Plymouth Michigan- the Mobile Mod Center is on the road offering enthusiasts a one stop performance shop on wheels.

Visiting the nation’s most popular car show and events across the country, the Mobile Mod Center is a performance shop enabling vehicles owners, for the first time ever, the opportunity to have their rides customized with products from leading performance companies installed at their favorite event.

Enthusiasts can select the products they need and have the products shipped on the Mobile Mod Center by calling 248-939-7954.  This way they are guaranteed a time for installation and have their vehicles customized at the event by experts.

The Mobile Mod Center showcases products from a wide variety of companies including; MRT exhaust and styling products, Kicker Performance Audio, Ford Racing Performance Parts, BF Goodrich tires, Webasto sun roofs, ACE Racing Clutches, SCT Performance Tuning, Gumout, Black Magic, Slick 50, car care products and Gateway Classic Mustang suspension products. The Mustang Club of America is a proud sponsor of the Mobile Mod Center.

If a person needs an MRT Max Flow H-Pipe, axle back exhaust or hood struts, an SCT tune for their ride, or Ford Racing Performance Parts, all can be installed during the event.

The Mobile Mod Center is coming to an event near you. Be sure and check out all the exciting performance products this performance center on wheels has to offer.


Mobile Mod Center
2013 Event Schedule

Event                                Location                           Date

Carlisle Ford Nationals          Carlisle, PA             June 7-9

39th Mid America Ford Nationals, Tulsa, OK                     June 12-16

Stadium Super Trucks            Chicago, ILL                        June 22

Stadium Super Trucks            Atlanta, GA                          July 6

Stadium Super Trucks            Dallas, TX                    July 13

Mustang Week                        Myrtle Beach, SC                 July 15-21

Motorsports Challenge            Gingerman Raceway, MI     July 25-27

South Lake Tahoe Experience  South Tahoe, CA                August 2-4

Hot August Nights                    Reno, NV                            August 6-11

Mustang Memories                   Dearborn, MI                      August 11

Woodward Cruise Kickoff       Plymouth, MI                       August 16

Woodward Dream Cruise         Ferndale, MI                        August 17

Blacktop Nationals                   Wichita, KS                          August 23-25

Sturgis Mustang Rally               Sturgis, SD                        August 28-Sept. 1

Run Thru the Hills                     Pigeon Forge, TN             September 13-15

Toledo Mustang Show              Toledo, OH                        September 16

Stadium Super Trucks               Las Vegas, NV                  November 9

Be sure to watch the NHRA drag racing coverage on ESPN2 tonight and tomorrow to get a glimpse of the '14 CJ testing done by MM&FF editor Evan Smith.

Smith worked with the Ford Racing engineers and technicians during a recent test of the latest CJ. During that test, Smith wheeled the CJ to impressive performances and into some wild wheelstands, one which lasted almost 300 feet. The CJ is designed for NHRA Stock and Super Stock competition and should make it to the coverage of this weekend's NHRA Nationals in Topeka, Kansas on ESPN2's Qualifying show tonight at 6:00 and tomorrow on the Eliminations show at 8:00 pm. Look for exciting footage of the CJ as it tears up the track.

The CJ is powered by the Coyote 5.0 engine and wears Boss 302 heads and a FRPP Supercharger. It's backed by a 3-speed transmission and will run with the current crop of AAA/Stock vehicles, which turn times in the 8s at more than 150 mph!

Air times:

ESPN2 May 18 6:00
ESPN2 May 19 8:00

Thanks to American Piston Power Pack, we got our hands on a V8 cylinder block beverage cooler that seems to be the talk of the office, especially when the cooler starts talking, literally! Push the distributor button and stock your engine, this cooler is making its presence known in more ways than one.

Firstly, it’s shaped as a piston-powered V8 engine, which is the coolest thing we’ve seen in the history of beverage coolers. Plus, push the distributor button and the engine will roar to life grabbing everyone’s attention in the general vicinity. It’s the most appropriate and stylish cooler we’ve ever seen when it comes to tailgating at the races.

The cooler is made of super durable, graphite-composite silver foam made to last for years unlike regular foam coolers that serve their purpose once, maybe twice. Even the sound modular for the distributor is built to last with replacement batteries. Grip handles are molded into the sides of the cooler for easy handling to and from the track. If you’d rather food and condiments instead of beverages, the cylinder holes are perfect for condiment storage. Plus there is more room inside of the cooler for ice and beverages.

Get ahold of a functional work of art and turn some heads at your next gathering or event. Go ahead and stock that engine, lift up the clear hinged “valve cover”, and reach into the cylinder hole without opening the cooler, grab a cold canned beverage and enjoy the races in style.

Check out www.pistonpowerpack.com and get your hands on one of these bad boys!

Ford is stepping up its game with a truck concept unlike any other, the Ford Atlas. This new work truck concept features high-tech options for those looking for that perfect truck capable of great things. Two early renderings have transformed and grown into the Atlas concept that was unveiled at the North American International show back on January 15th, 2013. It’s a futuristic-like truck with all of the towing and hauling capabilities, but unlike most big trucks, the Atlas maintains great fuel efficiency.

