CPG Nation Forum - Power & Performance Blog

12 Questions With Kevin Feeney

jjamros — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:09:38 GMT

Name: Kevin Feeney

Job Title: RHS� Product Manager

As the product manager for RHS�, Kevin Feeney is deeply involved with researching, selecting, developing and placing new RHS� products. Kevin draws on his extensive personal racing experience to better understand what RHS� customers need. He then helps bring new products onto the market to answer those needs.

Kevin Feeney

What is your background in the industry?

I have been involved in the automotive performance industry since high school. I�ve basically grown up in the industry and have been involved with the evolution of the aftermarket cylinder head market.

What do you like best about the job?

The best part about my job is that it is in the performance industry, which has always been my passion. It beats having to get a real job that would seem like work!

What is your all-time favorite or dream car?

The one that can set a fast time and win on Saturday night! I�ve always been a circle track racer, so if you�re asking me about street vehicles, my favorite is just the one that is already paid for.

Do you have past racing experience? If so what kind, and do you still race?

I have been racing since I was 11 years old. I started in quarter midgets and moved to dirt sprint cars when I was 18. Then I moved again into pavement sprint cars, and I still race a 410 CID winged sprint car on pavement.

What is your proudest moment in racing or in the industry?

Over the years I�ve been involved in numerous product development projects. The sense of accomplishment when you see a part through from conception to production to the race track is a great feeling every time.

Who is your favorite racer and why?

I can�t say that I have one favorite racer. I really admire all the guys who have made it to the professional level on their own, but have not forgotten where they came from and continue to support grass roots racing. I think Ken Schrader is a perfect example of this.

What is the best career advice you ever received?

Not sure who it was from, but the advice was to find something that you enjoy doing.

Kevin Feeney with his 410 CID winged sprint car

What advice would you give a kid who wants to go grow up to be a racer or work in the industry?

There is a tremendous amount of opportunity for a career in the performance industry in a number of roles. The best advice that I could offer someone is to concentrate on their education. As the industry has grown, so has the technology. A good education is going to become more and more important to keep up with the technology.

What are your hobbies outside of racing and the industry?

Racing, racing and racing.

What is your favorite type of music to drive to?

Classic rock

In the next five years, what do you think will be the most important advancement in performance automotive technology?

As the later model engines and fuel injection continue to migrate into the performance market, the advancement in electronics will continue to play a large role.

What is the one thing you couldn�t live without?

My family.

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12 Questions with Chuck Gleaves

CPG Marketing — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:31:39 GMT

Name: Chuck Gleaves

Job Title: Inglese� Builder/Technician

Half technician, half artist, Chuck Gleaves builds induction systems at Inglese�. He uses a combination of beauty, power and technology to craft some of the most powerful and exotic looking carburetors in the world. Chuck hand-builds custom Weber carburetors to suit the specific performance requirements of each individual customer. He draws on his vast knowledge to create carburetors in a wide variety of styles and with an equally varying amount of features.

Chuck Gleaves

What is your background in the industry?

Well, basically I have a racing background. I was involved with different drag racing classes for over thirty years. Of course, I�ve also worked with COMP Cams�. I ground camshafts for COMP� for twelve years, and I was in sales. That�s about it.

What do you like best about the job?

The challenges. There�s always something different to challenge you.

What is your all-time favorite or dream car?

There�s so many of them out there now days, but I would say I still like the Camaros. So probably a �68 or �69 Camaro.

Do you have past racing experience? If so what kind, and do you still race?

Yeah, like I say, I used to run NRHA, IHRA and then I switched over to running the street car nitrous shootout classes. I had a red �63 Corvette for that. We set a lot of records in those races. I�ve been out of it probably about six years now. Basically, I still help people that have race cars � quick 8 cars, standard stick shift cars and stuff like that.

Chuck Racing His 1963 Corvette

What is your proudest moment in racing or in the industry?

Getting to run an alcohol funny car.

Who is your favorite racer and why?

I would say Warren Johnson. The reason I say that is because Warren is always looking to experiment with and to work with something that�s going to be faster. That�s kind of like what we would do with our car. We would always go to the next level. I think that�s what he always does.

What is the best career advice you ever received? Who gave it to you?

I�d probably have to say that it came from my dad. He said do something that you actually enjoy. And whatever that is, stay in that direction and be the best you can be at it.

