Bronco Racing: Ford's Legendary 4x4 in Off-road Competition
Bronco Racing: Ford's Legendary 4x4 in Off-road Competition
ITEM 313TOT
By John Elkin
Stuffed with never-before-seen photography, stories, and race results, Bronco Racing: Ford’s Legendary 4x4 in Off-Road Competition is the most definitive publication ever on this marque’s racing success!
In 1965, legendary builder and off-road aficionado Bill Stroppe was one of the first to test the new Bronco in off-road conditions. In March 1966, Stroppe introduced his racing Bronco to the press at the Bronco Roundup, where racing ace Ray Harvick pounded the Santa Ana river bottom with his tuned machine to win Top Eliminator at the Four-Wheel-Drive Grand Prix at Riverside, and the rest is history.
Ford’s Bronco dominated the off-road racing scene and captured coveted titles in the Mint 400, Baja 500, and dirt racing’s crowning achievement: the Mexican 1000/Baja 1000. As the first-generation Bronco gave way to the second-generation machine (1978), racing Broncos continued to devour the competition until Ford pulled the plug on the rig in 1996.
Complementing the legendary Broncos featured here, you will also hear the tales of their wranglers, including Parnelli Jones, Rod Hall, Larry Minor, Shelby Hall, James Garner, Don Barlow, James Duff, Bill Rush, and the aforementioned Ray Harvick and Bill Stroppe. The infamous mounts covered include Big Oly/Crazy Colt, Pony, Big Hoss, Crazy Horse, Stove, and Colt.
Diligently penned by Bronco racing historian John Elkin, this book is the most comprehensive collection of historical accuracy ever authored on this subject. Pull your belts tight and wipe your goggles clean one last time with Bronco Racing: Ford’s Legendary 4x4 in Off-Road Competition!
Sftbd., 176 pgs., 8.5”x11” in.
While you are most likely familiar with the Ford Bronco as an option to the pickup and family station wagon that provided “room for the kids, the family dog, and cargo,” you may have only limited knowledge of its life as an extraordinary off-road racing vehicle. Described as “an off-road enthusiast for his entire life,” author John Elkin offers this passionate and informative history of the Ford Bronco and its off-road racing endeavors in the sport’s premier races, including the Mint 400, Baja 500, the Mexican 1,000, and the Baja 1,000. Displaying that passion, Elkin says, “The Ford Bronco was the magic carpet that a lot of adventurous souls invested their money into in a bid to outrun everything else.” Lavishly illustrated, the book offers racing-themed eye candy totaling 175 black-and-white and 164 color photographs and illustrations, along with detailed captions to accompany its engaging text. In addition to the story of the legendary Bronco, Elkin adds stories of some legendary off-road racing personalities, such as Parnelli Jones, Bill Stroppe, and Larry Minor. Published in 2022, coverage includes the return of the Bronco for the 2021 model year. “Drivers, start your engines!”
Book Review by Robert Gabrick
