Sunday, September 26, 2010

DynoValve: The Awareness - Rebirth Of The Lowly PCV Valve

Savi Corporation's DynoValve Kit Packaging - The DynoValve takes the functioning of the mechanical Positive Crankcase Valve process and brings the process evolution to its maximum effectiveness. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

DynoValve: The Awareness - Rebirth Of The Lowly PCV Valve

MPG Track Day exhibit discovery leads to test!

Motor Press Guild's Track Day is a time each year where journalists who have a focus on transportation technology and culture come together with the major automobile manufacturers to find out what is new for the next year's (2011) selling season. Any company who believes they have something to contribute to the event and wish to gain exposure to 150 plus people who write and another 100 or so people who market transportation platforms may end up presenting their solutions as an exhibitor or sponsor to the event ... Savi Corporation was one such company.

After over a half a decade of research and development, testing, and working with various environmental agencies, Savi Corporation was able to introduce its "smart" Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve to the world at last month’s 60th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance ... the DynoValve. The DynoValve replaces the mechanical PCV Valve found as original manufacture on all engines and takes the functioning of this environmentally useful process to a higher, more efficient level.

Pictured - The DynoValve computer-controlled valve on top with the mechanical PCV valve on bottom. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

This excerpted and edited from Wikipedia -

As an engine operates, high-pressure gases are contained within the combustion chamber and prevented from passing into the crankcase (containing the crankshaft and other parts) between the side of the piston and the cylinder bore by piston rings which seal against the cylinder. However, some amount of gas always leaks past the piston rings into the crankcase. This amount is very small in a new or properly rebuilt engine, provided that the piston rings and cylinder walls are correctly "broken in", and increases as the engine wears. Scratches on the cylinder walls or piston rings, such as those caused by foreign objects entering the engine, can cause large amounts of leakage. This leaked gas is known as blow-by because the pressure within the cylinders blows it by the piston rings. If this blow-by gas could not escape then pressure would build up within the crankcase.

Before the invention of crankcase ventilation in 1928, the engine oil seals were designed to withstand this pressure, oil leaking to the road surface was accepted, and the dipstick was screwed in. The hydrocarbon rich gas would then diffuse through the oil in the seals into the atmosphere. Subsequently, it became an emissions requirement as well as a functional necessity that the crankcase have a ventilation system. This [system] must maintain the crankcase at slightly less than atmospheric pressure under light load conditions and recycle the blow-by gas back into the engine intake.

However, due to the constant circulation of the oil within the engine, along with the high speed movement of the crankshaft, an oil mist is also passed through the PCV system and into the intake. The oil is then either burned during combustion, or settles along the intake tract, causing a gradual build-up of residue inside the inlet path. For this reason many engine tuners choose to replace the PCV system with an oil catch can and breather filter which vents the blow-by gases directly to atmosphere and retains the oil in a small tank (or returns it to the sump), although this technically fails to meet most engine emission legislation.
Reference Here>>

The DynoValve takes the functioning of the mechanical Positive Crankcase Valve process from a spring loaded plug, door, or flap that is opened and closed through the variance in pressure from one side of the door to the other and regulates the opening and closing based upon electronic signals and computer commands that even out the performance and brings the process evolution to its maximum effectiveness.

Many claims as to the benefits of this computerized DynoValve system process center around two major areas. It is GREEN and it makes one's vehicle more fuel efficient.

The DynoValve is GREEN because it allows for a greater, more complete burning of the fuel and other materials in the cylinder of the engine due to the increased breath-ability of the engine itself. The carbon particulate matter from the fuel and the gasses from the crankcase being more effectively burned, along with the catalytic converter, knocks the emissions to a nearly un-measurable level.

The GREEN and fuel efficient Hummer H2 stretch limousine with DynoValve. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

The DynoValve is more fuel efficient due to the fact the fuel is being burned more thoroughly because of the computerized DynoValve system process, a greater level of power is delivered by the engine so the performance is enhanced and less gas pedal is required to achieve the same performance results. An increase in the vehicle's gas consumption performance in miles per gallon of 30% is not unrealistic. One limousine company has documented an increase in MPG performance by as much as 300% under some specific driving conditions and a 200% increase is common.

This begs the question "Can this be tested and an article be developed by one of the journalists who became aware of the DynoValve at MPG Track Day to show the results one might be able to achieve on an everyday pick-up truck?"

The F250 "test-bed". Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

The installation happened yesterday on a 1995 Ford F250 XLT, 7.5 litre/460 cubic inch V8 powered pick-up that had 55,488.6 original miles on it at the time of install. The truck pretty much averages 10 miles per gallon and there had been times the truck did achieve 12 mpg but these were times where one was traveling out of the San Bernardino Mountains and traveled on the freeway at reduced speeds.

It was discovered during the install procedure that there was a couple of breeches in the truck's vacuum hose array which had the pressure measuring around 17 lbs. (normal pressure is about 20 lbs.). After installation of the DynoValve and the replacement of the compromised hoses, the operation of the truck's PCV vacuum system was restored back to 20 lbs. (full slideshow here).

