Well, we lived through it, the longest race in the world. 196 miles from Mt Hood Oregon(Hood)to Seaside (Coast) Oregon. And of course since I have in my possession a 15 passenger van, I was recruited. 30 hours non-stop of pulling into WAY over crowded parking lots, driving along unlit country roads in pitch black darkness trying to find a wide spot in the road to water your runner @2 miles or 3 miles or whatever. No time for food stops, gas stops, bathroom stops except at the transfer spots where the lines for the porta-potti's were 5-10 deep. But, we didn't have to fuel up, the V-10 didn't miss a beat inbetween idling for 30 minutes waiting for your runner, to 70-80 mph runs to get to the next transfer spot. The roof rack was on with the Stor-Mor box full of gear, the Stow-away box was plugged into the receiver and it was full of gear and a cooler with bottled water on ice for easy access to the runners. And inside was another 2 full coolers, running gear, running food (yuk, if you can call THAT stuff 'food'), TV/DVD, sleeping bags, extra clothes, pillows, blankets, clothes, you name it, we had it. Going up to the top of Mt Hood with 9 people and tons of gear never slowed her down a bit, she powered up into the high altitude with a full load like she was going downhill. Didn't burn a drop of oil and got 11 mpg. Now the driver, that's another story, but since this is the V-10 page, I will leave my comments about my motor only, Ken

98 E-350 V-10 XLT ClubWagon. A Hood to Coast survivor.

 

Wow - nice run!

-Jim

 

 

Ken,
I'm glad to hear that someone else has used their V-10 for a race support vehicle. I compete in the Great Lakes Relay every year, which is a 3-day, 10-person, 270 mile cross country relay race accross Michigan. I wanted to take my Super Duty this year, but my wife wouldn't let me since it was only 2 months old at the time and the vehicles tend to get pretty trashed. I drove my 2000 5.4L F-150 through the course last year and it did OK, so I figure my V-10 would be fine. And seeing your post helped confirm it. Not that there was ever any doubt

Eric

2002 F-250 Supercab shortbox, BFT package, 4X4 off-road, V10, 3.73LS, 285/75R16 Bridgestone Dueller AT's, 40 series flowmaster, Berlin hydraulic assist soft tonneau cover, Ford mud flaps, bug shield, and bed mat