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Skip to main contentOn the surface, motorsports appears to be a male-dominated domain, but there have been plenty of women who have made their marks on the scene and b …
On the surface, motorsports appears to be a male-dominated domain, but there have been plenty of women who have made their marks on the scene and behind the scenes, especially within the Ford sphere (or oval) of influence.
Often left unreported, women have been involved in automobile racing from the beginning of racing’s early days -- on the track, in the pits, and behind the scenes. From Detroit to Daytona, and from Indy to Le Mans and Sebring, women have earned their stripes and checkered flags, and the list reads like a motorsports who’s-who regardless of gender. Drivers such as Michele Mouton – World Rally Championship and Le Mans; Vicki Wood -- The first female to ever to drive in NASCAR; Maria Teresa de Filippis – Formula One; Sara Christian – NASCAR; Janet Guthrie – Indy and NASCAR; Sarah Fisher – Indy car driver and team owner; Donna Mae Mims – SCCA; Brittany, Courtney, and Ashley Force – NHRA; and many more.
Among those women who have been pioneers and winners on the track are a slew of Blue Oval drivers who brought thrills and skills to races while driving Fords.
There are many Blue Oval racing women who have earned due respect, but a few of the most memorable and skillful drivers include the following.
Danica Patrick -- Arguably one of the faces of motorsports in the first two decades of this century, Danica Patrick drove Formula Fords and NASCAR Fords, was 2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and raced in 191 NASCAR races. She was the first female to win an Indy Car series race, first female to win a pole position in both Indy Car and NASCAR series, and one of only 14 racers, male or female to lead a both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. She got her start with Ford backing in the United Kingdom, racing Formula Fords, and drove Ford Fusions in NASCAR races, including the No. 10 Ford Warriors Pink Fusion NASCAR racecar for Breast Cancer Awareness month, marking Ford’s decades-long commitment to raising awareness and funds in the fight against the disease.
Lyn St. James – The first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the year Award, Lyn St. James raced SCCA TransAm, IMSA GT, CART and Indy Racing League races and won at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours at Sebring. She is the only woman to win an IMSA GT race driving solo, when she won in 1988 at Watkins Glen, and she became the first woman driver to reach over 200 mph on a racetrack. For the majority of her career she drove a Ford Mustang, and she used a Ford Thunderbird to break a closed course record for women with 227.32 mph. She often raced driving Mercury Capris Ford Cosworths, and Ford Mustangs.
Shirley Muldowney – “The First Lady of Drag Racing” in the NHRA, Shirley “Cha-Cha” Muldowney began street racing in New York as a teen-ager and competed in Top Gas dragsters before switching to Funny Cars. She won the International Hot Rod Association Southern Nationals in 1971, and she was a three-time NHRA Top Fuel Dragster Champion in 1977, 1980 and 1982. Her first nitro car was a Mustang-bodied, Chrysler-powered Funny Car she bought from Connie Kalitta and raced Mustangs and Mustang bodies for most of her career.
Denise McCluggage – A driver who fought for equality in motorsports and automotive journalism as well, Denise McCluggage, wearing her iconic polka-dot helmet won her class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1961, driving a Ferrari 250 GT SWB. McCluggage also scored another class win at the Monte Carlo Rally in a Ford Falcon in 1964 with her teammate, English rally driver, Anne Hall. She also helped launch Autoweek magazine and won the Ken W. Purdy Award for excellence in automotive journalism, among other journalism awards.
Hailie Deegan -- One of the new faces of racing is female driving phenom Hailie Deegan, who was signed by Ford Performance for ARCA racing. The 19-year-old Deegan is currently driving Ford F-150s in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, piloting the No. 1 Ford F-150 for David Gilliland Racing. Deegan grew up racing off-road and on dirt, but transitioned to competing on asphalt in 2016 to pursue a career in stock car racing. She began her career in NASCAR in 2018 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, and she became the first female driver to win races in the West Series, doing so in 2018 and 2019. To date, Hailie Deegan is the ONLY female ever to compete in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series and in 2016, she was named the circuit's Driver of the Year.
