Trophy Truck

"Unlimited 4 wheel single and two seat vehicles. Vehicles must have a production appearing Utility or Sports Utility body. Engine must be of the same manufacture as that of the body.?" Trophy Trucks are purpose built performance machines hat must be seen to be believed. Capable of speeds in excess of 145 mph, these 4500 lb. trucks have recorded jumps of over 110 feet, and can plow through 2 foot "whoop-dee-doos" at over 60 mph! Often costing upwards of $250,000, these trucks often feature over 28 inches of wheel travel thanks to coilover shocks, torsion bars, A-arms, 3 & 4 link rear suspensions, and over 700 horsepower. Exotic metals, composite materials, and fiberglass bodies round out the premier class in Desert Racing.

Protruck

"Vehicles built to appear as full-sized 2 wheel drive utility type vehicles utilizing a Stewart & Stewart Racing Development Inc.(SSRD) chassis, SSRD production appearing bodies, and an engine of the same manufacturer represented by the body."

From the Protruck Website - "Protrucks are a "spec truck" class created by off-road racing legend Ivan "Ironman" Stewart. The Protruck is a cost efficient, durable "spec truck" designed with the latest technology. These trucks are designed as a dual purpose, low cost racing vehicle. It works both as a short course and a long course high speed racer. Based on a full size utility vehicle, the Protruck is a full blown, space frame constructed, high performance race truck, disguised under a stock appearing fiberglass body. The trucks race in a limited class, meaning that all of the trucks are built the same, using all of the same components with the exception of the body style and engine."

Protrucks utilize A-arm front / 3 link rear suspensions, with a combination of coilover and bypass shocks, and wheel travel in the 25-30 in range. Engines are limited in several respects, but regularly put out 400+ horsepower. Actual performance is similar, though slightly less than Class 8 trucks.

Class 8

"Vehicle built from a full sized 2 Wheel drive utility type vehicle. Vehicle must have been series produced in quantities of at least 5,000 units within a 12 month period and be readily available to the general public in the U.S.A."

Heavy Metal! Very similar to the Trophy Trucks in many respects, Class 8 trucks must be based on a stock production frame. New rules for 98 have allowed the big 8's to forgo their previously limited wheel travel, although the vehicles must retain certain suspension configurations. For example, a truck originally equipped with A-arm front suspensions cannot convert to I-Beam, and vice-versa.

Rear suspensions on Class 8 trucks take 2 basic forms. Coilover and 1/4 Elliptic springs over a 3 or 4 link assembly. Bypass shocks are standard equipment, with 2 shocks per wheel being the most common set up.

While horsepower is on par with, and wheel travel that now matches the Trophy Trucks, the greater weight of the 8's is often a handicap in terms of comparative performance. Often, but not always. The Duralast / Rough Rider team of Dan Smith and Dave Ashley have spent the 98 season racing their former Class 8 truck in the Trophy Truck class, and have several wins and high finishes to their credit!

Class 7

"Vehicles built from a 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive mini or mid-sized pickup having a maximum stock wheelbase of 125". Vehicle must have been series produced in quantities of at least 5,000 units within a 12 month period and be readily available to the general public in the U.S.A. Vehicle must be marketed as mini or mid-sized pickups." In a nutshell, Class 7 is the mini truck equivalent of Class 8. Class 7 trucks take a wide variety of approaches to performance. Some trucks feature 4WD / A-arm / Coilover 3 link suspensions, while others use 2WD / I-Beam / Leaf spring set ups. Bypass shocks are standard issue, no mater the configuration, with 1 or 2 shocks per wheel. Engines are limited to 6 cylinders, and a 4.5L displacement, yet put out well over 400 HP, resulting in an incredible power to weight ratio. While the lighter weight of the Class 7 trucks is a big advantage, their narrower track width, and shorter wheelbase can be liabilities. However, when you add up the power / weight / suspension equation, you get a true "drivers class", with performance that rivals a Class 8. Small size does NOT mean small performance. Larry Roseler's Chevy has beaten the Class 8's on more than one occasion!

Class 7s

"Vehicles built from a 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive mini or mid-sized pickup having a maximum stock wheelbase of 125". Vehicle must have been series produced in quantities of at least 5,000 units within a 12 month period and be readily available to the general public in the U.S.A. Vehicle must be marketed as mini or mid-sized pickups." The little brothers of the 7 class, 7s trucks are limited in suspension travel, and engine displacement, but that doesn't make them slow. Far from it! At the recent Primm 300, 7s trucks finished ahead of the Class 7's, and high in the overall! Suspensions must closely resemble "stock", with no coilover / 1/4 Elliptic set ups allowed. Bypass shocks are used on some of the more "bucks up" vehicles, while more conventional shocks are still in wide use. Engine displacement must remain under 3000 cc's, but beyond that, it's nearly an anything goes proposition. With 2-300 HP on tap in some very light weight vehicles, Class 7s is surely one to watch!

