Continental and Hoosier Announce Strategic Alliance Partnership

FORT MILL, S.C. and LAKEVILLE, Ind., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The convergenceof the high-performance street tire and race tire industries took asignificant step forward today as Continental Tire and Hoosier Racing Tireannounced a strategic alliance based on a shared vision for motorsportsmarketing and race proven technology. By engaging the companies at themarketing, business and R&D levels, the alliance will allow both companies todrive new growth prospects, technologies and have the potential to ultimatelytransform a variety of motorsports platforms."This partnership will open the door for endless opportunities, which willbenefit both companies," said Bill Caldwell, Vice President of Sales andMarketing, Continental Tire. "The combination of Continental's expertise is inperformance street tires, and Hoosier's industry leading technology in racetire development will allow both companies to compete in new market segments.""The exchange of technologies will result in increased levels of performancein future product developments for both companies," said Joerg Burfien,Director of R&D - Americas, Continental Tire.The alliance will consist of Continental and Hoosier being strategic partnersfor advanced performance solutions and motorsports integration. A team ofindustry veterans has been formed and will be the driving force behind thecollaborative marketing, product development and implementation process. Bothcompanies will invest substantially into resources for the marketing, businessdevelopment and delivery of specific products. "We are working together because we believe it benefits both organizations byaffording opportunities for deep collaboration in marketing and businessdevelopment, allowing us to rapidly deliver high quality products to consumerswho are simply demanding the best tire for their investment," said DennisSherman, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Hoosier Racing Tire. "Togetherwe are better."With sales exceeding 24 billion Euro in 2008, the Continental Corporation isone of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems,systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation,infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers,the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection ofthe global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networkedautomobile communication. The corporation currently employs approximately133,000 at nearly 190 locations in 35 countries.Hoosier is the largest race tire manufacturer in the world. Hoosiermanufactures and distributes a complete line of racing tires for most types ofracing, including road, drag, oval, and kart applications. For additionalinformation on Hoosier Racing Tire and its line of high performance racingtires, log on to www.hoosiertire.com. Online media database: www.mediacenter.continental-corporation.com;North America online media database: www.CTNAMedia.com , www.CTNAMedia.mobi. Hoosier Website address: www.hoosiertire.comSOURCE Continental Tire North America, Inc.Dana Zamalloa, Manager, PR and Communications, Continental Tire North America,Inc., +1-704-583-8165, dana.zamalloa@conti-na.com, or Mariellen Fagan,Director, Communications, Crowl, Montgomery & Clark, +1-330-494-6999, ext.201, Fax: +1-330-494-6242, mfagan@crowlinc.com, or Paula Nate, PR Manager,Hoosier Racing Tire Corp, +1-574-784-3152, Fax: +1-574-784-2385,pnate@hoosiertire.com

The Quest for Lower Lap Times

My personal quest for lower lap times started in 1991. At age 64 it continues today. The answer of how to shave time off of laps is varied but it always comes back to the driver’s performance.
Something we are all guilty of is buying expensive "trick" parts to increase output or improve handling of the racecar. The desired result is rarely achieved. I can speak as a real authority in this arena.

Save your money on the car upgrades and consider investing it by hiring a professional driving coach such as E Paul Dickinson. You will be more than happy with the result.

When I read the attached article, it made so much sense to me I felt it had to be passed along.
The article, "Put Me in, Coach" is a reprint first published in PCA's Club Racer News written by Rob Pecori. It describes his weekend at The Glen this past May with Professional Driving Coach E. Paul Dickinson. Rob, an accomplished 20 year instructor and PCA and NASA racer, shaved 4 seconds a lap. The article details the process.

I have known both Rob Pecori and E Paul Dickinson for 18 years. I have great regard for Rob’s abilities. I have had him as both a PCA instructor and have raced against him. I was amazed at Rob shaving 4 seconds at the Glen. I would have not thought it possible.

E. Paul Dickinson was my first PCA instructor back in 1991 ...I got lucky. His enthusiasm and fearless in-car instruction kept me coming back and wanting more. He is a Six-time SCCA National Champion who has a gift that he is more than capable of sharing with others.

Please take the time to read the attached article ……The lap times you reduce may be your own.

Clark

Click here to access the link to Rob's article & read more about E. Paul

I am the STIG Decals

"I am the Stig" vinyl decals now available. Your choice of color and layout or get all three for one price. http://www.apexperformance.net/CartGenie/prod-1893.htm

Bell Discontinues 280 Detent Shields.

In 2006, Bell Racing began to switch the product line over to the newer SRV mechanism as a replacement for the detent style shield system. They have continued to sell detent style replacement shields for older models still in service. Going forward, they are not going to reorder the detent style shields.

Detent to SRV Conversion Kit
Customers who have older models that use the 280 detent style shield will still be able to buy replacement clear shields by ordering a 280 Clear SRV shield and a Detent to SRV Conversion Kit. The part number for the conversion kit is as follows:

2016034 – Detent to SRV Conversion Kit

Apex Performance Offical Trackside Supplier for Dark Side Driving Events

Apex Performance becomes official trackside supplier for Dark Side Driving Events. http://darksidede.com/Links.html.

If you haven't participated in one of the Dark Side Driving Events, check it out.

Chatterbox Now Available

We've added Chatterbox to our product line-up. If you instruct, these are a must to communicate with your students. The CB-50 Tandem Pro model is the most popular model for instructor/student setups and features a true stereo sound, an audio input to listen to your favorite songs, and a cellular phone input to keep in touch with friends.

Counterfeit HANS Pro Series Anchors

Received from the Hans folks - FYI...

August 18, 2009
To: All Authorized HANS Device Dealers
Subject: Counterfeit HANS Device Pro Series Post Anchors

All authorized HANS Device dealers need to be aware we have discovered counterfeit Pro Series post anchors on a helmet purchased direct from Impact Racing Products. Preliminary investigations suggest that counterfeit parts may have been supplied with other helmets provided by Impact. We are seeking to find out the source of the counterfeit anchors and to establish how widely they may have been distributed. It is possible that counterfeits may have been installed on other helmets, either factory-fitted by a helmet manufacturer or by racers installing replacement parts during equipment changes. To ensure all racers have confidence in their safety equipment, HANS is implementing a program to replace any counterfeit post anchors free of charge. We will replace any set of Pro Series post anchors that we suspect of being counterfeit at no charge to the racer. The replaced post anchors in question will have to be returned to HANS for inspection. HANS will cover mailing costs in both directions. We are taking this action and notifying you because we have serious concerns as to their safety and functionality. At this time, there is no indication that the Sport Series post anchors with the black plastic base or earlier post anchor designs with the round head have been counterfeited. If racers want to check their Pro Series post anchors, one quick test is to touch a magnet to the post. The posts used in all our designs since July 2005 are magnetic. The posts on the counterfeits we have seen are not magnetic. Our earlier designs used a non-magnetic material for the post, so a non-magnetic post is not necessarily a counterfeit, but it is a reason why a racer should contact us for more information.We have a special website link, www.hansdevice.com/anchor-replacement, set up for racers to go to determine if there is cause to suspect the anchors installed on their helmet. The racer will be required to answer a few questions to determine if they should suspect the post anchors they are using. They will also be required to supply us with information such as brand and model of helmet, from where and when they purchased the anchors/helmet with anchors. We will also need the serial number of the device they use. The suspect anchors will be required to be returned to HANS for further inspection. If your customers have any questions, please direct them to the website link above or direct to HANS at (888) HANS-999 (426-7999) or (770) 457-1046. If you have any questions, please contact us immediately. Thanks.Howard BennettDirector of Sales and Technical Services