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DsquaredRacing Shows Off Its Ultra 4 High-Performance 4×4 Race Rig!

Posted By Lindsey Fisher On September 19, 2013 @ 12:40 pm In Car Features | Comments Disabled

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Building a competitive off-road vehicle is different than building a musclecar or hot rod. That’s because these babies get used all the time and when we say used, we mean thrashed to hell on a dirt course for the major part of their existence, rebuilt over and over, and put away wet, so to speak. But for people like Darren and Darlene Henke of Golden, Colorado, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Racing under the number 4441, DsquaredRacing is one of only a handful of husband and wife Ultra 4 race teams.

Having been in the off-road racing scene for three years now, the Henkes are what you might call a power couple. Not only is Darren the driver of the couple’s Ultra 4 ^[3] vehicle, he’s also the devoted mechanic and builder, racing as a full-time gig and working out of his garage. Darlene also has her part in the couple’s pastime, acting as Darren’s co-driver at competitions, as well as supporting the racing goals the two have from start to finish.

“My wife is my main co-driver and we were one of the first to do that,” Darren said, explaining that only about three other Ultra 4 teams are currently headed by husband and wife duos.

If their names sound familiar, it’s probably because in addition to racing the entire Ultra 4 circuit, including the famous King of the Hammers ^[4] competition in Southern California, the couple has ranked as one of the top 20 teams out of approximately 211 since they started competing three years ago!

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“I absolutely have to thank Darlene my wife, all of our sponsors, our team (Will, Canada and Rob), and Hammerking Productions for making this all happen.” – Darren Henke

At a very young age, Darren Henke was already developing his love for off-road motorsports. At age four, he got his first dirt bike and began competing shortly there after. As Darren grew, so did his enthusiasm for the off-road scene, and he progressed from trucks and Jeeps to buggies as he got older. But it wasn’t until 2002 that Darren really got into off-roading like he is now. It was that year, the Henkes moved out to Colorado, and their participation in the sport really took off.

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Perched atop one of the many rock features out at RAM Off-Road Park, the Henkes’ Ultra 4 vehicle was right at home tackling obstacles in Colorado Springs.

Having worked at off-road events, Darren saw the perks of competing in the fast-paced off-road sport first-hand, and was convinced it was the ultimate path to follow. Not long after, Darren and Darlene started their team, DsquaredRacing ^[7].

“Originally, I was a vendor at the off-road events and grew tired of watching the races from the sidelines,” Darren told Off Road Extreme.“So the wife and I were gonna remodel the house with some savings we had, but decided racing was the way to go. Three years later the house is still untouched …”

A Familiar Stomping Ground

Recently, the Henkes’ brought their incredible Ultra 4 off-road competition vehicle to the RAM Off-Road Park ^[8] in Colorado Springs for a photo shoot. Providing 86 acres of off-road heaven, from rock crawling areas to big-air jumps, RAM was certainly a blast to experience in the passenger seat of the Ultra 4. Of course, it helps that the Henkes’ vehicle is more than capable of tackling virtually every obstacle that RAM has to offer.

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The Henkes' sponsors range from tire manufacturers to chassis fabricators, while the couple pays for their travel expenses, entry fees and the related on their own.

This vehicle has come together thanks to the Henkes’ dedication, as well as the support of their amazing sponsors. Not only is the Henkes’ truck sponsored by Advanced Adapters ^[11], Trent Fabrications (TrentFab) ^[12], Spidertrax ^[13], ARB ^[14], King Shocks ^[15], Artec ^[16], PRP and RCV Performance ^[17]; but the Henkes have also received the support they needed from companies such as Goodyear ^[18], Colorado Speed & Performance ^[19], Yukon Gear ^[20], Rugged Radios ^[21] and Raceline Wheels ^[22].

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Making Use Of Only The Best

As everyone who’s anyone in the off-road community knows, building a top-notch off-road vehicle begins with a high-performance chassis.

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Out back, the Henkes’ Ultra 4 vehicle makes use of components from big names like King Shocks, Wilwood, Goodyear and ARB, all manufacturers of high-performance off-road gear.

For their Ultra 4 vehicle, the Henkes opted to go with a Trent Fabrication 151 Proof Hybrid chassis. This is backed by upper triangulated 4-link suspension systems in both the front and rear, with the rear having the added benefit of aluminum-filled lower trailing arms.

