Air Force Global Strike Command - For over 4 decades the Baja 1000 has been attracting the fastest off road racers in the world to Mexico's Baja Penisala during the month of November each year. What started out as a spirited point to point test run/race has today grown into one of the World's premier off road spectacles.With a starting line on most years in Ensenada and finish in La Paz Mexico the actual distance of the event ranges depending on course layout and conditions each year. Typically the distance falls between a range of 700-900 miles... with the 2011 winning time going to a motorcycle team of: Kendall Norman, Quinn Cody and Logan Holladay - Team Honda in 14 hours, 14 minutes and 25 secconds. The top truck team came across the line behind the two wheelers in 14 hours, 51 minutes and 36 seconds... a Ford Raptor TT driven by Andy McMillin and navigator Scott McMillin.
The bikes are faster...
So what happens when a group of ESPN X Games MotoX athletes show up on the starting line this year? At a glance most would say... get in line trucks, buggies and maybe even fellow dirt bike racers... the XGames gang is crashing the party... the truth wouldn't be that far off, but in the case of a group of dedicated professional athletes from across the country who own collectively over a dozen X Games Medals they're bringing a twist to this years Baja 1000 that hasn't been seen in the form of Adaptive X Games Star Studded Team - Julian Hard Cider Hero Racing. The team intends to let it all hang out... all three feet and prosthetics!
First training camp- American300 Never Quit Series!
For 'Monster' Mike Schultz, it's a must that he shares his teammates with American300's stateside group of focused military members before attempting to compete in this years Baja "I've been with American300 on 2 separate troop tours over the past 2 years" says Schultz "Robi (Powers, founder of the nonprofit American300) has us share out stories of Never Quitting with the troops, but honestly I get more energy and motivation out of meeting the service members then I think they do out of me."
It's a two way connection... trust us Mike.
Making the connection for the first time will be Chris Ridgway and Jim Wazny, both accomplished adaptive MotoX athletes who along with Schultz will comprise the JHC Hero Racing Team along with the man behind the scenes (and on a bike come race day) Paul Thomas, owner of Julian Hard Cider, who are going to be pushing the limits this year... one leg at a time... it's all they've got after all.
"Since loosing my leg above the knee half a decade ago, I've done some crazy stuff... I've pushed the limits of my bike, body and prosthetic" says 'Monster Mike Schultz, a 3x ESPN XGames Adaptive Gold Medalist in MotoX and SnoX racing "when Paul (Thomas) approached us and said he wanted to put this team of adaptive riders together for this years Baja... help raise funds for the Challenge Athletes Foundation... I was like... it's outdoors... it's on my dirt bike... I'm in!"
Pushing limits is what these new Ability athletes are all about... and they focus on doing it outside "I love doing stuff that video games are made to replicate" says fellow above knee amputee team mate Jim Wazny "I'm actually not that great at video games that are made around the sports that I compete in, but I'm usually able to make up for it by doing it... living it full-tilt outdoors."
The Baja Adaptive 1000 Team of athletes and coach will be visiting Air Force Global Strike Command bases this week with stops at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY followed by Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT. Watch the NEVER QUIT SERIES 'BAJA ADAPTIVE 1000 TOUR' at: www.AMERICAN300.org
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For more on Air Force Global Strike Command visit: www.afgsc.af.mil
For more on Paul Thomas' Julian Cider Hero Racing Teams: www.jhcheroracing.com
American300 is a nonprofit 501c3 focused on raising the resiliency of our Armed Forces Members, their Family Members and the Communities in which they live and operate in. No federal endorsement of sponsors or nonprofit is ever intended. www.American300.org
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