We’ve been running unleaded fuel for the better part of 30 years and without too much consequence. When the oil companies began eliminating lead from gasoline back in the mid ’80s, there was concern the absence of lead would eat up exhaust valves and seats causing engine damage. We adapted without too much upset doing valve jobs with hardened exhaust valve seats or driving our collector cars more gently.

Another fuel issue has long been ethanol content and its effects on carbureted and fuel-injected classic vehicles prior to 2001.  When you look at a gas pump today at the local fill-up, do you understand what the numbers mean? Octane tends to speak for itself as a two-digit number indicating the anti-knock value of fuel.

There’s another alphanumeric code indicating the percentage of ethanol in the fuel meaning 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline (E10) or 15% ethanol or 85% gasoline (E15) or 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline (E85), the latter which can only be purchased at certain fuel stations around the country and serviced to vehicles appropriately equipped. Without question ethanol fuels reduce emissions.

However, despite the benefits of ethanol fuels, there are also negatives you need to be aware of especially if you own an older vehicle. Ethanol can cause fuel system damage in older vehicles. Like brake fluid, ethanol is hydroscopic, meaning it absorbs water causing rust and corrosion on fuel tanks, lines and carburetors. In fact, ethanol can cause permanent damage to die-cast carburetor and other fuel system parts. As corrosion causes the decay of fuel system parts, materials can flake off clogging fuel system components like carburetors, fuel injectors and filters. Vehicles that sit any length of time without being driven must have some kind of fuel stabilizer along with a full tank of fuel in order to keep moisture and corrosion to a minimum. Royal Purple’s Max-Clean is a high-performance fuel system cleaner and stabilizer designed specifically for vehicles vulnerable to the effects of ethanol. It both stabilizes fuel and removes deposits that can do serious damage.

“Any product we put our name on is the best that can be offered on the market,” said Chris Barker, Royal Purple Technical Services Manager. “Max-Clean is the best fuel system cleaner you can buy and in addition, you get added benefits like a premium fuel stabilizer that will address issues that ethanol in gasoline can create,” he added.

As a fuel stabilizer Max-Clean prevents emulsion and oxidation. It contains demulsifiers that allow already phase-separated fuel to be combusted without doing harm. Max-Clean also contains rust inhibitors that protect metals against corrosion, and powerful detergents that will fully remove the deposits that form in fuel systems, regardless of whether the vehicle is a daily driver or stored during the off-season.

The next time you go to the pump to fill your tank or gas can, take note of the percent ethanol that the fuel contains. Taking preventative steps to combat the effects of ethanol will protect your vehicle for years to come. For more information about Royal Purple’s Max-Clean, or Royal Purple’s complete line of synthetic products, visit Royalpurpleconsumer.com or call 281.354.8600.

Daytona Coupe  Is First Car in New Congressional Historic Vehicle Registry

The prototype Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (CSX2287) designed and developed by Carroll Shelby’s racing team, Shelby American, back in 1964 is the first automobile ever recorded under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Heritage Documentation. The Historical Vehicle Association (HVA) announced that honor recently, unveiling the car in its “survivor” state at a press conference in Washington, D.C.

Carroll Shelby International has been cooperating with the HVA to help chronicle this incredible story. Carroll Shelby Licensing donated images and offered access to materials. According to the HVA, this documentation will be part of its National Historic Vehicle Register permanently archived in the Library of Congress. The HVA and U.S. Department of the Interior collaborated on the effort and plan to document other historically significant automobiles.

CSX2287, a Daytona Coupe, was the first of six built for competition in world sports car racing. It was an attempt to improve upon the tops that were placed on the Shelby Cobra roadsters for competition on high-speed tracks in Europe like Le Mans.

“One of the most important aspects to the National Historic Vehicle Register is the emphasis on creating an accurate record,” said Joe Conway, co-trustee for the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust and co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International. “So much lore surrounds this particular car. Early on, Shelby American tried to combat aerodynamic issues using a removable hardtop on the Cobra roadsters. Always looking for an edge, Carroll asked Peter Brock to sketch a new, better body that could be adapted to the existing chassis. Then he assigned his most important development engineer, Ken Miles, to the project.”

