August / September 2008 • Vol. 8 #5 • $3.95 Canadian
Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40609642
August / September Contents Duke Brown has built many great Street Rods over the years. Duke’s latest personal ride is this clean 1951 International Pickup.
The 1950 Chev Pickup that Tony built with Dukes help. Read all about both Brown Brothers on page 8.
16 Years Of Innovation, Integrity & Leadership
■ Chassis
Harnesses ■ Fuel Injection Harnesses ■ Relay Kits ■ Connectors ■ Terminals ■ Battery Accessories ■ Fuse Blocks ■ LEDs ■ Switch Control Centers ■ Switches
®
PERFORMANCE
PRODUCTS
w w w. p a i n l e s s p e r f o r m a n c e . c o m
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August/September 2008 • P|M
Table of Contents
Editorial ....................................... 5 Green your Truck........................ 6 Brothers Brown ........................... 8 Hot Rod Reunion Kentucky .... 12 Canadian Street Rod HoF........ 17 Performance Showcase ............. 18 Lone Star Roundup .................. 21 Classics in the Country ........... 26 NHRA Museum ....................... 28 Drive Clean Unfair? ................. 30 Book Review ............................. 31 Business Directory .................... 32 Reluctant Passenger .................. 34
Jim Brown brought this great-looking chopped and channelled 1933 Ford Coupe over from Erin, Ontario, to the “Classics in the Country” car show. See more on page 26.
Jeff Norwell shares photos of his Kentucky Hot Rod Reunion road trip. More on page 12.
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PERFORMANCE in MOTION
Editorial
Performance in Motion Publications 1100 The Queensway Toronto, ON M8Z 1P7 Phone: 416-259-3678 • Fax: 416-259-6433 EDITOR/PUBLISHER Bob McJannett bmcj@performanceinmotion.ca Phone: 416-259-3678 U.S. ADVERTISING Dick Van Cleve PRODUCTION DESIGN Rob McJannett rmcj@performanceinmotion.ca CONTRIBUTORS Phil Adams Thomas Anderson George Carlinliveson Nick Dunn Bob McJannett Robert Michaelson Jeff Norwell Leonard F. Slye Ken Weisbrod with Bonnie Staring as the Reluctant Passenger ILLUSTRATIONS Kayvene PROOFREADER Spike “The Machine” LaVigne MOVING? Please let us know! E-mail both your old & new address to: moving@performanceinmotion.ca Return undeliverables to: 1100 The Queensway Toronto, ON M8Z 1P7 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40609642 PERFORMANCE IN MOTION is published six times a year: February, April, June, August, October and December. Circulation is 30,000+ (ISSN 1703-8421) Copyright ©2008 All rights reserved by Performance In Motion Publishing. The fine print: We respect your privacy, and do NOT sell our mailing list. All opinions are those of our writers, most of whom have sniffed too many leaded gasoline fumes. The information presented is via said leaded gas huffers from which there can be no responsibility by the Publishers as to legality, completeness and accuracy. Be good to the environment - recycle this magazine to your friends. If you enjoy our magazine, be sure to let us know! This magazine may not be reprinted without express permission of Performance In Motion Publishing. (We’re nice guys, just ask!) BREAK THE LAW -- GO TO JAIL!
The right to drive my hobby…
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e have all felt the crunch of fuel prices in North America and listened to bureaucrats tell us to get used to it because it’s only going to get worse. We’ve listened to the oil companies tell us that the prices are high because: there aren’t enough refineries to meet the need; there has been a fire at a major refinery causing production to be down; there is a problem with a pipeline that we have to shut down, and so on. In 1978 and 1979, we had a major fuel crisis (has everyone forgotten?) that was an out and out scam, compliments of the major fuel companies and supported by the North American governments in power at the time. Today, we are being presented with a rerun of the same thing. They could have at least waited until the generation died off before re-presenting it. Do you think that government will ever step in to change things? Why would they? They collect wonderful tax revenues from the sale of fuel and the governments of North America are backed by, or own portions of, fuel companies. When one speaks of the “global warming” caused by the automobile’s use of fossil fuels, you must also consider all of the other things that contribute to the same thing. Some of them are natural phenomenon and cannot be changed. Why not put a plug in the hole that is allowing huge amounts of sulphur gases to escape from a volcano? (Tongue planted firmly in cheek!) There are those who would have us believe that mass public transit is the answer, and we must get rid of all older cars. Those same people have never had to get from the rural area to a meeting in a remote area of the urban jungle not serviced by public transit.
Those same people would say that a taxi would be the proper interconnecting link between public transit and those remote locations. Please let’s look at the cost of getting to a meeting by using a taxi service. Outlandish fees per tenth of each mile supposedly caused by such things as high fuel costs make the cost of having a meeting hard to swallow. Then there’s our entertainment: Classic Cars; Antique Cars and Trucks; Automobile Racing and so forth. We, the root of the entertainment are being forced to fight for our basic right to exist. What will the environmentalists do to raise funds without the various forms automotive sport or shows that have and continue to raise funds for them. If you have an opinion about the subject of high fuel prices, fuel scams, environmental scams or the like, please send them to: www.trackandtraffic.com. We’ll send them on to the appropriate destination.
