Diesel Power Challenge To Air September 5

Don’t miss the Diesel Power Challenge this coming week on The Outdoor Channel. The Diesel Power Challenge took place on June 26 & 27 in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were nine pickups on the scene from all points of the compass. The high heat and tough competition took its toll and only one truck could be declared Champion.

DPC is a creation of Diesel Power magazine and the Primedia Truck Group for the purpose of creating a new event for diesel truck enthusiasts. Later this year Diesel Power magazine will devote forty pages of content to coverage of this two day contest. But next week the show will air, and it should be a good one. Under blue skies and high heat, nine pickups participated, all maxed out turbodiesels, representing the best reader rides.

For local air time visit the Outdoor Channel at http://www.outdoorchannel.com/
The program will re-air on December 7. Check your local listings.

In the meantime, here are some images from Salt Lake City.

The Engines Have Been Delivered

Act I of the Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge has been completed. The eight engines competing in the Challenge were put on display at the Mopar Nationals in Columbus two weeks ago. Last year's winners David Bruns and his wife Dianne were on hand along with a host of other builders from all points of the compass.

After the Nats, the engines were crated and shipped to Comp Cams in Memphis, arriving on August 13. Until the Dyno competition begins on Monday September 17th, there's not much to tell. For full coverage of this years competition, follow along in Mopar Muscle magazine beginning with the October issue.

It was a hot one in Ohio as the editors and staff of Mopar Muscle magazine loaded the crated engines back into the trailer in preparation for Act II. Up till now, everything has been but a prelude.

World's Fastest Cadillac Uses AMSOIL

Early last week we mentioned that Johnson's Hot Rod Shop would have a contender on the Bonneville Salt Flats. We knew their Cadillac XLR would be fast, but you never know how fast till you really put it out there. With Gramie Bartles at the wheel, "The Worlds Fastest Cadillac" set a record of 222 mph. (Welcome to the Red Hat Club, Rabbit.)

This was actually a huge accomplishment for this new car that had just been completed within a couple days before Speed Week. The project was initiated in March with the build being completed right at the wire. According to the Johnsons, "Going to Bonneville without any testing and tuning before we got there, even without setting this kind of a record, is an achievement in itself."

Bartles built the chassis and worked closely with the Johnsons on the build to insure the vehicle was up to snuff with regard to the the rules and regulations for S.C.T.A. Alan Johnson from California was the builder of the Northstar engine for the XLR. Owner of the XLR, Bob Johnson, looks forward setting more records with the XLR in the coming months.

All such projects involve many team members. In addition to the many other sponsors who helped with support, Bob indicated his gratitude to AMSOIL for the great products that have given his cars the extra oomph and protection he counts on.

We'll keep an eye on the record books as the Johnsons continue to push the envelope.

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.

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.