The last thing we expected to ever find in Moab was a prerunner. Slickrock, Jeeps, and trees, yes. But a prerunner? It was like finding a diamond in a lump of coal. The guys from Holeshot Offroad Performance sure showed us that the desert-racing scene extends far beyond the southwestern border. The story is told right on the back of the fabrication shop's T-shirt, which reads, "Utah's first and only desert racing and prerunner fabrication facility." Indeed, the team at Holeshot is as serious about building prerunners as it is about proving to anyone who'll listen that Utah has more to offer than Jeeps and great places to snowboard.
A relative newcomer to the industry, the creative force that produced this fine Ford Ranger is just two strong. After visiting a few heavy-hitting shops in Southern California, Josh Smario, a CAD engineer with a passion for performance, and Trent Spanbauer, a fabricator, jumped headfirst into their first-ever prerunner project, designing and assembling it in four short months. The trip to SoCal yielded many design ideas and parts connections that would turn this stocker into a viable contender in the dirt. The result is a truck built with safety and performance in mind, giving prerunner enthusiasts a good, clean example of what's possible the first time out.
In addition to having a rollcage...
In addition to having a rollcage to protect passengers, Holeshot Performance relies on MasterCraft seats and harnesses to keep the crew in place during high-speed maneuvers. Town and Country of Midvale, Utah, recovered the seats in a custom mix of gray and black tweed to match the stock interior paneling.
When we caught up with Josh, he explained that the truck was far from complete. Neither of us could turn down the chance, however, to photograph a truck that we'd not soon see again. We drove straight out of Moab, dodging a rainstorm, and found a hideous jump with a completely flat landing -- the only obstacle in the vicinity for the Ford to run over. Without hesitation, Josh aimed the truck at the dirt mound over and over again. Each time, the Ford worked better and soaked it all up with ease.
The future looks bright for Holeshot Performance, and we hope to run into Josh, Trent, and the next generation of off-roaders during our next trip to the land of Jeeps and slickrock.
Specifications
•Owners: Josh Smario/Trent Spanbauer
•Year/make/model: '96 Ford Ranger SuperCab
•Engine: 3.0L V-6
•Drivetrain: Trussed Ford 9-inch rearend with Summers Bros. axles and 4:10 gears
•Suspension: Holeshot crossover steering; Camburg Engineering radius arms and I-beams; Sway-A-Way coilovers
•Interior: MasterCraft prerunner seating and belts; interior cab cage
•Accessories: Fiberwerx one-piece fiberglass front end and bedsides; LightForce driving lights; graphics by City Signs