Ford Mustang Wins Speed GT Race in Long Beach

Long Beach, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2008) - In front of ecstatic friends and family, Huntington Beach driver Brandon Davis took his first SCCA SPEED GT win at his home race, the SCCA Pro Racing Long Beach SPEED GT Presented by Applied Computer Solutions. Point leader Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., and Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., finished second and third, respectively.

Starting from pole, Davis’ No. 10 ACS/Sun Microsystems Ford Mustang was beat off the standing start by Pobst who took the lead heading into Turn One. Pobst would run wide, however, handing the lead back to Davis, while his No. 1 K-PAX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 fell to sixth.

“On the start, I made a mistake and didn”t short-shift to second quickly enough,” Davis said. “I didn’t think I’d made that big of a mistake, but I saw Randy go on by me, so I just tucked in behind.”

“I got a really good start,” Pobst said. “With the rear engine, if you get it right, the thing will just launch. I felt like I was doing a wheelie. I managed to beat Brandon to Turn One and I went down to the inside. It was really dirty down there and I just looked in the mirror a little too long and when it was time to turn, I couldn’t. I just did touch the Toyota banners there and cars just kept going by me. My crew said ‘that was a rookie move’ and I said ‘yes it was!’

The race then went full-course yellow for the No. 17 LTI Contracting/Foster Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette of Rob Foster who was stalled on the grid. When the race restarted on lap five, Pobst immediately began to pick off the cars ahead of him with ease and was back into second place behind Davis on the same lap.

Davis was able to hold off Pobst through two more restarts from full-course yellows, before the fourth and final full-course yellow on lap 26, meant the 28-lap, 62.529-mile race would end under yellow. It was Davis’ second career-win, his first coming in SCCA SPEED Touring Car in 2006 at the Denver Grand Prix.

“I was not that great on restarts,” Davis said. “I always had someone, whether it was Andy or Randy, right on my bumper in one, so I stayed to the inside and was able to protect it. One thing I’ve learned from my dad’s experience here is that there is really an accordion effect in Turn One and into the fountain turn, so if you stay to the inside at one, it’s really hard for anyone to go by you, because even if you get through one faster, you can’t pass anyone going into the fountain turn because it’s one lane. That’s what I did on all the restarts too—stay to the inside.”

“It really feels amazing to win here. Before my dad even got into racing, when he was just a guy who liked cars, we would come out and watch Long Beach every year. Then, he started to run Trans-Am and started working with Boris [Said], we actually got the first win for the team here in Trans-Am. I was there for all of that and to be able to be the guy that gives the team a win at Long Beach is very special.”

Davis reset the Long Beach SPEED GT lap record en route to the win, lapping the 1.968-mile street circuit in 1:26.205 (82.185 mph).

Pobst took looks at Davis on three of the restarts, but was unable to make any real challenges on Davis.

“The first restart was purely dumb luck,” Pobst said. “I was behind the Viper and some other guys. Coming out of the hairpin it looked like everybody just went flat out coming out of the turn. It’s a pretty long way from the last turn to where the starter and the green acceleration cone are. So I’m on it. I’m running through the gears to catch up and meanwhile everyone up in front of the pack slows down. I’m up to about fourth or fifth gear and I hear on my radio ‘green’ and I’m like ‘yea, baby!’ I just pulled out and don’t think anybody was expecting it because nobody tried to block me. It was one, two, three, four going by. My teammate Mike Galati gave me some help in one and let me in.

“Andy was a little vulnerable on the restarts and the Porsche was just ready to go. On the long run, I think Andy had the strongest car. Brandon was doing everything right. He has a strong car, it’s a good package. I was just hoping it would break! On a long green, it would have probably come down to Andy harassing me and making it easier for Brandon. It didn’t work out that way.

“I’m happy to be second after all the drama.”

