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Scott Tucker, A Year In Review: The Road Before The 24

By Brent Arends

Scott Tucker and his Level 5 Motorsports teammates recently began the final quarter of a racing year that has included numerous podium appearances, multiple car changes, incredible accomplishments and yet still room for improvement. Tucker, owner and driver for Level 5, has been a leader for the team despite the rookie status he maintained just months ago. His tight, balanced driving has earned him top honors in the American Le Mans Series as Rookie of the Year and Champion Driver in 2010. His races often end with stints on the podium, and his career has only just begun.

As Tucker, his co-drivers Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz and team manager David Stone prepare to close the calendar year with the all-important Petit Le Mans and the Ferrari International Finals, the stakes are high—the team has woven itself a reputation of excellence that is best understood by looking back at what has made 2011 a stunning year for Level 5 Motorsports.

In January, the Level 5 team began its 2011 race schedule with the GRAND-AM The Roar before the 24 test sessions, in Daytona, Florida. Its two Microsoft Office-sponsored entries proved themselves powerful vehicles for their drivers’ talents. During the final test session the No. 055 Microsoft Office BMW Riley and the No. 95 Microsoft Office BMW Riley finished 2-3. Tucker, Bouchut, Diaz and Mark Wilkins drove the No. 55 and sped through a 127.533 mph lap, just a half-second behind Starworks Motorsports Ford Riley, No. 8. Tucker also drove the No. 95, along with Ryan Hunter-Reay, Raphael Matos and Richard Westbrook. The drivers completed a lap of 127.465 mph, a time less than one-tenth of a second off of the No. 55 BMW Riley.

The Level 5 team proved its versatility as the season opened up with rule changes and a freshly paved racetrack at Daytona International Speedway. The three-day test session for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series was an indicator of things to come for the team. During the practiced sessions, the team gradually built momentum by making small changes with every run, eventually building up to the point that the drivers were barely off the top speed by weekend’s end.

In the fourth test session, the No. 95 rose to 5th on the speed chart with a lap of 125.898 mph. Its counterpart, the No. 55, earned its way to a second-place position by the sixth session with a lap of 126.9189 mph.

Not only did Tucker drive both cars for the Roar before the 24, he was also a participant in the Sports Car Club of America’s Double National event at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida. He finished second both days of the race. “I want as much time on the track as possible,” he said at the time. “Getting in tune with the car is paramount to setting up for a successful season.”

The Roar before the 24 is much like preseason games in other sports; it gives drivers a chance to shake off any lingering problems from the previous year and preview the type of year that is to come. Many big motorsports names are on hand at the Roar before the 24, and many of the stars who test at the Roar are enrolled in the Rolex 24 at Daytona during subsequent weekends.

The results of the Roar before the 24 set Level 5 Motorsports in a perfect position for season’s start: beating the competition, but with some room for improvement. By exhibiting talent, control and skill on the raceway, Tucker and his teammates immediately established Level 5 Motorsports as a frontrunner for the coming races. Next up: the Rolex 24.

Brent Arends has been keeping a close eye on Scott Tucker, owner and driver, of Level 5 Motorsports throughout the past year. To get more information about Tucker, check out http://www.motorsport.com/#/all/search/?q=scott%252520tucker

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Posted on October 18, 2011 by , Reply

Petit Le Mans Will Be The Anniversary Of Scott Tucker’s Professional Debut

By Kaitlyn Tillman

The pinnacle of the 2011 American Le Mans series takes place on Oct. 1 with the 14th annual Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. For Scott Tucker, driver and owner for Level 5 Motorsports, the race marks the beginning of his sixth year of professional racing. In 2006, he made his professional debut at Petit Le Mans, and from there, his career took off.

“There are not many Americans that get to race there, first and foremost, so I feel very privileged to be among that group,” he said. “This year, we’re the only American prototype team there. We feel very fortunate we were selected to race there.”