What advice would you give a kid who wants to go grow up to be a racer or work in the industry?

Get an education first.

What are your hobbies outside of racing and the industry?

Induction Jeweler Hard At Work

I work on hot rods and street rods. I go to the race track and help some of my friends who have different types of race cars with their suspensions, engines or whatever.

What is your favorite type of music to drive to?

I like basically all kinds; country, rock, gospel, whatever.

In the next five years, what do you think will be the most important advancement in performance automotive technology?

Fuel injection. There�s so much you can do with it as far as working with computers. It�s the same thing you can do manually, but having the laptop there, you don�t have to actually go in with hands on. As far as adjusting anything, you can do it all with your laptop. You can set your parameters for timing, fuel, nitrous, whatever. That�s probably where it�s going right now.

What is the one thing you couldn�t live without?

My belief in God. Everything else just falls in place from there.

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12 Questions With Jeff Reed

CPG Marketing — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:14:01 GMT

Name: Jeff Reed

Job Title: TCI� Automotive Race Support/Sales

Jeff Reed works directly with racers powered by TCI� parts. Relying on years of experience and first-hand knowledge, he works one-on-one with his customers, providing the specialized assistance and support they need to build the most reliable and consistent drivetrain combinations possible.

Jeff Reed

What is your background in the industry?

I've been around racing since 1984. I�ve worked at TCI� since 1984 and was the Transmission Production Manager for sixteen years. Just recently, I moved into a new position focusing solely on our hardcore race products and building relationships directly with racers.

What do you like best about the job?

I just like being around drag racing, and I like working on the parts that the racers use. I think it�s the challenge of trying to �out think� the competition.

What is your all-time favorite or dream car?

A 2003 or 2004 Mustang Cobra. I will own one before I die.

Do you have past racing experience? If so what kind, and do you still race?

I�m the crew chief for John Kolivas. We ran NMRA drag radial for five years and won three championships - 2006, 2007 and 2008. I also won NMRA Crew Chief of the Year in 2008. I do race some when I have time. I race the local 275 Drag Radial events and some Outlaw type races with my �93 Mustang. It�s setup like an NMRA Drag Radial car � small block Ford with an 85mm turbo.

What is your proudest moment in racing or in the industry?

Being a part of three World Championships and winning the NMRA Crew Chief of the Year award.

Who is your favorite racer and why?

John Kolivas because he gives it 100 percent all of the time.

What is the best career advice you ever received?

Do whatever you�re doing right the first time. Bill Taylor told me that.

Reed Driving His 1993 Mustang

What advice would you give a kid who wants to go grow up to be a racer or work in the industry?

Set some goals in life and follow your dreams. I can remember when I was a kid in school and my friend Sammy Ford gave me a TCI� t-shirt. I said to myself then that I wanted to work at TCI�. In the summer of 1984 I got my dream job, and I�ve been here ever since.

What are your hobbies outside of racing and the industry?

Besides racing, I like to spend time with my grandkids. I have two � Alex is six and Abby is four, and there is another one on the way.

What is your favorite type of music to drive to?

I like country and some 80's rock.

In the next five years, what do you think will be the most important advancement in performance automotive technology?

Electronics. Just look at how FAST� has changed over the past five years. At first it was only electronic fuel injection. Now they have built-in two and three steps, traction control and who knows what they will have in years to come.

What is the one thing you couldn�t live without?

My cell phone.

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12 Questions with Ron Turnpaugh

CPG Marketing — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:32:58 GMT

Name: Ron Turnpaugh

Job Title: Electrical Engineering Group Leader

Ron Turnpaugh is in charge of a talented group of electrical engineers who design and develop some of the industry�s most cutting edge components. Turnpaugh works in research and development to create the electronics, software, code and circuit boards that power state-of-the-art fuel injection systems, transmission control units and nitrous systems.[IMGrt=Ron Turnpaugh]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/Ron%20Turnpaugh.jpg[/IMGrt]

What is your background in the industry?

In the industry, I�ve done everything from working with a contractor doing classified projects for the government to working with SuperFlow, where I helped design the dynos and acquisitions systems for those systems. In my current position in the COMP Performance Group�, I design all the electronic components and software for FAST�, TCI� and ZEX� nitrous.

What do you like best about the job?

