WORDS: Scout Motors IMAGES: CHRIS HUNT
or the first time in four decades, Scout® trucks are thundering through the Baja Peninsula again, and the feature documentary Back to Baja is every bit as rugged as the race itself. In the tradition of On Any Sunday and Dust to Glory, the film captures more than a race — it tells a real story of resilience, risk, and return. And it’s a hell of a lot of fun, to boot.
Sean Barber, owner of Anything Scout and New Legend 4×4, has been a Scout enthusiast since 1994, when he bought his first one for “a couple hundred bucks.”
What started as a passion project evolved into a mission to revive the brand’s forgotten racing heritage. After discovering the rich history of Scout trucks competing in Baja racing—including legendary drivers like the late Sherman Balch—Barber knew he had to act.
“With Scout Motors bringing back the Scout, I said, now’s the time. We got to bring Scouts back to Baja,” Barber explains in the gritty documentary chronicling the Vintage Scout Race Program’s return to Baja.
In 2023, Sean and his teenage son Owen built their first race truck from a Scout Terra™, transforming the vintage pickup in just two weeks. Despite running only 70 horsepower against competitors with V8s, they finished second place in their NORRA® Mexican 1000® race debut. It was an impressive feat that only served to heighten their ambition.
“With Scout Motors bringing back the Scout, I said, now's the time. We got to bring Scouts back to Baja.”
Their 2024 campaign seemed destined for victory. After crushing their previous times and leading their class, disaster struck just 26 miles from the finish line. A catastrophic rollover sent the truck tumbling 500 feet down a ravine, destroying the truck but miraculously leaving father and son unharmed.
Rather than quit, the Barbers doubled down. “I don’t want to go out like that,” Sean declared, immediately planning their return with the Race Terra 2.0.
The 2025 Baja 1000 presented new challenges, with transfer case failures, ignition problems, and mechanical breakdowns that tested their resolve. But through grit, determination, and the support of their chase crew, they persevered.
After 1,400 grueling miles across Mexico’s most punishing terrain, Sean and Owen finally crossed the finish line together.
The documentary captures more than just the highs and lows of racing. It leans into the grit of the experience. The dust in your teeth, the split-second choices that separate finishing from failure, and the problem-solving when parts give out and pressure mounts. It’s in those moments that the bond between teammates is tested and strengthened, forged when everything is on the line.
Sean and Owen’s commitment to carrying forward Scout racing heritage makes for compelling viewing. They’ll tell you the journey matters more than the destination — but in the dust and heat of desert racing, there’s no feeling like clawing your way to the finish line. Saddle up, grab your helmet and goggles, and dive into the action. This is Back to Baja.