The Petit Le Mans race is an endurance race modeled after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is its equivalent for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup series. Road Atlanta owner Don Panoz founded it, and the first iteration ran on Oct. 10, 1998—and Panoz must have had a thing for tens, because the race covers a maximum of 1,000 miles or a minimum of 10 hours, whichever comes first. Class winners of Petit Le Mans automatically qualify for the following year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Tucker has increasingly focused on the American Le Mans Series as his career has continued. After he founded Level 5 Motorsports in 2008, his main actions have included drafting talented veterans known for incredible precision even at maximum speeds. This year’s Petit Le Mans has unofficially been the holy grail in Tucker’s eyes: Mid-season, he announced the switch from the team’s Nos. 55 and 95 Microsoft Office-sponsored LMP2 cars to a brand new, right-off-the-line HPD ARX-01g chassis, the result of a partnership between Honda Performance Development and Wirth Research. Tucker pushed hard to get the car finished as quickly as possible, of course without sacrificing quality. While making the transition between cars, Tucker even withdrew from ALMS races in Lime Rock Park and a huge one at Silverstone in Great Britain, choosing instead to focus on the all-important Petit ahead.

Now, Tucker has added a fourth elite driver to his already well-stacked team. Marino Franchitti will join the team and its new car—which Tucker marks as best in its class—for the 2011 race at Road Atlanta. Franchitti has extensive experience with the HPD prototype family, having participated in the first year of development of the ARX-01a with Andretti Green Racing before spending some LMP2 time with Dyson Racing. The addition of Franchitti to the lineup is an obvious sign that Tucker is going for the win at Petit Le Mans, though that’s never not the case when Tucker enters a race track. He is a three-time national driving champion. Level 5 Motorsports’ performance in 2010 during its debut year in the American Le Mans Series sent them to the top of the podium and bumped them into the LMP2 category.

Tucker has made giant strides since his Petit Le Mans professional debut in 2006, and this year he’s possibly the most prepared he’s ever been. A victory would mean another addition to Tucker’s unbelievable record in the past five years, and moving to the LMP1 category would mean that Tucker has made it to the top class in the sport he seemingly was born to compete in. Whatever the results end up meaning for Level 5 Motorsports, the work they’ve already put in this year make it clear that the team is one of the most prolific, aggressive racing organizations in the world.

Kaitlyn Tillman has been keeping a close eye on Scott Tucker, owner and driver, of Level 5 Motorsports throughout the past year to keep you posted about the success of the dream team. To get more information about Tucker, check out http://www.planetlemans.com/?s=scott+tucker

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Posted on October 17, 2011 by , Reply

Amsoil Equipped Motorcycles Shine In Fuel Economy Challenge

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Amsoil Equipped Motorcycles Shine In Fuel Economy Challenge

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AMSOIL synthetic lubricants figured prominently in the Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge held May 13 in northern California, where a diesel-powered motorcycle using Amsoil products won by achieving 128.24 mpg. Many of the other bikes also relied on Amsoil products to help achieve results nearly as impressive.

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Winning driver Fred Hayes of Hayes Diversified Technologies (Hayes-DT) completed the challenge riding the company’s MD670 F2 diesel-powered motorcycle (pictured above). Hayes bested the next closest competitor by over 18mpg using biodiesel fuel, a lightweight motorcycle design (370 pounds dry) and Amsoil synthetic lubricants throughout.

  • Engine and Transmission – Series 3000 5W-30 Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel Oil
  • Cooling System – Antifreeze and Engine Coolant, Dominator© Coolant Boost
  • Chassis – Series 2000 Synthetic Racing Grease
  • Chain – MP Heavy Duty Metal Protector
  • Forks – Shock Therapy© Suspension Fluid #10 Medium
  • Fuel – Diesel Concentrate

Competitors completed a 133.5-mile course designed to provide real-world, challenging conditions. The trip, beginning and ending in Carmel, Calif.,

included mountainous terrain cresting a 2,500-foot pass, while the return ride along the famous El Camino Real subjected riders to 30 mph headwinds that tested the limits of each motorcycle’s fuel efficiency. Held at various places throughout the country, the Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge dates to 1980 and aims to encourage development of motorcycle technologies that improve fuel economy while remaining viable for everyday drivers.