Other than getting passed by Pobst who was charging back from his wide run through Turn One on the opening lap, Pilgrim had a quiet race in his No. 8 Remington Shaving Cadillac CTS-V, starting and finishing third, but had a great view of the action ahead of him.

“I had the best seat in the house watching these two,” Pilgrim said. “At the beginning, Randy went wide in one and we got up to second. Our cars are really heavy and the first four or five laps are pretty rough, because we start with such low tire pressures. When we had the first restart, Randy got by me and I figured that if I could stay with him, we could have a race later.

“I could make some time in the longer runs, but I was really disappointed to see the yellows. I was trying to run a pace and they seemed to be coming back to me a little bit, but then we had the yellows.”

One of the fiercest battles of the race was between the No. 23 K-PAX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 of Michael Galati, from Olmstead, Ohio, and the No. 14 Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3 of Newport Beach resident James Sofronas. Sofronas pulled alongside Galati on the back and front straights several times, but Galati was able to defend his fourth place until the end.

Jason Daskalos (Dodge Viper) and Brandon’s dad, Mike Davis (Ford Mustang) were waiting and watch the battle between Galati and Sofronas, but neither were able to capitalize. It was a career-best finish of sixth for Daskalos, followed by Mike Davis in seventh.

Reigning SCCA SPEED Touring Car Champion Jeff Altenburg finished eighth in a Dodge Viper and collected the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for advancing eight positions during the race.

Cindi Lux (Dodge Viper) collected her first top-ten finish, crossing the line in ninth. Last year’s Sunoco Hard Charger, Jeff Courtney (Dodge Viper) was tenth.

Tim McKenzie earned the Racing Electronics Holeshot Award for picking up six positions on the first lap in his No. 66 TR Racing Porsche 911 GT3.

Pobst leaves Long Beach the point leader with 220 points. Brandon Davis now follows with 208 points. Pilgrim sits third with 198 points.

Porsche continues to lead the SCCA SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER with 16 points over Cadillac’s 12.

The Long Beach SPEED GT Presented by Applied Computer Solutions race will air on SPEED Wednesday, April 30, at noon (EDT), 9 a.m. (PDT).

Round Three of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship will take place May 16 – 18 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.

SOURCE: World-Challenge.com

VIDEO: Go Speed Racer GO!

The music video for the new rendition of the Speed Racer theme song has hit the net. In it we get more glimpses of the spectacular special effects/cgi that make up the movie; hopefully the eye-popping, acid trip visuals won’t be the only redeeming value of the film. Check it out below.

SOURCE: Myspace

Saleen to offer 302 crate engines

Saleen is offering, for the first time in company history, its high performance 302 cubic inch (5.0L) premium crate engines for sale through its Speedlab Aftermarket Division. The engine will be available in either short block or long block varieties to satisfy the most seasoned of engine builders and power enthusiasts.

Saleen offers the same OEM quality, durability and precision-built engines used today in Saleen built performance vehicles. The legendary 302 engine has already made its rightful return to the performance stage in Saleen product offerings such as the Parnelli Jones Edition, Heritage Series, and the new 25th Anniversary Sterling Edition. Consumers now have the opportunity to upgrade their existing vehicle with a high performance Saleen 302 crate engine.

“This addition to our aftermarket product lineup was a no brainer,” says Carlos Duran, Manager of Saleen’s Speedlab Aftermarket Division, “This engine is currently at high production rates, which allow for quick delivery to Saleen Speedlab consumers. We want to provide our customers with the utmost in confidence relating to this new line of products.”

Performance

The 302 cubic inch crate motors (available in both long and short blocks) are available for naturally-aspirated or supercharged applications. Based on the 4.6L 3V Ford aluminum block, the entire internal package is upgraded with premium Saleen engineered forged pistons, rods, crankshaft and valve train components, and camshaft that will exceed the requirements of even the professional engine builder. The basis of our performance data is from the current 2008 Heritage Saleen platforms. Our packages will range from 390hp (normally-aspirated 302 engines) to 580hp (supercharged 302 engines) using existing EPA certified induction and exhaust systems. Furthermore, these packages can be further upgraded with 6 speed transmissions, high performance clutch/flywheels, higher performance rear end differentials, Watts link rear suspension kits and, of course, superchargers.

