AEM Equipped Honda Ridgeline Race Truck First Seen at SEMA Conquers Baja 1000
- Jan 13, 2016
Honda revealed its newest entry into 4-wheel off-road desert racing when it unveiled the new Unlimited Ridgeline race vehicle in the Honda Booth at the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. The physical reveal was met with great applause by fans and media alike. The custom built unlimited off-road race vehicle is backed by Honda Performance Development (HPD), the racing arm of American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
The Unlimited Ridgeline features a twin-turbocharged Honda HR35TT V6 engine, which is the same engine platform utilized in Honda's respected Indy Car program. The vehicle also features the best parts and technology available in off-road including, an Albins ST6 sequential transmission, Fox racing shocks, rugged General Grabber tires, Rigid LED Lights, KMC Wheels new Machete Wheel, and AEM Dryflow Air Filters. The 2015 SCORE Baja 1000 was the maiden voyage for the new vehicle and team led by team owner/driver Jeff Proctor. The tube-frame Unlimited Class 2 off-road Ridgeline Baja Race Truck made its competition debut at the brutal 2015 Baja event, which consisted of an 821-mile loop that started and finished in Ensenada, Mexico. The driving trio of Jeff Proctor, Sage Marie and Jason LaFortune successfully piloted their Ridgeline Baja Race Truck to the Class 2 victory in the 48th running of the SCORE Baja 1000.
Less than half of the 239-competitor starting field finished the 2015 Baja 1000 event, as limited visibility due to fog and dust added to the usual challenges of high-speed desert crossings, technical, rocky mountain trails, silt beds, washes, ditches and jumps throughout the course. Despite the obstacles and high attrition, the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck ran trouble-free, completing the event in 25 hours, nine minutes and 47 seconds. "The course was extremely tough today, and it seemed like Baja threw everything it could at us, but the Ridgeline ran flawlessly all day," said Proctor, driver and owner of Proctor Racing Group. "We couldn't be happier with how it performed on its maiden voyage." Honda has a long history of motorcycle race success at Baja, scoring two dozen victories, including 17 consecutive wins in the SCORE Baja 1000 through 2013. Honda entered four-wheeled SCORE competition on the Baja peninsula in 2005 competing in the Stock Mini class with a Honda Ridgeline.
The Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck was developed by Honda as a preview to the introduction of the second-generation Honda Ridgeline. Honda unveiled the second-generation Honda Ridgeline compact pickup at its public debut during the 2016 North American International Auto Show. The Ridgeline Baja Race Truck features a body with inspiration taken from the second generation Honda Ridgeline. Key design cues drawn from the 2017 Honda Ridgeline can be seen in the front fascia, hood, roof, bed, and side profile. Although the Honda Ridgeline Baja Race truck is capable of making approximately 550 horsepower, HPD's 3.5-liter HR35TT engine uses the same block, cylinder heads and crankshaft as the production V6 engine that will power the all-new second generation Ridgeline. Additional, custom elements of the powertrain include an HPD-designed intake plenum and custom Engine Control Unit programming. The Honda Off-Road Racing Team is sponsored by: Honda, General Tire, Fox Racing Shox, Rigid Industries, KMC Wheels, Turnkey Marketing, Sparco, Eibach Springs, Neo Synthetics, RPI Racing, PCI Race Radios, AEM Intakes, and Fiberwerx Off-Road Fiberglass. AEM offers cold air intake systems, short ram intakes, and AEM air filters for many vehicles. Use the Search by Car or Truck tool to find performance upgrades from AEM. To find an AEM dealer near you, use the Search for AEM Dealer tool on AEMintakes.com. |
|||||
