Willys Pickup - 2012 Top Truck Challenge Competitors Part 2

Name: Steven Montpas
Champion in: 2011 (Truck Class)
Driving: 1949 Willys Pickup

It was in 2011 that we first met Steven Montpas and his faithful old Willys. Montpas showed some grit and walked away with a First Place finish in the Truck Class. What is even more amazing is that he was originally slated to be an alternate, until one of the original ten competitors dropped out. Talk about making the most of an opportunity. With a second shot at glory, will Montpas make equal work of this chance too?

“Hmmm… I’m just a normal guy that loves four wheeling.”
—Steven Montpas

Sounding Off
Most memorable moment from ’11: “My best moment ever was finishing the Tank Trap and knowing that we had won.”
Wants First Place in: “I’d like to finish first in the Tank Trap but I know it will be ten times harder this year battling against the champs. The reason is because it’s the toughest event and my kind of wheeling.”

If you look closely, you can see an interesting, but functional and flexy suspension design. The Willys uses a dual leaf setup, where an inverted leaf spring pack opposes a traditionally mounted one. The leaf spring packs share a shackle in the front and are located in the rear by a radius arm that is bolted to the fame. In more simplistic terms, it can be considered a full-elliptical leaf spring setup and is damped by dual Tuff Country shocks. The Rockwell 2 1/2-ton axle is stuffed with 6.72 gearing, 2-inch Ouverson ‘shafts, and an Ouverson Violator locker. A double-ended hydraulic ram handles the steering duties.
If you look closely, you can see an interesting, but functional and flexy suspension desig
Like the front, a full-elliptical leaf spring setup is employed for maximum articulation in the rear, but uses a single Tuff Country shock for damping duties. A DIY4X pinion brake slows down the Rockwell 2 1/2-ton internals, which include 6.72 gears, Ouverson 2-inch ’shafts, and an Ouverson Violator spool. Splitting power between the front and rear axles is an NP205 transfer case with 32-spline shafts and a twin-stick upgrade from JB Fab.
Like the front, a full-elliptical leaf spring setup is employed for maximum articulation i
There is nothing lavish about the Willy’s interior. It has been built for function and has plenty of gaps for the mud and water of the Tank Trap to drain out. A trio of Mac Tool gauges monitors the vitals and a pair of McNeil Racing suspension seats keeps the occupants secure.
There is nothing lavish about the Willy’s interior. It has been built for function and has

The Details
Driver name/city: Steven Montpas/Roseburg, OR
Occupation: Mechanic
Vehicle model: 1949 Willys pickup
Estimated value: $30,000
Engine: 406ci small-block V-8
Transmission: GM Muncie SM465
Transfer case: JB Fabrication NP205 twin-stick
Suspension (f/r): Custom double-leaf, three-link, Tuff Country shocks/double leaf, four-link, Tuff Country shocks
Axles (f/r): 2½-ton Rockwell, Ouverson locker/2½-ton Rockwell, Ouverson locker
Axle ratio: 6.72:1
Wheels: 20x10 double-beadlocked HEMMT
Tires: 19.5/54-20 Interco Super Swamper Boggers

Name: Shannon Campbell
Champion in: 1996
Driving: 2012 Campbell Competition Race Buggy

Shannon Campbell won our little mash up in 1996 and has gone on to dominate in off-road racing, including a championship win in the King of the Hammers, twice. In his 1996 TTC campaign, Campbell took First Pace in the Tank Trap and snared three Second Place finishes, giving him enough points to drive home with the trophy. Coming a long way from his original small-block-powered ’47 flatfender, Campbell, who owns Campbell Enterprises in Gilbert, Arizona will be piloting a self-built competition race buggy for his second crack at the top honors.

“Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see!”
—Shannon Campbell

Sounding Off
Most memorable moment from ’96: “My most memorable moment was watching Tammy jump chest deep in the mud pulling a winchline to get me out of the Tank Trap.”
Wants First Place in: “I want to take First in every event!”

The front suspension consists of 14-inch-travel Fox Racing Shox coilovers and bypass shocks, which control a Currie F9 9-inch housing. Inside the housing are 10-inch gears, for increased strength and an ARB Air Locker. Locating the housing is a four-link suspension design that allows for a tight turning radius while still packaging the dampers. A Howe full-hydraulic steering system gets the Goodyears turning.
The front suspension consists of 14-inch-travel Fox Racing Shox coilovers and bypass shock
The mid-engined buggy uses a three-link suspension design in the rear, also with 14-inch-travel Fox Racing Shox coilovers and bypasses. The Currie F9 rear axle, like the front, is stuffed with 10-inch gears and an ARB Air Locker and is fed from the Atlas 3.0 transfer case by Arizona Driveshaft ‘shafts. Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners throw out the anchor when the buggy needs to shed some speed.
The mid-engined buggy uses a three-link suspension design in the rear, also with 14-inch-t
The sparse cockpit contains a clean dash layout with Auto Meter gauges feeding Campbell with only the most important information, such as water and trans temp, along with oil pressure. MasterCraft Safety racing seats contain the occupants, while a Momo steering wheel is a hint to onlookers that this is a serious racing rig.
The sparse cockpit contains a clean dash layout with Auto Meter gauges feeding Campbell wi

