Field Trip to Ben Hanks Racing

[Rusted]

Looking for some brackts and rumor about a cool scrambler at Ben Hanks I stopped by this morning for a few minutes. The front of the shop was quiet, all the worker bees were busy in the back making some cool things. Every time I am in there I see a mass of cool projects all going on. This time I took a few photos. There were probalby 8 or 10 cool projects going on in there all at the same time.

First off was the scrambler I came to see to get ideas and see if I could get any ideas.

Rear axle streached back, wheel wheel opened up. Those are 39" tires.


Inside you can see how they modified the wheel wells so they fit right, and extended back. Not really losing any practical bed space and it really opened up under the tub for tube work and tire movement. I may end doing something like that in the future


Photo of the tube fendors did not turn out well. But the fendors have been raised a few inches, were very simple, and on the side you can kind of see the cool speed holes . I liked it for the simplicity



Rear shot. Mostly because I am looking for a way to protect the tail of my scrambler. This I wanted to see how high it could go and what it looked like. This one is well protected on the rear.

 

[Rusted]

Next up was a FJ. This was basically a tube buggy hiding underneath a FJ tub. I wish I had taken more photos and better photos. There is tons of details to be seen with this one

Fendors were made to accomidate the large tires and to keep the COG low


Bad photo, but there was lots to see with all the custom work. The bumper, steering, etc has has lots of time and work put into it


Just a front shot. you can see the custom tube work all inside the tub, the bumper looked really cool.


Side shot. Maybe give a better idea. Front fendors were custom and moved as well. But I think once it is finished and painted this will appear like a FJ on the outside and be a "sleeper" when it comes to going offroad

 

[Rusted]

Here are other shots I took.

Took these photos for a neighbor who is thinking about having a vette build for the track. I was there a few weeks back and Ben and I belive it was his brother were working on this one.



And a quick photo of some frame repair. I have some bad patches that I need to improve. These guys make it look easy.

 

[Swoop69]

And a quick photo of some frame repair. These guys make it look easy.

Yeah they do! I was looking at the FJ, and had to ask them if they bent rectangular tubes for the frame. I couldnt tell that it was 2 pieces welded together.

I think you are a bit off on the Vette. I dont know what that is, but its not a Vette.

 

[Vonski]

Field trip? I don't remember seeing a short yellow school bus...

 

[Vonski]

I think you are a bit off on the Vette. I dont know what that is, but its not a Vette.

It's a replica of a '62 Cobra Daytona being built to race the vintage series out at the Miller Park.

If my facts are correct, there are only 7 "real" ones. One was bought at auction by Larry Miller for 15 million and another is owned by someone back east. The remaining 5 are owned by Mr. Shelby himself.

 

[soda blaster]

I missed the bus to and I needed to get over there.

 

[Bucking Bronco]

Always fun going down there. I cant help but get a grin when you come around the corner and see all the 4x4 in the parking lot

 

[SAMI]

It's a replica of a '62 Cobra Daytona being built to race the vintage series out at the Miller Park.

If my facts are correct, there are only 7 "real" ones. One was bought at auction by Larry Miller for 15 million and another is owned by someone back east. The remaining 5 are owned by Mr. Shelby himself.

**EDIT(this is info for a '64) The first one to hit the tracks led most of the GT, then burned up in a pit fire during the saem race.. The second one won at Sebring(I watched a number of races there!).. Then 5 more were made... Though, those 5 bodies were made in Italy; whereas the first two were hand formed out of aluminum with wood templates..

What a sexy car.. There's a 2008 version out there

THe '62 opened the door for the Cobra to kick Ferrari's ass on the track.. Ferrari essentially found a loop-hole to get one of their cars approved for '63 races.. Thus opening the door for all manufactures to use that same loop-hole to throw down some serious equipment.. Which is when Shelby entered the Cobra with it's 5.0ltr over the standard 3.0ltr's in the other competitor's cars...

Lot's of cool history behind the Cobra.. Did you know that it was becasue of the Cobra hitting the race scene, that the automotive industry now uses the wind tunnel for aerodynamics? A 24y/o new guy working for Shelby came up with the idea to stream line the Cobra into a coupe, so that they could murder the Ferrari on the track.. History was made..

Man i love the work the BHR puts out Is that the infamous FJ40 needing a new hood?

-Jason

 

[Vonski]

The first one to hit the tracks led most of the GT, then burned up in a pit fire during the saem race.. The second one won at Sebring(I watched a number of races there!).. Then 5 more were made... Though, those 5 bodies were made in Italy; whereas the first two were hand formed out of aluminum with wood templates..

I'm sure my facts are fairly unreliable. However, I do know that the one Larry Miller has won more races than any of the others. He actually drives/races it often from what I hear.

 

[jpest]

I am glad to see this shop's success! I'm happy there's a world class 4x4 shop here that seems to have some good people running the show. I'll have to see if I can get down there to visit sometime and mabye have some work done if needed.

By the way. Thanks Ben Hanks, for the business you gave my locksmith shop recently.We did some lock work on the ignition key cylinder from one of the vehicles being worked on at your place!

 

[bobmed]

Field trip? I don't remember seeing a short yellow school bus...

The short bus stopped at Sears at Fashion Place to give rides

 

[Rusted]

I stopped by again today for a few mintues and only had a cell phone with me. Most of the projects in the shop have cycles through and there is a new batch being worked on. These guys stay busy. here is what I saw today.


A JK in for some more or less bolt on suspension work.


Two different projects has this similar style of tube rear fender work. The tube work goes frame to frame and is part of the structure of the rig now. First of all I noticed how cool and clean it looks and then you realize how functional and strong it is to protect the rig. The braces inside are super sexy and are very cool!




This red jeep has similar tube work for the rear fenders. It really has me thinking of ideas to make mine similar. Also notice how tall that front fender is to give it lots of room.


Inside it looks like one blend of metal going from the frame to the fender and into the body panels. I have never noticed anyone doing this and making it look so good and blend so well. And it is made of some heavy guage steel so it will take a beating and hold up.


This one is going under the knife soon for a rear axle upgrade. I believe Von said it was going to be a Dana 70. But that Jeep looks good, nice size tires, lots of ground clearance, but sits low over all. Very cool rig.

 

[Tacoma]

Did this thread lose a bunch of pics??? I could swear I posted some here a couple days ago..

 

[Bucking Bronco]

There work is outstanding

I only wish I had the patience to do such quality work

 

[Tacoma]

yeah, your buggy looks like canned ass

 

[Rusted]

Did this thread lose a bunch of pics??? I could swear I posted some here a couple days ago..

I hope not :sick:

I don't remember any of your photos, can you repost them? There is a second thread about the FJ build were yours in there by chance?

 

[Bucking Bronco]

yeah, your buggy looks like canned ass

That is how I feel when I look at their work

Dont get me wrong I am very happy with my buggy and the fact I built it in 9 months in my garage and it actually functions but I am just mesmerized by their work.

 

[Rusted]

That is how I feel when I look at their work

Dont get me wrong I am very happy with my buggy and the fact I built it in 9 months in my garage and it actually functions but I am just mesmerized by their work.

By they way.... My photos don't do the work justice. :-\ When you spend a few minutes looking at their work you start to see small details that don't stand out at first. My mind does not think enough steps ahead to pull off the kind of work they do.

 

[Tacoma]

ah, yeah, the FJ thread. That's where they are.

They do very, very clean work. I like to look at long beads of theirs and drool. The new style of packaging they're doing on some of the newer stuff is sweeeeeeeeeet.