The EPA single handily is going to kill this whole industry, and in my opinion the end isn’t too far away. Hard to get excited about emissions compliant power, and hard to want to risk jail time and felonies. That combined with everything he mentioned and discussed is why it is dying out. It’s sad I have seen the industry in both phases of being born and dying out. It’s genuinely heartbreaking.

I don't encourage bashing. With that said, as a customer it's been frustrating trying to get straight answers on transmission builder's since they aren't all equal. While 5k-12k might not be a lot to some people, it's a lot for most of us. I think there should be more transparency within the build community. Nobody wants to spend that much and not feel like a builder or build is completely trustworthy.

I don't know how many people that watch this that have the money, know how or time to go through a truck to make it what you want or need. I just finished going through my 2006 ram 3500 in April this year. I started with a good clean driving truck in 2014. After I paid it off in 2020. I started repairing and replacing everything in the steering and suspension. Then I moved onto the fuel system. I replaced everything that fuel went through. I beefed up the head with studs, valve bridges, rocker arms, valve springs, push rods. Then I replaced the transmission, transfer case and driveshafts. Last I put a compound turbo system on it and custom tuning. All in, I spent 45k for truck and upgrades. I did all the R and R myself. The truck is great and everything I need and want. But how many young people have the place, time, knowledge and money to get to the finish line. I'm 62 now. When I was 25 to 50, I didn't have the money or time. I was busy raising kids and meeting career needs. This is my RV tow truck. I don't have any idea on how much it cost to build a weekend race truck.

@tsimmons1974ts

12 күн бұрын

Congratulations

@JG_Rock

4 күн бұрын

30 years ago the common man could do this. I’ve done concrete my whole life, my bills are a quarter of what I make. My wife works. I just finished working 12 hrs a day for 20 days straight an hr away and somehow am squeezing in a 1900 sq foot pool deck. I cut my own grass. I don’t smoke I don’t drink. I have 1 child because we can’t afford another. I own all my vehicles and house. I could never imagine being able to spend 30k on my truck. Or finding the time. My country is shit. I need the life my parents and grandparents got to have for half the work and less time. I haven’t taken a week off in 3 years.

Dude said it’s a $100k event I don’t understand why people aren’t showing up 😂

@jdkirane6563

12 күн бұрын

It's a business owners game

The competitiveness and lack of communication reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend. We grew up racing Motocross. Occasionally you'd hear the announcer say someone is looking for this part etc... You could walk the pits and talk to pretty much everyone and they'd give you tips or BS or congratulate you or help you out. My friend went to a carting event, as his boys were interested. He said it was completely different, secretive and they found no pit that was really worth talking to. He said something like every dad thought their kid was the next Mario Andretti or something. Collaboration helps the sport. I also like to see the older/experienced guys guide the newcomers. The clean 600hp+ street truck help the smokey 200hp guy... I liked the Diesel Power Challenge as it's more relatable. It pit endurance, skill and abilities all together. Props to wanting to make it better and not destroy it. Getting key people in key places is a great start...

This was my first time to UCC. Chris is spot on when he states it needs more publicity and organization. As a spectator the dyno display was not able to be seen by the spectator. WTF On the other hand it has a great family feel. All the racers were super approachable and would spend time talking and explaining items on there truck. It reminds me of the old days of NHRA back in the 1980's. There is so much to see and experience, UCC needs more exposure to the general public. Keep doing what you do! Chris Patterson is a super person.

Sounds like he's got a legitimate gripe. Respect for his brutal honesty.

They used to stream the event some years ago and I would watch all weekend. But now they don't, and it sucks. I 100% agree with everything Chris says we need more unity between shops and events. There is no reason diesel performance couldn't be as big as hot rod, gas, circle track industry.

Great podcast Chris! Well said, mad respect!!

Everything has a life cycle. We’re dealing with that currently in our pulling circuit. Hardly anybody is showing up, lots of tractors/trucks setting in shops with dust. The cost has gone from 10k to 50k and 25k to nearly 100k to run different classes respectively even at a local level, so it’s not surprising. Combine that with not many new people wanting to or financially able to get in to the hobby at this stage, we’re starting to realize how irrelevant it all is. I plan to ride it out to the end because I love pulling, but we’re on the back side of the bell curve. Drag racing I’m assuming will stay a little longer, but I don’t believe my kids will be pulling or racing 30 years from now. Just the world we live in and I’ll roll with whatever comes.

