Many people have dreams, but few actually chase them, especially when they’re the kind that demand determination, sacrifice, and maybe, just a touch of insanity. But every once in a while, someone decides that “someday” is today.
Meet RJ Zanon, founder of Pew Pew Cachoo Racing, who’s about to make a lifelong dream come true: racing the Baja 1000.
For RJ, this dream started decades ago. As a kid visiting his aunt’s house near Ensenada, Baja Mexico, he would watch the legendary off-road racers challenge the desert and tell himself, “One day, I’ll do that.” Next week, that childhood dream becomes reality as Team Pew Pew Cachoo Racing #301 takes the start line in a 2-door Bronco built for what is arguably one of the toughest off-road races on Earth.
From Dream to Desert Reality
RJ’s road to Baja wasn’t an easy one. A military man by profession and currently a helicopter pilot with the California National Guard, and more recently known to the Bronco community for his Instagram page @pewpew_cachoo, RJ has spent a lifetime in service and adventure. But it wasn’t until August 2022, when he bought a Bronco Badlands, that things really began to take off.
“I wanted to get more involved in the off-road community,” RJ shared. “So I started showing up to events, like Super Celebration West in Colorado in 2023, and the passion just grew from there.”
Returning home to California gave him easier access to trails, and a renewed connection to Baja. That’s when he decided it was time to stop dreaming and time to start building….quickly.
Building the Bronco
Inspired by Ford Racings’ own Bronco efforts in the 1000, RJ believed the Bronco was the perfect platform for Baja. “If Ford Racing can finish the 1000 in a stock Bronco, I knew I could build one capable of competing in Class 3, the short-wheelbase class,” he said.
The 4-door Bronco was too long for that category, so RJ went hunting for a 2-door, which is what he’s used to driving off-road. He found one, a wrecked 2023 Black Diamond and began the transformation.
By June 2025, the build was in motion. Suspension, differential, safety prep, RJ did much of the work himself, only handing off what he couldn’t tackle solo but still standing by to learn and provide support. “The roll cage started in September,” he laughed. “Yeah, it’s been a sprint to the finish.”
The Underdog Team
Pew Pew Racing is the definition of grassroots. The crew is made up almost entirely of friends from the Bronco community, enthusiasts who’ve never raced but share the same determination and belief in each other.
“It’s a true underdog story,” RJ said. “Most of us are new to racing, but my pit crew chief has years of SCORE experience and is helping guide us through the logistics and chaos that come with Baja.”
RJ and his co-driver, Ken Brown, are attempting what’s known as an Ironman run, meaning they plan to drive the entire race themselves, covering all 854 miles within a 36-hour window. “We just want to finish,” RJ said. “If it gets dangerous or we’re too exhausted, we have backup drivers ready. But the goal is to cross that finish line.”
If they do, RJ believes they’ll make a bit of history. “As far as I know, we’re the first Gen 6 Bronco 2-door ever to race the 1000 in Class 3,” he said.
More Than a Race
When asked about his favorite part of this journey, RJ didn’t hesitate.
“You know the coolest thing about this is, none of it would’ve happened if I hadn’t bought a Bronco in 2022,” he said. “I’m not trying to hype up the Bronco, it’s just the truth. Before that purchase, I had no connection to the off-road world. I met amazing people, made new friends, and found a community that helped make this dream possible. The Bronco changed the course of my life.”
The Road Ahead
Next week, RJ and Team Pew Pew Cachoo Racing will line up alongside the best off-road racers in the world. It’s RJ’s first off-road race, yes, why not start off with the top event? And, as a racing team filled with volunteers and friends, chase trucks made up of Broncos, this may be the most meaningful adventure of their lives.
And while RJ may not be the fastest out there, he’ll have one of the biggest fan clubs, the Bronco Nation community, cheering him and the #301 Bronco across every mile of the desert.
Because this isn’t just a story about racing. It’s a story about chasing your dream, building something with your own hands, and surrounding yourself with people who believe in you, just like the Bronco community consistently does.
We can’t wait to catch up with RJ and the team in Baja as they tackle the 1000 and bring that childhood dream full circle.
Go Pew Pew Cachoo Racing —Go RJ! See you at the finish line.
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