Northstar Motorsports Blog http://northstarmotorsports.com/ 2008-02-27T09:45:19Z Northstar Motorsports Exhibits at Kart Expo International John Ruther This past weekend, February 23-24, the world's largest Kart show was held at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. For the fourth year in a row Northstar had a very large booth showing our Karting Safety Equipment from manufacturers like Sparco, Arai, Bell and G-Force. This past weekend, February 23-24, the world's largest Kart show was held at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. For the fourth year in a row Northstar had a very large booth showing our Karting Safety Equipment from manufacturers like Sparco, Arai, Bell and G-Force.  During the two day show our staff, plus representatives from Sparco, talked to literally hundreds of prospective customers who race Karts. Many of our customers come to this show every year  to see what's new in Karting Safety Equipment. So it's nice to see many familiar faces visiting our booth. This show is a little different than many trade shows, in that the exhibitors are allowed to sell product rather than just show it. Needless to say, our truck had a lot less in it at the end of the show than it did when it pulled out of Northstar's facility on Friday morning. If you're into Karting and can get to this show next year, it is a must see event. The dates are February 21-22, 2009.   

  

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/27 2008-02-26T14:35:34Z 2008-02-27T09:45:19Z Northstar Customers Qualify Well for Races at Daytona John Ruther Northstar customers qualify well for this weekends races at Daytona. The front row of the Grand-Am Koni Challenge Race are both Northstar customers. On the pole for this race is a BMW M3 from Fall Line Motorsports of Northbrook, IL and the outside front row spot is a Porsche 997 from Wright Motorsports in Batavia, OH. Northstar has supplied equipment for both of these teams for many years. In addition, Andy Hauk, the driver of the Wright Motorsports Porsche has also been a customer of Northstar for several years. Andy routinely purchases all of his safety equipment from Northstar. The pole car in the GT class for the Rolex 24 at Daytona is #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 co-driven by Nick Ham. Nick has been a long time friend of Northstar and has purchased much of his safety equipment from us over the years. We congratulate all of these teams and drivers on their excellent qualifying positions and wish them well for this weekends races. Northstar customers qualify well for this weekends races at Daytona. The front row of the Grand-Am Koni Challenge Race are both Northstar customers. On the pole for this race is a BMW M3 from Fall Line Motorsports of Northbrook, IL and the outside front row spot is a Porsche 997 from Wright Motorsports in Batavia, OH. Northstar has supplied equipment for both of these teams for many years. In addition, Andy Hauk, the driver of the Wright Motorsports Porsche has also been a customer of Northstar for several years. Andy routinely purchases all of his safety equipment from Northstar.

The pole car in the GT class for the Rolex 24 at Daytona is the #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 co-driven by Nick Ham. Nick has been a long time friend of Northstar and has purchased much of his safety equipment from us over the years.

We congratulate all of these teams and drivers on their excellent qualifying positions and wish them well for this weekends races. 

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/26 2008-01-25T09:23:52Z 2008-02-07T10:45:26Z Northstar's John Ruther to Speak at Winter Bench Racing Session at VFC Engineering John Ruther Northstar's John Ruther has been invited to speak at a Winter Bench Racing Session at VFC Engineering in Chicago on March 1, 2008. Ruther will talk about Racing Safety Equipment including the new mandated use of an SFI 38.1 approved head and neck restraint. Northstar's John Ruther has been invited to speak at a Winter Bench Racing Session at VFC Engineering in Chicago on March 1, 2008. Ruther will talk about Racing Safety Equipment including the new mandated use of an SFI 38.1 approved head and neck restraint. The other guest speaker is Dave Royce who is the Midwest Region Director of NASA (National Auto Sport Association). The session begins at 10AM and goes until 2PM and includes a light lunch. For more information regarding this session including directions contact Doug Hillman of VFC Engineering at (773) 275-4832.

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/24 2008-01-24T09:37:44Z 2008-01-24T09:46:51Z Northstar Provides Pagid Brake Pads and other Equipment to several teams running in the 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona John Ruther Northstar Motorsports is proud to be a supplier of Pagid Brake Pads and other Equipment for several teams running in the 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Northstar Motorsports is proud to be a supplier of Pagid Brake Pads and other Equipment for several teams running in the 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Daytona Prototype teams include the #03 Pontiac Crawford from Vision Racing to be driven by IRL driver Ed Carpenter and the #12  Pontiac Riley from RVO Motorsports to be driven by Roger Schramm and Justin Bell. In the GT category the entire 7 car Porsche GT3 Cup team from Farnbacher-Loles Motorsports will use Pagid Brake Pads from Northstar Motorsports. This team has many outstanding drivers including Ross Bentley, Wolf Henzler, Sascha Maassen, Jorg Bergmeister, Dirk Werner, Dominic Farnbacher, Timo Bernhard, Pierre Kaffer and Frank Stipler, to name a few. Northstar is proud these team have chosen to run on Pagid Brake Pads and we wish them all the best of luck in this gruelling 24 hour endurance classic.  

