GET OUT & DRIVE THEM
Vol.11 #1 •
WINTER 2011
Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40609642
Performance in Motion 1100 The Queensway Toronto, ON M8Z 1P7 Phone: 416-259-3678 Fax: 416-259-6433
EDITOR/PUBLISHER Bob McJannett bmcj@sympatico.ca PRODUCTION DESIGN Rob McJannett CONTRIBUTORS Thomas Anderson Joshua Baron-Cohen Mike Bennett Greg Forman Jim Madigan Frank Malfara Robert Michaelson Leonard F. Slye with Bonnie Staring as the Reluctant Passenger PROOFREADER Spike “The Machine” LaVigne
Table of Contents Guest Editorial..........................................................4 The Best Boat in the World?......................................6 Ignition Upgrades...................................................10 Madigan’s Vintage Tin............................................16 Return to the 50s.....................................................22 Book Review............................................................28 Old Coots Rod Run.................................................30 INIZIO Electronic Supercar...................................34 0-415 MPHin 11 months.........................................38 Product Showcase....................................................40 Product Showcase....................................................42 Directory Ads..........................................................44 Reluctant Passenger................................................46
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Are you Moving? Let us know, email us at: moving@ performanceimprovements.com PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40609642 • PERFORMANCE IN MOTION is published four times a year: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Circulation is 30,000+ (ISSN 1703-8421) Copyright ©2011 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 the usual gang of idiots, most of whom sniff gas fumes. The information presented is via said gas sniffers, from which there can be no responsibility by the Publishers as to legality, completeness or accuracy. Recycle this magazine - give it to your friends. If you enjoy our magazine, be sure to let us know! This magazine may not be reprinted without permission of Performance In Motion Publishing. (We’re nice guys, just ask) • Thanks for everything Russ! •
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Guest Editorial
Guest Editorial If you have been reading any of the recent U.S. car publications, you have read articles explaining the amount of governmental intrusion into the car enthusiasts’ enjoyment of the car hobby. In case you think this is only a U.S. problem, read on. We asked Gord Forman to explain what is happening in his province.
Can they outlaw hot rodding? I stole that title from the December Hot Rod magazine. What is happening with increased frequency in the USA, is also happening here in Canada. Politicians are rightly charged with the task of making regulations that will reduce the impact of human activity on our fragile environment. The provinces and territories are, individually, considering what measures each will take to reach this goal. Additionally, there are a variety of federal initiatives that take a more national perspective. Can the collector car hobby survive if it must monitor such a many-faced target? How can we ensure that if one or two provinces enact questionable regulations that other provinces will not blindly follow suit? Most provincial committees are well intentioned; although Manitoba’s most recent initiative has its roots in a committee that is inherently suspect. All Manitoba vehicles are insured by the monopoly holding Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI]. The result is that the Department of Motor Vehicles is effectively governed by the insurance arm. A
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conflict of interest is inevitable. The latest dastardly event was October’s announcement from MPI that any pre ’95 vehicle declared a write-off cannot be re-registered. It will be auctioned for parts use only. Imagine a pristine 1958 Edsel or a well-engineered 1935 Ford suffering a wildlife collision that takes out the front bumper, a grille and a fender. MPI then deduces that it will be costly and difficult to find these parts and offers a decent payout based on the value of the car. The original owner (who, by the way, could buy
should follow Manitoba’s lead and protect themselves from having old cars “dumped” on them, they will be motivated to generate similar statutes. In the end, there may well be a snowball effect, where poorly thought-out regulations in one province spread across the country, to the detriment of car enthusiasts. In the USA, the SEMA Action Network lobbies against poor regulation, while in Canada, we rely on the National Association of Automobile Clubs Canada (NAACC). A source of wonderment for me is the reluctance of Canadian hobbyists to be willing to help finance efforts aimed at safeguarding their hobby. There are real costs involved in lobbying for, and promoting, the hobby. Fortunately, SEMA is free as it is supported by the performance industry. In Canada, NAACC lacks similar industry support and asks for a minimal fee of $5 a year. NAACC has been managing on a minimal fee structure (with increases along the way) since 1969 and has many ‘saves’ to its record. NAACC saved lacquer paints, and the more recently leaded fuel. They were instrumental in helping car reduce bumper crash standards so Corvette lovers could back continue bringing Corvettes into Canada. It is safe to say and keep the that only about half the clubs in Canada support NAACC. registration) decides he is Why is this? No one else is helping them. NAACC is the unable to go through the only truly national organization looking out for the interests restoration process again, of the collector car constituency. They deserve the support of takes the money. The vehicle every car nut in the country. is now gone, and under NAACC responded quickly to the MPI policy, and with the current proposal, will the support of the Provincial body MAAC (Manitoba Assoc. never hit the road again in of Automobile Clubs) has already received verbal assurances Manitoba. It must be sold for that MPI would “never let a classic be relegated to the parts parts. The purchaser might pile.” Verbal does not cut it, does it? The old “trust me” from well say “I’ll just sell it out a politician or government bureaucrat has no lasting value. of province.” If, however, MPI is attempting, as I write this, to word the policy in a other provinces think they way we will find it acceptable. Hard to imagine anything less acceptable than the use of the delete key. We will not let them outlaw hot rodding. Gord Forman Winnipeg-based Manitoba Director of the NAACC. He can be reached by email at gordforman@shaw.ca
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The Best Boat in the World?
