Bronco II is literally falling apart during the Tuff Truck run, but even on three tires, it puts on an amazing show.
This week’s “Freaky Friday” video comes to us from the NWFan2 YouTube channel and it features a Ford Bronco II participating in the Tuff Truck event at the 2015 Clark County Fair. In most cases, we feature Tuff Truck footage on Muddy Monday or Truckin’ Fast Wednesday, but considering the condition of the vehicle and the nature of the run, this video is more freaky than muddy or fast.
Rough and Rugged Bronco II
There are no details on this Ford Bronco IIincluded with the video, but Tuff Truck racing really isn’t about the modifications that lead to success, especially in a class where the trucks are disintegrating during the run. We can see that this battered little SUV is sponsored by Troy’s Towing, and we can only imagine that this Bronco was taken in by the towing company after being involved in a rollover accident.
As the compact Ford SUV heads away from the camera, take note of the angle of the rear roof pillars, with the entire roof being shifted towards the passenger’s side. Oddly, the driver’s side glass is still in place, even with the body being badly misshapen. The front end is also destroyed, but with a set of big, beefy tires, the driver of this crushed Bronco II is ready for the Tuff Truck course.
Charging Forward
The video begins with the Ford Bronco II already making its way through the course, having a hard time with the rhythm section as the nose digs in hard, shedding both the grille and the headlights. On the next series of jumps, it blows the right front tire, but while steering becomes tougher, the driver just keeps on pushing forward, attacking the jumps with speed and getting all sorts of air time.
During this first run, it is clear that the driver of this Bronco II is looking to put on a show more than turn the best time, and he does just that on both runs. The second run is even more violent than the first, once again losing a tire early in the run, leading to control problems in the turns.
However, that doesn’t stop the driver from backing up and making a big run at the final jump, sending the Bronco through the air as the crowd applauds his efforts.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
