March 2009 I did a solo adventure trip to Baja California, Mexico.. While the trip was full of great weather, adventure and good people, the highlight for sure was the half day I spent at the Open Wide Baja 1000 training track. As much as I do enjoy the basic outdoors for its beauty, I am an adrenaline junky and couldn't resist the opportunity to experience the rush of a $100,000 Baja1000 dune buggy..
About 1 hour north of Cabo San Lucas is a 2.2 mile track with 10ft high sand berms, dust filled straights, and jumps that launch you through the air at over 60mph, all in a full-on off road Baja 1000 buggy. And you're driving it.. Originally though, I thought I would just be a passenger, because of my paralysis and my crazy feet.. But the instructors were keen on seeing if I could work the clutch, brake and throttle despite my limited control.. Which for those that don't know, I have no feeling or movement in my lower legs.
The instruction from them was simple and straight forward indeed, just fumble your way to third gear and let it rip from there. Ninety percent of the course is raced in third anyway.. Obviously, they weren't quiet aware of my need for speed when given the right opportunity and the mess I could make with my feet if they were to miss or get stuck in the pedals.. ..Never the less, a sly smile went across my face, and I said "okay I'm in, lets do it". Heck I am wearing a helmet and the Buggies have good roll bars on them. . So the ole travel adage and my personal motto when traveling "Where ever you go, there you are"..kicked in, after all I was in Baja Mexico.
After a few nervous moments thinking about the last time I injured myself, I geared up, got in the drivers seat, strapped in the four point harness, waited for the green flag, and pinned it. Awkwardly fumbling my way to 3rd gear I got the machine up to 60mph and ripped the course from there, bouncing around, burning through turns and major air time across the jumps, with my feet flying off the pedals missing the brake every once and awhile making it that much more interesting!. . Seven laps of adrenaline, each lap gaining confidence as I dreamed of what it would be like to really be in the Baja 1000 race.. Of course I'm a long way from that possibility but I did do pretty good for a guy who had to reach down with one hand to hold his foot on the throttle, the other hand on the stearing wheel hanging on for dear life, while blasting through the sand berms sideways,..Sand & dust flying every where.. Truly awesome .
Where ever you go, there you are. Holds true to yet another Baja trip..
Thank you Wide Open for letting an adrenaline junky, who can´t control his feet, jump into a full on off road buggy and rip it!!!!. Looking forward to coming back for the 7 day Tijuana to Cabo drive..
