Ensenada, B.C. Mexico —The Baja California peninsula epitomizes the heart and soul of desert racing. Its natural beauty, quaint towns, Pacific coastline and enthusiastic crowds make it like no other place in desert racing. The 47th running of the Baja 500 held an additional treat for racers. Along with Baja’s amazing scenery and people, this year’s course took racers through areas that have not been raced in many years including the amazing Pine Forest and the challenging La Rumorosa grade as well as familiar places like Ojos Negros, Valley T and Uruapan. The challenge and diversity as well as the scenic beauty of the terrain make the Baja 500 legendary.

In the weeks prior to the race, teams arrived in northern Baja to pre-run the course that awaited them. Cody Parkhouse arrived in Ensenada with a mission: to defend his 2014 Class 1 Baja 500 title. Cody qualified 5th in the field of 19 Class 1 buggies. This year’s Baja 500 would claim almost half of it’s Class 1 starters before the race was over. The team of Cody and his dad Brian battled their way ahead of the pack in Jimco car 127 equipped with an Albins AGB 5-speed sequential gearbox and crossed the finish line at the top of the Class 1 heap. 

Learn more about Albins AGB gearboxes.

The elder half of the father/son team started behind the wheel out of Ensenada. During the first half of the race, Brian Parkhouse built a sizable lead. By mile 300, the Parkhouse team in car 127 lead by 25 minutes over the next Class 1 racer. Cody took the car to the finish and was pleased with his half of the race. He credits the hours and miles spent pre-running and a top notch car prep for an enjoyable victory. This year’s win marks the second straight for Parkhouse Motorsports at the Baja 500.

Car 127 was not the only Parkhouse car to snag a spot on the Class 1 podium. New to Class 1, Brent Parkhouse along with Baja veterans Chuck Sachs and Matt Cullen battled their way up from the bottom of Class 1 qualifying to take third in the Albins AGB equipped car 128. Brent and company completed the race a mere 8 minutes behind Class 1 second place finisher Rob Archibald. Very impressive for a driver with limited experience with the big boys. We expect to see great things from him in the future.

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