The Legend Begins...
No one knows Mack’s actual date of birth. He rolled out of the back of a pickup truck in the Sonoran Desert and straight into a rattlesnake den. He was raised briefly by the Yaqui tribe, who named him “Snake Charmer.”
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Around age five, he was kidnapped by a group of white evangelicals who claimed they’d raise him in a “proper home.” He was later given up for adoption.
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By the time he was a teenager, Mack had found some stability in rural Appalachia, in the home of Bartholomew and Bertie Johnson. They dubbed him “Mack” and taught him the family trade — bootlegging and stock car racing. That’s where he honed his driving skills.
The Racer and the Rival...
Mack eventually moved to California, where he became a stuntman. From 1970 to ’75, he raced for the Modern Motors team. His weapon of choice was the Funco SS1, powered by a 2180cc VW mill — and with Mack behind the wheel, that car defied logic and science.
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His teammate, “Iron Man” Ivan Stewart, felt too threatened by Mack’s skill and had him kicked off the team for “creative differences.” The beef between Ivan and Mack still stands to this day.
The Dodge Dynasty
From 1976 to 1989, Mack was a factory driver for the Chrysler Corporation. Prominent builder Bill Stroppe had entered into an agreement with Dodge to manage their off-road program. Mack, along with his longtime co-rider and friend Tescalez, was assigned to the production 4WD Dodge.
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The team saw moderate success their first year, but in 1977, Mack began a winning streak that lasted into the next decade — driving the Class 4 Dodge to an unbroken string of 37 consecutive SCORE and HDRA victories, a record likely to stand for eternity.
Fame, Flesh & Fast Cars
The outlaw who finally made the cover.
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When Mack wasn’t behind the wheel, he was behind the flashbulbs.
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2-Time Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
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Playgirl Pet of the Month (1981, 1984, and 1990)
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15-Time Baja 1000 Winner
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Inspiration for Smokey and the Bandit’s Bandit and Snowman
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Ongoing pitchman for Boots Cigarettes
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Proprietor of Mack’s Jack Shack Athletic Club franchise
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1978 International Tai Chi Champion
This was Mack’s golden era — equal parts horsepower, heartbreak, and hedonism.
The Comeback
With the help of Clancy Hobart — Mack’s old manager and lawyer (and now mine, too) — we were able to get Mack out of prison. One of his former sponsors, @ikuzawaracing, stepped up with the money to get the old team back together and give Mack another shot at glory.
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I’ve officially started shooting the documentary about Mack, and all I can say is: wow.
This story is as colorful as a two-dollar piñata — ups, downs, peaks, valleys, twists, turns, tears, laughter, sex, drugs, money, male models, parental alienation — you name it, it’s got it.
Behind the Documentary
On my very first day of shooting, I met a professional photographer named Noah. He’d been sent by Playgirl to shoot during the race for a comeback story about Tescalez and Mack. Turns out, the December 1982 edition featuring the two of them was Playgirl’s highest-grossing issue of all time.
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Clancy Hobart managed to sign Noah to his agency, and now he’s part of our crew. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes photos shot by Noah during the making of our documentary.
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Stay tuned — this legend’s just getting warmed up.