Why the SCORE Baja 250 Still Sets the Tone
The SCORE Baja 250—officially the King Shocks San Felipe 250—opens every SCORE World Desert Championship season. The 38-year-old 2025 edition ran April 2–6, 2025, and kicked off the points race for every class from Trophy Trucks to Pro Moto GP performanceracing.comscore-international.com. SCORE’s calendar for 2026 will publish this autumn, but insiders expect the first week of April once again, keeping with tradition.
Although the race is nicknamed “Baby Baja,” don’t be fooled: recent courses have stretched from 262.8 mi (2023) to 285.7 mi (2024) of pounding whoops, silt beds, and rock gardens score-international.comscore-international.com. Finishing clean here means early championship points and valuable bragging rights before the longer Baja 500 and Baja 1000 later in the year.
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1 | Paperwork: Start 90 Days Out
- Online Entry & SCORE Membership – Registration usually opens three months before green flag. Create or update your SCORE Portal profile; upload passports, driver licences, and medical forms.
- Class Declaration – Trophy Truck, Class 1, Pro Moto, UTV Pro—each carries unique tech specs. Declare early to avoid last-minute part swaps.
- Mexican TIP & Insurance – Secure the Temporary Import Permit for every race/chase vehicle and buy Mexico-specific race coverage plus med-evac.
- Hard Copies – Triple-print every document. Give one set to your chase chief, stash one in the glove box, and keep one in your tech binder.
2 | Vehicle Build for San Felipe Terrain
Suspension & Chassis
San Felipe is famous for mile-after-mile of deep sand whoops that “just get bigger the farther you go,” as racers routinely report score-international.com. Dual-bypass shocks, fresh nitrogen charges, new limit straps, and oversized bump stops are non-negotiable.
Wheels & Tires
- 35-40″ tires with reinforced sidewalls for TT & Class 1; 33″ for UTV Pro.
- Mandatory bead-locks to survive cactus-lined silt beds.
Cooling & Fuel
- Wide-core radiators with mesh screens cleaned nightly.
- SCORE will check that your FIA FT3/SFI 28.3 fuel cell is < 5 years old—one of the most-failed tech items.
Navigation & Comms
The SCORE GPS logger (Stella/IRC) is now hard-wired; back it up with a shock-mounted tablet running LeadNav or OnX.
3 | Pre-Running: The Smart Team’s Edge
- Official GPX file drops about ten days before race week. Plan two full laps to mark dangers and alternate lines.
- Silt-bed probes: Plant survey flags, log escape routes.
- Drone recon is legal during pre-run, illegal on race day—capture aerial whoop depth for suspension tuning.
4 | Human Performance Plan (12 Weeks)
| Role | Weekly Focus | Key Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | Neck + core endurance | 20 min HIIT ×2, sim-rig stints |
| Co-driver | Reaction + cardio | Trail runs, heat-chamber rows |
| Moto Ironman | Grip + VO₂max | 3 × 200 km desert rides |
| Chase Lead | Sleep discipline | Rotating-shift dry runs |
Add 30-minute sauna sessions three times per week to mimic cab temps > 49 °C.
5 | Chase-Crew Logistics
- Pit Plan – Based on recent clockwise loops, target RM 70 (Zoo Rd), RM 135 (Chanate Wash), and RM 200 (Matomi).
- Radio Repeaters – Place VHF base on the Sierra San Felipe ridge for full-course coverage.
- Border Timing – Pre-dawn convoy through Calexico keeps you ahead of customs queues.
Modular “grab-n-go” totes—Suspension, Driveline, Electrical—let any chase truck handle an unplanned stop.
6 | Meet (and Beat) 2026 SCORE Safety Tech
| Requirement | SCORE Minimum | Competitive Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Helmets | Snell SA2020 | Hydration + comm ports |
| Head/Neck | SFI 38.1 device | Carbon shell for lighter weight |
| Fire Suppression | 10 lb / SFI 17.1 | Dual-nozzle remote trigger |
| Rear Lighting | Amber + blue | LED laser pods cut silt glare |
| Med Kit | SCORE list | Add clotting gauze & SAM splints |
One failed line item = half-day re-tech delay. Arrive over-prepared.
7 | 60-Day Shakedown Calendar
| Date | Task |
|---|---|
| T-60 | Glamis loop: validate gearing & cooling |
| T-30 | 100-mi mock race incl. full pit rotation |
| T-14 | Final bolt-check; paint-pen critical fasteners |
| T-7 | Cross border; two pre-run laps + shock re-valve |
| T-2 | Contingency & media; chase teams rest |
| Race Day | Conservative first 20 mi; then settle into target pace |
8 | Community & Desert Respect
- Pack it out—SCORE fines teams for littered pits or oil spills.
- Hire local talent—Baja welders and medics have priceless intel.
- Donate supplies—Medical kits dropped to San Felipe clinics build long-term goodwill.
9 | Race-Week Quick-Look Checklist
| Day | Must-Do |
|---|---|
| Tues | Cross border, TIP scan, villa check-in |
| Wed | Pre-run #1, drone review |
| Thu | Pre-run #2, shock service, radio program |
| Fri | Contingency parade, driver meet-and-greet |
| Sat | Green flag! Staggered 30-sec starts |
| Sun | Podium, trophy engraving, malecón tacos |
Finish Strong—Then Relax at Vee’s RV Ramada
Once the checkered flag drops and tech inspection is done, you’ll want more than a dusty pit mat to collapse on. Vee’s RV Ramada, our fully serviced RV park, offers 30/50-amp hookups, hot showers, high-speed Wi-Fi, and secure gated parking—ideal for race rigs and chase trucks alike. Book early (spots fill fast during SCORE week) and give your crew a clean place to wrench, rest, and celebrate under the Baja stars.
Reserve your Ramada site now and lock in a hassle-free base camp for Baja 250 2026.