SCORE Journal

The Spitfire Luxury Pre-Runner Jimco breaks outside the mold to build a luxury pre-runner with a distinctive purpose By Dan Sanchez Photos Courtesy of Jimco Racing Inc. At first thought, most hardcore off-road enthusiasts would agree that building a luxury per-runner seems like an oxymoron. After all, what kind of “luxury” would one need when pre-running for a rough race in the desert? “The idea of pre-running is to experience the course in a vehicle that’s as close to the race vehicle as possible,” says Jimco Racing’s CEO Robby Pierce. “The idea of a pre-runner with an enclosed cab, air conditioning, and comfortable seating was something I was against at first until I talked to top teams who said they could cover more ground in one.” With the experience of pre-running without dealing with the harsh desert, elements made a believer out of Pierce, and he set out to build the best luxury pre-runner available. “For a race like the SCORE San Felipe 250, I was out pre-running all day until about 7 to 8 pm,” said Pierce. “Driving a pre-runner with air conditioning and without being exposed to the dust, wind, and all of the harsh conditions, I was more refreshed and could cover the same ground faster. I was back in my camp by 4 pm and wasn’t as exhausted come race day. With the competition being so high now, a luxury pre-runner is an equalizer. It keeps the team from getting beat-up during pre-running, leaving them more refreshed and focused for the race.” The Spitfire Ford Raptor Pre-runner is an example of what Jimco has produced for this emerging type of vehicle. The company is as serious about building these pre-runners as they are for a full race Trophy Truck. “There’s actually more detail and fabrication that goes into these pre-runner trucks than a race truck,” says Pierce. “But we have a talented group of builders and fabricators and craftsman that put this example together for a customer.” The customer, an avid airplane collector, liked the idea of experiencing the Baja desert in the same way as off-road racers do. “People of means can experience the full culture of desert racing in a vehicle like this,” says Pierce. “This customer wanted the vehicle to be themed like one of his airplanes, a British Spitfire fighter, so we had it painted in the same manner and put in details such as the leather seating to somewhat resemble the aircraft.” The Spitfire Pre-runner is based on the Jimco Trophy Truck Spec chassis and features a 127-inch wheelbase and a 92-inch track width. Just like a Trophy Truck, the suspension system uses Fox Factory racing shocks and a racing long-travel suspension system that gives the vehicle 26-inches of wheel travel in the front, and 32-inches of wheel travel at the rear. The pre-runner also features 40-inch, BFGoodrich KM3 tires mounted on 17-inch diameter KMC billet racing wheels, all of which are oaperated by a Jimco/Howe steering box and leather-wrapped Momo steering wheel. Luxury pre-runners are still fast, so this one uses a Danzio Performance 415 cubic inch, LS Chevrolet engine that cranks out 650 horsepower through a set of custom stainless steel headers and Borla mufflers. Trophy Trucks use a tried and true drivetrain system and this one is no different, using a Gearworks Turbo 400 automatic transmission and rear differential that’s outfitted with Strange Engineering axles. Full race-brakes are also used, which means this pre-runner has a set of Brembo disc brakes to stop it in even the toughest of terrain. While the chassis and drivetrain are almost identical to a Trophy Truck Spec race car, it’s the interior of the pre-runner that sets it apart. Aside from the essential safety features, such as Impact safety harnesses and window nets, the Impact HS1 seats are covered in hand-stitched leather that mimics the airplane interior color and style, down to the diamond pleated seat back and stitching. The center console is also covered in leather while the dash looks almost like a full Trophy Truck unit with navigation instrumentation and switches, except this one has air conditioning vents built in. The custom exterior features Jimco’s Trophy Truck body panels, but these were customized with the Spitfire paint theme and graphics by Best of Show Coach Works and Dusold Designs. This included the gloss to matte green camouflage paint scheme, along with the airbrushed exhaust tubes on the door that resemble what the airplane has on its fuselage. No Trophy Truck or pre-runner is complete without a set of high-intensity LED lights, so Jimco added Baja Designs units on top of the cab, in the headlight bezels and in the grille to give the truck a clean and sleek appearance, yet is still very effective while pre-running in the desert. “One of the other advantages to offering a luxury pre-runner is that it’s another entry into the sport,” says Pierce. “Sometimes, affluent people who have never seen or heard about off-road racing want to come into the sport and are often taken advantage of. With a luxury pre-runner, they can experience what it’s like in a fantastic way and after understanding what it takes to start or sponsor a team, they’re more inclined to really learn the culture of desert racing and help out an existing team or start one of their own.” For Jimco Racing, Pierce believes more people and teams will move towards building these types of pre-runners now and in the near future. If the detail and precision of the Spitfire is an example of what’s possible, Jimco is definitely already ahead of the game. SJ Chassis: Jimco Racing Inc. Pre-Runner Wheel Base: 127-Inches Track Width: 92-Inches Engine: Danzio LS 415 Cubic Inch V8, 650HP Exhaust: Custom Stainless Steel Headers, Borla Mufflers Transmission: Gearworks Turbo 400 Automatic Driveline: JE Reel Drive Shaft, Gearworks Differential, Strange Engineering Axles Brakes: Brembo Front & Rear Disc Fuel Cell: Jimco Custom Aluminum Cell with Pyrotect Bladder Wheels & Tires: BFGoodrdich 40-Inch KR3, KMC 17-Inch Paint/Graphics: Best of Show Coach Works & Dusold Designs Body Panels: Jimco 2018 Ford Raptor Style Front Suspension: Jimco Long Arm, Fox Racing Shocks, 26-inches of Wheel Travel Rear Suspension: Jimco Trailling Arm, 32-inches of Wheel Travel, Fox Racing Shocks Steering: Jimco/Howe Steering Box Paneling: Jimco/Larry Stork Designs Lights: Baja Designs LED Communication: Kenwood 50w Radio, PCI Intercom Seats: Impact Custom Leather HS1 Seats Safety: Impact Safety Harness and Window Nets. Sparco Helmets Upholstery: Hand Stitched Leather Interior

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