The stakes were high going into the 50th Anniversary race of the Baja 1000 November 14-18, but Flow Wall's trophy truck team fought through the extreme temperatures and blinding silt of the Baja Peninsula to navigate from Ensenada to La Paz in less than 48 hours. Of the 405 teams that entered, only 205 actually completed the grueling 2-day race within the allotted 48 hours without disqualification, and our Flow Wall team was one of them, placing a respectable 119th place, crossing the finish line at 34:17:26.572. With Jayson Strachan behind the wheel, car #44 did not disappoint.
The Baja 1000: What You Need to Know
The Baja 1000 has come a long way since its inception in 1967, attracting the attention of serious trophy truck racers and celebrities alike. Originally organized by the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA), the race grew in popularity tremendously between 1967 and 1972 when ABC started reporting on it. Although the race has changed hands several times since then, it has run every year since 1967, with the exception of 1974, when the event was canceled due to the oil crisis in the United States.
The Pre-Run
Prior to the actual race, racers are given an opportunity to test the roughly 1134.1-mile course in its entirety to get an idea of the terrain and what to expect along the way. The pre-run didn't start off great for the Flow Wall team; in fact, we blew our breaks completely near the start. Thankfully, once that problem was remedied, things went smoother, ultimately leading us to complete the actual race without major issue.
The Dangers of the Baja 1000
In addition to the dangerous terrain, racers are expected to travel throughout the race, there are endless issues that can arise, ranging from trouble with the trophy truck itself to booby traps and obstacles set up throughout the course by spectators looking for some added entertainment. Not to mention, the course is run on a fully functioning highway, complete with non-race traffic traveling along the course simultaneously. This race is definitely not for the faint of heart, which is why so many teams are unable to finish, and just another reason we're so proud of our Flow Wall team's showing.
Only the Strong
As the final race in a four-part series throughout Baja, the Baja 1000 is a chance for racers to push themselves to the limits and see what they're truly capable of. While the Baja 1000 2017 is over, we look forward to future participation and have no doubt that, much like our garage organization products, our trophy truck team will hold strong and withstand anything thrown their way. Congratulations Team Flow Wall!
