thebajarunner - 6-17-2004 at 02:42 PM
In one of the mid-70's races to La Paz we ran our truck, as usual.
A local Datsun (remember those?) dealer was also racing in the Class 7 mini-trucks. He was a wild and crazy guy, collected Rolls as a hobby in
addition to his car store and his Baja racing.
We were on the East side of Ensenada for the start, headed up the hill to Ojos Negros.
Immediately after we got the green and rumbled up the hill, here comes Don, coasting his truck back down the hill with a goofy look on his face.
Turned out he had twisted his rear end gear right off the start and was out of the race.
Well, classic Don style, he had driven one of his Rolls down to Baja while someone else had brought the racing rig.
We rambled on, giving it very little thought, immersed in our own race, finished third or fourth in class and were settled into the La Perla in La Paz
to celebrate....
Up to the front door cruises a big black Rolls Royce, Don hops out, followed by some Damon Runyan looking characters, hops over the wall and orders a
cerveza.
Well, somewhere in Ensenada, prior to the race, he had met a geezer who claimed to be a judge from Texas. Also, a lady ( a pro from the look of her )
and also his racing partner.
After he broke he had returned to his prior night's watering hole, rounded up his "playmates" and they all drove straight down to the finish,
obviously on the paved road.
So, here we all are, sitting around, having a few brews, swapping race stories, just enjoying the usual post-race euphoria.
Some hours later the word came around the patio "They are looking for the owner of the Rolls, the Governor (or Mayor, or whoever) is coming to the
awards tonight and the Rolls is parked in the celebrity entry for the hotel."
Don never looks up, no one rats him out, the hotel management is getting nervous and the Rolls just sits.
Eventually some very official folks show up with a young soldier, full uniform, rifle, the works. They park him on the front of the Rolls with orders
to apprehend the owner when he shows up.
Time passes, Don celebrates, eventually the Governor arrives, from behind the Rolls, the soldier sits, Don drinks, nothing changes.
Next morning we all get ready to head North. Don has packed his bags along with his travelling companions, all of whom have partied and are even more
wasted looking than when they arrived.
They park bags right behind the patio wall and now, for the first time, Don is looking nervous. In fact, he is wondering out loud how he can ever get
his car back.
As we are tossing gear into our rig the moment comes, the poor kid with the gun has to take a leak, he ducks into the lobby and Don and motley crew
are over the wall and heading out of town.
Somehow, he pulled it off, they never radioed ahead, they never blocked the road, and a couple days later we dropped by the dealership and there is
Don, big grin, none the worse for wear.
This would be the happy ending to a great story except that the cervezas, etc. caught up with Don in a big way.
Dozens of DUI offenses later, he spends the last half of his life in the Cal State Pen in Crescent City, lost his dealership, the building with his
Rolls collection caught fire.
But, he still has his memories...
(Thanks to Mike H for prompting me to pull up these memories)
Baja Arriba!!
Now that's
jrbaja - 6-17-2004 at 02:48 PM
a good half of a story!
Rumor is that your friend is in prison, or on his way soon for yet another DUI
BajaVida - 6-17-2004 at 07:01 PM
[Edited on 6-18-2004 by BajaVida]
Many of my friends went to prison
thebajarunner - 6-17-2004 at 11:03 PM
It must be the water...
Hey, you are my friend, BV, and best I can tell you have never been to prison...
have you???
Baja Arriba!!
only to visit
BajaVida - 6-19-2004 at 07:53 AM
school or business related, only
no friends or relatives
No one asked the obvious...
thebajarunner - 6-20-2004 at 12:39 PM
So, what do you supposed happened to the young soldier who was supposed to guard the Rolls?
We have always wondered, never knew
Baja Arriba!!
Mike Humfreville - 6-24-2004 at 07:09 PM
Great story. The hotel must have made out having a Rolls parked in it's prime space for a day or two. Seems like if they really were getting flap
they could have had it towed...
More stories por favor. Being a racer, you no doubt had an "august" group of friends. Write on.