Auto racing has become the number one spectator sport in America. It is also one of the largest participation sports as well. Local, short track stock car racing is thriving across the country as well as drag racing, road course racing, off-road racing, kart racing and drifting. The weekend, local track racer now has a place to call home on the internet at www.racematrix.net.

Racematrix.net is a free community based social networking website for auto racers and their fans. Members build their own racing profile webpage, share photos, videos, news, forums, blogs and join groups about their racing experiences. Members may also link to other websites they have as well as those of their sponsors. One could call this the MySpace or Facebook for auto racing.

Racematrix.net is open to all styles of auto racing. Groups have been formed for the following categories:

-Asphalt Oval: Late Model, Sportsman, Modifieds, Trucks

-Dirt Oval: Late Model, Sportsman, Modifieds

-Drag Racing

-Jr. Dragsters

-Sprint Car

-Midgets

-Quarter Midgets

-Thunder Roadsters

-Legends

-Bandoleros

-Drifting

-Road Course

-Off-road

-Demolition

-Kart Racing

As the community grows, more groups will be added.

Racematrix.net offers many key features for its members as well as those just visiting the site to take a look. The home page offers a wide variety of the latest members, photos, videos and discussion topics. Once inside the website the offerings are plentiful. The members profile page is a star feature. One has the option to build his or her profile page using a number of different templates or styles. The number of pictures and videos one may upload and display is unlimited.

The forums and blog sections gives the racematrix.net members the opportunity to teach and learn from one another we well as make new fellow racer friends, fans and in many cases, a mentor.

As with all member content based websites, racematrix.net is the place to go for an assortment of member submitted articles regarding all aspects of auto racing. Among the more popular forums are: Tech tips, Beginners advice, How to get started in auto racing and the Youth auto racing forum. Kids are starting to race cars at ages as young as five years old and this is a great forum for kids and parents with questions regarding safety issues, costs and expenses, etc.

As racematrix.net continues to grow, other features to the web community that are on the drawing board and in the works will be launched. The classifieds section offers everything for the racer from complete race car packages to finding or swapping parts. This will be the first next feature for the site. Other features include: a sponsor shopping package, a fan data base and messaging center. Also in the works is a race track locator/data base for all types of race tracks in the United States.

Check out the racematrix.net community now for a full, feature-rich experience for auto racers and their fans. Joining is fast and easy and will never cost a dime. No experience is needed to build your webpage either. Just fill in the blanks, add some photos and/ or videos of you and your car and your done! You then have a webpage of your very own to gain valuable exposure to the world about you and your race car!

Eleven new members are going to be inducted and welcomed by the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. And such an event is going to be a grand one and a great deal especially to the upcoming new ones.

The whole ceremony is especially prepared for. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing would host the mentioned event. It comes to life on the 15th of March and would be held at the Paramount Plaza Resort which is located in Gainesville, Florida.

Other companies are also willing to help out and be part of the induction ceremonies of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. It has been reported that Mopar Performance Parts, a good source of the best auto parts like the Nissan mud flap, would be sponsoring the activity. But it is not a surprise for Mopar has been joining in the fun for 16 years already.

The eleven new members can be said to be all experts in the drag racing field. These eleven honorees are Kenny Bernstein (a six time drag racing champion), Frank Bradley (another winner of these drag racing competition), Donnie Hampton (a drag racing champion), Ted Jones (owner of a drag racing strip), Jim McLennan (a drag car driver as well as owner of a drag racing strip), Dale Pulde (a drag racing driver who holds the title having the most number of wins in the IHRA history), Don Schumacher (a member of Team Mopar), Dave Uyehara (a builder of championship dragsters), Dave Zeuschel (a builder of legendary dragsters), Darrel Zimmerman (a director of one of NHRA’s divisions), and Bill Bader (an owner of a drag racing facility as well as a promoter of the sport). The latter would also be receiving the Founders Award for his exemplary contributions to drag racing.

The whole induction ceremonies would not only focus on the welcoming of the new members but the event would also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 392 Hemi engine. See, this engine is one of the best innovations that has ever happened for these drag racing members.

