Could A 1997 Cruiser Run The Baja 1000?

[Imagery]

I have a buddy who wants to do the Baja 1000 in November this year and we need to decide on a vehicle and class and start building. We do not care about racing but rather it would be the challange of completing the full 1000 Mile course. I was thinking about possibly running my 1997 FZJ80 with a few more upgrades to get it trail ready. Or we might just have to decide on another vehicle, truck, buggy or '67 VW and my cruiser could be the support one of the support vehicles on the team. My buddy has a friend he was in the Rangers with who did the Baja 1000 a couple years back and he feels certain we would be able to finish. Only thing about running my 80 is depending on what class we go in, the probably will require a full interior roll cage gusseted and I could take my whole dash out to store safely and put an old dash inplace that I can cut into to make room for the cage.We would probably be more of a support team when it comes a time that we could help other racers get back up. We would have full HF (3.800 MhZto 28 MhZ so depending on our distance from our receiving station and the time of day, we could have full radio contact from the starting line to the finish line via ground wave or single hop skywave. That way we could always be in contact with the "Weather Man" as the named him but he is in charge of all the radio Comm for the race including his being in direct contact with emergency coptors and vehicles.

I probably would put in some 5 point suspension seats and remove some of thr interior pannels so we won't have to worry about messing it up


I am already settled on my suspension, Slee's 4" kit with 1" puck in front. Probably would want to run true bead lock wheels and carry a few wxtra tires without rimsfor backup. On the engine, I would install a turbo charger, probably add dual oilter and relocation and drive train would get new 4:88gear sets with ARB up front and either ARB or Detroit lockers on the rear. Oh and I guess I would have to put on a long range fuel tank as well as a few extra gas cans. We would either just tarp off the roof rack and sleep on the ground or in the back of the cruiser or I was thinking about one of the rooftop tents like Slee sells. We would probably have to take out all the glass so full face helment with cam would be necessary as well as the saftey netting. Yes, I will document the entire race start to finish because I'll either decide I will never do it again, or I might love it and take my son along when he is old enough.

I'm serious about this and we are still in the early planning stages but to Nov 10-16 we should be able to have our equipment ready

 

[instigator]

nah, it'll never happen


go for it.

 

[Imagery]

Yea, it will happen, justnot set on which class type vehicle. If it came down to it, we would just buy a trail ready truck already meeting race requirements ect. Then afterwards, if anything is left of it, we would just sell the rig or keep it and make repairs for another event. My cruiser would be used as support except if I am not its driver, I might not want it out on the trail. That way if something happens to it, I will be the one who did it.

 

[Boston Mangler]

My cruiser would be used as support except if I am not its driver, I might not want it out on the trail. That way if something happens to it, I will be the one who did it.

Just with your Mexican insurance carrier. Most will not cover the vehicle if the registered owner is not in it. I know for a fact AAA wont!

My .02

Only thing about running my 80 is depending on what class we go in, the probably will require a full interior roll cage gusseted and I could take my whole dash out to store safely and put an old dash inplace that I can cut into to make room for the cage.

Get your hands on a SCORE rulebook. There are VERY detailed rules about cages and such. Most of the classes an 80 would fit into would require the dash stay mounted.

I probably would put in some 5 point suspension seats and remove some of thr interior pannels so we won't have to worry about messing it up

If you are worried about messing up your 80 @ the Baja1000, you might wanna run a different truck! I dont recall EVER seeing a rig cross the finish line that looked like it was in even DECENT shape!

On the engine, I would install a turbo charger,

Turbos and or Superchargers are not allowed in SCORE racing. The lets the Turbo Diesel Tourags run this year, but that was just a marketing thing. No way a turbo 80 series can run in SCORE

Oh and I guess I would have to put on a long range fuel tank as well as a few extra gas cans.

This is another item you need to check the rulebook on, they are very particular about fuel cells and such. 99% sure you cant carry extra jerry cans.

We would probably have to take out all the glass

Another rule. Most classes it will fit in will require you keep most of it in!

I'm serious about this and we are still in the early planning stages but to Nov 10-16 we should be able to have our equipment ready

Go For It!

BUT, If you are going to want your 80 to look nice when you are done though, i would suggest running another rig!

 

[Dusty]

will never happen

dare ya

the 80 is too big and heavy with solid axles and deficient power. But it is also rugged with a tough drivetrain. At leaste it would have as good a chance as any of holding up to finish

have you seen the documentary "dust to glory"

 

[Imagery]

Hey Kevin, thanks for that response. We have ordered the Score rule book since they will not let you download the PDF. At first thought, I really wanted to run my Cruiser and I imagine that we would be one of the last ones to finish. We are not worried about going fast except when we get on smoother terrain. I would try very hard to not tear up my truck and I feel we could do it but just not racing against other drivers. I was trying to explain that I would probably take my dash out and pick up another from a junk yard and put it in with a cage. I wonder if an Exo-Cage would be allowed... That might be better since I could easily remove it later. I don't know about the 80's class but I know others are required to run a certain type of fuel cell so a Long Range tank might not be allowed.

As we research more, we may find that we might be better just going to Moab or something and running trails there. I don't know,,, We even thought about running motorcycles but we probably aren't conditioned enough to make 1000 miles in 36-48 hours.

 

[cary]

No ifs ands or buts, you will trash your truck doing this. It doesn't matter what you do to prep it.

