Diesel Super Truck Driver Fails to Outrun Police

 SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN'T WIN DEPT.

The Drive is a rewarding site for followers of all categories of motorized distraction, from motorsports and motorcycles to collector cars and reviews on the latest releases from Detroit and elsewhere. There are also stories for the diesel crowd as well as interesting news items. This blog post is a blend of these latter two topics... diesels and news.

It's a story about a Ford Super Duty 6x6 SEMA Truck that tried to outrun police. After first trying to outrun the police, the driver soon discovered that the vehicle, purportedly built by the Diesel Brothers, had certain limitations. I should men here that it was a stolen Super Duty.

According to Peter Holderith, "After eluding capture for a few miles, the driver in the Ford Super Duty soon found that, as well as not being very fast, the six-wheeled monstrosity didn't corner very well either." While trying to turn around in a Taco Bell parking lot the truck had a dicy encounter with a telephone pole. 

The truck had been reported stolen from a dealership service bay in Malibu. According to a CBS news story the thief rode up to the truck on a bicycle, which he threw in the back, climbed into the driver's seat and sped off. 

It wasn't long before the police were in pursuit. It's not easy to "blend in with the traffic" when you're driving something like this. It's visual profile really does stand out. 

You can read the full story here at The Drive, where you will also find a video of the police chase in real time. Not quite the getaway this driver anticipated, no doubt. 

Shaq Goes Big with a Diesel Ford F-650

The power of Celebrity Culture never ceases to amaze me. When the Internet came along, Michael Crichton (author of Jurassic Park) told the Washington Press Club that Television would go the way of the dinosaur within ten years, eclipsed by all the content available on the Internet. Ten years later, when social media came along, what did people talk about? They talked about what was happening on televison. Shows like Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer now have one thing in common. They underscore how much we love our celebrities. 

Sports heroes, rock stars and Hollywood celebs are all around us. When we go to the SEMA Show in Vegas, which culminates today with SEMA360 for 2020, the longest lines are for signatures by TV carbuilders and NASCAR drivers. We buy the sunglasses they wear and enjoy reading about the cars they drive. That's why this article about Shaquille O'Neal's daily drive is fun to read. 

The article begins by noting that at 7'1" the former NBA All Star doesn't always have an easy time finding a vehicle he can comfortably drive.  To resolve this issue Shaq went to Wade Ford in Smyrna, Georgia and SuperTruck in Augusta. Max Goldberg, writing for The Drive in 2017, describes the vehicle they created for him.

It started as a 66K Ford F-650 and ended as a Ford F-650 Extreme SuperTruck. In addition to all the amenities of a luxury vehicle on the inside, under the hood you'll find a commercial grade .6.7-liter Powerstroke V8 that makes 330 horsepower and 750 lb0ft of torque. The big man has a big truck with big power.

Most of us became aware of Shaq's superstar potential even when he was in college at LSU where he was a two-time All-American. A #1 draft pick by the Orlando Magic, he helped the Magic win 20 games more than their previous season and was voted Rookie of the Year. In his second year he helped the team ascend to the playoffs for the first time in its history. Over the course of his career he became a 15-time NBA All Star and helped his teams win 4 NBA Championships. The Rings speak volumes.

There's plenty more to Shaq than what we saw on the courts. His interest in rap music led to his producing five albums with his first, Shaq Diesel, going platinum. He even performed with Michael Jackson on 2 Bad.  

Like many celebs Shaq has had many nicknames. He called himself "The Big Aristotle" and "Hobo Master for his composure during interviews. Journalists gave him a variety of other nicknames including "The Diesel", "The Big Daddy", and "The Big Cactus." (Among many others.)

Being popular opens doors and so its no surprise he's been in some movies as well as numerous television shows, advertising and even pro wrestling. 

All this say it was fun seeing the range of Shaq's interests. It's apparent he worked hard, and made a lot of good moves. At one time he was just a little boy with a lot of big dreams.

Here's the article about his Big Diesel Truck.

And a YouTube video about 10 Ridiculously Expensive Things Shaq Owns.

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Photo at the White House taken when the Heat won the Championship. (Shaq holds the ball.)
Photo at top of page borrowed from The Drive. 

