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‘Tis the Season … For Heart Attacks
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By Counterman
Another automotive adventure is about to unfold as Babcox Media presents “The Road to AAPEX Season 2, The Lincoln Highway.”
This year, the spotlight shines on the remarkable 2002 Lincoln Blackwood as it travels on a historic journey along the iconic Lincoln Highway.
The coast-to-coast Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the United States, dedicated on Oct. 31, 1913. Coincidently, the AAPEX 2023 show kicks off on the Lincoln Highway’s 110th anniversary.
link hidden, please login to view begins in Akron, Ohio, at Babcox Media’s headquarters, where the Babcox team, in collaboration with 20 partnering sponsors, has been dedicated to preparing the Blackwood over the last eight months for this estimated 2,200-mile journey. The series provides a glimpse into the strategy, craftsmanship and passion that fueled the car’s revival – before hitting the road; winding through Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah; and finally arriving in Las Vegas to make its debut at the AAPEX opening reception.
Joe Keene, a seasoned automotive video producer at Babcox Media, will take the wheel and be at the helm of the road trip. With experience as an ASE-certified technician, service advisor and instructor, Keene is no stranger to the intricacies of the road and the art of automotive craftsmanship. As the host of
link hidden, please login to view now in its third season, Keene knows how to bring his expertise and enthusiasm to the road and is prepared to deliver both a smooth ride and a series that will excite automotive enthusiasts and industry professionals – as it showcases the longevity and spirit that fuels the auto care industry. “After a successful first season, we recognized demand for a second road trip to AAPEX,” said Dean Martin, vice president, Babcox Media. “We have strong relationships with show, the associations and several dedicated sponsors committed to the project. These partnerships allow us to showcase the power of the aftermarket in a fun and entertaining series. Our team of professionals at Babcox is excited about the work we’ve done in producing season two and is eager to share it with the market.”
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By NAPA
Defending NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps is leaving Gainesville Raceway with the confidence that he has one of the quickest cars in the class yet again after a second-round exit at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals. The driver of the link hidden, please login to view Toyota GR Supra laid down the second-quickest pass of the event in the first round of Sunday eliminations before going up in smoke in the quarterfinals.
Capps and tuner Dean “Guido” Antonelli made a statement in Saturday qualifying, where Capps recorded the third-quickest pass of Q3 before laying down a 3.874 E.T. at 333.25-mph in the final session to claim the first No. 1 qualifier award of his sophomore season as a team owner and driver. It was Capps’ seventh pole position since forming Ron Capps Motorsports.
“(In the) last session, Q4, to go to the top and get the yellow hat is something we take very seriously,” Capps said. “It’s important to us to be able to fend off such great competition to steal the pole.”
Racing in front of a packed house on Sunday morning, Capps in his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra fired off a 3.855-second pass at 334.57-mph to defeat Terry Haddock and set what was then low E.T. of the event. In the second round, Capps left first against fellow Toyota driver Alexis DeJoria but lost traction just after leaving the starting line.
“We felt great about race day,” Capps said. “(The weather) warmed up before second round and when I got back from the run and it smoked the tires, I told Guido how spoiled I was because we haven’t done that in a long, long time. We made a small clutch adjustment that caused us to smoke the tires, but we’re very, very happy with everything and I can’t wait to get going to the West Coast.”
Capps, a veteran of the NHRA nitro ranks, started the season with a new look and new body on his Toyota GR Supra Funny Car. There were personnel changes with the retirement of co-crew chief John Medlen after the Ron Capps Motorsports team won its first world championship as an organization at the end of the 2022 season. With one race under their belts, Capps and company are now ready to continue chasing Capps’ third consecutive world championship, and fourth overall, as the NHRA Camping World Series moves on to Phoenix.
“This last off-season was one of my favorites,” Capps said. “We had an extra month, and as an owner, it gave us a little more time to get everything together. Starting the season off with the Gatornationals was something I think the fans really love, and now I’m super excited to head West and get that string of West Coast races started. Couldn’t be happier with the way we started our season here. Test session went great on Tuesday. We brought out our brand-new 2023 Toyota GR Supra Funny Car body, and everything went according to plan.”
The early-season West Coast swing will begin March 24-26 at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz.
