Vol. 5 Issue 3
MARCH 2014
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OWNER PRESIDENT – Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719
OFFICE STAFF AR/AP – Stacy Robinson 763-421-4400 SALES SUPPORT – Vince Griffith vince@wheelsofthunder.net 651-280-8658 JUNIOR BOSS – Zack Robinson 763-421-4400
EDITORIAL STAFF
Special Features
EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR editor@wheelsofthunder.net 763-421-4400
Jeff Urman, Artist Extraordinaire .............4
Photographers/Writers
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MYLIE LAVOLD TOM EDWARDS JESSICA KANKE JENNA OSTERLUND CEAJA PHILP
STEVE CASPER
Ogilvie Raceway .................................16
Reviews & Tech
NORTHERN SALES – Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719
How To Get Your Kid Into Kart Racing ..26
Departments
SOUTHERN SALES - John Lentzkow John.lentzkow@mchsi.com 319-239-1375
$34.99 - PHONE: 763-421-4400 www.wheelsofthunder.net All content published herein is owned exclusively by Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine. Reproduction or further dissemination of the content herein is strictly prohibited without the express written authorization of Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine.
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These Coupes Were A Gas! ..................36
Rally’s & Shows Page 35
ADVERTISING STAFF
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Take It To The Next Level.......................30
Garage Built.........................................10
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Boiling Point .........................................14
Calendar .............................................24 ABATE of MN ......................................35
Game On! ...........................................40
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Written By Ceaja Philp
S
ome people say they feel like they were just born to do what they do. In Jeff Urman’s case that would be exactly right. In past issues we have featured some bikes and cars he has done, but we thought it was time to dig a little deeper into the man that makes the images come alive.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST, JEFF URMAN
Jeff grew up in Forest Lake, Minnesota and said, “Before I can remember I was always drawing, building, or painting something.” Jeff ‘just knew’ that custom painting was going to be his thing, and even as a kid his collection of 100s’ of Hot Wheels had numerous custom paint jobs. He laughed when he said, “A few were even done with nail polish I found around the house to create some cool special effects.”
wanted to do the assignments and create. Things just came natural to him and if there was a piece of paper, napkin, or anything he could find, and a pencil...he drew on it.
We both found humor in it when he said he failed art in school. He didn’t have interest in the theory or history, he just Even the walls of his bedroom became his canvas. At 15 years old Jeff was given an airbrush and his room would never be the same. After many changes, additions, and hours of creating his masterpiece a friend of Jeff’s dad, Dean Mabry caught wind of his talent and wanted to see what Jeff could do. Dean, a member of the group Dirt Floor Drop Shop, along with Brian ‘Skeetdog’ Staples and Jeff’s now business partner Dana Hallberg went to see what had been done on the walls of Jeff’s bedroom. The guys were so impressed they dropped a couple of Harley Davidson tanks in his hands and told him they wanted to see what he could do. A little nervous to be put on the spot, it was just the push Jeff March 2014
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eland, INK won show after show, made the cover of Baggers Magazine, had a feature in American Bagger Magazine, and Airbrush Action Magazine. This current award winning bike the guys have created is called ‘Sinner’. It features all 7 deadly sins and Jeff’s depiction of them. The part that most don’t realize is that he did all of the art with a pencil which took 2 months to complete! This is one you have to see in person to believe!
needed. It sealed the deal as far as he was concerned and vowed he would be doing custom paint for a living. That being said he knew it was time to get a ‘real’ job and see what all it would take to make his dream happen. He found a local paint shop and for about a month he worked for free doing grunt work and stayed late nights and weekends just to absorb everything he could.
“When I was young the internet and social media weren’t so available. I didn’t have the mentors so many have today. The images just came from somewhere in my head and I wanted to make them come alive on the pieces I did.” And that he does! That is another incredible thing, he doesn’t copy or try to follow the style of anyone else, instead he has become the one people are trying to follow. When I asked what piece stands out to him most so far in his young career he quickly
As far as what is next for Jeff, he is excited to take on more! He and his business partner Dana opened their new shop a little over a year ago and their schedule is filling faster than they could imagine. Some projects are scheduled out about a year already. They are encouraging and welcoming artists that want to prove what they can do to stop in and maybe find their place on the team at the shop.
Things paid off for him faster than he could have ever imagined. At only 19 his art was on a Dodge Viper that was featured at SEMA, one of the mostly highly respected shows in the country for new artists, products, designers, builders, and creations. While working at the paint shop he slowly started to do some freelance work and within only three years was able to go out on his own. From then on he hasn’t set down his airbrush! There is no doubt he has become the artist of choice for bike and car owners from all around. Even now when you talk to Jeff, I don’t think it has really sunk in. He just goes about his days creating masterpieces from somewhere deep inside. He even admitted, Page 6
responded, “The tattoo bike, ‘INK’.” Scott Maeyaert came to the guys at Deadline Customs with an idea that even they had no clue would become such a show stopper. With the bike they created and Jeff’s artwork and line work done by Mike Hov-
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Jeff has also starting taking some of his artwork and having it digitized in order to put it on apparel. He was recently commissioned to do some designs for Bagger Militia and I am honored to say will also soon have originals in my store, Motorheadz Boutique. Jeff is by far one of the most naturally talented artists out there and we can’t wait to see what he brings to life next! March 2014
Sinner
Enjoy a closer look at the first bike done in pencil by Jeff Urman.
