This video supports my theory that putting any motorsport on dirt, or any other low traction surface, makes it more fun to watch. Check out this in-car footage of a Dirt Modified Race. Our driver says, “Started last and had a good run and won it.” Nice.
Big Muscle brings us an inside look at Ken Lingenfelter and his wonderful collection of cars. Lingenfelter Performance Engineering made it’s name in building high performance versions of the Chevrolet Corvettes and Camaros. Their success lies in their ability to create cars capable of delivering super car performance with daily car reliability. Ken Ligenfelter built this collection of cars to share with other car guys and to raise money for charity. The collection includes the Duntov Corvette, GM’s first V8 Corvette test mule that was reunited with it’s original engine after they were separated for 47 years. They also let the host of the show test drive the 610 hp 1993 Ligenfelter ZR-1 widebody.
My friend J showed me this story. It’s an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage that’s somewhat different from what you’re probably expecting. The car featured is a 1000 horsepower supercharged Plymouth Duster. The car is awesome, but the real story comes from how it came to be. The Duster was built by a man named Paul Annunziata. The project started when Paul won $10,000 from a scratch off lottery ticket. He bought a body in white from Plymouth and then shoehorned a massive 426 Hemi under the hood in order to make a street version of some pro drag cars he saw as kid. Several years later, Annunziata donated the car to Jay Leno when he was diagnosed with lung cancer after making Leno promise that he would never sell it. Instead of paying for the Duster, Jay donated money to the McPherson College in Kansas because it’s the only college left in America with a four year degree program in automotive restoration. Unfortunately Paul has since passed away, but he was able to build this award winning Duster and ensure that the next generation would also have the opportunity to build project cars like his. That’s a legacy that any of us could be proud of.
Hot Rod Magazine checks out the Ohio Mile hosted by the East Coast Timing Association. This event is essentially the East Coast equivalent of the Bonneville Salt Flats. It used to be run on a WWII runway in Maxton, North Carolina until the military reclaimed that location. Now the ECTA has found an abandoned runway in Wilmington, Ohio where racers can safely attempt to break the 200 mph barrier. Of the 175 who entered, 24 were able to do it.
Circuit of the Americas via Sport Rider
The actual Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas is still under construction, but the virtual version is already playing host to Formula 1 in Codemasters F1 2012 video game. Inside Sim Racing Games posted this exclusive video of Chief Game Designer, Stephen Hood, doing three laps around the track as Lewis Hamilton. The track looks pretty complex and very exciting. Looking forward to the real race in November.