Off Road Racing Socks
Description: Interested in both racing cars and motorcycles, Steve McQueen was also an avid off-road racer, and founded Solar Plastics in 1969 as a manufacturer of custom off-road parts. Solar primarily focused on accessories for dune buggies and motorcycles, but one of their more ubiquitous products was the “Baja Bucket” seat. These simple, yet tough off-road racing seats were designed and patented by McQueen to help keep a driver firmly planted while racing over rough terrain while also preventing injuries from a roll-over, all from an affordable injection molded design that put them within reach of racers and enthusiasts alike.
Description: The late '60s saw the birth of organized long distance desert racing, with the granddaddy of them all being the big 1000 event that started in 1967, with everything from trucks, dirt bikes, and buggies all competing at once. The course has remained relatively the same over the years, with about every other event being either a point-to-point race from Ensenada to La Paz or a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada. Air-cooled buggies were one of the easiest ways for aspiring racers to get in on the action, and in 1971, Rapid Cool made it even easier with their line of oil and transmission coolers designed to keep air-cooled engines and their mated transmissions cool during the extremes of desert racing.
Description: The Blazer's story began in 1969 when the first K5 rolled out to compete with the similar sport utility rigs on the market. Based on full-size pickup truck frame underpinnings, the Blazer was larger than the competition with an interior that could be configured to hold one to five passengers and for an open-air experience, the rig's fiberglass top could be removed. Options included air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, push-button radio, heavy-duty shocks and springs and an auxiliary battery. In its first year of production, customers could only get their Blazers with four-wheel drive, but chose from three different engines ranging from a 4.1-liter inline six-cylinder to a 5.7-liter V8.
Description: Based in Southern California, International Racing Enterprises Ltd. was an off-road race organizer and promoter behind several Baja style racing events throughout the '70s and '80s. Not much more info on them, but hey, it's an off-road racing design with a cool old school race buggy, so what's not to like?
Description: Jackman Wheels was born in El Cajon, California, when they began making custom wheels for off-road vehicles and buggies in 1973. After placing a small ad in the back of an off-road magazine, what began as a small family operation selling a few wheels locally rapidly grew into a national supplier of wheels popular with the Baja racing crowd and, eventually, with the street scene as well. While their designs were often copied, their quality was not and even today, decades later, their steel wheels are highly sought after by collectors and restorers who want the real deal from back in the day.
Description: Released in 1984, the Hornet, is a legendary 2WD off-road buggy credited with sparking a global RC buggy boom. Known for its durable ABS bathtub chassis, sealed gearbox, and easy assembly, it was a popular choice for both beginners and experienced hobbyists. Like it's lower powered sibling, the Grasshopper, the Hornet's straight forward design, extreme durability and high performance made it a backyard basher and racer that provided countless hours of fun. Its enduring appeal has led to numerous re-releases and special editions, solidifying its status as a collector's item and childhood icon in the world of radio-controlled hobbies.
Description: K-Bar-S Bronco Specialties was founded by Hal Sealand and John Karp in the late '70s in Las Vegas, Nevada. The name of the shop is from their last names – K for Karp, S for Sealand. As the name implies, K-Bar-S specialized in custom Bronco parts. They also had a complete shop where they built some pretty amazing rigs, many of which went on to tough truck and Baja race events. Word is that the shop closed in 2001, but most of their rigs and exclusive aftermarket parts are still out there.
Description: In 1969, accomplished off-road racer and a self-taught mechanical innovator, Drino Miller, partnered with Stanford Havens to open up a shop to build and tune off-road race cars. Calling their operation Miller-Havens Enterprises, they specialized in creating race winning buggies that proved their stuff at both the Mint 400 and Baja 500 where they bested high dollar race teams with their low budget custom single seat buggies. Miller-Havens didn't just stop at dedicated race cars, but created one of the most accessible ways into off-road racing – the Baja Bug. Based on the readily available Type I platform, these vehicles were perfect for off-roading and something that the average Joe could not only afford, but build himself at home.
Description: DG Racing was started out as a motorcycle parts company, taking its name from founders, Dan and Gary. Gary's son Kevin was both into competitive MX and BMX racing, so DG also got into BMX in 1975. In 1976 they hired Chuck Robinson (later of Robinson Racing) to run the BMX team and help design their bikes, which were produced through 1981. DG Racing had never stopped producing MX products and continued to do so after their foray into the world of BMX and to this day, their bikes remain highly sought after by collectors.
Description: Keep it rugged and simple with this classic "4x4 Off-Road" typography black text versiondesign! Featuring a bold, heavy block layout with a raw, deeply distressed vintage texture, this graphic speaks directly to the core of utility vehicle culture, trail riding, and truck customization. A timeless, high-contrast print that fits seamlessly into the AniTee collection, it is the perfect everyday gear or a great gift choice for mechanics, mud boggers, truck owners, and off-road drivers who love tackling tough terrains.
