We made it: 1,100 miles from South Jersey to Tampa in a 509-powered ’72 Nova. We burned more gas than we expected, but added exactly zero oil, coolant, ATF or power steering fluid during the trip. That's a testament to the aftermarket products used.

As co-pilot Dan Foley had never been there before, we exited I-95 in the Sunshine State for some photos outside Daytona International Speedway. OK, I wanted these pictures for posterity. That's me giving you the thumbs-up. The Nova's a lot dirtier, the wheels need polishing after all the rain, and the tire shine's gone, but the Nova's no worse for the wear and tear.

On Nitto 555 drag radials (same tires you see here), the car ran 10.47 at 129.21 at Atco Raceway. We decided to throw it on the office DynoJet in our Snap-On Tools Tech Center in Tampa to see what kind of power it was making. Dan had changed the air bleeds before leaving Jersey in the hope of improving the fuel economy, but we put the ones we used at Atco back in the Proform 950 carb for the dyno pulls. Turned the rollers to 503 horsepower—impressive given how much you lose going through a TH400 automatic and 9-inch rear. All V-belts were hooked up. Now we're thinking about an electric water pump and fan, plus a serpentine system to free up even more ponies.

Been driving Nova to work the last couple of days. I'm really proud of the old girl. We asked a lot of her, but she never let us down. Better still, every time I fire up the 509, it startles the neighbors.

 Where should we go next?

Overdrive and air conditioning. These are the two modern conveniences we purposely left off the Nova SS509 project car when we decided to build it. It was going to be a street/strip machine that went to the occasional cruise night. What did we need overdrive and air conditioning for?

Naturally, once it was mechanically complete, we decided to drive it 1,100 miles from South Jersey's Pine Barrens to Tampa. Without overdrive and without air conditioning. Call me a wuss, but you just don't realize how dependent you've become on these two things until you've driven some 24 hours in a vintage car with a screaming big-block that lacks these conveniences.

Despite a lack of tailpipes, the roar from the throaty 3-inch pipes wasn't too bad (we angled the mufflers' outlets towards each other as a noise cancellation trick). We had the side windows up and the kick panel vents open, but as we got further south later in the trip (we left at 6:15 a.m. from Virginia) and the humidity started climbing, it was getting a smidge uncomfortable in our X-body.

We didn't fear for our big-block 509's health, as it was built for high-rpm operation with Comp Cams' latest valvetrain technology. When we switched to a solid roller cam (see the July ’13 issue of Super Chevy), we knew we could get away with a lot less spring pressure. The engine responded with flawless operation and another perfect oil check.

We had tunes, thanks to the previous owner installing a modern CD player. With an iPod hookup that played through the 88.3 frequency, we could listen to all our favorite songs from the previous century. But the Nova's base high-back bucket seats were truly not comfortable. They had dead seat bottoms, no side bolstering, and the non-adjustable seat backs were too bolt-upright for my 51-year-old back.

And can someone tell me when was the last time they paved I-95 in South Carolina? I'm sure they have smoother roads in Afghanistan. The right lane was unusable, and the left slightly better, but unless we wanted to travel at 85 mph

we were relegated to the slow lane. At 3,500 rpm at 70, this was our course of action. 

After we entered Georgia, we spotted some signage for Macon. As we wasted much of our teen years in theaters watching flicks like "Two-Lane Blacktop," "Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry," and the timeless(?) ’57 Chevy thriller, "Return To Macon County," how could we resist taking the photo you see here?

We’re so excited about the July 2013 issue that we’ve decided to give you a few hints at what to expect when you pick up your copy!

“Is there anything better than rocketing down a straightaway in a modified first-gen Camaro with your foot buried to the floor? Perhaps one thing: turning at the end of it.” We’ll tell you what the ’68 Camaro G-Machine was equipped with and how it held its own on the road course in our feature story “Evasive Maneuvers.”

We hope you’re excited for Part 8 of our “What A Drag” tech series featuring your editor’s own 1972 Nova SS. A hydraulic roller is swapped out for a solid roller ram to improve street driving and track performance, and broaden the 509’s powerband.

