We were at the starting line with a very long line of race vehicles in front and behind us – 12 of them were our class – Pro UTV N/A (normally aspirated, meaning not a turbo engine). We had a stock 1000 cc engine, 80 hp and 2300 pounds to move 1226 miles in the 50 hour time limit. It’s not a lot of power to that weight, but you have to drive it accordingly.
My girlfriend Marie was in the passenger seat. This is no easy job. It’s a rough ride, and motion sickness is a significant threat while looking at the GPS and calling the turns and not knowing how the driver/terrain would throw you around next.
Marie had not prerun the course with us, and I did not know if she’d adjust well as the hours went by in the heat of the race. I had planned to drive 150 miles and had a contingency plan where we could switch her out at mile 36, or mile 68, or mile 105. Each time we got to a road crossing with Victor waiting to switch out with her, she was good and we drove by. I was impressed!
The start of the race has everyone 30 seconds apart and jockeying through thick dust for position. We passed last years Baja 1000 champion, Francisco Arredondo, at mile 3 because he thought there was a 60 mph speed limit and there wasn’t. I topped out at 74 mph, but 10 miles later in narrow switchbacks he was on me with his siren on signalling me to pull over for him to pass. There was no place to pull over just there and I went forward looking for one. I guess he was impatient and he nerfed (rear-ended) us to make his point. I was not happy about this.
Ten more miles later and a previous points Champion, Kristen Matlock came by us. That’s ok. Our strategy was NOT to race anyone. If they wanted to pass, let them pass and focus on not breaking the car or making a mistake. We just wanted to finish. You don’t worry about what happens at mile 20 in a 1226 mile race. The terrain was a far more formidable challenge to our competition than we were, and we had control over whether we were going to over-ride the course.
We talked about how it would feel if you were the driver who broke the car or crashed it and took us out of the race, and how that would feel on a loooong plane ride home. Nobody wanted that. We envisioned pulling into the finish line in LaPaz and all getting finisher medals around our necks. That was the goal. It would not matter if we finished 4th or 8th or 12th. We’d finish in the 50-hour time limit.
I passed a dozen race vehicles broken down; some crashed. “Not us. Smooth and smart” I said in my helmet. To talk to Marie we had radios in our helmets. All you had to do was talk. We were dressed in fire suits, helmets with an air hose connected to them, with a fire skirt around the bottom of the helmet to keep (fire and) dust out. We were strapped in tight with a five-point harness and neck restraints. If you have claustrophobia, this is not for you.
When I pulled into mile 150 in about 4 hours, we were in 5th place and ahead of our race plan. We jumped out and Todd Lutinski and Kevin Koval jumped in for their first turn in the car.
So far, so good. 1076 miles to go…
Loving this email thread! Can’t wait to read the rest. It will definitely be a goal of mine to do this one day!
I love these adventures! I used to run enduros and hare scrambles. All the things you see along the way make such fond memories. Unfortunately my racing partner in crime was killed in an auto accident so all the good memories are only with me now. Your stories rekindle the fire .
Thank you
Kudos to Marie! Was this a first date? LOL
Hi Larry, someone needs to write a book of your life’s adventures of work and pleasures. True Ironman. You are definitely not letting life pass you by, living life to the fullest in all ways, but being logical about it too not taking some risks while in a risky adventure which is great as sometimes it is out of our control and shit happens. So true what you said about being a smart racer, too many let their ego’s take over or racing or riding not relaxed or breathing properly riding over their heads. Some lose the fun factor of why we got into our hobbies in the first place and should race themselves to improve and enjoy the journey more which you seem to have your whole life put together quite well. I always thought they should write a book too about a hero of mine growing up or a movie also who you probably know quite well, David Bailey. My Dad, a friend and I went to their 4 day Mx school in Axton Virginia at Lake Sugar Tree back in the summer of 1982. I was awe struck there, Gary had a broken leg and his son David had to teach us, it still feels like a dream but it was an journey, experience, schooling, fun factor everything all into one that is one of my favorite memories especially with my Dad too. Bad luck to one of the smoothest most skilled riders ever in a few years after he won many US and Des Nations titles who didn’t stop living life and won many more Ironman titles with his disability, what a Legend. Take care Larry, Steve.