Category Archives: Auto Racing

Factory Fast: Dave Bridgewater’s 2012 COPO Camaro – LSXTV

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Though Dave Bridgewater already had three big block 1969 Camaros and an LS1 Swapped 1969 Firebird that he and his team maintain and race regularly at drag racing events around the country, he still wanted something more to add to his already awesome collection. That something more would most certainly be a Camaro of some sort, being that Bridgewater seems to have an undying love for the pony cars.

When the factory drag race COPO Camaro was first announced, “I signed up for it right away,” Bridgewater recalls. “But I got a call later on letting me know that they were all sold out.” After seeing videos on the internet of Dave Connelly testing the Cagnazzi COPO Camaro, he knew he needed to have one in his stable. With all of them being spoken for already, Bridgewater wasn’t going to let that get in the way of him owning a 2012 COPO Camaro.

See more:

Factory Fast: Dave Bridgewater’s 2012 COPO Camaro – LSXTV.

r-camaro

COPO Camaro

COPOCamaro

This is what makes the COPO GO!!!

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

First 2014 Camaro Z/28 and COPO Camaro Bring Over $1.3 Million At Auction

Two of the most enthralling auctions witnessed at the recent Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale, Arizona were those of the very first 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and COPO Camaro. Tgether, they brought in over $1.3 million, and the best part is that all …
Veterans Charity Raises $700000 from 2014 COPO Camaro at Barrett-Jackson

To refresh you on the origins and hardware on the COPO Camaro, the original COPO Camaro originated with the Pennsylvania dealer Yekno Chevrolet, founded and owned by Don Yenko. In order to have a unique product not available at other dealers, …

copo camarocopo camaro

 

Sinkhole swallows 8 cars at National Corvette Museum in Bowling – wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports

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Sinkhole swallows 8 cars at National Corvette Museum in Bowling – wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports.

Having been there multiple times I’ve see each of these beautiful machines.  Hope they are salvageable.

BOWLING GREEN, KY (WAVE) – Eight cars were swallowed by a sinkhole at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green Wednesday morning, according to the museum’s executive director.

A statement released by the museum said their security company alerted them at 5:45 a.m. that motion detectors were going off in the Skydome area. When officials arrived, they discovered the sinkhole.

Crap!!!

Crap!!!

Wendell Strode, the executive director, said the hole is approximately 25 to 30 feet deep and about 40 feet wide. The Bowling Green Fire Department secured the area for the time being.

Strode said the one millionth Corvette, which was donated to the museum by Chevrolet, was among the cars that fell into the sinkhole.

The statement went on to say “it is with heavy hearts that we report that eight Corvettes were affected by this incident.”

Those cars include:

  • 1993 ZR-1 Spyder on loan from General Motors
  • 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil” on loan from General Motors

    Blue Devil

    Blue Devil

The other six vehicles were owned by the National Corvette Museum including:

  • 1962 Black Corvette
  • 1984 PPG Pace Car
  • 1992 White 1 Millionth Corvette

    1 Millionth Corvette

    1 Millionth Corvette

  • 1993 Ruby Red 40th Anniversary Corvette
  • 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 Corvette

    The Hammer

    The Hammer

  • 2009 White 1.5 Millionth Corvette

    1 and Half Millionth Corvette

    1 and Half Millionth Corvette

No one was injured as no one was in or around the museum at the time of the collapse.

None of the cars affected were on loan from individuals. The museum remains open, but the Skydome section will be closed until further notice.

Strode said structural engineers would assess the stability of the surrounding areas later today.

2014 is the museum’s 20th Anniversary and officials said they “look forward to re-opening the Skydome exhibit area very soon.”

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

sulthinar

Sinkhole swallow eight cars in National Corvette Museum: Sinkhole collapses part of domed section of museum; d… http://t.co/bsPByrsnfy
Cars fall into sinkhole at National Corvette Museum

(CNN) — Eight Corvettes fell into a sinkhole that opened up beneath a section of the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky on Wednesday. The sinkhole, about 40 feet wide and about 25 to 30 feet deep, appeared before dawn under the skydome section of …
BREAKING: 8 Vehicles Swallowed by Sinkhole at National Corvette Museum

UPDATED 7:40 AM — It has been confirmed that 8 vehicles were swallowed by a sinkhole at the Sky Dome at the National Corvette Museum. The sinkhole is estimated to be around 40 feet wide and 20-30 feet deep. The Museum is open for the day, although …
BREAKING: 8 Vehicles Swallowed by Sinkhole at National Corvette Museum

UPDATED 7:40 AM — It has been confirmed that 8 vehicles were swallowed by a sinkhole at the Sky Dome at the National Corvette Museum. The sinkhole is estimated to be around 40 feet wide and 20-30 feet deep. The Museum is open for the day, although …

 

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of Feb 9, 2014

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Here are your Auto Factoids for the week!!!

