To close out 2025, I am delighted to share my top Podcast of the year --Sal Fish 1975: The Year That Changed Baja Racing.
Originally released in July, this conversation was recorded to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the first Baja 1000 organized by SCORE, and personally (and painstakingly) marked, mile by mile, by Sal. The 1975 Baja Internacional and Baja 1000 heralded the dawn of the modern era of off-road racing. While never claiming to be a racer himself, Fish and Hot Rod Magazine coworker, Bob Weggland, raced a Revel Model sponsored Baja Bug, competing in the NORRA Mexican 1000 from 1969 to 1971.Fish joined me on the 2025 Slow Baja Vintage Expedition pouring Tequila Fortaleza and sharing stories from his life in off-road racing. Fellow Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famers, journalist, Chris Collard and mechanic and margarita mixer, Curt LeDuc were also part of the Slow Baja Adventure. For more information on joining the Slow Baja Vintage here:https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures/s...More on ORMHOF here: https://ormhof.org/sal-fish Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl... Listen to the previous conversations with Sal here: • Sal Fish On SCORE And More https://youtu.be/uNCqWNMTe3s • Sal Fish The Godfather of Off-Road Racinghttps://youtu.be/xnDq0pL-Y1A?si=5X5RzcP-Z3fCaxks
Raul and Caroline warmly welcome guests to Rancho La Bellota, their 2,800-acre guest ranch located in Tecate, Baja, California. Nestled in a valley of mature oak trees, thirty minutes on a dirt road from the Ruta de Vino, Rancho La Bellota is located very close to the border but feels so very far away.
Since my first visit in 2022, Rancho La Bellota has become my second home—and my first stop in Baja. Every Slow Baja Adventure begins here. Honestly, I usually linger a day or two after each trip, recharging and resetting before heading home.
There’s no cell service at the ranch, and the wifi—available discreetly at the Starlink cabin—is easy to forget. Guests quickly fall into the rhythms of ranch life: coffee is ready at 6:30 AM, and after enjoying a cup on the porch, everyone gathers in the sun-washed dining room for a hearty breakfast.
After breakfast, it’s time to ride. The ranch’s horses, all retired from working cattle, are thoughtfully matched to each rider’s ability and experience—Raul deftly distributes them with the practiced hand of a Vegas dealer. At lunch, longtime guests playfully debate who drew the best mount and scheme to claim that horse on their next visit.
After lunch, a siesta beckons, followed by perhaps another ride or a friendly round of horseshoes. As dusk settles, the candlelit dining room fills with laughter and lively conversation. Raul presides over the table, sparking gentle debates about the news of the day. Later, we retreat to the bar, and Raul pours and imparts his tequila knowledge. The evening winds down by the campfire—bedtime comes early at 9 PM, affectionately called “Baja Midnight.”
Raul is a passionate overlander, piloting a custom pop-top 1969 Chevrolet Suburban he designed himself. He frequently welcomes fellow overlanders journeying along the Baja Peninsula, though he gently reminds guests that Rancho La Bellota isn’t a free campground. As a proud Baja California native, Raul enthusiastically shares his wisdom and stories, helping travelers get the most out of their Pan-American Highway adventure.
Rancho La Bellota is Slow Baja Approved!
Book your stay at Rancho La Bellota here.
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Listen to the 2022 Slow Baja Podcast here.
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Today's Slow Baja Podcast is with Paul and Bonnie, the affable owners of Ignacio Springs Resort in San Ignacio, BC Sur. This was my third visit to Ignacio Springs, and I enjoyed a night in their “new” motel-style rooms across the road from the main property. Located in the heart of the Palmera, on the bank of the tranquil Rio San Ignacio, Paul and Bonnie are warm and welcoming hosts, and their property is spotless. Originally from Canada, they have happily transitioned to life in Baja. The bar is always open, and the American-style breakfast was hearty and delicious. I strongly suggest that you slow your roll and spend some time under the palms, letting the tilapia exfoliate your toes.Bonnie is my go-to for information on many activities, and she will happily connect you with guides for whale-watching or cave-painting excursions. If you are interested in whale watching, I suggest that you make your reservations now. Ignacio Springs Resort is Slow Baja Approved!
Book your stay at Ignacio Springs Resort here.
