Starting from the Tijuana Bull Ring and going primarily on the toll road to Ensenada’s Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, Baja Legends including SCORE CEO/President Sal Fish and racers Malcolm Smith, Parnelli Jones and Walker Evans will drive classic resorted vehicles.

Organized by Marty Fiolka, editor of Dirt Sports Magazine, the event will be part of the pre-race festivities for the 40th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race, the granddaddy of all desert races.

Remembering the exploits of the 68 adventurers who were part of the start of this spectacular desert race, festivities will start Sunday morning at 9 a.m. with a display of vehicles and meet the racers party at the “Conquistador” Statue at the Bull Ring.

Vehicles will begin their trek of some 65 miles at 11 a.m., expecting to finish in the lot originally used for pre-race festivities at approximately 1 p.m. for another autograph party until 2:30 p.m.

The actual 2007 race itself starts Tuesday morning in Ensenada and this year’s historic 40th anniversary odyssey of the world’s longest non-stop and most famous desert race will be a grueling and memorable 1,296-39 mile adventure down Mexico’s mysterious Baja California peninsula starting in Ensenada, Baja California and finishing in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Sur.

Reflecting how much the race has grown since it started in 1967 the season-finale of the six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series will feature nearly 450 entries from 43 U.S. States and 16 countries. From weekend warriors to Hollywood actors and producers, the famous and not-so-famous will compete in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.

“This will be a very special trip down memory lane and SCORE sincerely thanks Marty for putting it together and the participants for being with us on this historic occasion,” said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO and President since soon after the Los Angeles-based SCORE International was founded in 1973. “These vehicles represent some of the pioneers of our sport and the drivers are a very special part of the history of Baja racing.”

This year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour NBC Sports special for the fourth consecutive year, airing on Dec. 30 on the NBC Television Network. It will also air on a delayed basis outside of the U.S. on ESPN International.

40TH YEARS TO GLORY PARADE OF CHAMPIONS

Nov. 11, 2007—Tijuana Bull Ring to Ensenada Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center

PARTICIPANTS (as of 11.08.07):

VW Thing Pace Car, Sal Fish

Completely rebuilt for SCORE’s Sal Fish especially for this event by television producer Bud Brutsman. Presented to Sal Fish as special gift at September’s 40 Years to Glory gala.

“Old Red” Meyers Manx, Bruce/Winnie Meyers

Now considered one of the most significant vehicles in automotive history, “Old Red” represents the original fiberglass dune buggy. Invented in a Newport Beach, Calif. garage by Bruce Meyers, this authentic icon of off-road racing’s past not only set Baja first four-wheel record, but also sparked the highly memorable dune buggy craze of the late 1960s.

#10 Meyers Manx replica, Richard Brown

In late 1967, Vic Wilson and Ted Mangels captured the overall victory at the inaugural Mexican 1000 driving a highly modified Meyers Manx. While the current location of that historic VW-powered vehicle remains a mystery, in 2007 Richard Brown, of Slidell, Louisiana completed this highly authentic replica of the #10 Meyers Manx that Wilson and Mangels used to earn their place in the Baja 1000 record books.

Husqvarna 360, Malcolm Smith

One of the greatest two-wheel icons in history, Malcolm Smith, teamed with J.N. Roberts, won the first motorcycle class in Baja racing a Husqvarna 360 similar to this one. The year was 1967. Now, 40 Years later, Smith and his trusty Husqvarna will take on Baja one more time.

VW-Funco Wampuskitty, Loren Pearson / Scott Pearson

Representing one of the first tube-frame off-road race cars ever produced, the Funco Wampuskitty was invented by Baja pioneer Gil George. While its revolutionary “A-arm” front suspension was nearly three decades ahead of its time, these forwarding thinking cars set the groundwork for many generations winning dune buggies carrying the Funco name. This chassis, restored by Lorenzo Pearson, holds the distinction of being the first Wampuskitty Funco ever produced.

Vic Hickey Baja Boot, Bob Law

Completed just in time for the inaugural 1967 Mexican 1000, Vic Hickey’s legendary Baja Boots were off-road machines that incorporated design and technology only now being seen in today’s state-of-the-art Class 1 vehicles. Built in less than a month by Hickey at GM’s skunkworks in Detroit, two of these unique cars were built by Hickey only to be sold to Hollywood icon Steve McQueen. This example, restored by former Hickey employee Bob Law, was completed in 2000.

VW-Burro, Steve Heckart

One of the most famous of the early dune buggies was the Burro, invented by Hilder “Tiny” Thompson.” This #8 VW-powered Burro was driven by Les Choat and Thompson and co-driver Don Richardson in the 1968 Mexican 1000. Steve Heckart from Northern California restored with Burro with loving care.

Vic Hickey Chevy Race Truck, Robert Johnson

Vic Hickey Chevy Blazer, George Seeley

These two unusual vehicles are original, unrestored Baja race vehicles built by the legendary Vic Hickey. Carrying Hickey orange, the pantina of time has aged these two Baja warriors to perfection. Robert Johnson, from Tacoma, Wash., is a relatively new off-road enthusiast and George Seeley is a veteran Class 5 race driver.

Miller-Havens VW single-seater, Drino Miller

In the early 1970s, no other VW-powered car was more famous than this Drino Miller-created single-seater. Powered by a snarling 2,180cc VW powerplant built by the innovative Miller himself, this iconic jewel of off-road racing history claimed the 1970 Mexican 1000 co-driven by Miller and Vic Wilson. This car was restored by owner Loren Pearson in 2000.

Ford “Big Oly” Bronco, Parnelli Jones

Considered by most to be the greatest off-road racing vehicle in history, the Big Oly Bronco won the 1971 and 1972 Mexican 1000 overall. Built by Dick Russell, designed by Indy 500 winner Jones and maintained by the legendary Bill Stroppe, “Oly’s” rich golden color, blazing speed and signature aluminum wing set the standard for entire generations of off-road enthusiasts.

Chevrolet Class 8, Walker Evans

What Baja Parade of Champions would be complete without “The Legend,” Walker Evans? For the 40th Anniversary, Evans will be reacquainted with his yellow Chevy Class 8 pick-up truck. Built for Evans by life-long friend Parnelli Jones, this vintage masterpiece was not only a winner in the early to mid-1970s, but has been displayed at Reno’s Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Bilstein VW Baja Bug, Doug Robertson

The most famous VW Baja Bug of all time, this recently museum-quality restored racer set new levels of performance in the late 1970s. Co-driven by Doug and Don Robertson, this ultra-cool Bilstein Baja Bug won more than 30 races and the 1977 overall SCORE points championship. Rescued form a San Diego junkyard, this historic VW was revived in 2001 by off-road racing enthusiast Loren Pearson.

Mickey Thompson Single Seater, Todd Clement /Marty Fiolka

Recently purchased by Baja Protruck driver Rick Johnson, this unique single-seater was originally designed as a sister car to a Mickey Thompson pre-runner. Laid out much like a sprint car, this highly unique and very original car features a movable aluminum roof wing (like Parnelli Jones’ Big Oly Bronco) and a high-horsepower V-8.

Compiled by Marty Fiolka-Editor, Dirt Sports Magazine