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Desert Racing 101: Why It’s Way Harder Than You Think - Ryan Millen
In this episode of The Creative Drive, we’re joined by Ryan Millen — off road racer and member of one of America and New Zealand's most iconic racing families. Son of Rod Millen and brother to Rhys Millen, Ryan has forged his own path from formula cars to rally stages, winning in the American Rally Association, working with brands like Toyota along the way and now desert racing in trophy trucks.
We get into Ryan’s unique journey, the pressures and perks of a legendary last name, and how he blends performance with personality in the age of motorsports storytelling. From his take on off-road racing to content strategy for modern drivers, this conversation is packed with insight, humor, and a look into what keeps Ryan creatively driven.
Watch or listen now.
0:00 Cold opening
1:00 Host Taro Koki Introduces Ryan Millen
01:45 What the last name Millen means
03:33 Sponsor message
04:27 How Ryan Millen started rally racing
08:00 What's so difficult about desert racing?
12:00 Growing up on Pikes Peak
14:30 Toyota rally sponsorship and Two Roads to Baja
17:10 Racing Porsches in Siberia
18:15 Rally racing Toyota RAV4
25:00 What it was like having a girlfriend as a co-driver
28:33 Creating content and being a racecar driver
30:15 Father Rod Millen lived in the golden era of rally
31:45 Racing with Terrible Herbst spec trophy trucks
37:30 Almost getting run over at Baja 500
39:45 Innovation in desert racing actve dampers and 4 wheel drive
44:40 Difference between Dakar and Baja racing
47:40 Off road racing promotion landscape
52:45 Rapid Fire with Ryan Millen
57:10 Ryan Millen thinks Who's Boost'n It
01:01:20 Ryan Millen's Creative Drive
Follow Ryan Millen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_millen_
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ
Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts
Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/
Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network
Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Sub to RACER Magazine and RACER+ app at https://offers.racer.com/bundle
#TheCreativeDrive #ryanmillen #rally #CarCulture #desertracing #baja1000 #rodmillen #ContentCreators #Motorsports #toyota #RACERPodcast #trophytrucks #offroadracing #CarBuilders
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By RACER PodcastsIn this episode of The Creative Drive, we’re joined by Ryan Millen — off road racer and member of one of America and New Zealand's most iconic racing families. Son of Rod Millen and brother to Rhys Millen, Ryan has forged his own path from formula cars to rally stages, winning in the American Rally Association, working with brands like Toyota along the way and now desert racing in trophy trucks.
We get into Ryan’s unique journey, the pressures and perks of a legendary last name, and how he blends performance with personality in the age of motorsports storytelling. From his take on off-road racing to content strategy for modern drivers, this conversation is packed with insight, humor, and a look into what keeps Ryan creatively driven.
Watch or listen now.
0:00 Cold opening
1:00 Host Taro Koki Introduces Ryan Millen
01:45 What the last name Millen means
03:33 Sponsor message
04:27 How Ryan Millen started rally racing
08:00 What's so difficult about desert racing?
12:00 Growing up on Pikes Peak
14:30 Toyota rally sponsorship and Two Roads to Baja
17:10 Racing Porsches in Siberia
18:15 Rally racing Toyota RAV4
25:00 What it was like having a girlfriend as a co-driver
28:33 Creating content and being a racecar driver
30:15 Father Rod Millen lived in the golden era of rally
31:45 Racing with Terrible Herbst spec trophy trucks
37:30 Almost getting run over at Baja 500
39:45 Innovation in desert racing actve dampers and 4 wheel drive
44:40 Difference between Dakar and Baja racing
47:40 Off road racing promotion landscape
52:45 Rapid Fire with Ryan Millen
57:10 Ryan Millen thinks Who's Boost'n It
01:01:20 Ryan Millen's Creative Drive
Follow Ryan Millen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_millen_
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQ
Follow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts
Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/
Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network
Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Sub to RACER Magazine and RACER+ app at https://offers.racer.com/bundle
#TheCreativeDrive #ryanmillen #rally #CarCulture #desertracing #baja1000 #rodmillen #ContentCreators #Motorsports #toyota #RACERPodcast #trophytrucks #offroadracing #CarBuilders