Full Potential Off Road Superlite - Chad's Superlite

1997 Ford Ranger Prerunner Chad Superlite Front View

Chad Leising has always enjoyed dirt motorsports, having spent years riding dirt bikes, from motocross to freestyle. He frequented the popular Southern California hot spots, such as Ocotillo and Glamis, but found pushing the limits when riding left him too often vulnerable to injury. Long flights can result in broken bones.

While riding in the desert, he soon found interest in the long-travel buggies and trucks that had the ability to hurl themselves through the air at high speed and land safely, and he got hooked. About two years ago, he built a trick '97 Ford Ranger prerunner, and our Senior Editor Jordan May chased it down long enough to snap some photos and show it off in the Dec. '06 issue of Off-Road.

1997 Ford Ranger Prerunner Chad Superlite Short Jump

The Ranger was heavily built and competitive, but Chad longed for something even more refined. So he sold the Ford and started looking for his next thrill ride. It was about this time he got a call from longtime friend Travis from Dirt Alliance, who mentioned he had found a series that might interest Chad. A company called Full Potential Offroad (FPO) was working on a spec-class truck that would be raced on short-track courses. Once Chad saw what FPO was offering, he was sold on the idea immediately.

1997 Ford Ranger Prerunner Chad Superlite Side View

Full Potential had observed that UTV racing was growing wildly in popularity, serious racers were pouring lots of time and dollars into their machines, and the short-course racing was very appealing. The guys at FPO felt they could offer a fair step up in performance and had the idea of creating a lightweight spec-class racer that could be track raced and relatively affordable for a high-tech two-seat car. The Superlite was born, and with it, another goal for the race trucks to require minimal prep work between races. The spec-class rules limit tire size, allow single coilover shocks only, and prohibit modification to the engine or transmission.

With over two years of experimentation and prototyping under their belt and the destruction of a handful of chassis along the way, the guys at FPO have started turning out production cars with Chad's truck being the first completed.

1997 Ford Ranger Prerunner Chad Superlite Exterior Side View

The compact design weighs in dry at a svelte 1,800 pounds and has a tip-to-tail length of 13-1/2 feet. Ample power comes from a Pineapple Racing Mazda engine coupled with a venerable Mendeola four-speed.

We got the chance to check out a race at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park where the Superlites competed on a short dirt track. The trucks proved themselves to be quick, nimble, and very tractable through the banked berms and over the jumps.

We'd expect this race series to gain popularity in the future and offer yet another venue for avid racers to compete in a high-tech motorsports class. For more information on the FPO Superlites, go to www.fullpotentialoffroad.com.

The chassis is constructed primarily from 1-5/8-inch DOM tubing. Many of the critical joints are TIG-welded, and the CAD-engineered structure is sturdy and efficient. Each truck sits on a 94-inch wheelbase and sports a 74-inch track width.
The chassis is constructed primarily from 1-5/8-inch DOM tubing. Many of the critical join
The interior is all business as you would assume. Driver and codriver are wrapped in a DOM cage sheathed in bead-rolled aluminum panels. The dash is populated with instrumentation to monitor all the engine vital signs. A small center console holds the cable shifter for the tranny and a CNC'd throttle pedal, and Wilwood clutch and brake master cylinders mount up near the firewall.
The interior is all business as you would assume. Driver and codriver are wrapped in a DOM
PRP suspension seats fill the cockpit to accommodate a driver and codriver, and Parker Pumpers behind them provide clean air to the helmeted occupants. A PWR radiator sits aft of the cab with a screen mesh separating the two. It gets cooled from airflow through the cab with the assistance of a rear-mounted, shrouded electric fan. Both engine coolant and oil are cooled in separate sections of the radiator.
PRP suspension seats fill the cockpit to accommodate a driver and codriver, and Parker Pum

A small starting battery sits center, just in front of the firewall and between the upper A-arms. Chad runs the longer-version front bumper that provides room to mount three driving lights in front of the body clip. Some of the Superlites have a more-contracted nose without the front lighting, which offers a better approach angle.
A small starting battery sits center, just in front of the firewall and between the upper
At each corner, you'll find four-piston Wilwood calipers squeezing 12-inch vented and drilled rotors. Hubs are FPO pieces and use a five-lug wheel pattern.
At each corner, you'll find four-piston Wilwood calipers squeezing 12-inch vented and dril
The rear trailing arms support FPO hub assemblies, and power makes it to the wheels through Sway-A-Way shafts combined with 930 race CVs with chrome-moly ball cages. Keeping the rear suspension balanced is a low-mounted torsion sway bar.
The rear trailing arms support FPO hub assemblies, and power makes it to the wheels throug