Three States Celebrate Blue Flame Day

When this story was sent to my attention, I thought it was because it was going to be about Blue Flame Diesel Oil from Champion. (If interested, you can read about the oil below, after the Proclamations.) Turns out, the article was about another Blue Flame, a rocket car that became the world's fastest vehicle when driver Gary Gabelich recorded the World Land Speed Record of 622.407 mph (1001.667kph) for the "flying mile" and 630.388 mph (1014.5111kph) for the flying kilometer. 

This feat was accomplished on October 23, 1970, fifty years ago last month. Three states--Utah, Wisconsin and Illinois--celebrated the Half Centennial by declaring it Blue Flame Day.  

The rocket car was designed, in part, by students and professors at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Enthusiasts at Reaction Dynamics in Milwaukee fabricated it to get it ready for racing by the Blue Flame Team in Utah.

The beast, weighing more than 6500 pounds, was 37 feet long with the aluminum cylinder nearly eight feet high and wide. For power, the rocket engine produced 58,000 horsepower with 22,000 lbs. of thrust by burning a combination of hydrogen peroxide and liquefied natural gas pressurized by helium. They say that this remains the fastest American hot rod and fastest vehicle ever driven at Bonneville.

The first land speed records were measured and set in France from late 1898 to Spring of 1899. All six of these were achieved with electric vehicles. In 1902 a steam-powered car shattered the previous record by achieving 75 miles per hour. 

The first world speed record set in the United States was in 1904 in a Ford 999 Racer, driver by none other than Mr. Henry Ford himself. The internal combustion engine propelled the vehicle to more than 84 miles per hour. But by the end of that year cars driven by a Belgian and an Frenchman were flying faster than 100 mph.

In the 1920s and early 30's, while Babe Ruth was setting home run records, U.S. competitors were setting records at Daytona. It wasn't till 1935 that the Bonneville Salt Flats became the premiere place to showcase land speed capabilities, and in that year it was a Brit who did it. Malcolm Campbell became the first to blast through the 300 mph threshold. It must have been breathtaking at the time.

I used to subscribe to Sports Illustrated in the 1960s and remember reading about Craig Breedlove's efforts in the turbojet-powered Spirit of America. On one of those occasions his vehicle lost control and spun round and round in what must have been a terrifying experience for Breedlove. At the speed he was flying it took 6 miles to come to a complete stop. His best effort was 594 mph in 1965. Five years later the Blue Flame cracked the 600 mph barrier.

Congratulations to the Blue Flame team and their colleagues that helped design, construct and race this timeless vehicle.

As soon as I write these words, I find that additional records surpassing Gary Gabelich's have been produced, not at Bonneville but at Black Rock Desert, Andy Green's ThrustSSC being first to break the speed of sound, a jaw-dropping 760 mph.

For what it's worth here is the SEMA News account about the Blue Flame Day celebrated in three states. These are the proclamations honoring this event, from Wisconsin, Illinois and Utah.

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CHAMPION CLASSIC BLUE FLAME SAE 15W-40 synthetic blend heavy duty diesel engine oil is purpose built for the protection and performance of pre-2007 diesel engines. Champion brought back the anti-wear, detergent, and dispersant additives, proven over decades to deliver superior protection and lubricity in pre-2007 model year diesel engines, and moved diesel engine oil performance to a higher level by combining them with shear stable synthetic base oils.

Champion also included its exclusive TVS® (Thermal Viscosity Stabilizer) polymer chemistry borrowed from our CHAMPION RACING motor oil technology. This proprietary technology delivers unmatched film strength at high temperature, better piston ring seal for maximum compression, and increases the foot-pounds of torque in most engines. It is designed to specifically address extreme performance demands of turbo or super-charged pre-2007 model year diesel engines.

KEY FEATURES:

• Synthetic blend SAE 15W-40 formula
• Exceeds API service categories CI-4 Plus, CI-4, and CH-4 performance levels
• Advanced viscosity and soot control technology for shear stability and engine cleanliness
• High reserve alkalinity controls acid formation reducing corrosive wear and thermal viscosity breakdown

• Part# 4359H 12/1 QT.
• Part# 4359N 4/1 Gal.
• Part# 4359U 2/2.5 Gal.
• Part# 4359AN 55 Gal.

