Hindsight is 2023. Much like a mirror allowing a driver to see where they’ve been, Rearview provides us with a reflection into the rich history that continues to shape our current drive forward. As in life and these pages, a look back at—and, at times, an uncovering of—paradigm-shifting moments or characters allows us to recognize the potential in every decision. The Stoics say Momento Mori. It means “remember you must die.” A reminder of our mortality and of the inspiring truth that how we act today, in this moment, has the potential to define our legacy. Issue 06 invites you to traverse time and honor deep roots, visionary personalities, and the shared heritage that forges our community’s robust identity. We know upon which giants’ shoulders we stand and we honor them as we push forward towards our own Rearview.
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8
Fore Mother
20 Ghost In The Machine 36 Finke CREATIVE DIRECTOR
52 Unseen Genius
Boyd Jaynes
68 Finding Lines 78 20 Screws
DESIGN DIRECTOR
88 Rearview
Brett McMillin
ADDITIONAL DESIGN
Jake Parrish
PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Kevin Fitzgerald
Colbey Groom
Bud Fitzgerald
Brian Godfrey
Front cover photo Brandon Lim
Back cover photo Trackside Photo
Contributors
6
Brandon Lim
Rory Ward
Photographer / Ghost in the Machine
Writer / Ghost in the Machine
Born amidst the eclectic rhythms of Los Angeles, Brandon Lim was inevitably
Rory Ward, based in Kingman, Arizona, has dedicated over 25 years to the
drawn to its rich car culture. Fueled by a passion for everything on wheels,
Bullhead Fire Depar tment as an Engineer/Paramedic . Apar t from his
he excels in capturing vehicles in their rawest forms—be it tearing through a
professional commitment, Rory is an acclaimed motorsport artist and journalist.
bend or leaving trails of dust. To Brandon, a gritty camera lens often signifies a
A respected off-road racing historian, he’s passionate about restoring vintage
masterpiece in the making.
race vehicles and returning them to the desert to compete.
Peter Whitaker
Brett McMillin
Writer / Finke
Design Director / Dusty Times
Peter has spent a significant slice of his 77 years dirt-bike riding around outback
Self-taught and multidisciplinary, you can typically find Brett getting lost
Australia and the world beyond, reporting on the remote places he’s explored,
in details or agonizing over things that nobody else will ever notice. A self-
the characters he’s met and the off-road races he’s witnessed—often as a
proclaimed student of minimalist design, he believes great design is more
participant. Having trail-ridden the notorious Finke Desert Track on numerous
readily welcomed into our lives if it’s not trying too hard to be seen.
gnarly terrain that turns increasingly unpredictable with each successive sand dune.
Currently based out of San Deigo county, his love of print design is rooted deep in his heritage among letrasets and tagging along to press checks with his graphic design father back in New Jersey. His path crossed with Boyd
“The spectators standing trackside, beers in hand, while competitors rocket
Jaynes while stealing unpermitted shots of Kawsaki motorcycles throughout
past at 120mph are insane.”
the streets of Southern California and has been honored to lend his craft to Dusty Times for the past 6 years.
| CONTRIBUTORS
occasions, Peter is acutely aware of the hazards the competitors face over the
7
It was the first day of the 2022 Yokohama NORRA 500 race, and Grand Marshal Mary McGee was beaming with contentment. Her face was home to the deep wrinkles that come with eight decades of living and adventure, but it was an infectious smile and a set of richly deep blue eyes that stood out the most. The first lady of off-road racing was back in Baja for the first time since 1975, and she wasn’t going to miss a minute of it.
WORDS
Marty Fiolka
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Bink Designs
9
It was a warm day, and she insisted on opening her window
On this day none of that oversight seemed significant,
to celebrate a little road trip from Ensenada to Valle de
however. It was just Mary in Baja, just as it was supposed to be.
Trinidad. There was no real agenda other than chasing the race,
When one of her favorite 1970s rock songs burst from the
watching some machinery do their desert dance and trying to
radio speakers, she insisted on turning up the volume. The
remember what all this was like so many decades before. Our
familiar road music of the Eagles’ “Take it Easy” was ideally
mental images of that time are black and white, but Mary’s was
timed for the moment, and I watched her reflection in the rear-
clearly Technicolor.
view mirror. She proudly sang along, adding special emphasis
Bringing off-road racing’s amazing history into the forefront
to the tune’s most memorable stanza. “I was standing on the
of the greater motorsports story has long been a steadfast
corner in Winslow Arizona when such a fine sight to see, it’s a
career cornerstone. Despite spending decades doing research,
girl my lord in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me.”
writing articles and publishing books, it’s painful to admit that
Now 87 years young, Mary McGee was truly the first female
collectively we have forgotten one of most significant stories
of the sport. Not just as a figurehead, but as a gifted competitor.
and heroines of all.