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Antique Alsport Tracker These amphibious snowmobile machines were a little ahead of their time and seemed to be forgotten, but not by Chad Detaege of Hartford, Wisconsin. He has done a great job restoring some ‘oddities’ I have never seen or heard of, and he even admits he is drawn to the ‘unusual’.
Travel Land, Water, or Snow... One Vehicle, Fun All Year! Written By Ceaja Philp Owner/Enthusiast:
Chad Detaege
Stock Original This is where it all started!
Sound Familiar? Do you have a story of your custom ride? E-mail editor@wheelsofthunder.net and you could be featured with your ride in the next issue!
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Chad grew up on a farm north of Green Bay, WI and as he put it, “I had plenty of ‘training’ on repairing just about everything that broke at one time or another.” Between Chad's uncle, Lester and his dad, Lawrence they kept him busy with projects on the farm. Chad said it was a great way to learn to weld, fix, and create the things needed to keep the farm running smoothly. Like most young new drivers, he set out to find a job when he got his driver's license. He found a job doing machinist work. After high school Chad’s interest and hobbies stayed the course, taking 2 years of tech college for machining and tool and die. He had a unique opportunity while in college to work at a helicopter factory as a machinist, which was right up his alley. After college he moved to Little Chute, WI and worked a few years at a large machining, tool and die shop. While there he befriended a service engineer from Mazak while a new machine tool was being installed, who was very impressed with Chad and got him an interview with the company. It worked out very well and within a few weeks he had a new position with Mazak. He worked as a service engineer for 5 years on the road for Mazak in the state of Wisconsin, and eventually was asked to be an onsite engineer for them at Mercury Marine in Fon du Lac, WI. That opened the door for Chad for the next 3 years as he built a relationship with Mercury Marine, who then hired him for an additional 3 years to be a maintenance supervisor, then engineer for maintenance. In 2006 he went back to Mazak and is currently working as a service engineer. Chad really enjoys his work and has been given the opportunity to even travel to Japan because of it.
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Chad just couldn't seem to stop being creative after his work day, so with his wife’s ‘gracious gift of the garage space’ he found himself buying, repairing and selling motorcycles in his spare time. One of his first ‘oddities’ was an old 6x6 AATV he just had to have! He ended up selling it, but had such fun with it that he decided to look for more unique things that he knew were just sitting wasting away in backyards and barns. Chad ended up finding a tracker and has been working on them ever since. He says they are fairly easy to work on and so much fun to drive. These machines were offered in 3 different models with different options available. The Sno-Sport was a 4 seat model, the other two were the GT15 and the 210. An optional trailer called the tracker-mate was available for additional storage. They have electric start and reverse, as well as tires to replace the skis for off season driving. The tracker was made by the Alsport Company of Norwalk, Ohio which also made motorcycles (Steen), trykes (Tri-Sport), utility vehicles, and traditional snowmobiles (BoaSki). Chad purchased this late model 60s Alsport, GT15 in 2007 and spent a few months getting it running before the snow flew. He knew there would be quite a few issues that would need to be addressed, but made the final decision to keep and restore it. The driveline seemed like a good place to start. However, some repairs to the engine were needed to get it running, so he rebuilt the Tillotson carburetor, installed new points and condensers, set the timing, and used new plugs and wires. He also took apart the Apex transmission and installed new bearings and seals. Next was to disassemble, sandblast and
rebuild the Formsprag clutch packs. This was quite a list to start on his restore; however it was enough to get it running and give Chad some play time for a little while during the snow season. Spring 2008 came quickly and he started the restoration again. This time he started with the lower body. He did repairs, but ended up having to modify it in order to accept the shorter tracks he had to use. There was a steel strip he had to fiberglass in around the lip because the original tracks were no longer available and it was almost impossible to find used ones in good condition. The tracks he decided to use were Kimpex Durado Type 5, which are the same tracks that were used on older John Deere and Scorpion snowmobiles. They are about 12" shorter than the original Alsport tracks, so the drive sprockets were moved back 6" in order for the rear of the track to remain in the same place. In 2009 the rear suspension parts were all sandblasted, repaired, and new bogie wheels installed. New drive sprockets, Scorpion models, with new bearings were also installed at that time. The metal side rails also had to be shortened 6", and then he was able to move onto the front suspension springs and skis. Custom brackets were made for the gas tank and battery because the other ones had seen their better days. Chad started the bodywork on the lower portion by removing everything and sanding it down. A coat of epoxy primer was then sprayed to seal in the old gel coat and provide a better surface for the paint to adhere to. A coat of fill and sand primer was added so a smooth surface would be ready to take the paint. Chad says work has been busy but he can’t wait to take his Tracker out to play.
