The Baja 1000 has been running for 52 years and has started in Ensenada Mexico 45 times! Technology has advanced incredibly during these years. The first Baja 1000 had 1 participant and was covered by 2 journalists who used an airplane and telegraph to watch and communicate the story! In today’s races, hundreds of participants and journalists participate.
Leading up to the race:
This year rain came down so hard it destroyed the course only days before the start. In fact, the damage was so intense that the race had to be delayed by a day to give race officials time to repair and ensure safety on the course. Luckily, with the delay, the new day of the race was a beautiful start under perfectly sunny skies.
However, the racers still had to deal with fresh mud and exposed rock that wasn’t there prior to the storms. It was almost a brand-new course for the drivers.
There were 3 outlying checkpoints for vehicles to stop.
Coverage Technology:
Coverage includes High definition cameras filming and photographing amazing shots throughout the race. It is streamed over the internet and published in hundreds of magazines and online publications.
Race Technology:
Trophy Trucks are a specialized off-road racing vehicle that resembles a pickup truck. It is an offshoot of the original dune/off-road buggies used in the US Southwest and Baja Mexico, and shares many characteristics with them. This is the best way trucks can qualify for the category and still make best times in the Baja 1000.
They generally include a tube frame chassis with a very powerful engine and incredible suspension built to absorbed large bumps, dips, and jumps at high speed.
Technology includes weight distribution at 50/50, and suspension that can handle the difficult terrain. From Tires, to wheels, to springs and shock absorbers, everything needs to be in sync in order to provide the vehicle with maximized tire contact with the terrain. Geometry and algebra required!
Along with suspension, aerodynamics plays a large role and safety. The technology and computers required to design this are on par with top video gaming PCs and would put top secret super computers from the 1960s (when the race first started) to shame.
Other Race Information:
Main Sponsor: 4 Wheel Parts
Date: Nov. 23-24, 2019—800.5 miles–Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
TOTAL STARTERS: 264, TOTAL FINISHERS: 145 (54.92 percent)
Participating Countries: 39 U.S. States, host Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, England, Finland, France, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Spain.
Classes
| Pro Cars & Trucks | Description |
| SCORE Trophy Truck | Unlimited custom Trucks |
| SCORE TT Legend | Drivers over 50, Unlimited custom Truck |
| Class 1 | Unlimited single or two-seat open-wheel race car |
| Trophy Truck Spec | custom trucks/SUV, stock, sealed V-8 engines, 2WD |
| Class 2 | Unrestricted cars/trucks including turbo and superchargers |
| Hammer Truck Unlimited | unlimited, custom 4-wheel drive Rock Crawler |
| Hammer Truck Limited | limited, production type, 4-Wheel Drive Rock Crawler |
| Class 10 | Limited, sealed 2.2L-2.4L engine, 1 or 2-seat open-wheel race cars |
| Class 7 | Unlimited, six-cylinder production appearing trucks or SUVs |
| Heavy Metal | Open Trucks, SUVs, stock appearing body, V8 engines |
| Class 5 | Unlimited Baja Bugs any manufacturer, VW concept engines allowed |
| Pro UTV FI | two/four-seat Forced Induction OEM engine UTVs |
| SCORE Lites | Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc VW engines |
| Pro UTV NA | two/four-seat Normally Aspirated OEM engine UTVs |
| Class 1/2-1600 | single or two-seat desert race cars to 1600cc VW engines |
| Pro UTV Unlimited | one/two-seat Unlimited UTV NA or FI |
| Pro UTV Stock | Stock Production UTVs, NA or FI |
| Protruck | Spec Production Trucks. V8 engines |
| Class 8 | Full-size two-wheel drive truck or SUV. No limit on displacement |
| Class 3 | Short wheelbase 4X4 based on production vehicles |
| Class 3000 | unlimited car/truck, 2.2/2.4-Liter Ecotec engine |
| Baja Challenge | Spec Subaru-powered two-seat open wheel race cars |
| Stock Full | Stock full-sized 2 or 4-wheel drive trucks, SUVs |
| Class 5-1600 | 1600cc VW Baja Bugs |
| Baja-e | single or two-seat electric powered unlimited 4-wheel vehicles |
| Class 7F | Stock frame, engine, body, 2 or 4-WD mini or mid-size trucks |
| Class 7SX | 2 or 4-WD production-based mini or mid-sized trucks |
| Class 3700 | Jeepspeed Outlaw-including Class 4700 |
| Class 1700 | Jeepspeed Challenge |
| Class 2700 | Jeepspeed Intermediate |
| Vintage Trailblazer | 1982 and earlier cars/trucks |
| Vintage Innovator | 1983-1992 cars/trucks |
| Class 9 | Short wheelbase, 1585cc VW-powered single or two-seaters, max 1585cc |
| Class 11 | Stock VW Sedans 1600cc VW-powered Type 1, safety modifications |
| Sportsman Cars/Trucks/UTVs | |
| Sportsman Unlimited Truck | trucks/SUVs, NA, production appearing full body |
| Sportsman UTV Unlimited | unlimited UTV |
| Sportsman UTV Stock | showroom Stock UTVs, safety mods, FI or NA |
| Sportsman Limited Truck | full frame, leaf springs only full-bodied NA Trucks/SUVs |
| Sportsman Open-Wheel | unlimited single or two-seat open-wheel cars |
| Pro Motorcycles | |
| Pro Moto Unlimited | 400cc or more |
| Pro Moto Limited | 200cc to 400cc |
| Pro Moto 40 | Riders over 40 years old, Open cc |
| Pro Moto 30 | Riders over 30 years old, Open cc |
| Pro Moto Ironman | Solo riders, Open cc |
| Pro Moto 50 | Riders over 50 years old, Open cc |
| Pro Moto 60 | Riders over 60 years old, Open cc |
| Pro Quads | |
| Pro Quads | open motorcycle engine displacement |
| Sportsman Quads/Motorcycles | |
| Sportsman Quads | open Motorcycle engine displacement |
| Sportsman M/C | open motorcycle engine displacement |
Resources:
https://www.fourwheeler.com/news/history-made-52nd-score-baja-1000/
https://www.toyotires.com/races-and-places/wins/alan-ampudia-wins-2019-baja-1000
https://utvactionmag.com/polaris-wins-big-at-the-52nd-score-baja-1000/