6 James Garner

After making Grand Prix James Garner formed American International Racing, which fielded a variety of cars in Formula A (F5000) and sports cars in 1968-’69. Garner had been banned from circuit racing by studio chiefs and his insurer, but the clause in his contract said nothing about him competing offpiste. Garner participated in the Baja 1000 six times from 1968, and ran his own Amcs/ramblers and tube-framed Oldsmobiles. He claimed one class win, and also ran strongly in other classic off-road events such as the Stardust 7-11 Grand Prix and the Mint 400. Vic Hickey, who built Garner’s Oldsmobiles and also Steve Mcqueen’s Baja Boot buggy, told Autoweek in 1996: ‘[Garner] had the best retention of any man who drove for me. On a pre-run, if he hit a bump, he’d come back five days later and tell you where it was within 10 feet.’ Anorak fact Garner’s AIR Lola T70 finished second overall in the 1969 Daytona 24 Hours