Ford's Diesel Race Truck Is Making Waves in Thailand

As I write this several states are still counting votes for yesterday's election, so you may wonder why I am writing about something on the other side of the world.  Well, it happens to be Red, White and Blue. And it is also Diesel. 

On Monday TheDrive.com published a story about a diesel race truck in Thailand that is tearing up the turf. It's a Ranger race truck with a diesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission. 

Manufactured by Ford Thailand, this truck was specifically designed for Thailand's Super Pickup Series with a 3.2-liter inline-five turbodiesel power plant. The vehicle is being driven by Sandy Stuvik, a 25-year-old Thai-Norwegian racer.

Like a lot of famous racers--Danica Patrick, for example--he began in kart racing. From there Stuvik moved up to Formula Renault open wheel racing when he was 15. He later graduated to the Euroformula Open and then GP3.  In short, he's had a lot of experience handling machines in competition.

The story, by Caleb Jacobs, goes into more details about the interior, suspension and other features. You can get the hole picture here. 

And for the fun of it, here's some video from YouTube. Enjoy.

Only $60 (U.S.) and you can use this Thaland track all day.
The footage here was shot on October 26, less than 2 weeks ago.
If you're wondering why they are not wearing masks, well, for some
reason Covid has not been all that active in this country of 70 million.
Less than 60 people have died from Covid-19 in all of 2020. 

Here's Help for Fleet Owners to Get a Better Understanding of FA-4

"FA-4 oil specifications were released back in 2016 and have been produced to enhance fuel efficiency. However, slower OEM adoption rates and engine protection concerns have kept some fleets from moving forward with adopting the new oil category."

So begins a story by Cristina Commendatore that appeared in the October issue of Fleet Owner magazine, How fleets can determine if FA-4 engine oil is right for them.

When API released FA-4 oil specs in 2016, there was a measure of confusion, as often happens with new lubricant categories. Four years down the highway, and it's apparent that there's either confusion or a lack of confidence regarding the issue of engine protection in these lower viscosity oils. Some fleets are still debating whether to make the switch.

The backward compatible CK-4 spec replaced CJ-4 as the most current for apps in which a CJ-4 oil is recommended. The benefits include better shear stability, oxidation resistance and aeration control. The thinner FA-4 oils offer improved fuel economy. They were designed to help meet more stringent demand to meet environmental aims.

Hence, the use of the letter F in the spec. F stands for Fuel economy. The A indicates that this is the first generation of oil specific to this objective.

Commendatore focuses on the misperception that FA-4 and CK-4 oils have different qualification standards. That is, some people think that FA-4 was more concerned with fuel economy at the expense of engine protection. This is not the case at all. FA-4 oils are absolutely required to pass the same engine protection tests.  

She asks: So, how can fleets determine whether the new FA-4 category is right for them? 

The answer is this: Fleets with model year equipment from 2014 and newer, or Detroit Diesel engines as far back as 2010, are the recommended candidates.

Engine manufacturers and lube makers only work when they work together. Oil and water may not mix, but oil formulators and engine builders absolutely must. 

The rest of the article details some of the issues created during this period in which government has applied pressure to also reduce emissions. For fleet owners, another challenge is that many truck fleets have both older and newer vehicles. This means inventorying two different oils and making sure the correct oil gets in the correct trucks during oil changes. 

If you're a fleet owner or do fleet maintenance, read the rest of this article here.

Photo by Brian Wangenheim from Unsplash  

Champion Brands Offers Free Oil Sampling Kits for Diesel Engines

10 days ago I wrote about the value of oil analysis and things you can learn regarding what is happening inside your engine. With oil analysis you don't need to guess. Or at least, you have more clues to make a hunch on. 

As we begin SEMA Week Champion Brands has announced that they wae offering WDs and MWDs two free oil analysis kits with every 10 cases of diesel engine oil purchased during the month of November. 

