In and around Memphis, there are a few standout spots where you can put your favorite off road vehicle to the ultimate test. We are still poised in some of the best weather there is to do so: September and October provide an abundance of opportunities to open up your truck in some mud and get down to business. Covington Pike Trails is located parallel to I-240 just west of Hwy 51 and is one location that is known for mud. You can savor every second of freedom outside of whatever ties you up from the 9-5 on trails like this, and enjoy putting the high-quality shocks of trucks like the Colorado ZR2 under extreme pressure.
The Hatchie Trails are located on the north side of the city limits and are a top-notch place to get in some rough and rugged playtime. If you have a bit more time set aside for a weekend adventure, check out Wooly's off-road park: Right off of I-65 in between Nashville and Alabama, it is close to Lewisburg and Culleoka on Mooresville Road. Open on Saturdays and Sunday's, camping is included if you pay for two days, and at $15 per person and $30 per vehicle per day, we deem it a bargain. Mud holes, gullies, steep hills, and rocky ditches are just some of the varied terrain you'll find waiting to challenge you here.
The Colorado ZR2 is such a suitable contender in the off-road world, that it took the honor of being featured on the track in two very high-profile races coming soon. First featured in last weekend's 550-mile "Vegas to Reno" race, it was the official entry from the Hall Racing team. This production class pickup is going to be running the stock 3.6-liter V6 engine, with an 8-speed automatic transmission. With a 3.5-inch wider rear track, a 3-inch lift, skid plates, and the high-tech and revolutionary DSSV Multimatic suspension, there were some minor modifications done to the truck to get it up to par for this dusty and demanding event.
Installation of lightbars, safety harnesses, roll cages, and a 44- gallon fuel tank was some of the additives to the Colorado ZR2 that prepped it up to the point of being ready for rock crawling and loose dirt. When the results of the race came in, the ZR2 was the only stock truck to both compete in and finish the race. Driven by Chad Hall and Frank DeAngelo of Hall racing, it completed the rigors and punishment of the 539-mile course in 18 hours and 50 minutes, and an average speed of 28.6 MPH.
All of the way on the other side of the world, the Colorado is preparing for a very unorthodox and exciting form of race: the "SuperUtes" is launching down under in Australia next year, in a multi-city presentation of raw excitement. A diesel version with a 340 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque rating is going to go the distance for the events, using a spec kit that comes with springs, brakes, and appropriate exhaust.
The first Super Utes event has completed the planning stages, and will take place in the city of Townsville next July. After that, Ipswich, Bathurst, Gold Coast, and Newcastle are all the next stops slated for action, with the Colorado and Ford Ranger to be highlights of this new adrenaline-surging series. Turbo-diesel, dual cab vehicles will be the replacement of V-8 Falcon and Commodore trucks that have been featured since 2001, and the Colorado ZR2 is expected to show everyone in the outback just who is the boisterous and consistently ruling boss.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete