These days a lot of motor sports feel like a sanitized version of old glory, with ever more an emphasis on safety over speed and the “greening” of auto racing. Yet after World War II, when racing really took off here in America, the tracks and drivers were rough, larger than life figures who loved racing and did whatever it took to win in vehicles that, by today’s standards, are terrifyingly primitive. We’re not trying to take anything away from today’s racers…but these old school guys were real rebels behind the wheel, risking life, limb, and racing machine trying to snatch victory.

Don’t believe us? Watch this short clip of Parnelli Jones behind the wheel of his 1970 BOSS 302 Mustang, going off the track to get around his competitors.

Make no mistake, Parnelli Jones was a professional in his time, and while it might be hard to imagine this small old man behind the wheel of his 2012 BOSS 302 Mustang, back in his heyday he led from the front. Jones has a long, storied career that includes a driving a Mercury Marauder to victory at the Pikes Peak Race to the clouds in 1963, a Mercury Cougar in the 1967 Trans Am series, and even off-road races like the Baja 1000.

But Parnelli Jones is perhaps best known for his performance behind the wheel of the BOSS 302 Mustang during the 1970 season. Jones and teammate George Follmer went on to set the pace for the field during 1970, taking total victory and solidifying the BOSS 302 into the annals of racing history. A lot of that has to do with stunts and moves like you saw in this video. That is raw skill and no fear at work friends.