Start / Finish: Qualified No. 1 / Defeated by Alexis DeJoria in the quarterfinals
Points Earned: 62
2023 NHRA Camping World Series Points Standing / Total: No. 6 / 62 pts. (-52)
Next Race: March 24-26, NHRA Arizona Nationals, Chandler, Ariz.
How to Watch or Listen: FS1;
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By NAPA
Brad Sweet and the
link hidden, please login to view No. 49 team kicked off a 93-race campaign last week with five consecutive days of racing at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fl. The DIRTcar Nationals hosted two nights of All Star Circuit of Champions racing before the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series officially began, with three additional nights of Outlaws racing to follow. Sweet, the four-time and reigning Outlaws champion, won the All Star feature Tuesday in pursuit of the DIRTcar Nationals’ “gator” trophy and embarked on his championship defense once the Outlaws season was underway.
On Tuesday, the NAPA No. 49 was slated to start fourth in Heat Race 3, and the Big Cat made moves to cross the checkers in second, punching his ticket to the Dash. In the Dash redraw, Sweet drew the third starting spot.
“It’s always a new challenge down here, a lot of competition every year,” Sweet said during the redraw. “I just want to get the NAPA Auto Parts car handling good and have a good, solid first night and have a solid week, so you can set your year up with some good momentum.”
With only a six-lap distance to advance through the Dash field, Sweet was able to pick off one position to finish second, placing him on the front row to start the A-main. Sweet was confident in the setup that Crew Chief Eric Prutzman had provided, and when he rolled off for the 25-lap feature, the Big Cat had his sights set on the golden gator. Off the start, Sweet was shuffled back to third, but it didn’t take the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 long to come to life. Sweet took off like a rocket. For the sixth time in his career, he picked up the Allstar win, crossing the line with a 2.5-second advantage.
Heading into Wednesday night’s program with heavy momentum for the prior night’s win, Sweet looked to continue his success. The No. 49 went out fourth for qualifying among 34 cars in attendance. Sweet clicked off a lap time of 13.749 seconds, slating him to start fifth in Heat Race 1. With a fast, one-lane track, the heat field quickly began to spread out. Sweet finished fifth, putting him toward the back to start the feature. With 25 laps to make his way through the field, the NAPA driver knew he had his work cut out for him. The Big Cat used all 900 horsepower the No. 49 could offer to make a charge. His setup was perfect, and Sweet was red hot; he advanced a total of 11 positions to finish in sixth.
Thursday brought the first official race of the 2023 World of Outlaws season. As Sweet kicked off his “Drive for Five” campaign to defend his title, he also looked to collect his 80th World of Outlaws win and his 10th gator trophy. Volusia had 36 cars in attendance with Sweet heading out 29th for qualifying. A lap time of 14.021 seconds placed him 24th overall and sixth to start Heat Race 4. Sweet attempted to make charges forward in his heat race but had enough dirty air to prevent him from gaining more than one spot. It was enough to allow the NAPA driver to transfer to the feature starting in 20th, but the same issue plagued him in the main event. In the back of the pack with dirty air, Sweet could gain only one position to finish 19th.
Friday night offered the NAPA No. 49 team a chance to hit the reset button. Qualifying 10th of 35 cars in attendance, Sweet clocked a 13.811-second lap for a third-position starting spot in Heat Race 2. Due to earlier rain, the track surface was still a bit greasy when his heat race went green. Competitor Gio Scelzi battled Sweet for third and, with the preferred line, took the position. The No. 49 crossed the checkers in fourth, placing Sweet 14th to start the A-main. When the green flag waved on the 25-lap feature, Sweet charged forward, gaining eight positions. The NAPA driver finished in the sixth spot as fog began to settle on Volusia Speedway Park.
Saturday was scheduled to mark the conclusion of the DIRTcar Nationals. As stormy weather quickly approached the speedway, the program moved swiftly to beat the rain storm. With 36 competitors in attendance, Sweet was slated to go out 25th for qualifying. He hit the charts at 13.845 seconds, placing him second overall and on the pole for Heat Race 2. The Big Cat needed to hold his line to make the Fast Pass Dash. On the drop of the green, the outside line had the advantage, causing Sweet to fall back to second. After stalking the leader throughout the heat race, Sweet finished in second, scoring himself a spot in the Dash. Sweet drew the sixth starting position for the Dash, but a large rain cell soon reached Volusia Speedway Park, canceling the remainder of the event for the night.
