1974 Baja 1000 - a 20th century hare and tortoise story

God is Alive and Living in a Rock Pile North of El Arco...to put this year's Baja 1000 into perspective, consider this: Parnelli Jones drove a 370-horsepower full-race Bronco, prepared and navigated by Bill Stroppe ("King of the Road"), with Stroppe pit crews at each of the ten checkpoints along the peninsula, and got ten miles from the start at Ensenada before the rear end of his $30,000 Bronco broke and he retired rom the race...This year only 20 motorcycles accepted the challenge, 11 succeeded, and there were few bonuses. The first place Husqvarna 400 of Mitch Mayes and A.C. Bakken was the only contender in the motorcycle class to reach La Paz without breaking down at least once...(Pictured left) - Bruce Bornhurst hauls his Champion-framed Honda XL-350 over a crest. He teamed with his father Larry and Bill Isherwood to take fourth bike. (Pictured Right) The Honda 125 of Dick Miller and Preston Petty won their class, despite being "down" for almost six hours. (Other picture) - Wally Dempsey fire-roads the second-place 750 Triumph, with San Lorenzo Island and the Gulf of California in the background.

1974 Baja 1000 - a 20th century hare and tortoise story 4-Page Article available at www.DadsVintageAds.com