Installed DynoValve. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

This posting will be the first of a series of articles spawned from the testing of Savi Corporation's computerized DynoValve system process installed on this writer's 1995 Ford F250 XLT, 7.5 liter/460 cubic inch V8 powered pick-up truck.

... notes from The EDJE

Saturday, September 18, 2010

2010 Japan 300 -Tweeting Twin Ring Motegi

The drivers of the IZOD IndyCar Seies pose for a group photograph before practice for the IndyCar Series Indy Japan 300 on September 18, 2010 at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan. Image Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

2010 Japan 300 -Tweeting Twin Ring Motegi

Qualifications for the IZOD IndyCar Series penultimate 2010 season race Japan 300 being held at Twin Ring Motegi, Tochigi, Japan finds the season points leader Will Power of Verizon Penske Racing in P3 along side Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi in P4, who at just 17 points behind, is looking to close the gap before the final race.

Tonight is time for Will Power to put-up or shut-up if he wishes to capture his first ever open-wheel championship in the IZOD IndyCar Series ... where as Dario Franchitti seeks his third championship in four years, second in a row, and is in his element on an oval track.

The reason it is time for Will Power to take command is that he will not find a better chance over these last two races on oval tracks to put distance between himself and Dario Franchitti because of two main factors:

1) Twin Ring Motegi is not a symmetrical track. The track is designed with a large corner at one end and a very tight corner at the other end which gives an edge to the driver that has the greater attention to detail - advantage Power ... the IZOD IndyCar Series inaugural 2010 Mario Andretti Road Course Trophy winner.

2) The front row is filled with Penske Racing teammates Helio Castroneves in P1 and Ryan Briscoe in P2. With a little creative team management during the course of the race aired on Versus 11:00 PM ET tonight.

Dario's challenge will be made a little more difficult in that he will start the race with three Andretti Autosport cars directly behind, all wanting a piece of this Japanese pie. Andretti Autosport's Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay are behind Franchitti, and E.J. Viso of KV Racing Technology recorded his best start on an oval this season in eighth. Panther Racing's Dan Wheldon will start ninth.

Scott Dixon, Dario's Target Chip Ganassi teammate will be starting nine positions behind at P11 and qualified over one-half a second behind at -.5320 of a second. It will be difficult for Dario to find any partners to run with whereas Will has a chance to be shepherded to a high finishing position before the final race to be held at the symmetrical style oval Homestead-Miami Raceway on October 2, 2010.

How they line up at Twin Ring Motegi:

Pos - Driver - Team - Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 201.992mph
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske 201.594mph
3. Will Power Penske 201.463mph
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 200.964mph
5. Marco Andretti Andretti 200.187mph
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti 200.011mph
7. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 199.623mph
8. EJ Viso KV 199.487mph
9. Dan Wheldon Panther 199.225mph
10. Takuma Sato KV 199.191mph
11. Scott Dixon Ganassi 199.020mph
12. Danica Patrick Andretti 198.935mph
13. Bertrand Baguette Conquest 198.794mph
14. Vitor Meira Foyt 197.950mph
15. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 197.556mph
16. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas 197.402mph
17. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas 197.361mph
18. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 196.850mph
19. Raphael Matos De Ferran Dragon 193.813mph
20. Mario Moraes KV 196.460mph
21. Roger Yasukawa Conquest 196.296mph
22. Paul Tracy Dreyer & Reinbold 195.709mph
23. Alex Tagliani FAZZT 195.483mph
24. Simona de Silvestro HVM 193.561mph
25. Milka Duno Dale Coyne 192.527mph

Twin Ring Motegi (ツインリンクもてぎ, Tsuin Rinku Motegi?) is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the fact that there are two race tracks at the facility: a 2.493-kilometer (1.549 mi) oval and a 4.8-kilometer (2.98 mi) road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel racing. The oval course is the only one of its kind in Japan, and currently is only used once a year for racing. It is a low-banked, 1.549-mile-long egg-shaped course, with turns 3 and 4 being much tighter than turns 1 and 2. On March 28, 1998, CART held the inaugural race at Twin Ring Motegi Speedway. The race was won by Mexican driver Adrian Fernandez. CART continued racing at Twin Ring Motegi Speedway from 1998-2002. In 2003, Honda entered the Indy Racing League and the race became a part of the IRL schedule. In addition to IndyCar Racing, the track has also hosted a single NASCAR exhibition race in 1998. Honda, which had built the oval for the express purpose of developing its oval-racing program for Indycar Racing, did not win a race at the track for its first six years of operation. In 2004, Dan Wheldon took the first win for Honda on the oval. In 2008, the Motegi oval gained additional publicity when Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy car race there. Caption & Image Credit: Wikipedia

2010 Japan 300 play by play via "tweet" by "tweet" -

IndyCarNation Race Control presented by iRacing.com will go live at 12:30PM local, 11:30PM ET with in-car cameras of: Sato, Mutoh, Patrick, and Kanaan

curtcavin @99forever You've got @kevinlee23 on your side. He switched midseason to Will for the title. I've stuck with Dario since Day 1.

