TEAM HUMMER H2 RACING PROGRAM BORN AROUND THE 'CAMPFIRE'

RENO, Nev. - A bright yellow newcomer to the world of off-road racing, the Team HUMMER H2 already has left an indelible mark on the demanding sport.

The H2 joins the Team HUMMER H1 truck this year in the 2003 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 - the toughest, most prestigious off-road race in North America. Team HUMMER won the Baja 1000 in 2002 and 2001.

But little more than a year ago, the H2 program was merely the topic of a "what if" discussion between off-road racing legend Rod Hall and a group of GM development engineers. Hall was leading the engineers, who were test-driving HUMMER vehicles, on an off-road excursion in the mountains outside Reno, Nev.

"It was kind of a campfire discussion with Rod after a long driving session," said Thad Stump, engineering liaison. "We were discussing the merits of the H2's off-road capability, as well as Hall's racing experience. One thing led to another and we started to plan the race vehicle."

Support from GM Engineering and the HUMMER marketing team soon followed, clearing the way for resources to be officially applied to the program - including procuring the yellow H2 production model and transforming it into the race vehicle. Although Hall's racing team enjoyed previous support from HUMMER, the hands-on involvement of the H2 program was new territory and the source of excitement.

"Racing the H2 casts a spotlight on HUMMER's philosophy of off-road superiority," said Stump. "Making it part of Rod Hall's team means it's going to be a winner."

The H2 competes in the Full Stock class, which features production-based vehicles with stock frames, stock suspension designs and production-based engines. Specialized racing shock absorbers, tires and other minor modifications are allowed, along with a litany of supporting components and mandatory safety equipment.

In addition to Hall's lifetime of off-road racing experience and decade of racing HUMMER vehicles, the H2 team also benefits from the support of GM's development engineering group, based at the Desert Proving Ground in Arizona. The group's integrated involvement with the racing program includes building the H2 race vehicle at the proving ground and providing technical consultation, parts support and even volunteer crew members for all races.

"It's a great relationship that benefits GM as much as the racing team," said Stump. "Along with the thrill of participating in a winning racing program, the stock configuration of the race vehicle provides great opportunities to evaluate the H2 in extreme conditions. Information learned in the racing environment can be used in the development of future products."

During construction of the vehicle, Hall provided instruction on the design and placement of race-specific equipment, such as the safety cage, spare tire carrier and the additional underbody shielding needed to protect the vehicle's drivetrain. The production vehicle's interior also was stripped to make room for necessary equipment.

"The engineers did a marvelous job," said Hall. "We basically told them where certain components needed to go in the vehicle and they did it all."

But while the engineers were adept at building the race vehicle from scratch, they needed assistance to fine-tune it for the subtleties of desert racing. So, when the welders were finally turned off in Arizona, the engineers delivered the H2 to Team HUMMER so that Hall could test the vehicle on his local "desert proving ground" outside Reno.

Hall, who has been involved with off-road driving and racing since the 1950s, has raced HUMMER vehicles since 1993 and conducts desert driving excursions with HUMMER owners. His sons Chad and Josh are accomplished off-road drivers on Team HUMMER and instruct advanced HUMMER driving techniques to military special forces personnel.

During the summer, testing of the H2 culminated in a Las Vegas-to-Reno race held by the Best in the Desert off-road racing sanctioning body. And though the vehicle encountered some challenges along the demanding route, it finished the race in fourth place - and it was the only HUMMER to cross the finish line. The accomplishment was viewed by many in the off-road racing world as a successful trial for the fledgling H2 program.

"We learned a lot with that race," said Hall. "Such teething pains are to be expected in a brand-new racing program, but the H2 has so far exceeded all expectations."

It also has proven a worthy method of evaluation for production vehicles, which can improve their future design or performance.

"A race is the like months of proving ground evaluation crammed into a few days," said Stump. "Because of the stock nature of the race vehicle, its performance - and the performance of various components - can be studied after a race to confirm strengths or indicate areas for improvement."

In addition to the Baja 1000, Hall will enter the H2 in several races during the remainder of 2003 and the 2004 racing seasons. It will join the H1 truck on Team HUMMER.

"We're very excited to race the H2 in the Baja 1000," said Hall. "It's a very capable off-roader and it's going to turn a lot of heads."