   

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/23 2008-01-17T09:07:01Z 2008-01-25T10:22:20Z Enjoying Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin Jeannie Ruther Traveling to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (Home of Road America) offers much more than racing. Check this out for great restaurants, shopping and lodging. Traveling to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is always a treat but especially when the Porsche Club stages it's annual Labor Day racing event at Road America. Not only is there oodles to do at the race track, but sightseeing in the nearby towns is especially fun and relaxing.

Elkhart Lake is extremely charming starting with the Farmers Market  every Sunday 8:00 am to Noon during the Fall. The selction of items being offered are all from local residents and farms that range from beautiful fresh and dried flower bouquets to hand forged iron garden accessories by a company called Back To Nature in Plymouth, Wi.  The one booth that is a must to visit is Marsha, a local historian who has forgotten more about  the history of Elhart Lake than most people know. She has a wonderful collection of old prints of the area, when the streets were used for racing before the Road America was built. All of the these great memories are available for purchase in prints. If your'e in town on a Sunday- check out the Farmers Market !!!

There are 3 restaurants in town I would highly recommend. The Lake Steet Cafe is where the food is always good and the bar is open for sandwiches as well as a very nice dining room for more elaborate dining.  John, the owner, has done a great  job making the selection of wines not an easy task; lots and lots to choose from.(nice problem to have) Give this restaurant a try!

The Paddock Club, is a new restaurant on the same street as The Lake Street Cafe. The food is also very good. Both restaurants compliment each other and there is definately room for both in town.

My favorite restaurant just about anywhere, is Bruce's Supper Club.
Bruce's is located just outside of town on county J. We've had the pleasure of dining at Bruce's for at least 25 years! (Lets think about that one). This restaurant has by far the best Clam Chowder, my husband John, has ever tasted anywhere in the WORLD!!! The pan fried Walleye Pike is a definate yes as is the pan fried Lake Perch. All of the soups are homemade and the beef barley has my vote all day long.(I'm getting a craving just writing about Bruce's) Don't leave town without checking this restaurant out- also known for the wonderful steaks!

Also, don't miss the wonderful coffee shop located just kittycorner from the Lake Street Cafe. Their homemade muffins are out of this world - my favorites are raspberry, cherry and almond, and blueberry.  There is a great grocery store next to the coffee shop that has great cheeses and a nice selection of wines.    

Shopping in Elkhart Lake is also fun. If you're into the most comfortable shoes, stop into Nordic Accents and see the owner, Beerco. The clogs come directly from Sweden and your feet will thank you a thousand times!!
The shops in town include a very good new consignement shop where I purchased a beautiful French Blue Damask Tablecloth including 8 napkins for $18.00 and the flower shop which is also an antique shop with unique items. The other shops are equally nice along the streets of Elkhart Lake.


The recommended place to stay would be the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake. The entire family will love this resort. The Osthoff is located on one of the most picture perfect properties, overlooking the lake. Everything to do from boating, boat cruises around the lake, swimming, biking or even long walks. Golf is within walking distance from the resort. Good Choice!!!
For more info check out the Chamber of Commerce office in Elkhart Lake or go online at www.elkhartlake.com 

Enjoy and happy travels! "Til next time....

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/22 2007-09-11T13:36:05Z 2007-09-11T01:36:05Z Northstar Motorsports to Sponsor Golf Outing with Michael Andretti to Benefit the Homeless John Ruther Northstar Motorsports will be one of the sponsors of a Golf Outing on September 6th to benefit the homeless. The Golf Outing will be held at beautiful Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills, IL. Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, will be the featured guest and will also attend the dinner following the Golf Outing. Northstar Motorsports will be one of the sponsors of a Golf Outing on September 6th to benefit the homeless. The Golf Outing will be held at beautiful Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills, IL. Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, will be the featured guest and will also attend the dinner following the Golf Outing.  Proceeds from the Golf Outing and Dinner Ticket Sales will benefit the Fr. Tom Fratus Foundation, which supports the Franciscan Outreach Association by providing help for the homeless through emergency food and shelter and one-on-one help in building a better life. Even though the Golf Outing is sold out, dinner tickets are still available for $250 each. For more information visit the Franciscan Outreach Association at www.franoutreach.org/golf.htm

