TOP TRUCK CHALLENGE XVIII

Well, we finally counted all the ballots and tabulated the numbers. You, our loyal readers, cast over 20,000 votes for your favorite rigs this year, and after we'd checked and double-checked the results, we've got our ten finalists and two alternates all set to attend the 18th running of TTC this summer at Hollister Hills. We'll be posting complete voting results for all 50 entrants who appeared in our April issue in the next day or two, but for now, congratulations to all who made the cut, and special thanks to all who entered. Now check out your winning selections, and let the handicapping begin!

BUGGY CLASS FINALISTS

# 11 Mike Karwath, Union, Kentucky
2009 Tube Chassis YJ
Engine: 454ci Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Stak Monster Box 3-spd
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2 1/2-ton/Rockwell 2 1/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, 18-in Fox air shocks/four-link, 18-in Fox air shocks
Tires: 44-in Boggers
Special features: Ramsey 12,000-lb winch, propane injection, 420 horsepower, 480 lb-ft of torque, full tube chassis, re-centered H1 wheels
Driver experience: 15 years

#20 Leo Kuether, Grand Forks, North Dakota
2007 Cole Works "Fat Girl"
Engine: 502ci Chevrolet Ramjet V-8
Transmission: TCI TH400 automatic
Transfer case: Atlas 3.0
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2 1/2-ton/Rockwell 2 1/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Overson / Overson
Ratio: 6.72
Suspension, f/r: Triangulated four-link, Fox coilovers and air bumps/triangulated four-link, Fox coilovers and air bumps
Tires: 47x17x16.5 Interco TSL Boggers or 46x20x19 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws
Special Features: Manual and reverse valve body, full hydraulic steering, Griffen transmission and steering coolers
Driver Experience: 16 years

#48 Ryan Knoche, Hamburg, New York
1990 Suzuki Samurai/buggy
Engine: 4.3L Chevy full roller V-6
Transmission: TH 700R4 w/full manual valve body
Transfer case: NP 203/205 Jed's Machine doubler
Axles f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids f/r: Spool/ARB Air Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension f/r: Dual triangulated four-link, 16-in King air shocks/dual triangulated four-link, 16-in King shocks
Tires: 47-in Super Swamper LTBs
Special features: Warn 9000ti winch, PSC steering, Yukon axleshafts, 1410 driveshafts, dimple-died lower links
Driver experience: 15 years

# 12 PJ Hale, Kempner, Texas
1948 Willys buggy
Engine: Ford 302ci V-8
Transmission: AOD
Transfer case: NP243
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2 1/2-ton/Rockwell 2 1/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Ouverson spool/Ouverson spool
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Leaf springs/three-link
Tires: 49-in Intercos
Special features: Fuel injection, Warn PowerPlant HD, four-wheel hydraulic steering, custom frame/cage
Driver experience: 20 years

#36 Joe Quichocho, Mangilao, Guam
Tube Chassis CJ-7 Buggy
Engine: 502ci Chevy V-8 (550 hp, 580 lb-ft)
Transmission: Hughes TH 400 w/manual valve body
Transfer case: Atlas 4-spd (5.44:1)
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2 1/2-ton, Rockwell 2 1/2-ton)
Traction aids, f/r: Ouverson 47-spline locker/Ouverson 47-spline locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, Fox coilovers/four-link, Fox coilovers
Tires: 44-in Interco Boggers
Special Features: Custom-built chassis, rear steer, Trailready double beadlocks, 2-in Ouverson axleshafts, Auto Meter gauges, Corbeau seats, ACCEL fuel injection, MSD ignition, Warn HS 9500i winch, Will run 47-in Super Swamper LTBs if voted in
Driver Experience: 9 years

ALTERNATE:
# 4 Brandon Goodwin, Belfair, Washington
1972 Ford Bronco/buggy
Engine: 6.0L Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: Klune-V, NP205
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 2 1/2-ton/Rockwell 2 1/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air Locker/Yukon Grizzly Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coilover/Four-link, coilover
Tires: 42-in IROKs
Special features: Full tube chassis, 9,000-lb front winch, 8,000-lb rear winch
Driver experience: 19 years

TRUCK CLASS FINALISTS

#50 Darren Sinkey, Oroville, CA
1989 Ford Bronco
Engine: 351ci Windsor V-8
Transmission: C-6 automatic
Transfer case: Triple-stick NP203/205
Axles f/r: High-pinion Dana 60, chrome-moly shafts, 300M Longfields/Shaved GM 14-bolt, disc brakes
Traction aids f/r: ARB Air Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension f/r: Three-link, Sway-A-Way Racerunner coilover shocks/leaf springs, four shocks Tires: 47-in Swamper LTBs
Special features: Full exocage, dual 20-lb CO2 tanks, four Optima Yellow Top batteries, onboard welder, 40-gal fuel cell
Driver experience: 25 years

#9 Jason Gray, Amity, Oregon
1975 Chevy Blazer
Engine: 454ci Chevy V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP203/205 doubler
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: Air-actuated OX locker/welded spiders
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coilovers/four-link, Fox air shocks
Tires: 44-in Boggers
Special features: Warn 9.5ti winch, Stazworks double beadlocks, High Angle Driveline driveshafts, PSC hydraulic steering, pneumatic bumpstops
Driver experience: 25 years

#21 Kevin Simmons, Wakefield, New Hampshire
1937 Ford Pickup
Engine: 521ci Ford V-8
Transmission: 4-spd
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/Sterling 10.25-in
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, air shocks/four-link, air shocks
Tires: 39.5-in Interco Boggers
Special Features: "Rat rod that likes to play the mud", '79 Ford F-250 frame
Driver Experience: 19 years

#23 Brian Barker, Plamondon, Alberta, Canada
1993 Ford Ranger
Engine: 540ci Ford V-8
Transmission: Hughes Racing C-6
Transfer case: NP 205 twin-stick with Northwest Fab Black Box
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM Corporate 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker /spool
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, 16-in King coilovers/four-link, 16-in King coilovers
Tires: 44-in Interco Boggers
Special Features: Full manual and reverse valve body, 16.5 Warn winch, only thing left stock is the body
Driver Experience: 15 years

#39 Roger King, Sparta, Tennessee
1964 Dodge WM300 Power Wagon
Engine: 408ci Dodge stroker V-8
Transmission: Dodge NP 435
Transfer case: Divorce-mount NP 205
Axles f/r: Rockwell 2 1/2-ton/Rockwell 2 1/2-ton
Traction aids f/r: Detroit Locker/Ouverson spool
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension f/r: Custom coilover, four-link/custom coilover, four-link
Tires: 49-in IROKs
Special features: "Lots of stuff" including rear steer, Warn 8274 winch, and 36-inch adjustable wheelbase "on the fly"
Driver experience: 15 years

ALTERNATE:
#13 Terry Estes, Kempner, Texas

#15 Ed Buster, Rosebud, Texas
1978 Chevrolet “Big 10”
Engine: 454ci Chevy V-8
Transmission: SM 465
Transfer case: Atlas 4.0, 10.3:1
Axles, f/r: Chevrolet Dana 60 with Longfields/Chevrolet Dana 70 HD
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.56:1
Suspension, f/r: 56-in leaf springs, anti-wrap bar, 15-in BBCS shocks/44-in leaf springs, antiwrap bar, 15-in BBCS shocks
Tires: 44-in Interco Boggers
Special Features: H1 recentered beadlocks, grooved tires, onboard air, full hydraulic steering, dual Optima yellow top batteries
Driver Experience: 23 years