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How to Upgrade Your Pickup Truck

Photo by Filip Bunkens on Unsplash

The good thing about having a truck is that you can gear it the way you want. Trucks perform a wide range of tasks, and you can improve them for more safety, power, and comfort.

It doesn’t matter whether you take part in heavy-duty lifting, off-road adventures, or long road trips. There are several alternatives you can choose from to modify your truck. Use the valuable resources at https://fourwheeltrends.com for more information and also check out off-road and on-road reviews before you begin any modifications such as lowering your truck or any new upgrades.

Below are the best after-market adjustments that can suit your truck.

1. All-terrain tires

These tires increase the off-road capability to a higher level; the initial factory tires wear out as time pass. Therefore, if you often drive your truck, it is ideal for replacing them soon enough. All-terrain tires are durable hence enabling your truck to operate in any terrain without issues. The durability of these tires makes them a worthy truck mode you can get for your truck.

2. Lift Kit

Pickup trucks are usually made large; however, they can be rough when driving through muddy roads or heavy snowfall. Such conditions can harm your truck, especially if you mostly take part in outdoor activities.

Fortunately, you can buy a lift kit to increase the ground clearance, leaving room for more tire configurations. In as much as a lift kit is essential for a pickup truck driven through adverse conditions, lifting your truck’s suspension exerts more stress on driveline components, hence reducing its power. It would help if you kept in mind that lifting a vehicle also makes the value of the car depreciate.

3. Step Bar

If you use a lift kit to modify your truck, it is advisable to get a step bar. And if you position your truck higher than expected, the step bar makes it easier to climb in or out of the passenger and driver seats. The step bar also proves useful even in typical vehicles.

In some vehicles, the step bar can slide beneath the truck’s body when you close the doors. Bee keen when purchasing a step bar for your vehicle to avoid buying one likely to crack or bend.

4. Cold-Air Intake

If you seek to increase your pickup truck’s efficiency and power, you must replace the old restrictive air-intake system. By introducing the cool air in the engine’s combustion chambers, your vehicle will produce more horsepower with higher gas efficiency.

Do you know how it works? The system takes cool air to the engine for combustion. First, there is an increase in the torque and power of the engine. And lets your engine consume less fuel.

5. Custom Exhaust

Combining a new cold air intake with a custom exhaust system has astonishing effects on your vehicle’s capabilities, especially when sourced from Australian exhaust manufacturers. Constant pulling and traveling long distances can damage your vehicle over time.

However, when you equip your vehicle with the custom exhaust, your truck will have increased fuel efficiency and horsepower, extending its lifespan.

6. Heavy-Duty Hitch

Outdoor activities like dirt racing, boat riding, and camping are exciting, but they need planning ahead of time. Taking part in such activities needs a truck to take care of the bulky items.

Fortunately, the heavy-duty hitch is amongst the essential truck mods you can purchase. Once you equip them with a strong hitch, pickup trucks can tow all types of loads from RVs and trailers to ATVs and boats.

7. Tool Box

An outstanding benefit of having a truck is that you can use your truck bed to store your items. Unfortunately, putting kinds of stuff at the back exposes them to bad weather and theft. You can’t keep them in the front because the truck cabin has limited space; it will interfere with the driving experience, especially if you have other people on board.

Getting a toolbox for your truck and installing it in the truck bed ensures your tools’ safety. That makes you feel good and not worry about losing your equipment. Moreover, toolboxes are essential, especially when you are moving from one apartment to another. Still, you might need it when delivering furniture.

Better still, you can use truck tool boxes for storage of small kinds of stuff like important documents and jewelry. 

Wrapping Up

Were you thinking of getting another truck with better qualities? Well, you now know that is not necessary. You already know how to upgrade your pickup truck to ensure durability and improved performance.

Before buying any of the modes discussed, make sure they suit your truck exactly how you want it. If your pickup truck is getting old, all you need to do is work on a few things to improve it using the modes.

INDYCAR Race Winner, Indianapolis 500 Veteran Paul Dies at 60

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 – INDYCAR race winner and Indianapolis 500 veteran John Paul Jr., widely considered as one of the most gifted and versatile drivers of his generation, died Dec. 29 after a long, valiant fight with Huntington’s disease. He was 60.

