2009: It Was a Very Good Year

The end of another year is upon us, a time of reflection for many. Below is a recap of some events that helped us end the year on a positive note as we embark on the year ahead of us.

Early in the year, AMSOIL staff attended the MPMC Media Trade Conference in Los Angeles. This 3-day event draws manufacturers from all across the world to meet face to face with editors and media reps to help increase media understanding and exposure. The SEMA-sponsored event provides an arena for presentations of new products and sharing the AMSOIL story.

AMSOIL completed its third year as a sponsor of the National Street Rodder Association and has agreed to continue this relationship with North America’s grass roots classic car enthusiasts. Despite the tough economy America’s passion for antique and vintage cars continues unabated.

AMSOIL locked hands with Hot Rod magazine during Hot Rod Drag Week in September. AMSOIL was there to help crown "Hot Rod’s Fastest Street Car in America" in Muncie, Indiana.

The 2009 AMSOIL Street Rodder Road Tour wrapped up yet another set of eight successful cross-country tours including a stop once more here in Superior, Wisconsin, for what appears will become an annual event in itself. Street rodders across the Northland were here to meet and greet Road Tour captain Jerry Dixey and his band. Big thank you to Street Rodder magazine for steering in our direction.

For a third year AMSOIL provided sponsorship support for The Diesel Power Challenge and Top Truck Challenge. These events put vehicles and drivers through some pretty grueling paces. With staff on hand, AMSOIL helped crown champions in each. But just getting through these events in one piece is an achievement and every one of these teams proved worthy of honors.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Daytona Bike Week each hailed AMSOIL as the Official Oil for the second year, which solidified the company’s reputation among bikers. Both of these events draw hundreds of thousands of spectators and AMSOIL was on hand to help their engines hold up under the heat and long hours of riding.

AMSOIL also completed its third year of involvement in the AMSOIL Mopar Muscle Challenge. At PRI in December we not announced a continuation of this relationship but also announced the sponsorship of the 2010 AMSOIL Engine Masters Challenge that will be kicking off next fall.

Much more can be written here, about cars we’ve had the privilege of lubricating and the many talented builders and craftsmen we’ve gotten to know this past year. Thanks to all -- builders, riders, event organizers and friends -- for another great year. We look forward sharing even greater success with you in 2010.

AMSOIL Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge Update

Earlier this month at the PRI Show in Orlando, Mopar Muscle Magazine announced that AMSOIL has officially joined Mopar Muscle Magazine for 2010 through 2012 as title spnsors of the AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge. 2010 will be the fourth year as such, and some changes in scoring will keep things fresh and interesting.

Details on the 2010 competition are as follows: eight builders, selected from engine shops across the country, will bring their talents to the table in an effort to build the best small block engine in terms of performance and horsepower. In 2010 there will be no cubic inch limit, each participant using RHS Heads’ new cast iron cylinder head, and of course AMSOIL will be the lubricant. One difference from last year’s challenge is that cost of parts will not be included in the final scoring. Instead this year’s scoring will be done by factoring the horsepower per cubic inches of each engine, making for some interesting results. More details will be posted here as they become available, as well as in Mopar Muscle Magazine, so stay tuned.

In addition, Mopar Muscle Magazine officially announced the winners of the 2009 competition. Schurbon Engine and Machine teamed up with Mo-Par City to build an engine that proved both economical and powerful with near 600 horsepower to take home the win. AMSOIL extends sincere congratulations to Scott Schurbon and team for taking the title.

Following that release it was also announced that AMSOIL has officially joined Mopar Muscle Magazine for the 2010 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge as title sponsor. 2010 will be the fourth year as such, and some changes in scoring will keep things fresh and interesting. Details on the challenge are as follows:

2010 AMSOIL Engine Masters Challenge Announced

Since its inception in 1972 AMSOIL has been known as the leader in synthetic lubricant technology. As such, we are always on the lookout for opportunities to prove to the masses that we deserve such a title. That’s one reason AMSOIL has officially joined Popular Hot Rodding Magazine’s annual ‘Engine Masters Challenge’ for the 2010 competition as title sponsor. (The other is getting alongside some of the most talented engine builders in North America to see what they are capable of.) This year’s theme is ‘Taking It to the Streets’ and AMSOIL is poised to do just that. The 2010 AMSOIL Engine Masters Challenge (EMC) Presented by Popular Hot Rodding is gearing up to announce some exciting new changes in this year’s event, and the final groundwork is being laid out at this week’s PRI show in Orlando.

Similar to the Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge that AMSOIL also sponsors, the EMC pits over 30 competitors against one another to see who can build the most powerful engine. In a series of tests designed to measure torque, power, and performance only one will come out on top as the leader in engine building innovation. AMSOIL will be installed in each and every engine to ensure that any mechanical breakdowns will not be due to the lubricants that keep the engine humming. While past events have had stiff competition with as many as 28 of 29 engines completing without failure, this challenge is no easy feat and anything can happen. The stakes are a little higher this year with AMSOIL offering the winning team $3,000 cash along with $2,000 in AMSOIL products. More details will be forthcoming here in the AMSOIL Events Blog, as well as the February issue of Popular Hot Rodding Magazine on news stands December 22nd.

