{"id":30523,"date":"2023-02-16T10:07:46","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T14:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=30523"},"modified":"2023-02-16T10:07:46","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T14:07:46","slug":"payne-racing-across-the-desert-in-the-ferocious-ford-bronco-dr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/payne-racing-across-the-desert-in-the-ferocious-ford-bronco-dr","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Racing across the desert in the ferocious Ford Bronco DR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Johnson Valley, California<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 I swung my body over the door sill, strapped myself into the molded seat with a five-point safety belt and gripped the steering wheel with Nomex gloves. Exploding forward, I watched for the dashboard Christmas lights to blink red before upshifting, the engine\u2019s controlled violence shaking the roll cage around me. Feels like a race car. Sounds like a race car.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Except I am sitting 12 inches off the ground and slinging sand with all four of my 37-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el\" aria-label=\"Video - Henry Payne goes Zero-60 in the Ford Bronco DR\">\n<div class=\"gnt_em_vp_w\" data-g-r=\"vp_tp\" data-c-vt=\"teal\" data-t-pl=\"teal-storyinline\"><button class=\"gnt_em_vp_a gnt_em_vp__tp_a\" data-g-r=\"vp_tg\" data-c-vpattrs=\"{&quot;muted&quot;:false,&quot;bContent&quot;:false,&quot;an&quot;:&quot;mi-detroit-C1561&quot;,&quot;pn&quot;:&quot;The Detroit News&quot;,&quot;vidNum&quot;:0}\" data-c-vpdata=\"{&quot;adsEnabled&quot;:false,&quot;awsPath&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;byline&quot;:&quot;Henry Payne&quot;,&quot;canonicalURL&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;contentSourceCode&quot;:&quot;PDTN&quot;,&quot;createDate&quot;:&quot;2023-02-16T05:28:24Z&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Henry Payne, The Detroit News&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:118000,&quot;headline&quot;:&quot;Henry Payne goes Zero-60 in the Ford Bronco DR&quot;,&quot;hlsURL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hlsmedia.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/video-renditions\/f8758cf2-8067-4dee-a724-a49990806697\/818791ba-2c1a-417b-b538-2061946c3836\/1080p_30fps,720p_30fps,480p_30fps,master.m3u8?subtitles=11267713002&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;11267713002&quot;,&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/035fa5cc-d688-4871-9097-5a91d7ce45ec-FordBroncoDR_vault_fr3-4.jpg&quot;,&quot;opto&quot;:true},&quot;initialPublishDate&quot;:&quot;2023-02-16T05:28:24Z&quot;,&quot;keywords&quot;:&quot;Ford Motor,Off-Road Vehicles&quot;,&quot;mp4URL&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/downloadmedia.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/video-renditions\/f8758cf2-8067-4dee-a724-a49990806697\/818791ba-2c1a-417b-b538-2061946c3836\/1080p_30fps.mp4&quot;,&quot;origin&quot;:&quot;The Detroit News&quot;,&quot;pageURL&quot;:{&quot;long&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/videos\/media\/video\/2023\/02\/16\/henry-payne-goes-zero-60-ford-bronco-dr\/11267713002\/&quot;},&quot;promoBrief&quot;:&quot;Welcome to the cockpit of the Bronco DR, Ford\u2019s first purpose-built racing SUV&quot;,&quot;propertyName&quot;:&quot;DetroitNews&quot;,&quot;publishDate&quot;:&quot;2023-02-16T05:39:46Z&quot;,&quot;series&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;ssts&quot;:{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;media&quot;,&quot;subsection&quot;:&quot;video&quot;,&quot;topic&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;subtopic&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;tags&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;acd59eae-d5ed-452e-bd46-d251e2305ce3&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Ford Motor&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;7543eb17-4365-446b-8fa9-cd862e4cac08&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Off-Road Vehicles&quot;}],&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Henry Payne goes Zero-60 in the Ford Bronco DR&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;\/videos\/media\/video\/2023\/02\/16\/henry-payne-goes-zero-60-ford-bronco-dr\/11267713002\/&quot;}\" aria-label=\"Play video\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_vp_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/035fa5cc-d688-4871-9097-5a91d7ce45ec-FordBroncoDR_vault_fr3-4.jpg?width=660&amp;height=371&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/035fa5cc-d688-4871-9097-5a91d7ce45ec-FordBroncoDR_vault_fr3-4.