That’s all we can tell you for now! Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Super Chevy’s July 2013 issue on sale on today, and as always, you can find them here soon on SuperChevy.com.

As we reported in our last blog, we hit a bird in Virginia with the SS509 Nova project just before we picked up I-95 a few miles from North Carolina. From past experience, I can tell you this is usually bad luck. I knew a guy who hit a gull that flew in front of his car at the strip when the car was going about 108 mph. Feathers flew everywhere and you could hear it from 1320 feet away.

In our case, the revenge came at our next gas stop in North Carolina. We checked the oil, cleaned the feathers from the radiator and, in general, made sure the car was fine. I topped off the fuel cell, ran inside for a potty break, and got some drinks for the road. It was Dan Foley's turn to drive, so I hopped in the shotgun seat. He turned the ignition key.

Nothing.

Not a sound. Ugh. Tried again. It cranked a little. All the battery connections were good and I knew from checking the gauges that the alternator was charging OK. I nice man in a late-model Mustang GT offered us a jump. I looked in the trunk. We had enough tools and stuff to rebuild the engine, octane boost in case we got bad gas, a floor jack, etc. But no jumper cables.

Naturally, the store attached to the station had everything from Coke to condoms, but nothing automotive related. Frustrated, Dan turned the key. The Nova fired right up. Seems like our starter got heat soaked during our long stop. It was never a problem again for the rest of the trip, but it sure gave us pause every time we stopped for fuel!

In our haste to get the car into the low 10-second zone at the track, we never bothered with some of the more mundane aspects of the car. For instance, it had a dash full of Auto Meter gauges when we got it, but we never set up the speedometer. Since the speedometers in all my cars are inaccurate, I took the simplest way out—I downloaded a free speedo app for my smart phone. Speed Box works off the GPS and gives you the precise speed you're traveling. As a bonus, there's also an odometer, which made the painful task of figuring our miserable fuel economy a piece of cake. As you can see from the photo, we went 72 mph in honor of our ’72 Nova.

The fog was had just cleared as we motored down Route 1 South through Virginia. I was just about to relax a little and enjoy the Rat power when a bird committed hare kare, throwing himself in front of my Nova. Quite a shock to the system at 6:45 in the morning. Never even saw it—just heard the pop. That really got the attention of me and co-pilot Dan "Nova Man" Foley. At our next gas stop, we saw his feathers in my radiator.

Aside from giving me a bigger jolt than a double espresso from Starbucks, that was about as much drama as we had on this first leg of the journey from Richmond to Tampa. At the first gas stop, a fellow wanted to buy the Nova, as both he and the Chevy were born in 1972.

Got a great sausage, egg and biscuit as our first gas stop at a hole in the wall service station on Route 40 on our way to I-95. Home-made in the kitchen in the back. Can't get good home cookin' on the interstates, but the slow pace of the back roads and the limited time I had to get to Florida dictated we hit the Federal Highway System. Good stuff.

Gas mileage? A painful 8 mpg. We were hoping for better.

Thank goodness for 20-gallon fuel cells.

 The first leg of our journey to Tampa in our 509-powered Nova SS is complete. Despite heavy traffic, constant rain and a long distance, our project car made it perfectly to Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie. The big-block didn't use a drop of oil, but it sure did suck up a lot of go-go juice. Thanks to the traffic, our highway mpg dropped to 8.

Super Chevy freelancer Dan Foley completed this part of the trip himself. We put the car on display in the Super Chevy subscription booth at the Super Chevy Show and it was a smash hit. Even the rain couldn't dampen the enthusiasm the crowd had for the car.
Check back in a couple of hours for an update. We're just about to leave our hotel and hit the road to Tampa.

Heidts Performance in Wauconda, Illinois, will be holding its annual Car Challenge this weekend and your favorite Super Chevy editors will be on hand to give out an Editor's Choice award to the best Chevy in attendance.

