E3 Spark Plugs News

Optimistic about 2012? E3 Spark Plugs has a few tips for New Year's resolutions that will keep both you and your ride healthy and happy.

Assuming the cataclysmic theories about Earth being sucked into a black hole, colliding with another planet or otherwise disintegrating on December 21 aren’t true, 2012 looks to be a promising year. The economy is starting (though ever so slowly) to mend, Jon Bon Jovi is still alive and, if the Toyota Fun-Vii ever comes to market, you’ll one day be driving around with a hologram hottie perched upon your dash board. Something to look forward to, indeed.

In the meantime, no doubt you’re busy building your list of New Year’s resolutions. E3 Spark Plugs offers a few suggestions to help keep you and your ride healthy, happy and on the road.

1. Resolve to keep your car in great shape with DIY checks and fixes including keeping your tires well inflated, changing or topping off your car’s fluids regularly, and ditching those worn-out windshield wiper blades BEFORE they start etching rainbow-shaped grooves into your glass.
2. Resolve to have the pros check out your car from fender-to-bumper twice a year including the brakes and the charging and electrical systems.
3. Resolve to get those new knocks, pings and groans checked out STAT so minor problems don’t turn into major repair bills.
4. Resolve to dig that auto owner’s manual out of the depths of your glove compartment and use it – especially when it comes to keeping track of and following through with recommended scheduled maintenance.
5. Resolve to keep your car and the air around it clean. All that sand from your last trip to the beach is wearing on your car’s upholstery, interior and paint job. And unless you’re using E3 car or truck spark plugs you’re likely mucking up your environment. E3′s patented technology is designed for a cleaner, stronger and more fuel-efficient burn.

From all of us here at E3 Spark Plugs – have a happy, prosperous and safe 2012!

Chad Reed (22) leads James Stewart (7) in one of the two rivals' epic dirt battles. Each is a two-time Supercross Class champ with an eye on winning the 2012 championship.

The 2011 Supercross season proved quite the exciting ride. When the dust finally settled, it was Ryan Villopoto at the podium as the 2011 AMA Supercross Series Championship winner. So how will the 2012 season play out? E3 Spark Plugs has a few predictions.

One guess is that we’ll get quite the show from the ongoing rivalry between Australian native and two-time Supercross Class champion Chad Reed and James Stewart, also a two-time Supercross Class champion, as well as a former AMA Motocross champion and the first African American to win a major motorsports title. The two have treated fans to some of the sport’s toughest battles and neither has any plans to back down.

“James and I have a lot of respect for each other,” says Reed, who last year became an entrepreneur founding Two-Two MotorSports. “We both want to win and neither of us lets anything get in the way of that.”

No doubt Stewart shares that sentiment. But he’s also got his eye on knocking seven-time Supercross Class champ Jeremy McGrath from his title as the all-time winningest rider before moving on to four-wheel competition. McGrath currently boasts 72 supercross wins.

“My No. 1 focus is get to 73 wins, and after that, we can hit NASCAR full force,” Stewart, who makes his debut with the Joe Gibbs Racing MX Team next month, recently told USA Today. “We are definitely making steps to hopefully battling with Junior [Dale Earnhardt] and [Jimmie] Johnson. I am looking forward to it as another challenge in life. The cool part is maybe I have a chance to be great in two different sports.”

Of course, if Ryan Dungey has his say, neither Stewart nor Reed will see the champion’s podium come May 5. In just two Supercross Class competition seasons, Dungey earned respect as one of the fastest motorcycle riders on the planet and in 2010 became the second rookie in history to win the Monster Energy AMA Supercross. He came excruciatingly close to defending his title in 2011, letting it slip by a mere 10 points. This year, he joins the Red Bull KTM team.

We’re also expecting an exciting season show from Monster Energy / Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle, who makes his Supercross Class debut next month after an impressive five-year run in the Lites Class.

Got a prediction of your own? E3 Spark Plugs wants to hear it. Post your thoughts on our Facebook fan page. And remember to stock your bike with a set of E3 motorcycle spark plugs for a championship-worthy performance.

