Showing posts with label boyd coddington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boyd coddington. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

2008 AMSOIL Year in Review

For many, 2008 will be remembered as a year of wreckage in the U.S. financial markets, with subsequent consequences rippling out in concentric circles of turbulence throughout the world economy. At AMSOIL, 2008 is will be remembered as a year of milestones as we completed our expansion into the AMSOIL Center in January and marked our 35th Anniversary in July, eager to embark on the another 35 years looking forward. It was a joy to share the moment with Dealers and friends of the AMSOIL family from across the continent at our Convention here in Duluth/Superior.

Early in the year, AMSOIL was saddened by the loss of legendary hot rod builder Boyd Coddington. A true inspiration, Boyd’s many accomplishments spoke of his passion for his work. AMSOIL was fortunate to be able to partner with him during the months before his passing, and appreciated his commitment to his relationships and his craft. Boyd was truly a loss to the both the industry and those who knew him personally.

In March, AMSOIL announced its sponsorship of the 2008 Street Rodder Road Tour. Led by Jerry Dixie, these enthusiasts love sharing their passion as they travel around the country in their classic street rods. On their way to the Back to the 50’s event in St. Paul, MN in June, AMSOIL hosted a party at the AMSOIL Center. AMSOIL founder and President/CEO A.J. Amatuzio welcomed the Road Tourians, and Jo Coddington made an appearance. The event attracted hundreds of street rodders and local enthusiasts. It was exciting for AMSOIL to be a part of this event. The year ended with AMSOIL becoming title sponsor of this annual event.

Springtime brought more excitement as AMSOIL continued its sponsorship of the 2008 Diesel Power Challenge, a two-day competition held in Salt Lake City. Diesel builders put their trucks through the paces in a competition fit for only the toughest. The Four Wheeler Top Truck Challenge was another event AMSOIL was proud to be a part of. This week long event puts drivers and their trucks through rigorous events that test even the mightiest Four Wheelers.

In 2008 AMSOIL became the Official Oil of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as well as the 2009 Daytona Bike Week. The AMSOIL presence in these motorcycle scenes is huge and continues to grow.

For the second year AMSOIL had the privilege of being a sponsor of the National Street Rod Association, participating in events from coast to coast. Their August Street Rod Nationals in Louisville is the granddaddy of car shows and the standard by which all others are measured.

Through our Dealers AMSOIL reaches a myriad of trade shows and events in nearly every market where there is an engine that needs lubrication. The biggest of all these shows is the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, a mecca for the performance automotive enthusiast. As is the custom, numerous new products were introduced again this year, including AMSOIL Brake Fluid, AMSOIL Power Steering Fluid, new Ea Filters, a new 10W-30 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil and a fabulous new line of synthetic racing oils, brand name Dominator. We also introduced a new line of co-branded AMSOIL/Injen Air Intake Systems for gasoline powered cars and received a 2008 Global Media Award for this system.

2009 at AMSOIL promises to be an even better year with still more new products in the pipeline and expectations for continued growth due to continued demand for our products, especially in these times when motorists and enthusiasts want to protect their investments for the long haul. May your best days be still ahead as well.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Street Rodder Road Tour Coming To Town

For a lot of folks, it’s like Christmas in summer. Wednesday night, June 18, the Street Rodder Road Tour will be making its last stop before heading to the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s Back to the Fifties event in St Paul. We’re currently anticipating 28 cars and a contingent of local street rodding enthusiasts. This leg of the Tour which originated in Bowling Green, Kentucky, currently has 22 vehicles making the whole trip, but six more will be joining soon. That’s how road tours go, with enthusiasts hopping aboard along the way.

A special feature of this stop will be the presence of Jo Coddington, wife of the late Boyd Coddington, one of street rodding’s most influential builders and centerpiece of American Hot Rod. Jo will be joining Road Tour Director Jerry Dixey in the lead car for the last segment of this journey.

June 18 Agenda
The agenda here on Wednesday is for the Road Tourians to arrive at AMSOIL Center after checking in at their hotel. From 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. we’ll have suitable street rod music blaring and vendors on hand if you need a bite to eat or something to quench your thirst. And of course there will be the cars, which is what it's all about. Happily, the weather appears to be promising. Local car clubs and the public have been invited to view the cars on the tarmac inside Gate A at the AMSOIL Center.

