Godfather of off-road culture Bruce Meyers dies at age 94

Widely known as the inventor of the Meyers Manx, Bruce Meyers was a true modern renaissance man. A surfer, sailor, guitar/ukulele player, artist, engineer, and founding father of off-road culture, Bruce has died at 94 years old. His vehicle The Meyers Manx original off-road buggy will carry his name forward.

Meyers drove the very first Meyers Manx, “Old Red”, with Ted Mangels down the Baja Peninsula to beat the standing Tijuana to La Paz motorcycle record by over five hours, resulting in the formation of the National Off Road Racing Association and the very first Baja 1000 the following year. Over 50 years later, Meyers will dropped the green flag during the 2020 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 and sent off the best racers in the world on a 428 mile battle.

“Bruce Meyers is the godfather of off-road culture. When you think of the Southern California dream of driving down the beach with your girl and your surfboard in the glowing California sun, that dream was created by Bruce Meyers. As if that wasn’t enough he took his now famed “Meyers Manx” down to the Baja 1000 and won it overall! This guy was the “King of Cool” long before McQueen, Newman, and Garner climbed into a car,” stated Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli.

When Bruce converted the first VW to a Manx, the world fell in love with the inexpensive practicality of the platform. But most of all, it was the “cool” factor that sold The Meyers Manx. The idea that you would magically be transformed into a good looking movie star exploring be surf breaks of Baja by simply climbing in and strapping your surfboards to the top. 

Bruce went on to race as a proving ground for the Manx platform and won multiple off-road races. The immediate demand for the Manx was massive, orders flooded in and knock-off manufacturers sprang up overnight with overproducing over 350,000 copies via some 300 companies worldwide. Bruce didn’t just invent a vehicle, he invented the off-road lifestyle to which he is still a part of. Bruce and his wife Winnie Meyers recently sold the Meyers Manx dune buggy company to Trousdale Ventures, an investment firm that has plans of rejuvenating the brand. He may have passed from this earth, but his impact will be felt for generations to come! Race in Peace Bruce – Love & Respect!