SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1352065
RETURNING TO SAN FELIPE The Third Race In SCORE’s Triple Crown Will Start The 2021 Season By Dan Sanchez Photos by Get Some Photo The SCORE San Felipe 250 is an iconic race that competitors and fans have come to cherish almost as much as the SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000 races. In 2020 however, the race was not held due to the rising COVID-19 rates but it has returned as part of the SCORE 2021 season with COVID protocols in place and with safety as top priority for both racers and fans. Brief History The 2020 season was not the first time the SCORE San Felipe 250 has been moved or postponed. Although it is one of the best loved races within the SCORE World Desert Championship Series, it has had a long but at times, unpredictable history. The race began in 1982 and ran for three years until HDRA and SCORE combined as one desert racing series which put a stop to the race for five years. The first race was won overall by SCORE’s current Tech Director Dan Cornwell, who at that time drove a model 1000 Chenowth buggy to victory. After a five year hiatus, the SCORE San Felipe 250 returned in 1990, and grew in popularity to a point where in 2007, it would have as many as 394 racers participating, the most in its history. Unfortunately, that year SCORE president Sal Fish had to move the race to Ensenada less than two weeks before the start, due to disputes between landowners and government officials. The race continued every year afterwards, however, until 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the race was once again kept from happening due to safety reasons. COVID PROTOCOLS This year’s San Felipe 250 will be much like the 2020 SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 where COVID safety protocols were in place. Teams will be asked to wear face masks everywhere within and around the city. Social distancing and hand sanitizing are also mandatory before entering any establishment. When entering any of the SCORE tech inspections and registration areas, team members will have their temperatures taken and hands sanitized before entering and interacting with SCORE staff and volunteers. Tech inspections will be made by appointment to minimize contact with other teams and to maintain social distancing measures. The protocols in effect for the race also restrict the public from being at the race start/finish and that all SCORE staff, media, races, and team family members in attendance, practice social distancing if they need to be in these areas. All of the COVID-19 protocols are necessary for SCORE, the city of San Felipe, and the El Dorado Ranch to have a safe and successful 34th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE San Felipe 250 Presented by Ford, as well as continue to be able to race on the Baja Peninsula. The El Dorado Ranch The base point of SCORE’s operations will be held at the El Dorado Ranch, located on the outskirts of the city of San Felipe, Baja, Mexico. The Ranch is a 35,000 acre facility that features an 18-hole golf course, community pools, pristine beach areas, and many more amenities. SCORE operations will take place at the Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch, where racer and media registration will take place. The start/finish line is held on the road adjacent to the El Dorado Ranch Pavilion that stretches out into the San Felipe desert landscape.