Building a Race-Ready Galaxy: The Fascinating Story Behind Ruffian Cars

TLDRMeet Chris Ashton and his team at Ruffian Cars, who are pushing the limits of creativity and performance. They have transformed a 1964 Galaxy into a race-ready track car, complete with a powerful engine and advanced suspension. Learn about Chris's journey from art student to successful game designer, and how he assembled a talented team to bring his vision to life.

Key insights

🏎️Chris Ashton's journey from art student to successful game designer to building race cars

🌟Chris's motivation to assemble a team and create something greater than himself

🏁The challenge of building a track-ready 1964 Galaxy and the modifications made to achieve performance

🔧Working with renowned chassis designer Ron Sutton to optimize the car's handling and aerodynamics

💪The relentless pursuit of perfection, including weight balance and component placement

Q&A

How did Chris Ashton transition from art student to building race cars?

Chris started as an art student and then ventured into the video game world, where he created a successful game design company. However, his passion for cars led him to assemble a team and embark on building race cars.

What inspired the transformation of a 1964 Galaxy into a race-ready track car?

Chris's father's love for galaxies inspired him to build a race-ready 1964 Galaxy. He wanted to create a big track car that could outperform on the racetrack while still retaining the classic style of the Galaxy.

What challenges did Chris face in building the race-ready Galaxy?

One of the main challenges was the lack of aftermarket parts for a Galaxy. Chris had to think creatively and work with specialists to develop custom solutions to make the car fast and competitive on the racetrack.

Who is Ron Sutton and how did he contribute to the project?

Ron Sutton is a renowned chassis designer with decades of experience. He played a crucial role in designing the chassis for the race-ready Galaxy, providing blueprints and guidance to optimize the car's performance and handling.

What is the driving experience like in the race-ready Galaxy?

The race-ready Galaxy offers an exhilarating driving experience, with a powerful engine and advanced suspension. It is designed to be fast and agile on the racetrack, while still being comfortable enough for street use.

Timestamped Summary

00:45Chris Ashton, the mastermind behind Ruffian Cars, started as an art student and transitioned into the video game world.

02:11Inspired by his father's love for galaxies, Chris embarked on transforming a 1964 Galaxy into a race-ready track car.

05:39Building a race-ready Galaxy presented challenges, including the lack of aftermarket parts, which required creative solutions.

09:05Renowned chassis designer Ron Sutton contributed to the project, providing guidance and blueprints for optimizing performance and handling.

11:30The race-ready Galaxy offers a thrilling driving experience, with its powerful engine, advanced suspension, and agile handling.