INFORMATION #1 – PUNTA BANDA “125” AND “GP” - Updated April 1, 2015

RACE HEADQUARTERS HOTEL: San Nicolas Hotel – 858-427-0634

ENTRY: Entries Open April 2, 2015 -

MEMBERSHIP: All UTV participants, racers, drivers, navigators must be FUTVI members. FUTVI Membership is $25.00 per year for all UTV Classes. UTV racers from Mexico who will only be attending the two events in Ensenada, the membership fee is $10.00. Otherwise pay the same $25.00.

Motorcycle & ATVs do not need a FUTVI membership.

Entry Fees:

• UTV= $180.00 Sportsman Classes - $380.00 Pro Classes. $200.00 out of every PRO entry goes back the PRO Purse.
• “GP” = $60.00 All classes other than Pro – PROS= $100.00 with a 60% payback
• UTV Early entries (by May 11 at 6 p.m. at our office) will be entered into the ”drawing” for starting positions by Class. UTV entries received after 6 p.m. will go to the back of the starting order.
• Starting order UTVs = Start at 30-second interval according to drawing, Pros first, Sportsman thereafter by Classes.
• “GP” entries received by May 11, 6 p.m. will be drawn and staged on the front row of the starting area. Twenty (20) bikes (+/-) per row. Entries received after 6 p.m. will be seeded at the next available spot on the second, third or fourth rows. ATVs will start 3 minutes after the last row of motorcycles have left the line, also by rows and also in the same format prescribed above.
• LATE ENTRY = Entries received on “race day” (May 16) add $100.00 to the normal entry fee. Do not wait until the last minute.

REGISTRATION:

• Registration opens April 2, 2015 through May 11, 6 p.m.) Early registrants will get a FREE AVE (1) t-shirt. Additional t-shirts for a paid entry are $15.00 ea. (must include sizes on entry form) – Regular t-shirt is $20.00 each.
• Check-in or new Entry on Friday, May 15 from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. is regular entry fee. AFTER 8 P.M. it is considered a Late Entry and you must add $100.00 to the regular entry fee.
• Location for all Check-in/Registration will be at the San Nicolas Hotel, pool side (follow arrows).
• Technical Inspection and Contingency (Friday) will be at the San Nicolas Hotel, street next to it. Tech and Contingency starts at 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

PRE-RUNNING:

• Pre-run for all is, Friday, May 15 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Ejido General Esteban Cantu. A map with directions will be issued to all registered participants.
• Pre-run on race day is between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. for all. Absolutely no one else goes out after 8:30 p.m.

MANDATORY RACERS MEETING:

• All registered racers/drivers MUST attend the “Mandatory Racer Meeting” at 9:00 a.m. at the Start/Finish, race day. Roll call will be taken. If you fail to attend the meeting, you will be issued a 10-minute penalty. You CANNOT send a representative. If you are listed on the entry form, you MUST be there!

RACE START:

• The GRAN CARRERA “GP” will start exactly at 10 a.m. We will not wait unless there are problems on the course that we must resolve. It is a 2-hour ‘GP” which means that at the end of the 2-hours from 10 a.m. the checkered flag will come out and everyone is done. The course will be “Closed.”
• The PUNTA BANDA PURE UTV “125” will start at approximately 12:30 p.m. be prepared and “staged” by 12 p.m. Noon. Sweepers will clear the course before the race starts. PURE Racers will have to complete five (5) laps (this may change if we need to tweak the course). Once the first racer finishes five (5) laps or the laps ultimately required, all other racers will also finish their last lap, even if some may have not completed all five laps.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND ACCESS:

• We will have official personnel on the course in the event of an incident or accident. Their travel “on-the-course” takes precedence over any race vehicle. In other words, if one of our officials is on the course to assist a fall rider or a vehicle that has problems, everyone MUST slow down or stop while we attend the incident. Only after you are waived to continue will you be allowed to return to race speeds.
• There will be “Rescate” Rescue Team spread around the course during each event. Because of the limited access to the course these will be strategically placed. No race crew vehicle or “chase” vehicle is allowed on the course during any of the event. Retrieval of such vehicles may be done AFTER the event is over unless one of our official vehicles has managed to bring it back to the Main pits.

