WINTER is TRUCK REBUILD time. . . DIESEL Motorsports!

By Larry "Gene" Mohney

Many of our competitors are already rebuilding their trucks for next season and refreshing the power plant inside of their trucks. The competitors take this time to evaluate their drivetrain and what they could do to it in order to get just little more out of the truck in order to win in racing or pulling.

Lighter is always better since having your truck lighter can get you extra tenths of seconds in racing or inches in pulling! I saw a puller this Summer eliminate one battery in his two battery setup with a new high-end battery I showed him with high amp rating so he could go to a one battery setup! Every pound helps when it comes to competition.

Cooler is always better than hotter in any motor sport so diesels is no different in the drivetrain. Double or triple the horsepower and your heat will go straight up on the temperature gauge if you use OEM existing equipment. Look for higher output water pump, radiator, intercooler and brushless fans (SPAL)! While at the PRI Show I featured a higher output Radiator, intercooler, oil cooler and fan shroud setup from Northern Radiator with adjustable thermostat harness that allows you to turn up or down the power. 

Reinforce the motor components such as the cams, pistons/rings, rods and studs when rebuilding the motor. I always recommend the long running companies who has invested many hours in research for performance parts such as ARP, Mahle gaskets/Mahle Pistons, Clevite, and Carrillo. Sure there are many one-off makers of custom parts but those are all new manufacturers that compete on a very cutting edge market. The companies I mentioned have been competing for many decades not years in performance. 

If in doubt about the metal qualities of a strong component you might consider Cryo treatment of the parts. This treatment is used by many in the gas performance world for strength under pressure! 

One of the biggest issues is not raising the bar in horsepower it is getting the horsepower to the pavement or track! Check and rework ALL aspects of the drivetrain, why would you not do this? You have just rebuilt the motor fresh so make sure the rest of the equation is freshened up too! 

There are many NEW options for tranny components by long standing companies who know our business. Before you take the final build to the track, take it to a business that can run it through dyno scenarios before stressing your new build whether it is engine, tranny or overall dyno service.

DIESEL Motorsports wants success for all of the builds and competitors!

PRI Show - what to expect??? Dec 6-8th DIESEL Motorsports

What to expect if you are attending the PRI Show (Performance Race Industry) in Indianapolis December 6-8th? Since DIESEL Motorsports has had a booth there for many years even when it was held in Orlando we can tell you what you will see while attending.

First, if you want to attend you need to register as a shop or a competitor for racing or pulling on the day of the event at registration. Second the parking is a bit of a problem so come early and expect to walk 3-4 blocks from your parking spot (parking is about $15-20 a day).

Once you park you do not have to bring a heavy coat because most of downtown Indianapolis is connected with heated skywalks that connect with the Convention Center. That way you won't have to carry around a heavy coat during the show.

Many booth/displays are in the hallways on the way into the show, take time to have a look at them. The display areas are split into certain groups, the main performance hall where most of the big name performance part manufacturers are in this hall. DIESEL Motorsports is in this hall (booth #1837) right down from the Fluidampr booth.

The second connecting hall is part machine hall for shops and the remainder is various WDs, circle track parts and a mixture of different displays. The third hall is full of a mixture of different performance, equipment, and fill-in displays.

Look in the halls for side rooms where first year displays are placed, some really nice companies are hidden in those side rooms. You will need two days to see everything but if you are looking for diesel related displays most can be found in the first two halls.

This is a performance part show so you will not see any truck accessory parts or vehicle displays like the SEMA show. It is a more one on one show where you can actually talk to a company representative about parts that relate to your shop or vehicles.

I like this show for diesels better than the SEMA show because not only is it for competitors but it is located where more shops can attend. We have supported this show for many years and we were the first diesel race and pulling organization to display at the PRI show. In fact we were the only one for many years.

Come by and see the DM Girls at booth #1837 to find out about our 2019 schedule, receive free t-shirts, swag, decals and literature. If you like to touch, feel, and talk about custom parts for diesel performance then you will enjoy this show.

Remember our local owned diesel shops when it comes to shopping for Christmas! DIESEL Motorsports

By Larry "Gene" Mohney

I know it is so easy to shop online because we all are so busy these days. The holiday events, family rehearsals, church, and then there is work! I'm guilty on this myself during the Holidays!

