"Did you know?" From 170 mph hydros to 170 mph ARCA cars
- By Tyler Speer
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- 04 Dec, 2014
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Speer ready for more in '15...likes Ilmor 396 engine option
We know that Woodstock, Georgia’s Tyler Speer has made nine career ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards starts since his series debut in 2010, finishing a career-best seventh on the Springfield mile dirt in 2012. In his most recent series start at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in 2014, he finished 14th. We also know that despite his limited schedule he hasn’t missed an ARCA championship awards banquet since 2010. Cool.
Cooler yet, did you know that when Speer isn’t in pursuit of his stock car career, he’s often at the helm of a wicked-fast hydro racing boat in the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series? In fact, Speer competed in both the ARCA Racing Series and the Drag Boat Series on the same weekend this past September, racing at the only purpose-built drag boat course called Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri the day before he raced his ARCA car on the DuQuoin mile dirt.
“We didn’t get a lot of sleep that weekend, but we had a blast,” Speer said. “It’s quite a transition going from a 170 mph drag boat to an oval track ARCA car on dirt, but, for me, it’s one of the most exciting weekends of the year…getting to race the Proboat and our ARCA car on the same weekend…especially at DuQuoin. I just love that place.”
Cooler yet, did you know that when Speer isn’t in pursuit of his stock car career, he’s often at the helm of a wicked-fast hydro racing boat in the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series? In fact, Speer competed in both the ARCA Racing Series and the Drag Boat Series on the same weekend this past September, racing at the only purpose-built drag boat course called Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri the day before he raced his ARCA car on the DuQuoin mile dirt.
“We didn’t get a lot of sleep that weekend, but we had a blast,” Speer said. “It’s quite a transition going from a 170 mph drag boat to an oval track ARCA car on dirt, but, for me, it’s one of the most exciting weekends of the year…getting to race the Proboat and our ARCA car on the same weekend…especially at DuQuoin. I just love that place.”
As much as Speer wants to continue pursuing his boat racing career, he still has full intentions to keep his stock car dream alive.
“Many people have questioned if I am racing stock cars still or just focusing on the drag boats. I just want to make it clear that we are still racing in the ARCA Series and we plan to run more in the 2015 season. We are also running a full season in the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series as well which will range from Arizona to Georgia.”
On the amphibious side, Speer races in the fastest quarter-mile class called Pro Mod. They run full-blown alcohol motors that make roughly 2,500 horsepower and run the liquid quarter-mile in seven seconds, which equates to roughly 170 mph. The boat is a 19-ft. hydro with a single propeller that turns about 20,000 rpm. Speer started out building performance boats as a child with his dad, Tim Speer, who used to race drag boats in the 1980’s. In the past, Tim won the points championship and has an excellent reputation in the drag boat ranks. Tim started his company, Proboat, in the early 1990’s building high performance boats for purchase. In the last Augusta Southern Nationals event in 2014, five of his eight boats entered went to the finals.
In addition to his busy boat schedule, Speer definitely wants to ramp-up his ARCA schedule in 2015 and beyond. He also believes the new ARCA Ilmor 396 engine will help him get there.
“Many people have questioned if I am racing stock cars still or just focusing on the drag boats. I just want to make it clear that we are still racing in the ARCA Series and we plan to run more in the 2015 season. We are also running a full season in the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series as well which will range from Arizona to Georgia.”
On the amphibious side, Speer races in the fastest quarter-mile class called Pro Mod. They run full-blown alcohol motors that make roughly 2,500 horsepower and run the liquid quarter-mile in seven seconds, which equates to roughly 170 mph. The boat is a 19-ft. hydro with a single propeller that turns about 20,000 rpm. Speer started out building performance boats as a child with his dad, Tim Speer, who used to race drag boats in the 1980’s. In the past, Tim won the points championship and has an excellent reputation in the drag boat ranks. Tim started his company, Proboat, in the early 1990’s building high performance boats for purchase. In the last Augusta Southern Nationals event in 2014, five of his eight boats entered went to the finals.
In addition to his busy boat schedule, Speer definitely wants to ramp-up his ARCA schedule in 2015 and beyond. He also believes the new ARCA Ilmor 396 engine will help him get there.
“ARCA’s new Ilmor motor program really got our attention. I think it’s really going to help in the long run. The initial expense, for us, is difficult, but once you’re there, we can see the benefits of being able to go longer between rebuilds, and being able to compete more up front.
“We’ve got the cars, but our motor program has always been our downfall. That’s why we’ve always focused on the corner speeds, because we just didn’t have it down the straightaways. With the new Ilmor 396, we think we can eventually run more races and you can actually compete with the top-five. We’ve always been down a hundred horsepower, but that won’t be the case now, and that’s pretty exciting.
“We’re coming to PRI (Performance Racing Industry trade show) to see if we can work out a few deals to get ready for the motor swap. We’ve already gotten rid of the SB-2 engines we had. And, while we’re there, we always go to the ARCA banquet. It works out great because it’s in the same place as PRI, so it’s really convenient. We haven’t missed one yet. This will be our fifth consecutive ARCA banquet; we’ve always really enjoyed them. It’s a great way to wrap up the weekend…all the cool videos for all the drivers and stories. It’s a class act.”
Article Source: ARCARacing.com by Don Radebaugh
(TOLEDO, Ohio – December 4, 2014)
“We’ve got the cars, but our motor program has always been our downfall. That’s why we’ve always focused on the corner speeds, because we just didn’t have it down the straightaways. With the new Ilmor 396, we think we can eventually run more races and you can actually compete with the top-five. We’ve always been down a hundred horsepower, but that won’t be the case now, and that’s pretty exciting.
“We’re coming to PRI (Performance Racing Industry trade show) to see if we can work out a few deals to get ready for the motor swap. We’ve already gotten rid of the SB-2 engines we had. And, while we’re there, we always go to the ARCA banquet. It works out great because it’s in the same place as PRI, so it’s really convenient. We haven’t missed one yet. This will be our fifth consecutive ARCA banquet; we’ve always really enjoyed them. It’s a great way to wrap up the weekend…all the cool videos for all the drivers and stories. It’s a class act.”
Article Source: ARCARacing.com by Don Radebaugh
(TOLEDO, Ohio – December 4, 2014)