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“It started because I was fired up about the Dakar Rally,” says Scotty. “I learned rally navigation from Jimmy Lewis, who challenged me by saying it could NOT be done in North America. He said it with such certainty that I had to accept the challenge. Of course I never told Jimmy what I was up to until we had our team and infrastructure up and running.” He goes on to say, “It’s an obsession for sure. The most memorable thing is winning support from Mexicans at every level. We secured an unprecedented grant from the Federal Tourism Board and that was a triumph. Gaining permission from lone ranchers in the middle of the desert is equally satisfying. Our team has climbed a very steep learning curve and we’ve built alliances and friendships every step of the way.”

Breauxman finds himself explaining to outsiders that travel in Baja is extraordinarily safe relative to the general perception that persists. He credits the hosts. “The one thing first-timers misjudge is the genuine hospitality and friendliness from the locals, including law enforcement. As an American guest, I’m treated with respect and courtesy. As a legal resident of Mexico, it’s the same. They’re genuinely great hosts and friends of ours; one can learn a lot of humility from this experience.”

The toughest hurdle has been ecology, and they’ve accomplished their goals to brand the event “eco-adventure tourism.” Early in the process, the door was mostly closed to present a new race idea. However, after the data was presented and a paper trail of their previous attempts to disclose, the tune changed and they were seen as problem solvers rather than being the problem.

Along with problem solving is the fun of winning support. They’ve had to sell the idea of the Baja Rally over 100 times to many people. It’s when they get a signed permit, or a stamped filing that they know they’re not alone. Having hundreds of people in their corner after starting out alone is quite an accomplishment.

Scotty spent over 100 nights away and thousands of riding miles last year working on the project. “It can be tough being away from home so often. If I didn’t love the Baja Rally I wouldn’t have sacrificed those first two years for our team and the riders.”

The Big Picture

Scotty concludes, “We see a festival, a cultural party that attracts thousands of international riders to watch and follow the Baja Rally in a safe and enriching way. Two years from now, we’ll have six days minimum of racing and hope to have international fans come and follow the rally on their ADV bikes. We’re on our way with BMW Motorcycles of Escondido hosting a VIP ride to chase the rally. And we’re modeling our spectator experience after that pilot program.”

ADVMoto continues to support and follow the Baja Rally, and we’re looking forward to seeing what blossoms from the efforts of this great team. BajaRallyMoto.com