Deegan, will be making an appearance at Carlisle Ford Nationals on Saturday, June 5. You can meet Deegan and get her autograph at the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar's. As noted, she's at the event on June 5, while the full event itself runs June 4-6 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The Carlisle Ford Nationals is the largest all-Ford show in the world, and features more than 3,200 cars – Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords -- on National Parts Depot Showfield. Deegan is scheduled to appear Saturday, June 5.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
Don't find out after …
Don't find out after an accident happens that you didn't have the right coverage!
As the weather improves and old man winter begins to relinquish its grip on much of the country, our classic cars are more likely to stretch their legs and take to the streets and show fields.
For many, it will be a season of great memories, but even those of us that take every precaution to keep our steeds safe sometimes accidents, damage & theft happen.
Unfortunately for many owners, after the fact is a terrible way to learn that the coverage you thought you had doesn't cover your loss.
Here are three of the most important terms you need to know regarding your classic car insurance:
1. Actual cash value
This is what your car is worth today according to your insurance adjuster, based on his own sources prior to your cars damage or theft. This is what the settlement amount will be based from. (not your appraisal)
2. Stated value
Simply put, stated value allows you to tell the insurance company what you feel your vehicle is worth, thus also determining how much your premiums may be. Stated value does not determine how much you will get if you suffer a total loss. Often times stated value includes a term that allows the insurance company to "pay the stated value or actual cash value, whichever is less." check your policy!
3. Agreed value
If you’re a classic car owner, this is most likely the policy for you. In layman's terms, in the event of a total loss, the insurance company pays you the amount both of you agreed your vehicle is worth before you ever paid a premium. Period.
The value of your vehicle does not depreciate over the course of your coverage. If your policy says anything other that this, consider contacting your insurer.
There are many quality classic car insurers to choose from. Protect your pride & joy with coverage that’s right for you.
Photos and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.
About the Author: JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.
A long-time friend of Carlisle Events, and a beloved icon in the automotive industry has passed away. Norm Kraus, affectionately known industry-wid …
A long-time friend of Carlisle Events, and a beloved icon in the automotive industry has passed away. Norm Kraus, affectionately known industry-wide as “Mr. Norm” and “The High Performance King” died on February 26, 2021 at the age of 87.
Known for his sales and promotion of Dodge muscle cars and his nationally popular club, his legendary status ranged from high-performance Mopars to funny cars, to die-cast cars, to his co-ownership of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago from 1962 through 1977, which became the No.1 Dodge dealership in the world.
His dedication to high-performance Dodges was embodied in his efforts in bringing Dodge vehicles to another level. He got his start and his nickname, in the 1950s, when he and his brother Lenny began specializing in selling used performance cars. They employed the tagline "Call Mr. Norm" in their classified ads, and the name stuck. Soon, Dodge offered the brothers an opportunity to open a new car dealership. Promoting muscle cars and exploiting his nickname, Kraus explained, “’Mr. Norm’ was an image that was built into the dealership. When I walked out at the end of the day, I wasn't ‘Mr. Norm’ anymore; I was Norm Kraus. I learned to be a humble winner on the track and a gracious loser. I'm just glad I didn't have to be gracious too much."
According to Kraus, one of his proudest accomplishments, was when he sought to install a 383ci V8 engine in a compact Dodge Dart body. He was positive that this combo would be a great sell, since a lightweight Dart with a powerful 383ci would be competitively fast. However, Dodge's engineering team turned him down; saying it placing a 383ci V8 in Dart’s engine bay couldn't be done. Undeterred, in 1967, he ordered a new Dart and a crate 383 V8 engine, and after a few days' work, the Dodge Dart Grand Spaulding Special (GSS) was born. Soon, the dealership was offering GSS conversions involving larger 440ci engines. With this focus on performance and ingenuity, Kraus was able to make Grand Spaulding Dodge the largest Dodge dealership by 1972.
Kraus took his car work racing, and after a minor sponsorship one weekend turned into five sales by Wednesday, he was ready to go racing in a big way. Not wanting to compete against his customers, he decided to build a match-race car. He recalled that his first 1964 supercharged car “became one of the first Funny Cars in the country, because when we went out racing, we were running against all the gassers and the rails. There weren't any other Funny Cars to run." A 1965 ex-factory lightweight car allowed them to run well into the eights when the competition was in the nines, putting ‘Mr. Norm’ on the map nationwide.
