By G.R. Whale
This November, Rod Hall, scion of the winningest family in off-road racing, will run his 40th consecutive Baja 1000.
In 1968, Bill Stroppe advised Rod to "keep racing as long as you can see," and with an eye tuneup a few years ago and a license that says he's only 70 years old, Rod will keep doing just that. Although he's humble, mild-mannered, down to earth, and a shrewd businessman, his voice and the sparkle in his eye attest racing is his passion. He has a daily regimen that starts at four a.m. with 50 push-ups, and he's fast even on a mountain bike.
His first Baja class win was in 1967 in a CJ-5, when the race was still known as the Mexican 1000. Since then, he's amassed a string of records unlikely to be broken. He's the only person to win Baja overall in a 4WD, has 14 major series class championships, earned more than 150 event titles including a string of 37 consecutive wins, is the only 18-time Baja class winner, was on the first all-American team to finish the Dakar rally, is a 10-time winner of the Mint 400 and the Parker 400, is a 12-time winner of the Fireworks 250 and the Baja 500, and is a member of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. Yeah, he probably deserves to be there.
When asked about his most formidable opponents, he named Roger Mears and Jack Johnson. His current ride is a Hummer H3.