On this, Chris Cortez, the Chrysler Group’s senior vice president for global service and parts, says, “The 392 HEMI engine revolutionized not only drag racing, but the entire automotive industry.”

DUI Street Racing seems like the thrifty way to get the automotive adrenaline rush all addicts require. What member of America's youth doesn't get off to hot girls, fast cars, and free rides? What seems like fun and games to some, hoewever, is serious business to others. Not only is DUI racing on public streets illegal in all 50 states, it is the most jeopardous and narcissistic act the youth of today is getting involved in.

Taking off after WWII when the youth returning from war had leftover hard cash and a need for speed to go with their cutting-edge mechanical know-how, DUI street racing quickly evolved into one of America's top killers in society. Inspired and revived by the Fast and the Furious movies, DUI street racing has contributed to a frightening level of malignant crashes. terminal crashes related to street racing has increased by increased than 85% every year for the past 6 years. From 1999 to 2000, San Diego, CA has seen an increase of 97% of deathly crashes caused by DUI street racing.

In the state of Florida, pedestrian injuries related to DUI street racing has increased by 222% from 1999 to 2001. The leading cause of death for people ages 16-20 is automobile accidents. National averages show that for every 1000 DUI street racers, there are 49 innocent by-standers who are injured or killed. So why do kids DUI street race?

The average chain reactions for DUI street racing are:

You will be arrested and have your car impounded for 30 days.

You will be arrested and have your car (or your parent’s car!) permanently confiscated.

You can be imprisoned for up to three months and fined up to $1,000.

Your driver's license will be revoked.

Your car insurance rates will increase or you can be cancelled.

So America's youth still thinks DUI racing is a more simple way to get the automotive high? All you need to race on an NHRA track is:

Valid driver’s license

Valid vehicle registration and insurance

DOT-approved street legitimate tires

Seat belts

Muffler

You need this stuff to ride on the street too! So the DUI street racers out there need to save twenty dollars and enjoy the sanctioned and exhilerating atmosphere at their local drag strip.

Wheels are circular shaped, and rotate on their axils, therefore bringing about a movement which helps vehicles move. It is said that the Mesopotamians invented the wheel in 3500 BC. Initially it was used for the purpose of pottery, later it was used as an important means of transportation. The Mesopotamians first used the wheel for transportation of their chariots in 3200 BC. After the Industrial Revolution, the wheel became an important element of technology. Today, there are many kinds of wheels available in the market, and each of them has very specific purposes.

Weld Wheels were invented in 1967. The idea behind their invention was to create tougher, light weight, and reliable set of wheels for usages of both on and off the race track. Weld wheels are essentially used for racing, and are also referred to as Weld Racing Wheels. These wheels are known for in drag, circle track and off-road racing. They are also available for sand sports, and off-road racing. Weld Racing apparel such as Re Kap Shop shirts, motorcycle tees, hats and Dickies Jackets are a new line of clothing that is now available in the market.

The Weld Racing Organization, a group dedicated to manufacturing advanced forged alloy wheels ensures that the wheels are of highest quality to improve performance and appearance of race-cars, off-road trucks, sand rails, luxury pickups, Sport Utility Vehicles, premium motor cars, customs, hot rods, motorcycles, trailers, sprint cars, midgets, NHRA top fuel, and pro stock. This organization also makes sure they bring you the latest technologies and styles in the motorcycle industry without having to compromise with safety and dependability offered by the Weld Racing Wheels. Each of these new designs is Jesso tested to guarantee you a safe and secure travel. The Weld Racing Wheels usually come in a polished or show chrome finish. This show chrome has nearly three years of warranty, and all Weld Wheels come with a lifetime structural warranty.

The Weld Motorcycle wheels are made to be resistant from heat and extremely intense pressure. All the Weld Wheels are produced in-house at the Kansas City, Missouri facility. The production of these wheels is started from scratch using raw 6061 aircraft grade aluminum. Each wheel is forged into the exact requirements because forging is the lightest and strongest way to produce a high performance wheel. Once every wheel is checked and certified they undergo heat treating. After this process, they wheels are put on a blank form and shifted onto a computerized numerically controlled mill.

