Stroppe made modifications
and improvements to the
race Bronco that was based
on his observations learned
from the test stints on the dirt
track at Riverside Raceway.
As the green flag dropped
for the 1967 Baja 1000, Ray
Harvick kept the Bronco up in
front of the competition, with
the Ford 302ci small-block V8
screaming. Nothing was done
to the engine as far as exotic
parts and internals. It simply
had a big K&N air filter on top,
and a set of exhaust headers.
The chance to win the first Baja
1000 was within reach if they
could keep the pace they had
set and Harvick could keep
the Bronco shiny side up. But
it didn't work out that way.
At some point during the race,
Stroppe and Harvick stopped to
help a Jeep CJ-5 get out of a
hellhole that had them bogged
down, even with the vehicle's
four-wheel drive. Once unstuck,
the Jeep CJ-5 roared off with
their deepest gratitude and
went on to win the inaugural
Baja 1000. The team in the
CJ-5 had no idea their new best
buddies who helped them get
back onto the race course were
hopelessly stuck in the same
hole. The two occupants in
the Jeep CJ-5 was owned and
operated by a young Rod Hall
and his good friend Larry Minor.
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