HorsePower Goes Pro Touring

(JOE)>> HEY WELCOME TO HORSEPOWER AND THE FIRST EVER RUN TO MUSIC CITY EVENT. WHAT KIND OF EVENT? WELL IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF AUTOCROSS COMPETITION. THIS IS WHERE SOME OF THE NATION'S BEST DRIVERS USE THEIR MODIFIED MUSCLE CARS IN AN AMAZING TEST OF SKILL, CHALLENGING THE COURSE AND THE CLOCK. THEN GOING ON FOR MORE POINTS AS THEY TRY THEIR ACCELERATION, TIMING, AND BRAKING AT THE SPEED STOP CHALLENGE. FINALLY THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE OF OVERALL PERFORMANCE ON THE ROAD COURSE. THE EVENT SPONSOR IS A CAR BUILDER AND MULTIEVENT PRO TOURING CHAMPION HIMSELF, BRIAN FINCH.

(BRIAN)>> WELL YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS RUNNING THESE TYPES OF EVENTS AND I WANTED TO REALLY GET BEHIND THIS. AND OUR WHOLE GOAL HERE IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE LAWN CHAIRS, GET THEM OUT OF THE STATIC CAR SHOWS, AND GET THEM OUT HERE USING THEIR CARS. YOU'VE GOT THIS BIG INVESTMENT RIGHT? THESE WORKS OF ART, AND THIS AMERICAN HERITAGE AND HISTORY HERE, SO GET THEM OUT AND USE THEM.

(JOE)>> THE RUN TO MUSIC CITY WEEKEND BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT WITH A KICKOFF CRUISE. COMPETITORS GET FIVE POINTS FOR DRIVING HERE JUST TO PROVE THEIR CARS ARE STREET WORTHY. HERE AT GREENING'S AUTOMOTIVE, IT'S A FEAST OF TACOS FOR THE PALETTE AND A FEAST OF COOL CARS FOR THE EYES. A GREAT WAY TO SIZE UP THE COMPETITION BEFORE SATURDAY'S AUTOCROSS SESSION. FORTUNATELY FOR THE REST OF THE CONTESTANTS, BRIAN FINCH PLAYED BUT DISQUALIFIED HIMSELF FROM COMPETITION. SOME GOT CLOSE, BUT NO ONE COULD MATCH HIS 38.903 COURSE TIME. SO WHAT IS PRO TOURING ANYWAY? IT'S ALL ABOUT ENJOYING A CAR WITH CLASSIC AMERICAN MUSCLE LOOKS WITH UP TO DATE PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY, AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT.

(BRIAN)>> IT'S MAINLY JUST MAKING YOUR CAR BETTER RIGHT. IT'S MAKING IT HANDLE BETTER, MAKING IT STOP BETTER, MAKING IT GO BETTER, AND JUST MAKING IT MORE USEFUL ALL AROUND. SO YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THESE BEAUTIFUL CARS, THEY'VE GOT ALL AFTERMARKET SUSPENSIONS, LS MOTORS, FUEL INJECTION, SIX SPEED TRANSMISSIONS, AIR CONDITIONING, STEREO SYSTEMS. SO NOT ONLY ARE WE OUT HERE TEARING THEM UP RACING THEM, WE'RE DRIVING THESE THINGS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

(JOE)>> UNLESS YOU'RE THE DRIVER, AUTO CROSS ACTION'S NOT ALWAYS THAT INTERESTING.

(CHAD)>> FORD, THROUGH THE LIGHTS, 44.022.

(JOE)>> BUT CHAD REYNOLDS MAKES A DIFFERENCE. HE KNOWS THE COMPETITORS, THEIR CARS, AND THE INS AND OUTS OF THE SPORT.

(CHAD)>> '66 CHEVELLE DRIVING THE INSIDE, CURRENTLY IN THE NUMBER 25 SPOT, DRIFTING AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE COURSE, TAKING THE LEFT HAND TO ENTER THE S'S, AND IT IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. BUT NOW MY PERSONAL FAVORITE VEHICLE ON THE PROPERTY, DEBBIE FARRINGTON'S KILLER LITTLE '64 CHEVELLE STATION WAGON. BIG PICK UP RUNNING RIGHT NOW, DANNY GRIFFIN.

(JOE)>> ROUND AFTER ROUND KYLE TUCKER IN THE NUMBER 26 CAR WAS EASILY LEADING THE PACK, BUT THE WINNER'S DETERMINED ONLY AFTER A CLIMACTIC SHOOTOUT AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST.

