A LETTER FROM OUR TEAM Managing Editor Kevin Crandall
First of all, thanks for picking up our first edition! Apex Automotive Magazine is the passion project of a local group of car enthusiasts from the Central New York area. With most of our group’s individuals having 10+ years in print design, photography, marketing, and journalism, we have all the ingredients to put together one heck of a “local” magazine. We thought it would be fun to collaborate and put out an amazing publication like the area has never seen.
Creative Director Justin Palmer
Account Manager Director of Photography Matt Wilson Chris Penree Photography Jordan Polizzi John Zachary
Thomas Sblendorio Rick Crowell
Contributing Writers Justin Palmer Matt Wilson John Zachary Mike Potaczala Thomas Sblendorio Rick Crowell Kevin Crandall Proofreader Denise Crandall Advertising Sales Shannon Mason 315.243.3986 Kevin Crandall 607.316.6832 Website MPW Marketing // Damon Maldonado
Our goal is to publish a free magazine that you would never think would be free. All of the professionalism of the big magazines, but focused purely on the Central New York area. Everyone has their own definition of where CNY begins and ends, but for us, we’re focusing content around a 75 mile radius from Sherburne, NY. Why 75? Why Sherburne? Well, we’re partnering with Kenyon Press (a commercial web-offset magazine printer), and they’re a hop and a skip from all major areas. We’ll travel anywhere from Syracuse to Oneonta, Boonville to Binghamton for content (and a bit beyond if needed). Our content features local car enthusiasts and their projects, area performance shops, tips & how-to’s on automotive care, coverage of local and regional events, and one of the most complete listings of area car shows around. We intend to be the region’s hub of information about the area’s automotive and motorsports related happenings. Apex Automotive Magazine will be available throughout Central New York in automotive parts stores, car dealerships, grocery stores, mini marts, gas stations, offices, and a variety of other locations. Our distribution network is constantly growing; if you want to carry our magazine, please let us know! We will also be handing out copies at every car show and event that we attend. For those folks out of the area that want to receive our publication, we are also offering a subscription option. So, that’s the basics...we’re setting out to publish a kickass free car magazine and we’re happy that you are reading this and are along for the ride!
Proudly printed locally by Kenyon Press Inc.
— The Apex Automotive Magazine Team
Apex Automotive Magazine is published five times per year by Seven Horsepower Publishing, LLC. To subscribe, please send $20 to the below address. Magazines will be delivered via USPS.
Advertise with us! Apex Automotive Magazine is the only publication of its kind. Each issue contains articles featuring custom builds, local car shows, CNY area custom shops, auto enthusiasts, unique car stories, and everything else automotive. We appreciate all of our amazing advertisers, without them this publication would not be possible. Please give them a chance to earn your patronage and tell them you saw them in Apex Automotive Magazine. To find out more about advertising in Apex, download our media kit at www.apexautomag.com.
Subscribe Today.
Apex Automotive Magazine 1484 Bogan Rd. Waterville, NY 13480 We welcome feedback, story suggestions, reader contributions and anything else you might like to share with us. Send us a note to info@apexautomag.com. All contents copyright 2015, Apex Automotive Magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without consent. Apex Automotive Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, photos, or artwork.
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READER’S RIDES Each issue we showcase area rides submitted by our readers. These are their pride and joy and we’re helping to show them off! Do you have an awesome ride you want us to share? Email high-resolution, clear photos and a brief description about your vehicle to rides@apexautomag.com. Please include your name and hometown.
Jarodd Goedel, Sherburne, NY The car is a 1974 VW Thing. I have owned it since 1996. I drove it for a couple years then decided to restore it from the ground up including a fully rebuilt engine. The restoration took 6 years working weekends and nights. Everything was completed by me.
Bill Tuttle, Whitesboro, NY I’ve always liked the 68 Chevelle; I acquired this one back in 2010 shortly after my boys got done racing motocross. I purchased it out of Texas. It was originally silver with white pearl SS stripes. It has a 383 stroker/350 turbo with 4:11 gears. It was set up as a drag car, so there was little to no wiring. I rewired the entire car (little side business I have wiring up drag and show cars), rebuilt the engine, and reinstalled all new interior. I drove it around like that for a couple of years and decided to paint it Candy Brandywine. As you can see, that didn’t happen. After sitting for over a year it finally got painted Victory Red thanks to Tom V. I have surely enjoyed having a muscle car once again, as I had to sell my last one (79 ProStreet Camaro) shortly after the kids were born.
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reader’s rides
Seth Knoeller, Old Forge, NY This is my 1978 Dodge Little Red Express. My Dad bought the truck when I was six. He traded a Chevy dually and a truck camper for it. At the time it was in boxes, but he eventually built and painted the truck. He later gave me it and I tore it back down and gave it a full respray.
Tom Venettozzi This is my 1969 Chevy C10. In 2005, my senior year in high school, I bought it for $400 from down near Newburgh, NY. Just about every body panel had to be repaired which my dad taught me how. The engine is a 85 mercruiser 5.7(Chevy 350), Muncie m22 trans, air ride suspension with modified stock a arms and dropped spindles in front and a triangulated 4 link in rear. Just about everything on this truck is from junkyards, swap meets and anywhere having a sale.
All of this issue’s Reader’s Rides features are getting 2 FREE Admission tickets to the Northeast Classic Car Museum! We want to thank the Museum for sponsoring this section with this great prize package. If you haven’t been there lately, go check it out!