This editorial was written by Jim and Rob Cowan, we thought you’ d like to read it. -Ed. Jim Cowan is the driving force behind Classic Auto Appraisals based in Port Robinson, Ontario. Rob Cowan, Jim’s son, is the editorial director for the web sites: www.autoappraisals.com, www.trackandtraffic.com, and www.trilateralinc.com.
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Wake-Up Call … Story & Photos by: Nick Dunn
Time to Green your Truck Pickup Truck
ow ner s looking for more horsepower, more towing torque and better fuel efficiency, there is hope. Making a couple of simple changes will bring forth real results without affecting your warranty. Our test bed was a 2006 Silverado with the 5.3 H.O. V8 and an automatic transmission. Our Silverado is set up with the towing package, positraction rear end, heavy duty springs and shocks. The modifications are a new 3” DYNOMAX cat-back exhaust, and an AIRAID high-flow cold air intake system plus one of their Poweraid Throttle Body Spacers.
Our changes were completed in two steps: First, we changed the exhaust giving the truck a noticeable improvement in fuel efficiency. The DYNOMAX system fits perfectly, everything is right where it should be, making for a very simple install. The second step involved the replacement of the stock air intake system with an AIRAID Cool Air Dam intake system along with one of AIRAID’s PowerAid Throttle Body Spacers. The whole intake transformation, with two of us wrenching, took under an hour using simple hand tools and following the easily understood, step-by-step installation instructions. The well-prepared and straightforward
Replacing the stock exhaust with the Dynomax system gave the truck a noticeable improvement in fuel efficiency.
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AIRAID instructions, make each step easy to understand and even easier to visualize with great installation images. The images are specific to the engine and vehicle model application which alleviated any guesswork. I can say without hesitation, each piece fit just the way AIRAID says it will. In addition, I was pleased at the ease with which this transformation was completed. The key advantage of our test truck is the 5.3 H.O. series motor, which comes standard with an aluminum block and heads. Because the stock Chevrolet aluminum heads really like air, by increasing the air intake and then balancing that flow increase with a 3” exhaust, we
Disconnect negative battery cable. Loosen all factory hose clamps and unplug the Mass Air Flow (MAF) meter. Remove the factory air fi lter base and lid as an assembly. Position the Airaid Cool Air Dam Intake system in place of the factory air box and secure to the inner fender. Reconnect the MAF sensor, install the Airaid Premium Air Filter.
achieved a significant performance improvement. According to AIRAID, their principal performance advantage is the increase in low-end torque, making heavy loads and trailer towing much more efficient than stock. Under testing conditions, our tow load of approximately 1,000 pounds proved to be better feeling and more responsive under acceleration. Although we were limited in our test findings, based on not having a real tow load baseline number for reference. Nonetheless, I did feel a positive gain in performance. My main purpose for the double change was to improve acceleration performance and maximize gas mileage.
We had a gas mileage baseline to work from, the Silverado’s first stock run of 600 miles plus was driving from the dealership to home. The mileage for the complete 600 miles, all freeway driving without air conditioning, was in the mid 18’s. The acceleration baseline I leave up to your imagination. The post modifications baptism run was 1,500 miles with a combination of driving characteristics; freeway (75 MPH plus), city and back country roads with the air conditioning on the entire time. Our average was 19.6 and change. I am not Einstein, but with $4.00 a gallon fuel and a 24-gallon tank, I needed extra help.
The Poweraid spacer fits between the throttle body and the intake manifold.
Our friend Nick Dunn is a writer and advertising agency owner with offices in California and Tennessee. (Thus the references to gallons and miles per gallon)
1/2” extension plates are provided for the throttle cable bracket. Inspect and test the throttle linkage for full open and closed travel before driving.
I now get more reach per tank and will save a great deal of money over a 3-4 year period of time. The changes turned into improvements waking this truck up, now it’s a breeze to merge onto freeways notorious for traffic traveling 75-80 miles per hour. The old adage says a 25-horsepower gain is felt in the seat. These improvements give both the driver and the passenger that feeling. Referring back to the second line, the hope is now changed to reality with help from AIRAID and DYNOMAX Exhaust. They really woke up this Silverado.
The sound of power ... The “whistle” means its working!
The bottom line, he was able to increase his miles travelled on a tank of fuel. Converted to metric, he would travel 38.5 km further per tank of fuel. It doesn’t matter if you are buying fuel by the gallon or by the litre, that is a good thing! —Ed. P|M • August/September 2008
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Here they are, the Brothers Brown themselves: Duke and Tony Brown. Above is the BB/A, supercharged, Chevypowered, Fiat Coupe the brothers campaigned throughout the 60s.
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Just a couple of the cars the boys have built over the years. They wish they had kept better track of just how many cars they have created. Below is Tony’s multi-award-winning 1950 Chevrolet pickup, before it moved to its new Florida home.
If you have been involved in the car hobby in eastern Canada over the past few decades, you will have crossed paths with lifelong hot rodders Duke and Tony Brown.
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mmigrating from England in 1955, arriving in Toronto’s west end in the mid 50s, Duke and his brother Tony discovered the fledgling hot rod movement hidden away in the back alleys of the inner city. There, in laneway garages, groups of young men were spending their free time turning old cars into hot rods. Now this was not the first experience the boys had with American iron. You see back home in Hatfield, their Dad had owned a 1939 Pontiac. Imagine the fun of driving a car that size on those narrow English roads. Their first notable cars were typical of the time. Duke built a 303 cubic inch Olds V8-powered, channelled Model A Coupe, While Tony had a full-fendered 34 Coupe originally powered with a full race flathead, soon powered with a 322-cubic-inch nailhead Buick. The fun began, and from then on, the rest is history. Over the years since, the Brown brothers have been front and center on the car scene and its many incarnations. Cruising, picnics, car shows, drag racing, they’ve done it all.