Paul, a native of Muncie, Indiana, made seven Indianapolis 500 starts between 1985 and 1998. His most successful year in the “500” was 1998, when he started 16th, led 39 laps and finished seventh in the No. 81 Team Pelfrey entry in his final start in the race.

He racked up more than 20 sports car victories, two INDYCAR wins and made starts in open-wheel, sports car and stock car competition. He also is a member of an exclusive club of drivers who won open-wheel races in CART and INDYCAR.

Paul’s diverse career behind the wheel started in the early 1980s after he attended racing school as a teenager. Paul drove into the top levels of sports car racing and INDYCAR racing with astonishing pace and was considered a phenom in both disciplines.

After participating in driving school, Paul moved into IMSA sports car racing and started winning immediately while sharing the seat of a Porsche 935 with his father in the family team, JLP Racing. John Paul Jr. won his first IMSA start, in 1980 at Lime Rock Park, while co-driving with his father. They also earned another victory and finished fourth in the IMSA GT standings that season.

Paul won the IMSA Camel GT Championship in 1982 at age 22, opening the season with victories in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance classics.

Carrying a growing reputation as one of America’s fastest young drivers, Paul moved to open-wheel racing in the CART series in 1983 and produced a spectacular rookie year for VDS Racing. He passed Indy 500 legend Rick Mears on the last lap to win the Michigan 500 in only his fourth CART start.

Other highlights from his rookie season included finishing third in his first CART start, at Atlanta, finishing second to the legendary Mario Andretti at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and another third-place finish at Riverside. Paul finished eighth in the CART standings as a rookie despite failing to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 due to a crash in practice and missing the show at the next race, at Milwaukee.

In 1983, Paul also won in his first start in the SCCA Trans-Am sports car series, driving a Chevrolet Camaro at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

Paul’s versatility and skill also were on display in 1984, when he raced in CART, IMSA and in global sports car competition. He finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1984, co-driving a mighty Porsche 956 prototype with Jean Rondeau. His best finish in CART competition that year was third at Caesars Palace.

The highlight of the 1985 season was Paul’s first start in the Indianapolis 500, for AMI Racing. He qualified 24th and finished 15th, the third-best result among six rookies in the field.

Heading into the next decade, Paul qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the second time in 1990, with Mann Motorsports.

The debut of the Indy Racing League in 1996 helped the persistent Paul revive his career and show the skill that captivated fans and team owners in the early 1980s. He was a regular competitor in the series in its first three seasons, from 1996-98. The zenith of this portion of his career was his victory in 1998 at Texas Motor Speedway in a car fielded by Byrd-Cunningham Racing.

He also continued to compete in sports car racing during the second phase of his career, earning a second Rolex 24 at Daytona victory in 1997 in a Dyson Racing prototype.

In 1999, Paul’s talent and humble, low-key nature were rewarded when the new Corvette Racing factory team named him to its driver lineup for endurance races.

Paul’s driving career ended after the 2001 season, when he began his fight against Huntington’s disease, a rare, genetic neurological disorder that also afflicted other members of his family. Paul earned praise from all corners of the racing world for his valiant fight of nearly two decades against Huntington’s and for his work to raise awareness and funding for the disease.

He is survived by his sister, Tonya; daughter, Alexandria; and son, Jonathan.

Crawford Sprinkler Joins Mullins Racing As Primary Sponsor For Daytona ARCA Race

Crawford Sprinkler has been named title sponsor of the Mullins Racing No. 3 Chevrolet SS for the upcoming ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire on Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Mullins Racing will have a completely new look when the team rolls into Daytona International Speedway for the ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire on Feb. 13.

Team owner and driver Willie Mullins announced today that Crawford Sprinkler Co. of Raleigh has joined the team as primary sponsor of the No. 3 Mullins Racing Chevrolet for the ARCA Menards Series season opener at the World Center of Racing.

Crawford Sprinkler Co. of Raleigh joins CorvetteParts.net as a major sponsor of Mullins Racing for the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire.

