Road Rumblings

Tony Schumacher Par tners With Scag Power Equipment For ’22 Season

Tony Schumacher, the most decorated Top Fuel driver in NHRA history is set to make his highlyanticipated return to the dragstrip in 2022, and with the help of Scag Power Equipment, will make a bid for a category-best ninth series title. Scag Power Equipment, an industry leader in commercial riding, stand-on, and walk-behind lawn mowers, has joined forces with the driver who announced in October that he would be returning to the Don Schumacher Racing stable to compete on the NHRA Camping World Series circuit full-time in 2022. Scag joins DSR as a primary partner where it will have top billing on Schumacher’s 11,000horsepower machine at five events during the 2022 season. Additionally, Scag will serve as a coprimary supporter at six races, sharing equal branding space with the Maynard family, who joined drag racing’s winningest organization at the start of the 2021 season, and later announced they would be expanding their relationship to become one of Schumacher’s primary backers in 2022. “I’m really looking forward to next year,” said Schumacher, whose on-track return at the seasonopening NHRA Winternationals will mark his first championship campaign since hanging up his helmet at the conclusion of the 2018 season. “To be able to introduce Scag Power Equipment to drag racing fans, what an incredible opportunity. This is their first foray into our sport, so this will all be brand-new for them. I’m so excited to be a part of something big, and for them to be a part of our team. I’m looking forward to helping promote their brand, winning races, and hopefully, winning a championship.

“It’s the type of partnership that seems like it was just made for the sport of NHRA Drag Racing,” added Schumacher, who leads the Top Fuel category in just about all accomplishments, including championships, wins, and No. 1 qualifiers. “Scag is all about bringing the power, and that’s what we do best. Not to mention, they’re well-known for their zero-turn mower models, and of course, we all know in drag racing, going straight is always the ultimate goal. We’re here for a couple of reasons –building brand awareness for Scag Power Equipment and mowing down the competition, and I’m just ready to get going.” While Scag has previously ventured into the motorsports industry, the Wisconsin-based organization is eager to tap into NHRA’s audience of straight-line speed enthusiasts and views DSR as the perfect vehicle to showcase its vast product line. “We’re excited to partner with premier Top Fuel team, Don Schumacher Racing, and driver, Tony Schumacher. Like Tony and DSR on the track, Scag has long been the lawn mower brand all others are trying to catch. We’re looking forward to a great 2022 season together,” said Meghan McCabe, Corporate Marketing Manager, Metalcraft of Mayville/Scag Power Equipment. Scag Power Equipment will make its NHRA debut at the unofficial ‘East Coast opener,’ the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Fla., March 11-13.

Get Some New Shoes On Your Ride for 2022

T he Deuce Tur ns 90!

If you dig a ‘32 Ford, and who doesn't love the iconic hot rod, you need to get one of these shirts or other 32 Ford offering from the 32 Percenter Website. All kinds of cool merch there to celebrate our favorite hot rod. Go to www.32percenter.com and check it out today!

Celebrating T he ‘32 Ford

If you want to see more ‘32 Fords in one than you ever have, make plans now to go to the 2022 Grand National Roadster Show. The event is being held in Pomona CA at the FAIRPLEX. Want to enter your ‘32 Ford into the event...see the info on the flyer here or go to www.rodshows.com and don’t delay in getting registered. We will see you there!

GM Expanding Scope of EV Development

General Motors is adjusting its strategy to offer EV technology beyond its own portfolio and automotive applications more broadly, the company announced. “GM has an established strategy, network of integrators and co-development agreements to apply an extensive array of components and solutions to a broad range of customers and use cases,” says Travis Hester, GM vice president of Electric Vehicle Growth Operations. “As companies across many industries look to reduce their environmental impact, GM is uniquely positioned to serve as a leader not only through exciting new EVs across our brands, but through additional technology applications, and we look forward to bringing customers – existing and new – along with us on our zero-emissions journey.” The company estimates that the total addressable market for electrification components could near $20 billion by 2030, as a growing number of industries introduce their own emissions reduction goals, the company said. In addition to applications for the industrial, offhighway and marine markets, GM is aiming to introduce EV component sets for the automotive aftermarket. The upcoming Electric Connect and Cruise eCrate Package represents an opportunity for GM to extend EV technology to the aftermarket, the company said, enabling customers to work with qualified installers through GM’s electric specialty vehicle modifier (eSVM) program who have been properly trained to replace a vehicle’s traditional internal combustion engine with a fully electric propulsion system. GM’s demonstrated electric conversion vehicles include the E-10 pickup, K-5 Blazer-E, eCOPO Camaro and Project X built in collaboration with Cagnazzi Racing’s eCrate Solutions Group. Now, an electrified 1972 El Camino SS, developed with Lingenfelter Performance Engineering in Brighton, Michigan, represents the first independent installation of the concept eCrate package, and ushers in the next generation of EV components from Chevrolet Performance as the program prepares to launch in 2022, the company said. “Our customers will benefit from GM’s vast network of resources, support and experience as an innovator in the electrification space” Hester said. “As we advance our Ultium Platform and other zero-emissions technologies, we anticipate smaller, more affordable and more flexible components and offerings over time.” Additional information and specific product applications for each opportunity will be disclosed at a later date, the company said.

Audi Develops All-Electric Car for Ken Block

AUDI has developed an all-electric car for Hoonigan and Ken Block, the German automaker announced. The Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron was exclusively and uniquely developed for Block and will be the protagonist in a new video that Block is producing together with his team for release in the next few months.

“The S1 Hoonitron combines a lot of what Audi was already famous for in the nineteeneighties,” said Block, whose enthusiasm for Audi’s rally cars was sparked at an early age. “For instance, the car’s spectacular aerodynamics have now been translated into a totally modern form. I think it’s cool that the Audi designers have been inspired by their own past and uniquely transferred the car’s technologies and appearance into the present.” The car is equipped with two electric motors, all-wheel drive, a carbon fiber chassis and the full safety standards as prescribed by the FIA. “Audi gave me the opportunity to test it for a few days in Germany,” said Block. “I’m familiar with a wide variety of cars using internal combustion engines and transmissions, but there were a lot of new things for me to learn here. Spinning into a donut at 150 km/h directly from standstill – just using my right foot – is an all-new experience for me. Our work was focused on getting the car and I used to each other. My thanks go to the whole Audi Sport squad for their outstanding teamwork.” The entire development of the S1 Hoonitron was conducted by Audi Sport at its Neckarsulm location, where the Audi RS e-tron GT is produced, the company said. Audi Design in Ingolstadt was responsible for the styling. “When we first heard about this project, the whole team was thrilled immediately: we had the opportunity to develop a car that combines an icon of our brand with the future,” said Audi’s Chief Designer, Marc Lichte. “It was about creating a modern, all-electric interpretation of the S1 Pikes Peak. The timeline was extremely tight: while our design process normally takes one to one-and-a-half years, we only had four weeks from the first drawing to the final design. We were constantly in touch with Ken Block and his team and engaged in intensive exchanges.” Fans will soon be able to see the S1 Hoonitron in the upcoming video, Elektrikhana, the next installment of Block’s Gymkhana series. “The collaboration with Audi is a very special partnership for me. The brand and its passion for motorsport motivated me to get into rallying,” said Block. “That Audi has now developed this car for me and my team, and has joined us in our next project, has made a dream come true for me. The Hoonitron is writing the next chapter in our history and taking our Gymkhana story into the future.”