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lways wanted to own the best? Here is your chance. Gray Design of Sweden created this limited edition super yacht for those who only want the best. Built by Kurt Strand of Strand Craft, also located in Sweden, it is known as the Strand Craft 166 (SC166). This is a 166-foot-long luxury yacht for those who like to go fast. Powered by two 5,766hp engines with a 5,600hp booster engine, the SC166 is capable of cruising
speeds of 30 knots with a top speed of 40 knots. Believe me that’s fast for a 166-foot boat. Contributing to the sleek profile of the yacht is the retractable flybridge and radar mast that retreat into the skin of the yacht when not in use. Both are available only when they are required, ensuring the yacht keeps the cleanest possible lines for making that first impression. The Strand Craft 166 features art-deco style cabins, luxury furnishings including
a 52” LED TV, plus top quality Bang & Olufson sound systems in every cabin. Four large bedrooms, a salon area that will seat fifteen and a reception area ensures your guests have everything they might need. No expense has been spared in the creation of this beautiful yacht. Concealed beneath the carbon fibre, inlaid foredeck is a sun deck equipped with a large jacuzzi, sporting a built-in bar to ensure that every party is well catered for. Access is through a ver-
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tically sliding glass door in the windscreen of the pilot house where there is ample seating for eight guests. When travelling from port to port in a yacht of this magnitude, chances are you’ll attract attention, sometimes from the wrong crowd. If so desired, Grey Design will bulletproof the cockpit for increased safety. Now, a boat like this deserves a great tender, something to get you from boat to land. How about a ramp in the rear that will drop down
onto the dock allowing you to drive your supercar out of its garage in the hull, onto dry land? The SC166’s Supercar tender ensures you can roll out at your favorite port in ultimate style. With a V8 engine producing 620 hp and a top speed of 305 kph, the tender is an accessory that will certainly put a smile on your face. However, if this one catches your eye, you will have to hurry, the plan is to build a total of six and they have five interested parties.
The first one is on the James List now, so get your order in ASAP. Talk about exclusive! How much you ask? Well, if you have to ask, you’re probably already out of the running. You may want to increase the max on your Visa card since fuel to get it back home will be pretty expensive. Check out jameslist.com or graydesign.se for all the details.
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THE BEST? Written By Robert Michaelson
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The automotive theme continues inside with the red leather covered upholstery that adorns large surfaces of the interior. Where do they find red cows anyway?
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The SC166 comes with its own custom supercar, or you could choose to go with other supercars like Koenigsegg, Ferrari or Lamborghini. Show off at your favourite port in style.
Retractable roof panels conceal radar equipment and a hot tub that are hidden from sight when not in use.
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Ignition Upgrades
HOLY LIGHTNING STRIKE, Batman! If you are upgrading the performance characteristics of your engine, don’t forget to include ignition upgrades. In fact, in a number of cases, simply adding performance enhancing ignition components alone will bring your engine to life. Written by: Thomas Anderson • Photos: Courtesy of MSD, Pertronix, Taylor
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ultiple spark ignition control boxes (capacitive discharge ignition controls) that provide multiple spark strikes, are among today’s most popular ignition upgrades Simply stated, 12 volts can be increased to in excess of 500 volts, multiple spark strikes expand firing duration. This results in easier starting, particularly in cold climates, improved idle, crisp throttle response and improved high rpm performance. Manufacturers such as 10 • PiM • WINTER 2011
MSD, Pertronix, and Taylor all offer high-quality parts to ignite your fuel charge more efficiently than the OE parts that came with your engine. No matter if you are trying to upgrade an engine with a pre-70s poi nt-st yle distributor or one of the latest LS1, LS6, LS7 engines, there
are parts available to fire your fuel more efficiently. Starting with a pointstyle distributor, the best modification is to get rid
IGNITOR: Works great in stock point-type distributors as a trigger for multi-spark CD ignitions, eliminating the need for expensive aftermarket distributors.
