Top Ten Stories of Our First Year and a Shout Out to Our Readers

Today marks the one year anniversary of the Blue Flame blog, a year of finding stories of value and sharing them with diesel enthusiasts. It's really been a remarkable year in many respects. We truly appreciate all of you who have made time to visit here over the course of the year. 

When we began this endeavor one year ago today we were fairly certain that there was an unmet desire for diesel-related news, hence our desire to become your diesel performance resource center.

We've now posted 261 unique blog posts by 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday since September 1, 2021 in the heart of the pandemic. The average reader is spending nearly six minutes on the blog per visit. Thank you for your interest. We're delighted that there is always something to talk about when it comes to diesel. And if there's something you'd like to see that we're not covering, please let us know in the comments.

What follows are links to our Top 10 stories of this past year. 

10 

According to Shelby American president Gary Patterson, they created the Super Baja by combining all the best features and experience they'd gained from the  Shelby Raptor and Shelby F-150 programs. Phoebe Wall Howard described it as something "for that special someone who has everything."

Read: Shelby F-250 Super Baja Limited: The Epitome of Diesel Cool

9 
Automotive News editors were intrigued that whenever they had long discussions with auto industry leaders, somehow the conversation often drifted to racing. The editors came to realize that racing was itself a microcosm of the industry. 

Read: The East Coast Diesel Nationals and Thoughts on Why Motorsports Competition Matters

8 
It's late summer now, but fall is in the air and winter around the corner. What follows are a few areas to focus on, extracted from an article by Whitney Russell that appeared in The NewsWheel.

Photo courtesy Chevrolet

Read: Getting Your Diesel Truck Ready for Winter

7 
If you're a diesel guy you're probably have a few ideas about how to produce more power. Nevertheless, if you aspire to play with the big boys you'll want to make sure your fundamentals are covered. Afterwards you can add your own secret sauce.

Read: How to Get More Power from Your Diesel 

6 
Viscosity control? Shear stability? TBN retention? Confused? Best to start your search by understanding your application; tractor pulling, drag racing, stationary, street, off-road, etc. Answering these five simple questions will help you zero in on the right oil for your truck's specific needs.

Read: Five Questions to Help You Pick the Right Diesel Engine Oil

5
The National Association of Diesel Motorsports (NADM) announced Champion Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oil as the official oil for this year's annual East Coast Diesel Nationals held at Numidia Dragway in July.  

Read: East Coast Diesel Nationals Picks Champion Blue Flame as Official Oil

4 
There are five reasons diesels are such torque monsters. Here's a deeper dive into the details.

Read: The Biggest Reason We Love Diesels: More Torque

3

The 7'1" former NBA All Star doesn't always have an easy time finding a vehicle he can comfortably drive. The Drive gives an account of the steps Shaq took to find a ride more suited to his special needs and tastes.

Read:  Shaq Goes Big with a Diesel Ford F-650

2  
This was a big story for us. Shelby American is recommending Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil  for its new Ford Shelby F-250 Super Baja, a Limited-Edition off-roading pick-up truck. 

Read: Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Recommended for Limited-Edition Shelby F-250 Super Baja Pick-Up

 
1 

Diesel drag racers were invited to participate in the Champion Blue Flame contingency program. The response has been such that this became our most read blog post of the past year

Read: Blue Flame Contingency Program Rewards Diesel Drag Racers

 

THE BLUE FLAME BLOG has been designed to be a destination for owners, enthusiasts  and fans of diesel vehicles. From the start our goal has been to create a one-stop spot to stay informed, discuss, share and learn about all things diesel. As diesel fans, supporters and critics, we value and appreciate your participation in generating diesel related content. If you have ideas for stories, please leave comments or send an email to BlueFlame1952@gmail.com

Diesel Motorsports: Most Fun You Can Get in a Weekend

Photo courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Great story by Jeff Zurschmeide on the PRI website. Diesel motorsports is far from dead, and is even growing. The article, titled Shake, Rattle & Roll, describes how diesel motorsports have become a powerful niche market that is drawing in more people every year.

The author begins by making the same observation I've made over many years of going to races. Most racers use a diesel powered vehicle to pull their race car to the track which is gas powered. Today, diesel is no longer for tow vehicles. There is a huge, enthusiastic diesel motorsports culture. This diesel world includes engine builders, aftermarket providers and sanctioning bodies as well as the sponsors and businesses that provide products for the racers. Altogether it's a great show for the fans. 

