CBS News was following us…

[rivrrts429]

… while our team raced, and eventually won our class, in the Baja 1000. How lucky of them to pick the class winner to film before the race?

I didn’t tell anyone in my circle of family & friends as I wasn’t sure if the segment would ever make it to television or if it would be accurate at all with todays media.

The journalist and camera crew were very cool and being a national news crew, not local media, I was impressed with them.

I didn’t want to be on camera or interviewed but was okay with the picture of us all at the finish line (I’m on the far right). The night shots of the car racing is my driver and I in the car. Larry Janesky is team owner and Baja legend Chris Haines was the team manager.

The episode aired yesterday morning and my phone blew up shortly afterwards with friends and family dumbfounded

CBS also posted us to their Instagram pages along with the journalist.

Was a pretty cool experience to see how it all works for a segment like this and then to see what landed on the editing floor versus what made it to television. Our team team meetings and strategy brainstorming sessions were all scrapped.

Keep in mind that the segment has to appeal to all kinds of demographics so it’s a little cheesy in parts but overall I think it was fairly well done.

Curious what you all think!

Drivers from across the globe give desert racing a try in the Baja 1000

The Baja 1000 is the oldest and most prestigious desert race in the world — and maybe the most dangerous. Teams and drivers try to prove their speed and resilience on the Baja Peninsula. CBS News' Jeff Glor has more, including his own taste of the trek.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[old rigger]

I liked it!
Never been down there for the race but have friends that race Class 1 and have for 40 some years. I'd help pit for them back in the late 70s early 80s when they'd race Parker.

 

[baja-chris]

I thought it was very well done and well above the low bar set by some of the coverage over the last couple decades.
Portrayed the sport in a positive light and captured the essence of the race.

 

[Joker]

I always wanted to say I knew someone famous. Thanks Rich

 

[rivrrts429]

I always wanted to say I knew someone famous. Thanks Rich

I tell people you’re the most famous person I know John

 

[Flatsix66]

I watched this yesterday, thought it was pretty cool. In the studio I noticed the chick on the right has some big cans.

 

[Flatsix66]

 

[rivrrts429]

I appreciate you sharing the YouTube link. The CBS link is clunky, thanks!

 

[DLC]

That was Really Cool!

How did it play out ? Did they approach you and say How about a story?

Congratulations on the win!

have you played with your average Speed ?
Moving time
Stopped time
average MPH



I just did some quick math.
1301 miles in 36 hrs is 36.14 MPH

 

[FreeBird236]

Thanks for sharing and congrats again.

Maybe the ladies, but it's hard to believe the guy had never heard of the Baja 1000.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Congratulations.

You guys have worked a lot of years for that win.
The CBS deal will be something your family can look back on for many years.
I was impressed with the story, the guy who came out there and put it together did so in a respectful way, and when his counterpart asked him if he would be returning it looked like he would like to. You might have set the hook in another victim of off road racing, LOL.

 

[rivrrts429]

That was Really Cool!

How did it play out ? Did they approach you and say How about a story?

Congratulations on the win!

have you played with your average Speed ?
Moving time
Stopped time
average MPH



I just did some quick math.
1301 miles in 36 hrs is 36.14 MPH

Thanks bud. Yes they approached the team owner as well as other teams but apparently our team owner was the most open to them participating.

We had two significant mechanical failures that weren’t difficult to repair but time consuming. Then fuel stops and driver/co-driver stops. We also had three flat tires. We probably lost a few hours but yes I immediately calculated our overall averages sitting at the bar slugging beers celebrating our class win.

As a navigator in the car I’ve got some pretty in depth excel spreadsheets I add all the metrics to help be better every race. So much goes into a race long before the car leaves the start line. My spreadsheets will die with me. They’re like your Mom’s secret recipes that your wife has been trying to get for years

 

[rivrrts429]

Congratulations.

You guys have worked a lot of years for that win.
The CBS deal will be something your family can look back on for many years.
I was impressed with the story, the guy who came out there and put it together did so in a respectful way, and when his counterpart asked him if he would be returning it looked like he would like to. You might have set the hook in another victim of off road racing, LOL.

