Drino Miller's Single Seat Baja Buggy

Last Call: Origin of the species

Peter Tanshanomi
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Drino Miller was a remarkable pioneer in off-road racing. He built the Baja Boot for Steve McQueen. He worked for TRD and Pro-Circuit. Along the way, he also created the first single-seat VW-based baja buggy.  To my eyes, this will forever be the most perfect off-road vehicle: the simple lines, the short wheelbase, the simplicity of the dual-loop roll cage—this is what every vintage go-kart wanted to be when it grew up.

Last Call indicates the end of Hooniverse’s broadcast day. It’s meant to be an open forum for anyone and anything. Thread jacking is not only accepted, it’s encouraged.

Source: Motocross Action

About

Peter Tanshanomi

Peter Tanshanomi

Tanshanomi is Japanese [単車のみ] for “motorcycle(s) only.” Though primarily tasked with creating two-wheel oriented content for Hooniverse, Pete is a lover of all sorts of motorized vehicles.

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7 responses to “Last Call: Origin of the species”

  1. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    I was thinking about origin stories the other day…

    Somebody, sometime, must have been the first driver to do a burnout just for fun. Somewhere between baloney slick natural rubber tires losing it on dirt roads and the NHRA there must have been some hoon in a Model A that yelled “Smoke ’em if ya got ’em!” as they dumped the clutch and floored it.

    Cheers to you, burnout badass!

    Also, some cat on a bicycle pulled the first wheelie by accident, but I bet it wasn’t long before they did it on purpose.

    Reply
    1. roguetoaster Avatar
      roguetoaster

      There is surprisingly little readily available information about the origins of burnouts (aside from drag racing) and donuts. It would be very interesting for someone on this site to dig a little deeper if possible.

      Kudos for the neat thoughts in your comment BSB.

      Reply
      1. theskitter Avatar
        theskitter

        I was shocked by the R&T article this month about Zanardi being the first celebratory donut in high-level motorsports.
        Seems quite late, much like Gurney with the champagne.
        Really, no one though of that before then?

        Reply
    2. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      Probably an Australian.

      Reply
    3. neight428 Avatar
      neight428

      I read somewhere speculation that if it moves, it will be raced. There are stories from ye olde tymes of the olds getting their tunics in a twist from hooligans racing horses through city streets. It stands to reason that the first two automobiles that happened upon each other were likely lined up shortly after meeting and they went at it. The burnouts and donuts probably followed suit, as soon as the vehicles were capable of performing one.

      Reply
      1. Troggy Avatar
        Troggy

        Supposedly the first ever motorcycle race happened right after the second ever motorcycle was built.

        Reply
  2. Origin Of The Species: Drino Miller's Single Seat Baja Buggy – Psyne Co.

    […] Drino Miller was a remarkable pioneer in off-road racing. He built the Baja Boot for Steve McQueen. He worked for TRD and Pro-Circuit. Along the way, he also created the first single-seat VW-based Baja buggy. To my eyes, this will forever be the most perfect off-road vehicle: the simple lines, the short wheelbase, the simplicity of the dual-loop roll cage—this is what every vintage go-kart wanted to be when it grew up. H/T> […]

    Reply