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Doug and Shannon Miller return to Slow Baja to share their experiences of serving others while traveling. During their first family vacation to Baja, a flat tire forced them to camp next to Rancho Sordo Mundo, a home for the deaf and mute. Meeting the director and the students changed the course of their trip—and their lives—sparking 19 years of service-based travel.As we take a moment to reflect on gratitude at this time of year, enjoy this inspiring conversation with Doug and Shannon Miller. Special thanks to Azure O’Neil for the introduction.To learn more and support the places mentioned in today’s show:World’s Children Foundation click here.Casa Hogar Mulege BCS click here.
FFHM Orphanage Vicente Guerrero BC click here.Rancho Sordo Mundo, Deaf Ministry, click here.PAW Animal Clinic Mulege BCS click here.To contact Shannon Miller about Baja service travel, click here.
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Mike Spurgin of Taco Moto has the best stickers in Baja. In fact, I would venture to say that he may have the best stickers of anyone and any business in the world. While researching Mr. Spurgin, I stumbled across his LinkedIn profile, which I am sharing here without permission. In my opinion, it provides all you need to know about my friend, "Taco Mike."
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Watch Taco Moto videos on YouTube
Learn more about Taco Moto Co
Mentioned in this episode: Slow Baja Vintage Expedition
Benchmark Maps Baja Road and Recreation Atlas
Support the Slow Baja Podcast here
Larry Evans spent his childhood traveling to Baja with his family in the 1960s and 1970s. Evans credits his mother as the instigator in getting the family to Baja. Evans called his mother a pioneer; I would call her an influencer. She would host parties where she would show slides of their family adventures. Encouraged by the images, some of their neighbors eventually bought 4x4s and joined them in Baja too.
Enjoy this heart-warming conversation about idyllic boyhood adventures in the early days of Baja before the highway was paved.
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Mentioned in this episode: Slow Baja Winter Expedition
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Jim Chamberlain met Bruce Meyers in 1963 and began assisting in the design of the iconic Old Red, the first fiberglass dune buggy. By 1966, he was working full-time with Meyers, contributing to the creation of the Meyers Manx buggy and designing the first Sidewinder exhaust system.Encouraged by Meyers, Chamberlain opened his own shop, OC Buggies in 1967, and became a pivitol figure in the growing dune buggy craze. He built the #10 Meyers Manx for Vic Wilson, which won the 1967 NORRA Mexican 1000 race. In 1968, he gained recognition at the first Bug-In and supported several teams in the NORRA Mexican 1000 by entering and racing his wife’s stock 1965 VW bus.In 1969, he built a VW convertible for actor Paul Newman and began racing dune buggies at Ascot Park. Throughout the 1970s, he continued to innovate in off-road vehicles and participated in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb and SCORE Riverside Grand Prix.In 2022, he drove the #10 Replica Meyers Manx in the Slow Baja Safari Class of the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally and showcased it at the 2023 Mint 400 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame exhibit. Now 82, Jim remains an active participant in Meyers Manx Club events, serving as an ambassador for off-road racing.
Follow Jim Chamberlain on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jim.chamberlain.583
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https://www.instagram.com/meyersmanx/?hl=en
Mentioned in this episode: Slow Baja Vintage Expeditionhttps://www.slowbaja.com/adventuresBenchmark Maps Baja Road and Recreation Atlashttps://longitudemaps.com/products/ba...Support the Slow Baja Podcasthttps://www.slowbaja.com/supportBuy Baja Bound Insurancehttps://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl...
In this episode of Slow Baja, we highlight our sponsor, Toby Pond of Scheel-Mann USA. Toby and I met during the 2022 NORRA 1000 event. I was on the side of the road in the Mag 7 pit, watching as my 50-year-old bench seat frame was being repaired.
Pond was there supporting a Baja racing Porsche 911, which was the first Porsche to finish the NORRA. We struck up a conversation about seats, and he gently probed my thoughts on aftermarket options. Given the circumstances of the repair and how the seat had broken in the first place, I was feeling a bit cranky. I realized I was being snippy, so I adjusted my tone and poured Toby a sip of my sponsored Fortaleza Still Strength tequila.
He mentioned that a colleague on the Porsche team was in the tequila industry and invited her over to join us. She quickly informed me that Still Strength was illegal in Mexico and was very curious about how I was "so connected" to be pouring Fortaleza—especially since they "never sponsor anything" —and Still Strength, which was quite rare, expensive, and illegal where we were enjoying it.
