Cure for the off season blues
Advanced Clutch Technology is proud to announce the debut of our new sponsored driver video series, Hit and Run, set to run through the off season. We spent time with Team ACT drivers during the 2011 racing season to get to the bottom of those deep, heart-to-heart questions we’ve all wanted answers to like:
- Which famous person, dead or alive, would you like to fight? Why?
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- Name five famous people, dead or alive, that you would like to have dinner with.
- What are your five desert island discs/albums?
- Advanced Clutch Technology is ________?
Tune in at the beginning of each month to catch the next video in the series and get revved up for the 2012 racing season.
ACT presents Sideways to SEMA with Chelsea Denofa
ACT is proud to announce that we are the Title Sponsor of the Chelsea Denofa’s Sideways to SEMA campaign — a documented journey of the driver’s cross-country trip to Las Vegas. On Oct. 22, 2011, Denofa, who is the 2010 and 2011 Xtreme Drift Circuit champion, will be driving his full drifting racecar across the country to get from Florida to the BC Racing booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. He invites fans to track him as he travels 2,362 miles over four days, while making appearances in four cities along the way.
“Chelsea has been a longtime user of ACT products and this is the first time anyone is doing something like this, so we signed on immediately,” said Cheralyn Smith, ACT Marketing Manager.
The Sideways to SEMA team will start at PSI Motorsports in Orlando, Fla., head to Technica Motorsports in Atlanta, Ga., stop for dinner in Fort Worth, Texas, slide on over to Albuquerque, N.M. and finally race over to Las Vegas. Using Google Footprints, fans can pinpoint the Sideways to SEMA team’s exact location, take a picture and post it at www.facebook.com/sidewaystosema to win a FREE Sideways to SEMA T-shirt. The team will be posting daily updates with images and video documenting the journey at www.apexusblog.com.
For more information about Advanced Clutch Technology or to enter to win a free clutch kit, “Like Us” at www.facebook.com/advancedclutch.
ACT wants you to be our guest at the Drift AllStars Final Sept. 16 – 17, 2011!
Simply answer these 3 questions and you could be our guest at Clash of the Titans.
Question #1
What year did Team ACT driver Eric O’Sullivan win the JDM AllStars Championship?
Question #2
What country does Team ACT driver Christy Carpenter’s hail from?
Question #3
What year was ACT founded?
Grand Prize includes the following:
- 2 – VIP Passes to the event for both days
- 2 – ACT crew shirts (not sold in stores)
- 2 – ACT swag bags (which include T-shirt, hat, lanyard, Zippo lighter and sunglasses)
- Ride along with Christy Carpenter in his 600hp Yokohama TIRE Nissan S15
- Honorary member of Christy Carpenter pit crew for the weekend
- £150 spending cash
Entries must be received by September 1, 2011
The “ACT DRIFT ALLSTARS CLASH OF THE TITANS” contest is open to legal residents of the United Kingdom and European Union who are at least 18 years old and physically located in one of the eligible countries at the time of entry. This Prize does not include transportation or lodging costs. All such costs and/or fees are the responsibility of the winner.
ACT-sponsored Team Dynamic Autosports releases new car for U.S. Time Attack series
Team Dynamic Autosports released their new 2011 Scion tC for the U.S. Time Attack series with Professional skateboarder and six-time X-Games gold medalist, Bucky Lasek, as the driver. According to the team’s recent press release, the philosophy behind the build was to “create a more realistic weekend car that any automotive enthusiast could create and enjoy.”
Team Dynamic Autosports made minor modifications to the car, including improving the handling, removing minimal interior panels and sound deadening material, installing an ultra lightweight carbon fiber hood and hatch, carbon front splitter and wing, a coil over kit, new tires, full bucket seats with harnesses, a custom turbo kit and of course, an ACT clutch.
“Advanced Clutch Technology is thrilled to continue our five-year relationship with Eddie Kim and the team from Dynamic Autosports. We expect great things from this team,” said Cheralyn Smith, Marketing Manager at ACT. “They have all of the necessary requirements for success: an awesome car, the Scion tC, industry partners like ACT and several others, and a driven competitor like Bucky Lasek behind the wheel. We can’t wait to see it at the track!”
After a day of testing at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., Lasek was able to achieve a final lap time of 1:26.3, and the team looks forward to greater results after further development and adjustments to meet Lasek’s driving style.
Dynamic Autosports industry partners include Scion Racing, Hankook Tire, GReddy, APR Performance, Seibon Carbon, Weds Sport North America, Tein USA and Advanced Clutch Technology.
Check out the Team Dynamic Autosports Official Press Release here.
Gardella Racing featured in Stephen Brooks’ latest film
LANCASTER, CALIF. (June 29, 2011) — Earlier this month, English film director and producer Stephen Brooks met up with the Gardella Racing team for Round 4 of the 2011 Formula Drift series in Wall, N.J. Brooks, who has filmed several other drift series, wanted to provide an inside look at what it is like to be alongside Gardella Racing in the various roles each member plays during competition. By only using hand-held cameras and a few lenses, Brooks gives viewers that personal, inside look at what goes on at a Formula Drift event, while juxtaposing it with the rich, historical feel of a black-and-white film.
Brooks always wanted to shoot at Formula Drift, so he took the opportunity and was impressed with the professionalism behind the series, according to his blog.