He’s a really nice guy. I didn’t interact with him much but the little I did he was genuinely respectful and excited. It’s hard not to be. It’s a spectacle and the locals are insanely pumped for this race. It’s pretty much a holiday weekend for them so it’s hard for someone seeing it for their first time not to be excited and in awe.

I expect he’ll be back…

 

[rivrrts429]

Thanks for sharing and congrats again.

Maybe the ladies, but it's hard to believe the guy had never heard of the Baja 1000.

He had heard but didn’t realize the sheer size and max effort that goes into the whole thing. It’s a wild experience that I remind myself every time to be in the moment and don’t let it ever get old. It never disappoints.

 

[DILLIGAF]

… while our team raced, and eventually won our class, in the Baja 1000. How lucky of them to pick the class winner to film before the race?

I didn’t tell anyone in my circle of family & friends as I wasn’t sure if the segment would ever make it to television or if it would be accurate at all with todays media.

The journalist and camera crew were very cool and being a national news crew, not local media, I was impressed with them.

I didn’t want to be on camera or interviewed but was okay with the picture of us all at the finish line (I’m on the far right). The night shots of the car racing is my driver and I in the car. Larry Janesky is team owner and Baja legend Chris Haines was the team manager.

The episode aired yesterday morning and my phone blew up shortly afterwards with friends and family dumbfounded

CBS also posted us to their Instagram pages along with the journalist.

Was a pretty cool experience to see how it all works for a segment like this and then to see what landed on the editing floor versus what made it to television. Our team team meetings and strategy brainstorming sessions were all scrapped.

Keep in mind that the segment has to appeal to all kinds of demographics so it’s a little cheesy in parts but overall I think it was fairly well done.

Curious what you all think!

Drivers from across the globe give desert racing a try in the Baja 1000

The Baja 1000 is the oldest and most prestigious desert race in the world — and maybe the most dangerous. Teams and drivers try to prove their speed and resilience on the Baja Peninsula. CBS News' Jeff Glor has more, including his own taste of the trek.

www.cbsnews.com

Congrats on that. They picked the right crew at the right time.

 

[havasujeeper]

Very impressive. Having pitted for that race before, I bow to you racers. Oh, to be young again!

 

[DILLIGAF]

… while our team raced, and eventually won our class, in the Baja 1000. How lucky of them to pick the class winner to film before the race?

I didn’t tell anyone in my circle of family & friends as I wasn’t sure if the segment would ever make it to television or if it would be accurate at all with todays media.

The journalist and camera crew were very cool and being a national news crew, not local media, I was impressed with them.

I didn’t want to be on camera or interviewed but was okay with the picture of us all at the finish line (I’m on the far right). The night shots of the car racing is my driver and I in the car. Larry Janesky is team owner and Baja legend Chris Haines was the team manager.

The episode aired yesterday morning and my phone blew up shortly afterwards with friends and family dumbfounded

CBS also posted us to their Instagram pages along with the journalist.

Was a pretty cool experience to see how it all works for a segment like this and then to see what landed on the editing floor versus what made it to television. Our team team meetings and strategy brainstorming sessions were all scrapped.

Keep in mind that the segment has to appeal to all kinds of demographics so it’s a little cheesy in parts but overall I think it was fairly well done.

Curious what you all think!

Drivers from across the globe give desert racing a try in the Baja 1000

The Baja 1000 is the oldest and most prestigious desert race in the world — and maybe the most dangerous. Teams and drivers try to prove their speed and resilience on the Baja Peninsula. CBS News' Jeff Glor has more, including his own taste of the trek.

www.cbsnews.com

Cool video. I thought it was very well done

 

[NIKAL]

I wish they would have mentioned Larry’s previous attempts on a bike in the Iron Man class and mentioned his Into the Dust movies on YouTube.

If anyone has not seen “Into the Dust” 1 & 2. It’s very much worth watching. IMO its as good as Dust to Glory.

 

[rivrrts429]

I wish they would have mentioned Larry’s previous attempts on a bike in the Iron Man class and mentioned his Into the Dust movies on YouTube.

