OFF ROAD: Campbell and Honda plan on Baja 2000 victory
10 November 2000
Four in a row. That's what Team Honda$B!G(Bs three-time Baja 1000 champion Johnny Campbell would like to be able to shout come Monday, November 13th in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Why the thirteenth? Because that is the day that Campbell plans to be the first motorcycle -- or truck -- to cross the finish line of the famous Tecate SCORE Baja 2000. The Baja 1000 is the most grueling, continuous off-road race in the world. That fact that did not stop the promoters group SCORE from nearly doubling the distance this year to commemorate the turning of the century. For the riders, 2000 miles makes the race all the more dangerous -- and even more thrilling. The race will begin in Ensenada, Mexico, a few hours south of Tijuana. The riders will depart around 7:00 a.m. Sunday, November 12th and embark on a journey that will last roughly 36 hours, covering just over 1748 miles at an average speed of almost 50mph. If all goes well, the first rider will cross the finish line around 4:00pm Monday afternoon. With the increase of mileage, Campbell will be allowed to have a five-member team. Each rider will be responsible for a section of the course. For example, Tim Staab is a 22-year-old southern Californian and an excellent night rider and may be charged with carrying the race into the late evening and early morning hours. A chase vehicle and a support helicopter will be accompanying the lead Honda motorcycle for rider changes and to supply replacement parts. Campbell has had many off-road mentors growing up, but the one that stands out is American Honda$B!G(Bs own Bruce Ogilvie. Ogilvie, who has five Baja 500 wins and two Baja 1000 wins to his credit, is now the coordinator for the Team Honda off-road racing program. "Bruce has been a father figure to me more than a team advisor," says the 29-year-old Campbell. What will the father figure be doing in this year$B!G(Bs Baja 2000 race? Racing, of course! Ogilvie has built a six-man "B-Team" to contest this year$B!G(Bs event. "The group is basically six guys who have won Baja on Hondas in the past, and who are all over forty years of age", says Ogilvie. When asked if he thinks that his team can win, he deadpans "I taught Johnny a lot, but not everything!" On Monday, November 13 on the tip of Mexico's Baja peninsula, a Honda will once again champion the world's most grueling off road race.