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‘82 Vette with
attitude
Utica native Duane Isenberg’s 1982 Corvette is truly a labor of love with nearly every part literally touched by him over the last 12 years. photos by Chris Penree story by KEVIN CRANDALL
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It’s always refreshing to meet an auto enthusiast who is passionate about their car to the point that they want to do all of the work on it themselves. From the mechanical basics to a complete new paint job, this month’s featured owner, Duane Isenberg did it all. With minimal investment, Duane has restored this 1982 Chevrolet Corvette to its original glory. This story starts in the summer of 2003 when Duane was getting the itch to purchase a project car. He had been borrowing his friend, Al Taurisano’s, ‘94 Vette and teasing his other friend who was doing a body off restoration on a ‘75. His friends all had hot cars that he helped work on in high school, but he never had one of his own; it was time for that to change. He had stopped by several Corvettes to look them over and to get an idea of prices. Duane originally spotted his new project car, unknowingly at the time, while driving on Route 28. He saw the Corvette sitting in a driveway with a for sale sign on it, but didn’t stop to look at it. After checking out several other Corvettes on the market, his daughter said that she thought she had seen one on the way to school. They hopped in the van and drove to the area where she thought she had seen the car. It turned out to be some other model. Since they were already driving around they decided to try to find the one Duane had seen by the road on Route 28. On the way up Route 12, they saw a two-tone blue Corvette sitting in front of a shop in Barneveld. Duane called the phone number on the Corvette they found. When he and his wife met the owners, Nedra (Duane’s wife) recognized the woman as a substitute teacher that sometimes worked at her school. After talking a little bit, he found out that this was the car that he’d originally seen along Route 28! The owner had bought it for his wife for their 25th wedding anniversary. The wife had suffered a stroke which hindered movement of her arm and she wasn’t driving it much anymore. They were looking to sell. He went for a test drive and decided this would be his new project car. Originally the car had been owned by a couple in their 60’s and hadn’t been driven a lot. This was the perfect car. After the paperwork, bank approval, and insurance, he purchased the Corvette on September 8, 2003. He paid $9,200. He asked himself how he could be so excited about spending that much for a 21-year old car with 60,000 miles on it and reminded himself that it was a Corvette! This was something that he could drive and work on.
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The Corvette Duane Isenberg had purchased ran and drove, but it was not without its share of items that needed attention. Upon closer inspection, the interior was dirty, the carpet on the floor was soaked and rotten, the seat belt was gnarled up from being slammed in the door, the dashboard lens was cracked, but everything was there and could be replaced or cleaned up. It smelled like a fish fry inside. The paint was sun faded and needed body work. Since the car sat a lot, many of the rubber seals and bushings needed to be replaced. The transmission was leaking, it shifted weird, and the heater core was bad. Overall, the things that were wrong appeared to be normal for a 21-year old car. Fortunately for Duane and his mechanical ability, he was able to repair everything for the cost of the parts. This saved him a lot of labor costs compared to if he had hired someone to do the work. He did a rolling restoration on this car. Duane took care of the mechanical things first and then the cosmetic. This way he was able to continue driving it while it was being worked on. The list of stuff that was tackled over time on this car is vast. The small stuff was addressed first like the sticking brake calipers, poorly working door latches, and bad front tires. Eventually the bigger things, such as the leaky transmission and heater core, were fixed so that this Vette was performing like it should. Mr. Isenberg then decided to tackle the paint work by using it as a project car in the BOCES automotive body class he was taking. There, he was able to use the facility’s tools and knowledgeable instructor to his advantage and complete the paint work himself for a fraction of the cost. He chose to stick to the original
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paint scheme of two-tone blue and was able to purchase factory matching paints for around $250. Things are much cheaper when you can do them yourself. After completing the paint work to his satisfaction, the car was nearing its final glory. Some Mother’s Aluminum Polish brought the wheels back to life and Duane also installed a new speaker system to modernize it a little. A project like this is never finished, but at least at this point it is running right and looking sharp. Mr. Isenberg now drives this ‘82 Vette with pride knowing that his blood, sweat and tears had breathed new life into what could have been a dark future for this car if left untended. He has taken the car to numerous local car shows and cruise-ins and it fits right in with the rest of the Corvettes. Not many folks can say they have as nice of a ride and did all the work themselves.
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Type ‘82 chevy corvette Body Style 2-door coupe Engine 5.7 L L-48 (STOCK) Horsepower 190HP TORQUE 255 lb-ft 0-60 9.3 Sec Driveline RWD 3 speed auto Curb Weight 3,346 lbs rear brakes Stock Front Brakes Stock Exhaust STOCK Future Plans “I bought the car with the mindset I was going to restore her to original condition and daily drive it — I maintain that feeling today.”
Built for the love
GenEsis passion photos and story by THomas Sblendorio
If you were in Central New York in 2014 you were sure to see the low, mint green Hyundai Genesis fly by. Dom Corelli was the mastermind behind this eye catching build. Dom fell in love with the body lines, the factory turbo, and rear wheel drive and purchased this brand new in January of 2013. In the summer of 2013, the Genesis started its journey without a focused vision and just incorporated bits and pieces from “famous” Genesises. The car still did manage to win first place at the import face-off in New York State. The following year, Dom put on some new wheels, added to the carbon fiber front end, and created the car’s first turbo setup. He really wanted to add some guts to the performance and see what the car could do. With the help of synapse turbo and a lot of research into what parts supplement which, the car broke into the 300s on a low boost setting (301/311 at 17 psi) over 100 more whp and torque over stock. After some performance excitement, he toned it down and enjoyed the car for the summer. Dom’s online following grew as he was winning car shows left and right. For the 2015 year, Dom wants to break new ground. With the Genesis community all falling into similar pitfalls and cookie cutter builds, Dom decided he wanted to shatter the mold and build the car that people can look at and aspire to replicate as he once did years back.
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photos by CHRIS PENREE story by JUSTIN PALMER
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BUILT ROCKET Some of us are perfectly content going to a dealership or skimming the classifieds for a new ride that meets our needs. Some even go as far as to customize their vehicles to fit their taste. Then you have guys like 32-year-old software engineer Jamie Frisco, who are not content with simply buying a car and modifying it. No... where’s the fun in that?
