E3 Spark Plugs News

If you didn’t see the latest episode of Stacey David’s GearZ TV show sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs, you missed out! But not to worry. You can still see Episode 5 featuring the legendary Bigfoot online.

Bigfoot's first car crush in 1981.

The show features an interview with Bigfoot creator Bob Chandler, plus archival video of Bigfoot’s first public car crush in April of 1981. Automotive history buffs know that the original Bigfoot was Chandler’s work truck that occasionally doubled as a promotional piece for his 4×4 parts and service company. On a creative – and curious – whim, Chandler decided to roll Bigfoot over a couple of junk cars and see how audiences react. Little did he know back then that he had just created an entertainment empire that would become today’s Monster Truck Nationals.

Chandler tells David how the original Bigfoot morphed from a run-of-the-mill work truck into an automotive icon complete with giant tires and massive military axles on both the front and rear wheels. Because military front and rear military axles are interchangeable, Bigfoot’s development led to the term 4x4x4: Four wheels, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering.

The show also mentions Bigfoot’s big screen debut on a low budget, B-grade comedy “Take This Job and Shove It,” inspired by the David Allan Coe song of the same name. The 1981 film starring Robert Hays and Barbara Hershey tanked at the box office. But it is credited with nationalizing the monster truck craze. Monster trucks subsequently made appearances in action flicks like “Cannonball Run II,” “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment,” “Police Academy 6: Under Siege,” “Road House,” “Tango & Cash” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.”

Chandler also recounts his frightening experience in the Pontiac Silverdome in 1983, when Bigfoot made its first major stadium appearance and got bum-rushed by 30,000 wall-jumping fans. David likened the event to the famed 1964 episode of the “Ed Sullivan Show” that ushered Beatlemania into the United States. The Pontiac Silverdome incident marked the official arrival of the monster truck, quickly followed by debuts of other big trucks with now-recognizable names like “Grave Digger” and “Predator.”

If you haven’t seen it yet, click below to see Stacey David’s GearZ TV Bigfoot feature. And just for fun, see Bigfoot’s

And while you’re at it, sign up for a chance to win a ride in Bigfoot and lunch with Chandler and David in the E3 Spark Plugs 2011 BIGFOOT/Stacey David’s GearZ Sweepstakes. Good luck!

Stacey David’s GearZ TV episode featuring Bigfoot.

Bigfoot’s big screen debut in “Take This Job and Shove It.”

Jim Mardis, 2010 Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series champion aims to defend his title in the 2011 series revving up March 26.

We’re looking forward to a jam-packed weekend here at E3 Spark Plugs. Racing fans are revved up over Saturday’s official start of the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series‘ 2011 season. Things heat up at the Havasu 95 Speedway in Lake Havasu City, AZ with the inaugural Dart Machinery LTD North-South Shootout, a newly created points series within a series that pits the talents of the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Series teams racing in southern California, Arizona and Nevada, against their equally talented modified racing contemporaries from northern California and Washington.

“This has the making of becoming one of the biggest racing events on the west coast,” said Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Series Promoter Greg Scheidecker.”

Also new this year: two venues hosting series events for the first time. The Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, known as the fastest half mile oval in the southwest, and the Madera Speedway, the fastest third mile oval in the west, see series action in June, July and August. A new “Winners Circle” program awards a $200 bonus to any team that maintains a position in the top ten of the points standings – a nice financial boost to help cover increased travel costs. And, series drivers get a chance to showcase their talent on national television, via a broadcast agreement with MAV-TV. Crews will cover the June 4th race at the Toyota Speedway and the Nov. 5 race and the final product will air nationwide.

E3 Spark Plugs is back in the mix this year with the E3 Spark Plugs 75, a special post-season, non-points event. Winning won’t impact a racer’s final championship standings, but it will net a whopping $3,000 winner’s check, Bullsring victory lane bragging rights and the attention of modified racing teams from all across the western states.

Visit the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series website to get your tickets and hit up E3 Spark Plugs for high-performance spark plugs that’ll help get your car in race-ready condition.

Check out this recap of the 2010 Lucas Oil-Rockstar Modifieds 2010 action in Blythe, CA.

