Builds Purist Step away. Mint 400 2023 FJ45 (2 Viewers)

[Bear]

Doesn't really seem like a very fair race, what with you having the better truck !

 

[whitey45]

Seriously, a new bronco?( ??) is your competition? 3 on the tree kicks ass!!! Thats part of what makes the rustynail team so special!! Low budget,grass roots racing!!!

 

[KT40]

If you hadn’t broke a leaf spring, the Bronco didn’t stand a chance!

 

[landcrusher909]

Seriously, a new bronco?( ??) is your competition? 3 on the tree kicks ass!!! Thats part of what makes the rustynail team so special!! Low budget,grass roots racing!!!

If you hadn’t broke a leaf spring, the Bronco didn’t stand a chance!

Whitey I should have taken pictures of the Bronco's portals each corner of that truck cost 9 grand LOL Race politics are something I just don't care about and no matter what happens with the final race results We all know what we accomplished in the 45. There were so many amazing moments before and during the race. Our first race was the MINT 400 racing Chad Hall and Jim Horne ( with his wife Barb ) These folks were there at the start and to be able to retire the 45 from KOH having them there was something special for me. At one point when we were working on the 45 with no contact with the Team Chad stopped on the course next to us and then passing on the information to the Team we were OK. Tons of respect for these guys

 

[landcrusher909]

Lets start with a race week and tech. My phone got broke, so I have limited pictures. I arrived on the lakebed on Jan 27th securing our camp/pit site. The first 3 days I spend 2 to 3 hours a day just driving and breaking in the new springs. The weather was perfect until the following Monday Feb 3rd when I woke up and the entire valley was covered in snow. 2 days later it was completely gone the best part was it really soaked into the desert knocked down the dust. By Thursday most of the Rusty Nail team started showing up and by Friday morning everyone was there for tech. We had no issues with tech and afterwards Kurt @cruiseroutfit and I started pre running the course. The 45 felt Great and we spent a few hours checking out some of the closer spots I had a few concerns about. One was a steep drop that once we got to it Kurt got out and walked over to the drop off because I couldn't see the trail over the hood. We picked a line and started down once committed there was no turning back. How we got down without rolling is beyond me and after completing the lower trail we followed the short and up over Bronco Hill. I was really overthinking the drop off the rest of the day until I had someone drive me up so I could see it from the ground. We totally picked the wrong line and during the race we would stay to the left. The rest of the afternoon the Team gathered together to finish prepping the 45 for Saturday race. We had a few surprises Kansas Jake and Mr @John McVicker It was a Great night The Team was there, Will and the Grandkids and our local friends and family. I got about a 3 hours of sleep that night not over thinking at all.

 

[John McVicker]

@landcrusher909 Dude, it was great being there. Wouldn’t have missed it for anything! You will remember this journey for the rest of your days. You had a great team.

 

[John McVicker]

Just saw the video after you & Kurt Williams @cruiseroutfit fixed your broken leaf spring. The view from the helicopter really brings into focus just how rough the trail is AND just how fast you were going.

Good job

 

[landcrusher909]

Well YouTube and KOH has blocked my video. Some copyright crap. Sorry

 

[John McVicker]

So that’s why I can’t find it again. Watched it, then took a phone call & after that…it was all gone. Been looking & looking. Too bad, good video.

 

[landcrusher909]

During tech while we were staged, we found out that the Stock class had been changed again instead of our scheduled 2 lap race it had been increased to 3 laps a total of 190 miles with a 5 1/2 hour time limit. 2 of our 3 fellow racers agreed this was crazy for the stock class. No need to get into it race politics. We were there to race and finish. The night before I walked around camp handshakes and hugs Great full for all the help and support, we had. We were to stage at 0745 with a start time of 10am. With the 45 fuel cell topped off Kurt and I headed for Hammer town. There was a major mix up with the start stagging next thing we knew we were lined up with the 1400 trucks. I spent time talking to each of the 1400 drivers. Introducing myself and pointing to the 45. Explaining my race strategy. There were 12 - 1400 trucks these are just shy of being a Trophy Truck unlimited. Remember these guys were all stage behind me LOL. I explained when I got the Green flag I would push the 45 passed the Main pit area find a nice spot, pull over and watch them go by. Once they were gone we would run our race. More smiles and handshakes from these guys. Kurt and I lined up smiling under our helmets we had a plan. Kurt called the Green flag and we were off. 40 seconds later past the pits we found a nice spot and commented how nice the weather was as the 1400's roared past us. A call from Scott the last one had passed, and we started what become a 5 hour day.

