According to longtime San Clemente resident Dave “Big Daddy” Wert, the town belongs either to surfers or off-roaders.
The owner of Dave Wert Automotive contends there are more off-roaders who surf than surfers who off-road. Either way, Wert, with teammates Jim Vick, Terry Profit and Ken Tew of Highlander Racing, are racing for the fifth time in this week’s 43rd annual Tecate Score Baja 1000 Peninsula Run (Ensenada to La Paz). The off-road motor race begins Thursday and ends Saturday. About 250,000 spectators are expected along the 1,061-mile route.
The Highlander Racing team is in the “Score Lites” class with its custom two-seat race buggy. The team is sponsored locally by South Coast Distributing and Rainbow Sandals in San Clemente and Shooters Saloon in Mission Viejo.
“It’s a lot of work to get ready every year, but I look forward to it. We always have a good time,” Wert said.
The first official Baja 1000 was in 1967. Legend has it that the race originated from an informal bet between friends to race between the post office in Tijuana to the post office in La Paz and has grown to this year’s running with 300 entries from 37 states and 19 countries, including Denmark and South Africa.
The race’s official name and organizers have changed through the years, and this year it has 34 Pro and seven Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. The basic rules are to complete the entire race in 45 hours or less using the same vehicle and the original team members in relay, without going off course. Teams can repair or replace any part along the way except the main engine block.
Rick Caderette and Roxane Lucido, owners of SC Rider Supply, a motorcycle supply, service and repair shop in San Clemente, started their business five years ago and have seen its customer database grow to 8,000, with 1,000 regulars.
“Off-roading gets people out of their everyday environment. ... It’s a family event with the load up, campfire and barbecues, and most of it isn’t even the riding,” Lucido said. “It’s not uncommon to have camps of 60 people all together having a good time.”
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