(KYLE)>> ALL THE TIMES FROM THIS MORNING, ALL THE TIMES FROM THIS AFTERNOON, SLATE GETTING WIPED CLEAN AND IT'S WHO'S FASTEST AT THE END OF THE THREE LAP SHOOTOUT. [ tires squealing ]

(JOE)>> IN THE SHOOTOUT SOME KILLER RUNS WITH IMPRESSIVE TIMES BUT THE WINNER, WELL WHO ELSE BUT TUCKER WHOSE 39.394 WAS A FULL SECOND OVER ANYONE ELSE. OF COURSE TO WIN ALL THE MARBLES YOU'VE GOTTA SCORE WELL IN THE UPCOMING SPEED STOP CHALLENGE, AND ULTIMATELY ON THE ROAD COURSE.

(JOE)>> HEY WELCOME BACK TO HORSEPOWER. ALRIGHT, YOU READY TO MASTER THE AUTOCROSS COURSE YOURSELF? WELL NOTHING LIKE LEARNING FROM THE MASTER RIGHT? THERE'S HIS CAR, LETS PUT HIM TO WORK. AS SPONSOR OF THE RUN TO MUSIC CITY, AUTO CROSS CHAMPION BRIAN FINCH HAS A SPECIAL MISSION. HE WANTS TO GET MORE CAR PEOPLE OUT TO EVENTS LIKE THIS FOR AN ADDICTIVE TASTE OF AUTO CROSS THRILLS. THAT'S WHY HE'S GIVING FREE RIDES AND FREE ADVICE ON HOW TO NAVIGATE ALL THESE CONES. ALRIGHT, HERE'S THE PLAN BRIAN. THESE GUYS ARE LOADING UP YOUR CAR WITH ALL KINDS OF CAMERAS INSIDE AND OUT. WE'RE KIND OF A HOW TO SHOW. SO I WANT YOU TO SHOW ME HOW TO DRIVE THIS AUTO CROSS, YOU GAME?

(BRIAN)>> PERFECT, I CAN SHOW YOU THE FAST WAY AROUND.

(JOE)>> OKAY, WE MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING HERE. I'M GONNA RIDE WITH YOU.

(BRIAN)>> ALRIGHT, NO SCREAMING!

(JOE)>> HA, HA.

(BRIAN)>> THE MAIN THING YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IS YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M GOING INTO A TURN, WHEN I'M ALREADY IN THE TURN, I'M NOT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT THAT TURN. THAT TURN'S DONE FOR ME. EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT THROUGH IT YET IT'S DONE FOR ME BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY SET MY CAR AND IT'S GONNA BE WHERE IT'S GONNA BE. I'M LOOKING AT THE NEXT TURN, OR EVEN THE NEXT TURN BEYOND THAT.

I TWO FOOT DRIVE, SO WHEN I TAKE OFF, I GET ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, ONE FOOT ON THE GAS, AND THEN I REGULATE THE CAR THE ENTIRE TIME. SO SOMETIMES I'LL ACTUALLY HAVE THE BRAKE AND THE GAS APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO TURN, TRYING TO GET THE FRONT END TO SET IN IF I COME IN A LITTLE HOT. I KNOW I'M GONNA PUSH THROUGH. I'LL PULSE THE BRAKES WHILE I'M STILL ON THE GAS. THAT WAY THE CAR IS TAKING OFF AGAIN AND I'M NOT GOING FROM A FULL STOP TO A FULL ACCELERATION AND UPSETTING THE CAR. IF YOU GET IT A LITTLE BIT OUT OF SHAPE, I GUESS A TENDENCY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY FIRST START IS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES.

(BRIAN)>> YOU EITHER HIT THE BRAKES OR LIFT, AND AS YOU'LL SEE, THE MAIN THING TO DO WHEN YOU GET OUT THERE IS JUST DRIVE THROUGH IT. FOR THE MOST PART, I THINK IN SOME OF THESE TURNS YOU'LL SEE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE THROUGH A SLIDE. THE CAR WILL GET OUT OF CONTROL, GIVE IT MORE GAS, DRIVE THROUGH IT AND END UP JUST FINE.

(JOE)>> WHOO, THANKS MAN.

(BRIAN)>> THANK YOU.

(JOE)>> THE COOL THING ABOUT THIS SPORT IS ALL YOU REALLY NEED IS SOMETHING WITH A MOTOR AND WHEELS, AND A WILLINGNESS JUST TO GIVE IT A SHOT.

