Desert racing takes place in the most punishing terrain imaginable. Tires are basically disposable. Shocks get so hot they cook. Engines, transmissions, and suspension components are stressed to the limit.

Legendary racer Parnelli Jones aptly described the SCORE, Baja 1000 as an all-day plane crash. Every racer knows, in order to beat the competition, you have to survive the environment first. The plan is always to win or at least, stand on the podium. Regardless of where you place, nobody wants to DNF (did not finish).

When it comes to finishing races, there is a class 8 truck that stands apart from all others. It’s the FORD F-150 of Macrae Glass. Photo: Mikes Race Photo.

When it comes to finishing races, there is a Class 8 truck that stands apart from all others. It’s the Ford F-150 of Macrae Glass. The truck not only finishes, it wins races and championships. Before the unlimited Trophy Trucks come onto the scene, Class 8’s were the biggest, fastest, and baddest trucks in the desert.

Huge shocks, big tires and considerable horsepower were all staples in Class 8. The only limiting factor they had was the mandated factory frame rails and suspension pivot points. Class 8 trucks paved the way for the high-horsepower unlimited race vehicles we have today.

Many of the Class 8 trucks that dominated during their heyday have reached iconic status today, and those who drove them are some of the sports’ most accomplished drivers.

In order to tell the whole story of the Glass truck, we have to start at the beginning.

Curt LeDuc was racing short course with Skyjacker suspension as a main sponsor. He distinguished himself on the track in his Pro-4 and in a Trophy Truck in the desert.

Back in 2005, Curt LeDuc was racing short course with Skyjacker suspension as a main sponsor. LeDuc had distinguished himself on the track and in the desert as well. His racing career began in the northeast in 1975. He eventually came out west to do battle with Walker Evans, Rod Hall, and the other top racers of the day at Riverside Raceway and the Mint 400.

LeDuc became as successful in the desert as he was on the track. While racing the Don-A-Vee Jeep Cherokee Trophy Truck, LeDuc won the 1995 Score Baja 500, 1997 Score Parker 400, 1997 Score San Felipe 250, 1997 Score Primm 300, and the 1997 BITD Vegas to Reno. He also won the 1997 SCORE Trophy Truck points championship.

Due to LeDuc’s success, Skyjacker wanted to race a Trophy Truck, but the marketing tie-in would be limited to signage on the truck.

LeDuc suggested they race a Class 8, F-150 instead. Class 8 is a production-based truck class and Skyjacker had kits available for the FORD F-150; it was the perfect promotional vehicle for Skyjacker.

LeDuc’s other sponsors, B.F. Goodrich, Ford Trucks, Reider Racing Enterprises, Mastercraft Safety, Autometer, KC HiLites, Signpros, JE Pistons, and Justice Brothers were on-board too.

“I had built many trucks for other racers, this truck was for me,” said LeDuc, “I learned what it takes to survive in the desert. The truck might be heavier than some, but it can take more abuse. The truck was successful right out of the box, winning the first race we entered. My sons Todd and Kyle learned about racing in that truck. They learned how to prepare, to design and make repairs when things went sideways.”

They rolled the truck at the Parker 425 in 2005, but were able to finish the race. Here Curt LeDuc is driving with Todd LeDuc in the co-driver’s seat.

“That first race we were going along when the truck started to run bad; it was getting slower and slower,” LeDuc continued,

“We stopped at a spot that overlooked a big valley. We could see anyone coming from miles away. We pulled the carb apart and blew it out. We could not believe it but nobody came. We put it back together and went on to the win.”

LeDuc went on to log back-to-back perfect seasons in the truck, winning every race he entered. In the Best in the Desert series (BITD), they qualify for starting positions. LeDuc would often qualify ahead of the “faster” cars and trucks causing drivers to complain that he would hold them up.

He assured everyone if they caught him, he would let them go by. He kept his word and let them by, only to pass them when they broke down or spent time in the pits for repairs.

At one race, LeDuc came close to taking the overall win in the truck; he finished in second. LeDuc went on to win six class 8 championships and a second place in the BITD Trick Truck class.

During the five years that LeDuc raced the truck in the BITD series, he finished every single mile of every race.

The SCORE series has a milestone award sponsored by Toyota that rewards drivers for finishing every mile during the SCORE season. BITD does not have such an award but BITD owner Casey Folks was so impressed with LeDuc’s accomplishment he awarded him with a commemorative plaque to acknowledge the feat.

The truck has also spawned a pair of young champions, Curt’s sons Todd and Kyle. Todd is a Monster Truck Champion. He won a freestyle championship in 2014 and was crowned the 2015 racing champion.

During the five years that LeDuc raced the truck in the BITD series, he finished every single mile of every race.

Kyle has a TORC series world championship and two Pro-4 championships in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. He is currently leading the Pro-4 championship standings in the Lucas Oil Series. Interestingly, when Kyle won his first Pro-4 championship in 2012, Brother Todd finished right behind in second place.