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Written by Billy Boyle
TUNE IN TO TUNING UP
Will we ever see dry road again? You don’t have to be an expert in the weather category to know we just the sort knocked out of us by Mother Nature on steroids. Here we are in March normally getting our two wheeled machines ready for a season of riding with the kickoff of the Donnie Smith Bike Show in St. Paul, MN. Getting the machines fined tuned for the season isn’t the issue we’ve been here before, but are YOU TUNED UP FOR THE RIDING SEASON? I can recall way back in the day when I was getting my endorsement at the Dakota County Tech in Rosemount. What I would call was an “older” couple in their late 60’s that were also taking a stab at the bike course setup for either beginners or the test. I was amazed that at their age that they were just starting out as newbies to the biking scene. Boy was I wrong, first they were in their 70’s, both had been riders for over 50 years, and the reason for their appearance at the new riders’ course? They said they would not put their bikes Page 14
on the road without getting as the put it “TUNED UP” for the season. Makes sense to me – how about you? How about the drivers of those 4 wheeled sometimes menaces also know as cars, SUV’s, and pickups, are they ready for YOU. TWO WHEELS Beyond the wrench, battery charger and fluid replacement think about the last 5 – 6
months of not being on the road with the wind blowing in your face and through
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your hair. Like baseball players go through a spring training exercise a few laps around town during the morning, afternoon and dusk wouldn’t be a deal killer. For most avid riders you might be grinning at the sound of that, but here’s a statistic to keep in mind. We have more riders killed, maimed or bikes totaled in April than any other part of the year. Why? Simply the roads are beat up, our road skills are not sharp and the driving public is not ready for us. On the last point, for the life of me I don’t why someone hasn’t banged the drum loudly with the 4 wheeled driving communities on being respectful to bikes and other two or three wheeled vehicles. Some of the things recommended that bike riders can do especially in the beginning months is a s follows, watch your consumption of alcohol, (you should watch this all the time) statistically alcohol related fatalities are on the rise. From a riders perspective there is nothing more fun than trekking out on one of those awesome spring days we get in the Midwest and stopping along the way for an innocent cocktail. The problem is lots of stops add up to lots of alcohol consumed. Coupled with the alcohol are road conditions, speeding, and novice riders, which include bikes, cars, SUV’s and pickups. FOUR WHEELS Speaking of the four wheeled vehicles as in our major means of transportation in the United States are you ready for the bikes to hit the road? I have wrote several articles over the past couple of years of personal friends or acquaintances that have lost their life or had a life changing injury as the result of inattentive driving by the 4 wheeled driver. In one of my articles a friend of mine lost her dad on one of the first days of the riding season by a 17 year old texting while driving. In another article I wrote in 2012 about was a 50ish couMarch 2014
ple out celebrating their wedding anniversary on a beautiful spring afternoon only to be blindsided by an 18 year old turning left from the right lane with a pair of ear buds in listening to loud music on his IPod. The result the husband was killed on site and the wife lost her leg. The comment from the 18 year old, “I never heard the bike”. It’s a fact that a good many of the bikers involved in a fatal crash were doing the right thing, playing by the rules, and watching their alcohol consumption, however the terror of the roads have now been taking over the cell phone, loud music and bad drivers. Just tossing this out there, what the heck is the driving youth of America learning in driver’s education? THE HOLE TRUTH The last point I want to make like I do every spring is the road conditions after a harsh winter. I don’t have to tell anyone that lives in the United States of America we have had one of the most hashish winters on record, record low temps, snow and icing conditions. That can only mean one thing, pot holes, cracks, uneven roads and disappearing traffic lanes due to be worn off by the winter. I don’t care what kind of vehicle you are driving go tooling along on a nice drive and hit one of those 2 foot wide and deep craters the shock is felt right up to your teeth. Try hitting one with a bike or swerving at the last minute the end result is not going to be pretty or how about an catching an uneven surface of road as your tire dips into the grove and those you for a loop. Another road hazard in those season beginning miles is the
roads caked with sand from the winter road crews. Many a bike has gone down by taking a too tight of turn, stopping suddenly or as I mentioned above trying to avoid another road hazard. MY BOILING POINT The moral of this month’s Boiling Point is not to make you angry about Mother Nature, the state, city and town road crews, or the youth of America. We have enough resources in our great country that does give us up to date information on weather and road conditions. The state, city, town and independents winter road crews are out there in the elements trying to do the best they can to keep up with the snow and icing conditions and make it safe for us to drive. I like to mention that also includes road repair after the winter. And finally the youth of America, not signaling them out
as the problem as a very good percentage of our new drivers do cherish that right to drive and they do it safely each day (we all were there). But I will take a shot at anyone that is on the road that thinks they can stay 100 percent focused while driving with a cell phone, IPOD, IPAD or plugging their ears up with a nice pair of headsets blasting the latest tunes. As the young 18 year old said after he changed the life of family, “I never heard the bike”. As drivers of any mode of transportation we all need to be aware of our surroundings all the time with a special emphasis on the upcoming riding season. Whatever you sit behind to get you from point A to B, I wish everyone a safe riding season. Lastly I am so glad to be back at Wheels of Thunder, the publication has come a long way since I first sat in a meeting room with the Editor Betty Schurmann and WOT owner Scott Robinson some 3 years ago. The commitment by Scott, Betty, and the rest of the Wheels of Thunder staff is something you all can appreciate as they bring you the finest in up to date information, featured stories, and industry related articles. Also worth mentioning is WOT advertisers product information and upcoming events, bike, car, boats or anything power related. You the reader have it all at your fingertips just make sure you thumb through the whole magazine, you will be glad you did. The views expressed in The Boiling Point are solely the opinions and research of Billy Boyle and are not necessarily the view point of the magazine or its’ creators.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH
SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH
MONSTER TRUCK SHOW
MONSTER TRUCK SHOW
MOTORCYCLE FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS AND STUNT SHOW
MOTORCYCLE FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS AND STUNT SHOW
DEMOLITION DERBY
YUM!