The Heidts Performance three-day event will test the handling and road manners of some of America's best-built muscle cars. The celebration of horsepower kicks off this Friday afternoon at Heidts Headquarters.

On Friday, participants are invited to attend the Heidts Performance Group facility tour and barbecue. Event registration staff will be on hand to get all required paperwork in order and get participants ready to roll! Then the real fun begins with a scenic drive from Heidts to the Holiday Inn in Joliet, Illinois. Bench racing and socializing will conclude the schedule for Friday.

The action will shift into high gear Saturday morning at the Autobahn Country Club.

The Heidts Road Course portion of the event will take place on the North course, which is a 1.46-mile, nine-turn, adrenaline factory. A full day on the road course assures that all participants receive plenty of track time.

The first 20 participants to sign up for the Heidts Performance Car Challenge will be eligible to attend an autocross driver school conducted by professional race drivers. There is no extra charge for this instruction which is designed to help beginner and novice racers alike to get the most out of the road course.

The Speed Stop Squared Challenge, sponsored by Wilwood, will be an exciting event, with drivers testing limits of acceleration, braking, and driver skills all at the same time! Mirror image courses will pit racers head-to-head as they put the pedal to the metal through a straightaway and slalom course before stopping in a designated "stop box." Hit a cone, and the time penalty could be severe.

And of course, there will be a car show showcasing beautiful automotive craftsmanship. Awards will be given to the winner of each class, and a team of judges will select the Best of Show along with the aforementioned Editor’s Choice class. The entry fee is only $25 and includes three parade laps around the track to show off your muscle car.

The week will conclude on Sunday with another day of autocross, Speed Stop Squared and racing on the Autobahn North course.

We hope to see you there and stay tuned for our event coverage!

One look at Chevrolet’s line-up will tell you that there’s a Chevy vehicle for just about every segment of the market. But Mark Reuss, GM’s president of North America, is eyeing yet another niche. He believes there’s room in the Chevy stable for a sporty, modestly priced, rear-wheel-drive car aimed at young drivers.

"A really nice, light, rear-drive car that's inexpensive -- we know that rings a bell," Reuss told Automotive News last week. "That'd be a huge win for us if we had that."

Though Reuss has said that there are no plans in the works yet, it’s been obvious since the 2012 Detroit auto show when GM unveiled its Code 130R concept coupe (pictured above) that the automaker is seriously thinking about building the kind of car Reuss is envisioning.

The Code 130R was very well received by young people according to Reuss, which reinforced his desire to create something to fit their needs and budgets. The car would need to fall into the low- to mid-$20,000 range in order to take on the likes of the Scion FR-S and its Subaru BRZ sibling – fun-to-drive, rear-drive cars it would compete against.

While Chevy has been bringing out the big guns lately with its 2014 Corvette Stingray, SS sedan, and Camaro Z/28, those cars are out of reach of the under-30 set.

If General Motors decides to go forward with the idea, Reuss hinted that its design would differ from the Code 130R, which he described as “dated.” He also added that it probably wouldn't be built on the Alpha rear-wheel drive platform that underpins the new Cadillac ATS. Instead, he believes it would be have to be based on a unique platform that is "really scalable and efficient," which is likely the biggest hurdle to getting a car like Reuss wants off the ground.

In any event, we’re behind Reuss all the way. What enthusiast wouldn’t want to see GM build a car like that?

Source: Automotive News

In October of last year, Royal Purple launched Royal Purple Ladies in an effort to advance women’s interest in the automotive industry. Now, they want you to get involved.

Royal Purple is seeking applications for a female-owned vehicle to be featured at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November.

One lucky woman will be chosen to represent Royal Purple Ladies at The SEMA Show! Those interested will need to submit the following items by May 31, 2013:

- A detailed specifications list for the vehicle (please include any Royal Purple products used in the car)

- Up to ten pictures of the vehicle’s interior and exterior

- One written page with the following:

- Paragraph 1- Tell us about yourself

- Paragraph 2- History of your vehicle

- Paragraph 3- Why should Royal Purple Ladies select you to show your car as a Feature Vehicle?