With the help of latest technology, it is during this process that the wheels are carved with detailed designs and superior finishes. Each wheel is then shifted to the polishing section. Extremely skilled craftsmen work on every square inch of the forged aluminum to bring out a radiant luster. These wheels are then taken straight for the assembly of polished goods or to the house chrome line. All through the distinctive proprietary chroming process, the wheels are changed into radiant, luminous, high performance equipments made especially for your vehicle.

Are your wheels ready for another season of street racing? If so, you may want to check out some of the venues where legal street racing is gaining a following. With growing pressure on law enforcement to curb illegal street racing, racing organizations and others are seeing a need to accommodate those who love the thrill of the sport.

There's no denying the excitement of racing down a strip of pavement at top speed. The sheer power of the cars, along with their designs, is what makes street racing appealing to enthusiasts. The thought of competing against another driver and his finely tuned engine also draws racers to the sport. The craftsmanship of the cars, the technologically advanced engines and the techniques of the drivers give an aura of excitement to the races.

Racing associations are providing street racing venues that are safe. Today, there are more than 140 of them in the U.S. It's a great way to enjoy the sport in a secure environment. There are seven divisions of sanctioned street racing tracks across the U.S. and Canada. They are all NHRA-member tracks, designed to provide a safe haven for drivers and spectators alike. With these tracks, the speed and exhilaration of the sport can be enjoyed in a structured setting. Races are operated in a professional venue and in an organized fashion.

Many professional racecar drivers are endorsing these sanctioned tracks. They see this as a way of promoting a sport they love and promoting the safe running of races. With safer venues, a whole new generation of street racers can enjoy the sport and all the enjoyment it has to offer. This initiative to bring street racing off residential and city streets and onto specially designed "streets" will see more enthusiasts participate in the sport. This could lead to many more young drivers heading to stores for racing parts. The inspiration they receive from seeing the top cars on well-prepared tracks may ultimately get them working on their own street cars.

Getting those racing parts ready and installed for the summer racing season is something you should be thinking about now. If you want your street car ready for competition, then fixing up your ride early is of paramount importance. In doing so, you will have the time to test the car before an event. It's never too early to be prepared. Last-minute glitches that were possibly avoidable can prevent you from entering a race. That's the last thing you want after plunking down money for car parts.

As you prepare for another season of street racing, it's wise to give your street car the once-over. A thorough check of your tires and braking system is a good place to start. From there, a complete inspection of the engine and the lighting system is advisable. Look particularly for any leaking oil and fluids and any corrosion of parts that could weaken them. Check your battery for any signs of corrosion, as well. A thorough tune-up is not a bad idea, either. When you prepare for the season early, you can comparison shop for racing parts since you are not under any time constraints to get things fixed.

Quality car parts for your racecar are worth the extra cost. Why spend time, money and energy getting your street car ready, only to put in sub-standard parts? If you're into street racing, then you really will enjoy it on a sanctioned track with a carefully prepared car.

By Matthew Harrell

Billy Backus, a.k.a. “The Renegade Polisher,” has made his living polishing trucks. It was 23 years ago that Billy, as a broke and hungry teenager hanging around a truck stop, became The Renegade Polisher. “I got too much pride to beg for money, so I said, ‘Hey look driver, is there anything I can do on your truck where I could make a few bucks to get something to eat?’” The driver responded, “Well, you could polish my truck.” The driver then instructed the young boy as to how to go about polishing the truck, and Backus has been polishing ever since.

 

Renegade drove his own truck for nine-and-one-half years, polishing trucks on the side. Now Backus prefers to ride in his white polishing van, which is covered in racing stickers and has become his trademark. While many truckers can pick Backus’s van out in a parking lot, he jokingly admits that, “I have had people mistake it for an ice cream truck.”

