HOW TO RACE SHORT-COURSE DURING LOCKDOWN
ISSUE 4 VOL 1
The Voice Of Off-Road Motorsports
MAY 2020
E N I T N A R A QU ITION ED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: THE SONORA RALLY
www.dirtsportsworld.com
FAMILY RIVALS TEAM UP
KENDA’S K5 BLAZER BUILD
TABLE OF CONTENTS 10
REGULAR DIRT>
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WORD
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT
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DIRTWORLD
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CHAPPY’S PIT STOP
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CALENDAR
FEATURES>
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10 HOW TO RACE SHORTCOURSE DURING LOCKDOWN 17 POLARIS FAMILY RIVALS TEAM UP
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20 THE SONORA RALLY 26 KENDA’S K5 BLAZER
TECH>
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Publisher DirtSports Inc. Editor-In-Chief Shaun Ochsner Sales and Management Dave Arnold Contributing Editors Jake Headlee Wendy Wohlford Steve Hanson FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA DIRTSPORTSWORLD
AUTO LEVELING AT NEW HEIGHTS
Contributing Photography Shaun Ochsner Trenton Briley Miguel Santana Layton Kramer Steve Green Randall Alvarez Justin W. Coffey Mike Higgs Connor Barry Bink Designs Zac Drapkin Jason Zindroski Chance Haugen Danny Ellender Honda Polaris Email: dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com Website: www.dirtsportsworld.com DIRTSPORTSWORLD
DIRTSPORTSWORLD
DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 3
WORD
OPENING UP
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ho is ready to get back to racing? Several states are beginning to lift “stay at home” orders. The lights are slowly coming back on at non-essential businesses. Sports organizations are now forced to figure out what their schedules are going to look like in the future. After weeks of cancellations and postponements some racing organizations have gotten green lights to go racing. Of course, it won’t be the normal events you are used to. Drivers meetings will be held online. The number of crew members will be limited in tech areas and at starting lines. Temperatures may be taken. We probably won’t see contingency events that draw crowds to get up close to race vehicles. Awards ceremonies won’t happen. Trophies will be mailed or simply picked up without fanfare. Social Distancing will remain effect. You have to trust your co-driver and crew won’t spread the virus to you in the pits, but desert racers are ready to go. The green flag will soon fly. Short Course racing may be idled longer. Those races involve fans and pits that are typically in close quarters. The two biggest series are looking at ways to comply with guidelines at their events and we will soon hear their plans. Shaun Ochsner Editor-In-Chief Dirt Sports World
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NEWS Motocross Legend Marty Smith Dies in Dune Buggy Crash Motocross legend and AMA Hall of Famer Marty Smith and his wife Nancy were killed in a dune buggy accident at the Glamis dunes on Monday April 27th. Marty and Nancy were riding with two friends when the accident occurred. According to reports, Marty was pronounced dead at the scene while Nancy was airlifted to a local hospital. She did not survive. Sixty-Three-year-old Smith is a three-time motocross champion, who rode for team Honda. Smith won the inaugural 125cc champion in 1974. Smith defended that title the very next year and won. In 1977 Smith won the 500cc motocross championship. He also has wins in the Grand Prix Motocross events. A 1978 crash at the Houston Supercross would leave Smith with a broken hip. He finished 3rd that year. Honda featured him in its advertising, using his long hair and youthful good looks as a selling point. He was on dozens of magazine covers riding the legendary Honda Elsinore, donning the famous red, white and blue racing colors. Smith became the first teen idol in motocross and legions of young fans followed his every move. Smith would switch to Suzuki motorcycles before retiring from professional racing in 1981. In 1991, Smith teamed up with Larry Roeseler and Ted Hunnicut Jr to win the Baja 1000. Smith was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.
Polaris Donates Goggles to Healthcare Workers and First Responders Polaris is donating 1,300 pairs of 509 and Klim googles to healthcare workers and first responders. The “goggles for docs” program provides protective eyewear to those on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a major shortage of protective gear among first responders and healthcare workers across the United States. “During these unprecedented times, we have seen so many examples of healthcare workers and first responders working in the most demanding circumstances despite the lack of PPE for the greater good,” said Tom Delanoy, 509 founder and president. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 5
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT “Working with Goggles for Docs to provide eyewear for those fighting on the frontlines of this pandemic seemed like a great way for us to contribute and we are humbled to be part of the solution.” Both 509 and Klim brands are part of the Polaris accessory portfolio.