- Paragraph 4- How do you hope to inspire other women by showing your vehicle?

"We are looking for a vehicle to represent Royal Purple Ladies that is 100 percent female owned, restored or built, either a show or race car,” said Marlena Solomon, Royal Purple Communications Specialist.

On behalf of Royal Purple Ladies, the woman who is selected to have her car featured will be relieved of all fees and registration. She will also receive Royal Purple wearables and an invite to Royal Purple’s VIP dinner in Las Vegas during the show.

While vehicle transportation to Las Vegas and hotel accommodations will not be included, Royal Purple can assist with pricing for both as needed. Travel expenses and transportation are the owner’s responsibility, as well as meals, excluding the winner's VIP dinner. Any other costs associated with the trip are also the responsibility of the owner.

Sponsorship can help to offset some of these costs. SEMA does allow the placement of decals on the vehicle if sponsors are already SEMA Show exhibitors. Owners can also acknowledge sponsors on their brag board at the show.

This initiative is separate from the photo contest Royal Purple will run this summer to send a car and truck to the SEMA Show as Feature Vehicles.

Proof of ownership, insurance, and a valid driver’s license are required of the winner.

Entries can be submitted electronically to msolomon@royalpurple.com or mailed to:

Royal Purple

Attn: Marlena Solomon

1 Royal Purple Lane, Porter, TX 77365

General Motors recently released a “soundtrack” video finally giving a voice to the new 2014 Camaro Z/28 – and boy, does it sound beastly. The camera scans over the pearl white Z/28 to the tune of the 7.0L LS7 engine’s roar. Check it out below and let us know what you think!

"A wet dream on wheels... that’s what a muscle car is. The embodiment of every adolescent and adult male’s hopes and dreams,” writes legendary auto journalist and author Brock Yates in the forward of David Newhardt’s new book “The Art of the Muscle Car” that celebrates the cars that ignited the passion of the post-World War II generation looking to feed their need for speed.

The book is chock-full of incredible photography by Peter Harholdt that showcases each of the nearly 50 cars featured in vivid color and detail. There are several fold-out photographs with perforation so that they can be removed from the book if desired – an interesting touch. Each muscle car is also briefly outlined and a table outlines details including base and optional engines, base price, curb weight, and production numbers.

“The Art of the Muscle Car” is available for purchase at www.motorbooks.com, www.amazon.com, and wherever automotive books are sold. Buy your copy today!

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) election is just around the corner. We are urging everyone to vote for our very own Doug Evans. Doug has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and touches all aspects of the business daily.

From warehouses to manufacturers, Doug impacts the industry. He has served three terms on the SEMA Board of Directors and three terms on ARMO (SEMA’s restoration council). Doug is also the current show chairman and has been chairman of the SEMA PAC for a decade, fighting in Washington to preserve the automotive industry and hobby for future generations. Doug is also the proud  recipient of the prestigious SEMA Person of the Year award and the Lee Iacocca Automotive Lifetime achievement award. See more about Doug at www.facebook.com/doug4sema and be sure to “Like” Doug when you’re there.

Vote for the candidate who believes in the automotive aftermarket and will protect our businesses - Vote Doug Evans.

Chevrolet has finally released pricing for its all-new 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray. So just how much will you have to dole out to own the new C7 Vette? The suggested starting retail price of the coupe is $51,995, and the Corvette Stingray Convertible will start at $56,995. Both prices include a $995 destination fee but exclude tax, title, and license.

Just a few of the standard features one can expect on the 2014 Vette include a 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine with direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, as well as a new seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching. The newest Vettes also come standard with a carbon fiber hood on all models, and a carbon fiber removable roof panel on coupes set on an aluminum frame that is 99 pounds lighter and 57% stiffer than the previous model’s structure.

The Stingray coupe shown at the 2013 North American International Auto Show fitted with the major available options would cost $73,360. Some of the options available include a 3LT interior package with leather-wrapped interior, Magnetic Ride Control with Performance Traction Management, the Z51 Performance Package, and dual-mode exhaust system to name a few.