Evidently there’s a lot of buzz out on the street. Anyone wishing to join the parade of classic cars on Thursday’s day trip to St. Paul is more than welcome. We’ll be gathering again in the morning at the AMSOIL Center to head south at approximately 8:30 a.m. If you’re planning to drive Back to the Fifties, be sure to double check the start time when visiting Wednesday eve.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

AMSOIL Saddened By Loss of Boyd Coddington

Celebrated Hot Rod Builder Will Be Missed

On Wednesday Feb 27 we were saddened by the news that legendary hot rod builder Boyd Coddington had died. The celebrated American Hot Rod star passed away at the Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Los Angeles as a result of complications brought on by a recent surgery. Coddington was 63.

From his earliest days growing up in rural Idaho cars have been his passion, and through cars he expressed his genius. Cars built at Coddington’s garage in La Habra, California have won the prestigious “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” an unprecedented seven times and the Daimler-Chrysler Design Excellence Award twice. Among other achievements, Coddington has been inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame, the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, and the National Rod & Custom Museum Hall of Fame. In 1988 he was voted Hot Rod magazine’s “Man of the Year.” Even after a lifetime of designing, building and driving cars, when Boyd Coddington had time off he still went to swap meets and car shows. He loved being around both cars and the people who love cars.

AMSOIL began its relationship with Boyd at the Tulsarama, Oklahoma’s 100th anniversary celebration in mid-June 2007. Coddington and his crew were called upon to bring a ’57 Belvedere to life after fifty years preserved in an underground vault. The intention was to install AMSOIL lubricants and filters in the classic hardtop. Unfortunately, decades of water seepage resulted in the Belvedere being unsalvageable. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable weekend and the beginning of a friendship between the Coddington family and the AMSOIL family.

The relationship with Coddington soon evolved and his next AMSOIL undertaking was a Bonneville build. The aim was to set a new record for the fastest pre-1934 roadster, 3 liter/blown gas/modified with Jo Coddington at the wheel. The building of the AMSOIL/Coddington roadster, dubbed “Salt Fever,” was aired on TLC’s American Hot Rod in September.

AMSOIL appreciated the relationship that had developed with the Coddingtons, the work Boyd did for us and the confidence he had in our products. Our sympathies go out to Boyd’s wife Jo, and his three sons Boyd Jr., Chris and Greg.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Detroit Auto Show Features Ultimate Cool

This week is Detroit's world famous car show, the 2008 North American International Auto Show with over 700,000 attendees from virtually every corner of the earth.

AMSOIL lubricants and filters were utilized on a custom car featured by DUB Magazine in their high profile display. The hand built, one-off Delahey design, nicked named the “French Connection,” was a creation by Boyd Coddington built for California car collector Rocky Walker. The car features a special marine V-12 engine made in Italy and an Ostrich Skin interior.

The special project, valued at over 1,000,000 dollars, took over a year to build and will be displayed at numerous car shows and auctions around the world. If you plan on attending the Detroit Auto Show this year, the car is featured in Michigan Hall at Cobo Center along with over 700 other concept, production, and specialty vehicles until January 27th.

Friday, December 28, 2007

2007 Year in Review

It’s been an exciting run for AMSOIL these past ten years, with steady growth and increasing participation in so many great events. This year was no exception with many new partnerships formed with some great people and great organizations.

Beginning in January we became an official sponsor of the National Street Rod Association. The NSRA hosts street rod events in various parts of the country for people who are passionate and nostalgic about cars. The organization is like an extended family of vintage car lovers.

After a chance meeting at the Mid-America Truck Show in Louisville, AMSOIL became affiliated with another passionate lover of street rods, Boyd Coddington. Coddington, whose unique approach to building hot rods had a major impact on the hot rod scene, had been invited to Tulsa to help resurrect a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere at an event called Tulsarama, the 100th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood. The car had been buried in a vault in 1957 and the crew from Coddington’s show American Hot Rod was gathered to get it started. The intention was to install AMSOIL synthetic motor oils and Ea filters on the car as part of the process, but alas, despite the good intentions the car proved to be an unsalvageable rustbucket, having set underwater for years or even decades.

The Coddington / AMSOIL relationship was only just beginning, however, as Boyd and Jo Coddington united their team around a groundbreaking Bonneville build. Their aim would be to set a new record for the fastest pre-1934 roadster, 3 liter/blown gas/modified with Jo Coddington at the wheel. The building of the AMSOIL/Coddington roadster, dubbed “Salt Fever,” was filmed in August and shown on TLC’s American Hot Rod in September.

