SCORE Journal

SCORE Journal Issue - AUGUST 2017

SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing

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Visitor’s Guide to tHE 2017 Tijuana Desert ChallengeTijuana, Mexico is recognized as the busiest border crossing in the world and as a global reference for its avant-garde cuisine. But keep in mind, Tijuana isn’t a famous European city or a well-known destination in Asia. This was once an infamous border town, but now, Tijuana has been going through some eye-opening development that has improved its urban image and the lifestyle of the people living within it. Tijuana was founded in 1889 and throughout the years became notorious for catering to U.S. servicemen and teenagers who would flock across the border to its many shops and waterholes. As the years passed, Tijuana grew in population and attracted more and more investment opportunities in various industries, along with millions of tourists. It has ultimately transformed into one of the five largest metropolitan areas in México. With a present population of close to two million inhabitants and set in a privileged geographical location, Tijuana, along with neighboring Southern California, represent one of the most important economic regions in the world. Recently, the mayors of San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico, agreed to take their message both to Washington DC, as well as México City, in order to be recognized as truly one single economic region with enormous potential but with many challenges. “SCORE’s races in Baja California provide an opportunity for visitors from all over the world to appreciate the best of what Baja has to offer,” said William A. Ostick, U.S. Council General for Tijuana, Baja Mexico. ““For almost 50 years, Baja off-road racing events in Baja California confirm what we here in Tijuana already know – our two countries share more than a border. We share enthusiasm for sporting events such as this, which gives people a chance to get to know Mexico and Baja California, better.” Transforming Tijuana’s History Commercial activities linked to Tijuana’s origins and industrial development have been a key economic factor of its recent growth. Back in the 1900’s Tijuana was a small community. Next door to San Ysidro, California, it was connected via a two-lane border crossing that was hardly recognizable. Several restaurants, banks, clothing and material stores popped up in the area, along with some night clubs and cantinas that lined the streets of what was then downtown Tijuana. A few years later the city again gained notoriety with the opening of its luxurious Agua Caliente casino which housed a hotel, spa, a racetrack, and even had its own airfield where Hollywood stars and one or two gangsters would descend to relax and enjoy world-class entertainment. After decades, the city started growing and received more tourists because of its two bullfighting rings; including the only one next to the sea. In addition, the front on Jai-Alai palace, still standing today on Revolución avenue, as well as the race track with both horse and dog racing attracted many visitors to gamble and enjoy these sporting events. The years past, and near the end of the 1970’s, just when it looked like the city was stuck in its growth, Tijuana began transforming itsself in great part due to a major urbanization project called the Tijuana River Development Zone, also called “Zona Río” by the locals. Slowly but surely a collection of housing, office, and government buildings started being built. Then the hotels came along with shopping and financial centers that quickly covered this huge area of the city. Today the city is lined with traffic circles that include impressive monuments of Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec emperor and a statue of Abraham Lincoln, visitors can also find great shopping opportunities at the Plaza Río center. Some of the city’s best restaurants including Misión 19 as well as five-star hotels, including the Real Inn, which will be race headquarters for the SCORE Tijuana Desert Challenge”, can also be found here. The “New Downtown”, as it is also called, houses various buildings such as the City Hall and State Government buildings. The Tijuana Cultural Center, financial headquarters, and sports facilities, are there too, as well as the city’s general hospital and some of largest private hospitals in the state. Tijuana’s contributions to the world With strategic border crossings at San Ysidro and Otay, many national and foreign firms have come calling to Tijuana. Abelardo Rodríguez International Airport, which includes one of only two trans-border terminals in the world and a well-connected network of roads, is another avenue that has brought more people to this growing city. When the “maquiladora” program first began in Tijuana back in the 70’s it generated a steady flow of Japanese, Korean, and later Chinese corporations to the area and began to established themselves in the city. In the years that followed international aviation, medical and electronic firms also came to Tijuana generating thousands of jobs and positioning the city as a world class business center. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that some of the most modern and sophisticated medical instruments used in hospitals all over the world are manufactured in Tijuana. The presence of important international aeronautical firms, including those who manufacture equipment for NASA, have also made Tijuana the country’s leader in this field. Toyota Tacoma pick-up trucks are also assembled in the Toyota plant located on the outskirts of Tijuana. Furthermore, the next time you watch a SCORE race on the El Rey network, chances are that the flat-screen TV in your living room was probably manufactured in Tijuana too. Tourism and the taste of Tijuana Tijuana is one of the best examples in México of how tourism can be generated in many different ways. On one hand, the city continues to receive international tourists that come from the U.S., Europe and Asia to experience the food, the folklore and shopping mostly found on Revolución Avenue. After many years and a recent face lift, the famed Revolución Avenue continues to be the main tourist route in the city. Tijuana’s famed nightlife is as vibrant as ever thanks to several popular spots in the city where both tourist as well as locals come together to enjoy themselves. Some of these spots include Calle Sexta. (Sixth Street) on Revolución Avenue, and the River Area (Zona Río). Perhaps the two sites in the city that best reflect Tijuana’s great Mexican heritage, however, are Plaza Santa Cecilia, located at the beginning of Revolución Avenue and First Street, just under the huge arch monument with the giant screen. Here the visitor can find great shopping opportunities and Mexican food while being serenaded by a mariachi musical group. Visitors enjoy the music while sipping on a traditional Margarita, surrounded by typical Mexican decorations and colors. Another area that is popular with tourists is Hidalgo City Market (Mercado Hidalgo) located in the River Area close to the border. It’s here where visitors will encounter a typical Mexican market setting with fresh produce, Mexican candies, meat and fish, and even get to savor famous Mexican dishes like mole from Oaxaca or carnitas from Michoacán. It’s a place where visitors can even buy colorful Mexican piñatas. A must for any tourist who visits Tijuana is to take a traditional photo on one of the colorful Zonkie karts with the famous painted zebra located along Revolución Avenue. Tijuana has also been hailed as a cultural hot bed with many local artist and groups that went on to become internationally renowned. Many had their start at the Tijuana Cultural Center  located in the Zona Río, a short drive from the border. The distinctive architecture of its buildings houses a museum and exhibit halls, performing arts theater and Omni-Max space theater in the shape of a ball. The city also has several other museums and a State Center for the Arts. Enjoying Sports Tijuana also happens to be a city of champions thanks to its professional Toros baseball team, the Zonkeys basketball team and the Xolos soccer team, all of which attract many fans from both sides of the border. Tijuana is also host to many conventions, seminars, expos and fairs, thanks to its modern metropolitan convention center called the Baja California Center, located just south of the city near Rosarito Beach. Still many other tourist are come to Tijuana in search of a wide variety of medical services, including bariatric and plastic surgery, sports medicine, stem cell treatment, dental and ophthalmology procedures, making the city the nation’s leader in medical tourism. As a result of this, more and more international hotel chains are investing in Tijuana, including the Hampton Inn, City Express, Holiday Inn as well as Hyatt among others. But perhaps the favorite reason why tourist are coming to Tijuana now a days is what many consider a culinary revolution, just ask famed American chefs Anthony Bourdain and Rick Bayless, who film their TV shows, have become the city’s best promoters. Because Tijuana in great part is a city of immigrants that come from many parts of México and other countries, for many years the city has offered some of the best Italian, French and Chinese