SCORE Updates Schedule and Pushes Back Baja 500 Again
SCORE International has pushed back the Baja 500 race again. The race is now scheduled for the weekend of July 15, 2020. This is a month later than the previously announced June date which already had been pushed back by 2 weeks. “As the world continues to move forward in the battle against COVID-19 and following extensive discussions and further analysis with Mexican Federal, State, Municipal authorities along with all of our other significant stakeholders, we have modified our 2020 race schedule once again, 6 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
changing the dates for two of three races in this year’s series—the SCORE Baja 500 and the SCORE San Felipe 250,” stated Jose A. Grijalva, SCORE President/Race Director. The Baja 500 will include a qualifying session during the middle of the week. The San Felipe 250 will be held September 22nd – 27th. As previously announced, the Baja 1000 will be a loop race, starting and finishing in Ensenada on November 17th. Originally the race was set to be a peninsula run down to La Paz.
NEWS
Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series Pushes Back Season Opener The Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series has announced it is moving the season opener to Wild West Motorsports Park in Reno. The race was originally scheduled at the beginning of May at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. New race dates have been announced for July 24th and 25th. Racing will be moved to nighttime to accommodate higher temperatures and the practice and qualifying schedules will also be revised.
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N O I T I E ED
DIRT WORLD
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I T N A UAR
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BRYCE MENZIES
The Menzies “Essential Cut”
CHRISTOPHER POLVOORDE
ur of yo s t n hat cou ia ac ind out w n. d e lm w of socia erstars t e lockdo e h t th d d sup ring rolle We t e of f-roa oing du d it favor ave been h they
ROB MACCACHREN
Couch Co-Driver
When your gym is closed....
MIKEY LAWRENCE
RJ ANDERSON
Is there Corona in the ice-chest?
Who was faster?
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DEAN WILSON
LOREN HEALY
THE WORLD IS A DIRTY PLACE
We are glad you are staying safe.
SU B YO MI T PH UR OT O
Adrenaline Junkie
SEND US YOUR CRAZY PHOTO OUT IN THE DIRT AND WE MAY FEATURE IT HERE IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE. Email to: Dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com
MOTO
TREY GIBBS
Bored in the house and I am in the house bored.
When Moto is life
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iRACING: Ho Short cour Lockd
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ow to Race rse During down
WORDS: Shaun Ochsner PHOTOS: i-Racing/Zac Drapkin/Luke Knupp Chance Haugen/Connor Barry/Trenton Briley Layton Kramer/Randall Alvarez
IRACING SHORT COURSE
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very short course off-road track in the country suddenly went silent in March as states imposed strict “stay-at-home� orders. Race vehicles sat still in garages and shops. Off-Road race series had no clear picture when they would host events again. That is except for one. iRacing Short Course was in full overdrive. Yes, iRacing. The virtual SIM racing program iRacing is taking the country by storm and you never have to leave your house. There is a series for virtually every racing discipline. With just a computer,
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program, membership and steering wheel, you can race all over the world at some of your favorite race tracks. iRacing Short Course takes things to the next level. Based on the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, iRacing takes drivers to many of the race tracks in the series. During the last 2 months of the lockdown, iRacing Short Course has hosted a race every Wednesday night complete with contingency money, prizes and product for the winners. . iRacing Short Course even has series sponsors. So, who is behind iRacing
HOW TO RACE SHORT COURSE DURING LOCKDOWN
Short Course? 15-year old Connor Barry. Barry is a modified kart driver in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. Barry, just a freshman in high school is a Junior 2 Kart Champion who knows a thing or two about racing. He says he was goofing around one night with his iRacing simulator and decided to host a racing series. He procured sponsors and now has dozens of racers wanting to race his series. Barry says he immediately assumed the title of race director. Barry’s kart competitor Bronsen Chiaramonte is also a race director. “I can’t wait to see what the future has to hold for us and the series,” says Chiaramonte.The races are broadcast live on a Youtube channel complete with commentary from Dave Arnold, a well known voice short course off-road. iRacing has plenty of series in all disciplines. One simply plugs in their high-speed gaming computer which can consist of any number of screens of your choosing. Set-ups can be single monitor, or as elaborate as 4 screens and a comfortable race seat to feel like you are really behind the wheel. The iRacing website has system requirement guidelines for your computer online. Don’t forget your “controller” or steering wheel and foot-pedal. An iRacing membership is required. Each member is assigned a rookie license to start off. The better you do in racing will allow you to move up in license classification. The license classifications allow your participation in the different series in the iRacing network. The more “clean” races you run, the better your rating gets. The highest rating is a Pro license.