Another great partnership that formed in 2007 was the AMSOIL sponsorship of the Four Wheeler Top Truck Challenge, a grueling week-long experience in which off-road vehicles and their drivers are pushed to the limits. It was the 14th year Four Wheeler magazine assembled its crew to host this challenging competition which is covered extensively in the magazine as well as online and in a DVD.

The third annual Diesel Power Challenge was conducted in June as well, in Salt Lake City. AMSOIL has been an advertiser in Diesel Power magazine from the first issue, recognizing the growing popularity of the diesel truck market. The Diesel Power Challenge put a group of reader selected diesel trucks through the paces for two days, including a “tie-breaker” event related to fuel economy. It isn’t just about power, though these vehicles have more power than ever.

Yet another new relationship formed in 2007 was our sponsorship of Fred Hayes and the Hayes Diversified Technology (HDT) motorcycles that again set records at Bonneville. Hayes owns numerous world and national speed records on motorcycles. In September HDT set four more records on diesel motorcycles. Hayes’ current aim is a 100 m.p.g. /100 mph diesel motorcycle that is environmentally friendly, economical and potent. HDT is a company on the move.

Last but not least, AMSOIL became sponsor of the Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge this year. The Third Annual Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge featured the 410-inch Small Block engine. Eight engine builders participated in the final competition, first displaying their work at the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, then later having their engines put through the paces at Comp Cams in Tennessee. Ken Lazerri and Fuss Flagle of Indy Cylinder Heads won the competition this year by three hundredths of a point, unseating the two-time reigning champ. This year’s 2008 competition will feature a 440-inch based spec engine.

In the meantime, hope your 2007 was as exciting as ours. And may your 2008 be even better.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

AMSOIL Presence at PRI

One of the biggest events in racing is the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Orlando. Held each year in the early part of December, the PRI Show is "the place" to see what's new in the racing and performance market. Power, speed, accesories and lots of industry buzz -- this show has it all. The convention hall has more than a million square feet of show floor. The PRI Show bills itself as the largest racing trade show in the world.

Here are just a few of the AMSOIL related events and presentations taking place.

Boyd's Bonneville Car Headed Toward Orlando
The AMSOIL/Coddington Roadster will be on display at the PRI Show next week. Word has it that the car has been loaded into a trailer and is already heading east. On Thursday, Boyd is slated to make a ninety minute presentation on the building of the Bonneville racer and their atempt at a land speed record. The seminar will feature Boyd and Jo Coddington and Harvey St. Mary, their engine builder.

2007 AMSOIL Mopar Muscle Challenge Winner To Be Announced At 1:00 pm on Thursday, December 6, Mopar Muscle magazine will be announcing the 2007 Winner, and presenting the details for the ’08 AMSOIL Mopar Muscle Challenge in the Press Conference area in the rear corner of the main floor.

Paul Sykora's Smokin' Coupe Again On Display
The ’37 Ford Coupe that won a 2007 Hot Wheels Design Award for car with Attitude at last month's SEMA Show in Las Vegas will be ogled throughout the show as it caresses eyeballs in the American Racing Booth. Hailing from Orlando, Sykora undoubtedly enjoys being in his own back yard. It's one beautiful machine and Sykora knows what's needed on the inside to protect this 2300 horse powerhouse.

For sure, this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as excitement goes. There will be a lot to see and a lot to share. And maybe we'll see you there.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Day Two: Tens of Thousands

They come from all points of the globe, and every sector of the auto industry. The fact that this show is closed to the public probably adds to its mystique. As the event has grown, so has the public's awareness of it, and their appreciation of the benefits it brings. Whether its performance, power or style that brings them flocking to SEMA, the fact is this show has grown to be a phenomenon.

More than 2700 representatives from media all over the world are snapping pictures, shooting video, and gathering info for stories that will be in magazines and TV and internet for the next ten months. A few of the cars on this blog will undoubtedly appear in some of these publications. It's a heady experience for the newbies when people get a thrill from seeing the fruit of their passions.

The mood is upbeat again this year as people from diverse sectors interact. The truck section is astounding in the South Hall. And it's hard to believe that a mere ten years ago half the North Hall was marine related and there was no South Hall at all. Today, the marine segment is gone altogether, squeezed out by electronics gizmos and gadgets that fuel the imagination and help people see what's happening inside and all around their vehicles, which sometimes can become their whole world.

This year is the 40th anniversary of Hot Wheels. Hence, a lot of Hot Wheels cars have been given away. At the awards breakfast Tuesday, everyone who came received a collectible Bone Shaker car. It is a one of a kind run, so only people who were there have one. More Hot Wheels cars were given away at the Hot Wheels booth where car designers autographed their work. The lines there were very, very long. This is a long explanation for these two photos featuring a couple of rather far out Hot Wheels cars.