Nationally televised and known monster trucks from the nation’s premier west coast promoter will put on a dazzling and exciting show that is guaranteed not to be soon forgotten!
Also from the monster truck show promoter will be an exciting heart pounding motorcycle stunt show that will entertain the whole family with this one of a kind experience!
Four classes of demo derby cars organized and promoted by Minnesota’s premier derby promoter. Top Notch Motor Sports. $11,150 plus Purse and additional prizes for Mad Dog picks in each class and MORE!
LIVE MUSIC
A well known Minnesota tribute band to perform that will rock and entertain the spectators.
CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES
Bounce Houses and other inflatables. Costume Characters. Face painting. Caricature Artists.
MISCELLANEOUS
Raffles, Door Prizes and Giveaways. Plenty of food options.
FIREWORKS
Professional pyrotechnic creates a finale fireworks display.
Continues!
Continues!
CHILI COOKOFF WITH PRIZE PAYOUTS CHILDRENS BIKES AND HELMETS GIVEAWAY Administered by outside personnel
DELAYED EASTER EGG HUNT Children Under 13
CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES Continues!
MISCELLANEOUS Continues!
March 2014
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May 2014
hen’s the last time you had the chance to introduce your kid to a fun and family-friendly sport without spending a fortune? If you think your son or daughter has that competitive sparkle in their eye but you’re not sure what type of racing to have them try, kart racing might be just the thing. It’s easy to get started and kids of all ages love to get out and race in a sport where everyone’s a winner!
W
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Oval dirt tracks are, by far, the most popular go-kart venue in the Midwest. There are tracks spread all across the countryside and, while the rules and classes vary from track to track, generally anyone can race with a minimal investment. We’re not talking about those go-karts at the amusement park, either. These are high performance karts with plenty of power to appeal to even the BIG kids in the family; mom and dad.
Written by Kim “KimmyCat” Niles Photography by Russell Cramblit
You can begin by searching the internet for kart racing tracks near you. Each track typically has a website with a list of rules, classes and upcoming racing events. Stop by the track, check out the setup, and talk to the guys in the local kart accessories shop. If it seems like a good fit, bring your
family down to a race one night and ask to enter the pit area to see how things work behind the scenes. Most of the time, you’ll find a great group of people, eager to answer any questions you might have. Once you decide to go for it, the first thing you’ll need is a kart to race with. There are several options for finding a good used kart that’s still in decent shape. You may need to make a few adjustments, but there are race-ready karts out there starting as low as $1000. One option for the newcomer is to contact Scott Willis of Hoosier Tire North (scott@karts4kids.com), a kart broker who buys, sells & trades karts of all kinds. You will also need to buy some well fitting safety equipment, which will run another $200. A chest protector is a must-have for all junior racers, as well as a helmet, neck brace, elbow pad, gloves and racing jacket. Of course, there are lots of other goodies out there but the gear you need to test the dirt is pretty basic. You can pick up anything you might need at a kart accessories shop, such as Karl Janzen’s Power by Karl, located in Ramsey, Minnesota. The majority of the tracks do not require racers to join any associations, but World Karting Association (WKA) and International Kart Federation (IKF) memberships are required for certain national races. Talking with long time kart racer, Scott Willis, kart racing is today as stock car racing was back in the mid-70’s; every track has different rules. He would like to see kart racing band together like car racing has. “We need a series sponsor to help pro-
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mote karting locally and in the upper Midwest,” said Willis. “Uniting on one set of rules and one point system with a series sponsor will help to ensure a fair and consistent set of rules within the sport.” For now, let’s head down to our local Ramsey Raceway racetrack to try a few laps where it’s just $30 to race, plus $10 for each pit crew member. Ramsey Raceway is a 1/9th mile clay oval racetrack run in a cooperative effort between the City of Ramsey and TK Motorsports. Remember to bring your portable grill and a cooler of food, because half the fun in racing karts is the family atmosphere in the pit before, during and after the races. Believe it or not, the first time around the track for your youngster will likely be the practice laps just before the evening races.
are about 4-6 drivers in each heat. If anyone goes off the track or breaks down, the
phies are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, plus a photo in the winners’ circle. Of course, everyone is a winner at Ramsey Raceway, so all of the rookies receive a trophy just for participating. Keep in mind, when the race is over the best question you can ask is whether your child had fun. This places the importance on fun before winning, and if they’re having fun there’s sure to be a first place trophy in their future. Happy Karting!
