Gordon unveils Hummer H3 Dakar racer
In preparation for the 2007 Dakar Rally, Robby Gordon of Team Dakar USA unveiled his revised Hummer H3 race truck for the international media near Baker, California last Thursday.
In addition, Gordon introduced his navigator for the upcoming Dakar, Andy Grider, a veteran of the endurance rally.
Team Dakar USA competed in the Dakar Rally for the first time in January 2006, drawing attention due to their radically different vehicle which was capable of high speeds across the Sahara desert. Unfortunately, the team eventually dropped out of the race with a damaged radiator after impacting a mound of camel grass.
Learning from past experiences and with the help of major supporters,
the team has made significant changes to the race truck. Extensive wind tunnel testing has resulted in major changes to the carbon fiber body, including a shallow windshield angle and a sloped rear body section resulting in less drag. An onboard tyre inflation/deflation system makes it much easier to adjust the air pressures of the tyres on the fly. Greater overall speed also comes from a GM Racing LS7 (427-cubic inch V8) attached to a six-speed Albins sequential transaxle. The cooling system has been improved by mounting two radiators in series, making the system less prone to impact damage.