NMCA Xtreme Street is a throw back to the old days.  

I know, this is Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords and I should be talking about Mustang and Ford stuff. But I am here at the NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing and the Xtreme Street class is just too cool.  It is a throwback to the old days of NMCA Super Street when the cars resembled something real. The new NMCA owners (Pro Media Companies) designed a class when they started the series 8 years ago called Xtreme Street. It was designed to be like the old Super Street days when cars ran real 10.5-inch slicks and were purpose-built Outlaw 10.5 chassis combos.

The Xtreme Street class in Joliet is not disappointing as low 8-second times rule on real 10.5-inch slicks, no wheelie bars, and conventional type engine combinations. It is a mix of muscle cars and new rides. I like the old cars that bring it to the line with all-steel cars with the chrome trim and cool stuff that makes these cars still real and true to their street brethren.


A '70 Challenger lined up against Bob Kurgan's '86 Mustang GT while the next pairing had a '70 Nova pulling next to a '70 Camaro in a heavyweight slugfest. This class is fun with the variety of cars and the fact that older body styles can still compete with the slicker and more aerodynamic late model cars.

Up and running at Route 66 Raceway this weekend.

I am sitting in the media room at Route 66 Raceway for the 3rd Annual Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing. The fine folks at Pro Media, parent company of both NMCA and NMRA racing circuits combine both series for a wild weekend of racing. If you are in driving distance of this event, GET HERE! I showed up yesterday to packed pits. Over 270 race cars checked in Thursday, just 5 down from last year's wild event. That number is only Pro-Tree racing entries, no bracket racing. Race officials are telling us that number is over 300 cars as of this morning with overnight entries and they haven't even brought in any True Street cars yet. The True Street portion of the event looks to be anywhere from 75-100 entries. We hope to see you out here!

A special online auction give you the chance to own Kyle Petty's 2006 Victory motorcycle and join Kyle on the 2009 Ride Across America. But hurry, the auction runs July 15-25, 2008. All proceeds benefit two extremely worthy charaties.

Last year SEMA held its annual Installation Banquet in conjunction with a fundraiser to benefit two very worthy charities: Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp. The 2007 event raised more than $175,000. This year the Installation Banquet and Gala Fundraiser will be held on July 25 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine located in Irvine, California.

This special online auction will assist in SEMA's effort to help raise awareness and addtional funds. 100% of the proceeds from this auction will benefit Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp. The auction runs July 15-25, 2008.


THE AUCTION FEATURES

Kyle Petty's own 2006 Victory motorcycle, valued at over $15,000 and driven in the 2007 Ride Across America Charity RIde. This beautiful motorcycle is a black Jackpot model and includes a custom luggage rack built by Kyle himself, saddlebags and a full windshield.

In addition, the winner will receive one core rider position on the 15th Anniversary Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America in 2009 valued at over $13,000 and includes:

Nine nights hotel accommodations
Fuel for one motorcycle at all scheduled Pit stops
All scheduled group meals
Commemorative Designer Leather Jacket
Event t-shirt and cap
All company-sponsored t-shirts
Transportation of one (1) motorcycle from NC to designated 2009 headquarters of Charity Ride

TO BID OR LEARN MORE PLEASE CUT AND PASTE THE LINK BELOW INTO YOUR BROWSER:
http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=semacarescharities

AUCTION RUNS JULY 15-25, 2008

100% of the proceeds benefit these two important charities

About Childhelp
Founded in 1959 by Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, Childhelp is a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. Childhelp's approach focuses on prevention, intervention and treatment. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. www.childhelp.org

Victory Junction Gang Camp
Victory Junction Gang Camp enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment. Victory Junction Gang Camp was founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie in honor of their late son Adam. www.victoryjunction.org

Since i will most likely be out of the office tomorrow working on a tech story, here's my blog for tomorrow.

Jet cars are just plain cool. They make lots of noise and fire, fire, fire. I've loved them as a kid when i used to watch Bob Motz's B-52 jet engine powered Kenworth rocket down Thompson dragway, and i still enjoy them today. If you haven't seen one. Find out if your local track has any scheduled to appear. Their definitely a thing to see.

Now that our Fox body Mustangs are getting pretty old--some being 21 years old--its time to consider what to do when the paint fades. I suggest painting it a non-factory color. No, you don't have to go all out like the

camo car, but pick a color from a different make, or at least from a different Ford model, though most manufacturers use the same colors throughout their lines.     

When deciding what color to paint it, keep in mind the wheels you will be uisng, as some wheel colors look better with some body colors.  Once you've got the exterior looking great, don't be afraid to change the interior whiel you're at it.