At Ramsey Raceway, there are races on most Wednesday and Friday evenings, starting at 7pm. The track gates open at 5pm with practice laps at 6:30pm. After the first round of practice laps, the racers and their crew attend a drivers meeting and draw numbers for the lineup. Classes are based on age and weight, with the youngest drivers starting as early as 4 or 5 years old and entering the adult classes when they reach 15 years or become skilled enough to compete at a younger age. Kids usually race first, with two heats for each class. Drivers take a few laps around the track to get everyone running and in order. For the rookies, the karts are lined up at the starting line until the green flag drops; and then they’re off! Usually, there Page 28
racers maintain their positions and the offending kart goes to the back of the line for the restart. This time however, the karts are put into a tight, rolling formation until the green flag drops again (just like the big boys do it) and racing continues until the checkered flag drops.
Editor’s Note: Wheels of Thunder would like give a special thanks to Tim Marshefavre and Scott Willis for donating karts to our Wheels of Thunder “kids” so they could try out the Ramsey Raceway racetrack first-hand.
After all of the classes and heats have been completed, the feature races begin. In the feature races, drivers line up according to how they performed in the two heat races. Tro-
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Photography and Article by John Krueger
means the gauge cluster, wiring harness, computer modules, and shifter are all SRT8 components. The swap took the two 5 days to complete from start to finish which is quite impressive considering they had to get everything to work like the factory intended it to.
In today's automotive scene being unique is something that is becoming harder and harder to do. The ever competitive show circuit is the forum where this is becoming more and more apparent. That's not to say that builders aren't as creative as before, but that it is taking a bit more effort to stand apart from the crowd. Nate Stanley from Hokins, MN, certainly knows this as he is the brains behind this stunning 300C you see here. Now, I have always had a bit of a soft-spot for Chrysler's sedan. While most seem to succumb to the “DUB” style of tuning (think 24-inch wheels or larger, wild paint, and more audio equipment than a Best Buy), Nate's 300 leaves most people's jaws hanging as low as his ride height with a style that is completely his own. Nate's 300C is unique in many ways, but we'll start at the heart of it all which is probably one of the most unique parts of the build and that is the motor. You see, this car started out as a regular 2005 3.5L V6 300C. Now the car is equipped with the 6.1L Hemi V8 out of the SRT-8 and is one of the first, if not the first, full SRT-8 swapped 300C in the US. Nate wanted everything to run as it should so EVERYTHING out of the SRT-8 was used including all of the electronics, the NAG1 transmission, and SRT-8 differential with lower 3.06 gears. Of course while everything was out, Nate and his friend Bryce Bjerke who helped with the swap, decided to upgrade a few things. The stock camshaft was replaced with a customground unit from HHP, and the stock heads were tossed aside and a pair of ported and polished heads from HHP fitted with ManPage 32
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ley 5/16” push-rods were put on. To take advantage of the upgraded heads, a LMI carbon fiber intake was bolted on, and to assist with the exhaust Magnaflow highflow mid-pipes and high-flow mufflers
make sure the exhaust is routed out the back as efficiently as possible while providing a nice growl. As mentioned earlier, everything from the SRT-8 was used in the swap to ensure factory-like reliability. That
The rest of the car is just as impressive as what's under the hood. In fact, the motor and drive-train came after the extensive body and suspension mods. I know I've alluded to the term “complete car” and this is another prime example of covering every possible area of a vehicle. It helps that Nate is the marketing director for Automotive Concepts in New Hope, MN. They have a pension for turning out some topnotch work, and it shows with Nate's 300C. The two-tone gloss black and flat black paint is a nice, subtle contrast with added impact from the purple pin-stripe that separates the two along the body line (remember that attention to detail?). The custom Xenon bumper, custom-welded eyelids, and M37 grille toughen up the front end. Out back features a de-badged and shaved trunk, painted tail lights, and even a back-up camera. Other neat little touches include rolled fenders, obligatory tinted windows, and custom “Next Level” badges done by Nate at ReBadge. The other big exterior modification is the CDC GlassBack panoramic roof. Now this is one trick mod that sections out a large chunk of the roof and replaces it with glass making it essentially one, giant, sunroof. Big props to Automotive Concepts for the stellar work. The suspension and brake setup is as
March 2014
cover, purple LED lighting throughout, and a custom fiberglass overhead console for the Auto-Pilot controller as well as a custom fiberglass radio bezel. The interior is finished off with a healthy smattering of audio. The system is centered around a Pioneer AVIC-D3 DVD/Nav head-unit and a Kicker KX1200 amplifier. The trunk houses a custom, fiberglass enclosure that holds two, 12� Kicker L7 subs and a Pacific Audio Can-Bus interface. The result is a car that dominates not only the show field, but also in any performance aspect. Just this past weekend, I saw Nate out at the road-course up at Brainerd International Raceway ripping about. In fact, it was upclose-and-personal as I managed to catch him in my stock-motor Miata...guess that
equally impressive as the rest of the car. Nate's 300 is bagged on Air-Lift Air Suspensions finest allowing him to drop the car on the ground or raise it back up at the touch of a button. The kit includes all four air-struts at each corner, air-tank, com-
The wheels were re-drilled from 5x120 to the Chrysler's 5x115 bolt-pattern, and also have a set of custom 8mm, hub-centric spacers to achieve the perfect fitment. The Giovannas are wrapped in Nitto Invos, a very popular tire of late, in 265/30/22 and 285/30/22 varieties. Of course with a full SRT-8 motor and drive-train, you would be correct if you guessed that the car has the Brembo SRT-8 brakes all around. The massive Brembo calipers were color-matched to the pin-stripe in House of Kolors passion purple, and are complimented with R1 Concepts drilled and slotted brake rotors and EBC Red brake pads. To round out the SRT-8 theme, and the rest of the car, the interior features pretty much everything from a SRT-8. Seats, gauge cluster, and shifter are all from the donor while a host of custom touches round out the interior. There's a 22Elite leather console
