Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman (2018): Season 1, Episode 2 - Scout 66 - full transcript
Aaron Kaufman and his team of builders are on the mad dash to get the International Scout ready in time for King of the Hammers. But problem after problem, from redoing the fenders, to ...
Kaufman: I'VE BEEN BUILDING CARS
FOR OTHER PEOPLE
FOR FAR TOO LONG.
NOW I'M TAKING THINGS
IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
AT MY NEW SHOP,
ARCLIGHT FABRICATION,
I'M DESIGNING
AFTERMARKET TRUCK PARTS,
BUILDING UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD,
AND I'M HAVE MORE FUN DOING IT.
I'VE HAND-PICKED A TEAM
OF THE BEST BUILDERS
FROM ACROSS AMERICA TO JOIN ME.
JONATHAN MANSOUR AND I
HAVE BEEN FRIENDS
SINCE BEFORE WE WERE
OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE.
HE'S THE BEST PARTS GUY I KNOW,
BUT A TERRIBLE MAGICIAN.
- 3 OF CLUBS.
- WRONG!
A CUSTOM FABRICATOR
FROM A RACING FAMILY,
JOSH FREEMAN BUILT
A COMPLETE TRUCK AT AGE 15
AND HAS YET TO RECREATE
THE BICYCLE BOOGIE
MADE FAMOUS IN THE '80s.
ALMOST GOT IT!
EX-AIRCRAFT MECHANIC-TURNED
CLASSIC CAR FABRICATOR
JASON BOWMAN IS
AN ENGINE EXPERT
AND THE CORONA HIGH SCHOOL
MOONWALK CHAMPION, 1987.
JEREMY WEBSTER IS AN INCREDIBLY
TALENTED SHEET METAL WORKER.
HE'S WORKED ON CARS
SINCE HE WAS 13 YEARS OLD
AND HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO
TRAIN CATS FOR JUST AS LONG.
SIT.
COME ON. STAY.
A SELF-TAUGHT
ELECTRONICS MASTER
WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS
IN THE INDUSTRY,
JON RODRIQUEZ CAN HACK ANYTHING
WITH A CIRCUIT BOARD.
BUILDING THESE CUSTOM VEHICLES
WILL CHALLENGE OUR SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE ON EVERY LEVEL.
AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE,
WE'LL PUT EACH ONE TO THE TEST.
I'M AARON KAUFMAN,
AND THIS IS "SHIFTING GEARS."
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
TONIGHT I HIT THE ROAD
TO VEGAS...
ALL RIGHT!
...FOR THE SEMA CONVENTION.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A DAMN GOOD TIME.
YEAH!
HOW Y'ALL DOING?
AND LATER, THE SCOUT
SLAMS INTO US...
MAKING ALL KINDS
OF PRESSURE.
...IN EVERY WAY THAT IT CAN.
- WE GOT A LEAK DOWN HERE.
- THERE'S A HELL OF A LEAK THERE.
YEE-HOO-HOO-HOO!
- WHOA.
- WE GOT NO POWER AT ALL.
WE ARE DEAD IN THE WATER.
AW, COME ON.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
WHAT'S UP?
WHAT'S THE PLAN?
THIS TRUCK'S GOING TO VEGAS.
SWEET.
BETTER GET IN IT
IF YOU WANT TO GO.
ALL RIGHT.
Kaufman: SO, WE'RE UP BRIGHT
AND EARLY THIS MORNING
HEADED OUT TO THE SEMA
CONVENTION IN LOST VEGAS,
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO RECONNECT WITH FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES IN THE BUSINESS.
JOINING ME ON THIS
ADVENTURE IS BROOKS,
OUR SOCIAL-MEDIA GURU
WHO WILL DOCUMENT THE EVENT.
MY GIRLFRIEND LAUREN
WILL BE COMING ALONG AS WELL.
IT'S OVER 1,200 MILES
FROM DALLAS TO VEGAS,
SO WE'LL BE ON THE ROAD
FOR TWO DAYS.
LET'S JUST CALL IT
A BIT OF A ROAD TRIP.
YOU KNOW, SIX WEEKS AGO
I OPENED MY NEW SHOP, ARCLIGHT,
AND MY TEAM AND I SET OUT
TO TURN AN INTERNATIONAL SCOUT
INTO A STREET-LEGAL RACECAR
CAN THAT COULD COMPETE
AT THE KING OF THE HAMMERS,
CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE
THE TOUGHEST OFF-ROAD
COURSE IN THE WORLD.
WELL, THERE SHE IS,
IN ALL OF HER DENTED GLORY.
MY BUILDERS HAD NEVER
WORKED WITH A VEHICLE
THAT WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE.
WHAT FILL DID YOU
PICK THIS UP IN?
IT'S ALL STILL THERE,
IT'S JUST FULL OF DIRT.
BUT ONCE THEY WRAPPED THEIR HEAD
AROUND IT, THEY FINALLY DUG IN.
YEAH!
WE HAD A FEW CHALLENGES
ALONG THE WAY --
CREATING NEW FENDERS...
RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD,
- BUT IT'S JUST TOO MANY PIECES.
- TOO MANY CUTS.
...BUILDING
OUR VERY OWN CHASSIS.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE DEFINITELY
HAVE A LOT MORE SET UP TO DO.
YOU CAN SEE HOW I CRUSHED
THE BACKSIDE OF THIS.
IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY
FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY ME.
NEVER BEEN TO
A HAMMERS EVENT,
NEVER BEEN TO
AN ULTRA4 EVENT.
BUT AFTER DRIVING
THESE ULTRA4s...
A LITTLE BIT, DRIVER.
I REALIZE NOW HOW CRAZY
MY IDEA OF TAKING THE SCOUT
TO KING OF THE HAMMERS IS.
UH-OH.
MAN.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
BUT THERE'S NO TIME
FOR SECOND GUESSING.
WE'RE AT THE HALFWAY MARK
ON BUILDING THE SCOUT...
WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF WORK TO DO.
...AND I LEFT A LAUNDRY LIST
FOR MY GUYS TO ACCOMPLISH
WHILE I'M AWAY.
THAT'S A TON OF STUFF.
- YEAH. OH, YEAH.
- BASICALLY BUILD THE TRUCK.
THERE CAN BE NO ROOM FOR
MISTAKES IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT
TO THE KING OF THE HAMMERS
ON TIME.
GO TEAM!
I LOVE DRIVING.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
I LOVE BEING OUT WEST.
THINGS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW,
REALLY CHAOTIC
AND REALLY STRESSFUL AT THE SHOP
BUILDING OUR SCOUT
FOR KING OF THE HAMMERS,
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT
IF TIME TO DECOMPRESS.
IT'S VERY MIND-CLEARING,
CATHARTIC ACTIVITY.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO
INTERMITTENTLY HOP OFF 40
AND SEE SOME OF ROUTE 66
IN VARIOUS PLACES,
IT'S ENTERTAINING, IT'S FUN,
AND IT'S PLEASURABLE
TO THINK ABOUT.
SOME PARTS HAVE BEEN
COMPLETELY ERASED,
AND OTHER PARTS THAT LOOK
EXACTLY LIKE THEY USED TO
THE WHOLE TIME.
THE CARS GET OLDER,
THE PLACE GETS DIRTIER.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY DINOSAURS.
Y'ALL SEE ANY DINOSAURS?
Lauren: OOH,
THAT'S A COOL BUILDING.
TRAILS WEST LOUNGE.
IT'S THE T.W. LOUNGE!
OH, HELL, YES!
T-DUB.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
WE LIKE TO SEE --
ALL THE OLD SIGNS, ALL THE NEON,
OBVIOUSLY ALL THE OLD CARS --
JUST A GLIMPSE OF
HOW THINGS USED TO BE.
1955 THEY APPROVED
FUNDING FOR BUILDING
THIS MASSIVE FREEWAY SYSTEM
FROM ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC
AND FROM THE CANADIAN BORDER
TO THE MEXICAN BORDER.
IT CHANGED HOW CAR WERE BUILT,
BECAUSE THEY WERE
CROSSING A CONTINENT,
AND THEY WERE DOING IT FASTER
THAN THEY EVER HAD BEFORE,
SO THE VEHICLES HAD TO STEER
BETTER AT HIGH SPEEDS,
THEY HAD TO BE MORE STABLE,
THEY HAD TO BRAKE BETTER,
AND BE SAFER, QUITE FRANKLY.
YOU THINK MAYBE WE GOT FREEWAYS
'CAUSE THEY MADE FASTER CARS --
WE GOT FASTER CARS
'CAUSE THEY MADE FREEWAYS.
OH, I LIKE-A THAT ONE,
MUCHO, MUCHO.
SO, AARON'S GONE
ON THIS ROAD TRIP TO SEMA.
HE LEFT US WITH A LONG
LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS TO DO
ON THE SCOUT HE PLANS TO RACE
AT KING OF THE HAMMERS.
OUR NEXT STEP IS TO
PERMANENTLY MARRY
THE CUSTOM CHASSIS
WE BUILT TO THE BODY.
Bowman: HEY, DON'T CARRY
SO MUCH, JOSH.
Rodriquez: YOU GOT TO LET ME GET
SOME WEIGHT, TOO, THERE, JOSH.
Freeman: OPEN UP THE JACK STAND,
SET UP IN THE FRONT OR THE BACK.
HOW YOU DOING THERE, JON?
Bowman: THIS IS
A HUGE STEP FOR US.
ONCE THIS GETS MARRIED TOGETHER,
EVERYTHING STARTS HAPPENING.
WE'RE GONNA STUFF AN INDUSTRIAL
INJECTION CUMMINS MOTOR,
THE TRANS...
YOU NEED TO COME BACK
TOWARDS JOSH.
...AND THE ADVANCED ADAPTERS
TRANSFER CASE IN.
BOLT THAT ALL UP, SEE WHERE
EVERYTHING ELSE LIES.
THAT'S FUN.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THE --
FIRST TIME ALL THE WEIGHT'S
BEEN ON THE FRAME.
COOL.
I LIKE IT.
WE'RE DOING GOOD.
WE'RE TRYING TO LOWER THE BODY
DOWN ON THE CHASSIS RIGHT NOW.
KEEP COMING.
YEAH.
HOLY CRAP. THE TURBO'S NOT GONNA
FIT BETWEEN THE FRAME RAILS.
OH,.
IT'S A BIG ONE.
START CUTTING, HOMEY.
THE TURBO -- OUR TURBO SET-UP
IS GONNA HIT RIGHT HERE,
SO WE HAD TO TAKE
THE TURBOS OFF --
LIKELY, JOSH OR JEREMY'S
GONNA HAVE TO GET IN HERE
AND JUST CUT HUGE CHUNKS
OFF OF THIS THING
TO GET THESE THINGS TO WORK
'CAUSE THE PACKAGE IS SO BIG.
IT LOOKS TO BE
PRETTY WELL CLEAR.
Rodriquez: SO, YOU WANT ME
TO GO DOWN WITH IT?
- YEAH.
- WE GOT A FAR WAYS TO GO.
AS FAR AS SPACE-WISE
GOES IN HERE,
ONCE ALL THIS IS TOGETHER,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TWO-AND-A-HALF INCH CHARGE PIPE
RUNNING OUT OF THE TOP TURBO
INTO THE INNER COOLER.
WE'LL HAVE RADIATOR HOSES
RUNNING THIS WAY.
WE'LL HAVE A/C LINES
RUNNING EVERY WHICH WAY,
WE'LL HAVE ROLL-CAGE STUFF
COMING IN.
I MEAN, IT'S GONNA BE MASSIVE,
ALL THE CRAP GOING ON IN HERE.
IT'LL LOOK LIKE A DISASTER,
BUT IT'LL BE
A CALCULATED DISASTER.
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GOT
TO BE ON THE TUNNEL.
IN THE END, IT ALWAYS COMES
DOWN TO A FRACTION OF AN INCH...
OKAY, READY?
YEP.
...BUT WHEN IT ALL COMES
TOGETHER,
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING.
- YEAH. THERE IT IS.
- THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
LOOK AT THOSE SLIDERS, DUDE.
- YEAH.
- THAT'S BAD.
- OH, COOL.
- I LIKE THEM.
OKAY. NEXT STEP.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
WHEN WE START DRIVING
THROUGH ARIZONA,
THAT'S WHEN IT GETS
REALLY, REALLY PRETTY.
Brooks: YEAH,
THE PETRIFIED FOREST IS COOL.
I HAVE A PIECE
OF PETRIFIED WOOD.
YOU STOLE
FROM AN NATIONAL PARK?
NO, I BOUGHT IT
FROM SOME, LIKE, PLACE.
Kaufman: WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF GROUND TO COVER ALL THE WAY
FROM DALLAS TO LAS VEGAS
WHERE THE SEMA SHOW IS.
ALONG THE WAY,
WE'RE GOING TO VISIT
AS MANY LITTLE
ROUTE 66 STOPS AS WE CAN.
Lauren: THAT'S A BIG
PIECE OF MEAT.
IT'S JUST GLUTTONY
NONSTOP.
YEAH.
WHAT'S YOU'RE DOING
IS SO CREEPY.
- CREEPY.
- YEAH.
WELL, WE STILL GOT A-WAYS TO GO.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY,
WHAT BEAUTIFUL ROADS WE HAVE.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIMPLICITY
TO JUST DRIVE, YOU KNOW?
THE ABILITY TO JUST
FEEL THE VIBRATION,
TO JUST GET OUT,
BREATHE A LITTLE BIT --
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT MAKES ME THE HAPPIEST.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
Kaufman: HE IS BOOKING IT
FOR A CHOO-CHOO.
HE'S PULLING A LOT --
A LARGE LOAD.
Kaufman:
THE WEST HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO ESCAPE.
I TRY AND IMAGINE
WHO LIVES THERE AND WHAT THEY DO
AND WHY IS IT ABANDONED NOW?
HOW COME THESE BUILDINGS
ARE EMPTY?
WHAT IF I SOLD EVERYTHING
AND GAVE UP ALL THIS CRAP
AND JUST, LIKE, LIVED THERE?
LIKE, HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?
- HEY.
- YEP?
LET ME GET
SOME VIDEO OF THIS
WAVING MAJESTICALLY
IN THE BREEZE.