Rewind some ten years earlier when Jamie bought his first sports car, a black C4 Chevy Corvette. He fell in love with its power and cornering abilities right away, but after some time, its performance grew unsatisfying and he yearned for something much more. The only problem was his budget; he didn’t have the funds to purchase the type of offthe-shelf performer he wanted. Jamie took to the interweb looking for inspiration. Soon he was reading about people who built their own sports cars on a forum called lowcostcars.com. After looking at numerous homemade builds, Jamie had a plan. He was going to build a car based on the well respected Lotus 7 chassis, but he wasn’t going to just stop there. Most would find a wrecked Mazda Miata and pull the drive-train from that, as Miatas are reliable and a dime a dozen with a huge aftermarket following to boot. However, Jamie’s thirst to be different led him to a less conventional donor vehicle, a wrecked 2005 Mazda RX8. An RX8? Are you crazy? That’s what a lot of people would say. The rotary engine found in the RX8 has been plagued with mechanical quirks that come with having a spinning Dorito in place of pistons. Bad apex seals lead to extreme oil consumption, and god forbid you start the car and turn it off immediately because you’ll never get the darn thing started again. But even with its numerous quirks, the rotary found in the RX8 has plenty of pluses that would benefit a light weight roadster like this (Jamie’s car only weighs 1700 lbs). With roughly 180 hp at the crank and an 8,000 rpm redline, this mill musters enough thrust to propel this little rocket commendably. Jamie estimates the 0-60 time to be in the low fives and passing cars on the highway is a breeze in any gear. This brings me to the transmission. He ended up using the stock tranny that came with the RX8 from
the factory, an automatic unit with a tiptronic function. The interesting thing is you actually can’t drive the car in full auto. The computer is calibrated to work with the inertia generated by a 3,000 plus pound car and now it’s only hauling around a 1700 lb load, so things get a bit funky. However, we would guess that a simple ECU reflash would most likely fix the issue. Jamie started constructing the frame of the car in a small garage behind his house. Every night after work, he would spend 5 to 6 hours working away on his project. He literally hand built the entire car and welded each segment of the Lotus inspired frame himself. Along the way, Jamie ran into a few bumps, which is to be expected with any custom build of this level. For example, he decided to use the stock RX8 rear end and created custom mounting points, so he could maintain the stock geometry. This simplified things and allowed the car to maintain the great handling properties the RX8 is known for. He also had to modify the transmission tunnel to fit the massive bell housing of the automatic transmission. Mechanical issues were just part of the puzzle to completing this home built beast— he also had to pass the DMV hurdle. Jamie had to prove his car was roadworthy and had
to make multiple revisions until the DMV would allow him to register the car. Things like windshield wipers, turn signals, and seat-belts all needed to be present. After a year and a half of long nights and hard work, Jamie completed his car. He was shocked how well the car drove after a few adjustments were made. It tracked straight without an alignment and the engine, steering, suspension, and electronics worked flawlessly. Not bad for his first build. He describes the experience of building a custom car as a thrilling one. “There really is nothing quite like getting in a car you built and taking it down the road for the first time. You’re kind of just waiting for something to go wrong, and when it works perfectly, it’s extremely rewarding” says Jamie. We actually find it to be a handsome thing too. Closely resembling the Lotus 7 that inspired the design, featuring a low slung profile and wide wheel base complemented by a flat black paint job. It is a car that puts function over form and every piece serves a purpose. After talking with Jamie and checking out his hand built ride, we can’t help but to be inspired. When we asked him what
lies in his future, he told us that he plans on selling this car and starting another project, a single seater Indy car powered by a 1400cc super bike motor. We approve.
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Rust
in Peace photos and story by RICK CROWELL
Have you ever driven by an old car sitting peacefully in a field and stopped to think, “Man I wonder what the stories are behind that car? I wonder what the history was with the families that rode in it?” I could only imagine; the ride from a friend’s house we just picked up to spend the night, the fun we had in the back seat playing and conjuring up stories of super heroes, cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, or playing with matchbox cars, army men, cap guns and all the GOOD OLD toys. Do you think our kids today would look at us like we were crazy? I can hear my son now, “What about the DVD player, Dad, or the Nintendo 3DS? How did you guys have fun back then?” I would LOVE to get an old abandoned car and park it on the vacant side property of my house and take my son back in time; playing with him in the back seat of one of the historic rides. I can see it all now. We could grab some old Hot Wheels, sit on the musty old back floorboards facing the back seats, and pretend to drive on them like old town farm roads. Or maybe I could hang out the window flailing an old Bonnie and Clyde replica toy gun as my son pretended to drive like a mad man who just robbed a bank... Man, the fun we had when we were kids. The creativity of our imaginations, as beautiful and vibrant as these classic gems. The creators of these old cars put true craftsmanship into creating works of art that were made of real American steel. I sit back and wonder what kind of stories could be told that may now be long lost, as particles of dust in the wind. This is why, when I’m out driving, and I see an old abandoned car, I have to stop and capture the moment. Before they Rust in Peace and no story is left to be told or your once youthful imagination vanishes like deteriorating metal. The next time you see an old car in a field or a barn, when out with your family, take a break from your busy life. Spend 5 to 10 minutes of your life, gaze at the beauty these dinosaurs still display, and spend some family time talking about history you think once happened in one of these abandoned cars. May they Rust in Peace.
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Automotive
PERFECTION We check out a high performance shop with humble beginnings and a passion for high performance and quality builds. And it’s right in our backyard. photos by CHRIS PENREE story by JUSTIN PALMER
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Joshua and Joseph Amodio have always been hardworking individuals. From a very young age, they helped repair and maintain vehicles at their father’s humble shop. They developed a passion for not only all things automotive, but doing things right the first time early on. “I found myself always fixing jobs that were not done correctly, or just very sloppy in general. I get satisfaction in knowing that I did the neatest job possible before I return a car to the customer, like it was my own car, and I know Josh is the same way,” says Joseph.
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After graduating high school, Joseph decided to go to WyoTech, in Wyoming, to further his automotive experience. There, he was exposed to a variety of things he already knew quite a bit about from working in his father’s shop, but also quickly expanded his skill-set into upholstery and body work. Believe it or not, the program was originally developed for prisoners many years ago, and still maintained strict codes and standards that students must adhere to in order to pass. This experience instilled even more of a drive for perfection in Joseph.
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Joseph’s brother, Joshua, who is a few years younger, would later go on and receive a degree in criminal justice. Joshua, however, never left the automotive passion behind. He was always working on cars with his brother and pushing the boundaries to learn new things. New Age Hotrods, as it stands today, all started from Joseph’s 1993 BMW 318i and his brother’s Fox body Mustang GT. In a quest to beat his younger brother’s V8 powered muscle car power output, he decided it would be interesting to do an LS conversion on the car. At the time, no one was making LS conversion kits for
One of the highlights of their building is definitely their incredible dyno cell. Their NASCAR proven DYNO-mite rear-wheel drive dynamometer is equipped with a massive venting system and is capable of simulating true to life driving dynamics.
