2014 NORRA 1000 Rally With Manx Club BAJA Tour

DIESELDOOG · Post by **DIESELDOOG** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 1:14 am

UPDATE! Winnie, Bruce, Marty Fiolka and I recently met at Meyers Manx HQ to talk about what we could do to make this event special in light of the 50th Anniversary. If you've ever met Marty, you'll know what a great promoter he is, and this time was no exception. Couple that with the Winnie and Bruce's knowledge of Baja and their own ideas on how this trip should unfold, and it quickly becomes impossible to contain the enthusiasm! The trip is now from Tecate to Cabo San Lucas and back. What follows comes from Winnie's notes of that meeting, with a few of my comments added in blue. Let's go over the details . . . . - Thursday, May 8th, 2014 - Those club members wishing to spend the night before heading over the border on Friday morning will meet for a group dinner in Old Town. The locations have not been finalized yet, but it will be similar to the evening we spent before heading on the Sea-to-Sea Safari. Everyone must be ready to go first thing Friday morning, with Mexico car insurance (it's the law) and tourist visa in hand.
- Friday, May 9th, 2014 - Everyone will gather for Phase 1 of the run - A drive from San Diego to Horsepower Ranch just outside of Ensenada. To help reassure those who are hesitant to drive into Mexico (and you shouldn't be, the Baja Pennisula is safer than the City of San Diego when you compare crime statistics. I've driven to Baja every year on vacations and never had a problem), there will be an escort with all buggies traveling tightly together as a group, possibly a police escort depending on the number of buggies we end up with. We will enter at the Tecate border crossing, stopping for lunch at one of the fine Winery's along the way. Once at Horsepower Ranch, a place where for a package deal, you will have a room (or you can camp) breakfast and dinner for a set price per night. We will have a big celebration party the first night and possibly see a screening of the new movie coming out next year, Marty Fiolka's "The Baja Social Club". Hopefully Bruce's life story will have its first edition printed and so a book signing as well.

- Saturday, May 10, 2014 -
We will be going down into Ensenada for Contingency of the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. Bruce (and possibly others) will be entering this race as the driver of record and racing the Manxter 1967 car (Thank you Bob Kornoff who now owns this car and has agreed to enter it in the NORRA on Bruce's behalf!). Bruce never has finished a race, only the record run, and so Marty feels that this is unfinished business. After Contingency (that's where Bruce's "people" push him through rows and rows of spectators and sponsors for inspection of the car at the end) we gather back at the Ranch for a drive in the country to a cheese farm. Marty tells me that it is a beautiful spot where friends of his just got married. Here we will have wine & cheese. We'll return to the ranch for dinner.

- Sunday, May 11, 2014 -
We'll go to the start line to watch the start of the rally. After the rally start, the people who want to make this like our regular three-day club events and return to the US will be escorted to the border. Those who want to continue will travel on the pavement south, following the race to this schedule:

- May 11 - First night - Bay of Los Angeles
- May 12 - Second night - Loreto
- May 13 - Third night - La Paz
- May 14 - Fourth night - Cabo San Lucas and the end of the rally

Once in Cabo, one has the opportunity to use a transport truck for their car and fly home or can drive back at whatever pace they desire. (I would be happy to lead those wishing to drive home. I plan on driving straight back crossing into San Diego on Saturday, May 18th, or sooner. Additionally, Gene Condon has years of experience driving this, and other routes through Baja, with his most recent trip just two months ago. He has local knowledge of areas to stay, gas stops, etc. and has also offered to help shepherd us through. Maybe we'd have two groups with different schedules for those that wish to take a more leisurely drive home.)

OK! That's it for now. More details will be posted here as they become available. Are we going to have a blast, or what?!?!?!?

Scott Drolet
MC President
MC 47, DSB, RBC, Long Haul League, '67 Manx, '73 Manxter, '64 SS Burro, '64 Corvair Burro, '65 Corvair Burro
www,manxclub.com
http://www.BurroBuggies.com

1856 · Post by **1856** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 7:38 pm

This will be the ADVENTURE of all adventures. Its inked on our calendar & Looking forward to it. We also looking forward to more details ie: will the buggies need to be NORRA compliant, what are the costs ...
Mark n Carol

enesset · Post by **enesset** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 8:50 pm

Shipping
Apparently some of the NORRA guys have historically used this trucking service to bring rigs back from Cabo.

http://billhayintl.com/shipper.html

I have no affiliation with them, and know nothing about them so as they say.... "caveat emptor"....just thought i'd share it here.

