When you consider a race that covers a distance of nearly 1,300 miles in a three-day period, with close to 500 vehicles competing in more than 15 different classes, you have to figure that a good percentage will likely fail. This was the case for my team this time around. Plagued by transmission issues when we should have been prerunning the truck, we barely even made it to the 5:30 a.m. (late) tech inspection on the morning of race day. The team's owner, Bob Graham, spent the prior 72 hours swapping out various components in a last-ditch effort to run his '04 Nissan Titan in the Sportsman Class. The transmission issue was resolved and we all felt confident that we had a good chance at finishing. But our luck would run out near race mile 360, when a steering clevis failed. Unfortunately, our chase team was unable to reach the vehicle's remote location before time ran out. Disappointing? Yes. But that is how things go for many who challenge the most brutal terrain on earth. I spent the remainder of my Baja 1000 aiding our chase crew in eventually recovering the truck some 30 hours after breakdown. Along the way, I snapped some pretty unforgettable shots that captured the essence of Baja, and I came across some interesting stories:
 Brett Garland and Mike Shortt...  Brett Garland and Mike Shortt are seen relaxing in their Toyota Land Cruiser, just minutes before the start of their ill-fated race. |  Tuesday, November 20th 4:49...  Tuesday, November 20th 4:49 am: Somewhere along Highway 1 west of Gonzaga Bay, SCORE Trophy Truck No. 76 piloted by Jesse Jones receives a quick roadside refueling. |  Here, the Team HRT driver's...  Here, the Team HRT driver's nervous bride-to-be, Robyn Wourms, insisted her groom be at the Cabo finish line in time for the pair's beachside wedding ceremony to be held some 49 hours later-they made it. |
* A well-prepped '93 Land Cruiser driven by Brett Garland and codriver Mike Shortt. Each had no idea what they were in for. About 235 miles into the course, disaster struck, and the two plunged over a 700-foot cliff, rolling the vehicle no fewer than 15 times. Luckily, both survived the ordeal, suffering severe concussions and bruised ribs. Fellow racer Gale Pike sacrificed his own team's effort to assist in extracting the two while at the same time providing essential communication for a life-saving helicopter rescue. The truck still remains in that lonely ravine today, thoroughly stripped of its valuables.
* Team HRT of Okotoks Alberta, Canada, was on track for a podium finish at race mile 886 in the Stock Full class when a loose rag became lodged in the intake housing, causing a disappointing 3-hour setback. In the end, Team HRT emerged with a Fourth Place finish in the Stock Full class.
* With almost 900 miles to go, I came across Trophy Truck driver Jesse Jones during a roadside refueling. His crewmembers maintained a very serious and competitive attitude about their effort. Later their team's hard work would pay off as Jones finished 14th overall, completing the course in just over 37 hours with an average speed of 34.6 mph.
-Robin Stover, Feature Editor