IGNITORII: Ignitor II systems develop up to 4 times more energy between 3,000 and 5,000 RPM than standard ignition systems.
IGNITORIII: Ignition box performance... without the “box”! 5 times more spark energy than points. More Horsepower & Mileage with improved combustion and Increased spark energy. REV limit set by user.
of the points; they cannot support high rpms and require a considerable amount of maintenance to keep in tune. Pertronix offers three types of point replacement technology. For the last 30 years, they have supplied the Ignitor, an electronic device that replaces the points and other troublesome ignition components in the stock distributor, no matter what type of distributor, automotive, tractor or industrial there will be a model to suit. Next up is the Ignitor II, smarter than the Ignitor, as well as having all it’s features, the Ignitor II supplies four times more spark energy between 3000 and 5000 rpm’s (real world driving range)
than OE, plus it senses coil energy levels and adjusts dwell on the fly. Top of the line is the Ignitor III, described as “ignition box performance without the box” five times more spark energy, plus multi spark through the entire rpm range. These are particularly good for a high performance car that must still retain the OE style distributor housing. Ignition boxes can also be added to point type distributors. Moving to a more modern engine with electronic distributors, the most popular upgrades are ignition boxes. MSD offers the largest variety, everything from the price friendly Street Fire series to 8 series applications
that you could probably weld with. For high performance street we will discuss their popular, 6 series. The 6 series is available in more than 9 configurations. The most popular has been the 6A, if you were simply looking for increased ignition performance the 6A would be your choice, a multiple spark capacitive discharge control that offers dramatically enhanced ignition performance yet was truly easy to install. If you were looking for more features the 6AL offered the addition of soft touch rev control. In 2011 they have brought out digital versions to replace both of these. The new Digital 6A is slimmer WINTER 2011 • PiM • 11
Digital 6AL: MSD started with a clean slate and drew up plans for an all new housing. They kept the same footprint as the traditional 6AL but lowered the profile for a sleek look. The wiring is all routed out one end of the unit through a sealed and locking connector. The rev limiter was moved right on top of the housing for easy access to the two rotary dials to set the limit in 100 rpm increments.
than the old box, has a 13% increase in primary voltage and spark energy and an easier to install plug in wiring harness. Next step is the Digital 6AL with all the features of the Digital 6A plus a soft touch rev control system with top mounted rotary dials replace the old plug in modules. In addition there are boxes for turbo or supercharged applications and a Digital 6AL2 box that includes a two step rev control. There is even a box available that can be programmed with your lap top. Got a Modern Muscle car in your garage? Well there are ignition components for them too. MSD 12 • PiM • WINTER 2011
Multiple Spark Coils (MSC) delivers up to three times the current of your stock coils, plus, the coils fire multiple times! You’ll have the power and performance of higher energy sparks, crowned with MSD’s multiple spark discharge. Improve the combustion process of the fuel mixture to create an efficient burn. improved throttle response, smooth idle and quick starts, plus increased high rpm performance!
offers multiple spark coils (MSC) that will replace the stock Gen III GM coils. Available for all the current engine families and providing three times more spark energy than original. Ford and Chrysler have not been forgotten either. There are Blaster 2 coils to fit the coil on plug technology of both engine families. These are bolt on pieces easy to install with substantial spark energy increases. There is a 6-HEMI controller for the latest Chrysler engines that allow the car owner to modify the stock timing curve, retard nitrous, set up a two step rev limiter or a boost/timing map. If you want to build a car with one
of these great engines MSD also offer controllers that allow the use of carburetors without the problems of the complicated EFI hardware. Once you have decided on what ignition enhancers you would like, don’t forget the spark plug cables. Taylor Cable offers a number of high quality wire sets from their popular priced Street Thunder sets, to all out 9mm race applications. Most popular for high performance street vehicles are the 8mm Spiro Pro sets available in either custom fit or universal. If you are fussy and want your engine to look it’s best the universal sets allow you to tailor the wires exactly the way you want them. Spiro
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Spiro-Pro 8mm Wire: Spiro-Pro’s twolayer 100% silicone inner core & outer jacket keeps the wires flexible for the life of your vehicle maintaining its vibrant color with heat protection to 600º F. Features Taylor Cable’s EXCLUSIVE low profile 100% silicone PROBOOTS® with vibration proof double spring locking spark plug terminals.
