The following article was written by Power Driven Diesel Co-owner Todd Welch and originally appeared in the April 2016 issue of Diesel Tech Magazine.
Just do it is a cliché phrase, but it holds true especially for “Diesel Weekends.” When a diesel event comes your way you must decide to participate; be it a dyno day, a drag race or sled pulling. Often the hardest hurdle to overcome is simply deciding to do it.
When I participated in my very first event years ago, one of my biggest reservations was that I didn’t want to look stupid. I didn’t want those who knew what they were doing to be annoyed by having a “newbie” messing up the flow of the event. Now after having been involved in countless events, let me tell you on behalf of myself and my fellow participants, we all desperately want you to come out and play! We all want our sport to grow and for that, we need you!
I can promise that the experienced participants will be more than willing to help you, to teach you the basics so you can start participating competitively. Pretty much every racer lets people in their pits and if they are not working on their trucks they would most likely be more than happy to answer your questions. Also while waiting in line for your turn to run is an excellent time to talk diesel with other participants and get some tips for the event. Of course if we line up next to you we are going to try to beat you, and we will at first. But you will quickly learn, become competitive and then you will be begging your friends to come as well as helping the new guys!
The last thing I can tell you is that it is so much fun! My first race down the quarter-mile was a bit over 15 seconds (not very fast) and I could not believe how intense and enjoyable it was. I am a fair bit faster now, but the learning process over the years has been as enjoyable as the race itself. There are classes in every sport that anyone can be competitive in, even with a stock truck.
If you have ever thought about participating in a diesel event let 2016 be the year you pull the trigger, you won’t regret it. If you compete at multiple events or in a series it will open up a whole new world of friends and performance that you would not have otherwise. I personally compete with my two trucks known as Frankenstein and Goodtimes. If you see me at an event please stop by with any questions and I will be happy to talk diesel with you.
If you are interested in building up your truck for racing, dyno events, or towing, give us a call at 435-962-9555 and we can help you determine the best parts for your driving style. Also be sure to check out our online store to find the best diesel parts at the lowest prices.