[2] Garner wasn't alone in pursuing auto racing as a diversion from movie and TV-making, being joined by such Hollywood figures as comedian Tommy Smothers and big screen action hero Steve McQueen.

Garner and Smothers even took the same high-speed driving course together in 1968, run by NASCAR legend and 55-time champion Curtis Turner on the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

He is first seen roaring across the Mexican outback in a heavily modified 650 horsepower Ford Bronco in the 1969 Baja 1000 offroad race, along with trusted co-driver and "hard-charger" Scooter Patrick.

[2] Garner departs the team to make a film in Europe; while he is gone two of his drivers keep busy in various Formula A, Can Am, and Trans Am races, Patrick is winning some in his orbit, and John Surtees has his Team Surtees Formula A cars "running like a bandit" according to Garner, and bagging some hardware on their circuit.

Excited to get behind the wheel for some high-speed laps, Garner confirms the car's going to need some major suspension adjustments ahead of its upcoming debut just a week off, a SCCA Continental Championship Trans Am race at the Lime Rock Park circuit clear across the U.S. in Lime Rock, Connecticut.

After shaking the most obvious bugs out in California Patterson flies east with Garner while the crew tows the car cross-country.

However, tragedy strikes halfway through the 1st lap, an eight-car pileup caused by an out-of-control racer that knocks the Garner car out and sends Patrick back to the pits, thankfully uninjured, understandably disappointed, but focused already on getting ready for the next race.