News
MINI STOCK DRIVER ANDREA PATHIAKIS STARTS UP 2012 LORORS SEASON
Riverside, Ca. February 13, 2012- The Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Racing Series has announced six races for the 2012 season and Mini Stock champion Andrea Pathiakis will be continuing her drive from last year, to make this season another unforgettable one. With the race season starting this Saturday, February 10th at Glen Helen Raceway, the series will continue through the year with two new venues added to the list; Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park and an end of the year championship shootout at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The ICON Vehicle Dynamics team is proud to continue sponsoring Pathiakis and will be attending the regional events alongside their sponsored driver for pit support and an overall great day of racing. The #11 Mini Stock had nothing short of an exciting 2011 season with three podiums including two 1st place trophies. During the last October race, Pathiakis was two points shy of being on the top of her class and although it was a small gap, the female driver knew that she needed to just drive her race and persevere for the podium. Pathiakis started in front and stayed in the front during the Mini Stock main. The #11 driver worked hard to make it past three Stock Modified trucks and even stayed up close to one of the fastest trucks in that class as the other Mini Stock field was far behind. The competition yellow flag came and went as Pathiakis quickly gained her lead again while the Mini Stock stayed in the back of the pack. A couple more fast and smooth laps, she then took the checkered flag ending the 2011 season with the overall points lead, taking home the 2011 LORORS Mini Stock Championship; as a rookie. This upcoming weekend’s premiere season race will be nothing short of action packed excitement that comes from short course racing. As the new 2012 season commences, Pathiakis is proud to announce the signing on of new and old sponsors including Lucas Oil, Off Road Vixens, Method Race Wheels, Nissan Motorsports, MOMO USA, SDHQ, and DMZ Fab & Race Prep. Tim Duncan of DMZ has been a crucial APRacing team member, providing thorough race preparation and oversight of the racing program along with valuable words of racing for the driver. Pathiakis has been busy in the off season as she is a full time college student and continues racing with ICON Vehicle Dynamics motorsports marketing manager, Sean Kepler in various desert races and travels with the ICON team. The off season has also included the presentation of the #11 Mini Stock at the Sand Sports Expo and Off Road Expo to promote the driver and Lucas Oil Regional series. The Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series has dramatically grown from its premiere April 2011 race; including all of the attributes that the larger Lucas series has to offer. Pathiakis has become a key competitor in the grassroots racing series and already has plans to continue her success in the 2012 season. The ICON Vehicle Dynamics is proud to continue with the driver and is overly pleased with her presence and victories. The 2012 year will bring many opportunities for the 2011 Mini Stock Champion.
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ICON SPONSORED ALEXANDER MOTORSPORTS GETS 3RD AT THE 2012 PARKER 425
Alexander Motorsports debuted their new look on February 4th, 2012 as one of the official KC HiLiTES race vehicles. Alexander Motorsports will be racing the 2012 Best in the Desert series with help from the following new partners: KC HiLiTES, ICON Vehicle Dynamics featuring the new ZETA bypass shock, Bill Shapley Racing Engines & Transmissions, FK Rod Ends, Torco Advanced Lubricants, K&N Filters, MSD Ignition, Mickey Thompson Tires, BTR Wheels, Getpipped.com, Patrick Sign’s, and Butch’s Speed Shop. Steve Alexander and Gavin Ferguson started the race second out of five in Class 5000. At the end of the first lap they were running in third position. The car was working phenomenal. The new ICON Vehicle Dynamics bypass shocks were holding strong and kept the ride smooth. The team suffered a 20 minute set back during the second lap due to a nut coming loose on the lower link pin. Once the crew from Las Vegas Dissemination identified and rectified the problem Steve and Gavin continued to chase the leaders. At the end of the second lap Steve Alexander was so impressed with the handling of the car he made the decision to stay in the car and drive the last lap. With the sun going down and the visibility down to zero they clipped a rock with the rear tire suffering their only flat for the entire race 20 miles from start/finish. Finally the sun went down and they were able to use their KC HIDs to light up the desert and bring it to the finish. Just under 10 hours and 425 miles later the brand new Bill Shapley racing engine with Torco oil never missed a beat, no matter how deep the washes or silt got, the 2332cc had the torque to get the job done and giving them the third place podium position. Steve said “the car rode so smooth, I could do one more lap”, obviously he owes that to the ICON Vehicle Dynamics ZETA shocks.
