Electric Vehicles VS DIESEL? How soon the change?

 I'll be the first to say I'm all for technology, I'm the first to go and buy the latest tech products. However, I also still use what works the best for the application. All I hear from the auto industry leaders is the NEW electric vehicle technology coming up quick.

Living here in the Midwest (Kansas City) I can tell you we do not see many electric vehicles running around. I see the newer built stores, hotels, etc with electric charging stations in close-up parking spaces but never any vehicles hooked up to them.

It may be the future but I see a lot of roadblocks in the way before it will happen. The inability to go any kind of distance without re-charging, lack of power hauling and longevity of the batteries. The biggest elephant in the room is also the ability to charge the vehicles when at home since many of us have experienced blackouts from local utility companies just keeping up with air conditioning or heating.

It seems there are a lot that needs to be done before this transition takes place to replace fossil fuels. I do see more technology to stretch the use of fossil fuels so the vehicles can get more out of a gallon of fuel.

Face it, the pulling power of diesel vehicles delivers all of our food, supplies, and consumables to our local stores from great distances. Most of our local municipalities use diesel vehicles to service our neighborhoods and streets such as trash, service vehicles, snow removal, street repair and many other services. 

 

Construction is powered pretty much by diesel fossil fuels including the people who work on the projects since they have to haul tools and trailers to distant locations. Progress would come to a screeching halt if we required that industry to convert to electric. Try going to a rental facility and ask to rent an electric backhoe or roller.

I have talked to several people in the battery supply chain and orders are high but the trouble is supply along with being able to recycle the EV batteries. The minerals used are in high demand for the EV batteries coming from 3rd world countries, the mining conditions are sub-level compared to modern standards. 

So how long will it be for replacement - most likely not in my lifetime!

Yes, with demand I'm sure our country's technology will start to tackle some of these roadblocks but it will be many years and at what cost? The United States already leads the world countries for low emissions leaving the smallest footprint. 

So I guess the next article will be why should we abandon our motorsports history and activities when the rest of the world countries do not care! Just asking? 

Many lives currently relies on fossil fuels to get the job done everyday!

South Coast Truck/Tractor National Review 2021

South Coast Truck/Tractor Nationals

Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter Florida

Friday Evening & Saturday February 26/27^th

 

What a beautiful time of the year for Florida that has warm days and cool evenings with low humidity. It made for a perfect day to start the event with sled pulling for the first time in southern Florida for over 10 years.

 

Friday evening was a full schedule of pulling with tractors and trucks in all different sizes and configurations including multiple engine rails. The crowd was excited and provided a great cheering section for our competitors from up north. Over 9 classes and exhibition pulls that provided over 4 hours of entertainment! The winners are listed below, many pulling for the first time in Florida.

 

Saturday was a full day with open Test-N-Tune on the drag strip during noon hours along with the Mothers Polishes Show-N-Shine with judging around 3:30. In the other arena dirt drags were getting started at around 3:00 o’clock with three classes of Trucks 100-500 HP , Trucks 600-1000 HP and Nitrous Alcohol 2WD trucks that put on quite the show for the spectators. Many local trucks took the opportunity to run down the track for the first time in four years since they had run dirt drags there. We saw a lot of dirt flying in all directions including our flag girl who got covered with dirt.

The evening show was once again sled pulling with some of the biggest names in pulling from the NE/Midwest areas of the country who traveled south to get warm and continue pulling! The 4 hour show was 9 pulling classes and some exhibition vehicles that ranged from 500 hp to 4500 hp vehicles. The Saturday crowd was quite a bit bigger than Friday so their friends must have told them to come and watch this amazing show from 6-10pm! PBIR was a great host for the show and provided quite a bit of refreshments and food choices for our enthusiasts.

 

It was a blast to put on this show and it is not too many places I go where the local Fish & Game officers ask me to announce that to refrain from feeding the local gators people food during the show! 

 

To view photos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=195139160520323&set=a.4106919992675534

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=195139160520323&set=a.4119841174716749

 

 

 

2/26 Friday South Coast Truck/Tractor Nationals

 

Sled Pull – Main Arena

 

8500 Mod Turbo Tractor

1.     Adam House – 326.26

2.     Adam House – 319.44

3.     Tommy Williams – 316.17

4.     Gary Schyvinch – 314.54

5.     Jason Forrester – 299.62

6.     Mark Miller – 297.12

 

7500 Modified

1.     Dale Forrester – 325.18

2.     Keerstie Robinson – 284.26

3.     John Bachman – 277.39

4.     Ian Erricker – 261.49

 