YEAH.
GOOD ENOUGH.
SEE, LOOK AT HOW
PROUDLY IT WAVES.
BEST OF LUCK.
DUDE, THIS IS, LIKE,
IF I WON THE PGA TOUR.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY --
WOMEN LOVE
A SHARP-DRESSED MAN.
WELL, LET'S FLEE.
Kaufman: I LIKE
DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES.
I LIKE BIG SKIES.
I LIKE BIG ROCKS.
I LIKE A LOT OF ROAD
LAID OUT IN FRONT OF ME.
THIS PLACE IS SO MASSIVE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL?
IT'S DEFINITELY
A BEAUTIFUL, BIG HOLE.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GO TO VEGAS.
SEMA IS THE INDUSTRY
INSIDE SHOW.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A DAMN GOOD TIME.
HOW Y'ALL DOING?
WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW BUSINESS,
AND SO WE PUT AN EVENT TOGETHER.
LET'S GET THESE TRUCKS FIRED UP.
IT WILL PROBABLY BE VERY BUMPY.
ALL RIGHT, BOYS AND GIRLS,
WE'RE GONNA GO FOR A LAP.
WE GOT NO POWER AT ALL.
IN FACT, WE'RE UNRESPONSIVE.
- MOTORS.
- YEAH, THAT'S SAD.
- MOTOR'S DEAD.
OH, COME ON!
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
Kaufman: WE'LL SEE YOU.
TAKE CARE.
HOW YOU DOING?
- I'M FROM AUSTRALIA.
- OH, VERY COOL!
- YEAH, MATE.
I WAS DOWN THERE IN 2008,
AND HAVEN'T' HAD
A CHANCE TO GET BACK.
YEAH, MATE, YOU NEED TO.
YOU NEED TO GET DOWN THERE.
IT'S BUSY. SEMA'S BUSY.
THANKS SO MUCH.
HOW YOU DOING?
NUMBER-ONE FAN
FROM SCOTLAND.
ALL RIGHT!
I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY PEOPLE
COME UP AND SAY "GOOD ON YA."
EVERYBODY'S SO EXCITED
ABOUT WHAT WE GOT GOING ON.
THE TERM "FEELING THE LOVE" --
PROBABLY NEVER MORE ACCURATE...
...THAN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
HERE -- HERE 2017 IN SEMA --
BEEN COMING HERE 14 YEARS,
AND TALK ABOUT A DRIVING FORCE.
IT'LL BE A MOTIVATING FORCE.
YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER
PLACE TO FIND INSPIRATION.
SEMA IS AN ACRONYM FOR SPECIALTY
EQUIPMENT MARKETING ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS THE INDUSTRY
INSIDE SHOW.
IT'S WHERE EVERYONE WHO'S
MAKING A PART OR A WIDGET,
WHETHER IT'S A NEON LIGHT,
A WHEEL,
A TIRE, A BIG BRAKE PACKAGE --
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IS IT.
THERE'S VENDORS
SHOWCASING THEIR PRODUCTS,
AND THE BEST WAY TO DO IT
INSTEAD OF LAYING THEM
ON A TABLE IS PUT THEM ON A CAR.
- AARON!
- HEY, HOW ARE YOU?
THANKS FOR
COMING BY THE CAR.
SO, WE SEE ALL THE GREAT WORK,
WE SEE ALL THE OTHER BUILDERS...
IT BROKE 200 MILES PER HOUR,
AND WE'RE PUTTING OUT
ABOUT 1,700, 1,800 HORSEPOWER.
...AND THAT MAKES US
WANT TO BUILD BETTER,
BUILD FASTER, BUILD HARDER.
YOU MAE ABOUT FOUR TIMES
THE POWER I MAKE,
BUT LET'S -- LET'S GET
TOGETHER AND GO PLAY
CARS ON THE TRACK ONE DAY.
- LET'S DO IT, MAN.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
THOUGH, THE FANS,
EVERYBODY BEHIND US,
THEY'RE ROOTING FOR US,
YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
WE CAN'T LET DOWN.
WE'LL SEE YA.
THANKS, GUYS.
NO, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT
HASN'T BEEN HERE. YOU TELL ME.
THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
HEY. WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
SO, IF YOU DON'T DRIVE
THESE THINGS,
THEY'RE LITTLE MORE
THAN SCULPTURE.
WHENEVER WE HAVE
THE "FORD OUT FRONT" EVENT,
PEOPLE GET TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS,
WHAT MOTORSPORT IS, WHAT FUN IS.
THEY GET TO WATCH IT,
AND THEN THEY'RE PUTTING
PEOPLE IN THESE CARS,
AND THEY'RE SLIDING THEM AROUND.
AND THIS A LEVEL OF DRIVING
THAT NONE OF THESE PEOPLE
ARE GONNA GO HOME AND DO
AND PROBABLY NEVER BE
CAPABLE OF DOING,
AND SO IT REALLY SHOWS
PEOPLE THE DEPTH
OF WHAT THIS INDUSTRY CAN BE.
THIS IS VAUGHN GITTIN'S TRUCK,
THE FUN HAVER,
AND SO WE'RE GONNA TRY
AND SEE IF IT'LL LIVE UP
TO ITS NAME, GO HAVE SOME FUN.
THE SCULPTURE'S ALL RIGHT,
BUT SLIDING SIDEWAYS
AND BOILING TIRES,
THAT'S WHAT WE GET OFF ON.
SHUT THAT DOOR!
- GOT IT.
- ALL RIGHT, YOU READY TO ROCK?
- YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
YEAH!
HOW Y'ALL DOING?
TODAY WE GOT TO RIDE
WITH VAUGHN GITTIN
IN THE FUN HAVER,
AND WHAT A BLAST THAT WAS.
I'LL TELL YOU, VAUGHN KNOWS
HOW TO SLING IT AROUND,
AND THE NAME SAYS IT ALL.
IT'S THE ULTIMATE FUN HAVER.
SO, BROCKY,
SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WE'RE BUILDING A SCOUT
RIGHT NOW, THE 4BT, 6L80,
CURRIES FRONT AND BACK, AND SO
WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE, MAN.
SICK, WELL,
I LOOK FORWARD TO IT, BRO.
GOOD LUCK
WITH EVERYTHING, MAN.
- YES, SIR.
- HAPPY FOR YOU.
- THANKS FOR THE RIDE.
- NO WORRIES.
NO, I'M READY TO START
BUILDING THIS TANK.
SO I'VE GOT
MY 8th-INCH ALUMINUM.
WE'RE GONNA GET IT ALL CUT UP,
AND WE'RE GONNA
WELD IT TOGETHER,
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE A GAS TANK.
BUT NOT JUST ANY GAS TANK,
BUT SOMETHING ESPECIALLY BUILT
TO TAKE ON KING OF THE HAMMERS.
IN THIS UPCOMING RACE,
AARON'S GONNA FACE LONG,
FUEL-GUZZLING,
HIGH-SPEED STRETCHES,
SO I'M GONNA MAKE THIS FUEL TANK
LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD MORE FUEL.
BUT EVEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE
IS THE INTENSE ROCK CLIMBING
THAT PUTS THESE
VEHICLES IN IMPOSSIBLE ANGLES.
SO I'M BUILDING THIS TANK
WITH ITS OWN ANGLES.
IT ACTUALLY WILL HELP US
GOING THROUGH THE TRAILS
AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT,
SO WE'RE ROCK CRAWLING
AND DOING STUFF
AND GOING IN EXTREME ANGLES.
THE FUEL IS ACTUALLY RUNNING
IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION.
IT'S TRYING TO STAY
IN THIS POCKET.
YOU KNOW, IT'S CHALLENGING,
AND THAT'S PART OF BUILDING
SOMETHING FULLY CUSTOM,
AND IT'S WORTH ALL
THAT WORK IN THE END
BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY PROUD
OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
"FUEL: STORAGE...
BLADDER CONSTRUCTION...
OF NYLON OR DACRON WOVEN
AND FABRIC IMPREGNATED
AND COATED WITH
A FUEL-RESISTANT ELASTOMER."
SO, I'M LOOKING HERE
IN THE RULES,
AND IT SAYS THAT THE FUEL TANK
THAT JEREMY'S GOT
IS NOT GONNA WORK,
AND THEY WANT US TO HAVE
A BLADDER INSIDE IT,
SO, IT'S...
THAT SUCKS.
WELL, JEREMY'S GONNA BE BUMMED.
SO, BASICALLY YOUR FUEL CELL'S
NOT GONNA WORK.
- SWEET.
- YEAH.
IT HAS TO HAVE A BLADDER IN IT.
SO -- THAT MEANS I DON'T'
GET TO USE MY FUEL CELL,
BECAUSE WE CAN'T --
WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME
TO HAVE SOMEBODY
MAKE A BLADDER SYSTEM
FOR THE FUEL CELL THAT I BUILT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA LOSE
GALLONS ON THE TANK ITSELF,
BUT IT'S UNFORTUNATE IT,
BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT'S NOT EVEN SO MUCH
THE MATERIAL,
IT'S THE TIME THAT IT TOOK
TO MAKE THAT THING.
OH, YEAH. I KNOW.
MM-HMM.
CAN WE HAVE THOSE DAYS BACK?
- PROBABLY NOT.
- CAN YOU REFUND THOSE?
IT'S EASY -- YOU PUT IT
ON CRAIGSLIST.
"INTERNATIONAL SCOUT,"
YOU KNOW, "FUEL CELL."
- YEAH.
- SURE IT'LL SELL LIKE HOT CAKES.
Kaufman: WE HAVE
A BRAND-NEW BUSINESS.
AND THE BUSINESS IS SO NEW,
WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT SHOWCASING
ANY OF OUR BUILDS,
ANY OF OUR PARTS
HERE AT SEMA 2017.
AND SO WE PUT AN EVENT TOGETHER,
TORQUE & TACOS,
FOR THE GUYS
WE DO BUSINESS WITH,
AND SO WE'RE GONNA HEAD OUT
TO VEGAS ALL FOR EXPERIENCE.
WE'VE RENTED THE TRACK,
WE'VE RENTED A COUPLE CARS,
GOT TWO REAL DRIVERS,
AND THEN MYSELF.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A DAMN GOOD TIME.
SO, HERE'S THE DEAL.
I'M GONNA BE GIVING
SOME RIDE-ALONGS.
DON'T JUDGE ME TOO HARSHLY.
WE GOT SOME OTHER PROFESSIONALS
GIVING SOME RIDE-ALONGS
OUT HERE.
I SUGGEST TAKING A RIDE
WITH ME AND THEN THE FAST GUYS.
THAT WAY MY RIDE'S NOT BORING.
BUT I WANTED TO HAVE FUN,
AND I WANTED Y'ALL TO COME OUT
AND HAVE FUN WITH ME.
I'M SO STOKED THAT
EVERYONE'S OUT HERE.
ENJOY THE TACOS.
ENJOY THE BEER.
ENJOY THE DRINKS.
IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
LET'S GET THESE TRUCKS FIRED UP.
SOUND GOOD?
- ONE QUICK NOTE, REAL QUICK --
- OH, IF THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY,
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
IT'S NOT SAFETY.
THANKS FOR FLYING VORE AIR
THIS EVENING.
WELL, YOUR RIDE
WILL NOT BE SMOOTH.
IT WILL PROBABLY BE VERY BUMPY.
THE COCKTAIL SERVICE WILL SUCK.
THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU BETTER AIM OUT THAT WINDOW.
SO, IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE IDEA --
I WANTED TO GO PLAY
WITH THE TRUCKS,
I WANTED ALL MY FRIENDS
AND MY NOT-YET FRIENDS
TO COME HAVE A GOOD TIME,
AND I THINK THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
WE HAD THE RIGHT AMOUNT
OF PEOPLE SHOW UP.
EVERYBODY GOT RIDES.
THERE WERE GUYS ON THE TRACK
THAT ARE WAY FASTER THAN ME,
BUT I DON'T THAT ANYONE
WAS HAVING MORE FUN THAN ME.
I'D DO IT EVERY WEEK
IF WE COULD.
THAT'S THAT.
NOW WE PARTY.
I'M SO HAPPY
Y'ALL MADE IT OUT.
- WE HAD A BLAST.
- YEAH?
SO, AM I -- SO, I'M 35.
THIS IS THE FIRST PARTY
I'VE EVER THROWN.
I HOPE IT WENT WELL.
2017 SEMA --
I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE A CAR,
I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE A BOOTH,
I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE
A PRODUCT HERE,
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE DID
HAVE, IS WE HAD A LOT OF LOVE,
WE MET A LOT OF GUYS,
HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS.
MAN, THANKS SO MUCH
FOR COMING OUT, GUYS.
- THANK YOU, MAN.
- THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE NEXT YEAR.
IT'S GONNA BE
A BIG ROLLER COASTER.
YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME?
- YEAH!
- GOOD.
LET'S SEE HOW THAT LINE
LOOKS OVER AT THE BAR.
Freeman: AARON'S ON HIS WAY
BACK FROM SEMA.
FIRST DAY BACK, THERE'S ALWAYS
WISHING WE GOT MORE DONE,
BUT WE'RE HERE WHERE WE'RE HERE,
AND WE'RE AT WHERE WE'RE AT.
LET'S SEE HOW
THE FENDERS LOOK.
- HOLY CRAP.
- IT'S BROKE.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT,
SO THIS IS WHAT
WE GOT TO DEAL WITH.
Rodriquez:
WHAT DO YOU SEE, JOSH?
Freeman: I'M JUST
LOOKING AT WHAT I DID.
SEEING THE EXTRA
I HAVE TO TRIM.
YEAH.
I THINK WE SHOULD WAIT
ON THE EXHAUST, THOUGH,
'CAUSE THEY MIGHT GET CLOSE.
WE HAVE THOSE LINK ARMS
TO DEAL WITH, TOO,
THE UPPER LINKS.
YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
Freeman: AARON'S ON HIS WAY
BACK FROM SEMA, FIRST DAY BACK.
I THINK HE'LL BE STOKED
ON WHAT WE GOT DONE.