E3 Spark Plugs is excited to once again co-sponsor the Lucas Oil Spring Go-Kart Shootout Presented by Earl Pearson, Jr. The five-time national super dirt late model champion just announced this year’s event is slated for April 9 at the Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, North Carolina. It’s co-sanctioned and run in conjunction with the NC/VA Money Series and features the Lucas Oil Pro Class for Animal Engines (which carries a $4,000 prize) and the Pro Clone Class (a $2,000 purse). Another $500 cash bonus up for grabs by the racer that wins both pro classes – a potential $6,500 payday!

E3 Spark Plugs gets in on the action with its continued sponsorship of the E3 Spark Plugs Fast Time Award. We’ll hand over a $100 cash and award and product prizes to the driver who sets the fastest qualifying time in the Lucas Oil Pro Class for Animal Engines.

“We’re very excited to have E3 Spark Plugs onboard again for 2011,” Pearson said. “And we’re excited about the event and the venue. The people at Margarettsville Speedway have been wanting us to come to their track for awhile now and we were able to work out an agreement that we both feel is going to be a great event.”

Based in Ponte Vedra, FL, E3 Spark Plugs was formed to help customers increase power, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce engine emissions that contribute to global warming. The bottom line is E3 Diamond Fire technology produces a faster flame front and a more complete combustion cycle to directly improve your engine’s performance through advancements in the energy, efficiency and ecology of today’s spark plugs.

Deadline to enter the Lucas Oil Spring Go-Kart Shootout is April 5 (Download the entry form). If you have an automotive-related company and are interested in co-sponsoring this year’s event, call (904) 210-6649 or email info@earlpearsonjr.net.

E3 Spark Plugs-sponsored Rick Huseman defends his Pro 4 Unlimited title at the season opener of the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.

The 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series presented by Geico Powersports got off to a fiery start at Firebird International Raceway in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, AZ. this weekend. The first of the two-night event provided plenty of fireworks, including E3 Spark Plugs-sponsored Rick Huseman‘s hard-won defense of his Pro 4 Unlimited title.

The Dirt Sports magazine’s 2010 “Driver of the Year” started the race in the fourth position behind Carl Renezeder, Johnny Greaves and Adrian Cenni. Drivers traded leads several times, with Greaves spinning out in turn three, Cenni pulling off the track with a mechanical issue soon after, and Huseman (in the #36 Monster Energy / E3 Spark plugs Toyota) darting past Renezeder past the start/finish line and into turn one.

After the restart, Kyle LeDuc had a spectacular rollover out of turn five, bringing out a full-course yellow. Racing resumed with Huseman, Renezeder, Todd LeDuc, Curt LeDuc and Steve Barlow leading until Renezeder and Todd LeDuc hit going into turn four, with LeDuc colliding with Barlow, forcing him into the wall and ending his day on the track. LeDuc then developed a right rear flat with just a few laps to go. Still, he managed to pass most of the field before pulling into the hot pits. By this time, Travis Coyne had worked his way up the track in front of Curt LeDuc. When the smoke cleared, it was Huseman taking the victory, with Renezeder, Coyne, Curt LeDuc, Aaron Daugherty following.

Huseman joined the E3 Spark Plugs racing team under an associate sponsorship just last month.

“You can’t win out here if you’re not using the best,” Huseman said at the time of the sponsorship announcement. “E3 represents new technology, increased power and superior performance, that’s what we look for when selecting products for our race trucks.”

Next up for the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is Surprise, AZ’s Speedworld Off Road Park April 16-17. Huseman helps open the Traxxas TORC Series April 30 at Cycle Ranch in San Antonio, TX.

After recently announcing their new sponsorship of off road racer Rick Huseman, E3 Spark Plugs came away from the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Race Series kick off at Firebird International Speedway in Chandler, AZ with solid proof of their wise choice!  Not only did Huseman qualify first in practice, but backed that up with coming in first during qualifying, and then putting on amazing shows during both main events Saturday March 19 and Sunday March 20, winning with flare at both Pro 4 series main events.

On hand to witness the exciting race on Saturday was Zan Martin, President of E3’s PR firm.  “This was my first Lucas Oil short track off road race to attend on E3’s behalf, and I must say, I was blown away by Huseman’s performance out there.”  Stated Martin.  “The first 10 minutes of the race he was running # 4, but after a crash, a few collisions and a few restarts he weaved his way to #2. When another truck rolled over, Huseman was cleared to make a major move on Carl Renezeder, kicked it into turbo mode, and left the pack in the dust!  Teaming with ‘Dirt Sports’ magazine’s Driver of the Year is already providing great benefits to E3 Spark Plugs.”

