Pavement Meets Desert. (Will they mix?)

[Fabrico]

Popular Science article: "Going Nowhere Fast". The $1 million Trophy Truck!
Even though it is Trevor Harris, I'm wondering how well pavement and desert will mix.

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/automotivetech/d5f67cdd8d83e010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/automotivetech/93c67cdd8d83e010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

 

[kenvlach]

I believe the Paris-Dakar rally is a bit more formidable, and attracts the European manufacturers (BMW to VW), plus Chevy, Nissan, etc. From motorcycles to giant trucks:

Homepage

http://www.dakar.com/indexus.html

Motor Trend coverage of the 2004 event:
'Paris to Dakar - The World's Toughest Motor Race'
"...two Chevrolet Pro-Trucks (one driven by Baja 1000 winner Mark Miller) were classified as cars to differentiate them from the real trucks."

http://www.motortrend.com/features/travel/112_0401_dakar/

 

[ctmtwilliams]

I was on the Herzog Vortec team who ran Trevor Harris designed "Trail Blazers". Although we were held back due to using the in-line six, the two Trail Blazers worked much better than any of the competition. Jhon Hoffman (Pflugers top guy) was also one of the top Herzog guys and has a great deal of experience working with Trevor building his designs. When they get the truck sorted out it will be very competitive.

I am currently on the Arciero/Miller team (Mark Miller's Baja team). This next Dakar will be Mark's second year with VW. The closest thing to a competitive American entry is Robby Gordon in his "H-1" which is actually a modified SCORE Class 1 buggy fitted with a carbon fiber Hummer body. Some in offroad refer to it as the Hummmbuggy. Calling a Pro-truck a truck is like calling a NEXTEL car a stock car.

You can't compair Dakar to Baja, its two different styles of races. Dakar is stage racing and navigation over a long period of time. Baja is much faster and rougher and runs straight through the night. Both are realy tough events with different types of problems.

 

[Fabrico]

The Western deserts are definitely rougher terrain than Dakar, but there is little chance even the best Baja trucks would last 6,000 miles. The Trailblazers were quite formidable and driven by a couple of the best off-road drivers around. But neither one could keep his rig right side up. I can't help thinking that the best team would have Mr. Harris paired up with someone more familiar with dirt.

 

[ctmtwilliams]

6000 miles of Dakar has little to do with it when you have the team support to put re-build the cars every night. I'd like to see any of the top Dakar cars run for 1000 miles straight, let alone 2000 miles as we did for the Baja 2000.

Ricky Johnson (motocross hero)wadded one Trailblazer (end over end at least three times)in the Nevada 2000 (a 2000 mile stage race like the Dakar). The crash was total driver error and had nothing to do with the Harris design. Larry Ragland put the other Trailblazer on it's side trying to pass the Duralast team for the lead in the Baja 2000. Larry simply over shot the turn and admitted it was his mistake. Others to drive the Trailblazer included multi Baja 1000 winners Mark Miller and Ryan Arciero as well as Bekki Freedman and Ivan Stuart's son Brian no of who had problems keeping the Trailblazers on their wheels.

Perhaps you could explain your statement about Trevor Harris and pairing with those familiar with the dirt. I don't understand your statement.

 

[patprimmer]

Is anyone going to actually mention any engineering here

Regards

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Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[Fabrico]

On a more technical note I would question, among many other things, the front suspension. The control arms look fairly short. This means high angles and questionable effectiveness. The high offset wheels are a good idea but it does not look like they were taken advantage of, as the spindles are still plenty inboard. As to the previous question, the competition has a pencil in one hand and a grinder or steering wheel in the other. Perhaps it's the absurdity of $1 million. Of course, the facts will all come out when it finally races.