Vegas-bound with a brand new Legends racecar
Author: Marky Murello
This October Legends driver and Indiana State Champion Tim Skinner Jr. drove his #15 in the INEX Legend Car Asphalt Nationals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring! Tim came in 6th place in the final points standings!
Before Tim hit the road, the team at Polk Bros’ Motorsports (formerly Tunny’s Third Turn Performance) worked on building the #15 for four straight weeks. Yep—we assembled and customized an INEX Legends racecar from the ground up in a month’s time. How’d we do it? Let’s go day by day!
DAY 1:
Step #1 was purchasing all of the products and parts from Polk Bros’ Auto Care to eventually assemble. The kit arrived black, so we sent it off to be sandblasted and powder-coated in a fresh metallic plum. Then it was ready for its custom interior.
DAY 2:
We kicked off the fun by installing the INEX / U.S. Legends Fuel cell and adding the MPI Steering Wheel. We began the wiring process and installed the custom switch panel and custom, purple marbled gear shift knobs.
DAYS 3 & 4:
It was a busy two days while we installed some of the key INEX / U.S. Legends components: INEX rear-end housing, the INEX drive shaft, INEX master cylinder, INEX steering rack, and the INEX ECU (Electronic Control Unit). We ran some braided Aeroquip fuel lines and also installed the Lithium Ultra lightweight battery—the Antigravity ATX-30. We installed the Sweet Manufacturing steering U-Joints, and the All Star oil breather tank. This was also the time that we installed the QuickCar Disconnect Switch and the INEX / U.S. Legends fuel pump and fuel regulators.
DAYS 5 – 7:
Next up was installation of the Allstar Performance brake bias and brake lines. Brake bias adjusters allow for the driver to shut off or open up brake flow to the wheels that those corresponding adjusters are attached to. This allows adjustment for how well the car turns under braking during corner entry.
We also installed the lead ballast weights, INEX Hoosier tires and tire rods. The Hoosier tires from INEX are a mandated tire they run on Legend cars nationwide. While they may not be cost friendly, they last a team for weeks at a time before wearing out. They repeat well and sometimes even require a “break in” process for optimum performance to get the tires to “come in.” The week continued with installation of the INEX / US Legend motor mount and main fender as well as a rearview mirror from Joe’s Racing Products.
Day 8:
By the end of the week it was time for our custom fabrication! Rather than traditionally mounting the Aim dash to the outside, we created a custom recessed display. Of course we used the Legend Car Aim dash specific to our new MT09 Engine—(more on that later!) We weren’t going anywhere without collecting that ECU data!
We installed the dash with Allstar Performance quick release fasteners for a sleek finish and easy access to the electrical portion of the Legend Car.
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
It’s all coming together! In the final week we installed the INEX MT09 motor, the newest and arguably the best motor INEX / U.S. Legend Cars have to offer! We tackled the radiator, exhaust, shocks and springs, seat, and seat belts—all parts from INEX / U.S. Legends!
Then it was time to make it pretty. We installed the main body, the fender, bumpers, and that classic Legends hood and grill. After installing the Lexan windshield we applied the newly-designed graphics on the main body, the all-important numbers, and sponsor decals. The final touch was the INEX / U.S. Legends rear deck lid.
This is the work we live for—Clips, interior kits, and new fiberglass bodies in INEX Legend Cars, and so much more. We’ve completed pre-bent bodies and roofs for Outlaw Figure 8s; Modified bodies; roll cages for Crown Vics, and more. Please reach out for all of your parts, steel, and sheet metal fabrication needs. Whatever you need, we’ll make it happen—and we’ll have a blast doing it.
Thank you to the sponsors who helped support the #15 build:
Polk Bros’ Racing, Polk Bros’ Motorsports (3rd Turn Performance), Circle City Office Pros, Eagle Land Title, Hoosier Racing Tire, U.S. Legend Cars International Engine Shop, A&B Installations, Legends Nation, St. John Signs and Designs, Three Sixteen Motorsports, ATM11 Motorsports, and Hexed Inferno Custom Comfort.
