Last month 8 talented teams of engine builders from across the country descended upon Comp Cams test facility in Memphis to determine which engine was best designed for performance and cost. Last week Mopar Muscle magazine posted the final standings of the AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge on their website.
The excitement is building and final plans being hammered out for the SEMA Show just weeks away. AMSOIL has been busily preparing for another successful appearance at this year's show, and word is spreading throughout the car builder scene on what AMSOIL can bring. AMSOIL will be installed in more high-profile vehicles than ever before. Here's a peek at another SEMA 2009 AMSOIL-installed ride.
AMSOIL is preparing for the 2009 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show coming to Las Vegas in November. Just about every leader in the automotive industry will be in attendance to showcase their offerings to the performance automotive world. Again this year, AMSOIL is installed in several high-profile cars that are sure to turn heads. Below are just a few glimpses of what to expect on display at this year’s show, all proudly running AMSOIL.
Finally, David Williams with Kustom Edge will arrive to showcase his sweet truck that is sure to get people talking. A 2006 Chevy 1500 decked out in 28’ rims, Chevy SS front bumper and an amazing paint job will show people why Kustom Edge evolved from a garage operation to a full-blown customs shop. Attention to detail from the inside out makes this ride worthy of all the attention it’s sure to receive. 
For those who missed it, Hot Rod Drag Week 2009 was a hoot. One team came all the way from Australia, purchasing a pickup on EBay to bring home after the week was through. Evidently this was not their first rodeo and it's very likely that they'll be back. (See the red pickup here on the right.)
When all is said and done, Drag Week is no drag. It's an adrenaline rush from start to finish. This kind of adrenaline is high octane heart pounding and invigorating. On Friday night in Muncie the fans were out in droves, the best kind of free entertainment you can find anywhere. No one wanted to quit and the drivers made a late night of it, doing all they could to more one more slot up the ladder toward higher ground.
One of these street legal machines reached 200 miles per hour in a quarter mile run. That's smokin'. There are cars that fail to reach that in five miles at Bonneville.
CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Burlington, VT is the setting for the Northeast Nationals, one of the final NSRA-sanctioned events of 2009, September 18-20. For the 16th year, Burlington will usher in over 1600 street rods to be displayed over the weekend. Set in the historic streets of Burlington, the Northeast Nationals promise to end 2009 on a vibrant note. Over 50 manufacturer and Dealer displays will be on hand, as well as a swap meet, ‘Women’s World’ with arts and crafts, and special ‘Streets of Rods’.
The end of summer brings another NSRA event to Richmond, VA August 28-30th. For the 5th year, Richmond is hosting the NSRA Richmond Nationals and it is sure to be another success. AMSOIL is a sponsor of this fine organization, and as we head into fall there are only 4 more NSRA Nationals events left. This is your chance to see more than 1,000 street rods in one place if you happen to be in the vicinity of Richmond and surrounding areas. Pre-1979 street rods, customs, muscle cars and more will be lined up for public viewing consumption.
Louvers Lane: The special rods with Louvers punched into their hoods, trunks and bodies to give them that extra visual edge while helping to cool off the engines.
With fall just around the corner, those planning to attend the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in November are busy laying the groundwork for the year’s biggest event. Each year, the SEMA show attracts tens of thousands of attendees: manufacturers, distributors, car builders, aftermarket companies, and every industry leader in between with an interest in the car, truck and SUV market. AMSOIL is always on hand to witness the latest developments in the performance automotive world, maintaining its position ahead of the curve.
This year AMSOIL will be installed in more high profile cars than ever. One of these will be a ’33 Roadster kit that is being assembled live during this year’s show by Race Safro, a 16 year old car builder whose love for the automobile world took shape at the age of 4 while watching his father wrench on cars. Race, who took on his first independent design and build of a 1929 Five-Window Model A at the age of 14, has fueled his passion ever since by taking control of RT Rods shortly after graduation from middle school. Also involved in Modified Class racing, Race built his own custom race car and was awarded ‘Rookie of the Year’ after his first season. 
No better leader in the Take a Kid to a Car Show movement, Race (who is in the completion stages of a '77 Bronco build) will be at SEMA this year to assemble the Roadster from start to finish in an amazingly tight time frame within the Factory Five booth. That's the plan anyways. At the end of the show, the car will be given to its proud new owner to drive off with, the end result of a labor of love. Race is a rising star in the automotive world. Be sure to watch for future updates on Race’s take on ingenuity, drive, and a true passion for cars when the final outcome is unveiled at SEMA in November. He gives a lot of thought to every detail, including the lubricants he chooses. This is why these build cars carry AMSOIL synthetic motor oils and fluids.