According to the announcement "the Champion promotion is limited to Champion’s Blue Flame, All Fleet-T Diesel, Premium Heavy-Duty, and Ultra-Fleet Diesel Engine Oils. Every 10 cases of quarts, gallons or pails purchased, is eligible for two premium Oil Analysis Kits - Part # BABX10 ($30 value each). The American Laboratory Service (ALS) Tribology Kits includes a pre-paid mailer, the laboratory processing of the used oil and internet access for personalized results."

According to Champion Brands Director of Racing and Performance, Karl Dedolph, “Your diesel pick-up, or diesel big rig can each benefit from oil analysis to know when to change the oil or to prevent catastrophic failure down the road."

As noted earlier, oil analysis measures engine wear without having to disassemble the engine. "Utilizing atomic emission spectroscopy, oil analysis reveals the amount of wear occurring within an engine and reports it in parts per million for each element,” added Dedolph. “For example, increasing levels of tin and lead indicate bearing wear and analysis can also reveal depleted additives, as well as contaminants such as water, coolant, fuel dilution and airborne dirt or sand.” 

You can read the full press release here.

Diesel enthusiasts and fleet managers use oil analysis for a short- and long-term analysis of the engine. When should the engine be rebuilt?  Can the engine go another 10,000 miles over-the-road without an oil change?  

_________

 

Additional Technical Information:

https://www.championbrands.com/technical-bulletins/

  

For more than 40 years, ALS tribology laboratory services have been providing oil analysis to clients around the world, helping them make better and more informed decisions. At the heart of their services is testing, but they also do much more than that, providing state of the art technical solutions, tailored to the modern needs of race teams, consumers, businesses, governments and fleets. https://www.alsglobal.com/en-us/services-and-products/oil-fuel-and-coolant-analysis/oil-analysis-and-testing

 

Become a Champion Warehouse Distributor (WD) or Master Warehouse Distributor (MWD)  https://www.championbrands.com/contacts/

For more information about Champion 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

3 Life Tips for Diesel Builders

1. We don't know what we don't know 

I'm not sure what the trigger was, but when I woke this morning I was reminded of the saying, "We don't know what we don't know."  It applies to so many things. From home front issues like marriage and parenting, to career matters and office politics and, finally, to getting familiar with a new vehicle. 

Learning the difference between what is and is not something worth losing sleep about often boils down to experience. But then there's that niggling thought. "What if I'm wrong?" And the more that's at stake, the more it keeps us awake at night because all too often, we don't know what we don't know. That's why it's nice to have friends who are smarter than we are.

This is why tens of thousands of diesel owners belong to diesel forums. When we own a Ford, Chevy or Dodge, we become part of a large family where everybody is your neighbor. This is why I've included links to all the diesel forums (that I was aware of) over on the right hand column down below the Crude Prices chart.

2. Where there's a will there's a way

I once read a book called Real Power which talked about the levels of personal power and empowerment. The very lowest level was Helplessness. They used a symbol for each level and the symbol for this first was a person seated in a chair with their hands tied behind their back, a gag in their mouths.

This is how many people feel about themselves. They can't do anything and won't even try.

The diesel enthusiasts I've met are cut from a different piece of cloth. Like "the little engine that could" they're convinced that nothing will hold them back. They have internalized this saying, "Where there's a will there's a way." And to my way of thinking, that's Real Power.

3. "I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."--Jonathan Winters

I'm showing my age by quoting Jonathan Winters, the Hollywood funnyman who inspired Robin Williams. A master of improv, Winters was an ex-marine who starred on the silver screen and even garnered his own television show. 

This quote makes me think of Nike's "Just Do It" slogan. People like this are inspirational because they know it's better to try and fail then to have never tried at all.

I remember a tractor pull at a county fair in Ohio when I was visiting my cousin decades ago. There were all these veteran pullers and tricked out machines, and one clean cut teen who just didn't seem like the rest, but his eyes were beaming with joy as he commandeered all that horsepower, and beat them all. 

It made an impression on me. He couldn't wait for success and went ahead without it. He was the Little Engine That Could, and he did.

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Just a weekend ramble here. Maybe someone who reads this will get inspired. These are the kinds of thoughts that inspire me.

P.S.--If you have a truck you'd like to showcase here on the Blue Flame Blogger pages, send an email to: blueflame1952 AT gmail.com
ATTN: Frank Owens

Train photo by Denis Chick on Unsplash