Builds

At BFGoodrich® Tires, we don’t cruise down memory lane. We race down it. As a part of our 150th-year celebrations, we took a high-speed look back at some of the vehicles, engineers, and drivers that built the wins, wows, and “world’s firsts” of our rich racing legacy. Here’s to 150 years of excellence and innovation — both on and off the pavement.

From 1980 through 1988, America’s favorite crime-fighting hero was Magnum, P. I. He had great hair, a sharp mind, and an exciting life as a private investigator in Hawaii. Famously, he drove a bright red Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole to work each day.

There’s a circle of life in the builder’s garage. It can begin as humbly as a body on blocks, running on nothing but a dream. Maybe, it’s a lucky find. Something with low miles and a lot of potential. First, it’s a vision. Then, it’s a work-in-progress. This is where builders become magicians, transforming possibility into reality. Solving problems. Adding horsepower. Embarking on rare part expeditions. All this work culminates in the cruise phase. The project is never done, but it reaches a point where you can use it, enjoy it, and show it off. For some, this phase never ends. For others, it does, and they enter the final phase in the cycle: the cleansing pain of selling out. 

If you’re interested in getting into autocross, we’ve got great news: You probably have everything you need to hit the track already.

Autocross racing gives drivers of all experience, and all types of cars, a chance to experience the excitement and challenge of racing. From grocery-getters to heavily-modded race cars, there’s a class for everyone. When we sat down with a long-time autocross enthusiast to discuss how to get started, he had one piece of starting line advice: don’t wait.

It was an otherwise typical day at the office when the Spirit of ‘79 appeared in Jack Tetley’s inbox. It wasn’t a magic moment right away. His years working at Duncan Hamilton ROFGO — a renowned English firm for acquiring and selling classic and competitive motorcars — had taught him the critical skill of always keeping his hopes at an even keel. At least, at first.

The year is 1970, and Pete Brown — an off-road enthusiast from Saugus, California — is thinking. He’s been chewing on something for a while now. Pacing back and forth in the place where many do their best thinking: the garage. Aside from the warm, dusty winds outside, it’s quiet. A fine Saturday afternoon to stare at your rig and think.

In 2016, Jason Miller bought a run-down 12-acre farm in south-central Pennsylvania from an elderly relative. There’s a lot of work that goes into getting a neglected farm back up and running. Jason got to work: fixing the farmhouse, repairing fencing and taking care of the land. He soon realized he needed a utility vehicle that could help him get from one job to the next. The solution? A 1965 Jeep CJ5.

Mike Davidson is the proud owner of a 1967 Porsche 912. A casual glance will tell you it’s unquestionably a Porsche. The inside tells a different story.

Planet Earth has crossed the finish line on another lap around the solar track. For many of us, it went by in a record-breaking blink. For others, perhaps it dragged on like LA traffic. Either way, the New Year is an important time for everyone.