We're supposed to blog once a day, so since i was out traveling  on Monday, here is Monday's blog entry.

Tomorrow i get to work on my budget motor project. It's on the downside of the buildup, as we've already pulled the greasy heap from the pile, and started rebuilding the other block to shoe in. It's a lot of work doing the work all by yourself, though i have had some over the phone help.

    Well, i tried the PlastX product manuafactured by Meguiar's and it works pretty good. My headlights are in the middle stage of decline and the product did brighten them up. I think better results would have been obtained had i performed some sanding with maybe a 600-grit wet paper prior to using the PlastX, as there seems to be some residue that it could't get off. Overall, it worked well.

Bringing along more than a decade worth of industry knowledge and personal experience with aftermarket street and racing products, Tony McCurdy has recently been named Sales Manager for TCI, a division of the COMP Performance Group located in Ashland, MS. McCurdy, a degreed mechanical engineer and native of the Memphis area, moves from the position of Sales Account Manager at COMP Cams, where he has worked since his hire in 1995.

McCurdy not only brings experience and understanding of how to sell high-performance products but a true connection to his customers through his own racing and street vehicle modifications.
 
“Tony brings a great deal of experience and a real grasp of the industry to his new position,” stated Dave Sebring, General Manager for TCI. “He has learned the business from the ground up, beginning with COMP Cams as a technician for CAM HELP and progressing to the sales side where he became one of our most productive sales account managers. We are excited to have him take over as the Sales Manager for TCI.”

With the fourth round of the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup quickly approaching at Barber Motorsports Park, July 20, StableOne Racing signed Andrew Caddell to its driver lineup.

Caddell will drive one of the black FR500S Mustangs for StableOne Racing for the remainder of the season. Caddell spent the first three races with TC Motorsports, where he won two races and had another 2nd place finish. StableOne has also signed Terry Borcheller to drive the number 4 car in Alabama in an effort to add even more solid talent to its racing lineup. Andrew Caddell started his racing career in karts. In 4 years Andrew compiled 24 wins, 3 Championships, 1 Rookie of the Year, 1 Driver of the Year, 1 Sportsman of the Year and 5 track records. Andrew competed in a Spec Miata in 2005 and 2006. There he racked up 16 wins, 5 track records, 1 SCCA National Championship, 2 Regional Championships, 1 Regional Novice Driver of the Year, 1 Regional Driver of the Year and 1 National Rookie Driver of the Year. In 2007, Andrew competed in the Mazda MX-5 Cup and scored 2 wins, 2 pole positions, 2nd in season points and Rookie of the Year. He made a smooth transition into the Ford FR500S winning the first two races and coming in second at the third. “Andrew caught our attention from the first time we competed against him in Atlanta” said Bruce Stover, StableOne’s COO. “When we found out Andrew was looking for a full time ride for the rest of the season, we believed he could give our team a great chance to build brand awareness with podium finishes. With five races to go, Caddell will look to extend his championship form all the way to the final checkered flag, which drops in Utah on September 21st at Miller Motorsports Park. Terry Borcheller will also compete for StableOne in Alabama. Terry brings a wealth of experience to StableOne including six pro racing titles, two Rolex 24 hours of Daytona victories and a podium finish at LeMans. Andrew Hendricks, StableOne executive and driver of S-1 team car #5 added, “I am really excited about driving with these guys. They have a wealth of talent and bring great experience to the team.” The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup continues on July 20, from Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. StableOne is the automotive arm of Hendricks Investment Holdings LLC of Silver Spring, MD. StableOne is in the process of putting together ultimate automotive experiences for automotive enthusiasts.

Mustang vs. Pontiac G8- Part II

Earlier this year, one of the Super Chevy staffers picked up a Pontiac G8 as a daily beater. I will admit it, I really dig the car with its LS-style engine, comfy interior, and pretty good looks. The first payment check hadn't even cleared before this individual, who will remain nameless, started trash talking Mustangs. It seems his buddies were running real quick with their G8s and so he actually called out Editor Smitty for a track duel. Smitty's wife drives a 2007 Mustang GT Auto car. So Smitty had JDM mail him a tune, in preparation for battle. It was nothing too crazy since his wife does the car more than he does. The nameless trash talker had a tune thrown into his G8 and it was off to the track. Long story short, the G8 took out the Stang in a best of 3 match race. Both were running mid-to-low 13s, with the G8 running slightly quicker with its massive LS engine.