(BRIAN)>> AND YOU GET OVER THAT FIRST EVENT AND YOU GET THAT ANXIETY GONE, MAN YOU'RE GONNA BE PUMPED AND YOU'RE GONNA WANNA GO TO THE NEXT ONE. AND THEN IT'S MAINLY FOCUSING ON YOUR ON TIMES. FOCUS ON CONTINUALLY GETTING FASTER YOURSELF, MAKING LITTLE IMPROVEMENTS, SEEING THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TIME, SEEING THAT GAIN IN CONFIDENCE AND ABILITY, AND MAN YOU JUST KEEP GOING, AND GOING, AND GOING!

(CHAD)>> I HOPE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS WHERE YOU CAN GET THE AVERAGE GUY TO COME OUT AND RACE, AND HAVE FUN, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IS HE'S GONNA KNOCK DOWN A CONE. WHO CARES, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE'VE ALL DONE THAT IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE!

(JOE)>> I HIT IT YESTERDAY.

(CHAD)>> YEAH, EXACTLY!

(KYLE)>> PEOPLE WANT A VERSATILE CAR, YOU KNOW! THEY WANT THAT ICONIC MUSCLE CAR LOOK BUT THEY WANT THE CAR TO BE A SUPER CAR AT THE SAME TIME. THEY WANT IT TO BE COMFORTABLE INSIDE, THEY WANT IT TO HANDLE WELL, THEY WANT IT TO STOP WELL. IT'S REALLY THE WHOLE PACKAGE THESE DAYS.

(JOE)>> THAT'S KYLE TUCKER PRAISING THE VIRTUES OF PRO TOURING AND EVENTS LIKE THIS RUN TO MUSIC CITY WEEKEND. HE OUGHT TO BE HAPPY, HE'S IN TOP TROPHY CONTENTION HAVING WON THE SATURDAY AUTO CROSS SHOOTOUT. WELL NEXT HE'S GOT TO PROVE HIMSELF ON THE SPEED STOP CHALLENGE. YOU GET THREE TRIES, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR QUICKEST ET. THAT IS AFTER LAUNCHING AND IF YOU LAND IN A BOX MARKED OFF BY CONES.

THE WINNER, A GUY NAMED HARRY HINKLE IN A LATE MODEL BONE STOCK CORVETTE. AND GET THIS, IT WAS HIS VERY FIRST EVER.

(HARRY)>> YEP, FIRST TIME, I GOT LUCKY BUT I HAD A GOOD CAR. THIS CAR, THE BRAKES ON IT IS JUST AWESOME. THE KEY HERE IS WHEN YOU COME OFF THE LINE, IS TO FEATHER THE CLUTCH AND NOT SPIN OUT. AND THEN ONCE YOU GET IT MOVING, THEN GO TO SECOND, HIT IT HARD, AND THEN KEEP THE FOOT IN THE ACCELERATOR. DON'T BE BASHFUL. A LOT OF PEOPLE GET ON THE BRAKES TOO SOON. YOU'VE GOT TO WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, THEN HIT THEM HARD AT THE END. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

(JOE)>> YOU'RE A FAST LEARNER.

(HARRY)>> WELL I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO LEARN, SO I'VE GOT TO LEARN FAST.

(JOE)>> NEXT THE MAIN PRO TOURING EVENT ON THE ROAD COURSE. AFTER EACH DRIVER GETS A FEW WARM UP ROUNDS, THEY'LL DRIVE THREE ROUNDS FOR THE CLOCK, AND THE LOWEST ET COUNTS FOR OVERALL POINTS.

(MATT)>> FOUR, IS YOUR CAR MOVING YET. WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A BLAST BUT THAT THEY DO IT SAFELY. THEY DON'T RISK INJURIES TO THEMSELVES OR TO ANYBODY ELSE. THE NOVICES ARE STILL TOO NERVOUS TO DO ANYTHING REALLY CRAZY. THE EXPERTS THINK THEY CAN. SOME OF THEM CAN, SOME OF THEM CAN'T DO THE CRAZY STUFF AND THEY GET IN TROUBLE.

(JOE)>> UNLIKE THE AUTO CROSS, HERE YOU GET TO GO FAST AND CUT CORNERS. IT'S A UNIQUE OVERALL CHALLENGE FOR THE CAR AND DRIVER. AND FOR THE BEST TIMES, CONSISTENT, FLUID MOVEMENTS SEEM TO WORK BETTER THAN HARD BRAKING AND ACCELERATING. YOUR BEST RUN OUT OF THREE IS YOUR OFFICIAL NUMBER. NO SURPRISE, KYLE TUCKER'S TECHNIQUE WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO POST A WINNING MARK EARLY ON. OVERALL HE'D WIND UP FOUR SECONDS AHEAD OF ANYBODY ELSE.