1954 Mercedes W 196 - $24 million

We should all be so lucky as to drive a gorgeous classic car around town now and then. Alas – no such luck for many of us. But one can dream. And plan. And make that move. If one of your New Years’ wishes is to finally fix up that old jalopy in your granddad’s garage or to buy that dream ride you’ve been eying for decades, E3 Spark Plugs offers a little visual inspiration. Behold the world’s three most expensive classic cars:

• 1954 Mercedes W 196 – $24 million: Considered the “holy grail of racing cars,” the Mercedes-Benz W196 debuted at the 1954 French Grand Prix at Reims. Throughout the 1954 and 1955 Formula One seasons, the car racked up nine wins in 12 races, helmed by racing legends Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. Mechanically, it’s known for its revolutionary fuel injection and desmodromic valve system developed by Mercedes engineers working on the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter engine during World War II. The valve system utilized positive control without resorting to springs.

• 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – $16.6 million: Built specifically for racing, the Ferrari 250 GTO had a bit of a rough start. It initially was developed by chief engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, who installed the 3.0 L V12 engine of a 250 Testa Rossa into the chassis of a 250 GT SWB, and designer Sergio Scaglietti, who created the body. But in a fiery dispute with founder and former racer Enzo Ferrari, Bizzarrini was fired, along with nearly all Ferrari engineers on staff at the time. Further development then went to Scaglietti and engineer Mauro Forghieri. A grand total of 39 Ferrari 250 GTOs would be produced over the next few years, and its engine established Ferrari as the racing champion of the world. In the United States, they commanded an $18,000 purchase price (big money in those days) and buyers had to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari himself, as well as his North American dealer Luigi Chinetti.

• 1931 Type 41 Bugatti Royale – $8.7 million: Boasting 21 feet in overall length and a 170-inch wheel base, and built with the finest woods, metals and leathers of the day, the Bugatti eschewed automakers’ focus on performance in favor of a focus solely on luxury. In fact, founder Ettore Bugatti, borne of a long line of artists, sculptors and designers, initially planned to build just 25 Royales and sell them to European royalty. But these were the days of the Great Depression, and not even the elite were making such extravagant purchases. As a result, only six were made and just three sold. Today, the Bugatti Royale remains one of the world’s largest and rarest.

Rounding out the top 10 list of the world’s priciest rides are the 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM priced at $6.5 million; the 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B at $5.6 million; the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe at $4.4 million; the 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 at $4.07 million; the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster at $3.63 million; the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Spider Corsa at $2.53 million; and the 1956 Ferrari 860 Monza at $2.5 million.

Do you drive a prized classic car? E3 Spark Plugs wants to see it. Post your pics on our Facebook fan page.

New Year's Day is the deadliest on the roadways. E3 Spark Plugs offers tips for staying safe in the hectic Christmas and New Year holiday traffic.

When the sounds of sleigh bells and carolers get rudely interrupted by the sounds of glass shattering and metal crunching, you know your holiday spirit just took a dive. E3 Spark Plugs wants you and yours to enjoy a safe and happy holiday, so we’ve compiled a list of top holiday roadway safety tips.

It’s not exactly a news flash that America’s roadways are more dangerous during the holidays. Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve bashes nearly always involve drinking. Those who get a little too merry too often end up behind the wheel – and in the hospital. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 10-year Crash Stats study found that New Year’s Day is the deadliest day of the year for speeding-related fatal crashes, followed by Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. A high percentage of these accidents also involve drunk driving. In fact, 54 percent of all New Year’s Day accident deaths and 38% of Christmas-time car accident deaths are alcohol related, the NHTSA says.

To help keep you and your loved ones safe on the roadways this holiday season, follow these tips:

• If you and your family or friends plan to attend parties where you’ll be drinking, make sure you designate a driver and have a backup plan should your designated driver bail on you. Find the best local taxi services and load their phone numbers into your phone’s contacts list. Some cab services offer free rides to get inebriated passengers home safely.

• If you must drive and want to enjoy a drink, do so sparingly. Drink a glass of water or sparkling water between alcoholic drinks. Sip, don’t chug. And mingle. A lot. After all, you can’t talk and drink at the same time, and who knows who you’ll meet while you mingle.

