Vernal, UT - July 2000	Short Cuts
by: Joshua 'Superdawg' Lowenstein Vernal, UT [ Intro | Rules | Entrants | Scores | On the Trail Coverage | Carnage Album | Galleries ]	Navigation Menu OutdoorWire Front Page 4x4 Parts Main Expo Center OutdoorWire Site Index Main Links Index 4x4Wire Front Page 4x4 Tech 4x4 Trails

Mike clambers up the approach to Stage 5 on Course A. Joshua Lowenstein

We can always count on a few showmen to give us those crazy air shots, rollovers, and other exhibitions of gutsy, driving skills.

Tracy Jordan and his 21 day wonder-FJ40 came out of the Cedar City event with two spectacular rolls and a ninth place finish. His crawl it until he has to bump it -- yet never winch it -- attitude has earned him a place in the ARCA fans' hearts. He cemented this at Vernal with a set of back-to-back rolls on Stage 7 of Course B. Chris Durham is the gentleman from South Carolina that is anything but gentle on the gas pedal -- he's always good for a crowd-pleasing show. Chris is nipping close enough at the heels of Jeff Waggoner that the Farmington event will decide the series winner. Don Bernier is slow and methodical, but always gives a great show. He took first place in Phoenix.

Another crowd favorite is Mike Palmer, driving his M38 Willys. Mike's banzai attitude and matching right foot gives the crowds what they want... that's raw 4.4-liter V6 power getting sent to the ground and smoke rolling off the tires before he even thinks about backing off. Mike's ability to run his rig and himself to the ragged edge gets fans screaming whenever he lines up at any stage.

Mike Palmer - Intensity

Mike's intense in competition, but cracks a smile between stages. Joshua Lowenstein

Mike Palmer hails from Denver, Colorado and owns his own construction company, A&B Builders. He built a rig and a reputation that truly shows his competitive spirit.

Stand clear when he puts the pedal down, even his top-flight spotter, Greg Noss, will bail when Mike gets traction. Mike has only great things to say about his spotter Greg, "He keeps me calm and focused. Adrenaline is hard to curb when so many people are cheering and the competition is on the line."

Engine

Mike Palmer runs a 4.4 Chevy Vortec V6 that came from a stunt airplane. Mike custom-modified this engine for maximum revs. The all roller valvetrain engine also sports a knife-edged crank and forged hypereutectic Keith Black pistons on connecting rods that Mike "Ground the bleeping bleep out of." The whole engine package is built to hold together for extended times at over 6500 RPM! 6.5K -- that's not a misprint!

Mike and Greg finesse AND throttle their way up Stage 7 on Course A. Joshua Lowenstein

Aspiration

Mike Palmer runs a Holley 390 4bbl carburetor, and it actually works at extreme angles. I have personally seen this engine run when upside down. Mike actually had to turn the key off while hanging upside down. The carb may not be a high-tech wonder, but Mike made some trick modifications to it such as 'jet extenders' that help grab out the fuel when the M38 is at extreme angles. Mike also set the float well below normal to avoid sloshing, and he also runs a spring needle and seat. He extended the bowl vents to prevent what slosh remains from flooding over. Mike sticks with his carb "purely for simplicity, with no computers, injectors or sensors to fail and leave me stuck". He did say that the day he builds another flat-fender, he will have a Tuned-Port 350 and will learn to live with computer hassles.

Palmer was one of the few competitor to successfuly navigate the undercarriage-grabbing boulders of Stage 4 on Course A. Joshua Lowenstein

Drive train

Mike runs a beefed-up TH350 tranny with a 1200-rpm stock torque converter. The transfer case is no big surprise for a competition crawlers, an Atlas II with a 4.3-to-1 low range.

Axles

Mike is the only guy who was able to break 3 axles in less than 15 seconds in the Las Cruces Rock Crawling championships in 1998. (Please let 4x4Wire know if you have ever seen all four break at once, we want that story!)

Mike learned the hard way that 38" Swampers and Dana 44's don't work well when the right foot fires 300 ponies. To address this issue, Mike installed entirely new axles at both ends. The front axle is a Dynatrac reverse-cut Dana 60 with 35-spline inner axles and 31-spline outers. The rear axle is a reverse-cut Dana 60 that Mike Palmer narrowed himself, with Mark Williams' custom 45-degree 35-spline shafts. Both pigs contain 4.56:1 gears and Detroit Lockers.

Along with the beefed axles, Mike also needed super tough drive shafts, Mike built them himself out of no less than 2" Chrome Moly DOM tubing. Good luck twisting those!!

