Ok I wasn't in my car but I had too much fun to not report on it. some of you may know that my uncle is a crew cheif/mechanic on a two car off road racing team. This week we raced in the Mexican 1000 with Bud Feldkamp's car. they needed another co-driver, so I volunteered. This race is more for the legends of the sport and vintage vehicles. Bud Felkamp has won the overall at the Baja 1000 back in the '70's with team mate Malcolm Smith. The actuall drivers were Bud Feldkamp and his son Buddy. My job was to read the GPS and warn the driver of the next turns and the severity of the turns so he could know how much to slow down. I also monitored the engine, and was reporting our position on the course back to the chase truck. All this kept me very busy while flying throught the desert at speeds up to 145. If you have never gone this fast while bouncing over rocks or flying through the air, trust me when i say it feels alot faser than on smooth black top. Since we didn't have a vintage vehicle to run, re entered the Class 1 buggy in the alternative fuel catogorry and set the car up to run on E85. I hope we never are forced to use this stuff. While the A/F ratio was great, the exhaust temps are way high. We completely destroyed a beautiful 8 into 1 header and borla race mufffler. (see pics of end of day 2.) We found a local muffler shop who had a nice set of headers to use for the next day.

the race is three days and after the first day we had the overall lead. After the second day we had an even bigger lead. It was nice to be first off the start so we had clean air instead of being blinded by dirt as we tried to pass. Unfortunately on the final day we blew the trans and DNF'd.

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More pics

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after second day.

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Now that there looked like a great time !!!!!!

 

Just not real sure if I would want to be strapped down on the passenger side.. Squirrel Crusher

 

There was once a time I thought I'd like to attempt that ( back in my trail bike riding days) but not now. But I bet it's an experience you won't soon forget.
Did you happen to get any photos of the vintage rides?

 

I was too busy to take many pictures, but I did get one of a AMX that raced. It actually raced the 1000 back in the day. I will try to upload latter when I get a chance. I thought of you when I saw it and had to get a picture.

 

Here is an interesting car. Is it an AMX?

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That's a Hornet Hatchback, could be any year from 1973 thru 77. In 1977 they had a model called a Hornet AMX, but all it had was some decals, louvers on the rear window, and Pontiac Trans Am style "flares" on the wheel wells.
I never knew any AMX's took part in the Baja runs.
The actor James Wagner drove a modified 69 Rambler "SC/Rambler in the race once or twice.
There were a couple 69 Olds Cutlass coupes running back then, and they were cut up so much that they actually resembled a 2 seater AMX.
I appreciate Ya thinking of me Lantana. Thanks for the photos

 

I am pretty sure James Garner drove one of the OLDS you mentioned. There was also a '70 Nova there.

 

Yeah I said Wagner, but I meant Garner. my bad Remember...I am 60.
I didn't remember him driving the Olds, just remembered the cars.
He drove the SC/Ramblers too.
Old Cars Canada: 1969 Rambler Scrambler

 

Cool Rambler! Here is a picture of James Garner's Olds. It is a '70 442. This car was on display at last years race in Parker AZ.

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Wow! That looks like fun! That sucks that you DNF'd.