Archive for December, 2011

Scott Kalitta and Doug Kalitta Inducted Into Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

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YPSILANTI, Mich., (Nov. 7, 2011) – The late Scott Kalitta, two-time NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Top Fuel World Champion, and his cousin Doug Kalitta, driver of the Technicoat Top Fuel dragster for legendary Kalitta Motorsports, based in Ypsilanti, Mich., were both inducted into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame Sunday, Nov. 6, during the 28th annual MMSHoF Induction Ceremony in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Scott, who tragically lost his life in a racing accident in June of 2008 in New Jersey, was born in Mt. Clemens, Mich., Feb. 18, 1962. Scott’s celebrated drag racing career included 18 NHRA national event victories in 34 final-round appearances. In 1994, Scott became the first Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to win four consecutive national events en route to his first of two consecutive Top Fuel World Championships.

Scott’s two sons Corey, 18, and Colin, 11, along with longtime Kalitta Motorsports team member and crew chief Jon Oberhofer, were on hand at the ceremony Sunday and accepted the induction plaque for Scott at the ceremony attended by approximately 400 friends, family members, and fans of the ten total inductees.

Scott was the only son of drag racing pioneer and icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta, who also is a Michigan native and resident. Connie continues his roles as Kalitta Motorsports’ team owner and chief tuner to this day. He was inducted into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

Doug, Connie’s nephew, is a 47 year-old resident of Ann Arbor, Mich. Doug, a 14-year drag racing veteran, is still very active in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series action and is currently in 8th place in Full Throttle Top Fuel championship points. To date, Doug has 32 career NHRA Top Fuel trophies from 64 final-round appearances, which currently places him in the No. 7 slot for most NHRA Top Fuel career wins. He has finished in the top ten in championship points in every season of his NHRA career which began in 1998, including runner-up points finishes in 2003, 2004, and 2006.

Doug and his daughter Avery, 8, also attended the ceremony yesterday. “It’s truly an honor for me to be inducted alongside my cousin Scott and join my Uncle Connie in the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame,” Doug said while accepting his induction plaque. “Our family is very proud to be a part of the great history of racing in the state of Michigan.”

About Kalitta Motorsports

Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.

Jeff Arend drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car for the team. Newly added in the fall of 2011, Alexis Dejoria pilots the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car. Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, drives the Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster entry while Dave Grubnic drives the team’s second Top Fueler under the banner of Kalitta Air as well. Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by crew chief Jim Oberhofer and assistant crew chief Troy Fasching on Doug’s Top Fueler and by co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante on the DHL Funny Car. Oberhofer also serves as crew chief for the Tequila Patrón team. Connie serves as crew chief on the Grubnic-driven racer with help from assistant crew chief James Riola.

Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Candlewood Suites, ROCKY Boots, Red Line Oil, Technicoat Companies, OPTIMA Batteries, JEGS, and Mac Tools.

For more info about Kalitta Motorsports including exclusive content such as videos, photos and more, please visit www.teamkalitta.com. Follow Us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TeamKalitta. Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KalittaMotorsports. Check out videos about Team Kalitta on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/TeamKalitta

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Ramblings from a trade show practitioner!

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Yeah that’s me – Doctor Dave  – Trade Show Practitioner/or The Dude, as most of you call me!

I truly like trade shows. I know that is probably a weird statement to make, but you’ve got to look at it from my point of view. I have been doing trade shows on a national and international level for 26 years. Sick huh? Oh well, I like the camaraderie of the set up process, seeing all of my exhibitor friends, and helping each other get those booths set up and ready for you…..our valued customers. We trade show exhibitors are like a traveling circus. We go from town to town doing the set ups and tear down week after week and we hang out together before and after even these events. Even if we’re fierce competitors during the day we still get together to hang out after the business is done. It’s a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun if you approach it properly. It is what we do, and it is because of you that we do it!

I like knowing that you are coming to learn, investigate, and renew old acquaintances at these trade shows, and to also maybe purchase a new machine or one of our many tools to save you time and make that job easier and faster.

I like trade shows because it gives me a chance to be one-on-one with you. It allows us to actually show you our products and how they work, and in most cases you can test drive then right there at the show. I come to the shows prepared and loaded for just about any contingency. We always have our techs with us so we can also answer those tough questions about engines or our products with authority and facts. In most cases we offer the “trade show discount” to motivate you to make the decision right there, saving you dollars for making that decision at the show.

The PRI show in Orlando was a little smaller than last year in my opinion. It seems like the motor homes and back curtains keep creeping closer to all of us on machinery row. However, you made the show a success by your attendance. Your attendance allowed Goodson to once again announce that this PRI show was worth the time and many dollars it takes to be at the Orlando venue. Once again PRI delivered on its commitment to you. They also delivered what we as exhibitors need to sustain ourselves for exhibiting at these events. Thanks to all of you who attended this year’s PRI show!

The IMIS show was the very next week. I got home from Florida just in time to do the 24 hour turn around. I needed clean clothes and also needed to get to the office to insure all the business from PRI was handled. We drive to IMIS because its not that far and allows me to be in competition with myself on how fast I can make the trip. My best time from here to there got even better. Beat last year by 22 minutes. You know about anybody can drive 80 MPH, but to drive 80 miles in an hour for many hours is the key to getting A to B in a reasonable time. (Remember, don’t try this at home. I’m a professional.)

The IMIS show is a little different than PRI. It draws a huge following from about a 500 mile circle around Indy. The show is only in its third year, and I admit last year was little light in attendance. This year however those doors opened up and a steady stream of happy and enthusiastic engine builders started making their way throughout the show floor. I noticed that some of my trade exhibitor buddies had reduced their footprint due to last year’s lack of attendees. I suspect a lot of them will probably step it up next year due to the success this year’s IMIS-INDY SHOW. Thank all of you for attending this year’s IMIS show.

You know if you breakdown the IMIS –INDY Show acronym it says this, “I-MIS-INDY.” I tip my marketing hat to the show people who thought that up, very clever indeed.

Over-all both shows delivered what they said they would deliver and we thank the promoters who work so hard to make these events possible. Goodson will continue to support both trade shows because they deliver. We look forward to seeing you again at the next event, wherever it may be.

See ya in the streets!

Dave

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