The MuscleCar Place

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News Some changes are coming to The MuscleCar Place…..to make the website more like the podcast! Feature Segment The Farrington's take their '66 Chevelle through Tech Inspection at the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational. Tom Farrington and his family take their Chevelle’s seriously, and the ’66 that they brought to the 2010 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational was a complete family affair.  Tom,  his wife Deb, son Sam, and daughter Kaytlin all have a stake in the car and each one of them has contributed to it’s success.  All 4 of them came to the Optima Event as well! This ’66 is not the first Chevelle ever in the Farrington household, though.  Tom and his wife had a Chevelle’s previously and decided to get another one when they jumped back in to the classic car hobby.  This particular car started out as a complete shell and was an 8 year build project.  It’s a great example of a family build done over time as funds allow.  Once Tom got a taste of autocrossing it was no question as to the direction the build was going to take; pro-touring! The suspension setup has been a work in progress.  Tom has stated that it’s a hodge-podge of multiple different parts from different vendors, and he’s sold just as many speed parts as he’s purchased in trying to dial in the right combination.  He runs an aggressive wheel/tire combo, big brakes, and Corbeau racing seats.  His ’66 has a mild 454 big block, 3.73 gears, and a 6-speed, and is just as comfortable on the track as it is on the street.  Future plans include beefing up the big block in the short term, and an LS motor in the long term. The Farrington’s love the 64-67 model years of Chevelle and have over 20 of them in the field at their home outside of Indianapolis.  Deb drives a ’64 wagon, and Sam is building a 4-door ’67.  In their “spare” time both Tom and Deb are firefighters, and Tom serves in the National Guard.  They go to race events together, help their fellow competitors, and give free rides to podcast show hosts (who shall remain nameless).   If that’s not a family that epitomizes what good old American muscle cars are all about, I don’t know what is! Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! ======================= Robert Kibbe | TheMuscleCarPlace.com

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! Special Edition Show! I am dedicating this week’s episode of The MuscleCar Place podcast show to a recap of the 2010 SEMA Show and the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational! '69 Camaro competing at the Optima Invitational. SEMA Show Recap I attended the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last week, which was one of my big goals for the year.  I had 2 days to see it all, but those 2 days were a complete blur of automotive overload!  That being said, I hit all of the areas that I wanted to (as stated in Podcast Show #60) and saw all of the show cars and new parts that I could.   Initially, the mass amount of choices was somewhat overwhelming, and I found it difficult to focus on which area to concentrate first.   That feeling lasted for just a few hours….and then I had the opposite problem.  After a while it was like trying to eat chocolate cake for every meal.  No matter how good it tasted at first, the 2nd, 3rd, and 50th bites became expected.   I focused on the area of the show that was most relevant to muscle cars and was not disappointed. I was most impressed by the full roller ’67-’69 Camaro’s from Goodmark, and the 2 new bodies from Dynacorn – a ’70 Challenger and 1st Gen Mustang Convertible!  (I guess my prediction at a Fox Body Mustang could not have been more wrong.) The New Dynacorn Challenger body! The New Dynacorn Gen I Mustang Convertible body - license is pending! The Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational By far, the thing I wanted to see at SEMA most wasn’t at SEMA at all!  The Optima Invitational is an annual event held the day after SEMA ends in Pahrump, NV at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch.  50 SEMA-Show calibur owners and their cars are invited to participate provided: 1) they have the guts to do it, and 2) they can find a set of 200-tread wear tires for the event.  40 of the 50 invitees had been selected prior to SEMA either by invite or by racing their way in at one of the many qualifying events held throughout the year.  The event was dominated by Pro-Touring muscle cars, with 1st and 2nd Gen Camaro’s being the car of choice. 2010 OUSCI Champion - Mark Stielow! Image Courtesy Detroit Speed. The 4 segments that divided the event were the Road Course, the Start/Stop Challenge, the Autocross, and Design.  For the 3 driving segments each driver was given 3 runs, with the best of the 3 being the the “real” time used for judging.  Each individual segment had a winner, with an overall winner being a combination of the 4. The great Mark Stielow won the overall event with his LS9 powered ’69 Camaro and major driving prowess, but his competition was fierce.  Everyone was blown away by the “Polly” Trans Am from Holland – a 1400 HP 1986 Trans Am!  Polly looped the Trans Am on one of his first road course passes at high speed right in from of the crowd, and he didn’t hit a thing. Polly loops his Trans Am at high speed....and hits nothing! Jimi Day, President of FM3 Marketing was amazed by the level of cars and competition.  He stated that 52 cars were allowed to enter the envt, and at the end 51 were running.  Not too shabby for a bunch of hopped up “show” cars, right? The video below is a compilation of pictures and video from the event.  Enjoy! Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! ======================= Robert Kibbe | TheMuscleCarPlace.com

