SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/539275
I f you've ever witnessed a SCORE Unlimited Trophy Truck in full battle mode, catching air, and shaking the ground as they pass by, you can understand why they are celebrated as the premiere class in desert racing. These vehicles represent "unlimited technology" which is a rare item in any form of motorsports, and is the reason anybody who ever dreamed about racing in SCORE wants to pilot one, and has visions of winning the Baja 500 or 1000 in it. Many race fans, however, don't really appreciate the intricate details, man-hours and design elements that go into creating the fastest vehicle in SCORE racing. According to Rick Geiser Co-Owner of Geiser Brother's Racing, it takes more than 2,000 man hours of hand-building craftsmanship to create a one Trophy Truck. As an example, Geiser says their welding process alone for creating lower links and the vehicle's A-arms takes about 12 hours. The chassis welding takes about 120 hours, and that's just to have a bare bones truck from that point. From the spectator standpoint, much of the work and hand- built beauty of a Trophy Truck is hidden behind aluminum or fiberglass panels. It's also hard for fans to get a full appreciation of the vehicle's detail, when drivers like Rob MacChachren, Robby Gordon, Tavo Vildosola, BJ Baldwin, and others, tend to take all the glory when they win races. Their recognition is well deserved, however, it's important to point out that the link between driver and Trophy Truck is taken into account when the vehicle is built. It also takes a talented driver to handle an 800 plus horsepower truck that weighs more than 6,000 lbs. across the extreme desert terrain. So to win, these racers depend on the vehicle to be completely solid and reliable in order to last anywhere from 250 to 1000 miles during a race. RELIABILITY STARTS IN THE DESIGN STAGE While champion drivers may get all the glory, ask any of them about their vehicle, and they'll all tell you how much they depend on it and its preparation to last the entire race. That aspect of reliability begins during the design stage, were Trophy Truck builders use computer-aided design (CAD) drawings to create these machines. Digital designs are made in three dimensions to undergo simulated testing that can reveal high-stress areas that can be strengthened before any tubing is cut or bent to assemble the chassis on a jig. In addition to creating a strong core, CAD designs also allow for the placement of other vital components, so they can be accessed easier COURTESY JIMCO RACING 085 SCORE JOURNAL WITHOUT ALL ITS EXTERIOR PANELS, TROPHY TRUCKS ARE A COMPLETE TUBE CHASSIS VEHICLE THAT IS DESIGNED USING CAD SOFTWARE