New note about this from Jim McKee ...
Hi Bob, Dave Landrith was at the Detroit AMO show, as was Shirley Shahan and Wally Booth.
Most of the original Baja SC/Ramblers were converted to 4-wheel drive for the race. A couple of years later, I sat on a bench with James Garner at Daytona and inquired about the Baja SC/Ramblers. His American International Racing group had two Lola-Chevrolets in the race and I was working in the next pit. He said he didn't know what became of the cars and thought they were junked after the race. There was a magazine article showing several of the cars. I don't think I kept a copy, because the cars were heavily gutted for the rollcage and the front differential and there wasn't much SC/Rambler stuff remaining.
Hey all ,
Should be posting soon of one of the ten 1969 Baja cars . Which is currently being restored .
Lets keep this history alive and any questions or pictures you want to see , let me know.
And will attempt to get them posted ...
Thanks as aways
Bob
Also , Fred , the owner of this car is looking for the magazines to keep with the car . Any and all leads to imfo about these is greatly appreciated !
Thanks
Bob
Magazine articles :
Friday, November 26, 2010
James Garner 1969 Baja 4X4
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Robert , Am interested in your knowledge , please share more ...
I'd like to post what you wrote , but would like to edit a bit of it ..
Thanks
Bob
"Most" of the Ramblers weren't converted to 4WD -- only 2 or 3 were (I forget the exact number and can't find it now), and they had to run in the "experimental" class due to the modification, and one finished in 4th place. Three of the closer to stock cars finished 1/3/5 in the "sedan" class. Of 134 cars to start only 73 finished in the 30 hours allotted, and 7 of Garner's 10 Ramblers finished.
What "farna" said is true. Only two of the cars were 4X4 and honestly they were not well prepared. We just didn't have enough time to build them the way we wanted to. The car that finished 4th is the unrestored car that is in Canada or was recently. It was driven by Carl Jackson. Carl was the smoothest of all the top off road racers in the 1960's and only his skill got this car to the finish line in one piece. The other 4X4 was driven by Jim Wright who was the team manager and not really a driver. He broke it early on. But Jim did find his calling as first an engine builder and then a team owner at places like the Indy 500. Rodney Hall who did all the testing of the 2X4 cars broke the steering box in an impassable spot in San Matis Pass. Many dozens of cars backed up behind him for maybe an hour. Luckily no one killed him and after surviving this Baja 500 he went on to become one of off road racing's biggest legends.
Post a Comment