hey you guys in the states............i have seen some photos and read some articles about the baja desert race kia sportys....dont they look tops.......and i desperately want to get into contact with the people that had built them.......especailly in regards to the front end suspension......seen i pic and i want it.......they have used twin coil vers and a chrome-molt top arm........there gettin at least 12inches of suspension travel........any of you stateside guys know how to get hold of em....... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Like this?! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

that is as much a sporty as a toyota trophy truck is still a tundra or tacoma.

as you can see it even has irs as well. which i am sure would make it great to go really fast!

and without relocating your rad to the roof or something, and possibly relocating the engine half way into the truck etc I dont think this extreme of a suspension is even feasible.

That picture is actuly a Sorento trophy truck. The Sportage's I have seen are a little more stock put I here there were some more extream ones built. Darren Skilton built some of the Sportage's, in fact I have one of his front bumpers. I got it from Cris Vernon when he was active here. Just do a search on race Kia's and seen what comes up, It has been a while since I have looked but there was some good info on them a few years back.
Dennis

thats cool.........have searched and searched the sporty baja race cars and it doesnt shed much light on the front suspension setup they used......darren is part of a mob called baja automotive adventures.......from what i can gather they prepared the trucks when he started with the sportys in 97.........and has won his class just about every year since hey......the latest truck.....which is the one that defboy pictured .....is the kia serento trophyclass truck........gotta find out where or who or how ..........i seroiusly want to do my front end the same hey.......have a point to prove over here......badly want the ifs to work and work good........

if someone out there knows how to get hold of darren .....it would be greatly appreciated....have sent his tour mob a email...just gotta wait now...bugger.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Mid engined layout (engine where the back seat goes) and a central front diff (if in fact that Sorento actually has one).

All in all start with a spaceframe chassis, install everything to it and then cover with a fiberglass skin that looks a bit like a Sorento. That's all they are....no resemblance to anything you could register on road without the $300-400 K they spend.

"Pre-runners" or that sort of trophy truck generally are 2WD, too much weight in a 4WD system for little if any potential gain when gaged against the extra weight (100kg+), also the reason for the mid engine layout.. short rear driveshaft (if any).

sorry guys ......am interested in the kia sportages that he has run.....not the serento......he raced the sportages between 1997 and 2000.....thats the one i want iwant to know about ... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

you talking about these? Willis?

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/motorsports/1269096.html

ohhhh ***** yeah mate..........WANT IT BAD.......... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

so no one nows or has never wanted this suspension on there kia.........i am stuned ......i sure as ever want it ..........cause i dont want to live axle it.......