Original subtitles

Dana: How many times did you race the 1000?

- Eric: Like 27? - Dana: 27.

Eric: Yeah.

We have to take it easy, we have a lot of miles, you know?

Dana". Oh yeah.

- Eric: You comfortable, Dana? - Dana: Absolutely.

Dana: Behind the wheel

is championship driver Eric Solorzano.

His rookie navigator is the human bobblehead,

Dana Brown, which is me.

We're among 1,458 others who have entered this race.

270 vehicles competing in 35 different classes.

From Eric's 1974 VW Bug to futuristic class one buggies.

ATVs to UTVs to Humvees.

40-horsepower dirt bikes to 900-horsepower trophy trucks,

and everything in between.

All racing against the clock,

all racing the same 854 punishing miles.

Racing down ranch roads and up goat trails,

along the beaches, into the mountains,

and across the desert.

It's a wild, beautiful, crazy adventure,

a race unlike any other.

It is the Baja 1000.

How did I get here?

Well, let's go back a bit.

Announcer On PA: The biggest party in Baja

is still the--

Dana: Our journey began at the previous 1000.

A decade ago, I made a film about it, Dust to Glory.

Now, thanks to Roger Norman, the head of SCORE,

the organization that runs this race,

I was planning another.

This time we'll follow

the entire World Desert Championship season,

all four SCORE events, which culminates here,

at the big daddy, the Baja 1000.

Announcer On PA: And there has been some

battles had out there, right now that is--

Dana: So many stories,

from the overall winner Rob MacCachren,

to the fastest on two wheels, Colton Udall,

leader of the unbeatable Ox Motorsports team,

Announcer On PA: Colton Udall

and Henson takin' that overall win.

Dana". To Warrior Built, a team of wounded combat vets

racing on a motorcycle,

to Baja icon, 78-year-old Rod Hall,

the only person to race in all 48 Baja 1000s.

However, the most amazing competitor in that race

was a first-timer, Lyndon Jones.

Lyndon bought a motorcycle in his home state of Utah,

headed south of the border for the first time in his life.

Without support or spare parts, he attempted the race solo.

At safety inspection, Lyndon's shoes earned him

a nickname from the SCORE officials.

His nickname is Wingtip.

Yeah, he doesn't even know any of us know him,

or anything, we just kind of affectionately called him that

'cause he showed up to tech wearing wingtip shoes

and a business suit, casual, so.

Lookin' sharp, though, he was definitely lookin' sharp.

He is the most text-queried person

in our system right now.

More people are checkin' on him

- than anyone else to see - Are they really?

- What's goin' on, yeah. - Wow, that's awesome.

- Yeah. - This has gone viral.

Dana: How trippy is that gonna be for him?

Like, just greeted by, "Hey Wingtip!"

He's gonna go, like, "I think you got the wrong guy."

Even though Lyndon's time to finish officially had passed,

the SCORE staff and Roger Norman

made sure he had a hero's welcome.

A non-vote of confidence, I go,

"Listen, I'm gonna tell you right now,

"if you make it more than 400 miles,

consider it a success."

And he's like, "Thanks, man."

And now I feel like such a jerk,

because I'm like, dude, he's gonna do like 900.

- Yeah. - Oh, good.

Unbelievable.

Announcer On PA: Check it out,

he just came from Utah, came down here,

no chase crew, all by himself,

on a brand-new motorcycle that speeds him,

let's hear it once again,

put your hands together, folks, this is Wingtip.

Dana". Lyndon Jones started alone,

and finished the race with a new group of friends.

Announcer On PA: All the SCORE officials,

we knew he timed out, but this is his first attempt,

and amazing to see this man come across the finish line.

- You're awesome! - Announcer on PA: For the first time

down here at the Baja 1000.

Interviewer: Did you pre-run the course at all?

No, not at all.

Interviewer: All right, did you bring spare tires?

No, I did not.

Man: Look at the tires.

Did you ever watch Dust to Glory?

Yeah, there's a lot more dust than there is glory in this.

Woke up Friday morning,

and had to fulfill the dream of my life.

Dana: We talked to Wingtip

about featuring him in this film.

Sadly, Lyndon Jones would pass away that spring.

Baja is a place that defies imagination.

Baja is an adventure.

It's got a green flag, a start line,

checkered flag, and a finish.

Everything in between is a crapshoot.

The only thing you can describe Baja as

is it's just like life, you got your ups and downs,

you got your highs and lows, but in the end,

if you work hard enough you'll always get through it.

Every time you cross the border, it's a new adventure.

Dana: A 1200-kilometer peninsula

right below California,

with a white shark breeding ground off the Pacific coast,

gray whales coming to calf in the Sea of Cortez,

Baja is the least-populated region of Mexico.

The geography ranges from snow-capped, 10,000-foot peaks

to scorching deserts.

He can realize how wonderful land is,

nature is, ocean is.

- Hm, mountains. - And he can realize

when he race in Baja.

It's like the Wild West, it just kinda opens your eyes.

It's the ultimate test of man and machine.

It's magic.

It's a great place.

I don't know how you could beat it.

I love coming down here.

I look forward to it so much, it's...

I don't know what to say.

Dana: For 50 years they've come to race the Baja,

all joined under the same big tent.

And they come from all walks of life.

I'm Ryan Penhall, I'm a heavy equipment operator.

I'm an aerospace manufacturer.

I'm professional skier and airborne sportsman.

I'm a businessman.

I work for the railroad, I'm a diesel electrician now,

now that I've retired from the Marine Corps.

I'm an environmental contractor for the military.

I'm a flight paramedic.

P.J. Jones, race driver.

I don't golf, I don't hunt, I don't fish,

but I race.

Dana: Baja is a special place,

and to know Baja and off-road racing,

you have to know its people.

We began at the traditional starting line for the 1000,

Ensenada, where, if you follow the fun,

you'll end up at Papas & Beer,

the city's biggest nightclub and restaurant,

founded, owned, and operated by the Ampudias,

who embody a true Mexican success story

and off-road racing.

Two weeks before the first race of the season,

the Ampudias are testing their new class eight truck.

The Ampudias represent two generations of off-road racing.

Rodrigo Ampudias Sr. was only eight years old

when he saw the start of the 1000 in Ensenada.

In the half-century since,

after starting a small taco stand

that has grown into the biggest restaurant

and nightclub in Ensenada,

that passion for off-road racing remains.

We cannot get sleep,

and I almost forget about my business.

Thinking about racing.

First time we race in Baja, we saw Baja 500, 1984.

And then in 1990, we got the first win in that car.

First Mexican to win the Baja 1000 and the Baja 500.

Dana". Rodrigo's racing legacy

has been taken up by his sons.

The eldest, Rodrigo Jr., was the first in line.

This was my first trophy, right here.

In third place in 1600 class, right, San Felipe.

Dana: Rodrigo Jr. now races trucks

professionally in the US.

For the younger brothers, Aaron and Alan,

they're working their way up the ladder.

Last year, they were class 1600 champions,

this year, with their father's help,

they're in a class eight truck,

but their dream

is to race in the top class, the trophy truck.

But that would mean a pretty big

financial commitment from dear old Dad.

In your mind, trophy truck's next?

Hopefully. I think.

I don't think so.

Dana: The Ampudias have just one

of many race garages in Ensenada.

There are others, like the one of Alejandro Bio's family.