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=742&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"\" data-g-r=\"lazy vp_po\" \/><\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_vh\" data-c-et=\"Henry Payne goes Zero-60 in the Ford Bronco DR\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_vb gnt_em_vb__he\" aria-label=\"Welcome to the cockpit of the Bronco DR, Ford\u2019s first purpose-built racing SUV\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Welcome to the cockpit of the Bronco DR, Ford\u2019s first purpose-built racing SUV. DR for Desert Racer. Dearborn\u2019s automaker was born on the race track \u2014 Henry Ford raised capital by impressing investors with his vehicles\u2019 performance capabilities \u2014 and the company has consistently used competition to hone technology and showcase its brand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">But the DR is something new. Where Ford has long made purpose-built Mustang dragsters and GT sports cars for customer teams to conquer legendary American asphalt tracks like Pomona and Daytona International Speedway, Bronco DR is made for dirt trails. Epic dirt trails like the SCORE Baja 1000 or the King of the Hammers here in California, where I got a brief taste of what it\u2019s like to go off-road desert racing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThis is a ground-up build,\u201d said Ford Performance boss Mark Rushbrook of the turn-key customer racer that follows the Bronco R prototype Ford raced in the 2019-20 Baja 1000s. \u201c(We\u2019ve created) a desert racer that is competition-ready coming out of the factory \u2014 something Ford has never done before.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/07793409-c339-4d06-89ad-38d240459a68-FordBroncoDR_jump2.jpg?width=660&amp;height=441&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/07793409-c339-4d06-89ad-38d240459a68-FordBroncoDR_jump2.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=882&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"On the desert course in California, Detroit News Auto Critic Henry Payne takes a jump in the Ford Bronco DR racing SUV, the beast's Multimatic shocks absorbing the impact after flying 30 feet.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"On the desert course in California, Detroit News Auto Critic Henry Payne takes a jump in the Ford Bronco DR racing SUV, the beast's Multimatic shocks absorbing the impact after flying 30 feet.\" data-c-credit=\"Ford, Ford\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>WAAARRGGH! WHUMP!<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">On an undulating desert trail, I powered over a large mogul \u2014 lifting off the throttle to reduce stress on the V8-powered drivetrain as I sailed 30 feet through the air. The DR stuck the four-point landing and I was on the gas before the next whoop. Unlike my native sports car racing, where the throttle is treated like an ON-OFF switch as I maintain max revs over billiard-smooth race tracks, off-roading is constant modulation to navigate the ever-changing terrain of Mother Nature.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It\u2019s a different discipline than on-road racing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Later in the day, I rode shotgun with Vaughn Gitten Jr., a Ford factory racer who pilots a similar-to-the-DR #2565 Bronco in the Hammer\u2019s 4400 racing class. Like me, Gitten was raised on asphalt racing, and he&#8217;s a drift-racing legend\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WT6D92UA3BM\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">as a two-time Formula Drift champion<\/a>. He\u2019s taken on a second career as an off-road pilot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">As we charged across the landscape, I remarked how desert racing seems to involve little drifting.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/25df4649-28ab-4156-b978-db5b18762114-FordBroncoDR_cockpit.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/25df4649-28ab-4156-b978-db5b18762114-FordBroncoDR_cockpit.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The cockpit of the Ford Bronco DR racing SUV is spartan with removable steering wheel and center-mounted tachometer and instrument gauges.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The cockpit of the Ford Bronco DR racing SUV is spartan with removable steering wheel and center-mounted tachometer and instrument gauges.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cYeah, these cars have to navigate everything from sand to rocks to rough moguls, so ride-height and shock travel is key,\u201d said Gittin through his helmet microphone. \u201cIt\u2019s all about tire placement. But give me a steering wheel and four tires and I\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">To help off-road racers figure it out, the Bronco DR is a completely different weapon than, say, the Mustang GT4 that I watched\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/fordauthority.com\/2023\/02\/no-42-imsa-ford-mustang-gt4-scores-victory-at-daytona-2023\/\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">win the IMSA Pilot Challenge at Daytona<\/a>\u00a0two weeks before.