Their business careers also leaned towards cars. Tony went into advertising, starting his career in Canada at the legendary Eaton’s department store chain. Slowly he climbed the corporate ladder until his semi-retirement as President of Clarion Canada. (Now you know why so many hot rods sport Clarion stereos.) From start to finish, there was always a specialty car in the garage. Duke took the opposite route, he was holding down a good job at DeHavilland Aircraft, but positions were relatively easy for skilled tradesmen at the time, so Duke decided to take the summer off. “I’ll go back to work when the money runs out” (Apparently, it has never run out.) This led a number of people to ask him to work on their cars during his sabbatical; they were even willing to pay! Since those early days, he has never looked back. Dukes Street Rods was founded and even today, there is more work than he can keep up with. Between building and appraising cars, plus doing maintenance on existing hot rods, his shop is always full.
From drag racing their BB/A, supercharged, Chevy-powered, Fiat Coupe, displaying their award-winning cars at shows, or judging for car show promoters throughout the country, if it involved hot rods, the boys were there.The number of cars these brothers have built is remarkable, far too many to document here. However, we have to mention the 1950 Chevy Pickup that Tony built with Duke’s help. Starting with a truck that originated in Camp Borden, Ontario, Duke chopped the top, while Tony tore it apart and completely detailed every nook and cranny. The boys designed and built a multi-directional custom bed that followed the contours of the cab. A state-of-the-art interior was installed. Debuting at the 1987 Performance World, Tony’s truck took home the Grand Champion Truck award and numerous others. Next winter, Tony moved the truck to his winter home in Florida, where he took best in show at 10 car shows. Stories are legendary; most can only be told with a cold one by your side. Suffice to say, through all these years, the “boys” have been positive role models for future hot rodders. Carrying the car enthusiast’s torch forward with dignity. Their club, The Roadmates, took the slogan “A Road Well Travelled” to celebrate its 50th anniversary. That same slogan could easily be applied to Duke and Tony Brown. P|M • August/September 2008
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Nothing crazy here. Just a well planned, neat V8 Chevrolet engine installation. Like all of Dukes work, it fits right, works right and is safe to drive.
Current
Custom-made smooth tailgate, home-built Tonneau cover, 1950 Pontiac taillights and dual exhaust. All the classic hot rod pickup touches that combine with the otherwise original body.
Duke’s 1939 Deluxe Coupe, circa 1995.
Duke’s 1932 Ford highboy, state-of-the-art construction for a real street-driven hot rod.
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Duke Brown
The old saying “shoemakers’ children go barefoot” holds true for someone who spends all of his waking hours working on hot rods. After selling his 1932 highboy roadster in 2000, Duke had a long dry spell without a car of his own. Everything he started quickly became a vehicle for someone else, or he couldn’t find just the right vehicle to begin with. Finally in 2005, Duke came upon a great looking 1951 International Pickup. It arrived as a freshly painted original truck. Quickly, it was disassembled to receive Duke’s special touch. The front suspension was replaced with one from a Mustang ll which included rack and pinion steering and 11” disk brakes. At the rear, an 8” Ford rear end with a 2.79 gear ratio, was hung onto a set of parallel leaf springs. With a set of American Hopster wheels and B F Goodrich tires installed, the truck sat right where Duke wanted it to. The original inline engine and transmission were removed and replaced with one of GM’s popular 350-cubic-inch crate motors. An Edelbrock carburetor and the requisite chrome goodies are all that were necessary to make the engine compartment look right. While the body was in great shape, it still took some time to get the gaps the way Duke likes them. He fabricated his own smooth tailgate and built a proper tonneau to protect the goods in the bed from prying eyes. The steering column was replaced with one that would tilt. All the chrome trim was restored to shiny perfection and a pair of 1950 Pontiac taillights were added to the panel below the tailgate. The dash was modified to accept a set of Autometer Quad gauges and a Clarion stereo. Once the interior was completed by Island Upholstery, the truck saw the road. Two years later, Duke’s International Pickup remains a trouble free, fun to drive street rod. Just the way they’re supposed to be.
Rides: Tony’s coupe with all the subtle changes that make everything smooth. Hood ornament and badges removed. One piece front bumper with bumper guards removed.
Tony modified the original dash to accept a set of Autometer gauges, a Clarion Stereo and a Vintage Air A/C head.
All the pieces needed to create a great ride. Chev V8 engine, Dual master cylinder, 12v alternator, air conditioning, all combine to provide a safe, comfortable modified car.
Similar changes at the rear. Emblems and lock removed and smoothed. One piece rear bumper and dual exhaust.