Mullins explained that the partnership is the result of a long-term relationship with Crawford Sprinkler Co. of Raleigh President Ian Snider that dates back to their time racing against each other in the Sports Car Club of America.

“This is a long-term relationship from back in my road racing days with SCCA,” Mullins explained. “Ian is a long-time friend and customer here at the shop. We used to take care of his road course car that he purchased from Richard Childress Racing.

“Back in 2016 he was a small sponsor and gave us a little bit of help and then this year we happened to start talking about things and he saw our new Chevrolet race car. He is a big, big fan of Chevrolet, so he decided to come on board for Daytona.”

Crawford Sprinkler was established in Atlanta, Ga., in 1919. Upon expansion in 1930, the company soon branched into several cities, including Charlotte, N.C. Crawford Sprinkler Co. of Raleigh was established in 1965 when the Charlotte branch was sold to each regional manager. As a family owned and oriented business, the company has developed into the leading fire sprinkler specialist in Eastern North Carolina, and is now licensed from Georgia to Maryland.

To find out more about Crawford Sprinkler Co. of Raleigh, visit www.crawfordsprinkler.com.

“I’ve known Willie for a long time and I know they put their blood, sweat and tears into running these superspeedways,” said Snider. “I want to see them continue to compete and try and be competitive. We’ve gone to the Daytona race the last several years and I’m just looking forward to seeing them compete and spending some time with them at the race track.”

As part of the new partnership with Crawford Sprinkler Co. of Raleigh, the No. 3 Mullins Racing Chevrolet will sport the same black and red design at Daytona International Speedway that Snider campaigned during his time racing with the SCCA.

“That’s the scheme I’ve been running since I first started racing back in 2010. We’ve got several cars running that similar scheme,” Snider explained. “That’s the scheme we’ve always run. Hendrick Motorsports is putting together a couple of their road course cars for me and they’ll be done in the same scheme. It’s our company colors and we’re going to be proud to see them on track.

“I think it’ll be fun for all of our employees to participate in that.”

For Mullins, being able to represent brands like Crawford Sprinkler Co. of Raleigh and CorvetteParts.net at Daytona International Speedway is a dream come true and helps relieve a lot of the stress involved with competing in such a major event.

“It takes a lot of stress off of us because we’re able to focus more on our car instead of worrying about looking for sponsors,” said Mullins. “It’s such a relief that we get to be focused on the car and move forward with partners like Crawford Sprinkler and CorvetteParts.net and have the possibility to work with them again down the road.”

The No. 3 Mullins Racing Chevrolet carries sponsorship support from Crawford Sprinkler of Raleigh, CorvetteParts.net, Crow Wing Recycling, CW Metals, Bugsy’s Auto, Snap On by Timmy Brann and Dinah Marie Photography.

For more information on Mullins Racing, please visit mullinsracing.net, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mullinsracing and follow them on Twitter at @mullins_racing.

STATEMENT FROM RRDC PRESIDENT BOBBY RAHAL ON THE PASSING OF OSCAR KOVELESKI AND JOHN PAUL JR.

“We lost two of our longtime RRDC members this week: Oscar Koveleski and John Paul Jr.

“John Paul Jr. succumbed to Huntingdon’s disease, which he’d been battling for a number of years. His spirits were always high and so many of his friends surrounded him with love and support right up to the end.

“John was an outstanding race-car driver whose talent and attitude always shone above the cloud of his father’s dark past. He will always be remembered as an enthusiastic, fun and strong competitor whether he was racing at the Indy 500 or at an SCCA National race. His goal was always to do his best, and that’s what he did.”

Here’s a link to today’s RACER story: https://racer.com/2020/12/30/sports-car-and-indycar-racer-john-paul-jr-dies-at-60/

“Oscar Koveleski was a treasure. His outspokenness and passionate demeanor in trying to convince you of the importance of his latest project were the essence of his personality. Never quitting, always promoting, in such a charismatic way that one just couldn’t say no.

“As a race-car driver he was one of the best in an era where competing against the likes of Mark Donohue, Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme was a challenge he was happy and willing to take to help promote his
Auto World business and the KidRacer brand he created.”