• When driving, be hyper-aware of other vehicles around yours. Keep the radio volume low and the distracting chatter to a minimum so you can keep your eyes and ears on the road. If another car is having trouble staying in one lane or is driving too fast or too slow, steer clear of it. Even the safest driver can fall victim to a speeding, intoxicated one.

• Before you head out for the holidays – whether going out of state to a family gathering or just across town to a friend’s party – check your brakes and tires. Get a full brake inspection and, if it’s time for new brake pads, change them now. And double check that your tires are properly inflated. Underinflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries a year on America’s roadways. Plus, they suck up your gas mileage.

Got more holiday roadway safety tips? Post them on our Facebook fan page. And from all of us here at E3 Spark Plugs, have a fantastic holiday season!

E3 Spark Plugs has a few great stocking stuffer tips for the auto buff you love.

Are you a serious slacker when it comes to holiday shopping? No worries. E3 Spark Plugs has a few great ideas for those last-minute, stocking-stuffer gifts for the auto buff on your Christmas list.

• A good read: A subscription to an auto magazine is always a welcome gift from a car enthusiast. There are lots to choose from. Publications like Automotive News and AutoWeek, which offer across-the-board industry coverage. Others like European Car, Hot Rod and Vette cater to car lovers with particular automotive interests.

• That’s the ticket: A pair of tickets to a great auto event, whether to a mud-flinging Monster Truck show or a fancy-schmancy Concours d’Elegance, is sure to get you a sincere “OMG, I love it!”

• Help!: If there’s a teenager in the family who will be driving for the first time soon, consider a roadside emergency kit. AAA memberships are very popular holiday gifts for new drivers. An electronic tire gauge, a set of jumper cables and a battery- or cigarette lighter-powered car tire inflator (or at least a can of Fix-A-Flat) might not elicit the same shrieks of excitement as, say a new iPod pre-loaded with Justin Bieber tunes, but they’ll do doubt be much appreciate somewhere down the road.

• A thrill ride: For the experienced driver and dare devil in the family, spring for a gift certificate good toward a Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure package. Packages range from a four-lap intro for $195 to a full-throttle 80-lap experience for $3,695.

• Power surge: Of course, we’d be remiss without suggesting a set of E3 car, truck or motorcycle spark plugs Our favorite stocking stuffer will give your loved one a boost in engine power and efficiency, a little extra change in their pockets rather than the gas tank, and a bit of feel-good mojo knowing that a cleaner ride is good for the environment.

Got more great stocking stuffer ideas? Post them on our E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page. And remember to keep it safe on the roadways this holiday season. Slow down, watch out for impaired drivers and, if you plant to imbibe in a little liquid joy yourself, designate a non-drinking driver. From all of us here at E3 Spark Plugs, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and best wishes for the New Year!

IndyCar has released its official review of the October 16 crash that killed Indianapolis 500 champ Dan Wheldon. The report acknowledged that Wheldon’s head coming into contact with a fence support post was ruled the specific cause of death, in keeping with the October 17 autopsy that concluded blunt force trauma to the head killed the British racer. However, the report added that the exact cause of the accident itself could not be pinpointed.

Late IndyCar racer Dan Wheldon and son.

“While several factors coincided to produce a ‘perfect storm,’ none of them can be singled out as the sole cause of the accident,” investigators concluded. “For this reason, it is impossible to determine with certainty that the result would have been any different if one or more of the factors did not exist.”

Despite two days of safety testing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway before the start of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship, drivers knew it would be a potentially dangerous race. The track’s size allowed for a large field of cars running at unusually high speeds, which prohibited the “racing grooves” that typically help channel cars into some type of order. The result was track-side chaos. Drivers couldn’t tell where other drivers were or were headed, so routes to safety were hard to come by.

Gian Paolo Dallara, head of Italian manufacturer Dallara Automobili, recently told Autosprint he doesn’t believe that the 220-mph speeds contributed directly to the crash. Instead, he blames problems with wheel-to-wheel contact.

“If two wheels that rotate in the same direction touch, even at just 50kph [31mph], the car behind shoots up in the air,” Dallara said. “There’s nothing you can do.”

