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.

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.

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.

HDT Land Speed Record is Now Official

The word is out and a number of new names have been etched into the record books. This is not the first set of records for Hayes Diversified Technologies, but it is always gratifying to capture a few more slots on the pages of history.

Byron Schmidt of Hesperia, CA, set a new record for the 750 MPS D class of 103.321 miles per hour, breaking the old 101.617. HDT CEO and founder established a new record of 110.432 for the 750 MPS DB class, shattering the old record by more than five miles per hour.

Perhaps even more significantly, these motorcycles were operating with a mixed fuel that was 20% biodiesel. Considering that the day the rolled off their assembly line, before modifications, these were 30 horsepower engines, you might begin to get a little impressed at the engineering behind this achievement. AMSOIL lubricated, of course.

Homeward Bound ~ SEMA Day Four

Yes, the show ends today, but the work is only beginning. How many forklifts it takes to move all the crates and pallets out of the Las Vegas Convention Center is anyone's guess. Then there is all the follow up from the leads generated, business agreements signed, discussions initiated. Magazine editors and writers have seen what happened here this week, and must decide which stories will be tomorrow's news. The new '67 Mustang is likely one story that will get more press. Likewise the 75th anniversary of the Deuce Coupe will still make stories. And undoubtedly there will be more Boyd sightings ahead like this one yesterday afternoon where he and wife Jo signed autographs in South Hall. In December the pair will make their way to the PRI Show in Orlando to greet fans, bring exposure to the AMSOIIL/Coddington roadster and share stories about a few of his favorite projects.

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.

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.

HDT Turning Heads with AMSOIL

In 2001 Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT), located in Hesperia, California, began to produce diesel powered tactical military motorcycles for the U.S. armed services as well as the UK and EU NATO countries. Founded in 1961, the company originally manufactured electro-mechanical switches and relays to the military & aerospace industries.

The new HDT motorcycles are diesel machines combining both power and environmentally friendly performance efficiency. We’re talking about a bike that gets 100 miles to the gallon AND can do 100 mph.

The HDT team was out on the Bonneville Salt Flats earlier this month striving to establish new national and world records. Displaying the AMSOIL colors while going through the paces at Bonneville, they offered up quite a number of very strong endorsements with virtually no prompting. “We noticed an increase in horsepower right away when compared to Delvac 1,” said Fred Hayes, founder/CEO of HDT. “What was quite surprising was the condition of the engine after a 50-mile run-in and over 120 full-throttle dyno runs. The camshaft bearings, the small and large end rod bearings, didn’t even look like they had been run. During that series of dyno runs, we registered the highest horse-power and torque readings ever.”

Dave Anderson, AMSOIL Technical Product Manager, had flown to Bonneville to witness and participate in the pursuit of new land speed records. (See 4 and Sept. 6 Updates) Hayes said to Anderson, “Our testing proved that AMSOIL Series 3000 5W-30 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil provided better cam bearing lubrication, better transmission operation and less blow-by than our previous oil. We picked up just over one horse power at the rear well.” This is a 3.7% increase and worth a 1 tooth higher gear ratio. “In addition, it appears that overall coolant temperature was down about five degrees.” That is roughly a 2.5% decrease in operating temperatures.

Very few bikers would be opposed to increased horsepower with lower operating temps, simply by switching over the lubricants.

“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.”

Look for more on this unfolding story.

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)

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

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.

Rising Temps Put Stress On Engine Oils

When you think about it, we demand a lot from our motor oil. For example, we all want better fuel economy, so we’re using lighter oils. However, we also want engines to produce more power per cubic inch. To add power, we’re putting in turbochargers which raise the engine temperatures and put higher stress on our oil.

That’s not the only stress. We value cleaner air, so new devices that reduce exhaust emissions place more contamination in the oil and increase engine temperatures. We’ve also cut aerodynamic drag, a plus for vehicle owners, but brutal on oil. By minimizing the air flow over the engine and drivetrain, temperatures also rise.

In fact, the average under-the-hood temperature has increased from 175 degrees Fahrenheit in 1975 to 225 degrees in 2000. Our vehicles are increasingly complex and powerful machines. To keep them running smoothly, we’re demanding that our lubricants do more and last longer.

That is why synthetic motor oils and drivetrain fluids have been increasing in market receptivity over the past two decades. For more information about AMSOIL synthetic motor oils, visit the AMSOIL website at http://www.amsoil.com

If you like racing and have an interest in following our corporate racing activities, be sure to visit and bookmark http://www.amsoil.com/blog/index.aspx

Off-road racing, record chasing on the Bonneville Salt Flats and events like the Diesel Power Challenge can teach a lot about the performance limits of lubricants.

The Latest from Bonneville

Evidently the weather gods have not been smiling the past two days out on the Flats. Intermittent rain and high winds have forced the course to be closed more often than open. Here is a brief rundown on the the Hayes Team.

Class
MPS-D 750 (modified partial streamlining - diesel powered - 750 cc maximum displacement)
Obtained adequate speed for class record but course delays did not permit required second run. Have to start from scratch but the potential is there.

MPS-DB 750 (modified partial streamlining - diesel powered - 750 cc maximum displacement turbo charged)
Obtained adequate speed for class AMA National 1 mile record and FIM 1 Kilometer International record significant to yesterday.

P-D 750 (production - diesel powered - 750 cc maximum displacement)
Obtained adequate speed for AMA National and FIM International class records but it was felt that the speed did not reflect the potential of the bike. If time allows, the bike will be rerun.

M-D 750 (modified - diesel powered - 750 cc maximum displacement)
Still to be run.

M-DB 750 (modified - diesel powered - 750 cc maximum displacement turbo charged)
Still to be run.

Here are a few additional photos...

Four Records and Going for More

For those who don’t know, there is not just one week of racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Various “speed weeks” are assembled and managed by various sanctioning bodies. This week the AMA is on hand to oversee record breaking attempts by more than two hundred motorcycle race teams.

Due to rain and other interferences, the conditions are less the stellar. Nevertheless Fred Hayes, founder/CEO of Hayes Diversified Technologies, has already qualified for two national and two international records out on the Flat. Coming into the week Hayes already owned eight world and four national land speed records, all on diesel powered bikes. His company, Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDT USA), is the largest supplier of military motorcycles to the U.S. Defense Department.

High winds are a problem at this moment, but it is hoped this will clear and our man on the scene will have more good news to pass along.

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.

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....

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.

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.