"The 2014 Corvette Stingray perfectly embodies Chevrolet’s mission to deliver more than expected for our customers. The Corvette Stingray delivers a combination of performance, design and technology that very few manufacturers can match, and none can even come close for $52,000,” said vice president of Chevrolet marketing, Chris Perry, in a statement announcing pricing.

To learn more about the options and features available on the 2014 Stingray, check out our story on Vetteweb.com and at www.chevrolet.com.

Standard features on the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray include:

• Seating with lightweight magnesium frames for exceptional support, and eight-way power adjustment
• Five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailors up to 12 vehicle attributes
• New seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching
• 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine with direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system
• Carbon fiber hood on all models, and a carbon fiber removable roof panel on coupes
• Aluminum frame that is 99 pounds lighter (45 kg) and 57-percent stiffer than the previous model’s structure
• Advanced, high-intensity discharge (HID) and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting
• Dual, eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens, with next-generation Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system and rear vision camera
• Bose nine-speaker audio system with SiriusXM Satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and SD card and auxiliary input jack
• Keyless access with push-button start
• Power tilt/telescope steering wheel
• An all-new, fully electronic top on the convertible that can be lowered remotely using the key fob

As shown at the North American International Auto Show, the Stingray coupe fitted with the major available options would be $73,360, including:

• 3LT interior package, with leather-wrapped interior ($8,005)
• Z51 Performance Package ($2,800)
• Competition sports seats ($2,495)
• Exposed-carbon-fiber roof panel ($1,995)
• Magnetic Ride Control with Performance Traction Management ($1,795)
• Dual-mode exhaust system ($1,195)
• Carbon fiber interior trim ($995)
• Sueded, microfiber-wrapped upper interior trim ($995)
• Red-painted calipers ($595)
• Black-painted wheels ($495)

OPTIMA Chargers has done it again. The recently released for pre-sale OPTIMA Chargers Digital 400 12V Performance Maintainer and Battery Charger is a must-have for any vehicle, from daily drivers to powersport vehicles.

The OPTIMA Chargers Digital 400 12V Performance Maintainer and Battery Charger extends the life of vehicle batteries by keeping them charged when they’re not being used. The charge rate is up to four amps on large batteries and three amps on small batteries, and the Digital 400 can be used to keep all 12V AMG and flooded batteries healthy when not in use. Furthermore, it will maximize battery life and performance using OPTIMA’s built-in battery health mode.

The Digital 400 will retail for $109.99 once it hits shelves. For now, it is available for pre-sale on the OPTIMA Batteries website: www.optimabatteries.com.

Legislation (H.B. 133) has recently been introduced in Ohio in an effort to reverse the requirement of front license plates on all vehicles.

There are several reasons for the discontinuation of the requirement of a front plate. H.B. 133 could save money and conserve resources, as well as making Ohio the twentieth state to require only a rear plate. H.B. 133 would also protect the design contours of collector cars and relieve vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on some fabricated and original bumpers. Front plates also cause unnecessary damage in the result of a minor collision.

The bill has been referred to the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee for consideration. Please do your part to help H.B. 133 pass!

Please e-mail members of the Committee (listed below) and send a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. And don’t forget to pass the information along to your friends!

district88@ohr.state.oh.us
district68@ohr.state.oh.us
district32@ohr.state.oh.us
district65@ohr.state.oh.us
district15@ohr.state.oh.us
district36@ohr.state.oh.us
district66@ohr.state.oh.us
district58@ohr.state.oh.us
district90@ohr.state.oh.us
district79@ohr.state.oh.us
district35@ohr.state.oh.us
district10@ohr.state.oh.us
district73@ohr.state.oh.us

Johnathan Hillstrand, captain of the Time Bandit fishing boat on Discovery Channel's hit TV series "Deadliest Catch," is also a dyed-in-the-wool Chevy fanatic. He had this custom '55 Chevy built by Slicks Garage in Palmetto, Florida.