The Henkes’ vehicle makes use of 2 ½-inch 7075 aluminum control arms up front while the rear has 1 ¾-inch aluminum-filled steel links. The shocks on the truck are 2 ½-inch King coilovers paired with 2 ½-inch triple bypasses, also from King. The suspension is topped off with a custom 35-spline rear swaybar.

Keeping the vehicle’s steering clear is a PSC double-ended hydraulic ram system. Compressors on board the Henkes’ vehicle include twin ARB high performance units, with an ARB locker and a separate air hook-up for running air tools or airing up the truck’s tires.

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Top of the line tires, suspension systems and rearends are all part of creating the best Ultra 4 competitive vehicle possible.

Giving the DsquaredRacing Ultra 4 vehicle plenty of braking power are 15-inch custom vented rotors paired with 4-piston Wilwood ^[28] calipers. With all these high-performance chassis components, we think it’s safe to say that the Henkes are ahead of the game.

^[29]A Step Ahead

While the Henkes’ Ultra 4 chassis is quite impressive, no race rig is worth its weight in gold without a high-performance engine to match. So, while many of their competitors continue to make use of LS3 powerplants, the Henke’s upgraded to a 454ci LSX engine this summer and the results are amazing.

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The Henkes’ Ultra 4 LSX setup generates a good amount of horsepower, but don’t ask for specific numbers because those are well under wraps! After all, you’ve got to keep your competitive edge somehow, right?

Equipped with a 92mm FAST ^[31] throttle body, a Big Stuff 3 ^[32] ignition and custom headers mated to a custom exhaust system with a flow-through Magnaflow ^[33] muffler, the Ultra 4’s engine makes upwards of 600hp. But just like every intelligent competitor, Darren was tight-lipped with any other details.

Supporting the 454ci LSX engine is a TH400 transmission controlled by a California Performance Transmission ^[34] (Art Carr) shifter. Behind the transmission, you’ll find a Driveline Specialist Heavy Wall FRT/RR driveshaft, a Dana 70 rear end, an ARB locker, and 35-spline chromolly axle shafts.

Just like the rearend, the Ultra 4 vehicle’s front end is stellar, making use of a Spidertrax Pro 9-inch with a Yukon third-member and RCV 300m axles.

All of the engine and drivetrain work has been handled by Darren, as well as Colorado Speed & Performance.

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“This car was a first effort by many people,” Darren told us. “We have put much TLC (time, love, and cash) into this never-ending project. The original build has been an ever changing platform to keep this car as competitive as possible. Almost no part has stayed the same since its inception; interior, engine, trany, axles, and even the back half of the car was chopped off to make it more accommodating to the always changing race conditions we are expected to endure.”

A Look That Sets ‘Em Apart

Being highly identifiable on the race course is an important aspect for any team and the Henkes took this into serious consideration when choosing their vehicle’s color scheme. Thanks to PGI Wraps ^[36], the couple’s vehicle announces their number and team name loud and proud in blue, yellow and white graphics atop lexan panels. The truck’s aesthetics are topped off with reflective numbers and letters that make the truck more visible during races after dark, as well as unique “tattoos” like the smilie faces and the letters “F” and “U” on the front bumper bar.

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The cabin of the DsquaredRacing Ultra 4 vehicle is rather sparse, but it includes everything you need to compete effectively in off-road races.

Inside the truck, the creature comforts are kept to a minimum with PRP Competition Pro seats ^[40], racing harnesses, a custom TrentFab fiberglass dash with carbon fiber overlay, Autometer ^[41] gauges and a fiber optic switch panel being the only things between you and a bare vehicle cabin. For communications on the race course, the Henkes proudly use a Rugged Radio communication system with wireless co-driver capabilities.

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“This car is almost completely different from when it was born 3 years ago,” Darren said. Over the last couple years, the Henke’s have replaced, modified or reworked the majority of their vehicle to make it as competitive as possible, and boy have they succeeded. But that’s not where their racing careers end.

^[43]“The talk around our campfire is to possibly race two cars next year,” Darren explained. “Darlene [would be] driving this one.”

With the prospect of another DsquaredRacing vehicle being announced, we can’t wait to see where the Henkes take their passion for off-road racing next!

You can follow the Henke’s Ultra 4 adventures on the DsquaredRacing Facebook ^[7] page, and for more photos of the race rig, check out the Off Road Xtreme GALLERY below!