Scott Birdsall

Team AMSOIL driver Scott Birdsall is a trailblazer in the world of motorsports, known for pushing the boundaries of performance and innovation. His projects have captivated the racing community with unique, groundbreaking builds that yield show-stopping results.

Birdsall launched Chuckles Garage as a full-service race shop in Santa Rosa, Calif. in 2005. His innovative approach quickly attracted clients worldwide, with his builds featured on major magazine covers and international TV shows. As shop owner, chief engineer and lead fabricator, Birdsall has over 20 years of experience and holds multiple race records, solidifying his reputation as an automotive performance and design savant.

His most famous creation, “Old Smokey” – a 1949 Ford F1 pickup with a 12-valve, 6.7-liter twin-turbo Cummins engine – set the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb diesel record with a time of 11:24.065 in 2020. This achievement secured a third place in the exhibition division and shattered the previous diesel record of 11:37.149 set in 2015 by Germany’s Uwe Nittel driving a 2016 Mercedes Benz C300 d 4 MATIC. Old Smokey’s journey from a $225 beater to a record-setting diesel race truck is a testament to Birdsall’s building prowess.

Old Smokey generates around 1,400 horsepower and an impressive 2,100 pound-feet of torque. The truck features a compound turbo setup, with 100 psi of boost, and weighs approximately 4,200 pounds. Birdsall’s meticulous attention to detail and unconventional approach have made Old Smokey a formidable competitor in various racing formats. That versatility was put on display when Birdsall drove it to the half-mile diesel land-speed record of 167 mph.

Birdsall returned to Pikes Peak the following year with an eye on resetting his own diesel-powered record somewhere in the nine-minute mark. To run that goal down, he built a new car to be Smokey’s successor, a full-on Le Mans prototype like you’d see running the 24-hours of Le Mans. Birdsall called it the “CG Superlight LMP1.” The chassis weighs in at less than 3,000 pounds with tons of downforce. It’s powered by a VM Motori* 24-valve diesel V6 built by Freedom Racing Engines* equipped with compound Garrett Motion* turbos to produce an output of 600 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque that’s mated to a 6XD 6-speed sequential transaxle. Birdsall was confident that the racecar could carry him to his goal; but the run was cut short by rain and low visibility. Resetting his own Pikes Peak record will have to wait for another day.

In 2024, Birdsall achieved a new milestone at Bonneville Speed Week, marking his debut at the legendary Salt Flats. Driving a 1991 Toyota pickup with a 2JZ-GTE engine producing 1,300 horsepower, he set a new land speed record in the Blown Modified Mini-Pickup (BMMP) category. Birdsall reached an impressive 229.4 mph, shattering the previous 3.0-liter truck record of over 180 mph and surpassing the Blown Modified Mini Pickup record of 220 mph.

Birdsall’s outstanding performance at Bonneville earned him the coveted “Red Hat.” The prestigious red hat is awarded to drivers who exceed 200 mph on the salt flats, marking them as members of an elite group of speed demons. Winning a red hat is considered one of the highest achievements in land-speed racing, symbolizing a driver’s skill, courage and design prowess.

Birdsall’s success across diverse racing disciplines – from hill climbs to land-speed records – cements his status as a versatile force in motorsports. His journey reflects a relentless pursuit of performance and excellence, inspiring automotive enthusiasts and fellow racers alike. With Chuckles Garage continuing to thrive and produce cutting-edge builds, Birdsall remains at the forefront of automotive design, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with high-performance vehicles. We can’t see where he goes next.