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Dear Fellow Enthusiast,
Last month, we sent you
an Urgent Legislative Alert from The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) regarding a proposed “Cash for Clunkers”
bill that would threaten our hobby. Thanks to your overwhelming response, this legislation was dropped from the economic stimulus
package. Congratulations for standing up for your rights as enthusiasts!
We have just received a follow-up Legislative
Alert from SEMA. New legislation (S. 247 and H.R. 520) has been introduced in Congress to create a national vehicle scrappage
program which will give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in their “gas guzzlers” to have them crushed. This
program would target vehicles with low fuel economy ratings of any model year. That means sports cars, SUVs, and performance-built
vehicles could be crushed in exchange for a monetary reward.
The following information is directly from SEMA. If you
would like to contact the lawmaker, follow the instructions in the alert.
Thank you for your time,
Your Friends
at Summit Racing Equipment
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Special Thanks
Old Cars and Motorsports newspaper would like to thank Sandy
Mendiola and family for the valley’s first classic car / truck show of 2009, held at the headliner shopping center parking
lot in Fresno, Ca. The car show was a fund raiser for the AHWAHNEE WARRIORS wrestling tean. Classic car / truck owners, (56
of them total) raised money to help send the wrestlers and their coach, Todd Gonzales to Sacramento Ca. to compete in the
middle school wrestling championships in March 2009.
This car newspaper again want to say “Thank You” to
Sandy, Carrol & Bennie, warrior wrestling team & coach and to Renna’s Meat Market for donating the food; also
“Thanks” to mother nature for a warm and beautiful day for the central valley’s first car/truck show of
2009.
Just a note! Mendiola Classics will take over the Friday night cruise at Chubby’s Diner on Blackstone north
of Sierra starting April 3, 2009.
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GM, Ford Seek to Prove Their Future
By Tom Ripley
At most auto shows, car companies try to persuade buyers that they have new vehicles worthy of consideration. At the recent
North American International Auto Show in Detroit, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. had to prove to consumers, Congress
and the incoming administration that they have a future worth saving. In their attempt to move from red ink to black, the
two companies showed vehicles that relied on their companies’ traditional strengths rather than a supposed high-mileage
future.
GM is unabashed in saying that a great deal of its future rides with one of its “core brands,” Cadillac.
So it showed a new version of a previous Cadillac crossover model that seems much more on target. The current Cadillac SRX
crossover offers good driving dynamics and a handsome interior, but its exterior styling leaves you guessing whether it is
an SUV. Now the guessing is over. The upcoming Cadillac SRX revels in its crossover status, and it has a beautiful new body
that we think will gain converts in that very hot segment.
In other segments, Cadillac has scored with its dramatic,
cutting-edge styling, and the new SRX takes that path. Nothing subtle about it. Instead, the SRX makes a bold statement, starting
with its striking multipiece shield grille combined with its now-emblematic vertical headlamps. And these aren’t just
any headlamps. They feature light-pipe technology and adaptive forward lighting. Compared to the theatrics of the front end,
the remainder of the SRX’s exterior design is more conventional, but the expected power liftgate has an unexpected adjustable
height setting, too.
Inside the new SRX, hand-cut-and-sewn coverings on the instrument panel contribute to a club room
feel. Like a phoenix, the navigation screen rises dramatically from the instrument panel when its help is summoned. In the
rear, dual entertainment screens are well-integrated into the backs of the front seats.
The SRX is a Cadillac, but don’t
look for a V8 in the engine compartment. Instead, the new crossover will offer a choice of a direct-inject or a turbocharged
V6.
The new V-6 engine will boost the vehicle’s standard horsepower by 5, while achieving an estimated 10-percent
to 15-percent fuel economy improvement.
At the same time GM was beefing up its Cadillac line, Ford was adding oomph to
its fabled Mustang. In these trying economic times, not everyone is looking for 540 horsepower, but Ford’s Special Vehicle
Team is betting some people are. So it has pulled out the stops to make the upcoming 2010 Shelby GT500 more powerful than
ever. The top version of the iconic Mustang will deliver a staggering 510 foot-pounds of torque, while downforce has been
increased and drag reduced, meaning it’s a muscle car of muscle cars.
