Century Racing reached out to Fortin Racing in late 2022 looking for a drivetrain package to be sold in their new CR7. We worked closely with them modifying existing products and developing new parts to meet their chassis layout, drivetrain loads, and performance requirements. It was no easy task re-configuring what has taken us years to develop, after all, our differentials have been some of the earliest with success in organizations like SCORE and BITD.
After some back and forth between engineering, it was determined that our existing differentials simply would not fit with the newly designed CR7 chassis that was holding traction, ground clearance, and steering characteristics paramount. After months of design and manufacturing, we delivered the preliminary sets of differentials to Century Racing. We are proud to stand behind them as they take on competitors backed by major manufacturers like Toyota and Ford. Good luck in the 2024 Dakar Rally!
After many years in the making Brock Heger has picked up his first Pro Lite championship in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. Heger has been in the industry racing Trophy Karts since 2008 and has picked up many other championships along the way. Although, this year he was able to get a championship he has been working at for a long time. Heger has come close to clenching this Pro Lite title multiple times in the past coming in second in 2018 and top 5 in 2019.
“This championship has been years in the making and finally my team and I have been able to get it done in 2020. This year has been different and we ended up having some race weekends where we would have 3 races a weekend. My team and I worked hard to get the truck prepped and ready for these long weekends to make sure that the car was in championship contending shape. I can’t thank my team and all of my sponsors enough for making my dreams a reality and allowing me to continue doing what I love. I am ready to come back in 2021 with one championship under my belt and try to do it again”, said Heger.
Fortin Racing, Inc. has applied over 40 years of off-road racing drive train experience to the Can-Am X3 rear drive line. The mission was to improve the strength and reliability of the rear hub, upright, bearings, CV’s, axles and brakes. With the increased loads from larger diameter tires and wheels, heavier vehicle weights, and the demands of endurance off road racing, a complete redesign was required. Starting with the upright or bearing carrier, the stock cast aluminum part was redesigned utilizing aerospace quality 7075 billet aluminum. Keeping all the stock link and trailing arm pivots in place, the stock bushings have been replaced with precision spherical ball bearings. The rear wheel bearings have been replaced with large 4.3” taper roller bearings. The rear hub hat has been made with light 6061-T6 billet aluminum to keep rotating weight to a minimum while keeping the stock 12mm 4 bolt wheel stud pattern. For improved braking power, larger 11” diameter rotors and exclusive Fortin 4 piston radial mount race calipers by StopTech have been incorporated. Piston bore diameters have been designed to be used with the stock master cylinder. The stock metric brake line banjo fitting bolts directly on the caliper.
Applying years of CV joint manufacturing experience, 300m and aerospace alloys have been used in an all-new non-plunging high angle CV joint. The CV’s are bolted to the inner and outer stub axle flanges eliminating the use of wire spring clips and making the assembly more serviceable. The high angle CV boots are fixed to removable flanges as well. The 300m axle shafts are custom made to the required length for the specific width of the car. The kit comes complete with inner stub axles that are through bolted into the rear differential.
Justin Lofton was back on top at the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 off road race held just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. He pushed a pace that could not be matched by his competition. His 3rd overall Mint 400 victory also puts him out front as the winningest driver at the legendary race. He won Back to Back in 2015-16, and now is the only solo driver to have 3 victories in the history of the race.
The Mint 400 dates back to 1968, and has seen the most accomplished racers of each generation taste victory in some of the harshest desert conditions on the planet. The brutal terrain plays a major role in the final results at the Mint. Some of the top contenders never make it to the finish. Many who do limp across the line are worn out or damaged. Lofton pushed the pace all day, causing many to succumb to the punishment. It was a strong showing, but in reality the win was due to his finesse. While others slashed their tires, crushed wheels, and tore parts to pieces, Lofton avoided every pitfall that Mother Nature could conjure.
“Our race was pretty uneventful,” says Lofton, “We had some pretty good tires, (he said as a nod to his sponsor BFGoodrich Tires), and only hit one rock in the last 10 miles. Well, we hit plenty of rocks, but only one of those boulders that will break stuff. We had quick pit stops, and only stopped twice for routine fuel and fresh tires at our main pit. We qualified 4th and were running in second most of the race.
Our strategy was to push the pace with no mistakes. My co-driver Derek and I were in the zone which allowed us to pick up the pace on lap 3. There was a section after pit B that was really chopped up. It was filled with two and a half foot tall squared off bumps that pounded us. Our FOX shocks soaked them up and allowed me to stay in control. Despite how rough it was, we averaged 62 miles per hour.”
Justin Lofton has put himself in his own category after taking his third win at the Mint 400. His driving skills were on display, but he is the first to give credit to the team effort that it takes to win.
FOX, STEEL-IT, MultiCam, #AHBEEF, Justin Lofton Foundation, BFGoodrich Tires, Cometic Gaskets, Walker Industries, Justice Brothers, Brembo Brakes, Baja Designs, Holley EFI, Jimco Racing, Roush Yates Engines, Klotz Lubricants, FK Rod Ends & Torco Race Fuels all contributed to the incredible pace he set to win. For those who follow his popular #AHBEEF life video series, and are curious how the team stayed fueled all week, they had pure #AHBEEF steaks every night.