His dad Cisco, uncle Ramon, and grandfather Pancho.

Pancho Bio: I started from ground up.

I grew up here in Ensenada,

and that was my dream, being a kid.

Get into the Baja racing.

I work hard for it.

So, I think it keeps us out of trouble for sure,

- Papa! - 'Cause that's,

we gotta do good in school, that was always my dad's rule.

We do good in school, and we get to race.

Yeah, at the 500, I raced, and then Monday

I was at school.

Dana: Ramon has raced in a few SCORE events,

but for the first

time, the 17-year-old high school senior

is going to compete

in the entire Desert Championship season.

With the help of his father and brother and Veri Felix.

Veri Felix helps run her family's winery

and is an incredible racer.

In 2011, she became the first Mexican woman ever

to win the Baja 1000 in jaw-dropping fashion.

I drove for more than 25 hours, I drove the whole race.

- Interviewer: Wow. - Got first place.

Rob MacCachren: The Bio family, these guys are incredible.

They're here to win a championship for themselves,

and they're asking me, "What can we do for you, Rob?"

And I'm like, "Nothing, nothing, I'm tryin' to help you,

I wanna see you win the championship."

There's a lotta family racers.

I think once it gets in your blood,

and you come down here and you just keep comin' back.

And then everybody's a family

within the whole racing community.

Dana: This is a family that loves to do crazy things.

Steven: We're all racing the same thing.

We're all racing Baja.

Dana: San Felipe is the first of four events

that make up the SCORE

World Desert Championship racing season.

At dawn, the season begins

with the first motorcycle off the line.

It's a race against the clock.

250 punishing miles,

each one more surreal than the last.

It's a race that runs on pure passion.

The fans don't pay admission.

The pit crews, all volunteers.

For some, the day would end in victory in their classes,

like the team of Javier Robles and Josh Rowe on a pro quad.

The Ampudias would win in their debut

in the class eight truck.

For 17-year-old Ramon Bio,

it was a hard-fought seventh place in the class 1600.

There are over two dozen different classes of vehicles,

but one stands above the rest, the trophy truck.

Dana: The most expensive,

the fastest, and a virtual magnet

for the best drivers from all over the world.

You see trophy trucks goin' from having

five to six in the late 90s, early 2000s,

to now we're racing against 35,

40 trophy trucks at the Baja 1000.

Dana: No Mexican racer is more popular

than Tavo \/ildosola.

He and his father Gus are folk heroes in Baja.

Tavo Vildosola: For us, it's our hobby.

It's a very serious hobby, obviously,

we spend a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of effort into it.

But I don't do this, this is not my job.

This is what I do for fun.

You've got guys like Rob MacCachren

and BJ Baldwin and Lalo and Apdaly, this is what they do.

Dana: Apdaly Lopez is the first Mexican ever

to win the trophy truck season championship.

Dana: At San Felipe, Apdaly Lopez

would finish third in the trophy trucks.

Tavo Vildosola would not finish.

His truck would break,

as would half of all the trophy trucks in the field.

You got your days when you'll win races

without even tryin', and then you'll have days

where it was just war for eight hours

and then a $3 bolt breaks.

Dana: For the first 2/3 of the race,

Cameron Steele, from San Clemente, California,

was having a mistake-free day.

And then... the $3 bolt.

Things were goin' pretty smooth,

I think we won the race through race mile 174,

but I don't know, somethin' happened to the steering,

and we stopped to fix the steering

and found a housing was broken,

so we're gonna pack it up, Baja wins again.

This isn't the first time we've been leadin' the race

at race mile 175, at the same stupid turn.

It's heartbreaking.

Makes you just wanna sell all this shit and give it up.

Just"

I don't know, chasing your tail is no fun.

Dana: Cameron Steele makes his living

off-road racing, but not as a competitor.

He owns his own video production company

and is a TV commentator.

On race weekends, you'll find him working both jobs.

Some of us have two jobs.

Have to race and commentate.

It's how we pay the bills around here.

Some of us aren't independently wealthy.

Most people think that I'm addicted

to the racing, but that's not really true.

There was a point last year where I was just thinkin' about quitting.

Because I was just over it,

and the truth is that the racing isn't my crack.

Baja is what I'm a junkie for.

Dana: Cameron was more or less raised in Baja,

following his father's footsteps,

Mark Steele, a famous racer.

It's a passion that has spread to his own family.

His wife Heidi races as well, and their daughter,

Cameron Kay, may be the next in line.

- Steer it, come on sweetie. - Mash the pedal.

Hey, what's up, this is number 16.

Cameron Steele: Baja is our life.

There's somethin' about making the start of the race.

Getting the sponsors in line,

getting your volunteers together,

robbin' Peter to pay Paul,

people maxin' out the credit cards to get there,

whatever it takes.

Dana: Whatever it takes describes

Cameron Steele and Billy Wilson.

Billy had traveled from Corpus Christi, Texas,

his hometown, to race for the first time

in the trophy truck division.

He'd taken over the lead from Cameron,

and against all odds and obstacles,

he crossed the finish line in first place,

the winner of the San Felipe 250.

Announcer On PA: We got Will Bill in the house,

this is your first trophy truck across the line.

It's crazy, you've got all these huge teams,

you feel like you're just like a little fish

and you might have a chance, you know?

Every now and then I guess it comes through.

Dana: Another racer making his class debut,

and coming across the finish line first, was Carlin Dunne.

Carlin knows how to ride a bike.

He and his dad own a motorcycle shop in Santa Barbara,

and Carlin has raced superbike, flat track, speedway,

and has won the legendary Pike's Peak Hill Climb

three times, including setting the record

for fastest time on two wheels.

Carlin Dunne: It's total opposite ends

of the spectrum, you know?

In Mexico you're on the desert valley floor

for thousands of miles.

At Pike's Peak, you're at 14,000 feet

for only a matter of minutes.

But the level of focus remains the same.

Pike's is quick,

but consequences are extremely severe.

Baja's long, consequences are extremely severe.

Dana". For Carlin, competing in Baja

is a serious proposition.

He's racing in the lronman class.

The lronman, one racer,

one motorcycle the entire race.

It's a unique group of individuals.

Jeff Benrud former Delta Force.

Michael Skurkis, his first time racing in Baja.

23-year-old Derek Ausserbauer,

and the defending lronman champion,

21-year-old Tony Gera,

a diesel engine mechanic from Santa Cruz, California.

I don't have any workout routine, nothin'.

I'm always workin' and by the time I get home,

it's time to go to bed, 'cause I gotta get up at four o'clock in the morning.

Dana: When Carlin arrived in San Felipe

he knew the man to beat was Tony Gera.

He just didn't know what he looked like.

I heard people sayin', Tony this, Tony that,

he's the champion guy, this and that,

and then there was another guy there

who was on this really sweet-lookin',

brand-new 2016 bike, all the gear,

I'm like, that must be Tony.

I realized Tony was on the bike that was older than he was.

Announcer On PA: Tony Gera on that

two-stroke 500 Kawasaki smoker.

Dana: At San Felipe,

Carlin would cross the finish line first.

He'd get the medal, and the champagne for being a winner,

but after they checked his transponder,

he'd be penalized for missing five virtual checkpoints,

and Tony Gera would be awarded the victory.

I called my mom, said,

"Hey Mom, how's it goin'?"

