Magnaflow Exhaust, 4Wheel Parts and AOK Help Wahoo’s Baja Support Run IV Setting Donation Record
ORANGE COUNTY, CA – With the annual Wahoo’s Baja Support Run scheduled for Tuesday, November 16th, event organizers today announced that this year’s effort has set a new record for corporate and private donations. The unique effort which donates much-needed food, supplies and support to the very deserving children’s orphanage of Rancho El Milagro (www.ranchomilagro.org) near Ensenada, Baja, Mexico, has collectively raised more than $16,000 in support for this week’s support run, which takes place in conjunction with the legendary 43rd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Several new companies have been added to the Baja Support Run IV, which enjoys primary support by Wahoo’s Fish Taco; Magnaflow Performance Exhaust, 4Wheel Parts and Hostyle Racing are adding their names to this year’s corporate roll call, which also includes Monster Energy, Azunia Tequila, Blue C Advertising and Alpinestars. In addition, the fourth annual event has received additional support and resources from “guest” teams including the General Tire-backed Team 71 Racing of Rick Johnson and the #213 Herzog Electric ProTruck team.
As has been the case for the past two years, Nick Baldwin’s Acts Of Kindness (www.aoknick.org) organization has also stepped in with cash contributions to aid in the food and building maintenance efforts at Rancho El Milagro.
On Tuesday, all of the supporting race teams and sponsors will join forces in Ensenada to deliver several tons of food and supplies before joining various work groups that will supply labor for building and grounds renovations. Under the guidance of AOK, a group of Mexican contractors will also be completing several major facility upgrades including new roofs on several buildings, the construction of a water dam and bathroom remodeling. In addition, AOK has organized the donation of seven bicycles to the children of the orphanage, while Marcus Vadas and his ONAAiR television program have donated new electronics.
Each of the 40 children and staff at Rancho El Milagro will also receive a specially made backpack donated by Hostyle Racing which will include new toiletries, an event t-shirt and other items.
The Wahoo’s Fish Taco’s racing and charity efforts are centered around three truck team that includes the #13 General Tire Trophy-Truck driven by Ed Stout, Jay Manning and Jake Batulis, the #723 Azuñia Tequila TrophyLite of Jim Riley and Rick Johnson, and the #601 Torchmate/Magnaflow/BFGoodrich Class 6 of JT Taylor, Marty Fiolka, Greg Jones and Mark Levrett.
Based in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Magnaflow joined the charity effort with corporate, product and marketing support. A primary centerpiece of Magnaflow’s effort is via their unique flat black tractor trailer that will haul nearly 10,000 cans of food and supplies to the orphanage Tuesday morning, leading a parade of Wahoo’s Baja Support Run race and support trucks from downtown Ensenada to Rancho El Milagro with a special police escort.
“Magnaflow had heard about the Wahoo’s Support Runs in the past, and this year was asked to participate. We jumped at the chance,” explained Magnaflow Marketing Manager Robert Wilson, who is also serving as a co-rider during the race in the #601 Torchmate Ford Ranger. “This group has done a great job of bringing different people together to give back to Baja. Magnaflow is proud to be a part of a very special program.”
Longtime off-road racing participant and sponsor 4Wheel Parts also recently lent its support to the Wahoo’s Baja Support Run. “Anytime we can give something back to the place that has given this sport and industry so much, it’s the right thing to do,” added 4Wheel Parts President Greg Adler. “The list of corporate and race team supporters this year is impressive, as is the amount of donations and labor being generated by all of those involved.”
The Wahoo’s Baja Support Run began in 2006 and was created by event founder Marty Fiolka and Blue C’s Eric Morley. Originally designed with three race teams helping three charities, the program has now evolved into a single focused effort that supports a larger annual charity effort at the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Monster Energy’s Robert “Scott” Scott and Wahoo’s Wing Lam have supported the program from the beginning.
“Each year our group looks toward making this effort both meaningful to Rancho El Milagro and to activate the idea of doing something for the betterment of the world though charitable work,” explained Fiolka. “For 2010, a major focus for our efforts was to greatly expand what we were giving back to the people of Baja. Judging by the growing enthusiasm for our Support Run and the record amount of donations and corporate support, we are certainly headed in the right direction for 2011 and beyond. Huge thanks to everyone who has helped us reach this new level this year.”