Apparently the extra weight of the car (some 400 pound difference) didn't alter the outcome. The G8 was far too powerful to let the weight become a factor. Somewhere along the way, this G8 owner grew confident. I mean, after all, he beat Smitty's wife's car (insert sarcasim). That same day, for the record, my S197 ran quicker and faster than his G8 with just a tune up. That was with me driving and even quicker with Justin Burcham behind the wheel. I ran 13.12 while Burcham dropped to a 13.10 in my stock '07. It had a custom tune, then we added a Ford Racing cold air kit and he ran 12.98 while I cruised to a 13.07. He is lighter and had a better 60-foot time. The G8 knocked off a best of 13.17.

So, said G8 owner is now getting his pride pumped up with a ProCharger blower. Let the office rivalry start up again. His new found beer muscles has him calling me out! He was in my office bragging about how his car will make 480-505 rear wheel horsepower once the blower and new exhaust system are on the car. He was picking on me because he knows I have a Ford Racing/Whipple H.O. kit sitting in the storage room waiting to be bolted on.

 Those who haven't been to the Source Interlink Media New Jersey office, trash talking between the three magazines is a daily occurrence. It is all in good fun, though. What else would expect when you have Mustang guys, old-school Chevy dudes, LS F-body folks, Grand National creamers, and one Evo enthusiast (damn art directors have to be different all the time!)? Myself and the G8 guy traded fun barbs back and forth, but I got the last word in. I eloquently reminded him that he should have thought be he started tossing junk around the office.

Let the bench racing begin, according to several tech stories and proven results, the Whipple blower with some mild exhaust upgrades will net me around 450 or rear wheel horsepower. On track, similarly prepped Mustangs with drag radials out back have gone 11.40s-11.50s in the heat. We are talking in daily driven trim with fat front wheels, sedate rear gears, and stock torque converter in place. That is a proven fact, time and time again. Just checkout Project MILF in the tech section of this website, it is a near identical combo to what I will have shortly.

For the G8 to run with that, despite making 500 or so rear wheel horsepower with just the blower, he will need to add nitrous, meth injection, camshaft upgrade, or something else to get more power. The G8 is 400 pounds heavier than my '07 Stang and it certainly won't be hooking nearly as hard. The trash-talker didn't think about the challenge before he opened his mouth. The IRS rear suspension is a huge handicap for the car. If it holds, which I doubt it would with drag radials, then odds are the tires will spin out of the gate or the car will squat and have slow sixty-foot times. Would another 50-60 horsepower make up for what is sure to be a few tenths at the sixty-foot clocks and 400 pounds? I doubt it highly. The car will need a loose torque converter, somehow figure out the rear suspension combo and hope the axles don't snap, then add so much more power to the engine and hope he does toss the rods out of the side of the block.

The G8 guy has a big battle ahead of him, if he still wants to race that is.  

AKRON, OH—Trick Flow Specialties is proud to announce a new drag racing club geared toward racers competing in the ultra-competitive NMRA Drag Radial class.

The Trick Flow 7-Second Club is open to the first seven NMRA Drag Radial racers to run a 7.99 ET or quicker at an NMRA event using Trick Flow cylinder heads. “Our new 7-Second club is a way for us to say “thanks” to the racers that use the advanced design and state-of-the-art manufacturing of our cylinder heads to win races and bring home championships,” Al Noe, Trick Flow Manager, said. “The 7-Second club is a fun way to reward our customers while taking the class to a whole new level and putting some new names in the record books.” The Trick Flow 7-Second club is open to the first seven racers to run a 7.99 ET or quicker in NMRA Drag Radial competition using Trick Flow cylinder heads. The first member of the club will receive a $1,000 gift certificate towards the purchase of any Trick Flow product. They’ll also receive (3) custom Trick Flow crew shirts with the 7-Second Club logo on the sleeve and the racer’s and two crew members names on the left front breast pocket, (3) Trick Flow T-shirts, (2) Trick Flow fender covers, (2) Trick Flow tire covers, (3) Trick Flow hats, (2) Trick Flow banners, and (4) Trick Flow 7-Second Club decals. The next six racers to enter the club will receive everything listed above, except the gift certificate.To become a member of the Trick Flow 7-Second club, racers must make the 7.99 or quicker pass during qualifying or eliminations at an NMRA event. The pass must be backed-up by a run within one percent of the original seven second elapsed time. Based in Akron, Ohio, Trick Flow Specialties offers products that provide “Ultimate Bolt-On Performance!.” Trick Flow’s product lines include cylinder heads, intake manifolds, camshafts, valvetrain components, and more. For product information, customers can call 1-330-630-1555 or visit http://www.TrickFlow.com.

Fun times on the dyno at Dez Racing.  

Yesterday, I spent the day at Dez Racing for a tech story and we had some fun. In addition to working on the car for the story, there were a couple of Fox-Body Mustangs that rolled into the shop for tuning. I admit it, I drooled and stared quite a bit. Kind of like Homer Simpson in the midst of beer and food.

