Ensenada

3-Ojos Negros

2-San Felipe

1-Barstow, California, USA

 

All-Time Finish Sites

Times, City

45-Ensenada

5-Santo Tomas

2-Ojos Negros

2-San Felipe

1-Barstow, California, USA

 

Top Total Starters

Year, Number (Finishers)

1. 2007—492 Starters (283 Finishers)

2. 2006—438 Starters (221 Finishers)

3. 1977—384 Starters (161 Finishers)

3. 1976—384 Starters (179 Finishers)

5. 1975—365 Starters (153 Finishers)

6. 2005—345 Starters (179 Finishers)

7. 1973—333 Starters (138 Finishers)

8. 2018—321 Starters (187 Finishers)

9. 1972—301 Starters (144 Finishers)

10. 2004—300 Starters (181 Finishers)

11. 1987—299 Starters (185 Finishers)

12. 1980—294 Starters (126 Finishers)

13. 2008—289 Starters (195 Finishers)

13. 2010—289 Starters (192 Finishers)

15. 1979—283 Starters (139 Finishers)

16. 1978—282 Starters (96 Finishers)

17. 1974—279 Starters (173 Finishers)

18. 1981—277 Starters (117 Finishers)

18. 1986—277 Starters (174 Finishers)

20. 2013—276 Starters (159 Finishers)

21. 1990—272 Starters (159 Finishers)

 

Top Total Finishers

Year, Number (Starters)

1. 2007—283 Finishers (492 Starters)

2. 2006—221 Finishers (438 Starters)

3. 2008—195 Finishers (289 Starters)

4. 2010—192 Finishers (289 Starters)

5. 2018—187 Finishers (321 Starters)

6. 1987—185 Finishers (299 Starters)

7. 2012—183 Finishers (259 Starters)

8. 2004—181 Finishers (300 Starters)

9. 2005—179 Finishers (345 Starters)

9. 1976—179 Finishers (384 Starters)

10. 2023—175 Finishers (240 Starters)

12. 1986—174 Finishers (277 Starters)

12. 2009—174 Finishers (267 Starters)

12. 2022—174 Finishers (259 Starters

15. 1974—173 Finishers (279 Starters)

16. 1995—172 Finishers (251 Starters)

17. 1970—170 Finishers (260 Starters)

18. 1991—163 Finishers (254 Starters)

19. 1977—161 Finishers (384 Starters)

19. 1990—159 Finishers (272 Starters)

21. 2013—156 Finishers (276 Starters)

22. 1975—155 Finishers (365 Starters)

23. 2011—154 Finishers (254 Starters)

24. 2017—148 Finishers (233 Starters)

25. 2003—147 Finishers (260 Starters)

25. 1988—147 Finishers (260Starters)

26. 2021—146 Finishers (240 Starters)