I had sent a PM about shipping and never heard back.

enesset · Post by **enesset** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:50 pm

The last 2 years I've participated in the NORRA event with friends that are Early Bronco owners....2012 I navigated....2013 I crewed.

I had previously posted this question on Samba trying to find my grandpa's '69 Manx.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6023106#6023106

I found out it was actually exported to France.

I am planning on crewing again this year, however I have been consistently keeping my eyes open for another Yuma Yellow Manx with preferably a '69 build (to get a project as close to my Grandpa's original one).

If anyone on the ManxClub has a lead on a reasonably priced project that I could use for this years NORRA and "chase/crew" with it, I'd be very interested in hearing from you.

I live in NorCal, in the greater San Francisco Bay Area but have been looking all over the western US.

Thanks in advance and it would be cool to see a huge group of owners out for the event....the last 2 years we've had a glitter bug entered in the Rally and two years ago I saw Bruce when he brought his buggies out for the movie filming.

Thanks in advance. -- Eric
enesset@yahoo.com
C: 415-322-0556

enesset · Post by **enesset** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:49 pm

I'm going on this run. I would like to know who is ABSOLUTLY going. My grandson and I will be driving one leg of the race in the Manxter. I need someone to drive my buggy to drop us off at our start leg and pick us up at the end of it. At this point I don't know where that will be. Any volunteer's ?

Bob

manxvair · Post by **manxvair** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:05 pm

Bob, Lori Ann and are definitely going in the Manx-vair, Either one of us can assist with shuttling of your buggy.

GotManx · Post by **GotManx** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:36 pm

I'll be in my Manxter entered in the NORRA event. I'll have a small crew, but we could always tow bar Bob's buggy behind the chase truck if needed.

towd-dude · Post by **towd-dude** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:37 pm

Mike or Jon thanks for the offer I'll take one of you up on it. Jon after my stint in the Manxter I can help you with your crew if needed.

What another great adventure......

Bob

Scott-Drolet · Post by **Scott-Drolet** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 2:23 am

I'm positively going . . .Taking the renewed '67 Blue Manx. It's almost done . . . I swear to Buddha!

Before:

After:

towd-dude · Post by **towd-dude** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:25 pm

How sweet it is.......!

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 1:23 pm

Scott,
Your Manx is looking great. I was able to see it last week when I stopped by Dave's place on my way south.
Lot of need ideas put into the build.
One buggy with a new 5speed and one buggy with a Ecotech, which one will I choose to drive today?

Scott-Drolet · Post by **Scott-Drolet** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:14 am

Thanks Joseph! It looks like its been well worth the wait. He sent me a video of him driving it for the first time yesterday (now up on facebook under David Barrett). The thing is blindingly fast. It'll be going on the Baja trek.

Baja Juan · Post by **Baja Juan** » Wed Apr 02, 2014 2:14 pm

Sorry if this is not the correct area of forum, I'm a New Member to the Club and I'm form Ensenada Mexico. Since I notice that some of you are coming down for the Norra Race it would be nice if I can meet some of you down here.

My wife and I are planing to go to the Big Bear Run.

Please let me know if there is anything I can help with for your stay in Ensenada or Baja.

Here are my 2 buggies

Scott-Drolet · Post by **Scott-Drolet** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 11:58 pm

All Right! Baja Bound! An e-blast is coming out tomorrow to all club members with the details of the May 9th Manx Club Run to Horsepower Ranch and then either back to San Diego on Sunday the 11th, or continuing on to Cabo San Lucas and returning on Sunday, May 18th (your choice) in concert with the NORRA race. Unfortunately, this is a gotta-act-fast proposition. So dig out your spontaneity, and your VISA, and let's go buggy people!!!!! "I don't usually encourage impetuous acts, but when I do, it's with the Manx Club"

Scott-Drolet · Post by **Scott-Drolet** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 1:13 am

Ok, I have a hotel selected and the price negotiated for an initial block of 15 rooms at $80- for those wishing to stay Thursday, May 8th, that's vey close to the take off point. We'll be starting the run from Ocean Beach Park again (the same starting point as the Sea-to-Sea Safari), and the hotel I'm working with is within a couple miles from there on the same side of the I-5 freeway (the Comfort Inn we used at the C2C start is not available, but this hotel is essentially the same). It may take up to 24 hours to get the rate and room block set, but the minute its available, I'll post the info here, on the Manx Club Site, and via email blast to club members. Start packing Señors and Señoritas!

Manx Club