BUT WITH ONLY A
WEEK AND A HALF LEFT,
THERE'S ALWAYS WISHING
WE GOT MORE DONE,
BUT WE'RE HERE WHERE WE'RE HERE,
AND WE'RE AT WHERE WE'RE AT.
- HOW Y'ALL DOING, GUYS?
- MORNING.
HOW YOU DOING?
DID YOU HAVE A BLAST?
YEAH. WE'RE PLANNING ON
DOING IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR
AND MAYBE INVOLVING --
- US?
- WELL, YES --
FIRST OF ALL, WE PLAN ON
HAVING VEHICLES THERE,
AND SO WE PLAN ON
BEING A PRESENCE THERE
AS A COMPANY INSTEAD
OF JUST PAYING BILLS.
BUT ANYWAY, WE DEFINITELY
HAD A GOOD TIME,
BUT BACK TO REALITY.
WELL, HERE WE ARE.
- YEAH, DEFINITELY.
WE HAVE A MAIN HOOP IN, AND...
- YEAH, I SAW.
- EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
I THINK THE LANDINGS
ARE EXCELLENT ON THAT.
AND I SAW YOU TOOK
THE A/C BUCKETS IN...
IT FIT IN, YEAH.
Y'ALL ARE MAKING
THE MOUNTS FOR IT?
- ALREADY DONE.
- IT'S ALREADY DONE.
- ALL RIGHT, SO A/C'S IN.
- A/C'S IN.
KEEP WORKING ON
THE CAGE SECTION.
IT LOOKS SUPER GREAT.
IN FACT, IT LOOKS SO TIGHT,
HAVE Y'ALL BEEN ABLE
TO POP THE ROOF BACK ON?
- YEAH.
- OH, YEAH.
- IT JUST --
- YEAH, AND I'M COOL WITH THAT.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH PRESSURE
YOU HAVE TO USE,
AS LONG AS IT WILL
GO BACK IN THERE.
THE GUYS HAVE GOT THE A/C IN.
THE CAGE IS AN INTEGRAL PART
OF THE CHASSIS.
THAT'S GOING TOGETHER WELL.
THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO TACKLE
THE ENTIRE WISH LIST
I GAVE THEM,
BUT CONSIDERING WE HAVE
A BRAND-NEW SHOP
THAT'S NOT FINISHED,
A BRAND-NEW TEAM
THAT'S NEVER WORKED TOGETHER,
I THINK IT'S PROGRESSING
AT A REASONABLY
CLOSE-TO-WHAT-I-EXPECTED RATE.
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'RE RIGHT THERE.
IT LOOKS GREAT.
I LOVE HOW TIGHT IT IS.
I LOVE HOW IT'S IN THE CAB
AND IT POKES OUT OF THE CAB,
AND, YEAH, I'M DOWN.
IT SHOULD COME TOGETHER
REALLY NICE.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE
WE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
- I LIKE IT, SO --
- OW!...
IT'S JUST ANOTHER AFFIRMATION
THAT WHEN HE DOES GO SOMEWHERE
HE CAN TRUST US WITH THE WORK,
AND WE ALL HAVE
THE SAME VISION
TO GET EVERYTHING DONE
HOW HE SEES IT
AND HOW WE SEE IT.
- RIGHT ON.
- ANYWAY, GUYS --
GUYS, IT LOOKS --
IT LOOKS GREAT,
SO JUST LET'S
KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT
THAT BEHIND US,
NOTHING BUT JUST
"GET FINISHED" AHEAD OF US.
THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO
IS GONNA SUCK A LOT
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT
THAT STILL HAS TO BE DONE.
WE JUST HAVE TO PUSH
THAT MUCH HARDER.
THE LIST IS VERY LONG RIGHT NOW.
LET'S ROCK AND ROLL, GUYS.
THANKS SO MUCH.
OKAY.
HERE WE GO.
WE'RE JUST GOING
TO HAVE LUNCH, MAN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT?
CHILI CHEESEBURGER.
- OH, MAN!
I WANT TATER TOTS ON THE BURGER,
THEN THE CHILI
ON TOP OF THE TATER TOTS.
- OH!
Bowman: I THINK
WE'RE ALL PRETTY STOKED
AT HOW THE DEAL WENT
DOWN THIS MORNING
WITH AARON
CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD
FEELING TO KNOW
THAT WE ARE
ALL ON THE SAME PAGE,
THAT WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE
HOW HE THINKS AND HOW WE THINK
IT SHOULD GET DONE.
HEY, GUYS,
WELCOME TO BIG STATE.
- HEY.
- HELLO.
- HOW'S IT GOING?
- IT'S GOING.
SO ON THAT NOTE, WE ALL THOUGHT
IT WAS A GOOD TIME
TO GO OUT AND GRAB SOME LUNCH.
Y'ALL -- Y'ALL DIGGING IT
SO FAR?
MY GOAL IS TO FINISH THIS THING
IN TIME FOR KING OF THE HAMMERS.
SO, I DON'T THINK
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
IT'S JUST --
- IT'S THE TUBE WORK --
IT'S GONNA BE A BUNCH
OF TUBE WORK AND TABBING.
YEAH.
I WISH THAT ANY OF US
UNDERSTOOD MORE
ABOUT THE DRAWING ASPECT
OF IT RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LEADER
IN OUR LITTLE GROUP HERE,
AND HE'S GOT HIS WHOLE VISION...
- YEAH, WELL, IT'S HIS TRUCK.
IT'S HIS GIG, WHICH IS COOL.
Rodriquez: YOU KNOW, LIKE,
FOR US WE'RE ALL A NEW CREW,
SO, YOU KNOW,
WE CAN'T NECESSARILY
SEE HIS VISION.
YEAH.
WORKING WITH OTHER
DUDES NOW IS --
IS A HUGE CHANGE OF PACE FOR ME.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL OWNED
OUR OWN SHOP,
SO THIS IS A VERY
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR US.
IT'S HARD TO RELINQUISH
SOME OF THE COMMAND,
BUT I THINK WE'RE DOING
PRETTY GOOD AT IT, I THINK.
IT'LL TAKE A COUPLE BUILDS,
BUT WE'LL START SEEING THINGS
BEFORE HE EVEN SAYS IT.
I THINK SO, TOO, FOR SURE.
- JOSH?
- YEAH?
I NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR MIC.
CAN YOU JUST...
THANKS.
TOTAL PROPS.
OKAY, I WAS GONNA SAY
THE BURGER MADE MY DAY --
NOPE. KERRI DEFINITELY DID.
SO KING OF THE HAMMERS IS GONNA
BE ON US BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
SO I'M TRYING TO GET ADVICE
FROM ANYWHERE I CAN FIND IT.
IN THIS CASE, IT TURNS OUT OUR
STEERING VENDOR JOSH BERTSCHY
IS A VETERAN OF THE COURSE.
WHEN IT COMES TO GO-FAST STUFF,
I'VE BEEN AROUND.
BUT WHEN IT COMES
TO ROCK-CRAWL STUFF,
I DON'T --
MAN, IT'S NEW FOR ME.
- WHEN YOU'RE DOING LEDGES...
- MM-HMM.
- ...YOU NEED TO BE COMMITTED.
- YEAH.
YOU'RE EITHER DOING IT
OR YOU'RE NOT,
AND IF YOU'RE NOT
AND YOU START BACKING OFF OF IT,
THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE
GONNA HURT YOURSELF.
UNLOADING START,
COMING OFF -- YEAH.
SO WHEN YOU DO A LEDGE,
STAY COMMITTED, OKAY?
YOU'LL BE FINE.
WE'LL FIND OUT.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
- THANKS, MAN.
- THANK YOU.
THE MORE I LEARN
ABOUT THIS RACE,
THE MORE I REALIZE
HOW CRAZY THIS IDEA IS
AND JUST HOW MUCH
WE HAVE TO GET DONE.
HOW ABOUT THIS --
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON
SOMETHING, AND YOU...
JUST THROW IT UP ON THE LIST
SO WE ALL KIND OF
ARE ON THE SAME PAGE
AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO, WE GET BACK FROM LUNCH,
WE'RE ALL FEELING PRETTY GOOD.
WE DECIDED WE NEED TO MAKE
A LIST OF THINGS TO GET DONE...
- AIR BOX.
- WIRING.
- WINDSHIELD.
- GASKETS.
- DRIVE SHAFTS.
- STEERING, FRONT SWAY BAR.
...AND THAT'S
WHEN REALITY SET IN.
UH, DID YOU PUT
"SUSPENSION" ON THERE?
DO WE WANT TO PUT
THAT ON THERE?
WELL, IT'S GOT
TO GET DONE.
K.O.H. IS SNEAKING UP
ON US FAST, GIRLS.
OUR LIST IS SO LONG, IT'S SCARY.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP OUR
HEADS DOWN AND CROSS THINGS OFF.
JEREMY'S TRYING TO
FINISH THE CAGE UP
WHILE I'M FINISHING
THE STEERING BOX.
BUT EVERYTHING KEEPS
GETTING MOVED AROUND
TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE SUSPENSION.
IT'S JUST A TON OF WORK.
Kaufman: SO, THE NEXT BIG
"HOORAH" MOMENT
IS WHEN IT HAS SHOCKS,
WHEN IT'S GOT COOL CARRIERS,
BYPASSES, BUMP STOPS,
AND WE GET THE AXLES LOCATED
UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK
WITH THE LINKS,
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE
FORWARD AND CONNECT THEM,
AND THE TRUCK WILL ACTUALLY
BE ABLE TO SIT ON ITS OWN.
THERE YOU GO.
Freeman: HEY, BUD, YOU MIND
JACKING UP THE FRONT END FOR ME?
I WANT TO CHECK SOMETHING OUT.
Bowman: OKAY.
SO, I'M LOOKING AT
THE FRONT END OF THE SCOUT,
AND I'M THINKING
AT FULL ARTICULATION
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
SOME CLEARANCE PROBLEMS.
SO WE JACKED UP ONE SIDE
OF THE SCOUT
TO SIMULATE THE UNEVEN TERRAIN,
AND SURE ENOUGH
IT LOOKS CLOSE.
OUCH.
LET'S SEE HOW THE FENDER FITS.
I MEAN, IF IT'S...
IF IT WAS HOW WE HAD IT BEFORE,
IT'S BROKE.
HOLY CRAP.
NORMALLY ROCK CRAWLERS
WITH THESE SIZE TIRES, AND --
WE DON'T HAVE FENDERS
AND SHEET METAL ON IT.
DON'T HAVE FENDERS --
IT'S JUST A TWO --
IT'S A BUGGY, ESSENTIALLY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S WAY
INTO ALL OF OUR SHEET METAL.
SO, WHAT WE DO IS
WE START CUTTING
UNTIL THEY FIT,
AND THEN WE...
WE GOT TO GO BACKWARDS.
Freeman: IT'S TIMES LIKE THESE
WHEN YOU LEARN NOT TO GET
TOO ATTACHED
TO SOMETHING YOU POURED
YOUR BLOOD, SWEAT,
AND TEARS INTO.
SO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE SOME SACRIFICES,
AND IT'LL HAVE TO BE
THESE FANCY FENDERS
THAT TOOK FOREVER TO BUILT.
I MEAN, JEREMY AND I
PRACTICALLY KILLED OURSELVES
MAKING THESE THINGS.
YOU GONNA DO MINE, TOO?
I DON'T KNOW.
IF WE HAVE TO.
OH, YEAH. YOU HAVE TO.
IT'S A... IT'S A LITTLE
DISCOURAGING.
SORRY, DUDE.
RIGHT.
, DUDE.
- LOOK AT IT GO.
- OKAY.
YOU GOT A LEAK DOWN HERE.
- THERE'S FUEL UP AT THE FRONT.
- ALL KINDS OF LEAKS.
YOU OUT OF POWER OR WHAT?
YEAH, I'M LOSING POWER.
GO AHEAD.
IT'S STILL
ON THE TIRE, THERE.
- OH.
- THERE YOU GO.
YEAH.
HOLY CRAP.
SO, AS WE WERE INSTALLING
OUR COILOVERS,
WE QUICKLY REALIZED
WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CLEARANCE
FOR OUR SUSPENSION
TO FULLY ARTICULATE
WITH THE 40-INCH TIRES
WE WANTED TO RUN.
FOR STARTERS, AS YOU CAN SEE,
LIKE, IT'S --
IT'S WAY INTO ALL
OF OUR SHEET METAL.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE
TO REDO THE FRONT FENDERS
THAT JEREMY AND I SPENT THE
BEST DAYS OF OUR YOUTH MAKING.
BUT IT'S ALSO A REALLY TIGHT FIT
WITH ALL OF OUR
FRONT-END COMPONENTS.
THE PROBLEM NOW IS
THIS IS NEWS THAT AARON'S
NOT GONNA LIKE GETTING.
WE GOT SOME MAJOR CHANGES
THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
WHAT YOU GOT?
AT FULL STUFF, WE'RE INTO HERE,
WE'RE INTO THE AIR BOX,
WE'RE INTO EVERYTHING.
BUT IF WE DROP THE UPPER
SHOCK MOUNTS DOWN,
THAT CHANGES OUR COMPRESSION,
THAT MAKES US WHERE WE CAN TURN.
WE SHOULD HAVE
CROSS THAT BRIDGE
BEFORE WE LOCKED
THE STEERING BOX DOWN.
THE PANHARD BAR
CAN OBVIOUSLY DOWN,
BUT THE STEERING'S SO TIGHT,
MOVING IT DOWN WILL BURN US...
- OH, TRUE.
- ...AN INCH ON THE BOTTOM.
SO, YOU TOLD AARON.
WHAT WAS AARON'S REACTION?
UH, HE'S KIND OF BUMMED.
WE DON'T HAVE
THE EXTRA INCH TO BURN,
AND SO IT'S A MAJOR --
IT'S A MAJOR HIT.
AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT,
YOU COULD TELL HE WAS KIND OF...
KIND OF FRUSTRATED
WITH THE WHOLE SITUATION.
Kaufman: AND YOU THINK
AN INCH CLEARS ALL THAT UP?
Bowman: YEAH.
RE-MEASURE IT ALL.
LET'S KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH
FURTHER DOWN WE NEEDED TO BE.