The Kraus brothers grew their dealership selling trucks, vans and standard cars along with the high-performance models. And when others were turning away the younger crowd, Grand Spaulding courted them. In 1977, Norm sold his share of the dealership, which closed within a couple of years. Still in his forties, he wanted to spend more time with his family, something not possible when on the showroom floor from Monday through Friday and then at the race track all weekend. He later had a furniture business on the site of one of the dealership buildings and then sold used cars again. He followed that up with two decades of marketing products in his name under license and he continued to appear at shows, promote Mopar and keep his hand in funny cars.
Recognized for his efforts, Kraus was inducted into the Mopar Hall of Fame in 1989, and then in 1996, was inducted into the A/FX Funny Car Hall of Fame
A celebrity guest and supporter at many Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals over the years, some of his more memorable appearances at Carlisle include:
1998 – He was the featured guest celebrity of the event.
1999 – The return of Mr. Norm's Sport Club, after nearly a 30-year hiatus. Launched at the Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals, the gathering saw support from hundreds of loyal fans from around the United States and Canada. Kraus signed limited-edition lithographs of the legendary Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge dealership circa 1970, at the height of the muscle car era. The artwork was created by David Snyder.
2007 – Kraus’ 1968 GSS Hemi Dart was displayed at the event.
2008 -- Mr. Norm’s Dodge Ram Super Truck was displayed with Kraus at the show.
2010 – A dozen of Kraus’ high-performance Dodges were displayed and he was on-hand at the Mr. Norm’s Garage exhibit.
2011 – Kraus oversaw a Sport Club exhibit featuring his 2011 GSS Super Charger, the Mr. Norm’s Ram Red Xpress Truck and two Super Challengers.
2012 – A full display of fully equipped current-day vehicles from Kraus’ stable were shown, with ‘The High Performance King’ on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.
Norm Kraus … Mr. Norm …“The High Performance King – 1934-2021. He is already missed. He will be remembered at this year’s Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, July 9 – 11 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The largest Mopar event in the world, it features more than 2,800 vehicles from all eras of the Chrysler brand. Classic, muscle cars and high performance new models are all showcased at this Mopar-lover's paradise.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
Raise tripod legs so your camera is at, or just above door level for more dramatic shots. Keep height the same and shoot from many angles and distances.
Good things happen when you follow your instincts and follow the signs…especially when the sign is a blue oval with the word “Ford” inside it.
…Good things happen when you follow your instincts and follow the signs…especially when the sign is a blue oval with the word “Ford” inside it.
It took only three years for Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation), founders of Carlisle Events, to expand a new genre – car shows celebrating all cars, rather than simply pre-World War II vehicles – from one show to two. The two friends were enthusiasts of all cars from all eras, and brought their joy to thousands of like-minded car fans, beginning with the “Post War '74” swap meet at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. By 1977, the pair jumped on their success and brought the “Spring Carlisle” swap meet to the Fairgrounds.
As their family of vendors and visitors grew with each show, the Millers quickly sold vendor spaces on their 82-acre display site, and in 1995, the pair expanded again, launching the inaugural Carlisle All-Ford Nationals.
The Ford show has become the largest all-Ford show in the world, and it has expanded to accommodate more than 3200 display and for-sale vehicles encompassing Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords. Blue Oval-umbrella cars, trucks, performance parts, tools, memorabilia, collectibles and more are on-hand and for sale in the world's largest Ford Automotive Flea Market, as well as the latest and greatest products on display within the Manufacturers Midway. Carlisle Events Ford Nationals Event Manager Ken Appell proudly affirms, “This is the world’s largest Ford show and swap meet. There is nothing bigger in the Ford world than this show.”
Bill Miller Jr., Co-Founder and Co-Owner Carlisle Events said that he and his partner, Chip Miller recognized the need for a Ford-focused event. Bill Miller was steered in that direction by his background and contacts. Miller said, “I was a Ford dealer when we started the All-Ford Nationals. My Ford dealership representative was an old-car guy too, so the Ford Show was a natural for me. Not many big Ford shows were around at that time, so it became a hit from the start. Once Ford Motor Co. became involved, they helped us to make it the world’s largest All-Ford event, including not only Ford, but Mercury and Lincoln, too.”