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! Special Edition Show! I am dedicating this week’s episode of The MuscleCar Place podcast show completely to a preview of the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.  This will be the first one I’ve ever attended! In this episode I discuss in depth the topics listed below.  When I return from SEMA I plan to come back with interviews, news, pictures, quotes, and a lot of jet lag (I’m flying the Red Eye home). Stay tuned to our FACEBOOK page next week for live updates from the show! Show Topics A brief (very brief) history of SEMA itself Attending the show was one of my Goals for 2010.  I can cross it off! The Specialty Cars that Exhibitors bring to show off products…. The Cherry Bomb blown LSX Powered Camaro. Image Courtesy Year One. The premier of new restoration parts….perhaps a new Dynacorn “Fox Body” Mustang? Could this be the next Dynacorn body? Image courtesy Ford Motor Co. The announcement of the most powerful ever crate motor from GM Performance Parts New Camaro Mods: Faux Firebirds, a 69 fascia, and a return of the T-Top! The Heide Performance Product "69" Trans Am. Image courtesy Autoblog. 9 Mustangs from Ford’s Vehicle Customization Team One of the many Mustangs from Ford Vehicle Customization for the 2010 SEMA Show! And finally….the big event – the 2010 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational!  Here is a video from the 2009 Show….please don’t drool on it. Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! ======================= Robert Kibbe | TheMuscleCarPlace.com

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! Feature Segment The Ride Tech Velocity Camaro. Image courtesy Ride Tech. Bret Voelkel is our feature interview this week.  He’s the man behind Ride Tech (Air Ride) and started the company like a lot of guys do…..by solving a problem for himself that other people wanted in on!  He originally came up with the idea to put air suspension on hot rods simply because he wanted a way to have his car slammed to the ground while parked at shows, but also with the ability to pick itself up off the ground to be driven away (without dragging headers, drive shafts, small animals, etc.).  He built his first air suspension system after looking at the air bladders on semi trucks, and people started asking how he did it.  He was asked by others to do the same for them, and the rest is history.  It’s the American dream, right?  After 15 years Ride Tech now has multi levels of high performance suspension options for almost every muscle car there is, and has also ventured into other things that can help a car handle – like a bolt in roll cage and coil over shocks! Bret Voelkel Bret keeps the company focus on performance and is a big sponsor and participant in the Optima Invitational series.  He’ll be at the big event on Nov. 6 after the SEMA show as well.  After all, is there a better way to test performance parts than to race them? The "Tiger Cage" bolt in roll cage system in the Velocity Camaro. Image courtesy Ride Tech. I hope you enjoy the interview….and if superstar Brian Finch ever sees this, Bret says his car may not be as fast as yours is….but his mouth can outrun you any day of the week! News For you investors, RM Auctions is auctioning off the Milton Robson collection, and it is chalk full of Yenko’s, 428 Cobra Jet’s, 4-4-2 W-30 Convertibles….you know, the standard stuff. Another special edition Camaro is out – this time from Hendrick.  In 40 years will this be as revered as a ’68 Nickey or a ’69 Yenko? I am heading to the SEMA show!  More on that next week…. Emails From Jeramie – your 2 cents worth on my (potential) Mustang? From Richard  – where do I get a MuscleCar Place window sticker? Roscoe P Coltrane listens to the podcast! Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! ======================= Robert Kibbe | TheMuscleCarPlace.com