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BMWs. The BMW’s lightweight and nimble chassis, paired with the potent power and reliability of a GM LS engine, seemed like a perfect match. Joseph was then working at Metal Parts Manufacturing (MPM) in Remsen, NY operating CNC and milling machines which gave him the experience of making parts. After three weeks of test fitting and fabricating parts, the brothers completed the swap. “The car was a rocket. It ran really well. Surprised a lot of Corvette owners,” laughed Joe. At that point, they felt that they might
be onto something and decided to launch New Age Hotrods. Joseph created a logo and a website and they started to build these LS conversion kits after they got home from their day jobs. “Lots of 12-13 hour days, but we did it. We really wanted this to work.” And it did; they began to ship orders out all over the country and even the world. Not long after things began to really pick up for the brothers, Joseph received an exciting career opportunity. He was offered a position with American Motor-Sports Group, Inc. He ended up on the road traveling
and gaining experience in automotive motor-sports marketing while Joshua began working at a local dealership in the parts department. During this period, New Age Hotrods did not produce many parts. After a year on the road, Joseph came back full bore and got back into the groove of things. At that point, they were working out of their father’s garage still making conversion kits, but servicing cars and working on custom builds became their main source of income.
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One day, they received a phone call from Carl Nadeau, a French Canadian drift car driver, drift instructor, and automotive TV show personality well known in Canada. He happened to stumble across their website looking for a BMW LS conversion kit. Carl expressed his frustrations with the short wheelbase Pontiac Solstice they were racing at the time, and explained his interest in working with New Age Hotrods to do an LS conversion on a BMW drift car for him. The Amodio brothers immediately took Carl up on his offer and drove out to Canada to assist him and his race team. Over the next year, the combination of LS power and BMW handling proved to be a winning combination, as Carl continued to take victory after victory at each event. After a year of working closely with Carl and his drift team and further developing and pushing the limits of their products, the Amodio brothers set out to open a brand new garage and expand their offerings in 2011. Located off Commercial Drive (26 Garden Street, New York Mills, NY), the 7,800 sq ft building features four bays and lifts and a state-of-the-art Land and Sea DYNO-mite dynamometer. This isn’t your average shop and one thing you notice right away is just how clean their work area is. Everything is brand new and organized. You could practically eat off the freshly polished floor.
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“This is a very rewarding industry and I truly enjoy doing what I do every day. You have to work extremely hard and push yourself to learn new things, as this field is constantly advancing. You have to be dedicated.”
Each of their blue tool boxes are neatly organized and clearly laid out. You get a real sense of OCD being around the shop and that’s not a bad thing, especially when someone is working on your prized possession. Stop in on any given workday, and you will see the bays filled with everything from Z06 Corvettes, Dodge Vipers, vintage sports cars, and high-end import luxury cars like Ferraris and Bugattis. It’s clear that they love what they do and are proud of the shop they have built. “We can help with any customization needs and work with our clients on their build-or plan” says Joshua. “Many choose to build their vehicles in phases and some want a whole build-out and do it all at once.” They can l help assist customers decide what products best fit their needs and can either make the parts in-house or order quality parts that assure that job will be done right. “Nothing leaves our shop until it’s 100% and we really pride ourselves on that”, says Joshua. One of the highlights of their building is definitely their incredible dyno cell. Their NASCAR proven DYNO-mite rear-wheel drive dynamometer is equipped with a massive venting system and is capable of simulating true to life driving dynamics. Many tuners will simply set the software to read at a colder temperature to give deceptive horsepower readings, but not these guys. They have their calibration software linked to the weather station and receive live in-the-moment updates to ensure the most accurate results. The eddy-current load bearing dyno can handle up to 2,000 hp and is running a 50,000 cfm fan. Those are impressive stats and you’ll be hard pressed to find another shop in the northeast US with this caliber of equipment. When installing power adders like superchargers, pulleys, meth, and intake/exhaust systems, it is very important you can tune the car in the most real to life way — and nothing gets better than this. “Tuning your car is only part of the performance puzzle”, says Joshua, whether it’s a supercharger, custom built exhaust, custom tune, headers, custom ground cam, engine swaps, electrical work, suspension upgrades, or even full-out ground-up builds, there is really nothing the brothers haven’t already done. As a lifelong sports car fanatic myself, I was most impressed with their broad knowledge of vehicles. They manage collections that feature vintage Ferraris, Fiats, Mercedes, and Lamborghinis, but also service modern vehicles. It’s amazing the range of clients they are working with. One day they might be installing a cam in a Camaro SS and the next starting a LS conversion on a vintage Jaguar Coupe. One thing is very obvious, these guys are meticulous and the real deal. If you want someone with a ton of experience on practically every element of all things automotive and attention to detail is your thing, look no further. I asked Joseph what he would say to a young person aspiring to work at a similar shop or even start their own. Joseph advised, “This is a very rewarding industry and I truly enjoy doing what I do every day. You have to work extremely hard and push yourself to learn new things, as this field is constantly advancing. You have to be dedicated. When we started, I was working 15-18 hour days every day, and some days I’m still here working into the night. Getting to this level wasn’t easy. Pour your heart and soul into what you do, and you will get the type of clients you want to work with and let your work speak for itself. Just keep at it and don’t settle for average.” If you have a question about what New Age Hotrods can do for your current or next custom build, or simply want more performance out of your early or late model domestic or high end import, you can check them out at www.nahrods.com. A PE X AU T OMO T I V E
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photos and story by John Zachary
Racing 101 How many of you have always wanted to take your car, truck, or motorcycle out and see how fast it would go?