7700 Light limited Tractor

1.     Mark Smith – 348.28

2.     Matt Smith – 343.99

3.     Shane Scott – 329.84

4.     Timmy Stauffer – 322.36

5.     Brian Capparelli – 301.50

6.     Eddie Ocker – 270.40

 

Open Single Turbo Trucks

1.     Tommy Hassler – 314.79

2.     Travis Whitby – 309.70

3.     Sean Rice – 273.28

4.     Ethan Schneider – Opt

 

Hot Work Stock Trucks

1.     Tommy Hassler – 360.24

2.     Travis Whitby – 344.64

3.     Sean Rice – 317.65

4.     Heath – 295.21

5.     Lonnie Nichols – 260.43

 

10,000 Pro Farm Tractor

1.     Duane Sours – 308.32

2.     Adam House – 299.03

3.     Doug Hayman – 295.61

4.     Adam House – 295.38

5.     Tim Miller - 286.77

6.     Stephan Leizear – 284.81

7.     Rodger Baum – 250.98

 

6200 2WD

1.     Dale Forrester – 310.55

2.     Ian Erricker – 306.14

3.     Jason Forrester – 274.89

4.     Andy Forrester – 258.73

 

10,500 Hot Farm Tractor

1.     Jason Forrester 317.34

2.     Doug Hayman – 307.39

3.     Mark Kelsey – 302.88

4.     Waylon Baum – 300.55

5.     Sawyer Baum – 299.66

6.     Sean Galley – 298.80

7.     Rob Bell – 285.62

 

4500 Small Block 4x4 Trucks

1.     Travis Eutzy – 273.99

2.     Chris Eutzy – 272.68

3.     Jared Stoner – 262.32

4.     Austin Stoner – 257.40

5.     Ryan Varner – 254.71

6.     Denny Stoner – 243.80

 

 

2/27 Saturday South Coast Truck/Tractor National

 

Mothers Polishes Show-N-Shine

Best of Show

Cristie Pela – 1991 Hummer

Best Ford

Adam Pela – 2012 Ford F250

Best Dodge

Giovanni Catalfumo – 2019 Ram 3500

Best Rat Rod

DmaxSwap – 1957 Chevy Apache

 

 

Dirt Drags – Main Arena

 

Truck 100-500 HP

Champion

Tyler Moesy – 1998 Dodge Ram

 

Truck 500-100 HP

Champion

Serena Alexander – 84 GMC

 

Nitrous Alcohol

Champion

Tom Hale – Ford Bronco – Frankenstein

 

 

Sled Pull Main Arena

 

4500 Small Block Trucks

1.     Chris Eutzy – 305.06

2.     Ryan Varner – 299.15

3.     Jared Stoner – 296.86

4.     Denny Stoner – 284.48

5.     Travis Eutzy – 279.51

6.     Austin Stoner – 278.17

 

7700 Light Limited Tractor

1.     Matt Smith – 349.36

2.     Mark Smith – 343.82

3.     Shane Scott – 339.14

4.     Timmy Stauffer – 320.32

5.     Sue Johnson – 314.04

6.     Will Whitt – 267.60

 

7500 Modified

1.     Dale Forrester – 301.56

2.     Ian Erricker – 296.21

3.     Kortney Robinson – 284.25

4.     Tim Robinson – 253.79

 

Hot Work Stock Trucks

1.     Travis Whitby – 350.80

2.     Sean Rice – 331.41

3.     Marcus Parys – 283.56

4.     Heath – 269.41

 

Work Stock Trucks

1.     Austin Nichols – 295.86

2.     Rodney Furney – 292.02

3.     Kelly Pedicord – 290.76

4.     Chris Rudnick – 285.85

5.     Colby Shockley – 284.54

 

6200 2WD Trucks

1.     Andy Forrester – 315.73

2.     Ian Erricker – 308.99

3.     Jason Forrester – 287.84

4.     Ron Taylor – 242.02

 

8500 Mod Turbo Tractor

1.     Adam House – 324.00

2.     Mark Miller – 318.89

3.     Jason Forrester – 303.82

4.     Gary Schyvinch – 302.27

5.     Tommy Williams – 296.50

 

10,000 Pro Farm Tractor

1.     Ryan Miller – 330.34

2.     Duane Sours – 330.10

3.     Doug Hayman – 329.21

4.     Adam House – 320.55

5.     Adam House – 319.78

6.     Rodger Baum – 290.94

 

11,000 Hot Farm Tractor

1.     Jason Forrester – 338.98

2.     Sawyer Baum – 319.20

3.     Mark Kelsey – 316.26

4.     Sean Galley – 311.64

5.     Doug Hayman – 308.26

6.     Waylan Baum – 297.36

7.     Rob Bell – 292.82

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPONSORS who support our sport - DIESEL Motorsports 2021!

