• About Kurt Maxxon Racing
• Meet Kurt Maxxon
• Meet Nikki
• Masonville
• Kings Rapids

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Meet Nikki

Kurt’s chosen car is a Ford Taurus, usually two to five years old. All are bought used since there will be extensive modifications made to transform an otherwise complacent family car into a high-performance racing machine.

Engines are built by Maurey Kennedy from bare block up. Engines start as Ford 351 cu. In. or 3.7 cu. ltr blocks. Special sleeves are installed in the blocks to allow larger diameter pistons and shorter strokes than normal. Valve seats are hardened and special valves are installed using valve springs matched for resistance; lifters are machined so all are exactly alike and the camshaft is specially machined to achieve exact timing of all the valves to piston position.

The rest of the drive train is pretty standard. Gear boxes are made by several companies and Kurt uses several different makes. Universal joints are hardened as well as drive shafts and axles. The differential is made with hardened gears that are calculated for just slight differential transference of power, since Nikki rarely makes very sharp turns. She is normally turning left, so the differential compensates for that too.

Nikki’s body is modified to lighten it and take out everything not essential to the race. Inside the gutted hull Kurt adds tubing supports and braces in what is known as a roll-cage, designed basically to protect the driver from the body collapsing inward on him or her. There is a lot of energy absorbing material around the roll-cage that takes the worst of a crash. But, drivers can still get hurt, and so Kurt also uses a specially designed and built-to-fit seat and safety harness system.

The bottom line is, Kurt lavishes a lot of attention on Nikki. She is a special companion and advisor to him during each race, as well as one of the favorite ladies in his life.