Our friendship began during that dusty roadside repair in Baja. A few weeks later, a pair of Scheel-Mann seats: a Vario F for me and a Vario F XXL for my navigator were in Slow Baja. The improvement has been life-changing, and my back is much happier now. No exaggeration—the Scheel-Mann seats are by far the best modification I’ve made to my truck.
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Learn more about Scheel-Mann USA
Mentioned in this episode: Slow Baja Vintage Expedition
Benchmark Maps Baja Road and Recreation Atlas
Overcrest Rally Overcrest Rally
Support the Slow Baja Podcast
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Sean Jansen spent the first 25 years of his life in Southern California. Growing up as a surfer, he endeavored to spend every waking minute in the ocean. By 26, he had travelled to 26 countries and lived internationally in both China and Colombia. Upon returning to the US, Sean moved to Montana, where he guides clients in Yellowstone National Park and writes about the great outdoors.
In this conversation, we focus on his passion to raise awareness of the plight of the highly endangered Vaquita Porpoise through his 1000-mile stand-up paddleboard expedition down the length of the Gulf of California.
Jansen survived the perilous journey with the help of Slow Baja Alums, Michael Younghusband and Graham Mackintosh. He’s written a beautiful account of the voyage titled, Paddling With Porpoise, which is available on Amazon. After more than a year in the works, I am delighted to share this conversation about Jansen’s journey through recovery, discovery, and conservation, paddling down the second-longest peninsula on the planet.
100% of the proceeds from this book will be donated to conservation.
Learn more about Sean Jansen here:
https://www.jansenjournals.com/
Follow Sean on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jansen_journals/
Mentioned in this episode: Slow Baja Vintage Expedition:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures/slow-baja-vintage-expedition-1
Buy Baja Bound Insurance here:
Sal Fish, the Godfather of Baja racing is back for his third conversation on the Slow Baja Podcast. We recorded this one back in March on our way home from the epic Slow Baja Winter Expedition.
We gathered to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the first Baja 1000 organized by SCORE, and personally and painstakingly marked by Sal. The 1975 Baja Internacional and Baja 1000 heralded the dawn of the modern era of off-road racing. Before his joining SCORE, Sal was the Publisher of Hot Rod Magazine at Petersen Publications. He and advertising salesman Bob Weggland raced a Revel Model Company-sponsored Baja Bug in the NORRA Mexican 1000 from 1969 to 1971.
Fish will join me on the 2025 Slow Baja Vintage Expedition to share stories from his life in off-road racing. Joining him on the trip are fellow Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famers, journalist Chris Collard, and mechanic and chief margarita-mixer, Curt LeDuc.
Learn more about the Slow Baja Vintage here:
https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures/slow-baja-vintage-expedition-1
More on Sal Fish and ORMHOF here:
https://ormhof.org/sal-fish
Get your Baja insurance here: https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl9vypdv2t
Listen to the previous conversations with Sal here:
https://youtu.be/uNCqWNMTe3s?si=8AVUBgidk0N-YMnk
https://youtu.be/xnDq0pL-Y1A?si=PW3kbFDOgjcJ5WWZ
Renowned for his eclectic urban style and Baja-Med cuisine, Chef Chad White is fluent in life and food on both sides of the border. Born in Spokane, WA, he received his culinary training while serving in the US Navy. After a stint cooking at the famed Hotel Del Coronado, Chef White moved to Tijuana and opened La Justina Gastro Pub.
After an acclaimed run at La Justina and a stint on Top Chef, White returned to his hometown of Spokane, Washington, and opened Zona Blanca Ceviche Bar, High Tide Lobster Bar, and TTs Old Iron Brewery and Barbecue. He was a James Beard regional finalist in 2020.
Trail Feast, his latest venture, combines rugged exploration with fine dining. Guests can explore challenging trails, enjoy custom culinary experiences cooked over an open flame, and relax with expertly crafted cocktails. It’s the ultimate blend of adventure and indulgence. To receive notification about the Slow Baja Trail Feast event please email me here.
This podcast mentions Overland Expo, La Justina, and Trail Feast
"Jeff's life is built around pictures, and he has been making, showing and selling art for more than 30 years.
