Walker Evans is “The Legend” in the desert racing community, and then went on to build a reputation competing in rock crawling. He even has his own company that designs and sells shocks and wheels.
Walker Evans is best known for racing Dodge trucks, but back in the 1970’s he was racing Ford F-100’s. His first purpose built race truck was a Ford F-100 donated by Marion Beaver at Parker Motor Company, and built by Bill Stroppe. The truck won 16 of 17 races.
Walker Evans custom built his own F-100 Flaresides that put him in the Baja 1000 winners’ circles an astonishing (5) times in the late 1970’s. His 6th win came in a Trophy Truck to maintain his reign of King of the Baja race, and was the first overall win for a truck ever.
With 142 victories and 21 championship titles in short-course and desert racing events, Evans is one of the most accomplished competitors in the sport of off-road racing.
He has multiple overall wins in the Baja 500, Baja 1000, Fireworks 250, Mint 400, and Parker 400.
The restored F-100 shown here is (1) of (50) Walker Evans Special Edition trucks that were built by Dick Landfield for Ford to sell at dealerships in 1977. Walker Evans raced a Ford for part of 1977 before signing his deal with Dodge in 1978. Ford should have never let him get away.
Fourwheeler Magazine – March 1978: In our very first monthly issue, staffer Jim Brightly rode along with Walker Evans (photo above) as he raced the Baja 1000, setting a precedent that just about every staffer on this magazine has followed in one way or another. The technology aboard Evans’ F-100 impressed Brightly: “With $25,000 invested in the race truck, Walker Evans owns one of the most expensive 1972 F-100’s in existence.”
Link:
https://walkerevansracing.com/
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About The Author
Growing up, my father always believed that every family needed a truck—there’s just something about having a vehicle capable of hauling anything at a moment’s notice. That philosophy stuck with me, and it’s been the foundation of my lifelong passion for Ford trucks.
While I’m best known for my work with Ford Rangers, I’ve owned a wide variety of Ford trucks over the years—including F-150s, F-250s, F-350s, and even larger rigs like the Ford Excursion, Ford Expedition, and a 1982 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile camper van. I’ve used these vehicles for everything from family transportation to towing car trailers and campers, and each one has fueled my love for Ford’s versatility and durability.
I especially enjoy the styling of 1970s and 1980s Ford trucks—the bold designs, rugged presence, and classic charm are timeless. Sharing my passion for Ford trucks, vans, and SUVs with other enthusiasts online brings me a great deal of joy, and it’s why I created Blue Oval Trucks.
This website is dedicated to helping Ford truck enthusiasts explore, learn about, and celebrate these incredible vehicles. While I share my expertise and experiences here, Blue Oval Trucks is an independent enthusiast site and is not affiliated with Ford Motor Company.