A 2018 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, it’s almost hard
When it comes to pioneering women, we have long held
to fathom her lifetime of historic off-road firsts.
ORMHOF inductees Judy Smith and Jean Calvin to their rightful place in off-road history. But Mary was there before Judy and Jean, a foremother who accomplished major first milestones in the sport, but whose story has largely been relegated to the past without proper recognition from many of us.
FORE MOTHER |
10
First woman to race Motocross in the US First woman to compete with Europeans in International Motocross in the United States First woman off-road truck/vehicle racer (1967 NORRA Mexican 1000) First woman off-road factory truck racer (1967-1969 NORRA BRE Datsun team) First woman off-road major race finisher (1968 NORRA Mexican 1000) Only woman to ride/finish the SCORE Baja 500 solo (1975)
1975 BAJA 500
12
1968 NORRA MEXICAN 1000
13
| FORE MOTHER
As significant as those achievements are, Mary’s racing story started on asphalt. Born in Juneau, Alaska on December 12, 1936, she moved to Iowa to live with her grandparents during World War II as her home state was at risk of a Japanese invasion. In 1944 the family settled in Phoenix, Arizona, where she eventually met her husband, Don McGee. McGee was a mechanic, and shortly after their 1956 wedding Don introduced her to motorsports. By December of 1957, McGee began racing sports cars with the Sports Car Club of America driving a Mercedes 300SL owned by George Rice. In the golden age of the sport, she consistently won her races in events all over the west, earning an SCCA class championship by 1961. Her journey was supported by famed Porsche factory team and dealership owner Vasek Polak, who fielded McGee’s Porsche 550 Spyder. It was Polak who suggested Mary start motorcycle racing to improve her skills. A female road racer in the United States was a new phenomenon, but trailblazing McGee was keen to give it a try. The American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM) made the now famous sports car champion conduct a try-out (which she aced) and in 1960 she became the first woman to road race and hold an FIM license in the United States. Mary raced a Honda CB92 wearing a pink polka-dot helmet.
1969 NORRA BAJA 500
As our Baja adventure moved to the afternoon, nature came calling.
“Isn’t that just a pisser?” she concluded, laughing, and demonstrably pleased at the 60-year-old memory.
“Could you pull over so I can take care of a little business?” Mary asked somewhat sheepishly.
Mary McGee was the first woman to enter an organized desert race in 1964. It was a District 37 race known as the
Of course, that particular area of desert we were
Simi Valley Hare & Hound event, and she competed on a
traversing was not much more than road, a narrow dirt
Triumph. She didn’t win anything, but she later explained;
shoulder and not much else. There was no obvious spot for
“They phoned to invite me to the awards dinner dance.
any privacy. Bad timing…or so it seemed.
I was called up to the stage and they gave me an award
Besides, if they haven’t seen it yet then it’s time they do!
“Anywhere here is
anyway. Some of the wives and girlfriends told me later it
fine, it’s time,” she
was so they could see what I looked like. Many of those
insisted. “Besides, if
women were inspired enough to try racing themselves and
they haven’t seen it yet
later formed the District 37 Desert Daisies.”
then it’s time they do!”
Wes Cooley Sr., who had gotten McGee her start in AFM
That type of moxie
road racing, had become enamored with motocross while
lies at the heart of
on a business trip to Europe. Although popular overseas,
her
and
motocross had not yet found its way to America. In
willingness to try anything. Once we were rolling again,
February of 1967, Cooley promoted the first motocross race
she shared the story of how she made the transition to dirt
in the United States in California, and 40 pioneering riders
bikes. In 1963 she was a at New Year’s Eve party attended
showed up to make history. McGee was the only female
by Hollywood stars who raced both cars and motorcycles.
rider there. Even though it was a complete mud bath, aboard
None other than Steve McQueen came up to her and said:
a Triumph 500 she was in her element. She was there for
“McGee, you’ve got to get off that pansy road-racing bike
the first motocross races at Carlsbad and Saddleback and
and come out to the desert.”
raced at numerous west-coast tracks as well.
tenacity
15
1967 was clearly a defining year in off-road motorsports
At the invitation of Cycle World publisher Joe Parkhurst,
lanky figure with long legs and a gifted smile, she enjoyed
history, as later that year a group of prominent enthusiasts
Mary entered the inaugural 1969 NORRA Baja 500 as his
her reacquaintance with the sport that helped define her, in
gathered in Baja for the inaugural NORRA Mexican 1000.
co-rider. Two days before pre-running, Parkhurst broke his
a place that certainly did.
Once again, out of the 68 entries the race attracted only
leg. Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Bobby
one had a female driver. Mary McGee had been asked by
Ferro stepped in to join her. Sadly, their Husqvarna’s engine
iconic factory Datsun race team owner Peter Brock to pilot
gave up and they didn’t finish.