Dallara says that the new 2012 chassis had undergone a redesign aimed at reducing the risks of lifting off from wheel-to-wheel contact even before the 15-car crash that killed Wheldon. And in an ironic twist, it was Wheldon who had helped IndyCar and Dallara test the new chassis, logging upwards of 2,000 miles on it. In honor of the racer, Dallara recently announced it has named the new design the DW12. E3 Spark Plugs supports the new name and Dallara’s efforts toward creating a safer race car.

Meanwhile, race officials have dropped the Las Vegas Motor Speedway from the 2012 IndyCar schedule. Pending continued track testing, the series may return to Vegas in 2013.

E3 Spark Plugs launches a brand new look!

Hey E3 Spark Plugs fans, check out our new look! E3 Spark Plugs is launching a revamped website and social media sites this week. Our updated look is cleaner, more streamlined and easier to navigate. And you’ll find a few new goodies.

New features include:

• A tech support section with a chart designed to help you apply the correct torque to your new spark plugs, information on spark plug gapping, tech tips and videos, a cross-reference guide to help you choose the right spark plugs for your automotive, powersports or lawn and garden engines, plus warranty information;
• A continuously updated video section featuring how-to videos, our commercials and racing highlights;
• A testimonial section where you can see what people are saying about E3 Spark Plugs and add your own comments;
• An events calendar listing all upcoming racing and promotional events featuring or sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs.

“We are excited about our the launch of our newly redesigned website and social media pages,” says Steve Joiner, E3 Spark Plugs’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing “E3 is committed to providing in-depth information about our products and promotional activities. These sites will allow our customers and fans to keep up with all the different programs and events that E3 is involved in all over the country.”

Based in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, E3 Spark Plugs developed its patented DiamondFire technology in conjunction with researchers from leading engineering universities. Utilizing a unique, diamond-shaped, edge-to-edge approach, E3 spark plugs are designed to deliver more power, improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and extend the life of your engine.

Our new look will launch this week. Are we missing something you’d like to see? Leave us a comment on our blog or on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

Looking to buy a used snowmobile? E3 Spark Plugs offers some buyers-beware tips.

If the pristine, powdered landscape has you aching to throw some snow into the air, it just might be time to pony up some change for a sled. If you’re eyeing a used snowmobile, E3 Spark Plugs has 10 top tips for choosing a sled that’ll keep you riding the slopes for years.

1. Resist the temptation to buy the first shiny sled you see. Study up on the models and features you want before you venture out on your shopping spree and be sure to bring a flashlight and a friend so you can see all the dark crannies and get a second, and likely more objective opinion.
2. Start ‘er up. If you’re considering a sled being sold by a private owner, ask that it not be “warmed up” prior to your visit. You’ll want to know how well the engine does with a cold start.
3. Check for clues that the snowmobile has been crashed. A few tell-tale signs are deep scratches on the running boards and plastic; a non-standard paint job; cracks in the body work (remove or run your fingers over any stickers, as they’re often used to hide cracks; twisted, bent, toed-in or toed-out skis; handlebars that are cracked, bent or appear to have been replaced.
4. Check for clues it’s been raced. Racing or aggressive riding put some real stress on machinery, but then again, racing sleds often are the best maintained you’ll find. Look for holes drilled through the bolt heads; cracks or welds in the frame, around the engine mounts and in the front cowling brackets. If the sled has been raced, ask for maintenance records and make sure it’s priced accordingly.
5. Look for tears or cracks in the vinyl seat cover. Cracked or torn seat covers retain water and the resulting cold, wet spot on your butt will make for quite the uncomfortable ride. If you love the rest of the sled, know that new upholstery will cost you upwards of $150.
6. Inspect the track. Look for cracking, dry-rot and excessive rust – all of which can leave you and your snowmobile stranded. Not fun. Especially if you also have a wet butt.
7. Check the brakes, brake pads and brake fluid.
8. Peek inside the gas tank. If it’s discolored or has rust, sediment or a milky white paint-like coating, expect to pay for a thorough fuel system cleaning.
9. Make sure all the electric features work. These include the headlights, signaling and instrument-cluster lights and kill switches.
10. Ask how often the suspension was serviced. The answer should be at least once a year.