First car to show up was a black LX that was super clean, I mean right out of the showroom clean. It was a black hatchback with a stock black interior. Somehow, whoever did the cage managed to get it high and tight against the body because it was not intrusive on the passenger or driver. The car had the typical Weld Racing wheels with 28x10.5-inch slicks out back and skinnies in front. The car was flawless and had just the right stance.

The owner rolled it off the trailer and on to the dyno. It rumbled nicely through the Flowmaster mufflers. This was a serious ride. Dez popped the  Cervini hood and revealed the magic under it. A stroker 302 engine of unknown dimensions, over hte exhaust I thought I heard Dez say it was 356ci.  A Vortech YSi-trim supercharger, mounted on the driver's side, was bolted to the engine. This was not your ordinary boulevard cruiser.

Then the owner started to unravel the specs. But the one thing that he kept referring back to was the NMRA EFI-Renegade class. The class is really neat and is modeled after what a serious street car would run. We are talking long runner intake manifolds, 8-rib pulley systems to drive the blower, non-intercooled large street blowers like Vortech YSi-trim and ProCharger F1R, hydraulic roller cams (.550-inch lift maximum), 302-based engine combos with weight breaks for engine sizes, and an accepted cylinder head list that shows off-the-shelf standard style aluminum heads. The racers have pushed those parts to the edge and thanks to them, street enthusiasts are utilizing those parts and tricks.

The black LX featured Edelbrock Victor Jr. heads and a .550-inch lift cam that Ron Sharp of Roush Engines prescribes for his EFI-Renegade customers. The owner went to say that he also runs an 8-rib pulley set on his blower because "that is what those guys run." The C4 transmission is strong enough, thanks to continual development to make it live in the mid 8-second NMRA cars.

Dez whittled away on the keyboard of his laptop, setting the proper drivability parameters inside the DFI Gen 7 fuel management computer box. A few dyno pulls resulted in an easy 690 rear wheel horsepower. There was a problem though, the owner didn't put large enough vents on the valve covers. Too much crankcase pressure blew out the valve cover gaskets, ending the dyno session.

The next car to show up for tuning was 1990 Mustang  GT, this one was driven almost 30-minutes to the shop. It was a blue GT and featured a similar combination to the aforementioned black LX. This one was a 332ci combo with a R302 block, Canfield heads, Vortech YSi-trim blower, and all the bells and whistles. Dez tuned the Anderson Ford Motorsport PMS hand-held tuner. The GT pounded out 725 horsepower at 25 psi of boost—through SHORTY 1-3/4-inch headers! 

Those two cars are in my mind, the quintessential 5-liter Mustang, both were low 9-second capable, supercharged, super clean, street driven, and not too over the top but definitely way above average. I had a blast just watching them make dyno pulls. If I were building a serious street/strip car, it would look like those cars. You just cannot go wrong with a supercharged and stroked 5-liter combination. I thought it was neat that both guys both referenced the EFI-Renegade ranks for the source and inspiration of their combinations. The trickle down effect is very much real.

Mike Dez Racing lets out a little secret regarding Ford GT heads.

I am up at Dez Racing for a tech story and we were kicking around ideas and bench racing. That is when Mike Dez hit us with a little secret, that I am now going to share with you. For those looking for a killer Four-Valve combination, check out the Ford GT Supercar heads. He said that in the right hands, those heads have flowed near 400 CFM! WOW. I was shocked.

The possibilities and potential are unbelievable with the proper combination. I couldn't imagine what something like that would do on a NMRA EFI-Renegade car like Bart Toebner's mod-motor entry. He currently runs Navigator heads, which don't flow near that.

Right now, you are limited to a Shelby GT500 manifold or a GT Supercar intake. That leaves only one other option for the street crowd, build a custom hat like what is on Dan Schoneck's Shelby GT500 that has a ProCharger blower. Another option, there are rumors floating around that Sullivan is making a cast intake manifold. First to be released with be the long awaited B-headed intake, then sources are telling me an intake for the GT Supercar head will be next.

As we get more information, we will pass it along to you!

Grease, grease and more grease.  

I just got done pulling the engine out of my car and it was the greasiest job i've ever done on a car. Every gasket was leaking like a siv, and i have no idea how the clutch was working as there was a solid 1/8-inch of grease inside the bellhousing and on the clutch fork. Yummy.

Do you have faded or yellowed head light lenses? I do so i am going to try this new PlastX polish from Meguiar's this weekend and i'll report back to you how it works.

Steve Saleen unveils concept Mustang to celebrate his automotive career.

