Episode 67: Rich Minga

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road racer, tour guide, and Hollywood stuntman Rich Minga. Rich had an unsuspecting start in off-roading, going on camping trips with his family in Baja. After getting hooked on Hot VWs Magazine, Rich started sweeping the floors at a buggy prep shop in El Cajon, and built his own Baja Bug at the young age of 15. Taking what he learned from How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, Rich would go on to help prep cars for Mark Stahl, Jim Guthrie, and Dan Gurney. After many years of prepping, and getting the occasional chance to drive, Rich would start his own race program, racing Baja in class 9 in 1986. Just one year later, Rich took the overall points championship. Because of his performance in racing, and all of the people he met in off-road, Rich got the opportunity to perform vehicle stunts in an episode of Baywatch. This led into a career as a stuntman in Hollywood, where Rich would use his experience in racing to perform stunts in dozens of films. Now, Rich is a guide and driving coach for Wide Open Baja, while still operating as a stuntman. Rich and I sit down to talk about his lifelong history in off-road, and more. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.