She goes, "lt's goin' good, I'm sorry you lost."

And I'm like, "No, Mom, no, no, no.

I won, didn't you see it, I won."

And she goes, "No you didn't."

I went, "What do you mean?"

She goes, "Nah, you missed the checkpoint.

They said you cheated."

I'm like, "Mom, I didn't cheat.

I got lost."

I better do my homework next time.

Dana". For any person on a motorcycle

doing their homework, you'd study one man.

Colton Udall on the 1X bike.

Colton has been a dominant rider in Baja

for the last five years,

over which time he has racked up 11 SCORE wins.

Colton does not ride alone.

He has a team, Ox Motorsports,

which includes his partner Mark Samuels

and his younger brother Ian Young.

They are the dominant team.

They even breeze through Matomi Wash,

and nobody breezes through Matomi Wash.

It's a place you'll find top rock crawlers

volunteering as tow truck drivers,

and they get a lot of action.

Dana: Ironically, the most-suited four-wheeled vehicle

to go through the wash in class 11 Volkswagen.

A pre-1977 stock Bug which has been part

which has been part of the Baja experience

for the last 50 years.

Driving this one is Dennis Hollenbeck.

Dennis: This is our beloved class that we like it this way,

we like old drum/disc,

and we like rattly steering boxes

and that's why I chose class 11.

Because you're takin' an impossible vehicle

and drivin' in an impossible race.

Dana". Dennis is all about what's possible.

He's a missionary, and his VW's nickname is Bochito,

and Bochito lives at Casa Esperanza,

where he gives the kids that live there a ride.

Dennis: We like to say that...

it's not all about racing.

There's real lives that are surrounding

the race community in what's happening.

We're tryin' to find a way to take our passion

and our love for racing

and turn it into a way where we can benefit others.

Mi Casa Esperanza, My House of Hope,

is a shelter for battered, abused women.

Some very sad stories come here.

It's a place where moms can come with their children,

and Casa helps them in rehabilitation

so they can eventually walk out with their children,

ready to take care of them and provide for them.

My mom got pregnant,

so she didn't wanna...

She couldn't work and be pregnant at the same time, so,

this was a place that I can go to school,

and they were gonna help me with that,

and my mom can just have the baby

and they were just gonna help us,

because we were alone, it was just me and my mom.

Dana: For the kids at Casa Esperanza,

Bochito is a living, breathing friend.

When the Bug comes, sometimes they kiss it,

and they just love Bochito,

it's like somebody else for them.

They like it a lot more than they like me.

When I'm here working, and the kids are in the classroom,

they literally pop their heads out the window

and open the door and start waving, and it's not

Dennis,

they're all going, "Bochito, where's Bochito?"

Children: Bochito, Bochito, Bochito,

Bochito, Bochito!

Dana: Before every race, the kids at Casa Esperanza

put their imprint on Bochito.

The handprints, for us, it symbolizes them pushing,

it's them pushing us along,

'cause they're our motivation.

The first time we did the San Felipe 250,

our first trophy, and we took that trophy

back to the kids at Casa Esperanza.

And it was just it was magical.

Just magical what it does and what it says to them.

And you hand it to them and they hold it.

And, I don't know... it's just awesome.

You know the story of David and Goliath.

That's our stone.

And out there is our giant.

Dana: For the 500, Baja was never more a giant.

The peninsula was in the middle of a heat wave.

At nine o'clock in the morning,

it was 100 degrees in San Felipe.

By noon, it was 130 on the desert floor.

It was brutal for everyone,

but for those in trucks and buggies,

at least they had some shade.

Imagine what it was like to be fully exposed to the sun.

Just past noon, Carlin Dunne,

leading in the Iron Man division,

would pull into his pits.

How's the bike? The bike's good?

Carlin: Yeah, the bike's good.

- Man 1: You're awesome. - Man 2: You've got a huge lead.

Carlin: I don't think so, I think the KCM guy's right behind me.

- Man: No. - Carlin: I need to cool down,

- seriously, guys. - Coat it in water.

Man: We're gonna spray your head down and cool you down.

- Cool my core temperature. - Man: Yeah.

Man 1: Yeah, that's why we're doin' this.

Man 2: Yeah, before he leaves, get his whole jersey super wet.

It'll be like an air conditioner.

Man: Yeah, you'll be glad you took this break.

Dana". While Carlin was in his pit,

Ian Young would come across a rider

who'd fallen in the heat.

Ian: Hey, amigo!

Go!

Man: Go!

Man: All right, so time to gear up if you can.

Man: I think he's askin' himself, what am I doing?

It's like, why am I doing this?

Dana". At 1:30 p.m. Derek Ausserbauer

would pull into the Baja pits.

Derek". Baja pits guys, he was tellin' me

that one of the 6X riders had passed.

And that scared me pretty bad.

One of my good buddies was on that team.

- Yeah, hit the gas. - You got it.

Derek: It's kinda hard to talk about that,

you're pretty much just riding with this thought

that there's devils comin' for you in every hole,

so you kinda just survive at that point, almost.

Announcer On PA: Comin' around the finish line,

here he is, the overall winner here at the Baja 500, Colton Udall.

It has been a hot day,

the hottest race we have had in decades.

The top four-wheel vehicles

are makin' their way into town here.

This is the closest three-way race we've ever had

in the history of trophy trucks.

Who's it gonna be comin' around that last turn?

Here he is, this is Rob MacCachren.

Rounding that last corner, Apdaly Lopez.

Tavo \/ildosola taking one home for

that Mexican team of locals here,

congratulations to the whole...

Dana: While Tavo was standing on the victory stand,

Carlin was coming up the wash,

two hours and 45 minutes ahead of the next Ironman.

For the winners, it was not a joyous day.

Off-road racing is a family.

Announcer On PA: These guys are hardcore.

I'll tell you what, Baja, you're already in history,

a testament to how hardcore these guys are, mere mortals.

Dana: Two competitors died that day.

The 6X motorcycle of Travis Livingston,

and 232)(, also on a motorcycle, Noah Everman.

Announcer On PA: Got up over 130 degrees here,

but these guys could come around, and lronman,

and that's what it's all about down here in Baja.

That's your overall winner by two hours,

it looks on the job on time.

Carlin Dunne, gets it done, and congratulations.

Dana: Often, it's not a race, it's not a test,

it's not an adventure,

it's life and it's death.

And like anything else,

there's a choice in how you're gonna live.

There are only so many tomorrows,

and it's just a matter of how you wanna spend them.

Announcer over PA: Here we are in beautiful Rosarito.

Dana: And when it comes to racing Baja,

most choose to return.

No better example than that,

than the Price family from Fremont, California.

People ask me a lot, why do I do this?

Why, you know, why, why, why?

Getting everyone together as a team,

and for us working on the car.

My kids, my daughters are a very, very big part of the team.

We...

just wish my mother was here.

We... my kids, just they're a big, big part of it.

My wife helping with everything, my friends, my family,

it's a big deal for us to come here.

We travel a long ways, we do it as a team,

we've gone through the best what

Baja has to give, and the worst.

And we're still here.

Roger". It's such a unique experience that families

can actually enjoy this kind of racing,

and be able to come down and participate and win.

That's just somethin' that sucks you in,

and it captivates you, and then once you're in,

it's really hard to get out.

Out here, it's like really a,

seriously I can really hear the voice of God.

