8:55 PM
Johnny Schultz
The design of the new Trophy Truck was developed in close cooperation with the creative team of Achim Storz. DESIGN STORZ based in Zell am See (Austria) developed the silhouette of the Trophy Truck with the body of the BMW X6 as an inspiration. The team found the greatest challenges in realising the idea of this special shape while incorporating the technical features of a Trophy Truck.
Another partner is Meziere Enterprises, a long-standing supporter of AGM that specialises in machined and lathed parts for racing. Team boss Christensen spent many nights with engineers from Meziere, developing calculations, drawings and CAD data.
"There is an incredible amount of machined parts on this Trophy Truck. We rely on the lightweight construction - whether it’s aluminium, magnesium or titanium - that Meziere has made for us," says Armin Schwarz. All carbon-fibre components on the vehicle, for instance the internal parts that are exposed to strong vibrations, are supplied by partner Lynx Composites.
With the suspension, All German Motorsports places it trust in partners Eibach and Fox. They equip the Trophy Truck not only with springs and shock absorbers, but also contribute to the planning. In conjunction with Eibach and Fox, team boss Christensen calculated what the suspension must withstand and provide taking the weight of the vehicle into consideration.
Powering the AGM-Jimco X6 Trophy Truck is a 725 hp V8 Denzio BMW engine. The filter system and the air ducting were set-up by K&N in Riverside, California. Partner Remus built an ultra-lightweight exhaust with a multi-flow 4-in-1 exhaust system. "This provides the unmistakeable sound of the Trophy Truck. That’s exactly what our fans love to hear," said Schwarz. Liqui Moly is the supplier of all lubricants which have been specifically developed for the hot, sandy and difficult conditions of offroad racing in the desert.
Fortin delivers the gearbox: A sequential shift automatic gearbox. "At the rear axle we work with Drexler Motorsport for the first time. They are experts in the field of differentials. We selected a differential which gives us considerably better vehicle handling on the twisty and rolling tracks than a rigid drive," explains Schwarz. "And as far as tyres are concerned, we are sticking with our good and reliable partner, BF Goodrich. Their rubber is a must."
All German Motorsports get all the safety systems, like the Recaro seats, the Schroth harness system, race wear, helmets and the Stand21 HANS system, as well as all the small parts like switches and so forth, from their partner Off Road Warehouse ORW.
But it’s not just about hardware in the AGM-Jimco X6 SCORE Trophy Truck, it’s also about the software. In conjunction with B&M Tricon, the team launched a development project. IT solutions were found that are intended to contribute to simplifying and optimising the set-up of the vehicle in the future.
For August, All German Motorsports plan comparison tests with the new vehicle, which stands out from other Trophy Trucks through its low weight and substantially better aerodynamics. In September, the AGM-Jimco X6 SCORE Trophy Truck will celebrate its public launch in Germany. As part of the presentation, new partners will be announced.
"Our first race with the AGM-Jimco Trophy Truck will be in November at the Baja 1000," says Schwarz. "We’re regarding the Baja 1000 more as a test run and as a good preparation for the 2012 season in the US SCORE Offroad Championship. That’s when we want to secure our first wins."
Source: http://www.marathonrally.com/news/score_2011_schwarz_to_start_with_all_new_agm_jimco_bmw_x6_trophy_truck.18716.0.html