@taylorh3930

13 күн бұрын

Im 33 and in this economy here in Canada I can hardly keep my small business going building a diesel truck is last thing I can afford It is on the wish list im learning on how to rebuild GM automatic transmission getting to the point were im learning on how to do everything myself... Im a paint and bady man run a small a shop in Saskatchewan Canada im the boss and employee 🙄 Its tough enough to get by as it is I simply just cant afford to do a diesel build plain and simple wish I could 🤷

Chris is spot on about UCC being a sideshow. The cut- throat of the diesel performance industry is what has pushed my company away. Keep fighting the good fight Chris. Great podcast

I like this topic! Collaboration creates great things! King of the street was a fun event to compete in and I feel like the scoring worked well for my little street truck.

Long comment sorry. When it comes to UCC I cannot tell you the amount of times I've tried to find event coverage that was more than 2 minutes long or wasn't from 3+ years ago. I would love to watch a stream of the event or even a well made compilation of the event. Same goes for lots of events. Many named in this podcast... But thats not being done... Even by the people who's job is to film content for KZread. I also think there are a few things really holding back the diesel community. 1- EPA 2- Content Creators 3- Cost of entry The EPA has hindered my diesel experience as well as many others simply because 90% of the parts that make our trucks live longer and drive better can't be installed. Content creators are doing more damage to the community than I think they get credit for. Folks like Whistling Diesel put bad tastes in a lot of mouths because of the way they behave and the content they produce. Dude literally just breaks shit for clicks. Which is exactly why fails and trucks exploding on the dyno get so popular. A lot of people just like seeing someones day ruined or fail in some way. The community wont get better until this mentality thats been fostered within it gets weeded out. The cost of entry into the diesel community is quite steep. The economy is tough for a lot of folks. So dropping 5k on injectors. 4k for a piping kit. 5-10k for a trans... Not to mention the cost of a truck in general means the ability to play in this world is hard. Especially if you're like me and don't have the knowledge to build your truck yourself so you have to have a shop build it. Which comes with its own bag of worms and costs... I come from the car community and its infinitely cheaper. When I can build a car that performs well for a fraction of the cost that cuts out a lot of potential community building I believe. For instance new 1000cc injectors for my car totaled less than 400 bucks. A new clutch was 750. Of course you can also go wild and drop tens of thousands of dollars on a car but the entry level into that community is vastly lower. How do we fix this? Thats a solid question. I could say that shops and companies could stop gouging the community and lower prices but that is never going to happen so I'm honestly not sure. But I know I love diesel performance and want nothing more than to see it grow. But we all have a lot of work to do.

It’s tough to keep a modern diesel running outside of a warranty. A certain check engine light could bankrupt most Americans.

@anthonyrowland9072

4 күн бұрын

A brand new Godzilla crate engine is $7500 from Jegs, the wrong code on a diesel can cost you that.

Is there a number of points allocated to trucks that are able to run and drive onto the trailer at the end of the event? And if not, why not?

You are a shining star in the KZread galaxy!

Reform the epa and most other 3 letter agencies. That’s what needs to happen.

I got out of diesel performance (my own trucks) in general a few years ago. For me, just getting a little older changed my perspective. Sure, performance part prices didn’t help any, but I came the realization that it didn’t matter what was under hood, 500hp was pretty much the same. Each brand has their Achilles heel when upgrading. I mainly got away from it due to cost of maintenance and government overreach…. I had a 2016 Powerstroke, and when I hit the realization that I couldn’t delete it, I was done. The sounds, smells, and personalities of the diesel engine is all but gone.

It's hard to get new blood into the sport when the government has taken away the tools and people to mod newer trucks. I've been in the game since 2000 and it's a totally different mindset on modding a diesel. Crazy wheels and pretty pipes under the hood seem to be all anyone wants to do. Social media plays a huge part with the 2 seconds of fame posting an engine explosion like Chris says. There was more comradery and information when there were forums to get on.

This dude is Spot On, I say Cheers from Coast To Coast Diesel Enthusiasts, We Are Everywhere and We Need to Work as a Unified Circuit, The Diesel Community is generally Good People

Don’t do ODSS or Epic pulling during UCC. Invite more UCC competitors. Get a good live stream set up.