CAMPING/PARKING:

• There is no overnight camping at Ejido General Esteban Cantu. Racers will not be charged a parking fee nor will their three respective crew vehicles. However, with each entry there will be a maximum limit of three vehicles and trailer that will be issued a parking pass. All others will have to pay $10.00 per vehicle. An RV or Truck pulling a trailer is considered one vehicle.
• Campo La Jolla, directly across from Ejido Cantu may have spaces available for the weekend of the race. We will find out how many and what the costs will be and will post it in subsequent information sheets. You can also reach them from the States by dialing: 011-52-646-154-2005 and ask to speak with Miguel Pabloff or someone in Registration/Reservation.
• Our race headquarters hotel is the San Nicolas Hotel. Special race room rates for the race are $81.00 per night and you may have up to four (4) people in the room. You must make your reservations as early as possible as rooms will be gone by race weekend. Call from the States to 858-427-0634 or dial into Baja 011-52-646-176-1901/1902.
• Moreover, racers will have the opportunity to park their vehicles and trailers inside a gated parking lot directly across from the San Nicolas Hotel with 24/7 security. (We park all our vehicles every time we race Baja, so we know it is secure.) When making your reservations, be sure to mention the type of vehicles you are bringing. It’s on a first-come-first-serve basis. Motorcycles and ATV are also included.

PIT PARKING:

• During the event, there will be an area specifically dedicated as the “Main Pits.” Only one vehicle or trailer per entry is allowed directly facing the race course. All other vehicles MUST park behind your main pit vehicle, whether a trailer or truck.
• Please keep your pit area clean and make sure that before you leave the area, everything around you is clean. This is important to us and we will appreciate your best efforts.

LOCAL SPECTATORS:

• Special “SPECTATORS” parking will be positioned at several parts of the course. Entry to these spots is $5.00 per car and is limited to the “Spectator” parking that is designated. Spectators are not allowed on any part of the race course!

AWARDS:

The event awards are scheduled back at Hotel San Nicolas, for Sunday, May 17 at 11 a.m., at their famous Olympic pool and Spa.

CROSSING THE BORDER INTO MEXICO-BAJA CALIFORNIA:

• Be sure you bring your current passport, birth certificate and/or driver’s license for every person with you when entering into Mexico. This includes pets. Pets must be registered and have proof of vaccination or tag.
• You do not need to take out a visa to visit Ensenada. However, if they ask you for one, you can get it done at the border. It does not cost you anything.
• We suggest you change some of your dollars into Pesos either before crossing the border or after, even in Ensenada. This makes life easier when buying small things so that you don’t have to compute the exchange rate. The rate changes almost daily either up or down.
• Also make arrangements with your cell telephone company and your credit/debit card bank and let them k now the dates you will be in Mexico. It saves you headaches when your card is rejected. I’ve often experienced that and it makes me furious.
• YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BY APRIL 19. We are contemplating sending Tourism units from Ensenada to Tecate and escorting anyone involved in the event, who wishes to be escorted. This will take place on Thursday, May 14 at 1 p.m. It is a courtesy from the Mexican State government and from Ensenada who understand that some of you may have never visited Baja, and may have apprehensions. However, we need to know how many in the States wish to take advantage of this service, on the set date and time. If it is LESS THAN TEN (10) VEHICLES THAT WISH TO BE ESCORTED, we may not offer this.
• You must be signed-up and have submitted your name, entry number, and vehicle(s) that will be crossing the border.
• When crossing the border there are certain requirements you must meet:
  • You must have with you copies of the registration for each vehicle you are bringing, including truck, RV, trailer(s) and race UTV, bike or ATV.
  • You MUST NOT BRING any type of fire arm across into Mexico.
  • Do NOT bring 55-gallon cans of fuel. You can bring your fuel in 10-gallon dump cans or 5-gallon gas cans. We will soon let you know if one of the distributors of race gas in Baja will be at our event.
  • We also recommend that you buy your fuel in Ensenada. We have used it for years and it’s as good as any of the stuff we buy in the States. We also recommend you buy your diesel in Ensenada or anywhere in Baja. It’s good. If you buy Mexican fuel from Pemex (most stations take credit/debit cards), and you wish to feel better about it, you can also bring any type of fuel additive you wish—not necessary, but if it makes you feel good, by all means, bring it.

