SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/631836
Broncos Behind The Scenes Broncos are not just popular with racers and chasers, but also with the media that covers off-road racing. To find the great photo spots on a long race course requires that photographers and spotters do their homework. That usually involves studying notes and GPS files from past races as well as lots of pre-running the course. This author, Matt Kartozian of Durka Durka Photo, along with SCORE's official race photographer Art Eugenio of Get Some Photo, both use Broncos to pre-run the course and find the great photo locations. Kartozian uses a '88 Bronco with the long travel front-end originally built by Spirit Racing. It received a roll cage and other improvements at various shops over the years. The latest version of Kartozian's Bronco saw updates to the rear end, wiring, steering and power train done by Gerald King at Finishline Racing in Arizona where the truck is also prepped. The truck now features full crossover steering, a GM 4L80E transmission, and an old school cast iron, gear driven, NP205 transfer case. It rides on 35-inch Toyo Tires and has single 2.5-inch Sway-A- Way coil overs at each corner. A Lowrance GPS and PCI Race Radio with an intercom are critical to the job and keep him informed about what is happening during the race. Mastercraft seats were installed for safety as well as comfort. "When you spend up to 24 hours in your truck during a race, comfort is as important as safety" said Kartozian. "While prerunning, I stop and get out of the truck a lot to look at things on foot. The RS has just enough containment for my speeds but makes ingress and egress easy. The reclining seatback makes access to gear easy and is super comfortable." "Covering a SCORE race in Baja means you will often be by yourself in remote hard to access locations," Kartozian said. "The Ford Bronco is an ideal vehicle for us Media Goons. It is reliable, tough, four-wheel drive, and has room for all your gear. In addition, you can find parts all over Baja too. I used to pre-run in a Raptor. GETSOMEPHOTO WITH SOME MILD UPGRADES, '78-'96 FORD BRONCOS CAN ACHIEVE UP TO 18-INCHES OF WHEEL TRAVEL TO SMOOTH OUT THE ROUGH BAJA TERRAIN AT AN AFFORDABLE COST. 082 SCORE JOURNAL