SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1545032
THE MODERN RACE DASH An Inside Look At Today’s Race Vehicle Command Center By Micah Anderson The modern SCORE race vehicle dashboard has evolved into a full-scale control center. It’s far beyond the days of a few analog gauges, toggle switches, and a basic GPS unit mounted to an aluminum panel. Trophy Trucks, Class 1 cars, unlimited pre-runners, and top-tier desert race vehicles are now built around sophisticated electronic systems that rival those of professional motorsports. Inside the cockpit, the race dash has become the nerve center featuring large-format GPS displays, digital MoTeC screens, programmable power distribution modules (PDMs), CAN-based electronics, digital keypads, paddle-shift systems, tire pressure monitoring, real-time telemetry, and intelligent steering wheel controls. What once required individual switches, breakers, and mechanical gauges is now managed through integrated electronic systems capable of monitoring and controlling nearly every function of the vehicle. The Specialists Behind Modern Race Dash Development To help break down the evolution, SCORE Journal consulted with several experienced builders and specialists deeply involved in today’s top-tier desert race programs. That group includes championship desert racer and carbon-fiber dash system manufacturer Jason McNeil of FiberwerX, custom sheet metal fabricator Scott Kell of Alloy Studios, high-end motorsports wiring specialist Nick Tiedemann of TRH Wiring, and veteran race prep mechanic Juan Apalategui of JuanCO Performance. Collectively, their experience spans multiple decades across the most technically advanced off-road vehicles competing today. How The Modern Race Dash Evolved “Race car dashes have evolved over the years along with the components that we use,” explained veteran fabricator Scott Kell of Alloy Studios. “When I started, it was all switches, breakers, mechanical gauges, and a 7-inch GPS. Now the GPS has increased to 16 inches, and we’re using digital keypads, MoTeC dash displays, and PDMs capable of complex vehicle management programming and data logging.” That evolution is not limited to race vehicles alone. Many modern pre-runners now combine race-grade electronics with street-legal systems, including power windows, air conditioning, lighting controls, turn signals, and integrated comfort features. Some high-end pre-runners have become as electronically sophisticated as the race trucks they are based on. “Everything is custom-made and programmed from scratch,” said Nick Tiedemann of TRH Wiring. “Luxury pre-runners are very time-consuming because they have everything a stock vehicle has, but none of the stock wiring is used at all.” As off-road racing continues to push vehicle technology forward, the race dash is no longer simply where the gauges live. It has become a fully integrated control environment built around driver ergonomics, data management, communication, reliability, and serviceability. Components The systems behind the modern race dash are built around several primary categories: vehicle information systems, race communications, navigation, display instrumentation, and switching and power management. While each system serves its own purpose, the challenge is integrating them together into a cockpit that remains functional under race conditions. Vehicle Information Systems At the center of nearly every modern race cockpit is a digital display system capable of monitoring engine, drivetrain, cooling vitals, and tire data in real time. This includes items such as oil pressure, water temperature, fuel pressure, transmission temperature, voltage, engine rpm, shock data, tire pressure monitoring systems, programmable warning systems, and even front and rear camera views. All of it can be displayed through a centralized screen or multiple dedicated displays. Systems from MoTeC appear to be the most common and are the preferred platform for top-tier programs. Companies such as AiM Sports, Holley, AEM, and Haltech, however, have also become increasingly common across SCORE competition vehicles. One of the newest inputs is tire pressure monitoring, as it has become especially important in modern desert racing. Many top-tier Trophy Trucks and unlimited race vehicles utilize dedicated MoTeC display pages — and in some cases, standalone displays — specifically for live tire pressure monitoring. Drivers and co-drivers can instantly identify a slow leak, puncture, or pressure imbalance before it becomes a catastrophic tire or wheel failure. “We can monitor tire pressures live during the race, immediately alerting the crew if a tire is going down or completely flat,” explained Jason McNeil of FiberwerX. “That’s a huge improvement compared to the past, where drivers often had to rely purely on feel.” Nick Tiedemann of TRH Wiring added that modern Trophy Trucks and Spec Trophy Trucks commonly utilize fully customized MoTeC display pages with programmable alarms capable of warning drivers when tire pressures or other systems move outside safe operating parameters. These systems also allow teams to customize what information is displayed, how alarms appear, and even how the vehicle reacts to a problem. “Modern systems can trigger alarms, warning lights, or protective limp modes automatically, if the vehicle detects a serious issue,” McNeil said. “That can help save engines and major components during a race.” Race Communications Communication systems remain one of the most critical inside any desert race vehicle. Intercoms, race radios, and complete comms packages from companies such as Rugged Radios and PCI Race Radios allow drivers, co-drivers, chase crews, and pit teams to communicate clearly through engine noise, rough terrain, and race fatigue. Bluetooth wireless communication kits allow for driver-to-driver communication even when one is not hooked up inside the vehicle. These can range from simple Cardo Packtalk Edge universal systems to retrofit an existing helmet, to Sena and helmet-specific systems for moto riders, or race-derived packages from PCI Race Radios that