The car, which features a monster 'Time Bandit' plastered across the grille, is powered by a Weiand blown 502 crate engine. It's a tribute to the '55 from the movies "American Graffiti" and "Two-Lane Blacktop." His father took him and his brother to see "Graffiti" when they were kids. It was the first drive-in movie they ever saw and it clearly left an indelible impression. The biggest difference between Hillstrand's '55 and the movie car is that movie car was a 150 and his car is a Bel Air.
You can follow the adventures of Hillstrand and the rest of the crew on the all-new season of "Deadliest Catch" Tuesdays on the Discovery Channel. Stay tuned for a full story about the car here on SuperChevy.com and in the August issue of Super Chevy. In the meantime, you can check out a video of the car below doing a burnout.

Super Chevy Magazine has just released a line of merchandise and apparel proudly branded with the Super Chevy logo.

 The line features shirts, glasses, drawstring packs, and hats, as well as beverage koozies to help keep your drinks cold at car shows!

To see the full line, visit: www.musclecarmagswag.com.

Recently we wrote to tell you about pending legislation in Florida that would change regulations regarding ethanol-infused gasoline. As previously mentioned, ethanol can be responsible for the deterioration of plastic, metals, and rubber, especially in pre-model year 2001 vehicles as well as the corrosion of aftermarket performance parts. H.B. 4001 Legislation recognizes that ethanol use can cause more frequent breakdowns and significantly reduce the life span of a vehicle. The bill is seeking to repeal the requirement that fuel sold in Florida contain a 9-10 percent blend of ethanol or equivalent.

We also included an email list of Florida representatives and asked you, the readers, to help support H.B. 4001. All of your hard work has paid off, as the house version has passed with a vote of 77 to 39. The bill will now be considered by two Florida Senate committees, the Environmental Preservation and Conservation and the Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities Committees. Again, we’re asking you to show your support and send emails backing H.B. 4001 and its goal to remove the ethanol requirement.

Also be sure to send a copy of your email to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org and encourage your friends to do the same. More information is available at www.semasan.com.

Act now to defend the hobby!

dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov
abruzzo.joseph.web@flsenate.gov
altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov
bullard.dwight.web@flsenate.gov
gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov
grimsley.denise.web@flsenate.gov
latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov
simpson.wilton.web@flsenate.gov
soto.darren.web@flsenate.gov
flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov
garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov
abruzzo.joseph.web@flsenate.gov
bean.aaron.web@flsenate.gov
evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov
gibson.audrey.web@flsenate.gov
hukill.dorothy.web@flsenate.gov
simpson.wilton.web@flsenate.gov
smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov

In honor of its 75th year in business, Edelbrock has announced a new customer promotion. With the purchase of select E-Force Superchargers from now until June 3, 2013, customers will receive a $500 cash rebate.

"We're really excited about this rebate promotion. We believe $500 is a great incentive for Edelbrock consumers to purchase the most well designed and efficient supercharger on the market. Edelbrock E-Force superchargers offer the best combination of fit and finish along with American made quality," said Edelbrock's VP of Sales and Marketing, Steve Whipple.

For more information and to view a list of promotion eligible supercharger systems, visit www.edelbrock.com/promo.

Most every racer, be they professional or amateur, can name the drag strip where they got their feet wet. Maybe it was a local track where everyone spent their weekends with the pedal to the metal, or maybe they had to trek to a site hours away. Regardless, enthusiasts have made their way out to these tracks and have made memories to last a lifetime -- a quarter mile at a time. Many of those memories are slipping away though as countless tracks have lost funding and supporters and have had to close their gates for good.

This is the subject Tommy Lee Byrd delves into in his new book “Lost Drag Strips: Ghosts of Quarter-Miles Past.” After a foreword by legendary racer Don Garlits and a short history of drag racing, Byrd revisits some 30 abandoned and  dilapidated strips that have fallen by the wayside over the years.