99forever @curtcavin Fascinating -- Will has been my pick for the title since the day he signed with Penske. It'll be an interesting finish!

TheEDJE @99forever I'm with you - I've been a big fan since his early CCWS days, just something about him. Read This - http://tinyurl.com/2es9szr

99forever @TheEDJE Nice!

kvracing Driver Introductions has begun

FollowAndretti RT @FirestoneRacing So it's 84 degrees at #Motegi but it feels like 184. #hot #humid

indy44 Must record, best one in years RT @whatimthinking: oooh! Betty White episode of SNL! I'll leave that on in the background too keep me awake!

CrashGladys OK, hubby just kicked me 2 the other TV room, so #IndyCar HERE I COME! Holy ... LOVED the @tonykanaan piece. You, TK r just 2 cool 4 school.

prismsinc God bless you @TonyKanaan! Have a great time celebrating your son's birthday! #IZODindycar

Biaracing Ta todo mundo acordado? Is everybody awake? Já na band para a transmissão da Indy. At Band tv to Indy broadcast.

FirestoneRacing Sounded like "Pavarotti Sings Lee Greenwood" in #Motegi prerace ceremonies!

TheSpeedgeek @indy44 @SBPopOffValve Versus chat is absolutely out of control. No way to keep up. I'll be concentrating on Twitter.

TheEDJE @TheSpeedgeek There are quite a few looking in on Twitter - This will be good for a play by play via tweet by tweet live blog I do sometimes

SBPopOffValve No offense to VERSUS, but this is starting to feel like the longest pre-race show in recorded history.

Dale_Nixon @SBPopOffValve at least KV could be confident in booking several thousand lbs. less gear for the return leg of the trip #airfreightrebate

TheEDJE @Dale_Nixon Would this be in reference to the record number of wrecks and DNF's by KV team drivers? Nice!

RaceRemote In case you missed it - Randy Bernard - CEO of the #IndyCar Series interview on our SidePods Podcast http://snipr.com

SBPopOffValve ...and here's another of our EMOTICONIC chat images that seems appropriate: http://twitpic.com/2pupq3

IndyCarNation Laps away from green flag. Get ready.

The three Japanese drivers (left to right) Roger Yasukawa, Takuma Sato and Hideki Mutoh pose for a photo before practice for the IndyCar Series Indy Japan 300 on September 18, 2010 at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan. Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! - The Japan 300 is underway at Twin Ring Motegi
(photo)

Hardly 2 laps in and Baguette comes out of turn #2 into the safer barrier (photo)

YELLOW Flag

FollowAndretti
Green, followed by a yellow for Baguette. #izodindycar


kvracing Yellow Flag for Baguette. Viso is 11th, Sato 13th and Moraes moved from 20th to 16th

99forever Groan! Guys, the word baguette means more than just bread in French, you know. The toast jokes are getting old!

curtcavin First yawn: 12:05 a.m.

Dale_Nixon Another #IndyCar race in which #ParkMilka won't finish last; TGBB probation or pure genius?

TheEDJE The Tweeting Live Blog begins ion earnest! http://tinyurl.com/298ufjb

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! - Restart - The Japan 300 is underway again on LAP 10

SBPopOffValve Looks like PT's crew might have fuel rig issues. Saw the fueler having an issue with the buckeye

IndyCarNation Alex Tagliani #77 has been sent to the back of the line after speeding on pit road by going 64.7mph

TheEDJE LAP 20 - Helio, Ryan, Dario, Marco, Tony, Will, Scott, Danica, Dan, and Ryan are TOP 10

shagers Will Power drives these ovals like Rick Mears. He's never up front early. We'll see if he finishes them like Mears... #indycar

99forever There's a really good reason for that. :) RT @shagers Will Power drives these ovals like Rick Mears.

prismsinc #Danica has moved from 12th to 8th in the first 30 laps

IndyCarNation Lap 32 of 200: 3, 6, 10, 26, 11, 12, 9, 7, 4, 37, 8, 14, 2, 5, 32, 19, 02, 77, 06, 24, 22, 18, 36, 78, 34 is the running order

TheSpeedgeek PT's up 3 spots since the yellow. Aaaaaannnnd another ad break. A very slow head shake here, Versus.

indy44 Helio up now by 2.4427

shagers Versus chat pole. 37% Dario, 29% Will. I assume the other 34% given @royhobbson is involved, have voted for O.J.Simpson, or something. :)

YELLOW, Flag LAP42 - Alex Lloyd slows

ajformulagirl WTF! Milka is in front of Simona!!! #IZODIndyCar

Every body dives in for a YELLOW Flag pitstop

curtcavin I hate full-field caution pit stops. I know too many crew guys

IZOD IndyCar Series IndyCarNation [Photos] Lots of pit lane activity - IZOD IndyCar Series posted a photo: All the cars in. http://ow.ly/194dPk

IndyCarNation Throttle linkage is broken on the #19 car and will be fixed shortly to put Lloyd #19 back in the race

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! - Restart - LAP 48

FirestoneRacing
It's inched up to 85 degrees in #Motegi. Track temp 128. Ouch that's #hot! #IndyCar


TheEDJE At this point if Dario gains one position over Will he is running in the points lead

kvracing After 55 laps, Viso is 10th, Sato 14th & Moraes 17th.