@gtperformanceturbochargers

10 күн бұрын

UCC absolutely sucked before they brought in racing. We have been every year. Mind numbing boring without ODSS as a fan.

It’s not to hard to figure out if you think for half a second not many has hundreds of thousands of dollars to throw at a race truck and event every year it’s not worth the money just for ego

You’d think with all the EPA crap there’d be a emissions on class trying to push the limits of emissions diesels because emissions aren’t going away

Why do people want to drag race in 8500 pound pickup trucks? It's like taking 1970s Arnold Schwarzenegger and making him do a 100 yard sprint. Tractor pulling is way more interesting to me for diesels, it's what they're built for; pulling. Not to mention the insane price of new trucks, the insane labor price for a diesel tech, the lack of good techs, the insane price of parts, and the current economy all put together too. My SLE trim Sierra 2500 L5P was 76k and it has vinyl floors and cloth seats.

...The EPA. /end of podcast.

AGREE ON LIVE STREAM!

Keep em street legal!

Good news...The Supreme Court overturned the " Chevron Doctrine ". It's a big blow to the EPA

More people with diesel need to try drag and drive

@gtperformanceturbochargers

10 күн бұрын

We are gonna play with it next season.

He isn’t wrong but sounds a lil like sour grapes. As for why more competitors don’t compete really money money money. Last year winner was unable to get truck ready due to parts and number 2 last year had a big life change that was service to his family so shit happens but I love watching and agree it needs be managed better so if he feels strongly about his Ideas then step up!!!!! Hope he does

Diesel "performance" cut it's own throat. $175/hr shop rate for parts swappers that can't diagnose. Flat rate book time for shops that then cut corners. On top of it, pricing agreements for parts and components. Sorry, you take your customers for a ride and they find new hobbies. Have fun drag racing with empty stands.

@bigmurph1447

13 күн бұрын

Plus the price of trucks and Ole 12v or 7.3 cost 10k plus but still needs 10k put into it. Over 10 plus years ago u could pick one up for under 4k

This is really simple, let me mansplain it to you: 1) Pulling is the king of all diesel motorsports and it always will be. Hooking to a heavy object and pulling it is what diesels were built for. Nothing outpulls a diesel in the ICE world. That being said, this is why there is a huge fan base at every county fair and larger national events. Pulling will be around until the government shuts it down. Mr. Patterson isn't much of a puller or else he would have never tried to oversimplify it like he did. Yes, everyone can participate, but few are consistent winners. Pulling also has well laid out class structures, and let's say 80% of competitors make a good hook. So the show is good and people will always pack the stands. In your local area everyone has a couple trucks/tractors they root for and probably know the owners, so it's a family affair for many rural folks who can get to see the trucks run at multiple locations. This gives pulling a die-hard following. 2) Diesel drag racing is Dumb with a capital D. Any kid with a turbo gas/alky car can make even the fastest trucks look slow and stupid. Diesel trucks were never built to accelerate fast and everyone knows it. The big flaw with the whole concept is attrition. Every event is FILLED with trucks that break or can't hook up or just flat out run like crap. Many people have thrown cubic dollars at race trucks but the weight and torque just kills the driveline (transmissions #1). The events are terrible because of this unreliability. Nobody is coming out to see diesel trucks race because by and large they are a crap show compared to really fast gas cars. I'm sorry for the guys who like to race but my advice is to stop burning down money doing something that ultimately is not interesting to most people. I wouldn't be surprised if the EPA nails these guys first because a quarter mile of smoke looks bad to a tree hugger when everything else runs clean. On the other hand, fair goers LOVE smoke, and pay to see it. It's a completely different audience. 3) Dyno events are only really interesting to diesel engine builders. Which is probably OK, because someday a spectator will likely get killed due to flying parts and lax safety rules, and a general demeanor of the competitors being "we worked sleepless nights for the last 5 days and we came here to just send it, so go or blow." Most of these are company-sponsored engines and I think most people ferret that out pretty fast. The explosions and the winners get KZread hits and the rest is..."also ran". Therefore, to recap...diesel pulling is the only side of "the sport" that will last. You heard it here folks! 🤣

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…!!!!

I have a few diesel trucks, while i think its awesome, diesel performance is just to expensive