are fully integrated. Clear communication during a 500 or 1,000-mile race is critical to race management, navigation, strategy, and safety. Navigation Navigation systems have also evolved significantly. What was once handled by a small standalone GPS unit is now managed through large-format screens and integrated by navigation platforms from companies such as Lowrance, Garmin, Magellan, and LeadNav. Drivers require a navigation screen strategically positioned in a convenient twelve o’clock window for very minimal eye movement. It is also known that some drivers are now preferring the LeadNav iPad combination, which could include turn-by-turn voice directions. GPS screens continue to grow larger while offering increasingly detailed map overlays, course tracking, waypoint management, and race-specific navigation tools. Placement within the cockpit has become equally important to help manage navigation during long desert races. Switching And Power Management One of the biggest shifts in modern race dashes has been the move away from traditional toggle switches and mechanical breakers. Programmable PDMs control many core vehicle functions electronically, such as cooling fans, fuel pumps, lighting systems, communications equipment, ignition systems, air systems, and backup controls. These can be managed through programmable keypad interfaces. “Everyone is using MoTeC components nowadays,” said Tiedemann. “Solid-state PDMs and keypads communicate with each other. No more toggle switches and circuit breakers are necessary.” This transition has allowed teams to reduce wiring complexity, improve diagnostics, and create cleaner, more serviceable cockpit layouts. Intelligent Steering Wheel Systems Modern off-road race steering wheels have also evolved far beyond simple directional control. In today’s Trophy Trucks, unlimited pre-runners and high-end race vehicles, the steering wheel has become an integrated extension of the race dash and vehicle management system. Many modern steering wheels now incorporate electronic paddle shifting, push-to-talk radio communication, GPS scrolling, horn controls, hydration activation, and more into the wheel itself. Through CAN-based communication systems, these controls integrate directly with the vehicle’s MoTeC electronics, PDMs, and digital dash displays. Electronic paddle-shift systems have become especially common in top-tier unlimited vehicles, allowing drivers to keep both hands on the wheel while managing gear changes through electronically controlled transmissions. Backup shifting functions are often integrated into the dashboard keypad system as a redundancy measure in the event of paddle or steering wheel failure. “All the top cars, Spec and Trophy Truck, are paddle shifted,” said Tiedemann. “Because the old gate-shifters are no longer integrated, we build out secondary up/down gear controls on the driver keypad.” The steering wheel itself has effectively become another display and control surface within the cockpit, with large gear indicator displays. Button placement, tactile feel, and ergonomics are all carefully considered so drivers can operate critical functions by instinct while navigating rough terrain at race speed. DATA & TECH Connectivity and telemetry changed desert racing. They are now part of a much larger network of electronics, sensors, and live data management. One of the biggest technological changes in recent years within off-road racing has been the widespread integration of satellite connectivity with StarLink, and with that came real-time telemetry. Historically, race teams often relied on intermittent radio communication, limited cell coverage, sat phones, and driver feedback to diagnose problems during a race. Starlink and StarStream have significantly expanded what teams can monitor remotely. Applications such as StarStream’s TelemetryBox Pro allow race vehicles to transmit live vehicle data directly from the racecourse. Teams can monitor engine vitals, temperatures, pressures, suspension movement, GPS location, and other performance metrics in real time while communicating with drivers through satellite connectivity. “Having my support team able to monitor our vehicle performance live during the race is huge,” McNeil explained. “We can just concentrate on driving forward, stacking miles, while they look at the bigger picture, has been a game changer. With the data logging, we can review and analyze after the race and then benchmark the performance to make improvements as needed.” Modern telemetry systems also create a valuable post-race development tool. Teams can analyze throttle position, suspension travel, temperatures, driver inputs, and vehicle performance after the event to improve setup, reliability, and race strategy. There is a whole other application of driver performance and health that can be logged into the data stream. Heart rate monitors from companies like Garmin can be piped in via Bluetooth to the StarStream’s TelemetryBox Pro to maintain a close eye on how the driving team is performing. This is a very crucial component in endurance racing outcomes. Physical Race Dash “The evolution of off-road race dashes has changed dramatically over the years,” explained Juan Apolategui of JuanCO Performance. “We started with simple aluminum panels holding a few gauges and switches, then moved into the T-dashes, and eventually full one-piece carbon-fiber cockpit systems. Now the industry is shifting toward modular pod-style layouts and fully integrated electronic systems that prioritize serviceability, driver ergonomics, and advanced vehicle management.” According to McNeil, modern race cockpits have evolved into highly engineered composite structures. “We’re building fully custom cockpit systems designed in CAD and machined on five-axis CNC equipment,” Jason explained. Our dash products are manufactured from aerospace-grade carbon fiber using vacuum-bag infusion processes.” The result is a lightweight and rigid cockpit structure specifically designed around both driver and co-driver ergonomics. Carbon fiber has become increasingly common in high-end race applications