SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1542694
MINI-TRUCK MASTERPIECE James Holguin’s Nissan Frontier Pre-Runner By Dan Sanchez Photos by Evan Walsh What started as a Nissan mini-truck for daily transportation, would eventually turn into a vehicle that blurs the line further between a pre-runner and a full race truck. As the founder of the Terra Crew off-road community and lifestyle brand, the truck’s owner, James Holguin was influenced by attending off-road events and going to Glamis. “Back then, I couldn’t afford a Toyota Tacoma, so I bought a Nissan Frontier instead,” said Holguin. “I had that truck since 2002, when I was in high school and would go to Glamis towing my quads with it.” After meeting and becoming friends with other off-road enthusiasts, Holguin met vehicle builder/fabricator Brian Kirby, who also built Class 1 buggies and raced with Off-Road Hall of Famer, and KOH champion, Shannon Campbell. “Brian built the first pre-runner version of the truck, and he introduced me to SCORE,” said Holguin. “I then got into pre-running and chasing for various teams. I had never been to San Felipe, and after the experience, I fell in love with it!” While Holguin pre-ran and was on chase teams during races like the SCORE Baja 500, the Frontier would undergo different stages of upgrades, particularly after meeting and becoming friends with Eric Moore at Moore’s Metal Works. “I was hooked on pre-running and after meeting Eric, he took the truck and built the center-mounted tube chassis, and before I knew it, the truck transformed from mini-truck to a pre-runner,” said Holguin. “Eric got it to a good place, and by 2018, I had started Terra Crew, showcasing trucks and fabricators that I had come to know and later become good friends with.” “Eric was ambitious with the Frontier, and he got it to a good place. Afterwards, it went to Danny Giannini, a phenomenal fabricator who preps pre-runners for Luke McMillin. Danny changed some of the chassis at the rear, and then the truck went to another friend who worked on it for about a year and a half.” Holguin then took the truck to Morgan Clarke Design, where it transformed into its latest version. “I had been friends with Morgan since 2015, and he asked me to trust his process. He had a vision for the truck and began to make additional changes and upgrades, including a new interior cage layout. Morgan had the truck from 2020 to 2025, and it was a long process, but eventually it came to what it is today. Every modification has a purpose and was not built for appearances. I trusted his vision, and the Frontier is better than it ever has been before. We wanted a style of a Trophy Truck from the 2000s, but also custom like a Hot Rod or a JDM car. Right now, there’s nothing like it.” DOWN TO THE SPECIFICS The 2003 Nissan Frontier is mostly all pre-runner now, with parts of the cab as the only remaining portions of the original vehicle. The front has an independent Trophy Truck-style suspension, featuring custom A-arms and Jamar hubs and disc brakes with six-piston calipers, all of which are suspended by King 4.0 Bypass and 3.0 coil-over shocks. At the rear, a Trophy Truck four-link with King 4.0 Bypass and 3.0 coil-overs is used. Large 40-inch Toyo Open Country M/T tires are mounted to Method Race Wheels 17-inch 103 beadlocks with a custom black powdercoat. The suspension system was tuned by Keith Marigold at KDM Shock Technologies. “We had a test session with the truck in Barstow, and it felt like a true long-travel race truck,” said Holguin. “Keith took the truck and had it up to 93 mph, and said it was at 70 percent of its capability!” The original engine in the Frontier was swapped out for an LS3 motor with AFR heads, all prepared by Dillon Herrera and Morgan Clarke. The engine has forged internal components and uses a Culhane 4L80E automatic with a manual valve body. The exterior of the Frontier is unique to this vehicle, using Clarke’s vision for the creation of a custom flip-up hood that was created by FiberwerX, who also made the custom rear fenders according to Clarke’s specs. “Morgan worked with the designer at FiberwerX who sculpted them in clay and then made the mold,” said Holguin. “The mesh pieces in both the front grille, hood, and rear fenders are purposefully placed to provide airflow where it is needed.” In addition to the custom fiberglass body panels, several Baja Designs lights were added to the exterior of the vehicle, including large LP9 off-road LEDs mounted to the top of the cab. Custom headlamps were also made, which feature the Terra Crew design, as a detail on the center lamp. Inside the cab is pure racing business with PRP seats front and rear, and a Holley digital display, PCI Race Radio communication systems. Another notable aspect of the Frontier is the full Safecraft fire suppression system that can be operated from the center console. “We worked with many industry manufacturers on the Frontier,” said Holguin. “I can’t thank enough the support I received from PRP Seats, Safecraft, Heatshield Products, Superwinch, and many others. This truck took ten years to build, and I received a lot of help from my fabricator friends and other people along this journey. It was also a personal battle, and there were times I wanted to give up and sell it. But with support from the Terra Crew, along with Morgan’s vision, I stuck with it and am so proud of the outcome.” SJ