Alright, let’s talk about hitting that Baja Score 500. It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, let me tell you.
Getting Started – The Grind
First off, deciding to actually go for a solid score like 500, that was the easy part. The real work started way before we even saw the dirt. We basically lived in the garage for weeks. It was a constant cycle:
- Wrenching: Taking things apart, checking every bolt, putting it back together. Then doing it again because something didn’t feel right.
- Testing: Short runs, trying to break things so they wouldn’t break during the actual event. Found a few weak spots that way, luckily.
- Arguing: Yeah, lots of discussion. Which tires? How much fuel? Should we reinforce this part or leave it lighter? Normal team stuff, gets tense sometimes.
- Scrounging: Looking for spare parts, making deals, trying to get everything we needed without totally emptying our pockets.
Honestly, there were days I just wanted to drop the tools and go home. Covered in grease, tired, thinking this whole thing was crazy.
The Main Event – Dust and Determination
Then came the day. You get lined up, engine’s running, nerves are shot. The flag drops and it’s just pure chaos. Dust so thick you can barely see. You’re just trying to find a rhythm, trying not to hit anything or anyone.
They always talk about the top guys, saying stuff like “the fastest vehicles… are expected to finish in approximately nine hours.” Nine hours! When you’re out there, bouncing over rocks, stuck in silt, or trying to fix something that just broke, nine hours sounds like a vacation. Time just stretches out differently. Every mile feels earned.
We had our share of troubles. A flat tire in a really rocky section, cost us time. Then some electrical gremlin started acting up, lights flickering. Had to stop, trace wires, tape things up, just hoping it would hold. You see other teams broken down, and you just pray that’s not gonna be you.
Pushing Through – Finding That Extra Bit
Hitting 500 isn’t just about finishing. It’s about finishing well enough, consistently hitting checkpoints, managing your time, and keeping the vehicle together under pressure. There was a point, maybe two-thirds through, where we were tired, the car was beat up, and it felt like just cruising to the finish line was the best we could do.
But then you kinda get that second wind. We knew we were close to our target pace. We pushed a bit harder in the smoother sections, took calculated risks. The communication in the car got real short, real focused. Just driving, navigating, trying to make up for lost time without doing something stupid.
The Finish Line – Exhausted but Done
Crossing that finish line… man, it’s just relief mostly. You’re deaf from the engine, everything hurts, and you’re caked in dirt. You don’t even know your score right away.
It was later, after checking the official postings, that we saw it. Baja Score: 500. Exactly what we aimed for. Not 501, not 499. Just 500. Felt pretty good, not gonna lie. A solid result after all that grinding.
It was a tough run, a real team effort. Glad we did it. Glad it’s over… for now.
