Tim & Nick Carolan’s 6200 Alumi Craft

by MATT KARTOZIAN original article on RDC Race-dezert.com

Game Changer?

Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus cars and seven time Formula 1 Constructor’s Champion, had a distinct design philosophy for his cars: “Simplify, then add lightness”. In an era where off road race cars keep getting bigger and heavier, Tim Carolan went the Lotus way with his new 6200 Spec Buggy.

In short, Class 6200 is a Class 1 unlimited buggy with a spec engine. Most are racing actual Class 1 cars with spec LS3 engines. Carolan opted for the smaller and lighter Ford 2.3L Turbo in an Alumi Craft Class 10 chassis.

Tim’s son Nick is the primary driver and Tim is the backup. Both are relative newcomers to off road racing. They have only been racing for five years, but in that time they have picked up a nice collection of trophies.

After 17 years coaching football, Tim was ready for a change of hobbies and wanted to race the Baja 1000. Two weeks later they bought a Penhall 10 car. They did not finish a single race in their first season. “We had no idea what we were doing, the car was set up completely wrong,” Tim said “We never gave up and started making changes to the car and learned by doing it.”

After a few years in Class 10, the team moved to Class 2400, sort of a 10 car with a spec Ford motor. In 2015 they won the last race of the season and in 2016 they won every race and their first championship. The team raced an older Tatum car and the prep bills were large with a lot of breakage.

“We got together with Alumi Craft and Ford and told them what we wanted to do” Tim said. “Alumi Craft built the car around the Ford 2.3 turbo motor for us.” Alumi Craft delivered a rolling chassis to the team and they spent eight months finishing the car.

While the LS3 teams have to run a stock computer, Carolan is allowed to run an aftermarket computer that is tuned with the smaller Ford engine. It took some massaging to get the Ford motor to fit the chassis. Alumi Craft typically builds its cars with Fox Shox, but Carolan races with ADS, and ADS was able to make custom shocks to fit the Alumi Craft mounting points without altering geometry.

The team would like to thank all the companies that helped them build the new car. Vision X, BF Goodrich, Ultra Wheels, Alumi Craft, Ford, Hostyle, ADS Shocks, Aim Dash, Kartek, Rugged Radios and Danzio.

“I think we have a lighter, faster car with more torque that the LS3 cars”. Carolan will debut the new car at Vegas to Reno in Class 6200 on August 17th.

Visit the team on Instagram: @icrmotorsports

Photos: Durka Durka Photo

Specifications

Owner: Tim Carolan

Builder: Alumi Craft/Tim Carolan

Chassis: 2017 Alumi Craft 10

Weight: 2600 race ready

Wheelbase: 123 inches Track

Width: 86 inches

Front Suspension: A-Arm with ADS 2.125″ Coilover and 2.5″ Bypass – 21 inches of travel

Rear Suspension: IRS with ADS 2.125″ Coilover and 3.0″ Bypass – 22 inches of travel

Engine: Ford 2.3L Direct Injection Turbo

Power: 304 Horsepowers 341 Torques Engine

Tuning: Danzio

Fuel Cell: Alumi Craft 45 Gallon

MPG: 6.5 miles per gallon (estimated)

Transaxle: Mendeola Sequential 6 speed with no lift shift.

Lights: Vision X

Dash: Aim

Tires: 35 inch BF Goodrich KDR2+