because it offers significant weight savings while maintaining rigidity and strength. It also allows builders to create more refined shapes and integrated mounting solutions compared to traditional aluminum fabrication. “Carbon fiber allows us to build more complex and refined shapes than traditional aluminum fabrication,” McNeil said. “We can create smoother transitions, integrated mounting features, airflow management, and cleaner ergonomics.” Serviceability has also become a major design focus. The latest racing dashboards often use quick-fastening systems, removable inserts, and military-style cannon plugs that allow complete dash sections to be removed quickly during race prep or emergency repairs. “That level of accessibility is critical in off-road racing where time and reliability are everything,” McNeil explained. “With the modular pod systems, you can pull two or three Zeus fasteners, disconnect a single cannon plug, and remove the entire pod within minutes,” explained Juan Apolategui of JuanCO Performance. “That makes a huge difference during race prep or troubleshooting in the desert because you can service the electronics, radios, GPS, or switches outside the vehicle and quickly reinstall everything without tearing half the cockpit apart.” Dash Layout And Planning Scott Kell described the packaging process as one of the most difficult aspects of modern dash design. “As larger screens and components become available and are requested, space for a usable layout can become difficult to package,” he said. “I usually start by making a cardboard pattern of the dash face and sitting in the seat to decide what’s comfortable for visibility, reachability, and leg room.” Behind the visible components, wiring has become its own specialized discipline. According to Tiedemann, modern race vehicles no longer have what many would traditionally consider “dash wiring.” “Really, there isn’t much dash wiring like the old days with switches,” he said. “The dash harness is built the same as the chassis.” Modern wiring harnesses are now fully custom-fabricated using motorsports-grade connectors, sealed routing, strain reliefs, and integrated CAN communication systems designed to survive extreme off-road environments. Driver Focused Priorities From the driver’s seat, the race dash serves one purpose above all else: delivering the right information quickly and clearly without creating a distraction. Modern Trophy Trucks and unlimited race vehicles produce enormous physical and mental demands over long races. Drivers and co-drivers operate in extreme heat, rough terrain, dust, noise, vibration, and fatigue for hours at a time. Under those conditions, cockpit ergonomics becomes critical. Visibility, reachability, and simplicity matter. Drivers do not have time to process unnecessary information while traveling at triple-digit speeds through rough terrain. The best dash systems prioritize critical data and organize it in a way that allows drivers to react instantly. Engine rpm, oil pressure, water temperature, tire pressure, fuel pressure, transmission temperature, and warning alarms typically remain the highest priorities. Many systems now use programmable warning lights, audible alarms, and color-coded displays to alert drivers before small problems become catastrophic failures. “You can program the system so if oil pressure drops below a safe threshold at a certain rpm, the dash and ECU can automatically trigger warnings, activate safety protocols, or even send the engine into limp-mode before major damage happens,” Apolategui explained. “To an extent, that kind of programmable protection simply was not widely available in off-road racing years ago.” Muscle memory also plays a major role in cockpit design. Many controls are operated without drivers ever looking directly at the panel. Keypad placement, switch spacing, and display positioning are all engineered around instinctive use under race conditions. “These are positioned so the driver and co-driver can operate everything naturally and quickly, even at race speed and in rough terrain,” McNeil explained. “The cockpit itself helps deflect air and wind away from the occupants, which also significantly reduces fatigue during long desert races.” Modern race dashes are also built with redundancy in mind. Backup shifting systems, secondary controls, warning systems, and independent communication systems are increasingly common across top-tier race vehicles. Manufacturers Several manufacturers continue to shape the evolution of modern race dash systems through electronics, displays, navigation, communication, and data acquisition technology. MoTeC remains one of the dominant names in high-end motorsports electronics, offering integrated ECUs, digital displays, PDMs, keypads, telemetry systems, and data acquisition tools used across multiple forms of professional racing. AiM Sports continues expanding its motorsports display and logging systems with multiple configurable digital dash platforms designed for competition vehicles. Holley and AEM both offer digital dash systems capable of integrating with modern EFI and CAN-based vehicle systems. AutoMeter continues to offer a variety of high-end analog gauges, but is also evolving beyond traditional with digital display systems and CAN integration products for modern motorsports applications. The Evolution Continues The modern off-road race dash has evolved to become the command center of the vehicle — managing communication, navigation, data, power distribution, diagnostics, and driver interaction under some of the harshest conditions in motorsports. As electronics continue to advance, the challenge is no longer simply adding more technology; it’s about organizing that technology into a system that remains intuitive, dependable, and serviceable when the race becomes unpredictable. It is only a matter of time before a transparent HUD Heads Up Display makes its way into an off-road race car. At some point, we can expect drivers to be utilizing more wearable tech devices, but until then, desert racing must balance it all in the usable space available. SJ