TheSpeedgeek Milka is changing lines on the straights to hold off Taku. Who is in 14th. Huh?

TheEDJE Alex Lloyd re-enters race 14 laps down

IndyCarNation Lap 60/200: Castroneves leads Briscoe by 1.3800 seconds then Franchitti, Kanaan, Andretti, Patrick, Dixon, Wheldon, Power, Viso are top 10

chunter16 I wonder how much money Sato carried with him? There's no way that decal paid for his year. #IZODIndyCar

YELLOW Flag - KV Racing's Mario Moraes hits the wall with left front tire failure - car bottoms out LAP 68

Fieldof33 Congrats to KV Racing. As of lap 67, they have completely 201 combined laps, an entire race, without crashing.

shagers KV car, here we go, the race is official. #indycar

99forever There's your wrecked KV car. 68 laps in.. is that a record on the year?

99forever
@Fieldof33 Seriously, I was JUST wondering where the hell you were. What a time and way to show up! LOL


Dan_Brunell Little known #Indycar fact: If KV racing wreaks another three chassis, Dallara will throw in a free set of streak knives.

prismsinc ALLRIGHT! @DanicaPatrick up to 5th position out of the pits with 70 laps in! #IZODindycar

IndyCarNation Matos #2 and Mutoh #06 did not pit during the caution to take the lead spots.

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! - Restart - LAP 77 - Three Wide!!

TheEDJE Franchitti picks up 2 spots - Power getting passed by Andretti and Dixon

IndyCarNation Franchitti #10 up to 3rd place with Power #12 back in 9th place at lap 80 of 200

FollowAndretti We're back to green racing... on lap 82: Danica 6th, Tony 7th, Marco 6th, Ryan 15th.

Will Power is in P8 and Dario is in P4 on LAP 90

IndyCarNation Lap 90/200: Briscoe, Matos (off sequence), Castroneves, Franchitti, Mutoh (off sequence) are top 5

RaceDrive RT @DerekRoss: Need a Team Penske Program Guide ? LOL - End Fences | Helio = Red | Ryan = White | Power = Black

SBPopOffValve Well, Gold Leader had a shot at the exhaust port, but the TIE fighters just shot him down. Briscoe to the lead.

IndyCarNation Dario Franchitti #10 now in 5th place while Power #12 makes up spots under green now up to 7th place.

Just Past halfway (LAP 100) and the off sequence cars go to the pits

SBPopOffValve I think the HVM crew is having Simona come in every 5 laps to put the Legos back in place on the tub.

FollowAndretti At the halfway point @IndyJapan... Danica 6th, Tony 9th, Ryan 12th, Marco 13th #izodindycar

99forever I'm curious: If Briscoe or Helio were to be told tonight that "Will is faster, confirm," how would you react?

TheEDJE If the race would end right now - Power leads Franchitti by 10 points

YELLOW Flag - 4th caution of the race - Paul Tracy brushes wall and leaves debris

IndyCarNation Mario Moraes is awake and alert and being transported to a Mito hospital for evaluation from reported back pain.

Castroneves swaps positions with Briscoe - Comes in P2 and leaves P1 / Franchitti in P3 and Power in P5

IndyCarNation Lap 120: Castroneves, Briscoe, Franchitti, Patrick, Power, Dixon, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, Wheldon, Andretti are top 10

FollowAndretti After the pit stop: @DanicaPatrick up to 4th, @TonyKanaan 7th, @RyanHunterReay 8th, @Andretti26 10th #izodindycar

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! - Restart - LAP 122


IndyCarNation Paul Tracy #24 may be done for the day as his car was taken behind the pit wall after contact in turn 4 with the wall.

curtcavin More than an hour into the race and Graham finally got a call on the broadcast. #indycar

IndyRacingNut Must be cutting into my 16yr old's Cinemax time b/c he keeps coming downstairs asking when the race is over. LOL

indy44 "Time to sew a checkered flag Betsy Ross Danica is coming through" #ToddHarrisQuotes

IndyCarNation LAP 133/200 order: 3, 10, 6, 7, 9, 12, 11, 37, 4, 26, 02, 8, 5, 14, 77, 22, 2, 06, 18, 36, 19, 24, 78, 32, 34

TheEDJE If the race were to end now ... Power holds on to a slim 5 point lead!

IndyCarNation Castroneves has opened up a 2.6116 sec. lead over Franchitti with Briscoe another 1.1023 sec. back, then Patrick and Dixon in top 5

IndyCarNation Lap 145/200: Castroneves, Franchitti, Briscoe, Patrick, Dixon, Power, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, Wheldon, Andretti are top 10

YELLOW Flag - Alex Lloyd bottoms out and catches on fire with 53 LAPS to go

indy44 Yellow for Lloyd on three wheels.

Dan_Brunell That way of starting a fire is definitely not in the Boy Scout handbook. #Indycar

indy44 Last pit stops, YAY no fuel strategy race.

