BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:21 PM Page 1

Going Once, Twice, SOLD On The Test Drive!

Display until September 15, 2020 ISSUE #84 • www.BroncoDriver.com BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:21 PM Page 31

Cover Feature VIVA Broncos! By Kurt StrecKer - ArizonA & Bronco Driver StAff

s a young San Diego kid, I was A immersed into the speed culture but I was too young and poor to build anything. The Army gave me the first experience into the world of off - roading. Back in the 60’s… and as a young kid I was too stupid for words and felt indestructible. I jumped the trench line into the battlefields in a Honda Dream vehicle we took off the enemy. It was Vietnam 1967-1968. By the time I returned to the states - I had aged and the world of racing had evolved. No more 'Hair and Hound' desert racing, NORRA was now king. Ed Pearlman's, Baja 1000 was the new off road Indy 500. It called, no it screamed at me to come compete and so I did.

Now - over 50 years later those days in the desert and on the streets having fun in powerful metal horses are ‘ kinda’ etched in the brain. Back then we played hard, par- tied harder, and ran at a break neck speed. So as some of the details may now fade into fuzzy - the stories and history are still worth reminiscing, and the pictures capture those moments in time.

Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” 29 BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:21 PM Page 32

PastA Look & Present At

Why Ford Bronco? I went crazy for anything in the dirt. I was me with rear fender flare molds which our hooked. Now it was all about building newly created 'Viva Broncos' now pro- I remember as a kid seeing the first smoking fast Broncos, running hard, and duced about 30 sets of hand formed flares International Scout in a mechanical maga- building anything that could help support at a time. We loved to deliver the orders zine. I was struck by the ability it had to that addiction. So long law school….Viva personally to Bill Stroppe, as he loved our take parts, panels, and the even the roof Broncos! quality and we loved his knowledge of off- apart - it was so universal. The Jeep had road racing. no hard top back then, but the IH Scout The Beginning was so adjustable to any life style. My The Early Years best friend in high school had a CJ 5 with My wife Ginger, and I were fiberglass a 327 V8, I envied him so. It was fast, and surf board junkies. Just before dropping 1969 thru 1975 was the real early years he took me on major Jeep runs in the out of Law School… I had bought that first of Baja racing and now just a great Era desert, Sierra al Jamal, Tahoe trails, etc.. I Bronco. It was branded 'Hot Ginger”. Hot gone by in the sport of off-road racing. was hooked! Ginger was a ford Color and with my wife's When it came to Baja, in the early 70's it name being Ginger, 'Hot Ginger’ name was was all about pit support. So when I came back from Vietnam, and a natural fit! We started making some thrust myself into college, all I had was a fiberglass fender flares out of our surf shop When we started, Baja was still divided pedal power 10 speed, a loving wife that in El Cajon. Ginger and I would hand form into territories; Baja Sur and Baja Norte, was a nurse, and no other aspirations but them. Soon they caught the attention of with no laws, or no rules. I was supported to finish school. After I got my under grad- some of the other Bronco crazies of the by a group of local 4x4 clubs at the begin- uate degree I decided it was a good idea day and the Stroppe shop wanted to carry ning. The pure logistics of fielding a team, to go on to Law School. Needing extra them. Ginger and I would deliver them to pit crews, hauling the fuel, having extra cash for necessities - I had the luck to get his Signal Hill Stroppe Performance shop parts, tires was as big a task or bigger on as a gardener at my wives hospital in El and then just follow Bill around for an than the race it's self. The selflessness of Cajon, California. Just happens the boss entire day, listening, watching, and taking getting crews, friends, and even foes to there was the local president of the Los in everything I could learn. work together…for free can provide a Badadores Four - Wheel(4WD) drive club. book of stories in itself. The crews based He had an awesome Bronco and it just As orders grew, Ginger was the true lower than ‘ El Arco in Mexico had to leave made me fall head over hills for the ability sales person, we started making more a week early to be in place. Driving their of that old thing. molds for bronco parts in a rented garage own vehicles, loaded with a ton of supplies in El Cajon, California. Jay Livsey, of Livsey while using their own gas. Also had to So, I saved and bought a 1966 Ford Boats, was near by and he was the first pack camping gear, fuel, and even food. bronco (hated that 10 speed). It was all guy to do the hoods and fiberglass dashes. Taking off work and being there for your uphill from there. Jeep runs, club runs, and We all became fast friends, and he helped Bronco to come into their pit area for a 10

