SCORE Journal

SCORE Journal Issue - OCTOBER 2017

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

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FAST TIMES ON THE BORDER The Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge Gives Race Fans The Best Racing Action Close To HoME By Dan Sanchez Photography by Get Some Photo The third race of the 2017 SCORE World Desert Championship season brought 132 entrants to Tijuana, Baja, Mexico, to challenge a fast-paced loop course that could help solidify a season championship for many racers. The City of Tijuana, its mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum, and the Tijuana tourism groups worked jointly with SCORE International to move this annual race from Rosarito Beach to Tijuana. “We are extremely pleased that the City of Tijuana, which has significantly more resources, is able to welcome this popular SCORE racing event,” said Roger Norman, SCORE President/CEO. “Located close to the U.S. Border at San Diego, it will also provide better access and departure from the race, making attending and/or participating in this event even easier than the other race events in our SCORE World Desert Championship.” The Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge took place on September 22nd through the 24th on a course that showcases the beauty of the area, but one that is also fast and challenging with difficult terrain. The course was located on the outskirts of the city, and although it had only two checkpoints, it took racers up mountains, down valleys, and across local trails. Much of the course was on land owned by Grupo Musquis, local land developers who worked with SCORE International to create the challenging 23.4-mile course. Spectators who attended the race got a great view from the start/finish line which was 2.3-miles east of Rancho Casian, off of Tijuana’s Boulevard 2000. Pre-race festivities began on Thursday, September 21st with Contingency day, held on Paseo de los Heroes (street of the heroes) in Tijuana. This was where large crowds gathered to get photos with their favorite race drivers and see the vehicles in person before the race. Throughout Contingency day and the rest of the event, SCORE also worked with the city of Tijuana, the Board of Tourism and local government officials to help raise money for the victims of the earthquake in Mexico City. A Fast-Paced, Split-Format Race The Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge is a different type of race than the previous two races in the SCORE World Desert Championship. This race was broken into three days of off-road competition and five groups racing within two separate sessions. Each class ran a total of six laps equaling 140.4 miles for the race in which Pro motorcycle and quad classes ran on Friday, along with Sportsman motorcycle and quad classes, followed by the Art Savedra Memorial Shootout featuring Class 5-1600 and Class 11 vehicles honoring SCORE’s Tech Director. The remaining classes including the Trophy Truck, Trophy Truck Spec, Class 1 and UTV classes ran their timed sessions on Saturday, with finals on Sunday. Tijuana’s History With SCORE While this is the first time the SCORE Desert Challenge has been held in Tijuana, the city holds a special place in SCORE racing history. In 1967, the first SCORE Baja 1000 (then called the Mexican 1000) started at the Bullring in Tijuana and launched the iconic race that will head into its 50th Anniversary this November 2017. In 1995, the SCORE Baja 1000 was also held in Tijuana, starting in the wash near the Hotel Lucerna. This year marks the first time, however, that a SCORE race has finished in Tijuana. The SCORE Desert Challenge race has been held in a variety of cities in the U.S. and Mexico over its 21-years. It was held in Laughlin, Nevada, U.S.A., from 1995 through 2012, Plaster City, California, U.S.A. in 2014, Imperial Valley 2015, and in Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico in 2016. SCORE fans who were unable to attend the 21st Tijuana SCORE Desert Challenge can view it during a one-hour special airing on the El Rey Network, and will experience the action, glory, and toughness of its competitors who are now moving forward to challenge the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 in November. SJ

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