cuisine you can find on both sides of the border. In fact, many are surprised to find out that the world famous Caesars salad originated in Tijuana at the iconic restaurant of the same name, located on Revolución Avenue. If it’s the famous Baja Med cuisine found in restaurants like La Querencia and Misión 19 or it’s unparalleled street food served from carts, in food courts and trucks all over the city, a new generation of chefs have transformed Tijuana into one of the most sought after cuisine destinations in the world. With neighboring Guadalupe Valley just to the south produces 90 percent of México’s wines. Tourist in Tijuana can also sample some of the best wines in the world and even visit the LA Cetto wine cellar located right in downtown Tijuana. Still thousands of tourists a year come from both sides of the border just to taste Tijuana’s internationally award-winning craft beer. With more than 50 small breweries in town producing a wide variety of beers, Tijuana offers the ideal combination of fun, food and brew that not too many places can. With neighboring Southern California consider to be the largest consumer market of craft beer in the U.S., the craft beer festivals held in Tijuana as well as in other neighboring cities in the state have been growing tremendously every year. A city with a bright future Like any other dynamic and fast growing city in world, things have not always been easy for the city of Tijuana. With a rapid development came many challenges and demands that must be addressed at that same pace, sometimes generating situations that impact the image or perception of the city. While people visit Tijuana, for a Diego Rivera exhibit, or an Arts and Craft Expo, Baja Med cuisine festival with wines and craft beer from the region, or perhaps an international aeronautics Expo at the Convention Center, chances are you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find. With new border crossing infrastructure, air and land communications as well as more and better educational opportunities opening up every day along with a more and more stronger identity of its inhabitants, Tijuana’s future is looking brighter. So, if you’ve heard or read, or even seen any horror stories about Tijuana, just remember it may not be the city you thought you knew. SJLodging Information: The President of Tijuana’s Hotel Association, Jose Antonio Rico Cacillas, has graciously arranged for many hotels in the area to provide teams with discounted group rates and room availability: HOTEL LA MESA Contact Martha Dominguez at
reservaciones@bajainn.com for rates 
as low as $75 USD www.bajainn.com/es/
hacienda-del-rio HOTEL HACIENDA DEL RIO 
Contact Martha Dominguez at reservaciones@bajainn.com for rates as low as $90 USD 
www.bajainn.com/es/hotel-la-mesa GRAND HOTEL TIJUANA Contact Jorge Rubio at 
reservaciones@grandhoteltj.com. 
www.grandhoteltj.com  HOTEL PUEBLO AMIGO reservaciones@hotelpuebloamigo.com 
www.hotelpuebloamigo.com/index.php/es/ for more information. HOTEL PALACIO AZTECA  Contact Bárbara Blousman at  reservaciones@hotelpalacioazteca.com  www.hotelpalacioazteca.com 
for more information. HOTEL HOLIDAY INN TIJ Contact Jhoana Rico at 
gerente.banquetes@tijzr.com 
www.hotelesmilenium.com
/holiday-inn-zona-rio HOTEL REAL DEL RIO Contact: Ricardo Arellano at
director@realdelrio.com  www.realdelrio.com  HOTEL GAMMA Contact Adilene Ceja at
adileneceja@posadas.com  www.gammahoteles.com/es/web/
gamma-tijuana  HOTEL HYATT TIJUANA Contact Angelica Contreras at
 angelica.contreras@hyatt.com  https://tijuana.place.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html  . REAL INN TIJUANA 
(GARMIN CALLS IT CAMINO REAL Paseo de los Héroes 9902, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, B.C., Mexico Phone: +52 664 633 4000 
www.http://real-inn-tijuana.hotel-rn.com Race Registration, Media Registration, Tech & Contingency, Driver’s Meeting, Pilot’s Meeting, and Awards Ceremony in the ball room área or outside of this hotel. LUCERNA  México 01 800 0266 300 USA: 1 800 LUCERNA 
www.hoteleslucerna.com Hotel Fiesta Inn http://www.fiestainn.com Hotel Velario http://www.velariohotel.com/en Hotel City Express Rio https://www.cityexpress.com/ Hotel City Jr Otay https://www.cityexpress.com/junior/hoteles-mexico/baja-california/tijuana/otay Hotel City Express Insurgentes https://www.cityexpress.com/express/hoteles-mexico/baja-california/tijuana/insurgentes Hotel City Express Suites Tijuana https://www.cityexpress.com/suites/hoteles-mexico/baja-california/tijuana/rio Hotel Marriott http://www.espanol.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tijmc-tijuana-marriott-hotel/ 


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