The Ford Atlas has been a concept in the making with two early sketches on two different sides of the spectrum. One sketch, the Bullet Train, features a smooth body, slit-like headlights, and sleek lines. The other design, Locomotive, shows more of a tough-styled work horse truck with big boxy angles. These two concepts were merged into the Atlas concept that was unveiled earlier this year.


What’s powering this beast? Packed under the hood is the next-generation EcoBoost engine that features Auto Start-Stop technology to save gas for those stop-and-go driving moments, but will pause when actively towing. The Active Grille Shutters stay open automatically for additional engine cooling during hot weather driving or when piloting at low speeds, but then close shut during those steady speeds for aerodynamic purposes.

Ford wanted to design a truck with purpose, one that appeals to the needs of the customer looking for the ultimate truck for hauling and towing and maximum storage space. That’s what trucks are for, right? The hallowed walls of the bed were explored as well, and even the tailgate can be used as a cargo cradle.

A work truck isn’t only used during daylight hours, so lighting was also explored with a solution to illuminate the whole cargo bed when needed, an incredible function and giving the truck a futuristic appeal.

The Ford Atlas features Active Wheel Shutters to help with fuel efficiency. The wheel shutters hide when the truck is parked or traveling at lower speeds in regards to style, but when pushing the pedal to the metal on the interstate, they close to improve the aerodynamics of the truck.

Read more here at Ford Social and check out the early-stage sketches.

So, should Ford build this truck or what?

If you plan on bringing you and your car to Norwalk, Ohio for the 10th Annual McLeod Racing NMRA Ford Nationals, all participants will receive a collectible anniversary metal license plate to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords! This is one of the largest all-Ford events of the year and will be held at Summit Motorsports Park on the weekend of June 14th – June 16th, 2013.

The weekend’s festivities include the best cars and all-star racers in NMRA Ford drag racing with classes including the McLeod Racing Killer Clutch Shootout, the Granatelli Motor Sports 2011-2014 5.0L Mustang Coyote Shootout, and last but not least, the ladies will be throwing it down for the all-female drag racing shootout put on by Royal Purple! What better way to kick off the celebration?

If that wasn’t enough, UPR will be holding an all-Ford car show from old-school classics to modern machines with magazine editors walking through rows of cars looking for future feature and cover-worthy vehicles. So, bust out the polish, shine up that ride and have it dressed to impress because you never know who may be checking it out!

Also, if you’re looking for new parts for that ride, stop by the ATM on your way to Norwalk because the biggest car part manufacturers will be at the midway in Norwalk ready to get you the best deal possible for your car.

For more information on NMRA's Norwalk, Ohio, event log on to www.NMRAdigital.com/ or call 714-444-2426.

Drag racing events are usually a great time for racers and spectators alike with all makes and models conquering the quarter mile, super smoky burnouts, and tons of healthy competition. While it’s mostly all about having fun, beating the tar out your car to beat that last recorded time, unexpected issues often arise. Whether mechanical failures have you out of the running, or you’re a photographer pulling Matrix moves to save your life, sometimes things can get a little hairy.

Watch this short clip where this Fox Body Mustang notch flies down Milan Dragway where things take an unexpected turn, literally. The Mustang careens into the wall sending debris and parts flying off the car. The Fox Body’s hood soars toward a cameraman standing at the top end of the drag strip who is almost beheaded, or “behooded”. The man acts fast and saves himself from a potential fatal accident.

When standing near the top end of the strip, you must keep on your toes because that’s when things tend to take a turn for the worse with deploying parachutes, flying parts, and gnarly wrecks. Most seasoned photographers who are used to shooting further down the track probably have a few stories to tell of previous experiences. This photographer is no exception now, but he is lucky to be alive to tell the story.

Make sure to turn up the volume so you can hear the shocked announcer’s reaction to the whole ordeal. “Wow!” multiplied a million times is right!

Watch the short video here!

Source: Alan Ginter via Bangshift

Want to have the spotlight on your vehicle in Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine? We are always looking for loyal reader’s rides to feature in our “Snapshots” and “My Muscle Mustang” sections. It’s an awesome way to showcase your ride, tell your story, and gain some bragging rights. Whether it’s a muscle Mustang or a fast Ford, we would love to check it out!

If interested in showing off your Ford car or truck, send us some photos and information about your ride including details, modifications, special stories, and a little bit of basic information, such as the city and state that you reside in.

A few easy requirements to meet:

•No cut off photos
•Photos must be in focus
•Photos must be LARGER than 1 mb!
•Include year of car
•Include city and state
•"My Muscle" section requires 300 words minimum

Feel free to send the above info to Kristian Grimsland at Kristian.Grimsland@sorc.com,or go ahead and snail mail us at Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, 9036 Brittany Way, Tampa, FL 33619.

Thanks and we hope to hear from you soon!  