CONNOR BARRY: “I never thought I would be this involved in racing using a simulator but with the world changing right now and being stuck at home, the simulator is the next best thing to being in my mod kart at the track. I feel the racing on the sim is just as competitive as in real life. The only difference is when you crash your truck you can hit a reset button and keep going.”
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IRACING SHORT COURSE
It didn’t take long for many “pro” short course drivers to achieve high ratings on their licenses to participate in the iRacing Short Course series. Pro-buggy racer, Zac Drapkin is one of those participants. Drapkin has brought some of his buggy sponsors over the iRacing platform. “I am able to learn tracks before I even get to go to them in real life” says Drapkin. Since Drapkin has not been able to get any track time, iRacing is keeping his skills fresh and ready when the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing series gets the green light to host events again at the end of July. 13year old Mod Kart driver Luke Knupp is also a racer in iRacing shortcourse. Knupp is too young to drive a Pro-4 in real life, but with the simulator, he recorded the fastest lap on the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports track. Knupp is in the hunt for the iRacing Short Course Season championship. 2013 Lucas Oil Off-
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Road Prolite Rookie of the Year Trenton Briley has taken some time off from professional short-course racing. iRacing Short Course has allowed him to get back behind the wheel and re-sharpen his driving skills. Chance Haugen has raced on the world-famous Crandon OffRoad track. The pandemic has idled his Polaris Turbo 1000 race program. Haugen says he built his simulator piece by piece choosing the best components. Haugen says he is now using iRacing to practice every day with his race friends. “We help each other improve,” says Haugen. He also says iRacing is his current lifeline with the lockdown. Then there is 34-year old Layton Kramer. Kramer owns a team in the iRacing Series with 4 other drivers including himself on the roster. His Critical Hit racing team has garnered the attention of sponsors, much like a mini-super team in a regular off-road short course series.
HOW TO RACE SHORT COURSE DURING LOCKDOWN
iRacing has definitely created an outlet for racers to keep their skills sharp during the lockdown. When off-road shortcourse racing ramps back up to full speed, iRacing Short Course will be here to stay on those days’ racers can’t get behind the wheel of a real racecar.
LEARN MORE: iRacing Simulator Program: https://www.iracing.com/ iRacing Short Course: https://www.iracingshortcourse.com/ Watch Live Broadcasts: (Death By Moose Media) https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC6tqguRYNNzhU75fhrfGd4w/ videos?view=2&sort=dd&live_view=502&shelf_id=2 DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 15
FEATURE
FAMILY RIVALS TEAM UP WORDS: Shaun Ochsner PHOTOS: Courtesy Polaris
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ust by looking at their names, you wouldn’t know they were related. 12 years separate Cody Bradbury and Corbin Leaverton. Cody is Corbin’s uncle. 31-year-old Cody Bradbury got bit by the racing bug early. In 2008 he was racing 1400 Class trucks in the Southern California deserts. Just a few years later, after his dad brought a Polaris RZR to the Glamis sand dunes, Cody decided to start side-by-side racing. . He took 3rd at his first race and eventually won the championship. He was hooked. A year later, Corbin started racing too. Corbin was named rookie of the year in the WORCS series. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM |17
FAMILY RIVALS TEAM UP
In the WORCS series they are “track-twins.” Both Cody and Corbin race identical 2020 Polaris RZR Pro-XP side-by-sides in the same class. Cody is a 2018 WORCS Champion and Corbin is the 2019 defending WORCS champion. “I am the old man, but we are super competitive. 1-2 (on the podium) would be an amazing weekend for us,” says Cody. While Cody didn’t specifically say, it’s obvious he would rather have the top podium spot over Corbin. That’s the way they roll. Cody and Corbin have joined forces for the 2020 Best in The Desert Season. The two have yet to race together this year. They missed the first race of the year at Parker in January. Due to the current situation in the world, the Best in The Desert season has temporarily been postponed. They hope to get in the RZR
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together soon. Best in The Desert has announced plans to resume their schedule this summer. In his downtime, Corbin says he has spent a lot of time driving racing simulators. Both Cody and Corbin say they like having the factory support of Polaris. The sport is growing, and both would like to make a living as professional racers.
