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SPOTLIGHT DIESEL MONSTERS DIESEL IN THE WORLD OF DESERT OFF-ROAD RACING, THE UNSUNG HERO IS THE CHASE TRUCK. ALTHOUGH THE RACING VEHICLES CAPTURE ALL THE GLORY, IT’S THE CHASE TRUCKS THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO WIN RACES. CHASE TRUCKS TRANSPORT SPARE PARTS, TOOLS, PIT EQUIPMENT, TIRES AND THE REQUISITE FUEL THAT IS NECESSARY FOR A TEAM TO BE COMPETITIVE IN LONG-DISTANCE DESERT RACING. MONSTERSWords: Chris Tobin ROBBY GORDON OFF ROAD CHASE TRUCKS Photography: Chris Tobin 80 DB / OCTOBER ’07 DB / OCTOBER ’07 81 SPOTLIGHT DIESEL MONSTERS THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE ROOF RACK EXTENDS OVER THE TRUCK’S CAB AND FEATURES A STORAGE TRAY FOR LARGE ITEMS. IT ALSO IS HOME TO THE HELLA HID XENON DRIVING LIGHTS (WITH CUSTOM GREEN POWDERCOATED BEZELS) AND GPS AND CB ANTENNAS. well as to the centersection. added strength. So they could necessary tools and equipment supplies without using valuable Additionally, two diagonal struts carry a full-size spare tire below to support and maintain the space in the bed; it is also the are welded between the axle the bed, the crossmember was Trophy Truck, and it also serves mounting location for four large housings and the tubular sup- relocated to allow the 35-inch as a foundation for the ro o f Hella HID Xenon off-road driv- p o r t on each side. Custom spare tire to fit while clearing rack. The service bed is also the ing lights. The team also has a lower shock mounts are welded the differential housing as the mounting point for the folding pair of work lights mounted on to the axle housings and tubular suspension cycles. race truck spare-tire racks on each side of the truck just in support. On the topside of the With the lifted suspension the rear of the truck. Inside the case repairs are necessary in the axle housing, the team installed front and rear, Team Gordon can service bed, large items such as dark. large mounting perches for the install large 35x12.50R17LT Toyo a spare transmission, fuel jug, Under the hoods of both of airbags that help support the MT Open Country tires mount- s p a r e shocks, nitrogen tank, the Monster chase trucks, the Team Gordon keeps the truck’s extra weight in the service bed ed on Robby Gordon Off Road generator and jackstands are 6.6-liter turbodiesel engine storage cabinets neat and order- of the truck. In addition to the wheels without fear of rubbing mounted or strapped down, breathes a little easier thanks to ly so they can easily locate tools airbags, the rearend of the truck the fenders. The wheels are the using a Mac’s Custom Ti e an aFe Stage 2 cold-air intake or parts that may be necessary is supported by custom Deaver street version simulated bead- Downs track system to keep system. Electronically, the trucks to work on the race truck. leaf-spring packs in place of the lock style, which are much bet- them from shifting while the also use an Edge Juice with stock units with a 2.5-inch lift ter suited for the heavy weight chase trucks are doing their Attitude programmer to block. To support the added of the big trucks. duty across the desert. The cus- enhance engine perf o rm a n c e . weight in the rear of the truck, The service bed on the tom roof rack allows the team to They exhale spent gases the team boxed the frame for trucks is great for storing all the s t o r e additional parts and/or through a custom MagnaFlow In the event of a failed part would have a difficult time mak- A. The team installed the controller for the Edge programmer in the or other need, racers rely on ing its way through the Mexican A. B. overhead console to easily select their chase trucks to get to desert. The team installed a Pro between modes and monitor the them, bring them their parts, Comp 6-inch lift kit with Pro programmer vitals. make repairs in a hurry, and get Comp MX6 adjustable remote them back on their way. The reservoir shocks at all four cor- powerhouse desert racing team ners. Dual shocks are used up of Robby Gordon Off Road front in conjunction with a single relies on a pair of well-stocked Pro Comp shock in the OEM B. A Panasonic DVD player with LCD f o u r-wheel-drive Chevro l e t location. In the rear, single MX6s monitor is installed on the truck’s roof 2500HD Crew Cab trucks to keep the suspension in check to allow the team to watch a video if they have any spare time. support the No. 71 Trophy Truck while a pair of Firestone airbags while it is attacking the desert. on custom mounts helps sup- Team Gordon uses two of these p o rt the extra weight of the chase