“I tell people I’m an artist, not a mechanic. It’s inspiration, an artform. And it’s on the spot.” Those aren’t typical words uttered by a fabricator. Or a driver. But then again, Scotty’s not your average fabricator or driver—he’s all those things, and more. 

Known for his artistic, evolving builds that become record-setters, Scott “Scotty” Birdsall is the owner, lead fabricator, and driver at Chuckles Garage in Santa Rosa, California.

IT ALL STARTED WITH OLD SMOKEY

For over 20 years, Scotty has been building and racing headline-grabbing machines with a program that takes on some of the toughest challenges in motorsports. He set land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, and climbed the grueling 156 turns and 4,725 feet of elevation change at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. 

Scotty has been in the industry for years, bursting onto the scene at the 2016 SEMA Show with the first iteration of “Old Smokey.” Sporting a compound-turbocharged Cummins powerplant, a Ford F1 pickup shell neatly wrapped up, and the tube frame in just the right patina, the truck was the star of the show.  After that, it set the internet ablaze. 

Those who have been in the industry long enough know that there are plenty of vehicles displayed at the SEMA Show that look the part, but their dynamics can’t cash the check that their looks are writing. Heck, some barely move under their own power. In the following months, Scotty proved this wasn’t the case for Old Smokey, going on a tire-shredding tour that included more than one stop at the Hoonigan Burnyard. This beast was the real deal.

GO BIG OR GO HOME

But, said some, that’s drifting, those are burnouts. It’s fun and all, but can this creation hold its own on the track, against the clock? 

Scotty isn’t the kind of guy who does things the easy way. He could have entered any time attack class, anywhere in the country, and put down blistering times to prove a point. Instead, those being too tame for him, he decided to pit Old Smokey against all 14,115 feet of elevation at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC).

Pikes Peak presents unique challenges, with its rapid ascension and brutal turns: high altitude thins the air and punishes fuel, air, and heat systems, and vibrations from slicks, curbing, and downforce stress every joint. That, and aero and tight packaging limit tool access, slowing down would-be repairs.

Photography: Larry Chen

In motorsports, you’re not only competing against the clock, and of course your fellow competitors, but against yourself and your own machinery. Bringing a race car (or truck, as the case may be) concept to fruition starts with having to hunt down the right components. 

There’s an old saying, “everything fits when you have a welder,” and that’s how Scotty lives. When you’re building something that’s never been built before, off-the-shelf parts aren’t an option. Want it? Make it yourself.

VIBRANT PERFORMANCE TO THE RESCUE

Scotty relies on the motorsport-grade fabrication components from Vibrant Performance to bring all of his creations to life, and Old Smokey is no exception. Mandrel bends made of quality aluminum for consistent welding, mated with pie cuts, v-bands and quick-release clamps carry air from one turbo to another, to and from the intercooler, and into the engine to be ingested and turned into forward motion. 

Rigid aluminum tubing, connected with silicone couplers carry coolant from the engine to the rear-mounted radiator. Flex sections and bellows are incorporated to isolate movement and vibration. Heat is managed with thermal shielding, wraps and coatings. These systems are all closely monitored by incorporating numerous sensors, installed with a variety of bungs and adapters. 

In racing, a car (or truck) must be made tough, but must also be made serviceable so that sessions aren’t missed due to a component failure. At Pikes Peak, this is especially true, since the tight schedule allows no room for error. Not ready when it’s your turn? Tough, try again next year. Vibrant Performance products really shine here, with quick-release clamps and v-bands incorporated at logical break points to allow rapid access to key components.

Vibrant components allow a builder to standardize tubing diameters to minimize needs for additional spares. When connected with HD quick release clamps at logical service breakpoints, downtime for repairs is minimized. Vibrant’s reflective heat barriers contain heat near hot-side plumbing, and a precision fab ecosystem of pie cuts, tight-radius bends, weld bungs and more allow for optimal packaging.

THE PROOF: RACE DAY

So how did it go? Scotty set the PPIHC diesel record in 2020 with a time of 11:24.065. Never being satisfied, of course, he returned to break his own record (something he has made something of a habit) and, unfortunately, in Old Smokey (and Scotty) took a plunge off the side of the mountain. Ouch. Fortunately, he’s no worse for the wear. Old Smokey, on the other hand, is taking a bit of time on the injured reserve list.

While Old Smokey is resting (the comeback will be better than the setback), Scotty hasn’t been sitting idly by.  He’s been setting, and then later breaking and re-setting, records on the Bonneville Salt Flats, hitting 252 mph in a 1991 Toyota pickup build. Alas, that’s a story for another day.

Scotty returned to Pikes Peak this year, this time with a 2009 Porsche Cup Car in Time Attack 1 with an official overall time of 4:54.103.

Built with Vibrant Performance. Log onto your dealer portal at www.turn14.com for all your Vibrant Performance needs.