IndyCarNation Alex Lloyd has been checked, cleared, and released from the infield care center after his incident earlier in the race.

indy44 Here we go P1 Helio P2 Dario P3 Ryan P4 Power P5 Danica P6 Dixon P7 RHR P8 TK P9 Marco P10 Rahal

TheEDJE If the race were to end right now - Power will hold on to a nine point lead over Franchitti

chunter16 The reason Sato has a reputation for wreckage is because he drives cars to their edge and breaks them, not because he can't drive.

TheEDJE @chunter16 EXACTLY - there is NO edge to Sato's driving - it's ALL or NOTHING!

99forever Longest. Yellow. Ever.

indy44 Penske cars are going to try and pounce on Dario.

TheEDJE @indy44 Yeah - Briscoe punts Dario and Will scoots by for P2 while Franchitti spins to a much lower P position

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! - Restart - LAP 168

IndyCarNation Back to green at lap168 after extensive debris cleanup. Will Castroneves be able to open up a big lead after the restart yet again?

Will Power moves into Ps right behind Dario Franchitti in P2

shagers "Power is faster than you, do you understand this message"

IndyCarNationTakuma Sato #5 has gained 5 spots since the restart and is now up to 12th place (photo).

99forever Why the hate? Briscoe's box is so close to pit out that he could have slipped the button and still not been speeding at the line.

TheSpeedgeek @99forever Briscoe clearly beat Dario to timing line. Either he didn't speed and restarts 2nd or he sped and starts at the tail.

99forever Oh, true. Missed that. It's late here. :P RT @SBPopOffValve Then he should have been placed ahead of Frico. He beat him to the line.

IndyCarNation Lap 180/200: Castroneves, Franchitti, Power, Briscoe, Patrick, Dixon, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, Rahal, Wheldon are top 10

TheEDJE 15 laps remaining and Dario is being pushed by Will with only 12 points between them if the race were to end now

SBPopOffValve Hey! Milka's going to get a top-20 finish!

shagers LOL. Indycar SkypeUp quote of the night: "They send 3 747's to Japan. 2 for the teams, and 1 with Jack Arute's sun tan lotion"

IndyCarNation Championship leader Power #12 is slowly closing the gap on 2nd place Franchitti #10. Will he catch Franchitti?

3 LAPS remain and the drivers maintain position

WHITE Flag

CHECKERED Flag (photo)- Helio Castroneves gets his 25th win in the IRL - followed by Dario Franchitti and Will Power with only 12 points between them

danicaracing Good run tonight for Danica - brings it home in 5th place at Motegi.

indy44 Checkered P1 Helio P2 Dario P3 Power P4 Briscoe P5 Danica P6 Dixon P7 TK P8 Rahal P9 RHR P10 Wheldon P11 Marco P12 Sato P13 Tagliani

IndyCarNation Congrats to "Spiderman" for winning the Indy Japan 300 as he climbs the fence once again (photo) & (photo).

scottdixon9 6th place finish for Scott at Motegi today....

IMSProductions [New IndyCar Video] Helio's Post Japan Qualifying Interview http://ow.ly/194ddV

Podium Photos - (photo), (photo), (photo)

UPDATE - Finishing Order:

Pos - Driver - Team - Time/Gap
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 2h04m04.4780s
2. Dario Franchitti Ganassi + 4.5746s
3. Will Power Penske + 5.0743s
4. Ryan Briscoe Penske + 6.4825s
5. Danica Patrick Andretti + 7.6057s
6. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 8.3641s
7. Tony Kanaan Andretti + 9.4093s
8. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas + 11.7163s
9. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti + 12.2125s
10. Dan Wheldon Panther + 12.4720s
11. Marco Andretti Andretti + 15.5007s
12. Takuma Sato KV + 16.0693s
13. Alex Tagliani FAZZT + 17.6774s
14. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas + 18.2811s
15. EJ Viso KV + 18.7349s
16. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold + 19.4293s
17. Vitor Meira Foyt + 20.1047s
18. Raphael Matos De Ferran Dragon + 21.2346s
19. Milka Duno Dale Coyne + 3 laps
20. Roger Yasukawa Conquest + 5 laps

Retirements:

Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 131 laps
Paul Tracy Dreyer & Reinbold 114 laps
Simona de Silvestro HVM 85 laps
Mario Moraes KV 66 laps
Bertrand Baguette Conquest 1 lap

SBPopOffValve Unofficial results: Twinkletoes, Frico Suave, Powerbar, Inferno, Princess, Iceman, Kanostril, Graham Cracker, Hunter-RaceToTheParty, ShoeBoy

With that, we close the laptop lid on this penultimate race of the 2010 season ... see you all at Homestead-Miami Raceway ...