If you’re itching to experience the world famous Sebring International Raceway here in Florida, then you’re most definitely going to want to sign up for the Sebring Sensation put on by Track Guys Performance Driving Events. Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned professional, this event is open to all experience levels and all makes and models.

This year marks the 11th consecutive year for the event, which is scheduled for the weekend of May 24-26. The Boss 302 Mustang Reunion will also be going on in Sebring that weekend, so get there early on Friday and get your camera out, because there are liable to be some amazing Mustangs in attendance.

No need to be intimidated if this is your first go. Jeff Lacina and his Track Guys crew will be on hand to teach the fundamentals of high performance track driving before you head out, and a test drive with a professional riding shotgun will be available to help you navigate the 17-turn, 3.7-mile circuit.

For all of those attending, remember that this isn’t a competitive event, but an educational course for everyone out there on the track. Sponsors onsite include us at Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, VMP Tuning, Mustang Club of America, Chicane23, Best Mustang Parts, TMS Autosports, Steeda, Torq Performance, Blevins Enterprises, Boss302Forums.com, and BossMustangPerformance.com.

If you don’t want to take on two full days of driving, sign up for the “test drive” which is $50 which includes the driver’s meeting, morning classroom sessions, the parade lap at noon, and the track session at-speed with a professional instructor sitting passenger. This drive will be available Saturday only. If you’re feeling confident, you can opt to spend the rest of the weekend on the track and the test drive money will go toward the rest of your weekend of fun. One full day on the track will cost $250 and the whole weekend is $450. If you'd like a garage, limited spaces are available for $50 for the weekend.

General Schedule of Events:

Friday, May 24

3 - 7 PM: Registration and Sponsor Tables, Chateau Elan Panzoz Board Room 
3 - 7 PM Tech Inspection, Sebring International paddock area

Saturday, May 25

7 AM: Registration/Tech Inspection
8 AM: Mandatory Driver's Meeting
9 - 5 PM: On Track Driving Activities
Evening: Banquet, guest speakers and our famous Track Guys Sebring raffle drawings 

Sunday, May 26

7 AM: At-track Devotional Service - Everyone welcome to attend
7:45 AM: Registration/Tech Inspection
8 AM: Mandatory Driver's Meeting
9 AM - 5 PM: On Track Driving Activities

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Dell Hughes at dell@trackguys.com or Jeff Lacina at jeff@trackguys.com. Visit www.TrackGuys.com and download the required Liabilty, Medical, Tech Inspection form as well as the "rules and regulations" for our events. You can register here.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Change has always been a constant in the automotive enthusiast industry, but things are moving faster than ever and the challenges are many, from business technology to supply chain evolution, globalization to aging enthusiast demographics, intrusions from the government and more. Our own Doug Evans understands these issues like few others in the space. Doug has been involved in the industry for more than 30 years and has been fighting for the enthusiast hobby every step of the way. Of course we’re biased, but we believe Doug would be a great addition to the 2013 SEMA Board of Directors.

Below is an outline from Evans about how he would address these pressing issues:

As your SEMA Chairman, I will take decisive action to help members understand these forces of change and arm you with information to make better business decisions to maintain and grow your companies. For the term of my service, I will make the following my priorities:

Legislative/Regulatory– Monitoring and quickly acting upon legislative and regulatory developments and working to keep government out of our wallets and out of our sports.

Stimulating the Business Environment – I am proposing a series of research and educational initiatives that will share business knowledge and best practices, providing members easier access to critical information. I will focus on youth involvement and engaging new enthusiasts to ensure SEMA’s future. I will focus on business technology and helping our members to understand and utilize these emerging technologies to grow our segment and make us more profitable.

OEM Relations – I want to use my long-time working relationships with the Detroit Three to improve and bolster SEMA status with our OEM partners. I will continue to develop a more positive and cooperative dialogue with OEMs over trademark issues, and I will work to gain access to measurement and fitment data critical to getting new parts and accessories to market faster.

SEMA Branding and Revenue – I am committed to increasing the visibility of the SEMA brand and developing new revenue streams for the association, ensuring SEMA’s long-term financial health. I will be vigilant in developing new ways to make the SEMA Show more attractive and affordable to attract high-quality companies and buyers from all over the world.

What Ford Mustang fan, enthusiast, or hardcore racer wouldn’t love to score $3,000 in free parts and accessories from the brand new Ford Racing Performance Parts 2013 catalog? Now they have a chance to do just that through the “$3G Shopping Spree” sweepstakes running through the 2013 Fun Ford Weekend series season. The last day to send your entry online to win some sweet Ford Racing parts is midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on September 14th, 2013.

"We really enjoyed working with Ford Racing last year in the Ford Racing Engine Sweepstakes,” says Jeff Lacina, the marketing director for Fun Ford Weekend Series. “Given the incredible scope of their performance parts lineup, the team at Ford Racing literally want to ‘open up the catalog’ and let the winner select $3,000 worth of Ford Racing parts… whatever the winner wants.”