On July 6, 2008, Steve Saleen and his new SMS Limited company unveiled a concept Mustang to celebrate Saleen's 25 years in the automotive business. Nothing screams Mustang performance and style more than the name Steve Saleen. He is my generation's Carroll Shelby. His Mustang designs have always been cutting edge and great performers. This 25th Anniversary model is no different.

It is rumored that this car will not be for sale, just that Steve wanted to show off the capabilities of his new venture, SMS Limited. The Mustang boasts a 720 horsepower, supercharged engine. It made 612 horsepower at the rear tires! Stopping the Stang from speeds attained with the big power is the job of SMS cross-drilled 15-inch six-piston calipers. Assisting handling is a newly designed SMS Watts-link suspension system that is made from billet.  According to Steve, the performance capabilities of this Stang approach that of the S7 Twin Turbo.

On top of the performance enhancements, Steve is quoted in the press release as stating many other components on the concept car that are billed as "functional aesthetic innovations." As we hear more about this car and new SMS parts we will pass word along to you.

For those of you attending the NMRA race at Atco Raceway in August, you can even ask Steve Saleen in person. He will be on hand to help celebrate Muscle Mustangs and Fas Fords Magazine's 20th Anniversary party.

MM&FF releases new special issue directed at the S197 Mustang crowd.

Head out to your local newsstand to pick up a special edition magazine produced by Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords Magazine. We just released 2005-'08 Mustang Performance Magazine as a one-shot title, available only on the newsstand. It focuses solely on S197 Mustang performance.

Inside this new magazine is the latest and greatest parts along with an EXCLUSIVE first peek at C&L Performance's newest Three-Valve intake manifold. It is due out sometime this summer. We also explore all aspects of performance from the retro-themed Pony car.

You can pick up this magazine at any newsstand that carries Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords.

Watkins Glen International, one of the nation’s most historic racetracks, will soon be leading the way towards reducing their carbon footprint with the help of Juice Energy. The 60 year old raceway, known worldwide as “The Glen,” has signed a new contract with Juice in an effort to lower their ever-rising electricity costs, and limit the track’s impact on the environment.

Juice Energy, Inc. is a New York-based electricity supplier that utilizes unique methodologies to deliver electricity to their clients at the lowest possible rates. By constantly monitoring the energy markets, Juice creates custom solutions that bring the advantages of electricity competition to clients.
At the same time, Juice offers clients access to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, making them a popular choice for businesses looking to curb their environmental impact.
 
The new deal will cover all of The Glen’s electricity needs for the next three years. In addition, the track will become one of the first motor sports facilities in North America to adopt a greener electricity strategy with the purchase of wind power equal to 100% of their annual electric use. The green power purchase effectively offsets the track’s electricity related greenhouse gas emissions.
 
Craig Rust, President of Watkins Glen International, said the decision to go with Juice was an easy one: “It’s not everyday that we find a new business partner that brings as much to the table as Juice. We’re going to enjoy savings on electricity and take a major step forward in our plan to become a greener track.”
 
For Juice, it’s been a very busy year as they sign one new client after another. “Millions of people have enjoyed races at The Glen over the past 60 years. We’re really excited about our new involvement with this particular partner,” said Brian Hayduk, co-founder of Juice. “Our main priority is customer service, so we’ll probably have to stop by on race days to see how our strategies are working.”
 
About Watkins Glen International:
 
Tickets for the historic 60th Anniversary Season at Watkins Glen International are on-sale now. For tickets and more information, please contact the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official website www.TheGlen.com.

Nitto Tires has new sizes for its 555R Drag Radials.

Way to go Nitto! The folks at Nitto Tires seem to keep their finger on the pulse when it comes to sizing tires for Mustang enthusiasts. This past Spring, the company released the world's first 20-inch Drag Radial in two sizes. They recognized the need for 555R drag radials for the S197 crowd and other segments in the market.

We just came off a huge growth period for 20-inch wheels thanks to the S197 Mustang market. Being it seems so easy to jump up the horsepower in those cars, the Nitto engineers developed a 555R tire for those who want to still have traction, yet keep their large size wheels. My buddy has a set for his turbocharged '06 Saleen and they work great.

Nitto didn't stop there, in addition to the 20-inch drag radials, they have recently released a new 18-inch sized piece. If your aftermarket wheels aren't 20s on your S197, then you most likely  have a set of 18s. For that, Nitto has just released 305/40-18 tires. They are beefy and offer greater traction that regular radials. This size tire might fit SN95 cars as well, I will have to consult with the MM&FF Wheel and Tire guru about it. That would be Steve Baur.

With the long July 4th weekend coming up, it might be a good time to wash and detail your Pony.