This week RRDC member John Dinkel wrote a humorous and compelling story about our friend Oscar: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/therell-never-another-oscar-john-dinkel/.

“We will miss them both.”

Bobby Rahal
President, RRDC

About the RRDC:
The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club’s membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

In 2011, the FIA launched SAFEisFAST.com, a free online training program offered by the Mark Donohue Foundation. More than 100 video tutorials taught by more than 200 RRDC members and championship drivers from Formula 1, IndyCar, the WEC and IMSA, teach driving techniques, physical preparation, mental acuity, driver safety, car setup and racing sponsorship. New videos are released eight-10 times annually with top drivers regularly answering readers’ questions through “Ask a Pro.”

In 2017 The Mark Donohue Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization, was formed to support the SAFEisFAST.com program and to help ensure its operations. http://www.rrdc.org/mark-donohue-foundation/

Bobby Rahal is President, John Fergus is Vice President/Treasurer, and Tom Davey is Secretary.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award, and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship (teamusascholarship.org), which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990. The RRDC also honors icons of the sport at its annual dinner at the Long Beach (Calif.) Grand Prix. Honorees have been Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford and David Hobbs.

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. For more information, visit www.rrdc.org.

Jr III Racing Expands to Two IMSA Prototype Challenge Entries

Father-daughter line up set to compete alongside father-son duo in 2021

Mooresville, N.C. (29 December 2020) – Building on its debut season of IMSA competition, Jr III (“Junior Three”) Racing will expand into a two-car effort for the 2021 IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC) season. As the first team in North America to take delivery of the all-new Ligier JSP30, Jr III Racing is looking ahead to a big season in IMSA competition.

Having staged a successful 2020 IMSA campaign with the father-son driving pair of Greg and Eric Palmer in the No. 3 Copps Industries Ligier, the team will grow to a two-car operation for the 2021 season as the team is set to campaign the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier JSP30 of Ari and Natasha Balogh. Greg and Eric Palmer will also enter their sophomore year with the Charlotte-area team for 2021.

The Palmers combined for five top-ten finishes in six outings in 2020 including the team’s best IMSA finish of fifth at Sebring International Raceway.

Jr III Racing Team Owner, Billy Glavin knows the importance of family having started the team with his father and fellow racer, Bill Glavin Jr. That same familial importance that started Jr III Racing has now extended into its driver lineup with the father-daughter duo of Ari and Natasha Balogh. The pair are set to make their IMSA debut next month at the Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

Ari Balogh, 56, began racing four years ago and has competed in Trans Am, Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC). Balogh won the 2017 PWC SprintX GTS Am Championship on the strength of four wins, two poles highlighting a season that saw him take podium finishes in all 10 races. He continued to split time between the three series for the following two years, earning a podium finish at VIR in last year’s IMPC event.

“Joining Jr III Racing and competing in the IMSA Prototype Challenge is an exciting new challenge for my daughter and I,” said Ari Balogh. “Billy (Glavin) has put together a great team of professionals who support me and Natasha’s (Balogh) venture into Prototype racing. The Ligier is unlike anything I have driven before. It requires a new driving style that I have been adapting to during our test sessions. I am looking forward to getting the season started soon and getting behind the wheel of the No. 33 at Daytona International Speedway.”

Natasha Balogh, 21, first began racing after her parents enrolled her in the National Auto Sport Association’s Teen Driving Clinic in order to learn how to avoid collisions in her street car.

Thoroughly enthralled by the experience behind the wheel, the then-15-year-old began racing in NASA and SCCA events, which saw Natasha score a second-place finish in the E1 class at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill in 2018.

What makes Natasha’s story even more remarkable is that she has a hearing disability which involves an enlarged vestibular aqueducts, or EVA. Because of this condition, Balogh must be particularly careful to guard against head injuries or experiencing extreme changes in pressure (i.e. airplanes or scuba diving). Her love of racing and her trust in her equipment gives her the confidence to take on the challenge, and Balogh’s recent test with Jr III Racing has her ready to get the season underway.

