Going off-road for a reason

Birmingham featureCosta Mesa resident competed in the Baja 1000, but not before completing a mission of mercy for two orphanages.It was less than eight months ago when Costa Mesa resident Jim Birmingham decided to open a motorsports shop and charity.

Birmingham Motorsports, which has a goal of “raising funds and awareness” to assist children in Mexico, is now in its seventh month of operation, already having competed in a Class-1 Division race at last month’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

Racing 4 Kids, the charity founded by Birmingham Motorsports, has experienced equal success in only five months. While in Baja California for the race, the charity dropped off its first donation to two orphanages outside of Ensenada.

The dream began 1 1/2 years ago when Birmingham and his friends were driving off-road vehicles in the desert of Baja. They stumbled upon children in a small village who, after being given a simple gift of stickers, couldn’t hide their excitement.

“They were so friendly and so happy to see us,” Birmingham said. “Their faces lit up, but we wanted to do more for them. Just seeing them makes your heart drop because they need so much. They’re lacking in almost everything. It makes you feel so fortunate.”

Tony Asuna, a friend of a mutual friend, found two orphanages 10 minutes east of Ensenada. With help from clients of Seacrest Developing Company -- Birmingham’s day job -- Racing for Kids collected enough to make its first donation. The orphanages are home to 18 and 22 children, respectively, varying from 4- to 17-years-old.

“Clients have been very instrumental, and some corporations are starting to get involved through word of mouth,” Birmingham said. “It’s really starting to take off.”

Getting the materials there, however, wasn’t as simple as handing out stickers. The company visited the orphanage for a list of needed items, cleared the list with customscame back to the U.S. to buy supplies, then mdropped off diapers, medicine, clothes, shoes and linens.

“These kids grab at your heart,” said Mark Sanders, who drove the final 375 miles of the race. “They were absolutely ecstatic to see us, whether they were nine or two. They all threw their arms up because they just want to be held. All of us [drivers] had at least three kids in our arms -- that was something else.”

The team returned to the states, but returned to Baja four days later to tackle the second half of its mission -- the 38th annual Baja 1000, described by competitors as the largest, most brutal off-road race in the world.

“That was the nastiest, roughest stuff I’ve seen in my life,” said Sanders. “It’s a great ‘big boy’ adventure. It has to rank up there with watching my kids being delivered.”

The Trophy Truck and Class-1 Division, which featured 29 teams -- including Birmingham’s -- are the top two divisions in the race. Team Birmingham finished ninth in its class and 40th overall in the race.

The team -- made up of Birmingham, Sanders, Jamie Campbell and Bill Claypool -- drove the 710-mile racecourse every weekend in October in preparation for the November race.

Birmingham went into the race with some history in the world of motor sports, having been involved in dirt bike racing as a child.

“I was that kid that couldn’t really sit down,” he said. “I always had to be doing something.”

He put aside racing in order to pursue a football career, playing at Mater Dei and earning All-CIF honors as a junior and senior. Birmingham went on to play at the University of Arizona, where he was an all-Pac-10 honoree as a senior.

After signing with the Washington Redskins as a free agent, he suffered an elbow injury two weeks into training camp, ending his football career. The injury led him back to racing and the construction industry.

Birmingham started Seacrest Developing Company five years ago, and the firm has worked around Orange County. Once the company got on its feet, he made the decision to pursue racing again.

“When I was a kid, I was either playing sports or out there working. But when I was building [Seacrest], I missed that competitive side of racing and sports, so I started racing again.”

After his team’s first Baja 1000 and its first visit to the orphanages, Birmingham said he never imagined how quickly it all came together.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” he said. “It started out as an idea with a few friends, and now here we are in Class-1 and dropping off supplies. It’s one of the greatest experiences, and I look forward to taking my son there next year.”20051208ir5lo3knCOURTESY OF BIRMINGHAM MOTORSPORTS(LA)Costa Mesa resident Jim Birmingham, founder of Birmingham Motorsports, drove this racer to a 40th place finish in last month’s Baja 1000.