You can visit the Ford Racing website and get a feel for what you’d like to add to enhance the performance of your Ford car or truck. Or if you’re away from your computer, a mobile app is now available for your smartphone, making it easy to search the parts available from crate engines to exhaust setups.

Read the official “$3G Shopping Spree Sweepstakes” rules and send in your entry to get things rolling. Many people think that there is no way that they could win out of a bunch of entries, but somebody has got to win it, right? What can it hurt to fill out an entry form and possibly end up with some new goodies for the ride? Check out www.fordracing.com for more information.

The ladies aren’t just posing anymore, fellas. They’re wrenching, building, racing, and becoming a huge part of the automotive industry. Just last year, an all-female build was documented from the initial rendering, designed by Ford Motor Company’s Jennifer Seely, to the finished product -- a 5.0-liter Mustang built up by an all-female team. The beautiful flat-black Mustang featured rose gold accents and graced the showroom floor at Ford’s booth at the SEMA show, the largest automotive trade event held in Las Vegas.

Another opportunity has presented itself by the Royal Purple Ladies (RPL), a community started last year to celebrate women in the automotive industry. One lucky lady will get the chance to feature her car on the grounds at the upcoming SEMA show at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 5-8, 2013. Not only will the winner get bragging rights on behalf of Royal Purple, they will get to attend the VIP dinner and participate in the cruise-in with the featured car being the center of media’s eye after an official press release sent to relevant media outlets. The featured car should be female-owned, raced, wrenched or driven to the 2013 SEMA show.

The first Royal Purple Ladies sponsored event will be NMRA’s All-Female Shootout at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio where Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine will be scoping out the scene.

If you would like to be considered for the SEMA spot and represent RPL, please complete the following list: Detailed spec list including any Royal Purple products used in the car, no more than ten photos of your car inside and out, and four paragraphs describing yourself, the history of your car, why you should be selected as a feature vehicle and how you hope to inspire other women with your feature car. The above information should be sent to msoloman@royalpurple.com, or snail mailed to Royal Purple (attn.: Marlena Soloman) at 1 Royal Purple Lane, Porter, Texas, 77365.

We hope to see you there!

At any good car event, filming some of the sweet show cars in attendance rolling out and possibly burning a bit of rubber usually makes for some good video footage. Event holders like to video some of the show cars leaving so that they can create a quick montage and thank them for making it out to their event. Sometimes the “hooning” gets a little out of control, literally, and this time leaves no exception.

Watch the video of this sweet Shelby Cobra replica leaving the show, but during his attempt at showing off, he ends up losing control of the Cobra, which isn’t that hard to do with a lightweight car packed with a healthy amount of power. Even to the most seasoned driver, things tend to get a little squirrely sometimes under the gas pedal. Apparently, mishaps also make for viral footage.

As you can see, the driver loses it, leaves the road and plows through the grass and sideswipes something hard that can be heard in the video. According to the video description, although a replica, this sweet Cobra still featured the big block V8-powered engine. Replica or not, this car has the power performance capable of turning into a monster when it’s not too busy off-roading.

While the outcome wasn’t ideal, nobody was injured in this incident except for the poor Cobra, and likely an ego or two. Hopefully the car can be easily fixed in not time and back in pristine shape for future events. Due to the video, he may not forget this moment easily, but at least it makes for a good story to show the grandkids, that is, if YouTube is still around.

Watch the video here.

The Shelby 427 Cobra is of the most beloved cars of all time by Ford lovers especially, with each amazing Cobra telling its own story over the years. One Cobra in particular, CSX3264, is a meticulously restored car that would make any Cobra lover weak at the knees. This big-blocked beauty, painted Rangoon Red with white stripes, features a real 427 side-oiler engine, Halibrand magnesium knock-off wheels with safety wire, and, of course, side pipes. Previous owners of this CSX3264 include famous singer Rod Stewart and old surf-style singers Jan and Dean.

While Cobra replica kits are available from companies such as Factory Five that mimic the real deal, a genuine 427 Cobra will fetch a pretty penny, with some cars selling for as much as $1 million or more when one crosses the auction block. This red, 1966 427 Cobra will likely be no exception. With incredible attention to detail paid during this restoration, this car will probably bring in some big bucks. The car is set to go on the block Saturday, May 4 of this year at the Worldwide Auctioneers’ Houston Classic in Montgomery, Texas

A little history lesson just in case you didn’t know, the late, great Carroll Shelby teamed up with AC Cars in Britain to produce roadsters powered by small-block V8s to take on the Corvette that later became the AC Cobra. According to some, the Cobra should be given the credit (or blame) for the 70-mph speed limits across the United Kingdom in the early1960s as it roared across the country during development. Later, after his Cobras began to be outclassed on the track by Ferrari, Shelby had the Cobra re-engineered and the big-block 427 Cobra was born. It was capable running down the greatest supercars of the era, maxing out at 163 miles per hour.

Check out this video of a Cobra 427 and a 2011 Shelby GT500 Super Snake taking on the track with two different styles, modern and classic. The man himself, Carroll Shelby, talks about both cars.