Two things: One, I like that I get to do something that I�m actually interested in. I could just design a computer or something, but that would be completely boring to me. I actually get to design automotive performance stuff that I race with and have in my own vehicles. I would be doing this on my own anyway.

The other thing is that it�s really gratifying to see things you design in the magazines and on TV. You go to races and see things you designed, and it�s in his car; he�s running it. That�s super rewarding. In most fields you would never see things that you do. You would just design things for cars, a lock or something, that who would care about? It�s very gratifying to see your stuff somewhere. That�s kind of cool.

What is your all-time favorite or dream car?

I don�t really have one. I don�t like a specific brand, like a Ferrari or even a new Corvette. My dream car would probably be a 10.5� drag radial car. Getting to race a 10.5� car that I actually owned. I like drag racing and that kind of stuff. For driving around, I�m not too crazy about anything. I like hot rods and choppers and stuff. I�m not much of an OEM type person.

Do you have past racing experience? If so what kind, and do you still race?

Just drag racing. Not professionally or anything. Just hanging out, doing the test and tune with everybody and doing Index and Heads Up type racing pretty much all through the summer.

[IMGLFT=Ron & His Corvette Drag Car]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/ront.jpg[/IMGlft]

What is your proudest moment in racing or in the industry?

Probably my coolest thing is just the huge success of the last product I was a big part of. The FAST� EZ-EFI�. That product has, in less than a year, been a huge success. There are hundreds of units out on the streets all over the country. I have never directly been involved in such an instant product success. That�s a huge achievement for a new release. It�s an awesome system. It really does what it says. I�ve seen it in all the magazines. I�ve worked on magazine articles with guys � seeing them actually use it and say, "This really does do that.� It was pretty cool to see somebody that pleasantly surprised by a product I helped develop. And that it�s taken off in such a big way, that�s pretty cool. A lot of times you never get to a point where something is just a huge hit. That was cool.

Who is your favorite racer and why?

I don�t really have one. I don�t really follow the standard racing.

What is the best career advice you ever received? Who gave it to you?

The main thing is to do something that you actually like to do first, rather than do it for money first. If you�re weighing your options and this one pays a little more but that one is something you�ll actually find interesting. You�ll go farther in that. The job that just pays good, you�ll probably just plateau and be bored with it. I don�t know who told me that though. It�s been a long time since somebody told me that. It was just something I heard along the way.

What advice would you give a kid who wants to go grow up to be a racer or work in the industry?

Listen to what people tell you. Listen to people who are there already, that are older than you, that have been there. A lot of people get big headed, thinking, I�m already great. Then they find out this guy was already there twenty years ago. I didn�t even know people where making that kind of horsepower back then. Sometimes they don�t look like you would think they would look. It�s good to listen to people who tell you things. I�ve learned a lot from a lot of older people.[IMGrt=Ron Working Hard]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/Ron%20Working.jpg[/IMGrt]

What are your hobbies outside of racing and the industry?

Music. I�m a musician. I play pretty much every instrument. I�ve always played in bands all over a bunch of different states. That�s probably my second hobby besides electronics and racing.

What is your favorite type of music to drive to?

Blues and blues rock.

In the next five years, what do you think will be the most important advancement in performance automotive technology?

I think a thing called direct injection will be part of that. I�m already starting to hear more and more about it. Where instead of firing the fuel in the intake and letting it go through, you actually fire it inside the cylinder where all the actual pressure is. I think direct injection might be the next thing. It seems to be a little bit better, but it�s still being proven.

What is the one thing you couldn�t live without?

Probably music actually.

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12 Questions With Matt Patrick, CPG Product Manager

CPG Marketing — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:14:54 GMT

Name: Matt Patrick

Job Title: Product Manager

Matt Patrick is probably best known in the COMP Performance Group� as manager of the ZEX� nitrous product line. As Product Manager, he is involved in everything from coordinating marketing programs to developing new product lines. But Patrick also handles special products and industrial accounts, where his duties can extend into helping to develop engine components large enough for ocean-going freighters or small enough for weed whackers. His extensive history in the automotive aftermarket industry makes him the perfect fit for such a diverse role in the COMP Group�. [IMGRT=Matt Patrick]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/MP1.jpg[/IMGRT]

What is your background in the industry?

