MOTORSPORTS
Jasper Brings Service Truck to Road Course Races
JASPER, IN (Sept. 16, 2007) - At the recent NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event at Sonoma, CA, a white Jasper Engines & Transmissions truck and trailer could be spotted in the pits. It was for more than just promotional purposes, for this particular truck also provided support, parts and help for teams using the Jasper 4-Speed transmission. Unlike races on ovals, NASCAR does not mandate specific gear ratios at road courses for the Nextel Cup Series, so Jasper can disassemble the transmission, change the set-up, and reassemble the unit to a team's specifications. In the years Jasper has gone to race events, other companies that supply transmissions to race teams have sent gears along with another team in their hauler, and then basically worked out of their hauler," says Terry DeKemper, Jasper NASCAR driveline manager. "If one team needs something done to their transmission, they take the unit to that team's hauler that has the gears, and make the changes there. This is the first time that I know of where a company has come in, brought a trailer and all the essentials, and actually worked on the transmissions." DeKemper says the support truck's initial appearance at Sonoma was very successful: "Teams were really receptive at the idea of us being there, bringing enough equipment and the ability to change stuff for them." Jasper's 24-foot aluminum box trailer is fitted with two work benches, shelving areas for parts, a wash station, an air compressor, and basically anything Jasper would need to regear a transmission or differential. There were eight Nextel Cup teams at Sonoma that used the Jasper 4-Speed transmission, including the #42 Dodge of eventual race winner Juan Pablo Montoya. Each team had Jasper 4-Speed transmissions for their primary and backup cars, plus at least one spare unit per team. Jasper took six units to the Sonoma race to either sell or change gear ratios over, if needed, to another spare unit. "We would get any driver feedback right away as far as any issues with the transmission," says DeKemper. "We would go into the garage area and talk to the drivers and crew chiefs and get their input on how the unit is working, and if anything needs to be changed." DeKemper notes that their work was under the constant scrutiny of the NASCAR officials. "Anytime a transmission is opened, it must be inspected by NASCAR, where they put their stamp and seal on it," he says. "NASCAR will check the gear ratio and record it before it is installed in the race car. If the unit comes back out to be regeared, it must be re-inspected. They're a pretty good watchdog."
(Source: Jasper Engines &
Transmissions) 