Suspension

Why settle for anything less than 4 wheel coils overs, Fox remote reservoir Nitro charged shocks. Every link is either T6 aircraft aluminum or Chrome Moly DOM tubing. Mike Palmer has designed and built his whole rig with his hands, it has spent NO time in a 4x4 shop.

Mike carries air up Stage 2 on Course B. Joshua Lowenstein

Mike told 4x4Wire that while others do everything they can to get more flex out their suspensions, "I limit my droop to keep traction while climbing straight up walls." With it loosened up the RTI is well over 1000 on a 30-degree ramp.

Mike stretched his wheel base to a mega- flat-fender 95.5 inches. This gets him as close as he can get to the magic 100" number that has done so well in past ARCA events. His custom roll cage is 1.75" OD .090 wall Chrome Moly, and is triangulated to handle more than a mere rollover. It is integrated with the whole suspension and is build to be ultra lightweight and strong.

When Mike Palmer started building his "machine" he could not bear the thought of cutting up an OE M38 body, so he used a CJ3A body. The only OE parts are the frame, grill, tail lights headlight switch and (Vernal smashed) tailgate. The front fenders and hood are a custom 'Palmer-cut' fiberglass arrangement, and all of this works together to yield a 110-degree departure angle and an 82-degree approach angle.

Mike has appeal to his fans, and he is one hell of a boss to work for. He has 7-10 members of his 24-employee construction crew that will only take their vacation time if they can help out as pit crew or cheer him on. Mike makes it worth their while by picking up the expenses on these trips, which sounds pretty darn cool to me.

Mike Palmer missed the 1999 Farmington event, when he was in ICU. Nonetheless, he has managed to battle back to within striking distance of a top ten overall finish. Mike finished in 5th place at Phoenix, 4th place at Cedar City, and 10th place at Vernal.

Interview

Mike took some time from his busy schedule to answer some tough questions from 4x4Wire.

Mike clawed and throttled his way up the first parts Stage 7 on Course B... Joshua Lowenstein

...only to put a serious tweak into a lower rear suspension link on the last part... Joshua Lowenstein

...causing the pinion to twist upwards.... Joshua Lowenstein

...and Mike's employee, Marc DeSplinter, dove under to effect a repair. Joshua Lowenstein

4x4Wire: Mike how did the Vernal event go for you compared to the other two ARCA events you've attended?

MP: I had a bit of a bad taste in my mouth after Vernal, the course was not as much fun as Cedar City and was not as challenging as Phoenix.

4x4Wire: What caused that bad taste?

MP: The inconsistency of stage judging was vast, one stage would have 5 people working it, counting rocks stacked, or just standing around, and other stages had only one judge and no officials watching gates. Some stages had judges that would tell each driver what tree you could or could not touch, and others would simply wait until you brushed against a tree and then nick you 10 points for it. For some stages, trees were in the middle of the course, with limited room to avoid them and still stay between the flags. Some drivers were permitted to drive over bushes and did not get penalized even though I was told those bushes were off limits.

4x4Wire: Suggestions?

MP: I hope they get flags in proper bases instead of simply stuck in cracks or worse yet sand. In Phoenix and Cedar City, painted spots indicated where the flags would be set and reset after getting knocked down. In Vernal flags were "near" the corresponding painted marks.

4x4Wire: What has been your favorite part, stage, or thing about the ARCA Competitions?

MP: All of the people -- including fans, competitors, and ARCA officials. They make it fun.

4x4Wire: Who do you admire the most, or who is your best influence in 4x4 building and competitions?

MP: Soni, Randy, and Shannon. Soni Honneger for his creativity, Randy Ellis for his eccentricity, and Shannon Campbell for being just great, he and his dad are tops, the true roots of the sport.

4x4Wire: Is there a place or trail you would like to see an ARCA competition?

MP: Cabo San Lucas.

4x4Wire: Do you have anything to say to your fans?

MP: Sorry for losing my composure on Stage 7B in Vernal. I learned a lot in Vernal and I promise I will keep it together.

4x4Wire: By the way, have you ever seen a rig break all 4 axles on one obstacle?

MP: No, but I have seen 14 broken shafts of varying types on 7 rigs in the space of 100 yards on the Independence Trail in Penrose, Colorado.

4x4Wire: Thanks again from 4x4Wire and we'll see you in Farmington next month. Good luck breaking into the final top ten!!

NOTE: For anyone who would like to contact Mike Palmer about his rig and other events where he will be call him at his A&B Builders office 303-768-8555.

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