Why class 3?

[petepecas]

Guys:

I think that we all agree that racing class 3 is not about cost...
so, I'm curious as to why choose class three?:D
Did you pick it 'cause...

[jonnyslick]

i just like the vehicle choice and the "history" to the class ... plus in comparison they're somewhat of underdogs (in some cases) and i think that's kinda' cool. plus what's not to love about 4x4 SUV's hahaha ...

really any class that has some old school iron in it is cool to me. if i won the lotto and could do a TT, i'd want the body to resemble an old school truck. not that i have a C3 yet .. but one day! yes ... one day! hahahaha

[straightaxle]

There were several factors that steered me here.

The first was that I had stacks of old Ford parts, and it was the most cost effective way for me to get into a SCORE race in Mexico. Some would argue that one of the limited VW classes is cheaper, but I have no experience with and own zero VW parts. I would have had to buy everything and learn all about them. Besides the sound of a V8 at night working its way across the desert is music to me that can't be duplicated.

The second was that it is a 4 wheel drive class. My brother and I went down to Mexico for the Baja 1000 our first time in 1988. He had a 4 wheel Toyota, and I had a 2 wheel F100 and we followed a large portion of the course before and after the race. I think we pulled that F100 out 4 times. I hate getting stuck, and that was the last time I ever took a 2 wheel drive to Mexico for any reason.

The third factor was Class 3 had a single entry that was winning all of the races and really needed a challenger.

The last thing that finally put me over the top was the chance to participate in the Baja 2000, something that I assumed would only occur once in a lifetime. This year you have the 40th anniversary of the race, with a similar big time race.

[pigracing]

Mainly because I already had my bronco II somewhat built.

I tossed around the idea of selling it and building something else but really I like the idea that I can go cruising/wheeling/crawling around with a few buddies all in one vehicle and then go race it too.

In the end it just seems like a great way to have a best bang for the buck all around toy.

[roach]

The third factor was Class 3 had a single entry that was winning all of the races and really needed a challenger.


yea, and then came roach:D

i co-drive in a 1/1600. it is alot of fun, obviously becouse i am behind the wheel, but like Don said, there is nothing like drifting a V8 around a corner with people with their pants down!!! oh, wait, that was Ken behind the wheel at the 2004 baja 250. do you remember almost taking out one of my crew members for mooning you???? after puertocitos??

[Moss2]

yea, and then came roach:D

i co-drive in a 1/1600. it is alot of fun, obviously becouse i am behind the wheel, but like Don said, there is nothing like drifting a V8 around a corner with people with their pants down!!! oh, wait, that was Ken behind the wheel at the 2004 baja 250. do you remember almost taking out one of my crew members for mooning you???? after puertocitos??

Oh it wasnt even close to almost! I was just pulling in to my pit. (a little early though.. ahemm) He moved pretty fast though. When you drive a limited suspended vehicle you have got to skirt the edges. Cant help it if some people stand(or squat) in the best lines. I mean, no, I do not recall any such incident.

[chupakabras]

we always love off road racing, and we had a class 11, not really build it to race but just for fun, so we knew baja with our vw, then we jump to ford rangers, all of our friends had ford rangers, and we had some friends that were racing, some class 9, class 7, and bikes, and everytime posible we were doing some pit support for them, we were the rescue team, haha, so we had a dream on some day racing our own racer, and from all posible classes, this one was the one that fits our dream of racing at baja. really like this class, and i think that everybody some how is married to a make and model, for some reason or other, we don't se our selfs without our explorer, haha, we haven't reach the limit on his posibilities, still a lot of work that can be done.:D

[RelentlessPursuitRacing]

I have been into the Early Broncos (mainly rock crawling and general 4-wheeling) since about 1986. About the last 3-4 years I have been going down to Baja to pre-run/chase/pit class 3 for Old Horse Racing (OHR) and recently for Moss brothers....so that's my tie-in to class 3. I AM HOOKED! I love the Broncos (Early and late model) and I want to race with and against those that I have been, am, and still will be supporting. We have built up a pretty good support team already with OHR and will add to it more as we start racing our own truck.....It just makes sense. I am building a late model Bronco instead of an Early Bronco because I want to go as fast and smooth as possible (and still be in a Bronco).......Wider track width, longer wheel base, TTB front end, FORD! :) ....oh, and I am self funded, so it's about the best class to run a V8 and go fast enough to feed my need and still be competetive without getting really CRAZY amounts of money into it!

[Blanco]

For me, what truns me on about Class 3 is, That the rigs that race it our what most people already LOVE!

4X4's with short wheel base's that we all take out to do your basic 4X4'ing.

The Bronco/Blazer for example have always been Popular for Mud Whomping, Trail riding, Mall Crawling Etc etc....

& here Racing! http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/awesome_dude.gif

It should be a Class that most People would appreciate, Because they have the Same SUV's already.

Heck, Thats what got me wanting to learn more info on the Moss Bros..

[jonnyslick]

yeah Class 3's are really good all around vehicles. once you build them they're good for just about anything else as well, unlike more purpose built desert classes that are only good for one thing, going fast in the desert. i think that's why we see so few class 3's up for sale b/c owners take them and use them for pre-run or chase rigs, or great 4x4 toys once they're done racing them.

