The Beginning
VP Racing Fuels was founded by Steve Burns, who initially exhibited his aptitude for R&D in the early 1970's as a young
racer in San Antonio, Texas. Self-taught in chemistry and physics, Steve was convinced the race fuel manufacturers of the
day were falling short in their quest for optimum horsepower. To address this shortcoming, he began experimenting with exotic
blends of fuel, much to the dismay of his parents whose garage served as Steve's laboratory. Steve began at the local tracks
in South Texas, where racers tried his fuel and liked the power gains. His first fuel was christened "C12", the word spread
and Steve's company was founded as VP Racing Fuels in 1974.
Several
of VP's earliest customers went on to become some of the most successful drag racers in history, including multi-time NHRA
champions Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden.
Early R&D work was accomplished with the help of the Reher-Morrison team and
others who were among the most influential engine builders in the industry. Recognition from the most successful teams in
racing helped VP evolve into a household name in racing pits around the country, with C12 going on to become arguably the
most successful race fuel in motorsports.
Expanding Markets
VP's
forays into the motorcycle market met with similar success, as Steve and his team worked personally with each of the factory
motocross and road racing
teams
to develop custom blends for their applications. VP's dominance of this market is illustrated by its fueling of every American
Motorcycle Association (AMA) Pro Class champion for five consecutive years through 2008. VP's R&D team also developed
fuels specifically for sanctioning bodies in Europe, including FIA (Automotive) and FIM (Motorcycle).
World Leader In Race Fuel Technology
VP is now recognized by many as the world leader in race fuel technology, with a catalog of nearly 70 fuel blends and a
large and growing roster of VP-fueled champions
across the entire spectrum of motorsports. VP's reputation for product quality, along with
superior service and technical support, helped secure its position as the Official Racing Fuel of the largest racing sanctioning
body in the world–National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Championship Drag Racing–as well as sponsor of more than 50 other
series and sanctioning bodies, including American Le Mans, American Drag Racing League (ADRL), AMA Flat Track, The Off Road
Championship (TORC), Star Mazda, USF2000, UMP DIRTcar, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws Late Models among
many others.
VP Introduces SEF94 Small Engine Fuel
VP's foray into Small Engine Fuel development began in the Northeast U.S., where, like many other users of portable gas-powered
tools, several Fire and Rescue units were experiencing problems with hard starts and total breakdowns of their equipment.
In these units were several people familiar with racing and VP's ability to formulate custom blends, so they sought VP's
help.
Upon researching the issue, VP learned that ethanol in street gas was the primary cause of the engine failures. In response,
VP's chemists set about formulating a new fuel to prevent these problems from occurring in all portable gas-powered
tools. After extensive field and laboratory testing, the result was SEF94, the most reliable fuel on the market for quicker,
easier starts and worry-free long-term storage.
Worldwide Distribution
From
a single location with two employees in San Antonio, Texas, VP has grown to approximately 100 employees with four company
owned and operated racing fuel distribution points in Texas, Indiana, Georgia and Delaware, as well as a regional sales
office in southern California and distributorships in Florida, Kansas and Washington; Calgary, Ontario and Montreal, Canada;
and Tijuana, Mexico. VP's international distribution network extends to Europe, Central America, Australia, Asia, the Middle
East and Russia. Together, VP's distributors support a network of more than 1300 dealers around the world.
Sustained Passion and Commitment
The passion and dedication of VP's development team to staying on the leading edge of technology is legendary. Most of VP's
employees are or have been racers in one form or another and are driven by the competitive will to win. Together, the VP
team intends to solidify its position as the true World Leader in Performance Fuel Technology for years to come.