From it's inception, the SCORE "Trophy Truck" series has been about pushing the envelope of off road performance. Filed to bursting with exotic metals, composite materials and the latest innovations technology can offer, these monsters of the desert are the very definition of "state of the art".

Sort of.....

During the 1998 season, Dan Smith and Dave Ashley, collectively known as Enduro Racing, decided to convert their 10 year old Class 8 truck for competition in off-road racing's premiere class. Some thought them shrewd, after all the truck had already been through several incarnations (Including a stint with the fabled Ford "Rough Riders") and had proven it's rock solid reliability and stellar performance. Others thought them daft (for how could outdated technology compete with the latest and greatest the sport has to offer?).

Duralast Batteries thought it was a good idea, and despite some overwhelming odds, sponsored the truck that went on to trounce the competition and earn the 1998 SCORE / Laughlin Desert Series Championship. It also went on to win the 1998 BITD "Trick Truck" Season Championship. So much for the "daft" argument.

But all good things must come to an end, and despite it's winning ways in 98 the truck was showing it's age. In addition, it's secret life as Ford Powertrain Engineering's R&D platform (the E4OD upgrades) had run it's course.

Baja Truck?

When Enduro made the decision to develop a new truck, it became a question of starting from scratch, or utilizing existing technology. The simple solution came in the form of a "Baja Truck" chassis from Bill Savage.

Originally designed as a "spec truck" to compete with Ivan Stewart's Protruck series, the idea floundered and never got off the ground. But.....the chassis design, tubular chro-moly steel, was well suited to use as a basis for a Trophy Truck. As several had been partially assembled, but never finished, Enduro seized the opportunity, put the money down, and began construction of the vehicle you see before you.

Suspension

Enduro abandoned the hybrid 4 link TTB front suspension in favor of of a coilover A arm setup, complete with their own custom built 3.5 in bypass shocks. The boxed steel A arms save considerable weight over the I beams, provide greater overall ground clearance, and eliminate or minimize several geometry challenges inherent in the TIB's design. Wheel travel far outstrips the old truck's 15 inches, allowing for a "go in harder, brake latter" approach to driving.

Out back, Triple rate coilovers work in tandem with Enduro 3.5 in. bypass shocks to control nearly 30 inches of wheel travel. The 4 link coilover combo replaces the old "quarter elliptic" leaf setup for a variety of reasons. It's lighter, easier to work on, more "tunable", and of course a coil spring is more responsive than it's flat counterpart.

Drivetrain

When Toyota unleashed it's 4 valve Lexus / Tundra engine on the Trophy Truck world in 1997, a new sound was heard across the desert. It was apparently heard all the way back to Dearborn as well, because Ford wasted little time designing a 4 valve head for the 5.4 Triton engine based on the DOHC 4.6 Cobra.

"What" , you say? "Factory involvement as in F-A-C-T-O-R-Y?

While the off road community believed the days of the factory sponsored racer over, The reality is that they merely lowered their profile. Unless the politically correct climate in the US changes, we won't be seeing "Rough Riders 2" any time soon, but the fact remains - There's nothing like a desert race to torture test your equipment.

Committing a reported $180,000 to the Ford's head program alone, Ford continues it's R&D work with Enduro in several areas. As in the E4OD days, Ford Powertrain is testing and developing the electronically shifted 6 speed automatic in the desert, and the results of the lessons learned there will soon be finding their way into your dealers showroom.

Specs on the 4 valve 5.4 are suspiciously hard to come by, but here's what we know. The mighty mill is rumored to develop close to 700 hp, with power coming in hard over 5500 RPM. Grinned Dave Ashley "You gotta' drive it like a 125 dirt bike".

That free breathing high RPM power comes in part from the 4 valve heads, fed through a monstrous cast plenum - F1 style intake, twin SVO throttle bodies, and a grille inducted "Ram Air" system. With all the plumbing kept underhood, the F-150 retains a remarkably "stock" looking appearance. (Well, compared to other Trophy Trucks anyway)

Spent gasses are fed through a unique 8 into 1 collector and a high mounted canister style muffler. Combined with a 6 inch outlet, the 5.4 DOHC engine sounds much more like that of a a Formula 1 car than of a 5000 pound desert truck. Regardless of what it "really" sounds like, the noise will soon be making it's way across the ocean to Toyota headquarters. It's doubtful that they'll find anything "musical" about it.

Rounding out the drivetrain is a Chrisman 10.25 rear axle set up for the coilover / 4 Link rear suspension. 4 wheel disc brakes fitted with 4 piston calipers provide plenty of stopping force for the 37x12.5x17 BF Goodrich Baja "Project" T/A's Nothing fancy, nothing "cutting edge", just tried and proven technology.

Electronics / Interior

With Duralast Batteries as the truck's sponsor, you can bet that the electronics are top notch. And of course, they are....though you'd be hard pressed to find most of them. With the computerized engine control / data acquisition systems, and lack of a single traditional gauge, there simply isn't that much of it. No gauges? Nope. In their place sits a solitary LCD screen, mounted front and center

Shifting is accomplished through an electronic "joystick" mounted off the right side of the center mounted drivers seat. Because of the engine's location, Dave and Dan literally straddle the beast when in the cockpit! It looks uncomfortable and awkward, but in the words of Dan Smith "It's actually not that bad. Really, it's like sitting in a recliner once you get used to it"!

Summing it up - Duralast

And what is Duralast' stake in all this? Product development, pure and simple. The extreme temperatures and vibration encountered during a desert race can't be equaled in any other sport. Enduro Racing regularly puts the companies latest products through pure hell.

With an all new R&D test platform for Duralast & Ford cleverly disguised as a Trophy Truck, Dan Smith and Dave Ashley are heading into the 99 season with high expectations - expectations of their own and of those surrounding them. How will the new truck perform? Will it be reliable? Can it hold onto the hard won championships of its predecessor? We'll find out as the season goes on, but just between you and me, if I was a bettin' man, I know where I'd put my money.

Sponsors

Enduro Racing would like to to take this opportunity to thank their sponsors for all thier help and assistance over the years.

&

American Mobile

Want to know more about Dan, Dave, and Enduro Racing?

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www.enduroracing.com

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