Ridgeline Is Ready for Racing
Take a close look at this Baja-bound racer. It bears a striking resemblance to the Ridgeline truck available at dealers. While some modifications were made to turn this powerful workhorse into the racing machine running in the Stock Mini Truck class across the challenging Baja terrain, the suspension and engine remained mostly unchanged. So what you see is the true backbone of the Honda Ridgeline: a transverse 3.5-liter 24-valve, SOHC VTEC® V-6, a five-speed automatic and Variable Torque Management® 4-wheel-drive system (VTM-4®).

The addition of customized King springs and shocks attached to fit the stock MacPherson strut front and multilink rear was the biggest modification. And some race-safety-related changes were required, such as the addition of a roll cage, radios, auxiliary lighting and a fire suppression system. Of course, the windshield had to go, as with all racing trucks, and larger tires were specifically designed for the demands of off-road racing.

The racing team was confident in the stock parts from Honda, as the auto maker is known for its durability-testing.

The Team
The Orange, California-based team of California Race & Rally (CaRR) is responsible for developing and championing the Ridgeline Race Truck. No strangers to racing, this team has enjoyed previous class victories in both the Baja 500 and 1000 with other vehicles. They have also participated in the Dakar Rally and the cross-continent Australian Safari Rally.

The Ridgeline's driver is Gavin Skilton. He was quoted in AutoWeek as saying the Ridgeline is "the best handling race car I've ever driven."

Racing Tradition
Soichiro Honda has long believed that racing has the power to improve his products and motivate his people. Along with numerous victories on road circuits, Honda also has a distinguished history in rugged, off-road competition. In fact, our motorcycles and ATVs have made Honda the most winning nameplate in the history of the SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. Now the Ridgeline pickup truck is set to open a whole new chapter in off-road racing. After each race, the team provides useful product feedback to Honda engineers, who learn valuable lessons about innovation, performance and durability.

Big Race, Big Finish
This past November, California Race & Rally and their Ridgeline took on the biggest, baddest Baja race of them all—the Baja 1000. It was the 40th running of the granddaddy of all desert races, and the #779 Ridgeline was up to the challenge posed by the record-length 1,296-mile course.

The nearly stock Ridgeline completed the course more than six hours ahead of the time limit. In fact, only 40% of the stock 4-wheeled vehicle entries finished the race. Finally, many of the specially constructed Trophy Truck entries—featuring approximately three times the suspension travel and modified engine power as the Ridgeline—didn't even make it to the finish.

Piloted by Gavin Skilton, the team’s Ridgeline saw some of the roughest Baja conditions ever, which varied from rock-strewn, rain-damaged mountain trails to deep, talc-like silt. Gavin noted that “overall, the Ridgeline is truly an amazing vehicle. With a top speed of over 120 mph, the Ridgeline rocks on open areas. The course was particularly difficult this year. The Ridgeline never let us down. It plowed through some particularly difficult areas. The improvement in the torque distribution really made a difference. It climbed hills like a panther thanks to improvement made from Honda R&D and our latest sponsor, Bosch.”

Hondas extends an enthusiastic congratulations to Gavin and his entire team on a great 2007 season.

Learn more about the Honda Ridgeline

 

Ridgeline Custom Details

POWERTRAIN

• Air intake by Unique Metal Products (UMP)
• Severe-duty engine, transmission and differential cooling
• Dual Optima® batteries with isolator switch
• Hondata calibrated PCM
• Exhaust system fabricated by Prototype Racing

CHASSIS/SUSPENSION

• Custom shock absorbers by King Off-Road Racing Shocks
• Howe Performance Power Steering high-capacity fluid reservoir and cooler
• 17-in. American Racing ATX all-terrain wheels
• 285/70R17 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A tires

EXTERIOR

• Underbody skid plates
• Front and rear nerf bars
• Dual spare wheels and race jack
• ATL 26-gallon safety fuel cell
• Baja Designs HID Sol/Tek auxiliary lighting system

INTERIOR

• Beard custom race seats
• Crow 5-point safety harness
• Fire Bottle on-board fire suppressant system
• Lowrance Baja Global Positioning System (GPS)
• PCI radio communications
• Auxiliary gauges
• PowerTank™ on-board air tool system
• Driver and navigator filtered cool-air breathing system
• Survival supplies and first aid kit