Performance Products
PERFORMANCE IS OUR MIDDLE NAME! CBR Performance Products Inc has a number of years of hands on experience from Motocross Racing, UTV Racing, Road Racing and Off-Road Racing. Many Teams and/or individuals who use CBR products are winning championships and seeing podium finishes. www.cbr-performance.com
THE 2020 SO WORDS: WENDY WOHLFORD PHOTOS: MIGUEL SANTANA, STEVE GREEN, JUSTIN W. COFFEY
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ONORA RALLY A DAKAR STYLE ADVENTURE IN MEXICO
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exico has everything an off-road racer could want. Vast sand dunes, wide open desert, sandy beaches, and treacherous rocky mountain terrain. Sonora, Mexico is not just a destination for a relaxing vacation, it is also where off-road racers and enthusiasts come to conquer the Sonora Rally. The goal is to prove their skills. Winners can earn a spot in the 2020 Rallye du Maroc or even the prestigious 2021 Dakar Rally. The variety of adrenaline pumping terrain is what has brought some of the best Moto and UTV racers in the industry back for the 6th annual Yokohama Sonora Rally. This year’s Sonora Rally started for the first time in the Sonoran capitol of Hermosillo and promised to take racers through a grueling course of hills, valleys, sand and rock, and even venturing into ancient backcountry communities. There was no prerunning, no premarked courses, no GPS, and no chase support other than what was provided in the bivouacs by the rally staff. In true rally fashion, this was a bare minimum technology race that off-road racers eagerly jumped at. The Sonora Rally is a diverse rally in that there is something for everyone. You have the Moto class, UTVs, the car/truck class and the unique Adventure Raid. The Adventure Raid is a novice’s way of experiencing the rally and learning to use the roadbooks, but with the help of an experienced guide. The Adventure Raid included seven participants with Wes VanNieuwenhuise in his KTM 790 from the Adventure Class landing fourth in the overall results. This year’s Sonora Rally would also include the first ever American Dakar Rally winner for the Moto class, Ricky Brabec.
SONORA RALLY
The Sonora Rally is divided into five Special Stages over a week. On day one after leaving the capitol of Hermosillo, racers made their way through the desert valley liaison portion and arrived at the steep and unforgiving mountainous terrain that would be their course for Special Stage one. After navigating through the boulders, narrow trails and sharp turns, racers were met with an unplanned water ride at the end of the course when the normally mundane wash that crossed through the route was turned into a full-on river from recent rainfall. Day one ended in Banamichi with Skyler Howes taking the lead in the moto class and Colton Udall following close behind. In the UTV class, Luis Pelayo took the lead with Sara Price and navigator Kellon Walch in second place. Walch has previous experience as a Team Dakar USA/Speed Energy navigator for Robby Gordon and BJ Baldwin in recent
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years and has also navigated for Gordon in the Baja 1000. Day two of the rally had an unexpected turn of events when the recent rain storms prompted the need to adjust the course and reduce mileage. It started with rocky and muddy mountain paths and ended with fasterpaced terrain through the desolate ranchroads and free-roaming cattle country of Caborca. Ricky Brabec slid into the number one spot in the Moto class, pushing Skyler Howes into second. Howes managed to hold on to the overall lead. Dave Sykes and Scott Steinberger took first place in Stage two with Nick Bruce coming in close behind. Scott Steinberger is the son in of the infamous Bob Steinberger, the original “Weatherman�. Luis Pelayo kept the top spot in the overall rankings with Sara Price holding on in second.
DAKAR STYLE ADVENTURE IN MEXICO
Weather once again prompted the need to make course adjustments and remove the latter portion of the day three course, which was supposed to reach the Sea of Cortez. Even with adjustments, some racers were still met with rain at the start and left with slick ground in other parts of the course. Once racers navigated through the wild and winding desert, complete with plenty of poisonous cactus, they were met with the costal sand dunes that would make up the latter part of day three and most of day four as they traveled from Puerto Penasco to San Luis Rio Colorado.
