Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
4/8/24 10:12 a.m.
feature_image

How fast can you go for less than $2000? That's the whole idea behind our annual Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack.

Whether teams built a car for less than $2000, entered their over-budget build, or both: They all battled against each other across autocross, drag racing and concours sessions at Gainesville Raceway to see if money really equals speed.

So, …

Read the rest of the story

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
4/8/24 10:13 a.m.
Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa MegaDork
4/8/24 10:22 a.m.

First off: Ladies, congrats.  It's been awesome watching you all come out and grow as a team.  Please keep it up 

Second, can we please get a build thread of this?  I'd love to see what was required to adapt the two vehicles.

Third, I know the Taurus did not have a title.  Did the Ranger?  Is it now streetable?

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
4/8/24 10:54 a.m.

Video coming soon! And, yes, they kept this one very much on the D.L. 

hobiercr
hobiercr GRM+ Memberand UberDork
4/8/24 10:58 a.m.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

The ranger does not have a title. sad

Datsun240ZGuy
Datsun240ZGuy MegaDork
4/8/24 12:16 p.m.

Most importantly than this did you'all find out what that little black Tire Rack disc in the goodie bag was for?

mikerunt
mikerunt GRM+ Memberand New Reader
4/8/24 5:43 p.m.

More details on the ranger build!

rich911s
rich911s Reader
4/8/24 6:08 p.m.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Yessir! The girls will be posting a build thread very soon.  Thanks again to the staff at GRM for putting on a great family friendly competition, and thanks to all of the competitors for making this such a special event.  My kids have been coming since 2013 and they look forward to it every year.  Here's a teaser pic for their thread, it's hard to tell just how small but mighty this thing is without a frame of reference:
  

GCrites
GCrites Dork
4/8/24 6:16 p.m.

I love lowered mini trucks at autocross. A well-sorted one can really get around a course.

Evanuel9
Evanuel9 HalfDork
4/8/24 6:18 p.m.

I'm really surprised at the quality of the taurus platform! Especially in the autocross with all that weight and size. Nicely done - chassis swaps are always sweet

Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter)
Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter) UltraDork
4/8/24 6:20 p.m.

I still want to know how the got a Ranger body on a Taurus.

Looking forward to the build thread.

Evanuel9
Evanuel9 HalfDork
4/8/24 6:46 p.m.

In reply to Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter) :

Same! 

alfadriver
alfadriver MegaDork
4/8/24 6:54 p.m.

In reply to rich911s :

That's a crazy pic!  The Taurus is a really big car, and for it to be condensed like that.  Wow.  

Additional credit to whoever came up with the idea.  I'm betting a time looking at vehicle wheelbases....

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/8/24 7:05 p.m.

In reply to alfadriver :

I assume that the tires are at stock track width.

I want to know how they dealt with the front strut towers, or if they even fit between the Ranger's fenders.

Kreb (Forum Supporter)
Kreb (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/8/24 7:14 p.m.

Kudos to the winning team, and congrats to GRM for creating such a great event. I hope that both entities benefit from some good press as a result.

ndavis
ndavis New Reader
4/8/24 7:16 p.m.

Congrats to Andy Nelson on a 9.0 1/4 mile time, wow!

 

alfadriver
alfadriver MegaDork
4/8/24 7:57 p.m.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

It still looks really odd when you know that the body completely covers all of that.

And by odd, I do mean really awesome.

Scott M
Scott M New Reader
4/10/24 11:44 p.m.

In reply to Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter) :

I saw the doors when they opened and closed - paper thin is an apt description.  My suspicion is that it wasn't really a ranger body, but in fact a large piece of cardboard cut out and painted to look like a ranger, and draped over some tubes and frame rails ;)

vcfamily
vcfamily New Reader
4/10/24 11:59 p.m.

In reply to rich911s :

Looking forward to seeing what's under that pink veneer.  Thanks Material Girls for loaning me a helmet for the drag racing.  It really made my day!  Congrats to your fantastic prize winning entry and driving skill.

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
NHdK5WuZIY6kLUu2eOzAlC8GVGjrcR2nYcbAgOYxPTyaXtVt0CU6FeGbQ62D5eeN