Pro wires are a full 8mm in size with two layers of silicone protecting a spiral wound core. The Spiro Pro wires feature Taylor’s unique HD silicone spark plug boots. Best in the business. No matter if you have a 57 Ford or a 2010 Camaro they have a set to fit. It’s important to note that the brand names we are speaking of here are top quality manufacturers. There are others out there that also make excellent products, be sure to speak with your favourite performance retailer to find out the best items for your project. We caution you to know the reputation of the brand you are looking at and to be wary of low-priced pacific rim knock offs. Somehow they do not seem to provide the performance promised. We highly recommend staying with companies that actually make the parts. Often cheapest is not always the best, top quality will repay its extra cost many times over!
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P.I. TORONTO 416-259-9656
P.I. BRAMPTON 905-453-9901
P.I. HAMILTON 905-574-6940
P.I. PIERREFONDS (514) 626-1866
P.I. BARRIE 705-735-1274
P.I. GUELPH 519-821-6740
P.I. OSHAWA 905-725-3533
Call Toll-Free: 1-877-471-6700
Madigan’s Vintage Tin
Madigan’s Vintage Tin Story by Bob McJannett • Photos by Jim Madigan
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hat does a lifetime car nut do in retirement? Well if you are Jim Madigan you take the photography skills you learned when you were in your own commercial photography business and go out virtually every weekend during the cruise season to take photos of the cars that attend.
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Jim has been a car nut from day one; you see his family owned a service station in Lorne Park, Madigan’s Esso back in the day when they truly were SERVICE stations. His dad was a car enthusiast, with tools! Dad supported Jim’s interest, Jim was allowed the use of those tools as long as
none got lost and they were returned to their proper place spotlessly clean. By age 13 Jim had his first of a long list of cars. Once out of school Jim worked at an engineering company for 18 years, all the while keeping in touch with the car enthusiast. In fact as well as street cars, race
cars also held his interest. Time was spent traveling throughout Southern Ontario and Northern New York State attending sprint and modified races. At times he crewed on some of the best hobby cars of the era. Meanwhile marriage and three beautiful daughters came along creating a hiatus from all the weekend races, while they grew up and went off to college. After 18 years Jim left engineering and opened his own photography business. As the girls grew, Jim returned to his car obsession, becoming the official track photographer for the Empire Super Sprints. Since day one Jim’s wife and daughters have supported him in all his car endeavors. Finally one day a printing company came along wanting Jims photography business if he would work for them, Jim sold out went to work for them for 19 years then decided it was time to retire. So what do you do in
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retirement? See paragraph one. Jim attends as many cruise nights, races etc with his trusty camera. He arrives early and sets up where he can get shots of the cars as they drive in. He prefers to shoot moving cars with drivers, rather than static displays. At times he spends seven hours shooting an event. “I just can’t sit still, I need to have a purpose, something to do. I like to think I am documenting the car hobby for future enthusiasts to look at”. These shots are from a number of the events he photographed in 2010, to see far more go to www.jvm. smugmug.com If you have an event you would like shot give Jim a call. “Will work for parts.” We think he does great work.
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Return to the 50s
RETURN to the 50s Story by Bob McJannett • Photos by Jim Madigan
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or the second year in a row, George Farrugia and his wife Bonnie set up and ran a true Hot Rod Show. Supported by Performance Improvements, they invited all pre ‘57 vehicles to come out and vie for a nice array of trophies, rewarding the car owners for all the hard work that had been put into their vehicles. A wide variety of
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great-looking cars came out in the heat to show off. George and Bonnie are no strangers to the enthusiast community having run the Saturday Night Street Classics cruise on The Queensway in Toronto’s west end for the last 11 years. 2011 will be no different, George plans to start off his season with a bus trip on February 26 to Cobo Hall
for the Detroit Autorama, home of the prestigious Ridler award. Saturday night cruises are scheduled to begin on May 15, weather permitting, plus he hopes to hold a number of other events throughout the season. Watch for their Mopar-ama and swap meets throughout the season.
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Hot Rod Show
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For more information, check their web site www.streetclassics.com or contact George at streetclassics@sympatico.ca.
