MEXICAN 1000

Mexican 1000

Nevin Pontious talks us through his experience of following one of Mexico’s most gruelling rallies.

The art is in the balance, the magic held by juxtaposition. Preservation vs Speed. Smooth is fast. Go too hard and you risk breaking down in the middle of the desert, miles from help. The landscape is beautiful and serene, inviting you to come explore its natural splendor, but get off course and get poked. Everything in the Baja desert is so darn pokey.

The home of vintage liveries and legendary pioneers of off-road racing, the Norra Racing Mexican 1000 is an endurance race - a staged rally, 1200+ miles over 6 days. The ultimate goal is to make it across that finish line, whatever the cost.

Amongst the competitors in the dust and rocks of Baja, the silhouette of a 911 flies by. Serifcan Ozcan is at the wheel, a car born from the efforts of Russell Built and Rothsport Inc.

Hurling down a sandy wash full tilt in a flow state. Time stops. Reality warps. The mind so focused that it shuts off, the body instinctively reacting to the course and the car, one step ahead of consciousness. “Left Over Crest” the navigator shouts in your ear through the comms; trust the route book and keep it pinned. It’s in this moment of euphoria that where the Baja wakes you up.

The ultimate goal is to make it across that finish line, whatever the cost.

Baja happens - this place is wild, unpredictable, beautiful; a final frontier where the most comforting amenity is knowing your teammates have your back as you stay on top of your own wits while running on 3 hours of sleep for the fifth night in a row. If it wasn’t just a little bit dangerous, would it even matter at all?

We come home with a little bit more love for Baja. A deeper respect for each other and the people of Mexico. And we feel alive.