Tomorrow is a big day at SEMA. Directors from AMSOIL will be at the Injen booth for a 2:10 p.m. press conference to introduce a new co-branded product line that will make a big impact on the diesel truck market. Also, Boyd and Jo Coddington will be up by their AMSOIL/Coddington Bonneville roadster signing autographs from 1:00 to 3:00. Enjoy the show.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Boyd & Jo to Make Appearance at SEMA

The SEMA Show in Las Vegas puts the automotive industry's most advanced technology and best-selling products on display. In addition to the world's hottest cars, you can find tires and wheels, air conditioning, car stereos, lamps, anti-theft, electronic equipment, seat belts, service equipment, vehicle maintenance beauty products, automotive electronics and technology, automotive tools equipment, and maintenance products.

It is also a show where the stars and powerful personalities make their appearance, from Jay Leno and Carroll Shelby to Danica Patrick, the Andrettis and NASCAR's finest. Next week Boyd and Jo Coddington will be signing autographs alongside the AMSOIL/Coddington Model T which Jo raced at Bonneville. Boyd Coddington's innovations have become not just hot rodding touchstones, but influences that have helped the entire aftermarket industry flourish, an achievement that helped get him inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame.

Boyd and Jo will be signing autographs on Thursday, 1:00-3:00 P.M. at Booth 35719 alongside the AMSOIL/Coddington 1927 Model T Ford in which Jo Coddington attempted to set a new land speed record. The fabrication and assembling of the car was featured on three episodes of American Hot Rod.

Fans of the show, or the AMSOIL synthetic lubricant products featured in the car, might want to check out this new AMSOIL/Coddington Race Team T-Shirt at http://www.amsoil.com/products/clothing/coddington_tshirt.aspx

Monday, October 8, 2007

Weather Dampens Spirits at Bonneville

The Bonneville World Finals was called due to weather.
44 records were broken in just 2½ days.

The AMSOIL/Coddington car never made its record run attempt, having had to qualify for licensing first. Their top speed achieved for qualifying was 184 MPH. They were poised to attempt the record run after installing taller gears and adding back more boost.

Next stop for the team is a one day event at El Mirage Dry Lake in California which has been home to Land Speed Racing and the SCTA. Vehicle inspections begin on the day prior to the race (Saturday) and the racing begins early Sunday morning. The AMSOIL/Coddington team is going to participate and record its times in an effort to prove that the car was built to go over 200 MPH. After this the Car will head to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas for our AMSOIL featured vehicle display and autograph signing.




Jo Coddington was ready to pull out all the stops. Still, it was a great adventure.... with more to come.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Taking Another Crack at Bonneville

There are actually several Bonneville Speed Weeks, and this week has been one of them as more than 150 race teams, 50 officials, 35 members of the media and a few hundred spectators converged on the Flats. For the first few days the weather has been perfect. Sunny skies, temps in the seventies, minimal wind and hard salt – a week specifically designed for land speed records.

For a second time this year Boyd Coddington brought his rig and crew to Bonneville to take another shot at the record books in their 1927 Model T Ford with AMSOIL the primary sponsor. There was no filming for cable TV. This week the single aim is a land speed record.

Yesterday Jo Coddington qualified for her high speed license to go over 200. At the time of this report, after having achieved a 184 in qualifying, the team was in good position car to attempt its record breaking runs. The record is 199. Weather permitting, we’ll report the final results on Monday.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

AHR to Feature AMSOIL/Coddington Bonneville Run Thursday

This week on American Hot Rod, the AMSOIL/Coddington Model T will be completed. This third episode of the Bonneville build will air Thursday evening. With Jo Coddington at the wheel, the AMSOIL/Coddington car made a serious stab at a record run on the Flats. Jo Coddington took the wheel once the build was complete. Though challenging conditions interfered with setting a record, the car proved it had the mustard to accomplish the task.



Catch the action this week on The Learning Channel.
7:00 p.m. CST

(Check your local listings)

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

AMSOIL/Coddington Bonneville Race Car Build Continues

Thursday night will be episode two of the AMSOIL/Coddington Bonneville race car build. During the shooting for the show, AMSOIL staff were on hand to inspect the progress of the build. This week's show will air Thursday evening 7:00 CST on The Learning Channel. Check your local listings for air times in other parts of the country.