    Like many of you, I have a nice long weekend coming up with the Fourth of July falling on a Friday. While I am sure that Saturday will be spent recuperating from a fireworks filled Friday, I plan on spending Sunday doing something I have been putting off for a while-detailing my cars.
    With that in mind, I ran through all of my product releases, and drummed up some neat new cleaning products. If you plan on doing the same thing that I do this weekend, then these hot new items are sure to be right up your alley.

    Eagle One

    Eagle One had been around the cleaning products game for a while, and has two new products that will really make your Mustang shine without too much effort, the first being the company’s new NanoWash & Wax. The NanoWash & Wax makes it easier and faster to clean, shine, and protect your car’s finish in one step. A handy measuring cap ensures optimal results every time. The NanoWash & Wax contains tiny carnauba wax particles that penetrate and extract deep down dirt and grime while restoring luster and shine for a smooth mirror-like finish.
    Once the car is cleaned up, hit the tires with Eagle One’s Tire Shine Gel, which comes in a trigger spray. The unique Tire Shine Gel is the first gel product to come in a trigger spray. The thick gel clings to the tire with no drip or sling, and results in a lasting, glossy shine that will compliment your great looking wheels. Check these items out at www.eagleone.com.

    Voodoo Ride

    Does the outside of your vehicle look like you haven’t cleaned it since the end of winter? Well Voodoo Ride has the perfect remedy to wash away winter and make your car look like new.
    Voodoo Ride manufactures a complete line of automotive surface car products, including Mojo, an all surface speed detailer (pictured), Shoq (tire and wheel cleaner), Hypd (high gloss tire finish), Silq (synthetic liquid polish), Hexx (scratch remover), JuJu (concentrated car wash soap), and Jakd (microfiber cloths). To learn more about Voodoo Ride products, how to purchase them, or current special offers, visit www.voodooride.com.

    Victory Wax

    Years of exposure have probably left the paint job on your vehicle looking a bit too vintage. If you’re like most enthusiasts, dropping thousands of dollars on a new paint job isn’t quite as high on your list as that new engine.
    Thankfully, there’s a new alternative that will bring your car’s color back to life without breaking the bank. The Maximum Velocity Kit from Victory Wax offers you a complete line of wax and polish formulas that are specifically engineered for use with a random orbital polisher. The unique formulas combined with the dual action of the polisher creates a process that is fast, effective, and safe for your paint. Instead of wasting your whole weekend detailing your car by hand and only getting mediocre results, now you can spend a couple of hours and achieve a depth of color and clarity you never thought possible. Check the kit out at www.victoryshine.com.

    Black Magic
    Black Magic Titanium Matte Tire Finish makes vehicle maintenance one-step easier. The new revolutionary formula helps transform tires to their original sheen, providing a rich, black, low-gloss finish. With its non-stick formula, the Black Magic Titanium Matte Tire Finish won’t attract dust and dirt like current “wet” products. Link up to www.blackmagicshine.com for more info.

    Mothers
    Mothers introduces California Gold Spry Wax, the easy, one-step solution to clean, shine, and protect any automotive finish, including clearcoats. To restore that “just waxed” look, all you need is a light mist of Spray Wax and a gentle wipe of a plush detailing towel. Spray Wax can be used on wet surfaces as you dry as a booster over your existing layer of wax, or as a stand-alone product. For more information on this and other Mother’s products, check out www.mothers.com.


    

NHRA mandates 1,000-foot racing until changes can be made.

NHRA announced yesterday that effective immediately, all Nitro racing will be conducted as 1,000-foot races until further notice. The decision was made after many meetings and conferences between NHRA management and the Nitro teams. Ultimately, they want to move forward and address a host of topics before the decision to move back to 1,320 feet can be made.

The two leading topics are shutdown area safety regulations and better braking and parachute systems. They also want to address the recent rash of engine explosions on the top-end. As for track safety, there is talk of working with the Navy and associated engineering firms who develop catch systems for jets on aircraft carriers. Another avenue NHRA is looking at are safe walls, like in NASCAR, for areas behind sand traps. On the topic of sand traps, they are also looking to make standards from size to type of material. There are many other issues they will address to help contain and keep drivers safe in a runaway race car situation like at the NHRA national event at Englishtown.

Car safety is another topic that is being explored, just as NHRA's new Funny Car chassis rules go into effect at the Denver event one week from today. The new rules mandate driver tubs and other chassis upgrades. But the sanctioning body is working with race teams and outside consultants to possibly develop new cars that address some problems that were seen in the Scott Kalitta accident. The NHRA wants to address down force when the body is blown off. It seems as if Kalitta had a hard time stopping possibly due to no down force on the car, making it much harder for the brakes to do its job. Also, the parachute mounting, deployment, and type of chutes will be changing if a better system can be designed.

