Tabla de contenidos para October 2017 en Circle Track

Happy 35th Anniversary, readers! Before I dive too far into this month’s column, I’d like to say what an honor it’s been to be part of this historic and wonderful publication. I’d also like to thank you for your continued support. It’s obvious that we wouldn’t be able to keep doing this without all of you. This month’s issue was a lot of fun to put together. You’ll notice stories comparing where things were 35 years ago versus where they are now. You’ll also notice a few things have been moved around a little bit. Don’t worry. We’ll be back to normal in the next issue. We just wanted to make sure we could cram in as much good anniversary content as possible. The evolution of Circle Track and short-track…

A Classic Build I race up at Kalamazoo Speedway in Kalamazoo, Michigan—a NASCARsanctioned track. I am thirdgeneration racer, and our team has won more than 34 championships. This year we have built one of the nicest race cars I have seen. I race the Pro Stock Class. Although, a majority of the racers in my class are running ’80 to ’88 Monte Carlos. I have built a 55 Chevy. —Josh Garrett That is a great-looking car! We have been seeing more and more of these types of bodies showing up in Street Stock and Pro Stock Classes. It’s nice to see something a little out of the norm on the track. They sure are a great conversation starter, as well. Thanks for sharing your pictures and good luck this season.…

The following are recollections provided by this magazine’s first Editor C.J. Baker. From them, you will get a sense for how Circle Track came into being and set a course not far removed from where it continues today. Baker and I have been friends for decades. I have been pleased to work with him and also observe his efforts and dedication to create an initial success with a magazine that largely pursued in-depth technical perspectives in a sport for which he had an intense passion: circle-track racing. Keep in mind that when he did so, there was no internet, no social media, and very few personal computers or cellphones. Aside from radio and television, automotive enthusiasts and racers obtained their technical information from magazines. In this particular instance, Circle Track (by…

I was made aware recently of a couple of incidences of complete disregard for safety and equipment at a couple of tracks. I won’t go into detail about whom or where, you can Google search on Youtube to find videos, I’m sure. But in both instances, everyone watching was asking the lead title question. In the first, the driver got out of a car that had begun to burn. The “fire-safety” truck crew drove up behind the car, downwind of the smoke no less, and then proceeded to watch as the car nearly burned to the ground with no effort to put it out. The driver and a helper from somewhere grabbed fire extinguishers out of the “fire-safety” truck and were able to put out the flames. It’s one thing…

Weiand’s IMCA Approved SBC Manifold The 7541-1 Weiand X-CELerator manifold is now approved for the IMCA Stock Car and Sport Mod Classes. This aluminum intake has the common Holley 4150 fourbarrel bolt pattern and fits the ’57 to ’86 small-block Chevy 262-400 iron heads and 1987 and later GM factory aluminum heads. The intake has an effective rpm range of 2,000rpm to 6,500rpm and works best at a higher compression ratio. The manufacturer recommends using a 650- to 750-cfm Holley HP carb. For more information call (866) 464-6553 or visit www.holley.com. Next-Gen Quick Change for Crates Winters Performance has the Quick Change you need for your crate-engine car. The Second- Generation Quick Change takes performance to a new level with a full-size, lightweight magnesium housed rear axle featuring an 8-inch…

Congratulations to Jacob Logan of Harvey Station, NB, Canada – our Sunoco Race Fuels Young Racers Club Winner for the month of May! Jacob will receive a drum of race fuel and a 5-gallon utility jug from Sunoco. He will also appear in the October 2017 issue of Circle Track. Take a few moments to read about Jacob and his journey below. My name is Jacob Bradley Logan and I am 24 years old. I am from the small community of Harvey Station, NB, Canada. My father has been my greatest teacher and mentor going into this sport of stock car racing. I grew up watching him race my entire life, winning 3 Sportsman division championship titles during his 25 years as a race car driver. I have raced one…

We’re still racing the same V-8s (except the Compact and Mod4 classes) topped with carburetors that have been around for decades. Of course, that doesn’t mean our engines are the same. Stock-car racing hasn’t seen very many revolutionary changes in engine technology since Richard Petty was winning championships in NASCAR’s top series. Really, the only thing we can think of regarding big leaps in technology is NASCAR’s adoption of computercontrolled fuel injection during the Cup series back in 2012. (Although, the American Speed Association did beat NASCAR to the punch by introducing LS1 crate-engines in 2000). Beyond that, practically every other change has been evolutionary. But those evolutionary changes have really added up. Every year, crafty engine builders have found ways to squeeze out a little more hp with a…

Over the 35 years that Circle Track has been reporting on the technical aspects of shorttrack racing, we have seen a lot of change take place. It is our duty and honor to present those changes in a timely manner and in a way that helps the racer understand it and make use of all of that information. And we think we have done a very good job of that. As I look back in short-track history, I learned there was a common ancestry. In the years prior to the first issue of Circle Track during 1982, the cars were built to run on both surfaces. Basically, back then, a circle-track car was just that no matter where you drove it. For our 35th Anniversary Celebration, I think it would…

Writer’s note: When your editor, Matt Panure, and I discussed this month’s “Enginology”, he suggested that I share some of my experiences around that point in time when CT was evolving. That was a very polite way of suggesting that I’m old, but I decided to follow his recommendation to depart from our regular format and drag up a few topics that might be worth discussing. He also urged me to share any overriding perspectives I might have about writing technical material. Once he reads this, it may turn out to be the last time he makes such a request. If you’ve had an opportunity to read the C.J. Baker piece in this month’s issue, you’re aware of how the magazine came to be. And in that context, you also likely…

PRESENTED BY 1 K&K INSURANCE HONORED BY INDIANA RACING MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION Fort Wayne, Indiana—K&K Insurance Group was recognized by Indiana Racing Memorial Association during a dedication ceremony held May 2017. The company was recognized as a vital component of Indiana’s motorsports industry and history. During the dedication ceremony, the Indiana General Assembly and Mayor Tom Henry issued official proclamations making May 10 K&K Insurance Day in the state of Indiana and the city of Fort Wayne. A permanent marker was also placed in front of the home office during the ceremony. K&K Insurance was originally founded by Nord and Teddi Krauskopk to help provide racers with insurance products. Nord was a team owner and sponsor, which gave him insider perspective for the coverage needs of the motorsports industry. K&K Insurance…

In the very first issue of Circle Track, we ran a story by Alex Walordy about car-builder Barry Wright that was called “The Wright Way.” In that piece, we detailed just about every aspect of how his cars were built, why they were built in certain ways and the complete setup Wright was using to win big races. The age of dedicated car builders had already begun and Wright was right there in the mix. Along with him during 1982 were C. J. Rayburn and MastersBilt, among others who specialized in Dirt Late Models. Let’s look at where technology was at that time, and how it has progressed to the present since the first days of CT. What surprised me when I read “The Wright Way” article was the depth…

When the first issue of Circle Track came on the scene, short-track racing was in a major transition. Racing as an industry that we now are familiar with was being formed then. It had only been around for several years. Prior to that time, most race cars of the ’60s and up to the mid-’70s were home built with parts scavenged from the junkyard. Soon after that, some enterprising individuals started what we commonly know as the Performance Racing Industry show. For the chassis, parts like brakes, rear ends, hubs, and wheels were usually components found on production trucks. These were stronger than those that came on production automobiles and could withstand the rigors of racing. For the engines, there were truck clutches, truck intake manifolds, truck cams, and heads…