PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD: THE RICHARD PETTY CONNECTION!

Our man on the track, Stephen Cox, talks with Richard Petty about his connection to the winged Superbird. It has been claimed that Plymouth's legendary winged ‘70 Superbird was the brainchild of NASCAR champion Richard Petty. The rumor has been around for decades but I've never found anyone with first-hand knowledge who could absolutely confirm or deny that the car's origins truly began with The King of Stock Car Racing. But opportunity knocked a couple of weeks ago when Petty was in attend...
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STEPHEN COX: BACK ON TRACK!

After the fire that ended my race on February 13 at Circuit of the Americas and sent me to the intensive care unit of the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, I’m thrilled to say that I’ll be back on track next  month, blogs Stephen Cox. Fans are are invited to Stephen Cox's return to auto racing on May 14 at Midvale Speedway, 45 minutes south of Canton, OH. WHAT: The Super Cup 100 stock car race  WHERE: Midvale Speedway, 3825 W State St, Midvale OH WHEN: Saturday, May 14,...
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$14 MILLION SALES: MECUM ANAHEIM AUCTION!

2005 FORD GT is top seller (at approximately $300,000) of 416 cars cars hammered sold throughout the three-day event.  Held annually since 2012, the Southern California auction has established itself as an important part of the Mecum Auctions’ calendar. Volume and variety are always staple qualities of Mecum auctions, and the top 10 sales at this year’s Anaheim auction could easily qualify as one of the best demonstrations of this: Muscle cars, Ferraris, a ‘50s classic, a Corvette, a Res...
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SHAKY DOG/SOPWITH: SWEEP WRL WITH BACK-TO-BACK WINS!

The most successful season in the 31-history of Sopwith Motorsports came to an end last weekend with two first-place trophies at Tulsa's  Hallett Motor Racing Circuit.   In a joint effort with Shaky Dog Racing on Saturday and Sunday, the team participated in the GP2 division of the World Racing League's October Rush sports car endurance races. The McGunegill Engines/Boschett Timepieces/Impact Racing Mustang started midway back in the 29-car field in Saturday's nine-hour enduran...
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SD-421 SUPER-DUTY PONTIAC: LIGHTWEIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT!

Swiss Cheese ’63 SD-421 Catalina is one of 14 factory built and held NHRA C/Stock record for a number of years. As the 1962 drag season drew to a close, it was obvious that Pontiac’s position at the top of the Super/Stock hierarchy was weakening. Ford, Chrysler and Chevrolet were gaining on the Chiefs with bigger engines and an ever-increasing supply of special parts, including weight-saving aluminum components and body panels. Pontiac engineers knew they had to have a lighter, more p...
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MUSCLE CAR BRAND LOYALTY: OBSOLETE IDEA?

Stephen Cox blogs about being a Ford fan, racing a Chevy and not buying the popular concept of brand loyalty. I am a Ford fan. There, I said it. But I have little comprehension of brand loyalty; at least not the sort of fanatical allegiance so frequently seen among muscle car enthusiasts. I don’t even understand it. It is therefore eternally amusing to run across those typical chest-thumping car commandos who claim that every automobile that is not manufactured by their favorite company is...
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HOT MUSCLE CAR BUYS: MERCURY COUGAR!

Stephen Cox blogs about the appeal of undervalued specialty cars that often go  unnoticed on the auction circuit. I have a confession to make. I don’t pay much attention to the multi-million dollar collector cars on the auction block. They prance across the stage looking really hot and endlessly tease you with something you know you can’t afford. Insert Britney Spears joke here! However, I do have a raging passion for under-appreciated cars that average, everyday people can actually...
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’63 CORVETTE STING RAY: HARLEY EARL ONE-OFF!

Styled by GM Design for Harley Earl, it’s one of the most significant C-2 Corvettes ever to cross the auction block. Known internally at GM as “Shop Order 10323,” this stunning ’63 Sting Ray convertible is truly one-of-a-kind. GM Design customized it for the man often credited for introducing design and color to the American automobile industry. Harley J. Earl joined GM in 1928 and became head of the General Motors Design, retiring in 1958. His designs in the 1950s Motoramas are what broug...
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MONTEREY 2013: OFF THE BEATEN PATH!

We sent our friend Jim Palam to Monterey to come up with stuff not necessarily covered by the usual suspects. Palam never disappoints! ‘You Snooze You Lose.’ Peter Inshaw's '63 Alfa Giuliett Spider 1600 and friend in the pits at Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway on Saturday.

 ‘It's A Gamble.’ #22 BMW 3.5 CSL makes an unplanned early departure from Laguna Seca Saturday afternoon. Ouch!

‘ 'Available In Mobster Black.’ Talk about attitude: This '62 Dual Ghia L6.4 Coupe held court in the outside s...
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PORSCHE 550 SPYDER: AMAZING STREET/RACER!

Stephen Cox blogs about Porsche’s multi-million-dollar spectacular Spyder. I confess that I am a muscle car guy.Can't help it. I grew up cruising Mustangs and Torino's on Saturday night and Sundays at the strip. But after watching Mecum Auctions sell Porsche 550-0077, right, for over 3.7 million dollars at Monterey last weekend, I couldn't help but be impressed with the little machine. The 550 was Porsche's first race-specific design. Introduced in Paris in 1953, the 550 was famously mo...
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