Thursday, January 27, 2011

AMSOIL Great American Circle Track Tour 2011 Dates Announced

In 2010 AMSOIL partnered with Circle Track Magazine to headline the Great American Circle Track Tour that took Senior Tech Editor Bob Bolles through 25 race tracks across the Southeast for a first hand glimpse into what goes into making a night at the races such an American pastime. With each stop landing coverage in exclusive articles and blogs for Circle Track Magazine, the AMSOIL Great American Circle Track Tour was indeed a success and generated lots of buzz. 2011 plans are being orchestrated and Bob is getting ready to hit the road once again, this time throughout the Northeast. AMSOIL will be with him at every stop to spread the word about the racing community happenings and the benefits AMSOIL provides.

What follows is the recently announced 2011 tour schedule, with the possibility of additional stops to be added later. Start making plans now to attend a race in your area this summer and show your support of local racetracks.

Spring 2011:

3/25 Potomac Speedway, Mechanicsville, MD
3/26 Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, MD
4/1 Kil-Kare Speedway, Xenia, OH
4/8 Attica Raceway Park, Attica, OH
4/9 Columbus Speedway, Columbus, OH
4/15 Motordrome Speedway, Smithton, PA
4/16 Lake Erie Speedway, North East, PA
4/23 Sundance Vacations Speedway(Mountain) St. Johns, PA
4/29 Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA
4/30 Mahoning Speedway, Lehighton, PA
5/7 New Egypt Speedway, New Egypt, NJ
5/11 West Virginia Motor Speedway Media Day
5/13 Williams Grove Sprints, Mechanicsburg, PA
5/14 Susquehanna Speedway Park, York Haven, PR

Fall 2011:

8/6 Shangri-La Motor Speedway, Tioga Center, NY
8/12 Chemung Speedrome, Chemung, NY
8/13 Canadaigua Speedway, Canadaigua, NY
8/20 Oswego Speedway, Oswego, NY
8/27 Fonda Speedway, Schenectady, NY
9/2 Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, VT
9/3 Mohawk Int. Raceway, Hogansburg, NY
9/4 Devils Bowl Speedway, Fair Haven, VT
9/10 Riverside Speedway, Groveton, NH
9/16 Unity Raceway, Unity, ME
9/17 Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, ME
9/22 Thompson, Thompson, CT
9/23 Stafford Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT
9/24 Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA
10/1 Waterford Speedway, Waterford, CT
10/5-9 Cayuga/Syracuse/New York State Fairgrounds,Weedsport, NY

Let's go racing!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

2010 AMSOIL Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge Recap

The AMSOIL Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge wrapped in September, and defending 2009 title holder Schurbon Engine and Machine was announced as the winner for the second straight year shortly after. More details are emerging on how each competitor came to finish in their respective standings, revealing that this year’s win was by no means a shoo-in for Schurbon and team.

First Place: Schurbon Engine & Machine
Scott Schurbon came to the 2010 Challenge intending to hang on to his 2009 title, and he succeeded after a risky move that ended up paying off. Well-read on the rules of the challenge with a knack for putting together a winning combination, Schurbon knew what he was up against and pulled out all the stops. After making three qualifying pulls on the dyno, the team made a surprise move by using the remainder of their allotted time to attempt a camshaft switch right in the middle of their run. Had it not worked out, Team Schurbon would have found themselves disqualified for not being able to make their pulls in the last judging period. Luckily they pulled it off, and while they did end up losing some power they ended holding a final score of 511.3 horsepower with a factor of 1.504 hp per cubic inch. Wanting to set the bar higher, Team Schurbon sat in what was sure to be a stressful wait for one of the other teams to take away their lead. Lucky for them no one did.

Second Place: Promax Performance
Also a returning competitor, Ben Gorman of Promax Performance knew what they had to do to remain in the running. In the past Team Promax has brought a series of stout Mopar Engines to the contest, and this year was no different. The Promax 340 made more than 500 horsepower on its best pull, with a 1.452 hp per cubic inch. This resulted in a powerful 340 that earned them a solid second place.

Third Place: Mid-America Racing Engines
A previous winner in the challenge, David Bruns of Mid-America Racing Engines knows his stuff. Bringing the largest displacement small block, Bruns knew he would have to turn out some big numbers in order to remain a contender. Using the required RHS/Indy cast-iron cylinder heads treated to a full port job, Team Mid-America pulled out 580.5 horsepower for a factor of 1.422 hp per cubic inch. This resulted in a very close third place finish, just .3 points behind Promax Performance.

The final results for all teams were:
1. Schurbon Engine & Machine 511.3 hp/1.504 hp per cubic inch
2. Promax Performance 500.4 hp/1.45 per cubic inch
3. Mid-America Racing Engines 580.5 hp/1.42 per cubic inch
4. MRL Performance 472.9 hp/1.37 per cubic inch
5. B&G Speed & Machine 418.7 hp/ 1.14 per cubic inch
6. Chenowith Speed & Machine Technical issues prevented qualification.

AMSOIL is pleased to be the Official Oil of this challenge, and we’re told that the engine builders appreciate that advantage as well. Mopar Muscle states the following: "Over the years, we've come to appreciate the quality of AMSOIL lubricants, finding them to be well engineered for maximum protection. The engine builders in our contest seem to feel the same way as many of them are now AMSOIL Dealers."

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords AMSOIL 5.0 Mustang GT Lands Cover Shot

After making its official debut at the 2010 SEMA Show as a feature vehicle in the Source Interlink booth, the 2011 MM&FF/AMSOIL Mustang is now ready for its close-up. Built in just two months time, Source Interlink pulled out all the stops in creating the head-turning end result. Completely modified from the inside out, the Mustang GT brings big horsepower and bigger presence. The attention to detail throughout the build is impeccable, including the hand painted logos, colors and ‘real fire’ effects featured on the vehicle.

