Baja 500 Legacy Party 2008

A CELEBRATION OF OFF-ROAD RACING’S PAST:
FIFTH ANNUAL MONSTER ENERGY BAJA LEGACY PARTY SET FOR
40TH TECATE SCORE BAJA 500

-- Event to Induct Legendary Personalities Robby Gordon, Vic Wison,
Bruce Ogilvie and Bruce Brown into Horsepower Ranch Hall of Fame --

IRVINE, Calif. - (May 14, 2008) – Stand by Baja motorsports fans. The biggest party in all of off-road racing is back and better than ever.
Created to celebrate Baja’s rich off-road racing heritage and to open Ensenada’s exclusive Horsepower Ranch gates to the public for only the fifth time in history, Monster Energy and Wide Open Adventures have announced plans for the annual Baja Legacy Party. The highly popular event, timed to coincide with the 40th running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, will feature a special tribute to a select group of 2008 Baja Legacy honorees, a collection of rare vintage and modern off-road machinery, a Mexican fiesta, music and a raucous after-party in the ranch’s famed Carrera Cantina.
Co-produced by Wide Open founder Todd Clement and Baja racing historian Marty Fiolka, the evening (which attracted nearly 1,200 guest last year), is being presented by Monster Energy and associate sponsors Wide Open Adventures, Dirt Sports Magazine, Off-Road.com, BFGoodrich, SnugTop, KMC Wheels, Blue C Communications, Papas and Beer and SCORE International. The 2008 Baja Legacy party will take place on Thursday evening, May 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Horsepower Ranch outside of Ensenada, Mexico – an ideal prelude to the next day’s Baja 500 Tech and Contingency Day activities.
This year, the Baja Legacy is set to honor a stellar list of inductees including Robby Gordon, current NASCAR driver and three-time SCORE Baja 1000 overall winner; Vic Wilson, a two-time Baja 1000 race winner who claimed the very first overall title in the inaugural 1967 Mexican 1000; Bruce Ogilvie, a multi-year Baja motorcycle champion and long-time manager for Honda’s factory teams and Bruce Brown, the famed director of the groundbreaking motorcycle film “On Any Sunday” and the man who first exposed Baja racing to the world by producing ABC television’s “Wide World of Sports” coverage of the 1968 Mexican 1000.
All of this year’s recipients are scheduled to be on hand to sign their plaques and claim their space in the Carrera Cantina’s Hall of Fame. The honorees will join a distinguished group of past inductees that includes Sal Fish, Bruce Meyers, Corky McMillin, Malcolm Smith, Ron Bishop, Drino Miller, Dick Landfield, Doug Robertson, Bob Gordon, Ivan Stewart, Larry Roeseler, Walker Evans, Larry Ragland, Frank Vessels, the late Mike Thomas, Bob Steinberger, Rod Hall, Don Adams, Johnny Johnson and Jason Baldwin (posthumously).
In keeping with a popular Baja Legacy tradition, a collection of rare vintage off-road vehicles is expected to be on display, including an impeccably restored Drino Miller-built single seat VW buggy that Wilson co-drove to the 1970 overall Mexican 1000 crown, the famed Baja Boot that Bud Ekins drove to capture the first Baja 500 title and other historic and new race machines.
“Marty Fiolka and I started the Baja Legacy party to host the off-road community at Horsepower Ranch once a year and to also honor this sport’s incredible past, “explained Todd Clement, Managing Partner, Wide Open Adventures. “We are proud that in just five years it has evolved into the can’t miss happening on the yearly off-road calendar. The continued support of great brands like Monster Energy and our other event partners just validates our original vision. The Horsepower Ranch can only support a certain amount of guests, so attendees should really consider buying their tickets ahead of time!”
Admission to the Baja Legacy event is just $30 per person, which includes a complete gourmet Mexican BBQ dinner, live entertainment, a specially designed event t-shirt and commemorative poster. Considering the overwhelming attendance in recent years, event organizers strongly recommend that guests make advanced reservations by calling (949) 874-5799 or by ordering tickets online at www.bajalegacy.com.