Freedom Across Baja

by Larry Serna

My name is Larry Serna, and Baja isn’t just a place to me: it’s part of who I am.

I was born in 1996 in Chula Vista into a family that already had Baja’s camping and racing spirit running through their veins.

My father used to ride his dirt bike on the weekends in Baja with his friends. I used to always see him go and was really excited to hear the stories he had to tell about his ride.

He is the reason why I started riding dirt bikes and fell in love with Baja.

Some of my earliest memories are of sleeping under the desert sky, watching my mom and dad pack sandwiches and snacks before heading out for the weekend. I remember the smell of the ocean breeze mixing with wood burning in the fire pits. Then, in the distance, the sound of helicopters hovering over the first bikes and trophy trucks ripping through the course.

Those moments shaped me, and I’ll carry them for the rest of my life.

We camped constantly. The combination of Baja’s raw beauty and off-road racing became part of my blood. When my older brother began racing SCORE International, our connection to Baja deepened. We explored places we had never seen before: remote beaches, endless washes, rugged mountains.

In 2013, my father passed away. Instead of pulling me away from Baja, it pulled me closer. I began racing SCORE International myself, and with every mile, my connection to that land grew stronger.

Most of my Baja memories have been made on a dirt bike. I’ve seen some of the most breathtaking landscapes: untouched beaches, open desert, towering mountains, and some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet.

Road trips to La Paz in a Sprinter, chasing races and sunsets. Being alone in the middle of the mountains with nothing but a dirt bike, the wind, and the silence; it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe. Peace and adrenaline at the same time. The stars overhead. Coyotes howling in the distance.

Baja is more than scenery. It’s freedom.

I encourage everyone to experience it at least once: I promise they won’t regret it.