Stock Full

"Vehicles built from a full sized 2 or 4 wheel drive utility type vehicle. Vehicle must have been series produced in quantities of at least 5,000 units within a 12 month period and be readily available to the general public in the U.S.A. Vehicle must be marketed as full size." "Stock" is a relative term in desert racing. While the Stock Full trucks are the closest thing to what the factory provided, there are considerable modifications that increase their performance far beyond anything your dealer has on the lot. The 97 Parker 400 was proof positive of that assertion, with the Andataco Stock Full finishing the race with an average speed within 12mph of the winning Trophy Truck! Engine and suspension modifications are severely limited, and factory components must be used in most areas, but the rules allow for mods like multiple bypass shocks, which contribute dramatically to the vehicles performance. The bodies of a Stock Full truck retain all the factory metal, making them among the heaviest trucks in the desert. Contributing further are parts like the factory dash, which add to the weight, but contribute to the "stock" nature of the trucks.

Stock Mini

"Vehicles built from a 2 or 4 wheel drive mini or mid-sized pickup or sport utility vehicle having a maximum stock wheelbase of 125". Vehicle must have been series produced in quantities of at least 5,000 units within a 12 month period and be readily available to the general public in the U.S.A. Vehicle must be marketed as mini or mid-sized pickup or sport utility vehicles." Stock Mini is basically a carbon copy of Stock Full, but on a smaller scale. With millions of mini trucks on the road today, Stock Mini draws a lot of fans to the desert, eager to see just how well "their" truck will do when pushed beyond it's limits. One of the biggest misconceptions about a Stock Mini are that they're slow & inexpensive. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Building a competitive Stock Mini can cost well over $30.000, but the results are well worth it. In races that average 60 mph, a Stock Mini will come in at about 35 mph. Very impressive when you consider that the other 25mph cost another $200,000 to achieve!

Class 3

"Vehicles built from a 4-Wheel drive utility type vehicle. Vehicle must have been series produced in quantities of at least 5,000 units within a 12 month period and be readily available to the general public in the U.S.A. Must be a 4-Wheel drive vehicle capable of being driven through all four wheels."

Class 3 is the domain of short wheelbase vehicles like the Early Bronco, Bronco II, Jeep, Kia Sportage, and Chevy Blazer. Known for a brutally rough ride, Class 3 none the less remains popular in desert racing at large, but has recently seen a decline in entrants in the SCORE series.

Often built on a low budget, Class 3 makes an ideal entry point for new racers. The broad, open rules of the class have resulted in some impressive suspension configurations, and suprising performance.

Class 1

"Unlimited 4 wheel single and two seat vehicles. No production bodied vehicles
allowed in this class." Lightweight, high horsepower, and brutally fast, Class 1 is on par with the Trophy Trucks in terms of overall performance. These "bucks up" Tube Chassis Desert Monsters are the Unlimited class of the Buggy scene and have in fact, beaten the Trophy Trucks for the overall title on several occasions. A-Arm / Coil Over front suspensions , regularly push 22 in of travel, although the more traditional VW style front ends with Dual Coil Over shocks haven't yet been abandoned. In the rear, 22in. of travel is common, with longer and wider arms being employed. The rear is fully suspended by several nitrogen charged reservoir shocks per side, with 2-4 being of the Coil Over variety. Porsche 934/5 CV's are pushed to the limit with kind of movement, but have proven reliable thus far. The Transmissions are of the "Hewland", "Fortin" , or "Mendola" type as the venerable Type 2 VW "Bus" Tranny is not up to the task of handling the power of the engines used here. Those engines are moving steadily away from the flat 4 cyl. air cooled VW/Porsche type and into the realm of liquid cooled in-line 4 cyl., V4, V6, and yes V8 power!.

Class 10

"Single or two seat vehicles limited to 1650cc (single seat) or 1776cc engines (2 seat)" Class 10 cars share much in common with their Class 1 counterparts, including in some instances, the chassis. Significant differences include much smaller engines, ranging from 1650cc liquid cooled Toyotas, to 1776 cc VWs (in the 2 seat cars). With a minimum of complexity, and respectable power to weight ratio, Class 10 cars are extremely fast, often challenging the Class 1's and Trophy Trucks for the top overall finishes. A-arm front and VW Type 1 derived rear suspensions are proven designs that place over 20 in. of wheel travel at each end, resulting in a car that appears to "skip" across the most rugged terrain like a rock across a pond. Multiple coilover / bypass shock arrangements are standard issue, contributing greatly to the car's overall performance.

