News

ON A RACE BUDGET

Two Barrel Carbs, Tire Rules, and Racers on a Budget Prove “Myth” Unlikely by Kari Shear-Carlson Sep 26, 2013- The ARCA Midwest Tour presented by Scag Power Equipment and Lester Buildings takes pride in the success they have built over the years in trying to control costs in a high level series. Often times the “myth” about a series being too expensive can float around the racing scene, but when it comes down to the facts, dollar for dollar, the series has done a great job erasing that myth. So where does the myth begin? “We aren’t sure how it all gets started, but usually it’s shop talk,” said series President Tim Olson. “The cars all cost the same money to build, and the travel to an event is still the same, so we try to make a difference in our pay scale to be one of the best in the industry. We focus heavily on our Touring Star program bonuses and our cash and product contingency plans. When they start adding it up, they begin to realize that the ARCAMT is where they need to be. The competition is so tough in the Tour, and it makes good drivers great,” added Olson. Drivers [...]

September 26, 2013 Read more...

Sizzlin’ Summer for Rookies

   Jesse Leiby, and his dad John, campaign a DIRT Sportsman at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middleton, NY – and were so proud to announce their first win!  His VDL 4412 attacked that 5/8 mile of dirt and clay, and came out on top!      Across the country in Washington state, 15 year old Cody Walker went to the bank with his first big event win at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval.  He and his dad GW compete on the fastest 1/4 mile in the Northwest in the NW Pro4 Alliance series.  His VDL 4412 brought that 4 cylinder 240 hp engine to life!      Davey Coble is on a hot streak this summer at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in the Pro Late Model division.  He and his dad Jerry run a Ford Blue Oval with a VDL 650 HP carburetor and scored their first win of the season after the carburetor was rebuilt in the VDL shop.  Davey is holding the points lead with one more race on the schedule!      Kevin Aberle won the first race of the season at Hudson Speedway in New Hampshire with his Rookie Stock, but then hit a streak of bad luck.  Kevin sent his VDL [...]

August 16, 2013 Read more...

SPRING SIZZLER

   VICTORY FOR BOBBY SANTOS! The NASACR Whelen Modified Tour arrived at Stafford Motor Speedway on a beautiful weekend in April with all drivers and teams ready to do battle.  VDL came out on top with Bobby Santos and Performance Engines by Billy the Kid!  Bobby and the #44 Curb Records/ Brandon Kelley Music Chevrolet dominated the whole weekend, being fastest in practice, taking the pole, and leading 197 of 200 laps to win the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler. Bobby’s Chevy sizzled with the power from Bill Mathes of Performance Engines in Torrington, CT and the hottest 390 HP carburetor from VDL.  Congratulations to Bobby and Billy – an awesome way to start the season!    BILLY  “the KID”  MATHES  

June 29, 2013 Read more...

VDL 4412 Dominates ARCA Midwest Tour

     NATHAN HASELEU                               DAN FREDRICKSON                               JOHNNY SAUTER We are thrilled to be involved with the ARCA Midwest Tour for our fifth year because the racers and the engine builders involved are serious about using the best equipment.  Our Holley 4412 carburetor has been the champion’s carburetor year after year, and we are proud to  present the best 2-barrel in the country to the Hard Charger Team award winner at the end of the season.  We will also have $100 product certificates for the Fast Qualifier at each race because these late model racers drive hard for the win and do it with respect. 2013 promises to be another competitive year for VDL and the ARCA Midwest engine builders who have found more horsepower and consistency with a VDL carburetor.  Our carburetors are built from the ground up with Holley parts that we finish-machine to our specs for airflow and the fuel curve.  Every carburetor goes through a 3-step building process and is then flow-tested to confirm the integrity of the build.  We also keep precise records on each carburetor; so that when a carburetor is returned for a rebuild, we can make modifications to keep it [...]

June 29, 2013 Read more...

We Say No to Ethanol

According to FoxBusiness.com, the EPA, influenced by special interest groups, approved E-15 ethanol gasoline even though 95% of the cars on the road (228 million) could be damaged by using it.  Three states so far are selling E-15 ethanol gasoline – Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa; but the EPA is pushing its use across the rest of the country.  Car manufacturers have adapted cars to be able to use E-10 but not E-15.  Can your car tolerate the high ethanol levels?  Older cars are particularly susceptible to being damaged by E-15.  Also, BMW, Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler, Volkswagen, etc. have said their car warranties will not cover fuel-related claims. http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2000862202001/ In our humble opinion, ethanol does not belong in the racing world either.  The lower cost of ethanol does not balance out with the adverse effects of ethanol on the entire fuel system.  Are you ready to do preventative maintenance from the foam in the fuel cell and the inner lining of every fuel line to the fuel pump, regulator, filter, and the carburetor plus the internal steel parts of your engine after every race?  Even the use of “pump gas” and highly oxygenated fuels quickly leads to deterioration of carburetor parts and gaskets, [...]