The Millers also found a fan and supporter in John Clor, Enthusiast Communications Manager / Ford Performance. Clor has been involved since the beginning in helping Ford embrace the show while he has helped grow the Carlisle experience for Ford clubs around the nation. According to Appell, “it is the clubs, the vendors and the Carlisle visitors who are the backbone of this event.”
Clor said there are currently more than 100 clubs active with Carlisle Events. (Here is a link to the list of Carlisle’s recognized clubs. Carlisle Ford Nationals - Clubs (carlisleevents.com). He has seen the support grow from the beginning. “In 1995, we saw a few 10x10 pop up tents. Each year, we saw bigger and bolder displays, more Ford celebrities, greater Ford brand involvement and increased Ford club activity,” said Clor. He added that due to aging of the original club members, and evolution of legacy clubs, “the club scene has grown younger and less sophisticated, perhaps. We see more Mustangs, and maybe fewer of the older badges, but it is even more of a party or festival, and a venue at which to show off a customized source of pride.”
Recalling that first show, Miller said, “Ford grew to understand what we were about, what we shared and what our concept was. Ford Motor Company is a family-owned business just like we are, and they value their history. So they realized that if you love your old Ford, you will buy their new products too. You certainly would not trailer your old Ford pickup to a show with a Brand-X pickup, now would you?”
As visitors and clubs are the lifeline of the All-Ford Nationals, Miller lauds loyal vendors, who are the life’s blood of the event. Over the past quarter-century of the show, Miller has watched the vendor family grow and remain loyal by displaying annually. He said, “Our vendors who supported us at our big Fall Carlisle events, followed us to our first Spring and Ford events. They were there to support us from the beginning and many continue today.”
Miller continued, “When we started the All-Ford Nationals it quickly became ‘the place’ for enthusiasts to bring their old Ford and show it off. Spring and Fall Carlisle were only cars and parts for sale with no show field, and with the All-Ford Nationals, the show field added a whole new dimension to Carlisle Events. Our visitors came with their cars, and vendors found that they were also looking for parts, while Ford recognized that our visitors loved Ford, old and new, and gained bonding with those who loved all things related to the Blue Oval.”
Over the years, Miller has seen an evolution of the event. “With each yearly Ford Show, Ford Motor Co. involvement has boosted the show to new heights. Each year they work with our staff to make it the biggest and best Ford event in the nation,” he said.
Miller added, “At that first event, three marketing staff members from the Ford Special Vehicle team arrived with a 1995 SVT Mustang Cobra, a Cobra R model and an SVT F-150 Lightning pickup packed with about 1,000 posters and a 10x10 tent. They were the first and only Ford Motor Company representatives in attendance. Now we get full Ford teams, engineers, executives, celebrities, full vehicle line-ups and full support.”
Clor credits added Ford involvement to the additions Carlisle Events makes to broaden the audience. Clor said, “Our club members now bring their families. What used to be a bunch of car guys getting together to talk about and show off their rides, is gaining more and more family attendance. Carlisle has added a women’s oasis, good food, Hot Wheels races for families, raffles, meetings, awards, activities, and it is more than simply a swap meet and a show. The clubs take it in as a family event, and Ford sees this as a means of family bonding with THEIR fans.”
You can see everything Ford at the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar's, held at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, June 4-6. Historically, more than 3,000 vehicles appear on the National Parts Depot Showfield and this year guests can see a celebration of 1971-’73 Mustangs, a display of comic, TV and movie themed Fords by way of Comic Car-Con, a 50th anniversary of the Pinto showcase, Broncos, trucks and Blue Oval icons across the decades.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
Don’t: Confront people who may have a different opinion about your car. Bite your tongue if you need to and let them be on their way. Trust me.
Don’t: Giant binders of photos documenting the restoration are great, just not sitting inside the engine compartment.
Don’t: Giant poster board or obnoxious signs leaning on your car.
