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Desert rats got a thing for Rancho Santa Fe

Gas station one of the few in county that sells 100-octane racing fuel

The draw for Bugattis, buggies, rails, and motorcycles is on the bottom line
The draw for Bugattis, buggies, rails, and motorcycles is on the bottom line

The highest priced regular gas in San Diego County on June17 was found at the 76 station in Coronado, at $4.59 a gallon — wait, one station in Rancho Santa Fe posts a much higher price — $8.99 a gallon.

The station, at the corner of La Flecha and Via de Santa Fe, is one of the few in the state can dispense racing fuel to the general public — 95 and 100 octane. “I believe there are other stations in El Cajon, PB, and Vista, but we’re the only ones in the state that is licensed to sell 95 octane,” said manager Steven.

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Steven’s station also happens to be one of the few Sunoco dealers in the West, and the only one in California. The chain is most popular in the Midwest and South. Sunoco is the official racing fuel of NASCAR, IndyCar, and the NHRA (dragsters).

Are there any production cars on the road that need the higher octane? Only one — Bugatti. But at a base price of $1.7 million, one should be able to afford $9/gallon gas.

“We get a lot of race Hondas that are good customers," said Steven. "People on the way to the desert with motorcycles and quads also use it because of the increased horsepower....

“We also get a lot of higher-end, high-compression Mercedes, Porches, and BMWs. They have had the car’s software changed in order to take advantage of the higher horsepower,” he added. Otherwise, a regular car will be virtually unaffected by the higher octane, other than perhaps cleaning out the fuel injectors. But any auto-parts store sells much cheaper gasoline treatments that accomplish the same thing.

Once the car’s fuel-injection system and software are changed, the high-end gas meets the restrictive regulations of the California Air Resources Board.

Historical footnote: Back in the 1950s and ’60s, Hancock stations offered seven octane ratings through a selector dial on their pumps. One could choose from lawnmower gas all the way up to racing fuel.

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The draw for Bugattis, buggies, rails, and motorcycles is on the bottom line
The draw for Bugattis, buggies, rails, and motorcycles is on the bottom line

The highest priced regular gas in San Diego County on June17 was found at the 76 station in Coronado, at $4.59 a gallon — wait, one station in Rancho Santa Fe posts a much higher price — $8.99 a gallon.

The station, at the corner of La Flecha and Via de Santa Fe, is one of the few in the state can dispense racing fuel to the general public — 95 and 100 octane. “I believe there are other stations in El Cajon, PB, and Vista, but we’re the only ones in the state that is licensed to sell 95 octane,” said manager Steven.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Steven’s station also happens to be one of the few Sunoco dealers in the West, and the only one in California. The chain is most popular in the Midwest and South. Sunoco is the official racing fuel of NASCAR, IndyCar, and the NHRA (dragsters).

Are there any production cars on the road that need the higher octane? Only one — Bugatti. But at a base price of $1.7 million, one should be able to afford $9/gallon gas.

“We get a lot of race Hondas that are good customers," said Steven. "People on the way to the desert with motorcycles and quads also use it because of the increased horsepower....

“We also get a lot of higher-end, high-compression Mercedes, Porches, and BMWs. They have had the car’s software changed in order to take advantage of the higher horsepower,” he added. Otherwise, a regular car will be virtually unaffected by the higher octane, other than perhaps cleaning out the fuel injectors. But any auto-parts store sells much cheaper gasoline treatments that accomplish the same thing.

Once the car’s fuel-injection system and software are changed, the high-end gas meets the restrictive regulations of the California Air Resources Board.

Historical footnote: Back in the 1950s and ’60s, Hancock stations offered seven octane ratings through a selector dial on their pumps. One could choose from lawnmower gas all the way up to racing fuel.

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The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

San Diego Fix it Clinic, Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade

Events December 14-December 18, 2024
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Holiday Market At Petco Park, Will Smith’s Dance in the Darkness Tour, Light Shows, Snowfall, Caroling

Events December 12-December 13, 2024
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