 Some sponsors have been with us for many years because of the safe family style events and marketing we do in the rural communities! While others are getting into supplying our trucks with new upgraded equipment with great success. As manufacturers offering product or services they have chosen to support our sport because they sell product to our enthusiasts and competitors.

The DIESEL Motorsports market has changed many times over the 15 years we have been involved with it. Each year it has become a challenge to keep up with the political environment but we have changed with the markets in order to comply and stay in business.

We still provide safe SFI insured events with competitive diesel trucks/tractors within a family environment so everyone can enjoy. Our sponsors help us do so every year by helping pay into the sport. Much of the purse monies payed out at events come from the sponsors plus providing the overhead for the events such as track rental, insurance and advertising.

Below is a list of this year's sponsors with links to their web sites - check out their products/services and show them we appreciate their support by purchasing their products.

Official Head Studs/Bolts - ARP - https://arp-bolts.com

Official Pistons - Mahle Motorsports - http://www.us.mahle.com/en/motorsports/ 

Official Performance Engine Oil Pans & Trans Pans  - PPE - https://www.ppepower.com/shop/

Official Radiator & InterCooler - Northern Radiator - https://www.northernradiator.com 

Official Cooling Fan - Spal Fans -  https://www.spalusa.com

Official Clutch Systems - Exedy Clutches - https://www.exedyusa.com

Official Heat/Sound Barrier & Turbo Cover - ThermoTec - https://www.thermotec.com 

Official Gauges - AutoMeter - www.AutoMeter.com 

Official Diesel/Gas Additive - Opti-Lube - https://opti-lube.com 

Official Heads - Edelbrock - https://www.edelbrock.com 

Official Piston Rings - Total Seal Piston Rings -  https://www.totalseal.com

Official Crankshaft & Rods - Callies - http://www.callies.com 

Official Electronic Performance Racing Trade Catalog - epartrade.com - https://www.epartrade.com

Official Classifieds - RacingJunk.com - https://www.racingjunk.com 

Each manufacturer has their own products/services but do some reading, many of them have other parts we all use for everyday care of our trucks!  They chose our sport because of the enthusiasts and what I have portrayed to them about how we care for our trucks. I have told many industry leaders the next round of enthusiasts is going to come from rural counties.

Rural people still have to drive to work, use their vehicles for work and enjoy enhancing them along the way! We ARE the next motor sport wave coming to the US! TRUCKS!

 

What classes for sled pulling - DIESEL Motorsports 2021!

 NEW post on sled pulling classes 2021!

By Larry Mohney (Sleddy)

 

We get asked this every year and at every pull? 

Answer: We tried for years to make all states the same or similar but nobody wanted it! Every state wrote their own rules usually to favor one group over another or favor a large shop. 

So we attempt to write rules that will fit everyone and we adapt to what is run locally! If enough trucks show up for a class we will group them and let them run. If the class differs some from our rules and it doesn't change safety rules or increased HP over others we usually adapt.

You may think everyone's rules are the same, well I can tell you they are not! Maybe in a two state area they are but most have some little change that doesn't match some one else's rules.

Other National groups change their rules yearly in order to satisfy a group or shop or wean a class they no longer want to show up.

That is the difference between us - we want everyone to pull as long as safety rules are followed! No you can not show up with a 1200 hp truck with no safety equipment on and demand to pull! Our insurance (and everyone else) will not allow it! Safety equipment is there for a reason - no accidents!

You can read our rules, they are free on the web site and they will match most local rules for safety and classes. In general we try to run the following classes:

Work Stock - Stock turbo street truck

Hot Work Stock - street truck stock appearing turbo

2.5 non SB

2.6 non SB

2.6 SB

3.0 SB

3.6 SB

Single Turbo Open

Super Stock/Modified

Tractors - 

Semis -

What does 2021 have for diesel enthusiasts???

It could be a split view depending on what happens in January, however life goes on regardless of what happens politically. 

We all use diesel vehicles to continue as essential workers delivering food/supplies to the stores, service the streets/town municipalities plus continued construction. They still need to be serviced and worked on in order to keep going for us workers.

We still will upgrade them slightly so they last longer and made to service our needs. Our part manufacturers are getting smarter and getting EPA approval on all parts before sending them out the door. Yes, it makes them cost more (thanks government) and they continue to be made in the US of higher quality materials.

