mexican 1000

[drc42]

Picked this up the other day to hopefully solve my communications issues:



It is a ham radio but has the ability to be programmed to TX on the freq that Mag 7 uses. Nice thing about this model is that can be done purely in software so after the Mexican 1000 I can set it back to being a plain old FCC legal ham radio. Picked up a headset that mounts into my helmet also. Not sure how well it will work while moving with wind noise but at least I can talk without taking the helmet off, nice feature while lying on the ground in pain.

While I am unlikely to be able to reach Mag 7 in the case of an emergency I suspect there are enough cars that will have radios in them that somebody will hear me.

[Strong Bad]

Originally Posted by drc42

While I am unlikely to be able to reach Mag 7 in the case of an emergency I suspect there are enough cars that will have radios in them that somebody will hear me.

Expecting anyone to be able to hear you on that little YAESU is a major mistake for several reasons. First is they just don't have much power. Second, terrain is a major issue with these little hand helds (both power and antenna issues). The third other thing is the frequencies being used by the cars and chase guys. Of the frequencies offered up in the PDF by others in a previous post, only 3 or possibly 4 will be used at the NORRA race. The strategic high-altitude Mag 7 location mentioned will not exist for this race, that is only at the SCORE races. There is no Weatherman, PCI, BFG, Checker, SAR, Honda, BITD, Wide Open, Pro Truck or many others at the NORRA race.

In a race car you use a frequency that is clear of any other traffic, the last thing you need is to hear another team while you are racing. The main reason for that is that the intercom between the driver and co-driver does not work while someone else is talking on the same frequency. If you are in a race car that uses a pit service like Baja Pits or Mag 7, you have your radio tuned to a clear channel you use to talk to you chase crew, and then if you need to talk to talk to Mag 7, you change to Mag 7's frequency and then change back to your frequency when done. In other words they will be less people than you think listening to the most popular frequencies out on the middle of the race course.

[c.vestal]

Where is everyone staying in La Paz? The Grand Plaza seems a bit $$$ for us.

[drc42]

Originally Posted by c.vestal

Where is everyone staying in La Paz? The Grand Plaza seems a bit $$$ of us.

I booked a room at the La Casa Jalisco for just over $70. No clue if the place is decent or not but price was about the best I could find there.

[crankshaft]

I'm staying at the trailer motel, right next to my bike

[wrk2surf]

SOON... the siren song of Baja and....




Dust, dirt, silt, sand.... and WHOOPS

[Racer20]

That all sounds great.. looking forward to the challenge.

[wrk2surf]

[HogWild]

Originally Posted by wrk2surf

homework page 1

The roadbook begins a bit East of that. To start the race, first you must find your way to the start! Apparently there's no planned "parade" this year. Also, the first several miles of the race course are not on roads shown on that map.

[wrk2surf]

Originally Posted by HogWild

The roadbook begins a bit East of that. To start the race, first you must find your way to the start! Apparently there's no planned "parade" this year. Also, the first several miles of the race course are not on roads shown on that map.

should have written special stage 1 start!

we all know it starts at the bull ring..

[drc42]

Anybody know when we will hear more details on the route? Would be nice to at least know what race mile each pit is at for calculating fuel needed.

39 days

[Baja Dad]

Plan on about 70-80 miles
and you should only need a few remote pits.

[oregoncoast]

Originally Posted by HogWild

The roadbook begins a bit East of that. To start the race, first you must find your way to the start! Apparently there's no planned "parade" this year. Also, the first several miles of the race course are not on roads shown on that map.

It's a good thing those roads in Mexicali are so well marked and the driver's on their way to work are so attentive to racers on motorcycles

Even with the police escort and motor-cops blocking some traffic, it was quite fun getting to the official start of the race without getting t-boned or squished at a traffic circle

Scott, is the start at Laguna Salada basically in the same place this year??

[crankshaft]

Went out today and started messing around with the suspension on my SE. Luckily, I have one of the few spots in Vermont that has sand and banged a few laps. The SE is like a friggin barge in the whoops

[Pantah]

So why ride a barge for this expensive endeavor?