BFGoodrich Tires has added yet another star athlete to its off-road racing roster with newcomer and godfather of Freestyle Motocross, Mike Metzger. With its unique team of drivers, BFGoodrich Tires is ready to hit the dirt at the Nissan Off-Road Nationals, presented by Lucas Oil, the final two stops in the Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) series in Chula Vista on Sept. 23-24 and Oct. 21-22. BFGoodrich Tires is outfitting Metzger's CORR Racing Pro Lite truck with Mud-Terrain T/AKM tires, ultimately uniting two dominant racing forces.
"Last year, we welcomed Jeremy McGrath to the BFGoodrich Tires team, and this year we're excited to have Mike Metzger join the team and debut his driving skills on BFGoodrich Tires," says Todd Steen, motorsports marketing manager for BFGoodrich Tires. "With his background in motorsports, we are proud to welcome him to the team."
Metzger has been riding motorcycles for 27 years. He spent most of his life devoted to racing motocross until freestyle riding came on the scene. Just recently, he broke the world record for longest motorcycle back flip, flying 125 feet over the fountains at Caesar's Palace and becoming only the second person to clear the pool on two wheels.
"The challenge is set and I am ready to race on four wheels, knowing I have reliable equipment on my vehicle," says Metzger. "I am looking forward to pushing these BFGoodrich tires to the test!"
To date, BFGoodrich teams have successfully won more than all other tire competitors combined. Committed to CORR since its inception nine years ago, BFGoodrich Tires has helped the spectator-friendly racing series grow into the fan favorite it is today. Since 1998, BFGoodrich Tires teams have won 23 out of a possible 24 CORR Pro championships.
BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle from ultra-high performance tuner vehicles, sports cars, and SUVs to the hottest sport trucks, pickups, and rockcrawling rigs in the world. For more than 30 years, BFGoodrich Tires has used motorsports as a proving ground.
8-Lug Diesel TruckHits the NewsstandsRight on the heals of the Primedia Custom Truck Group's recent launch, Diesel Power, comes the brand-new 8-Lug Diesel Truck aimed exclusively at the 3/4- and 1-ton truck owner who wants to further refine their truck's exterior and interior appearance. In the premier issue and all issues that will soon follow, the editors of 8-Lug Diesel Truck will take the average consumer through the most basic of modifications to the most advanced for improving their suspension, power, functionality, and towing all with the premise of being the premier source of knowledge for Chevy, Ford, and Dodge diesel truck owners. Each issue will deal with some elements related to suspension modifications through lifting or lowering. In addition, all future issues will highlight the latest and greatest in the wheel industry for the given suspension application.
The premier issue highlights the newest 5-inch lift kit designed exclusively for Ford Super Duty trucks that will clear 37-inch-tall tires. Dodge truck owners will rejoice at the exciting buildup of the exclusive Cummins engine platform that includes refinements to the exhaust, turbo, and transmission. And for the Chevy Bow Tie crowd, who can't live without improved brakes? There is a great story to drastically alter your stopping distances. All of the articles are designed to be easily read and understood for the do-it-yourselfer to the most prolific professional.
Be sure to check out the first issue when it hits your local newsstands on October 9, 2006, or call (800) 777-5182 to subscribe.
According to eBay.com, in the second quarter of 2006 (that's financial quarter, in case you were wondering), a Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado sold every two minutes on the site. Also, a Dodge Ram was sold every three minutes, and bringing up the rear is the Toyota Tacoma, which sold every four minutes. We'd give a crap if it weren't for the damn snipers screwing us every time we tried to bid on something on eBay.
10 Mostly Worthless Facts1.In 1968, Chuck Norris was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Fighter of the Year.
2.A Dodge SRT-10 will smoke a Ford Crown Vic police cruiser from stoplight to stoplight. Go ahead, ask us how we know.
3.Burnouts are possible in a Nissan Titan. Just remove your Titan's battery and lower battery tray. Then, wire an on/off switch into the red wire, the white stripe located in the ECM harness under the tray. The switch will trick the ECM into thinking the brake pedal is not activated during a power brake situation, allowing the throttle body to open all the way. Happy burnouts.
4.Ever wonder why a woman in leather is so attractive? Why a woman in leather makes your heart beat a bit faster? It's because she smells like a new truck.
5.A GM Duramax LLY diesel engine is only 1-inch wider than a Vortec 454 big-block engine and the same length, which means that if you have an underpowered big-block in your Silverado, you can physically swap a Duramax in its place. Making the wiring, plumbing, and mounting work again is another story altogether. Wouldn't it be fun though?
6.Auto Couture sells 26-inch rims with matching Swiss-made watches for 30,000 dollars. So, now you can match your wheels to your watch for the ultimate in hip-hop foolery.
7.Diet Coke was only invented in 1982.
8.The human heart creates enough pressure to squirt blood 30 feet.
9.Vans will never be cool no matter how much the guys at Hot Rod Magazine wish they were.
10.The fear of automobiles is called motorphobia. The fear of speed is called tachophobia. The fear of chickens is called alektorophobia, and the fear of fear is called phobophobia. We wonder what the fear of Chuck Norris is called. Chuckaphobia?
GM Ups Its CoverageGeneral Motors announced that it will be increasing its powertrain warranty for all '07-model vehicles sold in the United States. The new 5-year/100,000-mile warranty is a significant change from the original 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. It is transferable, has no fee, and no deductible. The new warranty will apply to '07 vehicles already sold. GM will also be extending the terms of its roadside assistance and courtesy transportation programs.
