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.

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.

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

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.

Details

It is a remarkable thing how the mind can conceive an idea, then bring it to pass so that the whole world can see it. This profound act of creation has been so frequently associated with artists, writers and musicians that we forget that the joy of creation is something likewise experienced by engineers, architects and car builders.

At some point in time Boyd Coddington had an idea emerge in his mind: to recreate a 1927 Model T Roadster that could go over 200 miles per hour. Next week, the car will be put to the test at the Bonneville Salt Flats with his wife Jo at the wheel. This is no simulator at an amusement park. It is a real deal, and they are planning to go fast.

Coddington, who has won the prestigious “America's Most Beautiful Roadster” Award a record seven times and the Daimler-Chrysler Design Excellence Award twice, is an acknowledged artist from the old school. Cars are his canvas. Attention to detail is his trademark. Though a master of visual design, his concerns go beyond what the eye can see. For this reason the interior of the engine is not lubricated with just any oil. No matter how hot it gets out on the desert, his car will be cool.