November 2007 — VOLUME 5 ISSUE 11
Local dirt biker
revs it up in Baja
For over 40 years, Sun Peaks local, Al Perrett has been riding and racing dirt bikes locally and internationally.
This month he’s off once again to compete in one of the most prestigious races in North America—the Baja 1000. An off-road race, which started in 1967, the Baja 1000 takes place annually on Mexico’s Baja-California Peninsula. It’s an endurocross-type race, involving challenging landscapes and a relentless riding schedule through the desert. A hot contest in more ways than one, the race begins in Ensenada, Mexico, and involves racing anything from motorbikes, ATVs and off-road trucks.
Perrett began attending this impressive competition about 15 years ago, and has been there nearly every year since. And although he’s 69, he hardly seems it—especially from the enthusiasm he exudes when talking about the upcoming race where he’s one of only two Canadian competitors—the other is another local, Max Kirton from Heffley Lake.
The Baja 1000 is split into age-category classes, and each rider usually takes a good chunk of the track, relay-racing non-stop, except for gas breaks and maintenance checks every 85 kilometres (60 miles) along the way.
“A few people try to Ironman it,” laughs Perrett, “quite a few women have tried it. Anna Cody, she’s a really tough American rider and she successfully did a 1,000 mile Ironman last year.”
As you look at the walls in Perrett’s garage at his resort-based home, you can’t help but notice the fantastic array of Baja memorabilia. Pictures from years past, a map of the peninsula, various bike parts, and especially the large trophy that Perrett’s team took home in 1992, after winning first place in their division.
The race will take place from Nov. 10 to 16, but Perrett has gone down early to meet up with his team and practice the course, which he says is as much fun or more fun than the race itself.
“Some of the most enjoyable parts of the race is the pre-run because you’re talking to the Mexicans, they’re waving at you. You get a chance to look around and stop to take a picture, or ride out to a beach,” he says of the pre-event riding.
Though he doesn’t go running anymore, he does prepare with hiking and some weight training. But Perrett says the best way to get ready for the endurance is to go dirt biking as much as possible.
When asked how long he plans to keep up the intense pace of the race circuit in Baja he says this will probably be his last year. But he’s also said that before.
“I might be a helper from now on. Be pit crew or manager. I’ll help some other younger riders. This might be my last Baja 1000, but I said that in 2001 and I said that last year—who knows? It’s so much fun.”
But for now he’s off to the races. Keep track of how Perrett and his team are doing at the Baja1000, at www.score- international.com/baja1000/index.ihtml
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