Check it out here!

Source:

There are many people out there who think they have the meanest Coyote 5.0-L V8-powered engine on the planet. Well, someone will have the chance to own bragging rights after they run their car at the NMRA 2011-2014 5.0L Shootout at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 14-16, 2013 as part of the McLeod Racing NMRA Ford Nationals. Sponsored by Granatelli Motor Sports (GMS), built-up Coyote S197 powered Mustangs from all over the country will be racing for the title. With big names and media outlets covering the event, bring what you built and show what you got. Until you’ve run your car here fair and square, you shouldn’t run your mouth!

"When I owned Paxton, we were instrumental in starting the first 5.0 Shootout so it’s an honor to be helping bring out the next generation 5.0 Shootout,” says JR Granatelli, owner and founder of Granatelli Motor Sports.

GMS not only sponsors the event, but offers products for the 2011 and up model-year Mustangs that might help shave some time off of that quarter mile. Coyote Coils are available by GMS and are installed on the NMRA Coyote Stock world champion’s Mustang. Rumors are swirling that NMRA tech officials may use the results of this shootout to help build another heads-up category. You won’t know until you bring yourself to Norwalk and find out!

Not only are there bragging rights on the line, but prizes nobody would want to miss out on. The first place winner will win $1,000, contingency, acrylic awards, and potential GMS and McLeod bonuses. Runner-up will receive $500 plus contingency and a plaque, while semi-finalists receive $250, and quarter finalists will get $125 each. Special bonus awards will go to 5.0-liter V8s with the quickest naturally aspirated, quickest turbocharged, quickest supercharged, and quickest nitrous-injected cars.

A bounty has been posted by Granatelli Motor Sports with a bonus of $250 cash to the winner and $100 to the runner-up if these vehicles are already sporting the almighty GMS Coyote Coils. McLeod Racing is throwing down $1,000 gift certificate to the winner if the vehicle is equipped with a McLeod Racing Clutch.

For more information and rules regarding the Granatelli Motor Sports 2011-2014 5.0L Mustang Shootout class, visit www.NMRAdigital.com/OH.

If you have questions regarding a specific class, contact Gene Bergstrom at (714) 460-3813 or contact him via email at gbergstrom@promediapub.com.

Wide-body Mustangs are the craze lately, especially after the debut of the wide-body 2013 Shelby GT500 Super Snake earlier this year at the 2013 Detroit auto show in January. Shelby Performance Parts (SPP) now offers 2005-2009 wide-body kits to S197 owners interested in adding a beefier stance to their Mustang. SPP, a division of Shelby American, now has these kits for sale, which can be installed by any local shop of their choice.

"The Shelby Wide Body Kit, seen on our candy red Super Snake at the North American International Auto Show, resulted in so many requests from Shelby and Mustang owners, we immediately went to work developing a package to meet the demand,” said Shelby Performance Parts vice president Jer Gervasi in a statement announcing the kits. “Now customers can have a Shelby Wide Body Kit customized for their ride, without shipping it to our Las Vegas facilities.”

The Shelby wide-body kits are available in two versions. A complete package comes with rear quarter panels extending the rear 6-inches and allowing the rear to fit 13-inch wheels with 345 wide rear tires, as well as front quarter panels that permit 10-inch front wheels. Those who are interested in extending the rear only can opt for just the rear wide-body kit. Options for both kits consist of Shelby Billet fuel door, special tools, installation instructions, and everything necessary to install the kit. The kit does include some body and paint work, so Shelby recommends a body shop for professional installation.

These wide-body Shelby kits are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also impressive when it comes to performance. Capable of fitting 345 wide rear tires, the rear will hook allowing for a launch that it couldn’t perform with a stock rear.

"Built using lightweight fiberglass components and extraordinary craftsmanship, the Shelby Wide Body Kit is built to OEM-quality fit and finish, and seamlessly integrates into the already-menacing Mustang body lines,” added Gervasi. “So I’d recommend warning the neighbors. This thing is scary.”

If interested, the rear-only wide-body package for 2005-2009 Mustangs and Shelbys starts at $3,399 with the complete package going for $5,999, without wheels and tires. Those who own a 2010-2014 can look forward to a wide-body kit available this summer.

The Wide Body Kits are available at http://www.shelbystore.com/default.asp or by calling (702) 405-3500.

The Fiesta ST is a force to be reckoned with and Ford’s little car proved it big time during its debut at the latest X Games event in Brazil. Scott Speed, a Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) rookie, took home the gold in the OlsbergsMSE Fiesta “Star Car” after grabbing second in qualifying, then scoring the first place win. Not only did the feisty Fiesta take home gold, silver, and bronze, but it swept first through fifth places taking over the podium and beyond.

"It feels unbelievable to win here in Brazil,” said Speed, whose versatility behind the wheel has seen him compete in Formula 1 and NASCAR.   “I can’t say how happy I am for my team and the OlsbergsMSE guys that put in all the effort. This was such a new thing for me, so I didn’t know what to expect.  To come out here and win is just great. It was a hard race, I definitely got bumped around, and I really thought it would be much easier racing. To win by taking the joker lap on the last corner to pull ahead is really spectacular.