This event was a complete success raising nearly $50,000 for the Homeless thru the Franciscan Outreach Association. Both Michael Andretti and Kim Green, co-owners of Andretti Green Racing, were on hand for the entire day. Michael and Kim both played golf and enjoyed dinner afterwards. All participants had an opportunity to play a hole with Michael and to visit with Michael and Kim as well as to view the number 39 Indy race car of Dario Franchitti. As a side note, Franchitti won the Indy race at the Chicagoland Speedway the following Sunday. This win coupled with his earlier Indy 500 win was enough to clinch the 2007 Indy Racing League Championship for Franchitti and Andretti Green Racing.      

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/21 2007-08-06T08:06:46Z 2007-09-11T11:35:49Z GingerMan Raceway and Visiting the Nearby Towns. Jeannie Ruther When racing at GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan, here are some fun ideas for the whole family. Great shopping, great restaurants and much, much more. GingerMan Raceway is located in South Haven, Michigan. Many of us know South Haven for this track but that's only a small part of the picture. The small towns of South Haven, Douglas and Saugatuk are a must to visit. Whether you're sightseeing, antiqueing or a beach lover; check out the unique galleries these towns have to offer. Lots and lots for the whole family to enjoy!

This blog is dedicated to making racing enjoyable for the entire family, not just the racer. Making it fun for everyone encourages racing no matter where it takes you!

The town of South Haven reminds me of the TV set for the show "Murder She Wrote". The many boutiques and restaurants are nestled along the banks of the picturesque harbor. Walking is very enjoyable while taking in the sights of the various sizes and types of boats.

Restaurants are plentiful, but expect to wait if it's a weekend. We put our name on the waiting list first thing and then we stroll the town being mindful of the time and checking back with the restaurant periodically. The wait is often shorter than stated. Just a few of our favorites are: The Vineyard for Italian food and for really, really good pizzas ( Gorganzola is a favorite). Clementine's has something on the menu for everyone - the perch is great! Many new places to check out depending on your tastes. Hawks Head is a short drive from town and is a fun place for the golfer in the family.The 18 hole course offers several interesting holes and is very fair. The Inn has guest rooms and a very good restaurant, but ask to be seated in the main dining room instead of the back room, at times the back room is forgotten about. 

Don't forget to check out Romantica Jewlers, for the unusual one of a kind, fun and fine jewelry. Ask for Linda!  Better yet, pick up a shopping guide and go for it!!

The town of  Douglas, is a very small approximately 3 block town. The shopping is fun, offering gallery after gallery. There is a new, very good restaurant in town, Wild Dog Grille. We stopped there for lunch and had a wonderful crab cake sandwich with homemade tomato basil soup and a blackened whitefish sandwich on very thin focaccia bread. Douglas, is a fun place to visit on your way to Saugatuck.

The town of Saugatuck, is the big town! Many streets of shopping, restaurants and a very large harbor where you can pilot your boat in from Chicago. Many residents from Chicago have a second home in Saugatuck, making this a great get away!

Saugatuck, has as many different shops as there are tastes. Del Sol is a store where everything you buy, whether it's a T shirt, nail polish, a hair barret and even jewelry changes colors in the sun!! This is a fun shop, great holiday stocking stuffers.  You need to check out The Spice Merchant Store if your'e at all into cooking, like me or a friend of mine, Susan Shire! This store always has a recommended special herb that's new along with the many interesting salts, such as a Chardonney Oak Smoked salt, and assorted rubs with an extensive tea selection. This store is really worth visiting.

The fun part about these towns is exploring and seeking out your favorites. Trust me, you will come away with your many favorites. Have a fun journey! 'Till next time.....

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/20 2007-07-17T13:29:25Z 2007-07-17T01:29:25Z Northstar Motorsports Provides Safety Equipment for Stunt Drivers in New Batman Movie John Ruther The new Batman movie is currently being made in Chicago and Northstar Motorsports was selected by several of the stunt drivers for their safety equipment. The new Batman movie is currently being made in Chicago and Northstar Motorsports was selected by several of the stunt drivers for their safety equipment. Last week Northstar received surprise visits by several of the new Batman movie's stunt drivers. We were able to supply these drivers with driving suits, gloves, shoes, balaclavas and neck collars. These drivers also use the HANS device while doing their stunt work which we were very glad to see. We wish them well in their work and can't wait until the movie is released to see our safety equipment in action.     