I was watching NHRA race from Norwalk on ESPN2 last weekend and I applaud Del Worsham for designing a emergency parachute release system on his Checkers, Chucks, Kragen-sponsored Funny Car. It was a cable system that would yank the chutes open if the blower pop-off hatch was knocked open from an engine explosion. It was a simple system that team built at the track with a little ingenuity and basic items carried inside the trailer.

Another area that NHRA will address are the engine explosions that are getting more and more common. Some Internet racers are blaming the rev-limiter. I certainly don't know what the problem is but to say it is the rev-limiter without being a Nitro racing expert is a little quick to blame something. Some teams are exploding engines more so than others. I don't remember the last time that Tony Schumacher exploded a blower and he always posts really quick speeds, so it might not be the rev-limiter.

There are some challenges ahead for NHRA Nitro racing but the good thing is the they are working with the teams and other consultants to bring Nitro racing to a safer level and still maintain 1,320 feet of drag racing with 300-plus mph speeds.

Daily Driven Mustang owners are lucky!

The big boss, Campy, came into the office yesterday with a rather strange set of bars. Apparently Mrs. Campy had him clean out the garage last weekend and  he found a pair of side bars that belonged to The Horse With No Name project car, which was given away to a lucky reader back in the late ‘90s! Thanks to its turbocharged status, the car was a consistent 11-second runner so the magazine guys at the time added a roll bar to it. They did a nice job and added swing-outs, to help the driver and passenger get in and out of the car and not have climb over a roll bar.

It reminded me how easy Mustang owners have it when it comes to NHRA legal six-point roll bars. Most people weld a roll bar in by using plates welded to the floor and then the bar welded to the plates. Uni-body cars, which include Mustangs, have the unique advantage to legally use a bolt-in roll bar for cars 10.00-11.49. While most weld it in, that is not required by NHRA to meet the safety standards.

What does that mean for Mustang owners? A bolt-in roll bar can allow you to have swing-out door bars and to go even further, the back bar behind the driver can be bolted in. So when you are not at the track, the side bars can be removed and the rear bar as well, allowing the back seat to be accessed with ease.

My brother’s 1989 Mustang LX coupe was a combination of a weld-in bar and bolt-together one. He didn’t want to eliminate the use of the backseat so the sidebars are bolt in and the bar behind the seats is as well. On the street, the car has a simple four-point roll bar. But when he goes to the track, the other bars are installed and bolted in, using the NHRA spec hardware, which I think, are ¾-inch minimum bolts, if I am not mistaken. Check the NHRA rulebook or talk to a reputable chassis shop for the proper hardware required to bolt-in bars.

Those with daily driven cars, especially New Edge and S197 cars, at least have an option so the roll bar doesn’t infringe on the comforts of your passengers.

DynoMax has announced its official prize purse for the 2008 Power to the Wheels Dyno Tour Series, bringing horsepower enthusiasts an exciting set of prizes and celebrity opportunities for posting the top horsepower in the thrilling competition series.

The DynoMax “Power to the Wheels” Dyno Tour, sponsored and managed by DynoMax, was created in 2007 to test the horsepower and torque of muscle cars outfitted with DynoMax or Thrush exhaust systems. The Championship Shootout will take place during Street Machine Nationals, Springfield, Mo., Sept. 12 – 14, 2008.

The series introduced a new structure in 2008 to include two new classes – All-Motor* and Power-Adder*. Both classes will have payouts at the Championship Shootout – $6,000 to the first-place All-Motor and first-place Power-Adder winners, $4,000 to the second-place All-Motor and second-place Power-Adder winners, and $2,000 to the third-place All-Motor and third-place Power-Adder winners.

“Not only are we going to give the top guys in both classes the biggest part of the prize purse, but we’re also inviting those two drivers and their cars to the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November,” said Bowser. “They’ll be our DynoMax Champions, and the stars of the Show after they blow us away with their horsepower numbers in September!”

Winners also will receive contingency awards for running two Summit Racing Equipment contingency decals on the vehicles during the Championship Shootout. Summit Racing Equipment, which introduced the contingency to the Power to the Wheels program during 2008, has awarded prizes to each class winner at each Qualifying Event, and also plans to award Championship Shootout qualifiers a $100 Summit Racing Gift Card.

To win, entrants must use a DynoMax or Thrush exhaust system and/or muffler at the time of the dyno run during one of the Qualifying Events. DynoMax will award daily champions in each class. Competitors are required to make two back-to-back dyno runs. The winner is based on peak horsepower from the best of two runs for the daily contest. Entrants who do not have DynoMax products can still dyno but are not eligible for the competition and are subject to a dyno fee ($75).