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Like Mustang, Bronco is designed for production-based class racing, so it starts life as a \u201cbody-in-white\u201d at Bronco\u2019s Wayne Michigan Assembly plant. Then it gets the VIP treatment. The chassis (Ford Performance has made 50) is shipped to Multimatic in Toronto \u2014 the same race shop that screwed together Ford\u2019s historic Le Mans-winning GT and now produces Mustang GT4 and GT3 race cars. DR is then assembled with a Frankenstein\u2019s parts list to make it an off-road monster.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/376a9590-a7b5-46a9-a800-ff1f418c0c39-FordBroncoDR_rr3-4.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/376a9590-a7b5-46a9-a800-ff1f418c0c39-FordBroncoDR_rr3-4.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The Ford Bronco DR racing SUV comes equipped with a full roll cage, 37-inch all-terrain tires, and a 65-gallon fuel tank.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Ford Bronco DR racing SUV comes equipped with a full roll cage, 37-inch all-terrain tires, and a 65-gallon fuel tank.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">While aesthetically similar to the production SUV, the DR&#8217;s fiberglass body panels are new and wrapped around a steel roll cage to protect drivers like me and my co-pilot: off-road Hall-of-Famer Curt LeDuc. The all-wheel-drive chassis sits on big, sophisticated spool-valve Multimatic shocks and bead-locked 37-inch BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T\/A tires. The rear differential is taken from the F-150 pickup, the front from Bronco. Under the hood? A 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 out of a Mustang paired with a 10-speed F-150 transmission.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Gittin suggested leaving the transmission in automatic mode rather than use manual paddle shifters, so sophisticated is the 10-speed at managing torque. Given the severity of the terrain, the drivetrain prefers low revs for easier transitions \u2014 not the constant winding of the drivetrain to redline as in a sports car.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/7f55c4b2-6120-4600-ba52-3c03d0847fde-FordBroncoDR_engine.jpg?width=660&amp;height=444&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/7f55c4b2-6120-4600-ba52-3c03d0847fde-FordBroncoDR_engine.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=888&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The Ford Bronco DR's 5.0-liter V-8 engine makes over 400 horsepower.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Ford Bronco DR's 5.0-liter V-8 engine makes over 400 horsepower.\" data-c-credit=\"Larry Chen, Ford\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cSmoothness and reliability are rewarded on off-roading,\u201d said my navigator LeDuc as we bounced across a desert washboard of moguls. \u201cEasy throttle, off the brake.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">I preferred the automatic shifter, keeping revs low at 2,000-3,000 rpm. That was just fine by the Coyote V-8, which is built for low-end torque. The exception was deep sand. There, the V-8\u2019s 400-plus horsepower came in handy \u2014\u00a0<em>WAAAURRGH!<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 to keep from bogging down.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/d62b5437-4678-49b0-9c50-570db97edb98-FordBroncoDR_payne-cockpit.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/d62b5437-4678-49b0-9c50-570db97edb98-FordBroncoDR_payne-cockpit.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Payne's outfitted and ready to head out to the desert course in the Bronco DR.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Payne's outfitted and ready to head out to the desert course in the Bronco DR.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Notably, Ford chose not to go off-road racing with its first electric SUV, the Mustang Mach-E. EVs suffer in extreme environments like deserts where temperatures and constant throttle wreak havoc on battery range. There\u2019s also a dearth of, um, charging stations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Bronco DR\u2019s massive 65-gallon gas tank is key to getting it around Hammer\u2019s 70-mile laps or 300-mile-long stages in the Baja 1000.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/ccbe0c2a-a3d4-4623-83a7-9308a7174d91-FordBroncoDR_shocks.