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How many of you have always wanted to take your car, truck, or motorcycle out and see how fast it would go? I know I have quite a few times with a few of my vehicles, but we all know that it is against the law and very dangerous to do this on the streets. There are a few shows on TV that glorify street racing and all that goes with it. I love watching these shows and don’t miss an episode, but remember they stage the races and add the drama for ratings. There is a way that you can take your car to the limit, and it is at your local drag strip. Last year I started racing my 2010 Camaro at some tracks in my area. One of the tracks I participate at is ESTA Safety Park located in Cicero, NY. This track has been a big part of the local drag racing scene since October of 1960. For their 2015 schedule, go to http://estadrags.com. Entering an event at ESTA is rather simple. All you need to do is pay a fee at the gate and have your vehicle inspected. If you are running your street car, the track officials look around it to make sure it is not going to fall apart while you are making a run. This is not only for your safety, but also for the safety of others. After the inspection process is complete, you find a parking spot in the pits. Lawn chairs and a cooler are always a must for your day at the strip. Bring a helmet. Some tracks require you to wear a helmet in street classes, and some do not. I always bring one just in case. At ESTA, if your car runs under 14 seconds you need a helmet; if not, you don’t need one. You also need to wear long pants. Your next step is to pick a class to run and sign in. There are quite a few classes that race during an event like Super Stock, Super Comp., etc. Most beginners race in either Street Trophy or Street Money. When racing in Street Trophy, you compete for a trophy at the end of the day. In Street Money, the entree fee is a little more, but you win cash for 1st and 2nd place. My thought is if you’re going to race, you might as well run for some money. Drag racing that is seen on TV is heads up racing, which means two cars line up and race head to head down the 1/4 mile. At ESTA Safety Park, this type of racing is called Bracket Racing. This means that you choose a time that you think your car will run and you try to run as close to that time as you can without going faster. We will talk about how to do this in a bit. After you have your machine inspected and you sign up for your class, you will get two or three practice runs down the track. It depends on the event, but most local tracks run either 1/8 mile or 1/4 mile for all classes of cars. During your practice runs you are being timed just like if you were racing. Make sure that when you are in the lanes, turn off your A/C and anything else that might reduce horsepower. I always watch the cars before me to see how they go about their burnouts and staging. You want your practice runs to be as close to race conditions as possible. A PE X AU T OMO T I V E
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At the end of each run you will receive a time slip that tells you how long it took you to make it from start to finish. This slip will also tell you your reaction time (how soon you left after the light turned green), 60ft time, MPH, and the all-important ET (elapsed time). Elapsed time is the time it takes you to make it down the track from the moment you left the starting line until you went through the timing lights at the finish line. After your practice runs you will need to try and figure out your ET for your round one race. In bracket racing you pick the ET that you think you will run without going faster than the time you picked (that’s called a breakout). This is where it gets kind of tricky. Choosing the correct ET can make or break your day at the track. Here is how you can get that magic number. Take your time slips from your practice runs and compare your numbers from both runs. Let’s say you ran a 13.80 and a 13.84 during your practice runs. The fastest your car has gone is 13.80, so you will probably want to set your dial close to that number. If you chose 13.84 and you run a 13.80 again, you will lose because of a breakout. This will cut your day short with a first round loss. Go with the fastest run for now; you will be able to dial in better the more you know your car in all conditions. Plus your driving will get more consistent the more runs you make. After you pick your dial number you will write it on your windshield and driver’s side window in shoe polish (this makes your car look cool as well). Okay, it’s time for the first round. The director will call your class up to the lanes and tell you what lane you need to be in. When your run is up, the track
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“After you get past the water box you will creep up to the starting line. In the center of the lanes there will be a set of yellow, green, and red lights. This is called the Christmas tree.”
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official will point you to either the right or left lane. As you pull out onto the track there will be a puddle of water (water box) that you can drive through and do a smoky burnout, or you can drive around it and begin your staging process. Most street cars do not do burnouts, as it is not necessary to do a burnout with street tires. After you get past the water box you will creep up to the starting line. In the center of the lanes there will be a set of yellow, green, and red lights. This is called the Christmas tree. On top of the Christmas tree there will be two sets of small yellow bulbs. These are called staging lights. This is where you need to pay attention. Your heart is racing, everything seems to be moving really fast, but you need to be precise on your approach. Inch your car up to the line until you see the top set of yellow staging lights go on. STOP. Wait for your competitor in the other lane to do the same. Next, keep your foot on the brake and slightly move forward until the bottom set of staging lights turn yellow. STOP. Now it gets real from here on out. As soon as both cars light up, the bottom set of lights on the tree is activated and will start to light up bigger yellow bulbs from top to bottom. Each racer will watch their side of the tree. There are three yellow lights, one green light, and the dreaded red light on the bottom of the tree. When you are bracket racing each lane will have a different ET entered into the Christmas tree. This means that if you are dialed in at 13.80 and the guy in the other lane has a dial of 14.80, he will leave one second before you do. His tree will drop before yours does. That is why you need to only watch your set of lights and not his. When he leaves you will want to leave as well, but you cannot move, or you will red light and be disqualified. I know it sounds confusing, but it really isn’t as hard as it may sound. If you cut a perfect reaction time and your competitor does as well, it should be a tie at the finish line. The tree is programmed with both racers dial numbers and will count down accordingly. In bracket racing, being consistent is the key to winning. If you and your car can do the same thing each run, then you will be hard to beat on any given day. Being consistent on the tree is huge, and setting a dial time that is close to what you run is also very important. If you dial in a 13.78 instead of a 13.80 because you are afraid of breaking out, then you are giving the other guy a .02 advantage on the tree. This will take some time to figure out, but after you get a handful of time sheets, you will be able to see how your car runs in different weather conditions.
Drag
Racing 101 Be sure to note weather conditions on your time slip for future reference. Once you have left the starting line, you may think it is all pedal to the metal to the finish line. Not so fast. Remember you cannot run faster than your dial or you will lose. For instance, if you leave first, your competitor will have to chase you down to win. I always watch him in my mirror to see how fast he is catching up to me. If both of you cut good lights (reaction times) it will be very close at the line. When you are approaching the finish line and still have a lead on the other lane, tap the brake pedal slightly to slow your car down a bit so you don’t break out. Once you cross the finish line look for a white light on your side of the track to come on. If it does this means you won, if it doesn’t
this means you lost. After the first round everybody that lost will have a chance to buy back in. This means you pay $10-$15 to get back into the field. If you lose again, your day is done. This is the cool thing about drag racing compared to other forms of motorsports. If you lose twice that’s it. In oval racing you can make a few mistakes and still get back into the hunt for a win. So every run could be the last of the day. I hope this wasn’t too much information for you to absorb. Polish up your ride, and head on out to your local drag strip and give it a shot. At the end of the day if this isn’t for you, at least you will get to see how fast your pride and joy will go. I will see you at the track.