trucks during their desert work bed and all of the equip- C. D. races along with a pair of ment the truck carries. Beefy C. A Lowrance GPS 6500C is installed Unimogs that form a base of steering linkage and a custom- in the center console where it can be operations at camp or near the built bumper with skidplate seen and accessed by either the racecourse. were also installed in front to driver or the passengers. Since the chase trucks must make sure the rigs can tackle be relied upon to get the team Baja and emerge victorious. anywhere, Gordon chose a pair To strengthen the rearend, of heavy-duty diesel-powere d the team welded a tubular sup- D. This cabinet in the service bed trucks and modified them to suit port to the bottom side of the holds needed fluids as well as Seventeen-inch Robby Gordon Off Road wheels are wrapped in Toyo M/T the team’s needs. Of course, axle housings and centersec- complete left and right spindle and Open Country 35x12.50R17LT tires. The Pro Comp remote reservoir MX6 suspension modifications are tion. The tubing is welded to brake assemblies. shocks are easy to see in the large fenderwell gap. very important, since a stock rig the axle housings at each end as 82 DB / OCTOBER ’07 DB / OCTOBER ’07 83 SPOTLIGHT The 6.6-liter Duramax under the hood of the Monster chase trucks is a potent mill stock, but the team upped the performance ante with an aFe intake and filter, as well as an Edge Juice with Attitude programmer and MagnaFlow exhaust system. exhaust system complete with a that it can more easily be large 4-inch-diameter polished viewed by the driver and pas- stainless steel tip. sengers. An Icom chase radio To help the weary crewmen from PCI Race Radios is used to climb in and out of their rigs keep in contact with the with a little less eff o rt, both Monster Trophy Truck, as well as trucks are equipped with Amp the rest of the chase and sup- Research Power Step automatic port team during the race. In folding running boards. Other the event of downtime while exterior enhancements include waiting for the Trophy Truck to The team welded the custom axle truss to the axle tubes to prevent it the deep black paint by reach a pit location, the chase from bending with the tremendous load and rough off-road conditions Anaheim Hills Auto Body to go crew can enjoy a video on the these trucks are regularly required to traverse. with the Monster color scheme, Panasonic overhead DVD player since the trucks were originally with built-in LCD screen. blue. T-Rex billet aluminum In the world of big-time grilles are installed in each truck d e s e r t racing, the diff e re n c e and combine with a gloss-black between winning and losing can Chevy Bow Tie to give the be seconds, and the Monster trucks an intimidating presence. racing team takes no chances Inside the cab, the Monster on their support crew running Chevys are quite plush for chase into problems. Top teams trucks—featuring a leather inte- depend on their crews and their rior and seating for five. While equipment being at the proper the leather seats are nice, the place when needed. The Robby t r ucks are first and fore m o s t Gordon Off Road team has put chase trucks, so a Lowrance their trust in a pair of diesel- 6500C GPS system to map the p o w e red Chevy Silverados to racecourse and find the race deliver when the race is on the The spare tires for the Monster Trophy Truck are mounted on the rear of truck is necessary. The Lowrance line; the big bad Chevys have the service bed on custom-built swing-away tire carriers. The trucks also unit is mounted in the top por- yet to disappoint. DB have heavy-duty receivers and hitches to tow a trailer loaded with the tion of the center console so race truck or pre-runner. 84 DB / OCTOBER ’07 visit superrod.com visit streetrodbuilder.com visit chevyrumble.com visit roddersdigest.com visit fordbuilder.com visit americanrodder.com visit hcimagazine.com visit truckbuildermagazine.com COPYRIGHT NOTICE The material in this document is protected under the copyright laws of the United visit dieselbuilder.com States and international treaties and is the property of BUCKAROO COMMUNICATIONS, LLC, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. Editorial content, photos and graphics may not be reproduced, stored in a visit 4x4buildermagazine.com retrievable system, or transmitted in any form or by any means--electronic, mechani- cal, photocopying, recording, or otherwise- -without the express written permission of BUCKAROO COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

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