GM CEO Rick Wagoner recognizes that the change will not be cheap but thinks that "it's going to be more effective" for where the company is today. "We think it's manageable within the cost conditions we've laid out," Wagoner says. Over the past seven or eight years, General Motors has been able to improve quality and performance, allowing the company to make this change. Details for the new program can be found at www.gm.com/warranty. The new warranty will also eliminate the $100 deductible on repairs for trucks equipped with the Duramax diesel engine.
Although the new warranty guarantee does not match those of Hyundai and Kia, which are 10 years/100,000 miles, it does surpass the new warranty program set up by Ford Motor Company in July, which is 5 years/60,000 miles for Ford and Mercury, and 6 years/70,000 miles for Lincoln.
Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of vehicle sales, says that GM has found that two-thirds of car owners trade or dispose of their vehicles before 5 years and 100,000 miles, so the new program is in line with customer buying habits. Michael Jackson, GM North America's vice president of marketing and advertising, says, "It is our goal that every consumer in America would know there is something different happening at GM and that there is a new level of confidence in our vehicles."
Source: Dale Jewett and Jamie LaReau, "GM ups powertrain warranty to five years, 100,000 miles," Automotive News.
SALTY SPEED!This August at Bonneville, Utah, Jimmy Barton drove the "Jesel-Truck-Liner" to a new land speed record. This unique race team, owned by Wayne Jesel, took their '05 Dodge Quad Cab pickup truck to a "two-way round trip" record, setting speed of 224.082 mph at the famous Salt Flats of Bonneville. Running in the C/Modified Pickup class, this 5,500-pound vehicle is required by the rules to run a "production body" with only the addition of a front air dam allowed. The first time out, the team set a record of 203.80 mph, running with a single four-barrel carburetor. But, this was just a shake-down run to see how the truck would handle. The intake manifold was changed, and the record was bumped to 224.082 mph by using dual four-barrel carburetors on the engine. The basis engine is a Dodge R5P7 NASCAR design that has been highly modified, incorporating many drag racing horsepower tricks, allowing it to run in the 9,000-rpm range. (Keep in mind, it's a 5-mile course at Bonneville, running at 9,000 rpm.) The engine relies upon a custom ground roller tappet Crane Cams camshaft to actuate the valvetrain, and an HI-6 Digital Ignition system (PN 6000-6400), with a PS92N Coil (PN 730-0192) to power the spark. And, guess what? They haven't pushed the truck to its full potential. There's still more speed left for next year. Congratulations to Wayne Jesel and his crew.
Say What?The staff speaks and you listen. It's that simple. This month's question is:Galen: I was shooting pictures along with Low Life Video of a drag session at BloodDrag in Florida. Driving down the I-10 Freeway, two guys from Aftermath laid their trucks out at, say...oh, 70 mph. Now keep in mind that I was maybe 75 feet behind them, hanging out the window of our rented TrailBlazer. There were so many sparks that were flying it got to the point that I could barely see the trucks in front of us. I took as many pictures as I could before my face was burning so bad that it was unbearable. So, as I tried to pull myself back into the rental, a rock came flying at me and hit me in the side of my head-and at 70 mph, it hurt...a lot. I lost my balance, almost falling out of the truck, and nearly lost my camera. On the way back, there were four police units and two fire crews putting out about 10 spots on the median where fires had flared up due to dragging. The next day, I had all these little red burn marks all over my face and arms from getting pelted by all the sparks. I looked like I had a disease.
Calin: My worst experience would have to be when we were trying to shoot driving shots of the green Suburban we featured back in Nov. '05. As we were trying to get the shots, a guy pulls up in a stock Suburban and proceeds to ask the stupidest question I think I have ever heard from a grown man: "What are you guys doing?" Let me see, there is one guy with a camera on the roof of a rental car and a guy in a custom truck sitting in front of it. Now, I am no rocket scientist, but I think I could have figured that out. We tell him, "We are shooting a feature," and he replies, "No, you are not." From stupid question to stupid statement, this guy is a winner, I thought. We say, "Yes, we are," and he fires back with the ultra witty and redundant comment of "No, you are not," at which point he flops out a badge and says, "I'm a cop and I say no you are not." At this point, I am a little pissed about the childish game of words he played with us, instead of just identifying himself as an officer and telling us what the issue was. So, I get out of the car as Mike talks with the man, still strapped with his camera. I walked away so as not to make the situation worse with my attitude, but I forgot about the Sport Truck T-shirt that I was wearing. It had the words "Cops love my truck," with a picture of a doughnut, nice and big, across my back. The cop saw my shirt and continued his lecture for another 10 minutes.
Mike: Once I had a reader total their lifted Ford in the middle of a shoot. The guy got a little overzealous with the gas pedal when trying to show off for the camera and ended up flipping his Super Duty on its lid after trying to stop short of a hill. I've never felt so guilty in my life. I packed up my gear, told the other truck owners waiting for their turn in front of the camera, "sorry," and immediately drove home from Phoenix. It took several days for the image of that truck rolling over to leave my head. I'm fine now, though. Really, I am. The doctor said so. Besides, only crazy people don't know that they're crazy, right?
Andy: I'd say it was when I missed out on the one shoot that had like 7 or 8 hot girls and I was supposed to apply the paint! What's up with that? I get no respect.
Kevin: I damaged a rental car while scouting a location in a construction site. I hadn't bought the extra insurance when I rented the car because it cost too much, so I covered the entire car in mud to distract the rental guy from the messed-up door. When I returned the car, no one seemed to notice the dents.