Who wants to take the time to go talk to someone about your truck or parts?

ME! ME! ME! lol consider it a trip to the hardware store or Menards, TSC Tractor or other men stores!

Then ask the local diesel dealer to make you a list of items with estimated costs of what you want done to your truck. Have him make a copy and keep one there, then take the other copy home to the wife or special other.

Tell her if it's something for Christmas you are looking for here is a list of low to higher price items plus include installation. 

What a special gift to even include installation, or better yet tell her to take the truck one day of shopping - hint, hint!

Many of the local diesel shops make very little on just selling the part since they have to compete with online shopping, however to have it installed makes them a little extra but helps them keep their mechanics busy for the Holidays.

If anything goes wrong with what ever they are having installed they will stand behind it. Hard to do that with on-line sales.

PLUS you get the local shop interested in your truck and how they can help when you need it the most. Who doesn't need a friend in the shop business, especially if you use your truck for work or business.

There are a lot of special fun gifts for the diesel truck whether it's performance or accessories! Visit your local shop and make a fun holiday for everyone!

DIESEL Motorsports (NADM) celebrating 12 years in 2019!

12 years ago Gene Mohney and I left DHRA to start NADM (National Association of DIESEL Motorsports) on October 27th, 2007! We went to SEMA for the first time as our own business and sanctioning body for diesel 3/4 and 1 ton pickup racing, pulling and dyno competitions.

We have always stated NADM as the only sanctioning body because NADM took the trouble to obtain our ruleset, bought our own SFI sanctioning status and event/liability insurance. All other promoters/race organizations for diesels instead filed for ASO (Alternate Sanctioning Organization) with SFI and NHRA.

It is more expensive the way NADM did it but we make our own rules for diesels not someone else, in fact NHRA/IHRA do not have classes or rules for diesels. That is why many of you have raced once and then been DQed at tracks.

Once you pass tech with NADM you will not be DQed unless there is a safety issue and/or leakage. We thought this would be important for longevity in the industry. Coming from automotive aftermarket background i know most companies want to know they are covered by liability insurance and hold safety on a very high level of importance.

After being in business for a few years we found we were being confused with so many different race organizations with acronym names (NADM) so we decided to shorten it to be known as DIESEL Motorsports which is the last two words of NADM. If you look diesel motor sports up in the dictionary it is listed as three words. We coined it as two words - DIESEL Motorsports!

Easier to remember, easier to identify our events and marketing efforts. A big worded DIESEL with Motorsports underneath it or next to it!

We have gone from doing county fairs years ago to doing standalone events with diesels only to combined Diesel vs Gas events. It has always been about helping the rural diesel market and the shops who work everyday to make a living. NADM has advised many shops about who to service and sell, what to sell and how to market their business.

NADM has transformed at least 4 times in marketing and direction in the industry depending on OEM manufacturing, EPA/Government regulations and the increasing upward swing of performance with diesels.

Who provided the upward swing? The individual diesel shops and competitors who personally made each build stronger, bigger and more aggressive.  Cutting edge technology provided by diesel mechanics who dare push the envelope.

Our shows have changed throughout the years with many rule and class changes depending on what was being built for the next year. NADM was not always the first to make drastic changes because of the concern of holding back increased horsepower or innovation by competitors.

Currently we find ourselves still the only sanctioning body for diesel motor sports.  However, we do find many more diesel events throughout the country which means we are doing a good job of making it popular and the term DIESEL Motorsports is becoming quite common among many enthusiasts and manufacturers.

DIESEL Motorsports will continue on in 2019 and many more years as the industry continues to support our direction in promoting the sport and rural diesel industry. DIESEL Motorsports puts on not just one event but multiple events across the country promoting in old and new geographically areas for diesel enthusiasts.

It's always have been about the sport, the business model and making sure we make enough to stay in business year after year (which has been difficult many years)! You won't see Gene or I driving brand new trucks or being flashy at shows with equipment but being very conservative! Kinda like the people we work with and do business with during the year.

12 years is a long time for any business and yes, Gene and i have learned a lot during the events and years from doing the events, some painful and some fun! But we both still enjoy doing the shows and you will see both of us talking to young enthusiasts asking them what they have done to their trucks.

