JP Magazine Homepage JP Magazine

Classic Race Jeeps - January 2008 Sideways


By Christian Hazel

 Reader Rides Sideways 1967 2Wd Cj6

"This one from the '67 Baja 1000 is of my dad and his co-driver on their way to LaPaz in their Brian Chuchua, 2WD CJ-6. Brian thought it would be a good thing to run a two-wheel-drive Jeep in this class. From the story I was told, they won their class, but Jeep would not say anything about it because the Jeep was only two-wheel drive during a time when they were really pushing the capabilities and adventure of the 4WD."

 Reader Rides Sideways 1972 Jeep

"The No. 8 CJ-5 was the first Jeep my dad bought new. He used it for hunting and salvaging crashed war planes in the Southern California area. The race was the short-lived Riverside GranPrix that was held in the riverbed of the Santa Ana River near Riverside, California. This Jeep was tuned by Richard Umphress (Dicks Automotive) in Westminster, California, and was a class winner many times on the figure-eight course."

 Reader Rides Sideways Jeep Cj5

"The No. 90 Jeepster was at the Parker 400 in 1972 when they actually drove half the race in California and the other half in Arizona. This Jeepster was part of something my dad and his crew were promoting as the Americana Jeepsters."

 Reader Rides Sideways Jeep Wagoneer

"This one is a Brian Chuchua's Jeep Wagoneer that's prepped and ready for a race with my mom standing by it looking like an early '70s model. I'm not 100 percent sure what race they were getting ready to go to, but I remember the Waggy and a fiberglass-body Holy Toledo going as well."

Editor's Note: While shooting the trail ride for the story "Old School is in Session" (Nov. '07), one of the participants, Reid Norden, shared with us some vintage race photos taken of his dad, Orrin, back when he raced Jeeps for Brian Chuchua's Jeep in the late '60s and early '70s. He graciously offered to share the photos and stories behind each with all of us.


Get Adobe Flash player
Get no-obligation new car and truck invoice pricing quote online.

Related Photos

Related Articles

 
Science and Guns - With Video!!
Jp tests the Jackguard with extreme prejudice.... more
 
'98 Jeep Wrangler
Check out this custom off-roading 1998 Jeep Wrangler.... more
 
Colorado Crawlin'
Getting in a Few Runs Before Winter... more
 
Jeep Shots! Marco Schilling Part V
Part V of Marco Shilling's Jeep Shots! video.... more

 

Get Adobe Flash player