$1.87 Million "Big Oly" Bronco Rolled in NORRA Mex 1000 Race!

[WOADKIL]

Parnelli Jones and Bill Stroppe debuted the purpose-built Bronco racer dubbed "Big Oly" in the early Seventies. The most expensive Bronco in the world got rolled in a Baja race.

ROAD AND TRACK article

Check out the knockoffs on the wheels in true racing fashion!!!

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[rydfree]

Dang , 3 Bronco threads here this morning . I had to do a double take to make sure I was on the right forum ,lol .

 

[WOADKIL]

Dang , 3 Bronco threads here this morning . I had to do a double take to make sure I was on the right forum ,lol .

 

[LT Dangle]

sad to see it roll, love to see it out rippin' in the desert, and very happy to hear that they rolled it back over and kept right on truckin' ??

 

[rydfree]

If the notice were that large I might have actually noticed .

 

[JimJ]

I believe those were prepped by Bill Stroppe

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I believe those were prepped by Bill Stroppe

Hi Jim,

Short back story... During the development of the 1985½ Aerostar, we had a drive evaluation around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California. We prepared for this Big Wig drive by working on the prototypes at Bill Stroppe's facility. To a degree, space was limited and so was manpower. So I was to handle the 2.3L Lima Areostar manual transmission prototype which had some significant issues including an engine vibration. It was determined that a clutch change would be necessary. It was looking like the Stroppe mechanics would be dedicated to the 3.0L Aerostars and leaving me to do the clutch change myself. I can certainly do this but my laundry list of other changes, mode it looked like I was doomed to only doing about half the list... But I got a mechanic...none other than Bill Stroppe himself. So here I am with a legend pulling the transmission out of the Aerostar and changing the Clutch. Bill knew I was managing Ford's off road racing as a side job so we traded stories as we pulled the trans and changed out the clutch. Then, we tackled the laundry list and time flew by...I thoroughly enjoyed wrenching with Bill Stroppe...

Later, his Garage Manager, Bobby S. told me that Bill specifically wanted to work with me....High praise...

This drive put the nail in the 2.3L being the base Aerostar engine....Thankfully as it was such a slug... I think there is another back story on my loosing the clutch on this Aerostar on Colorado Blvd in rush hour traffic....

Best,
Phil

 

[JimJ]

Hi Jim,

Short back story... During the development of the 1985½ Aerostar, we had a drive evaluation around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California. We prepared for this Big Wig drive by working on the prototypes at Bill Stroppe's facility. To a degree, space was limited and so was manpower. So I was to handle the 2.3L Lima Areostar manual transmission prototype which had some significant issues including an engine vibration. It was determined that a clutch change would be necessary. It was looking like the Stroppe mechanics would be dedicated to the 3.0L Aerostars and leaving me to do the clutch change myself. I can certainly do this but my laundry list of other changes, mode it looked like I was doomed to only doing about half the list... But I got a mechanic...none other than Bill Stroppe himself. So here I am with a legend pulling the transmission out of the Aerostar and changing the Clutch. Bill knew I was managing Ford's off road racing as a side job so we traded stories as we pulled the trans and changed out the clutch. Then, we tackled the laundry list and time flew by...I thoroughly enjoyed wrenching with Bill Stroppe...

Later, his Garage Manager, Bobby S. told me that Bill specifically wanted to work with me....High praise...

This drive put the nail in the 2.3L being the base Aerostar engine....Thankfully as it was such a slug... I think there is another back story on my loosing the clutch on this Aerostar on Colorado Blvd in rush hour traffic....

Best,
Phil

Very nice memories with a pioneer. Back in the mid nineties I was service manager at a boat dealership. We sold nautiques, sea doos, and Fountain. I got to meet Reggie Fountain at a customers house. The customer had a 29 foot lightning with a pair of super charged 650hp mercruisers. The customer was friends with Reggie and after I took care of a problem Reggie personally thanked me and about a month later I received a letter of appreciation from him. Yeah it’s good to get some praise from legends in our fields . I’m retired now and kinda miss working on boats. I miss troubleshooting the most.
Still waiting for my Cactus gray super cab , the 4th was 8 months since I placed my order. Have been driving only Ranger’s since 83/84 and can’t wait to get my 22. I wish they would of stayed with the 8.8 rear the Torsen gears are the best.

 

[WOADKIL]

I was managing Ford's off road racing as a side job

Phil, you mentioned managing Ford's off road racing, were you involved in any way with the Sport Trac? When I was wheeling my '92 Exploder with an explorer 4x4 group, we met a group of Ford engineers who came out to Anza Borrego to pre-release run not before seen in public Sport Tracs. We got to drive them off road and had Ford engineers ride with our rigs to get feedback on four wheeling our Fords.

EXPLORER4X4 website

Me with a Ford engineer:

Rick Haas was one of the engineers. Not sure this was him.

This was our group photo that weekend:

Miss my original WOADKIL

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Phil, you mentioned managing Ford's off road racing, were you involved in any way with the Sport Trac? When I was wheeling my '92 Exploder with an explorer 4x4 group, we met a group of Ford engineers who came out to Anza Borrego to pre-release run not before seen in public Sport Tracs. We got to drive them off road and had Ford engineers ride with our rigs to get feedback on four wheeling our Fords.

EXPLORER4X4 website

Me with a Ford engineer:

Rick Haas was one of the engineers. Not sure this was him.

This was our group photo that weekend:

Miss my original WOADKIL

Hi Wil,

Very cool! This was organized by Larry Rea and Ken Notham of Spirit Racing, owned by Steve Spearkoff... Did not see Rich Haas in the picture... I recognize a couple folks, but since there were about 1500 of us do not recall the names... Thanks for the memories. Since it was not a SCORE or BITD race, I was not there...but it would have been a fun time if I had gone...darn!

Best,
Phil

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