Do: Consider first impressions: Not every car is a trailer queen, but every car can make a great first impression. What is your car saying?
Don’t: forget to periodically dust off your car during the show. Remember, not everyone was able to see it an hour ago.
DO: Be available. Look, we’re not saying sit by your car all day, but your cars chances of a possible feature improve greatly if we have the opportunity to speak with you.
DO: Check out your surroundings. Is there trash, leaves, debris on the ground around your car? Pick it up.
Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation) were cars guys and friends, who saw a need for events that catered to like‐minded individuals who hun …
Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation) were cars guys and friends, who saw a need for events that catered to like‐minded individuals who hunted for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles. They also recognized that automobile-specific swap meets were rare and were generally sponsored by local car clubs as fundraisers. They saw that existing events were generally small and exclusively attracted local enthusiasts – there was little regional attention. One of the biggest industry deficiencies to the friends was that they had mutual interest in Post-WWII cars – specifically cars of the 1950s – and automotive events of the day were limited to a pre-War car-focus.
As the Millers embraced all cars, they created a genre for all car enthusiasts on September 26, 1974, by renting the Carlisle Fairgrounds, to produce “Post War '74”, an event for enthusiasts of more-recent vehicles. Later known as “The Fall Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Car Corral”, it quickly became so successful that the pair branched out to produce a similar Spring event in 1977. In short order, the Spring events became complete sellouts for vendor and car sale (or “car corral”) spaces, and over the years, the pair bought the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds, upgraded it, and they currently produce 11 specialty events and five collector car auctions in Pennsylvania and Florida, attracting more than a half-million guests.
What has become their most popular show is the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral, one of the largest automotive flea markets in the world, and an auto enthusiasts’ cavalcade of all things automotive. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, the event is an annual “must-attend” to its loyal following.
Most often called “Spring Carlisle,” the event has grown to include a Collector Car Auction, (with hundreds of classic cars for sale), Manufacturers Midway (28 vendors), Automotive Flea Market, Car Corral, ARMO (SEMA council that preserves and promotes the automotive hobby) Hot Products Showcase, Antique Automotive Club of America display, Women’s Oasis (filled with goods, arts, crafts and vendors), parts hauling services, hand cart rental, taxi service, scooter rental, games, attractions, food and concessions (more than two-dozen food stands offering a wide variety of delights), T-shirts, souvenirs, a notary, collector car insurance (from American Collectors Insurance), on-line ticketing and apps for auction credentials and purchases, and a sea of auto parts and after-market parts, lubricants and auto care offerings.
Bill Miller, Jr. Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Carlisle Events said that he and his partner, Chip, decided to expand the one-event schedule (Fall Carlisle) to fill the void. He said, “As Chip and I realized winter was such a long time without a car show in the northeast, it just seemed natural that there would be a pent-up demand for something in the spring. With outdoor car activities all summer, fall seemed to be a more diluted time of the year, though traditionally, both Carlisle and Hershey (PA) fall events do well as enthusiasts can gear up and attend both shows.”
Miller said it was a risk to expand. “We gambled with a spring event when we first started in 1977, with no Hershey event to pair with us. It turned out to be an excellent move as Spring Carlisle is now our largest event of the year,” said Miller.
While the event has grown from just over 1000 vendor spaces to 8100 spaces, and draws many times the original number of guests, several things stand out in Miller’s mind regarding the show’s evolution. He said, “Spring Carlisle grew by leaps and bounds every year after 1977. It kept doubling in size until it became a sellout. Spring is such a happy season for people, knowing winter is behind us, and car enthusiasts welcome our show as a renewal and beginning of the car season. We recognized that people needed parts for their collector cars that they worked on during the winter season, and they looked forward to an event where they could find what they needed to continue their projects and talk cars with like-minded car people.”
Miller has watched the vendor family grow and remain loyal by displaying annually. He said, “Our vendors who supported us at our big Fall Carlisle events were there to support us from the beginning and many continue today. They have been the lynchpin to our success, in marriage with our loyal visitors -- many who have been to every Spring show since 1977, and they have expanded their support to include generations of their families.”