 

The Renegade has a business model that most in the business world would envy. “I don’t advertise anywhere, my customers advertise for me. My workmanship speaks for itself,” said Backus. While other polishers work for quick cash, Renegade hopes that he will make a life-long customer out of every one of his clients. “I pride myself in return customers,” Backus continued.

 

Amidst all The Renegade Polisher’s success, Backus has experienced his share of hardships. After his mother’s death, Backus experienced a great deal of heartache which was accompanied by a substance abuse problem. It was through this problem, however, that The Renegade landed his biggest polishing deal of his career. His girlfriend at the time worked for Speedco and mentioned that Backus was a polisher. He polished one of their trucks and has since become the primary polisher of Speedco’s trucks. This partnership has led him to polish cars and trucks in the NHRA and NASCAR series.

 

While Backus has several clients that he regularly works for, he is still able to polish other trucks when he is available. This freedom is what empowers The Renegade Polisher to continue to make a name for himself as one of the best in the polishing business. “My customers actually tell people: ‘Hey man, thanks for the compliment on my truck. Renegade polished it and busted his butt on it. He does a real good job.’ That’s what I like.”

 

You may be wondering what products The Renegade Polisher uses for his award-winning shine. Well, CareersinGear has the insider’s info about what products you can use to give your truck that extra glimmer.

For Aluminum Renegade uses Zephyr Pro 40 Metal Polish

For the body of the truck Renegade uses Mothers or Maguires brand products

For the tires Renegade uses hardwood floor wax (I couldn’t understand the brand name on the tape)

 

For information on how to contact The Renegade Polisher, please e-mail marketing@careersingear.com.

New developments at the 2007 TORCO NHRA Nationals have shone bright new light on Micky Thompson Tires, a subsidiary of Cooper Tires and headquartered in Stow, Ohio. In short, three winning racers claimed separate crowns while all three were rolling on Micky Thompson performance tires, which has left racing fans around the globe taking a new look at this particular brand of tires.

Victory in the Super Gas Class

The trifecta of racing victories began when Mike Ruff blew across the finish line in the Super Gas class, rolling on a set of Mickey Thompson MT 3084S Performance Tires. In an interview following the race he credited his decision to switch to Micky Thompson tires as one of the reasons for his string of recent successes.

Another Victory in the Stock Class for Mickey Thompson Tires

Next, it was Dan Fletcher's turn to claim the checkered flag in the Stock class riding on a set of Mickey Thompson MT3066R performance tires. At this point the executives at Micky Thompson Tires were ecstatic but as it turns out that was not to be the last victory to be logged in on a set of Mickey Thompson tires during that weeks events.

A Third Victory on Mickey Thompson Tires in the Super Stock Class

Thats because very shortly it was Russ Linke's turn to turn heads when he roared passed the checkered flag in the Super Stock class sporting a set of Mickey Thompson MT 3074R performance tires. This third victory on Mickey Thompson sealed the deal, because this was just too much to be sheer coincidence.

Computer Aided Design and Engineering Technologies

A top executive from Cooper Tires Inc. who was in attendance was overheard to say during an interview that this was something that they had long been waiting for. Legendary racing champion Mickey Thompson began producing specialty performance tires back in 1963 but it is the advent of computer aided design and  engineering technologies that is credited with their string of recent successes.

Vividly portrayed in movies such as The Fast and The Furious series and Biker Boyz, street racing is as engaging and addictive as it is dangerous. Although street racing was already in existence prior to the release of such movies, both The Fast and The Furious and Biker Boyz have given street racing a boost in terms of popularity. More car and motorcycle owners have ridden with the fad and have customized their cars with neoprene seat covers, gas-guzzling engines, and have added other accessories outside the standard custom seat covers and car floor mats.

Due to the nature of the race and its venues (occurring mostly on highways and city roads), street racing is deemed an illegal activity and banned in most states. It is difficult, however, to completely deter people from participating in this activity, especially if they have the need for speed and have high-powered sports cars with nitro tanks hidden underneath the car floor mats.

