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This is the world of the Tuff Truck Challenge that began in 2001, in which off-road machinery is pushed to the limit. For three days, the vehicles navigated jagged rocks, mud, giant holes and embankments. They are purpose-built and one of these, a Jeep TJ Wrangler, belongs to the Anglomoil Superior Lubricants team of drivers Shane Bakes and Mick Chote.
“We started competing in 2008 with the Jeep,” said Shane, “It first started with a heavily modified Jeep with all the usual bolts on for the vehicle. Jeep but that won’t cut it as a full-time competition rig is pitted head-to-head against the toughest trucks in the country. Very little of the original TJ remains.
Anglomoil Jeep has an all-new powertrain and is powered by a 327 cubic inch small-block V8 engine running on LPG. This is an advantage because the gas pressure stays constant even when the Jeep is on its side or upside down, whereas it is more difficult to increase fuel pressure when using gasoline.”
Shane has found himself with his tires pointing up at the sky a few times.
Along with the new engine, power from the V8 runs through a GM Turbo 400 automatic transmission with a custom torque converter and Atlas 2-speed transmission. The differentials are low-profile Spidertrax axles with Ford 9-inch centers equipped with spools. The steering system was heavily modified to enable large tires to be rotated on the spot and fully hydraulic front and rear steering was used, capable of 45 degrees of tilt! Roll through the suspension all around and the BFG Red Label crawler will get it done.
“To do well in this type of competition you must have a high performance with good reliability, you only have one chance in the competition. From day one, we decided to use Anglomoil lubricants for engines and trains. They are extreme performance blends known to perform well in extreme conditions. One day, we can crawl on rocks and at night do Mudrat’s Revenge, where we are buried in a meter of mud. Harsh 4WD’ing puts a huge amount of stress on working components. ”
“Most of the time you’re stationary or just crawling along. This leads to a lot of heat build-up, which is why, for example, the engine has dual heat fans to pull air through the car and has an oil cooler for the power steering system. When we are competing, transmission temperatures are typically around 90-100 degrees, engine temperatures are between 90 and 110 degrees, and power steering fluid is at 80 degrees. You need a lubricant that won’t lose viscosity or break down under these conditions. I use Anglomoil products for my transmission, differential, engine, radiator coolant, all my fluids. ”
“My Jeep has never suffered any form of mechanical failure or premature wear and I have rarely had any work done on it. It took a bit of time to sort out the bugs but it was nice to get it going without the hassle of picking it apart during the last few tests. I come home from an event, leave it on the trailer, test it out, check a few bolts then start on the next round. ”
Shane’s introduction to Anglomoil was through a completely different sport – Thundercat racing boats.
“Thundercat racing is a class of inflatable tunnel boats on smooth, gliding water with two outboard motors reaching speeds of 90 km/h. My boat has a 50 horsepower Yamaha engine and it is widely known that the best oil to use in this sport is Anglomoil. Big Formula 1 boats that accelerate and rotate with more G-forces than an F1 car all use Anglomoil. I’ve never had any problems with my oils so it made sense to stick with them.”
Shane has announced that in 2015 he will also compete in the Werock Extreme Rock Climbing series, another level of the Tuff Truck Challenge.
“We are also looking at Ultra4 racing which is becoming popular in Australia. This is completely different from the low-speed short courses of the Tuff Truck Challenge and it tests the endurance of the off-roader and its crew. ”
Ultra4 courses combine long straights, obstacles and rock crawls. Loops can be more than 20 km long. One minute you’re flying along the outback at over 100km/h and the next you’re slowly gliding over jagged rocks.
“We’ve had a few rides and it’s addictive! This is a whole new ball game and it will require modifications to our engine/suspension/tire setup to be able to cope with very different situations. ”
Shane says he is confident that Anglomoil Lubricants will go the distance.