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/19 2007-07-16T08:09:31Z 2007-07-16T08:11:55Z What's the Difference Between Major Brands of Racing Brake Fluids? John Ruther This article discusses the performance and cost differences between the major brands of Racing Brake Fluids. Racing brake fluids come in all different colors and temerature ratings. What is the best one for your application depends on several factors such as : How heavy the car is; How fast the car is?, What size are the brakes relative to the weight and speed of the car; How much air flow gets to the brakes; and last but not least, How much money you want to spend?

Let's see if we can sort this all out. Let's say you have a 3,000 lb. with 250 hp and relatively small brakes (i.e. stock) and you don't have additional brake ducting. Even if you are using the best racing brake pads made (i.e. Pagid) you still need to be using a racing brake fluid if you drive your car on the track. Most racing brake fluids are rated DOT 4 and they publish a Dry and a Wet Boiling Point for each fluid. The Dry boiling point is actually more of a theoretical or laboratory boiling point since all brake systems, even though they are sealed, have a certain amount of moisture in them. So the "Real World" number you should be looking at is the Wet boiling point. The following table will give you exactly what is available from the major manufacturers of racing brake fluid:

Ate Super Blue Racing (1 Ltr.)  Dry-536F  Wet-392F Cost-$15.00

Ate Typ 200 (1 Ltr.)                  Dry-536F  Wet-392F Cost-$15.00

Motul RBF600 (1/2 Ltr.)           Dry-594F  Wet-421F Cost-$16.50

Motul RBF660 (1/2 Ltr.)           Dry-617F  Wet-399F Cost-$29.95

Castrol SRF (1 Ltr.)                  Dry-590F  Wet-518F Cost-$79.95          

What can we learn from this chart. The best value is clearly one of the ATE fluids. If your car is still under factory warranty and you are tracking your car and are trying to fly "under the radar" at your dealership you might want to consider ATE Typ 200 since it is amber (just like your o.e. brake fluid) rather than using Super Blue which is Navy Blue and will certainly tip off your service technician that this car is driven a little harder than just to the grocery store. Other than the color these two racing brake fluids are identical in performance.

Motul RBF 600 has a cost/ltr. of over double that of either the ATE fluids and has a Wet boiling point of 29F greater. The Motul RBF 660 costs almost 4 times that of either of the ATE fluids and has a Wet boiling point of only 7F more.

And then there is Castrol SRF. Clearly this is the "Gold Standard" of racing brake fluids. Its Wet boiling point is 126F higher than either of the ATE fluids and 97F higher than Motul RBF 600 but it also costs over 5 times per Liter more than either of the ATE fluids and 2.4 times per Liter more than Motul RBF 600.

The one fluid that is not a very good value in my opinion is Motul RBF 660. It costs almost $60/Ltr and has just a slightly better Wet boiling point than either of the ATE fluids. Unless you absolutely must have the performance of the Castrol 518F Wet boiling point, I would go with either of the ATE fluids or the Motul RBF 600. The other thing you should do is add some brake ducting to your front brakes to keep them as cool as possible. This will go along way toward keeping your brake fluid from boiling. You might ask what do I use in our Northstar Motorsports Porsche GT3RS? The sticker next to the brake fluid reservoir says "use only Castrol SRF" - and that's what we do.            

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/18 2007-07-10T14:59:36Z 2007-07-11T08:04:57Z Northstar Motorsports Sponsors SCCAs June Sprints John Ruther Northstar Motorsports is again a sponsor for SCCA's June Sprints to be held June 22-24 at Road America. As in the past, Northstar will be the "Official Safety Equipment Supplier" for the Sprints. Northstar Motorsports is again proud to be a sponsor for the SCCA June Sprints to be held June 22-24 at Road America. As in the past, Northstar will be the "Official Safety Equipment Supplier" for the Sprints. As part of Northstar's sponsorship involvement we will present Discount Certificates to the 4th, 5th, 6th and last place finishers in every race at the Sprints. In addition, Northstar is also providing Discount Certificates to be raffled off at the Spec Racer party which is presented by Elite Autosport. Northstar is proud of it's relationship with the Chicago Region SCCA and has recently become a full page advertiser in the region's monthly newsletter, Piston Patter.   

]]> http://northstarmotorsports.com/blog/17 2007-06-20T11:39:10Z 2007-06-20T11:40:40Z