As the 2019 schedule is released at PRI in December make sure to follow us year after year, many have and we appreciate their business and friendship. Events happen and change as more events are added every year, thus always looking for different ways to entertain our diesel fans.

What we saw at the 2019 SEMA Show! DIESEL Motorsports

I report every year what we saw at the SEMA show which is much talked about on social media. If you have never been it is a pleasure to see so many custom pickup trucks and diesel vehicles since most booths and displays have a custom vehicle.

Not many manufacturers left that just show their products, which is what I look for during the show. Most show a wild killer custom vehicle that will draw attention to their booth.

Lots and lots of lifted trucks with big wheels and low profile tires makes for a nice showing but tough to run our back roads and highways out in the Midwest.

A few high performance diesel items but not much because of SEMA's EPA friendly atmosphere. however there is a lot of really nice truck accessory items that are new and exciting.

Some of the diesel Rat Rods were really nice and had performance engines along with some of the older diesels. It is always a blast to look how much someone's imagination can take them from concept to finish vehicle.

I saw a lot of parts from our sponsors since they are interested in what it takes to build a solid diesel motor. Manufacturer's like Mahle, Clevite, ARP, SPAL, Peak/Blue, BD Diesel, PPE, Carrillo, Autometer, RBP, Theromo-Tec; all had their parts/products out for people to see and ask questions. Since this is a aftermarket parts/performance show it is good to actually see parts/products and talk about them.

People spend a lot of money to display out at the SEMA show in order to get the recognition which is what the show is good at! Being recognized by thousands from around the world!

Looking forward to the PRI show and I will feature in the next few weeks the new items I ran into at the SEMA show.

Who needs a good web site??? Is it worth it!

The social media market has taken a hit with security breeches so many shops are now asking do I need a web site?

Many shops used their FB page as a shop page which worked out great! I use our DM page all of the time but I have noticed unless I advertise more FB regulates our exposure. So it's no longer free if you want full exposure to social media.

Now I have moved much energy to Twitter and Instagram to offset the now biased FB and Google which does not like rural trucks, rural lifestyle and conservative views.

So how important is your web site?

DIESEL Motorsports recently revised ours for a couple of reasons. One our long time friend and mine personally Eric (Woodstock) passed away from cancer at a young age of 66, he has managed our DM web site for the entire 11 years. I was very sad on many levels since I had known Eric for over 22 years plus he was a good shooting buddy being past military, sheriff, police, etc.

Second, I knew with Eric gone I needed to not only update but manage our content with a more up-to-date format. www.DIESELmotorsports.US is now 80% done and up for viewing.

Still adding some features on the DM site including a shopping cart with DM swag but adding more information that can be useful to our enthusiasts.

Traffic has been up since we launched it in September with much more attention along with page views.

It is important to have a web site because business people look for your site. It verifies you as a brick and mortar shop they can do business. It also helps in search engines when locating legitimate shops for repairs and what kind of repairs or upgrades your shop is capable of installing on their truck.

Always make sure to include a gallery to show customer's trucks when finished plus a quote from them. It means a lot to the people looking for assurance your shop will treat their truck right.

It doesn't take long when finished to shoot a quick photo with your cell phone of the truck and customer out in the parking lot.

I have heard from many shops who are in small towns they can not get the proper services to put up a site and maintain it. Many report locals who have taken their dollars then disappeared!

I understand the frustration since I have been in your shoes plus your job is to repair trucks not run your web site. You rely on those people to help you with just like you help people with their trucks.

If you have a hard time finding people to help you with a proper web site, contact me and i can help you find some professional help in that area.

SEMA Show or PRI Show - which should you attend??? As a diesel enthusiasts. . .

I get asked every year since I have gone to both for so long? Which show is worth going to for the money?

If you have never been to Las Vegas or the SEMA show then it is worth going if you have the time and the dollars. They don't call Vegas sin city for nothing, everything costs! And it cost more during the SEMA show, they know how many people come to this show!

If you come to SEMA, bring very good walking shoes since you will walk 5-7 miles in one day to view the show. When people in Vegas say it is only a block away, count on about 4 normal blocks. There is a lot of people which makes it difficult to view and talk to the vendors, it helps if you have a buyers badge.

