Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Now on Facebook!

OG Racing is now on Facebook!

Come join the newly created OG Racing Facebook Group. Feel free to start a discussion or share your recent pictures/videos.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Coffee & Donuts

This was something I dreamed up - you see, every Saturday which I was scheduled to work, I would run out of steam by noon (we're open from 10am - 2pm). And as a proper lunch was not possible with such hours, I needed some sort of pick-me-up.

Enter a new OG Racing tradition - Coffee & Donuts!! Every Saturday throughout the season, join us at OG Racing for Free Coffee & Donuts! A small donation can be made by buying something (only if you absolutely insist). Hang out, talk racing, see new products. What better way to spend a Saturday morning?

Free Coffee & Donuts at OG Racing!!

Friday, March 20, 2009

ATTENTION: Impact SFI Suit Recall Notice

Read the Original Notice Here

[A] Notice of Decertification was issued today to Impact Racing Products, Inc. regarding certain products (listed below), and that Impact will issue a Notice of Recall of such products. Therefore, effective immediately, the products listed below will no longer be accepted for use in NHRA racing. We understand that Impact will issue a recall notice tomorrow, March 20, 2009.

Please consult www.impactraceproducts.com for information or contact Impact directly. The products are:

• Driver suits, pants and jackets manufactured in 2008 identified as compliant with SFI Specification 3.2A/15 or 3.2A/20
• Driver shoes and boots manufactured in 2008 identified as compliant with SFI Specification 3.3/15 or 3.3/20

SFI has informed NHRA that products manufactured in 2007 and 2009 are being further evaluated by SFI.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Shock Doctor Partners with Aston Martin Racing

Shock Doctor, Inc. announces it is the new Official Technical Luggage Supplier for Aston Martin Racing. Shock Doctor will support the team as it competes at Le Mans and in the Le Mans Series with its new LMP1 car.

2009 is an important year for Aston Martin as it will be fifty years since the company won the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright. In 1959, Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori won the famous race in a DBR1. This year Aston Martin Racing returns to the race with two cars in the iconic Blue and Orange livery of Gulf Oil International to challenge for an outright victory once again.

“We are pleased to partner with Shock Doctor, in providing our racers with cutting-edge performance and protection,” said Aston Martin Chairman, David Richards. “2009 is a hugely significant year for Aston Martin at Le Mans and the challenge of reclaiming victory in this famous race for Aston Martin and Great Britain was simply too great to ignore. We do not underestimate the task, and I see this as a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity of British engineering talent.”

Racers will benefit from the superior technology and design of Shock Doctor’s Power Dry System collection of rolling luggage, duffels and packs, as well as Power Dry Ultra Gear, Garment and Helmet Bags. The Power Dry System keeps racers protected from potentially harmful bacteria, by eliminating the damp environment where bacteria thrive on equipment and racing suits.

Sadie Wigglesworth, Commercial Manager to Aston Martin Racing, explained what the partnership means to Aston Martin Racing. “It is a real challenge to find a luggage partner who understands the very harsh demands of race team travel. Throughout the racing season, luggage is put through a test of endurance akin to that of the cars at the race track. Furthermore, it needs to be capable of coping with certain technical needs, such as drying systems for technical equipment and protection for delicate items of driver and team wear. Shock Doctor provides an impressive range of products and a great understanding of our environment, all presented in fashion that fits well with the Aston Martin Racing brand”.

“We are proud to provide the world-class Aston Martin Racing team with our outstanding line of custom bags and Power Dry products,” said Patrick Lynch, Motorsport Director for Shock Doctor. “We look forward to a successful relationship with this globally accomplished team whose commitment to exceptional performance matches our own.”

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Why you need a custom driving suit. And why they're not as expensive as you think.

Driving suits are the single most difficult piece of clothing to fit properly. When we go shopping for new clothes, we have general guidelines for buying. We know what size shirt we wear; and we can choose from multitudes of waist/length sizes for pants. But nowhere at Macys do we have to consider the same fitment attributes as a one-piece driving suit.

Why are they so hard to fit? Easy - there are simply too many dimensions on the human body to take into account. And to create an entire line of suits that had sizing options for differing waist/chest/height/torso-length/etc. would take up our entire 12,000 sq/ft warehouse!

Many of our customers are lucky enough to fit into a standard sized racing suit without too many issues. If you're part of this select group, you need not read any further.

But, what about the customer who is 6'5" with long legs? Or 5'8" with a 40" waist? And don't even think about buying an off the rack suit if you have to check the "F" gender box! Well, then a custom suit may be just the answer for you.

In this industry, when the word "custom" is uttered, KA-CHING can typically be heard closely behind. In reality, custom suits are not too far off their off-the-rack counterparts. Take a Sparco Custom Suit for example - the basic Made-to-Measure price is an extra $175.00 on top of the price of the suit. With custom sizing available beginning with the popular "Sparco" Driving Suit ($825.00), a custom built suit can be had for about $1000.00.

And if you're planning lots of fancy embroidery, or have a pink with black polka-dots design sitting in the back of your head, anything is possible with a custom suit - for an extra charge, of course ;)

If you have any other custom suit questions, or want a price quote, call or e-mail us!


NASA Mid-Atlantic's Chris Cobetto models his new Sparco Custom suit

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Introducing Team OG Racing!

