Performance & Racing

PROJECT-MU BRAKES

CoolDrive Auto Parts has partnered with Racer Industries to become the National Distributor of Project-Mu Brakes

CoolDrive Auto Parts, one of Australasia’s largest automotive parts distributors, is now the national distributor of the entire Project-Mu product range as a result of a new partnership with Racer Industries. Project-Mu is a specialist manufacturer that originated in Japan. The Project-Mu range features high-end brakes and braking products. This includes performance brake kit upgrades, EOM street replacement brake pads and discs, and world-class motorsport pads. Project-Mu is focused on providing only the best quality braking products for a range of applications, including professional motorsport, street performance, club racing, track days, and drifting. Project-Mu with its specialist P.Mu Racing brand has a rich and successful history in global motorsport.

Its products have been featured not only locally in the Supercars Championship and Bathurst endurance events but also internationally in NASCAR, the World Rally Championship, and Japanese Super Formula. Project-Mu says its products are manufactured with high-quality components to ensure the best performance in any motorsport application. CoolDrive states that these products “embody the legendary reliability of Japanese engineering and strong local history that propels Project-Mu to the podium time after time.” This new partnership with Racer Industries enhances CoolDrive’s comprehensive automotive part offerings. CoolDrive adds Project-Mu’s range of products to its existing brake portfolio, which includes other well-known brands like Bremtec, Brembo and Bosch. For more information on the Project-Mu range at CoolDrive, or to find a branch, visit http://ishop.cooldrive.com.au/

MAX-LIFT BSR SHAFT ROCKER SYSTEM

The system from Comp Cams combats fatigued LS rocker arms

Comp Cams’s Max-Lift BSR Shaft Rocker System is a bolt-in bushed shaft rocker system designed to combat fatigued LS rocker arms. “The BSR system can be beneficial at all performance levels. The increased system stiffness will help get the most of your rocker arm and camshaft while the superior durability of the bushings will ensure a long life of the product,” Comp Camps Mechanical Group Manager, Chris Potter, said. “We designed the BSR system to provide the best valvetrain stability and durability within a reasonably priced package. The BSR system increases the stiffness of the valvetrain package by tying all the rockers together, helping to eliminate the flexing of individual rockers. “This is especially beneficial on the LS3 and LS7 offset rocker arms. It allows us to maintain the proper contact geometry between the rocker pad and the valve tip, especially at higher spring loads and lifts. The use of a tri-layer bushing also increases the system stiffness while eliminating moving parts by removing needle bearings from the rocker arms. “The size of the camshaft is really irrelevant. The current BSR is lift limited due only to contact patch of the GM rocker arm geometry. The BSR allows us to safely run .675-inches of lift on the LS1 and LS3. We’ve run .700-inches of lift on the LS7 with the stock lash cap repeatedly without fear of tearing up the valve tip or rocker pad. “Generally, we don’t recommend over 550-pounds open load on the stock-style rocker arm. As you’ll hopefully see in the future, the shaft will take more than that, but the rocker is currently the limiting component.” To install, the only thing that you must do is remove your old rockers. After this task is complete the majority of the work is already done. You will remove the rocker stands, and the shaft system will bolt right into place. The Comp Camps Max-Lift BSR Shaft Rocker System is available from Rocket Industries. For more information, visit www.rocketindustries.com.au

THE OIL COOLER THE PORSCHE WORLD HAD BEEN WAITING FOR

Classic style meets modern technology with CSF’s new Oil Cooler for Porsche 911/930 Turbo 1965-1989

As an industry leader in Porsche water performance cooling products, CSF says it strives to build and engineer the most advanced, efficient, and reliable cooling systems in the world, with its new CSF oil cooler being the perfect example. CSF says that up until its release, there have been no improvements in technologies, features, or any high-performance oil coolers ever introduced to keep up with the advancements in Porsche restoration. After more than 18 months of research, development, and investment into the perfect oil cooling tube and fin combination, CSF says it has answered the call of Porsche enthusiasts around the world with the introduction of its state-of-theart 911/930 Turbo right fender oil cooler. The long-awaited oil cooler features highperformance core technology with a 5mm larger core vs OEM, matched by 15 rows of turbulated tubes, and 16 rows of fins. The innovative square fin design increases performance and strength due to more surface area contact with the tubes while helps alleviate clogging with no pressure drop. The new CSF oil cooler maintains the classic design for even the most discerning, concourse-winning restoration customer but also comes packed with innovative modern technologies and features to meet the demands of high horsepower builds with bigger engines, larger turbos, and standalone ECU management systems. With this world exclusive release for Porsche 911/930 Turbo 1965-1989 models, CSF says it continues to meet enthusiasts’ desires for bespoke cooling solutions. For more information visit www.scuderia-autoart.com