30 Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:21 PM Page 33

Cover Feature

minute stop in the middle of nowhere. time in Baja. Growing up on the border in The Legends Then endure a long rutted, dusty trip home San Diego, we had an early advantage to missing the celebrations, the pageantry, the rest of the field. Prerunning was a snap Having been early in Baja, Ed Pearlman the awards, the praise, the Mexican as we had run most of those roads surfing was the first big and a real mentor. Bill parties. Now these were the true heros in the mid 60’s. Hell we took most of the Stroppe was of course 'The King', P.J. of Baja. Baja in an old 53 Ford F-100 so when it (Pernelli Jones) and Bill Rush were serious- came to racing we knew the ropes. Our ly the baddest ass drivers in the race Before the days of pavement, if you pre runner Econoline Ford window van was …these were the heroes. Other major broke down and had to be retrieved it as near a racer as we could build. Full Bronco racers were Gale Pike, Rod Hall, could mean days of work. Trucks, trailers, cage, 4 tailor made seats, and 2 dirt bikes Willie Stroppe, John Baker James Duff winching, and dragging to get a broken in back. It had a built 351, C6 auto, extra were the real field. Lonnie Woods from Bronco aboard, just trying to haul it out to water tanks and much more. We would Rough Country in his blazer and Sherman the paved road. Those are the real pio- swap off riding the motor bikes ahead to Balsh with his killer Jeep threw out great neers. Over the years Viva Broncos had look for killer spots...and feel the ground competition. The rest of us just padded the many of theses guys and gals ...it was out. Lake Chapalla was the worst as it was purse. trust, respect, and horsepower. it's mostly sand, with a rock base. If you were going to get there racing at night, Then there were the celebrities and Before SCORE it was NORRA, no com- you could not see thru the silt and better money men. James Garner and Steve munications and no real organized support. have a secret trail.. McQueen were the real movie legends I actually saw guys that raced NORRA that could actually handle a Bronco. Then stopped and camped for the night? You One year we had to spend two days there was the class of lesser known rich had only 36 hours to finish...and then with a goat herd and pepper farmer fixing dudes that would hire us kids to baby sit winning was less important other than that 4x4 van, at papa Fernandez. Oh those them and hold their hand as they learned just finishing. were the days! to race down the road. And of course lets not forget - George Plimpton, a class act After each race we would have a killer Next came Mapping. We used paper crazy writer doing baja with us out of con- party back at the shop. We would swap scrolls that we would plot the course on - trol juveniles. photos, hand out gifts that we got from as we pre-ran. Each would have notes and sponsors, or divide winnings…if their were compass points, noted water, villages, There was also Dick Malone, father of any. The Baja miles were all about the dangers, and anything we thought could Mark Malone of NFL Fame. Drucker was experience and the memories. make the race safer, faster, and give us an Gary Bentonhauser's crew chief for advantage. NASCAR. He introduced us to horsepower. Pre-running was next progression in He built a bronco roadster in the LA mesa expanding a chance for bettering a race for Dick that was the baddest street, sand

Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” 31 BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:21 PM Page 34

PastA Look & Present At

drag bronco ever built. He built a NASCAR I was just a crazy, young naive idiot that the guys that started Viva Broncos. First, boss 302 with an online 4 barrel that went painted bare breasted girls on my front was Jeff Johnson, from Border Parts, that into that yellow screamer. I wish mark fenders - which lost me tons of sponsor came abound early and made the brand Malone would share those old pictures. support. Back then I just didn't care. It was thru his brilliant fabrication skills. Then When Dick died, Mark inherited the Bronco all about building smoking fast Broncos, after Jeff, it was Steve Spircoff who joined and sold it to a guy in San diego. That running hard, and bumping anyone in front us and it continued with a growing list of bucking beast needs to be on a pedestal of me. I guess being a free spirited kid in great fabricators. These were the guys next to Big Oly. the 70’s help crash my legendary status that made most of Viva Broncos a possibil- among the early Baja stars. ity. I love those guys.They built it, I raced There was an original bond of brother- and broke it, they fixed it and made a bet- hood racers that formed the MAGNIFICENT VIVA Broncos growing a real Business ter product. We sold the products. 7 Team racers. I was one of the original MAG 7 Team racers. Note: all the hall of I drove my 'Hot Ginger’ Bronco in races On top of Bronco Builds - Viva also built fame drivers that started here. and was getting traction for some of it’s other class 3, class 8 and Class 7 compi- parts, accessories, and even requests for tion vehicles. At the peak in 1974 thru 444 Hansen & Bishop bronco builds. I ended up delivering parts 1976 we would build about 10 per month. 450 Quade & Utsey to Stroppe and other early Bronco parts 462 Bakken & Harden houses. We came out with front flares, Baja, was the next step. Baja was a big 107 Sauers & Mears hoods, and other cool new products. Duffy investment. You have to build the Bronco 114 Jackman & Howarth even bought a few and Viva Broncos was to sustain the 1000 mile torture. Then the 130 Joe Francis on it’s feet and starting to roll. At the time pre running and the pits management. 150 Jerry McMurry - Duffy, had this sand buster bronco in the 1000 miles means 6 pits and lots of favors 306 Strecker & Lajeunesse late 60's, he would come and just blow from lots of friends. Class Three NORRA, 10 White & Phiffier everyone away. He had started a Bronco then Class three Score was the ultimate 700 Weiland & Clause business and I just got the spark from him! experience for a poor kid from San Diego. 706 McGriff & Fredrickson Bill Stroppe was the marketing guy that Stroppe sucked up most of the early 713 Conner & Hettinger made the market, But DUFFY was the real sponsors, but we managed to get a few. 609 Ball & Carpenter Bronco dude! Art Carr, Center City Ford, Bilstein, BFG, 716 Hickey & Romani Unique Metals, and more. After fielding 717 Prince & Marshall I started selling parts and racing cages 4 or 5 Broncos, and a host of other auto ___ Jimmy Jones so it was all important that 'Hot Ginger’ brand entries, Viva Broncos was gaining competed in races. I remember and credit momentum.