“Once you have left the starting line you may think it is all pedal to the metal to the finish line. Not so fast. Remember you cannot run faster than your dial or you will lose.”
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Can R/C provide mE with a
racing fix
in the off-season? For the car fanatic, there are limited options when winter rolls around and that’s a problem for me. My summer hobby sits in my garage patiently waiting for warmer weather and a track day. One of my buddies suggested I join him for race night at a local indoor R/C racetrack.
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photos by CHRIS PENREE story by Matt Wilson
I wasn’t even aware that there were active R/C clubs, let alone one in Rome, NY. I also thought R/C was for kids – it turns out I was wrong. The scene is big and it’s serious business. Kevin, my friend with an R/C hobby and a spare car, invited me to compete in a Thursday night race in the beginner’s class. When I pulled into the parking lot for Wednesday evening practice it was quiet. Upon entering CRC Raceway, there’s an open track to your left and a hobby shop to your right, selling parts, spares and ready-torun cars. There are benches surrounding the track where people work on their cars, and against the back wall is a raised standing area to give drivers a better view. Kevin already had a couple of cars out and the equipment needed to prep them for practice. I was running a 1/10 scale electric short-course truck. It looked like a baja truck and was rear-wheel drive. He was also working on a similarly sized dune buggy. I scoped out the track. It had a carpet surface and was marked out using plastic lane
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barriers that CRC actually manufactures for the industry. Most of the floor area was used to create the track, which snaked around with a few dead zones where marshals stand on race night helping cars that get stranded or flipped over. Plywood jumps of various sizes were throughout the course. Kevin explained the different classes of vehicles that run at CRC. During this stretch, January through April, was “Indoor Off-Road Season,” which was the track I was looking at. Three different types of cars would run on race-day here: the shortcourse truck I was using, the buggy that Kevin was running, and the Stadium Truck which looked like a hybrid of the two. During the summer at CRC they run on the much larger outdoor track, which was the pride of the operation and apparently one of the better outdoor tracks in the northeast. The cars outside are larger in most cases and run both nitro and electric. Outdoor season runs May to September, then in October things go back inside for the on-road racing season, without any
jumps, and with slightly smaller cars. CRC actually manufactures World Championship winning 1/12 scale on-road cars, right here in Central New York. Kevin handed me the controller. Pull the trigger to go, push it away to brake, and turn the wheel on the side to go left or right. I was immediately surprised by how powerful and sensitive the car was - they were a noticeable upgrade from the ones I played with as a kid. A slight squeeze of the trigger and it leapt into action and the steering was very twitchy to start with. It was stop and go while I got used to the car, but I was quickly able to modulate speed with consistency, hitting jumps with enough speed to carry the gaps and land safely. It was, however, incredibly hard to get lined up for jumps without making numerous corrections or launching at the wrong angle, only to land on a boundary or off the track entirely. You also have to be careful with the speed. Carry too much speed into a sharp turn and you’ll send the car into a barrel roll. The key to this sport is smoothness and I was lacking it, but by the end of my third 10 minute practice I showed some improvement. On race night I was surprised at how many people had shown. Every inch of the place was consumed by cars, toolboxes, and chargers. The track had now been changed, with the cars running in the opposite direction. There was also a large double jump on one of the straights that would require a commitment of both speed and straightness that made me nervous. We sat right by the double jump and it was cool to watch cars leaping over the gap clearing about two feet of air. These cars were built to take punishment. Even when they go
careening off the track or land upside down, the marshals just pick them up by the bumpers and flip them right-side up and off they go. Kevin had paid ten dollars to enter me in the Sportsman (beginner) Class. There were six to eight drivers in each heat and, on this night, there were two Sportsman Class heats among the 13 heats for the various car types and skill levels. I would have two heats to prove my worth before the final. It was time to qualify. Kevin dropped the car on the track, I lined up in fourth position, and we were off. My hand was shaking from adrenaline and within two corners I was off the track. I was quickly flipped back on and was keeping up fairly well with the pack until my second lap when I lost control again. Suffice it to say I finished last. It took about an hour to go through all 13 heats. The buggies seemed to run fastest. With their lower center of gravity they could corner faster. The quality of the driving in the upper classes was impressive. Some drivers were able to hit jumps and corners consistently and make it through the whole race without incident. Most of the cars racing had about $500 worth of equipment running them. Cheaper, ready-to-run, out-of-the-box setups cost as little at $250 to get started. I’m sure some of the folks on the track had upwards of $1,000 plus into their vehicles. It was time for my second heat and happily I was more successful. I stayed mostly right-side up, and while I wasn’t the fastest guy on the track, I was one of the more consistent. At the end of the race I placed fourth of six. Unfortunately, even though I had beaten two other drivers, it appeared they had performed better in the first heat, so I was
placed in the slower of the two final races in dead last place. I stood on the stand for my final race. I started poorly with a few flips on the first lap, but soon I started to hit my stride. I was slow, but steady. I just had to wait for the back markers to make a mistake and I would gain their place. After five minutes were up, I was fourth out of six racers and that was it. I was officially the third slowest driver that whole evening, but I have to admit I was fairly proud of my rookie performance. It was a fun and challenging evening for sure. I was pleasantly surprised. R/C is a far more organized and serious scene than I expected and the appeal is broad. Drivers ranged from early teenagers to retirees. It doesn’t compare to driving a real car, although mastering the dynamics of braking, turning and smoothness certainly share some similarity. Next winter, if you’re itching to drive, check out your local R/C scene, or, if you’re on the east side of Central New York, check out CRC Raceway in Rome. With a call ahead, they can prep a car for you that you can rent for some track time. I’m not sure I’m ready for the commitment required to be good at R/C racing. In the summer I have my full-size car to race around, but maybe next year, in the depths of winter, the bug will bite and I’ll be back.