... notes from The EDJE

It's Put-Up Or Shut-Up Time For Will Power At Twin Ring Motegi

Twin Ring Motegi (ツインリンクもてぎ, Tsuin Rinku Motegi?) is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the fact that there are two race tracks at the facility: a 2.493-kilometer (1.549 mi) oval and a 4.8-kilometer (2.98 mi) road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel racing. The oval course is the only one of its kind in Japan, and currently is only used once a year for racing. It is a low-banked, 1.549-mile-long egg-shaped course, with turns 3 and 4 being much tighter than turns 1 and 2. On March 28, 1998, CART held the inaugural race at Twin Ring Motegi Speedway. The race was won by Mexican driver Adrian Fernandez. CART continued racing at Twin Ring Motegi Speedway from 1998-2002. In 2003, Honda entered the Indy Racing League and the race became a part of the IRL schedule. In addition to IndyCar Racing, the track has also hosted a single NASCAR exhibition race in 1998. Honda, which had built the oval for the express purpose of developing its oval-racing program for Indycar Racing, did not win a race at the track for its first six years of operation. In 2004, Dan Wheldon took the first win for Honda on the oval. In 2008, the Motegi oval gained additional publicity when Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy car race there. Caption & Image Credit: Wikipedia

It's Put-Up Or Shut-Up Time For Will Power At Twin Ring Motegi


Qualifications for the IZOD IndyCar Series penultimate 2010 season race Japan 300 being held at Twin Ring Motegi, Tochigi, Japan finds the season points leader Will Power of Verizon Penske Racing in P3 along side Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi in P4, who at just 17 points behind, is looking to close the gap before the final race.

Tonight is time for Will Power to put-up or shut-up if he wishes to capture his first ever open-wheel championship in the IZOD IndyCar Series ... where as Dario Franchitti seeks his third championship in four years and is in his element on an oval track.

The reason it is time for Will Power to take command is that he will not find a better chance over these last two races on oval tracks to put distance between himself and Dario Franchitti because of two main factors:

1) Twin Ring Motegi is not a symmetrical track. The track is designed with a large corner at one end and a very tight corner at the other end which gives an edge to the driver that has the greater attention to detail - advantage Power ... the IZOD IndyCar Series inaugural 2010 Mario Andretti Road Course Trophy winner.

2) The front row is filled with Penske Racing teammates Helio Castroneves in P1 and Ryan Briscoe in P2. With a little creative team management during the course of the race aired on Versus 11:00 PM ET tonight.

Dario's challenge will be made a little more difficult in that he will start the race with three Andretti Autosport cars directly behind, all wanting a piece of this Japanese pie. Andretti Autosport's Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay are behind Franchitti, and E.J. Viso of KV Racing Technology recorded his best start on an oval this season in eighth. Panther Racing's Dan Wheldon will start ninth.

Scott Dixon, Dario's Target Chip Ganassi teammate will be starting nine positions behind at P11 and qualified over one-half a second behind at -.5320 of a second. It will be difficult for Dario to find any partners to run with whereas Will has a chance to be shepherded to a high finishing position before the final race to be held at the symmetrical style oval Homestead-Miami Raceway on October 2, 2010.

How they line up at Twin Ring Motegi:

Pos Driver Team Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 201.992mph
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske 201.594mph
3. Will Power Penske 201.463mph
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 200.964mph
5. Marco Andretti Andretti 200.187mph
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti 200.011mph
7. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 199.623mph
8. EJ Viso KV 199.487mph
9. Dan Wheldon Panther 199.225mph
10. Takuma Sato KV 199.191mph
11. Scott Dixon Ganassi 199.020mph
12. Danica Patrick Andretti 198.935mph
13. Bertrand Baguette Conquest 198.794mph
14. Vitor Meira Foyt 197.950mph
15. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 197.556mph
16. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas 197.402mph
17. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas 197.361mph
18. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 196.850mph
19. Raphael Matos De Ferran Dragon 193.813mph
20. Mario Moraes KV 196.460mph
21. Roger Yasukawa Conquest 196.296mph
22. Paul Tracy Dreyer & Reinbold 195.709mph
23. Alex Tagliani FAZZT 195.483mph
24. Simona de Silvestro HVM 193.561mph
25. Milka Duno Dale Coyne 192.527mph

... notes from The EDJE

Friday, September 17, 2010

Good & Rich - BFGoodrich & The 2010 MPG Track Day

MPG members line up to check in for the two day MPG Track Day event presented by BFGoodrich Tires. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Good & Rich - BFGoodrich & The 2010 MPG Track Day

You know the old saying ... it is never bad to be too Good (lucky) and too Rich ... well the Motor Press Guild's 2010 Track Day sponsored by the BFGoodrich Tire company held September 14th and 15th was a healthy dose of Good & Rich for the nearly 200 journalists gathered at the Auto Club Speedway.

Automobile manufacturers placed 109 cars throughout the infield paddock area for journalists to drive and test in two major driving circumstances of "Street" and "Track". The purpose of The 2010 MPG Track Day being that these manufacturers could have the unique opportunity to impact those journalists who are compelled to communicate what they encountered, experienced, or were presented about the state and nature of the 2011 automobile selling season. For nearly all who gathered to be exposed to this event, judging by the hub-bub that preceded the event banquet and awards presentation, this event was at the barest minimum ... Good & Rich.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

MPG president James Bell said before the event, “The relationship with BFGoodrich Tires and our many other corporate partners helps MPG deliver an affordable Track Day event that meets the high expectations established by previous events and best supports the mission of the guild's working automotive journalists. With the participation of BFGoodrich Tires we are on track to deliver the most productive and newsworthy event in the guild's history, one in keeping with my ‘make it fun’ mantra."

