Honda Car Forum

Gavin Skilton made history Saturday by driving his 2009 Honda Ridgeline truck
to the Stock Mini class victory in the 41st annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 off-road
race, the granddaddy of all desert competitions.

Skilton, 38, recorded Honda's first truck win in the legendary Baja 1000 in
an exciting run to the finish line after 631.35 miles. Skilton, who also won
the most recent SCORE International desert event at Primm, Nev., in September,
came from behind with just three miles remaining to capture Honda's first truck
title on the rough Baja, California terrain.

The Orange, Calif., racer led the Stock Mini category early in the event over
competitors the likes of 19-time Baja winner Rod Hall and young star Ryan Millen.
However, Skilton's six-minute advantage evaporated when his Ridgeline truck
suffered a flat tire. He charged back to close on Millen's lead, but the Honda
pickup then became stuck in a silt bed.

Skilton felt his race was over just four miles from the finish, when a rear
axle broke. Skilton and his crew made the axle change expecting to finish second
in the division.

However, just a mile beyond Skilton's misfortune, Millen's Toyota truck encountered
trouble and Skilton was able to drive by to the finish line. Skilton's elapsed
time was 21 hours, 22 minutes and 21 seconds. Hall, seeking a record 20th class
title in the Baja 1000, placed second in a Hummer H-3.

GAVIN SKILTON: "I held a six-minute lead but I made a mistake.
I got caught in the silt. A friend's truck pulled us out of the hole. I had
to make up about six minutes and I couldn't do it. I broke my vehicle trying
to catch the leader. But the competitor [Ryan Millen in a Toyota] broke his
vehicle even worse. He broke one mile from my final breaking point. We replaced
our axle and he is still sitting there. I had a great race up to Mile 570. We
had one small flat when I slammed into a road crossing. That was the only time
I was out of the truck since noon [on the opening day]. I knew it wouldn't be
easy. It was a shorter race than usual in Baja, but the terrain was still tough.
Never underestimate the Baja, ever. I thought my race was over four miles from
the finish. Then, three miles from the finish, my competitor got stuck in a
hole. We always say, 'Don't give up.' And today was proof of that motto. The
Honda Ridgeline was the best handling truck in our class today. It's great to
win this event for Honda."