BajaNomad

The greatest Baja off road racer of all time???

thebajarunner - 3-18-2021 at 05:47 PM

This should be fun
Lots to choose from all the way from Mickey T and Rick Mears, through the Iron Man and up to the present day.

But one man stands tall over all, in my view

Rufus P Jones.....

I was reminded about his awesome career when I was reading about his "other" racing history,
Last conventional race was 1970 Riverside 500
That was about the time he really got hooked up with Stroppe and made Baja history
Also in 1970 he was the listed car owner for Al Unser Sr.
Who won a record ten races in Indy type cars that year for good old PJ

He was the greatest.... lots of pretenders, but none as tough as Parnelli

Ateo - 3-18-2021 at 07:24 PM

Sheriff Buford T. Justice gets my vote!

In all seriousness, I'd have to go with bike guys and say Johnny Campbell, Kurt Caselli, and Robby Bell - All are my favorites!

mtgoat666 - 3-18-2021 at 07:56 PM

Mary McGee!

David K - 3-18-2021 at 09:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  
This should be fun
Lots to choose from all the way from Mickey T and Rick Mears, through the Iron Man and up to the present day.

But one man stands tall over all, in my view

Rufus P Jones.....

I was reminded about his awesome career when I was reading about his "other" racing history,
Last conventional race was 1970 Riverside 500
That was about the time he really got hooked up with Stroppe and made Baja history
Also in 1970 he was the listed car owner for Al Unser Sr.
Who won a record ten races in Indy type cars that year for good old PJ

He was the greatest.... lots of pretenders, but none as tough as Parnelli



The Big Oly Bronco is going up for auction... Did you see all the posts on Facebook?

Here's my photo of Parnelli coming back from a pre-run, in Ensenada, November 1973:


The day before the 1973 Baja 1000

David K - 3-18-2021 at 09:21 PM


AKgringo - 3-18-2021 at 11:27 PM

I think Roadrunner deserves a mention! Even with Acme as a sponsor, Wiley Coyote was never able to catch him! :biggrin:

Today, on Facebook

David K - 3-19-2021 at 05:01 AM



Big Oly Auction.jpg - 95kB

mtgoat666 - 3-19-2021 at 06:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner  
This should be fun
Lots to choose from all the way from Mickey T and Rick Mears, through the Iron Man and up to the present day.

But one man stands tall over all, in my view

Rufus P Jones.....

I was reminded about his awesome career when I was reading about his "other" racing history,
Last conventional race was 1970 Riverside 500
That was about the time he really got hooked up with Stroppe and made Baja history
Also in 1970 he was the listed car owner for Al Unser Sr.
Who won a record ten races in Indy type cars that year for good old PJ

He was the greatest.... lots of pretenders, but none as tough as Parnelli



The Big Oly Bronco is going up for auction... Did you see all the posts on Facebook?

Here's my photo of Parnelli coming back from a pre-run, in Ensenada, November 1973:




Olympia beer?
I was a Rainier drinker.
Never understood why anyone would buy Olympia...

BajaTed - 3-19-2021 at 06:50 AM

The modern era guy who brought the fans was Robby Gordon.
He helped evolve the Trophy Truck class.

Partying on the Herbst family yacht was the best time in Cabo post race too .

advrider - 3-19-2021 at 07:15 AM

Not sure I could pick one, all of the above mentioned would be on the list. I've meet several in Baja over the years, Smith, Campbell, Caselli, Gordon and others. So many of the old trimers are Icons and innovators…
What did the Bronco go for, big $$$$?

thebajarunner - 3-19-2021 at 08:20 AM

https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/big-oly-bronco-bound-for-...

hagerty.com (no, not related) has this great history today on the classic Big Oly Bronc

baja-chris - 3-19-2021 at 09:09 AM

Larry Ragland
Mark McMillin
Johnny Johnson
to name a few greats in the car classes

Danny Hammel
Johnny Cambell
motos

baja-chris - 3-19-2021 at 09:11 AM

Of todays racers, I think Andy McMillin is #1

Oh and of course Larry Roesler and Rob Mac, two of the greatest.

willardguy - 3-19-2021 at 12:02 PM

#1 Ivan Stewart
#2 Rod Hall

David K - 3-19-2021 at 12:24 PM

Ivan is the Iron Man!

pbods - 3-19-2021 at 01:07 PM

Ron Bishop

TMW - 3-19-2021 at 02:17 PM

From a car/truck standpoint I say Ivan Stewart is #1.
From a bike standpoint I say Larry Roeseler is #1.

Some would say Johnny Campbell but Campbell didn't start winning OA until Kawasaki quit racing Baja after 1996. Matched up LR always won.

As far as OA Baja 1000 wins Campbell has the most.

TMW - 3-19-2021 at 02:22 PM

Robby Gordon was the most exciting Baja racer of anyone.

Johnny Johnson probably had the most wins of anyone. Mostly from being a co-driver.

racers

rancho guillermo - 3-19-2021 at 03:09 PM

all the mentioned racers are amazing, and of course trying to have a Mt. Rushmore of any sport is hard. Comparing era's is tough no matter what. My two cents...Hanging out with the Stroppe guys in the 70's, PJ, Walker, Bill Rush, Rod Hall the Minors and the others. They would unload the vehicles at the Bullring by The Sea and "Test Run" them down the Toll road and any other road that they felt like to Ensenada. Go to check in and be ready to race in the next couple days. All Great Guys. But fondest memories are Malcolm Smith going across the dry lake bed way ahead of everybody and winning going away. This was before the Four wheel guys were as fast as they are now. The bikes were hard to catch. Still love Baja racing and all who are involved.

Long live Baja.