Indeed, despite the danger presented in street racing events, hundreds still flock and race through the city streets with cars that have race-themed neoprene seat covers and sporty exterior details. Some states, in an effort to regulate street racing, provided safe alternatives to street racing in coordination with several racing clubs. In Hawaii, where drifting is a popular racing event, car owners now race under the supervision of the appropriate agencies in a controlled and safe environment at the Aloha Stadium.

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), an organization of street racers that have addressed the problem of street racing since the 1950s, promotes safe racing by promoting the Street Legal Program, a series of racing events in dry lakebeds and deserted runways. RaceLegal.com in San Diego holds events such as 1/8-mile drag races at the Qualcomm Stadium, the site of Padre and Charger games.

Several other racetracks that cater to amateur events include:

•    The Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio;
•    The Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Venango County;
•    The GingerMan Raceway in Chicago.

Depending on the body build, engine type, and the number of passengers a car can hold, there are a lot of categories amateur racers can compete in. Among the popular choice is drag racing. In the United States, there are five popular categories in drag racing:

•    Top Fuel Dragster – the fastest class of dragsters compete at this level, where they can use up to 90% of their nitromethane fuel
•    Top Fuel Funny Car
•    Pro Modified – modified cars that can run on superchargers
•    Pro Stock – cars racing in this category must maintain stock appearance and can run only on limited amount of fuel
•    Sports compact

Street racing organizations across the country have been working together with the government to promote safe street racing and at the same time educate young people about the hazards of actual racing in streets and city roads. Racers Against Street Racing (RASR) is mainly an outreach program with professional drag racers serving as representatives. With a list of nearly 300 racetracks and/or organizations that sponsor recreational sport compact racing, they strive to educate young people on the dangers of street racing while staging sanctioned, organized race contests.

Owners of sports and stock cars who have modified their ride with custom seat covers, 20-inch rimmed wheels, and powerful engines can now race without fear of getting arrested. Aligning with legitimate street racing groups is fast becoming an option for people who love to race. Many people view street racing as a rite of passage, so banning street racing completely and spreading word about its adverse effects may just fall on deaf ears. Providing street racers guidelines and safe venues where they can burn their tires have helped in encouraging responsible driving and hopefully take street racing off the streets.

The glory days of Smokey Yunick and Fireball Roberts charging around the stock car tracks of the south and Farmer Arnie Beswick tearing up the drag strips through out the country are long gone... as are the Firebirds Burt Reynolds thrilled us with on the big screen. Government Motors snuffed out the life of this once proud automaker on April 27, 2009. Once number three in sales, Pontiac had slipped down near the bottom in recent years, a victim of union excesses, inept corporate management, insurance standards and government regulation.

Pontiac's story is one of the entire American auto industry. Union contracts that were almost reasonably workable when the industry was living high on the hog and making so much money they built amazing buildings as monuments to themselves, seem oddly out of place when the profitable sales have been lost to foreign competitors. The adversarial relationship that seemed appropriate when the big three had the US market all to themselves remains, to the detriment of all concerned.

Times change, so do market conditions. The US automakers were up against foreign competition where labor and management understood they needed to work together to produce a product that would penetrate the US market. Somehow the this spirit of cooperation never caught on in the US, even at Pontiac where once there existed a pride in achievement. The unions kept asking for more and more and the greed and lack of resolve on the part of the companies made avoiding the lost production of a strike outweigh the long term destruction of overpriced contracts.

Many other factors played into the downfall of the auto industry, not the least were government regulations in the name of safety, fuel efficiency and others, just because they could. Some of us remember the foolish “double nickel” speed limits imposed by our “benefactors” in Washington until sanity returned. What we saw in this case and around the industry were companies that paid attention to their operations, but not the market or environment they lived in.

In the early '60s I was considering attending General Motors Institute... a fine engineering school with the obvious emphasis on the automobile industry. While checking into this I had the opportunity to visit the main offices of the Pontiac Division. The place was adorned with all sorts of signs touting the number three in sales and an institutional pride rarely seen in the business world. The company took a higher price product and went head to head with lower priced Ford and Chevy. These were the victorious days of Roberts and Beswick. Management at that time had taken a dull, stodgy, but reliable product and morphed it into one of the most desired cars of the time.

