Baja 1K Logistics?

[Dusty Booger]

I've been thinking quite a bit about building a Jeepspeed car. A dream of mine would be to compete in the Baja 1K. I am confident that I could build and finance a car, but what about the rest of the expenses beyond car parts entry fees, fuel & tires?

How many people do you need for a pit crew? How many pit crews for fueling? Chase vehicle & crews?

Anyway, what are the current racers doing and spending to support their Jeepspeed car throughout the race?

[fj40forlife]

I would not just try to go race 1000 that soon. Look in to MORE racing. Most of the races are like 40 miles long ( a lap) We mostly only have main pit and 2-3 other pits

[LeeJolly]

I say screw it, if its your dream just go for it. I've tried the Vegas to Reno race on a motorcycle and failed ( made it about 340 miles), but I would rather fail at that race than succeed in some hare scramble or local enduro.

As for pitting, locosmocos.com runs some pits and they work with bajapits.com. They have 20 set up....they charge you a fee, around 600 I think, you supply them with gas/tires/etc and they will help you at every pit you go to. Whether its V2R or Baja or whatever, you'll find that people try to make it easy for you to succeed.

[tjmark]

BFG is great pit support to have. You just have to run there tires,,:)

[Lance]

To give you an idea, we are signed up with BFG Race Support, Mag 7 pits, AND we have 6 of our own Chase Vehicles to chase our 1701 Jeepspeed Pirate-Mobile. Our fuel is being handled by BFG, through F&L Fuel. It's been an INSANE and expensive logistical nightmare, but we have a pretty damn good game plan for a bunch of Baja newbies. LOTS of planning, Tons of spares including Spare trannies, transfer cases, shocks, radiators, etc, and some serious mechanical and fab talent on our team make up for our lack of actual Baja experience. I'll be stoked no matter what, but it would be unbelieveably awesome to finish our first try!
Hopefully. :D

[Beat95YJ]

Scott, I'll pit for you. And I'll bring my own chase truck/Jeep/Tahoe/Whatever is needed.

[JW]

I recommend going down and perunning and watching the race. You will get a feel for what is needed and what you are getting into. If you plan to race without this, plan to have some experience on your team.

Going to Baja and racing is not like a trip to Hollister Hills in the yota (not for me anyway). The people you meet will not speak English, your chase team is hundreds of miles away, and there is nothing but desert. It is fun, but you need a lot of help. Help from people tha are willing to give up a lot of time, money, and the use of vehicles to support your/their team.

I am no expert, just been down there a few times.

Good luck
JW

[fj40forlife]

Scott, I'll pit for you. And I'll bring my own chase truck/Jeep/Tahoe/Whatever is needed.


2x ill be going to 1000. Prerunning the track. And if so let me know ill could be a chase truck or something. I think one of my friends want to enter his 11 car so who knows we see

[Whitewater]

I think a guy racing a 5/1600 car said he has 17K into this one race. That is for support crews, fuel, pit services, travel plans etc... Not sure if that includes race prep on the car or anything like that.
Yes you can do it for cheaper but probably not much unless you have A LOT of really good friends that have deep pockets of their own to go speand a week in the Baja supporting your glory seeking butt. I'm guessing without footing any costs of your crew and sleeping in your vehicle this race would cost around 9K to run at the bare minimums.

[JW]

I think a guy racing a 5/1600 car said he has 17K into this one race. That is for support crews, fuel, pit services, travel plans etc... Not sure if that includes race prep on the car or anything like that.
Yes you can do it for cheaper but probably not much unless you have A LOT of really good friends that have deep pockets of their own to go speand a week in the Baja supporting your glory seeking butt. I'm guessing without footing any costs of your crew and sleeping in your vehicle this race would cost around 9K to run at the bare minimums.

And I would imagine that it would be more time and money than that on the point to point race... I would assume you would want at least two weeks?

JW

[Dusty Booger]

Obviously, I'm not going to run this year. My goal would be to race in 2007 at best, most likely 2008. I like to do alot of planning and prep. Part of my plan is to drum up some sponsor money. I would like to go into those meetings with a clear idea of what the "planned" expenses are going to be.

Frank & others, thanks for the offer. I will take you up on it if I go through with this. Are you or Drew going down this year to watch?

Also, for those that recommend pre-running. I agree. I am currently re-building the Randy Ellis Race Jeep. It would make a great pre-runner. I plan to help finance the Cherokee by selling my Jeep YJ that has alot of goodies.

[Sillyneck]

damn....start small.... san felipe 250 in march! we'll be there. I'll be the drunk guy on the kawi 450 passing trophy trucks in the whoops LOL :D

[Lance]

I think a guy racing a 5/1600 car said he has 17K into this one race. That is for support crews, fuel, pit services, travel plans etc... Not sure if that includes race prep on the car or anything like that.
Yes you can do it for cheaper but probably not much unless you have A LOT of really good friends that have deep pockets of their own to go speand a week in the Baja supporting your glory seeking butt. I'm guessing without footing any costs of your crew and sleeping in your vehicle this race would cost around 9K to run at the bare minimums.

We will have about $12,000+, and that does not include our volunteer teams who are donating their own money and time.

[Beat95YJ]

Frank & others, thanks for the offer. I will take you up on it if I go through with this. Are you or Drew going down this year to watch?


Drew did ask me to go and the g/f is dying to go back to baja, but we just bought a house and I am completely stressed about $ this year, so no trip. I am sure after the first mortgage payment I will mellow out (I pray to god) But, I assume you mean next year and the offer still stands. After it gets a cage, my TJ would make a decent desert vehicle and my Tahoe/Work Cherokee are always available.

Let me know.

Frank

[Peak ZJ]

We will be there this year checking it out.. We are building a Jeepspeed for the 07 race.. Can not wait.. Long way for us, but we will be prerunning next year prior to starting.. Money wise, we are looking at about $20k for the cherokee and parts(no labor included) and part of the logistical cost of getting everything out there considering we are in Ga...
We are going with a 20 man team too... 2 of our own chase vehicles and a few volunteer trucks to help out. With a massive pit crew/trailer with everything from trannies to tie rods...
Can not wait for this.. I say go for it man.. live the dream...