Slow Baja

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GHA Racing 2021 SCORE International Class 11 Champions Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

Today’s podcast discusses GHA Racing’s Class 11 Championship winning Season. While most racers start racing slower and less expensive vehicles and move up to faster and more costly classes, GHA began in a Spec Trophy Truck and decided to move down to a Class 11 Beetle.

Driver and team owner, Alex Gonzales, laughs as he says they have “Racing dyslexia, --but you haven’t lived until you’re flying through the air and you look over, and there is another bug 5 feet from your door flying along with you!”

I met the GHA team after their epic 42 hour and 44-minute SCORE Baja 1000 run. They lost their transmission early in the race; and spent two and a half hours replacing it. After spotting the field a 2.5 hour head start they put the pedal to the metal and finished a scant three seconds behind the second-place car. They were filthy and exhausted when I saw them, and as much as I wanted to interview them right there, I let them clean up and get some rest, and we spoke the following day.

The GHA team supports The City of Refuge, a private home in Tijuana that houses 16 formerly homeless children. You can read about it and donate through their Miracles per Miles program.

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A Valle de Guadalupe Update With Tru Miller Adobe Guadalupe Vineyards and Inn Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

In our second conversation with Tru Miller, we discuss how her Adobe Guadalupe Vinyard and Inn has fared during the pandemic and what's ahead for 2022. Joining us are Claudia, who handles reservations and operations, and Mara, Tru's assistant and leader of vineyard tours. Enjoy this comfortable chat about one of my favorite spots in the Valle de Guadalupe.

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Book: reservaciones@adobeguadalupe.com

Filmmaker Michael Squier On The Baja Bug Movie Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

Michael Squier is a filmmaker and storyteller. In this podcast, we discuss his ambitious film project, The Baja Bug Movie. The project tells the story of the humble VW Beetle and the people who modified them for off-road use.

I met Michael on the NORRA Baja 500 while filming the movie. We recorded our conversation at the Cervezeria Transpeninsular in Ensenada during the NORRA Baja 500 awards party.

To support the completion of the film, check out Michael's Go Fund Me:

"We plan to tell the story of the Baja Bug through the people that

are at the heart of it. We want to include racers, enthusiasts,

builders, fans, and anyone along the way that helps tell the unlikely

story of a small car designed in the 30's that became a

legendary off-road car. We plan to tell the history of baja bugs,

including the first one built and the early off-road racing days and

show the evolution into what they are now.

The story of the Baja bug is one that keeps evolving.

Each generation adds their own touch."

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Pete Springer Winner Of The 1973 Baja 1000 Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

80-year-old Pete Springer has been traveling to Baja for over 60 years. As a spectator, he attended the 1969 Mexican 1000, raced a home-built single-seater in 1970, and won his class in the 1973 Baja 1000.

He shares tales from his many years of Baja adventures in this conversation. Highlights include; driving a 1940 Dodge Flatbed to Bahia de Los Angeles, running out of gas while flying a small plane and landing on the road near Santa Rosalia, crashing his motorcycle in a pitch dark desert, and building off-road racecars through seat-of-the-pants engineering and a lot of trial-and-error.

I recorded this podcast initially in January 2020 --my second podcast! As I head out to cover the 2021 Baja 1000, I am pleased to share this freshly remastered version again.

Check out Pete Springer's writings here.

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Noel Morales And Rachel Glueck On El Refugio Mezcaleria And Their Fabulous Cookbook The Native Mexican Kitchen Nov 12, 2021

Show notes

Today you are getting a double feature on Slow Baja, the first is with Noel Morales owner, cook, owner and chief personality at El Refugio Mezcaleria in Todos Santos BCS. The second is with Noel, and his wife Rachel Glueck, discussing their beautiful cookbook The Native Mexican Kitchen: A Journey into Cuisine, Culture and Mezcal.

WINNER of the 2020 US Gourmand Award for Food Heritage!

A Deep Dive into the Complex and Vibrant Native Culture that is the Bedrock of Mexican Cuisine, with Over One Hundred Recipes, Including Moles, Pozoles, Chiles en Nogada, and More

Mexican cuisine is ubiquitous in the American dining scene, yet it remains far removed from its roots. The Native Mexican Kitchen is an homage to the indigenous peoples and their culinary and cultural traditions that create Mexican cuisine, elevating it beyond Americanized tacos and tequila.

With recipes by Mexican chef Noel Morales—born of Aztec and Omec blood, grandson to a mezcalero, and raised by native dancers—The Native Mexican Kitchen offers its readers the ability to recreate the flavors of centuries-old dishes in a modern kitchen. Morales shares well-known plates such as birria and barbacoa and beloved market foods like tlayudas and tacos al pastor, as well as a few of his own vegetarian and seafood creations. Signature mezcal cocktails and decadent desserts adorn these pages, while the Medicinales section includes teas, tinctures, and baths of traditionally used herbs for a variety of ailments, such as colds, muscle tension, and infertility.

Author Rachel Glueck provides rare access and insight into a Mexico that few foreigners or nationals see today, leading you through indigenous festivals with masked dancers, bountiful market places, and sacred pilgrimage sites. Unwrap the philosophies and customs of Mexico’s native communities and discover the depth of this magical country and how you can welcome it into your own kitchen.

Personal stories of mezcaleros, traditional cooks, and native healers are accentuated by 130 stunning photographs and are woven through with mouth-watering recipes. With pages bursting with color, culture, and wisdom, you’ll discover a Mexico you never knewexisted.