I'M WILLING TO MOVE
THIS STUFF ONE MORE TIME.
AFTER THAT, WHATEVER
THE TIRES EAT GETS SHREDDED.
OKAY, COOL.
IF IT'S AN INCH,
LET'S SWEAR TO IT.
SO, AFTER A SPLIT-SECOND
DECISION FROM AARON...
WE DOUBLE-CHECKED
OUR MEASUREMENTS...
Bowman: 13½.
...AND IT TURNS OUT AARON
WAS RIGHT TO BE SKEPTICAL.
MAYBE WE WERE OKAY BEFORE.
THE MISTAKE WE MADE WAS WHEN YOU
SET THESE THINGS UP,
YOU DON'T WANT TO SET THE COIL
AND THE SHOCK SMASHED
ALL THE WAY TOGETHER.
YOU WANT AN INCH
OF CUSHION OR SO,
SO THAT IF CATASTROPHICALLY,
SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN,
YOU DON'T BLOW THE SHOCK OUT.
WE HAD OUR INCH ALREADY,
WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW
WE HAD OUR INCH ALREADY.
WE JUST MISSED
THAT LITTLE DETAIL.
THE OTHER GOOD NEWS IS
THE REAR FENDERS ARE FINE.
Freeman: BOWMAN, GO TELL HIM.
- WHAT YOU GOT?
- GOOD TO GO.
- ON WHAT? ON HOW MUCH?
- EVERYTHING.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- HOW YOU HAVE IT IS GOOD.
- OKAY.
IT'S JUST THE FRONT BODYWORK
IN THE WAY,
AND WE CAN CUT THAT.
TO HELL WITH PUTTING
BODIES ON STUFF.
I'M OVER THIS.
LET'S JUST BUILD RACECARS.
WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD
AND CUT THE BODY OFF.
- SO, NOW...
- HOW LONG DID THAT LIP TAKE YOU?
A DAY OR TWO AT LEAST...
OKAY, A LONG TIME --
A LONG TIME.
THE FRONT FASCIA
AND THESE TWO FENDERS --
YEAH, IT TOOK ME
A COUPLE WEEKS.
THANKS.
APPRECIATE THAT.
AND IF WE JUST LEFT THEM
THE WAY THEY WERE,
THEY WOULD HAVE JUST
GOTTEN RIPPED OFF INSTANTLY.
SO WE GOT 23 DAYS TO GET THIS
THING TO THE KING OF HAMMERS.
AND IT'S FEELING GOOD
TO HAVE IT ATTACHED.
I'M HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME,
ACTUALLY.
GOOD JOB.
THAT'S SOLID.
Webster: SO, IT'S ABOUT
DAY 99 ON OUR SCOUT BUILD,
AND IT'S REALLY THE CULMINATION
OF A BUSY WEEK
CROSSING OFF MOST
OF WHAT'S LEFT ON OUR LIST,
'CAUSE THE GOAL IS TO LEAVE FOR
KING OF THE HAMMERS TOMORROW.
AND IF ALL GOES WELL,
WE SHOULD HAVE THE SCOUT
RUNNING BEFORE NIGHTFALL.
Bowman: IT'S VERY CLOSE.
I NEED TO PUT FUEL IN IT,
FILL THE TRANSFER CASE UP,
AND BURP THE FUEL SYSTEM,
AND THEN WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO LIGHT IT UP.
HOLY CRAP.
YEAH, IT'S -- I FIGURE WHAT
WE'RE ALSO GONNA NEED TO BRING
IS A LADDER TO BE ABLE
TO PUT FUEL IN THIS THING.
Rodriquez: LOOK AT IT GO!
GULP-A, GULP-A, GULP-A,
GULP-A, GULP-A.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
TURN IT ON,
MAKE SOME NOISE.
DIESEL.
WE GOT A LEAK DOWN HERE.
OH, SEE, LOOK.
THERE'S FUEL UP AT THE FRONT.
OKAY, KILL IT, JON.
ALL KINDS OF LEAKS.
BOY, THERE'S A HELL
OF A LEAK THERE.
Kaufman: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WERE TRYING TO TAKE A SHOWER
OR GOING SWIMMING, BUT...
- BOTH.
- ...YOU GOT BOTH OF THEM.
- YEAH.
THERE ARE ONLY A FEW PLACES
IT REALLY CAN BE.
IT CAN ONLY LEAK OUT
OF SO MANY HOLES.
HEY, CAN YOU SEE IT, JASON?
Bowman: YEAH.
IT'S THE FRONT FILTER.
IT'S TIGHT, BUT IT'S
LEAKING LIKE A SIEVE.
ON THE BOTTOM OF IT?
NO, IT'S THE SEAL
THAT SEALS THE WATER SEPARATOR
TO THE PUMP.
AROUND THE TOP OF IT?
LIKE, THE O-RING, SOMETHING'S
WRONG WITH THE O-RING.
THE O-RING PROBABLY
JUST GOT WATERED UP ON IT.
SO WE PULLED THE FILTER OFF
TO SEE IF IT WAS THE O-RING.
THE O-RING DIDN'T SEEM
TO BE THE CULPRIT,
BUT WE WENT AHEAD AND OILED IT
AND PUT IT BACK ON.
REALLY, IT WAS JUST
A LOOSE FITTING
ON THE OUTGOING SIDE
OF THE PUMP --
REALLY GOT IT HANDLED
PRETTY QUICKLY.
Rodriquez: COMING ON.
-OHH!
THAT WAS SMART.
THERE WE GO.
WE GOT HER NOW.
YOU'RE MAKING ALL
KINDS OF PRESSURE.
GET WITH IT, SISTER.
OR MAYBE NOT.
Bowman: GO AHEAD.
THERE WE GO.
THAT'S IT.
STUPID LITTLE TRACTOR.
- IT'S RUNNING.
- IT'S ALIVE.
SO, YEAH, THE MOTOR'S RUNNING,
BUT THIS IS WHERE
THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME,
AND THIS THING'S GOT TO PERFORM.
WE'RE GONNA TRY AND FIND OUT
IF IT'LL LEAVE THE SHOP
AND COME BACK IN ITS OWN.
THAT'S A BIG FIRST STEP
TO WRAPPING UP THE TRUCK
MECHANICALLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS LEFT.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHERE --
WHAT WE HAVE LEFT NOW,
SO WE'LL GO FOR A RIDE --
AWFUL EXCITING,
AND DEADLINE'S GETTING CLOSE.
Webster:
I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN DAYS.
BUT THE ADRENALINE
HAS DEFINITELY TAKEN OVER.
ARE YOU READY?
YEAH, I GUESS.
ALL RIGHT, BOYS AND GIRLS,
WE'RE GONNA GO FOR A LAP.
ALL RIGHT.
THE BRAKES FEEL ANY BETTER?
I DIDN'T GET --
HAVEN'T USED THEM YET!
WE GOT NO POWER AT ALL.
IN FACT, WE'RE UNRESPONSIVE.
MOTOR'S...
YEAH.
THAT'S THAT.
MOTOR'S DEAD.
WE WANT TO HAVE TO
DRAG THIS BABY BACK?
UH, CRUSTY RUSTY TO BASE CAMP,
WE ARE DEAD IN THE WATER.
OH, COME ON.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
YOU'RE GONNA PUSH
THIS 5,000-POUND MONSTER?
AT THIS RATE, NO MATTER
HOW FAST WE GET TO CALIFORNIA,
THE RACE IS NOT GONNA BE FUN.
Kaufman: SO, YOU MIGHT
REMEMBER EARLIER IN THE SHOW
WE STOPPED BY
A DESERTED TRADING POST
AND PROUDLY HOISTED
OUR COLORS --
AN ARCLIGHT T-SHIRT.
GOOD ENOUGH.
LOOK AT HOW PROUDLY
IT WAVES.
BEST OF LUCK.
WELL, BROOKS TOOK A PHOTO
AND POSTED IT ON INSTAGRAM --
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE GOT
THIS PHOTO RESPONSE
FROM THOMAS YAZZIE
OF GALLUP, NEW MEXICO.
HE NOT ONLY LOCATED
THE OLD TRADING POST
BUT NOW HAS HIS VERY OWN
SOMEWHAT COLLECTIBLE
ARCLIGHT T-SHIRT.
IN NEUTRAL?
UM, YEAH,
BUT YOU'RE GONNA PUSH
THIS 5,000-POUND MONSTER?
IF THERE'S ENOUGH OF HERE,
IT SHOULD BE NOT A PROBLEM.
AT THIS RATE,
I DON'T THINK
WE'RE IN ANY RISK
OF DAMAGING THE TRUCK.
SO, I JUST TOOK THE TRUCK
OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE,
AND IT'S A COMPLETE
AND UTTER FAILURE.
Bowman: OKAY, SOMEBODY
WANT TO GRAB THE FORKLIFT?
AND WITH KING OF THE HAMMERS
BREATHING DOWN OUR NECKS,
NOW WE GOT TO GET IT BACK INTO
THE SHOP AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
AIN'T GONNA LIE,
IT'S A LITTLE DEPRESSING.
I'VE HAD OTHER CARS THAT DIDN'T
MAKE IT AROUND THE BLOCK,
BUT NOT IN A LONG TIME.
THROTTLE IT, GERT MURTHAL.
- IT IS -- HERE WE GO.
Kaufman: WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO
IS GET IT BACK IN THE SHOP
THEN TRY AND FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE DEAL IS.
OBVIOUSLY AT THIS RATE,
NO MATTER HOW FAST
WE GET TO CALIFORNIA,
THE RACE IS NOT GONNA BE FUN.
Rodriquez:
I HONESTLY THINK
THE TRANSMISSION
IS NOT TUNED AT ALL.
I WOULD AGREE.
IT'S HORRIBLE.
IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING.
I TEXTED SAM, AND I ASKED HIM
IF I CAN SEND HIM A FILE,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS
I'M NOT A TUNER,
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ADJUST.
WE COULD -- WE COULD GO DOWN
A PATH WE'RE NOT READY FOR.
YEAH, AND I DON'T WANT TO,
YOU KNOW...
IF YOU CHANGE ONE THING
IT COULD SMOKE IT.
YEAH.
WELL, LET'S CALL SAM
AND GET HIM OUT HERE A.S.A.P.
Kaufman: SO, HERE'S THE DEAL --
WE'RE ATTEMPTING SOMETHING
THAT WE'RE NOT SURE
ANYONE ELSE HAS TRIED BEFORE
USING A 4BT CUMMINS MOTOR
MATED TO A 6L80 TRANSMISSION.
OUR ENGINE IS PREHISTORIC
AND PROVIDES NO INFORMATION
WHATSOEVER TO THE TRANSMISSION,
AND THE TRANSMISSION
IS VERY SOPHISTICATED
AND WANTS A TON
OF INFORMATION.
WE CAN'T GIVE IT THE THINGS
THAT WE DON'T HAVE,
AND WE CAN'T TAKE CONTROL OF IT
THE WAY THAT I THOUGHT WE COULD.
SINCE WE'RE HAVING SUCH
A PROFOUND ISSUE WITH OUR 6L80,
I ONLY KNOW ONE GUY THAT CAN GET
OVER HERE TONIGHT, SAM MILLER.
HE'S GOT A TON OF EXPERIENCE
WORKING AND TUNING
ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS,
AND I THINK HE'S
OUR ONLY HOPE TONIGHT.
HIS PLAN IS TO PROGRAM
FALSE INFORMATION
INTO THE TRANSMISSION
AND TRICK IT INTO
WORKING WITH THE ENGINE.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME...
...AND WE'RE ALREADY
COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED.
SO, HOW MANY HOURS
DID YOU SLEEP YESTERDAY?
ALMOST TWO.
ALMOST TWO?
- WHAT YEAR IS IT?
- 456.
THEY WERE FILMING
YOU SLEEPING.
YOU'RE MAKING
SOME MAJOR CHANGES?
YEAH, I HAD TO GO THROUGH
AND SET IT UP
TO WHERE IT WILL REACT
WHEN YOU TOUCH THIS.
YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION
D4 ON OUR TRANS AT ALL.
THIS IS THE FILE
THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IN IT,
SO IT'S -- IT HAS --
IT COMMANDS AND ALLOWS 0.4
SECONDS FOR A SHIFT TO HAPPEN.
SO, SAM THINKS HE WAS
ABLE TO TRANSLATE
AND MANIPULATE THE DATA
BEING SENT TO THE TRANSMISSION.
SO NOW WE JUST GOT
TO HOLD OUR BREATHS
AND HOPE THE SCOUT TURNS OVER.
Mansour: OKAY, WE'RE OVER
THE FIRST HURDLE. SHE RUNS.
WE JUST BURNED
THROUGH THE NIGHT,
AND THOUGH WE'RE ALL EXHAUSTED,
WE CAN'T AFFORD
NOT TO ANOTHER TEST RUN.
WE EITHER MAKE IT
OR BREAK IT RIGHT HERE.
THERE HE GOES!
HEY.
LOOK AT THAT.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE SMELL
OF BURNING DIESEL
IN THE MORNING.
A LITTLE TIRE --
TIRE HOBBLE THERE, BUT...
IT TAKES IT A MINUTE,
BUT IT GETS THERE.
Kaufman: THINGS ARE
LOOKING BETTER. WE MADE POWER.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING LIKE
WHERE I WANT IT TO BE,
AND I KNOW IT'S CRAZY
TO BRING A CAR LIKE THIS
TO KING OF THE HAMMERS.
IT'S NOT THE RIGHT CAR,
BUT IT'S THE CAR
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
A WEEK FROM NOW,
THERE MAY BE ZERO TRUCK LEFT.
K.O.H. OR BUST!
NEXT WEEK...
IT'S TIME TO GO FIND OUT
WHAT THE TRUCK CAN DO.
...WE FINALLY MAKE IT
TO KING OF THE HAMMERS.
HERE'S TO GETTING HERE,
AND HERE'S TO HOPEFULLY STAYING
HERE A LITTLE LONGER THAN...
BUT NOT EVERYTHING
GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN.
THAT JUST...
THAT JUST HAPPENED.
GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!
WHEN WE LEFT THE START LINE,
WE PUSHED HARD.