When you get your new sled home, be sure to outfit it with a new set of E3 snowmobile spark plugs for a cleaner, stronger burn. Be safe and keep the shiny side up.

1952 Wienermobile

It’s as recognizable an American Icon as Disney’s mouse ears or McDonald’s golden arches. And the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile is wrapping up a year-long birthday celebration. First constructed to promote “Oscar Meyer German Wieners” in 1936, the mack daddy of promotional vehicles turned 75 in 2011. And E3 Spark Plugs wants to send congratulations on 75 wild, wacky and wonderful years.

The first Wienermobile was created by Oscar Mayer’s nephew, Carl G. Mayer and has served as the basic model for all later generations. Each Wienermobile has traveled the country, making stops at major events, museums, car shows, festivals, grand openings, parades, schools, children’s homes and hospitals – anywhere they could spread a little joy and garner a little media attention. World War II gasoline rationing kept the Wienermobile parked for much of the 1940s. But the Rock & Roll era of the 1950s brought five new Wienermobiles that not only looked cool, but also rocked high-fidelity sound systems. You can see two of them at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan and the nearby Greenfield Village’s Wienermobile Café

From 1969 through the 1970s, new Wienermobiles were built on Chevrolet chassis and featured for Thunderbird tail lights. The 1969 model was the first to travel overseas. The year 1988 saw another first – the launch of Oscar Mayer’s Hotdogger program, wherein recent college graduates are hired to drive the 10-frank fleet of Wienermobiles built on converted Chevrolet van chassis, meeting fans and handing out Wienermobile-shaped toy whistles dubbed “Wienerwhistles.”

In 1995, the Wienermobile grew in size to 27 feet long and 11 feet high. More recent versions are teched-out with voice activated GPS navigation, an audio center with a wireless microphone and external speakers, gull wing doors and a horn that plays the Wiener Jingle in 21 different genres, from Cajun to Rap to Bossa Nova.

Today, there are eight active Wienermobiles running America’s highways. And the Hotdogger program is still going strong. If you’re a college student who will be graduating next term, this could be the job of a lifetime. Hotdogger stints last from June to June and you’ll visit college campuses around the country. Upwards of 2,000 students apply each year and only 12 are chosen, so fire off your resume today! And good luck from E3 Spark Plugs!

The Toyota Fun Vii just might be the coolest futuristic concept car we've seen to date.

Well, it can’t fly, it won’t deploy your kids and wife to school or to the mall in their own domed, one-man flying saucer directly from the car’s floor, and it won’t fold up into a stylish little briefcase like George Jetson’s iconic ride. But Toyota’s new Fun-Vii concept car can do just about anything else you’ve imagined that the car of the future would do. We’re just not sure where the spark plugs go.

Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show earlier this month the Fun V-ii (which stands for “Vehicle Interactive Internet) is being described as a smartphone on four wheels. And it takes personalization to the extreme. At first glance the car looks a bit like an oversized, curved-out iPod docking station with a smooth black finish and silver accents. But those looks can change with the swish of a fingertip across a smartphone screen. That’s because the car’s exterior surface essentially is a digital interface that can display any color or photo chosen, or even reflect the surroundings as a the car drives down the street.

Inside, a driver and two passengers have more legroom than you’ve ever seen in a compact car. Dashboard displays include a hot little hologram assistant popping out of the digital ethers to help you find a great little coffee shop. And the car’s interior walls feature the same customized visual options as the exterior surface. Want to set a romantic tone for the evening? How about a covering the walls with images of rose petals? Or, bring the outside in by displaying the local scenery on the car’s walls. You’ll feel like you’re cruising in one of James Bond’s invisible cars.

Digital features allow a driver to run an automotive diagnostics test, get a weather forecast, check email, locate friends and talk with the people in the car two lanes over without ever picking up a smartphone or rolling down a window. There’s even an autopilot option so you can Facebook/eat lunch/kiss your girlfriend/call your mom/knit a sweater, etc. and still get to your destination without causing a multi-car pileup on the Interstate.

Too far-fetched to ever become reality? Check out the video and decide for yourself. In the meantime, E3 Spark Plugs wants to know: Which is your all-time favorite TV or movie futuristic ride? And would you rather have this…

Or this?…