Hotels surrounding the Convention center are expensive ranging $170-$350 per night, Uber and taxis all want $20 to go anywhere. If you want cheaper hotels go to outlying areas or by the airport, you can get rooms for $79-$130 a night.

SEMA has been cracking down on industry badges for both events so if you are a diesel shop or repair shop you can qualify as a buyer. Just go online and register but it does cost $40 per person or $75 if it is past October 12th. Make sure to put your wife down as spouse which is easier to register.

There are a lot of diesel trucks with HUGE lift kits and large wheels but very few performance upgrades on newer trucks since this violates EPA rules.

To me if you want to look for performance items plus tooling for your shop, the PRI show is a much better show and cheaper to attend. Hotels are $59-$200 per night and taxis/Uber are normal rates. It is located in Indianapolis which takes you less time to travel to and easier to get back home to the shop.

There are no vehicles to view so if you are expecting a truck or car show you will be disappointed. What you will see is real performance parts/services and tooling machines. Yes you can actually talk to the vendors at this show especially if you are listed as a buyer and not a competitor.

Even though what you would see in Las Vegas would be more entertaining it would not relate to your shop business as much as the PRI show.

You can see everything at the PRI show in most likely one or two days where you could not see everything at SEMA/AAPEX if you walked 5 miles everyday.

If you got the $$$ and time and have never been you should visit the SEMA show but if you have limited time and need to watch the $$ go to the PRI show!

If you have questions about either show please ask or respond back to me!

ronk@dieselmotorsports.US

What and how is the diesel market changing around the country???

After halfway through a diesel season and talking to many different diesel shops it is safe to say the diesel market is slowly moving in a new direction!

The higher end diesel trucks keep getting faster and faster but you are lucky to see them make more than a couple of passes. Most of them have found they had to go to a Pro Stock type vehicle in order to go faster. That is stripping the truck of all metal and replacing it with fiberglass body parts, tube frame and minimal interior thus making it a Pro Stock drag vehicle. It is tough to make a full size metal OEM truck get into the 8s and even the 9s on a regular basis.

They all have gone to 1/8 mile racing for the main reason of less breaks on the vehicle on a shorter track. Plain and simple economics which is understandable. I suggested this over 10 years ago and was made fun of on the forums! Larger, heavier vehicles do better on a shorter track, it is just common sense. DIESEL Motorsports runs either 1/4 or 1/8 mile for racing, whatever the competitors want to do depending on the facility.

Street trucks have started to back off of making their trucks 1000+ hp and have dropped back to 7-800 hp trucks so less break while operating. This again is only common sense since people want a hot truck but they want it to be dependable. This leaves a lot of parts still available to sell or buy for your street truck.

The shops are telling me more and more diesel owners are asking for 25% over injectors and not 300% over and the same for their turbo replacements. The shops are rebuilding a lot of trannys and fixing electronic issues.



Sled pulling for trucks again has taken a back seat to tractors at fair pulls just like the two sanctioning tractor associations planned it! Trucks were getting to popular and there were too many of them, thus we were taking over the shows. You fix it by regulating the power with turbo and adding expensive upgrades to the drivetrain/suspension.

Every state pulling association has reported to me a drop in the number of trucks at their local fairs. The diesel shops can afford the upgrades but not the weekly pulling individual who did it as a hobby. That is why DIESEL Motorsports introduced the Hot Work Stock class last year. It allows the daily driver of a street truck the opportunity to pull under mild conditions with a high powered street diesel.

Diesels have moved into the show quality vehicles with some unbelievable custom vehicles whether it is a rat rod, a normal pick-up or a older truck. Chrome and custom paint with notice to details and straight uniform lines on these vehicles make then collector items.

But yet you are going to ask "are there more diesels?"! Yes there is because more people are finding out what great vehicles they can be when properly maintained! Even more diesel autos are being sold even after the VW debacle! More diesel trucks in 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton pickups are being sold for many positive reasons such as longevity.

The common life of a vehicle is now at 11 years for autos and 13 yrs for trucks, way up from the 90s of 2 years for autos and 5 years for trucks.

I'm heading off to a 1st event next week in Sturgis SD during Bike Week because the Dragstrip said all of the bikers are now hauling their bikes with pickup trucks/trailers and semis!

Where there are trucks I will follow . . . !