"Some drag strips were immediately dismantled after closing, with the property being redeveloped into everything from basic neighborhoods to private airports to industrial use. Others sat idle for years, allowing the structures and pavement to deteriorate. Either way the chips fell, it’s sad to see such once-hallowed grounds in poor condition,” Byrd writes in the introduction.

This is the exact feeling enthusiasts in New Jersey are facing, as their beloved local track Island Dragway in Great Meadows will not be opening its gates this year. As lifelong residents of New Jersey, my father’s enthusiasm for the sport grasped my brother and me at a young age and we too had the pleasure of frequenting the “Island” on a consistent basis. We are heartbroken to see our own favorite drag strip fade into a memory.

Among the tracks revisited in the book are Pocono Drag Lodge in Bear Creek, Pennsylvania, U.S. 30 Drag Strip in Gary, Indiana, and Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Pocono Drag Lodge is one of the luckier strips in that it still exists for reunion events every year after closing following Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and a general loss of public interest in muscle cars thereafter. U.S. 30 Drag Strip remains abandoned after it was shut down due to noise ordinances in 1984, while Riverside International Raceway has been demolished. A shopping mall stands where rubber once met asphalt.

What non-enthusiasts fail to recognize is that with the closing of these drag strips, racers will have to resort to other less safe ways of wringing out their cars -- mainly street racing -- which presents its own set of problems.

“The goal of this book is to rekindle the flame in the hearts of drag racers and spectators who experienced good (or bad) times at any of the tracks featured,” Byrd writes. He accomplishes this in a way that makes the reader feel as if they know each track personally.

To order your own copy of “Lost Drag Strips” visit www.cartechbooks.com or call 1-800-551-4754.

Support your local drag strip before it's too late!

 Armor All is proud to bring you the new Armor All® Custom Shield™ Coating. Custom Shield™ Coating is a temporary, spray-on, peel-off coating that allows you to protect you vehicle’s paint and body from the elements.

 This technology not only helps protect the vehicle's paint and body, but it comes in a variety of colors that give you the ability to create a temporary design. You can add racing stripes down the center of the car or even test out different designs before spraying with typical paint.

The stuff helps protect front grill, hood and rocker panels from scratches and nicks caused by flying debris. its available in three colors: Black, White and Clear and can even be used on wheels to protect from brake dust build-up. It's easy to apply, as its aerosol delivery allows for a simple application and it dries quickly. When it’s time to remove, just peel off and throw away; Removal never requires tools. Its weather resistant and can last up to three months.
For more information about Armor All® products visit www.armorall.com and for the latest news on Armor All® visit www.Facebook.com/ArmorAll.

Axalta Coating Systems, formally DuPont Performance Coatings, has created high-quality paint that has transformed the appearance and durability of automobiles for 90 years. Recently, Axalta launched an environmentally safe waterborne basecoat called Cromax Pro that it says has revolutionized the safety and time consumption associated with coating systems.

On Earth Day, NASCAR and Axalta will join together to celebrate the Official Finish of NASCAR and their mutual responsibilities to safety and the environment. There will be a tree planting ceremony at Axalta’s North American manufacturing site in Front Royal, Virginia, during which five mature Bald Dogwood trees will be planted. Following the ceremony, 450 additional trees will be given to Axalta employees.

As part of the Green Initiative program, Axalta employees will be encouraged to purchase tickets to enter an employee-only raffle to win one of 20 No. 24 Jeff Gordon Cromax Pro 1:24th scale diecast collectibles, with all proceeds being donated to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant more trees. Axalta furthered its efforts recently by providing 60 Axalta hospitality suite VIP guests at Texas Motor Speedway with small trees compatible with growing conditions in Texas. Furthermore, for every lap led by Jeff Gordon at the Inaugural Race in Texas, Axalta pledged to donate the equivalent of 25 trees.

The NASCAR Green Initiative urges fans to help the environment by planting a tree in their own communities to offset carbon emissions.

National Parts Depot recently announced that its annual All-GM Oktoberfest car show at Silver Springs Theme Park has been cancelled for 2013.