 

2/10/1942 Pontiac stops producing cars for World War II

Eventually all the U.S. car manufacturers halted production, but many turned to creating something else for the war.  What did Pontiac  make for the war effort?

Pontiac began making an anti-aircraft gun for the U.S. Navy  in its sheet metal plant and produced Bofors automatic field guns for the U.S. Army.

Swedish Designed Bofors

Swedish Designed Bofors

Pontiac also supplied front axles for the M-5 tanks built by Cadillac and air-launched torpedoes for the U.S. Navy.

Air Launched

Air Launched

M5 Tank by Cadillac and parts by Pontiac

M5 Tank by Cadillac and parts by Pontiac

 

2/11/1932 – Ford develops it’s new V8

It as developed from 1926 to 1932 and was known as the ‘fatty’.  Compared to the straight 6’s and the straight 8’s it was. It was a flat head V8, the first of its kind.  Economically produced and was first installed and sold in the Ford Model 18  but the car was referred to as the “Ford V8”

Beautiful!!!

Beautiful!!!

I love the look of these sedans. (Quit hacking them up!!!)

I love the look of these sedans. (Quit hacking them up!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You pony car guys should really appreciate this innovation or else your Mustangs and Camaros would be a lot longer up front!!

2/12/1908 – New York to Paris Auto Race

The race was won by George Schuster driving the Thomas Flyer.

Car that won the first New York to Paris race

Car that won the first New York to Paris race

2/15/1929 – Graham Hill, British race car driver was born in London.  He raced with Lotus, BRM, Brabham, and Hill

racing teams. Graham didn’t pass his drivers test until he was 24  years old.  He died when he a plain he as flying crashed in England.

 

2/15/1944 – SCCA  (Sports Car Club of America) was formed – I am card holding member.  It’s a great experience

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

Parking Lot Spot Light – L88

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Even if you aren’t a Corvette lover (WHAT?!??) you know or have heard of the L88.   This was the designation of a racing engine used by GM in the Corvettes from 1967 – 1969 (0nly 3 years!!).  (Now there was a LT1 – 88 hybrid dubbed the ZLZ – lower compression – same out put.)

The engine sported a racing-spec cam with high-flow aluminum heads.  Toss in a couple of upgrades and you are looking at a compression ratio of 12.5:1 and rocking it at 430 hp!!!

And doesn’t it look great wrapped in that two-tone paint job.

This beauty was at my local hardware store.   Yeah…I’d drive it there.

 

273

Yes that intake is the real deal!!!

 

Big Block L88

Big Block L88

 

 

 

 

recordoffer

1967 L88 Corvette fetches world record 3.85 million in Scottsdale: The January 2014 auctions have concluded an… http://t.co/Att1jz815N
AC_Automotive

AC Automotive: Barrett-Jackson: 1967 L88 Corvette Sells for 3.85 Million http://t.co/BLHuTjmCDZ #AC #auto #cars
‘Rebel’ L88 Corvette on the block at Barrett-Jackson

An amateur Corvette L88 team beat the world’s best GT cars in this world record holding No. 57 “Rebel” L88 Corvette. The story about how this amazing Corvette became a world- beater begins with two Tampa, Fla., businessmen, Dave Heinz and Or …

2014 McLaren Mercedes MP4-29

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How racing has changed over the years.  Now I’m not a big F1 follower although I did drive a F1 at Phoenix International Speedway, in Phoenix, AZ and that was impressive machine – slightly older model.  So I have a lot of respect of them and driving them for hours…well…let’s just say you are going to have be a hard a$$ or develop one!!!

So look at the McLaren’s new offering the shape is amazing.

BexlqMUCcAA_ZPG.jpg large

2014 MP4-29 F1

Take a look at the side view:

Sure is different than those old flat bottomed Formula 1

Sure is different than those old flat bottomed Formula 1

Here are some spec:

Category Formula One
Constructor McLaren
Designer(s) Tim Goss (Technical Director)
Predecessor McLaren MP4-28
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis Carbon-fibre composite incorporating driver cockpit controls and fuel cell
Suspension (front) Carbon-fibre wishbone and pushrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Suspension (rear) Carbon-fibre wishbone and pullrod suspension elements operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Engine Mercedes PU106A Hybrid[2] 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6 Turbocharged mid-mounted.
Transmission McLaren Racing eight forward and one reverse hand-operated seamless-shift Epicyclic differential with multi-plate limited-slip clutch
Weight 691 kg (1,523.4 lb) (with driver)
Fuel ExxonMobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)
Mobil Synergy Fuel System
Mobil 1 lubrication
Tyres Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
Competition history
Notable entrants McLaren Mercedes[3]
Notable drivers 20. Denmark Kevin Magnussen[4]
22. United Kingdom Jenson Button[5]

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

formula 1 racing

McLaren M7A

first Alan | last Henry | authorlink Alan Henry | title McLaren: Formula 1 Racing Team | publisher Haynes | year 1999 | ref harv | isbn 1- …

Formula One

as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship is the highest class of single-seater auto racing …

 

 

 

 

 

Blaney Talks About New F-150 Race Truck

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Blaney Talks About New F-150 Race Truck.

