Return To Competition
Soon after completing his CJ5, Fortin
Sr. and close friend Dick Clark started
work on a new project, based on the
M151A "Mutt" military vehicle, which they
planned to turn into a race vehicle. Prone
to rolling over during military use, Fortin
Sr. learned to restrict the Mutt's wheel
travel. However, with 11 ½-inches to
work with, rather than the six to seven
inches that the beam and swing axle
competition had, Fortin Sr. and Clark were
quick winners with their new creation.
In 1968, the two then created an all-
new car, this time with a one-off chassis.
Utilizing a "Mutt" front end at either end
of the vehicle, Fortin Sr. powered all
four wheels of the new car with a 180hp
Corvair engine, fed through a T10 four-
speed transmission, a transfer case, and
off-road racing's first V-drive. With the
"Mutt's" heavy payload springs replaced
with lighter ones from a Chevy Impala,
a compact and balanced mid-engine
design, and an almost unthinkable (by
today's standards) weight of just 2,120
pounds, the new "Puppy" was a force to
be reckoned with.
AFTER PRIM WAS HURT EARLY IN THE RACE, FORTIN SR. DROVE A HUGE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE
DOUBLE-LOOP COURSE IN THE 1977 BAJA 1000, INCLUDING TWO TRIPS OVER THE SUMMIT, EN
ROUTE TO THE WIN IN THEIR TRICK CLASS 9; BOB RODINE DROVE THE FINAL LEG.
FORTIN SR. DURING HIS VICTORIOUS
WEEKEND AT THE 1970 NATIONAL
FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE GRAND PRIX.
NOTICE THE HOMEMADE GOGGLES
WITH GLUED-IN PRESCRIPTION
GLASS LENS INSERTS- TRICK!
060
SCORE JOURNAL