32 Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:21 PM Page 35

Cover Feature

I wanted the winners circle so bad! I just The Trials & Tribulations of Racing kicking tires. We chatted and laughed at drove my Hot Ginger race Bronco out of it Baja - Stories from the Drivers seat some old racing stories. He even invited limits and over it's head. I broke stuff Evel me to his shop. I took him up on that. In Knievel could not break. But, after each Memory lane isn't as gracious as the the rafters was stored his 4 engine and every race we analyzed and pro- winners circle. I built 2 world championship Bonneville monster drag cars. His place gressed into being an even better bronco trucks that other drivers rode to that was like a museum of modern racing power shop in southern California. reward, and me, I continued breaking and times. There Mickey told me to, “...build destroying equipment! When the engine products to sell, racing is just a format to Harry the horse Lozano, was the guy that rev's, and the smell of aviation fuel got in test”. Those were some very wise words. I created the Viva Blue, paint theme. me, it was Katie bar the door. wanted to kiss his hand! Midnight blue with gold metal flake. Harry, was the man. He painted Dave Deals, 34 My only saving grace is that on a good One year I was deep into Baja racing the coupe, he did the sunbeam dragster with day no one could run me down. At the 1000 and came screaming into my pits at all the balloons from sunbeam bread Parker Dam 500 in 1973, Mickey midnight near El Arco about the halfway (NHRA National Champion in it’s day). He Thompson and me had a come to Jesus point. My side pipes are glowing and the ended up painting about 35 Viva bronco moment on the California side. He in his motor is rev'ed, taking on gas and the guys roadsters. class 8 Chevy truck and me in my Bronco. were checking oil, tires, and other My old Ford chased him down driving on mechanics. Some reporter comes running Wow what an accumulation of memories! and over the edge, and passed him in a up and grabs my side screens, jumps onto rock field at the end of a pole line road. He my glowing exhaust and yells, "how's it The First Viva Bronco Catalog stuck his hand out and gave me a big going?" I'm actually leading the race and in thumbs up... an instant the exhaust dump bends to the Note that the entire Viva Bronco parts ground and engine starts growing a fit! catalog was hand drawn by Dave Deal, About 20 miles down the road I was on "Big Deal”.This was the guy that drew the my top in a ditch, Mickey cruises by and I unbuckle, crawl out spitting fire! The Armoral Viking and cartoon magazine. I the same hand comes out, thumbs up! I jack leg reporter runs for the hills. The pit had built him a 36 Ford Coupe for doing all learned a lesson right then...finish, finish crew was working fast and furiously trying the art. All our fine graphics were done by finish. This is not a drag race it’s an to bend the exhaust dump back up to get the world famous, Lyle Fisk. Not the early endurance race silly. me going. In the heat of the battle, rage, cartoon stuff BUT the classy - 1976 Bilstein and chaos a portly gentle man comes up Pace car for Baja and later the Viva bronco Mickey came by my shop in Lakeside and says, “ ..your our man how would you gold flake quarter panel art. one day. He was a real character. Just like to drive a International scout?” Well as

Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” 33 BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:21 PM Page 36