Whether it's making fine art paintings of Baja California or shooting commercial projects, Jeff's focus is on inspiring enthusiasm for the spaces, faces, and places that make up the world around us."
Learn more @Jeffehonea.com
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Mentioned in this episode: Slow Baja Winter Expedition
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Blue-collar racer Curt LeDuc is a self-made “Imagineer” and Trophy Truck Champion who was born in the unlikely state of Rhode Island. “Why was I born in Rhode Island? Because I wanted to be close to my mother,” LeDuc quips.He has spent decades building and racing his own vehicles at the highest levels of desert racing. LeDuc has achieved notable success, winning the championship in desert class 8 for five consecutive years. He also holds two titles from the Short Course Off-Road Drivers Association, a Governor’s Cup, and a rare and valuable Borg Warner Cup. His impressive career includes victories at renowned events like Crandon, Pikes Peak, the Dakar Rally, and Baja.LeDuc is highly regarded for achieving his accomplishments through hard work and his indomitable spirit. He has earned a reputation for being able to fix anything. Sal Fish once said, “Curt is the guy you want with you in Baja; if he can’t fix it, he knows a guy who can.”I am excited to announce that LeDuc will serve as Mechanic and Sweep for the 2025 Slow Baja Vintage Expedition.Enjoy this conversation with Curt LeDuc, recorded on his 70th birthday.Follow Curt LeDuc on InstagramMentioned in this episode:Curt LeDuc Baja Legends TourSupport the Slow Baja Podcasthttps://www.slowbaja.com/supportBuy Baja Bound Insurance
Bi-national artist Paola Villaseñor, known as Panca, is from Chula Vista and has spent over half her life in Tijuana. After her mother's death in 2005, she moved to Tijuana, where she found inspiration in the city's creativity, nightlife, affordability, and danger.
Her art reflects themes of feminism and humanity's decay. "With art, you work with your heart, and it can become dark when you expose your vulnerability, but it’s also pure. Art has been my therapy, my burden, and my savior."
Panca's career took off with her solo show, “I Am the Architect of My Own Misfortune,” at Bread & Salt in 2020, accompanied by her first book, “Los Perdidos.” Her mural "Respect the Paleteros," featuring a distressed and melting ice cream cone, has become an icon in San Diego's Barrio Logan neighborhood.
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Dr. Sean Michael is a professor of Outdoor Product Design & Development at Utah State University, and a writer and product tester in the off-road market for over two decades. His articles have appeared in ADVrider, BMW MOA Owner’s News, Offroad.com, and other magazines. His research and teaching include the history of vehicle-based adventure travel. He has also taught at trade shows like SEMA, the Adventure Van Expo, and Overland Expo for the past decade, with classes ranging from solar power to responsible human waste and outfitting vans for the rigors of overlanding.
This episode mentions the Slow Baja Winter Expedition, Benchmark Maps Baja Road and Recreation Atlas, and the Pee Sport Bottle.
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Paul d'Orleans is a renowned expert in motorcycle history and culture. He is best known as the founder of The Vintagent, a highly influential blog. In addition to his primary identity as a rider extraordinaire of vintage machines, d'Orleans is a noted curator, writer, and photographer. To make things more challenging, especially in Baja, he often shoots in large format and employs antique wet plate processes. A true Renaissance man, he is also a filmmaker, Concours judge, commentator, and above all, Paul d'Orleans is phenomenally well-dressed.
Learn more about The Vintagent here:
Get your Baja insurance here:
https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl
For more info on Slow Baja Adventures, visit: https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
Lou Bank is the founder of SACRED, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural Mexican communities that produce heritage agave spirits. He also co-hosts the podcast "Agave Road Trip," which aims to help bartenders gain a deeper understanding of agave, agave spirits, and rural Mexico.
Lou is a genuinely kind and caring individual, and I am thrilled to share this Slow Baja conversation with you. I'd suggest you pour yourself a fine Tequila Fortaleza or your favorite Mezcal and enjoy the conversation.
Follow the work of SACRED in Mexico here.
Follow SACRED on Instagram.
Listen to the "Agave Road Trip" podcast.