(KYLE)>> IT'S BEEN A GREAT WEEKEND. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF FRIENDS OUT HERE, A LOT OF GOOD CARS, GREAT WEATHER, IT'S JUST BEEN A GREAT WEEKEND. AND YEAH, WE CAME OUT TO WIN, BUT TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD I GUESS.

(JOE)>> YOU DON'T WIN ANY MONEY AT REGIONAL EVENTS LIKE THIS. YOU DO EARN POINTS AND INVITES TO BIGGER SHOOTOUTS.

(BRIAN)>> OPTIMA BATTERIES HAS PUT UP AN INVITATION TO THE OPTIMA BATTERIES ULTIMATE STREET CAR INVITATIONAL IN LAS VEGAS THIS YEAR.

(JOE)>> AND YOU HAVE A GREAT CAR WITH YOUR MUSCLE CAR. YOU WORK ON IT, YOU MAKE IT BETTER ACCELERATING, BETTER BRAKING, A BETTER HANDLING HOT ROD. THAT'S PRO TOURING!

(JOE)>> HEY WELCOME BACK TO HORSEPOWER. SEEMS LIKE WE'VE ALL GOT SOMETHING IN COMMON THESE DAYS, THE DESIRE FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST. LETS FACE IT, VEIGHTS ARE GREAT BUT SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES ARE NOT. THAT'S WHY MORE AND MORE GUYS ARE GOING WITH VSIXES THESE DAYS, LIKE THE 2012 MUSTANG. HEY, WHY NOT, WITH A STICKER PRICE OF LESS THAN $23,000, IT'S THE FIRST PRODUCTION CAR TO PRODUCE A SOLID 305 HORSEPOWER AND GET 31 MILES A GALLON ON REGULAR GAS. BECAUSE FORD SELLS MORE VSIXES THAN VEIGHTS, THE GUYS AT DYNOMAX EXHAUST ARE BUILDING THIS GAS SIPPING PONY AS AN AFFORDABLE TIME ATTACK MACHINE FOR AUTO CROSS EVENTS, THIS YEAR'S POWER TOUR, AND THE SEMA SHOW. WITH A TRICK THREED BOY RACER BODY KIT, IT ALREADY GETS AN "A" FOR ATTITUDE. THIS BLACK BEAUTY ROLLS ON NINE AND A HALF INCH BFG GFORCE TIRES WRAPPED AROUND AMERICAN RACING'S DAYTONA WHEELS. FOR BRAKES A NEW BAER PRO PLUS SYSTEM WITH 14 INCH DRILLED, SLOTTED ROTORS AND SIX PISTON CALIPERS. FOR HANDLING ENHANCEMENT, HOW ABOUT STURDIER HOTCHKIS SWAY BARS FRONT AND REAR. BECAUSE THE THREE MOST POPULAR POWER MODS ARE EXHAUST, COLD AIR, AND A NEW TUNE, TODAY WE'RE GONNA ADD ALL THREE TOGETHER. THAT IS AFTER WE SEE HOW MUCH OF THAT 305 HORSEPOWER GETS PLANTED TO THE REAR WHEELS. [ engine revving ]

(JOE)>> OKAY, OUR BEST HORSEPOWER RUN WAS 250, BEST TORQUE 240, THOSE ARE OUR BASE LINE NUMBERS.

(MIKE)>> THIS'LL BE THE VERY FIRST THREE POINT SEVEN LITER VSIX MUSTANG WE'VE GOTTEN OUR HANDS ON HERE IN THE SHOP. AND JUST LIKE ITS GT COUSIN, YOU CAN ALWAYS FREE UP HORSEPOWER IF YOU CAN MAKE IT BREATHE BETTER. NOW THE BIGGEST PART TO THAT EQUATION IS THIS TWO AND A HALF INCH DYNOMAX CAT BACK SYSTEM THAT USES ULTRA FLOW MUFFLERS. NOW THEY'RE A FULLY WELDED STRAIGHT THROUGH DESIGN FOR UNRESTRICTED FLOW, AND CONTINUOUS ROVING FIBERGLASS ABSORBS HIGH FREQUENCY SOUND WHILE PRODUCING A DEEP PERFORMANCE TONE.