They worked on the concept that you could sell a young man's car to an old man, but you couldn't sell an old man's car to a young man... and it worked. They turned out some of the baddest street machines for their time and backed it up with winning efforts in NASCAR, NHRA, USAC and who knows how many other forms of racing. For myself, I had a Tri-Power '60 Ventura and, later, a '64 GTO. Both were fun to drive and just a little nicer than their lower priced Chevrolet cousins.

This was not to last, however, as fuel shortages, insurance rates and government regulations put and end to the no holds barred competition between the auto companies... and we started the long, downward spiral to the indistinguishable econobox lumps so popular today.

The point is that, for the most part, the excitement of the “new car” has been beaten our of our society. Few really are exciting. They have become so expensive that without a rich daddy, young people can't afford anything remotely interesting. Foreign manufacturers, reading the market better than their American counterparts, brought annoying little cars the kids call “tuners” into this environment. Once again, the big three were outmaneuvered. Parking lots that once were filled with Chevys, Fords and Pontiacs are now homes to Hondas, Mazdas and Hyundais. As Chester A. Riley used to say, “What a revoltin' development this is!”

So one more American icon is passing from the scene. It's a sad day. However to the progressive ideologues inside the beltway this is a good thing. The old must be destroyed to make room for the new, the centrally planned Government Motors car that looks like all the others and is certainly less than what are used to, but more then they believe we deserve. For those familiar with the development of the first Volkswagens it is, to quote a great American philosopher, “deja vu all over again.”

In honor of the occasion, perhaps we should dig out a copy of “Little GTO” by Ronnie and the Daytonas – and play it a few times.

Here is a brand new site for the racing enthusiast. Racertube.com is a site dedicated to the racing circuit containing all the news that pertains to racing. For the formula I enthusiasts there is a section entirely devoted to the racing season and news about their favorite stars. There are also interesting tit bits here that you will not get any where else. Here is a Doctor speaking about the formula 1 Toyota team.

Ricardo Ceccarelli is the Doctor who travels wherever the team goes. You may have read about mechanics, engine tuners and the like but this is something refreshingly different. We think of the drivers as machines along with the snazzy machines that they drive but we fail to think of humans who need all the attention and care. He takes with him an assortment of drugs to treat the drivers wherever they are. He admits them to a hospital if the situation warrants. He maintains their health with a special mineral drink that he has developed himself. This will protect the driver from the extreme heat he has to suffer inside the formula 1 car on the circuit. Especially in circuits like BAHRAIN there is no question of cooling in the desert sun. He talks about the fluid loss that could be up to three liters in 90 minutes which may affect the psychological performance of the driver. Drinking water is the only solution, according to him.

The driver has to bear with a heat of one hundred and eighty degrees inside his car and this tortuous heat has to be tolerated for at least 90 minutes till the race is over. Secondly, muscular sprains can be developed in the legs and in the neck because of the break neck speed at which these snazzy cars are driven. This is because gravity will play its part and we have to remain conscious of that. You can not do more than two laps without training and imagine the fitness required to withstand it for 90 minutes.

The demands on the brain are something never heard of in any other sports. You can not give even a second’s rest to the brain at such high speeds and complex visual inputs.

NASCAR segment has news about the sad event where 7 spectators were injured when the car that Edward was driving just flew and hit them. Now the organizers are seriously thinking of imposing penalty on drivers who are found to commit mistakes wantonly.

Indy car segment has news items on the racing event in Kansas City. There is a piece of interesting news on all the segments like hill climb and midget. In the vintage car segment you see amusing descriptions of the cars and their owners. Drag racing is not to be left behind as this a very exciting race that requires the driver to be extremely alert. Karting and wrc are the segments that have minute details about the exacting physical standards required for the sport.

There is news about the Australian bear maker BUDWEISER planning to abandon NHRA AND SPONSORSHIP after 2009. This season will be ok for them. They seem to be hard pressed for money, it seems. Hard times get every body.