Here's the spec sheet on this car.
Builder & Designer: Boyd Coddington Garage
Major Sponsor: AMSOIL
Minor Sponsors: SOBE, O’Reilly’s, MagnaFlow, Simpson, & DuPont
Body: 1927 Ford Model T - Original Modified Steel Body
Build Date: August 2007
Engine: 2.1 Liter GM Ecotec / D-Stroked 22
Oil: AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil
Oil Filter: WIX Racing Filter
Engine Tuner: HMS Performance
Engine Management: Fast Electronics
Horsepower: 1100 +
Torque: 750 +
Top Speed 230 + MPH
Spark Plugs: NGK Racing Plugs
Suspension: Custom Rocker Style Horizontal Inboard Shocks
Frame: Custom full tube frame
Tires Front: 600 x 16 – Blockley Racing
Tires Rear: 250 x 15 – Goodyear Front Runner “Land Speed” Tires
Wheels: Custom Steel Wheels w/Moon Disks
Weight: 3410 lbs
Air Filter: AMSOIL Custom EaAU Filter w/ Nano Technology
Exhaust: MagnaFlow
Intercoolers: Custom Design - Boyd Coddington Garage
Turbo: Precision Turbo – GT 105 mm
Coolant: AMSOIL Antifreeze and Engine Coolant
Transmission: Liberty Gears w/5 Speed Air Shifter
Transmission Fluid: AMSOIL Synthetic Transmission Fluid
Rear End: Winters Quick Change Rear End
Gear Lube: AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR® Lubricant 75W-90
Rear Brakes: Wilwood Racing
Safety Gear: Simpson Racing Products
Fuel: ERC Bonneville Spec Racing Fuel
Of Special Interest: First Race Car Built by Boyd Coddington Garage









Wednesday, September 12, 2007

This Week on Amercian Hot Rod

The Bonneville racer build was an entirely new chapter for Boyd Coddington and his crew. Thursday night, see part one of three episodes as a 1926 Model T is modified into the AMSOIL/Coddington racer that will feature Jo behind the wheel. A new hire has been added to the team in order to meet the pressing deadlines associated with this build.







Check local listings for air times on The Learning Channel.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Tulsarama Highlights to Air on American Hot Rod

On June 15, 1957, the city of Tulsa, Okla. buried a new gold and white 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe in a time capsule in downtown Tulsa as part of Golden Jubilee Week, a celebration of Oklahoma’s 50th year of statehood. Before the car was buried, citizens were asked to guess the population of Tulsa in the year 2007 with the promise that whoever turned out to be closest would be awarded the car at Oklahoma’s Centennial celebration in 2007. The entries were sealed and buried with the car inside the vault.

On June 15, 2007, the car was unearthed and transferred to the Tulsa Convention Center as part of Oklahoma’s Centennial celebration. Boyd Coddington, host of the The Learning Channel's American Hot Rod, was on hand with his crew to attempt to get the Belvedere running after spending 50 years buried in the underground vault. Coddington was to install AMSOIL lubricants and filters for the big dance.


Journalists from around the globe were on hand for this truly grand opening. Unfortunately, as Robert Burns once observed, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. In this case, the theoretically watertight vault failed in its mission. Two days before Sleeping Beauty was to be excavated, workers unearthing the Belvedere were shocked at what they found when they removed the cover of the 12 x 22 foot vault. Several feet of mucky water had seeped in. Though shrouded in protective plastic, the evidence of potential disaster presented itself to an array of onlookers who stood aghast at the sight. Some even wept.

To paraphrase Alexander Pope, "To err is human," ...but to be on the air, is still fine.

This Thursday on The Learning Channel at 7:00 PM CST, American Hot Rod will divert its attention temporarily from the finishing of a '59 Corvette in order to be part of the unearthing of Tulsa's '57 Plymouth Belvedere that had been buried in a time capsule for 50 years.

The following week at 7:00 PM Central Coddington's team will begin Part 1 of their Bonneville Racer build, the AMSOIL/Coddington 1926 Model T.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Bonneville: It's a Wrap

Speed Week 2007 is now recorded in history. The 199 mph record for pre-1934 Roadster, 3 liter/blown gas/modified remains intact.
The AMSOIL/Coddington car made one run on Friday as a shake down after the off course spin on Thursday. The car remains strong, improvements will be made, and the team will be back in October to go for it again. The team has learned a lot here. This week's Bonneville efforts featuring the AMSOIL/Coddington car is currently scheduled to air on TLC in October. Stay tuned for air time.