I MEAN, WE PUSHED REALLY HARD.
HOLY CRAP.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO DRIVE ANYTHING UP THAT.
THIS THING.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE
FOR FAR TOO LONG.
NOW I'M TAKING THINGS
IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
AT MY NEW SHOP,
ARCLIGHT FABRICATION,
I'M DESIGNING
AFTERMARKET TRUCK PARTS,
BUILDING UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD,
AND I'M HAVE MORE FUN DOING IT.
I'VE HAND-PICKED A TEAM
OF THE BEST BUILDERS
FROM ACROSS AMERICA TO JOIN ME.
JONATHAN MANSOUR AND I
HAVE BEEN FRIENDS
SINCE BEFORE WE WERE
OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE.
HE'S THE BEST PARTS GUY I KNOW,
BUT A TERRIBLE MAGICIAN.
- 3 OF CLUBS.
- WRONG!
A CUSTOM FABRICATOR
FROM A RACING FAMILY,
JOSH FREEMAN BUILT
A COMPLETE TRUCK AT AGE 15
AND HAS YET TO RECREATE
THE BICYCLE BOOGIE
MADE FAMOUS IN THE '80s.
ALMOST GOT IT!
EX-AIRCRAFT MECHANIC-TURNED
CLASSIC CAR FABRICATOR
JASON BOWMAN IS
AN ENGINE EXPERT
AND THE CORONA HIGH SCHOOL
MOONWALK CHAMPION, 1987.
JEREMY WEBSTER IS AN INCREDIBLY
TALENTED SHEET METAL WORKER.
HE'S WORKED ON CARS
SINCE HE WAS 13 YEARS OLD
AND HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO
TRAIN CATS FOR JUST AS LONG.
SIT.
COME ON. STAY.
A SELF-TAUGHT
ELECTRONICS MASTER
WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS
IN THE INDUSTRY,
JON RODRIQUEZ CAN HACK ANYTHING
WITH A CIRCUIT BOARD.
BUILDING THESE CUSTOM VEHICLES
WILL CHALLENGE OUR SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE ON EVERY LEVEL.
AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE,
WE'LL PUT EACH ONE TO THE TEST.
I'M AARON KAUFMAN,
AND THIS IS "SHIFTING GEARS."
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
TONIGHT I HIT THE ROAD
TO VEGAS...
ALL RIGHT!
...FOR THE SEMA CONVENTION.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A DAMN GOOD TIME.
YEAH!
HOW Y'ALL DOING?
AND LATER, THE SCOUT
SLAMS INTO US...
MAKING ALL KINDS
OF PRESSURE.
...IN EVERY WAY THAT IT CAN.
- WE GOT A LEAK DOWN HERE.
- THERE'S A HELL OF A LEAK THERE.
YEE-HOO-HOO-HOO!
- WHOA.
- WE GOT NO POWER AT ALL.
WE ARE DEAD IN THE WATER.
AW, COME ON.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
WHAT'S UP?
WHAT'S THE PLAN?
THIS TRUCK'S GOING TO VEGAS.
SWEET.
BETTER GET IN IT
IF YOU WANT TO GO.
ALL RIGHT.
Kaufman: SO, WE'RE UP BRIGHT
AND EARLY THIS MORNING
HEADED OUT TO THE SEMA
CONVENTION IN LOST VEGAS,
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO RECONNECT WITH FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES IN THE BUSINESS.
JOINING ME ON THIS
ADVENTURE IS BROOKS,
OUR SOCIAL-MEDIA GURU
WHO WILL DOCUMENT THE EVENT.
MY GIRLFRIEND LAUREN
WILL BE COMING ALONG AS WELL.
IT'S OVER 1,200 MILES
FROM DALLAS TO VEGAS,
SO WE'LL BE ON THE ROAD
FOR TWO DAYS.
LET'S JUST CALL IT
A BIT OF A ROAD TRIP.
YOU KNOW, SIX WEEKS AGO
I OPENED MY NEW SHOP, ARCLIGHT,
AND MY TEAM AND I SET OUT
TO TURN AN INTERNATIONAL SCOUT
INTO A STREET-LEGAL RACECAR
CAN THAT COULD COMPETE
AT THE KING OF THE HAMMERS,
CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE
THE TOUGHEST OFF-ROAD
COURSE IN THE WORLD.
WELL, THERE SHE IS,
IN ALL OF HER DENTED GLORY.
MY BUILDERS HAD NEVER
WORKED WITH A VEHICLE
THAT WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE.
WHAT FILL DID YOU
PICK THIS UP IN?
IT'S ALL STILL THERE,
IT'S JUST FULL OF DIRT.
BUT ONCE THEY WRAPPED THEIR HEAD
AROUND IT, THEY FINALLY DUG IN.
YEAH!
WE HAD A FEW CHALLENGES
ALONG THE WAY --
CREATING NEW FENDERS...
RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD,
- BUT IT'S JUST TOO MANY PIECES.
- TOO MANY CUTS.
...BUILDING
OUR VERY OWN CHASSIS.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE DEFINITELY
HAVE A LOT MORE SET UP TO DO.
YOU CAN SEE HOW I CRUSHED
THE BACKSIDE OF THIS.
IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY
FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY ME.
NEVER BEEN TO
A HAMMERS EVENT,
NEVER BEEN TO
AN ULTRA4 EVENT.
BUT AFTER DRIVING
THESE ULTRA4s...
A LITTLE BIT, DRIVER.
I REALIZE NOW HOW CRAZY
MY IDEA OF TAKING THE SCOUT
TO KING OF THE HAMMERS IS.
UH-OH.
MAN.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
BUT THERE'S NO TIME
FOR SECOND GUESSING.
WE'RE AT THE HALFWAY MARK
ON BUILDING THE SCOUT...
WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF WORK TO DO.
...AND I LEFT A LAUNDRY LIST
FOR MY GUYS TO ACCOMPLISH
WHILE I'M AWAY.
THAT'S A TON OF STUFF.
- YEAH. OH, YEAH.
- BASICALLY BUILD THE TRUCK.
THERE CAN BE NO ROOM FOR
MISTAKES IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT
TO THE KING OF THE HAMMERS
ON TIME.
GO TEAM!
I LOVE DRIVING.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
I LOVE BEING OUT WEST.
THINGS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW,
REALLY CHAOTIC
AND REALLY STRESSFUL AT THE SHOP
BUILDING OUR SCOUT
FOR KING OF THE HAMMERS,
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT
IF TIME TO DECOMPRESS.
IT'S VERY MIND-CLEARING,
CATHARTIC ACTIVITY.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO
INTERMITTENTLY HOP OFF 40
AND SEE SOME OF ROUTE 66
IN VARIOUS PLACES,
IT'S ENTERTAINING, IT'S FUN,
AND IT'S PLEASURABLE
TO THINK ABOUT.
SOME PARTS HAVE BEEN
COMPLETELY ERASED,
AND OTHER PARTS THAT LOOK
EXACTLY LIKE THEY USED TO
THE WHOLE TIME.
THE CARS GET OLDER,
THE PLACE GETS DIRTIER.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY DINOSAURS.
Y'ALL SEE ANY DINOSAURS?
Lauren: OOH,
THAT'S A COOL BUILDING.
TRAILS WEST LOUNGE.
IT'S THE T.W. LOUNGE!
OH, HELL, YES!
T-DUB.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
WE LIKE TO SEE --
ALL THE OLD SIGNS, ALL THE NEON,
OBVIOUSLY ALL THE OLD CARS --
JUST A GLIMPSE OF
HOW THINGS USED TO BE.
1955 THEY APPROVED
FUNDING FOR BUILDING
THIS MASSIVE FREEWAY SYSTEM
FROM ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC
AND FROM THE CANADIAN BORDER
TO THE MEXICAN BORDER.
IT CHANGED HOW CAR WERE BUILT,
BECAUSE THEY WERE
CROSSING A CONTINENT,
AND THEY WERE DOING IT FASTER
THAN THEY EVER HAD BEFORE,
SO THE VEHICLES HAD TO STEER
BETTER AT HIGH SPEEDS,
THEY HAD TO BE MORE STABLE,
THEY HAD TO BRAKE BETTER,
AND BE SAFER, QUITE FRANKLY.
YOU THINK MAYBE WE GOT FREEWAYS
'CAUSE THEY MADE FASTER CARS --
WE GOT FASTER CARS
'CAUSE THEY MADE FREEWAYS.
OH, I LIKE-A THAT ONE,
MUCHO, MUCHO.
SO, AARON'S GONE
ON THIS ROAD TRIP TO SEMA.
HE LEFT US WITH A LONG
LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS TO DO
ON THE SCOUT HE PLANS TO RACE
AT KING OF THE HAMMERS.
OUR NEXT STEP IS TO
PERMANENTLY MARRY
THE CUSTOM CHASSIS
WE BUILT TO THE BODY.
Bowman: HEY, DON'T CARRY
SO MUCH, JOSH.
Rodriquez: YOU GOT TO LET ME GET
SOME WEIGHT, TOO, THERE, JOSH.
Freeman: OPEN UP THE JACK STAND,
SET UP IN THE FRONT OR THE BACK.
HOW YOU DOING THERE, JON?
Bowman: THIS IS
A HUGE STEP FOR US.
ONCE THIS GETS MARRIED TOGETHER,
EVERYTHING STARTS HAPPENING.
WE'RE GONNA STUFF AN INDUSTRIAL
INJECTION CUMMINS MOTOR,
THE TRANS...
YOU NEED TO COME BACK
TOWARDS JOSH.
...AND THE ADVANCED ADAPTERS
TRANSFER CASE IN.
BOLT THAT ALL UP, SEE WHERE
EVERYTHING ELSE LIES.
THAT'S FUN.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THE --
FIRST TIME ALL THE WEIGHT'S
BEEN ON THE FRAME.
COOL.
I LIKE IT.
WE'RE DOING GOOD.
WE'RE TRYING TO LOWER THE BODY
DOWN ON THE CHASSIS RIGHT NOW.
KEEP COMING.
YEAH.
HOLY CRAP. THE TURBO'S NOT GONNA
FIT BETWEEN THE FRAME RAILS.
OH,.
IT'S A BIG ONE.
START CUTTING, HOMEY.
THE TURBO -- OUR TURBO SET-UP
IS GONNA HIT RIGHT HERE,
SO WE HAD TO TAKE
THE TURBOS OFF --
LIKELY, JOSH OR JEREMY'S
GONNA HAVE TO GET IN HERE
AND JUST CUT HUGE CHUNKS
OFF OF THIS THING
TO GET THESE THINGS TO WORK
'CAUSE THE PACKAGE IS SO BIG.
IT LOOKS TO BE
PRETTY WELL CLEAR.
Rodriquez: SO, YOU WANT ME
TO GO DOWN WITH IT?
- YEAH.
- WE GOT A FAR WAYS TO GO.
AS FAR AS SPACE-WISE
GOES IN HERE,
ONCE ALL THIS IS TOGETHER,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TWO-AND-A-HALF INCH CHARGE PIPE
RUNNING OUT OF THE TOP TURBO
INTO THE INNER COOLER.
WE'LL HAVE RADIATOR HOSES
RUNNING THIS WAY.
WE'LL HAVE A/C LINES
RUNNING EVERY WHICH WAY,
WE'LL HAVE ROLL-CAGE STUFF
COMING IN.
I MEAN, IT'S GONNA BE MASSIVE,
ALL THE CRAP GOING ON IN HERE.
IT'LL LOOK LIKE A DISASTER,
BUT IT'LL BE
A CALCULATED DISASTER.
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GOT
TO BE ON THE TUNNEL.
IN THE END, IT ALWAYS COMES
DOWN TO A FRACTION OF AN INCH...
OKAY, READY?
YEP.
...BUT WHEN IT ALL COMES
TOGETHER,
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING.
- YEAH. THERE IT IS.
- THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
LOOK AT THOSE SLIDERS, DUDE.
- YEAH.
- THAT'S BAD.
- OH, COOL.
- I LIKE THEM.
OKAY. NEXT STEP.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
WHEN WE START DRIVING
THROUGH ARIZONA,
THAT'S WHEN IT GETS
REALLY, REALLY PRETTY.
Brooks: YEAH,
THE PETRIFIED FOREST IS COOL.
I HAVE A PIECE
OF PETRIFIED WOOD.
YOU STOLE
FROM AN NATIONAL PARK?
NO, I BOUGHT IT
FROM SOME, LIKE, PLACE.
Kaufman: WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF GROUND TO COVER ALL THE WAY
FROM DALLAS TO LAS VEGAS
WHERE THE SEMA SHOW IS.
ALONG THE WAY,
WE'RE GOING TO VISIT
AS MANY LITTLE
ROUTE 66 STOPS AS WE CAN.
Lauren: THAT'S A BIG
PIECE OF MEAT.
IT'S JUST GLUTTONY
NONSTOP.
YEAH.
WHAT'S YOU'RE DOING
IS SO CREEPY.
- CREEPY.
- YEAH.
WELL, WE STILL GOT A-WAYS TO GO.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY,
WHAT BEAUTIFUL ROADS WE HAVE.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIMPLICITY
TO JUST DRIVE, YOU KNOW?
THE ABILITY TO JUST
FEEL THE VIBRATION,
TO JUST GET OUT,
BREATHE A LITTLE BIT --
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT MAKES ME THE HAPPIEST.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
Kaufman: HE IS BOOKING IT
FOR A CHOO-CHOO.
HE'S PULLING A LOT --
A LARGE LOAD.
Kaufman:
THE WEST HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO ESCAPE.
I TRY AND IMAGINE
WHO LIVES THERE AND WHAT THEY DO
AND WHY IS IT ABANDONED NOW?
HOW COME THESE BUILDINGS
ARE EMPTY?
WHAT IF I SOLD EVERYTHING
AND GAVE UP ALL THIS CRAP
AND JUST, LIKE, LIVED THERE?
LIKE, HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?
- HEY.
- YEP?
LET ME GET
SOME VIDEO OF THIS
WAVING MAJESTICALLY
IN THE BREEZE.
YEAH.
GOOD ENOUGH.
SEE, LOOK AT HOW
PROUDLY IT WAVES.