Sweet and the NAPA Auto Parts team have a few weeks off before returning to Volusia on March 5th and 6th, when they will complete Saturday night’s weather-postponed World of Outlaws Dash and A-main along with the scheduled Spring Showdown at Volusia.
Start / Finish:
Tuesday, Feb. 7: 2 / 1
Wednesday, Feb. 8: 17 / 6
Thursday, Feb. 9: 20 / 19
Friday, Feb. 10: 14 / 6
Saturday, Feb. 11: postponed
Points Standing / Total: 10th / 250 pts. (-50)
Next Race: Sunday, March 5, Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, FL
How to Watch or Listen:
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By Counterman
Here in Northeast Ohio, we recently experienced a “cold snap.” Temperatures dropped below zero degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chills approaching minus 20 F. Needless to say, most people were caught off-guard by the temperatures, and how long that cold weather stuck around.
It highlighted just how much we’re affected by our climate, and for that matter, our cars and trucks. Drivers lost control on highways and had to be towed out of the ditch along the highway, while others weren’t able to start their engine thanks to a weakened battery. I remember many things from my time behind the parts counter, but none more so than this: With each new season comes a pattern of vehicle repairs or needs. You’ll never sell more wiper blades than on a rainy day, and you’ll sell more batteries when temperatures climb or drop to extreme levels. Today, I want to focus on diesel engines and the challenges they face during the winter months.
Diesel engines typically are associated with larger pickups, thanks in part to their workhorse nature and their abundant torque production. But cold weather is rather harsh on diesel fuel and the fuel system. When temperatures dip, it can form into a gel instead of a liquid. Cold diesel fuel is harder to ignite under compression, which means the engine has to crank longer than usual. In extreme cold, the engine might become difficult to start even when the glow plugs are given the time to do their job.
Diesel fuel has changed quite a bit in recent decades. The United States has mandated the use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel in an effort to improve air quality. But this also has brought about some chemical changes in the refining process, and with it, some new challenges to overcome. Those chemical changes have caused an increase in paraffin inside the fuel, which can lead to a buildup of wax particles. Those wax particles can form larger crystals that can clog up fuel lines, filters and so on.
Condensation inside the fuel also is a concern. Condensation is a major contributor to rust, cold-weather icing and microorganism growth in warmer weather. Diesel engines can operate much better when corrosion and bacteria growth are prevented.
The Solution: Fuel Additives
Additives aren’t new. In fact, they’re present inside each and every container of oil you carry in your store. When it comes to diesel-fuel additives, they have a simple job to do: Help the diesel fuel to resist the effects of the cold weather. Fuel treatments help to reduce fuel gelling by encapsulating and dispersing those waxy crystals as they’re formed. When done right, this can prevent them from growing large enough to clog any of the components in the fuel system. The fuel is then able to flow more easily through the fuel filters and lines and into the combustion chamber where it can be burned.
Some fuel treatments will contain some or all of the following additives. Lubricity additives help to protect diesel-fuel systems from internal wear. Lubricity additives help the fuel to form a boundary layer of lubrication between the metallic parts inside the fuel system. This film helps to reduce friction between the metal surfaces, and the wear and tear on them. This can extend the life of those components and reduce downtime in the future. Cetane boosters increase the flammability of the diesel fuel, and this allows for a cleaner-burning diesel engine.
What Should You Tell Your Customers?
To most customers, fuel treatments can be thought of as just another routine maintenance item. Most fuel treatments will need to be poured into the fuel tank at each fill-up, but it’s best practice to always reference the usage guidelines from the manufacturer.
If you need help to overcome a cost objection, I wouldn’t suggest trying to scare them with the cost of potential breakdowns or repairs down the road. In my eyes, fuel treatments are simply a “peace-of-mind” sort of sale. Their job is simple, and their objectives are clear. So, if we place ourselves into the customer’s shoes, the benefit they have to offer is the peace of mind that their diesel engine will continue to operate without issue throughout the colder winter months. While it’s true that they can reduce the risk of costly repairs or breakdowns later on, I wouldn’t lead with that thought.