Tony Brown
Tony has taken a different road. He has always had a specialty car or truck as a second vehicle. Since taking semi-retirement, he has become Duke’s summer help, specializing in getting those rippled old bodies ready for paint. As well, now that he spends his winters in Florida, he has been building a new car every year to take south. His current ride, residing right here in Ontario, is a 1950 Chevrolet two-door. Again the front suspension was replaced with a Fatman setup. Tony went over the body making sure there were no blemishes or ripples to be seen. The interior was replaced with a modern version and polished American five-spoke aluminum wheels were added at all four corners. The dash was modified to accept a full set of Autometer gauges and a Clarion stereo. Under the hood resides another of those popular GM 305-cubic-inch crate motors. Not one to rest on his laurels, Tony is currently working on a 1957 Chevrolet sedan delivery. Plans call for completion by September. Our hats are off to the Brothers Brown, over 50 years as hot rodders and mentors to other hot rod enthusiasts.
Tony’s 1937 Ford Coupe. Tony sold this car in 2000 after owning it for eighteen years. P|M • August/September 2008
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Hot Rod Reunion Story & Photos by: Jeff Norwell
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he 6th annual Hot Rod Reunion was held in Bowling Green, Kentucky, back where it started. The venue was previously held last year in Columbus, Ohio. This year’s event was a nitro-fi lled six-day road trip! And what a trip it was. Being a traditional hot rod and custom guy, the Bowling Green experience was pure nirvana. I travelled with Neil Candy and his killer drag car “Mother’s Worry,” a blown-392 1930 Model A sedan. Neil ran healthy with a 10.40 time on the Kentucky adventure, and it was fun to be his “crew chief.” Upon arriving to the event, your mind goes numb with the amount of Gassers, front engine drag cars, funny cars, altereds and the like, to see. I believe there was a total of 1,000 race cars running during the three-day event. There were many street cars as well, with a car show for hot rods and customs. With over 2,000 vehicles, you could have spent the entire event just in that area, so much to see. The vendors were plentiful and there was lots to be hauled back home for your next project or race car. Big names were also on hand: Big Daddy Don Garlits, Ohio George, and Al Bergler to name a few. My good buddy Dave Cox and the Hog Mountain Garage gang were there from Atlanta, Georgia, running their 1932 threewindow injected-alcohol small block Chevypowered Ford, called “Hellzapop’n.” I believe those boys ran a 10.01 or better, super quick car and a great bunch of guys. Saturday evening was a treat; when the Cacklefest started, it was unbelievable! Seeing, smelling and hearing nitro cars light up is a memory I will not soon forget. I can imagine what it might have been like in the sixties to see these monsters rule the track. Old drag racers were and are the true pioneers of the drag racing. I highly suggest to anyone, if you are into drag racing, REAL drag racing, get yer ass to next year’s Hot Rod Reunion. It’s worth the drive!
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A Hot Rod Reunion means Gasser Heaven — So many supercharged Gassers, you couldn’t swing a cat without hitting one. (I apologize for the cat prints I left on a few.)
Bob Walker of Hot Heads fame was cruising the grounds in his ‘32 Ford Five Window. Th is resurrected race car was shaking the ground everywhere it went. Where is the radiator? In the trunk, of course! P|M • August/September 2008
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Dave Cox brought “HellzaPop’n,” his 1932 Ford three-window injected small block Chevy running on alcohol. Ashlei voluntered to model as a trophy girl in the blazing sun. That was one hot Kentucky weekend.
I travelled to Kentucky with Neil Candy and “Mother’s Worry” his Supercharged 392 on gas 1930 A Sedan.
Mother’s Worry Race Team: (l-r) Neil Candy, Dennis and Wally. Not Pictured: Mike & the Author.
The “WuTu Clan” Chinese Choppers were the only way to roll all weekend long. This show is just too big to walk.
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Being a “Mother’s Worry” Team member left little time to see all the other cars. With 1,000 race cars running during the three day event, and a car show of over 2,000 hotrods and customs, there was a lot I missed.
A show this size means there are so many cars to see, so little time.
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Here the author is being deafened and choked by the smokin’ fury of “Mother’s Worry”s Supercharged 392. Nice safety gear there, Jeff.—Ed.
2007 Dodge SRT8 Hemi 6.1L Dyno Proven! One Bottle Increased HP by 14.3 and Torque by 16.1 ft/lbs.
New PX3 Xtreme Oil Booster Works on All types of engines...gas or diesel. “... a unique patented synthetic formulation energized to make your engine perform...” Gain an extra 5% HP and Torque or more - just by adding one bottle of race proven PX3 Xtreme Oil Booster to your engine’s oil ... you’ll feel the difference. Then add just one bottle every other oil change to maintain the performance. Users have reported mileage increases up to 10%, resulting in 1 to 3 Miles Per Gallon improvements. PX3 also provides protection against friction, heat and wear up to 3 times better than any leading oil additive on the market. Results vary by application and conditions.
Also available:
PX3 Synthetic Gear Oil
Legendary Taylor Cable Products & PX3 are available at All PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS Locations! www.PERFORMANCEIMPROVEMENTS .COM TORNOTO
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BARRIE
BRAMPTON
GUELPH
HAMILTON
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NEWMARKET
PIERREFONDS
LAVAL
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For more information, go to: http://www.nhra.com
July 1994 was the date of the first CSRHoF presentation, held during the Canadian Street Rod Nationals in Moncton, New Brunswick. (L to R) James Dean, Clancy Adams and son, Larry Way, Frank Niereisel, Dizzy Dean Murray, Bill Merkley, Arlene Bailey, Paul and Dorothy Horton, Bob Kurtz. Kneeling: Keith Waters and CSRHoF founder Jim Cowan.
