Project: Chris Grigg's “On The Top” Rocketship

Project Photos

Some race cars are built around horsepower. Others are built around suspension. The "On The Top" Rocketship was built around something just as important:
visibility.

The old Jeep had proven itself, but like most full-bodied rigs, visibility and center of gravity eventually became limiting factors once the terrain turned vertical. Chris didn’t come to Wide Open Design looking for a refresh. After years of wheeling a full-bodied Jeep with the On the Top Racing crew, Chris was ready to trade the steel skin for raw, race-bred performance for the world of:

• National Rock Racing Series
• Pro Rock
• Outlaw hill climbs
• extreme rock racing

Watch the On The Top Rocketship Reveal

Built Around Racing Geometry

The foundation of the build is the WOD Rocketship chassis platform. But this wasn’t a simple drivetrain swap. To properly fit Chris’s existing drivetrain package and optimize driver positioning, Wide Open Design redesigned and stretched the mid-section of the chassis specifically for this build. 

That extra room dramatically improved:

• seating position
• driveline packaging
• driver comfort
• visibility
• overall race ergonomics

Builder-Friendly Suspension Innovation

This build also became the testing ground for a brand-new WOD suspension product:
DIY Trailing Arms.

The new trailing arm series was designed specifically to give home builders access to:

• race-proven geometry
• high-strength construction
• builder-friendly fabrication
• simplified installation

without requiring full custom one-off suspension fabrication. Combined with:

• heavy-duty 7075 aluminum links
• coilovers
• bypass shocks
• full hydraulic steering

the suspension package gives the Rocketship the stability and control needed for modern rock racing competition.

Race-Proven Drivetrain Integration

Instead of starting from scratch, Chris brought over his proven race drivetrain package from his previous rig. The WOD team integrated that drivetrain into the Rocketship chassis while optimizing:

• driveline angles
• seating position
• weight balance
• packaging clearance
• serviceability

This allowed Chris to retain a drivetrain combination he already trusted while upgrading to a chassis platform specifically designed for competition. That balance between familiarity and performance often helps drivers transition into a new platform much faster.