Road Tour Leg Three: Winding Up in the Rockies

If you've never been on a Road Tour with Jerry Dixey, you're missing something. Everywhere the AMSOIL Street Rodder Road Tour goes, the Road Tourians get the red carpet treatment. They also get to eat a lot of good food. And, oh yes, there is a lot of eye candy when it comes to spectacular cars.

This is the third leg of eight tours in 2014, designated the Aeromotive Tour. Tuesday's welcome at the Aeromotive facility in Kansas City was a treat. Wednesday morning the group travelled from Kansas City to Wichita across the grasslands of Kansas. By noon they had arrived at the Poplar Restaurant in Andover, a suburb of Wichita. The Poplar's owner Brian had put together a special buffet of chicken wings and pizza for his guests and it was yummy. After lunch they were ready for a full day of fun in Wichita beginning with a private collection of cars and vehicles that was one of the widest ranging groups of special interest vehicles that many of them had ever seen. From here to drove to downtown Wichita to Devlin's Rod & Customs. Tim Devlin had played a big role in organizing their activities in Wichita to make it a special day.

Heading West the tour landed in Dodge City with its famous Boot Hill Museum. Welcome to the Old West. Unfortunately, a hard rain dampened (cancelled) their evening plans there, but didn't dampen their spirits. Their final destination this week is the NSRA Rocky Mountain Nationals in Pueblo, Colorado. When you reach the Rockies and look east, well, this is where the song "I can see for miles" may have originated. There's nothing quite so beautiful as getting into that thin Rocky Mountain air. There will be more than photos of cars brought home by this group. But for the moment, we're just going to tickle your eyes with a few more photos of beautiful cars these folks got to see this week.

Now that it's summertime, keep your eyes open for vintage car enthusiasts out cruisin'... re-living their nostalgic dreams. If you've got a car and really want to live the dream, join up with a future leg of the AMSOIL Street Rodder Road Tour. You'll be glad you did.

Six Reasons Motorcycles Need Better Lubricant Protection

Why do people spare no expense on their vehicles, and especially accessories after the purchase, then use the cheapest engine oil they can find? Oil plays one of the most important roles in an engine’s performance, yet motorists often give it virtually no thought whatsoever.

For bikers it is especially important to choose wisely when selecting a motorcycle oil, because motorcycles put greater demands on their lubricants than autos do. Here are six of the primary differences between the two.

1) Operational Speed. 
Motorcycles tend to operate at significantly higher engine speeds. The result is added stress on engine components, increasing the need for wear protection. It also subjects the lubricant to higher load-carrying and shear forces. Higher RPMs also promote foaming and accelerate lube breakdown due to oxidation.

2) Compression Ratios. 
Motorcycles tend to operate with higher engine compression ratios than cars. This places additional stress on engine components and increases operating temps. Higher demands are placed on the oil to reduce wear. Elevated operating temps also promote thermal degradation of the oil, reducing its life expectancy and increasing the formation of internal deposits.

3) Horsepower/Displacement Density. 
Motorcycle engines produce nearly twice the horsepower per cubic inch of displacement of automobile engines. This also raises temperatures and adds additional stress.

4) Variable Engine Cooling. 
Automobiles generally use a more sophisticated water-cooling system to control engine operating temperatures. Many motorcycles are air cooled or use a combo air/oil design, which results in greater temperature fluctuations, especially in stop and go traffic. Higher temps promote oxidation and cause oil to thin, reducing their load carrying capabilities.

5) Multiple Lubrication Functionality. 
In passenger cars, the motor oil only lubricates the engine, with transmission fluid in the tranny and gear lube in the differential. Many motorcycles have a common sump supplying oil both to the engine and the transmission. In these instances the oil is expected to meet the needs of both the engine and the transmission gears. Many motorcycles also incorporate a friction clutch within the transmission which uses the same oil.

6) Inactivity. 
Motorcycles are typically used less frequently than automobiles. In many parts of the country they can only be used seasonally. Condensation of moisture within the engine can cause rust. Acid corrosion protection is also a critical need.