The battle heated up between Howes and Brabec. Howes regained the lead in day three. Brabec took it back in day four. Howes managed to stay on top of the overall standings for both days. With Luis Pelayo receiving penalties that knocked him into fourth place, the UTV class saw a lead change for round three with Sara Price moving into number one for day three and Oscar Ramirez in at the number two spot. Price finished day three in the number one overall place with Pelayo in second. Stage four results had Nick Bruce in first for that round with PJ Jones in second. Overall results for day four place Price in first and Ramirez in second. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 23
SONORA RALLY
The final day of the rally was a loop course in San Luis Rio Colorado. Racers navigated through flood plains, washes, large sand dunes, and a lake bed, all of which were affected by recent storms. The plains were flooded, the washes were muddy and the dunes were some of the biggest and best that North America has to offer. Many of the types of elements and terrains that racers experienced throughout the rally were purposely revisited so that this would be a demanding final day, but also a day where racers would have an opportunity to fight their way to that desired number one spot. The 2020 Sonora Rally saw some intense battles in both the Moto and the UTV classes. Ricky Brabec, the 2019 Sonora winner and Skyler Howes, the 2018 Sonora champion,
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kept the pressure on each other in every stage. By stage 5, Brabec was able to regain the lead and come in just above Howes making Brabec the overall winner for the Moto class. Colton Udall, who finished 6th overall, walked away with the Road to Dakar win and free entry into the 2021 Dakar Rally. The UTV class saw Nick Bruce win the fifth round with Sara Price taking second place. The overall Champion for the UTV class, however, was Luis Pelayo with Price placing a close second, despite suffering setbacks ranging from running out of gas, hitting a cow on day two and needing an engine swap on day four. Pelayo is also the winner of the Challenge Rallye du Maroc and will get free entry into this year’s event.
WE SALUTE ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS WORKING THE FRONT LINES
FEATURE BUILD
Kenda’s K5 Blazer Words: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Shaun Ochsner/Mike Higgs
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KENDA K5 BLAZER
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t’s not often you come across a K5 Blazer build. They are out there, just like Kenda Tire’s 1991 GMC K5 Blazer. Introduced in 1969, the K5 was the smallest SUV out of the GMC truck line. The final year of the K5 was 1991 before it was replaced by the Yukon. The K5 was built as a short-wheelbase vehicle with two and four-wheel drive options. Kenda Region Sales Manager, Mike Higgs spent years trying to find a K5 in just the right condition. His search came to an end near the shores of South Lake Tahoe. It had no issues starting and drove just fine. He paid the owner $1,000 for it. Just like how every garage build normally starts, Higgs wanted to keep things simple. Change out the suspension, new wheels and tires along with adding a lighting package and some other small things. Of course, the more parts you add, soon the project turns into a full-blown build. That is
exactly what happend with the Blazer. Higgs started out with a custom 4130 chromoly race cage from Wicked Creations. Next a Wilco tailgate was added. Higgs went to Can-Back to design a custom pre-production soft-top. Baja Rack stepped in with a roof rack system and integrated adjustable light bar. After sitting in the garage for months, Higgs moved the Blazer to Mikey Vanden Huevel’s race shop in Wisconsin. Vanden Huevel was between projects and agreed to work on the vehicle. Vanden Heuvel was taking on a build outside of his normal DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 27
FEATURE BUILD
wheelhouse. This is where things went into full overdrive. Vanden Huevel installed a customized carbon fiber dash for the interior from Fiberwerx . Higgs sourced a fiberglass body from McNeil racing. Adding all these parts increased the weight of the Blazer. New springs and suspension
from Eibach were added to the Blazer along with Bilstein shocks to handle the increased load. The final weigh in came in at 5,600-lbs. The new goal of the K5 Blazer was to make it as versatile as possible. Higgs could drive at high speeds in the deserts, or slow in rock crawling sections. The front hood 28 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
assembly is all one piece and can be unbolted and removed when necessary. The fenders can also be removed with two bolts per side to turn the Blazer into a rock buggy. Higgs says for overlanding trips, he can add a rooftop tent. The Blazer has already proved itself on the desert terrain of the recent King of the Hammers.
