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12 Bonehead Basics of Car Maintenance
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You know, That Guy who thinks that the best way to keep a car from overheating is to roll down the window. That Guy who hires the neighborhood kid to wash his car 'cause he’s allergic to “going outside and doing things.” There are lots of ways to be That Guy, but only one way not

to be: by regaining your self-sufficiency and learning the basics about car care. Using STP® is a good first step. And while we can’t do the rest for you, we'll give you a few pointers. Check out the tutorials. Take a look at the videos. And get under your hood. Good luck, and Don't Be That Guy.

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  • Aug
    31
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    The Dirt on Dirt Track Racing

    Posted in: Who's That Guy?, This Guy Wisdom, Car Culture, News, Car Knowledge
    Shaq Diesel
    We love the dirt.

    Hola chief. If we were compiling a list of things that make us feel like men, things that really bring out the grunting Neanderthal in all of us, it would include cold American beer, hot Memphis barbecue, Ice Road Truckers, that red-haired lady on Mad Men, NFL tailgating parties, James Caan as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, shaving with a straight razor, every Chuck Norris movie (except Side Kicks), watching demolitions experts blow stuff up, Robert Shaw in Jaws, pneumatic nail guns, Sasquatches, Shark Week, Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold,” John Wayne in The Searchers, and any kind of dried meat jerky. And today, we’re going to boost our testosterone levels 1.21 jiggawatts by adding something else to the Man List: dirt track racing.

    Now, we love auto racing here at STP and we have a long history with NASCAR and its legendary driver “King” Richard Petty. But there is a special place in our hearts for dirt track racing because it is decidedly regional, deliciously lo-fi, and always family-friendly. And that’s why we dig it. Besides, what’s cooler than loud cars with big engines driving really fast through the mud? Nothing, except maybe a Sasquatch playing “Stranglehold” on guitar while eating shark jerky. 

    So here it is, your dirt track racing primer:

    ·    THE HISTORY
    Dirt track racing started before World War I but gained popularity in the 1920s and 30s with the advent of inflated tires, stronger chassis and more powerful engines. Two types of cars dominated the early scene: open wheel racers in the North East and West, and stock cars in the South. Today, dirt track racing is the most common form of auto racing in America and there are more that 1500 local and regional tracks across the country.

    ·    THE TRACK
    Tracks are typically oval, less than a mile long (most are ½ mile) and as the name suggests, made of dirt. Or more precisely, dirt mixed with clay because this provides a certain tackiness and grip that drivers enjoy. Because dirt kicks up dust, the track is watered-down before a race, causing the cars to slip and slide. And that’s half the fun. The other half is eating a corn dog and cheering while very fast cars smash into each other in the bog-like deluge.

    ·    THE CARS
    There are two dominant types of dirt track racing cars today, including open-wheeled racers and stock cars.

    Open-wheeled racers don’t have fenders and are typically manufactured with tubular frames and a body purchased for a particular class. These classes include:

    Dwarf
    Kart  
    Ewok **
    Mini Sprint
    Sprint
    Midget
    Quarter Midget
    Hobbit **
    Micro Sprint

    Stock cars are automobiles manufactured by the major automakers with certain modifications as allowed for each class. There are several general types:

    Super late model
    Non-production
    Leggy super model **
    Crate late
    Late model stock
    Crate & Barrel **

    ·    THE RACE PROGRAM

    Hot Laps

    The race day usually starts with hot laps. And no, this is nothing like the “hot laps” from your bachelor party at the Spearmint Rhino. In dirt track racing, hot laps are when drivers test the track to determine the best configuration for their vehicles. By the way: Cinnamon from the Rhino says hello.

    Qualifying

    Drivers must qualify for their racing position, typically by a qualifying heat where your time determines your actual racing position for the main event. Race position can also be determined by a random drawing, by total season point standings, or by which driver can eat the most pancakes in a four minute period.

    ·    POPULAR RACING SERIES
    The World of Outlaws (WoO) is the most prestigious and well-known dirt track sanctioning body and sponsors the wildly popular sprint car national tour and the World of Outlaw Late Model Series. Other popular series include:

    Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
    O’Reilly Auto Parts Southern All Stars
    Mike’s Taxidermy and Gun Repair Rally
    World Dirt Racing League
    Big Dave’s Dirty Cars Driving Fast Series
    United Midwestern Promoters
    Advance Auto Parts Super Dirt Series
    Fat Matt’s Stock Car and Pork Sandwich Cook-off Series
    Southern Regional Racing Series

    That’s it for today, amigos. Until next time: travel safe, live smart, and get your hands dirty. And if you want to experience the thrill of live dirt track racing, check out the World of Outlaws Gold Cup Race of Champions on September 9th at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California. The race kicks off at 6PM, but the hot laps will start the night before at the Bunny Hop Lounge, where the ladies are friendly and all the well drinks are ½ off until 9PM.

    —RC, STP® blogger

    ** Okay, we made these up.

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