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/ccbe0c2a-a3d4-4623-83a7-9308a7174d91-FordBroncoDR_shocks.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The sophisticated Multimatic live-valve shocks on the Ford Bronco DR racing SUV allow for fast desert running.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The sophisticated Multimatic live-valve shocks on the Ford Bronco DR racing SUV allow for fast desert running.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">In time, I bonded with my bucking Bronco, learning its steering and braking habits. Unlike razor-sharp on-road racers, DR is designed for variable terrain with its shock absorbers and locking diffs. Oh, those shocks!<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Multimatics are remarkable in their ability to absorb off-road punishment (my spine says thank you) while also firming for high-speed, 100-mph dry lake-bed runs. \u201cSpool-valve shocks are a game-changer,\u201d said Gittin of a technology that originated in Formula One racing. Improving the production Bronco Raptor\u2019s performance by over 50%, Bronco DR boasts ridiculous 15.8-inch front and 17.4-inch rear suspension travel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The 6,200-pound beast also stands out with an approach angle of 47 degrees, departure angle of 37 degrees and 33-degree breakover angle while maintaining the production Raptor\u2019s 74-inch front and 73-inch rear tracks for firm footing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/b88da278-2db4-4064-8ac8-026d72f9513b-FordBroncoDR_trail-rr_copy.jpg?width=660&amp;height=440&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2023\/02\/14\/PDTN\/b88da278-2db4-4064-8ac8-026d72f9513b-FordBroncoDR_trail-rr_copy.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=880&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The Ford Bronco DR racing SUV is designed to run long, 300-mile desert sprints at the Baja 1000 - or brutal, 70-mile laps at the King of the Hammers.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Ford Bronco DR racing SUV is designed to run long, 300-mile desert sprints at the Baja 1000 - or brutal, 70-mile laps at the King of the Hammers.\" data-c-credit=\"Ford, Ford\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Johnson Valley is the natural habitat for Bronco Raptors and DRs, where engineers spent countless hours testing equipment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">My DR test complete, I headed back to Hammers base camp in an orange production Raptor. I rotated the drive mode dial to Baja and charged onto similar trails I had just run in the DR. True to its mission as an all-around beast, the Raptor was not sprung as stuffily as DR, so I couldn\u2019t take moguls at the same speed lest I become a four-wheel pogo stick.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">But the Raptor was still impressive and a lot more comfortable than the off-road racer. And when we arrived at Hammertown, I could simply open the door to exit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Next week: 2022 Genesis G80<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Ford Bronco DR<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Vehicle type: Front engine, four-wheel-drive, two-passenger\u00a0racing SUV<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Price: $295,000<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Powerplant: 5.0-liter V-8 engine<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Power: 400-plus horsepower<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Transmission: 10-speed automatic with shift paddles<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Performance: 0-60 mph, NA; top speed, 105 mph<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Weight: 6,200 pounds<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>Report card<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Highs: Shocks from the gods; V-8 roar<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lows: As comfortable inside as a cement mixer<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Overall: 4\u00a0stars<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Johnson Valley, California\u00a0\u2014 I swung my body over the door sill, strapped myself into the molded seat with a five-point safety belt and gripped the steering wheel with Nomex gloves. Exploding forward, I watched for the dashboard Christmas lights to blink red before upshifting, the engine\u2019s controlled violence shaking the roll cage around me. Feels [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30523"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30523"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30524,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30523\/revisions\/30524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}