[tsm1mt]

Class 3 fascinates me because my first addiction is 4wd trail riding (be that rock-crawling, FS road cruising, or snow wheelin') and I have a LOT more opportunities to go "wheelin'" than I do to go racing.

SWB 4x4s are the hot ticket for a "utility/recreational" 4x4. My personal affliction is with IH Scout IIs (which have a history that includes a few Class 3 wins in the late 70s)

So I started with a 4x4 Scout to drive around and wheel, and when I started to get the racing bug.. well, like Moss, I had a pile of Scout parts lying around waiting for a need.. so I scabbed together what I had lying around and started racing locally.

First year's budget to build the car and race for the season? $1500.

The budget has grown since then, and it's still not Class 3 ready, but the thought of one day dragging my stuff a few thousand miles and running a SCORE race has always been a dream since day 1 of my race program.

Sadly, if/when that time comes, it'll probably be in 1450 or TT. I'm tired of considering leaf springs a consumable, so the next chassis gets coils.. and the current leaf-sprung ride needs a cage upgrade and a fuel cell before it'd pass tech.

[BajaBronco13]

For me I think it was Al Cowlings and OJ. I figured if the LAPD couldn't stop them, then Baja would be a pie of cake, oh wait, that's not right, lol. My bad.

I don't race yet but I hope to some day soon. I'm in the same boat as Blanco, I'd like to keep my rig street legal but still take it out and race it on the weekends. We'll see how my build up will go.

CP

[tsm1mt]

For me I think it was Al Cowlings and OJ. I figured if the LAPD couldn't stop them, then Baja would be a pie of cake, oh wait, that's not right, lol. My bad.

I don't race yet but I hope to some day soon. I'm in the same boat as Blanco, I'd like to keep my rig street legal but still take it out and race it on the weekends. We'll see how my build up will go.

CP

FWIW, aside from not having a DOM cage and a fuel cell, I have most of the race-legal things covered... and my racer is street legal, though it doesn't get driven on the street often.

I did run it back n' forth to town a few times last summer.. and later ran into a lot of people that saw the "space man" cruising through town - people with helmets and helmet pumpers are not a common sight, I guess. :D

Definitely lacking in creature comforts though.

I drove it to the DMV the last time I renewed my license.. undid the 5pts, crawled out of the cage in my shirt n' tie, and walked inside while they watched, jaws open. :D

[Blanco]

Hey tsm1mt, So your building a Scout II for a future class 3? :confused:

[tsm1mt]

Hey tsm1mt, So your building a Scout II for a future class 3? :confused:

Sadly, I've about given up the dream of racing in Class 3.

I compete "locally" (around here, "locally" means it's usually < 300 mile tow, but sometimes farther) in short course events with a Scout II.

It needs a new cage and a fuel cell to race SCORE, and a lot of bailing wire to finish a few hundred miles. :D

I've been wanting to finish making it Class 3 legal the last few years, but never get 'round to it.

So now, instead, I had a couple sponsors step up that want to see a new, faster chassis - but unless the Class 3 rules change to allow coil-overs front/rear on an originally leaf-sprung rig, I'd be relegated to 1450, or Trophy Truck if I haul it down to Nevada or Baja.

It'll still be +/- the original 100" wheelbase, solid axles, 4x4, and an IH engine. I just don't have the money (and maintenance hours) to invest in the leaf sprung suspension.

It's taken 9 years of racing and a lot of broken parts and too much money to get to the point where the current low-buck spring setup is limiting me (vs. my poor driving skills, metal fatigue, and constantly finding the weak links..). I've had a lot of fun getting here, though.

Almost all of it on my own dime, built in my own shop. I'm the master fabricator, master mechanic, hauler, pit crew, and driver (except when my wife is driving).

So the new chassis will be Class 3 ready, aside from the lack of leaf springs.

-Tom

[Blanco]

Please tell me you have some Pics? http://thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/16.gif

[kkspeedracer]

you mean there are other classes too ?? heh heh........

[kkspeedracer]

sherman balch and jerry coulton ran the reversed hangar front springs for a few years in there scout II's back in the 80's seems like there were a couple travelers running too but i can't think of the guys name. they might have had some factory backing. but it was a good set-up. jerry lives here in colorado but i don't know if the rig is still around. i'll check if you might be interested in any parts.

[tsm1mt]

sherman balch and jerry coulton ran the reversed hangar front springs for a few years in there scout II's back in the 80's seems like there were a couple travelers running too but i can't think of the guys name. they might have had some factory backing. but it was a good set-up. jerry lives here in colorado but i don't know if the rig is still around. i'll check if you might be interested in any parts.

I think Jerry's rig lives back east now being Tuff Truck'd the last time I heard - John Glancy of SSS bought it with the intention of doing something with it, but wound up selling it to another racer on the coast.

I'm going to be in Salida (big Scout show, Rocky Mountain IH Rendezvous (http://www.rmihr.org) around 7/21 in Salida) and Grand Junction in late July. It would be fun to meet Jerry if he has the time.

Racer won't be making the trip this year :(