“Hopping into the Ligier for the first time was unreal,” said Natasha Balogh. “Beyond the sensation of being in a closed cockpit vehicle, the speed and aero is really out of this world. I’m excited to get more seat time so I can get settled before the season starts, but I’m also excited to start testing the limits of what the car can do. Jr III Racing is an incredible group of professionals. The camaraderie and teamwork is palpable. Having teammates that are a father-son duo shows the team is centered around family and emphasizes how important it is that the team is cohesive. Seeing as success comes from teamwork, to see that in the team, and across the drivers, I’m really optimistic about what we can accomplish together.”

Billy Glavin looks to continue both the on and off-track growth for the young team.

“We are very excited to welcome the Baloghs to the team as we take on this next chapter for Jr III,” said Glavin. “Jr III Racing was formed as an outgrowth of the passion my father and I share for the sport. So having a father-son and father-daughter driver pairings as part of the team just adds to the family-oriented environment we have. We learned so much in our first year in IMSA. Now we have our program running efficiently with knowledge of how the Ligier performs at each track that we are able to use to continue our progress. I am looking forward to heading back to Daytona to start the season.”

Jr III Racing will debut its new Ligier machines in Race One of the 2021 IMSA Prototype Challenge season at Daytona International Speedway January 22-24, during the Roar Before the 24 weekend. Live coverage of the 2021 IMSA Prototype Challenge season opener will be available on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

The Benefits of Mobile Living

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Many people worldwide have fallen in love with living in a vehicle. They discovered that the compact space of a van, bus, or RV is all that they would need. They get to quench their constant wanderlust by literally moving their homes around the country. And they learned a lot about car maintenance on top of the usual household chores.

These are some of the many benefits of mobile living.

Cost-effectiveness

Don’t get it wrong. There are a lot of expenses that come with mobile living. You would have to always set aside a significant budget for gas. You’d have to invest in the proper equipment to care for the vehicle. And you’d also have to cover parking space costs whenever you stop in a city or rural area.

With mobile living, you also don’t have to think about rental or mortgage fees. You would also don’t have to think about major home maintenance duties. Gone are the days when you’ll be worried about the integrity of your roof when a heavy pile of snow on it. Of course, you will still need to ensure that you are maintaining your home properly so it is fit enough to live in. Calling in a Tampa electrician (or one in your area), as well as a plumber when you need to is essential and keeping things ticking over.

Surprising Business Opportunities

And you can take advantage of your living setup by starting a mobile business as well. It would be more cost-effective because you won’t have to worry about rent and downtime during the less busy times of the day. If you look for mobile coffee carts for sale, you can set up shop in the busiest areas such as business districts in the city during the day. Be there when the workers are in dire need of their caffeine fix. Then, when it’s nighttime and there are fewer customers, you can pack up and move to a busier area.

Greater Chances for Travel Without Heavy Additional Costs

The best thing about mobile living is that it’s designed for those who love to travel and go on long road trips. It’s perfect for those who take great pleasure in driving around the countryside. They don’t have to concern themselves with making sure that their houses are looked after as they travel. They also don’t have to worry about things such as taking limited time off from their office jobs.

The most important thing for mobile living is finding the right vehicle for you and your family. You might be okay with just using a van. Perhaps you and your partner might be more comfortable in an RV. It all depends on what you need. After finding the right vehicle, then you can start embarking on your mobile living and traveling.

Minimalist Lifestyle

Because there’s minimal space in a mobile home, you’ll be forced to evaluate which are the things that you truly need and which are the things that you can live without. This would help you start developing a minimalist lifestyle. You’ll be encouraged to resist the urge to rely on many material things.

Closeness to Nature

A great benefit to mobile living is that people also tend to feel closer to nature. Because of the vehicle’s cramped spaces that they’re living in, they tend to set up tables and chairs outside whenever they rest in a park. Thus, being in the constant presence of the environment became the norm for them.

Many people might think that there’s nothing worse than living in a vehicle. They would be worried about the bathroom, first and foremost. They couldn’t bear the idea of not having constant access to a proper bathroom at all times. Then, they would be worried about the lack of privacy and quiet time. And lastly, they would be worried about the burden of car maintenance. If the vehicle fails to operate, then what’s the point of mobile living at all?

These are all valid points. They’re all very understandable.