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News E-15 is out and approved for model year cars 2007 and newer.  SEMA is against it! Is it bad news for old cars? Want a ’65 NASCAR ready Impala?  Look no further….this one is on eBay! 65 Impala - race ready! Photo courtesy eBay. Mecum is auctioning off the Bob McDorman Chevy collection in November 69 Camaro Pace Car Edition from the Bob McDorman collection. Photo courtesy Mecum Auction. Want a 1-of-9 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible?  It will be at the January Russo and Steele auction. 1970 1-of-9 Hemi' Cuda heading to the Russo and Steele Auction in Jan '11. Photo courtesy Sports Car Market. Feature Segment Kevin Shaw, Editor of StreetLevalTV.com We discuss all of the offerings at PowerTV and why we’ll be simul-posting this podcast on StreetLegalTV.com Kevin is a Mopar man, is building a ’69 Charger, and likes to keep it as low tech as possible.  He’s happy with big carbs and solid cams! Kevin’s take on life:  Everything I Know I Learned From “The Dukes of Hazzard” Kevin Shaw, Editor StreetLegalTV.com. There is a bronze '69 Charger hiding back there.... Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! ======================= TheMuscleCarPlace.com

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News We’re going to get “syndicated” on StreetLegalTV.com! 2010 National Parts Depot All GM Oktoberfest Show Feature Segment Tim Lopata, President, Architect, and the “will” behind the 2010 Forge Muscle Car Invitational. This year’s special theme – Talladega’s and Cyclones! Detail on the Banjo Matthews Prototype Car From left to right: Last Talladega, First Production Talladega, Banjo Prototype Talladega. Photo courtesy legendarycollectorcars.com. The Bill France "Signature" Talladega! Photo courtesy legendarycollectorcars.com. Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News The Final Barrett Jackson of 2010 is now complete 2010 American Muscle Charity Mustang Show E-mails E-mail from Jeramie – can I get a ’67 Fastback for under $20K? E-mail from Garrett – I like the podcast, but your audio levels need help….and here is the help. Feature Segment Chris Damewood from Rodders for Christ.  View his Facebook Group! Chris Damewood Halal Camaro Stories A crazy story from Rob Butler about some rare muscle selling cheap….because the owner just wanted it gone! Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News Baby #3 is here! Muscle cars dominate at St. Charles Mecum Auction, last BJ Auction of the year The Dukes are back! Feature Segment Josiah Coy from Coybilt – a 22 year old car building phenom! Josiah Coy - Coybilt Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!

News * Waiting on Baby #3 * The REAL reason to love muscle cars * Upcoming Events: The Silver State Classic, The Route 66 Mother Road Festival Feature Segment * Brian Finch from Hot Rod Transformations - the Pro Touring Master!

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News A recap of my trip to Karl Chevrolet’s GMPP distributorship – with pictures! Feature Segment Dr. Jamie Meyer and Cliff Cohen from GM on GM Performance and Restoration Parts.  Features news on upcoming LS motors, details on Dynacorn bodies, and other good stuff you can only get from the inside! Dr. Jamie Meyer - GM Performance Parts The GMPP '55 Chevy "E-Rod." It features a new LS3 engine WITH full emissions equipment! Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News Roush and Shelby team up to build the SR-71 Mustang Roush hospitalized after airplane crash at EAA Oshkosh Feature Segment: Neale White Neale White's Nova - heading from Chad Maskrey's shop in Des Moines, IA to Neale in Brisbane, Australia Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News: I’m still on an autocross high Spike TV Dream Job Buy a new Vette and build your own engine 1965 NASCAR Impala Feature Segment: Tim Lopata from the Forge Muscle Car Invitational Listener mail Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News: Muscle cars are back in the Nationwide Series.  Ford brings the Mustang and Dodge bring the Challenger. I went autocrossing at the 4th of July autocrossing at the Good Guys Heartland Nationals! We’re now sponsors at www.pro-touring.com and www.lateral-g.net! Feature Segment: Chris Holstrom Concepts – Hot Rod Repair Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! News: Tesla has gone public.  Will we see green muscle cars in the near future? RM Auctions is buying Krause The Peach State Muscle Car Challenge I’m spending the 4th of July autocrossing at the Good Guys Heartland Nationals! Feature Segment: Stacy Tucker from Detroit Speed! Listener E-mails: Is this Chevelle convertible a good car to buy? How to evaluate a muscle car you’d like to buy that’s lived in the rust belt. Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!

Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes! Feature Segment: 2010 Hot Rod Power Tour Recap! Listener E-mails: Neale White from Brisbane, Australia who’s having a Nova built by Chad Maskrey of Des Moines, IA! Click HERE to download the podcast show in iTunes!