Current lease holder Palace Entertainment will be transferring control of the park to the state of Florida at the beginning of October, and with the car show usually falling mid-October, the organization of such a large-scale event would be difficult.

A statement provided on the NPD website states, “National Parts Depot feels that trying to put the All-GM show together with so many unresolved and potentially-unfinished projects on the table, as well as a transfer of leadership one week before the proposed show date, could prove troublesome.”

NPD says that there is a possibility that the All-GM show will return to Silver Springs in October 2014.

For more information and updates, visit www.npdlink.com.

When the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS rolled onto the set of popular morning television talk show “LIVE with Kelly and Michael” a day before it was revealed at the 2013 New York auto show, enthusiasts were shocked and excited. So excited in fact, that one enterprising soul managed to get screen shots and post them on the Web, which then spread like wildfire. Though the pictures weren’t very clear, the official unveiling in New York on March 27 confirmed what the buzz was about -- the new Camaro SS, along with its go-fast Z/28 sibling that stole the show, are both stunning.

In a video posted on YouTube by Chevrolet, Camaro Marketing Manager John Fitzpatrick gives a quick rundown of what’s new for the 2014 SS. Fitzpatrick explains that there were two objectives in the creation of the newest Camaro.

We wanted to differentiate more between the V6 and the V8 model, or our SS model, and we wanted to add a little more flair to the RS package,” he explains in the video.

While the powertrain remains the same from 2013, the new SS comes equipped with a functional hood extractor to release hot air from the engine compartment, along with a new larger lower grille similar to the one seen on the Camaro ZL1. The subtle addition of silver “flair” along the top of the grille gives the front fascia a fresh appearance. The halo ring headlamps have remained, but functional fog lamps have been added to the RS package.

Perhaps the most obvious difference from 2013 to 2014 has been the complete overhaul of the rear fascia. The previous design of two tail lamp lenses on each side has been replaced so that there is only one longer lens on each side. The incandescent taillights have been upgraded to LED on the RS model.

"It gives a very bright, very distinct look to the Camaro that we didn’t have previously,” Fitzpatrick explained.

As far as the interior is concerned, not much has changed—except for the seats.

"One of the great things is that with the introduction of the Z28, we’re able to bring Recaro performance seats into the Camaro,” Fitzpatrick explains. The Recaro seats are optional for both the ZL1 and SS models.

Chevrolet has yet to release information on pricing and availability.

Check out the video below to watch Fitzpatrick explain the updates:

Source: General Motors

In this week’s episode of J-Turn on the Motor Trend YouTube channel, host Jessi Lang finds herself at the famous Texas Mile to test drive a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 tuned by Hennessey Performance. Jessi’s mission: to push the ZL1 to reach John Hennessey’s projected speed of 180 mph on the mile-long track.

The Texas Mile, a straightaway once used by the United States Navy, has since become the location for record-breaking speeds and pushing all breeds of cars to the limit.

The Hennessey-tuned Camaro ZL1 in question is a monster—and that’s putting it lightly. With a supercharged 6.2 liter V8 under the hood, the ZL1 was tuned to about 750 horsepower and 616 lb-ft of torque, while the stock ZL1 lays down about 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft of torque.

John Hennessey turned the keys over to Jessi and she jumped in the ZL1 to try her hand at the mile track. Her first runs were controlled and calculated. She needed a near-160 mph run to qualify for a Class B license and a shot at bringing the car to top speed. Shifting at 5,000 rpm as Hennessey instructed her, Jessi finished the mile at 156.7 mph.

The second time around, Jessi shifted at 6,000 rpm and reached 180 mph at the end of the mile. Pushing the ZL1 as far as she could the following morning, Jessi managed to pull an impressive 186.6 mph run in the cooler air.

“We thought with the cool air, a little bit of a tail wind, we might see 183, 185 would be awesome and 186.6 mph for the standing mile is really impressive for a car you can drive every day that runs on pump gas,” John explained after all was said and done. “Awesome job Chevy with the ZL1, and awesome job to the guys at Hennessey for giving it a little extra horsepower."