Over the past few weeks there have been some reports as to what our team has been up to this off-season. Some of these reports have been a little off the mark so, I decided that if you want factual updates on the goings on with our Eaton Sponsored Team that I should give them to you.
I will keep a “BLOG” (Diary) here and update it at least once a week. I’ll fill you in on what we’re up to and also field some questions from you.
Episode 1: I didn’t have a better name for my first entry so live with it.
Ok let’s get down to it.
Eaton will be back as our Major sponsor again in 06’ along with Aeroquip. Just about all of our other sponsors have confirmed that they will again be with us and we have some new ones in the works.
As most of you know we are having a new car built by Jim Salemi’s G-Force Race Cars in Tonawanda, NY. http://www.gforceracecars.com The chassis is progressing steadily.
I am currently working with a few designers for the new look of the car. One is Mike’s nephew Scott Janis. Scott is a college student at Rochester Institute of Technology. He is very good artistically and should have a future in graphic arts. Another designer we have tapped is Jaret Rice. Jaret is also college student but he is not taking any graphic arts classes. He’s just talented with a pencil.
Through our Assistant Team Manager, Mike Rasnick, I am fortunate enough to also be working with Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides By Troy. http://www.radrides.com While Troy doesn’t do the actual artwork on the rendering it is from his mind. One of the Rad Rides employees Adam Banks is the one who put pencil to paper for our rendering. Troy said Adam is a do it all kind of guy, anything from renderings to metal fabrication.
Working with Troy and his father, Jack Trepanier, has been surprisingly easy. I don’t know about you guys but I’ve been a car nut since Enoch begat Methuselah so, I was a little nervous during our first conversation. After talking with Troy and Jack a few times it’s like you’ve known them for years. Jack is an old Gasser guy from way back and Troy is a Pro Mod fan. Those two points really helped out. Be sure to check out the rad rides site. The craftsmanship is unreal! They are currently in the final stages of a 69 Cuda being built for the Salt Flats. Get this! It’s powered by a turbocharged 4 cylinder pumping out over 1,300 ponies.
Of course I always confer with a close friend who just so happens to be the best drag car designer out there, Roderick Burke. http://www.hotrodsbyburke.com Rod has quickly become one of the top designers over the last few years. I met him online while sim racing. He was customizing some of the cars in the game and I asked him to help me with a paint scheme for Mike’s vette. Now he has a client list a ¼ mile long.
Here are some of the renderings.
That’s it for now. I’ll be heading to G-Force on Monday and I’ll try to get some pics to post.