Trophy trucks

Trophy Trucks are the highest class of off-road racing vehicles. Designed with the sole purpose of moving as fast as possible over off-road terrain, this class has been meticulously developed over decades of competition. This is an open production class and all components will be considered open by SCORE International unless restricted.

Although any truck that meets the safety standards can race the Trophy Truck class, they, for the most part, feature long travel suspensions and high power engines. They are intended for desert racing only, and are not street legal. These vehicles are known as Trophy Trucks when raced in SCORE International sanctioned races, and Trick Trucks when raced in Best in the Desert sanctioned races.

Ever since the class introduction in 1994, the development of the Trophy Truck has been fast. Previously, the Class-8 rules dictated that the entrants must use a production frame. The introduction of the Trophy Truck class bought with it new freedoms for competitors with minimal rules in its construction. Intense development in full-tube chassis and suspension travel led to previously unseen performance and speed.

Vehicle numbers have become permanently assigned to each driver. Numbers 1-9 is reserved for the prior years driver standings for positions 1-9 respectively. Numbers 10-99 will be available for assignment. Drivers who have used a number in the prior years season will be given first option for the same number in the current season.

After the class introduction in 1994, with no proven formula the initial Trophy Truck designs were very varied, usually with no two Trophy Trucks the same. Over a development process of ten years, eventually engineering firms like Geiser Brothers, Jimco, Racer Engineering& ID Designs became known after their trucks were winning races immediately. Arguably, these manufacturers became successful due to being able to fund the necessary time and R&D costs needed to create a competitive Trophy Truck platform.

Trophy Trucks are generally two-wheel drive, although a four-wheel drive class is in operation. Most feature a 4130 chromoly steel tube-frame chassis covered by an aerodynamically engineered composite body. Gasoline engines are naturally aspirated, and typically Ford or Chevrolet V8 powertrains, generating in excess of 850-900 BHP (630-670 kW) and 900lb/foot (1200 N/m) of torque. Turbo charged diesel motors are allowed, with a minimum size of 5.0 liter to a maximum size of 6.6 liter, with two turbo chargers. Turbo engines must be fitted with an air restrictor.

...
Wikipedia