2011 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational to premiere on SPEED channel Saturday, February 25 at 2 p.m. ET, 5pm west coast

OPTIMA Batteries today announced that the 2011 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational, presented by K&N Filters and Wilwood Disc Brakes, will be nationally televised on SPEED, premiering Saturday, February 25 at 2 p.m. ET. This one-hour action-packed broadcast brings viewers an insider look into an event that takes 50 of the hottest street-legal cars from import and domestic manufacturers, and puts them to the test through a series of performance and design events, in order to crown the 2011 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car.

The 2011 OPTIMA Invitational TV Show is scheduled to re-air on SPEED during the following times:
· Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 3 a.m. ET
· Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. ET
· Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 11 a.m. ET

Please visit http://www.optimainvitational.com/ and the OPTIMA Batteries Facebook page for more information on the OPTIMA Invitational, additional air times, participants, official rules and more.

The list of 2011 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational sponsors includes: presenting sponsors K&N Filters and Wilwood Disc Brakes, and race event sponsors BFGoodrich, Ridetech, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Raybestos, and Detroit Speed and Engineering. Additionally, The Roadster Shop, MagnaFlow, RECARO, Harman Kardon and Pioneer provided associate sponsorships for the OPTIMA Invitational.

Maserati on Karamelocycles

found on http://karamelocycles.blogspot.com/

VW Kombi trivia

It is the only production vehicle in Brazil that already had all the possible configurations of fuel by the law:

gasoline,
alcohol,
diesel
 and flex.
 There was even a CNG option approved by VW.

Awesome new art concept by Max Grundy

Above is a photo I took from an understanding guy who appreciated that I liked his style, and taste in art... and we both think that this version of the american flag as a tire tread and shift pattern is utterly genius!

Below are some of the art pieces / tshirts, you may recognize as Max Grundy's because they have been getting magazine coverage ( I think it was Rod and Custom Illustrated... but I'm not sure) and that last one of Von Dutch's flying eyeball is way cool.

To get your copy of the prints, or tshirts, or to check out the other cool stuff that Max has made, see http://www.maxgrundy.com/welcome.htm and select from the left side of your screen the menu of "Fine Art, Commercial Art, or Online Store"

PST (Performance Suspension Technology) has fast ratio Pitman and Idler arms to get your Mopar steering to what you'd prefer!

PST®'s new Fast Ratio Pitman and Idler Arms will turn your stock steering into fast ratio steering.

 With these Fast Ratio Pitman Arms, your steering will be ~12:1, (2  3/4 turns lock to lock). These arms will work with both power and manual steering.

 The Fast Ratio Pitman and Idler Arms are 1 1/2" longer than stock arms. Our Fast Ratio Pitman Arms are manufactured with universal spline timing to ensure correct steering wheel centering in every application.

Note: Will not work with aftermarket headers

Will fit:
1967-1972 A-Body Cars
Note: Only fits cars using 73-76 Center link and spindles. May not clear some aftermarket headers, except Schumacher Tri-Y and 440 (High Deck)

1973-1976 A-Body Cars
Note: May not clear aftermarket headers, except Schumacher Tri-Y and 440 (High Deck)

1966-73 B-Body Cars

1970-1974 E-Body Cars

Note: May not clear aftermarket headers.
The following header brands and models are known to fit on B&E Body Cars.
Flo Tech, Hedman Big Block part #78030 & 78038 HD
Hooker small block 1 5/8” comp. 1 ¾” comp #5208
Mopar Performance Big Block 1 ¾”
TTI Small Block I ¾” with slight dimple to tube.

In the example for the 1969 B Body with big block, my car, the cost is $200.00 http://www.p-s-t.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7660/.f?sc=12

To see all the upgrade stuff that PST makes for your year make and model, just select from the upper left drop down menus, and then pick from dozens of suspension parts http://catalog.p-s-t.com/index.php?c=Sg_Homepage&year=1969&makeID=40&vehicleID=32026&engineconfigID=16087

they have so much it won't all fit on the screen capture to show you!

A video from GM in 1956 enticing viewers to come and see the Motorama traveling show of the Harvey Earl prototypes

Found on http://karamelocycles.blogspot.com

Kids and pedal cars

 1939 Gendron Pioneer Roadster designed by Brooks Stevens

 1960 AMF Flash

 looks like a homebuilt, and the grill is a big US Mail box lid is my guess

 toughguy with a 1948-50 Pontiac Model Murray reservatory

just a selected few from a big gallery at http://reservatory6.blogspot.com

You don't know the new Camaro, it's not American.. here are 3 things you've probably never heard before

It's Canadian built,
designed by a South Korean,
and developed in Australia. 

R & D at Volkswagen to abuse the vehicles in order to find their weaknesses and design them better

found on http://flaviogomes.warmup.com.br/

Fantuzzi Pantera P70 (1965-67) the little I've learned

it was just at the 2013 Palos Verdes Concours 

images of this 65 were found on http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page/128058/1965-de-tomaso-p70/

I've never heard of the Fantuzzi before... so I looked around a little, and learned that Dean Martin bought a 1967 Pantera with something done to it by Fantuzzi... it did not say or show what at http://www.oldtimeraustralia.com/wp_car_dealer/1967-de-tomaso-mangusta-fantuzzi-targa/

other De Tomaso I  haven't heard of are
De Tomaso Bigua Concept
De Tomaso Deauville Estate
De Tomaso Ghia Competizione 2000
De Tomaso Mustella Concept
De Tomaso Pampero
De Tomaso Pantera „Bastelobjekt“
De Tomaso Sport 1000
De Tomaso Vallelunga Fantuzzi Spider
De Tomaso Vallelunga Fissore Spyder
De Tomaso Vallelunga Ghia Competizione

Other Fantuzzi I had never heard of before are
Shelby Fantuzzi P70 1964,
Shelby Fantuzzi Sport 500 1965

This DeTomaso Vallelunga Spyder with coachwork by Fantuzzi was shown at the 2006 Quail Gathering making its first appearance outside of Italy in 41 years.