“We are very excited to put the 302SC long block engine into the drag racing circuit this year under the hood of the Saleen Speedlab/JDM Engineering performance drag car”, states Michael Lingo, Vice President of Operations & General Manager - Aftermarket Division, “We are planning to place the vehicle on display throughout the season; proving the durability and reliability of the Saleen motors in the most demanding environment imaginable.” The 302 crate engines will launch in May, 2008 and will be available for purchase direct from the factory or through select Saleen Speedlab dealers. Call today at 800-888-8945 to speak directly with your Saleen Speedlab specialist.

SOURCE: ModernMustangMuscle

Leno Drives the GTR

Ill let the video do the talking. Here is the latest installment of Jay Leno’s Garage:

SOURCE: Jay Leno’s Garage

ASHLEY FORCE MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST FEMALE FUNNY CAR WINNER

ATLANTA, Ga. – Ashley Force put a new face on Funny Car drag racing Sunday by becoming the first woman to win a national race in a category that once was considered the last bastion of male superiority.

The 25-year-old did so with a flair for the dramatic, beating her father, drag racing icon John Force, in the final round of the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals to deny him his 1,000 winning round in his 500th NHRA tour event.

The result enabled the second generation driver to pad her points lead and dispel any lingering doubts anyone may have harbored about either her commitment to the sport or her competence at the wheel of one of the world’s most powerful race cars.

Her first win came in her 27th pro race and in her fourth trip to the final round. Denied in the two most recent events in the POWERade Series, first on March 30 by Del Worsham at Houston, Texas, and then on April 13 by Tim Wilkerson at Las Vegas, Nev., Ashley left no doubt this time.

With her father in a left lane that was the bane of every racer during eliminations, she sprinted down the favored right lane in 4.837 seconds at 320.36 miles per hour. Her dad was never in it, losing traction almost at the hit of the throttle and slowing to 11.223 seconds.

It was her second career win against her father, drag racing’s biggest winner, who lost the first ever meeting between father and daughter in the first round of the 2007 Southern Nationals.

“There are a lot of mixed emotions,” John Force said before the final. “I turn off the switch. If I win, that’s great but if she wins, that’s something really special, too. I’m just going to go out there and let my car do what it does.”

For the champ, who had won seven times previously at Atlanta Dragway and was appearing in his 14th Southern Nationals final round, most at any event in the series, his car let him down for the first time all day.

Now, he’ll move on to Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis where he’ll have another opportunity to reach 1,000 round win at next week’s O’Reilly Midwest Nationals.

“I guess the third time’s a charm,” said the woman who now leads the Funny Car point standings by 59 points. “We just knew that if we kept getting to the finals, we’d eventually get one. I kinda hated that it had to be against dad but I’m just happy to win an event.”

“We went a whole year last year and the biggest win I had was off the track (in AOL sports’ “world’s hottest athlete” poll),” joked the second year pro. “To finally get it done here in Atlanta, where I beat dad last year (in the first round in the first meeting between father and daughter), was special. He came over and he congratulated me. He told me, ‘good job.’ He told my team ‘good job.”

“I never saw him,” she said of her father, “and I never saw my win light, but they told me on the radio (that I had won) while I was coasting. I know he wanted his 1,000th win, but mom and I had it all figured out – he can just go do that next week (at the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals in St. Louis), on his (59th) birthday. That would be special.

“Antron (Top Fuel winner Antron Brown) and I are seeing a pattern here,” she continued. “When I saw him win in the semis, I suddenly got all kind of confidence because every final he’s been in (this year) I’ve been in, too. Not that that has anything to do with anything, but it’s little things like that where you feel a little bit more confident, like when we did our team dinner (on Thursday). Every race that we’ve done a team dinner, ever, we’ve gone to the final and now we’ve done it again.

