What Makes A Bulletproof Racing Starter? – Chevy Hardcore

There are some areas of your drag, oval or road course beast that are weak areas for the stress of 420 hp and 400 ft-lbs of torque.  Here is a great way to eliminate one.  Chase the link at the bottom for the complete story from Chevy Hardcore!!

When considering the essential parts list for a race car build, we tend to think of exhaust headers, cylinder heads, turbochargers and so on. While it might not be the most glamorous piece of the puzzle, the starter is an absolutely vital component in your build – if it kicks the bucket, you’re dead in the water. And though it may not see the same sort of prolonged stresses that a driveshaft or set of tires sees on race day, it’s still contending with plenty of abuse from heat exposure and demands of high performance components which typically operate far outside the design specifications of an OEM starter.

Source: What Makes A Bulletproof Racing Starter? – Chevy Hardcore

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

F1 and the Nürburgring – hope dies last

But it was Dreyer’s government which plumped for an unlikely Nürburgring buyer: auto racing parts company Capricorn with a head office not far north of the circuit in Düsseldorf. Her transport minister, Roger Lewentz, said at the time that it was
Roo Motorsports leaps into NASCAR truck series from Salisbury

Roo Motorsports, the new Aussie NASCAR team based in Salisbury, plans to enter the truck-racing series next year and perhaps the Nationwide series in the future. Roo held an event, complete with satellite link to owners in Australia, earlier this month

Auto Factoids for Week of May 24 2015 – Mauri Rose

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last full week of May 2015.

 May 26, 1906 Mauri Rose was born in Columbus, Ohio.   Rose still holds the 2nd spot for the most Indiana 500 wins.  His first win was in 1941 but he didn’t finish in the car he left the starting line in. The first car was a Maserati and developed mechanical issues and he moved to a Wetteroth/Offenhauser car.   He managed two back-to-back wins in 1947 and 1948, driving one of a Deidt/Offenhauser  Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials.

RoseMas

Mauri in the Maserati were he started in pole position in his first win.

Wetteroth-rose

Muari in Wetteroth/Offenhauser car

Mauri in the Blue Spark car!

Mauri in the Blue Spark car!

May 29, 1946 Kaiser-Frazer produced its first vehicles.  Kaiser-Frazer’s plant was located in Willow Run Ypsilanti, Michigan.  The company was formed when the two purchased the defunct Graham-Paige (of which Frazer was once Present, prior to WWII).  There first cars were called the Frazer and Kaiser, one a mid-level luxury car and the other an innovative front wheel drive model.

kaiser-frazer

The two parted ways in 1951 and the company name was changed to Kaiser.  They went on to design some fantastic cars like the Darrin (named after one of the designer – Dutch Darrin.  Bill Tritt was the other part of the team.) and on to the Jeep fame with Willys-Overland.

1953 Kaiser Darrin

1953 Kaiser Darrin

Thanks for reading.

Tim

mauri rose

Indianapolis 500 Winners

1950 — Johnnie Parsons. 1949 — Bill Holland. 1948 — Mauri Rose. 1947 — Mauri Rose. 1946 — George Robson. 1942-45 — No races, World War II. 1941 — Floyd Davis and Mauri Rose. 1940 — Wilbur Shaw. 1939 — Wilbur Shaw. 1938 — Floyd Roberts.

1954 Kaiser Manhattan – Dare To Be Different

The Manhattan has been honored by the community and is the first hot rod to win the people’s choice award two years in a row at the annual Kaiser Frazer Club National Convention. Share This Article. Facebook Twitter Google+ Email. Author: Christopher …

From city leader to classic cars, Founder’s Day Celebration kicks off host of …

Members of the Binghamton Kaiser Frazer Club will bring vehicles, Reilley said. The Seward House Museum, at 33 South St., will showcase several cars, including the Seward family’s own Packard. There will be automotive memorabilia for sale and, if you …

 

Memorial Day – Always Remember

His nickname was “Spence” Airman First Class.  He was from one of the Northern States.   He was 18 and his future wife was a senior in high school.

