50 Years in the Making | Mark McMillin’s Original Class 9 Bug & Baja Legacy
This segment features Mark McMillin reflecting on his family’s first desert race in the 1976 Baja 1000, driving the original Class 9 Bug #913. Restored recently by Rory Ward and Cody Swanty, the historic vehicle highlights the roots of McMillin Racing’s enduring presence in off-road competition. The interview offers a rare look back at the early days before the rise of modern AWD Trophy Trucks.
Viewers gain insight into how the original Class 9 Bug handled the demanding Baja terrain, including considerations of line choice and mechanical endurance in a time when off-road technology was far less advanced. The footage and discussion illustrate the race pace and visibility challenges faced by early competitors, providing context for the evolution of racecraft over five decades. Explore this unique piece of off-road heritage exclusively on BajaTubes.
