Petersen Automotive Museum To Celebrate 50 Years Of Baja Racing

Peterson1Conceived in the early 1960s when Honda sought to prove the durability of their CL72 Scrambler motorcycle, the Baja 1000 has evolved into the most significant off-road race in motorsports. The Petersen Automotive museum will display a special summer exhibition called Braving Baja: 1,000 Miles to Glory, which will pay tribute to 50 years of Baja racing through artifacts off all sizes, including significant motorcycles, trucks, buggies, clothing, and ephemera.

The Petersen Automotive Museum will also host a fundraiser dinner and an outdoor off-road show that will pay homage to this half-a-century-long motorsports movement, from the daring first timed run by Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson, Jr. to the technology-rich competition of today. The Tribute Dinner on Thursday, May 2 at 6:00p.m. will celebrate Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson Jr.’s historical run down the Baja peninsula on a Honda motorcycle. The evening will consist of food, drinks and Baja legends, as well as a preview to the new exhibit, Braving Baja: 1,000 Miles to Glory.

Peterson2The Baja Day Off-Road Show is Saturday, May 4, from 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. The off-road show is included in the daily museum admission rate for spectators, and participation is open to anyone with a vehicle that is off-road capable, including trucks, buggies, motorcycles, sand rails and more.   Vendors will be on-site as well. Participant and vendor registration is located at Braving Baja

The Braving Baja: 1,000 Miles to Glory exhibition will run from May 4 through Sept. 2, 2013.  Both two-wheeled and four-wheeled racing vehicles will be on display in this never-before-seen collection of historic off-road racing vehicles that shows where it all began and how it has evolved.  Go to Braving Baja to purchase tickets. Proceeds from the Tribute Dinner and the Off-Road Show benefit the Petersen Automotive Museum’s educational programming. The Petersen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution. The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles, California 90036.

2 Responses to “Petersen Automotive Museum To Celebrate 50 Years Of Baja Racing”


  1. 1 Kirk Perry Apr 7th, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    I recognize the fork dampener and silver tin-wing tanks…. that’s the 305 and universal knobby that pitched-me onto Long Beach Blvd in rainy ’66. They look like stock Bridgeports.
    How much traction are you going to have moving diagonal on wet railroad tracks? Not alot.

    I’d forgotten all about it until I saw the tread. WIped-out the left leg of my Navy white seafarer’s.

    305’s were heavy for a motor-cross. All that weight landing on the rear wheel would eventually bend the spokes during our helmet-less “hare & hound” short-courses. It’s what happened to Charlie Huffer’s 305. I was riding a few links back, along Capo Beach 101 and his rear wheel was leaning to the left…alot, but still had plenty on wheel clearance. 🙂

    You’re a long way from home down there.

  2. 2 Rodent Apr 7th, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    I’d go but I’d rather do the Quail deal in Carmel Valley. Better surroundings.

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Cyril Huze