RTG AlMex Daily Dispatch - FINAL - Flipbook - Page 47
day 27: San Felipe to Guerrero Negro, 23 September 2023
photos: Marcus rowe - gerardbrown.co.uk
Manuel and Irene Dubs, 1940 Ford Coupe
The Baja 1000 Trail was the first regularity of the day. It
led the cars through a cactus field with a couple of square
turns. There was plenty of sand and several misleading
tracks to snare the unwary navigator. The Time Control at
the Cowpatty Cafe - a Mexican roadside institution - was a
little slice of hippy heaven. The objets trouvés dotted around
the car park gave the crews plenty to discuss and pose with
for those all-important selfies. A quick Test followed at San
Juan del Mar, under the gaze of a flock of frigatebirds. The
cars hurled themselves down an unmade road, metres from
the beach, before crossing an arroyo and sliding into the
timing point and clocks of Gill and John Cotton.
Then it was back to the highway for an easy but impressive
run towards the second regularity - the High Tide - which
proved to be the highlight of the day. whilst some crews did
need a helping hand to get out of the sandier sections, many
more put on a bravura performance balancing traction,
momentum, and direction to the delight of their fellow
competitors who’d hung around to watch. dressed in their
finest beach attire, fred Gallagher and Sarah ormerod were
on duty at the end of this section marked by an old boat. A
selection of inflatable toys were on hand for anyone who
fancied a quick dip prior to lunch.
Michael Kershaw and Christopher Mallett deserve a special
mention here, for going to the aid of Michael and Anne
wilkinson who’d got their Holden bogged down on a very
sandy corner. The big range rover pulled so hard that it lost
much of its coolant so, before it could journey onward, they
paid a quick visit to Jamie Turner and russ Smith’s sweep
wagon for a refill and check over.
The day finished with the traditional Gin and Tonic on
the Bonnet party although, in a nod to our hosts, tonight
it morphed into Tequila on the Tailgate, where the tales of
another memorable day were swapped before dinner in the
Hotel Terra Sal.
Michael Kershaw’s Range Rover helps out the Wilkinson’s Holden
Danny Day and Matt Bryson, 1975 Pontiac Trans Am
David and Jo Roberts, 1929 Chrysler 75 Roadster
www.rallytheglobe.com