He didn’t make to war, but he served his country and gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Spencer and I were in the same BMTS and I was assigned to help him meet physical requirements, in particular making the 1.5 mile under the required time.

We bunked next to each other and trained after duty hours every day.  He made great progress in our sessions and we were both confident that the running portion PT was going to be a breeze.

It was the last week of basic training and the day for the final run came.  We were required to run in formation for the first .5 miles. Our plan was to break formation at the 1/2 mile mark and find each other and finish together.

Formation was arranged by height and Spence was in the front and I was in the rear.  Around a quarter-mile, I saw Spencer fall out of formation and step to the side.  I caught his eye and give him an encouraging shout as he fell behind.  I was aware that he had dropped to one knee and I saw an assistant MTI get to him and he stood and moved to the MTI.  I saw him fall as I ran and watch as the MTI preformed CPR, however Spence was gone.
Today, 35 years later, I remember Spencer and his determination and sacrifice.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Why Is Paddle Shift Killing the Manual Transmission, and is it a good thing?

I’m a bit old school about driving like feeling the road (yeah even the pot holes!!) and not floating, making a car hit the curve just right and shoving the clutch pedal to the floor and find the next gear! That’s all part of the enjoyment for me. But paddle shifting is here to stay and I’ll be disappointed if the clutch pedal disappears from all new cars.

I’m sharing this article from Mind Over Motor as it hits on some key points I can relate too when it comes to this “new fangled”  🙂  way of changing gears.

 

Mind Over Motor

I am someone who has publicly lamented the decline of the manual transmission. But I’m also someone who has enjoyed the merits of modern paddle shift gearboxes in many cars.

I find myself very much split on this issue, so lets take a look at the various reasons why shifter paddles are replacing a gear lever and a third pedal in some of our favorite cars.

Note: To clear this up right away, by “paddle shift” I mean cars with automated manual gearboxes, either dual-clutch or single-clutch. I am in no way talking about anything like a Toyota Camry with the “sport package”, which has paddle shifters as a marketing gimmick.

1. More versatile on the road. (Having your cake and eating it too)

If you had something like a Lamborghini Diablo back in the mid 1990s chances are you had a lot of fun out on the open road. However, when you got into town and hit traffic, the heavy clutch made driving the car more of a $250,000 chore than an enjoyable way to spend a weekend afternoon. Considering the average speed of traffic on most roads is around 25-30mph, you’d be spending far more time putting along slowly than stretching the car’s legs. It’s a wonder why most owners hardly ever drove their exotic cars.

Today, Lamborghini only offers their cars with a paddle shift transmission. The sales numbers spoke for themselves, once paddle shift was offered back around 2004, demand for manual Lambos simply fell off.

Paddle shift basically solved all the issues described above with the Diablo. Now, in an Aventador, you can rip your way into town and then just put the car in automatic mode when you hit traffic. You have a car that is a ferocious supercar when you want one, but is also just as easy to drive as a Toyota Camry when you don’t. You are no longer writing a six-figure check to put yourself through misery. And I agree, that is a major plus, especially in cars that had very difficult manual gearboxes like most supercars did.

Chase the link below for the rest of the article and come back and let me know what YOU think!!

Thanks for reading

Tim

Source: Why Is Paddle Shift Killing the Manual Transmission, and is it a good thing?

 

 

Maserati

Maserati

Ferrari

Ferrari

 

 

Paddle Shifting the 997 | Autometrics Motorsports

Paddle Shifting the 997. Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Paddle Shifter. Created by Holinger, supplier of gearbox components to Porsche AG, this paddle shift system is designed specifically for the 997 GT3 Cup, replaces the tunnel-mounted sequential …
Agency Power’s Makes Paddle Shifting Look Good – Vivid …

Paddle shifters are the ultimate “cool factor” of a car. For people who experience paddle shifting for the first time, you might as well be Mario Andretti. They look super cool on the car, and are functionally genius. However, there …
2016 Cadillac ATS-V: A Track-Ready Cadillac? You Bet!