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ICON RELEASE’S 2011 CHEVY & GMC 2500HD / 3500 SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
ICON Vehicle Dynamics is known for building revolutionary performance suspension systems for Ford, Toyota, Dodge and many others. We are now taking a giant leap forward into the GM HD Suspension Market. The 2011 Chevy & GMC 2500HD / 3500 2wd or 4wd 5-8” Suspension lift kit will be the first of many to be released in 2012. Features such as Torsion Drop or TRS (Torsion Relocation System) options, integrated differential, and transmission skid plates designed for added off-road protection, and V.S. Aluminum Series 2.0 or V.S. Series 2.5 piggy back shocks valved for optimum performance and handling on and off-road. The optional Tubular Uni-ball Upper control arms increase suspension wheel travel, and improve wheel alignment. Future Dual Shock Brackets and other add-on accessories will be available for this system as we continue development of our GM product line. This HD suspension system was engineered to offer superior ride quality, performance, increased component protection, and reliability all in one affordable package for the consumer. With over a year of development and testing ICON Vehicle Dynamics is ready to release the 2500HD / 3500 5-8” Suspension System with torsion drop brackets (TRS system coming late Feb). We are now accepting pre-orders and will be shipping product January 20th. Key Features for Torsion Drop System Heavy Duty Boxed Sub-Frame with integrated Diff and Transmission Skid Plates Precision CNC Machined Cast Iron O.E Style Spindle Knuckles 5-8” Adjustable Lift Height V.S. 2.0 Aluminum or 2.5 Series Piggy Back Shocks Available Stainless Steel Shield Emblem Badges included Adds Ground Clearance, improved drivability, and handling over stock Complies with GM Stabilitrak System Retains Factory track width when high offset wheels are used ICON high quality fit, appearance and improved suspension function Made in the USA Kit Options Front Skid Plate with Stainless Steel Shield Badge 4 Wheel Drive Dual CV Drive Shaft (Alisson or 4L8E) Transmission Shift Linkage Relocation Brackets Stainless Steel Braided Front Brake Lines Uni-ball Upper Control Arms That Add Additional Strength & Suspension Travel TRS Brackets (Torsion Relocation System) to keep Torsion bars in Factory Location Wheel & Tire Fitment Info OEM Wheels & Tires: Yes AfterMarket Wheels: 17″ – 18″ w/ up to 5.5″ Backspace 20″ + w/ up to 5.75 – 6″ Backspace (pending MFG.) Aftermarket Tires: 35″ when lifted at 6-7″ 37″ when lifted to 8″ (minor trimming required)
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ROAD RACE MOTORSPORTS 2012 JEEP RUBICON JK
Road Race Motorsports 2012 Jeep Rubicon JK with a 2.5″ lift and ICON 2.5″ Front and Rear Shocks. This was a build for SEMA 2011 and really is a clean looking rig that got some good attention while out in Las Vegas.