"The first time I drove the Fiesta rallycross car was when I got here to Brazil. The learning curve was difficult, but thankfully it just fit my driving style, which is really good. This has been such a great experience. These cars are the most fun cars I’ve ever been able to drive, and I’ve driven a lot. I really hope that I can continue doing this type of sport.”

Toomas Heikkinen secured second place while GRC rookie, Patrik Sandell, took third earning his first X Games bronze medal. Both drivers were behind the wheel of OlsbergsMSE Fiesta STs. OlsbergsMSE is Ford Racing’s manufacturer partner, owning the field with all five Fiesta STs at the track in Foz do Iguaçu. Steve Arpin and Brian Deegan claimed fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Heikkinen came back for his second year at the track and grabbed both starts of the final race and lead five out of six laps. His Bluebeam Fiesta ST was close to grabbing first place before Speed overtook him in the last lap.

"It is really nice to have five cars in the top five and three on podium here at our first X games,” said OlsbergsMSE Team Principal Andreas Eriksson. ”The restart was unfortunate because I wished for a 10-car final not a six-car. Tanner’s car was fine and ready to go so it’s hard that he missed the final, but I am pleased all of my drivers and cars did so well.”

The GRC final began after four heats and one last chance qualifier (LCQ) with a total of 10 cars on the grid, but during the first corner on the first lap, a multiple car crash took out the Fiesta STs driven by Tanner Foust and Ken Block. Foust, two-time GRC champion, was forced out of the race after winning the elimination heat and advancing into the finals. 

"At the start of the first lap in the final there were multiple crashes and I was hit by it seems like everyone,” said Foust. “My wheels and tires went crazy and the race was red flagged. They said in the drivers meeting today that if you had to work on your car you could not re-enter after a red flag. It’s a bummer because I only had about eight minutes of track time in Brazil, just a lot of practice. I’m just glad that there are four of these and this isn’t the only X Games this year and I’ll have another shot."

Ken Block’s Hoonigan Racing Division M-Sport built Fiesta ST set the pace early earning the fastest practice lap during the first day in Brazil and finished second in his heat. But like Foust, he was forced out early by a wreck on the first lap.

"Because of qualifying I wasn’t able to get the starting position I wanted,” said Block. “Even if I won my heat today, I still wouldn’t have the optimum starting position so starting on the second line just one car over from the inside was actually a decent starting position. I knew that all I needed was a good launch and then get through the gears, get to the inside and basically follow the number one seed around on the inside. Everything went perfectly to plan.  I got a decent launch, got up right where I wanted to be off the dirt, and all of a sudden my car started spinning the other direction. I was turned by one of the cars behind me, the wrong direction and into Tanner and either Deegan or Travis. Unfortunately, one of the impacts there into one of those cars broke my steering so within 100 yards I was out of the race. It was a big bummer because I did everything I could to try to have a good weekend. My team did an incredible job getting me prepared and getting the car perfect.”

If you are looking forward to more of the Global Rallycross Championship, these guys will be back at it again at May 19th in Barcelona, Spain.

Ford has hit a homerun with its award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine -- a small displacement turbocharged three-cylinder unit with roughly 123 horsepower that will debut later this year in the 2014 Ford Fiesta. Joining that engine soon in Ford’s growing EcoBoost lineup will be a twin-cam, 1.5-liter aluminum direct-injection, four-cylinder engine that uses some of the same tech as the 1.0-liter.

According to Ford, the new engine will be similar to the existing 1.6-liter EcoBoost in power, but with lower carbon dioxide emissions and better fuel economy. Other features will include the first ever computer-controlled clutch on a belt-drivewater pump and a water-cooled charged air cooler for more efficient air flow. In China, 1.5-liter and smaller engines are big, as cars featuring engines at that displacement or smaller are eligible for bigger tax savings. Expect to see the 1.5-liter replace the 1.6 in the 2014 Ford Fusion here in the U.S.

"Ford EcoBoost technology has changed the way people look at gas engines and has enjoyed huge success with customers,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, powertrain engineering for Ford, in a statement announcing the new engine. “The new 1.5-liter unit further extends our EcoBoost promise of economical driving in terms of both fuel efficiency and – in some markets – tax savings.”

Also, for the third time in history, Ford is teaming up with GM on a brand new transmission project. This time around, they plan to develop all-new advanced-technology nine- and ten-speed automatic transmissions, which will be installed into future cars, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. The initial design is already developed and the engineering work is underway.

These brand new transmissions will be featured in both the front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles and will help improve fuel economy while enhancing the performance for both of Detroit’s American rivals. The idea behind the collaboration is to help both GM and Ford lower costs for design, development, engineering, and testing faster than each could do individually.