DynoMax has awarded first- and second-place winners of each class at each of the series’ Qualifying Events. The daily first- and second-place event winners will be entered into a national ranking for a chance to compete at the Championship Shootout. Daily first-place winners in both classes also earn a $50 cash prize from DynoMax. For more information about the DynoMax Power to the Wheels Dyno Tour, please visit www.dynomax.com.

The DynoMax Power to the Wheels Dyno Tour has hit its halfway mark to the 2008 Championship Shootout in Springfield,  Missouri.

After finishing the HOT ROD Power Tour this past June, the Power to Wheels Dyno Tour series hit 21 qualifying vehicles in the All-Motor class and 8 qualifying vehicles in the Power-Adder class.

Led by last year’s Power to the Wheels Champion Brian Anderson, Kathleen, Ga., and third-place winner Darren Tedder, Social Circle, Ga., the two classes currently boast horsepower numbers of 1,476 for Power-Adder class and 900 for All-Motor, respectively.

The DynoMax “Power to the Wheels” Dyno Tour, sponsored and managed by DynoMax, tests the horsepower and torque of muscle cars outfitted with DynoMax or Thrush exhaust systems in two different classes, All-Motor and Power-Adder.

The top five cars from each of the qualifying classes will be invited to participate in the Championship Shootout. The Shootout will take place during Street Machine Nationals, Springfield, Mo., Sept. 12 – 14, 2008.

Last year’s Champion Brian Anderson tops the Power-Adder class with his 1,476 horsepower run at the May Summit Racing Equipment Super Store event in McDonough, Ga.

DynoMax has awarded first- and second-place winners of each class at each of the series’ Qualifying Events. The daily first- and second-place event winners will be entered into a national ranking for a chance to compete at the Championship Shootout.

Both classes will have payouts at the Championship Shootout – $6,000 to the first-place All-Motor and first-place Power-Adder winners, $4,000 to the second-place All-Motor and second-place Power-Adder winners, and $2,000 to the third-place All-Motor and third-place Power-Adder winners. The first-place winner of each class also will be invited to be the DynoMax celebrity at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The winners also will have their vehicles showcased in the SEMA Show.  For more information about the DynoMax Power to the Wheels Dyno Tour, please visit www.dynomax.com.

Street racers take it to the track.

This past Sunday, I headed out to Englishtown to hangout with some friends. I wasn’t there for a Mustang race or an Outlaw 10.5 event (the track did have its Ultra Quick 8 class for 10.5W cars) but rather to watch some street racing. Before you attack me for promoting street racing, this deal was completely legit. The Englishtown staff was nice enough to allow a group of grudge racers get it on at the track rather than chase them back to the streets of New York and New Jersey. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, several races were organized before the track day. Some of the races got off and some didn’t, it as typical street racing.

The only things different were that we weren’t in some random parking lot at 3AM. The racing did go off with the usual antics like negotiations, trash talking, and overall amusing fast talk. Like most street racing in New York and New Jersey, ’80 Malibus and Fox-body Mustangs dominated the racing field. I couldn’t tell exactly how quick the cars were but I would say most of them were 9-second capable rides, some quicker and some slower. There were two big-tire cars there that were definitely quicker than everyone else. Both cars were back-half combos with big block Chevy engines with a couple of hits of nitrous.

This isn’t the first time the street racers were welcomed at Englishtown; it is an occurrence that is becoming more and more common. The street racing crowd that runs at Englishtown is a tight group of racers that turn to the Internet and track events to talk trash and setup racing. My buddy who is completely submerged in the scene seemingly has stories nearly weekly of action happening at the track. It is great that Englishtown is helping the street racing problem by letting these guys have a safe environment to compete.

The popularity of track grudge racing up here is getting so big that a group of racers from Long Island organized a grudge day called No Time Nationals. The No Time moniker comes from the N/T marking on the window. That tells the tower to turn off the clocks and keep it a secret from the people in the stands. I went to last year’s event and saw a lot of familiar faces from years past; it was a great time with some great racing. There was a mix of organized No Time class racing and grudge runs. People came from the Carolinas and other far away states to take a shot at knocking off the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania hitters. Atco Raceway hosted the No Time Nationals last year and I suggest checking out SmallBlockPosse.com for the date and location of this year’s event.

Let’s hope that more tracks become friendlier to the grudge racing crowd, it helps keeps things safe and also puts more fans in the stands and can add some nice value to the weekly bracket program. Some tracks run a grudge night/test and tune program but the guys running these money races aren’t the type to just show up on a Friday night and see what happens. When they show up, it is for an organized race. Hopefully more tracks can be as accommodating as Englishtown.