From June 5th to June 8th, 2014, the Baja 500 – the internationally renowned, most infamous, dangerous and exciting off-road motor race on Earth – enters its 47th year with yet another thrilling, insane, no-holds-barred free-for-all Cannonball Run across heat-baked desert of Ensenada, Mexico.
The race is always a nail-biting thrill-fest, but for all of us here at BaDoink, the 2014 Baja 500 is going to be even more nerve-wracking because two of our very own people – Mark Hoashi, the co-founder of CM Productions, LLC, and Tim Whale, CEO of Smoochy Brands, LLC, and its hugely popular online dating site WellHello! – are actually taking part.
If that wasn’t enough to get us all fearing for our future livelihoods – it’s no secret that the Baja 500 has proved to be fatal for even the most professional of drivers – neither Tim nor Mark has ever done anything like this before. Yes, that’s right, you heard it correctly… two total novices have decided it would be a good idea to take part in an off-road race with a history that blazes with bone-crunching terrain, some incredible triumphs, a hell of a lot more maddening defeats and, as we just hinted, tragic, tragic deaths. Frankly I’d feel safer hunkering down for the night in a sleeping bag full of snakes.
Live or die – or, possibly, horribly maimed to the point where they have to be rebuilt with gunmetal tech to become the world’s first Robo-CEOs – these are exciting times. Not only will they be risking life and limb, Mark and Tim’s journey will also form the core of a TV pilot documentary, shot by the internationally respected Match Stick Productions and Emmy-nominated cinematographer Steve Winter. The film will focus on the guys’ unlikely journey from online entrepreneurs to competitors in the world’s most dangerous off-road race.
The pilot will feature coverage of the backstory, as well as the build-up and pre-event training, and thanks to a Cineflex-mounted chase helicopter, Match Stick Productions will be following Team BaDoink all the way to the finish line in glorious 1080p cinematography.
Humberson and Andrew Hendricks are also behind a company called Driven Experiences, which has been responsible for providing Team BaDoink with its truck. Driven Experiences offers off-roading adventure driving and schooling in Colorado’s canyon country, providing their guests with exclusive Pro-Baja desert racing trucks and knowledgeable instructors to lead them through a 2-mile training facility, also making sure that people are taught the dynamics of off-road vehicles before putting them into practice. So we know Team BaDoink is in good hands.
Live coverage of the 2014 Baja 500 comes courtesy of CBS Sports, which means that even before the documentary pilot is aired, Team BaDoink can look forward to around 10m viewers tuning in to see our iconic logo roar across the desert, not to mention the millions expected to watch the race online, and of course, in Ensenada, the 30,000 starting line attendees and the other 350,000 trackside viewers.
In case there was still any doubt in your minds by this point, the Baja 500… is… MASSIVE! As is the spirit driving Team BaDoink. Mark and Tim are on an incredible journey, and not just across the desert at barmy, breakneck speeds. They are on a journey of discovery… and we’re going to be with them all the way, bringing you news of their progress and, of course, getting each and every one of you Doinks and Doinkettes out there all the news and gossip from the Baja 500 as a whole.
So fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride. Except for you guys, Tim and Mark. I mean fasten your seat belts, obviously, but damn well concentrate!
looks sick…! Best of luck to all those involved!