Ford's EcoBoost V-6 Race Trucks Come Up Dry in Desert Racing Shakedown

[SVTOffroad News Bot]

The triple challenges of racing a new engine in the unforgiving desert by a hard date proved too much for Ford's shakedown testing of its twin EcoBoost-powered race trucks.

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[MagicMtnDan]

From the article:

McCarthy took the green flag on Saturday, but at the end of the first lap he pulled off and parked the truck because he was in need of more power.

"We just don't have a race motor," McCarthy said. "I race 100 percent; I am out there to win and I had absolutely no chance. Rather than damage the truck with the amount time between now and the 1000, I just parked it. I am not in the points chase because I missed 'Vegas to Reno,' and it just didn't make any sense to push it around the course and have an incident with the trick trucks."

It's unclear if Ford and the drivers plan to make changes before the Baja 1000. With a different course and a much longer race that requires the drivers to pace themselves and their vehicles, being down on horsepower should not be as much of an issue as it was in Parker.

 

[MarkT]

Not that many years ago we didn't have GPS... and prerunning wasn't always allowed. You had to follow colored ribbons attached to bushes and rely on down arrows along the course to mark hazards.

Could you go full out like they do today? Not really.

But one thing many had was a "never give up" attitude. The 24 hour off-road endurance race I won was helped by the fact that the "pro" team gave up after having a few issues. (They admitted they gave up because they "were there to win" and we had about a 100 mile lead at the 12 hour mark.)

Maybe there were "safety" or other issues (that for "PR" reasons weren't mentioned) for quitting the Parker race with the EcoBoost...

But I'm disappointed in the "I'm out there to win" comment as a reason for quitting.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

I wonder if things would have been different if Ford had fielded its own team?

 

[A.I.I.Raciing]

Not that many years ago we didn't have GPS... and prerunning wasn't always allowed. You had to follow colored ribbons attached to bushes and rely on down arrows along the course to mark hazards.

Could you go full out like they do today? Not really.

But one thing many had was a "never give up" attitude. The 24 hour off-road endurance race I won was helped by the fact that the "pro" team gave up after having a few issues. (They admitted they gave up because they "were there to win" and we had about a 100 mile lead at the 12 hour mark.)

Maybe there were "safety" or other issues (that for "PR" reasons weren't mentioned) for quitting the Parker race with the EcoBoost...

But I'm disappointed in the "I'm out there to win" comment as a reason for quitting.

MANY teams have this attitude, many time's I've heard that sponsor's only want to see win's, not finish's. And if your sponsor's want to see you on top and your having problems then there's no need to hurt the truck more

I wonder if things would have been different if Ford had fielded its own team?

Ford is Randy's main sponsor and also drove for Ford at the mil in the Raptor R

 

[MarkT]

MANY teams have this attitude, many time's I've heard that sponsor's only want to see win's, not finish's. And if your sponsor's want to see you on top and your having problems then there's no need to hurt the truck more

I get it... and like I said, I've seen it. But I'm still disappointed in that attitude.

What I call the "true spirit of racing" is what I enjoy. It's not just about "winning".

 

[MagicMtnDan]

It's not just about "winning".

No, it's not. Looks like it's all about the money.

 

[Jake Y.]

Mark- I agree with you 100% I used to Race WORCS and half of the satisfaction came from just finishing the race. I think there is a little something to be said for saving the truck/engine. If it had already gotten as hot as it did in one lap, i have to believe it wouldnt have lasted the race.

 

[bstoner59]

Mark- I agree with you 100% I used to Race WORCS and half of the satisfaction came from just finishing the race. I think there is a little something to be said for saving the truck/engine. If it had already gotten as hot as it did in one lap, i have to believe it wouldnt have lasted the race.

I agree. If the goal is to race Baja, along with all the other things they have done with the engine, the last thing they want is for that thing to blow. It would be a PR nightmare for Ford and the F150 EcoBoost...I imagine all the haters would have a field day with that. If they do make it to Baja there might be a few extra items on to help keep everything cool. I'd have to say Ford had more to do with the decision to stop the race than the driver.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Our friend, Mark Grueber is quoted in this updated story...


Update #1 October-20-2010 08:39 PDT:
Mark Grueber, former marketing manager for the F-150 and recently promoted to a senior position with Lincoln, said that the EcoBoost engine raced Saturday in Mike McCarthy's truck is not the same engine that Ford has sent on torturous dyno-cell, logging and high-speed towing missions around the country.

"The hero [EcoBoost] engine that we've been testing around the country is still in the test truck," Grueber said. "Mike McCarthy raced with a different engine. We won't have the real one for a few more weeks."
The EcoBoost torture test engine will be the mill that Ford races in the Baja 1000.