HiLux headed for high jump

Noted Toyota rally pilot Rick Bates has inspired the owners of the Drift Australia racing series to establish a stunt driving team equipped with V6 HiLuxes.

'HiLux Heroes' will demonstrate their skills in car control at various venues around the country, with the team making its debut at the Albion Park Show near Wollongong from January 12.

The stunt drivers -- who between them have notched up over 9000 public appearances and a long repertoire of film and TV stunt work -- will power through a series of different classes of stunt driving, including jumps, putting a vehicle up on two wheels, drifting, close-quarter formation driving and reverse 'Hopkirks' (reverse flick turns).

Fairly close to standard specification, the Toyotas are V6 4x2 models fitted with the SR5's standard limited slip diff, re-tuned suspension and a customised exhaust.

'HiLux Heroes' co-founder, Scott Anderson, engaged the services of Bilstein to set up the suspension to soften the ride and slow the rebound to absorb jumps of up to 12 metres between ramps.

Anderson said "Obviously when you jump a vehicle over 12 metres there are enormous loads being transferred through the suspension, so shocks with a greater movement range were fitted."

Preparation of the vehicles consumed 400 hours of development and 100 hours of testing.

The vehicle chosen for the two-wheel driving stunt is fitted with a locked differential to ensure that the vehicle's torque reaches the one drive wheel remaining on the ground during the stunt.

To comment on this article click here