2008 Top Truck Challenge - 10+2 Competitors

The votes have been counted and the participants called. We're pleased to bring you your Top Truck Challenge 2008 Competitors! These 10 lucky competitors (and two alternates) sent in their applications, made the Top 50, and were voted in by you the readers. This year's Top Truck Challenge is shaping up to be one of the best ever! Check back in June to see these guys in action, and to the Top 12, we'll see you in Hollister!

Without further ado, here are your Top 12, in the order of amount of votes received.

1: Scott Krznar, West Middlesex, Pennsylvania '78 Ford F-250

Krznar's massive Ford has a lot of heavy-duty stuff bolted onto the F-600 frame, including a massive lift. Can this height be the key to climbing over the Frame Twister's logs, or could it be the cause of an upside-down view of the finish line?

Engine: 460ci Ford V-8
Transmission: Ford four-speed
Transfer case: Pair of NP205s
Axles, f/r: 2.5-ton Rockwell/2.5-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Spool/Spool
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: 20-inch-lift leaf springs/20-inch-lift leaf springs
Tires: 60x18.4-30 tractor
Special features: 750-cfm Holley double-pumper, aluminum high-rise intake, through-the-hood headers, 1410 U-joints and yokes, front and rear ladder bars, hydraulic steering, 15000 winch
Driver experience: 10 years

2: Wayne Sheeley, Walden, New York '63 Jeep FC-170

Two years ago, Wayne's better half made TTC history as our first female competitor. Now he wants to make history as the first-ever Jeep Forward-Control owner to compete. We trust the pooch won't be his codriver.

Engine: 427 Chevy V-8
Transmission: B&M-prepped TH400
Transfer case: Atlas II 4.3
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/Dana 60Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension, f/r: Modified Clayton long-arm kit, Currie Anti-Rock sway bar/Clayton long-arm kit, Currie sway bars
Tires: 44-in TSL Boggers
Special features: Warn 8274 front winch, Ramsey 8000 rear winch, Yukon axleshafts, PSC hydro steering, Tom Wood's driveshafts
Driver experience: 25 years

3: Terry Sipe, Carlisle, Pennsylvania '92 Ford Aerostar

Seriously, how could you not?

Engine: 383ci GM V-8 (est. 600 hp)
Transmission: TCI Turbo 350
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: 2.5-ton Rockwell/2.5-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, Bilstein coilovers/Four-link, Bilstein coilovers
Tires: 44x18.5x16.5 Interco Super Swamper TSLs
Special features: It is a ginormous Aerostar minivan on Rockwells, `nuff said.
Driver experience: 30 years

4: Jeff Wood, Las Cruces, New Mexico '66 Jeep CJ-5

Jeff's holding it down for our fellow oil burners. With a whole assortment of custom fabbed parts, this Jeep should be pretty interesting to see compete.

Engine: 3.9L Cummins turbodiesel I-6
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP203/205 doubler
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Three-link, coil springs/Four-link, coil springs
Tires: 49-inch Super Swamper IROKs
Special features: Propane injection, aluminum radiator, 20-inch steel wheels with internal bead locks, Freightliner steering box, Warn 9.5XI winch, onboard air, custom fuel cell, full cage, 117-inch wheelbase, flat belly, Ouverson axleshafts, over 1,400 hand-fabricated pieces.
Driver experience: 26 years

5: Clayton Kraatz, Calgary, Alberta, Canada '06 Evolution Twister buggy

If you saw this rig in last November's issue, you know it's a masterpiece of engineering. Now, 2007 alternate Clayton wants the chance to play for all the marbles at Hollister this year. Wanna give him another crack at the Top Truck championship?

Engine: 468 Chevy propane-injected V-8
Transmission: JW Transmissions Powerglide two-speed
Transfer case: Casale marine V-drive to Stak three-speed
Axles, f/r: Arvin-Meritor F-106 3-ton/Arvin-Meritor F-106 3-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 7.17:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, 26-inch-travel Knight Stalker shocks/four-link, 26-inch Knight Stalker shocks
Tires: 49-inch Interco IROKs
Special features: Evolution bead-lock wheels, Warn 12000 winch, spherical rod ends on all link bars, full hydro steering
Driver experience: 16 years

6: Byron Hair, Spanish Fork, Utah '77 Jeep Wagoneer

Not your grandmother's Wagoneer. This big-block-powered monster allows Byron some serious potential; however, permission to compete is up to you.

Engine: 455ci Buick V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Divorced NP205
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2.5-ton/Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Welded
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Three-link, coil springs/Three-link, coil springs
Tires: 53-inch Michelin ZXLs
Special features: 20-inch bead locks, a six-point cage, custom bumpers, 12,000-pound winch
Driver experience: 10+ years

7: Jeremy Naeger, Bloomsdale, Missouri '04 buggy

Naeger gets right to the point: "We will do what it takes to finish and try like heck to win." Gotta love that attitude. Will you give him a chance?

Engine: 350ci GM Ram Jet V-8 with nitrous
Transmission: TH400 with reverse valvebody
Transfer case: ORD-doubled NP203/205 with 1410 yokes
Axles, f/r: 2.5-ton Rockwell/2.5-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: OEM locker/OEM locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, 16-inch-travel King coilovers/Four-link, 16-inch-travel King coilovers
Tires: 49-inch Super Swamper IROKs
Special features: Warn 8000 winch, Wilwood dual-disc driveline brakes, Custom Differentials 47-spline axleshafts, front and rear steering, 17x12 Trailready bead locks, fan-cooled hydraulics, two Optima Yellow Top batteries, rear-mounted aluminum radiator with "monster" Spal electric fan
Driver experience: 16 years

8: Kevin Myers, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota '04 Jeep Wrangler TJ

Given the 54-inch tires, those boulders Meyers is climbing must be monsters. He'd certainly be at home in the Mini Rubicon, and perhaps our readers will give him the chance to crawl it at TTC `08.

Engine: 502 Chevy ZZ Ram Jet V-8
Transmission: TCI-built TH400 with full manual valvebody
Transfer case: Atlas 6.0
Axles, f/r: 47-spline Rockwell 2.5-ton/47-spline Rockwell 2.5-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Ouverson locker/Ouverson locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, King 3.0 coilovers, Currie Anti-Rock sway bar/Four-link, King 3.0 coilovers, Currie sway bar
Tires: 54x19.5-20 TSL Boggers
Special features: Front and rear Warn 9500 winches, four-wheel disc brakes, drive flanges, full hydro steering, onboard air, dual alternators, Powertank, front and rear cutting brakes, 18-gallon fuel cell, Staun bead locks, CD player for trail tunes
Driver experience: 17 years

9: Brandon Lammers, Monument, Colorado '71 Ford Bronco

Lammers has conquered some gnarly trails in and around his home state of Colorado. Now he wants to roll west and attempt to tame Top Truck. Are you going to grant him his wish?

Engine: 351ci Ford V-8 with Edelbrock EFI
Transmission: C6
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: 2.5-ton Rockwell/2.5-ton Rockwell
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Semi-elliptical/Semi-elliptical
Tires: 46x19.5-15 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws
Special features: USA 6x6 wheels, T-Max 12500 winch, dual Optima batteries, 16-gallon fuel cell, front and rear steering, James Duff fiberglass door inserts
Driver experience: 12 years

10: Scott Morris, Sunman, Indiana '07 Machine Wave Weapon Chassis

Morris has been standing on the sidelines for many years, always voting for his favorite TTC rigs. This year he says he is ready to shoot it out with big boys. Will you give him his shot?

Engine: 502ci GM V8
Transmission: Turbo 400
Transfer case: Four-speed Atlas with 10:1 low range
Axles, f/r: Dana 80 center, Rockwell outers/Dana 80 center, Rockwell outers
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air locker/ARB Air Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension, f/r: Triangulated four-link, Fox 2.5x18-inch Fox air shocks/Triangulated four-link, Fox 2.5x18-inch Fox air shocks
Tires: 49x21/20 Interco IROKs
Special features: This vehicle was built and designed with TTC in mind, and with hybrid axles, a full tube chassis, Stazworks double internal bead locks, Howe steering, and an interesting suspension, it has the credentials to compete.
Driver experience: 19 years

Alternates

11: Randy Swartz, Azusa, California '77 Chevy truck

Swartz was an alternate last year. This year, he's not only looking to compete, but he plans to leave a winner. "The competitors of TTC 2007 were fortunate we weren't in the Top 10," he says. He goes on to say, "We will be a show-stopper in TTC 2008." So will you let him prove it's not all hot air?

Engine: 540ci Merlin V-8
Transmission: SM465
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: Dana 60, Longfield inner and outer axleshafts/14-bolt, Yukon axleshafts
Traction aids, f/r: Limited-slip/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension, f/r: Custom-lengthened leaf springs, Sway-A-Way remote-reservoir shocks/Custom-lengthened leaf springs, Sway-A-Way remote-reservoir shocks
Tires: 49-inch Super Swamper IROKs
Special features: Stretched wheelbase; shortened frame ends; narrowed front clip; loads of holes drilled to lighten truck; snorkel, engine, transmission, and transfer case moved 12 inches rearward; equal length driveshafts with 1410 joints; 17x14 Weld Racing wheels; hydraulic bumpstops
Driver experience: 20 years

12: Cheston Beck, Clinton, Utah '78 IH Traveler

Save some sheetmetal, very little remains stock on this sweet-looking Moab rock rig. It's been quite a while since we've had a Harvester in Hollister. Should Beck's Traveler get the chance to make the trip?

Engine: 460 Ford V-8, bored 0.030 over
Transmission: C6
Transfer case: Chevy NP205
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension, f/r: Dual-triangulated four-link, Deaver 6-inch coils, Pro Comp shocks/4-inch Scout leaf springs, Revolver shackles, Pro Comp shocks Tires: 42-inch TSL Super Swampers
Special features: Warn M12000 winch, Edelbrock 750 carb, weld-on bead locks, eight-point rollcage, bed-mounted fuel cell, bed bobbed 12 inches, front axle relocated forward 2 inches, crossover ram-assist steering, custom half-doors, Zolatone paint, Warn hubs
Driver experience: 14