If anyone has not seen “Into the Dust” 1 & 2. It’s very much worth watching. IMO its as good as Dust to Glory.

Thanks bud. Javier was the “mechanic” in that movie and is my best friend. We grew together and have ridden and raced together since we were kids. I’m his co-driver and although we have our own race team together Chris Haines asked us to sign-on for this program so we jumped at the opportunity and it ended up being a good decision

 

[stephenkatsea]

They mentioned a Trophy Truck could cost a million dollars. Is that accurate? Enjoyed the vid. Congrats.

 

[Mikes56]

Friggin love Baja!!!! I raced my 2-1600 in the 1000 in 1999 and 2003. Went back with Off The Grid Expeditions in 2018 in my X3 and took my wife.

Yes, it is addicting.

Thanks for bringing back some great memories.

 

[rivrrts429]

They mentioned a Trophy Truck could cost a million dollars. Is that accurate? Enjoyed the vid. Congrats.

It’s pretty close. The glorified Honda golf cart we raced is close to a $200k build. My race RZR was around $150k.

A true rough and rowdy trophy that can compete is probably $700k + to build. That’s before you have chase trucks, pre-runner, etc…

 

[Travmon]

VERY VERY cool ! A memory that will last for ever , digitally !

 

[Havaduner]

I think you made a fan out of that reporter. Any body catch at the end when he said he may go back again?

 

[Sportin' Wood]

… while our team raced, and eventually won our class, in the Baja 1000. How lucky of them to pick the class winner to film before the race?

I didn’t tell anyone in my circle of family & friends as I wasn’t sure if the segment would ever make it to television or if it would be accurate at all with todays media.

The journalist and camera crew were very cool and being a national news crew, not local media, I was impressed with them.

I didn’t want to be on camera or interviewed but was okay with the picture of us all at the finish line (I’m on the far right). The night shots of the car racing is my driver and I in the car. Larry Janesky is team owner and Baja legend Chris Haines was the team manager.

The episode aired yesterday morning and my phone blew up shortly afterwards with friends and family dumbfounded

CBS also posted us to their Instagram pages along with the journalist.

Was a pretty cool experience to see how it all works for a segment like this and then to see what landed on the editing floor versus what made it to television. Our team team meetings and strategy brainstorming sessions were all scrapped.

Keep in mind that the segment has to appeal to all kinds of demographics so it’s a little cheesy in parts but overall I think it was fairly well done.

Curious what you all think!

Drivers from across the globe give desert racing a try in the Baja 1000

The Baja 1000 is the oldest and most prestigious desert race in the world — and maybe the most dangerous. Teams and drivers try to prove their speed and resilience on the Baja Peninsula. CBS News' Jeff Glor has more, including his own taste of the trek.

www.cbsnews.com

Thanks for sharing, that was great.

 

[2Driver]

That was great.

Refreshing to have coverage from a major network and not mention the environment or CO2 footprint.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Thanks for the heads up on the CBS story, that really was cool.

I ran across the "Into the Dust" film/series trying to find "Dust to Glory" on YouTube a couple years ago. Well worth the time to watch.

 

[rivermobster]

What an amazing adventure...

 

[Kachina26]

Pretty awesome, thanks for sharing. All I could think of was the "environmentalist angle" that could have been taken. Wonder if other teams shied away because of that possibility. Turned out great.

 

[rivrrts429]

Pretty awesome, thanks for sharing. All I could think of was the "environmentalist angle" that could have been taken. Wonder if other teams shied away because of that possibility. Turned out great.

Thanks! I’m not sure what the whole story was and didn’t hear which other teams were considered.

I was there to do a job and didn’t really ask to many questions. You’re busier than hell the day of the race and catching 5 minute naps after getting out of the car and hauling ass to the next pit a couple hundred miles away to jump back in the car.

Before you know it it’s over and you go back to your day job lol

 

[baja-chris]

Pretty sure a full boot Mason 4wd is significantly more than $700k now. $1m is probably about right ready to race with basic spares. So I’ve heard.