All A-arms and spindles are made in-house at Full Potential. Rod ends or spherical balls are used at all moving joints. Tires are restricted to any 235/75R15 size and type, but drivers are allowed to cut the tread to their liking. Chad's tires are grooved for improved traction on the track thanks to Precision Race Development of El Cajon, California. Wheels are beadlocked alloys to keep the tires clamped snug during hard cornering and off-square landings.
All A-arms and spindles are made in-house at Full Potential. Rod ends or spherical balls a
To relieve some load on the engine and eliminate a fan belt, each Superlite uses an electric-driven hydraulic pump to provide assist pressure to the Kartek steering rack tucked up in the nose of the chassis. Note the large fluid reservoir mounted with the pump near the firewall.
To relieve some load on the engine and eliminate a fan belt, each Superlite uses an electr
Blake Wilkey gets the nod for dialing in the King shocks on Chad's truck. The class allows owners to use any single-reservoir coilover shock of their choosing. External bypass shocks are not allowed, but owners can add supplemental air bumps. Fronts are 12-inch body shocks, and rears are 14-inch bodies.
Blake Wilkey gets the nod for dialing in the King shocks on Chad's truck. The class allows

FPO fabricates the compact exhaust from 304 stainless and caps it with a SuperTrapp tip. Super-sano mounts secure the muffler to a rear side panel next to the tranny.
FPO fabricates the compact exhaust from 304 stainless and caps it with a SuperTrapp tip. S
A 16-gallon fuel cell sits aft of the engine and above the gearbox, and a Holley electric fuel pump moves regular unleaded gas forward to the engine. Fuel level is monitored with a dash-mounted gauge.
A 16-gallon fuel cell sits aft of the engine and above the gearbox, and a Holley electric
Looking from above with the rear panel removed, we can see the Mazda 13-B Pineapple Racing-built rotary motor. These compact powerplants output in excess of 200 hp with fuel aspiration provided via a single Weber 48 IDA carb. Ignition spark comes from an MSD 6AL ignition unit and MSD wires. Powerband on the motor runs from about 4,700 to 8,000 rpm, where it is rev-limited for motor longevity.
Looking from above with the rear panel removed, we can see the Mazda 13-B Pineapple Racing

The tranny is a Mendeola MD4S four-speed gearbox with upgraded Weddle gears and a 2D gear carrier. A chrome-moly spool locks the axles, so throttle response from the gearbox is predictable and consistent.
The tranny is a Mendeola MD4S four-speed gearbox with upgraded Weddle gears and a 2D gear
The body is formed from lightweight ABS plastic and is assembled onto the chassis in six pieces. DH Graphics in Murrieta, California, did all the graphics wrap work, and Power1 of El Cajon shot the silvery powdercoat on Chad's chassis.
The body is formed from lightweight ABS plastic and is assembled onto the chassis in six p
Chad turned out to be the fastest Superlite driver for the day and won all three races, handily beating the other Superlite drivers.
Chad turned out to be the fastest Superlite driver for the day and won all three races, ha

With the trucks built to spec class, the competition overall should remain fairly tight, save for differences amongst driver skill and suspension tuning. The day we watched the races at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, there were four Superlites competing at the same time 1400 class trucks were running, but the Superlites quickly left them behind.
With the trucks built to spec class, the competition overall should remain fairly tight, s
Sometimes those easily assembled panels may also disassemble themselves. Chad was sliding hard through this berm when the right rear quarter took flight. The panel may have been cracked from a previous bump with another race truck.
Sometimes those easily assembled panels may also disassemble themselves. Chad was sliding
A Superlite chassis gets welded on the rotisserie in the FPO fab shop.

The rear trailing arms are fabricated from a number of sheet components and TIG-welded for ultimate strength. Large rod ends attach the arms to the rear portion of the tubular chassis.
The rear trailing arms are fabricated from a number of sheet components and TIG-welded for