It really started when I was sixteen years old when I started working at an automotive part store. With the exception of my first job ever as a bagel baker, which taught me I never wanted to do food service, I�ve always had an automotive related job. So my background has always been automotive. I did parts sales. I worked on the engineering side. I did software testing and development, when I was in college, for an automotive aftermarket company that did a lot of specialty tools and diagnostic electronics and things like that. So I worked for them throughout my college years, and then really, COMP Cams� hired me out of college. I worked for COMP� for two years as a research and development engineer. Then I left and started my own business, and I manufactured crankcase evacuation systems for racing engines. Basically I developed and designed performance parts for racing engines. I did that for a couple years, and then I came back in 2001 as the Product Manager for ZEX�.

What do you like best about the job?

I�m a passionate car guy. I love cars and I love anything that goes fast. I�m an absolute nut for cars. I love drag racing; that�s probably the motor sport that I�ve always been most interested in. So I think it starts with a passion for cars. I just love hot rods. I don�t care if it�s a muscle car or a new Mustang or Camaro. Whatever, I just love fast cars. That�s probably the first part of it.

I also love the size of our industry. In relative terms, it�s a fairly small industry. It allowed me, at a young age coming out of college, to really take on a lot of responsibility quickly. I wasn�t at some huge corporation where I had to put my twenty years in before I could really get a position where I had the responsibility and the option for trying to do something big. In this industry, where you can establish yourself as a standout that is willing to push hard and be creative, there really are huge opportunities for someone like that. And that�s where COMP� really gave me an opportunity. They allowed me to kind of run free and do crazy stuff. Some of it failed. But thankfully, most of it succeeded. Once you do that, you build a certain trust with the owners and they give you more and more freedom. I like that. Because of the size of our industry, somebody that�s young and aggressive and really has an eye for doing things can really go out and make a big splash in the industry fairly quickly. Whereas I don�t think you get quite that much freedom in a more mainstream corporate environment.

What is your all-time favorite or dream car?

That�s a good question. I don�t know. I haven�t really ever put myself in that position because I just like cars in general. But if money wasn�t an issue, what would I want? You know, it changes. If I was a younger guy in my 20s, I would have told you an NHRA Pro Stock car would probably be my dream race car. Now that I�m in my 30s, a little older, I think I probably would appreciate something a little more refined. I�ll throw out a Lexus IS F. I�ll throw out a luxury hot rod. It shows you I�ve changed over the years.

Do you have past racing experience? If so what kind, and do you still race?

Yeah. My first race car ever was a �72 Camaro with a big block Chevy, and I raced that when I was in college. That sort of cut my teeth into learning what it meant to be a racer and how to race, how to build cars and engines and stuff like that. That was my first foray into serious hot rodding. After that, I made a switch over, and I built probably my most serious racecar. It was a 1989 Honda CRX. What was unique about it was that I actually built it for a Heads-Up Class drag racing series. That car made about 700 horsepower. It was a turbo charged, nitrous injected 4 cylinder. It ended up running like 1030s at 148 miles an hour. So it was a pretty fast little car. It was a purpose built Street Class Heads-Up race car. I campaigned that for about four years and had some really good success with it. Out of the thirteen final rounds I went to in that car, I think I won eleven of them. So it was a very competitive car while I raced it. [IMGLFT=Matt's 1989 Honda CRX]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/MP3.jpg[/IMGLFT]

That would be the extent of my personal racecar experience, but I�ve also been a crew chief. Actually, Chuck Gleaves, one of our employees here, used to race a �63 split window Corvette Pro Street car. We raced the NMCA series. That was what�s considered a Nostalgia Pro Street car. I was the crew chief for him, so we kind of raced it as a team. We did that for three years and did fairly well with it, traveling all over the country with it.

So, I�ve built and raced my own cars and I�ve also been a crew chief. Now, I�ve got a 2005 mustang. That�s my current hot rod that I play with. I occasionally go to the race track with it, but it�s a street car. I just enjoy it and I hot rod it and do all that kind of stuff. That�s my current toy.

What is your proudest moment in racing?

My first national event win. My first race that I ever won was in Englishtown, New Jersey. That was definitely my proudest moment, so to speak, in my racing career. It was that first national event win. That was my second year in racing. First year was nothing but blown up engines and failure. You know, it�s like you learn that first year what not to do more than what to do. In that second year I finally got some success. That for me was probably the most satisfying.