BEST OF LUCK.
DUDE, THIS IS, LIKE,
IF I WON THE PGA TOUR.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY --
WOMEN LOVE
A SHARP-DRESSED MAN.
WELL, LET'S FLEE.
Kaufman: I LIKE
DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES.
I LIKE BIG SKIES.
I LIKE BIG ROCKS.
I LIKE A LOT OF ROAD
LAID OUT IN FRONT OF ME.
THIS PLACE IS SO MASSIVE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL?
IT'S DEFINITELY
A BEAUTIFUL, BIG HOLE.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GO TO VEGAS.
SEMA IS THE INDUSTRY
INSIDE SHOW.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A DAMN GOOD TIME.
HOW Y'ALL DOING?
WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW BUSINESS,
AND SO WE PUT AN EVENT TOGETHER.
LET'S GET THESE TRUCKS FIRED UP.
IT WILL PROBABLY BE VERY BUMPY.
ALL RIGHT, BOYS AND GIRLS,
WE'RE GONNA GO FOR A LAP.
WE GOT NO POWER AT ALL.
IN FACT, WE'RE UNRESPONSIVE.
- MOTORS.
- YEAH, THAT'S SAD.
- MOTOR'S DEAD.
OH, COME ON!
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
Kaufman: WE'LL SEE YOU.
TAKE CARE.
HOW YOU DOING?
- I'M FROM AUSTRALIA.
- OH, VERY COOL!
- YEAH, MATE.
I WAS DOWN THERE IN 2008,
AND HAVEN'T' HAD
A CHANCE TO GET BACK.
YEAH, MATE, YOU NEED TO.
YOU NEED TO GET DOWN THERE.
IT'S BUSY. SEMA'S BUSY.
THANKS SO MUCH.
HOW YOU DOING?
NUMBER-ONE FAN
FROM SCOTLAND.
ALL RIGHT!
I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY PEOPLE
COME UP AND SAY "GOOD ON YA."
EVERYBODY'S SO EXCITED
ABOUT WHAT WE GOT GOING ON.
THE TERM "FEELING THE LOVE" --
PROBABLY NEVER MORE ACCURATE...
...THAN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
HERE -- HERE 2017 IN SEMA --
BEEN COMING HERE 14 YEARS,
AND TALK ABOUT A DRIVING FORCE.
IT'LL BE A MOTIVATING FORCE.
YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER
PLACE TO FIND INSPIRATION.
SEMA IS AN ACRONYM FOR SPECIALTY
EQUIPMENT MARKETING ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS THE INDUSTRY
INSIDE SHOW.
IT'S WHERE EVERYONE WHO'S
MAKING A PART OR A WIDGET,
WHETHER IT'S A NEON LIGHT,
A WHEEL,
A TIRE, A BIG BRAKE PACKAGE --
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IS IT.
THERE'S VENDORS
SHOWCASING THEIR PRODUCTS,
AND THE BEST WAY TO DO IT
INSTEAD OF LAYING THEM
ON A TABLE IS PUT THEM ON A CAR.
- AARON!
- HEY, HOW ARE YOU?
THANKS FOR
COMING BY THE CAR.
SO, WE SEE ALL THE GREAT WORK,
WE SEE ALL THE OTHER BUILDERS...
IT BROKE 200 MILES PER HOUR,
AND WE'RE PUTTING OUT
ABOUT 1,700, 1,800 HORSEPOWER.
...AND THAT MAKES US
WANT TO BUILD BETTER,
BUILD FASTER, BUILD HARDER.
YOU MAE ABOUT FOUR TIMES
THE POWER I MAKE,
BUT LET'S -- LET'S GET
TOGETHER AND GO PLAY
CARS ON THE TRACK ONE DAY.
- LET'S DO IT, MAN.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
THOUGH, THE FANS,
EVERYBODY BEHIND US,
THEY'RE ROOTING FOR US,
YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
WE CAN'T LET DOWN.
WE'LL SEE YA.
THANKS, GUYS.
NO, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT
HASN'T BEEN HERE. YOU TELL ME.
THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
HEY. WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
SO, IF YOU DON'T DRIVE
THESE THINGS,
THEY'RE LITTLE MORE
THAN SCULPTURE.
WHENEVER WE HAVE
THE "FORD OUT FRONT" EVENT,
PEOPLE GET TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS,
WHAT MOTORSPORT IS, WHAT FUN IS.
THEY GET TO WATCH IT,
AND THEN THEY'RE PUTTING
PEOPLE IN THESE CARS,
AND THEY'RE SLIDING THEM AROUND.
AND THIS A LEVEL OF DRIVING
THAT NONE OF THESE PEOPLE
ARE GONNA GO HOME AND DO
AND PROBABLY NEVER BE
CAPABLE OF DOING,
AND SO IT REALLY SHOWS
PEOPLE THE DEPTH
OF WHAT THIS INDUSTRY CAN BE.
THIS IS VAUGHN GITTIN'S TRUCK,
THE FUN HAVER,
AND SO WE'RE GONNA TRY
AND SEE IF IT'LL LIVE UP
TO ITS NAME, GO HAVE SOME FUN.
THE SCULPTURE'S ALL RIGHT,
BUT SLIDING SIDEWAYS
AND BOILING TIRES,
THAT'S WHAT WE GET OFF ON.
SHUT THAT DOOR!
- GOT IT.
- ALL RIGHT, YOU READY TO ROCK?
- YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
YEAH!
HOW Y'ALL DOING?
TODAY WE GOT TO RIDE
WITH VAUGHN GITTIN
IN THE FUN HAVER,
AND WHAT A BLAST THAT WAS.
I'LL TELL YOU, VAUGHN KNOWS
HOW TO SLING IT AROUND,
AND THE NAME SAYS IT ALL.
IT'S THE ULTIMATE FUN HAVER.
SO, BROCKY,
SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WE'RE BUILDING A SCOUT
RIGHT NOW, THE 4BT, 6L80,
CURRIES FRONT AND BACK, AND SO
WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE, MAN.
SICK, WELL,
I LOOK FORWARD TO IT, BRO.
GOOD LUCK
WITH EVERYTHING, MAN.
- YES, SIR.
- HAPPY FOR YOU.
- THANKS FOR THE RIDE.
- NO WORRIES.
NO, I'M READY TO START
BUILDING THIS TANK.
SO I'VE GOT
MY 8th-INCH ALUMINUM.
WE'RE GONNA GET IT ALL CUT UP,
AND WE'RE GONNA
WELD IT TOGETHER,
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE A GAS TANK.
BUT NOT JUST ANY GAS TANK,
BUT SOMETHING ESPECIALLY BUILT
TO TAKE ON KING OF THE HAMMERS.
IN THIS UPCOMING RACE,
AARON'S GONNA FACE LONG,
FUEL-GUZZLING,
HIGH-SPEED STRETCHES,
SO I'M GONNA MAKE THIS FUEL TANK
LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD MORE FUEL.
BUT EVEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE
IS THE INTENSE ROCK CLIMBING
THAT PUTS THESE
VEHICLES IN IMPOSSIBLE ANGLES.
SO I'M BUILDING THIS TANK
WITH ITS OWN ANGLES.
IT ACTUALLY WILL HELP US
GOING THROUGH THE TRAILS
AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT,
SO WE'RE ROCK CRAWLING
AND DOING STUFF
AND GOING IN EXTREME ANGLES.
THE FUEL IS ACTUALLY RUNNING
IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION.
IT'S TRYING TO STAY
IN THIS POCKET.
YOU KNOW, IT'S CHALLENGING,
AND THAT'S PART OF BUILDING
SOMETHING FULLY CUSTOM,
AND IT'S WORTH ALL
THAT WORK IN THE END
BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY PROUD
OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
"FUEL: STORAGE...
BLADDER CONSTRUCTION...
OF NYLON OR DACRON WOVEN
AND FABRIC IMPREGNATED
AND COATED WITH
A FUEL-RESISTANT ELASTOMER."
SO, I'M LOOKING HERE
IN THE RULES,
AND IT SAYS THAT THE FUEL TANK
THAT JEREMY'S GOT
IS NOT GONNA WORK,
AND THEY WANT US TO HAVE
A BLADDER INSIDE IT,
SO, IT'S...
THAT SUCKS.
WELL, JEREMY'S GONNA BE BUMMED.
SO, BASICALLY YOUR FUEL CELL'S
NOT GONNA WORK.
- SWEET.
- YEAH.
IT HAS TO HAVE A BLADDER IN IT.
SO -- THAT MEANS I DON'T'
GET TO USE MY FUEL CELL,
BECAUSE WE CAN'T --
WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME
TO HAVE SOMEBODY
MAKE A BLADDER SYSTEM
FOR THE FUEL CELL THAT I BUILT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA LOSE
GALLONS ON THE TANK ITSELF,
BUT IT'S UNFORTUNATE IT,
BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT'S NOT EVEN SO MUCH
THE MATERIAL,
IT'S THE TIME THAT IT TOOK
TO MAKE THAT THING.
OH, YEAH. I KNOW.
MM-HMM.
CAN WE HAVE THOSE DAYS BACK?
- PROBABLY NOT.
- CAN YOU REFUND THOSE?
IT'S EASY -- YOU PUT IT
ON CRAIGSLIST.
"INTERNATIONAL SCOUT,"
YOU KNOW, "FUEL CELL."
- YEAH.
- SURE IT'LL SELL LIKE HOT CAKES.
Kaufman: WE HAVE
A BRAND-NEW BUSINESS.
AND THE BUSINESS IS SO NEW,
WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT SHOWCASING
ANY OF OUR BUILDS,
ANY OF OUR PARTS
HERE AT SEMA 2017.
AND SO WE PUT AN EVENT TOGETHER,
TORQUE & TACOS,
FOR THE GUYS
WE DO BUSINESS WITH,
AND SO WE'RE GONNA HEAD OUT
TO VEGAS ALL FOR EXPERIENCE.
WE'VE RENTED THE TRACK,
WE'VE RENTED A COUPLE CARS,
GOT TWO REAL DRIVERS,
AND THEN MYSELF.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A DAMN GOOD TIME.
SO, HERE'S THE DEAL.
I'M GONNA BE GIVING
SOME RIDE-ALONGS.
DON'T JUDGE ME TOO HARSHLY.
WE GOT SOME OTHER PROFESSIONALS
GIVING SOME RIDE-ALONGS
OUT HERE.
I SUGGEST TAKING A RIDE
WITH ME AND THEN THE FAST GUYS.
THAT WAY MY RIDE'S NOT BORING.
BUT I WANTED TO HAVE FUN,
AND I WANTED Y'ALL TO COME OUT
AND HAVE FUN WITH ME.
I'M SO STOKED THAT
EVERYONE'S OUT HERE.
ENJOY THE TACOS.
ENJOY THE BEER.
ENJOY THE DRINKS.
IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
LET'S GET THESE TRUCKS FIRED UP.
SOUND GOOD?
- ONE QUICK NOTE, REAL QUICK --
- OH, IF THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY,
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
IT'S NOT SAFETY.
THANKS FOR FLYING VORE AIR
THIS EVENING.
WELL, YOUR RIDE
WILL NOT BE SMOOTH.
IT WILL PROBABLY BE VERY BUMPY.
THE COCKTAIL SERVICE WILL SUCK.
THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU BETTER AIM OUT THAT WINDOW.
SO, IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE IDEA --
I WANTED TO GO PLAY
WITH THE TRUCKS,
I WANTED ALL MY FRIENDS
AND MY NOT-YET FRIENDS
TO COME HAVE A GOOD TIME,
AND I THINK THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
WE HAD THE RIGHT AMOUNT
OF PEOPLE SHOW UP.
EVERYBODY GOT RIDES.
THERE WERE GUYS ON THE TRACK
THAT ARE WAY FASTER THAN ME,
BUT I DON'T THAT ANYONE
WAS HAVING MORE FUN THAN ME.
I'D DO IT EVERY WEEK
IF WE COULD.
THAT'S THAT.
NOW WE PARTY.
I'M SO HAPPY
Y'ALL MADE IT OUT.
- WE HAD A BLAST.
- YEAH?
SO, AM I -- SO, I'M 35.
THIS IS THE FIRST PARTY
I'VE EVER THROWN.
I HOPE IT WENT WELL.
2017 SEMA --
I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE A CAR,
I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE A BOOTH,
I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE
A PRODUCT HERE,
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE DID
HAVE, IS WE HAD A LOT OF LOVE,
WE MET A LOT OF GUYS,
HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS.
MAN, THANKS SO MUCH
FOR COMING OUT, GUYS.
- THANK YOU, MAN.
- THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE NEXT YEAR.
IT'S GONNA BE
A BIG ROLLER COASTER.
YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME?
- YEAH!
- GOOD.
LET'S SEE HOW THAT LINE
LOOKS OVER AT THE BAR.
Freeman: AARON'S ON HIS WAY
BACK FROM SEMA.
FIRST DAY BACK, THERE'S ALWAYS
WISHING WE GOT MORE DONE,
BUT WE'RE HERE WHERE WE'RE HERE,
AND WE'RE AT WHERE WE'RE AT.
LET'S SEE HOW
THE FENDERS LOOK.
- HOLY CRAP.
- IT'S BROKE.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT,
SO THIS IS WHAT
WE GOT TO DEAL WITH.
Rodriquez:
WHAT DO YOU SEE, JOSH?
Freeman: I'M JUST
LOOKING AT WHAT I DID.
SEEING THE EXTRA
I HAVE TO TRIM.
YEAH.
I THINK WE SHOULD WAIT
ON THE EXHAUST, THOUGH,
'CAUSE THEY MIGHT GET CLOSE.
WE HAVE THOSE LINK ARMS
TO DEAL WITH, TOO,
THE UPPER LINKS.
YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
Freeman: AARON'S ON HIS WAY
BACK FROM SEMA, FIRST DAY BACK.
I THINK HE'LL BE STOKED
ON WHAT WE GOT DONE.
BUT WITH ONLY A
WEEK AND A HALF LEFT,
THERE'S ALWAYS WISHING
WE GOT MORE DONE,
BUT WE'RE HERE WHERE WE'RE HERE,
AND WE'RE AT WHERE WE'RE AT.