The winner must consume the least amount of fuel measured in dollars and cents while meeting all prescribed conditions. Hayes used $4.53 in biodiesel, essentially one gallon, to travel the entire 133.5 miles in challenging conditions, highlighting the bike’s impressive technology and the effectiveness of AMSOIL products. Hayes said his bike showed measurable improvements running Series 3000 5W-30 Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel Oil and Diesel Concentrate, including easier shifting from the transmission. Competitors had to remain ahead of trailing official at all times to prevent them from padding fuel economy statistics by driving slowly. Two bikes were disqualified for doing so.

AMSOIL-sponsored Hayes-DT focuses on developing the world’s most cutting-edge, heavy-fuel-powered, light tactical vehicles and small engines for military use.

In fact, key Hayes-DT corporate personnel have served in modern military conflicts deployed on Hayes-DT military motorcycles. The bikes receive the most use from the Combat Military Police for rout recognizance and convoy control.

Hayes-DT Street Fighter bike

The Hayes-DT Street Fighter bike achieved 90.82 mpg running biodiesel and AMSOIL lubricants throughout

A second Hayes-DT bike, the Street Fighter, was disqualified after a battery problem caused it to miss the official start. Following repairs, driver Josh Chen rallied to complete the course anyway, achieving 90.82 mpg, which would have been good enough for third place. The Street Fighter used the same lineup of AMSOIL products as the MD670 F2. Although neither motorcycle is available to the general public yet, Hayes-DT is currently working on EPA and EU emissions certification. Until then, competitions like the Vetter Fuel Economy Challenger allow Hayes-DT to showcase the advanced technologies of their bikes and the performance benefits of AMSOIL synthetic lubricants and additives.

http://www.syntheticoilhq.com/catalog

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Posted on August 23, 2011 by , 3 comments

Top Truck Challenge Day 2

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Top Truck Challenge Day 2

June 10, 2011

Wednesday was the second day of the Top Truck Challenge, and it didn’t go without a hitch. Competitors were introduced to the Obstacle Course, Hill Climb and Mini Rubicon events. AMSOIL Technical Powersports Manager Len Groom provided us with another update straight from Hollister Hills, and reports this years’ event isn’t holding back any punches. Judging by the pictures, these rigs are facing some extreme obstacles as they make their way to through each event and try to remain in the competition.

The Obstacle Course held plenty of surprises for competitors as they attempted to clear it. Deep water and deeper holes proved this to be extremely difficult, catching some of the drivers on the ledge causing them to roll. Despite the challenges the competitors faced, most made it through to face the next challenge-the Hill Climb event.

The Hill Climb is a 60° slope with holes and ditches dug throughout, aimed at either flipping the rigs over or stopping them completely. There is no stopping or backing up in the Hill Climb event, momentum must be maintained while dodging the treacherous terrain at the same time.  On a hill that’s difficult to even stand on, let alone drive, most drivers were able to clear it, though there were a couple of rollovers.

Up next we saw the Mini Rubicon, one of the most challenging events in the Top Truck Challenge. The proving ground for this event was bigger than in years past, and producers made sure it wouldn’t be easy. In addition to deep holes, giant boulders were placed throughout to ensure some broken parts at the end of the day. In spite of all the hurdles, the Mini Rubicon didn’t take out any competitors and they were all able to move on to the dreaded Tank Trap on Thursday.

The winner of Top Truck Challenge will soon be announced. Be sure to check back later for the next update on what went down in the Tank Trap event, and who won the battle in Top Truck Challenge 2011.

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Posted on June 15, 2011 by , Reply