In the interest of sanity, new gearbox enhancements
and a new rear axle ratio mean the 2010 Shelby GT500 will provide better highway fuel efficiency, but at the same time, deliver
improved acceleration performance. Largely because of the improved transmission, the 2010 model is expected to offer customers
improved straight-line acceleration, plus fuel savings when cruising on the highway in the top gears.
This model also
offers aggressive new exterior design features with new functional details, such as the hood extractor to remove heat from
the engine and a so-called “Gurney Flap" spoiler to tune rear downforce.
The lower-drag rear spoiler is raked
back aggressively to minimize drag, while the integrated Gurney Flap provides the downforce.
Inside, the Shelby GT500
is high-luxe yet in keeping with the fact that it’s a Mustang. The interior offers genuine materials, such as real leather
in all seats, real aluminum on the instrument panel, and Alcantara inserts on the seats and steering wheel.
The aluminum
finish panels have a dimensional dimpled texture pattern that Ford says is inspired by clutch plates. But the big news is:
It’s fast!
So while the politicians might be saying the domestic carmakers need to build hybrids and electrics
to survive, GM and Ford are not turning their backs on their traditional strengths, and that makes good business sense. Whether
it plays on the Potomac is another matter.
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Michelin Tire
- See Through Tires
These tires
are made in South Carolina , USA.
A radical new tire design by Michelin.
The next generation of tires.
They
had a pair at the Philadelphia car show.
Yes, those are 'spoke' like connections
to the inner part of the tire from the outside tread 'wrap!' The next picture shows how odd it looks in motion....
Makes you wonder how the ride feels doesn't it?
These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market very soon.
The bad news for law enforcement is that spike strips will not work on these.
Just think of the impac t on existing technology:
A. no more
air valves...
B. no more air compressors at gas stations...
C. no more repair kits...
D. no more flats...
These are actual pictures taken in the South Carolina plant of Michelin.
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Blackie Gejeian
and Paul Evert’s R.V.
present the 50th Fresno Autorama
March 13, 14 & 15 in Fresno Convention Center’s new
Exhibit Hall and Valdez Hall
Friday 1-10 p.m.; Saturday
10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Info: 559-834-3424
FRESNO-Fresno Autorama founder Blackie Gejeian promises to celebrate his 50th annual Fresno Autorama in style –
by expanding the indoor car show to two exhibit halls. Scheduled to be held March 13-15, 2009 in the Fresno Convention Center’s new Exhibit Hall and Valdez Hall,
the Fresno Autorama will feature more than 250 of the finest show cars, hot rods and custom automobiles around — hand-picked
from all over the nation.“I’m going all
out for my 50th Fresno Autorama, so we’ve expanded to a second building and we’re gonna pack in more show cars
than ever before,” Gejeian said.Gejeian travels
the country personally inspecting and selecting each entry that is invited to be exhibited during his Autorama. Here are some
of his show–stopping picks that will be brought to Fresno for exhibition:See – THE FLATFIRE! — From the salt flats of Bonneville, Utah! – Ron Main’s Flatfire
is the World’s Fastest Flathead! Powered by a much-modified blown flathead, Flatfire holds the record at 302.674 mph
– fast enough to make one’s eyeballs jiggle like Jello! Main and his team of ace mechanics have taken an old cast-iron
1946 Ford flathead engine, reverse-ported the exhaust out the intakes, mixed in some modern computer-controlled ignition,
topped off this Frankenstein motor with a big blower and – voila! Flatfire has run as fast as 315 mph! See – THE FRENCH CONNECTION! – the last custom Boyd
Coddington ever built! French Connection appeared once in Las Vegas at SEMA 2008 and has not been shown since! This radical
custom is Boyd Coddington’s most innovative and outstanding creation! Completely hand-built, French Connection is powered
by a wild V-12 and looks sort of like what the world’s most elegant late 30’s-era Delahaye roadster might look
like if built today with the finest possible combination of modern technology and handcrafted luxury.“Boyd Coddington was one of the most gifted customizers our industry has
ever seen, and he was also a dear friend,” Gejeian said, speaking of French Connection’s designer and builder,
who passed away last year. “Boyd’s cars were so innovative when he started his career they set new standards of
craftsmanship. Even when he became famous, Boyd never backed off. French Connection proves that; I think his last is his best.