Backed by a five year, 100,000-mile warranty, E3 Spark Plugs, with their patented side-wire electrode, projects the combustion spark in a way that more quickly ignites the air/fuel mixture thereby creating a significantly faster and larger flame kernel. In effect, this burns more of the available fuel, resulting in increased combustion efficiency for improved power and fuel economy with reduced emissions. They are now available for most automotive, lawn & garden and power sports applications at automotive and home improvement retail stores nationwide. For more information and complete test results, visit www.e3sparkplugs.com.

###

Check out the spark plug topping London's Big Ben in the upcoming "Cars 2." Copyright Disney/Pixar

Why, yes. As a matter of fact, that is a spark plug perched atop London’s famed Big Ben in Disney/Pixar’s new animated film “Cars 2.”

Watch out, ladies – “Mater’s fiddin’ to get funky” in this sequel to the 1996 Oscar-nominated “Cars.” This time, hero Lightning McQueen and his trusty sidekick Tow Mater jettison Radiator Springs and go international to compete for props as the world’s fastest car in the inaugural World Grand Prix. But it’s the bumbling and beloved Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) who gets the real screen hero action when he’s tapped for a top-secret spy mission and quickly gets in over his headlights.

“Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world,” the plot summary reads. Secret agents, menacing villains and cutthroat international racing competitors round out the cast lent voices by some of Hollywood’s top film and TV stars: Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Cheech Marin and Tony Shalhoub, to name a few.

Here at E3 Spark Plugs, we’re digging the “CARified” elements in the background animation, including the spark plugs that sit high atop London’s Big Ben and France’s iconic Eiffel Tower. Arches at the famed tower’s base take the form of wheels topped by car grill facades. We also spotted several spark plugs in Disney/Pixar’s redesign of the signature casinos of the European Riviera and the U.K.’s House of Parliament.

“Cars 2″ is set for release June 24 and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D in select theaters. Take a look at the trailer and let us know that you think.

Enter the E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot 4x4 Sweepstakes and, while your there, put your own message on the JumboTron and post it on your Facebook page.

What the heck are you waiting for? Announced in December, the E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot 4×4 Sweepstakes is the biggest contest of the year for Monster Truck fans. The grand prize winner gets an all-expenses paid trip to the Lucas Oil 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals Series at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis September 16-18 and a full agenda of stuff that Monster Truck fans dream about.

We’re talking about stuff like being part of the E3 Spark Plugs Bigfoot pit crew during the event; having lunch with Bigfoot creator and owner Bob Chandler and Stacey David, producer and host of Stacey David’s GearZ; and the ultimate – going for a ride in the legendary Bigfoot! Can you imagine the looks on your friend’s faces when they see your mug hanging out the window of the most famous truck in the United States?

If you haven’t registered yet, go to www.E3Bigfoot4x4Sweeps.com now. Read over the official rules and regulations, complete the form with all your info and click “submit.” You can enter once a day, but keep it honest – no submitting under multiple email addresses or using an automated program (we’re watching you tech heads!). Minors can enter, but you’ll need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

While on the website, type in a fun message you’d love to see on the E3 Spark Plugs JumboTron at a Monster Truck event and post it on your Facebook page. It’s not required to win. But it’s a cool extra. Ask your girlfriend to marry you, wish a friend a happy birthday, tell your mom you love her or tell your boss to… well, never mind. Just keep it clean, okay?

In the quest for more fuel economy and performance, it’s easy to get caught up in expensive solutions.  Why not start with something as simple as changing your spark plugs?  Only E3 Spark plugs feature a diamond-shaped electrode with a revolutionary “Edge-to-Edge” design.  This patented design, the result of years and years of independent testing, delivers forced edge-to-edge spark discharges; proven to be the most efficient and effective way to get a spark to leave a surface.  In other words, this technology ignites the air-fuel mixture quicker, producing a faster and larger flame compared to other spark plugs.  A more complete burn means better performance.  By simply replacing your existing plugs with a set of premium E3 spark plugs, your vehicle will experience better fuel economy and horsepower, as well as a decrease in toxic emissions.  With continued use, and because more of the air/fuel mixture burns off, carbon deposit buildup is reduced for an overall improvement in engine performance.

Backed by a five year, 100,000-mile warranty, E3 Spark Plugs with DiamondFire technology, are now available for most automotive and motorsports applications at automotive retail stores nationwide.  For more information and complete test results conducted by various third party institutions, visit www.e3sparkplugs.com.