Will we attend truck events when we are not working, you bet if any indication from the 2020 year continues. You can not keep us bottled up in the homes with nothing to do since most of the older forms of entertainment have been tainted. 

If state government continues to shutdown fairgrounds then I see sled pulling falling off on the state levels with only private bigger events holding pulls. This will make the midlevel classes fall off with costs being too much for units to sit in garages. Still the street classes will be strong since we can still drive these and the higher cost trucks will be used only when needed for shop promotions. 

Drag racing will continue strong with the street classes along with a new truck street machine class being introduced this year along with ET bracket and heads-up racing. Show-n-shine will be stronger because we have had time at home to work on our vehicles.

With over eight classes now in show-n-shine it makes sure more people go home with trophies and monies for showing their vehicles.

I do know you can not hold down rural Americans for long, we are too inventive and self reliant. We do what we like to do and find a way to do it,  just like DIESEL Motorsports found ways to continue to hold events last year.

Automotive motorsports is Americana and as long as we have to drive to work, we will continue to participate in motorsports. I promise we won't get political, biased or judgemental toward the love of your vehicle!

Watch for more announcements for the 2021 events this year!

ROI - Rural America motorsports -

 I saw this coming several years ago - motorsports tracks being attacked by suburban sprawl! Right here in Kansas City our long time track closed by residents who bought land by local dragstrip, built multi-million dollar homes and then complained about the noise. They knew quite well what they were building next to for their homes. It had been there for many years with weekend events 9 months out of the year for over 50 years.

Almost all of the famous tracks in CA have been shut down and this is happening as cities sprawl out into the country. DIESEL Motorsports decided years ago to search out rural tracks for competition since pickups are mostly used in the country regions.

Yes, pickups were a favorite for aftermarket sales for years when performance sales fell for a number of years. Then guess what, performance moved into the truck market not only for diesels but gas also for offroad and other competitions.

ONE thing you need to remember! It is still a personal owned pickup and they still want accessories to personalize their trucks plus the performance parts. Used trucks are at a all time high for pricing - diesel and gas! They are really hard to find.

Rural motorsports facilities welcome you with open arms as well as the communities surrounding them. They want your business! They want visitors! They want entertainment!

People who compete at local rural tracks have money because they are workers/essential who want to enjoy their hobby of motorsports. Most won't argue with you as long as you are reasonable.

They show up with their families for a weekend of fun, the shows are much like a county fair. Trucks are everywhere, people are everywhere looking at each other's vehicles, they are eating/grilling  and sharing their experiences with each other.

A perfect location to showcase products for trucks and the best part is DIESEL Motorsports can do that for you in our sponsor's tent. It is expensive to travel to the shows so we can do it for you - or you can have a local shop/store or rep attend the show. They can be part of the sponsor's tent or setup their own area. DIESEL Motorsports hauls displays to each event, DM girls who knows trucks man the booth to tell enthusiasts about sponsor's products.

Have DIESEL Motorsports help you reach the very people who visit rural part stores such as O'Reilly, AutoZone and NAPA Auto Stores. Why do you think they go to rural small towns?

These people still have to travel to towns to work, shop and socialize from age 15 to 90! Towns are far apart from each other along with their homes so you have to drive to get anywhere!

Invest dollars where people are still buying your products!

Reaching Rural America - post-election! DIESEL Motorsports . . .

By Larry Mohney

Contributing Editor 

If you think reaching rural America enthusiasts was difficult before - you are about to see a mass exit from mainstream channels including social media!

That's right, the rural crowd is a patriotic people with many having served in the services. Many are small town backgrounds which include conservative views and ethics.

Many have already fled to alternate sites which are not controlled by big tech as to what they post and in fear what they say are being captured for other uses. You can call it conspiracy theory if you want but the migration has already begun.

So how do you reach these NOW harder to reach than ever enthusiasts?

ONLY by getting in front of them locally at rural shows and show support in their lifestyle! DIESEL Motorsports has been doing that for 14 years (starting 2021), they know us and trust we protect our members list. 

We hold family style events with a big emphasis on what they are interested in and that is pickup truck motorsport competitions. We bring mainstream products and companies to them so they can see how they can add them to their trucks. 

They will go to local shops they trust so they can order the products to either have them installed or install the parts themselves. Trust is a big word and way for these enthusiasts, so how do you reach them?

Diesel Motorsports can reach them for you and yes, I am registered on all of the alternate sites along with having shows in their backyards. We are talking a migration of in the millions during the past month.

Think it was tough before, it just got a lot harder for big company's marketing/advertising departments.