SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1528094
GRAND MARSHAL DOUG ROBERTSON By SCORE Journal Staff This year’s 5th SCORE Baja 400 Presented by VP Racing had Doug Robertson as its Grand Marshal. Robertson and his brother Don, began off-road racing on motorcycles, then moved into Jeeps. Wanting to race and build their own vehicles, they chose the popular VW Bug and raced in Class 5. In the early 1970s, the brothers were approached by the Bilstein shock absorber company, who wanted to break into the American market with its new high-pressure, monotube design. Teaming up with the Robertsons, the two Class 5 vehicles were known as the Bilstein Bugs. One was painted bright yellow and the other blue, making them immediately recognizable to racers and fans. The duo won more than 30 races over their careers, and one of the most memorable was taking second place Overall at the 1976 SCORE Baja 1000. According to Robertson, this was the “Wet and Wild” race with monsoon rains that muddied the course the night before the race. This allowed them to overtake most of the field who were stuck in the mud, a victory no Class 5 vehicle has never been able to repeat since. Robertson also won the SCORE Class 5 Championship and Overall points Championship in 1977. He also had several SCORE Baja 500 class wins in 1977 and 1979, as well as SCORE Baja 1000 Class 5 victories at the 1976 and 1977 races. The brothers later moved into Class 1 and won the 1979 SCORE Baja 1000 in their buggy. They later raced in Class 2 Open and Doug teamed up with Johnny Johnson in class 5/1600, and in a Chevy S10 Pickup. With the publicity Bilstein received from the team, Doug Robertson became the West Coast Sales Director for Bilstein, and eventually moved into becoming president of the company. Robertson and the “Bilstein Bugs” are remembered as the vehicles that not only catapulted Class 5 into popularity but also continue to inspire many VW Bug racers who carry on the tradition in SCORE today. SJ