Best in the Desert owner Casey Folks was so impressed with LeDuc’s accomplishment, he awarded him with a commemorative plaque to acknowledge the feat.

Despite LeDuc’s success, he came to the conclusion that it was time for the truck to go to a new owner. He had someone in mind, someone who was already familiar with the truck, Macrae Glass.

Macrae had spent years racing stock minis. He built his own truck in his garage and had great success winning 2 championships. He sold that truck to fund his then new practice. Dr Glass is a Chiropractor.

“By 1992 I was sick of racing,” said Dr. Glass, “I sold my truck to establish my Chiropractic practice. I knew Curt because I bought a Ford Bronco prerunner that he built.”

“By 2007, I was interested in getting back into racing but I wanted to go faster this time. I was going prerunning with Curt, and I offered to help in the pits. My crew from the stock mini days was still intact so they came along too. Eventually I was asked to co-drive. We won two championships in a row together.”

According to LeDuc, he knew Macrae would be the new owner one day. He could see it in his eyes when he rode in the truck. When it was time to sell, LeDuc sold it to Macrae for less than it was probably worth, but he knew Macrae would take good care of it, and continue to add to the truck’s amazing list of achievements.

After prerunning and helping pit, Glass was asked if he wanted to co-drive with LeDuc.

“I learned a lot racing with Curt,” says Macrae, “I used to ask Curt tons of questions. One time we were prerunning in Baja and stopped at Rice and Beans for dinner. He told me I was out of questions, so stop asking.”

“I called the waiter over and told him to bring me the bill for dinner. When we went to leave, the waiter told Curt that I had picked up the tab. Curt asked me did you pick up the tab? I said no, I bought everyone’s questions.”

“When I eventually bought the truck from Curt, part of the deal was unlimited technical support. Curt has always stuck with that part of our deal. When I call him, he calls me back right away and has always shared his ideas about how to make the truck better.”

“This truck is very refined. We’ve done things like adding tabbed nuts in hard to reach places and designed the seats to come out easy to service the upper links on the rear suspension. I tear the truck completely down after the race in my garage. What used to take days, I can do in hours, but I still spend a ton of hours in the shop.”

“When I sit in it, the smell, the feel of the steering wheel in my hands, it’s just like the first time. This truck is also very fast. It’s like, how fast do you want to go?”, said Glass

“Another important thing is that we wear stuff out. We don’t just throw new parts at the truck, that would drive me nuts. Knowing how long each part will last without breaking is crucial to winning, and finishing races. I guess I have kind of a special bond with this truck.

“My first truck was awesome; this truck is twice as awesome. When I sit in it, the smell, the feel of the steering wheel in my hands, it’s just like the first time. This truck is also very fast. It’s like, how fast do you want to go?”

Glass considers himself lucky to have won so many races, and had such a good time racing with friends and family.

“I’m lucky to have great sponsors. KC Hilites was one of my first and is still on the truck today. Michael DeHaas, the owner of KC Hilites, once rode with me at the Terribles Town 250; we won that race.”

“Brett King at King Shocks has always helped us out too. When I asked for his help he said How can I say no?” Both King Shocks and KC Hilites have been with me since the beginning and help out whenever they can.”

KC Hilites lighting the way for Macrae Glass at the BITD Parker 425 in 2011.

“We’ve been lucky, won a lot of races and had a lot of fun.” After purchasing the truck from LeDuc, Macrae continued the amazing finishing streak. From 2009 to 2012, he also finished every mile of every race. The truck had finished every race without a DNF, for a mind-blowing nine years in a row. As unbelievable as the streak was, it had to come to an end sometime.

Glass said his kids help out in the shop and go to the races but they are more interested in racing their dirt bikes. We pack everything up and go to the bike races as a family now.

In 2013, they broke a left rear spindle on the truck. They welded it up in the pits and went on towards another finish but it broke again. This time, they were in a remote area with no pit support. The most incredible streak ever was over, but did not end their winning ways. In 2014, they won the first four races in a row, and finished the last two in second place.

Their results earned them yet another Class 8 championship. “I have boxes full of trophies,” says Macrae, “We have won the Parker 425 six times. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, we had perfect seasons. We didn’t just finish every race, we won every race.”

“My kids help out in the shop, and go to the races, but they are more interested in racing their dirt bikes.”

“We pack everything up and go to the bike races as a family now. I am more interested in supporting my kids with their racing. I want to do what the kids want to do and it’s becoming a lot of work in the shop. We have won in the truck so many times. After a while it’s just not as thrilling,” stated Glass.

Off Road Xtreme has learned that Macrae Glass will be taking a break from racing in 2016. There are other Class 8 trucks racing, but they have a lot of work to do to come close to the accomplishments Curt LeDuc and Macrae Glass have achieved.

Macrae Glass driving off into the sunset. He will not be racing in 2016.