Retro Rally Revival: 80s Vibes and Off-Road Thrills

Bringing Back the ‘80s with Classic Safari Style

We’ve featured lots of vehicles on these pages sporting the red, orange, and yellow livery inspired by Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, an infamous off-road thrasher who ruled Baja in the ‘80s. You’re about to meet a few more, but they’ve taken that Ironman inspiration to the next level.

These rigs (well, two out of three…) don’t just call back to the Ironman days with their paint jobs. Each one was built from the ground up by a dedicated off-road racer who runs their rig just as hard as the original Group B rally racers did. Jon Rood’s 1984 Toyota Celica, Randy Wimenta’s 1989 Toyota Corolla, and Natasha Adams’ 1990 Lexus LS400 each have unique elements, but their ‘80s roots are one thing that unites them all.

“Our New Year’s Eve trip to Joshua Tree, California, with Randy, Natasha, and myself, out playing in the sand and gravel…” Rood recalls, “What an amazing weekend of fun with friends, playing with the cars in an area I had never been before.” Ripping up dirt out in the desert gave these drivers an opportunity to see how their builds stack up against other Safari rally rigs. “It’s so much fun, learning just how fast soft sand can suck you in when you don’t pay attention,” Rood explains. “You would think having to pull out traction mattes to get going again would be a pain, but for me, it was part of the adventure. I rarely ever get stuck to that point… so just playing was a joy.” For racers who take the game seriously, having the chance to get out and have a good time testing a build off road is the ultimate “two birds, one stone” win.

Even in competition, though, the three have too much in common to be anything but friends. As you read more about each vehicle, you’ll see how it’s been influenced by the others, and by fans and friends alike from all over the off-road world. Each team is on a different trajectory, but as they work towards their eventual goals, the fun of pushing a vehicle to its limits and holding on tight through the whoops, literal and metaphorical, makes the journey worth it.