Baja MisAdventures: Is Scumbug Finally Ready to Rip?!

It's been seven years since the "scumbug" vehicle has been south of the border, and after months of preparation by Mr. Wilky to get it back into fighting shape, it's finally time for a trip involving tacos and shredding. The scumbug had a transmission issue after its SEMA reveal, where it lost third gear, but the team is hoping it's now good to go, despite forgetting a fire extinguisher. The journey began with a border crossing debacle that lasted about an hour. Border officials meticulously went through all bags and attempted to tax every spare part and gallon of gas. Blake had to use Facebook Marketplace to argue that their spare parts were only worth $400, a claim that was debated and eventually settled at $700, despite the true value being closer to five grand. After this, they successfully crossed into Tijuana. Upon reaching Ensenada, the team arranged for a Polaris Pro R side-by-side as a support vehicle, a four-seater provided by Jesse, ensuring enough room for everyone. They also met up with their local tour guides, Poppy and Junior, who were driving the "loco truck" and were set to show them around. The first order of business was to find sombreros and official "garb" for the crew. Their first stop was Asterero Beach, known for its short course track and previous adventures with Mike Cox and Vince. Poppy and Junior led them to a "secret sacred spot" with a cross that blesses Ensenada, where they planned to bless the "newfound scumbag" before their main adventures the following day. The immediate agenda included getting some gear, checking out the spot, and then enjoying some tacos and "Curveas." The team then embarked on a shopping trip for sombreros. After some haggling, they managed to purchase four sombreros for $95, down from an initial asking price of $55 each for "wedos." Day one concluded with their arrival at La Cruz, with the driver's left leg feeling the strain from all the clutch work in traffic. Despite the day's challenges, there was a good feeling about the next day, as the scumbag "smells and sounds real crispy." The following day promised extreme adventures. They headed to a private beach, where Poppy had to call someone to grant them access. The goal was to get the scumbug airborne with a beautiful backdrop, aiming for the rear wheels to be about six feet off the ground, ideally level. However, the scumbug started spluttering and breaking up, possibly due to a fuel cell issue or the vehicle not liking saltwater. It was discovered that the O2 sensor port was unplugged, which might have been the cause. The vehicle was hitting speeds of 70 mph, which was a lot, especially after a recent tune. After being kicked off the private beach, Junior and Poppy led them to another local spot by an old lagoon. Junior had done a test run and reported "big sandy deep whoops," meaning they needed to maintain speed. The team then went for a ride, which proved to be quite chaotic. The ride was so intense that the driver sustained some minor injuries and sand in his eyes. He noted that if it had been the old "scum bucket," it would have "died" at that speed. During a break, a large crack was discovered in the exhaust, which was negatively impacting boost levels. While not ideal, they still planned to "send it," but with caution to avoid sand entering the turbo. Soon after, police arrived, prompting a quick exit. It was finally taco time, but Poppy and Junior had mysteriously disappeared. After a quick text to Junior, they reunited for tacos. One of the crew couldn't eat cheese due to "battle shits," but was willing to risk it for the "biscuit." They joked about washing it down with "sink water" for a "south of the border cleanse." Their next stop was the famed Asterero Beach short course track, located near a "sick" hotel. Poppy revealed he had raced there in 1999 in a stock Baja book short course race, making it a familiar spot for him but a new experience for the others, especially in the scumbag. The plan was for Poppy to take the scumbag for a rip, then the driver would take it and get notes from Poppy. The scumbug ran out of fuel on the first lap of the track, a consequence of the E85 fuel's poor mileage. Despite this, the driver noted that the scumbug was "so much faster now" and that he had quickly figured out how to drive it, even with some accidental gear grinding. He admitted to "pussyfooting it" initially to avoid crashing on camera. Then it was Poppy's turn to drive. He went "hard," but the scumbag seemed to have no boost, likely due to the cracked exhaust. Poppy confirmed there was no turbo boost. During his run, the exhaust completely broke off. Despite the damage, the crew was ready for beers and to go to a party.