Dana: Mark Winkelman

is a highly successful businessman from Louisiana.

He decided to start racing on a motorcycle

in the Baja after his 47th birthday.

He sponsors two teams, including one

comprised of some Baja legends.

From stuntman Louis Franco to Jeff Kaplan,

to 16-time winner Jim O'Neal.

I've done my best stunts in the world out here for free.

I mean, I've been medevacked out of here twice,

broke my back, my arms, legs multiple concussions,

but that's what I love to do, I love racing motorcycles,

and the good thing about this is

you never know when it's gonna happen.

There's five collarbones on this side, one on that side.

I've been lucky, never broke a femur.

You have to be dumb enough to do this,

but smart enough to figure it out.

So, it takes a certain person to be good at it down here.

Mark: One day, it was like, I was thinkin'

I was a whole bunch better than I really was.

It was like, okay, like

I'm goin' good, and I said, oh man, Lord,

what do you want me to show you today?

And this is what the Lord put in my head, and the Lord said, "Hey,

Mark, I want you to learn how to ride better so I don't have to keep

savin' you all the time."

Dana". Mark Winkelman represents

one end of the Baja demographic.

On the other end is Chad Broughton and Paige Sohren.

I know, I did this before.

Dana". Chad and Paige come from racing families.

Growing up, they competed against each other,

then raced together, where romance bloomed.

Paige: Yeah, it's tough comin' to Baja.

Dana". Still, Paige likes to remind her boyfriend

of the good old days.

We raced class 3000 against each other in 2014,

- and smoked him every time. - Uh-uh.

Yeah-huh.

- Well... - True.

Semi-true, we broke every race,

every single race we broke, didn't finish a single race the first year--

I was always ahead when he broke.

That's debatable, but.

Dana: They won in San Felipe,

were second in the 500, and came to Rosarito

leading their class in points.

You know, Baja has a way of kinda

leveling the playing field.

You can come down here with all the best intentions

in the world, with the most expensive equipment,

the best driver, the whole nine yards,

but that doesn't guarantee a win down here.

When the flag drops, the BS stops, you know?

That's what Baja's about.

Dana: Well, there is some BS.

To race in SCORE means racing on ranch roads,

and occasionally the owner will forget to open the gate.

- X Have taken the crown X - a' Dead and gone a'

- X Melted it down X - a' Dead and gone a'

- S Dead and gone S - a' Thieves have A'

- X Taken the crown X - a' Dead and gone a'

It was rough.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Man, I was eatin' that quad.

For a 64-mile race, this was a tough one for us.

Dana". Jonathan Brenthel had a rough day.

He was about 300 yards from the starting line

when the first bit of trouble hit.

With the help of the fans,

their truck was put back on the tires,

and they got back into the race.

Yeah.

Dana: A few miles later, their hood came halfway off,

and once you've rolled, you can't see the road,

you're susceptible to a little bit of tummy trouble.

Man: Yeah, I got a little sick about--

20 miles--

We had a hell of a day.

Feel a lot better after you puke,

I can tell you that much.

Woman: Where does it go?

- It's all over the car. - It's in here, it's on my chest,

- on him a little bit. - Where else would it be?

It's all part of the off-road racing experience.

Dana: Baja is a magnet

for the world's top extreme athletes.

Like Tyler McQuarrie, professional sports car driver.

With my experience, Baja is beyond unique.

Drifting is the exact opposite of Baja.

In drifting, it's 100% for 30 seconds...

...and in Baja, it all about just knowing

when to push it and keep it easy

for a very long period of time.

In Australia, everyone knows Baja

who rides off-road over there.

I broke my collarbone in the San Felipe 250.

I had to ride 50 miles.

I don't know how I rode that far with it.

Fresh meat.

I can't wait for him to be the backseat driver

on the radio for 500 miles.

You're going too fast!

You're going too slow! Be careful on the rocks!

Dana: Possibly the most extreme athlete

in the world is J.T. Holmes.

He's a skier, a base jumper, a wingsuiter,

and a Baja racer.

Racing in Baja wins, it takes the cake.

If you look at, okay, jump a wingsuit off a mountain,

bombing down a hillside for a minute and a half,

and that is special stuff.

Ski run, two, three minutes of fresh tracks, awesome.

Catch a wave, 20 seconds, I'm stoked.

lf you get into the fire suit, helmet,

co-pilot, GPS, roll cage, green flag,

500 horsepower, 23 inches of travel?

I mean, you're at wingsuit speeds for 10 hours.

Dana: J.T. was introduced to Baja by his father,

Jeff Holmes, a surgeon from Los Gatos, California.

It was in the early 90s, I would drive Baja Bug,

and I would put J.T. in the co-driver's seat.

It would be so low, he could see the dash,

but he couldn't see out the window,

he couldn't see out the windshield.

And we put a pillow under him,

and we'd say, "Was that okay?"

"Oh, it's fine, it's fine."

But he couldn't see anything.

And was part of whatever chase vehicle there was,

and helped out in the pits,

and watched, and idolized my dad.

Dana: They are both successful men,

and they're bonded by one place.

What keeps me comin' back to Baja

is that it's the ultimate adventure.

And it's time with family.

Dana: On this weekend, for Jeff and J. T. Holmes,

time with family would come

with their first victory in a SCORE race.

For J.T., it was first place.

For the Price family, they didn't officially finish,

but it was well worth the effort.

- Hey. - Good job!

Dana: For Mark Winkelman,

and his crew of motorcycle Baja legends,

it was first place in the 50-and-over division.

And for off-roads, Romeo and Juliet, Chad and Paige,

would come in third in their class.

For Aaron and Alan Ampudia,

it was their third consecutive win,

wrapping up the season class 8 championship.

Meanwhile, Ramon Bios' second would put him

in first place in the 1600 class.

All in all, it was a wonderful race.

Well, maybe not for everyone.

- Oh, yi yi. - Man: I know.

So, we're gonna get a little tow,

get outta here,

and go home,

get ready for the Baja 1000.

Dana". In Baja, the 1000 is the event of the year.

The Superbowl, the World Series,

and Woodstock, all in one event.

Announcer On PA: We're expecting over 100,000 fans

here at the Baja 1000 this year.

Havin' fun, Baja, this is where it's all at.

Announcer On PA: It is gonna be a party,

so stick with us, this is Contingency for the Baja 1000.

Dana: The day before the race,

they have Contingency, which is kind of a cross

between a safety inspection and Burning Man.

Been comin' here since '69.

Just gets bigger and bigger and better and better.

Dana: They come from the world over, and in Ensenada,

the schools have a two-day holiday for the race.

Dana: Hi, sweetie.

So, this is just a stroller?

- Yep. - Wow.

How much does this baby stroller cost?

Dana: People that race the Baja are a family,

and no one exemplifies this more

than Ruben Flores, aka Calzon Man.

Ruben passes his coloring books out at Contingency,

and also, when the race isn't happening, at local schools.

So, work with the kids, and have 'em teach the adults,

their parents and their adults how to behave.

Dana: Ruben's alternative identity, Calzon Man,

in English means Underwear Man,

which begs the question, why?

Ruben: I always wonder if they weren't embarrassed

by wearing their underwear of top of their pants.

I always wonder why Superman wears his underwear on top,

or Batman, so I said, oh they're always fighting crime,

and they're always in a hurry,

that they go out of the house so quick

that they forget that their underwear goes underneath,

not on top of your pants, so.