- HOW Y'ALL DOING, GUYS?
- MORNING.
HOW YOU DOING?
DID YOU HAVE A BLAST?
YEAH. WE'RE PLANNING ON
DOING IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR
AND MAYBE INVOLVING --
- US?
- WELL, YES --
FIRST OF ALL, WE PLAN ON
HAVING VEHICLES THERE,
AND SO WE PLAN ON
BEING A PRESENCE THERE
AS A COMPANY INSTEAD
OF JUST PAYING BILLS.
BUT ANYWAY, WE DEFINITELY
HAD A GOOD TIME,
BUT BACK TO REALITY.
WELL, HERE WE ARE.
- YEAH, DEFINITELY.
WE HAVE A MAIN HOOP IN, AND...
- YEAH, I SAW.
- EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
I THINK THE LANDINGS
ARE EXCELLENT ON THAT.
AND I SAW YOU TOOK
THE A/C BUCKETS IN...
IT FIT IN, YEAH.
Y'ALL ARE MAKING
THE MOUNTS FOR IT?
- ALREADY DONE.
- IT'S ALREADY DONE.
- ALL RIGHT, SO A/C'S IN.
- A/C'S IN.
KEEP WORKING ON
THE CAGE SECTION.
IT LOOKS SUPER GREAT.
IN FACT, IT LOOKS SO TIGHT,
HAVE Y'ALL BEEN ABLE
TO POP THE ROOF BACK ON?
- YEAH.
- OH, YEAH.
- IT JUST --
- YEAH, AND I'M COOL WITH THAT.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH PRESSURE
YOU HAVE TO USE,
AS LONG AS IT WILL
GO BACK IN THERE.
THE GUYS HAVE GOT THE A/C IN.
THE CAGE IS AN INTEGRAL PART
OF THE CHASSIS.
THAT'S GOING TOGETHER WELL.
THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO TACKLE
THE ENTIRE WISH LIST
I GAVE THEM,
BUT CONSIDERING WE HAVE
A BRAND-NEW SHOP
THAT'S NOT FINISHED,
A BRAND-NEW TEAM
THAT'S NEVER WORKED TOGETHER,
I THINK IT'S PROGRESSING
AT A REASONABLY
CLOSE-TO-WHAT-I-EXPECTED RATE.
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'RE RIGHT THERE.
IT LOOKS GREAT.
I LOVE HOW TIGHT IT IS.
I LOVE HOW IT'S IN THE CAB
AND IT POKES OUT OF THE CAB,
AND, YEAH, I'M DOWN.
IT SHOULD COME TOGETHER
REALLY NICE.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE
WE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
- I LIKE IT, SO --
- OW!...
IT'S JUST ANOTHER AFFIRMATION
THAT WHEN HE DOES GO SOMEWHERE
HE CAN TRUST US WITH THE WORK,
AND WE ALL HAVE
THE SAME VISION
TO GET EVERYTHING DONE
HOW HE SEES IT
AND HOW WE SEE IT.
- RIGHT ON.
- ANYWAY, GUYS --
GUYS, IT LOOKS --
IT LOOKS GREAT,
SO JUST LET'S
KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT
THAT BEHIND US,
NOTHING BUT JUST
"GET FINISHED" AHEAD OF US.
THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO
IS GONNA SUCK A LOT
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT
THAT STILL HAS TO BE DONE.
WE JUST HAVE TO PUSH
THAT MUCH HARDER.
THE LIST IS VERY LONG RIGHT NOW.
LET'S ROCK AND ROLL, GUYS.
THANKS SO MUCH.
OKAY.
HERE WE GO.
WE'RE JUST GOING
TO HAVE LUNCH, MAN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT?
CHILI CHEESEBURGER.
- OH, MAN!
I WANT TATER TOTS ON THE BURGER,
THEN THE CHILI
ON TOP OF THE TATER TOTS.
- OH!
Bowman: I THINK
WE'RE ALL PRETTY STOKED
AT HOW THE DEAL WENT
DOWN THIS MORNING
WITH AARON
CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD
FEELING TO KNOW
THAT WE ARE
ALL ON THE SAME PAGE,
THAT WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE
HOW HE THINKS AND HOW WE THINK
IT SHOULD GET DONE.
HEY, GUYS,
WELCOME TO BIG STATE.
- HEY.
- HELLO.
- HOW'S IT GOING?
- IT'S GOING.
SO ON THAT NOTE, WE ALL THOUGHT
IT WAS A GOOD TIME
TO GO OUT AND GRAB SOME LUNCH.
Y'ALL -- Y'ALL DIGGING IT
SO FAR?
MY GOAL IS TO FINISH THIS THING
IN TIME FOR KING OF THE HAMMERS.
SO, I DON'T THINK
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
IT'S JUST --
- IT'S THE TUBE WORK --
IT'S GONNA BE A BUNCH
OF TUBE WORK AND TABBING.
YEAH.
I WISH THAT ANY OF US
UNDERSTOOD MORE
ABOUT THE DRAWING ASPECT
OF IT RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LEADER
IN OUR LITTLE GROUP HERE,
AND HE'S GOT HIS WHOLE VISION...
- YEAH, WELL, IT'S HIS TRUCK.
IT'S HIS GIG, WHICH IS COOL.
Rodriquez: YOU KNOW, LIKE,
FOR US WE'RE ALL A NEW CREW,
SO, YOU KNOW,
WE CAN'T NECESSARILY
SEE HIS VISION.
YEAH.
WORKING WITH OTHER
DUDES NOW IS --
IS A HUGE CHANGE OF PACE FOR ME.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL OWNED
OUR OWN SHOP,
SO THIS IS A VERY
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR US.
IT'S HARD TO RELINQUISH
SOME OF THE COMMAND,
BUT I THINK WE'RE DOING
PRETTY GOOD AT IT, I THINK.
IT'LL TAKE A COUPLE BUILDS,
BUT WE'LL START SEEING THINGS
BEFORE HE EVEN SAYS IT.
I THINK SO, TOO, FOR SURE.
- JOSH?
- YEAH?
I NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR MIC.
CAN YOU JUST...
THANKS.
TOTAL PROPS.
OKAY, I WAS GONNA SAY
THE BURGER MADE MY DAY --
NOPE. KERRI DEFINITELY DID.
SO KING OF THE HAMMERS IS GONNA
BE ON US BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
SO I'M TRYING TO GET ADVICE
FROM ANYWHERE I CAN FIND IT.
IN THIS CASE, IT TURNS OUT OUR
STEERING VENDOR JOSH BERTSCHY
IS A VETERAN OF THE COURSE.
WHEN IT COMES TO GO-FAST STUFF,
I'VE BEEN AROUND.
BUT WHEN IT COMES
TO ROCK-CRAWL STUFF,
I DON'T --
MAN, IT'S NEW FOR ME.
- WHEN YOU'RE DOING LEDGES...
- MM-HMM.
- ...YOU NEED TO BE COMMITTED.
- YEAH.
YOU'RE EITHER DOING IT
OR YOU'RE NOT,
AND IF YOU'RE NOT
AND YOU START BACKING OFF OF IT,
THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE
GONNA HURT YOURSELF.
UNLOADING START,
COMING OFF -- YEAH.
SO WHEN YOU DO A LEDGE,
STAY COMMITTED, OKAY?
YOU'LL BE FINE.
WE'LL FIND OUT.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
- THANKS, MAN.
- THANK YOU.
THE MORE I LEARN
ABOUT THIS RACE,
THE MORE I REALIZE
HOW CRAZY THIS IDEA IS
AND JUST HOW MUCH
WE HAVE TO GET DONE.
HOW ABOUT THIS --
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON
SOMETHING, AND YOU...
JUST THROW IT UP ON THE LIST
SO WE ALL KIND OF
ARE ON THE SAME PAGE
AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO, WE GET BACK FROM LUNCH,
WE'RE ALL FEELING PRETTY GOOD.
WE DECIDED WE NEED TO MAKE
A LIST OF THINGS TO GET DONE...
- AIR BOX.
- WIRING.
- WINDSHIELD.
- GASKETS.
- DRIVE SHAFTS.
- STEERING, FRONT SWAY BAR.
...AND THAT'S
WHEN REALITY SET IN.
UH, DID YOU PUT
"SUSPENSION" ON THERE?
DO WE WANT TO PUT
THAT ON THERE?
WELL, IT'S GOT
TO GET DONE.
K.O.H. IS SNEAKING UP
ON US FAST, GIRLS.
OUR LIST IS SO LONG, IT'S SCARY.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP OUR
HEADS DOWN AND CROSS THINGS OFF.
JEREMY'S TRYING TO
FINISH THE CAGE UP
WHILE I'M FINISHING
THE STEERING BOX.
BUT EVERYTHING KEEPS
GETTING MOVED AROUND
TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE SUSPENSION.
IT'S JUST A TON OF WORK.
Kaufman: SO, THE NEXT BIG
"HOORAH" MOMENT
IS WHEN IT HAS SHOCKS,
WHEN IT'S GOT COOL CARRIERS,
BYPASSES, BUMP STOPS,
AND WE GET THE AXLES LOCATED
UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK
WITH THE LINKS,
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE
FORWARD AND CONNECT THEM,
AND THE TRUCK WILL ACTUALLY
BE ABLE TO SIT ON ITS OWN.
THERE YOU GO.
Freeman: HEY, BUD, YOU MIND
JACKING UP THE FRONT END FOR ME?
I WANT TO CHECK SOMETHING OUT.
Bowman: OKAY.
SO, I'M LOOKING AT
THE FRONT END OF THE SCOUT,
AND I'M THINKING
AT FULL ARTICULATION
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
SOME CLEARANCE PROBLEMS.
SO WE JACKED UP ONE SIDE
OF THE SCOUT
TO SIMULATE THE UNEVEN TERRAIN,
AND SURE ENOUGH
IT LOOKS CLOSE.
OUCH.
LET'S SEE HOW THE FENDER FITS.
I MEAN, IF IT'S...
IF IT WAS HOW WE HAD IT BEFORE,
IT'S BROKE.
HOLY CRAP.
NORMALLY ROCK CRAWLERS
WITH THESE SIZE TIRES, AND --
WE DON'T HAVE FENDERS
AND SHEET METAL ON IT.
DON'T HAVE FENDERS --
IT'S JUST A TWO --
IT'S A BUGGY, ESSENTIALLY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S WAY
INTO ALL OF OUR SHEET METAL.
SO, WHAT WE DO IS
WE START CUTTING
UNTIL THEY FIT,
AND THEN WE...
WE GOT TO GO BACKWARDS.
Freeman: IT'S TIMES LIKE THESE
WHEN YOU LEARN NOT TO GET
TOO ATTACHED
TO SOMETHING YOU POURED
YOUR BLOOD, SWEAT,
AND TEARS INTO.
SO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE SOME SACRIFICES,
AND IT'LL HAVE TO BE
THESE FANCY FENDERS
THAT TOOK FOREVER TO BUILT.
I MEAN, JEREMY AND I
PRACTICALLY KILLED OURSELVES
MAKING THESE THINGS.
YOU GONNA DO MINE, TOO?
I DON'T KNOW.
IF WE HAVE TO.
OH, YEAH. YOU HAVE TO.
IT'S A... IT'S A LITTLE
DISCOURAGING.
SORRY, DUDE.
RIGHT.
, DUDE.
- LOOK AT IT GO.
- OKAY.
YOU GOT A LEAK DOWN HERE.
- THERE'S FUEL UP AT THE FRONT.
- ALL KINDS OF LEAKS.
YOU OUT OF POWER OR WHAT?
YEAH, I'M LOSING POWER.
GO AHEAD.
IT'S STILL
ON THE TIRE, THERE.
- OH.
- THERE YOU GO.
YEAH.
HOLY CRAP.
SO, AS WE WERE INSTALLING
OUR COILOVERS,
WE QUICKLY REALIZED
WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CLEARANCE
FOR OUR SUSPENSION
TO FULLY ARTICULATE
WITH THE 40-INCH TIRES
WE WANTED TO RUN.
FOR STARTERS, AS YOU CAN SEE,
LIKE, IT'S --
IT'S WAY INTO ALL
OF OUR SHEET METAL.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE
TO REDO THE FRONT FENDERS
THAT JEREMY AND I SPENT THE
BEST DAYS OF OUR YOUTH MAKING.
BUT IT'S ALSO A REALLY TIGHT FIT
WITH ALL OF OUR
FRONT-END COMPONENTS.
THE PROBLEM NOW IS
THIS IS NEWS THAT AARON'S
NOT GONNA LIKE GETTING.
WE GOT SOME MAJOR CHANGES
THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
WHAT YOU GOT?
AT FULL STUFF, WE'RE INTO HERE,
WE'RE INTO THE AIR BOX,
WE'RE INTO EVERYTHING.
BUT IF WE DROP THE UPPER
SHOCK MOUNTS DOWN,
THAT CHANGES OUR COMPRESSION,
THAT MAKES US WHERE WE CAN TURN.
WE SHOULD HAVE
CROSS THAT BRIDGE
BEFORE WE LOCKED
THE STEERING BOX DOWN.
THE PANHARD BAR
CAN OBVIOUSLY DOWN,
BUT THE STEERING'S SO TIGHT,
MOVING IT DOWN WILL BURN US...
- OH, TRUE.
- ...AN INCH ON THE BOTTOM.
SO, YOU TOLD AARON.
WHAT WAS AARON'S REACTION?
UH, HE'S KIND OF BUMMED.
WE DON'T HAVE
THE EXTRA INCH TO BURN,
AND SO IT'S A MAJOR --
IT'S A MAJOR HIT.
AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT,
YOU COULD TELL HE WAS KIND OF...
KIND OF FRUSTRATED
WITH THE WHOLE SITUATION.
Kaufman: AND YOU THINK
AN INCH CLEARS ALL THAT UP?
Bowman: YEAH.
RE-MEASURE IT ALL.
LET'S KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH
FURTHER DOWN WE NEEDED TO BE.
I'M WILLING TO MOVE
THIS STUFF ONE MORE TIME.
AFTER THAT, WHATEVER
THE TIRES EAT GETS SHREDDED.