"Engineering teams from GM and Ford have already started initial design work on these new transmissions,” said Jim Lanzon, GM vice president of global transmission engineering in a statement announcing the partnership. “We expect these new transmissions to raise the standard of technology, performance and quality for our customers while helping drive fuel economy improvements into both companies’ future product portfolios.”

Already, both companies use their own six-speed transmissions with the Ford Fusion lineup and GM’s popular Chevrolet vehicles such as the Traverse, Malibu, Equinox, and Cruze. With the past transmission projects, it has been proven that both Ford and GM are capable of working closely together when it comes to producing transmissions.

"The goal is to keep hardware identical in the Ford and GM transmissions. This will maximize parts commonality and give both companies economy of scale,” said Craig Renneker, Ford’s chief engineer for transmission and driveline component and pre-program engineering in the statement. “However, we will each use our own control software to ensure that each transmission is carefully matched to the individual brand-specific vehicle DNA for each company.”

When the project is further along, more technical details will be announced by each company before the launch when they feel like the time is right. Stay tuned! 

In this episode of MotorTrend’s Ignition, host Carlos Lago heads to France to test out the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST two-door hatchback. Just like its big brother, the Focus ST, the 2014 Fiesta ST has a load of goodies available, but in a much smaller package. During the video, Carlos compares the two while driving the roads of France in the zippy Fiesta ST.

The Fiesta ST features a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine capable of anywhere between 170 – 197 horsepower and 200-plus lb-ft of torque. Why such a broad range? The range in horsepower is due to an overboost feature which kicks in frequently while driving. The new Fiesta ST features new wheels and tires with disc brakes all around, new springs and dampers, Recaro seats, and navigation.

There aren’t many cars that can compete with the new Fiesta ST. The cars that may be labeled as competitors include the Mini Cooper S and the Fiat 500 Abarth, but when it comes to price, there really is no competition. The Fiesta ST starts at $21,400 with an additional $1995 for options, and a destination fee of $795 bringing the grand total to $24,190.

However, the two-door Fiesta ST version won’t be available here in the United States, only a four-door hatchback will make its appearance sometime in July.

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels will be returning as a sponsor for the 2013 NMCA Super Street 10.5W series during all six national events. This class is also known as the “tiny-tire freak show” as it features the fastest stock-bodied cars in the NMCA series, allowing small block and big block engines up to 905 cubic-inches and tires up to a 33x10.5 inch width. One power-adder combination is permitted on each car, including superchargers, NOS, or turbochargers.

Being involved with the oldest and most recognized all-domestic vehicle drag racing series in the country is something we look forward to every year,” stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. “Supporting the Pro and Sportsman racers is something we’re proud of, and we’re looking forward to a great season.”

As you probably know, the guys at Mickey Thompson design, produce, and distribute specialty tires for a multitude of uses, including street, drag strip, track, or aggressive off-road. Since 1963, Mickey Thompson has accomplished many industry firsts, with a focus on designing the best compounds and tread patterns to get the utmost performance out of your vehicle and tires.

Contingency awards will be offered to all Pro and Sportsman classes including Pro Street, Super Street 10.5W, Nostalgia Pro Street, Xtreme Street, Pro Stock, Drag Radial, Mean Street, Late-Model EFI, Open Comp, Nostalgia Super Stock, Muscle car and special events classes. To earn any of the monetary awards, the winning car must sport Mickey Thompson tires on all four wheels.

For more information regarding the NMCA series, visit http://www.nmcadigital.com. For an event schedule, visit http://www.nmcadigital.com/2013_event_schedule/.

Source: Mickey Thompson

Whether you need to enhance those driving skills or you’re just looking for a weekend of fun at the track, Camp Steeda is offering two days of track time this coming weekend, April 20th -21st at Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) in Florida. Voted one of the best events by Steeda enthusiasts, you can opt for one full track day for $249 or get two days of the camp’s incredible driving experience for $449.

The two-mile track is quite challenging, with eleven turns and a few long straightaways. It’s open to anyone and everyone willing to give it a try, whether you’re a newbie or skilled driver. Professionals are available in the classroom and on the track for those who wanting to learn more about apexes and how to get the most performance potential out of their vehicles.

Coaches will be assigned to first time drivers and will ride along in the passenger seat to help guide them through your their day at the track. When enough confidence is gained and the intimidation factor is gone, they can opt to go solo and tackle the track alone.

If interested in attending, click here to register. If you’d like additional information on the event, you can contact Steeda directly by calling Henry Gilbert at 1-800-453-5506 or emailing him at henry@hookedondriving.com.

Source: Steeda

Professional rally driver, Ken Block, is up to his crazy antics again. This time out, the mastermind behind the viral Gymkhana videos visits Budapest, Hungary, and gives a few of his fans the ride along of their lives during the International AMTS Tuning Show, where the all-new 2014 Ford Fiesta ST was a star attraction. While you usually see Block tearing up the asphalt, he tackles Europe’s largest ice rink like the mad man that he is.