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

“BFGoodrich Tires is honored to be presenting sponsor of Motor Press Guild’s Track Day,” said Tom Jupena, marketing communications manager, BFGoodrich Tires. “It is a great event and provides us the opportunity to expose a very influential group of people to our valued partners as well as demonstrate the grip, acceleration and toughness of the BFGoodrich tire lineup.”

The event was a huge success largely due to the involvement of the title sponsor, BFGoodrich Tires. They made their commitment to participate as the title sponsor of the Motor Press Guild's Track Day event in a short time before the timing of the event ... but even-though they had only a few weeks to respond to this opportunity, they were able to commandeer a transporter and some partners with several example specialty cars to show of their tires in the many applications they were designed for.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Further, their influence of professionalism in event presentation had a positive effect on the way the rest of the participating sponsors were able to show off what they had to say as well. For the first time in the memory of many of the members of longstanding ... this MPG Track Day had the glisten of a SEMA show with all of the exhibitors, sponsors, and automobile manufacturers placing their best foot forward in their effort and message placed before this crowd of dedicated communicators.

This excerpted and edited from BFGoodrich Tires press kit materials about the presenting partners associated with the BFG MPG Track Day participation -

Rich Evans Designs


Image Credit: Rich Evens Designs

Owner of Huntington Beach Bodyworks and Rich Evans Designs, Evans is a
master automotive fabricator, welder and painter. His custom-made rides have
appeared in numerous movies and television programs, including Pimp My
Ride, Monster Garage, Man Cave and Chop, Cut & Rebuild. The Southern
California native also recently debuted a new iPhone App, "The Rides of Rich
Evans."

His one-of-a-kind Mopar-flavored ride for the 2010 SEMA Show will begin with
a base 2010 Dodge Challenger. Evans will employ an array of Mopar parts,
some modified with his own fabricated spin, in order to create a new
automotive work of art. Rich Evans Exclusive Parts, as well as products from
numerous aftermarket suppliers, will be used during the build, which will be
documented in a series of podcast videos posted to Mopar's YouTube
channel. Evans will also pen exclusive blogs for posting on www.mopar.com,
as well as his own Web site, www.huntingtonbeachbodyworks.com.

"Rich Evans has crafted some of the most remarkable customized rides on the
street today," said Pietro Gorlier, President & CEO - Mopar Service, Parts &
Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. "This Mopar SEMA project will
demonstrate to our customers what they can create with proven, quality-tested
Mopar parts and accessories."

Hurst Performance Vehicles

Hurst Performance Vehicles, a company responsible for some of the most iconic pace cars in racing history, will once again debut a special-edition Mustang built to serve as the official pace car for the 2010 Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Series.
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Larry H. Miller Dealership Group has confirmed that it will partner with Hurst Performance to donate the vehicle for this project. Other partners of the project include Whelen Engineering, Ford Racing, BFGoodrich Tires. Motorsports artist and Roger Warrick will create original art for promotional items.

“Hurst has a history of creating unique, high-quality, emotionally-charged muscle cars and the 2010 Hurst Ford Racing Mustang Challenge pace car is no different,” said Nate Shelton, Chairman of Hurst Performance Vehicles. “We are so proud to have yet another opportunity to set the pace for others to follow and give something back to a deserving organization.”

The stunning Hurst Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Pace Car comes equipped with 20” BFGoodrich g-Force™ T/A®KDW tires for maximum performance and attitude, 20” Hurst polished, forged aluminum wheels and a Hurst Competition/Plus shifter with a black T-handle.

The engine pounds out 550-horsepower, or nearly 200-horsepower more than the FR500S race Mustangs, and 542 lb.-ft of torque, courtesy of the Ford Racing polished supercharger, Ford Racing FR500S stainless-steel cat-back exhaust and K&N filter. With its race bred Ford Racing suspension, this car is sure to keep people straining just to see it zoom by. And to stop all this power, the car is equipped with an upgraded braking system featuring 14" rotors and 4-piston calipers, also from Ford Racing.



ICON


ICON JOINS TIRE PARTNER BFGOODRICH TO INTRODUCE MOTOR PRESS GUILD MEMBERS TO FJ AND NEW CJ3B VEHICLE LINE UP

BFGoodrich Tires Special Guest ICON Founder Jonathan Ward Presents the Very Best in Vintage Inspired Modern Day Utility to Members of the Motor Press Guild, (9/13)

Serving as the special guest of BFGoodrich Tires, ICON Founder Jonathan Ward looks forward to bringing the company’s Baja FJ40 and new CJ3B bespoke utility vehicles to the Motor Press Guild (MPG). Known for infusing modern day engineering with the very best in classical design elements to make rugged off-road ready designs, Ward has enjoyed an exclusive partnership with BFGoodrich as the sole tire provider for all ICON vehicles. As the designer and lead builder of all ICON vehicles, Ward was honored with BFGoodrich’s invitation to display various ICON vehicles and looks forward to continuing to partner with BFGoodrich on future projects.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to show members of the Motor Press Guild what ICON is all about and were extremely happy to hear about the invite from our partner in tires, BFGoodrich,” comments ICON Founder and Chief Builder Jonathan Ward. “With the MPG’s obvious passion for automotive, we feel members will have a blast seeing what classic elements we incorporate into our various vehicle designs and the commitment we take in melding them with modern day technology and build materials.”

