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 | SCORE Baja 500: Robby Gordon will return for 44th Tecate Baja 500 today.
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Robby Gordon, one of the world's best desert racers, will return to his desert roots for the 44th running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 this weekend, June 1-3, 2012. Piloting the No. 77 Hummer H3 prepared by Speed Factory Off-Road, Gordon will roll off the line 28th on Saturday morning. While he knows that he has a long road ahead of him to compete for the overall victory, Gordon is certainly up for the challenge.
"Even though we didn't get a good draw, I am still going to drive the wheels off the No. 77 Hummer H3 to get it to the front. We are coming to win the race, and I am going to do whatever I can to do so. Since it is a timed event, we don't have to cross the line first on Saturday, but we have to have the fasted elapsed time. So watch out or move over!"
"It's going to be fun. We started in the thirties last year and almost won, so don't rule me out yet. I want to welcome MAPEI on board for their first Baja 500 experience...it is sure to be a fun ride!"
"I love to race anything anywhere, but off-road racing really is my passion. The Baja 500 is one of my favorite races; I love Baja, the fans, and the support that we receive from everyone there. It is a place where I am in my element," said Gordon.
"Speed Energy has gained enormous popularity and retail space in Mexico, so I want to thank everyone down here that helped with that. I invite all my fans and supporters to join Speed, Papas & Beer and Lutzenkirch Street Party on Friday, June 1st at 5 p.m."
Also, on Tuesday evening, Gordon announced the SST series created from his passion for off-road racing - Robby Gordon's Super Stadium Trucks. Resurrecting what was once Mickey Thompson's vision, Gordon feels that off-road racing is the best kept secret in racing that needs to be shared with the ever-eager world audience.
Since the North American off-racing venues primarily takes place in the southwest deserts and the Baja peninsula, not that many people know about it. With the TV being difficult to shoot on the expansive race courses, Gordon feels that this bringing back this form of motorsports in stadiums is a recipe for success.
The rugged 450-mile course, which runs in a clockwise direction, resembles a deflating balloon, winding east to Ojos Negros, down to near San Felipe, back West to the Pacific Ocean below San Vicente and back north east through Santo Tomas on the way back to Ojos Negros and then Ensenada.
The four official race checkpoints, where all vehicles are required to make a quick stop, will be located at race mile 88.56 (Santa Catarina), rm219.72 (South San Matias Wash), rm314.13 (Northwest of Colonet near the Pacific Ocean) and rm402.90 (West of Ojos Negros).
The course will also have 52 virtual checkpoints. All vehicles are also required to run International Rally Consultants tracking devices and live vehicle tracking will be available during the race at [ TEAMGORDON.COM ].
The course will also have five short controlled-speed pavement sections that total 13.67 miles where the speed limit for the race vehicles is 60 miles per hour, subject to time penalties for exceeding that speed in those very limited pavement sections.
Not only is there a significant variety of terrain on this desert race course, elevations will range from sea-level to the 4,155-foot summit at race mile 110.47 with temperatures fluctuating between the low 50s to the 100s Fahrenheit between the Pacific Coast, summit, dry lake beds, washes and Sea of Cortez.
2012/06/02 | 11:37 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/MCCABE
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