Without doubt, the Baja California peninsula’s most iconic annual event is the Baja 1000, 
a high-octane, high-adrenaline off-road challenge for motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs and other four-wheel vehicles that unfolds over 1,000 miles of rugged terrain.
When the event premiered in 1967 – as a race from Tijuana to La Paz – it was under the auspices of the National Off-Road Racing Association, formed the year before by a group of enthusiasts led by Ed Pearlman and Don Francisco. The latter had been involved in the early 1950s with the Carrera Panamericana, an over 2,000 mile road race across much of mainland Mexico that was then considered the most dangerous racing event in the world. It was Francisco that flew all around Baja to chart a viable course for the first race, Pearlman who handled press and promotion. This was the beginning of the legendary Baja 1000.
NORRA backed out of the race following the OPEC Oil Crisis in 1973, and there was no race at all in 1974. In 1975, eager to continue the tradition, Baja California governor Milton Castellanos convinced promoter Mickey Thompson and his SCORE (Southern California Off-Road Enterprises) organization to take over the race, which they did in 1975. The Baja 1000 has been run under the SCORE banner ever since.
But it was the first few years under NORRA that set the standard for modern off-road racing, and drew celebrity contestants like Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones, as well as Hollywood movie stars like James Garner and Steve McQueen.
In order to honor that heritage, NORRA restarted the Mexican 1000 in 2010 as a fun, vintage-style rally race. Dubbed “The Happiest Race on Earth,” the new look Mexican 1000 features a mix of restored motorcycles, cars and trucks from the glory era of the Baja 1000, as well as modern desert rally cars. Classes are divided by eras to keep it fun and competitive for all, with high-speed off-road stages linked by controlled-speed highway portions.
The 50th anniversary running of the NORRA Mexican 1000 takes place April 23 – 27, 2017, coursing down the peninsula from Ensenada to San Felipe, San Felipe to Bahia de los Angeles, Bahia de los Angeles to Loreto, Loreto to La Paz, and finishing in San Jose del Cabo, site of the post-race awards ceremony.
To find out more about this legendary event and its fascinating history, visit https://www.norra.com/.
Photo courtesy of National Off-Road Racing Association.
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