Putting the new car to the test, the Monster Energy “hoonigan” slides the Fiesta ST around the frozen surface effortlessly as usual. Fans who won the chance to ride with the man himself were more than impressed as the dash camera shows just how much his Hungarian fans enjoyed their personal drifting session.

Enthusiasts were giving Block a show of their very own while they performed motorcycle burnouts around the Fiesta ST, giving him a taste of some international hooning . After sharing the Fiesta ST with the winning fans, he takes the car out alone and really puts it to the test while getting some awesome footage of him taking on the ice and shattering some fluorescent light bulbs in slow motion.

You can check out the video here below!

Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida, is having its 16th annual Mustang & Mustangs: Legends Havin’ Fun car and aircraft show this weekend, Saturday April 13th. Whether you’re an enthusiast of Mustangs on the ground or in the air, this is a show that you may not want to miss.

Considered one of the largest single car shows in Florida with about 450 registered cars each year, there will also be old-school restored Mustang P-51 fighter planes exhibiting air stunts while the Ford Mustangs down below compete for first, second, and third place trophies, as well as a “People’s Choice” award. Those who register will have the chance to get their car photographed next to a P-51, which is well worth the elbow-grease to get your car show worthy for the event.

Feel free to bring the family with activities for the kiddos, live entertainment, celebrity impersonators, and let’s not forget the massive amount of Ford vehicles gleaming under the Florida sun and rare aircrafts all around.

To register and obtain pricing information visit www.fantasyofflight.com. Some of the proceeds collected from the car registrations will go to VISTE located in Lakeland, an organization dedicated to helping the elderly live in their homes independently.

There is a possibility that any gasoline containing ethanol will no longer be a requirement in the state of Florida. A bill has been presented to the Florida House of Representatives, H.B. 4001, regarding the sale of ethanol content in gasoline. Currently the ethanol content in gasoline is 9-10 % and many enthusiasts with high performance vehicles just may be jumping for joy at the thought of eliminating it all together.

Why is this important to us car enthusiasts? Ethanol can cause corrosion in metal, plastic and rubber over a period of time, especially if the vehicle isn’t frequently driven. Car models before the year 2001 are more susceptible as well as vehicles modified with high-performance parts which may be easily corroded by the gasoline blend. Some anti-corrosion can be added to vehicles but can be a bit pricey, and we are already paying enough to fill up at the pump.

H.B. 4001 calls for a full repeal of the ethanol requirement.  The Senate bill (S.B. 320) was amended to only “encourage” rather than require ethanol blends.

If you’d like to get in on this bill, you can email a letter expressing your concerns to the entire list of the Florida House of Representatives here on the SEMA Action Network site and copy Steve Mcdonald at stevem@sema.org.

For this week’s episode of on the J-Turn on the Motor Trend YouTube channel, a visit to the Texas Mile was in order to visit John Hennessey and some of his ridiculously powerful vehicles including a camo-wrapped Ford GT armed and ready to slaughter previous records.

While the main focus is on the Hennessey Camaro ZL1 (we’re sorry), there is an actual success story happening here at the same time and place at this challenging mile-long track in Texas. With John helping J-Turn host Jessi Lang try to break 180 miles per hour in the Slow-maro, the Ford GT almost doubles that number with a staggering 267.6 miles per hour, shattering last year’s record by an impressive 10 miles per hour.

This 5.7-liter V8-powered Ford GT supercar was once full of power adders, including a supercharger and a set of twin turbos, but that wasn’t enough to satisfy the need for insane speed, so the supercharger was taken out and a more efficient turbo setup was installed while they beefed up a few other engine internals.

With this car reaching 2,000 insane horsepower, that still may not be enough as they continuously strive to get the best performance possible out of this unique Ford GT. So, if you want to see this bad boy dominate the track, go ahead and skip to the end of the video and watch Patrick O’Gorman break the standing mile record with this one mean, somewhat green, machine.

If you don't want to see a Camaro doing anything, check out the Hennessey video of the record car below.

Check out the Hennessey standing mile record run here:

Check out the J-Turn Video here:

Tuesday, April 16, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Wednesday, April 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Times of the test are subject to change.

Drivers tentatively scheduled to participate in the test include:

Jamie McMurray (Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)
Kasey Kahne/Regan Smith (Hendrick Motorsports)
Danica Patrick (Stewart Haas Racing)
Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Roush Fenway Racing)
TBD (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Trevor Bayne (Wood Brothers Racing)
Austin Dillon (Circle Sport)
Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway Racing)

The track is closed to media and fans on Tuesday, April 16 and there will be no access to the garage area throughout the test.

On Wednesday, April 17, select drivers will be available for interviews during the noon lunch break in the Infield Media Center. Media will also be permitted to shoot the first 20 minutes of the afternoon session. The media portion on Wednesday is tentative and subject to change due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstances.

Any media interested in covering the tire test must e-mail Andrew Booth, Senior Manager of Media Relations at Daytona International Speedway, at abooth@daytonainternationalspeedway.com

On Wednesday, April 17 only, a section of the Oldfield Grandstands will be open free to the public with access through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway Ticket and Tours Building.