4/27/2025
Mike Ingalsbee
You would think that everyone would ease into a six day long rally on the Baja Peninsula, but that wasn’t the case. On day one of racing during NORRA’s Baja Mexican 1000 everyone was already pushing hard towards the finish line. Was it supreme confidence in their machines and abilities, or just the pent up anticipation of the greatest Baja racing experience getting underway? Either way it was a delight to witness the action. If you’re not watching NORRA TV, you are missing out.
The bikes had two special stages heading south to El Rosario. Stage one was 82 kilometers and stage two was 152 kilometers long. Any time you can ride epic Baja tracks in mild temperatures within sight of the Pacific Ocean waves crashing on the sand, it’s a good day. The moto field is very diverse with both riders and their bikes. We had Honda, Husqvarna, KTM and Kove all in the top ten after stage one. Riders spanned the ranks from pros to veterans and amateurs. With the absence of Matt Sutherland this year, a new overall winner is guaranteed and after winning both stages on day one, Alex Ritz is leading the way. Alex finished third place overall last year so it’s no surprise. The talent well runs deep this year with experienced rally racers throughout. Second overall is Larry Engwall racing his Husqvarna FE 501-w in the 60+ class. Taking the third overall spot was Steve Montana on his Honda XR500R racing in the Vintage Motos class. Abbott Cowen was the top Amateur Rally class rider finishing 4th overall. Ruben Hale finished 5th overall in the Moto Uno experience. Moto Uno is for riders who want a taste of NORRA’s Baja without committing to the entire six days of racing the entire peninsula. No doubt he’s tempted to keep going after such a strong showing. Everyone got in safe and sound and looking forward to day two of racing.
The four wheeled competitors headed to San Felipe. They ran three stages that all had a different character. Stage one was a tight, technical route that many racers are familiar with, but is still very challenging to navigate. It was 50.7 miles long. Stage two at 46.9 miles was a transition that went from mountains to sandy washes. This stage had tracks that only the most experienced racers were familiar with. Stage three heading into San Felipe was 64.6 miles long and contained a lot of what San Felipe is known for, miles of sandy whoops. Deep, square edged and nasty, there’s no way to get to San Felipe without getting pounded. Some teams arrived unscathed, but others were already feeling the results of Baja’s terrain. In an absolutely cruel twist of fate number one UTV qualifier Nick Mcphee collided with a truck as two tracks on the course came together. Nobody was at fault and thankfully nobody injured, but the UTV suffered the brunt of the blow and was out. One of the greatest rewards of off road racing is overcoming the incredible odds against you. Winning is so sweet because it’s so difficult. Nick and his team are great competitors and will only be more determined next time.
At the front of the race Mark Post and Larry Ragland had the famous Black Diamond Ford singing. They were first on the road into San Felipe. This year Race Director Eliseo Garcia instituted one minute starting gaps to give racers a better opportunity to open things up. It worked. Although Post was out front hammering in clean air, Brent Fox was able to run a faster pace and take the early overall lead in the rally. Brent knows how to run out front so it’s going to be a tough job to overtake him, but the field is filled with equally determined teams who also have talent. Second overall is Bob Briggs in the same truck he raced with Jimmy Johnson back in the 1990’s. The truck was completely refurbished by LaFortune race cars and has all the secret sauce it needs to win. Third overall might be surprising to some, but not those familiar with NORRA’s Baja. Hap Kellogg was always right there at the front in the Fab School class 5 car. This year they built a ProR and Troy Johnson, Angel Morfin and the crew are right back fighting in the lead pack. More determined to win the overall than ever this year is Dave Mason. He finished fourth overall. Rounding out the top five was Greg Distefano in a Jimco 2000. The rest of the top ten is stacked with potential winners. Max Gordon was sixth, Zak Langley seventh, PJ Jones eighth, Dave Taylor in the ninth spot and Bill Zemak tenth. The competition is intense and we have to keep in mind that it’s only day one. The terrain, the weather, the strategy and the results are going to change every day until the final stage heading into San Jose del Cabo.
The fight for the overall win always takes center stage, but the same intense battles are taking place throughout the field. One to keep an eye on is the Pioneer Buggy class. Some of the earliest vehicles in the race are out there running race pace the entire way. The class 11’s are doing what they do best, thrilling the crowds and going flat out, fender to fender. The Vintage 4 Cylinder Buggy class is also one to watch. Julie Boyer won day one and Gino Licitra was second. They have Bob Howle, Emme Hall and Juan Campos all chasing. Emme Hall and her teammate Rebecca Donaghe are racing without a chase crew. They epitomize the same bold adventurism that the original Mexican 1000 competitors showed in the 1960’s when NORRA created sanctioned off road racing in Baja.
No matter what your favorite brand of race vehicle is, you can find it at NORRA’s Baja. Stay tuned for all the action to come. You can be a part of Baja racing history too. After experiencing NORRA’s Baja Mexican 1000 just once, you too will be hooked. Everything you need to know about NORRA’s Baja Mexican 1000 and NORRA 500 can be found at www.norra.com. Go to the site and find out for yourself why NORRA has exploded in popularity. You can experience the same competition and adventure those pioneering thrill seekers sought in 1967 when you join NORRA in Baja. NORRA events honor the past, while forging the future. Don’t miss out on the fun and thrills.
