 The Muscle Cars stamps celebrate the high-performance vehicles that began in the ’60s: the ’66 Pontiac GTO, ’67 Shelby GT-500, ’69 Dodge Charger Daytona, ’70 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda and ’70 Chevelle SS. |
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Edited and Compiled By SEMA Staff
Postal Service to Unveil "Muscle Cars Forever" Stamps Prior to Daytona 500
The U.S. Postal Service is dedicating the limited-edition "America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever" stamps at the Daytona International Speedway, Friday, February 22—two days prior to the Daytona 500. As the third issuance of the "America on the Move" series, the stamps celebrate an exciting era in American automotive history.
The stamps were designed by art director Carl T. Herrman of North Las Vegas, Nevada, and created by artist Tom Fritz of Newbury Park, California. Other issuances in the series—’50s Sporty Cars (2005), followed by ’50s Fins and Chrome (2008)—were the work of artist Art Fitzpatrick of Carlsbad, California. The Muscle Cars stamps are being issued as Forever stamps. Forever stamps are equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-oz. price. The Muscle Cars stamps celebrate the high-performance vehicles that began in the ’60s: the ’66 Pontiac GTO, ’67 Shelby GT-500, ’69 Dodge Charger Daytona, ’70 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda and ’70 Chevelle SS.
 Holley LS Fest 2013 will be held September 6–8. |
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Holley has announced that Holley LS Fest 2013 will be held September 6–8. This will be the fourth year that Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has been the venue for the all-LS celebration of performance and handling.
LS Fest will feature auto-crossing, a countryside cruise, drag racing, drifting, a mobile dyno, an engine-swap challenge, show-n-shine and speed stop challenge. The overarching rule to any of the events is that the vehicle must be powered by an LS engine to participate.
Each year a “Grand Champion” is announced at LS Fest. This award showcases the individual with the most well-rounded vehicle. Long-time LS Fest competitor Brian Finch returned with his second-generation Camaro, edging first place from Detroit Speed’s Kyle Tucker by three points. Jeffrey Cleary’s LS7-powered ’67 Corvette finished in third, two points below Tucker. The Ridetech Autocross brought a number of the country’s top Pro-Touring drivers and their vehicles to surface. When the smoke settled, Tucker from Detroit Speed came out on top with a 41.91-second run. A 1.51-second difference separated Tucker from second-place Britt Marolf. Finch took third with a 42.74.
The year 2012 saw Lucas Oil come onboard with the sponsorship of LS Fest’s Drift Challenge. Lucas Oil-sponsored Formula Drift driver Joon Maeng was onsite to further the sport of drifting by giving ride-alongs and answering any questions about the motorsport. Jason Jiovani of Largo, Florida, returned to LS Fest to take first place in the Drift Challenge in his Nexen tire/ASD-sponsored LS1-powered S13 Nissan 240SX.
Since the inception of LS Fest, hundreds have participated in the various Scoggins Dickey-sponsored drag-racing classes. Mark Koehler took home the LSX Drag Radial champion title and performed with a low E.T. of 7.621 at 190.35 mph. Anthony Peck took home the Lingenfelter True Street class champion prize in his LS-powered Fox Body Mustang with an E.T. of 8.633. Greg Delancy took the S.A.M. LSx All Motor class trophy with an E.T. of 8.372 at 160.16 mph top speed.
The Car Craft Engine Swap Challenge pitted 2010 champion Justin Dermody and team Just Automotive against the 2011 winners from the School of Automotive Machinists. Just Automotive stopped the clock at 35 minutes and 21 seconds, which was good enough for first place.
This year, Bob Bertelson brought out a new creation—a ’71 Chevy Camaro—and took home Best in Show in the Carbon Kustoms Show-N-Shine. The ERL Dyno Challenge breaks down into two classes: power-adder and non-power adder. James Voyles took the power adder win by laying down 1,282 horses from his turbocharged ’70 Nova. Greg Davidson took home first in non-power adder after laying down 544 hp in his fifth-generation Camaro.
The Bear Brakes Speed Stop Challenge requires drivers to be in tune with the car, with just the right amount of acceleration and near-perfect braking application to achieve the shortest time. An ABS and non-ABS class are judged. Tim Emberton and his fifth-generation Camaro took home the ABS SSC award with a time of 8.23 seconds, while Cleary managed tire slippage manually for a time of 7.40 seconds.
 Toyota will be the presenting sponsor of the CBS Sports Spectacular. |
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Toyota Expands Motorsports and TV Agreement With Team Lucas for Fifth Year
Toyota has renewed its agreement with Team Lucas to be the presenting sponsor of the CBS Sports Spectacular for 12 one-hour network television broadcasts and have the Toyota Tundra as the Official Truck of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series for the 2013 season.
Toyota's power block on the CBS Sports Spectacular features many of the Team Lucas series racing portfolio: the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series and Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League.