PastA Look & Present At

expected I unloaded on him in more ways Once up near Mike’s Sky Ranch I hit a the last 7 miles where the course came the one. "Scouts are sleds - couldn't make stream so hard that trout blew out on onto the pavement heading to the finish one run with a Hemi and a magic carpet!” the bank. line. I was just back of one of the legendary Turns out that gentleman was the main IH Stroppe Broncos, which I had started side engineer, and it wasn't until the awards I was racing Sherman for the check point by side at the start of the race. I pushed ceremony (a podium we were not on) that in one Baja and passed him only to flip the old 'Hot Ginger' for all she had toward the I realized once again - I killed a great poten- Bronco right in the gate of the barbed wire finish. The finish area was a paved road cut tial sponsorship! fence check point. There I am upside down about 5 miles out of Encenda. Most racers and guys are yelling for me to get out. I finishing would come flying up but slow In Mexico, Viva Broncos had developed yelled back, "roll me over," and they did. I down at a checkpoint just outside the finish quite a local following. Once, in the ended up dragging barbed wire for miles. lineand get a photo and a free Oly beer. Ensenada 250 Race, near the beach, we People were lined up along the road sitting had plotted our best and fastest attach to In the old days you would have to get a in lawn chairs and enjoying the festival wrap around a watermelon patch and an chit deposited into an Oly Beer can taped style occasion. Now about 3 miles from the old farmers house. First time by we fol- to your roll cage to prove your vehicle had finish I am on that Stroppe Broncos bumper lowed the pennants around the patch, sec- made all check points. Those were the sim- hard. ond time around we saw that the path had ple days. been cut right through the field and the I’m pushing, honking, and standing in the house’s porch over hang was gone off the The dusts of Lake Chapala, the cactus seat. Soon we are side by side going back old farmers shack. That was not cool. So, forests, the beach by mag bay, the dry and fourth. Now approaching about mid- we came back next month with our 4x4 lakes at full speed, the aching to see a pit night - most of the spectators who had club, and helped rebuild his old farm place. in the middle of the night, the burning of been partying began to stir as they now He treated us to some of the best chili's your right foot against the hot floor pan, the not only saw one set of headlights, but two and watermelons I had ever ate. He also ever awareness of a strange sounds and sets of headlights coming full bore heading treated us to some farm grown home- smells coming from the motor, the views of between their narrow gauntlet for the finish made wine. Of course we all got stupid, sunsets and desert - things most people line. The Broncos went thru the lights at hollowed at the moon and felt grand... until never get to experience. The setting up a about mach 6, chairs flying, people scram- the next morning. Old time Baja! rooster tail of dust going down a long bling, dust everywhere - and I crossed the straight dirt lane, the sheer pleasure of line ahead for 3rd place. What a race! I just I can remember the time racing a Baja being at any speed and kicking up your cruzed into Ensenada, and to the pits, took 500 hitting a cow in the night out of Valley heels is to be a pleasureful experience the helmets off and kept my 'La Cucaracha' De Trinidad. We clipped him in the rears always etched in the memory to enjoy! horns blasting. That was the best Baja and spun him around so that the horn Near the end of one of the Baja 500’s, after moment of racing - I ever had.. caught in the rear roll cage. Drug that cow 500 miles of dust, dirt, damage and fighting for about 100 yards until he dropped off. it out trying to gain positions, I came up on

