JPOR: A little lunchtime fun

["Paul W." <a4xnut@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yesterday, when I was over at Randy's Off Road Connection for the XJ's D30
knucklectomy, I went out for lunch with Dana Sawnson, Randy's parts/service
counter man.  Dana an avid wheeler, but a Toyota fan.  He runs a seriously
modified 85 or 86 4Runner on the trails, but his daily driver is a 2WD "Toyota"
Stadium Racer (and it really is raced regularly).  The only thing on this
2-wheeler that's still Toyota though is the cab and box.  It's powered by a
very healthy 350 Chevy with a TH350 trans and a 9" Ford rear end with 4.11
gears and an ARB.  The front clip is 'glass and it looks like Ivan Stewart's
from the front with the wide and radiused race fenders.  It sports an in-cab
cage with runners going thru a Lexan rear window that tie into the in-bed bars
for the suspension.  He runs 33" MT Baja Claws on it and the suspension is
totally custom with ~26" of travel.  We went down the road a mile or so to
scarf down some juicy greaseburgers and on the way he showed my why he only
gets 6.6 mpg... that little truck is FAST!  After lunch, I noticed he took a
"wrong turn" and headed out into the nearby farmland.  We were cruisin' down
this little 2-laner when I looked ahead ~1/2 mile and noticed a RR crossing. 
Since the farmland is in a known flood plain, the RR bed is built up ~10'
higher than the surrounding landscape, so the road has to ramp up to cross the
tracks.  About this time, Dana asks me if my seatbelt is on tight.  It is.  So
he nails the go-pedal and we crest the crossing at ~70mph (in a 35mph zone ;) 
Needless to say, we got air!  LOTS of it.  We didn't touch down for at least
75-100'!  The landing was nice and smooth, with just a minor rub out of the RF
tire - his suspension is set-up for running with no passengers, so my 210# of
RH ballast is what caused the rubbing.  Only one cycle of the shocks and we
were back to a normal ride.  COOL!  Even if it was a "Toyota."  :)

I know it's not Jeep related, but I just had to share that story!  

Paul

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