(JOE)>> THE SYSTEM IS A DIRECT FIT FROM THE CONVERTER BACK. SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH A BREEZE TO INSTALL. YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SYSTEM CORRODING BECAUSE DYNOMAX USES 100 PERCENT 409 GRADE STAINLESS STEEL AND BACKS IT WITH A LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY AND 90 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. ANOTHER OPTION COULD BE THIS. IT'S THEY'RE CLAMP ON STAINLESS AXLE BACK SYSTEM FEATURING DYNOMAX'S NEW VT MUFFLER. THE EXCLUSIVE VT TECHNOLOGY USES A CALIBRATED VALVE THAT TUNES THE FLOW DEPENDING ON THE ENGINE'S RPM. THAT MAKES FOR GROAN FREE PERFORMANCE WITHOUT GIVING UP HORSEPOWER OR SOUND. IT FLOWS UP TO 2,000 CFM, AND BETWEEN 40 AND 120 PERCENT HIGH VELOCITY THAN COMPARABLE PERFORMANCE MUFFLERS. TO BRING IN MORE AIR AND COMPLIMENT THE DYNOMAX SYSTEM WE'RE ADDING AN AEM COLD AIR KIT. HYPER TECH HAS ALSO STEPPED UP WITH A PROGRAMMER FOR THE NEW VSIX. IT'S A CUSTOM TUNE, IT FREES UP HORSEPOWER, AND IMPROVES MILEAGE. PLUS YOU CAN TUNE IT TO WORK WITH OTHER AFTERMARKET COLD AIR KITS. TO KEEP THE PLAYING FIELD LEVEL, WE'RE MAKING THE FOLLOW UP DYNO RUNS JUST LIKE BEFORE FROM 2,000 TO 7,000 RPM. [ engine revving ]

(JOE)>> MORE HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE IN THE FOLLOW UP RUNS, BUT THE REAL STORY'S IN THE GRAPHS, AND WELL YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS. FROM 2,500 RPM ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH 5,500 WHERE WE DO MOST OF OUR DRIVING THERE'S FROM 18 TO 19 HORSEPOWER CONSISTENTLY. SAME STORY IN THE TORQUE DEPARTMENT. IN FACT HERE AT ABOUT 3,600 RPM WE GOT 30 MORE FOOT POUNDS. SO EAT YOUR VEIGHT HEART OUT, THAT'S A PRETTY STOUT SIX READY TO CARVE SOME CORNERS AND PASS GAS STATIONS ALONG THE WAY. YOU KNOW HAVING A HOME SHOP WITHOUT A SET OF AN WRENCHES IS KINDA LIKE HAVING A HOT DATE WITHOUT A CAR. WELL THE GUYS AT GUERILLA TOOLS HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW SET. THEY'RE MADE IN THE USA FROM CNC MACHINED BILLET ALUMINUM, AND AVAILABLE IN EITHER RED OR BLUE ANODIZED FINISHES. NOW HERE'S THE COOL PART, THEY COME IN STAGGERED SIZES SO YOU CAN USE TWO OF THE SAME SIZES AT ONCE. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ONE'S A 12 AND A 10, THIS ONE'S A 12 AND AN EIGHT. NOW OTHER BRANDS SELL FOR UP TO $250 DOLLARS, BUT YOU CAN GET THIS ENTIRE SET FOR ONLY $60 BUCKS AND FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE. HEY ARE YOU BIG ON TOOLS THAT MAKE LITTLE ROUTINE JOBS A LOT EASIER? WELL MOTOR PRODUCTS NOW HAS THIS ONE CALLED THE POWER FILL. IT CONSISTS OF A ONE GALLON TANK WITH A GAUGE AND SCHRADER VALVE, FIVE FEET OF CHEMICAL RESISTANT HOSE, AND AN ADAPTER. THERE'S ALSO A SPECIAL ADAPTER YOU CAN GET TO PRELUBE YOUR LS STYLE ENGINE. NOW YOU CAN MANUALLY PUMP IT LIKE THIS OR INCORPORATE THE SCHRADER VALVE WITH YOUR SHOP'S AIR SYSTEM. YOU CAN GET ONE OF THESE KITS FOR YOURSELF FOR ABOUT $85 DOLLARS. WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET A NASTY SCRATCH LIKE THIS ON YOUR PRIZED RIDE? WELL IDEALLY YOU'D GET A TOUCH UP PAINT KIT AND FIX IT, BUT WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO GET AROUND TO IT, RUST IS WASTING NO TIME MAKING MATTERS WORSE. WELL DUPLICOLOR'S SCRATCH AND SEAL PUTS A PROTECTIVE COATING ON THAT, PUTTING RUST ON HOLD, THAT'S ALL FROM A LITTLE PENCIL. YOU JUST SHAKE IT UP FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THEN YOU PRIME THE TIP UNTIL THE LIQUID STARTS FLOWING AND LAY DOWN A FEW THIN COATS. THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT. YOU CAN FIND DUPLICOLOR'S SCRATCH SEAL PEN AT YOUR LOCAL PARTS STORE, AND OH, DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE IT IN YOUR GLOVE BOX FOR THE NEXT TIME. AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON HORSEPOWER.