Larry Roeseler is the most prolific race winner on the Baja Peninsula. Many of his victories were also overall wins. At the Baja 500, he and Ivan Stewart are tied with 17 class wins a piece. They are 3rd on the all-time winning list, only trailing Rod Hall with 18, and Jim O’Neal with 20. When it comes to Baja 500 overall victories, Roeseler has 9 to his name. At the Baja 1000, Roeseler has 10 overall bike wins, 2 overall wins in the famous Landshark Class 1, and a 3rd overall win with Roger Norman in the Trophy Truck class. That’s 30 overall wins at two of the most iconic offroad races in the world. He also won the San Felipe 250 back to back in 1991, 1992, but that’s just piling on. What makes it even more impressive is that he’s not done. It might seem bold to predict more wins, just because he’s still racing, but if you ask anyone, Larry Roeseler is a threat to win whenever, and wherever he lines up to race. He still rides all the time, but prefers to race on four wheels now. If he wanted, he could jump on his motorcycle tomorrow, and make any bike field nervous. He lives 45 minutes away from some prime single-track, and rides as often as he can. He takes every opportunity possible to get some of what he calls “helmet therapy.”

Larry was 5 years old when he got his first mini bike, and started riding. His family lived in Bloomington, California, and would take regular trips to the desert to go racing, or riding. In the early 1970’s, he was racing a 100cc motorcycle in the desert, and steadily advancing through the ranks. He finished 4th overall in his local series, then 2nd, and finally took the number one spot in the 100cc class. Around that time his Father raced the Baja 500, and Larry rode with him during the prerun. “Back then, “says Roeseler, “The course went 90 miles on pavement to Camalu before hitting the dirt, and there was no Catavina, and no CoCo’s corner yet. It was much different back then.” 

Roeseler continued to get faster racing in the local desert, and in 1972, he got his first win at the Baja 500 racing with Mitch Mayes. Larry rode the first half, and then handed the bike to Mayes. Larry was not just a competitor; he was a winner of the Baja 500, and still in high school. In 1973, and ’74 he finished on the podium in 3rd place in the 125cc class. In 1975, he would take his second win riding a 250cc Harley Davidson with Bruce Ogilvie. Those Harley’s were unique. They ran Italian made 2 stroke engines that were supplied to the Harley Davidson team. 

Larry moved to the 250 class, and then into the open class. In ’76, he was right back on top; winning the open class at the Baja 500 riding with A.C. Bakken. He also won the Baja 1000 with Mitch Mayes on a Husqvarna. In 1977, Larry got his third win in a row at the Baja 500; taking the open class win riding with Jack Johnson. Larry was riding with some of the best riders in the sport, but no matter whom he shared the bike with, Larry was consistently coming out on top. 

His Baja 500 success was equaled at the Baja 1000. He won both the 500, and the 1000 in 1976. Starting in 1978, Larry won the Baja 1000 for the Husqvarna team, three years in a row. In 1981 and ’82, Larry won back to back at the Baja 500 racing for yet another manufacturer; Yamaha. In 1987, Kawasaki had been very successful racing motocross so Larry went to them about racing in the desert too. He convinced them that Team Green needed to go offroad racing. Larry put a team together with Ted Hunnicutt Jr., and won the Baja 500 that year. He put Kawasaki on the map in Baja, winning the 500 again in ’90, ’92, and ’93. His Baja 1000 streak was even more impressive. Racing with Team Green, he won the B1K in ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’93, and 94. The Kawasaki brand took 9 straight wins at the Baja 1000 during that time from 88 to 96. 

After his win in 1994, Larry had amassed 10 overall wins at the Baja 1000. He told Team Green that ten was a nice round number so let’s leave it there. Larry had been building a prerunner, and wanted to race trucks, so he decided to sit out the ’95 season. During the Baja 500 that year, tragedy struck when Larry’s teammate, and friend Danny Hamel was killed. A car travelling backwards on the course caused the collision. Larry knew the risks better than anyone, but Danny’s death hit him hard. It furthered Larry’s resolve to make the switch to 4 wheeled racing.

“I had a lot of great times racing bikes,” says Roeseler. “In the early days we didn’t have the big factory teams like now. Your crew would be one or two guys with some gas cans, and tires in the back of a pick-up truck. We always had great battles with the Honda guys. They were known for taking “creative lines.” Our guys in the helicopter would shake their fingers at them. We knew about the lines they were taking, but the bosses at Kawasaki forbid us from doing the same. They just told us to train harder, and ride faster. I never considered myself as having any special talent for riding. I was always just willing to work harder to go faster.” 

After hanging up his helmet in competition, it didn’t take long for the phone to start ringing. He was hired by Walker Evans to drive in 1995. Then he raced with the MacPherson Chevrolet team driving their S10 pick-up affectionately known as Little Mac. Big Mac was the full size truck that Jerry McDonald built for Team MacPherson. He shared the driving with Jerry McDonald before taking over as driver of record. In 2000, Larry raced with the Toyota team at the Baja 2000 race. He shared driving duties with another Baja legend, Ivan Stewart. They were dominating the race with a 45 minute lead on the field when they lost an engine; ending their race. 

In 2001, Larry got a call from Troy Herbst to race the “Landshark” class one Truggy (half truck, half buggy). Once teamed with Troy, the pair dominated Class 1 in the Landshark. They won the Baja 500 Overall back to back in 2002, 2003. Not to be outdone, they also won Overall back to back at the Baja 1000 in 2004, 2005. “Those years racing with Troy were special,” says Larry. “It was such an honor to race such an awesome car. We put in some phenomenal races in that car. Everywhere we went, we had tons of fans rooting for us.” During the reign of the Landshark, they were able to win Class 1, and take some impressive wins against the Trophy Trucks who typically dominate the overall wins. Larry earned his 32nd win at the Baja 1000 in 2008 racing with now owner of SCORE International, Roger Norman.

“We dug up some old pictures the other day, and found one of me pushing my bike through contingency in 1972,” said Roeseler. “I’ve covered a lot of miles since that first win at the 500. One thing that stands out to me is how the equipment has changed over the years. The sport itself has changed a lot too since this 15 year old won his class at the Baja 500 on a 100cc bike. My Dad really had a lot of confidence in me to let me take on such a thing. It makes giggle and smile when I think about it. In 2017 we came very close to winning another Baja 1000. I was racing with Luke McMillin, and leading the race until we suffered a mechanical issue. I was racing bikes when Luke and Dan’s grandfather Corky was racing in class one. I’ve had the privilege to know their Dad Mark for years. Now I’m racing with his kids after watching them grow up. When I started racing, I never thought it would be a career. I always thought I would be a dentist, or an electrician. We were out riding or racing every weekend, and I was having fun. Once I started winning, I was making money at it. It’s been difficult at times but so rewarding. It’s been my lifestyle, and I’m so blessed to have been surrounded by the best people, and great equipment.”

All these years later, Larry’s phone is still ringing; he brings a lot to the table. Everywhere he’s been, he’s left a huge mark on the landscape with countless wins along the way. His life gets hectic, but some precious time with his family, and a little Helmet Therapy, and he’s ready for the next challenge. A serious contender whenever he straps on a helmet; the story of Larry Roeseler’s accomplishments is still being written.