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Book Review
Book Review: How To Build Horsepower
Here is another technical book from the prolific David Vizard. David has years of hands-on experience building all manner of performance engines. Today, he owns and runs an R&D shop in Charlotte, North Carolina, home of numerous NASCAR teams. In this 144-page book, David covers all the latest information on fuel delivery, intake manifolds, cylinder heads, ignition systems, camshafts and cam components plus exhaust. All with detailed colour photos plus a liberal amount of charts and diagrams to help you understand what you need to know to get the maximum horsepower from your project. In addition, there are in-depth sections on porting heads, supercharging and turbo charging. No matter what your plan, this book will help you accomplish your performance goals. Everything from high-end modifications to a simple trick to maximize the spark plug efficiency is covered on these pages. David 28 • PiM • WINTER 2011
Author: David Vizard How to Build Horsepower SA24 • 144 pages softcover Suggested Retail $24.95
has even included a discussion of what type of tools the hobbyist should buy to ensure the most value for the money spent.
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P.I. TORONTO 1100 The Queensway Toronto, Ontario 416-259-9656
P.I. BRAMPTON 12 Rutherford Rd. S. Brampton, Ontario 905-453-9901
P.I. HAMILTON 891 Upper James Hamilton, Ontario 905-574-6940
P.I. PIERREFONDS 4909 Boul. St. Charles Pierrefonds, Quebec (514) 626-1866
P.I. BARRIE 422 Dunlop St. W. Barrie, Ontario 705-735-1274
P.I. GUELPH 567 Silvercreek Pkwy Guelph, ON N1H 6J2 519-821-6740
P.I. OSHAWA 1487 Simcoe St. North Oshawa, Ontario 905-725-3533
Call Toll-Free: 1-877-471-6700
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Old Coots Rod Run
OLD COOTS
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GET OUT THERE AND
DRIVE THEM!
Written by: Thomas Anderson • Photos by: Robert Michaelson
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ver the last few years, a group of local enthusiasts have been taking their specialty cars out for a monthly drive in the country. As a group, they have called themselves the “Old Coots.” Their only rules are to have fun. The brainchild of Cathy and Ronn Hughes, the “Old Coots” tours have taken the group throughout the back roads of south-eastern Ontario. Cathy and Ronn
create the route, with a plan to end up in a welcoming eatery usually a bit off the beaten track. Depending on social commitments, the tour can be anywhere from 10 to 25 vehicles. There are hot rods, customs, specialty late model vehicles and even a Pro Street ground pounder. It’s “run what you brung.” The only requirement is to enjoy enthusiast cars. This group certainly does. Participants come from a wide area. At
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the October tour, there were cars from Stratford, Fenlon Falls, Barrie, Wasaga Beach, Port Dover, Havelock plus more. The usual routine is to meet at a Tim’s that will act as the jump-off point for the tour. After a half hour or so of bench racing, greeting old friends etc., they are off. Cathy and Ronn provide everyone with a detailed instruction sheet in case the group gets broken up or lost. The route will take them through the back roads of the area for about
2 to 2 ½ hours with a pit stop about midway. At all times the scenery is great with lots of interesting homes to look at, exceptional farms to view etc. Also, at all times eyes are kept peeled to see if some other interesting vehicles are hidden in garages or fields. You never know what you might find. Hats off to the “Old Coots” for using their specialty cars, no trailer queens in this crowd.
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Visit www.performanceimprovements.com and sign up to get our performance newsletter featuring new products, rebate programs, event listings, exclusive promotions and more! • We value your privacy and hate spam as much as you. We never sell our mailing or e-mail list. • 32 • PiM • WINTER 2011
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INIZIO Electronic Supercar
INIZIO
high-end electric transportation Written by: Thomas Anderson • Photos: Courtesy of Li-ion Motors
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on’t despair, the car will not be done away with anytime soon. No matter how hard the politicos try to get us back into our horse and buggies we will have some type of personal transportation to fill our needs and desires. (Imagine the state of the roads if everyone in North America was forced to travel with horses, there would be meadow muffins three-feet deep everywhere!) At this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas, Li-ion Motors Corp unveiled its “INIZIO” electric supercar. Billed as the first all-American built, fully electric, emission free, highperformance car, this one will catch your eye. Think Ferrari, Lambo or GT40 style without the noise or pollution. (Although I will miss the noise.) Now Li-ion Motors is not some fly-by night operation, they have been in business since April 2000, focusing on developing, manufacturing and marketing 100% lithium 34 • PiM • WINTER 2011
battery-powered vehicles. They have more than five vehicles plus one motorcycle all using their Intelligent Battery Management System. Each of these vehicles produces absolutely no emissions, while offering excellent round town performance. Most will reach speeds of 80MPH with a range of between 120 and 180 miles. As I said, these are not dreamers with no basis of fact, in fact with their “WaveII” two-passenger vehicle they won the Progressive Automotive Insurance X Prize. A global competition to create practical emission-free vehicles that will exceed the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon. No small feat, their win earned them $2.5 million. The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize is to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change. If that isn’t enough, they unveiled their Inzio Supercar at this year’s SEMA show.