Who is your favorite racer and why?

Warren Johnson. Just from the standpoint of, if you look at his accomplishments and how he approached engine design and racing for the NHRA Pro Stock category. I think in his heyday, he was absolutely the man. They call him The Professor for a reason. He really thought through is combinations and was really able to develop unique engine combinations that beat everybody, and were really the lead in the class. And so I think in my formative years in the industry, early on in my 20s, he was just the man. I think I probably respected him the most.

What is the best career advice you ever received? Who gave it to you?

I don�t know if it was so much advice from one person, but I think I�ve heard it said by many people in the industry as I�ve learned and grown in it. And that is, be passionate about what you are doing. If you�re a passionate car person, then develop that passion and always have that. When you stop having that passion, and it really doesn�t apply just to our industry, but when you stop having passion for what you�re doing, go find something else to do. I don�t care if you�re into golf or cars or whatever. I�ve always believed that far too many people just consider their job as a way to get a paycheck. I think if you don�t love what you do, find something else to do. Life is too short to just do a job and pick up a paycheck. I think you need to find what you�re passionate about and pursue it. That�s where your natural talents, skills and desires will be. I think it�s hard for someone not to be successful when they�re going after something they love and have passion for.

What advice would you give a kid who wants to go grow up to be a racer or work in the industry?

I would say get involved in the industry as early as you can. What I mean is, get involved with car clubs, and go to your local race track. I can remember that when I was sixteen years old, I didn�t really have anyone at that time in my life that was in to cars or drag racing. I would borrow my parent�s car and drive two hours to go to a drag strip. I would just hang out for the entire day. I would watch and listen and smell and see how racers acted and what they did. I�d ask questions of racers who were often times very helpful. Car guys love talking about cars, so it�s usually not an issue for someone to learn. I think if you just get involved in it, even if you can�t afford to have a hot rod car. I was sixteen. I hadn�t at that point bought my first hot rod, but I was passionate about it. I loved cars. I just soaked everything up, and I did it by getting involved in the industry. I think that�s what you have to start with.

If you have a passion for cars and you want to develop it, you have to understand the people that are in the hobby. You know, this is, for the large majority of people, a hobby. This is what they love to do. This is what they spend their disposable income on. To be successful, I think you have to understand the people who make up this industry � this hobby that we have. So I think if you want long term success, whether you�re going to be an engineer, whether you�re going to be in management or whether you are going to be a racer who has to understand, what do my sponsors want? Ultimately, even a professional racer is a vehicle for sponsors to sell and promote products through. So it�s still important for even a racer to understand, �I need to help my sponsor sell whatever he makes. I need to understand what he is trying to accomplish and what those goals are.� Understanding the people that are into cars, understanding people and what motivates them is an important part of learning the industry. So just get involved. That�s all. Get involved and just eat it up. Learn everything you can about it.[IMGRT=Matt Patrick Hard At Work]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/MP2.jpg[/IMGRT]

What are your hobbies outside of racing and the industry?

Outside of cars, it is radio controlled airplanes. That�s my second passion.

What is your favorite type of music to drive to?

You know, I�m not a huge music fan. I�ll just hit seek and find something I like listening to. It depends on the day. It could be techno, it could be symphony. I would say anything but country or rap. Those are the two things that I absolutely refuse to listen to. Maybe that�s a better way of answering.

In the next five years, what do you think will be the most important advancement in performance automotive technology?

I�m going to say, and it�s already well under way, but the conversion of our entire industry over to fuel injection. I think that will fundamentally affect virtually every one of our customers or potential customers. I think it�s in the process of being a major change because even twenty years ago everything was carbureted. Just the goofballs were starting to mess around with fuel injection. Now, it�s a major percentage, and it�s quickly changing over. Right now, if I had to throw a number out there, I�d say probably 50 percent plus of performance enthusiasts are modifying fuel injected vehicles � whether that�s a converted carbureted type vehicle like an old muscle car with an EZ-EFI� or XFI� system, or it�s a newer Camaro or Mustang where the guy already has fuel injection and he just modifies the factory system.