 

[rivrrts429]

Pretty sure a full boot Mason 4wd is significantly more than $700k now. $1m is probably about right ready to race with basic spares. So I’ve heard.

For sure. I was just speaking to someone wanting to jump into the class and still be competitive but wouldn’t be a max effort Mason deal.

 

[outboard_256]

If you guys invite that reporter back next year I bet he does an even bigger story on you.

 

[OCMerrill]

What an accomplishment Richard. That takes an army of dedication to pull off.

Congrats to You and the crew.

 

[havasu5150]

That was great.

Refreshing to have coverage from a major network and not mention the environment or CO2 footprint.

Agree, A positive story about off road racing is great! Years ago we were approached by a BLM Ranger at Glamis who had a LA Times reporter and cameraman with him. They took pics and talked to a few of us stating they were doing a story about the popularity of Glamis over Tday weekend. (This was on a trip prior to tday). When the article came out it was a 100% hit piece on how off-roading is destructive to the environment and how lawless the off-roaders were. ....complete with a front-page picture of our group that showed the ranger (Niel Hamada) waving as he approached us. the caption of the picture was "Ranger Niel Hamada warns off roaders." Many of our group wrote letters to the editor stating that the caption on the picture was an absolute lie and the premise of the story was false.......oddly enough, none of those letters were ever published.

 

[rivrrts429]

What an accomplishment Richard. That takes an army of dedication to pull off.

Congrats to You and the crew.

Thanks Dave! It’s a wild event that takes months of planning but when all the hard work and preparation pays off with a win it’s like no other feeling. It’s just shy of sex

 

[rivrrts429]

Agree, years ago we were approached by a BLM Ranger at Glamis who had a LA Times reporter and cameraman with him. They took pics and talked to a few of us stating they were doing a story about the popularity of Glamis over Tday weekend. (This was on a trip prior to tday). When the article came out it was a 100% hit piece on how off-roading is destructive to the environment and how lawless the off-roaders were. ....complete with a front-page picture of our group that showed the ranger (Niel Hamada) waving as he approached us. the caption of the picture was "Ranger Niel Hamada warns off roaders." Many of our group wrote letters to the editor stating that the caption on the picture was an absolute lie and the premise of the story was false.......oddly enough, none of those letters were ever published.

That was my biggest hesitation about the story. I was happy it was portrayed in a positive light and that young and old can appreciate whether they’ve heard of the event or not.

 

[jesco]

SO AWESOME!!!! and CONGRATS again on the "W", fricken amazing job.

 

[rivrrts429]

SO AWESOME!!!! and CONGRATS again on the "W", fricken amazing job.

Appreciate it @jesco You understand it just a bit more than others.

 

[RiverDave]

Pretty awesome video I really enjoyed it!!

 

[Romans9]

What the hell? SEE B S did a good job?? Wow.

That is a great segment and even better knowing the RDP’s connection.
Congrats again on the win and congrats for that special, it was shockingly good and a good representation. The SEE (the) B S guy was shocked at how much fun he had.

Hopefully the publicity from that piece remains positive.

Great accomplishments on the win and the special!

 

[aka619er]

I am seeing Larry Janesky all over the place now adays. Had never heard of him before that first Iron Man race he did. Now I have watched countless interviews with him. Very calming demeanor. He could be the next voice for Mike Rowe.

 

[rivrrts429]

I am seeing Larry Janesky all over the place now adays. Had never heard of him before that first Iron Man race he did. Now I have watched countless interviews with him. Very calming demeanor. He could be the next voice for Mike Rowe.

He’s a good person and a competitor at his core.

The team he assembled this year is full of quality people that are critical but don’t always get the notoriety but are so impactful to the result like the chase crews and guys back at the shop spending months on car prep and strategy. Those guys are the real heroes.

He has a great story from nothing to something. My driver and I have our own race program but if he asks us to drive again I’d take the opportunity depending on sponsor commitments and which race. Larry is definitely a true leader and motivated to compete.

 

[SBMech]

So awesome! Congrats rivrrts429!