The Details
Driver name/city: Shannon Campbell/Gilbert, AZ
Occupation: Racer/Fabricator/Shop Owner
Vehicle model: 2012 Campbell Competition Buggy
Estimated value: Not provided
Engine: Turn Key/GM 6.0L LS2 V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Atlas 3.0
Suspension (f/r): Four-link, 14-inch-travel Fox Racing Shox coilovers and bypasses/three-link, 14-inch-travel Fox Racing Shox coilovers and bypasses
Axles (f/r): Currie F9, ARB Air Locker/Currie F9, ARB Air Locker
Axle ratio: Not Provided
Wheels: 17x8 Walker Evans Racing aluminum Racing Bead Lock
Tires: 42x12.5R17 Goodyear MT/R

Name: Ron George
Champion in: Readers’ Choice
Driving: 1973 Ford Bronco

After a flurry of vote counting, it was Ron George and his self-built, ag-tired ’73 Ford Bronco that was voted in by the readership to represent you at TTCC. George and his Bronco last competed at Top Truck in 2007. After a First Place showing in the Mud Pit, and three Second Place finishes, including the Tank Trap, George ended up taking Third Place overall in ’07. With minimal changes to his formula for a podium finish, George says he is ready to take on Top Truck once again.

Sounding Off
Most memorable moment from ’07: “Most memorable moment would be something I hardly remember- Tank Trap. Despite spending 20 some minutes to get through it, it was all pretty much a blur for me.”
Wants First Place in: “Frame Twister. While the Tank Trap is legendary, I didn’t find it to be all that intimidating- ran pretty much the whole thing with only three wheels pulling and still finished. Frame Twister has more potential to mess things up, and it is now harder than when I competed. Plus it denied me in 2007.

“That creepy bastard stalking your woman…that’s me.”
—Ron George

The Bronco’s suspension is comprised of a torque-arm-style, single-link/Deaver coil arrangement that’s tied together by a trick “sliding” triangulated wishbone that runs off a custom transfer case skidplate. Beneath the setup rests a Dana 60 taken from a 1-ton Dodge truck that is fortified with a Detroit Locker, 5.86:1 gears, and Alloy USA axleshafts running Longfield U-joints. The stock Dodge disc brakes have been retained to stop the fully hydro-steered 380/85R24 (49-inch-tall) Mitas radial RDs mounted on 24x10 steel rims.
The Bronco’s suspension is comprised of a torque-arm-style, single-link/Deaver coil arrang
The engine and tranny send power from a stock Borg-Warner 13-45 transfer case to a rear Dana 70, spinning 5.86:1 gears. Inside the 70 are welded spider gears, along with USA Alloy ’shafts and a 1410 Yukon yoke. The whoa pedal clamps Chevy calipers down on Ford rotors for stopping duties and a single shock at each corner damps the axle movements.
The engine and tranny send power from a stock Borg-Warner 13-45 transfer case to a rear Da
Designed for abuse and harsh elements such as mud and water, the Bronco’s passenger compartment is designed for easy cleanup with a hose. Looking more like a well-used farm implement than a hardcore trail rig, the Bronco has RCI plastic seats that easily repel water and all of the electronics are easily replaceable “cheapies.”
Designed for abuse and harsh elements such as mud and water, the Bronco’s passenger compar

The Details
Driver name/city: Ron George/Osceola, Iowa
Occupation: N/A
Vehicle model: 1973 Ford Bronco
Estimated value: N/A
Engine: Stroked Ford 420ci Windsor V-8, Trick Flow heads, SRP pistons, Crane rocker arms, propane injection, Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake, JBA Mustang 5.0 headers
Transmission: Ford C6 3-spd automatic
Transfer case: Borg-Warner 13-45
Suspension (f/r): Single-link coil-on-wishbone, Pro Comp shocks/Single-link coil-on-wishbone, Pro Comp shocks
Axles (f/r): Dana 60, Detroit Locker/Dana 70, welded
Axle ratio: 5.86:1
Wheels: 24x10 steel
Tires: 380/85R24 Mitas RD-01s