Memento Mori Run: Cross-Country + Baja Mitad 2026 (Bronco Raptor + Futura Trailer + ’67 Beetle)

[RedTailHawk]

Kicking off a thread for a big trip I’m doing in March 2026 — a cross-country haul in my 2024 Bronco Raptor towing my ’67 VW Beetle on a 2025 Futura RT500 trailer, all to participate in Baja Mitad, multiple VW car shows, take in the SoCal VW classic car scene, and then finish with the Bourbon Trail on the way home.

The whole adventure has a theme: The Memento Mori Run.
• 2024 Bronco Raptor — “Grim One”
• 2025 Futura RT500 — “Reaper’s Chariot”
• 1967 VW Beetle — “Grey Ghost”

⸻

Trip Overview (March 2026)
• Virginia → Georgia for the Southern Air-Cooled VW Chill Out
• West through Texas
• Yuma, Arizona for VW on the River
• Continue to Southern California
• Park the trailer → run Baja Mitad in the Bronco Raptor
• Return to SoCal for the Silverado VW Show, visit the vendors who built major components for the VW, and cruise the LA beaches in the ’67 Bug
• Then head home across the country, likely via the Bourbon Trail

⸻

Bronco Raptor Setup

• Factory Bronco Raptor on 37s
• AuxBeam + M&R lighting
• WolfBox G900 Pro → planning to upgrade to the TriCam + cabin cam
• ProCal tune
• Valentine One
• Recovery gear
• 2025 Futura RT500 trailer (full aluminum, low-load)
• Spares and tools to support both the Bronco and VW

I’ve already lined up several sponsors and vendor partners for the trip, with more coming on board as planning continues.

⸻

The Beetle (“Grey Ghost”)

A heavily modified ’67 running:
• PowerHaus 2387cc
• CoolRydes suspension
• Schott wheels
• Sewfine interior
• Vintage Speed controls
• …and a lot of additional detail work across the build

It will be featured in VolksMania Issue #25 (Silver Anniversary) in a 4-page, full-color spread, scheduled to drop right around this trip.

⸻

Community Involvement
• Already have one passenger lined up for the westbound leg and possibly Baja Mitad
• And one Bronco just joined, making it an official caravan
• If anyone here wants to roll along for all or parts of it, the door is open — shoot me a note

⸻

Where Updates Will Be

I’ll try to keep this thread updated, but most real-time photos, reels, and short-form updates will be on Instagram:
• Bronco: @grim_one_bronco
• VW Beetle: @67greyghost
• All trip coverage on my Facebook page

⸻

Feel free to follow along, ask questions, drop suggestions, or arrange meetups along the Memento Mori Run route.

Looking forward to sharing this adventure.

— John

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[RedTailHawk]

I'll be making another post soon about people already jumping on to the convoy for Memento Mori Run...

 

[Ninjak]

Very nice! I have a good friend who used to work for Ford in the late 70s, but he is a VW superfan! He built his daughter a 66 Beetle vert. He literally did everything; it's called the Pink Panther. He does electrical work for classics, but his jam is old VWs. I wish I had pics of it, it's beautiful.

I think he is now working on an old VW Van. He would truly appreciate your Grey Ghost build. It's beautiful. Nice Braptor too!

 

[swamp2]

I knew '67 immediately due to the kink in the engine cover. Absolutely pinnacle year of the early beetle.

I had a '67 as well long ago in tan, but lost her in an offset frontal at high speeds. 0% my fault. The police officer told me at the hospital (I was there, but not really hurt) to go celebrate being alive with a big steak dinner as a few more inches of offset and I would have been toast.

Well, definitely not trying to be a Debbie Downer. Great looking rigs all around and sounds like a bucket list sort of trip. Cherish it!

 

[Andrew Bynum]

‘67 VW is the last year of the really great ones, in my opinion. The low-back seats, the bumpers, just beautiful! Clean example you’ve got there, congrats.

 

[RedTailHawk]

Thanks!

 

[23OBX2.7]

Wow what's fabulous set up and journey. Wild be fun to pull a color coded 16' 455 jet boat and trailer as well.

 

[redone17]

Very cool. This story hits for me since my first car was a 74 Super Beetle and now I’m driving a Bronco. I was all VW up until now. Now we’re Bronco and Ranger.

1988 Fox Wagon
1989 Fox 2DR
2004 Jetta Wagon TDI

 

[RedTailHawk]

Very cool. This story hits for me since my first car was a 74 Super Beetle and now I’m driving a Bronco. I was all VW up until now. Now we’re Bronco and Ranger.

1988 Fox Wagon
1989 Fox 2DR
2004 Jetta Wagon TDI

Still time to register for EXO’s Baja Mitad… this particular event they are only allowing Bronco and Ranger so they have the appropriate people supporting the trip that can help with repairs during trip.

 

[TrackDays&TrailRigs]

Awesome rigs man! Pretty sure I saw both at a recent VW show at a dealership in NoVa. Sounds like an epic trip you’ve got planned as well, looking forward to the updates and photos.

 

[Area51BS]

Still has the front and rear vent windows. Nice car. And Bronco.

 

[Area51BS]

Will have to dig up a pic of my 67.

 

[murphtron]

Still time to register for EXO’s Baja Mitad… this particular event they are only allowing Bronco and Ranger so they have the appropriate people supporting the trip that can help with repairs during trip.

Did you confirm that Broncos are allowed? They position it as a Raptor trip. I’ve pondered their trips for awhile. I’ve done 3 other Baja trips (different outfit) that are considerably less expensive. But without the same level of support and “touch”. But I like the low rent stuff. The EXO trips do look cool however.

 

[RedTailHawk]

Did you confirm that Broncos are allowed? They position it as a Raptor trip. I’ve pondered their trips for awhile. I’ve done 3 other Baja trips (different outfit) that are considerably less expensive. But without the same level of support and “touch”. But I like the low rent stuff. The EXO trips do look cool however.

They limit each event to specific type of vehicle so they can have people who are experts, and a chase truck and trailers stocked with commonly damaged stock spare parts, welding equipment, tools etc. The Baja Mitad in March is just for Broncos and Rangers.

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