But for many people who enjoy mobile living, the benefits outweigh the worries.

NO MOD RULE CHANGES AT GRANDVIEW BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CHANGES IN THE SPORTSMAN DIVISION

BECHTELSVILLE, PA December 28, 2020 . . . With the opening of the 2021 NASCAR auto racing season set for March 27th with a free-to-the-public practice Grandview Speedway officials have announced that there will be NO rule changes for the T.P.Trailers Modifieds. However, the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman will have two changes to include in their rule book.

The 602 Crate Sportsman will have no changes while the 604 Crates will see a change in the weight limit as it goes from 2300 pounds to 2400 pounds.

Open Sportsman will be required to have a rev limiter just as the Crate Sportsman currently have. There will be a 7,000 rpm chip that will be subject to change as an effort is made to equalize the entire class. This will save Open Sportsman from having to purchase Crate engines. At present, there are few tracks where Open Sportsman can run and officials are doing their best to save them the expense of a new engine. “By equalizing the cars in this manner we hope to keep all our Sportsman on the track and when the Open engines wear out they will have a much cheaper option to keep racing,” said Head Tech Inspector Ed Scott.

The 2021 schedule for weekly racing at Grandview is expected to be announced shortly.

Again this year, with no increase in the price, the one-third-mile, banked clay track, headed into its 59th consecutive season of operation, is offering season passes that cover the admission to every Saturday event in 2021 starting with the season opening 4th Annual Bruce Rogers Memorial on April 3rd, the Forrest Rogers Memorial on August 14th and continuing through to the 51st Annual Freedom 76 Classic on Saturday September 18th along with the Freedom 38 Sportsman special the night before.

The season pass is again priced at $350 which affords a significant savings for fans planning to attend all the Saturday events on the schedule kicking off with the 4th Annual Bruce Rogers Memorial on April 3rd that will feature Small Block and Big Block Modifieds battling for the $7,500 to win.

Orders for season passes can be sent, with a check covering the cost of the passes, to Grandview Speedway, 87 Wilt Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505. Including a self-addressed stamped envelope will speed the delivery process.

Updated information on what is happening at Grandview during the 2021 season can be had at www.grandviewspeedway.com, Facebook or telephone 610.754.7688. The one-third-mile banked clay track is located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, Bechtelsville, PA 10 miles north of Pottstown.

5 Tips to Maintaining Your ATV

Photo by Kilyan Sockalingum on Unsplash

Are you a proud owner of an all-terrain vehicle, also known as an ATV? How do you take care of your machine to ensure that it lasts a long time? Whether you use your ATV for racing, snow plowing, winching, hunting, or rock spreading, you must always ensure that each and every part is working properly especially after a long day of trekking in the mud, dirt, or rain. 

To ensure that you ride safely and enjoyably for years to come, and also save money on maintenance, always purchase your engine parts, tires, and accessories from the leaders in off-road racing, Tokyo Mods. With its many years of racing and carburetor development, Tokyo Mods spare parts will ensure that you are always at the front of the pack. 

Here are five tips for maintaining your ATV.

1. Check Your Oil Often

Always check your oil before every ride. It may look tedious to keep checking but it will save you the pain of dealing with engine failure because you took off with an improperly lubricated engine. You should also change your oil frequently so that you get rid of all the impurities that form over time. 

2. Keep Your ATV Clean

Do you perceive having mud marks all over your four-wheeler as a badge of honor and a sign of great achievement? You are not alone. Many riders believe that the dried mud all over the ATV gives the impression that they had a great time on and off the trails. However, all that mud and dirt can trap humidity against the metal of your vehicle and before you know it, rust will start eating away your machine. That nastiness can also impact negatively on your engine’s performance. The dirt can make its way into the air filter and clog up the vents which can actually increase the consumption of fuel. 

To avoid all this, ensure that you give your ATV a good wash after each use. And when washing your machine, make sure that all the parts that could get corroded by water are properly covered. Depending on your model, there should at least be several ATV covers to choose from and it is one of the best ways of protecting your ATV’s exterior.