SRT-8 engine didn't help with driver skill...only kidding! But seriously, the car goes as good as it looks, and much props to Nate for tracking such an incredible car. It's great to see owners and builders enjoying what they build out on the track. Once again Nate has certainly upped the level of the caliber of custom cars, and stands out on his own whether it's on the show floor or the race-track. I can't wait to see what comes next when he takes Next Level up another level
pressors, and valve-block. The kit is coupled with the digital Auto-Pilot management system which makes everything completely electronic. I run the same system in my personal Lexus LS, and it is one trick piece with digital read-outs, individual control of each corner, and the ability to program 3-preset heights; all down, all up, and a drive-height. When the car is aired out it sits perfectly over a set of custom Giovanna Dalar-5 Limited wheels sized 22x9 up front and 22x10.5 out back. March 2014
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PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF ALL RIDERS ABATE of Minnesota has a long history of being proactive protecting the rights of all riders in our state. I often wonder if the motorcyclists who benefit from our hard work actually realize how good they have it in Minnesota. Stop at any gathering of bikers and you will see what I mean. Be they cruiser riders, sport bike riders, touring riders or riders of vintage bikes, they all have one thing in common; their motorcycle is an extension of their personality and preferences. But on that hot summer day when everyone is slapping each other on the back and checking out the other machines, do they think about the long winter days of meetings with elected officials and the necessary fundraising that ABATE of Minnesota is known for? Some do – some do not. For the “do nots” I offer this crash course: HELMET CHOICE FOR ADULT RIDERS?
Back in the sixties, our federal government decided to withhold highway funds to states that did not have mandatory motorcycle helmet laws, and Minnesota dutifully complied. If you think the research and data collection on this topic is suspect today, just imagine the decision making in the 1960s! But riders rebelled and it took until 1976 for our state to repeal this heavy handed requirement, although with a compromise; helmet use for adults was a choice, but helmet use was admissible in
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any civil case arising from a crash. Imagine sitting at a red light and being plowed into by a negligent driver, suffering numerous back and leg injuries, and then being told you were mostly at fault because you didn’t wear a helmet? That is not helmet choice. It took a while to fix but during the 1999 legislature, with Minnesota House of Representative Tom Workman, an ABATE of MN member, spearheading our cause, helmet use admissibility was no longer acceptable in a court of law. Think about that for a while and then read on. WHY DO WE NEED A HANDLEBAR HEIGHT LAW?
Years ago, most motorcycles were kind of boxy looking and had a rectangular profile (think 1972 Honda 750). By the mid-90s many bikes (all bikes, not just Harleys) took on a more “swoopy” look with high handlebar mounts, low seat and a rising rear fender. Many of these bikes in stock configuration were almost illegal in Minnesota. And any changes to the handlebars, seat, etc. put them out of compliance. It was ABATE of Minnesota to the rescue again and those restrictions were repealed
legislatively 15 years ago. Again, check out the bikes at the local gathering and you will soon see what a benefit this is. Blue dot taillights, vertical custom plates, no motorcycle only roadblocks, red light law, equal access for motorcyclists? Yes, Minnesota motorcyclists have a lot to be thankful for. And it is wonderment that more motorcyclists in Minnesota do not choose to participate in protecting the one activity they enjoy most. Many seem to think that these things I mention are “cast in stone”. However, in a free society, no issue is ever settled. The forces working against freedom minded motorcyclists will keep attacking. And they are well funded. Think about the joy you have had on two wheels. Think about the wonderful times you have had with family and friends while on two wheels. Think about the freedoms you enjoy in Minnesota. Then please consider joining and supporting the organization that is on your side. Join and support ABATE of Minnesota. Yours in freedom, Mack www.WheelsofThunder.net
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I
Written by Tom Edwards
n 1967 I attended my second drag race and it made a lasting impression. Like my first race, this one was also at Connecticut Dragway. The track is long gone but the fans that were there have some great memories of that New England drag strip. During that second race the featured cars were in the A/GS category. That classification was established in 1960 and lasted until the end of the 1975 season. The supercharged gas coupes were the fastest full bodied cars in drag racing in their early days and were very popular. The cars and the drivers that piloted them down the race track were colorful making them easy for track operators to promote. I still remember the ads in drag racing publications and the “Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY”! announcements on some of the radio stations. Page 36
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In the earliest years of the gas coupes the National Hot Rod Association wanted them to have the appearance of cars that could be driven on the street. When was the last time you saw a car with windshield wipers going down a drag strip? Those limitations didn’t last long and, ultimately the cars were designed and built specifically for racing. Studebakers (remember those?) were popular in the “gasser wars” with their light weight, always an important consideration in straight line racing. As the category was evolving, Willys began to show up in increasing numbers. The early 1940’s and the ’33 models were among the most popular. Automatic transmissions and supercharged
Chrysler hemi engines were in use by an increasing number of teams. The gas coupes were making significant changes and their fan base was growing. My introduction to seeing those cars on the track couldn’t have had a more impressive lineup. Stone, Woods & Cook, K.S. Pittman, Big John Mazmanian, Jack Merkel, Shores & Hess and the Hill Brothers drew a large gathering of fans. The Stone, Woods & Cook car was owned by Fred Stone and Tim Woods, African/American racers.