-Simon and Schuster

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Lynn Chenowth On Building Cars And His Beautiful Legacy Lodge And Museum Nov 05, 2021

Show notes

Lynn Chenowth is a pioneer off-road chassis and vehicle builder whose factory-backed and private Chenowth cars have taken many of the sport's greatest drivers to off-road racing's biggest victories. The list includes ORMHOF inductees Johnny Johnson, Ivan Stewart, Corky and Mark McMillin, Bob and Robby Gordon, Frank 'Butch' Arciero Jr, and Rob MacCachren.

In the 1970s, Chenowth helped usher in the development of true tube frame off-road vehicles. The sport was quickly growing and evolving, and Chenowth Racing Products was ready to meet the need. With a mass-production approach to building affordable chassis and products, Chenowth helped bring the sport of recreational off-roading to the masses. -Excerpted from his 2019 ORMHOF Induction Ceremony

I spoke to Lynn in July during my Summer podcast recording trip. We recorded at his home in Percebu, South of San Felipe, the morning after I spent the night at his Chenowth Legacy Lodge.

Check out the Chenowth Legacy Lodge on Facebook

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Travel Talk With Slow Baja Meet Paul And Bonnie Owners Of Ignacio Springs Resort Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

Today's Travel Talk with Slow Baja has me chatting with Paul and Bonnie, owners of Ignacio Springs Resort in San Ignacio, BC Sur. In the heart of the Palmera, on the bank of the tranquil Rio San Ignacio, Paul and Bonnie are warm and welcoming hosts with nine yurts and two casitas for your stay.

Originally from Canada, they have happily transitioned to life in Baja. Let me be clear --they run a tight ship, and their property is spotless. The bar is always open, and the North American-style breakfast was hearty and delicious. I strongly suggest that you slow your roll and spend some time under the palms letting the tilapia exfoliate your toes.

Bonnie will happily connect you to guides for whale watching or cave painting excursions. If you are interested in whale watching, I suggest that you make your reservations early. Ignacio Springs Resort is Slow Baja Approved!

Visit the Ignacio Springs website.

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Travel Talk With Slow Baja Meet Keith Berkley Owner Of The Black Bass Lodge Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

Today’s Travel Talk with Slow Baja has us on a ZOOM call with Keith Berkley, owner of The Black Bass Lodge in Punta Abreojos. As a child, Berkley grew up camping and exploring Baja with his parents. His dream was to create a lodge where his friends and family could gather to find some of the slow Baja lifestyle that he loved as a child.

Remote, private, and completely off-the-grid, The Black Bass Lodge is a destination all in itself. Located just steps from the beach where the surrounding reefs are abundant with fish and produce world-class waves.

The Lodge is currently available to groups looking to rent the entire property (Over 3500 square feet with four rooms, three patios, lounge, 4.5 baths, dining room, and bar. Sleeps up to 15 people). A private chef is on-site to prepare your meals utilizing the freshest local ingredients. The Black Bass Lodge is Slow Baja Approved!

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Book directly via The Black Bass Lodge’s Website

Forty Years Of Surfing Punta Abreojos With Craig Larson And Mark Pestrella Oct 14, 2021

Show notes

Craig Larson and Mark Pestrella have been surfing Punta Abreojos together for more than 40 years. Inspired by Bruce Brown's Endless Summer, they've been seeking waves and finding adventures along the way since High School.

I met them when I stopped by to check out their well-evolved camp. I found Mark smoking a cigar and reading a signed, first-edition hardcover of Into a Desert Place by Graham Mackintosh. I knew right then that I had met some serious Baja aficionados. We shared a fine bottle of Fortaleza Anejo Tequila and solved all the problems of the world. Enjoy our relaxed conversation about adventure travel, surfing, and the toll that Baja extracts.

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Check out the Baja Bound Insurance

Learn more about Benchmark Maps

Learn more about Tequila Fortaleza

Check out the Black Bass Lodge

Mike Pearlman On The NORRA Mexican 1000 The Happiest Race On Earth Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

Mike Pearlman was a teenager growing up in Los Angeles when his father bought a used 1964 Toyota Land Cruiser. Ed Pearlman was a florist and an avid hunter. The utilitarian 4x4 looked like the perfect vehicle for the upcoming deer season and delivering flowers. Not long after, Mike's friend was driving the Land Cruiser on the highway; he didn't know that you had to shift gears manually and blew up the motor. Ever resourceful, Ed found that a Chevy V8 would fit. With Pete Condos's assistance, Pearlman soon had a hot-rodded Corvette motor under the hood!

Ed Pearlman read about the 1966 record-setting run from Tijuana to La Paz on Triumph motorcycles by Bud and Dave Ekins, Eddie Mulder, and Cliff Coleman. Pearlman thought that he could beat their time in his hopped-up Land Cruiser. While searching for wider tires, he met Dick Cepek, selling farm implement tires out of his garage. Cepek traded six tires for a chance to ride shotgun. Their attempt at the record failed, but the idea for the first off-road race was born-the Mexican 1000!

In this conversation, Pearlman shares stories from the founding of the National Off-Road Racing Association, those early Baja races, and how with Eliseo Garcia Jr., they revived the Mexican 1000 as a vintage rally. Enjoy this conversation that originally aired on July 13, 2020. For a taste of off-road racing, you can join Slow Baja in the Safari 4x4 Class for non-race vehicles. We drive portions of the actual racecourse, see the most scenic parts of the racing and make time for tacos, tequila, and tranquilo!

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