Class 12 (SCORE Lites) Class 12 cars are all bit identical to the Class 10 cars with 2 major exceptions. The 12 cars use the older VW beam type front end in place of A-arms, and a VW Type 1 engine. In years past, these cars "were" the Class 10's until the advent of the A-arm cars made them (quite arguably) uncompetitive. As there were an abundance of "beam cars" still competing, SCORE created the SCORE Lites class, and separated the two types to "even out" the competition. The result? Class 12 cars routinely post lap times and speeds equaling and ocaisionally exceeding the Class 10s, leading many to question the decision to separate them. None the less, Class 12 is one of the most competitive classes in the SCORE / Laughlin series, and has attracted some of the best drivers the sport has to offer.

Class 1/2-1600

"Single and two seat vehicles limited to 1600cc VW engines and VW Type 1 suspension systems."

Hands down, the most populated class in all of desert racing, Class 1/2-1600 brings high performance racing to the masses. Averaging mid 40 mph speeds, the class is affordable (relatively speaking), and basic (using VW based technology.

Raced in single and 2 seat configurations, these cars use a single port 1600cc engine, Type 2 transmission, VW / Porsche CV joints, beam type front "axles", and Type 1 rear suspensions.

Wheel travel of 11-12 in. front, and 12 - 14 in. in the rear provide efficient, useable action, coupled with bypass or traditional shocks. In the motivational department, the limited 1600 cc engine, put out nearly 100HP, a far cry from the 50 HP stock configuration.

In all, the 1/2-1600 cars give the racer a significant "bang for the buck". While no threat to Class 1 cars, the level of competition makes this a true "drivers class", and one to watch for some of the closest racing in the desert!

Class 5

"Vehicle must be a VW Sedan Type 1 Hardtop or Convertible as delivered from the factory. 181 Safari's, 900 Series Porsches, and Karmann Ghias are included in this class."

Class 5 Unlimited Baja Bugs (and in rare instances, Porsche bodied) that thrill the VW loving crowds at races across the South West in SCORE / Laughlin Desert Series. About the only stock part on a Class 5 is the steel sheet metal of the body, and even that has been cut, trimmed, altered and augmented with Fiberglass pieces.

The Class 5's suspension has up to18 inches of travel in the front , and 22+ inches in the rear. On the widened front end, torsion springs are abandoned in favor longer trailing arms (4 inch), and Coil Over/Reservoir shocks. The rear consists of Multiple Reservoir shocks, widened and lengthened Trailing Arms (up to 6X6in.) Heavy Duty Torsion Bars/Spring Plates, and Air Stops to help decrease the harsh impact of bottoming out (Yes even with all that travel available, it still happens).

Engines are most often Type 4 Porsche designs, although a smattering of Type 1 cars are still in competition. Dual carbs, radical cams, ported heads, and big displacement all combine to put a significant of power into the relatively short wheelbase chassis. The unlimited VW's are jokingly refered to as"Trophy Bugs", but that's exactly what they are. The ultimate expression of the VW performance art!

Class 5-1600

"Vehicle must be VW Sedan Type I hardtop or sunroof as delivered from the factory. Vehicle must have the external appearance of a "Baja Bug". No convertibles, Karmann Ghias, 181 Safari's, variants or super beetles." Class 5-1600 are true race cars, offering high speed, good suspension travel, a heavy duty structural roll cage, multiple shocks,and a strong but limited motor. The class requires the use of a 1600 cc single port, single carb engine. Still, 85 to 90 HP is common. Wheel travel is on the order of 10 in. front / 13 in. rear, utilizing a stock type suspension. The 5-1600's use the Type-2 "Bus" transmission , over the smaller Type-1, along with Type-2, up to Porsche 930 CV joints for their increased durability. While not a low budget vehicle, these cars can be built and raced competitively for a fraction of the cost of the Funny Cars of the VW world, the Class 5's. This class is gaining popularity, with over 20 cars entered in the '96 Baja 1000 alone. These cars can be punishing at high speed, but who said winning was easy ?

Class 9

"Single and two seat vehicles with a maximum wheel base of 100". Vehicle parts are
based on a Type I VW." Class 9, like the 11's allows the low budget racer a chance to shine. These single or twin seat cars are severely limited by their short travel, single shocks, ball joint front ends, swing axle Type-1 Transmissions, relatively stock engines and pump gas. However, that doesn't stop more and more first time racers from building them up and hitting the dirt. It also doesn't mean these are slow vehicles. Average speeds are in the 35 mph range, with top speeds approaching 85 mph!

Class 11

"Vehicles must be a stock VW sedan as delivered in the U.S.A." Class 11 harkens back to those days gone by with simplicity being the norm. The VW is about as stock as you can get. The only real mods allowed are a full roll cage to protect the occupants, skid plates to protect the engine and front end and as big a tire as will fit within the stock wheel wells. This is an excellent class for first time and low budget racers to get involved in desert racing without going broke in the process.

Just make sure you bring a strong butt and kidneys !