The automatic features several shift modes, as well as manual paddle-shifting, and the manual transmission features automatic rev-matching for drivers who haven’t yet mastered the heel-toe shift method, and it has a no-lift shift feature allowing you
Test Drive: 2015 Audi Q3 Quattro Technik

Nestled in the engine compartment is Audi’s familiar, silky-smooth direct-injected 2.0L TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to a traditional six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic paddle shifting. The engine churns out 200 horsepower

2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang: 670 HP On Tap

2015 Roush Stangs!!

2015 Roush Stangs!!

You may have noticed the big announcement that ROUSH Performance made last week: that our all-new 2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang is producing 670 horsepower and 545 lb-ft of torque. That’s an incredible 235 horsepower and 145 lb-ft over a stock 2015 Ford Mustang 5.0L.

With 134 horsepower per liter, the 2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang overshoots the competition with the most horsepower per liter when compared to Dodge’s most powerful offering in the segment (114 horsepower per liter) and the 92 horsepower per liter rating of another well-known supercharged 6.2L GM engine in the segment.

Power is important, but high horsepower numbers don’t mean nearly as much if you’re trying to move a ton of weight. The RS3 is again at the top of the ranks with the lowest weight per horsepower of the competition (approximately 5.70lbs per horsepower) compared to an estimated 6.32lb/hp* and 7.10lb/hp respectively.

– See more at: http://www.torquedmag.com/2015-roush-stage-3-mustang-670-hp-on-tap/#sthash.Vzt4t6cz.dpuf

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#Roush

Roush of Power – Car and Driver Blog

Roush has announced the final output of its prodigiously powerful supercharged RS3. Is it the latest to join the “700-hp Club?” Find out at Car and Driver.
2015 Roush RS3 Mustang Delivers 670 HP and 545 LB-FT …

Tired of Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat owners having all of the fun at the drag strip? For any sixth-generation Mustang owners out there, famous Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] tuner Roush has a package that may just …
2015 Roush Stage 3 Mustang | Pictures, Specs, Performance

Famed American tuner Roush has released performance specs for its Stage 3 Ford Mustang.

Auto Factoids for the Week of May 17 2015 – Dodge, Buick and Goodyear!

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)for middle week in May 2015!

 

May 17,  1868 – Happy Birthday Horace Dodge (Niles, Michigan)

Horace was one of the original Dodge brothers.  He was born into a working family, with Dad owning as machine shop.  In 1903, he and his brother John won a contract to produce transmissions for Oldsmobile and the following took a contract building engine for Henry Ford.  They build their own plant in 1910 and John eventually became a vice president at Ford.  By 1913 they ended their relationship with Ford and began producing their own vehicles – trucks and ambulances mainly for military use and most found service in WWI.

Horace

Horace

Dodge Half Ton Truck

Dodge Half Ton Truck

 

May 19, 1903 – Buick Incorporates – Buick is the oldest (longest running) active car manufacturer in North America – well brand name is the oldest, still active.  Buick started out as Auto-VIM and power company in 1899 as an engine manufacturer and produced  two prototype.   In 1903 it was incorporated by David Dunbar Buick and produced their first car in 1904.

First Buick

First Buick

 

May 22, 1929   – Goodyear Blimp took its maiden flight.   Still provides some of the best auto racing coverage!!!

Goodyear Blimp.

Goodyear Blimp.

 

May 23, 1875  – Alfred Sloan was born in New Heaven Conn.   He headed up GM as President and guided it through some iconic car designs.

