BF Goodrich Tires Rule the Lawless Baja 1000 Race

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BF Goodrich Tires Rule the Lawless Baja 1000 Race

Kurt Caselli tragically lost his life in last year's race. He was 30 years old and engaged to be married. Photo courtesy of ABC News.

Originating in the 60s, the Baja 1000 quickly emerged as one of the premier desert racing events in the world. Much of this can be contributed to the excitement and unparalleled danger of the course. All of the Baja races are run through treacherous and unpredictable terrain, which believe it or not, is often booby-trapped. In fact, the course is so unsafe that driver Kurt Caselli lost his life in a one man accident during last year’s race.

Early on, the press was convinced that Caselli’s accident was the cause of one of the infamous booby traps. In a report from Mark Vaughn just hours after the accident, he says, “Early reports had blamed the crash on loose sand, running at night or on a booby trap set by spectators (such traps have been a part of off-road racing in Mexico for generations, set by locals in remote areas for their own entertainment).”

However, the rumors were put to an end when KTM (Caselli’s official racing team) released a report that said, “[The team] discovered traces on the machine that indicate he had collided with some small animal, which apparently caused the crash.” Undoubtedly, the tragedy was soul shaking, but it wasn’t uncommon for the course. Each year, there are a number of accidents that often lead to fatalities and severe injuries. But over the years, the course’s danger and wild, wild west atmosphere has not been limited to just the drivers on the course.

Baja 1000 - A Lawless Atmosphere

Reporter Evan Andrews says, “The Baja 1000 race has had its share of spectacular wrecks, but these days the most dangerous aspect of the race might just be the high level of crime that happens in and around the course.”

One of the strangest examples of the race’s lawlessness occurred in 2007. During that race, a helicopter crashed near the circuit, killing several people. That is not the strangest part of the story, though. It turns out that one of the victims involved in the crash was a member of the Mexican drug cartel, and later that night, his body was stolen from the local morgue by a group of unknown gunmen. Needless to say, insanity like this only adds more pressure to the race.

Counting on BF Goodrich Tires

As the Baja 1000 continues and becomes more popular than ever, only the gutsiest drivers will even attempt to race the course. And these guys will only do this if they can count on the toughest products and tires to help them survive the course. Throughout the years, the strongest and most reliable tire at the Baja 1000 has always been BF Goodrich. BF Goodrich has helped to deliver a number of winners, as well as countless top ten finishers. Last year was no different. BF Goodrich captured four of the top five overall positions, including defending its title in the Baja Challenge Class (which they won by a margin of more than 4 hours!).

Last year’s race was unbelievable and showcased what BF Goodrich is capable of when faced with extreme and dangerous conditions. Team member Ryan Arciero put it best when he said, ”Coming from 21st, Tony did a great job when he handed me the truck. I think we were eighth when I got in and we were just picking them off. The truck ran great. We ran a new BF Goodrich tire and I couldn’t be any more excited about this tire and the future with BFG and what we are doing moving forward.” 4WheelOnline offers a full selection of BF Goodrich Tires.

By: Tim Snyder

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