OKAY, COOL.
IF IT'S AN INCH,
LET'S SWEAR TO IT.
SO, AFTER A SPLIT-SECOND
DECISION FROM AARON...
WE DOUBLE-CHECKED
OUR MEASUREMENTS...
Bowman: 13½.
...AND IT TURNS OUT AARON
WAS RIGHT TO BE SKEPTICAL.
MAYBE WE WERE OKAY BEFORE.
THE MISTAKE WE MADE WAS WHEN YOU
SET THESE THINGS UP,
YOU DON'T WANT TO SET THE COIL
AND THE SHOCK SMASHED
ALL THE WAY TOGETHER.
YOU WANT AN INCH
OF CUSHION OR SO,
SO THAT IF CATASTROPHICALLY,
SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN,
YOU DON'T BLOW THE SHOCK OUT.
WE HAD OUR INCH ALREADY,
WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW
WE HAD OUR INCH ALREADY.
WE JUST MISSED
THAT LITTLE DETAIL.
THE OTHER GOOD NEWS IS
THE REAR FENDERS ARE FINE.
Freeman: BOWMAN, GO TELL HIM.
- WHAT YOU GOT?
- GOOD TO GO.
- ON WHAT? ON HOW MUCH?
- EVERYTHING.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- HOW YOU HAVE IT IS GOOD.
- OKAY.
IT'S JUST THE FRONT BODYWORK
IN THE WAY,
AND WE CAN CUT THAT.
TO HELL WITH PUTTING
BODIES ON STUFF.
I'M OVER THIS.
LET'S JUST BUILD RACECARS.
WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD
AND CUT THE BODY OFF.
- SO, NOW...
- HOW LONG DID THAT LIP TAKE YOU?
A DAY OR TWO AT LEAST...
OKAY, A LONG TIME --
A LONG TIME.
THE FRONT FASCIA
AND THESE TWO FENDERS --
YEAH, IT TOOK ME
A COUPLE WEEKS.
THANKS.
APPRECIATE THAT.
AND IF WE JUST LEFT THEM
THE WAY THEY WERE,
THEY WOULD HAVE JUST
GOTTEN RIPPED OFF INSTANTLY.
SO WE GOT 23 DAYS TO GET THIS
THING TO THE KING OF HAMMERS.
AND IT'S FEELING GOOD
TO HAVE IT ATTACHED.
I'M HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME,
ACTUALLY.
GOOD JOB.
THAT'S SOLID.
Webster: SO, IT'S ABOUT
DAY 99 ON OUR SCOUT BUILD,
AND IT'S REALLY THE CULMINATION
OF A BUSY WEEK
CROSSING OFF MOST
OF WHAT'S LEFT ON OUR LIST,
'CAUSE THE GOAL IS TO LEAVE FOR
KING OF THE HAMMERS TOMORROW.
AND IF ALL GOES WELL,
WE SHOULD HAVE THE SCOUT
RUNNING BEFORE NIGHTFALL.
Bowman: IT'S VERY CLOSE.
I NEED TO PUT FUEL IN IT,
FILL THE TRANSFER CASE UP,
AND BURP THE FUEL SYSTEM,
AND THEN WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO LIGHT IT UP.
HOLY CRAP.
YEAH, IT'S -- I FIGURE WHAT
WE'RE ALSO GONNA NEED TO BRING
IS A LADDER TO BE ABLE
TO PUT FUEL IN THIS THING.
Rodriquez: LOOK AT IT GO!
GULP-A, GULP-A, GULP-A,
GULP-A, GULP-A.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
TURN IT ON,
MAKE SOME NOISE.
DIESEL.
WE GOT A LEAK DOWN HERE.
OH, SEE, LOOK.
THERE'S FUEL UP AT THE FRONT.
OKAY, KILL IT, JON.
ALL KINDS OF LEAKS.
BOY, THERE'S A HELL
OF A LEAK THERE.
Kaufman: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WERE TRYING TO TAKE A SHOWER
OR GOING SWIMMING, BUT...
- BOTH.
- ...YOU GOT BOTH OF THEM.
- YEAH.
THERE ARE ONLY A FEW PLACES
IT REALLY CAN BE.
IT CAN ONLY LEAK OUT
OF SO MANY HOLES.
HEY, CAN YOU SEE IT, JASON?
Bowman: YEAH.
IT'S THE FRONT FILTER.
IT'S TIGHT, BUT IT'S
LEAKING LIKE A SIEVE.
ON THE BOTTOM OF IT?
NO, IT'S THE SEAL
THAT SEALS THE WATER SEPARATOR
TO THE PUMP.
AROUND THE TOP OF IT?
LIKE, THE O-RING, SOMETHING'S
WRONG WITH THE O-RING.
THE O-RING PROBABLY
JUST GOT WATERED UP ON IT.
SO WE PULLED THE FILTER OFF
TO SEE IF IT WAS THE O-RING.
THE O-RING DIDN'T SEEM
TO BE THE CULPRIT,
BUT WE WENT AHEAD AND OILED IT
AND PUT IT BACK ON.
REALLY, IT WAS JUST
A LOOSE FITTING
ON THE OUTGOING SIDE
OF THE PUMP --
REALLY GOT IT HANDLED
PRETTY QUICKLY.
Rodriquez: COMING ON.
-OHH!
THAT WAS SMART.
THERE WE GO.
WE GOT HER NOW.
YOU'RE MAKING ALL
KINDS OF PRESSURE.
GET WITH IT, SISTER.
OR MAYBE NOT.
Bowman: GO AHEAD.
THERE WE GO.
THAT'S IT.
STUPID LITTLE TRACTOR.
- IT'S RUNNING.
- IT'S ALIVE.
SO, YEAH, THE MOTOR'S RUNNING,
BUT THIS IS WHERE
THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME,
AND THIS THING'S GOT TO PERFORM.
WE'RE GONNA TRY AND FIND OUT
IF IT'LL LEAVE THE SHOP
AND COME BACK IN ITS OWN.
THAT'S A BIG FIRST STEP
TO WRAPPING UP THE TRUCK
MECHANICALLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS LEFT.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHERE --
WHAT WE HAVE LEFT NOW,
SO WE'LL GO FOR A RIDE --
AWFUL EXCITING,
AND DEADLINE'S GETTING CLOSE.
Webster:
I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN DAYS.
BUT THE ADRENALINE
HAS DEFINITELY TAKEN OVER.
ARE YOU READY?
YEAH, I GUESS.
ALL RIGHT, BOYS AND GIRLS,
WE'RE GONNA GO FOR A LAP.
ALL RIGHT.
THE BRAKES FEEL ANY BETTER?
I DIDN'T GET --
HAVEN'T USED THEM YET!
WE GOT NO POWER AT ALL.
IN FACT, WE'RE UNRESPONSIVE.
MOTOR'S...
YEAH.
THAT'S THAT.
MOTOR'S DEAD.
WE WANT TO HAVE TO
DRAG THIS BABY BACK?
UH, CRUSTY RUSTY TO BASE CAMP,
WE ARE DEAD IN THE WATER.
OH, COME ON.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
YOU'RE GONNA PUSH
THIS 5,000-POUND MONSTER?
AT THIS RATE, NO MATTER
HOW FAST WE GET TO CALIFORNIA,
THE RACE IS NOT GONNA BE FUN.
Kaufman: SO, YOU MIGHT
REMEMBER EARLIER IN THE SHOW
WE STOPPED BY
A DESERTED TRADING POST
AND PROUDLY HOISTED
OUR COLORS --
AN ARCLIGHT T-SHIRT.
GOOD ENOUGH.
LOOK AT HOW PROUDLY
IT WAVES.
BEST OF LUCK.
WELL, BROOKS TOOK A PHOTO
AND POSTED IT ON INSTAGRAM --
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE GOT
THIS PHOTO RESPONSE
FROM THOMAS YAZZIE
OF GALLUP, NEW MEXICO.
HE NOT ONLY LOCATED
THE OLD TRADING POST
BUT NOW HAS HIS VERY OWN
SOMEWHAT COLLECTIBLE
ARCLIGHT T-SHIRT.
IN NEUTRAL?
UM, YEAH,
BUT YOU'RE GONNA PUSH
THIS 5,000-POUND MONSTER?
IF THERE'S ENOUGH OF HERE,
IT SHOULD BE NOT A PROBLEM.
AT THIS RATE,
I DON'T THINK
WE'RE IN ANY RISK
OF DAMAGING THE TRUCK.
SO, I JUST TOOK THE TRUCK
OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE,
AND IT'S A COMPLETE
AND UTTER FAILURE.
Bowman: OKAY, SOMEBODY
WANT TO GRAB THE FORKLIFT?
AND WITH KING OF THE HAMMERS
BREATHING DOWN OUR NECKS,
NOW WE GOT TO GET IT BACK INTO
THE SHOP AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
AIN'T GONNA LIE,
IT'S A LITTLE DEPRESSING.
I'VE HAD OTHER CARS THAT DIDN'T
MAKE IT AROUND THE BLOCK,
BUT NOT IN A LONG TIME.
THROTTLE IT, GERT MURTHAL.
- IT IS -- HERE WE GO.
Kaufman: WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO
IS GET IT BACK IN THE SHOP
THEN TRY AND FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE DEAL IS.
OBVIOUSLY AT THIS RATE,
NO MATTER HOW FAST
WE GET TO CALIFORNIA,
THE RACE IS NOT GONNA BE FUN.
Rodriquez:
I HONESTLY THINK
THE TRANSMISSION
IS NOT TUNED AT ALL.
I WOULD AGREE.
IT'S HORRIBLE.
IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING.
I TEXTED SAM, AND I ASKED HIM
IF I CAN SEND HIM A FILE,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS
I'M NOT A TUNER,
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ADJUST.
WE COULD -- WE COULD GO DOWN
A PATH WE'RE NOT READY FOR.
YEAH, AND I DON'T WANT TO,
YOU KNOW...
IF YOU CHANGE ONE THING
IT COULD SMOKE IT.
YEAH.
WELL, LET'S CALL SAM
AND GET HIM OUT HERE A.S.A.P.
Kaufman: SO, HERE'S THE DEAL --
WE'RE ATTEMPTING SOMETHING
THAT WE'RE NOT SURE
ANYONE ELSE HAS TRIED BEFORE
USING A 4BT CUMMINS MOTOR
MATED TO A 6L80 TRANSMISSION.
OUR ENGINE IS PREHISTORIC
AND PROVIDES NO INFORMATION
WHATSOEVER TO THE TRANSMISSION,
AND THE TRANSMISSION
IS VERY SOPHISTICATED
AND WANTS A TON
OF INFORMATION.
WE CAN'T GIVE IT THE THINGS
THAT WE DON'T HAVE,
AND WE CAN'T TAKE CONTROL OF IT
THE WAY THAT I THOUGHT WE COULD.
SINCE WE'RE HAVING SUCH
A PROFOUND ISSUE WITH OUR 6L80,
I ONLY KNOW ONE GUY THAT CAN GET
OVER HERE TONIGHT, SAM MILLER.
HE'S GOT A TON OF EXPERIENCE
WORKING AND TUNING
ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS,
AND I THINK HE'S
OUR ONLY HOPE TONIGHT.
HIS PLAN IS TO PROGRAM
FALSE INFORMATION
INTO THE TRANSMISSION
AND TRICK IT INTO
WORKING WITH THE ENGINE.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME...
...AND WE'RE ALREADY
COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED.
SO, HOW MANY HOURS
DID YOU SLEEP YESTERDAY?
ALMOST TWO.
ALMOST TWO?
- WHAT YEAR IS IT?
- 456.
THEY WERE FILMING
YOU SLEEPING.
YOU'RE MAKING
SOME MAJOR CHANGES?
YEAH, I HAD TO GO THROUGH
AND SET IT UP
TO WHERE IT WILL REACT
WHEN YOU TOUCH THIS.
YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION
D4 ON OUR TRANS AT ALL.
THIS IS THE FILE
THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IN IT,
SO IT'S -- IT HAS --
IT COMMANDS AND ALLOWS 0.4
SECONDS FOR A SHIFT TO HAPPEN.
SO, SAM THINKS HE WAS
ABLE TO TRANSLATE
AND MANIPULATE THE DATA
BEING SENT TO THE TRANSMISSION.
SO NOW WE JUST GOT
TO HOLD OUR BREATHS
AND HOPE THE SCOUT TURNS OVER.
Mansour: OKAY, WE'RE OVER
THE FIRST HURDLE. SHE RUNS.
WE JUST BURNED
THROUGH THE NIGHT,
AND THOUGH WE'RE ALL EXHAUSTED,
WE CAN'T AFFORD
NOT TO ANOTHER TEST RUN.
WE EITHER MAKE IT
OR BREAK IT RIGHT HERE.
THERE HE GOES!
HEY.
LOOK AT THAT.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE SMELL
OF BURNING DIESEL
IN THE MORNING.
A LITTLE TIRE --
TIRE HOBBLE THERE, BUT...
IT TAKES IT A MINUTE,
BUT IT GETS THERE.
Kaufman: THINGS ARE
LOOKING BETTER. WE MADE POWER.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING LIKE
WHERE I WANT IT TO BE,
AND I KNOW IT'S CRAZY
TO BRING A CAR LIKE THIS
TO KING OF THE HAMMERS.
IT'S NOT THE RIGHT CAR,
BUT IT'S THE CAR
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
A WEEK FROM NOW,
THERE MAY BE ZERO TRUCK LEFT.
K.O.H. OR BUST!
NEXT WEEK...
IT'S TIME TO GO FIND OUT
WHAT THE TRUCK CAN DO.
...WE FINALLY MAKE IT
TO KING OF THE HAMMERS.
HERE'S TO GETTING HERE,
AND HERE'S TO HOPEFULLY STAYING
HERE A LITTLE LONGER THAN...
BUT NOT EVERYTHING
GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN.
THAT JUST...
THAT JUST HAPPENED.
GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!
WHEN WE LEFT THE START LINE,
WE PUSHED HARD.
I MEAN, WE PUSHED REALLY HARD.
HOLY CRAP.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO DRIVE ANYTHING UP THAT.
THIS THING.