In the BAJA 1000, the “Pre-Run” is a crucial element that supports success during the main race. The information gained during the pre-run is directly connected to driver safety and strategic driving.

The term “prerunner” refers to a vehicle built with the image of these reconnaissance vehicles in mind. It represents a style of pickup truck modification that is particularly popular along the West Coast of the United States.

After the course layout is announced in the BAJA 1000, top teams often carry out reconnaissance runs known as “pre-runs.” The course includes various types of terrain such as deserts, mountains, and river crossings. By checking these areas in advance, participants can assess conditions and develop a detailed strategy.

During the pre-run, team members actually drive the race course for inspection. Of course, they do not run at racing speeds, but considering the long distance of nearly 1,000 miles and the fact that there are many difficult sections even for race vehicles, it is common to use modified vehicles for these runs.

The term “prerunner” originates from this pre-run activity and refers to pickup trucks modified in a similar fashion.

In recent years, this has become a popular custom style, especially on the West Coast of the U.S., and vehicles modeled on this style are now being built in Japan as well.

The featured vehicle is a 2017 Toyota Tacoma modified into a prerunner, using American-made parts focused on the exterior and suspension.

The vehicle was built by Blue Label Auto Engineering. The exterior was upgraded with 6-inch wide fenders from Manicour Racing, and the suspension features parts from KING Shocks. It is finished as a street-spec build.

Although it appears to have a lifted stance, the actual ride height—excluding the change caused by different tires—is nearly stock. The reason it looks taller is that the wide fenders are cut about two inches higher than stock, creating a visual effect of increased height.

The base vehicle is an SR5 4WD model. In the past, prerunners were typically based on 2WD trucks, with extended front suspension travel and weight biased toward the rear drive wheels, creating a characteristic “nose-up” stance. However, recently, even trophy trucks are becoming 4WD using reduction gears, and the nose-up style is becoming less common. As a result, many recent prerunners are now built with a level stance.

Another surprising fact is that this vehicle is owned by a woman who enjoys drifting. She uses it for daily transportation and camping, treating it as her go-to vehicle.

Moreover, she plans to load a side-by-side UTV onto a trailer and enjoy off-road racing in the future, making this prerunner a towing vehicle as well. In other words, it’s a cherished part of the lifestyle of an owner who fully embraces the American off-road spirit.

PHOTO｜Kazutoshi AKimoto 秋元一利
TEXT｜Kazutoshi AKimoto 秋元一利
PUBLISHED｜2025
SOURCE｜Cal Vol.62
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