Mac and I attended Four Wheeler Magazine’s 2010 Top Truck Challenge last week in Hollister Hills California where we were able to get to know the competitors and their rigs in detail. These competitors come from all walks of life and from as far away as Guam and as close as Oregon. While they share a love for trucks in common they also share something else: These are all good people, down to earth, and fun loving. While they compete as hard as any professional athlete, they are also good sports. They would cheer each other on, yell words of encouragement and even help work on each other’s rigs when needed.
I truly like these folks and admire their “can do” attitudes. One of these competitors is Kevin Simmons from Wakefield New Hampshire. Kevin is an amazing guy who can fabricate just about anything. He drives the 1937 Ford Mud Rod which is our new vehicle of the week.
I asked Kevin about the inspiration for his truck and he told me that the ’37 Ford body had been kicking around his yard for a while and he had originally planned on turning it into a Rat rod. One of his buddies had built up a 1945 Chev into a serious truck that was turning heads and winning competitions in the East and Kevin decided that the old Ford may make a better rock buggy than a hot rod.
The metamorphosis of the truck began when Kevin and his buddies all combined their spare parts and fabrication know-how to build the ultimate truck. The old Ford body was mated to a 1979 Ford F250 frame in just one weekend.
The rig is powered by a 521ci Ford V8 engine and 4 speed transmission. The front features a Dana 60 Axle assembly with
4340 Chrome Moly Superior Axle shafts. The rear Axle assembly is a Ford 10.25 also equipped with Superior shafts. Kevin sports 46 inch Mickey Thompson tires, and uses Superior 4.10 gears. I am told that the truck drives like a dream and that it is roomy and comfortable in the cab. The small front windshield seems to impede vision but the overall appearance is really cool. Being a gear head, I loved the custom gas, clutch and brake pedals made out of recycled differential spider gears.
Kevin has just opened his own Off-Road shop called KMS Welding and Offroad located in Rochester New Hampshire. www.kmsweldingandoffroadcenter.com So if you are looking for a good mechanic in NH Kevin is your guy.
When I asked Kevin if he was married he promptly said that he was and has one daughter then he scrambled up into his big ride to show me his helmet which was covered in brightly colored flower and princess stickers. Kevin grinned from ear to ear and said that his daughter decorated his helmet for good luck.
Kevin Simmons is a true enthusiast, good guy and proud father!
--Jeff 
