December 21, 2007
AMP PARTNERS PLACE SECOND IN 40TH ANNIVERSARY BAJA 1000 RACE Skelton and McInnis Overcome Obstacles En Route to Stellar Finish
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Trekking through the wilderness and terrain of the Baja Peninsula in an open buggy dodging donkeys, dogs, and ditches through the dessert is a far cry from the asphalt road course racing Rick Skelton is accustomed to, but in mid-November during the famed BAJA 1000 Race, he and fellow Alabama Motorsports Park investor John McInnis III set out to do just that.  Partnered with three other teammates, the duo raced for over 19 of the 36 hours, 27 minutes, and 13 seconds it took to navigate the 1,297-mile course from Baja to Cabo San Lucas. 

In their first-ever attempt at the endurance race, Skelton, McInnis and team finished second in the Baja Challenge class, just behind the factory pro team.  Considering finishing at all is a feat within itself, the rookie combination achieved beyond all expectations, and in the process gathered many interesting tales from the roads. 

“It was simply insane,” said Skelton, who co owns Atlanta-based Hypersport Racing with colleagues Joe Foster and actor Patrick Dempsey (www.hyper-sport.net).  “It’s like the Apocalypse Now out there … wild, wild west so to speak.  The racing itself is an experience like no other, but when you compound that with the encounters you have with the locals and wildlife, and of course the beautiful but treacherous land, it’s simply amazing.  Crazy and exhilarating … totally amazing!”

McInnis shares similar sentiments. 

“Racing the Baja can be described best as 37 hours and 1,300 miles of adrenaline and uncertainty. Anything can happen and it typically does throughout the entire race. It’s a mix of wrecks, flat tires, cows, chickens, dogs, donkeys, pedestrians, hot and cold weather, dust, mud, sand and silt, cactus, and anything else that could possibly appear at anytime.”

Skelton tells of bonfires and camp sites in the middle of the wilderness.  “If you see activity, you say to yourself, ‘Uh oh, what next?’”

As a form of entertainment, locals often booby-trap common paths through the terrain and sit back to watch the action.  Though nothing happened to Skelton and McInnis, others were not as fortunate.

“Often locals will move big logs, create sand pits, bury stuff in the sand, and even move the directional arrows as part of the course plot,” explained Skelton.  “If you are not expecting anything and you come into the area at full speed, you can hit a log and tear up the suspension, flip the race car or get stuck in a pit.  Often locals will change signs and direct races off path; you go 10 or 15 miles out of the way before you realize you’ve turned the wrong direction.  They are not out to harm anyone, but just get a kick out of the aftermath.”

Locals actually came to the team’s aid along the way.  At one point Skelton drove into a silt bed, which he compares to baby powder, and the buggy got stuck.  Spectators helped the duo push their vehicle out of the sand and silt.  The team offered payment for the help, but the spectators were simply excited to be a part of the action and thanked the duo for the chance to help.

The tandem experienced a number of toils and tribulations along the way.  While Skelton was at the wheel he navigated through a deep river bed, which resulted in a huge spray of water dousing the team and the communication gear.  It took nearly four hours for everything to dry out and for the gear to function again.

“We couldn’t communicate with the team at the base,” Skelton said.  “When we got ready to pit at one of the stops, they had no idea what our problems were or that we were even coming.  It creates a little havoc, but just like everything else, makes for a good story.”

McInnis did incredibly well as a first-time competitor, but he had his share of action behind the wheel as well.  At one point he grazed a donkey and later a dog.  “I may have gotten a little emotional after that,” he admitted. 

With about 100 miles to go, Skelton and McInnis were listed in third place in their class.  They approached an area of palm trees and noticed a fellow competitor had turned his buggy into the embankment and was injured.  “We slowed to check on the man; he had actually helped us during the test as a pro instructor.  He wouldn’t have it though, being a salty ex-Navy SEAL commander.  He told us to ‘keep going, get the guys in the lead.’ We drove off with him propped by the mangled wreckage, arm in a makeshift sling and a half chewed stogie in the corner of his mouth” said Skelton.

So with that, they motored on to the finish in Cabo San Lucas.  Expecting perhaps a few fans and their teammates, the tandem wasn’t looking for any big celebration at the end of their journey.  They were quite surprised upon arrival.

“There were over 2,000 people out there at one o’clock in the morning,” Skelton noted.  “It was kind of surreal.  This is huge for the people on the peninsula; it’s the biggest event of the year.  The reception at the end was really cool.  They all wanted autographs and pictures.  We were happy to oblige and thankful for the hospitable people of Baja.”

Asked if they were surprised at the second-place finish in their class, McInnis simply stated, “That’s how we roll.” 

Perhaps they can roll into first place in 2008.

John McInnis (left) and Rick Skelton (Right)

Rick Skelton (Left) and John McInnis (Right)

Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway is a property of Gulf Coast Entertainment, L.L.C.  The entertainment complex will feature three racing venues which will accommodate many forms of racing on its oval, road course and karting facilities.  In addition, the project will include commercial enterprises including residential, hospitality, retail, restaurants and location based entertainment.  Located in Mobile County, the complex is expected to be fully operational in 2010.