Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
1
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
2
Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas May 25th to 29th
Edition, Design and Photography
Eugenio Robleda E. Special thanks To Steve Berry from
Hemmings Motor News allowing us to use the information of his publication:
Baja Blacktop: Racing Mex 1 www.hemmings.com/project/rht/
onewaybooks.weebly.com
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
page 4
The Baja: Two lane black top page 5
The teams page 6
A moving circus página 7
The home stretch: La Paz to Cabo page 8
The Crew página / page 18
Day One page 28
Day Two page 38
Day Three page 38
Day Four
•> Bahía Concepción
3
4
The Baja: Two-Lane Blacktop Mexico’s Baja Peninsula is a 1,000 mile long stretch of beautiful coastal desert and mountains with a single main artery called Mex 1 that pingpongs back and forth between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, mingling long, wide-open stretches of road with endless curves through mountains and along pristine coastline known for beautiful beaches, deep-sea fishing, and ecological importance as a global birth site for multiple species of whales. For decades, the region has graciously hosted one of the largest off-road races in the world, The Baja 1000. The Rally is organized into four days, beginning in Ensenada and ending at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in Cabo San Lucas. Car classing closely follows the existing Mexican historic rallies (pre-1972 four-, six-, and eight-cylinders) with a new emphasis on modern car classes, a motorcycle class, and a touring class for street cars that want to follow the race route. Each day of the race includes between 100km and 400km of transit distance, and four to eight speed stages totalling over 500km of hot racecourse. The Mexican Federal Police facilitate the race, traveling with us and shutting down long stretches of highway to non-race traffic and allowing the racecars to run full-out. Additionally, the race includes service vehicles for the race cars, along with safety and race-control staff, all moving together with a common goal.
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
The Teams Rob Miller and the student-built Mustang Joined by navigator Mitch Gray, Rob piloted the 1965 Mustang Shelby clone, which started life as a 1965. Built by Tony Whitworth, an instructor at The Carroll Shelby Automotive Technology Program, and 120 students, the racer was designed to compete in La Carrera Panamericana 2015, where it finished ninth in the Historic C class.
Chris Eberz and Cindy Nelson -The Studebaker The 1953 Studebaker Loewy coupe is a fixture of Mexican racing. In the current Panamericana rule set, the chassis selection was originally limited to 1965 and earlier, making the Lowey coupe the most aerodynamic choice available. It gladly accepts a big American Chevy V-8 and other hardboiled running gear needed to push these cars to 180mph and beyond. Chris’ car goes a bit beyond the standard ruleset and features a modified LS3 with a TH400. Epic.
Team Flogit: Kaming Ko and Stafford Galen -The Dodge Kam is a seasoned motorcycle racer from California and an experienced rally racer. Stafford Galen built their ‘64 Dart with a 318-cu.in. motor, a fourspeed manual, stock leaf springs in the rear, with a front end worked over by Hotrods to Hell Inc. This car was fast and skillfully crewed.
El Habanero -The Chevelle Reid Holzworth and Nick Hublou drove the 327 Chevelle SS four-speed, was a serious contender, and left double black lines on every possible piece of pavement in the Baja. It was maintained and crewed by Richard and Rafael of Apex Auto Works outside of Houston, Texas. “We often hit 160 mph. We’re going fast, and you just hope the course notes are correct for whatever is over the next crest” - El Hab Navigator Nick Hublou
5
Apple Farmer Racing. A Car Built by Robots
High-Speed Tourism: Doug and Brandon Guilliams of Louisiana - Focus ST
Richard Bailey grows apples and cherries in Royal City, Washington.
The Touring class in the race allows street cars to run the closed race
Usually seen piloting a ‘53 Studebaker and a ‘68 Volvo 122S in La Carrera
route after the race cars have passed. Their times don’t count in the race
Panamericana, Richard brought out his 2007 Subaru STI, with 12,000 race
outcomes, but the fun is real. Doug and his son joined the race in his
miles on the odometer, to compete in the Modern Four-Cylinder class.
son’s modified 2015 Ford Focus ST. After the finish line, they went on a fishing trip. They have the right idea.
“Reading course notes in a racecar at speed is as tough as you think it is. Dramamine helps” - Chad McKinney
A moving circus
Porfirio Gutierrez drove in the first day of the rally in his prepped Fox-
The race requires multiple support cars moving ahead of and behind
body Mustang. Porfirio was in the race for only one day, all the way to
the race. Slowly, and then quickly, the race wents down and across the
Cataviña as the destination, but had mechanical issues and only made
pensinsula, like a carnival setting up and breaking down along the way.
it to San Vicente. All agreed he drove the doors off of this car and was setting fast times before he was derailed. El Coyote won the unofficial
The race control cars scramble to stay ahead of the race and set up start
Spirit of Mexican Motorsports Award.
and finish checkpoints, timing, medical crew, and sweepers, all while keeping the schedule and rhythm of the race moving. Spot-judgments
Alfredo Mtz - The motorcycle class
are required by race organizers whether to continue or cancel speed
Surgeon, hunting guide, and all around solid dude, Alfredo Mtz, brought
stages based on road conditions and other logistics. This is a profes-
a support crew of friends and family to crew behind his bike for the race,
sional group of dedicated staff who, above-all, are concerned with the
and ran his Harley to the limit. The motorcycle class is very accessible
safety of locals and participants in what can be a chaotic and quickly
option for more people to participate in the Mexican tarmac rally.
changing environment.
