Dust to Glory

I have no idea why I've taken so long to watch this DVD. I'm overwhelmed with emotion after watching this. This race is like no other. Any man or woman that enters this race is right up there in my book.

In the Indy and Nascar races you've got cars on a nice smooth track that is the same...for the whole race. AND NO ONE is allowed on that course during the race.

The Baja 1000 is a different bird all together. You're riding 1000 miles either on a dirt bike, truck, buggy, quad, and yes...there are even VW BUGS, who race on and off road both in the day and night. Most racers ride as a team, but there are a few iron men and women who ride the whole race.

This movie covers mostly the men who race, but there's a few moments where they talk about the women too. Many of the woman race because they were tired of watching their husband, dads, brothers race. So they've decided to join in the fun too.

Some of the women mentioned in this movie were Kate Sutton, Bekki Freeman, Amy Thomas and Kelly Clement. Kelly's husband talked about how since Kelly's been racing she's happier and healthier than ever.

I ride a motorcycle, not even a dirt bike, and have to constantly be aware of anything that might cross my path, and I rarely ride at night. I can't imagine riding a dirt bike 100 + miles an hour with bystanders just inches away, dogs and cows in the road...oh yeah the roads or "track" is never shut down to just racers. When they're racing on road there are non racing vehicles all over the place. When they're off road there's pot holes, cliffs, just the natural terrain that is anything but flat and completely unforgiving. Oh, don't forget the cactus's. There was scenes of a guy pulling those out of his arms.

Then there's the dust or silt that bikes and vehicles get lost in, it's so deep. I would think if you lost your bike in that you'd have a hard time finding it again. That's rough in the day time, but to do that at night....with bikes and vehicles in front, behind and to the side of you.

You've got people with broken vehicles, motorcycles, body parts...who continue to race. Yes, it's about winning, but it's also about finishing the race. Finishing that race is a HUGE accomplishment.

As I mentioned the racers ride during the night. You think bystanders would go home for the night but it seemed like more people came out to watch. It would be 4:30 in the morning and there were people out there cheering them on.

Oh and the chase cars...they're helicopters.

After you watch the movie be sure to watch the Behind the Scenes clip. Really awesome on how this movie was shot and just like the race itself it took some major determination to create this DVD.

After watching this I went back and read Anna Cody's/Iron man account of her race.

As some of you may or may not know I crossed the finish line of the Baja 1000 on 11/17/06 somewhere around 4:20pm. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, I rode for 33 hours and 35 minutes, the longest break I took was 1 hour, and that was around 2:30am after my bike nearly got ran over by a trophy truck, I had to sit down and get myself together. I was just outside of Loreto when a silt pocket swallowed my XR650 I came up out of it only to dump it over on its side in a two track road with the rear wheel hanging in the tracks, the lights flickered off and I tried to pull the bike out of the way when I suddenly heard the roar of the trophy truck, suddenly I could see everything I worked so hard for go down the drain, in an instant I threw myself in front of the bike waiving my arms up and down, the co driver saw me and motioned to the driver, who than pitched the truck sideways into the bushes, the truck went sideways and missed my bike by about one inch, I had such an adrenaline rush I grabbed that bike and pulled it 25 feet off the course and picked it up, I peed my pants and than started the bike and went on to pit 14 for a well deserved break...

You can read the rest of her story at: http://www.blinkinteract.com/2006/12/anna_cody_first_woman_to_solo_1.html

I also know that Anna Cody is putting together a DVD of her race. Hopefully it will be out soon!!

Anna Cody, Ironwoman of Baja 1000

So until a few months ago, I had never heard of the Baja 1000 and to be totally honest with you, I still don't completely understand it. What I do know though is that I wish I could be at the next one in 2007 to see it, and write about it. Because the stories I keep hearing about it are just incredible.

I first became aware of the Baja 1000 when I came across Kathy Jarvis's site. I followed her this year via the Net. She wasn't able to finish the race in 2006, but I have a feeling she'll be at it again in 2007.

Then today I received an email from a gentleman named Dan who told me about another woman, Anna Cody, who was in this race. And she raced on motorcycle. If you read anything about Anna Cody, read this post about her personal account of the race. It's just incredible.

Also, check out Anna's website at: http://www.codygirlracing.com

And thanks so much Dan for bringing this to my attention!!

Hi,

I recently read your blog post about Kathy Jarvis attempting to
become the first woman to solo the Baja 1000 in a truck.

As inspiring as that is, the real story should be about Anna Cody.

"[In 2006] Anna Cody became the first female to ever solo and finish
the Baja 1000 [on a motorcycle even!]. She is Ironwoman [the term for
solo finishers]. She etches her name once again in the Baja history
books. Cody and Lillie Sweetland were the first all-female team to
finish the Baja 1000 back in 1990. After Sweetland succumbed to
cancer in 2001, Cody didn't have it in her heart to ride with another
teammate again and that was the impetus behind her solo run. I
suspect she probably helped Cody pull this one off too."

from: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4116&Page=5

Anna not only finished, she finished solo, on a motorcycle!

Here is her blog post about it: http://www.blinkinteract.com/2006/12/anna_cody_first_woman_to_solo_1.html

keep up the good work,
- dan

Update On Kathy Jarvis Protruck Race

“JINX” IS JINXED
But Kathy Jarvis Still Holds The Distinction Of Being The Only Woman To Solo Attempt The Race In A Protruck

La Paz, Mexico (November 20, 2006) – Kathy Jarvis was exasperated. Months of practice could not prepare her for the numerous technical difficulties that her Protruck would endure in the first day of the SCORE International Baja 1000. After successfully maneuvering 328 miles through silt beds, mud bogs and whoops she was forced to pull out of the race because of electrical problems with “Jinx.”

