SCORE Journal

SCORE Journal-November 2019

SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing

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Ford Debuts Bronco R Concept at the BFGoodrich Tires SCORE BaJa 1000 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts The Ford Bronco R prototype is a full-race vehicle that will debut in competition at the 52nd BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts. The Bronco R was built by Ford Performance in collaboration with Geiser Bros Design and SCORE Trophy Truck champion Cameron Steele, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rod Hall and Larry Minor’s win of the 1969 Baja 1000 race in a 1969 Bronco. Putting the Bronco R through the rigors of the SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race is also part of the testing for the production model Bronco SUV, which is scheduled to appear sometime in 2020. The design of the Bronco R came from Ford Bronco chief designer Paul Wraith who was inspired by the original 1969 Bronco, but was purposely built to challenge off-road motorsport’s most demanding and popular race. “Rugged endurance racing is such a big part of Bronco heritage,” says Ford chief product development and purchasing officer Hau Thai-Tang. “The SCORE Baja 1000 not only gives us the perfect setting to honor Rod Hall’s win, it also provides an authentic test bed to demonstrate our upcoming Bronco’s desert racing capability and durability.” The build of the Bronco R took only six months to complete, using high-tech virtual reality, polygon modeling and 3D printing to develop parts, but also incorporated low-fidelity prototyping and role-playing to aid problem-solving and swift decision-making. “This wasn’t our usual development process, but it was the right process for this project,” said Wraith. “We found, created or adapted the right tool for the task at hand – a cool and exciting blend of old and new creative techniques. We stretched ourselves, but it was worth it – and great fun.” According to Ford, the design team had to incorporate race-ready elements that would allow the vehicle to handle the difficult terrain, including features such as a long-travel suspension and a wide stance. The front independent suspension features 14-inches of wheel travel, while a five-link rear suspension provides the vehicle with 18-inches of wheel travel. Power comes from a Ford Ecoboost® engine, utilizing twin-turbos, while the body is made up of lightweight composite panels covering a full-tube, race chassis. The Bronco R will compete in SCORE’s Class 2, carrying the 2069 number in honor of Hall’s Baja 1000 win in 1969 and be driven by Hall’s granddaughter Shelby Hall (pictured above), along with 16 other drivers during the race. These include: driver of record Cameron Steele, Johnny Campbell, Curt LeDuc, Steve Olliges, Brad Lovell, Jason Scherer, Cody Stuart, Mike Craft, Dustin Orth, Adam McGough, Jason Berger, Josh Sharpe, Brian Novak, Chris Golecki, Dan Duckrop, and Patrick Hensley. “My grandfather was so proud of the 1969 Baja 1000 race and of his Bronco,” said Shelby Hall. “More than just the memory of winning Baja, he loved that Bronco. I have no doubt he would be blown away by the Bronco R race prototype.” Roger Mears Announced As Grand Marshal Of 52nd BFGoodrich Tires SCORE BaJa 1000 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts Off-road racing legend Roger Mears will be the Grand Marshall for the 52nd BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts. Mears’ son Casey Mears, will be competing in the race as the lead driver for the Number 42 AXALTA SCORE Trophy Truck. A veteran champion in SCORE, Roger Mears competed in a factory sponsored Nissan Hardbody pickup and won three season class point championships (1980 Class 3, 1989 Class 7, 1991 Class 7), and has five class wins in the SCORE Baja 500 race, (1980, 1987, 1989, 1990, and 1991). Mears has also has a history or racing USAC, CART NASCAR Super Truck and at the Indianapolis 500. SCORE Mourns The Loss Of Legendary Funco Builder Gill George Gilmon ‘Gil’ George was a legendary car builder who started Funco in 1968 in Rialto, California, and was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007.  George and his family built open-wheel desert race cars and later shifted into the sand car industry where Funco has been a leader in the industry. In his time in open desert racing, George and his company was honored as the SCORE Original Open-Wheel Chassis Builder of the Year four times (1974, 1979, 1980 and 1981). Funco introduced innovations for open-wheel desert race cars such as long travel rear suspensions, the first independent rear suspension, the first disc brake systems and developed the “Char-Lynn’ power steering system for buggies. In the early 90’s George partnered with son Grant to create the “Big 5” Buggy, which is considered one of the best handling vehicles in the sand car market. A true family business, there are three generations of the George family in the shop every day working on what is truly the entire family passion.     The SCORE family sends its condolences on the loss of a great man and offers its prayers and heart-felt wishes to the entire George family. We have lost a friend and an innovator from the foundation of the sport of desert racing. SCORE Class 2 Brings Unique Vehicles At The BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts Another unique vehicle competing in Class 2 at this year’s SCORE Baja 1000 will be the SCG Baja Boot. Racing alongside the Ford Bronco R, the SCG Baja Boot is a modern version of the original Vic Hickey vehicle, but with modern drivetrain and increased capabilities. The SCG Baja Boot was featured in the September 2019 issue of SCORE Journal, and will have several drivers including Darren Skilton (Dakar Rally, SCORE Trophy Truck and Class 3 driver), SCORE 2018 Class 11 Champion Viry Felix, Jon Krellwtz, John, Vizcardo, Pat Smith, Mike Rossey, Elliot Pollack (Armada Engineering), and Jesse Glickenhaus (SCG).

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