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he Canadian Street Rodding Hall of Fame (CSRHoF) was created in 1993 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Street Rod Nationals and to honour the pioneers of hot rodding in Canada. At the July 1994 event in Moncton, New Brunswick, the first 25 members were inducted. Among the Canada-wide group, were representatives from all facets of the hobby – from industry pioneers like Bob McJannett and Paul and Dorothy Horton, personalities like ‘Dizzy’ Dean Murray, automotive journalists like Liz Kitzul and Jil McIntosh, to grass roots hot rodders like Jim Flett and John Van Dube, as well as supporting companies like BFGoodrich tires. Since 1994, at least one new inductee has been honoured each year as part of the award ceremonies at the Canadian Street Rod Association’s national event. Most recently Bill Aitken of Brampton, long-time hot rodder and former CSRA volunteer executive, was inducted at the 2007 Super Street Nationals in Markham, Ontario. Each year’s inductee receives a keeper award, while the large trophy itself (engraved with all the honoured members) is on permanent display in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in Milton, Ontario.
In a change from previous years, the 2008 CSRHoF annual Dinner, Dance & Gala celebrating the latest Hall of Fame inductee will be held Sept. 20, the evening of the Fall Waterdown Swap Meet. The venue will be the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 551 in Waterdown. A meet-and-greet hour to renew acquaintances and relive old memories will get the evening started. Next will be a catered meal featuring the finest local home-cooked food, in abundance. A great meal will get everyone in the mood for the Hall of Fame presentation honouring this year’s inductee. Finally, Paul and David Horton’s band will provide live entertainment to cap off a perfect evening. Each year, the CSRHoF Gala has improved and grown. “It is our intention to make our Gala the most sought-after ticket in Canadian Street Rodding” said Bill Merkley, entertainment chairman.
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For more information contact: Jim Cowan info@csrhof.com or classic@iaw.com P|M • August/September 2008
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Performance Showcase
Royal Purple lubrication products are top of the line, here is one of their latest. Launching your car puts extreme stress on your rear differential. This often causes conventional lubricants to become ineffective, contributing to fatigue or failure in both gears and bearings. Royal Purple’s Max-Gear is an ultra-tough automotive gear oil specifically formulated to handle the strain. Max-Gear provides protection while maximizing power output throughout the drive train. Its shock load (a.k.a. “launching”) protection reduces fatigue failure in gears and bearings. Max-Gear’s low coefficient of friction saves energy, reduces temperatures and requires no limited-slip additive. It makes gears run smoother, quieter, cooler and longer without overhauls. To learn more, drop into your nearest Royal Purple retailer. (www.royalpurple.com)
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Professional Products brings you Lightweight small-block Ford Harmonic Dampers. The engineers at Professional Products have designed new lightweight small-block Ford Powerforce high performance street dampers for both early, 1965-78 and late, 1979-08 Ford engines. The new lightweight racing construction decreases rotating mass providing superior performance! These Powerforce street dampers feature bolt-in counter weights. Both can be used on internally balanced engines with the counterweight removed. They come standard with both 3- and 4-bolt accessory pulley bolt patterns, three sets of timing marks and engraved marks for TDC. Visit your nearest Professional Products retailer. (www.professionalproducts.com)
Barry Grant presents its 98 Triple Deuce Intake Package. Responding to requests from hot rodders everywhere, Barry Grant Inc. has just released two new Demon 98 Triple Deuce intake packages for the small-block Chevy. Three Demon 98 3-bolt two-barrel carburetors are combined with the latest intake manifold technology for a bold yet classic old school look with excellent performance and drivability. Choose either, classic red fuel lines and a chrome fuel block or billet fuel rails. For complete specifications, visit your nearest Barry Grant retailer. (www.barrygrant.com )
New from Airaid Cold Air Intakes for the 1999-2004 Ford Mustang GT equipped with the 4.6L V-8. This new application is a complete Cold Air Dam system that features: A carefully designed air filter with SynthaFlow layering, for maximum flow and dirt retention. A large deep-breathing Cold Air Box that seals the warm out and lets the cold air in. A real 11 horsepower and 10 ft/lbs of torque increase documented on AIRAID’s engineering-quality Dynamometer! Their precise air flow design delivers an accurate and correct air fuel ratio. Engineered to fit with most strut-tower support braces. Of course, all Airaid products include Airaids’s No-Hassle Warranty. For further information, check out your nearest Airaid retailer. (www.airaid.com)
Design Engineering announces their latest Hi-Temp Shrink Tubes. DEI’s flexible, flame retardant polyolefin tubing will give you excellent electrical insulation, protection from solvents and provide strain relief to the wire bundles. Hi-Temp shrink tubing will reduce to 33% of its original diameter creating a water-tight seal. Clean professional look, thick wall structure, yet easily installed with a heat gun. Look for your nearest DEI retailer. (www.designengineering.com)
New from Putco Chrome Trim Mirror Covers that will fit the 2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra with the towing mirror package. These are a great way to improve the look of those large but necessary mirrors included in your towing package. Easily installed, no special tools required. To learn more, visit your nearest Putco retailer. (www.putco.com)
KW Suspensions HLS (Hydraulic Lift System) equipped vehicles are able to increase their ride height from 30mm to 45mm depending on their vehicle application. This is advantageous for vehicles with lowered suspensions and/or sports cars fitted with spoilers or extremely low body-styling components. HLS is also beneficial when driving on extremely rough roads, through road construction and when negotiating speed bumps. Lifting the vehicle’s ride height helps to prevent damage and increases sports cars drivability for everyday use. The range has been expanded to include the entire Porsche 997 model range. Future applications include: the Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette and Lamborghini Gallardo. Further information on HLS and the entire product range from KW suspensions can be found online at www.kwsuspensions.com.