 

[Imagery]

No ifs ands or buts, you will trash your truck doing this. It doesn't matter what you do to prep it.

You are probably right but I would drop out before I let my truck get trashed. The same thing could be said about running trails at Moab though. Some guys trash out their rigs it seems sometimes just for the fun of it and others can go through wothout tearing their rigs up. I would pick easier lines even though it might be longer.

 

[Tentsontop]

You're mad. After watching the FJ Trail Team's "Two Roads to Baja" video at Moab the only thing I'd race is a motorcycle. With all the work and $ you'd have to put into it to get it ready plus the carnage your 80 will be put through it wouldn't be worth it to try and salvage it as a DD again.

Would an 80 be a Stock Mini or Stock Full class vehicle?

 

[Beowulf]

The Baja 1000 race and driving Moab trails cannot be compared. There is nothing at all in common between the two other than both are off road.

The Baja 1000 is a timed event; a race. If you drove the Baja 1000 at the speeds that you drive at Moab, you'll never make it to the first checkpoint before the event is over and everyone has packed up and gone home.

I really don't see the point in officially entering a race like Baja and race in a vehicle that you want to keep as a nice vehicle afterwards. If keeping your truck nice is your goal then just go to Baja, drive 1000 miles wherever you choose (and is legal) and take your cartop tent and jerry cans and fishing rods and have fun. If racing is your goal then build/buy a race vehicle.

You don't need to compete in the Baja 1000 to enjoy Baja. I believe a 40-series was overall first place back in the day. I am pretty sure a number of 80-series have competed in the SCORE Baja events over the years so this would not be the first time that an 80-series was entered in the event. Another 'Mud member took his 80 as a support vehicle for the Millen FJ Cruiser team at last year's event. I can't remember his ID right now but SEARCH and I'm sure you can find the information. Dave with Toyota4WD magazine built an FJ Cruiser for the Baja 500. I don't think they finished the race though.

-B-

 

[DTAYLOR]

 

[Darwood]

As others mentioned any vehicle you race offroad you will trash. So get another cruiser and mod it for racing. Off road racing isn't for daily drivers (well unless you like daily driving a race truck and don't mind the down time after something breaks ) I seem to recall quite a few years ago an 80 modified for desert racing. Wanna say this was 6-8 years ago or so.

 

[Imagery]

Its funny though that there is a class for fully stock, pre 1983 VW bugs, no suspension mods or engine mods. If a VW bug could complete the coarse, it seems that a well equiped 80 might be able to keep up. I know Moad is much different than Baja but I have seen many 80's beat up after comming off the trails. If there is a 250 or 500 mile Baja, that might be more doable for a first timer. I would tend to follow the approach of setting up the 80 for an outback expedition rather than a speed race.

 

[jonheld]

Nick Le ran the Baja2000 in his 1992 80 Series.

http://www.gclcny.com/members_rigs/le.html

 

[Darwood]

If you really want to race get an XJ and use the 80 as a support vehicle. XJ's can be gotten cheap and there is the Jeep Speed class that they run in.

 

[Imagery]

Nick Le ran the Baja2000 in his 1992 80 Series.

http://www.gclcny.com/members_rigs/le.html

That is what I was looking for... Thanks! I knew it could be done. The question I guess is did they complete the entire coarse and what was the condition of their '91 FZJ 80?

My buddy mentioned an XJ as a base chasis and he could pick one up for less than 5K and aftermarket products are plentiful. We will see... The point in me bringing my cruiser is to drive it myself or at least copiolot during relief period.
I probably would not trust anyone with my truck especially out in the middle of Baja. I know my truck very well and know what it can handle. It always ends up surprising me of its capability and will usually tell me there is a problem if I am in tune with it. Someone else might keep going until something really breaks and perhaps be beyond repair on the trail.

 

[Tools R Us]

Its funny though that there is a class for fully stock, pre 1983 VW bugs, no suspension mods or engine mods. If a VW bug could complete the coarse, it seems that a well equiped 80 might be able to keep up.

Yes there is a stock VW class, an 80 with a skilled operator probably could keep up, likely beat them. Have you ever seen the said VW's after the race? Not something that I would want to DD, if even drivable, think single use!

I know Moad is much different than Baja but I have seen many 80's beat up after comming off the trails...

You can kill a truck anywhere, mine has been to Moab several times, run a bunch of the big name trails, including 4+'s and is still my daily driver. The same couldn't be said if it had tried to complete the Baja in a resonable amount of time.

I would tend to follow the approach of setting up the 80 for an outback expedition rather than a speed race.

Good plan for an 80 that you care about. That said 80's are stout, capable of taking a beating and are dropping in price. If you want to race one, find a cheap one, like a light total, salvage titled, Katrina flooded, etc, strip and race it. If it doesn't get hit by another competitor, rolled, driven off of a cliff, or any of a thousand other things that can happen in the race, convert it into a nice trail rig. But the chance of it coming back in good enough condition to be a nice daily driver are somewhere between slim to nil!

 

[arizonae]

This vehicle competed in baja many years ago. I don't remember the owners name. I was interested in doing the same with my 91, but decided a truck made a much better platform. I've always been more into desert racing then the rock crawling deal. Someday I hope to race, it's just a little hard on the pocketbook.

 

[arizonae]

pics

 

[arizonae]

I've always wanted to do coilover shocks on my frontend.