Hundreds of new product announcements cross the desks of PRI editors each month. Following are our top picks for March.

C27S FOLDING TOOL TROLLEY

Beta Tools USA
beta-tools.com

Here’s a handy storage solution for racers that need mobility and quick access around the pit or garage. The Beta Tools C27S folding tool trolley is compact enough to fit in the back of a small SUV, yet holds a wide variety of tools and parts in three storage areas; it also offers a thermoplastic worktop to boot.

“It’s been in the US for about a year and a half now,” said Randy Booth of Beta Tools USA. “It’s had a lot of success with road-racing motorcycle teams. They’ll use it in a garage environment where they don’t want to roll around a large eight-drawer chest.”

The patented design is constructed from a sheet-metal frame and features a pair of fixed 6.30-inch casters on one end and two 3.94-inch lockable steering casters on the other. There is a large (23.15- by 10.90- by 8.66-inch) storage bin on the bottom level. When the folding handles are in place, the worktop and two drawers can be unlocked and moved into position.

“Making the drawers slide out on both sides makes the cart accessible for more than one person,” said Booth. “When collapsed and locked, if for some reason it were to tip over, all your stuff won’t fly out.” 

When expanded, the tool trolley stands 36 inches tall. When collapsed, it’s 20 inches tall. It can be ordered in orange, green, or red. The trolley weighs about 44 pounds when empty. —Mike Magda

PIT CREW SAFETY KIT

Design Engineering Inc. (DEI)
designengineering.com

Working on a hot engine is always potentially dangerous. Mishaps can occur abruptly and lead to serious injuries.

Crew members can keep their eyes, ears, and arms protected with the pit crew safety kit from DEI. It includes protective eyewear, ear plugs, and a Kevlar arm sleeve in one package at an affordable price.

“It’s evolved over the years,” said Mike Buca. “It’s mainly to keep guys from burning their arms while working on the race car.”

The glasses are black-framed, impact-resistant, and provide 100 percent UV protection. They’re also scratch-resistant and available in clear, smoke, or yellow lenses. Offering a noise-reduction rating of 25 db, the ear plugs feature triple flanges for a comfortable one-size-fits-all design. The Kevlar sleeves help workers avoid cuts, slashes, and burns. They withstand temperatures up to 900 degrees F. The design extends past the wrist for added protection in the palm area.

“This kit is popular with sprint car teams because the exhaust is exposed,” added Buca.

The items are also available for individual purchase, and are useful to professional mechanics and DIY’ers as well as racers. —Mike Magda

SUPERCHARGER AND CAMSHAFT POWER PACKAGE

FAST
fuelairspark.com

The new FAST supercharger and camshaft kits are an easy way to build horsepower with the GM LS and Dodge Gen III Hemi platforms. The packages are built around a marriage of Edelbrock’s 2300 TVS supercharger and COMP Cams application-specific camshafts and valvetrain components. FAST engineers dyno-tested various combinations of cam lobes, valve springs, and supercharger pulleys to achieve optimum results—often leveraging lessons learned while developing cams for naturally aspirated engines.

“Knowing how the addition of a blower changes the pressure across the valves at each event, we were able to go directly to new profiles optimized for this system, without repeating all the prior baseline testing,” explained COMP Cams’ Billy Godbold.

The power increases are impressive. For example, a 6.2-liter LS3 achieved 850 horsepower while running E85 fuel, and a 6.4-liter Gen III Hemi peaked at 1,016 horsepower—also on E85. Both engines sported stock cylinder heads.

“Knowing that we wanted a long, nearly flat torque curve, we were able to quickly make a few changes to how we timed exhaust opening and intake closing to get the optimum curve shape for each camshaft grind,” Godbold added.

The kits feature a high-capacity intercooler with a dual bar and plate design that is integrated into the supercharger housing. Included in the kits are two drive pulleys: a pump-gas friendly version for break-in and general performance driving, and a smaller pulley for max power on race gas or E85. —Mike Magda