Flaming River Industries announces keyed steering columns for Mopar. Their allnew line of tilt steering columns for Chrysler applications features a new Chrysler-style key and tumbler assembly. The new one-piece key assembly housing is not an “addon,” and delivers eye-appeal and user convenience. The columnmounted assembly is mounted in the original “Key At 3” (o’clock) location as found on the early-70s classic Chrysler cars. The columns fit Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth A-bodies (Dart, Duster), B-bodies (Coronet, Daytona, Super Bee, Satellite, GTX, Roadrunner), C-bodies (Monaco, Polara, Fury, Sport Fury), and E-bodies (Cuda, Challenger). The columns are completely “Made in the USA,” featuring all-new components, including the ignition switch and key assembly. The columns utilize stainless steel tubes and aluminum housings in paintable (mill finish), black powder coat or chrome finishes. The wiring connectors are included to make installation “plug and play.” A key feature of the new Mopar column is a slip shaft with the proper universal joint to install to a stock Chrysler manual or power steering box. The Mopar key columns are available only in floor shift models. Look for your nearest Flaming River retailer. (www.flamingriver.com) P|M • August/September 2008
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A Texas-Sized Weekend of Loud Pipes, Lead Sleds, Live Music and more …
STAR
LONE
ROUNDUP Story & Photos by: Jeff Norwell
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he early weeks of April are always marked off on my calendar, as it’s reserved for one of the greatest hotrod and custom weekends I simply look forward too. This year was no exception. The plan was to travel with my pal Neil and scoot down to Austin as a road trip. I have made many excellent pals in the great state of Texas, so I loaded up the red Silverado and we headed south. We got there on a Wednesday afternoon and spent the evening catching up with Von Franco and his lovely wife Katie. We talked and laughed until I passed out at 2 a.m.
Thursday morning we headed out to the Continental Club to hang up our art and see what was in store. I was privileged to hang my artwork with other great automotive artists such as: Rod Powell, Keith Weesner, Von Franco and Juan Espinosa. Great guys and good fun! One of the many highlights of my trip. The Club also features great bands and nightlife during the Roundup. At night, the cruising and crowds on Congress St. is amazing. Steve Wertheimer (club owner) was on hand to give us the lowdown on the schedule of the upcoming days’ events.
Steve and his car club (The Kontinentals) have had the Lone Star Roundup going now for seven years. A complete success as it is an ol’ time Hot Rod and Kustom car show. No billet or “modern” street rods are allowed. Meeting up with some long-time friends and pals, Neil and I headed to see the action. The show was utterly fantastic. Held at the Expo Center just five miles out of Austin. The vibe was cool, upbeat and very friendly. The weather was superb all weekend. The car count was over 1,500, and the swap meet was amazing. Many neat swap meet items were available at very decent prices.
Customs and Hot Rods galore, including a pair of Gary Howardbuilt Mercurys. P|M • August/September 2008
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I saw a killer ‘50 Ford Shoebox that ran like a sewing machine for 7,500 bucks or best offer. Bands played all day and never stopped. The vendor area was fully set up and many cool items could be had. This show has it all, cool rides, race cars, hot rods, kustoms and the nicest people you could meet.
If you like traditional rides, be sure to mark it on the calendar for sure. Next years event is scheduled for April 17-19, 2009, and you can visit www.lonestarroundup.com for more info. The Lone Star Roundup is not for everybody though. You won’t get in unless you’re registered, and ya gotta send a photo of your
Von Franco and his lovely wife Katie were hanging out and selling swag.
Von Francos’ Lightning Bug clone, built using Norm Grabowski’s original headers, has since been sold.
Doc’s Blown Flathead-powered 1933 Ford sedan has all the right stuff!
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car. If your car is covered in Billet, or built from a kit, you won’t be getting in. It’s for traditional-looking cars only. See ya there y’all!
Nitro -Burning nostalgia fuel cars were on display everywhere.
P|M • August/September 2008
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HP288_Dist_PerfInMotion.qxp
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August/September 2008 • P|M
Aaron Grote’s “Atomic Punk” made its Texas Debut.
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For further information, go to: www.lonestarroundup.com P|M • August/September 2008
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Parked amongst the Camaros and the Mustangs was this neat looking Model T-styled Volks Rod.
Pearl Yellow Model A Tudor with small-block Chevy power is owned by Mississauga’s Wayne Knight.
Classics in the Country 2008 2008
will be the fi fth year for the “Classics in the Country” car show hosted by the Mississauga Classic Car Club. The show, held on the grounds of one of their member’s farm is open to all types of specialty cars.
“Classics in the Country” is a very family-oriented event with games for the kids, breakfasts cooked by the Hillsburgh Boy Scouts and a barbeque lunch to keep away the hunger pangs. Last year’s event hosted over 275 specialty vehicles. The day
was fi lled with door prizes, a 50/50 draw, awards and a grand prize draw. The grounds are lush and the atmosphere electric. The drive to the event is through a wonderful section of Southern Ontario on paved secondary roads with some great scenery.