6
•> Cataviñá
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
•> Cuesta del Infierno
The Home Stretch La Paz to Cabo Sometimes Things Really Break.
Although El Hab lost a lot of time on day one due to a blown clutch. Chris’
In the final speed stage on the final day of the rally, Chris’s car holed the
Studebaker was the only casualty of the race. In La Carrera Panameri-
block spraying oil all over the belly pan and headers, which then ignited.
cana 30 percent attrition rates are typical - many on the first day - so it’s
Flames were inside the cabin and nearly consumed the car. Chris emp-
a testament to the route, the crews, and the drivers that we were within
tied two 5 lb cannisters of fire suppression and just barely managed
one speed stage of having a 100 percent finish rate.
to arrest the flames. Solid preparation and safety gear saved the car and protected the passengers. Sad to see a team and car of this caliber
The well-catered awards ceremony was fueled by Tequila and congrat-
sidelined at the end of the journey. We all look forward to seeing this
ulations. Apple Farmer Racing won overall in the modern Subaru, fol-
car again.
lowed closely by Kaming Ko in the Dodge Dart, Rob Miller in the Shelby
“Fire was coming into the cabin. We pulled over and used the
Mustang, Reid Holzworth in the ‘64 Chevelle SS (lost a day to a blown
whole in-car tank - I had to get out and spray under the car
clutch), and finally, former race champion Chris Ebers in the LS7 open-
to fully extinguish it. These things happen - we’re safe!”
class Studebaker with a mechanical failure that resulted in an overall
- Chris Ebers
DNF. Chris would have been much higher in the standings if he had
The Finish Line at Cabo San Lucas.
made it across the finish line.
7
8
Rally Histórico Transpeninsular 2017
Driver:
Driver:
Rob Miller
Mitch Gray
He began racing 115 mph shifter karts on road race courses at
He Heraced begangokarts racing when 115 mph chainsaw shifter karts engines on road were race the thing. courses Builtat
47 years old and won two regional championships with The
and 47 years ran dune oldbuggies. and wonRaced two motor regional cycles championships in cross country with and The
Southwest Regional Road Race Association.
hare Southwest and hound Regional races. Road BuiltRace andAssociation. raced formula vee’s vw’s and Corvair engines. Ran on the drag strip and got his 200 mph tick-
He is the chief promoter and one of the organizers of The Texas
etHeinisfuel. the chief He got promoter out of racing and one when of thethe organizers deep pocket of The people Texas
Lonestar Grand Prix - one of the largest kart street races in the
started Lonestar getting Grandinvolved. Prix - one of the largest kart street races in the
world. Racers from 18 states and 8 countries have participated
world. Racers from 18 states and 8 countries have participated
in the 100 mph kart street race in historic Lockhart, Texas. The
He in met the 100 andmph became kart good streetfriends race inwith historic Robert Lockhart, Miller and Texas. as they The
race is viewed in over 35 countries via live streaming internet
say racethe is rest viewed is history. in overThey 35 countries have a shop via live in which streaming they restore internet
feed.
and feed. build cars, boats and engines for same. His first real experience with rally racing was La Carrera Panamericana 2015.
His team also races a Porsche 944 in endurance races put on by
Needless His team to also sayraces it was a Porsche quiet an 944 experience. in endurance Co-piloting races put the on Rally by
The World Racing League.
Histórico The World Transpeninsular Racing League.was an even better experience.
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
Ensenada
9
Rally Histórico Transpeninsular 2017
10
Day 1 Ensenada >> Cataviñá
•> Ensenada
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
Ensenada
11
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
12
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
13
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
14
Santo Tomรกs
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
15
Rally Histórico Transpeninsular 2017
16
San Quintín
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
CamalĂş
17
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
18
El Rosario
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
Puente El Rosario
19
Rally Histórico Transpeninsular 2017
20
Day 2 Cataviñá >> Mulegé
•> Cataviñá
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
Santa InĂŠs
21
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
22
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
23
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
24
Guerrero Negro
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
25
Rally HistĂłrico Transpeninsular 2017
26
Santa RosalĂa
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
MulegĂŠ
27
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
28
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
29
Rally Histórico Transpeninsular 2017
30
Day 3 Mulegé >> La Paz
•> Bahía Concepción
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
Bahía Concepción
31
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
32
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
33
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
34
Loreto
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
35
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
36
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
37
Rally Histórico Transpeninsular 2017
38
“El Cien”
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
39
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
40
โ ข> El Triunfo
Day 4 La Paz >> Cabo
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
San Bartolo
41
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
42
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
43
Rally Histórico Transpeninsular 2017
44
Cabo San José y Cabo San Lucas
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
45
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
Cabo San Lucas
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
47
Rally Histรณrico Transpeninsular 2017
48
Miller - Gray [Driver: Rob Miller]-[Codriver: Mitch Gray]
49