Looking like the high-powered road cruiser it is, the folks at Li-ion claim speeds up to 170mph with a range of 250 miles. In fact, with a power upgrade, they are suggesting speeds in excess of 200 MPH with an even longer range. Suggested price in US dollars will be $139,000. More than the Tesla, but with more speed and features.
So will the Inzio come to pass? We don’t know for sure, there are some unanswered questions about the company, but you have to admit it looks great and offers performance and handling other EV’s do not. We hope it will. Check out their web site li-ionmotors. com for all the features offered.
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Li-ion Motors’ INIZIO beside the $2.5M X-Prize winning WAVE II. The Wave II’s outstanding low aerodynamic drag resulted in 187 MPGe, a 14.7s zero-to-60 mph acceleration time, and over 100 miles range over a real-world driving cycle. WINTER 2011 • PiM • 35
The Inizio has superb acceleration of 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds. The Inizio lithium-ion battery packs can recharge in eight hours or less and has a range of up to 200 miles per charge.
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INIZIO: Models, Features, and Options R – Rally Model $139.000:
Double Charger (Standard) Speed*: Up to 130 mph / 209 kmph Acceleration: 0-60 mph / 0-96 kmph in 5.9 seconds Range*: Up to 150 miles / 241 km Charge Time: Approx. 6 Hours (w/ additional charger: approx. 4 Hours, + $3,900.00) Batteries: 12 (100Ah for a total of 40.32kWh) Cycle Life*: 2500 Full Charges
RT – Rally Touring Model $189.000 Triple Charger (Standard) Speed*: Up to 132 mph / 212 kmph Acceleration: 0-60 mph / 0-96 kmph in 7.1 seconds Range*: Up to 250 miles / 402 km Charge Time: Approx. 10 Hours (w/additional charger: approx. 5 Hours) Batteries: 12 (240Ah for a total of 96.78kWh) Cycle Life*: 2500 Full Charges
RTX – Rally Touring Extreme $249.000 Triple Charger (Standard) 2 Motors (Standard) Speed: Up to 170 mph / 273 kmph Acceleration: 0-60 / 0-96 kmph in 3.4 seconds Range: Up to 200 miles / 321 km Charge Time: Approx. 8 Hours *Charge Time: Approx. 4 Hours Batteries: 24 (100Ah for a total of 80.64kWh) *Performance will vary depending upon individual driving habits and conditions
CANADIAN ELECTRIC CAR LINKS While there are no Canadian electric supercars at the moment, Canadians are working on some interesting electric car projects. Azure Dynamics - AZD has developed proprietary electric and hybrid electric drive technology for the light to heavy duty commercial vehicle categories. www.azuredynamics.com Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd. Building electric cars as a hobby has developed into a successful business. They sell a kit to convert your S10 to electric. www.canev.com Electric Vehicle Society of Canada To investigate and promote clean transportation technologies with a focus on Electric Energy for Propulsion. www.evsociety.ca EV CANADA - Canadian based, not-forprofit campaign to promote the uptake of zero emission vehicles. www.evcanada.org Project EVE brings together Canadian skills for the purpose of producing and supporting Canadian electric vehicles and components. www.projecteve.ca ZENN Motor Company has ceased production of its electric car and is now focused on the EEStor technology. www.zenncars.com WINTER 2011 • PiM • 37
0-415 MPHin 11 months
415 MPH THEY DID IT! Last issue we covered Spectre’s quest to exceed 400 mph at Bonneville in the Spectre Speedliner. Since our story, they went back to the salt. Here are their latest results. Written by: Joshua Baron-Cohen • Photos: Courtesy of Spectre Performance
Wow.
