Stopping power for the car is derived from a four-wheel-disc ProAm brake setup by Kartek Manufacturing. A special hand-operated "splitter" brake in the cockpit enables the driver to make tighter and faster turns by isolating the right and left rear brake systems - this is especially useful in deep sand.
A custom space frame was fabricated from 4130 steel alloy to ensure that the Hummer's durability was not compromised. The front suspension consists of double A-arms with coilover springs and specially valved, four-tube King bypass shocks, while the rear features 934-series CV joints and stub axles by Kartek Manufacturing. King coilovers and four-tube bypass shocks bear the Hummer's weight at each rear corner. The total vertical wheel travel for the front and rear suspensions is 20 inches.
While the exterior of the car may resemble a Hummer H3, the interior is all business with a bevy of switches, fuses, and buttons spread throughout the custom dashpanels. Specially engineered Sparco race seats were designed to minimize fatigue to the driver and navigator during the race, while a custom air conditioning system was integrated into the sealed cabin to minimize the extreme heat generated from the environment and engine. Twin Terratrip odometers with a KVH digital compass, twin GPS units with the Iritrac team navigation/locator units complete the directional units of the truck. It is important to note that in order to keep the competitors on a level playing field, the GPS units are purposely limited in accuracy by race organizers to place a premium on the team's navigation skills. Additionally, regulations do not allow communication systems of any type to be installed in the vehicles that may lend assistance in navigating the course. The Hummer is also equipped with the required Belize satellite tracking emergency homing beacon which, if activated, immediately disqualifies the entry.
The Little Monster H3 is an impressive vehicle. High-tech parts and intelligent engineering combine to make this an off-road contender, no matter WHERE it competes off-road. Only bad luck, which raises its ugly head at the most inopportune moments, was able to keep Robby and the H3 from making a stellar showing at this year's Dakar Rally.
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Massive Toyo Open Country M/T 37x14.50R15 tires mounted on Robby Gordon 15x6.5-inch alloy
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A carbon-fiber replica of the H3 body panels were made by hand at Menards Engineering Limi
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The engine is supported by a custom-fabricated solid piece of billet aluminum that has bee
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A total of 10 gallons of emergency coolant/drinking water is carried on board in two 5-gal
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The custom-fabricated RGM/RacePak digital instrument panel allows monitoring of all vital
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The two-place cockpit for driver and navigator is completely sealed, filtered by Uni, and
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Twin Pro Comp batteries power a custom-wired Raychem harness designed and fabricated by Ja
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