“Finishing this race was my goal,” said Jarvis, “but I haven’t failed. We I pursued my dream and I’m still pursuing it. Women need to know that they are strong enough to blur the gender lines and accomplish anything that they can dream. Sometimes there are things that are just out of your control and on this day there wasn’t anything else that we could do to get that truck to finish this race. That doesn’t mean I’ll give up.”

“I pre-ran the entire course in my stock 1998 Toyota Tacoma. I honestly believe that I could have finished the actual race in that Tacoma. It really speaks integrity of the truck,” Jarvis said.
The off-road race is held on a 1,052 mile stretch of rugged terrain leading down the Baja peninsula into La Paz, Baja California. It is the final race of the SCORE International Desert Series and the event routinely draws an impressive entrant list composed of celebrities like Paul Newman, NASCAR’s Robby Gordon, “Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey, Mike Metzger of motorcross fame, Julia Roberts’ husband and cinematographer Danny Moder, and Jesse James from the show “Monster Garage.” This year that list expanded to contain its first solo woman Protruck driver Kathy Jarvis.

Protrucks are full blown high performance race trucks that are disguised underneath a stock body and they are just one of several different vehicles that race in the BAJA 1000. Motorcycles, buggies, ATV’s and Protrucks all tested the limits of human possibility as they barreled down the rugged terrain of the Baja Peninsula.

Unfortunately for Kathy, there were several instances that she was careening down the peninsula in a shroud of darkness. Kathy’s alternator failed for most of the race causing her instrument panel, radio and GPS navigation to go blank.

“There were points where I really had to dig down and keep focused. I realized what was at stake for female professional racing. Every couple hundred feet there was a different hazard to avoid. The course tests your versatility as a driver, so my training as a stunt driver came in handy,” said Jarvis after the race.

Off-road legend Ivan Stewart was very encouraged with Kathy’s attempt and he tried to get Kathy to look at the positive. “She showed a lot of courage and professionalism in a form of motorsports that is very male-dominated. Her knowledge and appreciation of off-road racing makes her a very marketable force in our community,” Stewart said.
Jarvis, a professional stuntwoman by day, has been no stranger to hazardous and life-threatening experiences. She has jumped a minivan in a Taco Bell commercial, flipped a
flaming Chevrolet Suburban, crashed through buildings and performed many high-risk vehicle stunts and chases. Kathy has also been a stunt double for actresses Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep, and Anne Heche in blockbuster films like City of Angels and Six Days Seven Nights.

A few years ago, Stewart encouraged Kathy to start her own female Protruck team but that dream was derailed when she was diagnosed with a pituitary gland tumor that would require surgery. A botched procedure led her to decline synthetic drugs and embrace holistic treatments like Qi Gong, an expanded yoga program and acupuncture. Not one to sit idle for too long, Kathy continued working as a stunt professional and in February of this year she attended the Team O’Neil Rally School to hone her driving skills. Excited about rally racing, she entered and won her first National rally race, the Main Forest Rally in July of 2006.

“This was another big step for women in professional racing,” Jarvis said. “I’m excited to come back next year and compete against other determined and talented drivers and finish, I know I can finish.”

Kathy Jarvis Heads to the Baja 1000

I received the following email today from Kathy Jarvis:

Hey Liz Thank you for posting my story on your blog. I am leaving for Baja
in a couple of days to start my adventure on becoming the first woman to solo the SCORE Baja 1000. A little nervous for it is going to be a really
tough race and hopefully I get it done in 24 hours. My head is bothering me
some and I need to get that truck to last for 1052 miles and I need to last
for 1052 miles.


I think what Kathy is doing is really awesome. I'm always impressed by women who are trying new adventures for themselves. I wanted to ask her a few questions and she was kind enough to get back to me right away.

Liz: in a couple of days you're going to start your new adventure on becoming the first woman to solo the SCORE Baja 1000. You're driving for 24 hours and 1052 miles right? How do you feel being the first woman to enter this race?


Kathy: Well, I am not the first woman to enter a lot of women drive with other teams and there are a few female teams that trade off the driving responsibilities. I just hope to be the first woman to drive all 1000 miles of this race, the Granddaddy of all off road racing. In 1972 Judy J Smith did it in a single seater buggy, a lot of respect goes out to her. It was sactioned by NORRA and they had different rules. This race is a non-stop race with no restarts everything we do is part of the race, from getting through the pits quickly to changing navigators to changing parts if something should break.

Liz: Who's your inspiration/hero's you look up to?

Kathy: I look up to those women who are strong and can speak their mind with out fear of how one will interpret it. I look up to those who can honor everyone’s point of view without judgement. I look up to those who live their lives true to who they are.



Liz: Anyone ever say anything negative to you? How did you respond?

Kathy: Yes, many people have said many negative things to me. I live in a world where jobs are coveted and people will say things to make themselves feel better. Most times I don’t say anything, and most times I wish I had. However, it is never good to mix words, to hold one’s head high, and not let it become personal is the only way to protect oneself from the negative energy. Most negative things said our fears that person has, so I try not to take them personally.

And Kathy's Favorite Quote:
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” - Mahatma Gandi


Kathy...good luck and we're all cheering for you. Can't wait to hear how your adventure goes!!!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF KATHY IN ACTION ON YouTube

Click here to Visit Kathy's Website