Toyota also supplies Toyota Tundra safety vehicles, has two event title rights, an onboard camera program in Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and had a strong on-site presence in the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by MAVTV, which was held in January in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
 Toyo Tire has partnered with Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD’s Stadium SUPER Trucks. Photo: Kevin D. Wilson, SPEED Media. |
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Toyo Tires Partners With Stadium SUPER Trucks
Toyo Tire U.S.A Corp. has announced its partnership with Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD’s Stadium SUPER Trucks (SST), becoming the first tire manufacturer to sign for the 2013 inaugural season of stadium-style off-road racing.
Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD’s SST features live motorsports. Gordon’s new concept of stadium racing involves high-powered off-road trucks racing on challenging dirt tracks consisting of huge jumps, crossovers and tight corners. The 2013 season will be comprised of 12 events.
Toyo Tires will have multiple SSTs equipped with its Open Country M/T, including that of No. 7 Robby Gordon. Toyo Tires first partnered with Gordon in 2006. Gordon has delivered multiple championships, wins and podium finishes for the Toyo Tires brand.
Toyo Tires will also be the presenting tire sponsor at two televised events, including the Season Opener at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, April 6.
 Mickey Thompson has renewed with Team Lucas through 2014. |
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Mickey Thompson Renews for Two Seasons With Team Lucas
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels has renewed with Team Lucas through 2014 with a partnership package in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.
The Stow, Ohio-based company will have a visible presence at the tracks
and on the television broadcasts on CBS, SPEED, CBS Sports Network and
MAVTV American Real.
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels will sponsor Pro 2 Unlimited driver Jeff Geiser of Phoenix, and Eric Barron, Curt LeDuc and Mike Porter will also be a part of Team MT.
Fans Can Race Star Drivers at the Perris Auto Speedway/Pole Position 2013 Race Season Kick-Off Party
Race fans can compete against some of their favorite drivers when Perris Auto Speedway teams up with Pole Position Raceway for the "2013 Race Season Kick Off Party" next Tuesday night, February 26, from 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. The party will be held at the Corona Pole Position Raceway.
Included among the Amsoil USAC/CRA drivers attending will be five-time defending series champion and 2012 Oval Nationals winner Mike Spencer. Other open wheelers who have confirmed their attendance are David Cardey and Matt Mitchell. Among those representing the Amsoil OilTwins.com PASSCAR Series are 2010 Factory Stock champ Steven Fangmeyer, two-time Sport Compact champ Ronnie Everhardt and 15-year-old racing sensation Nathan Deragon.
The first 144 participants to register at the event will run a 12-Cart, 14-lap qualifying heat. Costs to enter a qualifying heat will be $14.95, which is the "Member Price" and a $5 saving over the regular non-member price. If someone wants to enter two of the qualifying heats, the price will be $25.
The top 12 qualifying times will run a 14-lap main event for position and the winner will carry home the "2013 Race Season Kick off Party" trophy from Perris Auto Speedway.
 Phil Remington |
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Phil Remington Passes Away
All American Racers (AAR) has announced that Phil Remington passed away in his sleep Saturday morning, February 9, just two weeks after his 92nd birthday. "Rem” joined AAR in the fall of 1968 after an already stellar career in the motor racing world. He was universally admired and recognized as the greatest fabricator of his time. Until his health started failing last summer, Rem never missed a day of work; he was an example both professionally and personally to legions of young people who studied under him and who worked by his side.
Born in 1921 in Santa Monica, California—cradle of the hot-rod civilization—Phil served as a flight engineer in the South Pacific in World War II. After the war, he started racing hot rods on the dry lakes. A severe motorcycle accident, which almost cost him a leg, finished this particular career and launched another—he found out what he could do with his hands, a hammer and a piece of metal.
Remington traveled around the world with the greatest racing teams of the day. He was with Lance Reventlow in Monte Carlo when he ran the first American F I car. He helped the Ford Shelby Cobra Team win the Championship over Ferrari in 1965. He was in the pits when Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt won Ford's biggest victory at Le Mans in 1967. He joined Holman and Moody on the Southern circuit and led an endurance test for Ford Motor Co. through hazardous Afghanistan in the mid ’50s. He was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when the Gurney Eagles dominated the Indy car scene in the early ’70s. He saw Bobby Unser drink a bottle of milk after winning the Indy 500 in 1975 in an Eagle, which Rem helped build. He was at Daytona, Sebring and Watkins Glen when the GTO Celicas and GTP Eagles won IMSA Championships.
Remington is survived by his daughter Kati, son-in-law Dave, and two grandsons, Tynan and Brady.
Further data on Remington's life and career can be found on www.allamericanracers.com.
GRC Names SCCA Pro Racing as Sanctioning Body
Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) has announced the signing of a sanctioning agreement with SCCA Pro Racing.
SCCA Pro Racing, a subsidiary of Sports Car Club of America Inc., will provide sanctioning for all nine rounds of the 2013 GRC Championship, working in conjunction with local sporting authorities for three international rounds planned in Brazil, Spain and Germany.
SCCA is a member of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States (ACCUS), the National Sporting Authority for the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in the USA.
SCCA Pro Racing will license all GRC drivers and also provide FIA licenses for drivers competing in international events. SCCA Pro will further provide, via ACCUS, listing of all GRC events on the FIA International Calendar.