By the time you read this article, the American Racing '07 Ford Ranger may have already gone through major fabrication upgrades. The original intention for this project was to showcase American Racing's new ATX series of wheels with a show-stopping project vehicle that would turn heads at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. As the vehicle was being built, American Racing decided that not only should this vehicle be a representation of its products, but it should also be a vehicle that the company could enter in SCORE and BITD racing events. So don't be surprised if OFF-ROAD revisits the AR Ranger once the final components are completed and the vehicle is ready to launch off the starting line at its first race.
If you're not familiar with American Racing, let us share with you just a few of the people and race teams it sponsors. If you're a desert racing fan, then you'll recognize the names Cameron Steele, Pete Sohren, Larry Roeseler, Clive Skilton, and Don Moss. In the short-course world, AR sponsors racers such as Chad Hord, Steve Federico, Mike Oberg, and Scott Douglas. For the rockcrawlers out there, look for the company's wheels on the Karnivore Racing machine. Finally, in the world of motocross, AR sponsors the Xtreme Team Green Amateur Team, Sarah Whitmore, and Mike Sleeter among others. Without a doubt, American Racing has become a predominant figure among all levels of off-road racing today and for many years to come.
The ATX series of wheels has become popular because of their style and Teflon-coated, durable finish (think nonstick frying pans). The coating was designed for easy cleaning and resistance to brake dust, weather, and extreme temperatures. Although not all of the wheels in this series sport the Teflon coating, we feel that this feature is a big reason why they've become so popular with off-roading enthusiasts. American Racing's Ford Ranger project does an excellent job of showcasing the company's new wheel series. You might say it's American Racing's brand manager on wheels.
 After taking delivery of its...  After taking delivery of its new project vehicle, American Racing sent the truck to its engineering department to get fitted with a set of American Racing ATX Chamber PRO beadlock wheels. The new wheels currently come only in 17x8.5 with 4.5 inches of backspacing. They have a -6mm offset and look great surrounded by 315/70R17 Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S tires. |  Beard Super Sport racing seats...  Beard Super Sport racing seats were mounted alongside a custom-made center console (also built by Desolate) containing the controls for the PCI Race Radios intercom system and a Lowrance GlobalMap GPS. As we mentioned earlier, this vehicle was made to race, so AR needed a seat that was not only comfortable but capable of running a 5-point race harness. Once the cab cage is completed, both seats will be tied into the chassis. |  |