A group of friends have brought their skills together to transform an old-school Volkswagen Beetle, named Tope, in order to take part in one of the world’s most ruthless races. The Baja 1000 is a Mexican desert race which takes place annually in the Baja California Peninsula. It’s the longest point to point off-road race in the world, that's run in a single day. Josh McGuckin, one of Tope's mechanics, explained how much of a challenge preparing for the race was for the team. He told FutureStudiosCars: “Driving this car in the Baja 1000 can be summed up for me in one word, exhausting.” To an outsider the car would appear as just a “really old bugg” but once inside, “suddenly it just comes to life”. Starting with the VW Beetle was a huge undertaking for the team, as they had to modify the classic 1970 car to be suitable for the incredibly harsh conditions. However, the extreme nature of this race did take its toll on the well-loved vehicle, “every time you come back from a race, you’re constantly rebuilding and replacing everything”, Josh explained. The bugg may not be the fastest car, but it’s capable of doing the job for this team. And the teamwork paid off as Tope triumphantly reached the finish line. Josh spoke about his relief and elation, “every time we race this car, we learn something new."
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MotorTranscript
00:00 00;01;10;12 00;01;13;22 Project Baja was born when a group
00:29 of friends set about entering one of the world's most brutal off-road races in an old school
00:34 Volkswagen Beetle.
00:35 00;01;34;22 00;01;39;22 The Baja 1000 is the longest point-to-point
00:41 off-road race in the world that's run in a single day.
00:45 We decided to race it because we just really like a challenge.
00:49 They took a 1970 Bug, threw in a roll cage, added all-terrain tires, an auxiliary oil
00:54 cooler and a whole heap of other mods.
00:57 We started with the stock Volkswagen motor.
01:00 We've lifted the suspension using all-stock components, put a fuel cell, breathing, new
01:05 shocks, a GPS, a radio, and all new lighting so you can see in the night.
01:09 It's a very stock-looking car on the outside, but there's a few features that give it away,
01:13 like these big, goofy skid plates and these really bright lights.
01:17 Every single component on it was purpose-built by the team to race the Baja 1000.
01:23 And in addition to that, the Volkswagen logo is blessed by the Pope.
01:25 With modifications complete and holy approval, the team named the car Topé and set out for
01:32 the desert.
01:36 The Beetle's perfect for this race because of the preparation that goes into it.
01:39 It's able to get through a lot of the really difficult terrain that takes out other vehicles.
01:43 When you get into the interior of the car, you get into the GPS and the radio.
01:48 You've got an intercom and you've got air that pumps into your helmet so you can breathe
01:51 in the dust.
01:52 The custom dash gives you all types of information from gauges and switches.
01:56 You can turn on each light individually and all of the things that makes it so that you
02:00 can continue on in the race.
02:02 Every time you come back from a race, you're constantly rebuilding and replacing everything,
02:06 so it's really just throwing money out the window.
02:09 And it's not just about the car.
02:12 In a race where many vehicles don't go the distance, to even have a hope of completing
02:17 the course, there's a whole crew behind the scenes.
02:22 There's a lot of people that have to bring fuel and tools along the course because it's
02:25 very remote.
02:26 And so we like to put all the names of all the people that support the car on the top.
02:31 I wanted to be a part of this project because it's always been a dream of mine to race the
02:35 Baja 1000.
02:36 It seemed like one of the greatest adventures a person could have.
02:40 My role on the team is co-driver, graphic designer, art director, and webmaster.
02:44 You could be doing anything on any given day.
02:47 One day you could be fabricating a mount for the traction boards, and another day you could
02:51 be wiring up the communications.
02:53 This might not be the fastest car, but it sure is capable.
02:56 It'll go up nearly anything you point it at.
03:00 It feels great to be sitting in the car again.
03:02 Every time I drive this thing, I'm always amazed at how capable it is.
03:06 It's a 40-year-old car that's mostly stock.
03:09 It is not originally designed to drive on this terrain so good.
03:14 It's quite a bit of fun to drive.
03:18 Man.
03:19 I love driving this thing.
03:21 It's amazing.
03:22 You get in the car, you think it's a really old bug, and then suddenly it just comes to
03:26 life.
03:27 It's roaring, it's fast, it's just incredible.
03:28 Driving this car in the Baja 1000 can be summed up for me in one word, exhausting.
03:29 You are out in the middle of nowhere, and there's a constant barrage of input and stimulus.
03:30 Driving this car is like riding a bike.
03:31 It's so good.
03:32 And the team was right.
03:33 It's a great idea.
03:34 I think it's a great idea.
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