Local Event coverage
CARS & Coffee of CNY MAY 16, 2015 Do you like cars? Freshly brewed coffee? If so, Cars & Coffee of CNY is a show not to be missed! The show runs from 9am-noon throughout the summer and is held at Pep Boys in New Hartford. Prizes, music and food trucks are at every show and the turnout is usually very good. At this show we spotted over 135 cars that ranged from Jeeps all the way to electric roadsters. The nice thing about this show is that it’s early on a Saturday, so you still have your whole day after and it’s usually a lot cooler in the morning. Search “Cars & Coffee of CNY” on Facebook for future showtimes and dates!
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The Apex Automotive Magazine team is always on the road checking out local car shows and events. You’ll be seeing us even more as our publication grows. These are a few we’ve attended recently. Visit apexautomag.com for complete galleries of these shows and more!
29th Annual Motorsports Expo March 14-15, 2015 The Motorsports Expo is New York State’s largest motorsports exposition & trade show. This year was their 29th year running, showcasing local dirt modifieds, sprint cars, late models and much more. The Motorsports Expo was held in the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY. Admission was affordable ($12) and there were a lot of area racetracks, drivers, vendors, and media outlets on hand to talk with about the upcoming race season. It certainly gets the blood flowing and excitement builds as we roll into the warmer months. The Expo had autograph sessions with the area’s favorite dirt racers, over 200 cars on display, and seemingly endless booths selling collectibles. If you like dirt racing, this show is highly recommended.
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Syracuse Motorama March 28-29, 2015 Billed as the largest indoor custom & classic car show in Central New York, Syracuse Motorama is the show that kicks off the season every year. The event has been going since 1960 and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Syracuse Motorama took place in the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fairgrounds located in the city of Syracuse. It’s easy to find and cheap to get in ($10). With not much else car oriented going on around this time of year, this show is a no-brainer to attend. All types of car enthusiasts are sure to be pleased with the variety of automobiles and bikes that this show brings. There were classic cars, muscle cars, hotrods, customs, bikes and more on display. A few vendors were also on hand to talk about their shops and services in the area. Overall, while it didn’t have the rarest or expensive cars of the shows we’ve attended, it’s still a good time and it sure beats doing anything else in the 30 degree weather we had that weekend.
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Local Event coverage
8th Annual SUNY Polytechnic Autoshow, “In Memory of Matt Gorka” April 25, 2015 This show was hosted by Wildcat Motorsports, a studentled off-road Mini Baja racing team at SUNYIT and is used as an annual fundraiser to support their race season including travel and fabrication of their vehicle each year. For the second year in a row the show was close to their hearts as it is in memory of Matthew Gorka. Matt was a student at SUNYIT. In February 2014, Matt unexpectedly passed away. A portion of the proceeds are donated to a trust fund which has been set up for his children’s education. The show offered music, food, vendor booths, events with prizes, and individual vehicle classes with awards and prizes.
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CNY Car show schedule Looking for something to do this weekend? Bring your car to one of these events in our area. Let’s help support the local car shows! Date
Event Name
Venue
City
June 5-7
CNY Corvair Club
Across from Hilton Garden Inn
E. Syracuse
June 6
Kruising Knights Car Show
Goetell Community Park
Central Square
June 6
Cambridge Lions Club Car Show
Cambridge Hotel
Cambridge
June 6
ESM Spartan Garage
East Syracuse Minoa High School
E. Syracuse
June 7
2015 GEDG Classic Car Show
Greenwich VFW
Greenwich
June 7
Oneida Lake AACA
Clay Central Park Ave
Clay
June 7
Clinton Fire Department Cruise In
Clinton Village Park
Clinton
June 12
American Muscle Car Club - Cruise Night
Sacred Heart Church
Cicero
June 12-14
ProVANity 35 by Salt City Vans
River Forest Park
Weedsport
June 13
Buick & All GM Car Show
Driver’s Village Buick
N. Syracuse
June 13
Antique, Classic & Vintage Cars Cruise In
Village Park
Bergen
June 13
Car, Truck, Motorcycle & Sport Compact Show
Schalmont High School
Schenectady
June 13
Poorboys Classic Hot Rods
Advance Auto
Auburn
June 14
Country Cruizers, Chicken BBQ
Elks Club
Oswego
June 14
Pontiac & GMC Super Show by Six Nations Pontiac Club
Bill Rapp Super Store
Syracuse
June 14
NY/PA Twin Tiers Vintage Car Club “FUN MEET” Car Show
Chemung County Fairgrounds
Horseheads
June 14
Mexico Post 369 Cruisers
VFW Field
Mexico
June 14
6th Annual Car Show
Rose Firemen’s Field
Rose
June 19 - 20
Father’s Day Weekend Antique & Car Show
Hiltebrant Recreation Center
Old Forge
June 20
Cruisin’ for a Cause by Central New York Classic Cruisers
Torrey Ridge Winery
Penn Yan
June 20
Great Adirondack Car Show
Crete Center
Plattsburgh
June 21
Father’s Day Classic Car Show
Malta Drive In
Malta
June 21
Father’s Day Car Show by Prison City Ramblers
Emerson Park
Auburn
June 21
Eurocar 2015
Lorenzo State Historic Site
Cazenovia
June 21
Iroquois Region AACA 50th Annual Car Show
Floyd L. Maines Community Center
Conklin
June 27
Mustang Rally
Matthews Ford Planet Pre-Owned
Norwich
June 28
All Ford Show by Syracuse Shelby Mustang Club
Clay Central Park
Liverpool
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Date
Event Name
Venue
City
July 4
Bayside Cruisers
Firemen’s Field
Fair Haven
July 5
Cincinnatus Fire Dept Car Show
Fire Dept field
Cincinnatus
July 11
British Invasion - European Car & Motorcycle Meet
Camden Village Park
Camden
July 12
Antique Classic Working Truck Show by ATHS Central New York
Longbranch Park
Liverpool
July 12
Curtis Lumber Car and Truck Show
Curtis Lumber
Ballston Spa
July 17-19
Syracuse Nationals
New York State Fairgrounds
Syracuse
July 18-19
Malone Auto Cub International Auto Show
Malone Rec. Park
Malone
July 19
Jonathan Krenzer Car & Motorcycle Show by Z Car Club Rochester
Damascus Shrine Center
Webster
July 25
“Cars in the Vines” 2015 Classic Car Show
Goose Watch Winery
Romulus
July 25
Car Show-Cruise In
NYS Veterans’ Home
Oxford
July 26
Vette’s at the Beach by Syracuse Corvette Club
Sylvan Beach
Sylvan Beach
July 26
Seaway Festival by Seaway Cruisers
International Bridge
Ogdensburg
August 1-2
SpiedieFest Car Show
Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally
Binghamton
August 1-7
Franklin Trek by H.H. Franklin Automobile Club
Cazenovia College
Cazenovia
August 1
Classic & Antique Car Show by Cayuga County Cruisers
Port Byron Fire Dept.