That’s why I’m dedicating my 50th Fresno Autorama to Boyd Coddington.” See – “THE WILLETT SPECIAL!” – from Orland Park, Illinois
– the 2009 World’s Most Beautiful Roadster! Harry Willett’s ’32 Ford roadster is a contemporary version
of the ’32 roadster based on the early sports-car influenced hot rod specials. Hidden under the circa ‘50s styling,
complete with belly pans, rocker covers and roll pan and faired headrest, this all steel bodied is powered by a Viper V-10
engine with a 6 speed and front and rear independent suspension.See – BLACKIE’S COLLECTION – Fresno Autorama promoter Blackie Gejeian will show his 10-car
collection together for the first time! Six of them are Grand National winners from the ‘50s and early ‘60s!See THE DICK WILLIAMS ROADSTER: World’s Most Beautiful Roadster
in ’53!See THE SHISH KABOB SPECIAL: ’26
T Modified! World’s Most Beautiful Roadster in ’55!See ALA KART: World’s Most Beautiful Roadster in both ’58 and ’59!See THE EMPEROR: World’s Most Beautiful Roadster in ’60!See DON LOKI’S ’27 T Roadster Pickup: World’s Most Beautiful
Roadster in ’64!See THE CANDY MAN: World’s
Most Beautiful Roadster in ’77 & ISCA Champion in ‘77!(ISCA Champions must take top trophy at all ISCA shows across the nation-at that time 92 shows!)See THE MOD ROD!: Built for the TV program the MOD SQUAD! Toured all
the nation’s top auto shows non-stop for five years! Has more “show miles” than any other top custom –
ever! See – SIX RIDLER WINNERS! –
Six winners of the Detroit Autorama’s premier award – the nation’s highest honor for custom cars! For the
first time ever in one place! See – THE GRAND
MASTER! – ‘02 Ridler winner, by Chip Foose, star of TV’s “Overhaulin!”See – RON WHITESIDE’s ’36 3-window! –
‘03 Ridler winner, by Chip Foose! Also ’07 WMBR!See
– KEN REISTER’S ’36 Roadster! – ‘06 Ridler winner, by Chip Foose!See – RODBUSTER! – From Bakersfield, CA – Chris Addington’s
groundbreaking Candy Apple Red full custom ’69 Ghia Coupe! The famous ’88 ISCA Champion that toured the nation
and Europe! Sealed away from the public for 22 years in a climate-controlled room, Rodbuster has risen again! All Aluminum
billet chassis with Indycar –inspired 4-wheel independent suspension and a twin-supercharged 2,000 cc firebreather under
the hood! More than 100 body modifications!See –
FAMOUS IN GLASS! – From Fresno! – Sheila Cerini’s ’34 Chevy 3-window coupe, the ’95 ISCA
Champion! This is the first show car ever built with a stainless steel frame! Nothing stock; all CNC-machined components!See – PERFECT SCORE! – From Vacaville, CA –
Chris Roark’s ’58 Chevy Impala. The car Lowrider Magazine named 2008 Lowrider of the Year! Painted Aqua with a
Teal Candy top; more than 300 custom-machined components! Each both machine-etched and custom engraved by hand!See – R’EVOLUTION! – From Canada! – J.F.
Launier’s radically modified ’55 Chrysler wagon, shortened 8 inches, chopped two inches, windshield raked back
15 degrees! 2009 World’s Most Beautiful Custom! West Coast Custom of the Year! This wild ride has won it all!See – RADIAL AIRPLANE ENGINE-POWERED MOTORCYCLE! –
From South Dakota! – John Levy’s Wild Chopper! The workmanship is unreal! See – 2009 WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL MOTORCYCLE! – Chris Dotson’s
2009 Indian!
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