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ICON EQUIPPED – OAKLEY ULTIMATE SURF TRUCK
The 2011 SEMA Show was the scene for the debut of the Oakley Surf Tacoma. From the coast of Baja to the cold water of Santa Cruz, Calif., the Oakley Surf Tacoma has the ability to live at the beach and go anywhere in search of mega waves. Australian surfing pro Tom Whitaker talked about the Oakley Surf Tacoma at a press conference in the Toyota exhibit at the SEMA Show. Built using a rugged Toyota Tacoma 4×4 pickup equipped with a V6 engine and TRD supercharger that generates 304 horsepower, the truck was customized by Smithbuilt to be a Surfing Big Wave Assault Machine. Additional performance modifications include a Flowmaster stainless steel exhaust, an ICON stage 3 lift kit, Billet top A arms, new leaf springs for added height, a new Inside modifications include Wet Okole Hawaii custom embroidered seat covers, Topstitch interior modifications on the door panels, head liner and carpet kit throughout, a Kicker sound system and an Oakley icon. Oakley Surf Tacoma Features Suspension – Icon stage 3 lift kit Bumpers – Front – Arb Rear – Custom – Mike Smith Fabrication – Arb deluxe bull bar – ARB winch kit – Two – eight-inch Vision X HID’s – Mike Smith Fabrication rear bumper and tire rack Roof Racking System / Rear Bed – Customized to hold 6-8 surf boards – Custom access doors – Integrated driving light by Vision X – Oakley net system for extra storage – Integrated shower system – Custom storage system throughout truck bed Wheels and Tires – Walker Evans 17 X 8 bead locks/flat black finish – BF Goodrich 285/75-17 All Terrain Tires Interior – Wet Okole Hawaii seat covers custom embroidered – Oakley icon – Topstitch interior mods to include door panels, head liner and carpet kit throughout – Kicker Sound System Extras – Storage cooler – Storable barbecue grill – On board air compressor supplied by VIAIR Corporation – ARB rear canopy Partners / Contributors – ICON – BFG – Walker Evans Wheels – Vision X lighting – Smithbuilt – ARB
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NEW FORD RAPTOR SVT FORGED BEADLOCK WHEEL
Exclusively through Icon Vehicle Dynamics – ProAm Racing Products – Ford Raptor SVT – 17" x 8.5" RM2 Forged Beadlock Wheel ProAm Racing Products are known in the Off Road Racing World to be some of the highest quality racing components available in today’s market. The Ford Raptor SVT is a high end, “race inspired” vehicle that deserves nothing but the best. ProAm Racing’s RM2 17" x 8.5" Forged Beadlock Raptor Wheels are Made in the USA! The RM2 Raptor wheels start from a high quality 6061 Aluminum Spun Forged slug that is heat treated and aged using the highest quality process available. Starting with a solid slug this wheel is completely machined in their Southern California facility from start to finish with aircraft quality precision. The wheels are then polished and anodized for a smooth silver finish look. ProAm Racing RM2 Raptor beadlock wheels come complete with clear or black anodized rings, silver F-911 hardware (pictured with Stainless ARP bolts for display), and fully machined solid design center caps that are o-ring sealed for a tight quality fit. Such off road racing teams and superstars like Terrible Herbst Motorsports and Rob MacCachren can attest to the strength and quality of ProAm Racing Products through their experiences in Desert and Short Course Racing. These wheels are a true piece of quality from start to finish. Key Features: 6061 Aluminum – Spun Forged – Heat Treated & Aged Construction 100% Precision Aircraft Quality CNC Machined From a Solid Slug CNC Machined Grid Lock BeadLock Rings with F-911 Hardware Fully Machined Solid Design Center Caps w/ O-Rings RM2 Wheel Cores are Polished & Anodized Rings & Caps are available in Polished, or Black Hard Anodized Finish Wheel & Tire Info: 17 x 8.5 Wheel 5 1/4" Back Space for perfect fit with up to 37" Tall Tires Fits Ford SVT Raptors or 2WD & 4WD F-150 Applications Wheels are sold individually and include the wheel, beadlock ring, and hardware. Minimum of 4 wheels must be purchased for use on Ford Raptor or F-150 trucks.
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ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS AT THE LA AUTO SHOW…
ICON Vehicle Dynamics has teamed up with Dirt Alliance to place some vehicles at this weekends LA Auto Show as well as some vehicles we sponsor. Dirt Alliance asked Icon Vehicle Dynamics to bring out several vehicles that are purpose built for off-road, but still have mass appeal. We also have a second Ford Raptor built by Street Concepts located in the Wheel Warehouse Booth. The Los Angeles Auto Show is one of the top automotive events worldwide, bringing together the latest new vehicles from auto manufacturers around the world. With no shortage of exotic vehicles, concept cars & stock rides, we wanted to make sure the Dirt Lifestyle was represented as well. Be sure to get out there and take a look at vehicles that are second to none. This is an amazing opportunity to not only see ICON vehicles up close, but the hottest new releases from many other manufactures as well. ICON Vehicle Dynamics – Ford Raptor with Billet Upper Arms, ICON 3.0 Coil Over and rear 3.0 Bypass Shocks ICON Vehicle Dynamics – 2011 Chevy 2500HD with 5-8″ Lift Kit with ICON V.S. Series 2.5″ Shocks Street Concepts – Ford Raptor with Billet Upper Arms, ICON 3.0 Coil Over and rear 3.0 Bypass Shocks ICON Vehicle Dynamics 3.0 Suspension on the Street Concepts Ford Raptor
