24/3/1947
Record updated 05-Feb-08
Roger Mears, son of racing legend, Bill Mears was born in Wichita, Kansas and in 1954 the family moved to Bakersfield, California.
Roger is the older brother of Rick, father of Casey & Roger Jr, and uncle to Clint. He is known as an "Off Road Specialist". Roger was a five time class champion in the Pike's Peak Hill Climb in 1972-73, 1985, 1998-99. He was the winner of the Baja 1000 in 1979, 1986, 1989, & 1991.
Roger has to his credit 20 Off Road World Championships and is a two-time SCORE/HDRA Desert Champion (1989, 91). In 1993, Bill Mears joined son Roger and grandson, Roger, Jr. to compete in the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Bill drove a pickup truck and finished first with Roger, Jr. second. Roger, Sr. finished third and Rick Mears drove the pace car.
Not all his racing was done off road. Roger does have 30 career Indy car starts with the Machinist Union team in the 1980's. He was named CART's Most Improved Driver in 1982.
Although Roger is no longer racing himself he does continue to work in the sport.