###

Sure, he's got a great smile and a uniform. But can you trust the guy? E3 Spark Plugs offers tips on finding an honest mechanic.

Some say the words “honest” and “mechanic” just don’t go together. But we here at E3 Spark Plugs disagree. There are lots of good hearted grease monkeys out there who do an honest job at a fair price. Of course, we won’t argue that they might be hard to find in some places. So, we’re offering a few tips to help you find a mechanic you can trust.

1. Look for repair shops with an ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification. This means that the shop’s staff has been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service as having received proper training and certification on the most current vehicle technologies on the market.
2. As for references from your friends and family. If a mechanic has given them great service, they’ll tell you. And if a mechanic has given them bad service, they’ll DEFINITELY tell that too.
3. Take your car to a mechanic when you’re certain that nothing is wrong with it – no noises, shakes, smoke or smells. Make up a problem, ask the mechanic to look into it and see what he comes back with. If he’s got a list of issues that you know are bogus, head for the door. Even if you have to pay for a $40 estimate, it’s worth it to know you’re dealing with a dishonest dude. And we can’t stress enough how important it is to do this now. Waiting until a real problem exists will leave you with little or no time to shop around.
4. If you do have a problem with your vehicle, do some research before you take it to a mechanic’s shop. A simple Internet search is sure to turn up dozens of articles, videos, book excerpts, online forums, etc. that will give you a better understanding of what may be happening. As in any case, an informed customer stands a greater chance of successfully dodging dishonest attempts.
5. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if a mechanic’s shop you have in mind is highly rated or has had complaints filed against it.
6. While waiting, closely watch and listen to how the shop’s staff members treat other customers. If you overhear one tell the cute young gal in the sun dress that she really needs to get her halogen fluid replaced before her headlamps fail, you might want to go elsewhere. And don’t think they won’t try to pull one over on you just because you’re a guy.
7. Ask for a written warranty on every service or part – even the small stuff. Also look for a customer satisfaction policy that spells out money-back guarantees. Keep all of your receipts in case an issue does occur.

Got more tips for finding an honest mechanic and keeping him honest? E3 Spark Plugs and our loyal blog readers want to hear from you. Leave us a comment.

If you’re an antique car buff with an irreverent sense of humor, E3 Spark Plugs recommends you book it to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Amelia Island, Florida this weekend. Running through Sunday afternoon, it’s considered among the world’s top automotive events and annually draws upwards of 250 rare vehicles from collections around the globe. While Concours d’Elegance events are considered a little high-fallutin’, this one offers a little levity with a seminar titled “The Cannonball Run Revisited.”

Several participants of the original "Cannonball Run" will attend the Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance "The Cannonball Run Revisited" seminar March 12.

The seminar will feature several participants of the infamous coast-to-coast race that snubbed its nose at the pending national speed limit and other traffic laws designed to slow down the American driving public in the 1970s. Formally known as “The Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash,” the race was the brainchild of Brock Yates, longtime executive editor of Car and Driver magazine. It was a “no official rules” ramble from New York City, across the continent to the Portofino Inn at Redondo Beach, California. It ran in 1971, ’72, ’75 and ’79, and Yates would go on to write the screenplay for the 1981 film starring Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore and Farrah Fawcett.

“Woodstock and the permissive 60s were waning, and the state was flexing its muscle with the 55 MPH speed limit and ‘Nader’s Raiders’ were out in full force,” says Yates, who maintains his irreverent spark plug of a personality. “My solution was The Cannonball Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. This one is still for you, Ralph Nader.”

Adds William Jeanes, Chief Judge at Amelia and a former Cannonball participant himself: “I think the Cannonball Seminar attendees deserve to see and question one of the fools who drove a 37-foot Travco motor home at 105 miles an hour and got the thing across the country in under 46 hours. I shall therefore make myself available.”

Also at this year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is three-time CART champion and 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, who keeps himself busy these days with Rahal Letterman Racing, the company he co-founded with late night talk show icon David Letterman. And among the most noted vehicles on display is the 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman landaulet built specially for Pope Paul VI, making its first ever appearance on American soil.

Do you plan to attend the event? E3 Spark Plugs wants to hear your stories and see your pics. Leave us a comment on our blog or visit our Facebook fan page.

The 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman landaulet built specially for Pope Paul VI makes its first appearance on American soil at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance March 11-13.