We came up with this idea late last year, and tested it on a select group of our loyal customers. Yesterday, we sent out the first mass e-mail regarding this exciting new program - Team OG Racing.

We know that the vast majority of our customers are not lucky enough to bring in thousands of sponsor dollars from Red Bull, Target, Marlboro, etc. We also know that most of you are not full-time race car drivers. In reality, most of us are just regular folks who happen to enjoy driving and competing in cars. Whether you're tearing it up in a formula car, or just going out for a few laps in the family wagon, you are passionate about driving - just like us!

We want to hear about what you're doing. And we know that the most popular way is by reading your exploits in a blog. So we combined the two, and added a little bonus for helping us out - read more below:

Announcing - Team OG Racing Sponsorship Opportunity!


Introducing the "Team OG Racing" sponsorship program. This exciting new program allows a select group of loyal OG Racing customers to earn a 15% discount off of all future purchases (see below) while helping promote our company name.

What we are looking for:

OG Racing is searching for ambitious members of the motorsports community that are willing to showcase the OG Racing name in a responsible and professional manner. Future "Team OG Racing" members can come from any enthusiast background, may it be autocross, circle-track, road, drag and every other form of motorsports.

Requirements:

Selected members will be required to keep and regularly update a personal on-line blog detailing their day-in/day-out racing adventures. If the prospective member does not currently operate an on-line blog, one can easily be created at www.blogger.com. The blog must carry links to the OG Racing Blog and official website. Blog content will be moderated by OG Racing staff for illegal activity and must contain family suitable content.

Members will also display the OG Racing name at official events whenever possible via vehicle stickers/graphics or driver apparel.

What you get in return:
After an initial ONE month trial period where your activity is monitored for appropriate content and regular activity, you will receive:

OG Racing Personal Coupon Code good for 15% off of your future purchases while participating in the Team OG Racing program (may not be combined with any other sale and/or special offers).
Official OG Racing gear
Chance to be an official OG Racing product reviewer. Reviewers receive Employee Purchase pricing on selected new merchandise. In return, reviewers will offer constructive feedback to OG Racing and write reviews to be displayed on their blogs.

How to join:
If interested, please send us a short statement detailing why you think you will be a beneficial Team OG Racing member. Send us pictures, videos (please do not attach to e-mails - send us a link), and anything else that helps sum up your motorsports adventures. Please e-mail to: steve@ogracing.com.



*Disclaimer: The "Team OG Racing" program is currently in its trial stages; OG Racing reserves the right to make changes to or cancel this offer at anytime. Coupon code is for PERSONAL USE ONLY and may not be combined with any other sale and/or special offers. All regular shipping charges (including Free Ground Shipping for orders over $100) will still apply. OG Racing will revoke this discount privelage immediately if we feel it is being abused. Unprofessional or unlawful behavior will not be tolerated while participating in the program. Failure to respect these terms will result in a single written warning followed by immediate termination from the program. MOTORSPORTS ARE DANGEROUS. OG Racing will not be held responsible for any injuries or damages sustained while participating in the Team OG-Racing program.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Racepak IQ3 Footage

Courtesy of Tony Kelly:


TrackVision V2.1 with new Racepak IQ3 Display from Tony Kelly on Vimeo.

This was compiled using the TrackVision software. Trackvision will actually allow you to show a whole slew of gauge styles, and editing options. More on this software in the near future.

By the way - Tony uses a sub-$200 Aiptek HD 720p camera. Not too shabby, huh?

Helmet - HANS Issues

Interesting forum post regarding Hans Devices VS some Helmet styles. This can probably relate not only to the Hans, but other similarly styled devices available on the current market: Helmet - HANS Issues

Racepak Racing Data Acquisition Systems

We hinted at it late last year...and now it's finally here! We'll be starting out with 2 Racepak Data Acquisition Systems:

The Racepak IQ3 Logger Dash ($1395):

Racepak IQ3 Logger Dash Data Acquisition

and the more economically priced G2X Data Recorder ($943.50):

Racepak G2X Data Recorder

Both are complete, self contained GPS based Data Acquisition units. If you're simply looking for track mapping, both of these are plug and play. The IQ3 is completely self-contained within the dash - what you see is what you get; no extra wires leading to a separate data logger. The G2X is a more traditionally designed system with a bright LED Dash Display and a lightweight and compact centrally stored data logger.

Both come with throttle/RPM sensors (an extra cost accessory on most competing systems) so you're all set to use the included shift lights and gear indicators. Both also are ready to accept other inputs such as oil temp, air/fuel ratios, or vehicle ride height (32 extra inputs for the IQ3, 12 for the G2X - sensors available separately).

Both also connect to your computer in the simplest way possible - SD cards! Simply remove the card, and plug it into the computer. Doesn't get much simpler then that. I've also had a short chance to play around with the included DataLink2 software. It seems extremely straight-forward and user friendly as opposed to the other pieces of data acquisition software I've had a chance play with.

Needless to say, I'm very excited to start playing with this stuff this spring. Everything is very professionally built with actual car connector clips for the wires, and well sealed inputs (read my complaints with most racing aftermarket electronics in my rant on video systems). I wouldn't expect much less - Racepak is owned by MSD Ignitions; a real-to-life "big" company with years of experience in the automotive industry. No flimsy garage-built start-up stuff here. Get this - they even have a complete team of customer support representatives (7-days a week) if the need arises!