Zurschmeide notes that drag strips are the primary venues for diesel racing, with a strong second being presence at pulling competitions. Diesel has also found some surprising success in sports car racing as when Audi proved that a diesel-powered car could compete at the highest levels. In 2006-2008 Audi’s TDI prototypes won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans three years in a row.

That last bit about Le Mans is no laughing matter. Audi and other automakers have developed some powerful diesel power plants, as we noted recently regarding Daimler's powerful new diesel engine for their Mercedes Benz. 

Photo courtesy Diesel Motorsports

That having been said, the mass market for diesel motorsports in America still remains almost entirely limited to straight-line power contests. For now.

Trucks are King in the diesel motorsports scene, which is a grassroots movement driven by an appreciation for power. This need for power is what drives engine builders to satisfy the hunger. Cummins, Duramax and Power Stroke are the main foundations, but innovative builders augment these engines to maximize their capabilities. 

The full article goes much deeper. Check it out by following the first link below.

(Sidenote: The song "Shake, Rattle & Roll" was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, then made famous by Bill Haley & the Comets.)

KEY LINKS

Shake, Rattle & Roll

70-Year-Old Diesel Is A Thoroughbred at Pike's Peak Hill Climb

Daimler Claims This Is the Most Powerful Diesel Car in Mercedes-Benz History

Looking For Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil? 

Champion Oil Expands Contingency Program to Include Truck and Tractor Pullers

The other day I wrote about the Blue Flame contingency program for diesel drag racers. Evidently, someone down in Clinton, Missouri believes there's light at the end of this Covid-19 tunnel. Kudos to Champion for adding these incentives for Truck and Tractor Pullers as well. 

Here's the press release that came across the wire and fell into my inbox yesterday:

Champion Oil Expands Truck and Tractor Pulling Contingency Program

(Clinton, Mo / 11.18.20) Champion Oil, a globally recognized industry leader in performance lubricants for over 64 years, recently announced the expansion of their Racing Contingency Program for 2021.The all-encompassing marketing program is designed to link Champion performance products directly with truck and tractor pullers in all racing classes of competition and in most sanctioned events in North America. https://www.championbrands.com/racer-contingency/

 

The 2021 Champion Truck and Tractor Pullers Contingency Program includes, but is not limited to racing events such as:  National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA), WNY Pro Pulling Series – NY & Canada, Outlaw Pulling Series, Hot Farm Pulling Series Club, Diesel Motorsports (NADM), SS Pulling Series, Smoke & Speed, Northwest PA Tractor & Truck pullers Association, Truck & Tractor Pulling (TNT), Mid Missouri Pulling, Outlaw Diesel Super Series (ODSS), Texas truck & Tractor Pullers Association (TTTPA), Pro Pulling League, Illinois Tractor Pulling Association (ITPA), Rudy’s Diesel Truck Jam, etc.

https://www.championbrands.com/racer-contingency/

 

Trucks or tractors pull a heavy drag sled along a 35 ft. wide, 330 ft. long track, with the winner being the vehicle that pulls the drag sled the farthest. The sport is known as the world's most powerful motorsport, due to the use of multi-engine modified tractor pullers.

 

The drag sled is a weight transfer drag sled as it is pulled down the track, the weight is transferred with gears to the sled’s wheels from over the rear axles and towards the front of the drag sled. In front of the rear wheels there is a "pan". This is essentially a metal plate, and as the weight moves toward it, the resistance between the pan and the ground builds. The farther the tractor pulls the drag sled, the more difficult it gets.

 

Champion Racing and Performance products are the choice of champions in racing events nationwide. Champion’s new 2021 expanded contingency program supports race teams from dirt track to pavement, gas to diesel, and circle track to tractor pulls with contingency cash pay-out awards.

Racing teams and racers can apply for the Champion Racing Oil Contingency Program now through June 30th, 2021.  -->Click on the Orange Button in the right hand column here.

About: Champion Brands, LLC, a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 64 years. Champion also produces and blends over 350 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. For more information about contact your nearest Champion distributor, or call Champion at 660-890-6231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, 64735 or go to  http://www.championbrands.com