 

[landcrusher909]

They must have be a little intimated by the Manual steering, column shift 3 speed, 33 inch tires and the power of the Mighty 1.5 F

 

[redfj45can]

 

[landcrusher909]

Kurt @cruiseroutfit called the Green flag and as always starting out in 2nd gear/low range. Years of listening and watching Justin @RustyNailJustin has always been my start strategy. Over and over in my mind save the truck, find a good pace and have fun. You're not going to win or finish showing off in the first few jumps off the start line its a long race for a 58 year old Cruiser. I think its a good time to talk about who and how we got to this point. September 17, 2022 I started this crazy dream to race the 45. Reaching out to Friends/family and Cruiser shops before I knew it parts and supplies stated showing up, Summit Steel, Valley Hybrids, Koritas tire, Bowfin Cruisers, Cruiser Outfitters, Bradley wheels, 4X4 Engineering, Redline Land Cruisers, Cruiser Cult, Classic Cruisers, TOYO Tires and lets not forget all the help I got. Bob, Josh & Andie, Matt, Chris, Lucas, Tony, Garrett, Ryan, FC, Travis, Tony, Wendy, and so many others. Phone calls to Mat, Justin, Mick. Times when I was so overwhelmed I wished I had never started this. People and businesses had committed so much to help make this happen, I'd take a break and head back outside. " Don't think just Build "

 

[landcrusher909]

After the 1400 Class trucks went past Kurt @cruiseroutfit and I started off. We pushed through the wash and around backdoor. We had clean air and up until we got to mile 11 things were going well. The 45 felt Great and opted not to stop in Remote Pit, Thats when it started really getting rough. Rock crawling and basically pushing rocks out of the way with the axle, the lower truss I installed was like a bulldozer blade. I tried to take my time and more than once the steering wheel was ripped out of my hand. Mile 15 we were going down a rocky downhill trail just beating the crap out of the 45 when BAM ! We pulled off course and found a broken front drivers mail leaf. No radio, cell or Satellite phone service. We were on our own. The driver's side of the axle was pushed back 6 inches, No center pins were broken, shocks still looked good. After a few attempts to get the axle and springs into place I told Kurt I have an idea. We would use the 4runner jack I had welded a 19mm nut to and using rocks as spacers jam the jack and rocks against to front shackle and use the jack to push off the bump stop. We kept finding larger rocks and with a limiting strap from the spring around the hood onto the roll cage we finally got it into position. Using the 2 flat C-clamps and a couple of ratchet straps we had the main leaf back into position. By then Chad Hall had stopped to check on us. We gave him the thumbs up and started putting tools away. We were going to finish at least one lap. With Kurt and I back into the 45 we found out chance to get back on course. Slowly and feeling a bit nervous we worked our way down the hill. At one point stopping because we heard something Kurt got out and one of the straps came loose. Once back in the 45 we started off 7mph, 15, 25mph Rolling across the woops. Pushing a bit more with every mile. I was starting to calm down and over the intercom Kurt was calling our turns and so relaxed " Were on Course "

 

[John McVicker]

Great idea with putting the 19mm nut on that jack!

 

[HENDOG]

But where did the Bronco finish???

 

[whitey45]

Time for a shackle reversal?

 

[landcrusher909]

But where did the Bronco finish???

View attachment 3839250

Maybe check on the Bronco forums. LOLOL

 

[landcrusher909]

Time for a shackle reversal?

Thats part of this story later on LOL. While Kurt and I were back on track and focused on the course these Amaizing folks were spread out between Main and Remote pit. I have always said this is the most Professional Non-Professional Group of volunteers any Team would be lucky to have supporting them. Years of experience working with Justin and the 4619. From Friday nights Team meeting everything is laid out. From who is in charge of each pit to individual jobs. This is when it gets serious and any mistakes in the Pits could Red card a truck or get someone hurt. Having worked in the Pits over the years there is no doubt its not all living on the edge. There's always a BBQ, laughter and some Shangins between stops. I am so Honored to have this Family supporting what we do. People travelling from 7 different States, sleeping in tents, trailers, trucks. Dealing with wind, rain, dust. King of the Hammers and Johnson Valley can't be explained, once you have experienced it and you become part of a Team and Race Family the minute its over and you're packing up, we are already thinking about the next year. You get it or you don't. Here are a few photos from some of the folks in the pits

 

[landcrusher909]

Heres a short video Kurt took after the spring fix. Just another 50 miles to go LOL