SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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SCORE SAN FELIPE 250 HISTORY By SCORE Staff The SCORE San Felipe 250 began in 1982 after SCORE successfully started the Mexicali 300 race to expand SCORE’s racing schedule. The Mexicali 300 had been a very popular race at the time, but SCORE former owner Sal Fish began to see crowded conditions in the growing metropolis, and was able to negotiate with the Mexicali government officials to move the race to its county of San Felipe. “I believe what made the difference in this race’s success over time was how racers honed their skills by crossing the border and pre-running in Mexico,” said Fish. “All of those racers who appreciated the land and people, as well as those who respected the traditions of Mexico, all became some of our greatest racers who are now three and four generations competing there.” The winner of that first race was Dan Cornwell winning Overall in a VW-powered Chenowth. Cornwell would later become SCORE’s Tech Director until 2025. The following two races (1983-’84) were won by Corky McMillin and his son Scott in the Porsche-powered Chenoweth they called “Macadu.” After the 1984 race, HDRA and SCORE joined as a singular desert racing entity. This postponed the San Felipe 250 until 1990 when it was won Overall by Brian Collins and Jack Johnson in a Chenowth. The race continued to grow, peaking in 2007 with a total of 394 racers competing. That year, 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 made it back to San Felipe in 2008 and continued until it was postponed in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a two-year hiatus due to pandemic safety concerns, the race returned in 2021 with a popular surge that had a total of 269 entries. History-Making Wins The SCORE San Felipe 250 has also been the spot for some of SCORE’s historical firsts. Juan C. Ibarra became the first Mexican national to win a SCORE Trophy Truck race when he won his class in 1998 while finishing second overall to the Class 1 team of Mark Post/Jerry Whelchel. Second generation Mexican desert racer Gus Vildosola Jr of Mexicali has five class wins in this race including a record-tying three straight overall and SCORE Trophy Truck wins. Vildosola Jr, with help from his father Gus Vildosola in 2013, tied the record in 2015 of three straight overall wins set by Las Vegas racing brothers Ed Herbst and Tim Herbst who won three straight in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Two other drivers have earned three overall car and truck wins in San Felipe but not three straight repeats. One is Las Vegas’ Brian Collins, who won his first in 1990 in Class 1 while splitting driving time with SCORE Baja motorcycle racing legend Jack Johnson, also of Las Vegas. Collins also captured two straight victories in SCORE Trophy Truck in 2008 and 2009. The other three-timer in overall SCORE San Felipe 250 victories is Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren, who actually has eight class wins in San Felipe, all in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck division. MacCachren’s first was in 2007 when he split the driving with Mark Post and his most recent overalls in San Felipe were in 2011 and 2012. Although these racers have had great history at the SCORE San Felipe 250, the all-time leader in class wins at this race is motorcycle age-group racer Jim O’Neal who has competed in 29 previous races, winning his class a record 15 times. Second in class wins is Eric Solorzano who has won 10 times in Class 11 (stock VW Sedan), and third is Donald Moss who won nine consecutive years in Class 3 in his sturdy Ford Bronco (2002-2013). Tied for third in class wins are SCORE Baja motorcycle racing legend Johnny Campbell, MacCachren and Dan Smith who first won in 1984 on a motorcycle and won his final one in 2002 in SCORE Trophy Truck, teaming with David Ashley. SJ