Dana: This is a family bonded through the generations

by passion, and some, by actual DNA,

Like the McMillans.

His grandfather raced, and their fathers race,

and now, all three cousins, Dan, Luke, and Andy,

compete against each other in trophy trucks.

The Johnsons, Ricky and Luke.

The brothers Herbst, racing legends.

The Wilsons, dad Ronny and his son Brad.

And the ultimate example, Rod Hall,

who's never missed a 1000, and is now

racing with his granddaughter, Shelby.

I rememberjust drivin' along,

and the sun was coming up,

and it was like my first experience

of seeing all the cactus just coming to life

and I thought, "Wow, this is so amazing.

"Oh God, I gotta pay attention, back to the road, back to the road."

Rod Hal: Well, I'm proud to have my granddaughter involved.

- Just a great little gal. - Well, thank you.

And a great driver.

Dana". Another driving legend of the big racing family,

though not genetically related, is Eric Solorzano.

In a Tijuana auto garage,

we visited Eric's family before the race.

Dana: What keeps you guys all coming back?

Pardon me?

Dana: What keeps you guys comin' back?

The passion for Volkswagens.

- Man: Racing? - Yeah.

- That's what that keeps us... - Eric, Andy.

- ...together. - Eric.

- Eric makes us come back. - And racing.

The racing with Eric is the best time you could have.

It's the best week of your life.

You know, when everybody helps,

we're a family, that's what it is.

That's how we race, because money, we don't have money.

We have the feeling to race.

It's all that you go through,

and all that people put together,

before and during the race, to get there,

to get to the finish line, to finish,

and carry this thing

across the finish line.

Dana". Somehow, between that visit and Contingency,

Eric had talked me into being part of his extended family.

Dana: I'm all hired, I don't know what to say, gee.

We'll have to see you there, Dana.

All the way.

Dana: I would be a first-timer,

just riding shotgun for a bit.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum

are the trophy truck racers,

like Billy Wilson and Apdaly Lopez,

who are battling for the season championship.

Or Rob MacCachren,

aiming for his third consecutive win in the 1000.

Baja 1000 is always that race that you're trying to get won,

it's the biggest one of the year,

it's the Superbowl, and if you don't get it done

you gotta wait a full 365 days to get it done again.

So, for me, the planning, logistics, everything

has been happening since last year,

when we were here in the same parking lot.

Dana: Rob is a professional racer with a crew of 70.

Even with his experience, pre-running is a must,

because every year they change the course

and figuring out where to go is like solving a Rubik's Cube.

The one thing I'll tell ya, is that I didn't realize

the terrain changes, like, every two miles.

- Yeah. - It's like rocky,

and then it's sandy, it's silty, and then you're on a beach,

and then you're climbin' a mountain,

- it's like, what on Earth? - Yeah.

Dana: Even when you figure out where to go,

pre-running can be a little bit dangerous.

And all a sudden, deer,

I mean there was no warning, no nothin', deer in my lap.

You can see the deer hair stuck on the...

- Dan: Yeah. - It's still there.

Dana: That's unbelievable.

I was thinkin', if it was a little lower and took out my front wheel,

I would've slapped down this way.

- Dana: Yeah. - I mean, honestly,

it was the easy way out, I just exited the bike

with the deer.

The bike went that way, the deer went that way.

Dana". Pre-running never ends.

For Bob Gordon's son Robby,

and Parnelli Jones' son P.J.,

they have done this together for 40 years.

Friends since four years old, P.J. and Robby

have raced Indy, Daytona, and Le Mans,

but their heart remains here.

Robby Gordon: It's the unknown.

It's different than, go to Indy, turn left,

it's the same corner pretty much every time

unless somebody drops oil.

Here, every corner, you never know what to expect.

Robby and I always have said

that if we could've made money,

gotten a paycheck to race these,

we would've never gone to Indy car and NASCAR,

I mean, this is just the total, ultimate adventure.

Dana: Pre-running next to P.J. and Robby

were the Ampudias.

He had already won the season's class 8 championship,

and for the 1000, Aaron and Alan had convinced

their poor dad to step up to the ultimate class.

This?

Interviewer: How'd you end up with that?

Can tell you about these boys.

So, it was kind of spontaneous, but hey, we're not complaining.

We were stoked.

This is an addiction, never ends.

Dana: To race the Baja is to tilt at windmills.

Perhaps the best example of that is Pat O'Keefe.

In February, Pat had come to San Felipe with his buddy,

Tyler McQuarrie, in a trophy truck spec.

By the time he got to the 1000,

Pat bought two trophy trucks,

hired two of the best Baja racers ever,

Larry Roeseler and Andy McMillan,

and he and Tyler were pre-running the 1000

for the very first time.

Tyler: I think we've done about 500 miles so far, pre-running.

Baja has won so far.

Baja one, Tyler zero, for sure.

Dana: Tyler and Pat had rolled

their pre-runner miles from anywhere

when Dennis Hollenbeck rattled up to give 'em a ride.

Dennis: We start sharin' with them, I'm a missionary here,

and we do house building for the poor and needy,

and we have this benefit run we do

for Casa Esperanza, bing.

What, what'd you say?

First-class guy, man.

He didn't wait 'til he got home to go onto GoFundMe.

He took care of it right away,

either whether he was out pre-running,

or I don't know when.

But I saw him that afternoon, and by that night,

a donation had already been made

for Casa Esperanza's school project.

Baja's blessings, you never know, you never know.

Dana: At the time Dennis and Pat

met on Baja's west coast, just off its east coast,

a group of war veterans gathered

to honor a fallen team member.

232X is Warrior Built.

A member of this team, Noah Everman,

was one of the two motorcyclists

who died during the Baja 500.

It was not an easy decision to race the 1000.

Nick: It was tough, and there was moments where I was like,

I don't know if I...

if I should put other people at risk anymore.

After speaking with his wife,

and some of his good friends, and these guys here,

we gotta keep movin' forward, you know?

Chad Cedotal: As combat vets, we've come to terms with death.

It's part of what we were and what we are,

and it's with us whether we're in or out, right now.

It's a brotherhood of camaraderie

that you feel in combat to get through

to the next mission, and it's quite something.

Nick: And we're doin' it for him,

'cause I know he'd wanna ride here today.

We know he would encourage us to keep going.

He wouldn't tell us to quit.

Dana: They made a hand-engraved cross

and anchored it in 12 pounds of concrete.

After gathering for a prayer, they would get in their trucks

and drive into the mountains three hours

to place Noah's cross at the exact spot he'd fallen.

There's less than 24 hours before the race,

and high atop Mount Diablo,

Scott Steinberger sets up the communications relay center.

Weatherman relay, go ahead SCORE ops.

Dana: He's the link between the drivers,

race operations, and emergency services.

Loud and clear.

Dana: Scott is a former Baja racer

but not the original Weatherman,

which was his late father, Bob Steinberger.

The fact that you can watch the race

from anywhere you want to,

it's not like a stateside race at all.

And then anybody'll tell ya it's the tacos,

and the beer, and Mexico, it's magic.

Dana: 15 hours before race time,

Carlin Dunne makes his final adjustments.

Carlin: The 500 was so heavy for us.

