By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The epic 2024 Baja Nevada off-road endurance race, put on by Legacy Racing, began in Mesquite last week. A host of events geared up for a two-day, 610 mile off-road race stretching across the desert between Mesquite and Ely, Nevada and beyond.

But before the race began, there was plenty of fun for both racers and the public. Events began on Wednesday, June 26.
The CasaBlanca resort played host to the opening festivities. a

Registration for the race was held on Wednesday in the CasaBlanca banquet room. Participants signed up to race in no less than ten different competition categories including motorcycles, quads, cars, trucks and UTV’s.

On Wednesday afternoon, select classes of racers completed a qualifying round in the desert near Scenic, Arizona. At stake was the starting line position for the big race on Friday.
On Thursday a Fanfest event was held in the CasaBlanca parking lot and was open to the public. Racing equipment and off-road accessory vendors were there.

The 107 vehicle entries were also getting safety and tech inspections in preparation for the race. Members of the public could chat with the racers and see the vehicles up close. Attendees could also pick up plenty of racing swag at the Fanfest event.

Herman Johnson came from Albuquerque New Mexico to race vehicle #T851. “I have been racing for 20 years and I do it because its fun,” Johnson said. “I have a day job to help pay for the tires.”
Johnson’s co-driver Steve Allen added, “The most dangerous part of racing is driving at night.” This particular race did not require that.

Some of the racers will be carrying a picture of a veteran victim of suicide, provided by “Race to Erase 22.” This is a non-profit organization that advocates for awareness of military suicides. They bring a Memorial Wall pictures of the fallen to the registrations hoping some will honor the fallen by putting their pictures on their vehicles.
“We also provide opportunities for veterans to ride along in an off-road race,” said Race to Erase 22 co-founder Debbie Burgos.

Legacy Racing is owned by Donald and Kristy Jackson of Overton and Liz Marshall of Las Vegas.
“It has been really nice here,” said Kristy Jackson. “I am excited at how welcoming and helpful the City of Mesquite, Parks & Recreation Department, the Mesquite Police Department and the CasaBlanca Resort have been to us.”

Three local off road racers participated in the race. Reed Dodenbier raced in a truck. Kyle Tichenor and Tanner Jacobson both competed on motorcycles.
Tichenor is an avid racer. He has been in many races. “I signed up at the last minute,” he said. “But I am still out to win my category.”

On Friday morning the contestants were were ready to be off and racing. The motorcycle category departed early at 6 am from the start position about 20 miles northwest of Mesquite.

The cars, trucks and UTV divisions participated in police-escorted procession from CasaBlanca resort, south down Riverside Road and through Mesquite to get to the starting position. They took off at 10 am.

There was not a large turnout to watch the procession. Kristy Jackson said that in some other cities where Legacy Racing organizes events, many people come out with signs of support as the procession departs.

Baja Nevada is a 2-day endurance race. On the first day, the participants travel 361 miles, ending near the Ward Charcoal ovens in the vicinity of Ely. Nevada. The second day was a 250-mile loop to the north of Ely and ending back in Ely.