3. Clean the Air Filter

Engines basically need three things to cycle. These are gas air and spark. When these key ingredients combine perfectly in an engine, energy is sent directly to the wheels and this is what makes your four-wheeler move. When you ride with a dirty and water-soaked air filter, it can prevent your engine from working properly. In some instances, it can cause a complete engine to shut down. Clean your air filter regularly. If it becomes too dirty, or you realize that bugs and insects have made it their home, change it right away.

4. Check Tire Tread and Pressure

Before you embark on any trip with your off-road vehicle, make sure that the tire pressure is at the recommended psi and the tire treads are not worn out. Driving on steep ground or rough terrain with poorly inflated tires can reduce your stability and endanger your life and your passengers as well. 

5. Be Aware of Your ATV’s Limitations

All-terrain vehicles are a costly investment. Repairs are also very expensive, and your life is irreplaceable. Be aware of what your machine can do and what is impossible. If a hill is too steep and you are not sure your ATV can get to the top, don’t risk it. The last thing you need is to end up in the hospital with broken bones and your shiny new ATV completely wrecked.  Be smart, protect yourself, and don’t risk riding above your skill level. 

How to Organize a Successful Motorsport Event

Photo by vikram sundaramoorthy from Pexels

Organizing a motorsport event is easier said than done. It’s tough reaching the expectations of motorsport fans as they are some energetic people. You have to make sure that the event is hyped up enough to keep them interested from the beginning till the end of the event. With such an ecstatic group of people, what does it mean to organize a successful motorsport event anyway?

For starters, it’s not enough to have the tickets sold out for the event. You must also ensure that all of the fans leaving the event venue are happy and satisfied with the time they had at the event. If you’re thinking about organizing one for the community, then here are some of the things you need to consider doing.

Set the tone with design

It’s not just the program that makes a motorsport event great, it’s also the mood and feel set by the arena. You’ll need to put in place the appropriate arena signs and graphics to help your visitors understand the emotion that you want to convey. When your visitors enter the location of the venue, it’s not the motorbikes or cars they’re going to see first, it’s the place they’re going to have to be welcomed with.

As they say, ‘first impressions last.’ It is a must that you make your first impression count by decorating the venue with the appropriate design. You need to keep the theme in mind during the designing process. The purpose of the design isn’t just to make the place look and feel great, it’s also to hype up the fans.

Most importantly, keep in mind that your fans are going to take photos of themselves, the event, and the event location. They’ll post these photos on social media. If your setup looks great, that’s definitely going to benefit you later on as your event goes viral on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Who knows, you might get more visitors at the next event.

Ready medical support

An often overlooked but completely necessary part of any event is medical support. Accidents are unpredictable and it could happen anytime. If one happens at your event and there is no medical team to respond to the situation, then you’ve got a lawsuit on your hands. What you should be really worried about, however, is the health and safety of your visitors. This study we found at ResearchGate details the need for adequate medical support. This is a challenging part of event organizing. One of the major issues is that your medical team could be handling too many requests for aid. As such, it is vital to not only have a good medical team, it is a must to have a large one as well.

A small medical team will find it hard to help everyone at the event. It’s also advisable to split the medical team into two – one dedicated to helping the athletes and another dedicated to helping your visitors. This way, it’s guaranteed that there’s always someone ready to respond in the case of an emergency. You should also make sure the area has clearly marked stations equipped with a public access trauma (PAcT) first aid kit to handle emergencies quickly and effectively. These stations give both medical staff and bystanders the tools they need to respond before paramedics arrive.

Market aggressively

Even the most devoted motorsport fan isn’t going to be at your event if he isn’t aware of it. To let others know about your event, you need to start an aggressive marketing campaign. Luckily, there are various platforms you can use to reach out to people on a global scale. For your event, we highly suggest taking the fight to social media. Social media platforms like Facebook are a treasure trove for potential visitors. It will help you generate enough hype for your event that will get many people interested. To begin with, you might want to create a dedicated page, as well as an event page for your upcoming motorsport event.

This will help people become more aware of the event. What’s good about Facebook as a social media platform is that it allows you to find groups that could be interested in what you’re offering. What we’re saying is that you can easily reach out to a group dedicated to motorsport fans on the platform.