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2011 2500HD / 3500 5-8? LIFT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS READY TO BE RELEASED
After extensive testing by our engineering dept., in the coming weeks we will be releasing our newly designed 2011 GM Chevy or GMC 2500HD / 3500 2wd | 4wd Leveling Components and 5-8″ Complete Suspension Lift Kit Systems to a dealer near you. Make sure you are talking to your local Off Road Accessory shop to get yours on order today. Our New 5-8″ Suspension lift kit combined with our ICON V.S. Series 2.0 or 2.5 shocks is an un-stopable set up with industry leading performance. Here are some details about our new 5-8″ Chevy or GMC 2500HD / 3500 Suspension Lift Kit…
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UTVGUIDE.NET 2011 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TOW RIG BUILDUP
Crowley Offroad recently purchased a 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat 4×4 Crew Cab tow vehicle and quickly embarked on a mild buildup to improve ride quality, looks, and also feature some aftermarket parts and accessories. Before we get into the specifics on the goodies we added to make the truck better, let’s take a look at the truck as it came from the factory. I need a truck than can tow and haul, and the best choice for that is a diesel. At the heart of this F-350 is the 6.7L Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel. Best-in-class power and fuel economy. Clean and quiet operation. The new Power Stroke features a Single-Sequential Turbocharger that is located between the cylinder heads and the top of the block, and the exhaust manifold positioned inboard and adjacent to the turbocharger. Closer proximity means faster air displacement and more power. The 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel was designed and built entirely by Ford and is capable of producing 390 hp at 2800 RPM and 735 lb·ft of torque at 1600 RPM. The Ford TorqShift® 6-Speed SelectShiftT Automatic Ttransmission has big, strong gears that take on extra torque, meaning you use fewer rpm because the torque converter locks up at lower speeds. Our new truck is packed with a long list of options and option packages. Included are heated and cooled front seats, rear view camera, tailgate step, remote start, power-slide moon roof andFX4 off-road package. Our truck does many things and must remain versatile. I tow on a regular basis and also use it as a daily driver so a big lift and huge tires, although very cool looking, is not practical for me. The ride quality of the F-350 was pretty harsh, and I know what a good set of aftermarket shocks can do for a UTV, so it seemed only natural to do the same for my truck. The F-350 is made for hauling and sits with quite a rake to it. I started to look at leveling kits. Some of them included spacers to raise the front and this seemed like a lower quality patch to me. After looking around for a while, I found a stage-4 2.5″ Leveling Kit with 2.5″ shocks from ICON Vehicle Dynamics that also includes new progressive rate front springs. The system’s components provide for better-than-stock ride quality and is perfect for the cost-conscious truck owner who wants a level truck and a smooth ride. This stage 4 system upgrades the front and rear shocks to 2.5″ diameter Piggy-Back shocks. The system also includes our adjustable pan-rod bar and steering stabilizer kit and shocks. With the decision on the lift underway, I knew that I was going to have to up the size of the tires to fill in the void and also improve the looks of the truck. I am a fan of flat black wheels, but felt there needed to be a little bit of bling in there. What I found was the Mojave in Black made by Fuel. I went with a larger 20″ wheel in black and they have a faux beadlock with chrome bolt heads. For tires, I knew I needed something a little bigger than stock, but I didn’t want to trim anything or worry about a messing up my gear ratio too much. I also use the truck on the road 95% of the time so a real aggressive tire did not make any sense. I decided on a LT275/65R20 Nitto Crosstek HD. This tire is just over 34″ tall, and was specifically designed for 3/4 and 1-ton trucks.the Crosstek HD is E-load rated, and is built to provide strength and durability.Once I received the lift from ICON Vehicle Dynamics, I arranged to have it installed and the front end aligned at Keith’s Alignment & Brake in Placerville, CA. I was buried with new product media introductions this time of year and these guys are off-roaders and do quality work. I dropped the truck off at 8AM and they had the lift installed and front end aligned by early afternoon. The kit came complete and went together well. The one downside to leveling a truck is once you put a load the the bed, it will sit low in the rear. The solution is to add air springs to allow complete adjustability to different load demands. Air springs are only a few