Port Byron
August 2
Ticonderoga Area Car Show
Bicentennial Park
Ticonderoga
August 2
Rockin’ in the Park by Tappet Twirlers
Lee Town Park
Lee Center
August 2
Bug Bust - Rochester’s Annual VW show
Damascus Shrine Center
Webster
August 2
Richfield Springs Lions Club Car Show
Spring Park
Richfield Springs
August 8
Fingerlakes Region AACA History on Wheels Downtown Show
Downtown
Auburn
August 8
American Muscle Car Cruise-In
Matthews GM Center
Vestal
August 9
Beers & Gears
Genesee Brew House
Rochester
August 9
All VW Show by Volkswagen Club of CNY
Oneida Shores Park
Brewerton
August 9
Parish Car Show by Parish Volunteer Fire Dept
Parish Volunteer Fire Dept
Parish
August 15
Salt City Cruisers
Fairmount Comm. Church
Camillus
August 16
7 Valley Street Rods Annual Car Show & Flea Market
Cortlandville Citizens Park
Cortland
August 16
Tioga Region AACA
Hickories Park
Oswego
August 22
Street Scene 2015
Long Branch Park
Syracuse
August 22
Wings & Wheels Car Show
Masonic Care Community
Utica
August 23
Summer Car Cruise In Finale Car Show
Village Park
Richfield Springs
August 29
Car Show and Village Cruise
Front St
Deposit
September 6
Fillmore Auto Show & Flea Market
Fillmore Glen State Park
Moravia
September 6
Olympic Car Show & Parade
Olympic Speed Skating Oval
Lake Placid
September 11-13
Adirondack Nationals
Fort William Henry Resort
Lake George
September 12
Lisle Fire Co. Car Show
Lisle Fire Co.
Lisle
September 13
Mohican Model A Ford Club
Fireman’s Field
Wampsville
September 19
CRUISIN’ AT THE DOWNS
Tioga Downs Casino
Nichols
September 27
Wheel Days “Just Cruise-In”
Madison County Fairgrounds
Brookfield
October 4
Grand Finale Cruise In
Sidney Municipal Airport
Sidney
Apex Automotive Magazine is not responsible for the accuracy of this list. At the time of printing, this list was as thorough and accurate as possible. However, show dates and locations can change so we recommend research before you head out to one of these events. You can also check www.apexautomag.com for changes and additions.
Know of an event not listed here? Let us know and we’ll add it to the next issue! Please email details to shows@apexautomag.com. A PE X AU T OMO T I V E
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GAME
REVIEW
GAME: PROJECT CARS // Developer: Slightly Mad Studios // XBOX One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Wii U, and PC
review by Mike Potaczala When you think of simulation racing games, Gran Turismo and Forza are the only ones that come to mind. That’s all we’ve known since 1998 when the first Gran Turismo exclusively debuted on the Sony PlayStation. It was unlike any other racing game I had ever played. It had weird pop music, 140 real cars, and 11 tracks. I quickly learned that you actually had to hit the brakes before going into a turn otherwise you’d fly off the track, start swearing and then promptly get grounded by your mom. This wasn’t like the games in the arcade. You had to start from the bottom and work your way up. You won races, earned money, and then bought better cars. You stayed competitive. After three Gran Turismo games, fast forward to 2005. Microsoft released Forza Motorsport exclusively on the XBOX. A new player in the racing sim genre and it gave us something more realistic than Gran Turismo. The graphics were amazing and this time you were able to pick from 231 real cars and 17 tracks. It followed the same driving mechanics and reward system. It also added realistic damage to the vehicles unlike any Gran Turismo had. To date, there have been six Gran Turismo games and seven from Forza. Both series always get high critical praise. I thoroughly enjoy both series, but in my opinion they started to get stale. We were in need of something fresh. Well now it’s Spring 2015 and we finally have a new franchise entering the scene, Project CARS. It is one of the hardest, most challenging, and frustrating games
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I’ve ever had the chance to play, and I mean that in the best way possible. Project CARS set out to capture the realism of racing without any distractions within. You can start your own career or race with friends and strangers online. Gone are any rewards, rewinds if you mess up, and any silly pop music. The only reward you get is the satisfaction when you finally get the perfect car set up and start winning. It requires a strategy and effort to win. You can’t just jump in and play, or at least I do not recommend that, especially if you attempt to race online. I would recommend getting used to the game in career or practice mode to get a true feel for the game. You will have to make some or many adjustments to your car, so you’re competitive. You’re able to adjust virtually anything and everything about the car. It takes time and could be exhausting for some. It sure was for me at first. The game pushes you to practice and learn the car on the track before you do any racing. Unlike its competitors, you can start in any series in the game and stay there. Start in go-karts, open wheel racers, GT cars, or jump right into Le Mans prototype race cars. Anywhere you want, it’s your call. As of right now, there are only around 75 cars available to use which isn’t that many compared to the likes of Forza 5, which has
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over 200. If I had to take a guess it’s for licensing reasons. There are about 30 locations around the world for racing which include over 110 tracks. You can race around fan favorites like the Nurburgring, Le Mans, and Mazda Raceway, just to name a few. Complete car and track lists can be found on the Project Cars website. I feel that Project CARS is a great looking, great sounding and a great first entry into this racing genre. The attention to detail is second to none. It definitely is challenging and satisfying once you get the hang of it. Just make sure you have a little bit of patience; otherwise, you may throw your controller through the wall.