“Thank you for being such a wonderful cabana boy,” she giggled when we finally parted ways later that afternoon. A day later a specially crafted brass trophy was presented
a humble 510 sedan in the new form of racing. In typical
While the venerable desert racer suited up for several
to fellow lady racer Renee Hudson, who best represented
fashion, she agreed before truly understanding what she
more NORRA events, she made a final Baja appearance at
the spirit of the award for whom it was named. It was the
had signed up for. Mary later explained, “I think back now
the 1975 SCORE Baja 500. Riding her trusty 250cc Husky,
NORRA Mary McGee Trophy, the first time the newly
to how truly primitive Baja was in those early days and say,
McGee did every one of those tough miles at 39 years of
created honor was ever presented. Given its namesake, it’s
‘What was I thinking?’”
age, becoming the first woman to finish a major Baja event
just as it should have been.
The Datsun was admittedly not really suitable for the task at hand, and McGee’s car sheared off an upper front A-arm—ending her day before the La Paz finish.
riding a motorcycle solo.
On September 9, 2023, the off-road racing family finally
It was the last time she would set foot in Baja until NORRA’s
Mike
Pearlman
extended
a
atoned for decades of keeping one of its most significant
long-overdue
treasures a hidden secret. In front of an adoring Las Vegas
In 1968 she returned as part of a strengthened and
invitation to her in being named the 2022 NORRA 500
ballroom filled with fans old and brand new, Mary McGee
expanded BRE effort, this time driving a Datsun pick-up
Grand Marshal. It was not a surprise that it was the first
was inducted into the prestigious Off-Road Motorsports
with co-driver John Timanus. This time, McGee overcame
time the organization had honored a female in that manner
Hall of Fame.
some obstacles and a long night of driving to go down in
in their history.
the history books as the very first female driver to complete a major desert race or Mexican 1000.
We arrived back in Ensenada in time for Mary to wave
Thankfully, her cabana boy was there to witness history being rectified for good.
the checkered flag to many of the day’s finishers. Still a
FORE MOTHER |
16
1975 BAJA 500
1968 NORRA MEXICAN 1000
19
Venturing into the heart of the desert aboard vintage off-roaders isn’t just a pastime; it’s a manifestation of deep-seated passion. To some, the very thought might ring of madness, but for the enthusiasts, the allure of these aging titans is undeniable. Half HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Rory Ward
the battle lies in unearthing such a vintage gem; a vehicle imbued with history, tales of its past etched into every rusted bolt and
PHOTOS
Brandon Lim
worn-out seat. Often, a car might not wear its story on its sleeve, appearing nondescript at a first glance. Yet, scratch beneath the surface and you uncover layers of rich heritage—much like when you look closer at
GHOST IN THE the #152 International Harvester Scout.
MACHINE 21
Enter Ken Younghusband. World War II veteran. A man who
designing rockets for NASA, now craved something even more
aircraft rivets. The front grill, quarter panels and a Scout hood
once breathed the dust of European battlefields sought solace
daunting—to craft the ultimate 4x4, something better than their
were molded from fiberglass to save weight—no small feat in
in the unforgiving deserts of America. A tinkerer of toys—be
Land Cruiser or the typical early Ford Bronco’s being raced at
an era devoid of aftermarket wonders. Custom fabricated doors
it a water pumper for the dunes or rusty old Jeeps—they were
the time. Ken’s vision saw past the mundane. He set his sights
filling the gap between fenders and early Bronco flares covering
his ticket to the vast deserts he craved. Circa late ‘60s, he and
on the Ford MUTT (Military Utility Tactical Truck)—a warhorse
the tires poking out. To an unenlightened soul, it would pass
his good friend Thomas Grim Duffy, built an old Toyota Land
meant to be the spiritual successor of the WWII era Jeeps. The
for just another Scout, a ghost of the past. But lurking beneath
Cruiser. To satisfy their quest for dusty thrills they entered it into
design was ahead of its time having coil springs and four wheel
were arteries and veins made of a 314 aluminum Buick block,
one of the early NORRA races of the time. One taste and they
independent suspension... Ken figured it would work better than
a Ford Motor Company C4 transmission, and a Toyota FJ 40
were hooked, addicts on four wheels.
the straight axle Broncos. Morphing the MUTT’s foundation with
transfer case. Its insides were minimalistic, stark, a testament
Ken’s mind, sharpened by his stint as a structural engineer,
his own version of a Frankenstein chassis, the body needed its
to functionality, echoing the primitive designs of past legends
a mind that once danced with the mysteries of the cosmos
skin. Original bits and pieces of the Scout 80 were sewn on with
including a cab mounted air filter like the Big Oly Bronco.
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