SCORE touting better security for its Baja race

By Bill Center
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

March 6, 2008

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Sal Fish took an unprecedented step two weeks ago in an open letter to the off-road racing community.

Although the bulk of the text discussed the March 14-15 SCORE San Felipe 250 race and changes to the course, Fish detoured toward the end of the letter to discuss an issue on the minds of all tourists to Baja California.

“My trip (to San Felipe) took me through Tijuana, Ensenada, San Felipe and Mexicali,” said the president of SCORE. “I can personally report that there is a noticeable increase in security along the roads.

“My compliments to the new government for their conscientious effort in addressing the situation.”


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Ah, the “situation.”

In November, Fish thought SCORE had one of its better races in the 40th-anniversary running of the Baja 1000.

“It was a great race,” Fish said of the historic run to the Cabo San Lucas tip of the peninsula.

But even before Fish arrived back on this side of the border, he was receiving reports of two fatal accidents involving nonrace vehicles on the highway coming north from the finish and armed robberies by men masquerading as police officers on the toll road between Ensenada and Tijuana.

The post-race incidents received more notice on this side of the border than the race did.

“Unfortunately the race was overshadowed by all the stuff that happened,” said Fish. “I, as the organizer, should be concerned. We've taken it very seriously.”

There is only so much that Fish, even with his strong ties in Mexico, can do as a U.S. promoter of an event staged in Mexico. Fish has, however, discussed the recent problems with Mexican government officials in Baja California and Mexico City.

And the SCORE leader is optimistic as his organization returns to Mexico for the first time since the November race.

Not everyone is returning immediately to Mexico – including some of the biggest names in off-road racing (Herbst, McMillin, Arciero) – for a variety of reasons.

But while the early entry numbers are down by a third from last year's race-record 394 – the 2007 San Felipe 250 was run out of Ensenada because of problems with the land owners on part of the course – the current count of 256 entries represents the third-highest total in the 23-year history of the event.

Fish believes the racers will be greeted warmly when they clear the border.

“I feel there is a very serious attitude on the part of Mexican officials,” Fish said this week. “They are embarrassed and fed up about what happened late last year. They are victims, too.

“This is not a situation that can change 100 percent overnight. But the Mexican government is trying to make things safer at every level. I was there. I saw it first-hand. I kept my eyes open. I saw a big difference.

“I saw a much bigger police and army presence on the highways. I saw enforcement officers all along the toll road, including a new group in distinctively marked cars.”

Fish also believes SCORE racers and crews bear some responsibility.

“We've got to take a step back, too, and take a look at what we're doing,” said Fish. “Don't get crazy. We've been spoiled because Mexican officials have looked the other way at some things we've done, and we've pushed it.

“Plus, we need to use a little common sense.”

Fish is advising race teams to travel in convoys whenever possible to and from the course area. And he advises against traveling the highways alone at night.

“It's common sense not to put yourself in harm's way,” he said. “Bad things can happen on either side of the border.”

source: signonsandiego.com