In the last issue of Trackside, we introduced the technology and components of the Evans NPG Cooling System and told you how it works. When new products come on the scene, it is sometimes difficult to weed out the hype from the pertinent information. Fortunately, Evans  Cooling has been available for several years, allowing many race teams to experiment with its use. We've had discussions with four people who use the Evans system. We talked about what attracted them to Evans Cooling and the NPG and the benefits they have found.

Many manufacturers find it is beneficial to have a " house car", working closely with that car to develop and refine their products. Evans Cooling is no exception. From their days as Mecca Development, where they used the Trans-Am series to their current visits to the Busch North Series, Evans has maintained race cars to be used as test beds. Utilizing the road racing experience of employee Rick Bell, Evans Cooling has entered the Lime Rock and Watkins Glen BGNN races the past few years. The Evans car utilizes all four components of the Evans system: the NPG fluid, high volume water pump, larger diameter hoses and a radiator designed to maximize the flow rate. According to both Rick and Steve Pressley, v.p. of engineering for Evans, using the NPG system has allowed them to close off the nose of the car for qualifying with no adverse effect. Recent tests at Lime Rock Park showed typical liquid temperatures of 200 degrees during and after each run around the track.

Another racer who has been utilizing the Evans NPG system is DIRT touring professional Brett Hearn. Brett has been using Evans NPG coolant since 1992. According to Hearn, "We started with just the fluid, then changed hose size and got rid of (flow) restrictions," building in reliability and added insurance. While Brett benefits from the Evans NPG system each race, two events this year really illustrate how well the system works. During the 97-lap Skoal Series race at the 5/8-mile dirt Orange County Fair Speedway in June, Brett ran much of the race with the temperature around the 250 degree mark.

Brett Hearn has gotten results with Evans NPG System. /Alex & Helen Bruce Photo

(Keep in mind this temperature is the liquid temperature. Since the NPG does not form the vapor blanket that is associated with water boiling, it is able to absorb greater amounts of heat, while cooling the metal surfaces. This ability results in higher liquid temps without damage to engine components.)  Brett went on to win that race and ran that same engine again with no difficulty. A second demonstration of the capabilities of the NPG system came at the New York State Fair mile race track on Labor Day. As Brett shared, "They put down cinders to run the horses at the track. We went out in an early hot lap session and the engine ran hot. When we took the nose off, the radiator looked okay, but the cinders actually plugged the core, which we didn't realize until later. That time we pegged the gauge for a long time." Brett estimates they ran at 270 to 280 degrees during that race.  Inspection of the engine days after the Syracuse race found no damage to it either. The greatest benefit Brett has found with NPG system is not increased performance, but reliability  As Brett commented, there is "No greater horsepower or increased performance, what it does is allow you to finish races, and you can't win them without finishing.”

The ability to finish, if not win, races has helped carry Frank Kimmel and the Danken Racing team to a close second place in the ARCA Supercar Series. ARCA is a traveling stock car series which runs from the paved ovals of Atlanta and Daytona, to the venerable dirt tracks of such places as Parkersburg, W.Va. and Springfield, IL. It is on these dirt race tracks that Frank Kimmel and their race team have had great success with the Evans NPG System. Jeff Lemons, crew chief for Danken Racing, discovered the NPG system through a trade magazine and recognized its potential.

The Evans NPG System is compact, lightweight and proven efficient.  /John Oates Photo

After speaking with the Evans Engineering staff, Danken Racing decided it was worth trying. The team added the complete Evans NPG system, consisting of the  fluid, radiator, water pump and hoses to the car they planned on running at the three dirt track  events on the ARCA schedule.

After running two of the events, Danken Racing can directly attribute a race win to using the Evans NPG System. ARCA traveled to West Virginia Motor Speedway and were met with rather dusty conditions. As Jeff told us, “The dust plugged up the radiator.  The last 60 laps we ran at 270 degrees.  If we’d done that with water, we would have boiled over.”

During this race, many of the other competitors had to pit during the race to clean the dust out of the grill and radiators of their cars.  Kimmel did not have to stop and went on to win the race.  Despite running the extreme temperatures, the car started on its own after the victory lane ceremony, and the engine had no damage.

The next dirt race at DuQuoin, IL went somewhat differently. Again on a mile dirt track, "30 laps into a 100-lap race. something went through the grill and clogged up the radiator. With 20 laps to go, the liquid finally boiled over. . . we finished eighth instead of 28th."

As we discussed in the previous article, the boiling point of the Evans NPG fluid is 375 degrees. If Kimmel was using a water or ethylene glycol and water (EGW) system, he would not have finished the race or gained valuable points.

While our previous competitors have used the Evans NPG system because they want to remain on the cutting edge of technology, our next example was looking for a cure for a persistent overheating problem. Dean Palmer of Palmer Machine, located in southern Connecticut, has done machine and engine work for Evans Engineering for many years. In addition, he builds competition engines for various racers around New England. One of his customers, Rick Donnelly, runs a Small Block Modified at the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, Conn., a 1/3-mile paved oval that features tight racing. According to Dean, "Probably until the middle of July, they had a chronic overheating problem, running 265 to 280 each time out. During one of the
hottest days of the year, we just put the NPG coolant in, and they ran 240 to 250 at the end of the race. We decided to take the motor out and it was perfect.”

After their good experience with just the fluid, they decided to realize all the benefits of the Evans NPG System and added a radiator designed to flow greater volumes, changed to bigger hoses, and changed the pulley speed to spin the pump to accommodate the higher volume. From this point on. Dean said "The motor was running cooler - and had more power."

The difference was noticeable enough to catch the eye of the track officials. On a night when everyone else was having overheating problems, this car ran without a problem. "The track officials asked us why we weren't overheating." Dean explained the Evans system to the officials, touching on the characteristics of the system, including the lack of toxicity and the lower operating pressure, which makes it safer than EGW systems. While they may have convinced the officials, some of the competitors were a bit wary. "We tell a circle track racer you don't need the 20 lb. (radiator) cap, they look at you like you're nuts. I'm surprised the Modified Tour guys haven't jumped on it,” said Palmer.

These are the racing experiences of four different cars, four different drivers, on three different types of racetracks. In each case, the Evans NPG System had substantially better performance compared to plain water or EGW. The NPG fluid and the Evans cooling system are not the magic keys to suddenly winning races. What it can do is help you stay in races you might otherwise have fallen out of. It can help you develop the most power from your engine and increase the safety, efficiency and reliability of your cooling system. The technology is based in science and fact, not black magic. It has helped these four people and other competitors ranging from a 410 Sprint Car running out west to a Hummer that ran the Pike's Peak hill climb. If you aren't able to get this type of performance from your current cooling system, give Evans a call.

EVANS COOLING SYSTEMS INC.
255 Route 41 North
Sharon, CT 06069
(860) 364-5130
Fax (860) 364 0888.