Yes, this is considered stock racing equipment.
Ford
Earlier this week, we saw the Ford Bronco turned into a unlimited class 4400 King of the Hammers rock crawler. Today Ford debuted the stock-class version, something that should be more easily accessible for ordinary Janes and Joes who want to take a look at racing: it’s the Bronco 4600 racing SUV, and it’s headed for the King of Hammers.
For those of you who are not desert rats like me, King of Hammers it may mean nothing to you. It is one of the most cruel, ugly and unpleasant breeds on the planet. What started as a group of friends racing through the car-sized rocks of Johnson Valley, California, has evolved into a week-long event complete with a pop-up town called Hammertown and no less than six individual races, all organized by the agency sanctioning Ultra4 Racing.
This stock bronco fits into the stock class 4600. However, do not think that stock means unchanged. The rules state that although the original structure, body, engine and transmission must be used, teams can install upgraded tires, transfer boxes, axles and the like. Even suspension component upgrades are allowed, as long as they remain of the same type. Thus, leaf springs must remain leaf springs, coilovers must remain coilovers. You have captured the essence.
It brings us here. Ford will compete with the two-door car with the Sasquatch package and the 2.7-liter biturbo V6, providing 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Interestingly, Ford is using the 10-speed automatic, not the seven-speed manual. I say interestingly because the automatic has a tracking ratio of 67.8: 1. This is good, but pales in comparison to the manual tracking rate of 94.7: 1, which is what drivers need when trying to climb these ridiculously large rocks and boulders. Ford did not immediately return a request for comment when asked about the decision.
Regardless, this race-ready Bronco looks pretty cool with the 35-inch BF Goodrich KM3 tires wrapped in Method rubber locking wheels. And it must go a long way, thanks to updated Triton Engineering control arms, custom RCV semi-axles and a Dana e-locker. The updated rear links from Triton Engineering and a Dynatrac XD60 rear axle are complemented by an ARB Air Locker and Spidertrax Spider 9 axles and hubs.
This equipment not only has to conquer the rocks, but it also has to be a scream eater at high speed if you want to win races. As such, it is using Fox coilovers with remote reservoirs and pneumatic stops. The Bronco 4600 also boasts a complete protective cage, Warn winch, Rigid LED lights and Recaro FIA certified off-road racing seats.
Friday’s Every Man Challenge would be the perfect debut for the Bronco 4600, but unfortunately the company put all its efforts into getting the Bronco class 4400 unlimited ready to race on Saturday and didn’t even test the 4600. Ford says it will start racing as we approach Bronco production with a number of excellent drivers, including Vaughn Gittin Jr, Loren Healy, Jason Scherer, Bailey Cole, Brad Lovell and Roger Lovell.