hundred bucks and are relatively easy to install. You can go all out with a compressor and in-cab control, but I just went the simple route and have the air lines running out the back. With the truck a little taller, side steps were necessary. I found a nice set of oval cab-length steps that were powder-coated black from Tuff-Bar. Installing them took all of 1/2 and hour and was real straight-forward. I often carry a UTV on a rack in the bed of my truck, and like the rack to be firmly secured. I don’t trust the tie-downs that attached to sheet metal in the bed of the truck for this type of load so the ultimate solution is frame mounted camper tie-downs. Tork-Lift is what I have used in the past and they had a setup for the 2011. The front tie-downs attach to the front leaf spring hangers and a hole in the top of the frame. Installation took about an hour. The last step was to protect the bed. I like dealing with local businesses whenever possible so I hooked up with Line-X in Placerville. I opted for their newer “Premium” product that has UV protection built in to keep it looking new for a lot longer than their standard liner. With everything installed, it was time to take it for a good test drive with the truck empty and no trailer. I was headed to Barstow for the Arctic Cat Wildcat media introductionand decided to drive down instead of flying. The route would be up and over the Sierra’s and down Highway 395. I planned a few off-road detours along the way, then back home on Highway 99. This routing would give me a chance to see the suspension work in a wide variety of terrain: I traveled up Highway 50 up and over Echo Summit to Meyers. Then Highway 89 over Luther Pass, over Monitor Pass and down to Highway 395. On all these mountain roads, the truck felt a little more plush, but sporty at the same time. There was no sense being too high in the air, and it railed through the corners as well as a big truck could do. Once on Highway 395, I picked a straight section where I could hold my speed steady, then checked the speedometer with a GPS app on my iPhone (yes, there is an app for just about everything). At 65 MPH, I was within 1 MPH. Nice to see the speedo wasn’t too far off after adding the taller tires. Just past Bridgeport, I decided to take my first detour and head into the ghost town of Bodie. Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine California gold-mining ghost town that sits at 8,375 feet. There is a 10 mile paved road, then the last three miles are “graded” dirt road with lots of wash boards and rough sections. In stock form, the F350 would chatter hard on any wash boards and if this happened in a turn, the rear would want to pass the front. Not an ideal situation and it can be dangerous on road when this happens at higher speeds. With the new shocks and tires, I was able to keep up a higher speed, with a smoother ride and stay in control. This is a huge plus, not just in comfort but also for safety. After checking out Bodie for a bit I was back on the road headed south on Highway 395. My next detour was a quick stop at the Olancha Dunes which is just south of Owens Dry Lake. I am a big fan of riding in the dunes and I had never been to this dune field, so i figured I should stop by and grab a few pictures for DuneGuide.comand grab a little sand for my sand collection. Since I still have a ways to go to get to Barstow, I didn’t really want to lower the air pressure in my tires. The Super Duty diesel truck is very heavy and not real conducive to duning so I tried to play it safe so I wouldn’t get stuck in the sand with no wing man to yank me free and no shovel to dig myself out. Net result was I had to really focus on keeping my momentum up. In a stock truck with the higher speeds and rough terrain, I am sure I would have lost a few fillings. The ICON shocks really help smooth out the rough stuff and also prevent g-outs. Ford F-350 at Olancha Dunes With my second detour in the bag I continued on my way to Barstow where I spent a few days with Arctic Cat riding their new sport UTV in the big whoops and rough terrain. I focused on riding the new Wildcat and did not venture off-road with my truck. On the way home, I decided to take a more direct route home and travel back over the Tehachapi’s to Barstow and then back up Highway 99 to Sacramento. If you have never traveled up the Central Valley of California, consider yourself lucky. The highway is far from smooth and driving a truck with a stiff suspension would not be my first choice of vehicles. The drive up 99 was about what I would expect. The new ICON suspension helped take the edge off the ugly rough stuff. It is by no means a Cadillac, but you have to remember it is a one-ton truck. One thing to remember as well, is the 2.5″ ICON shocks can be valved to your liking. I think the way they are valved now is best for all-around use, both loaded and unloaded. But if you want a softer ride or more sporty setup, they can be tailored to your taste. Overall, I am thrilled with the changes I have made. It looks more tough, it is more comfortable and safe on and off road, and I didn’t mess with the Super Duty’s great towing and hauling abilities.
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