Upcoming publicity for the AMSOIL Mustang includes an article featuring the build in the March issue of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine, followed by a cover story in the April 2011 issue. AMSOIL is installed throughout, making this ride capable of handling all the power and performance modifications that have been added to it. Be sure to pick up the March issue first when it hits newsstands January 25th, and get all the details on what went into the making of this striking 2011 Mustang GT.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Honda CR-Z lands Feature Spot at San Diego Auto Show

Chris Mangum of DSO Eyewear first approached AMSOIL for sponsorship as he was preparing for SEMA 2009. As one of 8 builders selected by GM to design a head-turning Camaro for the show, AMSOIL was installed throughout and Chris turned out a successful build that drew lots of looks throughout the week in Las Vegas. That was the beginning of the relationship between AMSOIL and the talented builder Chris Mangum.
The latest project for Chris and DSO Eyewear is his 2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid, making its third appearance since SEMA 2010 and the LA Auto Show at the San Diego Auto Show last weekend. Sharp enough to land a spot as the main attraction in the Honda booth and sitting on 19" wheels, Chris’ CR-Z shows how much influence the west coast automotive scene has provided him. Extensive modifications from some of the best aftermarket companies in the world round out every detail to make the 2011 CR-Z the stunner it is today, with AMSOIL fluids keeping it humming. From the chassis, suspension and carbon fiber hood to the custom two-tone paint job, nothing was overlooked in creating this high precedent for the next generation of the Honda CR-Z. It’s these kinds of builders that turn to AMSOIL for their lubrication needs because when it looks that good on the outside, it has to perform just as good on the inside.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

2010 Year In Review

2010 has been another good year at AMSOIL. From a dozen new product announcements to several new high-profile sponsorships, AMSOIL rounded out the decade with continued growth and much to be excited about going forward. Here are a few of the highlights of the year just completed.

Back in January AMSOIL again participated in the MPMC (Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council) Media Trade Conference in Covina, CA. This conference brings companies face to face with the members of the media who cover the industry, establishing a sound connection between the two. AMSOIL also announced its status as Official Oil of Laconia Bike Week, the oldest motorcycle rally in the country. This sponsorship puts AMSOIL front and center at the three largest motorcycle rallies in the country as the Official Oil of each.

AMSOIL-sponsored show cars landed some high-profile coverage in February, both in print and in placement. Big trade shows such as the World of Wheels, the International Powersports Dealer Expo, and the Chicago Auto Show all had AMSOIL-lubed rides on display. February also featured the King of the Hammers, a grueling desert race over 120 miles long. Industry heavyweights Lovell Rock Racing and the Watson brothers of Off-Road Design represented AMSOIL in this punishing race, both teams earning respectable finishes.

In March, AMSOIL witnessed the rumble of thousands of bikes descending on Daytona for the 69th annual Daytona Bike Week. The AMSOIL presence was impossible to miss, and further solidified our stance in the motorcycle industry. Shortly after, the NSRA Street Rod Nationals kicked off its start of the 2010 season in Oklahoma City. April brought new product launches, including the AMSOIL Quickshot SE that later won Best New Powersports Product award at SEMA in November.

The 2010 Diesel Power Challenge, an event that puts diesels through a series of challenges to test their power and performance, was a highlight of May. The 2010 AMSOIL Street Rodder Road Tour also hit the road that month, with Jerry Dixey leading the way across the country in a series of tours for street rod enthusiasts.

The Top Truck Challenge in early June is always one of the most anticipated events of the year for off road enthusiasts. With events like the Frame Twister, Mud Pit and Tank Trap it’s easy to see why. This challenge takes no prisoners, and AMSOIL is on hand to provide lubricants capable of taking such abuse. In addition to features in Four Wheeler magazine the Top Truck Challenge airs on The Outdoor Channel, garnering national attention. Laconia Bike Week also started in June, where hundreds of thousands of bikers flocked to New Hampshire for a week of excitement and rides along the scenic East Coast.

As usual August was a big month for AMSOIL with three large events taking place. First was the NSRA Street Rod Nationals gathering in Louisville, which brought in over 11,000 street rods on display. Next was the Mopar Nationals, drawing collector cars, muscle cars and enthusiasts for its 30th year. This event tied into the Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge that AMSOIL sponsors, with engine builders having their entries on display throughout the week at this show. Finally, Sturgis turned 70 and as temps climbed into the 100’s AMSOIL was on hand to help keep engines cool. As the Official Oil, the demand for AMSOIL was high and the temps were an excellent testimonial to the benefits our oil provides.

Hot Rod Drag Week is conducted each year in early September and history was made when Larry Larson and his Chevy II made the first 6-second pass in Drag Week history. In October AMSOIL was on hand at the University of Northwestern Ohio for the AMSOIL Engine Masters Challenge with many new friendships begun. Afterwards it was time to focus on preparing for SEMA in November, where AMSOIL introduced 7 new products into the New Product Showcase. The AMSOIL presence was abundant on the feature vehicles placed throughout the show.

These are but a few of the exciting things happening at AMSOIL, and we've only scratched the surface. AMSOIL Racing continues to stretch its shadow across new horizons and the best is yet to come. Look for more details, updates and more right here in the AMSOIL Events Blog, and keep up with us on Facebook, Twitter (@AMSOILINC) and YouTube. As we move out of 2010, we look forward to even greater success in 2011 with many exciting opportunities ahead.