KENDA K5 BLAZER
KENDA K5 BLAZER BUILD SHEET: VEHICLE: 1991 K5 GMC Blazer POWER TRAIN: GM DR525 LS3 6.2L Aluminum V8 Engine CBR Performance Products-Aluminum Radiator DRIVE TRAIN: Automatic Transmission Designs 4L80E Reid Racing Super SH80 case Flying Dutchman Custom Dana 60 Front Axle W/ Reid Racing HD Dana 60 Flying Dutchman Custom GM Corporate 14-bolt Rear Axle STEERING: PSC Motorsports -2.5” Full Hydraulic Dual Ram System SHOCKS/SUSPENSION: Flying Dutchman Off-Road Designed 4 & 5 Link Coilover Solid Axle Bilstein M9100 2.5” Coil-Over Remote Reservoir & Bypass Remote Reservoir Eibach Performance Suspension-Coil Springs EXTERIOR: Wilwood Brake System Arizona Performance-Caliper Brackets
McNeil Racing Fiberglass Conversion Fenders, Hood & Bedsides Flying Dutchman Off-Road Designed Front & Rear Pre-Runner Bumpers. Wilco Off-Road Products-Custom Swing-Away Rear TireGate BajaRack Adventure Roof Rack Can-Back Convertible Soft Top Lightforce Performance Lighting Warn Industries-Zeon 12-S Winch Freesprit Recreation High Country 63” Rooftop Tent INTERIOR Fiberwerks Off-Road Fiberglass-Navi Full-size Race/ Pre-Runner Dash Aqua-Hot Heating Systems WR13000 Auxiliary Heating System. ARB On-Board High Performance 12V Air Compressor Forged Aluminum Air Tank. Corbeau Baja XRS Suspension Seats Aim Sports MGX 7” TFT Competition Data Acquisition Dash Lowrance HDS-12 Gen3 & HDS LIVE 7 Baja Touch Screen GPS Rugged Radio-VHF Radio System DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 29
TECH
Auto leveling at new heights Words: Jake Headlee Photos: Danny Ellender
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o say that not all suspension lift systems are created equal is naive. The truth of it is simple, you pay for what you get. A good suspension manufacturer spends a lot of time, effort and money making a well balance kit that addresses all aspects involved, including ride quality, fit and finish as well as replacing or relocating all components affected. RAM 3500 trucks are extremely popular rigs to modify, though the optional Factory Air Assist throws some companies for a loop. That wasn’t the case for Carli Suspension and their 3-3.5-inch Pintop System, specifically designed for the RAM’s Auto Level Air Suspension. Rear air assist air bags aren’t uncommon in the aftermarket world; it is the OEM world that doesn’t utilize them as much. When building the kit, Carli Suspension had more than just air bag placement to be concerned about. The air bags adjust based on positioning of sensors tied to actuator arms. When the arms angle from a heavier load on the truck, the air bags automatically inflate, then deflate, as needed. These actuators need to be in the correct position to work properly and by default, lifting the back of the truck would change them. The can of worms gets opened. To relocate the front radius arms for proper geometry, drop brackets need to be carefully designed. Doing so, however, causes interference with the Auto Level truck’s air tank. Carli
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Suspension includes components to relocate the air tank. There is quite a lot that goes into a good kit and to get a good scoop, we got in touch with Dan Tourino, Sales Manager at Carli Suspension. “We’re the only company that engineered the entire kit for the air-assist truck.” Explained Dan. “All items needed to correct geometry and maintain FULL use of the truck’s factory air assist system are included while the additional suspension travel and progressive rear leaf spring pair with custom shock tuning to offer a superior ride and huge boost in handling while minimizing driver fatigue.” The southern California based company didn’t stop there. They are a performance suspension company and build components that had handle the duress of off-road fun, heavy loads and general on-road driving. “The progressive leaf spring pack is not from our non-Auto Level system and adapted, it’s designed to bear the entirety of the 6,500lb payload should an airbag fail.” Dan explained further. “We provide brackets to lower the actuator links to ensure the bags are NOT over-inflated at the new ride height causing a harsh ride quality. The air tank is relocated to the factory spare tire area (on a Ram, there’s no room for an oversized spare so this area is worthless on a lifted truck) to clear the radius arm drop brackets that correct the front pivot point/alignment.” The company spent plenty of time in the front
AUTO LEVELING AT NEW HEIGHTS end of the truck too. A reduced spring rate was carefully chosen for the front coil springs. To keep geometry correct, radius arm drop brackets were computer modeled based on CAD files from RAM and built from ¼-inch cold rolled steel plate and CNC formed for a precision bolt in assembly. These also correct the dreaded coil bow some common on the stock RAM heavy duty trucks. An Adjustable Track Bar is also included to push the straight-axle back into position at the new ride height. New front bump stop drop brackets are included as well a Cali Tuned King 2.5-inch
Remote Reservoir Shocks at all four corners. The new combination of springs and shocks boasts a 50 percent improvement in straight up and down suspension travel over stock. A key point of the dually drivers out there, this kit is fully compatible with dual rear wheel trucks. At the end of the day, the base kit from Carli Suspension blows most other kits out of the water. That doesn’t include the additional options that can be added such as replacement fabricated Radius Arms, Torsion Front Sway Bar replacement, Low Mount Steering Stabilizer and more.