INSURANCE:

• Call your insurance company to let them know you will be traveling into Baja. Normally there are no additional charges.
• However, you also have the opportunity to buy full coverage before you cross the border, for Mexican Insurance, or immediately after you crossed. You can buy it by the day, weekend or week. It is inexpensive and it’s always good to have it. Soon we will be posting the places where you can but it. Also AAA sells Mexican insurance.

COMING BACK INTO THE UNITED STATES:

• Be sure you have a current passport or passport card, copy of a birth certificate or official ID from the States, for everyone in the vehicle.
• Do not bring any type of drugs into the United States.
• Do not bring back anyone you don’t know from Mexico.
• Do not bring any firearms into The United States
• There is a limit per person as to how many bottles of liquor or beer you can buy. Call the customs office to get the exact amount and value.
• Do not bring firearms into the United States – Yes I’m repeating myself but it is important.
• Do not bring stray pets.
• There is a limit in the amount of stuff you can buy in Mexico without paying any import tax. Again, check with U.S. Customs for the exact amount.
• Crossing the border is always a long, tedious process. It can take up to three hours or more waiting in line. We have learned several ways to beat that:
  • When you check-in into the Hotel, ask for the “special visitors” pass. This is issued by each hotel to its registered guests, so that when crossing the border into the U.S. there are special lanes you can get into to make the crossing much faster. The hotel will give you directions where the “special” lanes are depending as to where you are crossing.
  • There may be a small charge for obtaining this form, but it beats waiting for hours on line.
  • Optimum time to cross the border? Midnight through 4 a.m. or late Sunday after 9 p.m. We also say not to drive at night but those of you who have been to Baja many times before, I’m sure you know about this.
  • NOTE: If you wanted to get back on Sunday to the States and you left to cross between Noon and 5 p.m. there is a good likelihood that you will have to wait three or four hours, which only means that you may be better off waiting to leave much later on Sunday. That’s your discretion.

ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE:

For those of us who have been going into Baja for many years, it is always fun and a wonderful experience to go back. Personally, we do it about four or five times a year, at least. It is great. Usually, we can’t wait to get back there as soon as possible.

However, if this is the first time for you, then we suggest you do not do anything differently than what you do here in the States.

For example; you are not allowed to drive drunk here in the States, so you should not do it in Mexico. You are not allowed to walk the streets with liquor or beers in your hand, you are not allowed in Mexico. You are not allowed to park where you want to here in the States, therefore, don’t park wherever you want in Mexico. You must obey all traffic laws just like you do here, and if you have a “fix-it” type problem here in the States, most likely, you will have it in Mexico. You should always lock you vehicle here in the States, likewise in Mexico. Do not leave anything in the back of you pick up unless it is locked or put away, the same thing you would do here in the U.S. Use common sense.

If you do get stopped by an officer of the law in Mexico, and you think you did nothing wrong, be polite, show your driver’s license. (Soon we will be getting you a “WELCOME” card with various telephone numbers you can call, to show the officer who stopped you.)

AT NO TIME PAY ANY TYPE OF FINE/FEE TO THE OFFICER. Politely ask for his/her name, badge number and/or vehicle number (keep it with you) and request that you will follow the officer to the nearest police station. Only there, you may pay your fine if you have committed an infraction. DO NOT GIVE OUT A BRIBE OR “MORDIDA” TO A MEXICAN POLICE IN THE STREETS. The Mexican government frowns on this and wants to put a stop to it.

You must act in Mexico just like you would act in the United States. Period. You follow these simple suggestions and you are going to have the time of your life in Baja and especially in Ensenada. The people there are just wonderful.

We also highly recommend that you do not travel at night, by yourselves but caravan across into Mexico and Ensenada, and when you leave, caravan out. Besides traveling in the daylight will be a pleasure if you have never been there before.

I know that many are apprehensive going into Mexico. But it shouldn’t be that way when you go into Baja and especially to Ensenada and other towns in Northern Baja. They depend on Tourism and you having fun and returning, so they will go out of the way to make your stay as pleasant and wonderful as they can. More than we can say for some of the resorts here in the States.

More information soon, including directions how to get to Ensenada and the San Nicolas Hotel and Punta Banda in our Info #2, shortly.

See you at the MINT 400 or at our March 28, PURE “150” here in California City.

Lou

www.aveacing.com