Talk about rare! Ron Passer’s 1958 Pontiac Parisienne Convertible comes with a tripower 409 engine and four-speed manual transmission.
If you would like to spend an interesting day in the country, this is an event you shouldn’t miss. The 2008 date for this show is Sunday, Aug. 31.
Shades of the Super/Stock wars of the 60s. Jim MacArthur from Erin brought out his 426 Max wedge-powered 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury.
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The 2008 “Classics in the Country” car show date is Sunday, Aug. 31.
For further information, go to: www.mississaugaclassiccarclub.org
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With the hood down, no one would know that this great looking 1956 Ford F100 pickup sports blown big block power.
Roland Vardon’s 1963 Studebaker Avanti was just one of the many rare cars that turned up at the “Classics in the Country.”
Another rare car that showed up was Dave McLeods 1937 Oldsmobile Tudor street rod. When’s the last time you saw one of these?
Jim Brown brought this great looking chopped and channeled 1933 Ford Coupe from Erin Ontario. It looks very familiar.—Ed. P|M • August/September 2008
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Wally Parks
NHRA
MOTORSPORTS Th is imposing structure is the entrance to Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
Story & Photos By Len Sly
W
ally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout 2008. If you are planning a visit to the Los Angeles area, this is a “don’t miss.” Even though founder Wally Parks passed away Sept. 28, 2007, his desire to grow this museum into the premier exhibit space for all types of motorsport is being continued by Executive Director Tony Thacker and his enthusiastic staff. Obviously with its
connection to NHRA, there is an extremely in-depth display of drag racing memorabilia and milestone drag vehicles. Additionally, you will find displays of: dry lakes and Bonneville racers; a Kurtis 1/4 Midget, one of the Indy cars driven by A.J. Foyt; some exquisite custom cars such as a 1940 Mercury Coupe and a 1946 Ford Convertible; plus many more. New this year is Wally’s Garage, an interactive area for the refur-
MUSEUM
bishing of display vehicles. Visitors can observe the work and ask questions. First up will be the “Howard Cams Rattler” one of the 60s most successful frontengined top fuel dragsters. Exhibits are constantly changing to keep the museum fresh. Currently, you will see displays for: Bakersfield– a salute to the March Meet– 50 years of racing; The 70th anniversary of the Southern California Timing Association; Celebrating 60
years of Hot Rod magazine; A tribute to American Ingenuity, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Coker Tire, and the 60th anniversary of Honest Charlies Speed Shop. Beginning in August will be Trophy Girls, a photo exhibit of the glamour girls of racing. So, if the coming cold weather gets you down and LA becomes your warm destination, be sure to take in the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum.
Claimed to be the fi rst-ever dragster, Dick Kraft ’s stripped-down Model T Roadster “The Bug” ran more than 113 mph!
Before you even get into the building, you are confronted with the gas truck from LA’s Gilmore Stadium.
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U S E R P A Y S If we have to have a Drive Clean program, make it fair for all! Rant by: Phil Adams
T
o be very clear upfront, I am not a fan of the Ontario Drive Clean taxation program. I know the Government claims the program is not a tax, but to me it is the very definition of a tax; a fee for a service that no one wants, but is considered to be for the “public good.” The whole purpose of the program is to reduce the air pollution contributed by vehicles whose emission systems are defective. This is a fine objective, but how effective has it been? The reduction in vehicle pollution has been estimated at about 3%. The total contribution of vehicles to that total is about 6%. So, we have achieved a reduction in the overall pollution total of about 0.18%. If the American factories in the Ohio Valley were to close for about 10 seconds a year, they would have a much greater positive impact. If you don’t think that the largest portion of our pollution comes from south of the border, consider this, “Why do we have high smog days in the summer, when the prevailing winds are from the southwest and almost never in the winter, when the winds are from the north and northwest? Let me relate a couple of personal experiences with Drive Clean inspections. I am a car guy, do all of my own maintenance and keep my cars for a long time. So, when I got my first notification of the need for a Drive Clean etest, I decided that I would entrust my 1985 Jeep Cherokee to the experts at that large Canadian chain of automotive department stores. You know, the one that’s normally referred to by its three initials, starting with “C.” Since this was a new program, even the technicians were still not fully familiar with some aspects of testing, and I overheard one tech, showing another one, how to get a high reading by partially pinching a vacuum hose. My car passed that time, but I have always been wary after that. Several years later, I took the same car to the same three-letter company for another e-test. I browsed in the store during the test and shortly, I was paged to the service desk. The service advisor sadly informed me that the car had failed. I expressed surprise and asked to see the test results; they showed slightly high CO readings. I scanned the rest of the test report and noticed that the engine was described as 2.8 litre V-6. I informed the tech that my car had a 2.5 litre 4-cylinder engine. He asked me if I was sure!