It kinda changed my whole perspective on everything, and

it's a little bit excitement,

a little bit adrenaline,

a lot a bit of dread,

'cause you know that

on a certain date, you're gonna take on

probably the hardest thing you've ever done.

Announcer On PA: Buenos (has, Ensenada.

I hope you 9W5"

Dana: Just before dawn,

the motorcycles and quads gather at the starting line.

Dana: They leave one at a time, 30 seconds apart.

It's a race against the clock.

Waiting in the darkness and cold,

motorcyclists from Warrior Built

to the lronmen.

Carlin had woken up that morning with a fever of 101.

Season points leader Michael Skurkis,

Jeff Benrud, last year's second place.

- Good morning, Dana. - Good morning, Rob.

Dana: Tony Gera, literally the toughest man in the world,

and the top professionals,

prohibited favorite Colton Udall,

two days ago, fell and shattered his collarbone.

He was taken to the hospital,

where four screws were put into his collarbone.

Here he is, back in Ensenada just to start the race.

Announcer On PA: This is what it's all about,

it all boils down to the final race,

the SCORE Baja 1000, we're just gettin' ready

to kick it off folks, the two-wheel bikes.

We have Colton Udall, that 1)(,

last year's overall champion bike

gonna be the first off the line.

- Go get 'em tiger. - Thank you.

Dana: For the first time in years,

Colton would get off his bike,

and be the one who would lend his team support.

Announcer On PA: People come from all over the world

to race this, let's give these riders and drivers each.

Dana: Vehicles on the pavement

have to obey the speed limit,

but once you hit the dirt,

it's as fast as you want to go.

There's a three-hour wait between the last motorcycles

and the first trophy truck off the starting line.

Announcer On PA: B.J. Baldwin, gettin' his stretch on.

I'm not calm at all, I'm actually, like,

I have a lot of anxiety built up and self-confidence issues

before I get in the truck, and then once I get in the truck,

I kinda realize what I'm capable of.

It's only on the morning of the race.

Every other time, I'm kind of an asshole about it.

Me too, yeah.

To finish first, you first must finish,

so that's my goal right now, got sweaty palms,

I pooped, like, five times, the adrenaline is hittin' hard.

Don't know if that's too much information for you,

but I'm ready to go.

Announcer On PA: And we have some

of the best of the best here, that's right,

we have over 30 trophy trucks here and only the best.

See how they do behind the wheel.

Dana: Within the first four miles,

over 100,000 spectators will cheer them on.

After the trophy trucks, the rest of the classes follow.

J.T. Holmes at 11:05.

12:10 p.m., 17-year-old Ramon Bio.

Rod Hall, starting his 49th Baja 1000 effort.

And behind the Halls was the Volkswagen

of Eric Solorzano and me.

Announcer: And the class 11s

are off the line, Eric Solorzano right there.

Eric: Ready, Dana?

Dana: We'll find out.

Dana: We were off,

Eric was ready, I was ready,

but I was having a little problem taking it all in.

- Dana: Huh? - Eric: You want some water?

- Eric: Here's water. - Dana: No, I'm lookin' for...

Dana: The air hose in the helmet had fallen off,

and I couldn't figure out how to flip the visor up.

It was like the freakin' Amazon in there.

I couldn't see a thing.

Dana: After five miles, being the genius that I am,

I finally figured out how to flip the visor up.

Now that I can see, it's really starting to set in.

Just how incredible this race is,

and how beautiful the place.

Eric: This is the best part of this pass, Dan.

Dana: Looking from above, the race is glorious.

But the closer you get to the dust,

it becomes a little less poetic.

Ian: The dust is an unknown obstacle in itself,

but that's just the blanket, that's just the whitewater

going over the reef that you can't even see.

It can be your best friend, it can be your worst nightmare.

If you're out in front,

and you're the one kickin' up the dust,

like the old Batman days, put up the smokescreens.

Pat O'Keeie: Until you've driven in somebody's dust

goin' maybe 80, 100 miles an hour,

it's like bein' in a snowstorm, you can't see anything.

I mean literally, you can't see the hood.

Pat". And you're still goin' on the gas,

and your brain, it was screaming at you,

slow down, slow down, you can't see, and you can't.

Because if you do, you'll never get past that person.

I guess some people see dust

as a distraction, or as a deterrent.

Dust, to me, is kinda like red to a bull.

We're racin' now.

Dana". The Texan, Billy Wilson,

the trophy truck season's point leader,

was roaring through the dust when he found a four-foot rock.

Billy was stuck on that rock for a half an hour.

Right behind him, Apdaly Lopez would pass him

and take over the season's point championship lead.

Other vehicles were having their issues, too.

Blinded in the dust, Bochito ended up right in a ditch.

Brian: Can't see a damn thing.

You break down in SCORE, everybody's willing to lend a hand and help.

Dana: Bochito was only in that ditch

for about 10 minutes before the fans helped pull him out.

You can't explain the environment,

the feeling that's going on, how the locals support you.

Dana: In Baja, everyone helps.

It's full participation.

Even our helicopter camera crew is there to lend a hand.

Jimmy Cook to the rescue.

Jimmy: Hola.

Guys, turn off your fuel pump?

Man: No.

- Yeah, man! - Whoo!

Jimmy: Hey, be careful with all that oil comin' out.

Man: Yeah.

I call this a band of brothers.

It's like going to war in the Baja 1000.

We may be fierce competitors, but we're like family.

Dana: Alan Ampudia, racing in a trophy truck

for the first time, was trying to hold off Cameron Steele

and going as fast as he could.

Cameron pulled over his truck,

while his co-driver got out to see if Alan was okay.

Fans appeared from seemingly nowhere.

Scott: Trophy truck 16, can you give me the mile marker

one more time, and is everybody okay?

Cameron: Race mile 179 and a half,

my navigator is not plugged back in yet.

Scott: Ampudia trophy truck number 10

had a bad crash at mile 179.5.

Dana: After an eternal five minutes,

Alan Ampudia emerged from the wreck unscathed.

His race was over.

Scott: 10-four, both driver and co-driver

got out of the truck and were okay.

Cameron: Race 16, we stopped

and everything looks good, it's all good.

10-four, thank you Race 16.

Race 16 clear, go get 'em.

Dana". About an hour after the Ampudia wreck,

Chad Broughton and Paige Sohren,

going over 100 miles an hour outside of Camalu.

- Man: Weatherman. - Scott: 202, 202 Race,

race mile 173, 33 miles an hour, too many to go.

202 race, mile 173, not moving.

Dana: Incredibly, Paige and Chad were not hurt.

Scott: Driver and co-driver are okay.

Hm.

Man: Still goin'.

- Oh my God. - Man: Oh.

Dana: More incredibly, after a mere 90 minutes,

Chad and Paige and the spectators

put the truck back together,

and they were back in the race.

At the same time B.J. Baldwin was arriving in the pits.

Dana: I got out at pit one.

Yeah, baby.

Dana". And Eric's crew fueled the car.

Get ready, we're go.

Dana: Tony Gera pulled into the Baja pits

first place in the lronman division.

Ten minutes behind Tony, Carlin Dunne arrived.

His fever was still rising.

- Okay. - Go, go.

Dana: For the Warrior Built,

232X was burning more oil than gas.

It hadn't been touched since Noah Everman raced the 500.

Still, they pressed on.

Now, they not only race the clock,

they race the sun.