The need for diesel-fuel treatment products will definitely spike as the temperatures start to dip. So, I would invite you to take a few moments to read the labels on the products you carry in your store, and familiarize yourself with what separates one from the next. Then, you’ll be ready to help your customers find the right product for their diesel-powered vehicle.
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By Counterman
Here in the Northeast, we start preparing for winter weather in the early fall. For homeowners, “winter prep” is a chore – servicing snowblowers, buttoning up the house and deck against ice and snow, and arranging for plow services to clear driveways. For others, it’s an opportunity to earn extra seasonal income. Many landscaping and construction companies, repair shop owners and some private individuals operate snowplow services during the “slow months” in their primary fields. Finally, there are snowmobile enthusiasts who actually look forward to the white stuff falling!
When it comes to seasonal merchandising and sales, light-duty snowplow parts represent one of the best returns on investment of any seasonal display. Four to eight feet of gondola space is enough to show off a modest inventory of essential plow parts, lighting and fluids. If salesfloor space is at a premium, prominently advertising that you stock these specialty items can attract enough attention to start a conversation.
Stocking the most popular of these items is critical for realizing maximum sales. Plow operators don’t keep “banker’s hours,” and most of their workday is spent in the dark. Early mornings and late nights mean breakdowns occur when parts stores are closed, and I’ve had many a customer waiting in the parking lot when I arrived, eager to get a hydraulic hose and fluid, a solenoid or coil, so they can get back to plowing their customers’ properties. Downtime means lost revenue, so if you stock it, you’ve sold it!
Plow parts are mainstream enough for many SKUs to be stocked at the warehouse level, so replenishment or non-stock orders can be obtained same day or next day if your warehouse has invested in a stocking inventory. Many independent stores buy plow parts directly from a specialty distributor, so they place a large stock order at the beginning of the season, and special-order slower-moving parts on an as-requested basis. Return terms for these orders may vary, so selecting your stocking inventory carefully is the best way to avoid holding obsolete parts from year-to-year. Fluid, hoses and fittings, motors, solenoids and coils, lights, plow markers, trip springs, pins and shoes are some of the most commonly requested essential items.
Once the roads, parking lots and driveways have been cleared, for many of our customers it’s time to hit the snowmobile trails. Here in upstate New York, snowmobiles are a regular part of our local winter economy, bringing tourist dollars to our communities. Local riders already know you as a reliable source of parts and supplies for their sleds, but out-of-towners might be caught scrambling for a last-minute drive belt, spare spark plugs or injector oil. Your reputation in the community serves you well when these riders make “pit stops,” mingling with the locals and asking for advice.
The extreme temperatures that signal snow season also can be rough on the tow vehicles and trailers that bring snowmobilers to your town. Whether selling them DIY parts at your counter or recommending one of your commercial accounts to perform needed repairs, you’re capturing a part of that tourist dollar.
Parts opportunities for snowmobiles are very similar to other powersport units. Spark plugs, drive belts, lighting, oil and fluids are our best-selling items in this category. Two-stroke sleds had been the industry standard since the 1950s, but four-stroke engines have become an important part of the market over the past 20 years. These engines offer increased reliability and horsepower, less maintenance and lower emissions than the two-strokes of the past. All snowmobiles can offer us spark plug and drive belt sales opportunities, but two- and four-strokes have very different needs when it comes to engine oils. Like other two-stroke equipment, snowmobiles burn a gas-oil mixture. Oils specifically designed for two-stroke snowmobiles feature low-temperature pour points, clean-burning formulas to prevent carbon deposits and fouling, and create less smoke and odor, which is a bonus for the people riding behind you.
Four-stroke sleds have a traditional crankcase/sump design, and use a recirculating motor oil, which also means the opportunity for an oil-filter sale. Recommending oils (and coolant) for four-stroke snowmobiles is very much like navigating today’s automobile-fluids market. Manufacturer-specific approvals and compatibilities need to be considered, and if you don’t have the appropriate product, referring your customer to the local powersports dealer is the best thing you can do for your customer.
If your market warrants the investment, including some of these specialty oils and fluids in your inventory along with other powersport and plow-related SKUs will help to make your store more profitable no matter the weather!
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