January 29, 2013 Read more...

Proud to be ….

PROUD TO BE . . . VDL Fuel Systems has maintained a long and rewarding relationship with Holley, and has now been designated as a Holley Authorized Modifier.  We are proud to be part of the Holley family, and are ready to continue into this new year building a better carburetor with genuine Holley parts.  We look back on the 2012 season, and are amazed by all the VDL carburetors that were part of race-winning teams; and we thank you for all those opportunities to do what we love.  In the new season ahead, we are here to answer questions, offer advice, help troubleshoot, and to build the best carburetor for your race car.  Good Luck and Great Fun to you in 2013! RACE.  EAT.  SLEEP.  REPEAT.  RACE.  EAT.  SLEEP.  REPEAT.  RACE.  EAT.  SLEEP.  REPEAT.  RACE. . . WIN!

January 16, 2013 Read more...

Small Block Wins Over Big Blocks

The carburetor of choice became the carburetor of a champion for Chris Raabe and his engine builder, Yves LaFrance, and it’s another big win for the VDL 80541 / 650 HP carburetor.  This carburetor isn’t just for crates anymore:   CHRIS RAABE TAKES LAFRANCE PERFORMANCE SMALL BLOCK TO VICTORY LANE AGAINST THE BIG BLOCK SUPER STARS By Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design – July 4, 2012 It was arguably one of the biggest upsets in recent memory in the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series when Napanee, Ontario racer Chris Raabe took his Lafrance Performance powered 358 Modified to victory lane against the more powerful Big Block Modified counterparts.  Raabe’s biggest win of his young career came in dominating fashion, leading 80 of the 100 laps, taking home the $6000 to win payday after beating some of the best [...]

July 11, 2012 Read more...

Looking for Drivability on a Slick Track?

Matt Fink has a secret, so don’t tell anyone.  This is his Big Block Dirt Modified #15 that won the feature May 26 at Fulton Speedway, New York – a 3/8 mile dirt oval that will changes from tacky to slick in no time as the summer days get hotter.  These beasts make 800-900 horsepower that can easily overpower a dry slick track, and the question is:  how does one keep it hooked up?  One answer lies in the driver’s hands and the crew chief’s head, and the other comes from VDL:  Matt runs our Holley 750 with the venturis bored out to 1.450.  This big-bore carburetor creates the power comparable to a 950 cfm carburetor, but it maintains the drivability of the 750.  Drivability must be a southern Alabama word because it “ain’t” in the dictionary, but to us it means throttle response that is drivable, controllable, and winable!   Matt used it all that last Saturday in May to take his first feature win, and he did it by .122 seconds!  Wish we were there to have seen that!  Congratulations!      

June 6, 2012 Read more...

VDL 4412 wins with gas or ethanol!

The singular most popular carburetor at short tracks across the country is the Holley 4412 / 500 cfm, and the best one on the market comes from LA – that’s “lower Alabama”!  The VDL crew builds this carburetor for 4 cylinder Mini-stocks to B Mods to Street Stocks to Trucks to Super Late Models; dirt and asphalt; gas, alcohol, or ethanol.  Let us do the work, and all you do is bolt it on, check your float level, and go!     This pristine Street Stock belongs to Nick Shaw of Wall Stadium in Wall Township, New Jersey.  He runs our Holley 4412 on this high-banked asphalt oval almost every Saturday night from April to October, setting the fast lap of the race and winning!  Thanks for the ride, guys.     On the other coast, Rich Harper competes at the New Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, California.  It’s another high-banked oval; and Rich picked up a big win May 5 in his Super Stock with a VDL 4412 – on ethanol!  We’re proud of ya’, Rompin’ Rich!     Our Holley 4412 wins on Late Models, too – just ask Buckshot!  Mike Bologna runs his Late Model at Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, New York, [...]

June 6, 2012 Read more...

Start the 2012 Season with a Big Win just like ….

        Start your 2012 season with a big win, just like Richie Stephens did!  They call him “Rocket Man” at his home track, East Alabama Motor Speedway, in Phenix City, Alabama for good reason:  he’s fast!  The Rocket Man and his crew headed to Tampa the first weekend of February for the World Street Stock Nationals at East Bay Raceway Park, and showed them what fast is, too.  After 3 nights of racing, the Rocket Man had 2 feature wins and 1 second place finish to claim the World Street Stock National Championship.  VDL is proud to be a part of this winning effort, and we send a hearty thank-you to Richie for being on top with our Holley 4412 carburetor!

February 20, 2012 Read more...