“It’s a complete aural and visual assault on your senses, everything is super professional, the crowds are huge and it’s a true professional motorsport. Their organization is outstanding, it ran like clockwork and you really felt the sense of it being a show.” - Stephen Brooks, from www.drifted.com/stephen-brooks
Getting to know the team and cover the event was just a slice of what his trip had to offer. He witnessed a wicked rainstorm involving flying tents, burned his tongue on some spicy wings, got to see Gardella senior’s classic cars and more. Brooks’ shares about his three-day journey with Gardella Racing in his post, “BEHIND THE SCENES: Drifting the Gauntlet with Gardella Racing,” at www.drifted.com/stephen-brooks. His film, “Drifting the Gauntlet: Gardella Racing,” can be seen below or found at www.stephenbrooksfilms.com. For more information about Gardella Racing, visit www.gardellaracing.com.
Advanced Clutch Technology joins the Mattley Crue
LANCASTER, CALIF. — ACT is proud to announce its sponsorship of Matt Powers’ Team Need for Speed Nitto Tires Nissan S14. Matt Powers, owner/driver of the Team Need for Speed Nitto Tires Nissan S14 hails from San Diego, Calif., and is in his third year as a Formula DRIFT Pro Driver. Powers notched a second place podium at the 2011 season opener in Long Beach, Calif., and is currently ranked fifth overall. Powers’ current sponsors include: Need for Speed, Nitto, Advanced Clutch Technology, GTI, STACK, Rocket Bunny, Royal Purple, Holley, Alpine Stars, KW, Part Shop MAX, Drift Works, RePlay XD, Wilwood, Jordan Innovations, Driveshaft Shop, Earls, Gram Light, Robot Racing and GM performance parts. When not at the track, Powers can be found surfing, snowboarding or listening to some sweet Iron Maiden.
ACT Formula DRIFT Title Fight Sweepstakes
ACT has supported Formula DRIFT since its inception in 2004. For the 2011 Formula DRIFT season, ACT is proud to present the ACT TITLE FIGHT Sweepstakes. ACT will provide one lucky Formula DRIFT fan and guest with a VIP experience at the 2011 Formula DRIFT finals in Irwindale, Calif. Prize package includes: (2) VIP event tickets, 
round-trip airfare for two, (3) nights at the Marriott hotel and a Visa gift card in the amount of $250.00. This will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event for the lucky winner and guest!
About ACT
Look at any successful performance products manufacturer and you will see their products in competition, proving their worth. ACT is no exception, having notched many victories and championships across various forms of motorsports, including drifting, drag racing, rally, autocross and road course. Whether you are building a project or swapping out a worn out system, don’t just replace it: upgrade it with an ACT performance clutch kit and flywheel.
ACT clutches deliver the maximum holding power by applying a series of sound engineering advancements to new (not rebuilt) components, which maximizes load and reduces flex. The result is maximum torque capacity, long life and clean, fast shifting. ACT is a premier clutch manufacturer that has more than 700 different applications and more than 1,300 performance clutch kits. The company’s product line features clutches and forged flywheels for the most popular vehicles in the sport compact, domestic and European car markets. ACT is headquartered in Lancaster, Calif.
Tanner Foust Announces Temporary Retirement From Formula DRIFT
Long Beach, Calif. – February 10th, 2011 – Formula DRIFT has announced that 2-time Formula DRIFT champion, Tanner Foust will temporarily step away from the sport of drifting. In conjunction, Papadakis Racing and Team Need For Speed have announced the signing of the 2010 Formula DRIFT Rookie of the Year, Fredric Aasbo.
“Tanner’s semi-retirement is bittersweet for the Series as he has become one of the most recognizable drivers on the circuit and is one of the most competitive spokesmen for Formula DRIFT,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “As with the growth and progression of the Series we can expect to see opportunities brought to many of the drivers and wish Tanner more success in his career both on and off the track. His departure will leave a spot open for a future star of drifting to rise, which we are excited to see.”
Foust has announced his temporary retirement from drifting due to a demanding 2011 schedule of European Rally events, X-Games and television responsibilities. The 2-time Formula DRIFT champion and Tires.com Triple Crown bonus winner will be competing one last time in the Rockstar / Papadakis Racing Scion tC on February 25, 2010 during the Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational competition.
“I owe a lot to Formula DRIFT and Stephan Papadakis. This sport, Stephan and his team have been, and will remain, an integral part of my motorsports life,” said Tanner Foust, from his home in San Juan Capistrano. “This was a hard choice to make, but with my schedule looking even busier than last year’s I will not be able to fully commit to the 2011 Formula DRIFT season. However, I am looking forward to competing in the Rockstar Scion tC for one last time in Abu Dhabi this month.” With an open seat, team owner, Stephan Papadakis has enlisted the highly touted and talented driver, Fredric Aasbo. In addition, a newly created partnership with Team Need For Speed has solidified the alliance. Aasbo will be competing in the brand new Need for 2011 Scion tC this season with the competition debut during Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 8-9, 2011.
“Our new partnership with Need For Speed and having Fredric behind the wheel of the new Need for Speed 2011 Scion tC is very exciting,” stated Stephan Papadakis, team owner of Papadakis Racing. “To be aligned with such a top brand in the gaming world is a dream of ours. The synergy between our programs is a natural fit. We build crazy cars for competition and they have the technology for the world to drive them! It has been a pleasure to work with Tanner for the past 5 years and our team thanks him for his hard work and determination and wish him nothing but the best.”
The 2011 Formula DRIFT season begins on April 8-9, 2011 and will mark the debut of many cars, drivers, and teams. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com