I sent an e-mail to the Drive Clean administration asking if there was any provision for a situation like this; where parts for an emission control system were simply unavailable at any price? I received a reply that they would get back to me with a resolution. I have not heard from them since. I resolved the problem by checking with a local garage/wrecking yard who pointed out that some Chevrolets use a similar EGR (I took it off to compare), and we found a good substitute. The car passed again without problems, using only about 20% of the available range, showing 319,000 kilometres on the speedometer! My own struggles with the Drive Clean system point out to me that the system contains a basic flaw. If the intent is to reduce the number of tons of pollution emitted into the atmosphere, then here is a suggestion. When we go for our e-test, the emission level should be tested and the number of kilometres should be recorded. A simple multiplication factor would then be applied. If the vehicle uses 100% of the range of emissions, then the owner would pay 100% of the licensing fee. If the vehicle is over the allowable limit by say, 20%, the annual licence fee would be increased by 20%. Similarly, if the vehicle was shown to have travelled in excess of a set number of kilometres per year, say 20,000, the owner would pay proportionally more. So, my Mom, who drives her old K-Car about 2,000 kilometres a year and keeps the car in good repair, would likely get a break. On the other hand, a taxi or tow truck that is on the road continually, would pay their fair share, based on the amount of emissions they spew into the air. In my suggested system, the automotive manufacturers would be responsible for ensuring that the pollution systems are defect-free for at least 10 years. Should a vehicle fail its test during that period, the repair costs would be assessed to the car company or the repair, done at no cost to the owner. Although my proposal will never see the light of day, because governments will never take on the big guys when it is so much easier to levy taxes on the small guys, it does point out the basic failure of the Ontario Drive Clean program in that it does not address the issue of reducing pollution by starting with the biggest polluters!
Drive Clean has reduced overall pollution by about 0.18%. A much greater positive impact would be felt if factories in the Ohio Valley closed for only 10 seconds a year.
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I showed him the ownership again which clearly said “cylinders – 4.” He insisted that we go out to look at the car. When I opened the hood, he pointed out that it was a five-cylinder car, as proven by the five high tension wires connected to the distributor cap. They took the car back in for a retest and shortly, I was paged again and again informed that the car had failed; this time using the correct engine specs. I looked at the test report and pointed out that the CO was now about 20% higher than it had been on the first test. At the lower, original reading, it would have passed! I inquired how the emissions could vary by that much in twenty minutes? They took the test report and without taking the car back in, produced a new report giving the car a clear pass. I have never been back to that service department. Since then, I only take my cars to “Test Only” centres. Three years ago, I had to take the same Jeep for its final Drive Clean e-test. I did a thorough preparation and noticed the EGR valve was not working properly; it appeared that the diaphragm was perforated. I called the usual sources to get a new one and was astonished to find the part was no longer available; not from the dealer, nor the aftermarket chains. I called Chrysler and was told they are only required to maintain parts availability for 15 years.
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Performance Directory
Auto Services Ltd. P• 905-471-3335 F• 905-471-7274 C• 647-228-3434
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Doug Lamb
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August/September 2008 • P|M
Performance Directory
P|M • August/September 2008
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Go Green …with envy
times he’s had with the current street machine. It might bring a tear to his eye or have him rubbing the steering wheel fondly. Best to leave the two of them alone.
E
verywhere you turn, people are talking about making things greener. If you don’t mind me saying, I think the performance world is green enough already. No, this isn’t a rant on the pressure to use fuel alternatives or drive less–it’s about dealing with the green eye of envy that takes hold of our drivers. Let’s face it; automotive enthusiasts can be a competitive bunch. Just head out to any car event and earwig on a group of vehicle virtuosos. You’ll probably hear:
Wish I had that stuff in/on/ for my ride While wanting to improve on what you already have is a good thing, part envy can be a huge problem if it gets out of hand. If you find a cam shaft or two under the couch, you’re there already. What you can do: lead him to sage advice, whether from a good friend or from someone who installed the whatchamacallit or mambo widget that your driver’s in a sweat over. Knowledge is power.
“Zero to 60? It was more like 160.” “...knew it was the alternator just by how it sounded.” “Over 40 pounds of chrome under the hood...” “Yeah, I had to bleed the clutch, but I did it blindfolded.” Unlike their fisherman brothers, car nuts rarely brag about the one that got away. That’s because they don’t want to be known as the driver doing without, like the poor schmuck who has a part on backorder in the middle of drive season.
This brings us around to the green stuff–what some passengers refer to as environmental enviousness. Taking on different forms, it springs up in all kinds of environments: auctions, car shows, driveways, cruises, repair shops, parking lots, bathrooms...and wreaks havoc on the confidence of the afflicted car nut.
Here are the most notorious forms and how we, as passengers, can help our drivers cope: Wish I had that ride He may never say it aloud, but you know he’s been hit when his neck twists faster than a funnel cloud when the vehicle of his dreams rolls by. What you can do: pull out photos of the good
Wish I had a working ride This is the most challenging envy of them all, especially if the “wreck in progress” has been sitting in pieces on the asphalt since Groundhog Day. What you can do: be gentle, as this is when your car freak is at his most fragile. Even if you know for a fact the ride is idle due to operator error, use your gift of pointing out the obvious to call in some favours. Maybe some of his greasy friends can help. Whatever you do, know that you’re not alone. Coping with environmental enviousness is something we all have to go through. Consider it a sign that you’ve finally arrived.
About the Author: Bonnie Staring is a comedian, advertising copywriter and one of those people who enters all kinds of contests. To see what else she’s been ranting about, visit her website: www.bonniestaring.com Illustration created by Kayvene • website: www.kayvene.typepad.com
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