The Vallelunga series was produced from 1965 through 1967 with a total of 58 examples being created. This was the first road car made by DeTomaso and a prototype version was first shown in 1963. It was also one of the earliest vehicles to utilize a mid-engined layout. Though cars such as the Porsche 550 Spyder and Ford GT40 had used this design before, this was the first road-going example to utilize this configuration.

The body and chassis was constructed of lightweight material which made the four-cylinder engine with just over 100 hp more than adequate to give this small car sports-car status. The bodywork was comprised of a lightweight fiber-glass construction. Top speed was reported to be around 112 mph.

The name 'Vellelunga' was named after an Italian racetrack. After 1967 the production of the Vallelunga ceased as the company turned its interests to the Mangusta which was powered by an eight-cylinder engine.

The DeTomaso was introduced in the early 1960s and produced until 1968. It was an exotic, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car that was based on a roadster designed by Carrozzeria Fissore. It was named after the Autodromo di Vallelunga first shown as a concept car at the Turin Motor Show in 1964. DeTomaso planned to sell the design of the concept to another automaker but an interested party could not be found. As a result, DeTomaso undertook the project with the vehicle assembly outsourced to Ghia.

The Vallelunga was powered by a 1.5L four-cylinder Kent engine sourced from the Ford Cortina. It produced just over 100 horsepower. The chassis was a pressed steel backbone with tubular subframes. A Volkswagen Beetle transaxle was used and fitted with Hewland gear sets. The entire package was clothed in a fiberglass body along with many drilled aluminum parts. At all four corners were disc brakes.

Only 53 production examples were produced (a total of 58 examples when including the prototypes and race cars). Production ceased before the vehicles problems could be resolved, such as quieting the noisy, high-torque engine or working out the drive train vibration issues. It was replaced by the DeTomsao Mangusta which used a modified Vallelunga chassis and powered by a Ford Boss 302 motor.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2011

Top photo and info from http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z12447/DeTomaso-Vallelunga-Fantuzzi-Spyder.aspx

Off roading in Moab Utah, with a 95 Crown Vic... huh.

skip to the minute and a half point to avoid the stupid music and just get the interview and closer look at the car

Thanks to Randy!

the artwork of Bernardo Corman... very cool melding of cars and fish in one themed run called CARp, and just cool sculptures in every case

 I like the CARp, and below, it esCARgo of course! Yes, I like this sense of humor mixed with cool art!

see all the works of Bernado Corman, and buy some! at http://www.bernardcorman.com/gallery.html

I learned of it from Garage Style magazine http://www.garagestylemagazine.com/

Auto Enthusiast March 2012 has an article on the Justice Brothers Racing Cars musuem, and the Smith Master Valve Special...

 I learned that the above, a Sprint Car built in the very early 1930's was only raced once, at 100mph for 35 miles, and then sat in a San Antonio garage for 51 years. That is a terribly sad story.

The engine is a 1928 Chevy, but the head is a patented Rotary Valve piece, and that is remarkable. More jaw dropping is that it was made by a guy who got only to 5th grade in school.

the Firestone balloon tires have no tread.

images from http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/1002_justice_brothers_racing_museum/photo_07.html

the Seattlite, and other cool stuff from Karamelocycles.blogspot.com

the above is a cool shot if the interior of the Alexander Brothers "Deora" custom dodge van

the above is the prototype Mustang if I remember correctly

 Above is a copy of the Davis car brochure

tow a motorcycle with a Fiat... cool!

 these shots are from the 1951 Buick LeSabre prototype that was in the GM styling cross country tours and car shows of the Futureliner and Autoramas. Above is a very cool design around the steering wheel, below are real cool looking gauges

all from http://karamelocycles.blogspot.com/

the Steve McQueen dune buggy from "The Thomas Crown Affair" , Faye Dunaway looks like she's screaming every time they caught air

stolen cars

what do you think the ratio of stolen cars, to located cars, to convictions for car thefts is... and how many cops are working on stolen car reports....

vs

how many cops are working speed traps / radar speed limit enforcement.

Yeah, I have a low opinion of law enforcement priorities. Based on facts, and the local newpaper reporters doing diligent investigative journalism. http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/12/about-40-of-all-tickets-written-in-san.html

Here in San Diego, if your car is stolen, you can forget it. go to your insurance company, and deal with them. 

why are race cars trailered

The same reason that race horses are trailered to horse races

Paul Gommi's incredible 32 Fords... the delivery/panel truck is nearly untouched from the late 60's, and the Deluxe V-8 Phaeton is so rare... one of maybe 50 left in the world, and the only SCOT supercharged 21 stud ever built

 in the above, check out the cool coin holder at the right of the pencil holder

 I love this... the guy stole a drive in movie theater speaker for his radio!

 cool turn signal

 I think that is a motorcycle exhaust cooling fin. Damn good idea, but might be doing a lot more for appearances than cooling exhaust this far from the engine

 I dig that radio dial

 Another drive in movie theater speaker