Gotta start with the tear down. Thankfully newer trucks don’t have rusty bolt issues like older and well-used trucks do.
Worth its weight in gold. Carli Suspension works directly with King Shocks and Deaver Spring to get the best performance possible.
The front suspension is pretty straight forward. Get the front differential assembly to lower enough to remove the springs and shocks. Install the new Carli-spec King Shocks and the new reduced rate coil springs. DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 31
TECH INSTALL
Next, the back side of the OEM radius arms is unbolted and the factory bracket is removed. The new bracket bolts right in place and the original radius arms bolts straight in.
The rear suspension is nearly as simple. Disconnect the Auto Level components and swap the leaf springs. Install the air bag drop brackets along with the new drop brackets for the actuator arms.
Carli-tuned King 2.5-inch Piggy Back Reservoir Shocks balance the bump dampening in the back end. 32 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
AUTO LEVELING AT NEW HEIGHTS
Carli Suspension states the 3-3.5-inch kit can utilize 35-37-inch tires. On this rig, Baja HQ installed 35x12.0 Nitto Ridge Grappler tires wrapped around 20-inch KMC XD wheels.
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CHAPPY’S PIT STOP
LIFE REVOLUTION Words: Steve Hanson Photos: Bink Design & Jason Zindroski
Anyone else notice how a temporary two-week closure has turned into two-months with more questions than answers? Sneaking into the race shop we have continued to work at our “nonessential” jobs. Now the race trucks, buggies and bikes are all prepped & ready to rip. Even the pit support equipment has seen that much needed and often neglected maintenance. So, what do we work on next? Only thing that is left to work on is ourselves. Our relationship with Christ could use some TLC so take advantage of this remaining down time to start a Life Revolution. A life revolution is a transformed life, a changed life. Our desire as a follower of Christ is to reflect his glory and be transformed into his likeness. 2CORINTHIANS 3:17NIV And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit use the truth of God’s Word to affect our thoughts, our feelings and our actions and transform your worship, walk & witness. Let us start with our worship; to love God with all your heart is the true sign of worship. What do you love with all of your heart? I THESSALONIANS 5:16-18NIV Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 34 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
We are instructed to always be joyful by living our lives with a perspective of praise and worship. Praying continually doesn’t mean you are hiding in a prayer closet somewhere 24/7. To pray continually simply means that we are constantly in communication with our savior. To revolutionize your prayer life would be a conscious effort to make everything, every place a talking point with God. By being in constant communication you are also increasing your awareness of His presence. Finally, how can we always be thankful? We are in uncertain times right now which make this hard. Even during our uncertainty, we should have thanks in our hearts towards God in all things and in all times. Traditionally if we want to make a change in our life we apply rules and regulations that lead to a desired outcome. This is an out-side-in approach. My suggestion is to stop focusing your life transformation on a set of do’s and don’ts. Instead develop an inside-out approach. God’s desire is that we transform our worship by seeking Him with all our heart. By making Him the target of your life then everything else will fall in order and our worship will be transformed. This is revolutionary. When we have a revolution in our worship, every life moment is a testimony of our worship. Follow @rfc_dirtsportministry
CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS may WORCS Round 5 SXS/ATV -Mesquite, NV May 22nd-24th SNORE Skull Rush 250- Caliente, NV May 29th-30th
june Best In The Desert Silver State 300- Alamo, NV TBA M.O.R.E. McKenzies 300- Lucerne Valley, CA June 6th Championship Off-Road Crandon, Wisconsin (Crandon International Raceway) June 20th-21st
Have an event for our Calendar? Send us an email: dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 35
