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

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

Photo courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Tomorrow the East Coast Diesel Nationals will be underway. As you read this, teams and enthusiasts are packing their gear or already on the road. Promoters are setting up to make everything is fan-friendly, or tying sponsor banners along fences and talking with the media. 

To give you an idea of the scope of the East Coast Diesel Nationals, here's a Diesel Army story about their 2017 event here. The Official Oil this year is Champion Blue Flame Diesel Oil, which you may have read about in The Shop Magazine.

Diesel Motorsports is the official sanctioning body for this event. In addition to tractor pulling and drag racing in multiple classes, there's a Show 'N Shine and a Dyno competition. The full range of events can be found here. 

THOUGHTS ON MOTORSPORTS RACING 

Some of us have been involved in racing nearly all our lives -- many as fans, and later some of us as drivers, and still others as sponsors. What's evident is that there is much more to racing than simply trying to see who is fastest. There are economic benefits, social benefits and many other benefits not immediately observed. 

In 2017 Automotive News published an insightful article on why racing matters. It begins with an anecdote about Henry Ford, who in 1901 beat the country's most famous racer in a 10-mile dash. One result of this victory was that it attracted investors into a fledgling company that has continued to this day.

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

In 1963 Roger Penske significantly observed that racing is not about individuals doing magnificent feats. "You're dealing with a team sport here, not just an athlete."

When you go to a diesel competition, you'll see how much these are truly team efforts. It would be fascinating to study how the character of leaders is such that their mechanics will stay up all night to get their vehicle ready for the next day's race.  

There's more to racing than what takes place on a weekend, though. All the top teams are gathering data that is used to for improving the vehicles in production for the masses. Whether it's dirt bikes, snowmobiles cars or diesel trucks, data is being gathered and innovations are being noticed in Detroit and elsewhere. 

* * * 

For those who love trucks simply for their beauty, the East Coast Diesel Nationals is the place to showcase your passion. Here are a couple Show 'N Shine stars from the past. Maybe your truck is the one that will shine tomorrow.

Photos courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Related Links

Why Sports Car Racing Still Matters (Motor Trend)

What Matters More in a Race: The Car or the Driver

Diesel Events: East Coast Nationals 2021