That technology is going to take over because people now have gotten so used the drivability of fuel injection. We have entire generations now that have absolutely no idea how a carburetor even works. They�re used to getting into their brand new BMW, Chevrolet or Ford and just turning the key and car fires up and runs perfect. You know, twenty or thirty yeas ago when we all had carburetors, I mean, they sucked. You had to fire it up, and it would never run right. You had to pull chokes out and wait until the engine got some heat into it before it would run right. I mean, they were a pain.

So I think people have gotten spoiled. We�ve gotten so used to the drivability of factory cars now days that we�re demanding that same level of quality of drivability in our toys, in our hot rods. And that has really raised the bar for manufacturers of fuel injection systems to make fuel injection so user friendly and so good, from a drivability standpoint, that you can�t tell the difference between a factory car and a hot rod. That is a technological challenge, but it�s been a good thing for our industry. It�s forced those of us involved in the fuel injection industry to raise that bar and get a lot better at what we do. Whereas I think initially, just ten or fifteen years ago, fuel injection systems were fairly crude, but we figured, �That�s good enough. It�s better than a carburetor.� But now we have to go beyond just being better than a carburetor and really have to get as good as OEM level drivability.

What is the one thing you couldn�t live without?

Coffee, I�ll just say coffee.

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12 Questions with Corey Runia

smogridge — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:43:57 GMT

Name: Corey Runia

Job Title: Mechanical Engineering Group Leader

Corey Runia has been involved with racing and engines for years, first as a racer and then as an engineer in the aftermarket high performance industry. At COMP Cams�, Runia puts his vast automotive experience to work coordinating and leading the group of engineers responsible for creating many of the company�s most popular and successful products.[IMGRT=Corey Runia]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/D1.jpg[/IMGRT]

What is your background in the industry?

Actually, all of my professional working career has been in the automotive industry. During college, I worked for SuperFlow Engine Dynos for just under a year as an intern. At the time, Scooter Brothers and Ron Coleman owned them. So basically I started working for them already when I was in my junior year in college. When I graduated, I came here to COMP Cams�. And I�ve been here now for about six years. Prior to that, not official jobs, but I worked in machine shops growing up and in high school. I think that�s kind of where the spark came from for working on automotive stuff.

What do you like best about the job?

Every bit of it is cool. We�re dealing with horsepower and high performance day in and day out. You know, it�s all the stuff that as I kid I thought was super cool. So it�s making something for someone that you always dreamed of when you were a kid. You�re actually getting to design and manufacture the things that you always thought were cool when you were a kid.

What is your all-time favorite or dream car?

It�s maybe not my all time favorite dream car necessarily, but I think the coolest car right now, because it�s still American made, is the SSC Ultimate Aero. It�s basically an exotic that has a Lamborghini look to it, but it has like a GM LS engine in it. It holds, I think, the current top speed for production car of anything, beating all the fancy million dollar exotic sport cars. For just overall fashion, I really like the Saleen S7. For just styling, I think that�s cool.

[IMGLFT=One Of Corey's Racecars]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/D2.jpg[/IMGLFT]

Do you have past racing experience? If so what kind, and do you still race?

I used to race a lot. For about six years I raced everything from IMCA hobby stock, street stock, some modifieds and I even did figure eight racing on dirt. I find it very ironic that all my racing and stuff, I did prior to working in the aftermarket high performance industry. Now, I watch a fair amount of races, but I currently don�t race.

What is your proudest moment in racing or in the industry?

My church youth councilor is the one who actually got me into racing because he used to race. I used to always say, �Well, if I had a racecar, I�d be good and I could beat you.� He took that on as a challenge. So he drug out one of his old racecars from back in the weeds. I mean it was complete junk. He resurrected the thing and was going to let me go and run it in an enduro race, which was like a 250 lap or two hours, whatever comes first, type of race. This particular one had 99 cars in it on a half mile track. But he thought before he actually put me in that, we should go to some of the local tracks that ran a class that was like a bomber or hobby stock � every place called it something different. So he got this thing all ready. We worked on it, got out there and blew up the motor in like the first lap. So we were both pretty disappointed. Because I didn�t get to brag about how good I was going to be, I just had to give him a hard time about the junk he was letting me use. So we got another engine and blew it up. It didn�t even make it through hot laps or something. So this time he was like, �Okay, we have to give you something a little better just to give you some chance.� So the third time, the thing actually runs and I won. I didn�t ever let him live that down about how good I was.