Don’t limit yourself to social media marketing though. You can do email marketing as well. For the surrounding area at the location of the event, we highly suggest contacting the local newspaper or radio station for support. You can also begin posting up posters and billboards teasing the upcoming event.

Get sponsored

Organizing an event costs thousands of dollars. You’ll have to spend on food, design, medical support, and so much more. If you want to save hundreds – even thousands of dollars, you need to find sponsors. Sponsors basically help you with the expenses of the event in exchange for exposure. As this is a motorbike event we are talking about, you should try to get deals with companies that your athletes and visitors can relate with. We’re talking about energy drink manufacturers, tire makers, helmet distributors, and much more.

You aren’t going to get sponsored by companies that have nothing to do with motorsports. You have better chances if you appeal to those that can relate to the event and those who can benefit from the exposure.

Some sponsors will directly contribute to the event. For starters, if you’re able to bag a deal with energy drink sellers, they could set up a concession stall at the event for you. Make sure to reach out to as many possible sponsors as you can as they can do wonders in terms of reducing the costs and generating hype.

It takes a lot of careful planning to organize motorsport – or any other event for that matter. However, if you’re able to get through that first major hurdle of organizing your actual first event, the rest will be a breeze. It’s fun organizing an event and seeing how happy the visitors are. With the steps we’ve shared above, you’re sure to have a fun time as well.

Greg Van Alst returns to ARCA Menards Series in 2021 with limited schedule

ANDERSON, Ind.: It’s been nearly two decades since Greg Van Alst competed in a points-paying ARCA Menards Series event, but that hiatus will come to an end as Greg Van Alst Motorsports officially announced today his return to the series’ in 2021 beginning with the season-opening race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Sat., Feb. 13.

Greg Van Alst first competed on the ARCA Menards Series tour on a limited schedule in 2002 driving for Locke Bros. Racing, but as the team shifted priorities, Van Alst took a path to Late Models where he has steadily and successfully built a strong career, including the 2019 ARCA CRA championship.

Winning the championship awarded Van Alst the opportunity to participate in the open ARCA Menards Series test at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in January 2020 which reignited his flame to compete in the series.

Greg Van Alst Motorsports will make its first on-track appearance during ARCA Menards Series preseason testing at the “World Center of Racing” next month.

“I’m very excited about 2021,” said Van Alst.

“This is a great opportunity for myself and my Greg Van Alst Motorsports team to come to the ARCA Menards Series with some great marketing partners and pursue the best in on-track performance.

“I’m looking forward to going to Daytona in January and having a positive preseason test and returning in February and competing for the win.”

CB Fabricating, a longtime partner with Greg Van Alst Motorsports will boost its commitment to the team and make the leap to the ARCA Menards Series as the primary marketing partner of Van Alst’s No. 35 Chevrolet.

Headquartered in Anderson, Ind., CB Fabricating offers a complete list of fabricating from design, laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding, powder coating, and assembly.

Their 26,000 square foot facility allows them to service the needs of many different industries. Everything from the Automotive, agricultural, aquatic, medical, transportation, electrical enclosures, and much more.

“Without the support of Chris Barkdull and everyone at CB Fabricating, this chance to elevate our team to the next level would not have been possible,” added Van Alst. “We have set goals for ourselves in 2021 and I believe we are aligning ourselves with the right people who can allow us to turn heads not only at Daytona but throughout the 2021 season.”

For Daytona, Greg Van Alst has acquired equipment from Chad Bryant Racing.

“Ever since the Daytona ARCA test in January 2020, I was itching to get back to the track in an ARCA car and while there were opportunities, I didn’t want to just jump in a car to drive. Taking our time and putting the pieces and equipment together along with our patience I think will pay off in a big way.”

Additional specifics on Greg Van Alst Motorsports’ 2021 ARCA Menards Series program is forthcoming, including crew chief and a detailed series schedule.

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please stay tuned for a new website, but like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

For more on CB Fabricating, please visit CBFabricating.com and like them on Facebook (CB Fabricating).

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. The season-opener for the 69th consecutive ARCA season is set to take the green flag shortly following the NASCAR Xfinity Series season-opener NASCAR Racing Experience 300. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).