There were sponsors and fans that couldn’t be let down. After a phenomenal racing feat, Healy ended up finishing
5th overall. There were some new tricks of the trade that he got a good look at during the race though.
Independent front suspension was the new kid
on the block and Loren
saw the value and deficiencies of it. All things
considered though he
decided to give the IFS a
shot and jumped on the
bandwagon. These high
performance desert race
cars really shine in the
“whoops.” After practicing all race season with
his new setup, it finally
came time for KOH 2013.
It was a big start that
ended after only 40 miles into the course. A blown motor left the car lifeless.
It was back to the drawing boards. The results of the 2013 season were not in the favor of the IFS, and Loren wasn’t
sure how he was going to pull himself out of the rut he was in. KOH is the toughest race on dirt, but he had won before
and he knew he was destined to win again. Soon enough a proposition came his way, and before he could think twice,
Loren had bought back his KOH buggy from 2011. It was time to get back to basics. This was a race car that Loren
himself had over 20,000 race miles in. The buggy was a very familiar face that was very predictable and comfortable to
drive. It had also proved itself in 4 King of the Hammers races.
At the same time though it had been through 4 King of the Hammers races and was in need of some serious attention. The chassis was completely rebuilt with an LS3 power plant boasting 580 HP, 580 ft lbs of torque, Gear Works
turbo 400 transmission, Atlas II with a 3:1 reduction, 10” Spidertrax solid axles front and rear with Gear Works trophy
truck differentials, King coilovers and bypasses, and of course rolling on a sweet set of Nitto tires.
While he ditched the IFS idea for 2014, he knew that during the 53 mile whoop section that his solid front axle would
not keep up with the IFS buggys, but he still managed to hang on to 5th place when they entered the rock section. The
solid front axle and killer custom suspension really shined and Loren gained the lead. On the 3rd lap however, the trail
jack worked its way loose, got caught on a rock, and ended up punching a hole in the radiator, broke a bunch of wiring
which ultimately cause his dash to catch on fire! Luckily they were not far from the next pit stop. After putting the
fire out and some jerry rigging, they made it the ½ mile to the pit. Once there the crew got to work and in record time
plugged the hole in the radiator and re did all of the wiring. In the meantime he had lost two positions and was now in
third behind Eric Miller and Tom Wayes.
When all of the dust had cleared and the checkered flag came down, Loren persevered beyond the hurdles that he
and his team were forced to overcome. Loren Healy #67 had officially won the King of the Hammers 2014! Eric Miller
had a steering failure, and after crossing the finish line, and hour and ten minute penalty was added to Tom Wayes for
cutting a few corners in the course. This was not an intentional corner cutting, but Tom was piloting alone, and without a navigator to assist him during the race, mistakes are bound to happen. It is the risk that drivers take when they
decide to go it alone.
The last 6 years of the Hammers have been quite the rollercoaster of events for #67, but this year the team found the
combination that worked. The plan for King of the Hammers 2015 is to run the same car again with a few minor tweaks
for reliability. There is also more in the works for team Healy right now. Stay tuned for the upcoming race season where
Loren will debut his single seater race car that Jimmys 4x4 is building for him. This chassis will be primarily used for
short track offroad racing when a navigator is not necessary.
Join me in offering Loren and his team a very well earned congratulations on winning the 2013 King of the Hammers.
We would also like to wish them good luck on the upcoming race season. The best thing about offroad racing on the
level that these guys do, even with the best car, and the best driver, they are still at the mercy of the course. History has
shown just how much carnage can happen!
Brian “College Boy” Gabriel
28
W T4x4
March 2014