In this Slow Baja Conversation, we meet Vitza and Cesar, the gracious hosts at the beautiful Rancho La Concepción. Originally from Mexico City, the duo met while engaged in conservation work in Baja California. Rancho La Concepcion is a realization of their combined dream to give back to the world by creating a sacred space for thoughtful travelers.
The main reason to visit Rancho La Concepcion is the unparalleled stargazing, but the easy access to nature, miles of hiking trails, and slower pursuits like forest bathing, meditation, and yoga are equally compelling reasons to stay.
I've stayed three times and shared the experience with my Slow Baja Vintage Expeditions. I appreciate the slow vibe and silence that envelop the property. On my next visit, I hope to get a glimpse of the local Condor population. I highly recommend their cottages. With prior notice, meals are available, and I can attest that Cesar is a fine cook. If you visit the ranch in the fall, you may be lucky to enjoy an apple pie from their ancient orchard.
Rancho La Concepcion is worth the drive and is Slow Baja Approved!
Learn more about Rancho La Concepcion and book your stay: http://www.rancholaconcepcion.com/
Get your Baja insurance here:
https://www.bajabound.com/quote/?r=fl
For additional information on Slow Baja Adventures, visit: https://www.slowbaja.com/adventures
Malcolm Smith is a legendary figure in off-road racing, known for his remarkable achievements on two and four wheels. Between 1966 and 1976, he won eight gold medals in the International Six Day Trial and six Baja 1000 titles—three times on a motorcycle and three times in a car. In 1967, he and teammate J.N. Roberts shared first place on a bike in the inaugural NORRA Mexican 1000. Smith died on November 26, 2024, at 83 years old, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. In September 2020, I was lucky to sit down with him at his home, where I recorded this conversation. He was part of the inaugural class of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and has been featured in the film On Any Sunday alongside Steve McQueen. Despite his fame, he remained humble and actively supported the El Oasis Orphanage in Baja Norte through his Malcolm Smith Motorsports Foundation, which provides full tuition for university or trade schools to the children there. During our conversation, he fought valiantly to find and form the words to answer my questions. After we wrapped, Smith apologized for his performance. He is a relentless competitor, always striving to do his best. Before I left, I followed him up his long driveway in 110-degree heat. He wanted to show me a couple of old Land Rovers that he had stashed in his orchard. I had to hustle to keep up! Learn more about Malcolm Smith:
http://www.malcolmsmithmotorsportsfoundation.org/ https://www.malcolmsmithadventures.com
https://ormhof.org/malcolm-smith SUPPORT THE SLOW BAJA PODCAST: https://buymeacoffee.com/slowbaja BUY SLOW BAJA MERCHANDISE: https://www.slowbaja.com/shop FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM: @slowbaja Subscribe to the Slow Baja YouTube channel: / @slowbaja
In this episode, Maurice Merrick, who hosts the fabulous Horsepower Heritage Podcast, joined me to discuss his experience on the Fall 2024 Slow Baja Vintage Expedition.
Maurice and Slow Baja Vintage Expedition alum Derek Boycks drove Derek's 1996 Land Rover Discovery. Upon arrival in Mexico, we stopped to procure our F.M.M. Visas; Maurice was deported because he forgot to bring his passport. We resolved that issue quickly and got Maurice across the border and back on the road. Just before we arrived at Rancho La Bellota, they drove over a rock and tore a hole in their muffler. The newly unmuffled Land Rover sounded like a menacing drag racer!
Derek, a master mechanic, won the "Baja Is Right For You Award" for quietly fixing several minor issues on a number of vehicles, including a hazardous steering issue on my truck. Most importantly, he utilized some spare ignition parts from my Land Cruiser to rebuild the ignition on an FJ40 whose PerTronix had failed, so their engine wouldn't start.
I was a guest on Maurice's Horsepower Heritage Podcast back in 2021. You can listen to the show here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baja-tales-with-michael-emery/id1525657159?i=1000525723732
Find Horsepower Heritage on Instagram @horsepowerheritage
YouTube: https://youtu.be/MuH7G4N-dYU?si=RmwPlcuJYfSsQPd7
SUPPORT THE SLOW BAJA PODCAST:
https://buymeacoffee.com/slowbaja
BUY SLOW BAJA MERCHANDISE:
https://www.slowbaja.com/shop
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
@slowbaja
Slow Baja on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slow-baja/id1511808843
Subscribe to the Slow Baja YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@slowbaja