Bryce Menzies Conquers the Baja 1000
_by Lindsay Tousignant | December 6, 2023
Running the full length of the peninsula for the 25th time in the race’s 56-year history, this year’s 1000 started in in La Paz, Baja California. For the first time in the race’s history, the course ran from south to north, ending in Ensenada. Encompassing 1,311 miles, this race was also the second longest in the history of the event.
The course embodied all that desert racing typically offers, straight dirt passes, coastline stretches, rocky climbs and washes, some of which had seen a radical transitioned since Hurricane Norma rocked the southern end of the peninsula earlier this year. Even though this marked the second longest 1000 in the race’s history, the times seen were relatively fast given the smoother terrain.
Check out Bryce, Andy and Tavo pre-running the course:
Teamed up with drivers Andy McMillin and Gustavo “Tavo” Vildosola, Menzies took the the first 525 miles of the race. He then handed off the Mason AWD Ford Raptor Trophy truck over to Red Bull teammate McMillin for the next 400 miles. McMillin then handed the reigns off to hometown hero Vildosola, who drove the remaining 385 miles to the finish in Ensenada.
The trio finished the SCORE Baja 1000 in 22 hours, 35 minutes and 33 seconds, taking the checkered flag. Menzies earned the official win as the registered race entrant and is only the 10th racer to earn a SCORE Baja Triple Crown, having won the San Felipe 250, Baja 500 and Baja 1000. Menzies also took home the SCORE season championship.
“It took me over 10 years to win the SCORE Baja 1000. To win the second-longest SCORE race in history feels pretty special.”
– Bryce Menzies
Menzies uses AMSOIL products to ensure his race trucks can handle extremely harsh desert racing conditions.
Next up, Menzies is setting his sights on Hammertown and gearing up for the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship during King of the Hammers, Jan. 25 through Feb. 3, 2024.