“It’s an exciting time, you know, with Danica winning. There are a lot of women in a lot of different motor sports and we’re getting our practice, we’re getting our experience and we’re making our way toward those wins. It’s a good week for women and it’s exciting for the fans to finally have a woman winner in Funny Car, but I know that it’s the 10 guys on my team who got me to this point. I would never be here without them and without ‘Guido’ (crew chief Dean Antonelli) and Ron (assistant crew chief Ron Douglas). I’m proud to be a female in the seat but it’s those guys who got me here.”

Look for more on Ashley in Men’s Fitness Magazine, on newstands now.

SOURCE: JFR Racing

San Diego 3rd on list of cities most likely to have your car stolen.

Three California cities have made the list of top 10 cities with the highest vehicle theft per capita according to The National Insurance Crime Bureau. Unfortunately San Diego took the third spot. The following is the full press release of the latest report; it also contains some useful pointers to help protect your vehicle

PRESS RELEASE

DES PLAINES, Ill., April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported today that the Modesto, CA, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the highest per capita rate for vehicle thefts in the nation in 2007.

For 2007, the ten MSAs with the highest vehicle theft rates are:

City, 2006 Ranking
1. Modesto, CA - 5
2. Las Vegas/Paradise, NV - 1
3. San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos, CA - 11
4. Stockton, CA - 2
5. San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, CA - 12
6. Laredo, TX - 22
7. Albuquerque, NM - 13
8. Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ - 4
9. Yakima, WA - 9
10. Tucson, AZ - 10

Each year, NICB analysts review vehicle theft data obtained from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for each of the nation’s MSAs. MSAs are designated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and often include areas much larger than the cities for which they are named. For example, the Modesto MSA includes the entire county of Stanislaus and other municipalities in addition to the city of Modesto.

The rate is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the 2007 U.S. Census Population Estimates, the most current figures available.

Preliminary 2007 crime data released by the FBI in January contains some positive news on the vehicle theft front. Not only is 2007 on track to be the fourth consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts, but if the preliminary figure of -7.4% holds, it will be the largest single year percent drop in thefts since 1999 and it will contribute to the overall 11% reduction in vehicle thefts, nationally, since 2000.

However, the good news is no reason for vehicle owners or law enforcement to relax their vigilance. “While there is overall great news in our new report, there is also room for concern,” said NICB President and Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Bryant. “Success against vehicle theft can be fleeting without an ongoing and adaptive program that couples the best in theft prevention/recovery technology with law enforcement operations. We must not become complacent in the wake of success.

“Bait cars, license plate readers and owner-applied theft deterrence and recovery systems have delivered outstanding results. In the coming years, technological advances may well defeat vehicle theft as a major crime problem in the United States, but until then we must continue using everything at our disposal to keep achieving the kinds of results that we have had over the last four years,” Bryant said.

NICB recommends the following actions under its “layered approach” to vehicle theft protection:

Common Sense — An unlocked vehicle with a key in the ignition is an open invitation to any thief, regardless of which anti-theft device you use. The common sense approach to protection is the simplest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. Secure your vehicle even if parking for brief periods. You should always:

– Remove your keys from the ignition
– Lock your doors /close your windows
– Park in a well-lit area

Warning Device — The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular second layer devices include:

– Audible alarms
– Steering column collars
– Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
– Brake locks
– Wheel locks
– Tire locks/tire deflators
– Theft deterrent decals
– Identification markers in or on vehicle
– VIN etching
– Micro dot marking

Immobilizing Device — The third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Popular third layer devices include:

– Smart keys
– Fuse cut-offs
– Kill switches
– Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
– Wireless ignition authentication

Tracking Device — The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ “telematics” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training and public awareness.