Samuel Hübinette Racing

Image Credit: Matt Galantuomini

A newcomer in X Games 16, professional stunt driver and two-time Formula Drift champ Samuel Hübinette adds rallycross to his list of successes behind the wheel, with a Bronze medal win in RallyCar Super Rally. "I'm very happy with the combined effort ACP Racing, BFGoodrich Tires, Sparco, Stack Performance, DV Wraps and ES Motorsports made for us to be here," said Hübinette.

He and X Games teammate Andrew Comrie-Picard of ACP Racing each piloted Mitsubishi Evolutions to Bronze medal finishes, with Comrie-Picard taking the medal in the RallyCar Racing event. While his teammate elected to compete in both RallyCar events this year, Hübinette said, "We decided to save the car and only run in the Super Rally event." We saw drivers like Travis Pastrana braking their cars before the SuperRally started, so we were happy with our decision.

Skip Barber Racing Schools

Image Credit: Skip Barber Racing

For more than 30 years, Skip Barber Racing has operated a fully integrated system of racing schools, driving schools, racing championships, corporate events and OEM events across North America. With more than 200 dedicated and passionate professionals, no other organization delivers the same high quality instruction, equipment, facilities and memorable experiences.

THE OFFERINGS:
• The Skip Barber Racing School is held at more than 20 of the most prestigious race tracks in North America.

• Skip Barber Mazda Driving School, utilizing Mazda's performance sedans and sports cars, operates at five world-famous destination locations.

• The Skip Barber Race Series is collectively three separate, equal-car racing championships — the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda, an entry level professional open-wheel series which awards a $350,000 title bonus to its champion, a regional amateur open-wheel series, and the Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge, an amateur championship featuring identically prepared MX-5 Miata race cars. All the series are part of Mazda's unique MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder system.

• The Corporate Events unit creates custom racing and driving programs for companies of any size that desire special, exciting events to train, entertain, educate and reward.

• OEM Events provides unique, specialized automotive-related training, analysis, evaluation, logistics and consultation.

THE VEHICLES:
• 201 racecars: With 70 Formula Skip Barber and 61 Mazda MX-5 Cup racecars for the Racing School and Corporate Events and 70 Formula Skip Barber race cars for the three racing championships, it is the largest racecar fleet in the world.

• More than 94 passenger/street cars: BMW 330i sedans, Lexus IS F, Lotus Exige S, Mazda RX-8s, MX-5s and MAZDA3s, and Porsche 911s, Caymans and Boxsters for use in the Driving School and Corporate Events.

• 30 transport and support vehicles: Ford Econoline vans and Mazda CX-9s. Skip Barber cars and parts are maintained at five base locations around the country. With the largest race car fleet in the world, we can deploy transporters and school staff to tracks nationwide.

Team Hybrid


Image Credit: Team Hybrid

Team Hybrid stands for a rich tradition in creativity, originality, and quality. “The idea is to create a team with a diversity of hardworking members and a special individuality to every car. By providing the Team with goals to strive for, each member spends countless hours of time, effort, and dedication to show “Hybrid luv and our purpose. It’s not just about winning a show or a race. It’s about getting there as a team”.

Team Hybrid launched January 7th, 1995 in Oxnard, CA when James Lin decided his ride would complement his peers who value and respect his work. Everyone knows it’s easy to gather a group of friends, and just give it a title to start a Team, but in contrast, James, the co-leaders, members and hunnyz have built a team of legendary status and respect.

Wide Open Excursions

Flogging an OEM’s latest offerings around the track is perhaps the one of the most entertaining times to be had on pavement. You get to push vehicles that few have driven to their limits and potentially marvel over the latest vehicle technologies. Not a bad way to spend a couple of days.

Now add the following: dirt, challenging terrain, sand, water, and air (as in you will definitely be getting some air; see picture, top right). Wide Open Excursions, the world’s most unique high-speed, adrenaline-filled adventure provider, and partner BF Goodrich will have on display at the Auto Club Speedway during MPG’s Track Day event the very vehicle that will allow you to live out this scenario.

It’s called the Desert Challenge Car and it’s a $100,000 purpose-built off-road racer with a Subaru engine, custom suspension with a massive 18” of travel, suspended racing seats, and BF Goodrich off-road racing tires. Since 2000, more than 121 Desert Challenge Cars have run the Baja 1000 and have continuously survived the brutal conditions and attrition rate to post one of the most successful records for any off-road vehicle.

... notes from The EDJE