![\"Tavo](\"http:\/\/bajatraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Tavo-Vildosola.jpg\")
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Continuing a Family Tradition<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n By Rick Stedman<\/span><\/p>\n Born into a family where off-road racing was the driving force in life, Gustavo Vild\u00f3sola Jr., aka Tavo,<\/strong> is blessed with a talent he inherited from his father. The family hobby \u2013 Vild\u00f3sola Racing<\/strong> \u2013 was started by Tavo\u2019s father, Gustavo. \u201cToday, our team has evolved into one of the premier teams in off-road racing,\u201d<\/em> says Tavo. \u201cOur philosophy at Vild\u00f3sola Racing is very simple: Win! We are not in this to take second place, or bring home a moral victory. We understand that we are at somewhat of a disadvantage since family racing is our hobby while most of our top competitors do this for a living. This obviously makes us strive for success and greatness even more.\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Tavo shares a few quotes that are near and dear to his heart. \u201cMy favorite saying that mainly applies to racing is \u2018go big or go home.\u2019 When it comes to merging racing and our business which is transportation, I borrow a saying from Toyota: \u2018Our minds are always racing.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Born in El Centro, Calif., Tavo lived in Mexicali, Baja California for several years. The family then moved to San Diego where he attended Francis Parker High School and later, the University of San Diego. \u201cI believe my career path had really been set in the family business ever since I was born,\u201d<\/em> Tavo observes. \u201cThe family business changed from what it was originally, but I came to really enjoy what we do in transportation and accept the challenges it presents on a daily basis.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Fondness for Mexico An avid skier and scuba diver, Tavo also shares some of his favorite travel destinations within Mexico. \u201cMy favorite thing to do in Mexico is travel, followed closely by off-road racing,\u201d<\/em> says Tavo. \u201cThere are so many beautiful places to consider; from the beaches on the Riviera Maya to the jungles in southern Mexico, and the deserts in Baja, there is just so much to choose from. Also, racing in the most remote parts of Baja, and taking in the beauty of places that resemble Hawaii or the pine forests of Colorado, these are simply unforgettable experiences.\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Off-road racing has been an incredible catalyst to tourism in Mexico\u2019s Baja region. \u201cMany people thought Baja ended in Tijuana,\u201d<\/em> says Tavo, \u201cbut through off-road racing, visitors continue to discover that the state of Baja California is one of the most diverse and beautiful places in the world.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Community and family appreciation Vild\u00f3sola Racing is the only Mexican racing team to win the Baja 1000 twice \u2013 it is the most famous race in the off-road world. The team brought home its first Baja 1000 first-place trophy in 2010, following up with another victory in 2012. \u201cVild\u00f3sola Racing is our hobby; it\u2019s our toy garage, and we do this for fun,\u201d<\/em> Tavo shares. \u201cWe hope that future generations of Vild\u00f3sola\u2019s continue to enjoy racing as we do. In the immediate future, we see the next challenge for our racing team to win the Dakar Rally in South America.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This year, Vild\u00f3sola Racing will participate in half a dozen races including THE MINT 400, the Baja 500,<\/strong> and the Baja 1000<\/strong> that finishes in Ensenada. The first race of the 2016 season \u2013 the San Felipe 250<\/strong> \u2013 will be Vildosola\u2019s fourth attempt at conquering this race after winning the overall in 2013, 2014, and 2015.<\/p>\n Much of Tavo\u2019s success is a direct result of his positive family life. \u201cI thank my family, my parents, my wife Leticia and children Ximena, Valeria, and Gustavo for supporting me in my job, and especially my hobby, off-road racing. Though I\u2019m away from home for half of the calendar year, none of what I do would matter without their unwavering support; none of this would be possible!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Born into a family where off-road racing was the driving force in life, Gustavo Vild\u00f3sola Jr., aka Tavo, is blessed with a talent he inherited from his father.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[673,114],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/b><\/span>Tavo shares some of the unique treasures that await visitors to Mexico. \u201cThe New York Times recently selected Mexico City as the top destination to visit during 2016,\u201d<\/em> shares Tavo. Apparently, his holiness Pope Francis read the article, too! The pontiff visited Mexico\u2019s capital this past February. \u201cI believe that this should reinstill confidence in Mexico as a premier destination in the world for tourism. In terms of business, the commitment from automakers to invest more than $20 billion in Mexico over the next five years is huge for our industry.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b><\/span>To ensure it remains that way for tourists and locals alike, Tavo and his colleagues in the racing business stepped up to the challenge when Hurricane Odile<\/strong> made an unexpected visit to the region in 2014. In the aftermath of Hurricane Odile, a group of friends, who are also passionate off-road racers, put together a relief effort called Baja Strong<\/strong> with <\/span>the simple goal of helping the hurricane victims. The idea was first to send a few trucks to Baja with relief items, but thankfully the movement got bigger and stronger by the day. In a period of six weeks, Baja Strong collectively sent more than 220 tons of supplies. \u201cIt was a small way to payback the people of Baja who have been extremely hospitable to the racing community for so many decades,\u201d<\/em> says Tavo.<\/p>\n