A CLOSER LOOK - Herling Racing / Fusion Off -Road

A CLOSER LOOK:

By Mike Ingalsbee

You might have seen the Herling Racing logo on the BITD website or in DirtVenture magazine or noticed their pair of 6100 trucks with the colorful graphics and wondered who they were. Well, Herling Racing has been around for quite a while. Just like any of their projects at Herling construction, it is built on a strong foundation. In building that foundation, they did not start at the top. Jerry Herling began as many did; racing motorcycles. He then switched to 4 wheels in the 3100 pure-production class which was basically a stock SUV. From there, they competed in class 3000 with a TrophyLite. Currently they campaign the pair of 6100 trucks, one piloted by Jerry Herling and the other his son Joe. At Vegas to Reno, they will have a third truck driven by Rick Herling.

That sounds like a lot, but their race team also includes much more than the 6100 trucks. Their love for off road racing extends to the next generation and beyond. The team also includes the Women’s Motorcycle team of Kimberly Loppnow and Krista Conway. Polaris UTV Racer Robert Campbell competes under the Herling Racing banner as does Maddie Wedeking, Cash Shaleen, and Macy McBroom in an RZR 170. Their latest addition is the new 4100 class truck of Reed Shaleen. The 4100 truck is the product of collaboration between Herling Racing, and Fusion Off-Road which Jerry Herling is

Herling Racing prep shop located in Lake Elsinore, California. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography

Jerry Herling in his Class 3100 at the 2009 BITD Henderson 250. Photo by mikesracephoto.com

part owner with Brian Shaleen. I talked to Operations Manager Jim McBroom about Herling Racing. Jim has been racing with Jerry Herling since 2008.

Mike: So you have raced in all those diff erent classes. It sounds to me like you really love off -road racing and have no thoughts of stopping.

Jim: No; no thoughts of stopping. I’m the director of operations so I oversee all of Fusion; the fab shop, the full builds. We have two separate facilities. We have the fabrication shop and then we also have the

Jerry at the wheel of his 6100 truck at this year’s Silver State 300. Photo by Daniel Noble

Herling Racing’s Women’s W1 Motorcycle team of Kimberly Loppnow and Krista Conway. Photo by Trent Noble

prep and install shop.

Mike: How long has Fusion Off -Road been in existence?

Jim: We just had our 20th anniversary. 2001 is when the company was founded by Brian Shaleen. Mike: Tell me about the new truck design.

Jim: The new truck that we have is actually a turbo four cylinder truck; it’s called the T4. We’ve actually dedicated a class specifi c to that vehicle; the 4100 class.

Mike: Something tells me you’ve used

UTV N/A Production Class racer Robert Campbell. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography

Fusion Off-Road fab shop. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography

Photo by Daniel Noble Photography

everything you’ve learned racing all those other types of vehicles to come up with this design.

Jim: That’s exactly right. The goal is to make an aff ordable truck that’s competitive, and fun to drive. 6100 was supposed to be that and then it just you know, got crazy. This is a much smaller motor package, and 37 inch tires versus 40s so you can go with a little bit smaller shock package; just to help keep the cost down.

Mike: What kind of power plant is it running?

Jim: So there are two options. It’s a 2.7 liter Chevy, turbocharged motor or the same thing with a Ford.

Mike: That sounds like a lot of fun.

Jim: Yeah, they’re awesome. With the Chevy engine you get an eight speed transmission. With the Ford, it’s a 10 speed transmission. You can run either as a full automatic, or you can shift it.

Mike: Can you use paddle shifters?

Jim: Yes, that’s an option.

Mike: Wow, that sounds like a blast keeping the turbo motor in the power band with all those gears. What about the body design? Is that something that you did proprietary, or does it mimic any of the manufacturers? Is it modeled after a Ford or Chevrolet or anything?

Jim: We developed our own specifi c body for it. It’s a Fusion; our own mold. It does not mimic any truck.

Mike: I’m familiar with what you typically build and I think they always look really cool.

Jim: Thanks, this one is probably the coolest so far. We actually scaled up an RC truck body. It’s really awesome looking. It’s not like any other truck. It has bedsides doors

The new Fusion Off-Road T4 driven by Reed Shaleen. Photo by Daniel Noble Photography