TACOS, SAND DUNES SIGNAL FIRES

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE WITH  SONORA RALLY SCHOOL

- Willem Avenant

The sun is setting, and the throng crossing the San Luis Río Colorado border has dusk, the click-clack of my gear bag setting a strange rhythm. Three flights and a taxi ride later, I was about to cross into Mexico on foot. Waiting on the other side was a white pickup. I had the privilege of being a part of the Sonora Rally School organization, and it was going to be nothing short of an adventure.

When crossing into Mexico, you need a 180-day visitor card for a fee, but the seven-day version is free. After a lengthy chat with the immigration official, mainly explaining what rally is, I joined a smiling Darren Skilton, Sonora Rally’s director/ organizer, in his pickup and offwe went.

The 2022 Sonora Rally School was held in San Luis Río Colorado, and based out of the Araiza Hotel, making access to the vast dunes of the Desierto de Altar reasonably easy. While the Araiza was the base of operations, there’s no doubt that La Faisana was the base for all things culinary, which certainly gives the Sonora Rally School an edge. The proprietor, Paco Durazo, is not only passionate about food but also about welcoming guests into his establishment to share culinary experiences.

Our first “planning” meeting happened also to be an impromptu beer tasting with Paco, sampling some of his finest brews. After deciding upon a plan of action for the days ahead, we retired in preparation for the next day when roadbook checking began.

On Thursday, Rodo (Rodolfo Fernandez, the then Sonora Rally ops director) and I left early via UTV to check the first stage for the school. The day started fast and smooth; the dunes became gradually bigger as we headed deeper into the dune field. Eventually, we burned a belt, a common failure with UTVs, but a new experience for me.