As for the stuck motor home – it is finally out, but during the day three other tow trucks also got stuck trying to assist in the rescue effort. As of Saturday the biggest yellow tow rig still remained stranded and had started to falling on its side in the sand.

The miscellaneous photos here today will hopefully give you a feel for the flavor and flair of Bonneville.










Friday, August 17, 2007

Thursday’s Salt Not So Sweet

Like boats and race horses, cars on the Bonneville Salt Flats also have exotic names, many related to a common theme here in Utah. Salt Shaker, Salt Lick, Salt Sabre, Salty Dog, Salt Dancer II, and Saline Solution are are just a few of the salty hopefuls gathered here.

At day’s end Thursday the AMSOIL/Coddington car did not as yet set a record. But they did have some excitement. In the late afternoon Jo Coddington, while accelerating, spun out at 180 MPH, headed backwards through the 3rd mile marker and off the course probably about a half a mile. Both Jo and the car appeared fine afterward, the car suffering only minor tire damage.

When the team went out to see her and bring the car back, the motor home got stuck in the soft salt sand. A flat bed was called and in about 30 minutes it also got stuck. Then a monster semi tow-type rig arrived after another hour and that got stuck as well. At the end of the day all three remained stuck out in the middle of the salt flats. As the day ended the car was being readied back at the pits to run again Friday.

The latest report Friday morning: five tow rigs stuck. Bummer.









Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Wednesday Morning Update from Utah

Tuesday there were delays on the course due to some accidents and some salt surface repair. A Colorado driver was seriously injured when his car begin sliding sideways at 170 mph and then went airborne, crashing hard on its side.

As a result of the delays, the AMSOIL/Coddington car only had one attempt on the track.

The record Jo is chasing is for the fastest pre-1934 roadster, 3 liter/blown gas/modified. The current record is 199 MPH.

According to our man on the scene, "Everyone is still in great spirits and hoping for a good day on Wednesday. Still very hot." You can see from this shot below what they mean by hot. Now imagine being wrapped up in a driver's suit....

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The Latest from Bonneville

We received a call from from the Salt Flats late yesterday afternoon. Here's the latest from Bonneville.

Jo Coddington made her second run at 175 MPH. All went well.

Excitement is building for Jo and the AMSOIL/Boyd Coddington car to break a speed record. When Jo goes over 200 MPH she'll become a member of the famous Red Hat Club -- all those who break 200 MPH at Bonneville.
Then in September she'll take the car to the Week of Speed for the races sponsored by the Utah Timing Association. (This week is Speed Week sponsored by South California Timing Association.)

Trivia: 3X Indy winner Bobby Unser, while visiting AMSOIL a few weeks ago, mentioned that he was a Red Hat Club member. Checking it out in the record books: he did 223+MPH in 1993.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Faces on the Flats

The action is shifting into higher gears here in Bonneville. In addition to the AMSOIL/Coddington 1927 Ford Model T Roadster, there are quite a few other AMSOIL lubricated record seekers out on the Flats this week. A few nods of the cap are in order as things get underway.

World’s Fastest Diesel Motorcycle
Fred Hayes currently holds eight world and four national land speed records on motorcycles. This week he’ll try to better those records and add another -- all on diesel-powered bikes. Hayes is an experienced motorcycle rider, earning top honors in several American motorcycle riding competitions through the years.

As founder, president, CEO and chief engineer of Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT USA), Hayes has led the company to become the largest supplier of military motorcycles to the U.S. Defense Department. No one puts motorcycles through more extreme paces than Hayes. For this reason, the company relies on AMSOIL for the most grueling tests of all. “With over a year of testing, we have found that AMSOIL products continually outperform all other lubricants. AMSOIL provides improved performance, increased fuel economy, lower oil consumption and significantly reduced engine wear in all operating conditions.”

“Just Glad To Be Here”
Another face on the Flats powered by AMSOIL is Lloyd “Hooley” Huffman’s team, “Just Glad To Be Here.” He’ll be striving to break his personal best of 241 mph in a 1953 Studebaker. The team will also be fielding a 1951 Henry J. Co-sponsored by AMSOIL Dealer Pat Grady, we’ll look for new record breaking runs this week.

Johnson's Hot Rod Shop
The builders of last year's head turning G-Force 'Cuda will be back at Bonneville with a new car. An editorial in Popular Hot Rodding called it, "The Greatest Street Machine Ever Built." Despite the hyperbole, we know these guys know how to make cars. And for maximum G's on the Flats this year they will look once again to AMSOIL.

As we hear more, we'll keep you posted.