SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS Larry Roeseler Continues To Make History As Baja’s Top Winning Racer By Dan Sanchez Photos By Get Some Photo “I still got to pinch myself every now and then,” says Larry Roeseler as he talks about winning his 14th SCORE Baja 1000 race back in November. While there are many legends of off-road racing, many of whom have made their name in SCORE, Roeseler has earned the nickname “Mr. Baja” for a reason. The man has won more overall race wins in the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 than any other competitor in the history of Baja racing. This last time, Roeseler co-drove with Luke McMillin, who was the driver or record, and helped McMillin earn his first SCORE Trophy Truck win at the SCORE Baja 1000. What’s interesting to note, however, is that Roeseler’s efforts back in November weren’t to add a 14th race to his seemingly unbeatable career wins. It was more about how he could help McMillin grab a well-deserved victory and stand aside as the McMillin team enjoyed their victory. “To be connected with the McMillin team for this race was a great opportunity,” said Roeseler. “I love the whole family and to be part of it was tremendous. In past races, Luke and I have teamed up together and we had come so close to winning it but things didn’t work out each time for one reason or another. This year everything came together, and we battled it down to the end. It made the win more special. For me, it wasn’t like I won, but more like, we won this. It’s such a team effort and I try to always surround myself with good people and good teams and massive support.” Despite his humility, Roeseler’s career and race wins made him legendary in Baja well before this last win with McMillin. His career started at age five when this kid from Bloomington, California learned to ride motorcycles in the desert. “As a boy, all I wanted to do is ride my motorcycle and have an opportunity to race,” said Roeseler. “Then it turned into a profession for me, and motorcycle racing all over the world.” In the 1970s Roeseler would begin winning in the 100cc class and was introduced to Baja when his dad raced it and took Roeseler pre-running. “My dad was good friends with Malcolm Smith and I learned a lot from watching them both.” His first Baja win was at the Baja 500 in 1972 riding with Mitch Mayes in Class 7. Roeseler was still in high-school. He would then go on to ride with other legendary riders such as Bruce Ogilvey, Jack Johnson, Danny LaPorte, and many others, earning more wins at the SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000 races. By the time he retired from two-wheels, Roeseler had already accomplished more than what most off-road racers would have dreamed of. But he wasn’t finished racing yet, so he moved into a four-wheel vehicle. “When I retired from motorcycles and began racing cars, I knew it was what I wanted to do and found it was a way to continue what I loved doing.” Roeseler’s four-wheel racing was more than just a second-wind to his Baja career. It began by getting a call from Walker Evans to drive in 1995. He would later race with team McPherson, the Toyota team with Ivan Stewart, and team Herbst with Troy Herbst in the Class 1 Landshark. As Roesler continued to make a name for himself, he became friends with everyone involved in Baja racing, including Corky McMillin and his sons Scott and Mark. It was inevitable that Roeseler would eventually team up with the McMillin family and in 2017 partnered up with Luke McMillin. “These last four years working with Luke have been very special for me,” said Roeseler. “I look at Luke and see how much passion this kid has for the sport. I love that little guy! I feel very lucky to have been able to watch and be a part of his career and see him grow from a kid into a young man, and I am so proud of him.” At age 63, many racers would have been long retired, but Roeseler continues to win races and shows he’s as competitive now as he was back in his 20’s. “Now that I’m older, I have to be careful about what I eat,” he says. “But to stay in shape, I ride as much as possible. For me, it’s both physical and mental therapy. Keeping sharp with that and trying to use all of my experience is what keeps me going. I put a lot of effort into pre-running as the roads change from year to year.” Many believe former motorcycle racers make the best SCORE Trophy Truck racers and riders like Roeseler also believe in that. “When you get into a vehicle and sit behind the wheel, you can’t help but go into motorcycle mode,” he says. “Your survival to make it through hazardous corners and ditches, it’s all on you when you’re on two-wheels so it translates to whatever you drive and it helps to save the vehicle instead of pushing it extremely hard. I pride myself on preparation both physically and mentally. I focus on the ability to read the terrain and picking good lines you apply all that into your driving four-wheel racing. That’s why I don’t use GPS so much. It makes me giggle when we go testing. My mind is so motorcycle oriented I look at these big bumps and rocks and I giggle because I know the truck just goes over it. I always say to myself, I shouldn’t be able to go over that, but I do.” Roeseler’s career is far from over and he plans on participating in the SCORE 2021 season in the SCORE Trophy Truck division with the Baja Jerky team. For the rest of the competitors, Roeseler is another huge obstacle to try and overcome, and those who have been around this legendary racer, know they need to take his challenge seriously, or they’ll find themselves eating his dust. SJ