Most of the Baja 1000 happens in the dark.

It's a long, surreal test of man and machine.

Just after sundown, Ramon Bio,

the high school senior from Ensenada,

was having mechanical problems.

His father, brother, and friends

worked feverishly on the car.

After a bit more than an hour,

they got Ramon back in the race.

Racing at night in the Baja

is just like racing the day,

except it's absolutely not.

Casey Currie: Everything looks different at night.

The cows on the road that aren't there,

the trees that are laying over in the road that aren't there,

there's things that are moving that aren't moving.

Ricky Johnson". You're riding and you go, oh, oh no,

there's somebody behind me, I can feel it.

And you look black and it's completely pitch black,

like there's nobody, like everyone left

the face of the Earth and you're lookin' back there,

and it's like, there's nobody.

Then you have this realization,

if I fall down, who's gonna find me?

One of the things that also at night in Baja,

you're in the middle of nowhere, and there's always somebody.

There's always somebody watching,

and when you think that there's not,

there's just, a campfire.

Dana". Sometimes, that campfire

is your family cheering you on,

and sometimes, it's a chase crew waiting on their rider.

For Scott Dunlavey, head mechanic for Carlin Dunne,

it was a mystery what happened to their racer.

It still just doesn't make sense,

- three miles out of a pit. - Yeah.

That's what I don't, that's what's not jivin'.

I don't know, we'll find out.

Dana: A few hours earlier,

Carlin Dunne saw a spectator's truck.

His fever spiking, sweating, chills,

and unable to see out of one eye,

he ended his race.

10-four, 705X out of the race at 3:55,

his chase crews are comin' in.

Dana: There's still over 200 vehicles left in this race,

some with 24 hours to go to the finish.

Bochito pulled into his pit

with more problems than solutions.

We'll see how the Bug's doin',

and keep runnin', we're doin' this for the children.

They don't give up, the women don't give up,

we're gonna give up, either.

Dana: For the Warrior Built,

their bike was still burning a lot of oil,

and had 500 miles left to go.

While others, like the professional motorcycle racers,

are entering their last pits.

Including 45)(, with Shane Esposito,

who is having a bit of a problem.

Dana: How's it goin' out there for ya?

I got on, and within 15 miles lost the lights.

Dana: What was plan B?

Start drinkin' beer.

Dana". Through the fatigue and darkness,

there's always that smile.

The 1X of Ox Motorsports pulling in to their final pit.

- You're the best team! - You're the best!

You're the best!

Ah, it's Stokie's 26th birthday

on the Baja 1000, November 18th.

Who wouldn't wanna be leading the Baja 1000 on their birthday?

I would.

Dana: As the clock reached 11,

the fastest motorcycles were just outside of Ensenada.

Announcer On PA: It has been a long day here in Baja.

But tell you what, we are just moments away

from our first bike coming across the line.

Make some noise, Ensenada,

here he is, comin' around the last corner,

that is Mark Samuels on that 1X Ox Motorsports.

Dana: First to cross the line

was the 1)(, Ox Motorsports.

Colton Udall not on board, but still a victory.

Announcer On PA: The second bike across the line,

here he comes, another Ox Motorsports,

back with his black Honda, that is Ray Del Soglio

and his team on 3X.

Dana: Coming in third was Shane Esposito on the 45X.

He had a story to tell about his lights.

And they taped it to my visor.

It was like this.

And that's what I,

they gave me a roll of electrical tape, which I have,

and a big pack of D batteries so if it went dead

I could change it. So good.

Dana". While the fastest on two wheels

were at the finish line, most of the racers

and vehicles were still on the course.

Some taking a break.

- Hey Jim. - Hey.

- Open the door. - No.

Man: Fartee's auto scent.

But he won't, come on out.

- No. - Your tank's full, buddy.

Dana: Others at a dead stop.

100 to zero real quick.

I hit a rock the size of a car, all right?

All the lights that are smashed in the chassis still work.

- Smashed in the chassis. - They're smassed,

shmashed, smashed.

Smashed, inside the chassis.

- Smashed! - I may have hit my head

a little bit hard.

This is so good.

I tell you what, you cannot

prepare yourself for this race.

Man: Today!

BJ Baldwin: This race takes everything you got

and then some to make it halfway.

The rest of the way, you're just insane.

Announcer On PA: The trophy trucks are comin' in.

Dana". At 3:15 a.m. crossing the finish line

for the third consecutive time

as the fastest vehicle in the Baja 1000,

was Rob MacCachren.

Announcer On PA: Third year in a row,

let's hear it for Rob MacCachren.

Rob has just been on fire

throughout this season.

Dana: In second place was Apdaly Lopez.

The pride of Mexicali had won the season's

points championship for the second straight year.

Announcer On PA: We have to build hope so much.

This was probably the toughest Baja 1000

in the 17 years I've been racing.

Larry". You never really conquer Baja,

- I mean. - Yeah.

I've won a few, and you lose more

than you win, of course, but when you finish the race,

it's an accomplishment of its own.

Dana: Even for those that didn't finish,

like Rodrigo Ampudia Jr., they are there.

It's part of racing, sometimes it's a learning experience,

other times it's about celebrating at the finish line,

so we're here watching our friends cross the line.

Dana". Billy Wilson finished in ninth place

in the trophy trucks, three points shy

of the season championship.

To finish this race is a feeling

that you don't get until you do it,

so we're haPPY-

Dana: As night becomes clay,

they continue to cross the line.

There we sat at 4:03, waitin', and let everybody by.

Baja once again.

Turn around and head backwards.

Dana". At dawn, Cameron Steele,

finishing eighth place in the trophy trucks.

It was really good 'til about 65 miles ago.

Just feels like...

Feels like continually punching yourself in the face.

Dana: For most racers, their dream

of a 1000 championship would remain unrealized.

But for Ronny Wilson, who had tried

24 times to win the 1000,

at 7:05 a.m.,

he finally realized his dream.

24 years.

Announcer On PA: I don't know what his

unofficial result time is, or what his place is,

his unofficial result is first place.

That's one, you're comin' over to our division.

That's 1/3 into it, Ronny Wilson, the unofficial winner of them all,

and this would be his first win in Baja.

Announcer: The whole Wilson Motorsports team.

Dana: Good things happen to good people.

Sometimes it takes a while.

Yeah, I know.

Announcer On PA: Now, some of the toughest guys--

Dana". Behind Ronny were the top lronmen.

Jeff Benrud a close second place.

Michael Skurkis, fifth,

but winning the season championship.

And the Baja 1000 lronman champion, Tony Gera.

Scott Rousseau: This is the arena for the gladiators.

You see guys still hangin' it out way farther

than they do anywhere else in the world,

to get to that finish line.

That finish line is all-important.

Dana: At the dawn of day two, they race on.

At sunrise, J.T. Holmes was in first place in his class.

An hour later, a rear CV joint

would pull him out of the race.

His navigator, Eric Clay, would stay with the car.

Eric: It's been a crazy day, a couple days.

We have been racing for 17 hours and 43 minutes.

J.T. left to go hitchhike a ride into BFG pit.

Yeah, and you never know with the Baja 1000,

such a long race, some of the other guys

we're competing against might also have

a huge problem, or they may not even finish.

You could win just by finishing.

So, you never give up.

Dana: And they never give up.

24 hours into the race,

still pushing towards the finish line.