He was always at least two or three classes higher than me, so I never got to race against him. Well, he was leading points at some track and had to go on vacation, so he asked me to drive for him. I drove it and ended up getting second in the heat race and fourth in the feature. At that track, it was so-so. He won there quite a bit, so I couldn�t brag about that. But then we took it to this half mile track that had really good competition, a lot of super fast cars. He had never finished in the top ten at that track. He told me there was no reason for me to take the car there and race it because he wasn�t leading points or doing anything good there. But he said that if I wanted to, I could go ahead and take it. So I took it and ended up getting second in the heat there and fourth in the feature. At that track, it was better than he had ever done. I would say that was my proudest moment. I highlighted the check that said fourth place and blew it up and hung it up on his door when he came back from vacation. My proudest moment was actually fourth, which also put me in the claim area. He never anticipated me being able to get into the claim area. So, I could have lost his motor for him as well.[IMGRT=Another One Of Corey's Racecars]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/D3.jpg[/IMGRT]

Who is your favorite racer and why?

I�m a big Mark Martin fan. He�s old and he wins. That�s cool. He�s been doing it forever. All the way around he�s a good guy. He�s got good morals, he�s a good driver. I think he�s just a good role model.

What is the best career advice you ever received?

For me, it was get an education and do what you love.

What advice would you give a kid who wants to go grow up to be a racer or work in the industry?

I think it�s all about attitude. If he really wants to do it, he just has to have the attitude that he really wants to do it. He needs to go out and give 110 percent, even if it�s just starting out sweeping the shop floor. Basically get your foot in with anybody and learn as much as you possible can. It�s amazing how much you can learn just hanging around people who are knowledgeable. So my biggest thing is absorb as much as you can. Just be a sponge. Get in somewhere. Work as hard as you can. Be a sponge.

[IMGLFT=Corey Hard At Work]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/D4.jpg[/IMGLFT]

What are your hobbies outside of racing and the industry?

That one�s pretty simple. My hobbies have always been hunting, fishing and a lot of snowmobiling. But I�d say recently, snowmobiling is a little bit tough to do in the Memphis area. There�s just not a lot of snow. Now, a lot of it on top of those things is just doing stuff with my family. I�m going to have to say teaching my 2-year-old to drive. I got him one of those electric vehicles. He thinks he�s pretty cool. He�s got the accelerate part down, not so much the steering.

What is your favorite type of music to drive to?

Probably classic rock. It�s a tough one, because it�s a little of everything. But classic rock is a pretty common one. I was known to sing while driving the racecar.

In the next five years, what do you think will be the most important advancement in performance automotive technology?

Definitely, it�s got to be variable valve timing. With cam phasers and variable valve timing, I don�t think most people realize the benefit of it. Over the next five years people will realize it, and a lot of people will start using it. We�ve seen the benefits of it here. A lot of people want to get rid of these cam phasers and lock it so it�s at a given. But they�re giving up a ton of performance by doing that. I think once they start realizing what they are giving up, you�re going to see variable valve timing become a lot more popular. You�re going to see a lot better performance too.

What is the one thing you couldn�t live without?

Water. I don�t even like water. It�s just fundamental.

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12 Questions With Gary Henderson

smogridge — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:28:11 GMT

From Full Time Racer To Helping Engine Builders Solve Their Valve Train Problems, Gary Henderson Has Done It All During 30+ Years In The Industry

Name: Gary Henderson

Job Title: Engine Builder Performance Technician At COMP Cams�

Gary Henderson is a COMP Cams� engine performance technician. When master engine builders call for help, it�s Henderson�s job to answer the tough questions and help find solutions. For over thirty years he has been putting his vast automotive knowledge and experience to good use at COMP�.

[IMGRT=Gary Henderson]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/G2.jpg[/IMGRT]

What is your background in the industry?

Originally, I raced for a living. I guess you could say that from 1971 to 1984 I raced full time professionally, top fuel and funny cars. I raced against guys like Don Prudhomme and John Force. I realized after about seven or eight years that I should get a full time job, try to get a career started and not go broke. That�s what inspired me to get into this.

What do you like best about the job?

I guess I just like engines, cars and the people who are around that type of stuff. To be able to relate to what they�re doing, it�s like work isn�t work. It�s a fun job, really. Now that I�ve gotten into building street rods too, I�ve built about five or six street rods, that makes a big difference to be able to relate to those guys too.

