It was a dry cough. No big deal.
Five days to leave for Baja.
We had won the Baja 1000 race last year – when it was 1311 miles long, one way from LaPaz to Ensenada. An epic win. Winning the longest non-stop off-road race in the world can only be “epic”. And of course, when you win, you want to go back and win again. So that’s what I was doing.
I had set a goal to enter three races in Baja in three different classes and podium in all three in the same year. I had finished second soloing the San Felipe 250 on a motorcycle in the 50 and over class. Then I finished third in the Baja 400 on a motorcycle – solo again. The 1000 I thought, would not be a problem to podium on four wheels since we had won it last year. We had the speed.
But alas, Baja is a ruthless master. What happens over 1000 miles of the toughest “racecourse” you’ve ever seen depends on a lot of things; some in your control and some not. Luck played a part – good luck and bad luck; on your part and on each of your competitors’ parts. Let’s see how this goes this year…
I flew to San Diego and met my trusty co-driver Dustin Gebers who flew in from Nashville. We also met two friends who were there to help and experience it with us. Dustin Coffey was from Knoxville Tennessee. Two Dustin’s from opposite ends of Tennessee. Dustin Gebers was not a small guy, but standing next to Dustin Coffey he looked small. So we quickly coined them Big D and Little D. I don’t think Little D was excited about that, but we all know if you protest, you’re going to get it even more. Such is the custom among great friends.
My brother-from-another-mother, Bobby Miles, was there as he had been so many times before. We also had Ted Waldron, my video guy, and Jesse Dostie from Florida. Ted and Jesse made the Into the Dust series movies, and the band was back together for more moviemaking.
The team had the race vehicles on trailers already across the border. Two vans picked us up at the San Diego airport. We headed to the border crossing and down through Tijuana along the coast to Ensenada. We enjoyed pointing out the sights to Big D who had never been to Baja before.
I coughed yet again. “What’s that about?” asked Little D. Just a dry cough I’ve had for nearly a week now. No big deal.
I secretly hoped it was no big deal…