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MAY 6, 2010

OCTANEONLINE.COM AND THE FREE TIME GARAGE ARE ON FACEBOOK!

PORTSMOUTH, VA – octaneonline.com and sister site www.freetimegarage.com have finally joined the social networking world with a facebook page to compliment their twitter and Hub Garage pages. Click the social network logos in the left hand column to network with us!

FEBRUARY 11, 2010

MARIO ANDRETTI TO BE FIRST GUEST ON NEW DEREK DALY RADIO SHOW

INDIANAPOLIS – Former F1 / IndyCar driver and longtime media personality Derek Daly will join the RaceFanRadio weekly line-up with his new show debuting Wednesday night, February 17th at 9pm EST / 6pm PST.

"Derek Daly's Complete Champion" will discuss what it takes to become a top level driver from every aspect and what better way to get the best advice from someone who has done it all...Mario Andretti! The former ChampCar, F1 World Champion and 1969 Indy 500 winner will be Derek's first guest when the show premiers next week. “My years and experiences in the sport, both good and bad, provided me with the content for my driver development book, Race to Win”, said Derek. “The new show will allow me to greatly expand the reach for this vital information. It will also allow me to interact with a much bigger audience. This is a very new, different and entertaining way to deliver this type of information.”

If you would like to submit your question to Derek or any of his guests, please log onto RaceFanRadio.com for full details, contact our guests via Skype or call the studio at 317.248.0263. Fans are invited to call or write in advance to increase your chances of being included. "Derek Daly's Complete Champion" is a new show devoted to helping young drivers and their families make better educated decisions about the next phase of their career. Each week, Derek will host some of the most successful personalities in motorsports and solicit listeners to ask the relevant questions which will help further any young driver's career path.

FEBRUARY 1, 2010

FERRARI GOES GREEN

According to a report by Italy’s Quattroruote, Ferrari is planning to show a hybrid concept version of the 599 at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The 599 hybrid concept will carry lithium-ion batteries and an electric motor reportedly improving fuel economy up to 35 percent over the current 9 mpg to 14 mpg.

CLICK HERE FOR LEAKED PHOTOS

JANUARY 25, 2010

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Virginia Bill to Ban the Sale of Aftermarket Exhaust Systems Rejected By Committee

The House Transportation Committee voted to “strike from the docket” a bill (H.B. 462) to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise.” This action essentially kills the bill for the year.

JANUARY 19, 2010

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT (Hearing Information) - PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY

Virginia Bill to Ban the Sale of Aftermarket Exhaust Systems to be Considered by House Transportation Committee on Tues., Jan. 19

JUST RELEASED BY SEMA: A bill (H.B. 462) to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise” will be considered by the Virginia House Transportation Committee today Tuesday, January 19th.

We Urge You to Contact House Transportation Committee Members (List Below) Immediately to Request Their Opposition to H.B. 462

For those interested in attending the hearing to voice opposition, the Committee will meet on Tues., Jan. 19 at the following address and time:

State House, Room C Richmond, Virginia

January 19, 2010

1/2 hour after the House of Delegates adjourns

H.B. 462 ignores the fact that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions.

H.B. 462 does not supply law enforcement with a clear standard to enforce, allowing them to make subjective judgments on whether or not a modified exhaust system is in violation.

H.B. 462 fails to recognize that aftermarket exhaust systems offer increased performance, which can make a vehicle safer by improving its ability to merge, pass, travel uphill, etc.

H.B. 462 would make it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options.

DON’T DELAY! Please contact members of the Virginia House of Delegates’ Transportation Committee immediately by phone or e-mail to request their opposition to H.B. 462. Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your assistance.