PRI Abuzz with AMSOIL News

As it turns out, the PRI Show management has taken great pains to keep cameras off the show floor this year. This is not an uncommon practice at major trade shows. Their aim, in part, is to help deter companies from stealing ideas from their competition. Nevertheless our intrepid man on the scene did capture a few AMSOIL logos along with the latest scuttlebutt. Word from several sources is that AMSOIL is creating quite a bit o' buzz in Orlando this week.

Terry Rinker and his powerboat racing crew were again located in one of the AMSOIL booths in a great location. The canary yellow boat really draws people like flies to molasses, though it could be Terry's charm. AMSOIL is proud to be associated with this veteran champion.

There seemed to be plenty of Off Road Racing chatter as well here this week as The Off Road Championship (TORC) Series enters its second year. Take a close look at this vehicle here because these 800-horse off road trucks don't stay shiny like this very long in the bump and grind world of off-road short track racing.

In other news, AMSOIL Racing Manager Jeremy Meyer met with staff from Circle Track magazine to launch the AMSOIL Great American CIRCLE TRACK Tour. Senior tech Editor Bob Bolles will be criss-crossing the United States to interact with racing teams, drivers and fans to promote grass roots racing, discuss current trends in racing technology and build sponsor awareness among the hard-core racing community. You can read the details in the months ahead at the AMSOIL Racing Blog.

And there's more to come!

PRI Kicks Off in Orlando

Performance Racing Industry is gearing up to kick off the 2009 PRI show in Orlando, Fl on Thursday. This three day event features the world’s racing industry leaders gathered in one place to garner the attention of the racing industry buyers. More than 1,200 companies are slated to exhibit their wares to over 40,000 buyers. It takes over a million square feet to accommodate such an event. AMSOIL sponsored racers Terry Rinker (speedboats), Scott Douglas (Off-road), and Brady Smith (dirt track) will be on hand to spark more AMSOIL awareness. Numerous other vehicles, including Dave Hary's S-Max Nissan 240, are lubed with premium AMSOIL products.

While the PRI show is only for distributors, buyers and manufacturers in the racing market, its impact on the entire industry is huge. Here is where buyers from companies, teams, and distributors come to find out what’s new and where the curve is leading in the racing market.

Watch this space in the coming days for updates from Orlando and some news from AMSOIL.

Race Safro’s Star Keeps Rising

Back in November we mentioned Race Safro of RT Rods, the 16 year old who was headed to SEMA to unveil a custom-built Factory Five ’33 Hot Rod. After many hours of dedicated work and enthusiasm for the job, he successfully completed the build in time and showed how great his talent truly is. When it came time to hand the keys off to the proud new owner, SEMA attendees and the media definitely took notice. From a write-up in the New York Times to numerous mentions throughout SEMA-related press, Race is getting some pretty good exposure in the early phases of his career.

Race is high school student with amazing ability and is the primary force responsible for the impressive end results. As the owner of his own business, RT Rods, he was recently given full permission from the owner of a ’66 Pontiac Lemans to incorporate his talent into the restoration of this classic car. His father Jeff runs a custom upholstery business and occasionally assists Race in his builds, but it is Race himself who creates the vision and takes it from start to finish.

AMSOIL looks forward to supporting him in future endeavors and watching his ascent to the top in the world of custom car building.

This week’s New England International Auto Show in Boston, MA is hailed as the biggest car show in New England. While it started on Wednesday, there is still time to check it out. The event runs through Sunday, December 6 and is a great way to gain valuable knowledge about today’s vehicle trends. If you’re in the market for a new car in the near future, then this show can help you gain the information you need to make that big decision. Featuring 2010 model year vehicles with plenty of new introductions, exotics and customized rides, it’s a showcase of the newest and the coolest. Despite the fact that there are fewer car companies attending this year, there’s still plenty to see and do. Cadillac’s ‘Ride & Drive’ event showcases their 2010 model lineup while offering free drives to those attending the show, and a BMW Isetta (a rare mini-car) will also be on display where attendees can have their photo taken.

This year Brian Fox of Fox Marketing is on hand with his Lexus IS C that was most recently on front and center display at SEMA in the Lexus booth. AMSOIL is installed throughout, thus maintaining the luxury vehicle’s performance ability while standing out in all its BASF Foxy Green paint glory. This ride is sure to turn a few heads at the New England Auto Show, and get them talking about AMSOIL as well. If you happen to be in the area, stop by and see what today’s automakers has coming your way.

Admission:
$12.00 adults
$6.00 children 6-12
Children under 6 admitted free
Paid admission includes an Official Auto Show Souvenir Program

Public Show Dates:
Friday, December 4 12:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M.
Saturday, December 5 10:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M.
Sunday, December 6 10:00 A.M.-7:00 P.M.