Question, how long should a n/a 1000 hp big block last in a trophy truck

[LakeMeadLavey]

Had a good good friend who raced TT back in the early thru late 2000s with a Geiser truck. They were running Leon Patton engines out of Hemet. I don't recall them ever having a motor failure and refresh was about 1000mi.

Several top TT guys were running Patton engines and back then they were Nascar based Ford small blocks making 800hp. Not sure if Patton is still around but back then those motors were $60k+. Stupid money running a TT operation.

As others have said 4 DNF motor failures I'd be finding a new builder ASAP.

 

[LakeMeadLavey]

Had a good good friend who raced TT back in the early thru late 2000s with a Geiser truck. They were running Leon Patton engines out of Hemet. I don't recall them ever having a motor failure and refresh was about 1000mi.

Several top TT guys were running Patton engines and back then they were Nascar based Ford small blocks making 800hp. Not sure if Patton is still around but back then those motors were $60k+. Stupid money running a TT operation.

As others have said 4 DNF motor failures I'd be finding a new builder ASAP.

Looks like Patton is still building motors. Cool article on him from 2017. https://www.enginelabs.com/news/engine-builder-spotlight-patton-racing-engines/

 

[rrrr]

This thread has brought inmates out of the shadows that I wasn't aware of. It's been very interesting reading their comments. The only exposure I've had to TT racing was as a pit observer invitee to the Mint 400, and that was more than 25 years ago.

Thanks for the education on the bullets.

 

[MPHSystems]

Does said big block have GM lifters? If so, could be 1000 miles or could be 100,000 miles

Same could be said about ford spark plugs.

 

[rcmike]

When we pulled the regional motor out, and put the old "Nationals" motor in my vintage car, we called the old crew chief to ask if anything special needed to be done.

"Well, we ran it at the national races, redline 8200 or so and it ran forever. When we ran it at Road Atlanta for the runoffs, and the builder was right down the street, redline 9000 and more if needed to finish a pass, and it came out every night to get looked through. And they thought there was no such thing as too much new oil.."

This is on a motor that is not taking the massive shock loads, although there are like 3 times a lap you can get the tires off the ground at Road Atlanta, and it was running in 35 minute races. There are no rev limiters in the car, so if you hold your foot down, its going there..

I am not going to vouch for a builder, but I can most definitely say that the driver has a lot to do with mechanical survival.

 

[2Driver]

This thread has brought inmates out of the shadows that I wasn't aware of. It's been very interesting reading their comments. The only exposure I've had to TT racing was as a pit observer invitee to the Mint 400, and that was more than 25 years ago.

Thanks for the education on the bullets.

…and you get a sense how much money it takes to go top class racing.

 

[02HoWaRd26]

All the trucks now are 1000+ hp big blocks.

Uh ok!!

 

[Racey]

You would think they would have this all figured out by now…

In 1992 they were getting 700 hp. That’s was 30 + years ago !

View attachment 1418370 View attachment 1418371

Sprint car motor is alcohol? so 700hp is pretty mild.... That helps it last.

to finish first, first you have to finish.

 

[rrrr]

…and you get a sense how much money it takes to go top class racing.

I'm not surprised, it's racing. We had an upright failure during practice at Chicagoland Speedway at 209 MPH in 2004. It destroyed the tub, and the total bill was well over $300K.

 

[lbhsbz]

…and you get a sense how much money it takes to go top class racing.

...and my favorite...the standard racer warranty: If you break it, you get to keep both pieces. Quaife Differentials are the only ones I know of who would replace it if you broke it on the the track....but I'm not sure anyone could break one, I know I tried like hell and failed.

 

[rivrrts429]

Best way to make a fortune in offroad racing...Start with a gigantic fortune and watch it dwindle away...lol

I have never understood the Trophy truck program the dollars just don't make sense. seems like you could have a lot of fun in a new Pro R based program and save millions.

One word… sponsors lol

 

[RIVERBORN]

Most trophy truck guys are rich as fuck. I chased a few times with Collin’s back in the day when bj was still getting prepped by them. Why a trophy truck? Because u can…
And there ain’t no “trophy truck” engine builder in Havasu…..

 

[ArizonaKevin]

For the most part they are. Broken shock, bad driveline, bent a-arm etc…

It doesn’t take much and those trucks are limping. They’re so fast that when they hit something it’s almost catastrophic. Even the trucks that are still together I can catch in the mountainous terrain. They’re amazing but it’s a heavy responsibility driving one.

It’s only a matter of time until UTV’s win an overall. I imagine in the next five years you’ll see a Can-Am or Polaris win an overall.

Here's an interesting chance to have a UTV make a run at an impressive overall

 

[rivrrts429]

Here's an interesting chance to have a UTV make a run at an impressive overall

View attachment 1420058

I saw that. UTV’s are getting so fast these days. I’m rambling in the helmet mic and staring at GPS screens more than I’m staring out the front of the car these days because shit is happening so fast.

With a little luck and a great driver and co-driver I feel confident that a UTV can pull off the overall in the next few years, maybe sooner. The course will need to be more technical than wide open but it’s closer to happening than it’s ever been.