What is your all-time favorite or dream car?

I would say probably a �57 Chevy. I had one as a young kid just out of school, and I really enjoyed working on it.

Do you have past racing experience? If so what kind, and do you still race?

I raced top fuel and funny cars professionally. No. I�ve got guys wanting me to come back and try it again, but I�m pretty content. You know, I�ve had a couple of opportunities, but I know how much work it takes to get into that, how much preparation it is to get the car ready for that short amount of racing � that�s a lot of work.

[IMGLFT=Gary - Back In The Day]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/G4.jpg[/IMGLFT]

What is your proudest moment in racing?

When we won the Cajun Nationals in 1983. That was a brand new car. First time out and we ended up winning the race with it.

Who is your favorite racer and why?

I would say Don Garlits, in drag racing, mainly because he came up through the ranks early on and did a lot of pioneering. A lot of the new stuff relates from what he did at that time, and probably a lot of safety aspects came from what he was doing.

What is the best career advice you ever received? Who gave it to you?

I would say, get with a good company and work with it, ups and downs. At times, you�re going to think it�s not worth it. But as time goes on you�re going to realize that you�ve got to stay with one company for a long time. That�s like me. I�ve been here a little over thirty something years, oh, thirty-three years now. I�d never have thought I�d ever have a job for thirty years � at one company anyway. But once you get that job, and it�s a company that you want to stay with, it�s easy for the years to go by. I�d say get with a good company, find a niche market and stay with it.

[IMGRT=Gary Hard at Work]http://www.cpgnation.com/filehost/files/10/G1.jpg[/IMGRT]

What advice would you give a kid who wants to grow up to be a racer?

Probably, just try to pick a side of racing that you enjoy, and try to make it as safe as possible. I�m big into the safety side of it now because I�ve seen all the stuff that�s happening. The technology is going so fast now that you can get yourself in trouble quick. I�d say that if a young kid is trying to get into it now, he needs to do it safely and cover all bases on that end first. The performance will come with it, but you only get one life.

What are your hobbies outside of racing and the industry?

Golf, I took it up about 25 years ago. It�s given me that competitive side that I really like.

What�s your favorite type of music to drive to?

50s and 60s music.

In the next five years, what do you think will be the most important advancement in performance automotive technology?

Probably the electronics of the car, like airplanes, actually almost driving the car. In other words, it�s being logged on and everything. It�s like drive-by-wire. Now with everything going on, you don�t use cables to do anything. Everything is done electronically. It will actually put on breaks and everything else for you now. I think the electronics side of the cars, the computers, that�s the way to go now.

What�s the one thing you couldn�t live without?

Oh, I would say at this point right now, it would probably be my hot rods and street rods. [laughs] I know your family is important too, but that�s a given. [laughs] Without the cars, it would be a boring world because I�m a gear head.

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Are Your Parts Un-American?

CPG Marketing — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:23:40 GMT

As a performance enthusiast, racer or street rodder, do you really care where your performance parts are being made? My experience has been that different market segments within the overall performance aftermarket seem to answer this question very differently. Many only care that you give them the very best products possible at the best price (especially in the current economic conditions), while others are staunchly opposed to putting foreign made products in their good old American muscle cars � even to the point that they will pay more or give up some product benefits within reason. I find it interesting that many of the companies that wave the �Made In The USA� banner so vehemently are the very same ones that are doing significant manufacturing outside of this country. After all, �Made In The USA� doesn�t mean their parts are not manufactured in China, Mexico, India, etc before being partially assembled inside our borders.

If �Made In The USA� is something that is really important to you � I would urge you to not just accept a logo or statement at face value. Do some real research before laying out your hard earned cash. Dig deep enough and you might be very surprised at what you find.

So let�s hear your opinion; does �Made In The USA� impact your performance parts purchase decisions more than price, value, etc? If you want to read more about this topic check out a recent article on Searchautoparts.com: Made in USA still has cache, but country takes a back seat to globalization

Chris Douglas

Director of Marketing

COMP Performance Group�

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Some of the individuals posting to this site, including the moderators, work for the COMP Performance Group�. Opinions expressed here and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors, not of the COMP Performance Group�. The content is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be an endorsement or representation by COMP Performance Group� or any other party. This site is available to the public.

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