SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1546613
INSPIRED BY BAJA A 1974 F-100 Built To Look Original, But Play Hard By Dan Sanchez Photos Courtesy Of Method Race Wheels Most pre-runners start with off-road enthusiasts who want to take their old vehicle and transform it into something as close to a Baja race truck as possible. For Kevin and Bud Fitzgerald, along with their business partner Colbey Groom, their combined passion for everything Baja led them to build this 1974 Ford F100. Together, they started Method Race Wheels, and because they knew how to make their products tough enough to handle the rigors of Baja racing, they put that same effort into this vehicle build. They began by taking the truck in its original form to Jake Velasco Race Prep to rebuild the truck into a capable pre-runner. Stripped down to its original cab, Velasco built a complete tube frame to which a set of Blitzkrieg equal-length I-beams were added, along with new rear trailing arms as the basis of a new front and rear suspension system. A pair of BMS 2.5” racing hubs are used in front, along with a set of Fox 2.5 coil-overs and 3.5 bypass shocks both front and rear. The coil-overs use Eibach ERS springs, and Fox 2.5 bump stops are used to keep the suspension from bottoming out. Up front, a Blitzkrieg cross-over steering linkage is combined with a Howe Performance steering box, while at the back of the chassis, a Currie 9-inch housing with 4:11 gears complete the Baja-ready chassis. To this, a set of six-piston Jamar calipers and Brembo brake pads are used to stop the BF Goodrich Baja T/A KR2 tires, mounted on Method 103 beadlock wheels, which are used widely in Trophy Trucks and race vehicles in Baja. In keeping with the originality of the truck, they opted to use a 427 cubic-inch Ford Cobra V8 that was tuned by Bruce Norgrady. The engine features a Dailey Engineering dry-sump oiling system and is attached to a Culhane 4l80E automatic transmission. Making 515 horsepower, the engine blasts through a set of custom headers built by RPM Customs and is attached to a Magnaflow exhaust system. With a wider stance and more wheel travel, Velasco and his team added a set of McQueen fiberglass fenders to the chassis and attached the truck’s original grille, headlights, and bumpers to keep it looking like an F100. Lots of custom aluminum work by Scott Kell Alloy Studios is visible in the bed of the truck, which now holds a 110-gallon Harmon Racing fuel cell, a Bartact Custom Tool Bag, and a full-size spare. Inside the cab, an aluminum dash houses a Lowrance GPS system, a Racepack digital dash panel, and an iPad in the center. There are plenty of switches along the dash that operate everything from the cooling fans to the Baja Designs external LED lighting. Sparco EVO seats and PRP safety harnesses keep the occupants safe, while a PCI Race Radio intercom and Kenwood Race radio keep the occupants in communication with themselves and outside teammates. The simple white paint applied by Temecula Valley Collision Center keeps the F-100 looking like a classic. The Fitzgeralds and Combs thank Eric and Edward Dollente for their help and Velasco for an incredible job putting this project together. The truck has been up and down the Baja Peninsula numerous times and can be seen during vintage racing events, with its proud owners enjoying what this pre-runner can do. SJ