King of the Slammers

What goes up, must come down, and there's no greater high than driving El Bandito...

- JETHRO BOVINGDON

We're out in the high desert, 45 minutes or so from Las Vegas. Just over the hill there’s a firing range and an old graveyard for military helicopters... all around it’s sand, rock, wickedly jagged terrain, patches of spiky yucca and haunting Joshua trees. Soon the area will be torn up by the deranged Ford Bronco El Bandito and its 5.2-litre supercharged V8, which could drown out a raging firefight and a whole squadron of Black Hawks. But first we have to say hi to El Bandito’s handlers and start capturing the photography and video required.

“So,” I begin. “Um, do you think it might be possible - and it’s fine if you can’t - but maybe you could...” I’m prevaricating because what I'm about to say sounds completely absurd and I’ve only just met this guy. “Well, this might be a bad idea. But, do you think you could jump it over my head?” There's silence for the blink of an eye before the answer comes with a grin. “Sure, we can do that. There’s a spot just over there that’ll work.” And the tone for the day is set. Anything goes.

I guess that shouldn't come as a surprise as El Bandito is an outlaw that doesn’t conform to any ruleset, but draws heavily from the worlds of Ultra4 racing and its headline King of the Hammers event, plus the gruelling, evocative and plain bonkers Baja 1000. The idea that anything is too wild for these two off road motorsport events is pretty mind blowing, but El Bandito is, I guess, the ultimate all rounder. If your commute happens to take in rocks the size of a family hatchback, sand dunes, desert washboard and frequent flight, that is.