BOLD RIDE
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The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is about as daunting as motorsport competitions get. With 156 turns, sheer drop-offs, nearly 5,000 feet of elevation change, it’s clearly no walk in the park. But that challenge didn’t stop the stars of Discovery Channel’s Fast N’ Loud from racing to the top.
Over a year later, that proud Chevrolet pace truck has once again emerged, but this time on eBay. Anyone need a ride for Pikes Peak 2016? The green flags wave June 26.
Typically, racing events start with the running of a pace car. In fact, Pikes Peak 2015 was kicked off with the all-new Acura NSX. Gas Monkey Garage thought differently however, which explains why they morphed an aged C10 truck into a hill-climbing monster that ticks all boxes.
Power? That comes from an enormous 572ci Chevrolet crate engine, which has been outfitted with fuel injection and an easy-breathing stainless steel exhaust to emit 620 horsepower. Hold on tight. The grunt goes to a Ford nine-inch rear end equipped with a limited-slip differential, and it turns center-locking Forgeline wheels with Toyo R888 rubber.
Considering the heart-pounding cliffs and drop-offs that surround the peak, the C10 was also fitted with a race-ready suspension, courtesy of Ridetech coilover shocks and new front control arms. Giant 14-inch Wilwood brakes ensure the pace truck can stop too, which are bitten by six-piston calipers in the front, and four-piston units in the rear.
Thankfully there’s plenty of safety gear inside the cockpit as well, including a roll cage that extends back into the truck’s bed (or lack thereof, there’s no floor) and connects with the frame. Inside, both driver and passenger are hugged by Recaro racing bucket seats with full harnesses, but you wouldn’t say creature comforts abound. Then again, it is effectively a race car.
Internets, which would you rather have? Aaron Kaufman’s Falcon or Richard Rawlings’ C10?
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