Enthusiasm High After The Introduction Of The GM CT 525 Engine For Fulton Speedway

FULTON, NY January 11, 2011 (By Dave Medler) – A large and enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Gypsum Racing shop Tuesday night for a question and answer session with John Wight and Jeffery Shaw from the GM racing division about the new CT 525 engine that will be in competition at the Fulton Speedway in 2011.

“I don’t want to run the same movie two nights in a row,” said Wight knowing there has to be a change in racing. He stressed that the Big Block Modified program at Brewerton Speedway is healthy for both competitors and fans alike and will remain that way for years to come as long as he owns the track.

It was pointed out to everyone in attendance that one look at the grandstands at Fulton Speedway shows that there has to be a change and that the new GM CT 525 in Wight’s mind is the way to go and the future for a lot of racers to continue or get back in racing if they were priced out of the sport in the past.

Where is a guy with a 602 (Sportsman) going to go if he wants to move up? In reality most drivers can’t afford the 20 to 25 grand for a Small Block or 30 grand for a Big Block this will be a perfect stepping stone to the next level related Wight.

One question that was asked where else will we be able to run this car? Eric Kingsley said they will be able to run at Cayuga County Fair Speedway as did the representative from Can-Am Speedway relate they will be allowed to compete there. Tracks in Quebec are already on board with this car, engine combination.

With one of Larry Wight’s Modifieds on display with one of the CT 525 between the rails at a cost of $ 7,100 with all the add-ons to go dirt racing it was put together for around 11 grand race ready.

GM rep Jeffery Shaw pointed out the stoutness of the engine by using Late Model driver CJ Rayburn as an example. Out of the 19 races Rayburn entered he won 11 of them against full blown Late Models on pump gas.

Shaw also said where these engines have been used out west and down south and if you do general maintenance and run the engines the way you are supposed to you will get multiple years of racing out of them with very little noticeable loss in horsepower around one-percent. The only time problems have happened is if racers start getting inventive trying to build a better mouse trap or even run racing fuel. These engines were designed to run on pump gas to save money.

Wight said, “We are going to tech three things, tires, weight and make sure the right seals are on the car. We are not going to be the police, we want you to come in, race and have fun. If you are caught cheating you are gone for 365 days no questions asked.”

“The sealing mechanism we have on this engine this is a cup style cap bolt that we can actually get in there and check,” said Shaw. “ It’s virtually impossible to take apart without destroying the cap. If the cap is destroyed obviously the bolt has been tampered with. Therefore more inspection is needed at that time.”

There is lithograph type bolts insignia on each engine individually when it leaves General motors. If cheating is suspected the track will be able to put it on stands and have the software to trace each bolt right back to the builder to the serial number to see if it was altered or changed in anyway. There is a type of cap or seal on each engine if tampered with that makes the engine almost inoperable.

After Wight and Shaw spoke many of those who were skeptics were on board asking many questions of how to purchase one and who to go to for the engine add-ons to be race ready.

If you have any questions contact Cory Reed at (315) 638- 4056 or email cory@fultonspeedway.com and he will put you in touch with the appropriate people for the CT 525 race engine.