It’s one of the most popular events in rodding. More than a hundred cars and sometimes even 200 cars and drivers compete in Hot Rod magazine’s toughest assignment: how fast can you go and still be street legal?The rules are fairly simple: Secret checkpoints along the way are determined in which each driver must stop and take a photo to prove they are staying on track and not taking any illegal shortcuts... or being towed. Breakdowns result in lost time and unless tools and supplies are on board already, they could mean the end for some. Of course, drivers are allowed to help each other out with tools or manpower if they wish, but it is a race against time and each other. Once at the tracks, drivers are required to make an allocated amount of successful passes on the drag strip to remain in the competition and before getting the maps to the next track.
For those of you keeping up with the AMSOIL Promotions Blog or the NSRA's Street Scene Magazine, you are no doubt familiar with the NSRA Nationals events happening across the country each year. For those of you who aren’t, the NSRA is an organization of street rod enthusiasts who gather in various locations to display their vintage restored hot rods at large local gatherings across the nation. Their next stop is Louisville, KY for the 40th Annual NSRA Street Rod Nationals. The granddaddy of them all, event promoters and expecting upwards of 11,000+ street rods to be on display. These beautifully restored vehicles must be driven in, and range in value from $20,000 to $150,000. In all, the total value of all vehicles on display reaches well over $3 million so there is plenty to see and explore up close and personal.
In addition to the thousands of street rods, there is a lot to see and do for the entire family. As with all NSRA Nationals events, the Women’s World with arts and crafts will be there, as well as several games designed especially for children. A swap meet runs the entire weekend, and hundreds of companies are hand to display products and services pertaining to this market.
For the third consecutive year, AMSOIL is preparing for the 2009 AMSOIL Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge as title sponsor. This year the competition pits 8 engine builders against one another to see who can design and deliver the best engine performance at the best cost. This is not just your everyday gearhead throwing together an engine that works, but serious builders committed to finding the right formula that outperforms the rest. These guys know their stuff, and put that knowledge to good use in this event.
With a strict set of rules to follow, the engines are given an overall rating based on peak horsepower and peak torque divided by the retail cost of listed parts. AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Oil is the only oil permitted for use in each B-Block based engine from the start, and this has contributed tremendously to the winners’ outcomes in past years. Testing is done with a 900 rpm-per-second acceleration test, and testing data will be gathered between the 3,000-7,000 rpm range. Over the course of 45 minutes, each engine is required to make at least three scored pulls and the one with the highest combined horsepower and torque number will be used for the final score. Tuning is only allowed before the 45 minute test phase during the setting of timing and idle. After that it all boils down to which engine has what it takes in terms of horsepower, torque and operating temperatures. In previous years some engines couldn’t take the heat and were disqualified.
This weekend, June 26-28, brings the next NSRA event to Pueblo, CO. With over 1,800 vintage street rods expected, the weekend promises to bring plenty to see and do for the family. Beginning Friday, June 26 with a parade through the streets of Pueblo, the three-day event has a car show, swap meet, Women’s World, and special area called “Streets of Rods." In addition to these NSRA event staples, the Rocky Mountain Nationals will have a little something extra on display. The Kookie Clone ’09, a replica of the car built for the TV series ’77 Sunset Strip’, will be displayed all weekend for an up close and personal look at a piece of Hollywood history.
Pueblo is home to several museums and landmarks with an emphasis on arts and local heritage, children's museums, and much more to discover. If you're in the area, plan on making the trip with the family.
AMSOIL welcomed the 2009 Street Rodder Road Tour on its ‘AMSOIL Tour’ leg here in Superior, WI last night. While the weather could have been a little nicer, it did not affect the number of local enthusiasts who turned out to see the tour roll in. With over 200 vintage and classic cars in attendance there was much 
to see and enjoy up close as the tour arrived, originating in Bowling Green, Ky. Jerry Dixie led the tour in his 1952 Chevy Bel-Air, which was one of the stars of the show in all of its metalflake green and white glory. Street Rods of all makes and models were in attendance, with something for every taste and generation. The next stop in the Road Tour is St. Ignace, MI for the St. Ignace Car Show. For those of you in that area, be sure you don’t miss this opportunity to see beautifully restored vehicles and show your support for the Street Rodder scene. The AMSOIL Tour was only the third in a series of eight legs, so there are plenty more opportunities throughout the country this summer to make it to one of these exciting events. You can find the entire tour schedule in the AMSOIL Promotions Blog by clicking here.
The NSRA is gearing up for the next Street Rod Nationals event, this time in York, PA. The 36th Street Rod Nationals East event is being held at the York Expo Center June 5-7, and an estimated 3,500-4,000 street rods are expected to be on display.