Alfred P. Sloan

Alfred P. Sloan

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AutoFactoids

 

 autofactoids

Auto Factoids for the Week of 5/10/2015

Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids). May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president. They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.
Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E – AACA …

Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789EAuto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing1957 – 1958 saw the use of the New 283 engine in Chevy’s including …

Auto Factoids for the Week of 5/10/2015 – GM and Corvair

Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids).

May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president.

They didn’t just pick from the streets.  He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.  That company eventually merged with a few other companies with United Motor Corporation.  Sloan became the president of that and shortly after that they were purchased by GM.

He served GM from 1923 to 1956 in some manner including board chairman.

Imagine the innovations he saw during his tenure!!!   The corporate mergers, the V8, the Corvette, lucky guy!!

Alfred P. Sloan

Alfred P. Sloan

 

May 12, 1969 (or 14th) – The last Chevy Corvair was produced.

Last Corvair build.  If you know only a little about automotive history or maybe politics or the consumer safety revolution of the 60’s and 70’s you’ll know the name Ralph Nader.  With a little Google’in you’ll find various search results linking him to the demise of the Chevy Corvair (and apple pie and America) – most are not flattering to Mr. Nader.   According to most accounts the last Corvair carried 6000 as the last 4 digits of it’s serial number.  The car was blanketed by the press when it rolled off the assemble, but then disappeared.   There are various stories as to the actual disposition of car #6000  but it remains a mystery.  We do know it was a two door, hard top,  Monza, Olympic Gold was the color and it likely had a Service 140 replacement engine.

I'm seeing the Corvair but can't help notice the Nova's on the rail car.

I’m seeing the Corvair but can’t help notice the Nova’s on the rail car.

The last Corvair convertible was #5997 which was a Forest Green Monza that has come up for sale a few times.

If you are a Corvair fan you’ll enjoy this read:  1969 Corvair: Finger Tip Facts by Corvair historian Dave Newell.

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

#Autofactoids

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of 3/29/2015

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015. March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive 1980.
Auto Factoids for the Week of Feb 8, 2015 – NY To Pairs 1908

As we run through the middle of the 2nd month of the year, here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids). A light week this week. Feb 10, 1942 – Pontiac stops car production for WWII. – As you know WWII took a lot of sacrifice …
Auto Factoids for the Week of April 5, 2015 – Lotus and Tires

It’s a light week for the automotive history. April 5, 1923 Firestone introduces balloon tires. Everything we’ve accomplished with our rides has greatly.
Auto Factoids for Week of April 26, 2015 – Lamborghini and …

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of April 2015! Light week for Auto Factoids unless you are Lamborghini or Ford fan. Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on April 28, 1916 in Renazzo di Cento, Italy.
 '69 Corvair Monza.jpg

It’s always a treat to see a Chevy Corvair

Bob and Carol Marsh, of Chesterfield, are the owners of the 1966 Corvair Corsa convertible shown on this page. And, believe it or not, this is the actual car Bob owned when he was in high school. He told me he “hot rodded” the car as a teenager. (Can

Going All On Black With Marcus Walther’s Aggressive 1966 Chevy Nova – Chevy Hardcore

American muscle in the middle of Europe!  This is one awesome car!!!

Murdered out and roaming the streets of Kastrup, Denmark, American muscle is loud and proud outside of the United States. In particular, Marcus Walther’s 1966 Chevrolet Nova pays homage to that old school Detroit muscle.

Denmark is a small country located in Northern Europe, but we can’t knock Walther and his obsession with American cars. Walther is the owner of Rudetoning Custom Solfilm in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Walther has been running his window tinting business for the past 15 years. Servicing nearly 1,500 cars per year, Walther and his team strive to give customers the best quality tint job around.

Walther’s infatuation with American cars has led to astounding results. Rebuilding cars for years, Walther began his journey with American-made cars by reconditioning Chevrolet Astro Vans and Chevy pickup trucks.

