When doing our build stories I often wonder what exactly goes through the minds of people who are willing to drop in excess of $10,000 for a new quad and then immediately begin to tear it down to the frame in order to add on $10,000 in aftermarket parts. The answer I got from Georgia native and GNCC Utility Open racer Shad Laurich was short and without hesitation, "To win!" Wow, that is dedication! I'm not going to act as if I've not done the very same thing myself, so I've got a little input from my own perspective. Building and creating what your mind considers is the Ultimate ATV brings with it a sense of satisfaction, and when you reach that goal, you get to experience what I consider to be the ultimate satisfaction, for a while anyway.
There is no doubting the external beauty of this beefy Outlander, but once the engine is cranked and I heard that deep purr resonating from the exhaust system that originates deep in the belly of its 840cc V-twin engine, the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up and tingle! Shad was quick to point out that when he began a punch list of what he wanted to do with his engine, he knew who he was turning to for this detailed surgical procedure long before he knew what types of enhancements would be performed. For the type of racing Shad does, he opted for the 840cc engine kit from Mr. RPM and chose the Mr. RPM race intake as well. The larger compression area with the increased flow of air was a perfect storm to thump out the horsepower Shad needed for his XC racing addiction. For the final tweaking of the engine kit, Shad turned to John Cannon of MAD MotorSports for his custom dual-cylinder race tuning with a little help provided by a Power Commander V from Dynojet. After a little tweaking time by Mr. Cannon, the motor was dialed to perfection. A Looney Tuned dual full system exhaust was installed next as it's known to be the largest power producer for the Outlander. Lastly, he mounted up a new clutching system developed by STM, improving the engagement of the clutch and making the ATV's newfound power less of a brutal feel.
When it came to his beast's suspension, Shad knew it wouldn't be easy to meet all his criteria for a durable suspension combined with the right handling and comfort which would cut down a tremendous amount on rider fatigue. To meet the challenge, Shad teamed with Terry Bopp of Bopp Race Components and Mike Hallock of Exit Shocks, two of the industry's best. If you aren't familiar with Bopp, you should get acquainted. Bopp Racing Components is one of the hottest companies involved in the aftermarket racing industry these days. Founder Terry Bopp's experience from years of building Nextel Cup cars, Busch Grand National Series cars and Craftsman trucks paved the way for him to use lighter and stronger components to keep up with racers' demands across all ATV race series. Pair that with the years of ATV experience that Exit Shocks' Mike Hallock brings to the table, with his precise ability to build performance shocks, and an incredibly good-handling Outlander is born.
Starting on the suspension alterations, Shad bolted on the Bopp frame gusset kit to boost support to the backbone of the Outlander's signature SST frame. For the front A-arms, he opted for the Bopp Outlander XC arms, which are made of 1-inch-diameter, 4130 chrome-moly tubing. For XC racing, this ute could benefit from dropping some weight while gaining strength, so Bopp Racing was once again called upon for a set of its Outlander TTI arms. One of the key features and advantages of these arms compared to stock is they actually lower the rear of the quad up to 2 inches depending on your shock settings, allowing for better traction in turns. Top this new setup with a set of Exit Shocks specifically dialed in for Shad's weight and riding style by suspension guru Hallock and the Outlander was ready to perform in the rugged conditions for which GNCC racing is best known.
Before leaving Bopp's shop, one last must-have on Shad's list was added: the Bopp steering stem. Being that Shad towers over me in size, it's apparent why he went with the +2 steering stem; it provides him a more comfortable stance on his machine. Being able to stretch out will help to prevent unwanted fatigue during the two-hour races. A Precision steering stabilizer was mounted to both the frame and steering stem to help reduce bump-steer and increase overall stability at both slower and faster paces.
Our Spider grips have super-soft...
Our Spider grips have super-soft cushions that keep your hands comfortable during two hours of racing.
FrogzSkin's help filter out...
FrogzSkin's help filter out debris and water from entering the intake system.
Precision's steering stabilizer...
Precision's steering stabilizer is an absolute must for racing as it tames unwanted bump-steer.
Now that the motor and handling needs of this race monster have been met, he needed a new pair of shoes to improve traction and control and increase durability. While most racers run the tires of the big-three tire makers, Shad was introduced to what he claims is an incredible XC-style tire called Supergrip. While this may seem unconventional to some, remember this is all about comfort, feel and performance as it pertains to each individual racer, and even with his many years of experience with everything available on the market, Shad still found the Supergrip shoes to be extremely effective. For wheels, the stockers in factory condition just wouldn't do. Shad had his wheels and an extra set he purchased from a friend sent to OMF to be strengthened and to have beadlocks added. OMF does an incredible job of transforming stock wheels into sweet race-ready ones, and theirs are just as good as, if not better than, any aftermarket wheel on the market once the folks there have had a chance to work their magic.
For cross-country racing,...
For cross-country racing, it's insane to ride without bark busters. Cycra's units are designed to flex with Fasst Company's Flexx Bars.
Looney Tuned's dual exhaust...
Looney Tuned's dual exhaust system is often referred to as the biggest horsepower maker for Can-Am ATVs.
If you want a great-handling...
If you want a great-handling ATV, Mike Hallock at Exit Shocks can work miracles.
Being that Shad happens to be the owner of Strike Racing, several of the parts his company produces also found their way on this Outlander. For starters, he mounted up his rear-diff support bracket that helps to further strengthen the rear end. A high-density polyurethane full-body skid plate was attached, improving the Can-Am's ability to slide over obstacles and protecting the frame and all low-mounted portions of the ATV from damage. To keep the Outlander's battery from shaking loose, a battery mounting kit was added. Rounding out the build with a killer look, a custom-designed Strike Racing graphic kit and custom gripper seat cover were applied, giving it the eye-grabbing look that he'd imagined it to have.
It's important to remember this build was not just a random compilation of parts that seemed cool to Shad, but rather a predetermined and precise calculation, after years of testing, about what best transforms his almost-tame Outlander into a beast willing and ready to run with the best of the best. In his own opinion, he conquered exactly what he set out to do, and that's to build a machine that will win races. Imagine the level of satisfaction this must have created for him. Honestly, I can see it written all over his face every time his creation comes up in conversation. To top it all off, his machine has already brought home the 2010 AMA XC Series Utility Championship.
Bopp Race Components has developed...
Bopp Race Components has developed rear TTI arms and front A-arms that drastically improve the handling of the Outlander.
Drilling out a medium-sized...
Drilling out a medium-sized hole on the top of the frame is claimed to save weight while still maintaining proper strength.
Strike Racing polished off...
Strike Racing polished off the look of this Outlander with a custom-designed graphics kit with a gripper finish.