 

[rivermobster]

Dune people know nothing about racing lol

We know about drinking though. Does that count?

 

[rivrrts429]

We know about drinking though. Does that count?

Never discount what liquid courage can achieve… or ruin

 

[rivermobster]

Never discount what liquid courage can achieve… or ruin

Amen

 

[ltbaney1]

We know about drinking though. Does that count?

my drinking team has a racing problem.

 

[rivrrts429]

Figuring out a better mount setup today than the roof for the StarLink. Hope my Polaris doesn’t get another recall

 

[Orange Juice]

How long should a 1000+ hp big block in a TT last? How many miles, races, seasons?

This is all assuming that this is a high hp race motor that is meticulously maintained with complete fluid flushed and top end inspections.

These motors are typically 60k or more so how long would you expect it to last?

I would put it at 25 hours before it sees the shop for an oil change, if the tach doesn’t go much past 4500 rpm’s

 

[4Waters]

How long should a 1000+ hp big block in a TT last? How many miles, races, seasons?

This is all assuming that this is a high hp race motor that is meticulously maintained with complete fluid flushed and top end inspections.

These motors are typically 60k or more so how long would you expect it to last?

What ended up happening

 

[ChrisV]

What ended up happening

More money needed to be spent.

 

[monkeyswrench]

More money needed to be spent.

That's just racing, isn't it? 100hp to 10,000hp...100$ to 100,000$. It's more fun than lighting 100$ bills on fire, and sometimes the fire is much bigger

 

[wzuber]

We will get to that. It’s a motor builder in havasu!!!

Oh, so mike Johnson @ jms racing engines moved to Havasu did he? I guess the heat in Monrovia got to hot and he had to bail.....
Not surprised..

 

[ChrisV]

That's just racing, isn't it? 100hp to 10,000hp...100$ to 100,000$. It's more fun than lighting 100$ bills on fire, and sometimes the fire is much bigger

It’s the worst. Horsepower is like crack. Especially when you’re competitive.

 

[Bpracing1127]

What ended up happening

Owner of the truck is still using said engine builder chasing bad money with good money

 

[monkeyswrench]

It’s the worst. Horsepower is like crack. Especially when you’re competitive.

Not much difference between speed and meth...Just with one, you have all your teeth. Still broke.

 

[bonesfab]

Not much difference between speed and meth...Just with one, you have all your teeth. Still broke.

But at least you have something you can sell at the end besides your body.

 

[wzuber]

Not much difference between speed and meth...Just with one, you have all your teeth. Still broke.

And with hp/speed your typically end up in jail for robbing stores, mailboxes family members etc. To support the meth habit. But some will abuse credit into bankruptcy etc to go racing. I know a few to have done that.

 

[wzuber]

But at least you have something you can sell at the end besides your body.

Even if it's just for scrap...

 

[monkeyswrench]

But at least you have something you can sell at the end besides your body.

Even if it's just for scrap...

Scrap metal, memories and stories...
I really think racing kept me off drugs and also helped me keep my pants zipped. Lots of Saturday nights I told a girl "Sorry, gotta drop you off early tonight. Meeting the guys at 10"

 

[lbhsbz]

I don't think I've found it yet....

What is the failure mode? What's breaking?

I've built a LOT of engines in my life, and the only one I've ever "blown up" was because it kept inhaling the air cleaners so I said fuck it and took 'em off and then it inhaled a small rock (VW GTI 16V w/ 52mm webers...you could look through the grill with the throttles open and see the intake valve stems lol). I made a habit of tearing down every engine after every race day or race weekend and going through it and there were a lot that would have blown up on the second weekend, but it taught me a whole lot. Lots of money invested in these learning experiences....The last race engine I went through went back together with all the same parts I took out of it excepting the headgasket....5 times, till I crashed the car.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

…and you get a sense how much money it takes to go top class racing.

Most trophy truck guys are rich as fuck. I chased a few times with Collin’s back in the day when bj was still getting prepped by them. Why a trophy truck? Because u can…
And there ain’t no “trophy truck” engine builder in Havasu…..

I've seen three types of race programs. I've been Promoter, Racer, and Sponsor. There are exceptions to the rule, but generally.

1.) Grassroots, chasing the dream and getting the fix by whatever means. True Crack addiction.
2.) Pro Level Hustle, Understands the business, how to get an retain sponsors, works ass off, maybe sells some type of products related to the industry.
3.) Tax relief. Rather spend crazy amounts of money having some fun than writing fat checks to Uncle Sam. Normally associated with a business that needs trucks, equipment etc that can be paid for directly from the company account rather than taking payroll. Also normally associated with second generation business owners.

Most TT teams I've seen fall into Cat 3.

I've seen all three in Ultra4 racing. The Cat 3 players tend to get bored easy and move to a new sport, or run out of money.

The smartest thing a racer ever said to me was: "All I want is s safe place to drive my toy really FN fast." I wish I would have understood that when I was a promoter, because I would have built my promoter business plan for that guy.