Anyone with information concerning auto theft and insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422) or by visiting our web site.

For the complete information on Hot Spots 2008, please visit www.nicb.org.

Danica makes history-1st woman to win an Indy Car race

If you were busy watching the UFC fight or the NBA game last night than you missed out on history. Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy Car race, and I believe also the first woman to win an open wheel race, at the Japan 300 yesterday.

In her 50th start in the series, covering 200 laps at Twin Ring Motegi, Danica turned in a time of 1hr51min:02.6739seconds. Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon were nipping at her heals with times of 1:51:08.5333 and 1:51:12.7298 respectively.

Patrick said:”Finally. This is a long time coming. It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me. I know I was on the same strategy as Helio (Castroneves) and when I passed him for the lead, I couldn’t believe it. This is fabulous.”

With six laps remaining, Dixon had a 3.6-second lead, but the leader had to enter the pits for fuel on lap 195. Then Wheldon and Kanaan had to do the same on lap 196.

That left the door open for Patrick and Castroneves, whose last pit stop came on lap 148.

“I can’t say the last stint was exactly hard. I was taking it easy and going fast but still trying to save fuel. All I had to beat was Helio and I knew I had been saving fuel earlier in the stint. I didn’t want to make the mistake of not trying harder to get by him.”

SOURCE: Telegraph.co.uk

Excessive speeders could lose their license

BURBANK - An Assembly committee today approved a bill sponsored by a Southland legislator who wants to make it easier to revoke the drivers’ licenses of people with long histories of excessive speeding.

Assembly Bill 2669 would double the number of points added to a motorist’s record if the person is caught driving at least 26 mph over the posted speed limit. The Assembly Transportation Committee unanimously approved the bill today.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank, said the death of a woman who was struck and killed by a driver going 65 mph in a 30-mph zone was one of the major reasons he proposed the legislation.

“That driver had a long history of traffic violations, but still had his license,” Krekorian said. “We need to make it easier to take away the driving privilege from those who repeatedly flaunt the speed laws and endanger the lives of our citizens.”

The bill will now go before the Appropriations Committee.

SOURCE: Daily Breeze

Speed Cameras in Lakewood, CA

Browsing the Corvette forums I got a tip to a possible speed camera in Lakewood CA, so stay on the look out people because it appears as though they are here.

This particular camera is said to be just off of South Street and Clark Ave; one in each direction.

Quote from poster:

I was going 30 in a 35 and leading a pack of cars when a SUV in the next lane was speeding from behind. The Speed Sign read 39MPH and the camera flashed. The SUV was on my rear qtr panel at the time the camera flashed. Not sure how the cameras know which car is speeding. My Radar Detector was detecting the radar in K-Band and it was going nuts, hence the reason I was going 30 in a 35.

SOURCE: Corvette Forums

My photo used for MM&FF Agent 47 article

I was standing in line at Pepboys just a few minutes ago and grabbed the June issue of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords and started flipping through it when I came across a one page article on Agent 47’s Hunter. It was my turn in line at the register so I quickly flipped it shut and decided to buy it to read what the article says. As I walked to the car I flipped it back open and “wow that pic looks very familiar.” 99.9% sure it was a pic I took (.1% leaving room for the possibility that Im wrong) I don’t notice anywhere on that page a photo credit so I get home and pull up the pic and I was right.

Its a pic I took at the track for Agent 47 so I figured they handed it off to MM&FF but I just talked to Heath, he didn’t know anything about the article at all, and Corey who was sent an early copy and said he himself was wondering where they got the pic when he saw it. Oh well, it’s still pretty cool to have a pic printed in a mainstream magazine although it would’ve been nice to get credit for it.

Here is the pic that appears on page 42, not at all the best pic I took that day and definitely not my favorite but I can see why they used it, it was simple and focused on just the car.

Oh yeah, check out the press release on Agent 47’s Hunter while you’re at it if you pick up a copy…lol.