34 Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:21 PM Page 37

Cover Feature

VIVA BAJA! the 1976 International Score pace car for VIVA Broncos had arrived. Maybe it took Bilstein Corporation. longer than many of the other Bronco pio- The Turning Point neers to get news worthy headlines and a It had hand painted graphic by the pat on the back at-a-boy from the world, The Score 76 Baja 500, drawing was at famous Lyle Fisk. A Boss 302 V8, NASCAR but we came blazing across the years in my VIVA BRONCO SHOP in Lakeside, CA. inline four barrel with a T&C 4 speed top our own out of control break neck manner. Sal Fish, Mickey Thompson, Ivan Stewart, loader, I could smoke all four tires in low From a long haired kid surfing the waves - Rod Hall, Mears boys, The Mag 7, were range.. she had spun aluminum inner fend- to a credible Bronco builder with the parts, all there. This was the first drawing for ers, one of the first ultra cool 4 core radia- the horses, the hardware, and all the his- numbers, south of the prime time lights of tor cooling. Special built fender well head- torical accolades that came with. Like a big LA!! The drawing before was generally ers by Hooker. It was truely some of our fine wine - somethings just get better with at Mickey Thompson’ s place. best work. 456 gears, full floater, spool age…wisdom, knowledge and a history of locked, 31 spline. That was in 1976 back trial and error can also help. Sal Fish created this possibility and put when it was hard to do. Geise - made the his stamp of approval on it so the little full floater NASCAR rear end, Adams & A sad end to the early Viva Days! guys could be also be recognized in the Smith built the engine and it dynode 405 growing sport of off road racing. This was to the ground back then. It had Tru Trac The end came quick and unexpected. truly a turning point in Viva Broncos tires that could just spin the rubber off and We were filming a TV commercial in recognition and was the start of the included air bags all around. Of course the Alpine, CA. with our whole line of Viva growth and inclusion of Baja Racing. From highlight was the sponsor products - Broncos. Harry, "the horse " Lazono, was our laid back surfer days, to wheeling with Bilstein 60 Mil. hyme jointed, bus shocks our painter. From Sunbeam, Dragster, bal- jeepers, moving up to dune buggies and all around. loon paint job fame. He begged to take our dirt bikes, us bronco boys are now on 1976 Ford Bronco roadster home from the center stage. We were drawing the very I took the Bilstein exec's for a pre-run for photo shoot - sadly and tragically he killed important placement and starting positions about 40 miles down the course. After himself rolling it on a bad curve. We lan- for the grandest race at the old confines of they caught their collective breath - they guished for another year thru long litigation Viva Broncos. new this was the horse that they had envi- but ultimately I was toast! That was the sioned when we began. Bilstein used the end of Viva Broncos…for the time. Finally, with a little more reason in the bronco for Score promo’s for a long while. head and a kick in the rears for under- Man I sure would like to have the beast Over the Years! standing more of the professionalism for back. Sure miss ol' Lyle Fisk... What a true the sport - VIVA Broncos was getting car art legion. I moved to Colorado Springs, and man- some of the credibility that was long over aged a huge pre delivery center for Ford. It due. Viva Bronco’s got to build a Bronco as got me involved in creating image vehicles

Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” 35 BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:22 PM Page 38

PastA Look & Present At

again such as; Denver Bronco Broncos, again. This one I had the body lowered 2” still love breaking stuff…which makes me USAF Thunderbird t-birds, and tons of and again the market was hot and the the perfect product test pilot. other aftermarket creations. I did the Silver demand was high for the iconic old Bullet Bronco II's, then came Vans Broncos. With people beginning to ask On top of our Bronco after market prod- America, which created one of first van about other products and more chassis it ucts - Viva Broncos is currently building hot conversion companies to be recognized by was time to resurrect the 'Viva Bronco' fast EB series two chassis. Today horse- NADA using what I had learned in the early brand. power is cheap! This new baby has a days from Bill Stroppe about Ford bailment 302V8 SB, pushing 435 horses with Fox agreements and producing vehicles for With my Bronco passion renewed and Fire C4, driveline that I could only have dealer distribution. I eventually sold my talents from our daughter Kristin to help dreamed of 45 years ago. I grew up over share and helped created AutoStyle & run a manufacturing business - Viva the last 50 years taming those steel hors- Promotions which went on to produce live Broncos is back! With the growth of social es rolling off the line in Detroit. I under- events such as water sports festivals, media, Viva Broncos history has gained a stand the after market product trend. No Monster Truck races and Sports Boat & RV lot of interest. Most want to chat about more cookie cutter, cake decoration shows. Those exciting years and various the old days in Baja, some want parts Broncos, but real thought provoking unique ventures slowly faded on and I ended up knowledge, but the great majority just to each owner masterpieces. Keeping the moving to the weather friendly town of want to show off their rendition of an early Bronco the classic, affordable, and great Phoenix, Arizona. Ford Bronco. At 72 I just want to keep my ultimate utility vehicle that Ford had envi- hand in the heritage, thats why young sioned over 50 years ago. The resurrection of Viva Broncos innovative Strecker blood is needed to help make the show go on. They understand VIVA Ford Broncos! A few years ago I felt it was time to the internet. They understand modern start playing with the old Broncos again. technology. My big claim to fame was get- Visit VivaBroncos.com for The rolling chassis I was building some one ting affordable Bronco roadsters with the their available Bronco prod- offered to buy for stupid money when I Iconic Viva Broncos art in the hands of ucts, rolling chassis, was only half way completed. So, I bought maniac's like me to go tear up the desert. historical photos, another 1972 Ford Bronco and started I'm older, wiser, and experienced now but I and more….

36 Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:22 PM Page 39

Cover Feature

Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” 37 BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:22 PM Page 40

xx Bronco Driver Magazine • “for enthusiasts by enthusiasts” BroncoDriver84_FINAL_Layout 1 8/20/20 11:22 PM Page 41