20 miles from the finish, Wayne Matlock's

front wheel came off.

But, being a Baja veteran, Wayne saw an opportunity.

Wayne, a past Baja champ,

would ride like that for an hour

until crossing the finish line

to the loudest standing ovation he'd ever heard.

Dana: Wayne finished behind his wife Kristen,

who lronmanned it.

Dana: Warren Jun Tangeron,

from Thailand, pushed his bike a mile

to cross the finish line, carrying a framed photograph

of the late King of Thailand.

Man: If you'd have told me at mile 400 last night

that I was gonna finish, I wouldn't have believed ya.

When you get to the finish line

it's a feeling that you cannot...

translate, you cannot express.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah! - Whoo!

Dana: How was that?

- That was, - It's awesome.

Unbelievable.

When I was like mile 700, I was like,

what the hell am I doing, I could be in my bed right now.

I don't know if there's a word that can say

love and hate at the same time.

It's just magical.

Dana: 17-year-old Ramon Bio finished

in first place in the 1600 class,

which wrapped up the season championship.

Announcer On PA: Overall points championship.

- Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo. - Dana: Mark Winkelman,

Louis Franco, and the rest of the boys

from the retirement home brought home a victory

- in the 50-and-over class. - That was the roughest one

I've ever done.

Announcer: Limpin' it in, they got that thing back together.

They're not only taking second place--

Dana: 18 hours after their horrific crash,

Chad and Paige cross the line,

winning the trophy truck spec season championship.

We're not hurt, truck's not hurt,

we made it, so we're the champions.

I've never been a champion.

I would rather have fourth place with adventure

than first place with no adventure.

I think I'd take first place.

What?

Dana: The race continues as the clock ticks away.

- What are you do now? - This'll go in the back.

- Bobby: In here? - Keep away from that wiring.

- Where'd you go? - Hook it on itself.

Dana: With the sun setting on the second day,

J.T. Holmes decided to hang it up.

A few hours later, Dennis Hollenbeck also made a decision.

So, the decision's been made.

We're at the end of our race.

Dana: Still, at the finish line, they cross.

They all think we're nuts, until they experience it,

and then they go, "Oh my God, now I know why

you guys spend hundreds of thousands of dollars

and 40 years tryin' to get one of these

stupid little pins that says Winner."

Announcer On PA: Just over 40 hours into the race,

and look who's coming in, an icon,

Rod Hall, he's got his granddaughter with him, Shelby.

Dana". Rod Hall was diagnosed with Parkinson's

two years ago, a true racing legend.

Over four hours past their allotted time,

Warrior Built cross the finish line.

Announcer On PA: Talk about making it.

Dana: They had done it for Noah.

I got to ride by the section where he fell today.

Immediately I pulled over and took my helmet off

and just talked to him, and made sure that I was gonna

take this bike over the finish line for him,

and finish the race for him.

Dana: The official time is over for all vehicles.

The fans have left, only a few SCORE officials remain,

but off in the distance, I can hear the sound

of Eric's Volkswagen.

- Yeah! - Woo!

It made it, Eric.

Thank you, Bobby, and it was great.

Thank you for letting me drive.

Woman: How is she?

Dana: After we got our picture taken,

Eric drove the race car back to his house.

Six hours later, out in front

of the convention hall in Ensenada,

they were taking down the finish line.

And then, the last finisher,

after 47 hours, crossed the finish line.

Thank you.

I came down here, Roger told me

there's somebody comin' in, and I wanted

to get down here and see you come in.

Oh, we've been fightin' and the checkpoints closed,

I said, I don't care, that's our--

- That's great, that's- - This is our fourth one

down here and I haven't finished yet.

All I can say is that's the Baja spirit all the way.

- I'm not gonna give anyone my keys, - Dude.

I'm gonna keep goin'.

- Oh, we've had some problems. - Here you go, for your--

We fought hard.

Oh yeah, well hey, you know what?

It looks like it.

Levi". As I said, this is our fourth race.

We haven't finished one before this,

and if we did not finish this one,

eventhough technically we didn't,

we'd still be back next year.

Dana: Some go home with trophies,

others contemplate the following season.

Andy: And you know, it's been said before,

when you start seein' that checkered flag,

you don't want it to end, you wanna keep on goin',

and you just can't wait for the next race.

It's like a bad breakup with a crazy girlfriend, right?

Like, little ways down the road,

you remember all the good stuff,

you're like, why did we break up, anyways?

And you give her a call and next thing you know,

your car's gettin' keyed and tires slashed,

and you're like, that's why.

Forgot about that.

Dana: The racers return their transponders.

For 36 hours, they were Superman.

Now, they return to being everyman.

Dennis: She's a jealous woman,

and she wanted everything we had.

She wanted everything, and she said,

"Not this time, boys, it ain't gonna happen."

You wanna keep going and this is,

part of that struggle is you wanna keep going,

you wanna finish, at least.

You get to the point where, forget about the trophy,

that's gone, that's gone, if I could just get

to the finish line, that'll be enough.

It's an amazing thing with the little kids at Casa.

They never ask, did Bochito win?

They always ask, how is Bochito?

Okay, this time the Baja won.

But it's still out there,

we're still here, and we still have a group of kids

waitin' for Bochito to make its return.

Okay.

we had 17 guys out there

- and my two kids. - It's like oh, no,

not his wife!

There's nothing like it.

- Ever. - That's awesome.

Hi Daddy!

Hey, come here.

Hey.

- Watch the antenna. - I love you.

Atta boy.

Man: Miles from his home, miles.

Yay.

Keep yourself up.

I'm tryin' the best I can.

Dana: End credits, right here.

Except we'll cut you out, you can stay,

you're in, you, okay, you're back in.

Big guy gotta be in 'cause he'll beat me up.

- Yeah. - Man: Basically, and now

the same core group, you know, is gonna analyze this movie.

Yeah, I...

It's a piece of cake.

No, no, just do the same thing you did

with the first one and you'll be fine, all of you.

- But Kevin got so old, - All of you.

I don't know.

I mean, I'm still sharp as a tack.

Dana: And, action.

Behind the scenes.

Farther behind the scenes.

- And we will not return. - And there he is.

- You could do this talking pup. - Man: Yeah, just put him

down here in the corner.

Yeah, just go to the corner.

Now I'm the throttle hand,

this guy, nothin'.

They do all the work.

Oh, it looks like one of those weird kung fu movies.

Tavo Vildosola, good to see you, thanks for swingin' by.

You're kind of a national hero down here.

Yep, I'm runnin' for President next year.

I'm pretty sure I'll win it.

I'm gonna take down the wall.

I'm gonna have the United States pay for it.

This right now is being shot by my son Wes,

he's right behind the camera.

I just wanna say,

I'm basically savin' this whole film.

This crew.

And just Mongo wanted to let you know

that Mongo is very hungry.

And Mongo is not happy about not eating.

Dana: And you look, actually, this light's so magnificent.

- Um. - ls this weird?

Is this uncomfortable for anybody else?

This is a plea to the Academy.

I don't see any reason to even have any other nominees,

so please get that trophy ready.

We'll be at the ceremony,

we're comin' out in 2007, so 2018 we'll be there.

We want a big table, all of you gold,

and that goes to Golden Globers, too.

Man: There he goes, the man, the myth, the legend.

Help.

Help, little help here.

Hello.