We did it. It took 11 months of hammering, welding, worrying and sunburns but we can finally see 400mph in our rear-view mirror (well, if the streamliner had a rear view mirror…or a rear window for that matter.) Less than 30 days after making six recordsetting runs on the Bonneville Salt Flats, the Spectre SpeedLiner has done it again. At Mike Cook’s Top Speed Shootout regulated by the F.I.A., the international sanctioning organization for motorsport and world speed records, Spectre Performance founder Amir Rosenbaum drove the SpeedLiner through the “flying mile” at an average speed of 408mph and an exit speed of 415mph, becoming only the 12th person in history to eclipse 400mph in a wheeled vehicle and earning the team a place in history as the fastest gasoline fueled, wheel-driven car in history. 38 • PiM • WINTER 2011
“What really makes this special is how quickly we were able to accomplish the goal,” said Rosenbaum. “The car debuted 11 months ago at the SCTA World Finals, where we set a record. We came back in August 2010 and set three more. Now we’ve broken 400mph on gasoline! All of this was accomplished with a stock Cadillac engine using off-theshelf aftermarket speed parts, some serious engineering from Performance Fabrication and The Cad Company, and standard Spectre hpR Air Filters. That’s what blows everyone away – this car has no exotic parts or custom engine pieces, they’re all obtainable and available to the average gearhead.” As the dust settled, Amir noted “I can tell you that 400 feels a lot better than 395, 415 feels way better than 405!” Now it’s back to the drawing board to see what they can do in 2011.
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Performance Engine Gaskets for Drag Racing, Oval Track and High-Performance Street MULTI-LAYERED STAINLESS STEEL (MLS) CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS • Multi-Layered Steel (MLS) head gaskets are designed for extreme cylinder pressures produced by high horsepower – high compression, turbo-charged, supercharged and nitrous oxide engines • Manufactured from Viton rubber coated stainless steel layers to resist corrosion and positively seal engine fluids • Stress formed inner and outer layer embossments act like springs that rebound under cylinder head clamp load, creating force to seal excessive combustion pressure in cylinder bore • Used by numerous top-name NHRA Drag Race Champions including Duane Shields - Top Alcohol Dragster, Brian Hough - Top Alcohol Funny Car, Kyle Seipel -Super Comp, Jimmy DeFrank & Dan Fletcher - Super Stock
www.mr-gasket.com
Embossed Stainless Steel Middle Spacer
Embossed Stainless Steel Outer Layers
216-688-8300 WINTER 2011 • PiM • 39
Product Showcase
Product Showcase Grant has added this DEUCE model steering wheel to their heritage line of high quality wheels. One of these great looking wheels will be the perfect addition to your street rod, street machine, sport truck, custom or kit car. Available with either a wood or leather 14.75” rim surrounding mirror polished aluminum spokes and horn ring. The design of the DEUCE allows the owner to create a wheel that matches the interior of their project. This is a high quality product built to enhance your pride and joy. The DEUCE is the latest in a long line of Heritage designs available from Grant, Check your local retailer for the full line. GR15851
If you want to clean up the wire clutter on your GM HEI distributor you should add one of Mr Gasket’s new “Corrected distributor caps.” These caps eliminate crossed ignition / spark plug wires for a clean, neat appearing engine
40 • PiM • WINTER 2011
compartment. These caps are built from the finest quality materials and feature brass terminals to be sure maximum spark energy gets to your plug. Direct “Plug & Play” for 1974-90 GM HEI-Equipped V8
engines with firing order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 and right hand rotation. Mr. Gasket recommends one of their high performance ACCEL coils for maximum performance. AC141R
At this years SEMA show SUPERCHIPS unveiled the new VIVID vehicle performance programmer. Their new in-cabin device is based on the new Archos 43 Internet Tablet powered by the Android 2.2 operating system, and SUPERCHIPS custom programming. Thanks to this, and a Bluetooth OBD-II module, the car can monitor car performance in real-time and display data while also acting as a G-meter and even a back-up camera on its 4.3 inch touch screen. So what does that mean to you? Well the VIVID device successfully integrates today’s popular personal electronics with full-featured performance tuning, allowing you to tune for additional horsepower, torque or fuel economy. But wait there’s more! With the proper apps and a Bluetooth OBD-II module the Superchips VIVID will work as a GPS unit, backup camera screen while also acting as a G-meter and much more. Pre-installed Superchips automotive apps, set advanced tuning features, and monitor internal engine parameters and display them in real time using the gauge suite. The Superchips VIVID automatically recognizes your vehicle and will only show the features and options available to you. VIVID is the most powerful device in the industry with a 1GHz processor and does more than tuning including high-speed web browsing; e-mail; social media integration; wireless connectivity; loads of memory; apps for pictures, music and video along with a host of unique Superchips apps such as Performance Tuning, Gauge Set, Maintenance Minder, Driving Coach, Inclinometer and G-Force Meter. Vivid will be the leader in the automotive information highway, no word yet on what they will cost, shipping will begin in the Spring of 2011, be sure to check these out when they become available. You will be amazed. Those who already have a little Android buddy will be happy to know that a standalone Bluetooth dongle called the AVID will be releasing in the summertime, enabling all the same functionality without the need for another device. WINTER 2011 • PiM • 41
