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B.R.A.K.E.S. Hosts First Teen Pro-Active Driving School
B.R.A.K.E.S., the charity organization founded by NHRA drag racer Doug Herbert in memory of his two sons, will hold its first Teen Pro-Active Driving School on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at zMAX Dragway. The VIP, invite-only event is intended to showcase the program to members of the media and influential Charlotte-area residents. The school’s first public session will be held on Nov. 8, 2008, at zMAX Dragway. In 2009 the school will be taken nationwide and sessions will be hosted at tracks across the United States. Each four-hour session is designed for 50 teenagers and their parent/guardian to attend together.
“When we first formed B.R.A.K.E.S. after the accident in January, we wanted to help teach teenagers how to be safer on the roads,” said Herbert. “We’ve gotten a lot of exposure for the charity and we’ve raised a lot of money, but now we’re ready to give something back. I couldn’t be more excited about Saturday. I think the teens that go through the school will definitely be safer drivers because of it, and I really believe that this program has the potential to help save some teenager’s lives.”
The sessions, conducted by the Mario Andretti and Jeff Gordon Racing School, will include a short instruction portion and a hands-on driving portion. Participants will have the opportunity to drive on three different courses – a wet skid pad, a brake and turn exercise, and a distraction course. The courses are designed to teach teenagers how to control a car and prevent an accident when they find themselves involved in a dangerous situation. [9/30/2008]
Ripes Named Grand Marshall For Jegs Pacific\ Sportsnationals
Marv Ripes, founder of A-1 Automatic Transmissions, has been selected for the dual role of Grand Marshall and Honorary Starter for the NHRA Jegs Pacific SPORTSnationals held this weekend at Autoclub Dragway in Fontana. Ripes founded A-1 in 1959 as a 24-year-old racer and is credited with many innovations in racing transmission technology. Known throughout the industry as a friend to all Sportsman racers, Ripes is a fixture in the pits at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events in the Northwest and Pacific divisions and many NHRA national events.
“Marv is celebrating 50 years in the drag racing industry. That’s an astounding feat,” said Jegs’ Scott “Woody” Woodruff. “He is well-known in drag racing, especially on the West Coast, so we thought making him the Grand Marshal/Honorary Starter for the Jegs Pacific SPORTSnationals was a perfect opportunity to recognize his accomplishments.” [9/30/2008]
E-85 AlkySuper Comp Engine
 Racer engine builder and Top Dragster racer Dick Fox out of Indiana sent us a photo of his new almost finished Top Dragster and an E-85 Top Sportsman/Top Dragster engine. |
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Fox’s Champion Racing Engines built this engine for one of his customers. E-85 is becoming more and more popular in drag racing but this is the first one we’ve seen that was purpose built for the “Super Classes.” The Big Block Chevy is a 598 incher with a 1050 Quick Fuel E-85 dedicated carb and a set of Dart Heads. He sent along a dyno sheet that showed the engine made 904 hp and 833 ft lbs of torque at 5700 rpm and it held close to those numbers up and down the RPM range. Look for a tech feature on this engine and E-85 fuels in DRO in the near future. [9/30/2008]