It doesn’t take long to recognize that motorcycles place a different level of requirements on lubricating oils. Motorcycle oils must therefore be formulated to address this unique set of high stress conditions. If you want power, performance and protection, the oil you choose can make a difference. We recommend a synthetic solution.

Note: Photos on this page are from the Laconia Bike Rally of which AMSOIL is the Official Oil. Visit our website for more information on AMSOIL synthetic oils for motorcycles.

An Example of Good Writing by a Car Guy

When the rubber meets the road, there's nothing like a good story. Whether telling them or writing them, there are few things more entertaining than a story well told.

In today's fast times, short and sweet is the name of the game. A good story begins with a strong hook. But the hook will only take the reader so far. Early on the writer must lead the reader to believe there's going to be a payoff.

Once hooked a good story will keep the reader hungry to discover what happens next.

Last week, an eNewsletter from Cars and Parts magazine had a short story by freelance writer Roger Johnson that appeared in the publication's Back in the Day section. Johnson told a story about a Street Hemi vs. a Big Block Corvette. The opening paragraph clues you in that this is a car guy.

I was cruising through the Kent State campus in Ohio during the fall of 1966 in my ‘62 big block Dart. At a stop sign, while eyeballing the coeds, I heard an angry engine roar behind me, emanating from a dark blue 1966 Plymouth Belvedere. I just knew it was a Street Hemi. Rather than move along, I hopped out of my car and walked backed to the Plymouth to meet its owner and ask him for a ride in his brand new Mopar. He agreed, so I parked my Dart at the closest curb and eagerly jumped into the passenger side of the 426.

In paragraph two the storyteller now switches from ogling girls to ogling the Hemi.

This two-door post came with a bench seat and a four-speed transmission. The driver told me he had the dealer install 4.56 gears. Eight-ply, 7.75 Goodyear Blue Streak tires were part of the early Street Hemi package. Blue steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps, along with two small 426 Hemi badges, finished off this humble looking machine.

The narrator is thrilled to be taking a spin in this powerful ride. But it gets better. They head out onto a highway.... and...

Well, let's not steal Mr. Johnson's thunder. Kudos for a story well told... one that resonates with many a car guy's memories. You can find out what happened here, back in the day.

Meantime, if you own a Hemi or one of those big block Corvettes, or any powerful Sixties machine, make sure you take care of it on the inside, where it counts. Take care of your engine and your engine will take care of you.

Ride on!

Here's a Cool Video on the EBR 1190RX Superbike We're Giving Away This Year

Earlier this year we introduced you to the Building Legends Sweepstakes in which we announced our planned giveaway of an EBR 1190RX Superbike. This afternoon it seemed like a good idea to remind you that there's still plenty of time to enter. If you have a minute, check out this video from Motorcyclist Magazine online.



If that's that kind of thing that gets your heart thumping, then be sure to read the official rules and enter to win. And if you just like staying current with what's happening with Erik Buell Racing, be sure to bookmark this page and follow along. It's been exciting so far, and the best is yet to come.

The AMSOIL Street Rodder Road Tour Gears Up for Round Three

50th Anniversary L.A. Road Show Father's Day Lineup last weekend.

The AMSOIL Street Rodder Road Tour is heading into the third tour leg of the season, kicking off at the Back to the 50’s event June 20 in St. Paul, Minn. From there, Road Tourians will head west before finishing the week at the NSRA Rocky Mountain Nationals in Pueblo, Colo. Those on board will no doubt turn heads at both of these massive car shows that bookend the Tour, which already draw out the nation’s finest street rods and vintage automobiles. The Tour will likely pick up a few more participants eager to hit the open road with their fellow enthusiasts.

Along the way participants will enjoy a welcome party at the Aeromotive facility in Kansas City, Mo. before making their way through the plains of Kansas and the Colorado Rockies. Photo ops will be in abundance as they wind through scenic highways and towns in the heart of the country. There’s still time to join any of the remaining tours, so be sure to visit the Street Rodder website for full details and information on each of them. The AMSOIL Street Rodder Road Tour promises a unique opportunity that delivers memories and experiences not found on any other road trip.

Live the dream. Be part of the Tour.

Note: Vintage vehicles need special care. Do you own a vintage classic car or light truck? Learn more about why you may need a specialized oil for these special cars.