Personal FactsName: Walker EvansAge: 66Date Of Birth: December 3, 1938Birthplace: Cedar Lake, MichiganResidence: Riverside, CaliforniaHeight / Weight: 5 Foot, 8 Inches / 180 PoundsMarital Status: Married To PhyllisChildren: Melanie, Vicki, Kelly, And EvanYears In Racing: 34 YearsTeam: Walker Evans RacingRacing Series/Class: Retired In 2000Rockcrawling Events/Class: Rcaa/OpenVehicle/Number: Chevy S-10/No. 20
Behind The ScenesPersonal Vehicle: Chevy four-door Crew Cab pickupFavorite Food: ItalianFavorite Beverage: beerFavorite Color: blueFavorite Type Of Music: country westernHobbies: flying, snowmobiling, and motorcycle ridingI couldn't live without: competitionIf I weren't a racer, I would be a: helicopter pilot
Occasionally, an individual comes along who impacts the off-road community so significantly that he raises the bar and sets the standard for all others to follow. Walker Evans is just such a racer. With a career span of more than 34 years and 142 victories, we can safely say that Walker has made history and left his mark on the sport for years to come.
Dating back to 1969, the Baja 500 was Mr. Evans' first attempt at racing. He joined actor James Garner's American Motors Team and hit the course in an AMC Rambler Sedan. He took Third Place. Since that first race Walker has won the Baja 1000 nine times; the Baja 500 six times; and the Mint 400, Parker 400, and Fireworks 250 numerous times. He was the first off-road racer to win the Baja 1000 in a fullsize pickup in 1979. Other racing endeavors include SCORE, CORR, SODA, the Nascar Truck Racing series, the Daytona 24-hour Endurance, stadium racing, drag racing, boat racing, dirt track, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. The list of his racing successes is extremely long and distinguished.
Walker stepped back from full-time racing in 2000, but tells us he cannot live without competition. Needing to fill the void of high-speed racing with some type of adrenaline rush, Walker turned to rockcrawling as a competitor and enthusiast. For the past five years, he has been making his legendary presence felt on the rockcrawling circuit. To date, he has competed in RCAA, ARCA, ProROCK, CalROCS, and UROC events. He has stood in the winner's circle a few times and has left competitors and spectators alike stunned with his amazing driving skills.
Even after his lengthy career, Walker Evans is still probably one of the most affable people anyone could meet. Through it all, he has retained a down-to-earth personality that is, in some cases, unheard of for a guy with his credentials. We have bumped into him a few times over the years, but recently had the opportunity to spend the day with him out on the trail. He wanted to show us the trail he and some friends had forged on the backside of the famous Hammer Trails in Johnson Valley, California. He takes great pride in the fact the he was more than likely the first person to run the trail in his Jeep. His 'wheeling partners named the trail Highway 20 after his prominent racing number. This is perhaps the toughest trail in the area, and we were amazed at Walker's natural ability to easily maneuver in, around, up, and over some very challenging obstacles.
Spending the day in Johnson Valley gave us the perfect opportunity to get to know the racing legend.