The Daytona Coupe enabled the Shelby American Cobra race team to dominate and win the International Manufacturer’s GT Championship in 1965. It was the first time an American manufacturer won an international race series.

“Everyone appreciates the efforts of Peter Brock, who originated the concept of placing a hardtop on the existing Shelby Cobra roadster for aerodynamic purposes, as well as all the other employees of Shelby American who turned Carroll’s dream of building a faster version of the car for international racing,” said Neil Cummings, co-trustee for the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust and co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International. “With budgets being so tight, it was Carroll’s willingness to gamble on design, as well as the numerous revisions like the tail spoiler that made the car so successful. It was a total team effort.”

HVA chose CSX2287 to be the first car in this groundbreaking program because it’s among the most historically significant automobiles in America based on its association with important persons and events; its construction and aerodynamic design and informational value as one of the few race cars from the period that has not been completely restored. The Shelby is part of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia.

Top Fuel Racer and Celebrity John Force Continues to Forge Ahead at 64

Few NHRA racing professionals have ever been as outspoken as our friend and cohort in crime John Force. Force has at least a dozen reasons to start enjoying a well-deserved retirement as the winningest driver in NHRA history and arguably the biggest personality in motorsports. As incredible as it may seem, Force is racing figurative circles around his competition at the age of 64 and the new partnership with crew chiefs Jimmy Prock and Danny DeGennaro has the driver of the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang Funny Car excited to chase down more championships.

“I am OK,” John commented, “I am excited. I got a little cocky in Pomona at the Winternationals. This is not the WWF. We are not going into a cage to fight. I will let Prock’s tuning do the talking for me. I got a little crazy about talking about putting on my fire suit and feeling like I am twenty-four not sixty-four. I can do the job and I will get the job done. I will give these fans a great show.”

John Force has been a born showman from the first time he pulled on a helmet. Even after all of the fires, runs off the end of the track and crashes, Force still wants to give the fans one hell of a show and treasure the moment with his teammates. Some of Force’s crewmen weren’t even alive when he started winning championships. He also feeds off the fiery youth of his competitors.

“I build my energy off of my teammates. When it is just me I become guilty of thinking I have been here before and somebody might beat me, for some reason that just gets your energy. We all know 2011 Funny Car champ Matt Hagan is turning into a body builder and he is beautiful. I work out hard but I am not close to him. He is really good on that tree. He is like Robert Hight. I think Hagan and Hight are the best out there. I am not there with them so I have to cheat on the light and roll it in there,” said Force after he clinched his unprecedented 139th win at the season opening 2014 Winternationals.

“I went and took off my fire suit and it scared me. When you are sixty-four and they put you in a fire suit you become twenty-four,” Force commented. “Bottom line, I am not flexing my muscles, but Jimmy Prock just flexed his muscles.  I am looking for a sponsor. My old hot rod is fast. I am proud of it and I love it.

“My focus has never been better. I am guilty of running around like a wild man, but I am turning more stuff over to Robert. This is a critical year, probably the most critical since my accident. That was about me not being able to drive. This is about somebody putting a value on me. This old race car will do the running and all I have to do is stay in the gym,” said Force.

“A lot of work goes into what we do and we couldn’t be here without Castrol, Ford, Auto Club, Mac Tools, Traxxas and BrandSource. Robert Hight worked with me and we won together as a team. We are learning how to race again. Don Schumacher Racing and Cruz Pedregon have been pounding us for years so we needed to get back in the game,” said Force after barely outrunning his youngest daughter in the Las Vegas final to clinch the championship. “I want to thank all of my people from the people in the shops to the marketing people to every employee. Winning is a team effort. I remember Dale Earnhardt used to say ‘I’ll do the winning and you marketing guys sell me.’ Today we got it done.”

---