Doug Cook’s addition as the driver made them one of the first multiracial teams in motorsports. Cook and Stone worked at the California construction company owned and operated by Tim Woods. A few years before I had seen them, these cars were consistently running more than 140 MPH; a significant number at that time in drag racing history. The racing that happened my first time seeing them was everything a fan could hope for on that clear, perfect weather September day. I have enjoyed drag racing for decades and the dark blue ’41 Willys with Stone, Woods & Cook in gold lettering on the doors is still one of my favorite race cars. It is at or near the top on a March 2014
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ing, he sold the Vette and had his driver, Bones Balogh construct a ’40 Willys with a Chrysler hemi power plant. A rivalry was on and it added significantly to the popularity of the gassers. The publicity was also a big boost for the sport. Adding to the competition was sponsorship logos on the
lot of long time fans most-favorite lists. Justifiably it has earned a place in the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. My wife and I always make it a point to visit the museum when we are in Pomona for the Winternationals or the Finals. A drag race and a museum with historic race cars. If you enjoy the world’s fastest motorsport, it just doesn’t get any better than that. The last time we were there I added a Stone, Woods & Cook sweatshirt and hat to my wardrobe. The sales clerk that rang it up told me S, W & C items sell very well. I’m not surprised. The 1964 season saw K.S. Pittman reset both NHRA marks for Elapsed Time and speed with 9.99 second and 146.10 MPH runs. Sub 10 second runs for the gas coupes was a new territory. During the season, Pittman, like Mazmanian and Stone, Woods & Cook went with Chrysler hemi power. Others soon followed. K.S. also switched from his ’41 Willys to a ’33 model. He had the ’33 when I saw him in Connecticut. My first view of that car was when it was being towed in behind a color matching pickup truck. Seeing “K.S. Pittman” and “S & S Racing Team” on the doors told me it was going to a memorable day. The B & M logo
below the rear window let everyone know how the gears were shifted. During that ‘64 season Pittman joined Don Garlits, TV Tommy Ivo, Sox & Martin and Ohio George Montgomery on a 6 race event in Europe know as the English Dragfest. The 1965 season could not get have had a better start for K.S. Pittman; he defeated Stone, Woods & Cook in the Winternationals final
round. In September of 1970 the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame member set the national Elapsed Time record with an 8.54 second run driving a AA/GS car. At a nostalgia display in Pomona during the Winternationals, the gas coupes always had a lot of fans around them. To this fan, it looked like K.S. was having as much “bench racing” as the fans. On February 2, 1964 I celebrated my 15th birthday, (yes, years later I saw the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day) as much as a high school freshman could, and Big John Mazmanian won the UDRA race at Lions Drag Strip in southern California. Mazmanian was the owner of a trash truck business and had been driving a Corvette in a modified sportsman class. When he noticed the success the Stone, Woods & Cook car was hav-
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side of each car. The S,W & C team went with an Engle cam and Big John had an Iskenderian ( Isky) cam in his ride. In June Maz reset the NHRA speed record with a 143.54 pass. 1964 was a very good year for the owners and drivers of the gas coupes. During the following season the racing was bringing in the fans on the west coast. The east coast tracks began their season and the west coast teams found ample opportunities to race there. Eastern based racers like Jack Merkel, and Ohio George Montgomery welcomed the chance to race the big name west coast teams and generate some income to offset the costs associated with the increasingly technical race cars. 1965 saw a growing number of Anglia bodied gassers. Southern California racers Jim Shores and Skip Hess were among the first to use the small English cars. Junior Thompson and the Kohler Brothers followed the Shores & Hess team in the switch to an Anglia. By
1966 drag strip operators could see that booking the big name gas coupe racers was less expensive than the fuel dragsters and still new Funny Cars while drawing a large number of fans. Ohio George Montgomery, for example, was booked for the year before March 2014
a class I liked a lot; they just weren’t what most fans had been accustomed to seeing in the gasser cars. When you see the gas coupes at the Wally Parks Museum, you’re looking, for the most part, at Willys of assorted years. I believe that’s what fans think of when the topic of conversation is the gasser wars. It was fun while it lasted. Like so many other fans of the sport, having seen them on the track still brings back a lot of great memories. I started a collection drag racing memorabilia, trading cards, DVD’s, books and die cast cars years after the “stick and ball”
