Off Road Fun

2008 Baja1000 Map was revised

the 2008 baja 1000 gps data was revised so here is an updated map.

2008-baja1000-revised

2008 Baja1000 GPS Data Overlaid on Map

Hello all,

The 2008 Baja 1000 GPS data has been provided on the score website. I have overlaid it onto a google map for easy reference.

baja-2008

Driving Through Mexico Can Cost You…AKA “Toll Booths”

Do your homework. Finding the best roads usually means having to pay tolls…many of them. Just be aware that the booth workers are not always the most honest people and some of them will try to over charge you or short change you so the more you know before you go the better. Charges vary, depending on the route, and how long the stretch of road is to the next major town or turn off. Tolls are best paid with cash, - some booths are starting to accept credit and debit cards, but not all - so make sure you have pesos with you when you travel by car on toll roads to ensure you don’t get caught out. Some will take USD but will be very inconsistent with the exchange rate. Information about toll roads , distance and costs between any two points in the country can be found (in spanish) at Traza Tu Ruta.

Make sure you keep the receipt you get at each toll booth. This is your “insurance certificate”. If you are involved in an accident you will need this receipt or you may be liable to for road repair and maintenance charges.

Routes which have toll roads connecting the destinations, also have a free alternative road. When you’re driving in Mexico, watch the signs and follow the route for the road type you want to use. Here is a list of the key words to look out for:

LIBRE = Free Road. Free roads are less well maintained, single carriageways that will take you longer to travel across. However, to see some of the ‘off the beaten track’ places, you’ll need to avoid Toll Roads, as they often double as “by-passes” (see term below). It’s recommended that you don’t take the free roads after dark.

CUOTA = Toll Road. Follow this sign if you want to take the toll road to the destination you are traveling to. Note that the highway numbers are often the same, so you can be on the right highway number, heading in the right direction, but on a free (slower) road than you’d like to be. For toll roads, follow the signs that read “CUOTA”.

LIBRAMIENTO = Bypass. Sometimes, major free roads that connect big towns and cities will give you an option to take the “Libramiento” route. This is like a toll road (and sometimes it’s part of the toll road) which, for a fee, will enable you to by-pass the smaller town city if you don’t want to go there, saving you time, and perhaps the hassle of getting lost. Libramientos work in the same way as toll roads.

Driving your car into Mexico?

If you plan on taking your car into Mexico you will need to get a permit to temporarily import your vehicle into Mexico. There are several ways to accomplish this. You can do it at the border when crossing, you can go to select Mexican consulates, or you can do it online at the Banjercito web site.

Some of the documentation they require (must bring the original and a set of copies):

• Passport
• Birth Certificate
• certificate of vehicle ownership (if financed, notorized approval to temporarily export the vehicle to Mexico)
• auto insurance for the dates you will be in Mexico
• current vehicle registration
• photo ID
• A credit card (IE Visa,MC) or up to $400 USD cash deposit
• and of course there is a fee $29 to $59 USD (each method has a different price)

After all this is done you will get a permit with a sticker that you attach to your windshield while in Mexico. Before you leave Mexico you are obligated to present your vehicle to the Banjercito office at the border crossing to get your deposit back.

Save Gas

Since I’ve been posting so many videos about driving, I thought I should also post a video about saving at the pump…

How to Drive Off Road - instructional video

This video goes over some of the basics of off road driving. They don’t go into too much detail but you may learn something anyway. it’s about 20 minutes long so enjoy.

2009 Ford F150 Platinum

Here’s a video of the new 2009 Ford F150 Platinum. there is no audio on this clip but it highlights some of the new features. The steps all around are a nice addition. The interior is very nice too.

Music Samples From Amazon

some of my favorite songs available for download from Amazon.com

On Any Sunday

If you’ve been looking for a new DVD to buy, you may want to check out this classic. It’s old but still amazing to see some of the things they could do with the early dirt bikes.

Ford F150 vs Toyota Tundra “tow hooks” comparison

This video compares the different placement of the tow hooks on the Ford F150 versus the Toyota Tundra. Again, this video appears to have been produced by Ford representives.