VP Fuel at Houston Division

[John Brimer]

As of this date, VP fuel will NOT be available at the track per Scott Benham. So if you want to use VP fuel, you should make arrangements in advance to bring your own fuel or be prepared to switch.

[Ed Wright]

That sucks! I hate hauling fuel with me for safety reasons, but I will do it before I let them force me to change to Sunoco.

[Mike Croley]

There are a number of race fuels available to NHRA and IHRA racers. Check the accepted products lists, and then check the specs for each brand. You'll find there are brands that offer direct crossovers and the same or better performance. Often for less money. And with very little or no difference in tune up.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Mike Croley

There are a number of race fuels available to NHRA and IHRA racers. Check the accepted products lists, and then check the specs for each brand. You'll find there are brands that offer direct crossovers and the same or better performance. Often for less money. And with very little or no difference in tune up.

What business are you in? What car do you run?

[Mike Croley]

I'm in the race fuel business. I don't currently run a car but i've run Super Comp as well as oval track cars.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Mike Croley

I'm in the race fuel business. I don't currently run a car but i've run Super Comp as well as oval track cars.

Probably Sunoco, right? Last time I tried Sunoco (year before last, looking at costs), I tested what a Sunoco rep told me was the equivalent of VP C11, which is what my engine likes. Took a few pulls with some tuning changes to get within 5hp of C11. A super comp car, or oval track car would not know the difference. A Super Stock car does. I'm not wasting anymore time there. May try some C25 this year.

[Mike Croley]

Nope, Renegade. There are a lot of options for race fuels. You can go to the manufacturers web sites and compare motor octane and specific gravity. You'll often find a direct crossover at much less money than you're used to paying.

[John Brimer]

Mike, I believe you missed the point of this thread. I do not doubt that there are various fuels available that will give adequate performance. I myself have used various brands over the years. However, there are many of us who buy the fuel we need at the race track because we do not want to store the fuel at home or do not have the appropriate way to transport fuel safely from home to the race track.


Another concern for stock and super stock racers vs super category racers is that the fuel MUST pass tech, EACH time we go down the track. Buying fresh fuel at the track gives us a little more confidence that said fuel will pass. If fuel doesn't pass, then we are not throwing away 10-50 gallons to the golf cart or gen set.


The other concern for is for the fuel used by the racer to be available at each of the tracks that we race during the year. It would be real easy for us to switch to Sunoco for that reason, if we had confidence that the fuel would deliver the same horsepower. I have not reached that confidence level and will continue to use VP until I have been able to spend a few hundred dollars on the dyno to determine the new tune up. The Sunoco fuel SR118 (I believe) is supposed to substitute for VP12 through VP25. Sunoco does have a fuel for the NOS crowd.


I am sure that Renegade is a fine fuel and is great for those folks who do not need or want to buy fuel at the track where all the fuels except Sunoco will not be available.


The competition eliminator crowd is not entirely sold on Sunoco, but I am sure after time that either they will figure it out or Sunoco might expand their offering.


Again, I am not saying that one fuel is better than another, regardless of price. I am merely saying that availability and consistency is most important to me.

[Mike Croley]

I understand your point completely John. Fuel check has been an issue since the " single fuel supplier " idea started about 15 years ago. I happen to think that forcing racers to buy only one product is probably not a good idea for a number of reasons, but it's something everyone has to live with. And there are far too many instances of racers purchasing the official fuel at the track and then promptly failing fuel tech. To my knowledge, that has never been an issue with Renegade. A number of National champions use Renegade.That actually makes the case for taking your own new, sealed container of race fuel to each race. But you're right, storage and transport are a concern.
It will probably take some time, but i'm sure the new fuel supplier will come up with an acceptable product. Meanwhile, my point was that there are other options available.

[supergas4]

I would think Scott Benham would be able to meet racers at a location away from the houston racetrack if he had enough interest from the racers.I am not speaking for scott .He does live in the houston area.Just my 2cents.Dwight Allen