Jay Leno Will Appear at the 2016 Summit Racing Equipment I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama
The Summit Racing Equipment I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama Presented by Rad Air Complete Car Care and Tire Centers announced that Jay Leno will appear at the show on Sunday, March 20, 2016 starting at 12:00 pm.
Off-Season or On-Season?
The phrase “off-season” implies that another year of excitement is over, whether that be football, baseball, basketball, or in this case, auto racing. It’s true, the racing season has come to an end for 2015, and the off-season is underway. However, while many drivers might have more free time now than they did during the race season, this time of the year is a very different beast for engine builders.
Riding Into a New Engine Market
It’s no secret that there are engine-building opportunities that lie outside of the automotive industry. One such example is with motorcycle and powersports engines. This is a well-established market with numerous OEMs and styles of vehicles with many similarities to the automotive side, yet not many shops choose to explore this market. But if opportunity knocks and you answer the call, you could very well come out on top.
Allison Power
In December, we discussed the use of Allison engines – originally designed for use in WWII fighter planes – in watercraft applications. Now, we’ll pick up the story of these versatile powerplants finding success on dry land.
Headmaster Jagersberger – Converting Flatheads into OHV Engines
Joseph W. Jagersberger was a very early racing car driver who competed against Louis Chevrolet prior to the first Indianapolis 500-mile Race. He was also the manufacturer of early speed equipment and his RAJO heads became well known to Ford and Chevy lovers.
Could Our Cars Get Two Stroke Diesels?
The diesel engine, once only a bastion of trucks and European passenger cars, is becoming more and more popular every year, even here in the United States. Conversely, one technology that isn’t so popular is the two-stroke. After having a solid run in several cars throughout the decades, the two-stroke engine now seems mostly consigned
VP Racing Fuels Appoints Kelley Hendel General Manager for Consumer Products
VP Racing Fuels, Inc., announced the appointment of Kelley Hendel as General Manager-Consumer Products. Based at the company’s corporate headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, Hendel will be responsible for overseeing customer service and support for distributors, dealers and retail customers who purchase VP’s consumer products including VP Small Engine Fuels, VP Madditives and VP PowerWash, as well as VP PowerMaster hobby fuel.
Greetings From Bonneville
This year an opportunity came to go to a gathering of speed freaks drawn together from around the world. An event that I’ve now learned is on most “Motorhead’s” bucket lists, and was put forth as the background for a great movie that hit limited screens in 2005 and is recorded on DVD in many of our video libraries. The movie was “The World’s Fastest Indian,” and the event is simply called “Bonneville.”
The Boxer Engine: Novel Technology or Dying Fad?
In an era where even the once mighty V configuration seems to be giving way to the next generation of in-line fuel savers, many are wondering what this spells for the boxer engine. Going by many names, such as opposed, boxer, and flat, the engine configuration famous to such cars as the Porsche 911 has had a storied run throughout the decades.
The Evolution of Surface Treatments
In the never ending quest for better performance, durability and reliability, various types of surface coatings and treatments have evolved as solutions for problems that have vexed engine builders for years. Coatings that were once considered exotic race-only solutions are now being used on a wide variety of stock and performance applications. If you’re not
Cycling In New Business
Adapted from Margie Siegal’s article in Motorcycle & Powersports News Take a look around your shop. You have the equipment. You have the tools and you have the employees. But do you have all of the work your shop can take on? It may be time to add a niche to your engine building services and
Reflecting on ‘Speedy’ Bill Smith’s Impact on the Performance Industry
I met “Speedy” Bill Smith while on a magazine assignment for a former hot rodder magazine back in April of 1999. The magazine editor called early one Monday morning… “I know you only write technical articles for the magazine but we need somebody to go interview “Speedy” Bill Smith in Lincoln, Nebraska. You are the
Blake’s Remanufacturing’s 40-Year History and Future
In today’s volatile business environment, many companies don’t last long enough to see many milestone anniversaries, let alone make it long enough to see the third generation of leadership. However, despite the odds of the business world being against them, Blake’s Remanufacturing in Denver reached its 40th anniversary milestone in 2013. The company remanufactures crankshafts,
Reflecting on the Go Kart Kraze
The year was 1956. Art Ingeles is a veteran Hot Rodder who spends his days working for the Kurtis Kraft Company. The Kurtis Kraft Company was a well-known fabrication company known for building midget cars, quarter midget cars, Bonneville Cars, USAC Championship Cars and Indy Cars. The company was founded by Frank Kurtis who built
Speedway Motors Founder “Speedy” Bill Smith Dead at 84
Victory Lane fell silent in late May as the performance automotive community lost a pioneering racer, hot rodder and entrepreneur. “Speedy” Bill Smith, founder and owner of Speedway Motors, died May 30 at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska just weeks before his 85th birthday. He is survived by four sons, their wives, ten grandchildren, and
Beck/Arnley Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary
Having reached the milestone of their 100th year in business, Beck/Arnley has marked the historic event with a variety of celebrations and materials celebrating their first century. “We are very proud that Beck/Arnley still carries on the strong business traditions established by Irving Beck in 1914,” said Sandy Norris, director of marketing. “We have adapted
The Michigan Madman Meets The Widowmaker
There seems to be one in every neighborhood. You know – the kid who takes his experimenting a little too far. Growing up, you probably knew that kid – or may even have been that kid. Here is one of those true stories of “the kid” who’s love of machines and inventing got him into
Time in a Bottle — Reasons Behind Changing Engine Oils
When I was just a young pup in the 1960s working on lubes for Shell Research and Development, passenger car motor oils (PCMO) were much simpler and easier to understand. There were only three performance levels: motor light (ML), motor moderate (MM), and motor severe (MS). Auto manufacturers and lube oil marketers worked closely with
The Art of the Build: Rods & Kustoms At the AACA Museum
The Art of the Build: Rods & Kustoms celebrates the cars and their creators that dared to be different by individually customizing their vehicles. Hershey, PA – A new year will begin with an unusual display at the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum in Hershey. A new featured exhibit The Art of the
K&N’s Oversized Shop Calendar Adds Excitement to Any Area
K&N Engineering, Inc., releases a new 2014 K&N Shop Calendar. K&N’s Calendar is massive in size measuring 24″W x 18″H and will look great in any garage. This year’s calendar includes shots taken with vehicles from some of our top race teams along with some amazing cars and motorcycles using K&N products. DESCRIPTION: K&N SHOP