Product Showcase
Product Showcase Looking for increased power and a more pleasing sound for your Dodge SRT8 Challenger? Check out Flowmaster’s American Thunder Cat-back system. This mandrel bent, 3” kit features a Scavenger X-pipe assembly and a pair of Super 40 Series mufflers for mid range torque improvement. This system is built from 3” 409S Stainless Steel and comes complete with all necessary clamps and hardware to make installation easy. The system is finished off with rectangular 304 stainless steel tips with embossed logo. In keeping with Challenger’s muscle car heritage, this system provides an impressive sound quality with an aggressive exterior sound level and a moderate, pleasant interior tone at cruising speeds. If you’re looking to maximize the potential of your SRT8, the Flowmaster system will do the job. FE817499
New from Tuff Stuff, a full line of high performance “as cast” water pumps. These provide increased pump performance but maintain the OE “as cast” finish. The “as cast” products have all the features of the Tuff Stuff chromed or polished product yet allow those building a car that requires the original pump look to still have improved cooling. Available for most popular performance vehicles. 42 • PiM • WINTER 2011
Spring is on the way, driving season is just around the corner, now is the time to solve those nagging cooling problems you have been ignoring. Be Cool has a high performance aluminum radiator to suit your needs. From the low cost Qualifier series to full featured Direct Fit models all Be Cool products are built from 100% aluminum with no epoxy in the construction. Easily installed, great looking, able to lower operating temperatures. What more could you want?
P.I. TORONTO 416-259-9656
P.I. BRAMPTON 905-453-9901
P.I. HAMILTON 905-574-6940
P.I. BARRIE 705-735-1274
P.I. GUELPH 519-821-6740
P.I. OSHAWA 905-725-3533
P.I. PIERREFONDS 514-626-1866 Call Toll-Free: 1-877-471-6700 WINTER 2011 • PiM • 43
Directory Ads
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www.lawrencetransmission.com
14/12/2008
8:23:26 PM
Reluctant Passenger
Recovering from Au to Shows T
he first-ever North American auto show happened innocently enough, I’m sure. Only 17 regional auto dealers were in attendance back in 1907 in a chilly beer garden in Detroit’s Riverview Park. Not only were there fewer tires to kick, you could probably kick them back then. Although I wasn’t there, I have a feeling that things haven’t changed that much despite the advances in technology, distribution and those creature comforts the auto manufacturers of the early days didn’t even consider. Like seat belts and cup holders. Whether their drivers are gathered around a 1907 Ford Model S or the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, savvy reluctant passengers always have a post-auto-show gameplan. 46 • PiM • WINTER 2011
The Brochure Zone Upon the return of the show, designate one area as the “brochure zone.” This is where all flyers, CDs, stickers, coupons—anything brought home or that arrives in the mail because someone requested more info—must be kept or they will be recycled. You may also want to keep a box of tissues nearby in case glancing through images of shiny new vehicles brings him to tears. The Sneaky Switch When the brochure zone is unattended, swap out some of those harbinger handouts with printed pieces about his current ride. If none are available, slip in a few back issues of this magazine. Desperate? Wipe off the Haynes manual and plunk it down in the pile. It’s a gentle way to remind someone that he has a great car already. Even if it’s in pieces in the garage.
The Cost Analysis Figure out how much the monthly payment for that awesome hunk of automotive genius would be and compare it to something tempting yet more affordable. “Two grand? We could go to the Dominican for a week for $1,500. All inclusive, too.” The Pause, Then Flaws The next time your vehicular virtuoso starts singing the “if only we had that [insert model and make here]” tune, don’t interrupt. When he’s done, pause and make it look like you’re thinking. Then do something he’d never expect: point out something about his dream machine that might be problematic. For example, “The Maserati Gran Turismo is a sweet ride and all, but think of what those roads will do to its suspension.”
The New Stuff Maybe a new ride isn’t in the budget, but a few aftermarket items might be just the encouragement your car nut needs to feel the love again. Whether you drag him to the store yourself of push him out the door with a fistful of twenties, you’re driver is sure to some back with that certain doohickey or thingamajig he always needed. Remember to be impressed—especially if he bought two.
The Brochu re Zone
The “Accident” After removing the Haynes manual and other must-keep items from the brochure zone, pour coffee, red wine, even yesterday’s lasagna on top of the remaining pile. Get dramatic—scream or screech in horror. Weep if you must. While some of these may be considered drastic measures, all are very effective… until the next show. Enjoy the ride.
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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
Photo Illustration created by Robert Michaels. WINTER 2011 • PiM • 47
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