Chase the link for more:  Going All On Black With Marcus Walther’s Aggressive 1966 Chevy Nova – Chevy Hardcore

Marcus Walther's 1966 Chevy II Nova

Marcus Walther’s 1966 Chevy II Nova

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Wheels of Time Rod & Custom Jamboree to host ‘Munsters’ star, replica car

Patrick now heads Munster Muscle Exports, a business that specializes in the export of American muscle cars overseas, mostly to Australia, where the iconic cars of the 1950s through the ’70s are in high demand. This year’s jamboree. Wheels of Time …

Stuff Dreams are Made of – Entombed Cadillac collection finally sees light of day

Stuff my dreams are made of.  I often dream of distant relative (one you never knew existed and therefore won’t really miss…but are still grateful for) passing on and leaving me an old barn.  As I walk to my new building I’m wondering how much reclaimed barn wood is bringing on the market and I swing the door open and “WOW” I see:

Chase the link: Entombed Cadillac collection finally sees light of day | Classic and Sports Car

 

Then I wake up and well….
Thanks for reading!!
Tim

 

 

Elvis’ rare BMW 507 roadster is a king among barn finds

In the years since it has been neglected but BMW has planned a complete restoration of the car after showing it in as-is condition in their museum in Munich. As the story goes, Elvis had his eyes on a Porsche Spyder but couldn’t get his hands on one
Aston Martin in Barn With Mouse Nest May Fetch $300000

Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) — An Aston Martin DB5 discovered after three decades in an old garage with a mouse nest in its engine bay is estimated to sell for $300,000. The mice had moved out of the sports saloon before its cylinders were re-lubricated and it …
Aston Martin sets $6m price record

So called ”barn finds” – cars in untouched condition – are highly prized by collectors in a selective market for classic models that puts a premium on originality. With blue bodywork, the DB5 was bought by a bidder in the room against an estimate of

Idris Elba breaks “Flying Mile” speed record from 1927

 

Okay, at first blush, this seems kind of like a meaningless publicity stunt: TV star and multiple People Magazine “Sexiest Men Alive” honoree Idris Elba hops into a brand-new, immensely powerful super-coupe and obliterates a speed record set when George V was still king and Charles Lindbergh had just landed in Paris.If it seems silly, it’s because this was not in any way a fair fight. Look, Idris Elba is a certified badass, but the 626-hp Bentley Continental GT Speed he was driving benefits from 88 years of automotive evolution that Sir Malcolm Campbell absolutely didn’t have at his disposal back in 1927. That’s a sizable advantage in favor of the British star.Stick with us here, though, because there’s a very cool parallel to all of this, and it’s something that even Bentley didn’t think to highlight.See, if you read Bentley’s press release, it lays out the bare facts: The undeniably attractive Elba, star of Luther and The Wire, sought to break the “Flying Mile” record, a top speed run that takes place on a seven-mile stretch of smooth, firm beach on the shores of Carmathen Bay, Wales, known as Pendine Sands. The defending champion of the Flying Mile was Sir Malcolm Campbell, whose two-way average of 174.8 mph has gone unchallenged since 1927.

He used this!!!

He used this!!!

So I’ve got to think that the only reasons this record still existed is that no one bothered to drive there since 1927.  Seriously!!!  You can read more by chasing the link below…I’ve got to run, I’m going to break the speed record for a one way trip to the end of my driveway.  Don’t worry, I’ll send Road and Track some PR shots and a pic of my C6 sitting at the end of my driveway!!

Source: Idris Elba breaks “Flying Mile” speed record from 1927

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

bentley

Bentley sets new ‘Flying Mile’ speed record with actor Idris Elba

The ‘Flying Mile’ is a historical high-water mark, a thing of legend. In 1927, Sir Malcolm Campbell drove a modified Bentley—the Napier-Campbell Blue Bird—to a U.K. land speed record of 174.8 mph. That’s faster than most of today’s sports cars, just