This coming weekend be sure to attend the 26th Mid-America Street Rod Nationals event at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, MO. For the 15th year, Springfield will be host to a weekend of excitement and activities for street rod enthusiasts and their families. As with all previous events, the NSRA gathers hundreds of pre-1949 manufactured vehicles and makes them available to admire up close and personal. With nearly every make, model and style on display, the estimated total value of cars is over $80 million. Combined with the usual Women’s World (arts and crafts) for others in the family, this event will also feature the special “Streets of Rods” area and trade show.
Springfield is also home to a wide range of museums, historical attractions, entertainment and kid-friendly activities. Officially recognized as the birthplace of the famous Route 66, Springfield promises that you will never have a dull moment. Plan on taking a quick weekend vacation with the family and head on over if you're in the area. 
After months of planning, routing, and anticipation the 2009 AMSOIL/Street Rodder Road Tour kicks off in Chattanooga, TN. As title sponsor of this ultimate road trip, AMSOIL is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the tour to the AMSOIL Center here in Superior, WI in June. But first, there are plenty more stops beforehand. Below is the tour schedule. Mark your calendars and plan on coming to see some of the most beautifully restored vehicles in the world all in one place. Lead by Jerry Dixie in a restored ’52 Chevy, the Road Tourians will be close behind as they wend their way around the country, attending various car shows and events throughout the summer. A sight to behold, definitely not something you can afford to miss if you are in any of these areas.
The Dodge Ram is generally not the go-to for custom truck builders, but Mitch Rall of Ektensive Metalworks was one of the first to make a project of it when word of the new-style Ram was announced. Indeed, it was a labor of love that paid off in full with great results. A longtime fan of Dodge trucks, Mitch has owned both body-style trucks prior to this one.
It’s springtime in Knoxville, and the 26th annual NSRA Street Rod Nationals is coming to town. Between two and three thousand street rods are expected to be on display at the Chilhowee Park & Expo Center. Thousands more show up to see these vintage cars from across the USA as spectators are free to check out each vehicle close up, with no ropes or sectioned off areas.
As with other NSRA events, there are more than just beautifully restored cars. A trade show, swap meet, arts and crafts fair and daily entertainment round out the weekend. A special ‘Streets of Rods’ area will also be at this show this weekend, be sure you don’t miss it. In addition to this great event, Knoxville is home to more than 20 museums and 7 historical houses so there is plenty more to see when you're in the neighborhood.
If you're into vintage cars and happen to be in the region, make plans to attend the 23rd Western Street Rod Nationals coming April 24-26 to Bakersfield, CA. As with all previous NSRA events, this one promises a weekend of fun for the entire family. The largest automotive participation event in the area, the Western Street Rod Nationals attracts vintage pre-1949 manufactured vehicles of all makes and models. With an expectancy of over 1,700 street rods with an accumulative value of over $65 million on display, this event is definitely a can’t-miss happening.
The 2009 New York Auto Show is underway at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. This is one of the world's premiere events for showcasing the latest and greatest in the auto scene. Though some of the glam has been muted due to the rocky economic terrain for U.S. automakers, it's still a prestigious ten day event.This year, John Pangilinan’s aggressive wide body SCION TC struts up front in the SCION booth running a full line of AMSOIL products. SCION introduced the new iQ at the show which is making this booth a huge media draw.
Over in the Lexus booth is the Fox Marketing/Artisan 625hp Twin Turbo Lexus IS F. Hip Hop Artist Jadakiss was on hand to promote his new TV show on MTV which comes out this summer, the IS F as a background. Jada then took a few shots with the car, hopped inside, and fell in love all over again.
Sgt. Nicholas Ashby of the California Army National Guard (CAARNG) became part of the 2007 Hot Import Nights Tour with a rolling memorial he built for three fellow Guardsmen who lost their lives in Iraq. The Fallen Heroes car was a very popular attraction at the National Guard display among attendees and won more than 23 trophies throughout the season. In 2008, the National Guard and Sgt. Ashby built a tuner car that used the Citizen Soldier as an inspiration. "I built and designed the new Citizen Soldier Tuner to show the fine line of being a Citizen and a Soldier," said Ashby. For 2009, Sgt. Ashby is back with the Black Ops 350z that combines the spirit of The National Guard with the performance of a race car. At the heart of this striking beast you'll find AMSOIL synthetic motor oils lubricating all the moving parts to provide optimal performance throughout. 
"The Guard can help you to find your passion in life. It's where I found mine." ~Sgt. Nicholas Ashby
