Always looking for the unusual ride, Ronda started in Stock, driving Hudsons and Buicks, early in the 1950s, in Southern California.
[1] He joined forces with engine builder Les Ritchey (owner and operator of Performance Associates in Covina, California).
[1] To be able to more easily collaborate with Ritchey, Ronda moved to Covina midway through 1964, taking a job with Russ Davis Ford.
[2][1] Because Ford had sold more than the fifty required to homolgate the 427 Fairlanes, they were eligible for Super Stock, rather than F/X (Factory Experimental).
[1] Ronda faced Butch Leal's Thunderbolt in the final of the 1964 Winternationals, and won, recording a pass of 11.78 seconds at 123.40 mph (198.59 km/h).
At the time, however, the Ramchargers, led by Jimmy Nix, were match racing injected nitro-burning altered-wheelbase Dodges, banned in A/FX, capable of eights, and they eclipsed the legal A/FX cars.
[2] Ronda made a brief return to Super Stock in 1968, when Ford introduced the 428 Cobra Jet Mustang, at the Winternats.
[2] The Mach I gave him a win at OCIR's Manufacturers Championships that year,[2] defeating the Chi-Town Hustler (owned by Pat Minick, tuned by Austin Coil, and driven by John Farkonas) in the final round.
[14] It was in this car Ronda suffered a career-ending fire, when his engine exploded at the AHRA Winter Nationals at Beeline Dragway in Mesa, Arizona, on 25 January 1970.
It was as a direct result of that accident, that onboard fire extinguisher systems were made mandatory for all funny cars.