Virginia House Transportation Committee

Chairman: Delegate Joe T. May (R) DelJMay@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Thomas Davis Rust (R) DelTRust@house.virginia.gov

Delegate John A. Cosgrove (R) DelJCosgrove@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Timothy D. Hugo (R) DelTHugo@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Edward T. Scott (R) DelEScott@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Vivian E. Watts (D) DelVWatts@house.virginia.gov

Delegate David J. Toscano (D) DelDToscano@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Charles W. Carrico, Sr. (R) DelCCarrico@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Thomas D. Gear (R) DelTGear@house.virginia.gov

Delegate G. Glenn Oder (R) DelGOder@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Robert Tata (R) DelBTata@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Barry D. Knight (R) DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Ron A. Villanueva (R) DelRvillanueva@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Barbara J. Comstock (R) DelBComstock@house.virginia.gov

Delegate T. Scott Garrett (R) DelSGarrett@house.virginia.gov

Delegate John A. Cox (R) DelJCox@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Jeion A. Ward (D) DelJWard@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Adam P. Ebbin (D) DelAEbbin@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Mamye E. BaCote (D)DelMBaCote@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Robert H. Brink (D) DelRBrink@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Delores L. McQuinn (D) DelDMcQuinn@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Betsy B. Carr (D) DelBCarr@house.virginia.gov

JANUARY 14, 2010

VP RACING NAMED OFFICIAL FUEL OF USF2000 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

PALMETTO, FL - Officials of the USF2000 National Championship presented by Cooper Tires and powered by Mazda announced today a three-year agreement with VP Racing Fuels, the world leader in race fuel technology. With the agreement, the series designated VP Racing as its Official Fuel with all USF2000 competitors to be powered with VP110 race fuel.

"Among VP’s nearly 70 blends, we selected VP110 as the best fuel for both of the USF2000 series' classes through the 2012 season and hopefully beyond," said Dan Andersen, co-owner and chief executive officer of Andersen Promotions, which administers the series.

VP will provide trackside service and technical support at all 12 USF2000 races in 2010 and also will supply VP110 at all series tests. In addition, the San Antonio, Texas-based company will present a $1,500 award at the series' year-end awards ceremony.

"Having used VP race fuel in the Star Mazda series for the past five seasons, I am well acquainted with the excellent quality and service provided by VP through its national network of dealers," Andersen said. "I am pleased that they will be involved with us for at least the next three seasons, and that they have also chosen to include a year-end award in their support package."

The USF2000 series was designed to provide an arena for up-and-coming drivers, engineers, mechanics and other racing personnel to hone their skills as they strive to reach the IZOD IndyCar Series. VP will play a key role in that effort by offering the USF2000 participants technical support via telephone or e-mail in addition to its presence at the track. It will also work closely with Mazda and Elite Engines, the official engine preparer of the Mazda MZR engine that is destined to become the spec engine of the series' top division.

Just last month VP announced an expansion of its technical support group, which can be reached at (812) 878-2025 or tech@vpracingfuels.com. In addition, customers can visit VP's website at vpracingfuels.com to review fuel information and submit tech questions online.

"The importance of technical support can't be overemphasized," said Steve Burns, VP's president and chief executive officer. "When you lead an industry in technological development as we do, people look to you for guidance and support to ensure they can effectively implement that technology. We look forward to working with the USF2000 series and its racers to help ensure they achieve maximum performance."

In addition to USF2000, VP is the Official Racing Fuel of the NHRA, ADRL, American Le Mans Series, Star Mazda, the World of Outlaws sprint cars and late models, and more than 40 other series. More information, including a list of authorized distributors, may be found on the company's website at vpracingfuels.com.

Sanctioned by the Indy Racing League (IRL), the USF2000 National Championship is one of only two series that are part of both the IRL's Road to Indy ladder system and the MAZDASPEED_Motorsports driver development program. The series' 2010 season will open with a doubleheader March 27-28 on the street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla. in support of an IZOD IndyCar Series headliner.

For more information on the series, see www.usf2000.com or call (941) 723-3900

NOVEMBER 30,2009
Need a little help shopping for a special car enthusiast? CLICK HERE to view the GEARHEAD GIFT GUIDE!

OCTOBER 15,2009
EAST TROY, WI - Free thinking motorcycle engineer and innovator Erik Buell has announced that his company will no longer produce Buell motorcycles. Click here to view Buell's emotional announcement.