MOBIL 1 GIVES RED BULL BETTER WINGS

ExxonMobil is driving Formula 1 success for the Red Bull Team

Rather than just a sponsor, ExxonMobil is a technical partner with the Red Bull Formula 1 team. As their fuel (Esso) and lubricant (Mobil 1) partner, they’re able to work hand-in-hand with Honda to maximise the outright performance of the tightly homologated power plant. “ExxonMobil delivered a revolutionary new oil – that has helped push the team forwards,” ExxonMobil’s Global Motorsport Technology Manager, Tomek Young, said. “New components were incorporated as they were found to offer many benefits, including stronger interactions with metal surfaces and lower friction, helping deliver maximum power while offering protection and fuel efficiency. “These benefits translate into an ability to run the engine across a wider range of operating conditions and not be wound back.” In a demonstration of Mobil 1’s commitment to ‘absolute performance’, Tomek confided engineers had been working on these new components for eight years. However, the opportunity to collaborate directly with Honda and Red Bull has ramped up development, enabling ExxonMobil to bring the new additive package properly into play. Oils are so much more than just viscosity – that’s only half the story. A lubricant’s additives package can represent up to 30 percent of the final product. These carefully selected and highly engineered components are part of every oil and ultimately define how they perform under various temperatures and pressures and it is reportedly what separates Mobil 1 from ordinary oils. While ‘pioneering innovation’ is a must to stay ahead in the incredibly competitive world of F1 – there are also real-world benefits. Vehicle manufacturers are continually striving to lower engine friction for improved fuel efficiency – while simultaneously extending engine life. Given the long history of Mobil 1 collaborating with manufacturers, there’s no doubt Mobil 1 road users will benefit from the same revolutionary advancements that have helped push Red Bull F1 to the front. Mobil 1 says ‘absolute performance’ and ‘pioneering innovation’ are much more than just tag lines, stating “it’s in our DNA.” An extensive range of Mobil1 oils and lubricants is distributed in Australia by MotorActive. For further information contact Michael Pfeffer at michaelp@motoractive.com.au

2021 SEMA MARKET REPORT RELEASED

The report states US Automotive Specialty-Equipment Retail Sales have reached a new high

The year 2020 was a roller coaster, with COVID-19 and the response to it creating an unprecedented and unpredictable disruption throughout the US economy. Still, the specialty-equipment industry showed resilience with industry retail sales climbing from $46.2 billion to a new high of $47.89 billion in the US, according to the new 2021 SEMA Market Report. The report provides an overview on the state of the US specialty-equipment market and examines how consumers and businesses adapted to the pandemic, along with how much was spent, and where, on specialty-automotive parts and accessories in 2020. While the industry was certainly affected by the pandemic, some businesses were spared from full lockdowns as auto parts were considered an essential business in some areas. Even amid the disruption of the pandemic, many of the industry’s companies reported record sales in 2020 as enthusiasts spent money on their cars instead of other pursuits that were unavailable during the lockdown. The SEMA report states that forty-eight percent of enthusiasts did more online shopping for parts in 2020 than in 2019, and 40 percent of enthusiasts spent more time working on their vehicle. Filled with data on market sizing by parts category and vehicle segment, purchasing channels, and types of consumer, the new report contains key findings such as: • Forty percent of enthusiast consumers modify their vehicle to stand out versus 28 percent of non-enthusiasts. • Sixty percent of specialty-equipment consumers are under the age of 40. Young drivers continue to be an important and engaged part of the industry and often buy more involved performance parts or accessories and make heavier modifications to their vehicles. • Forty-three percent of accessorisers turn to search engines and review websites when looking for parts information, while 41 percent look to manufacturer’s websites and 36 percent to retail websites. • Just over 50 percent of dollars spent in 2020 went through online channels. However, even with social-distancing measures in place, many consumers still preferred brick-and-mortar retailers for their aftermarket parts purchases. • Pickups remained the biggest vehicle segment for the specialty-equipment market, accounting for 28 percent of all dollars spent, followed by CUVs at 16 percent. You can download the 2021 SEMA Market Report for free today at www.sema.org/research