Miller has noticed some tech changes for the good since the inaugural event. He said, “In 1977, there were no walkie-talkies, cell phones or golf carts. We used to have to run from one end of the field to the other and it was really hectic. And of course, we do a lot of registration, sales, customer support and vendor support through the internet now.”
Miller is proud of the show and takes satisfaction in its consistency and growth. He said, “Spring Carlisle is the same great show it was from the beginning, only today’s Spring Carlisle has more vendors, more concessions and food, and more visitors. What really stands out in my mind is that the Manufacturer’s Midway is a central part of the show and was not present in the early days. Additionally, many companies now remanufacture old parts that are no longer available from the original manufacturers to keep our old vehicles on the road. Those manufacturers help keep old-car projects alive and by displaying at Spring Carlisle, are the life’s blood for many of our visitors’ automotive needs.”
From car parts, to cars-at-auction, to cars for sale on the grounds, to just about everything automotive, the Carlisle Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral (Spring Carlisle) is a “must-go” April 21-25 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Across the street is the Carlisle Auctions, Spring Carlisle Collector Car Auction from April 22-23.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
Pumping the gas pedal sends wafts of octane laden fumes into the cockpit like an aphrodisiac as the building clatter of a solid lifter engine blends harmoniously with the low guttural growl as the dual exhaust monster awakens. Many of today’s drivers scoff at the sight of this gas swilling, unapologetic dinosaur of another time, choosing instead to measure my carbon footprint from behind their disposable cups of overpriced coffee with a double shot of irony.
At some point in our lives we realize that while we are not old, we are no longer young. That days and weeks do eventually become years and those endless summers do one day in fact, end. Fortunately for us we were lucky enough to live in a time where pictures could be held, not just sent. A time of meeting friends, not friending people, and working delivering newspapers, cutting grass or flipping burgers was viewed as an opportunity and not a job looked down upon.
Coming of age was a driver’s license, not a cell phone. The open road, not the internet, and the cars that transported us there. Much like, actually exactly like the keeper that still occupies a coveted spot in my garage over a half a century later.
“If I could go back”…yeah, I hear it all the time and honestly I wouldn’t change a thing. Mostly because thankfully, I still can.
Photos and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.
About the Author: JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.
France has been a pioneer and lynchpin of the automotive industry since French military engineer and inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the …
France has been a pioneer and lynchpin of the automotive industry since French military engineer and inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the world's first full-size and working self-propelled mechanical land-vehicle, the “Fardier à vapeur” in 1770. It was, effectively, the world's first automobile, though many point to it as more of a wagon than a car.
Steam-powered wagons were sold in France and the United States until the late 1910s, but as steam was replaced a century earlier, by the internal combustion engine, demand declined steadily. The French played a part in that, as in 1807, Francoise Isaac deRivaz invented a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine with electric ignition and described it in a French patent. In 1808, he fitted it into a primitive working vehicle often referred to as “the world's first internal combustion powered automobile”.
Fifty-two years later, engineer Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir developed what is considered by many to be the first commercially successful internal combustion engine, and in 1863, the Hippomobile, with a hydrogen-gas-fueled one cylinder, internal combustion engine, made a 3-hour test drive from Paris to Joinville-le-Pont at a top speed of 9 km per hour.
In 1884, Édouard Delamare-Deboutteville built and drove the first gas oil-powered 4-stroke internal combustion four-wheeled vehicle, but some of the vehicles exploded during use and they never went into production. Within a few years, several manufacturers got into the game including Panhard (now owned by Renault Trucks Defense) and Peugeot. De-Dion-Bouton, Delahaye, Bollee and Renault all got into the market before the turn of the century.
By 1903, France was the top auto manufacturer in the world, producing nearly 49 percent of the world’s total. In the first half of the century, Hotchkiss et Cie, Delage, Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Aviona Voisin, Citroen, Talbot-Lago (which later became Simca, which built Fiats), Amilcar, Salmson (later bought by Renault), Matford (which built Fords), and other French auto manufacturers were launched.
From 1950 to the present, French auto manufacturing ceased its leadership position in production and most manufacturers were restructured, absorbed, merged or ended production. However, new players emerged including Facel Vega, Alpine, