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SCORE Tech has announced locations, dates for chassis inspections prior to upcoming Golden Anniversary of the iconic SCORE Baja 500
April 25, 2018
May 29-June 3 this year
SCORE Tech has announced locations, dates for chassis inspections
prior to upcoming Golden Anniversary of the iconic SCORE Baja 500
50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico;
Golden Anniversary is Rd 2 of 4-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship
more info available at http://score-international.com/raceinfo/2018-baja-500/
ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—Knowing the demand will be significant during race week, SCORE Tech Director and former champion SCORE Baja racer Dan Cornwell has announced several dates and locations for mandatory annual chassis inspections to confirm that vehicles comply with the technical and safety regulations to participate in the upcoming 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.
“Because we are expecting such a large number of vehicles in this year’s special race, many of which need this annual chassis certification, we are pleased to be able to offer several opportunities to get the chassis inspections completed prior to race week,” commented Cornwell.
One of the world’s top motorsports events will be celebrated in a special way this year at the internationally-televised 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500. Round 2 of the four-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship will be held May 29-June 3 in Mexico’s Baja California, starting and finishing in Ensenada, the seaside port on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego.
Most the world’s best desert racers will be in action at this year’s celebration of the golden anniversary of one of the top 10 motorsports events in the entire world.
It is an elapsed-time race with staggered starts as the green flag on Saturday (June 3) will drop first for the motorcycles and quads at 5:30 a.m. (PDT) and approximately 10 a.m. (PDT) for the cars, trucks and UTVs.
Over 350 vehicles are expected at the start line with racers from as many as 30 U.S. States and 20 countries anticipated. Race title sponsor BFGoodrich Tires has posted a US$25,000 contingency bonus for the overall winner to help commemorate this year’s race.
Early entries have come from 15 States in the U.S.A. along with host country Mexico, Canada, Italy and New Zealand.
CHASSIS INSPECTIONS
Cornwell has announced six areas and dates in the United States and contact info for appointments with SCORE Tech assistant Jesse Beccera in Baja California.
With detailed requirements in the digital SCORE rule book on the SCORE website at www.score-international.com, the locations and dates announced by SCORE Tech are Imperial County, Calif. (April 30-May 5), Los Angeles and Orange County (May 7-12), Phoenix, Greater Phoenix and Tucson (May 14-19), Las Vegas and the California High Desert area (May 21-26), ‘last call’ for the Los Angeles and Riverside areas (May 21-26) and by appointment in the San Diego area.
TECH CONTACTS
Further information, appointments, etc. may be directed to tech@score-international.com or by calling Cornwell directly at 619.572.8245 in the U.S.A. or Becerra in Mexico at 011.52.1.646.203.5774.
RACE WEEK INSPECTIONS
Chassis inspections will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday as well as pre-tech/Stella bracket check and installation on Playa Hermosa south of the city on Highway 1.
All required activities, on Tuesday, May 29, Pre-Tech along with Stella Bracket Check and Installations will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT and Chassis Inspections will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Wednesday, May 30, Pre-Tech along with Stella Bracket Check and Installations will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT and Chassis Inspections will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ONLINE RACER REGISTRATION
Online registration, by class, for Pro and Sportsman cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads, is ongoing through the SCORE website. Information on all SCORE races can be found on the home page under the Race Info tab.
For more info, visit http://score-international.com/raceinfo/2018-baja-500/.
Official entries received after the drawing will be given the next available starting position within their respective classes. Online entries will be accepted until 10 p.m. (PDT) on Wednesday, May 23.
GRAN HISTORIA
Following last year’s epic celebration of the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000, this year’s SCORE World Desert Championship spotlights the special tribute to the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.
The SCORE Baja 500 is one of the top motorsports events in the world. It was started originally in 1969 by the NORRA organization. Mickey Thompson and his SCORE International organization were invited by the Mexican government to take over the event in 1974. Sal Fish ran and later owned and produced the SCORE Baja 500 for 39 years until he sold SCORE to Roger and Elise Norman in December of 2012.
This year will be the 45th time the race has started and 41st time it will finish in Ensenada, the off-road capital of the world.
START ORDER/DRAW DEADLINE
The starting order within each class for this race will start with the finishing order from the recent SCORE San Felipe 250, if the individual entry is received by Monday, May 21 and paid in full by May 23. For racers who were DNFs in San Felipe but enter by the deadline, a special drawing will be held for them prior to the other entries that come in for each class.
The deadline for those that raced in San Felipe to activate their reserved start position is 8 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 21. Deadline for all additional entries to be included in the drawing for starting positions is on 8 p.m. PDT Wednesday, May 23. The results of the drawing, to determine the remainder of the start order within each class, will be held announced on Friday, May 25.
No new entries will be accepted after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23. Late, on-site racer registration will be held on Wednesday, Thursday andFriday (May 29-30, June 1).
PRE-RUNNING
Official practice, or pre-running, on the official race course for this year’s BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 will begin on Saturday, May 19.
MAIN COURSE
The race will feature a course, when finalized over the next couple of weeks by SCORE CEO/President Roger Norman along with Race Director Jose A. Grijalva of approximately 510 miles.
When completed, the historic race course will be another memorable example of all that Mexico’s Baja California has to offer, including high-speed dirt trails, sandy, rocky and silty natural terrain, majestic Baja washes and canyons, stretches along the seashore with elevations from sea level to over 4,000 feet. The course will be another jewel reflecting the stark beauty of Baja California.
GRANDEST CO-GRAND MARSHALS
Legendary Hall of Fame former SCORE owner Sal Fish has agreed to join Hall of Fame retired racer Ivan Stewart as co-Grand Marshals for the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.
Fish, the ‘godfather’ of desert racing who ran SCORE from its Baja start in 1974 for 38 years through the end of the 2012 season joins the iconic ‘Ironman’ Stewart to share duties for the special golden anniversary race that they both have been such a major part of over the years.
Fish, who will turn 79 on May 2 and Stewart who will turn 73 on June 4, will both be active parts of the celebration of the popular early summer race.
Gracious as always, Fish returns to SCORE for another celebration after being Grand Marshal of last November’s epic 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000.
Racing since 1973, Stewart joined the Toyota factory team in 1983 for Cal Wells at Precision Preparation Inc. (PPI). He had a total of 84 career off-road race victories in stadium, short course and desert. Stewart had17 SCORE Baja 500 class wins (including 10 SCORE Baja 500 overall wins).
SCOREscope
Below is the four-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship schedule. For the third consecutive year all four races are being held in Baja California, Mexico. Here is the complete 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship schedule:
- 32nd SCORE San Felipe 250, April 4-April 8, San Felipe, Mexico
- 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500, May 30-June 3, Ensenada Mexico
- Tijuana 22nd SCORE Desert Challenge, Sept. 19-23, Tijuana, Mexico
- 51st SCORE Baja 1000, Nov.14-18, Ensenada, Mexico
SCORE SPONSORS…
Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire and official race title sponsor, Monster Energy-Official Energy Drink, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber, Polaris RZR-Official UTV, RACELINE Wheels-Official Wheel, VP Racing Fuels-Official Fuel, El Rey Network-Official Television Partner, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino.
SCORE Official Partners: PCI Race Radios, 4 Wheel Parts, The Satellite Phone Store, Satellite Del Norte, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance,CETTO Vineyards.
Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Baja California Sur State Government, Baja California Sur Secretary of Tourism, Mexicali Ayuntamiento, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Cruz Roja Mexicana, Corporate Helicopters, McKenzie’s Performance Products, Advanced Color Graphics.
Tijuana SCORE Desert Challenge Special Partners: XXII Ayuntamiento de Tijuana, Baja California State Secretary of Tourism, Comite de Turismo and Convenciones, Comite de Marcadotecnia Turistica, Asociacion de Hoteles del Noroeste.
For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCOREInternational.com.
50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
- Schedule of Events•
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
8am-6pm Pre-Tech/Stella Bracket Check & Install--Playa Hermosa Beach
9am-5pm Chassis Inspections Playa Hermosa Beach
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
8am-6pm Pre-Tech/Stella Bracket Check & Install--Playa Hermosa Beach
9am-5pm Chassis Inspections Playa Hermosa Beach
Noon-8pm Racer Registration Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
1pm-5pm Media Registration Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
Thursday, May 31, 2018
8am-5pm Racer Registration Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
9am-5pm Media Registration Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
9am-5pm Contingency Row Blvd. Costero, next to Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Ctr.
9am-6pm Tech Inspection Blvd. Las Dunas, next to Riviera del Pacifico CC
7pm-11pm Monster Energy SCORE Kickoff Party--Monster Energy VIP area-S/F Line
Friday, June 1, 2018
8am-5pm Racer Registration Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
9am-5pm Media Registration Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
9am-5pm Contingency Row Blvd. Costero, next to Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Ctr.
9am-6pm Tech Inspection Blvd. Las Dunas, next to Riviera del Pacifico CC
11:30am SCORE Media Conf. Cathedral Room, Riviera del Pacifico CC Center
6pm Mandatory Aircraft Pilot Meeting—Cathedral Room, Riviera CC
7pm Mandatory Racer Meeting Cathedral Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
6pm-Midnight Monster Energy Papas Y Beer SCORE Street Party-Avenida Ruiz
Saturday, June 2, 2018
5am-Midnight SCORE Media Center Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
START/FINISH: approximate 510-mile course (Class starting order subject to change)
5:30am RACE START: MOTORCYCLES/QUADS (subject to change)—
Pro Moto Unltd, Pro Moto 40, Pro Moto 30, Pro Moto 50, Pro Moto Ltd, Pro Moto Ironman, Pro Moto 60, Pro Quad, SPT Quad, SPT Moto
(Start Intervals: Pro Moto Unlimited-60 second split, all other classes start one every 30 seconds)
GAP –a minimum of three hour gap between M/C, Quad start and car/truck/utv start
9:15am Honor Guard and Salute to Flag Ceremony (start/finish line area)
10am RACE START CARS/TRUCKS/UTVS (subject to change)—
TT/TT Legend, 1, TT Spec, 10, 2, Hammer Unltd, Hammer Ltd, 8, 1/2-1600, SL, 7, 7F, 5, HM, Pro UTV FI, Pro UTV, Pro UTV Unltd, 5-1600, 3000, TL, Baja-e, BC, 3, PT, SF, 7SX, 3700, 2700, 1700, SM, VT, VI, 9, 11, SPT Unltd Truck, SPT Buggy, SPT Ltd Truck, SPT UTV, SPT Stock UTV FI, SPT Stock UTV NA
(TT one vehicle every 60 seconds. All other car/truck classes start one every 30 seconds)
TIME LIMIT: All vehicles will have a 20-hour time limit from the time each vehicle starts
3pm-12am Posting of Unofficial Finishers Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
Sunday, June 3, 2018
10am-Noon SCORE Media Center Open Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
11am Posting of unofficial results Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
Noon Awards Celebration Cathedral Room Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center