driver who was having difficulties. After listening to his problem, Satterfield advised him that the problem wasn't with the carburetor. It was the cam and the manifold. They made the changes and the car went right to the front.

It is this ability that arguably puts dAM ahead of the competition when it comes to tech support. "The science that's behind these (carburetors) is really at a high level," he asserted.

The procedure for producing carburetors for individual customers involves the use of specialists to produce the components and then the customization by Satterfield.

"We have a basic fuel curve that we have developed for different tracks and different cams," he said. "The carburetor comes with audio installation CDs. I also have a nationally recognized sparkplug CD that Nextel Cup teams use. The carburetors go out with these CDs, which help the customers understand the technologies.

"This is a volume-sensored device. We need the customer to understand that it has some extraordinarily good technologies in it and some really 'dumb' technologies in it that they need to be aware of. As they are more aware of these things, their car will respond to both the driver's foot and to what's going on.

"I explain intricate technical subjects in fairly simple language. People don't feel overwhelmed when speaking to me or listening to my CDs."

The bottom line is that, despite considerable expertise in many areas, dAMBEST is now concentrating on carburetors.

"The technology behind the scenes is to support the carburetors," he said. "I'm here to support the engine builders and the racers."

Satterfield is able to offer this support secure in the knowledge that, because of his five patents, he is a step ahead of his competitors.

"We have technologies in the emulsion system that they (the competitors) are not currently using, which has proven to do a wonderful job," he said. His base patents also protect that technology. "Anything (in the carburetor) that is 'non smooth' conduit, we own," he added.

To illustrate, he cited this example: "If I had the patent on rubber or neoprene tires and you would have to make tires out of something other than what we currently understand as rubber, that's how broad my patent is. The main wall (of a carburetor) is a smooth wall conduit. I own anything that's not smooth. For them (my competitors) to do what we're doing in the main well to process fuel at the speed of consumption, they would have to use my patent. You can't process fuel, doing what we're doing, at that rate, without it. I truly believe we have the best product and the technology to support it."

As dAMBEST increases its network of dealers, they can become even more specialized. The race shops and engine builders who become dealers can customize the carburetors to the tracks in their region-another plus for the company.

"Let's take Tony at Roundout (Racing Engines)," he said. "He specializes at Accord. Why would someone who races at Accord want to buy a carburetor from someone from Pennsylvania? It makes sense to buy it from Tony. He can offer other aspects and combinations that I can't. I'm here to support him as an engine builder with any questions he has for me.

"Having a specialized dealer seems like a good thing to me. Ultimately, I would like to have a 'dAM, John-supported, dealer network,' where I had a dealer supporting each track. Then we can develop a carburetor for each engine combination or driver whatever they need for a specific track."

The dealer network also allows Satterfield to stay ahead on the production end because the dealers will control inventory. He will supply the carburetors based on his dealer's projections, so they will have them in stock. He suggested that if a particular dealer doesn't have a desired carburetor, he probably will have one at his shop.

"We will typically have 14 to 20 different carburetors on the shelf," he said.

Another long-term goal of Satterfield's is to develop a transportable wet bench so that he can be at the more important races.

"If we're at a track and a customer has something going on- and since they don't always have a lot of track time-they can take the carburetor off and bring it right to me, rather than having to send it me as they do now," he said. "That's another technical support that we would offer to our customers."

The evolution of dAMBEST has been a fascinating one to say the least, but the proof is in the pudding. Last season Satterfield noted that his business had over 200 victories and he was completely sold out of product before the end of the season by the rush in demand.

The self-assured Satterfield believes that the company is on the verge of becoming as well-known and respected as he has become in the fuel combustion industry.

Since dAMBEST is actively working to build its dealer network, anyone interested in speaking to John will have the opportunity to see him in person at this weekend's National Parts Peddler Trade Show in Syracuse, N.Y.; the PRI Show in Indianapolis from Dec. 9-11; and AARN's Motorsports 2005 show in Fort Washington, Pa., from Jan. 14-16. You can also contact him by phone at 845-473-1136; by fax at: 845-473- 2028; or at info@dambest.com.

1) John Satterfield's 35 years of racing experience puts him in the position of understanding what a racer needs, and wants; 2) The dAMBEST tuning experience ranges from lab work in their development facility to field work at Indianapolis, Pocono with NASCAR teams and NHRA drag racing around the country. That experience is made available on their own engine-tuning CDs for spark plug analysis and carb tuning. (Photos courtesy of dAMBEST)