 

2014 F-150

2014 F-150

 

Here are some specs:

Dimensions

Chassis/Body
Race Weight: 3,400 Pounds Chassis:  Steel Tube Frame w/Safety Roll Cage
Wheelbase: 112 Inches Body:  F-150
Overall Length: 206.5 Inches Designer: F-150, Brad Keselowski Racing
Overall Width: 80 Inches Spoiler:  7 “, 650
Overall Height: 60 Inches Steering:  Delphi – Saginaw Steering Box
Ground Clearance: 4 Inches Seating:  LaJoie Seating
Track Width: 60.5 Inches Oil and Fuel Lines:  Custom Cooper Standard
Fuel Capacity: 18 Gallons

Suspension

Engine Specifications
Front: Equal Length A-Arm Type:  Roush Yates V8
Rear: Trailing Arms with Panhard Rod Displacement:  358 Cubic Inches
Shock Absorbers: Hydraulic, Single Adjustable Power:  650-700 Horsepower
Induction:  Normally Aspirated w/ 390 Cubic Feet Per Minute Carburetor Bore: 4.195 Inches
Stroke: 3.25 Inches
Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
Clutch: Tilton 3-Disc
Compression Ratio: 12.0:1
Engine Design: Roush Yates, Brad Keselowski Racing
Fuel: Sunoco Racing Gasoline
Fuel Pump: Roush Yates, Brad Keselowski Racing
Exhaust: Roush Yates, Brad Keselowski Racing

CooperStandard2

2013 Brad Keslowski Racing Studio Shoot

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Ford F-150 RaptorTrax is Ken Block’s ultimate snowmobile – Autoblog

Ken Block and his Hoonigan Racing Division have created the Ford F-150 RaptorTrax in hopes of making it the worldâ ™s fastest snowcat.

Auto Racing Rules – The Good Old Days

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Now any professional auto racing event has rules, upon rules, upon restrictions, upon more rules.  NASCAR, NHRA, even local Test & Tunes.

But there was a time when race was simple.

Here’s what that should be!!!

1. Limited to vehicles with 3 or more running wheels

2.  Must derive all their motive power from within themselves

3.  No vehicles shall be admitted to competition which depend any way on muscular exertion, except for purpose of guidance.

4.  Each Vehicle must be able to carry ‘comfortably’ at least two persons throughout the race.

5.  Judges will eliminate any vehicle (TECH CHECK) deemed to be unsafe to operate

6.  Judges will bar any entry they felt was not of “practical utility”.

(Rules 4 and 6 would eliminate nearly all of  what we call race cars today.)

Also in consideration was the practical nature of the machine, its cost, its economy, and it’s general appearance and design, in addition to the speed.  They even tested fuel consumption and efficiency of every car.

These were the rules for the 1895 Paris-Rouen and Paris – Bordeaux races.

1895

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

paris bordeaux race 1895

This Day in History: Jun 13, 1895: First auto race held from Paris …

In 1895, a committee of journalists and automotive pioneers, including Levassor and Armand Peugeot, France’s leading manufacturer of bicycles, spearheaded the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race in order to capitalize on public …
How The Car Racing Sport Began – Urban Adventure Racing

The June 1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race of 1,178 kilometers is what other historians consider as the first car racing event. There were 92 drivers who ran the race. Emile Levassor, who drove a Panhard 1205cc car, finished first with a time of …

[VIDEO] Chevrolet Introduces the 2015 Corvette’s Performance Data Recorder at CES

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[VIDEO] Chevrolet Introduces the 2015 Corvette’s Performance Data Recorder at CES.

Thanks for reading.
Tim

 

KSa33d

RT @haseebashraff: 2015 Corvette Z06 Could be The Last Variant http://t.co/tTmqatIwpl
Corvette Chief Engineer Says 2015 Z06 Could Be the Last of the Breed

While GM’s description of the upcoming Corvette Z06 is music to any car enthusiast’s ears, things are less spectacular on the marketing side. Tadge Juechter, the Chief Engineer of the Corvette, admitted that the 2015 Corvette Z06 may be the last one ever.
An Exclusive Inside Look At The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

What you see here in illustrations is the 2015 Corvette Z06. What’s that, you say this can’t be the Z06? It sure is, according to the chief engineer as well as a number of other people familiar with the project. GM so doesn’t want you to see this. Last …

▶ 2013 Hennessey VR1200 Twin Turbo Coupe – Dyno Testing – YouTube

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▶ 2013 Hennessey VR1200 Twin Turbo Coupe – Dyno Testing – YouTube.

The Hennessey folk do some amazing ‘stuff’.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

hennesseyhennessey

ZL1Driver

RT @RaceLonestar: Hennessey VR1200 Runs 220.5 MPH on Texas Toll Road http://t.co/nycXMLW6i1