Riders and bikes meet for Baja 50th anniversary

Dave Ekins and Johnny Campbell to celebrate historic ride

Legendary riders and vintage motorcycles will gather in Mission Viejo, California on Saturday, August 4 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first official timed off-road run from Tijuana to La Paz, Mexico. Dave Ekins, the man who started what would become the Baja 1000, and 11-time Baja winner Johnny Campbell will be at Shepherd of the Hills church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be cars, trucks and motorcycles on display, plus sharing of stories and photo opportunities with the people and machines that shaped off-roading history. It was in 1962 that Ekins, along with Bill Robertson Jr., challenged the rugged Baja California. Today the Baja 1000 is the toughest and longest running off-road event in the world, involving trucks, cars, ATVs and motorcycles.

The event is free and open to the public, and food will be available to purchase. Yugo Ministries will provide information on “giving back to Baja.” Shepherd of the Hills is located at 26001 Muirlands Boulevard, Mission Viejo, California 92691.