SWAMP RAT III: ‘BIG DADDY’ CACKLES LAGUNA SECA!

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 by MartynL

SWAMP RAT III: ‘BIG DADDY’ CACKLES AT LAGUNA SECA!

Legendary Top Fuel racer Don Garlits and Swamp Rat III will be at Nitro Revival at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, Ocala, FL, is a name that is synonymous with drag racing and the evolution of Top Fuel dragsters. Over his career he has accumulated 144 wins, 17 championships, and numerous performance records dating back to 1950. Garlits, right, will meet and greet fans and cackle his famed Swamp Rat III dragster that was faithfully recreated for Sonny Messner. The third inc...

’65 STING RAY: DUNTOV’S FIRST L88!

Posted on February 10, 2018February 10, 2018 by MartynL

Zora Arkus-Duntov’s legendary L88 Corvette Sting Ray Mule – Vin 58053 - is alive, well and the subject of Kenneth W. Kayser’s fascinating new book – ZORA’S #58053. Ken Kayser had spent his entire engineering career at General Motors, starting in 1968 as a student at GMI (General Motors Institute) and his first (co-op) job at GM’s Chevrolet Motor Plant, Tonawanda, NY. He retired in 2008 and, for approximately two years before retiring, worked on the mid-engined Corvette project. He also worked w...

SWISS STUNNER: CORVETTE MAKO SHARK II REDUX!

Posted on February 8, 2018 by MartynL

One of the most beautiful and significant Corvette Concept Cars ever, the 1965/1966 Mako Shark II hinted to the arrival of an all-new C3 Stingray in 1968. This handcrafted Tribute Shark built in Switzerland is picture perfect. Hanspeter Bohl, a Corvette specialist in Muenchenstein, Switzerland, is the man responsible for what has to be the most authentic, highest quality Mako Shark II Tribute ever produced. He worked with GM’s original U.S. Patent drawing and created a bespoke Shark that look...

’69½ DODGE: STING LIKE A SUPER BEE!

Posted on February 4, 2018February 4, 2018 by MartynL

Dodge gets its Supercar act together with an aggressive midyear Super Bee with a venomous sting. Built off the midsize Coronet platform, the Super Bee was packaged for testosterone-infused enthusiasts. Like the streamlined Charger 500 and Charger Daytona, Detroit’s Creative Industries handled final assembly of Dodge’s in-your-face Super Bee. With its lift-off scooped fiberglass hood, tri-power 440 Wedge, beefy Dana 60 rear end, status graphics, taut suspension and “electric” colors, the Super ...

’32 FORD: OLD SCHOOL’S THE BEST SCHOOL!

Posted on February 2, 2018February 4, 2018 by MartynL

The Pacific Gun Sight Special is more than a picture-perfect Highboy roadster. It represents a four-wheeled ‘window’ into the history of a uniquely American hobby. Kim and Mitch McCullough are consummate, hands-on car guys. They collect cars, but more importantly they drive and compete with the cars they have acquired. Trailer queens have no place in the McCullough collection. Cars are the focus of both their vocations and avocations. Kim is Vice-President of Marketing for Jaguar Land Rover ...

’19 CORVETTE ZR1: KING OF THE ROAD & TRACK!

Posted on February 1, 2018 by MartynL

The ‘19 Corvette ZR1 set a production-car lap record on the 4.1-mile Grand Course West at Virginia International Raceway with a time of 2:37.25. Along with a harness bar and track seats with five-point harnesses, the record-setting stock ZR1 coupe was equipped with the available paddle-shift eight-speed automatic and ZTK Performance Package. The ZTK package includes an adjustable carbon-fiber High Wing, a front splitter with carbon-fiber end caps, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer-only tires, a...

MARTIN SPECIAL: AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL ROADSTER!

Posted on January 29, 2018 by MartynL

Dave Martin’s show-stopping ’31 Ford, built by Signal Hill, CA-based Hot Rods & Hobbies, earned the coveted “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” title at the 69th annual Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) at the Fairplex in Pomona. The event also included the presentation of the Al Slonaker Memorial Award to Mark and Dennis Mariani’s Rad Rides ‘29 Ford Model A, while Fred and Diane Bowden’s ‘37 Lincoln LeBaron won the Blackie Gejeian Award. Mike Garner’s ‘50 Mercury was named as the recipie...

ALFA ROMEO STELVIO: SUV FOR THE S-CURVES!

Posted on January 26, 2018 by MartynL

While Alfa's sporty Stelvio may be late to the SUV party, its lively performance and spirited handling has huge appeal, blogs Road Test Editor Howard Walker. Who doesn't adore Italy? All that pizza and pasta, the vino Chianti, the gelato. Ah, the gelato. I could live on Stracciatella. And all those swanky fashionista labels. Gucci and Armani, Fendi and Missoni. Want to sound more interesting in life? Just add an “i” to the end of your name. Walkeri? Maybe not! A huge part of the appeal of ow...

ARCHIE URCIUOLI: RRDC 2017 BOB AKIN AWARD WINNER!

Posted on January 25, 2018 by MartynL

Archie Urciuoli, an SCCA racer in the 1950s and 1960s, a former Marine, and head of a private investment and consulting firm, was named the 2017 recipient of the RRDC Bob Akin Award. He was presented the award at the annual Road Racing Drivers Club members' dinner last evening, prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Each recipient of this honor, considered the top award in motorsports for amateur, vintage/histori...

ROY LUNN: ENGINEER, DESIGNER, DISRUPTER!

Posted on January 24, 2018 by MartynL

The Automotive Hall Of Fame in Dearborn, MI is honoring the man responsible for leading the teams at Ford that designed, engineered and developed the GT40s that won Le Mans 1966-1969. The celebration of his life as an engineer and designer is showcased in an exhibit that runs through April 1, 2018. He was inducted into the AHOF in 2016. On June 19th, 2016, racing enthusiasts, friends of the Blue Oval, automotive journalists and historians, and the Ford Motor Company, celebrated th...