the calendar hit February. In the late fall of 1967 the east coast tracks were beginning to close for the season (snow will do that to a drag strip) and the racing on the west coast was as competitive and popular as it had been in previous years. Funny Cars were beginning to become a well established class of racing. The result was more publicity and more money going to the flip top body cars. Drag racing was also becoming more “professional” as opposed to the Run-what-ya-brung, garage based sport it had been. The gas coupes match race I saw at Connecticut Dragway was near the end of the season. Big John had sold his ’41 Willys and went with an Austin bodied car. In 1967 with a Ford Mustang body on his car, Ohio George reset both ends of the
NHRA records for E.T., 8.93 seconds and speed at 162.16 MPH. Those were unheard of numbers just a few years before the ’67 season. The success Montgomery had with a more current looking car proved to be a signal that the days of the Willys, Anglias and Austins were numbered. In 1968 the NHRA established rules changes that muddied the water for gas coupe racers. The class designations were now AA/GS, BB/GS and CC/GS. The Anglia’s, which had not technically been accepted, were now within the rules. The racers began to switch to newer body styles that proved to be faster and better performing. As a big fan of the gassers, I found the new cars to be very similar to Funny Cars,
items I had collected. Looking back, doing photography at the first race I went to is something I’m glad I did. The cameras and lenses I use now are significantly advanced over my 1960’s camera but those early shots are still a hoot to have in my photo collec-
tion. I’ll be sharing my Connecticut Dragway photos with the Connecticut Street Rod Association at a 2014 reunion. At a motorsports collectors show in San Diego years ago I was able to add three 1/24 scale
die cast cars, Stone, Woods & Cook, K.S. Pittman and Big John Mazmanian to my straight line racing collection. The Big John car was the Anglia I saw in Connecticut so that added to the fun factor. March 2014
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T
he winter of discontent for many Midwesterner's is an outdoorsman's dream! Everywhere you look, there continues to be snow! From racers dashing in snowmobiles flying parallel to rural roads to the Publisher of this very magazine watching his son Zach racing and tearing it up on a rig of their own. It's a racers wonderland for sure! Greetings again Wheels fans! You have plenty of time to continue to enjoy our great Outdoors since this snow and cold should be with us until, say...June?! We hope you are as excited as we are at GameON! TV. This issue of Wheels of Thunder is full of great stories, amazing pictures and sponsor information that underscores just how much momentum and excitement surrounds motorsports! GameON! TV continues to grow & reach so many of you with our sports programming and you know by now that we broadcast in the Dakota's and western Minnesota via MidCo Sports Network. GameON! loves sports, from the variety of professional, college & high school sports to all the outdoor events that dot our regional landscape. GameON's partnership with Wheels of Thunder is strong and just like you, we also enjoy the most comprehensive race magazine and website to be found! Wheels of Thunder magazine gets it and gets you the latest information, amazing pictures and all those terrific stories to the most passionate motorsports fans in the country! Looking ahead, there's more special events and moments ahead for GameON! Each and every week GameON! comes to you in crystal clear full High Definition and our first APP (it's free to for Apple & Android phones) is available for your use! GameON! TV is now offering a weekly PODCAST available @ our show website www.GameOnTvMN.com. It's full of bits and pieces of sports from the region and what's ahead on our weekly TV show.
visit our Facebook site (friend us @ GameON on facebook), our website @ www.gameontvmn.com and 24/7on twitter #gameontvmn. And we're always planning bigger and better shows at the TexMex Restaurant Bar Abilene in Uptown MPLS. You are always welcome to visit our live tapings and each week we list guests and updates on the GameON! website as well as our Facebook site. Get upclose and personal with us!!
GameON! does what no other TV sports interview show in the region does. We offer a diverse and entertaining half hour of TV as we bring you the most visible and popular Minnesota sports figures. From Spring training with the Minnesota Twins to the Vikings, the NBA Timberwolves, the NHL Wild and we visit with the Lacrosse Swarm. There's NASCAR and we're all over your favorite drivers, from Kody Kamm to X-Games Gold Medalist Levi LaVallee.
8-time Emmy winning GameON! host Rod Simons also talks baseball as he serves as the host of the weekly Twins Territory on the radio home for your Minnesota Twins @ KTWIN 96.3. So, please join us for all that sports offers us here in our great neck of the woods, via Wheels of Thunder, GameON! and KTWIN radio! And get your Vikings fix with our partner in one of the largest Vikings fan websites in the world, www.PurplePride.org. I've said it before and I'm saying it again! Get off the couch and get your GameON! Be a part of the exciting effort we're putting on! Here's to the spring fast approaching! Hope to see you at an upcoming GameON! taping!!
This show is interactive so we'd love to hear from you! Please
Keep your GameON!
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