Baja 1000 Registration Is Open in La Paz Through Oct 22

Somewhere in La Paz this morning, a racer is signing a waiver with dust still on his boots from the long drive down the peninsula. For three days, Tuesday through Thursday, SCORE's Ensenada office staff are working out of La Paz, helping drivers, co-drivers, riders and navigators buy memberships, register, pay fees and sign waivers.

From here the calendar moves fast. Race information, pre-run stipulations and GPS files post Thursday, October 22, at about 6pm local time. Pre-running opens Saturday, October 24, at 8am, and only teams registered with fees paid in full are covered by SCORE insurance while they are out on course. The online and Ensenada entry deadline is 9pm October 28; walk-in registration in Ensenada closes at 5pm October 30, with late fees after the 28th.

Race week runs November 9 through 15. Qualifying registration for Trophy Truck and the other qualifying classes opens Monday, November 9, at Rancho Frondoso. On Friday, November 13, the bikes and quads leave the ramp on Boulevard Centenario at 1am, and the four wheel classes follow at 9am. Every class gets 40 hours.

The course is a 964.96-mile loop that starts and finishes in San José del Cabo, the first time the race has been held entirely in Baja California Sur. Checkpoints sit at El Centenario, Ley Federal No. 2, Ejido Francisco Villa and Santa Fe.

Sal Fish, who ran SCORE for 38 years and created the Trophy Truck class, and La Paz legend Francisco "Nacho" Monroy will serve as Co-Grand Marshals of the 59th running.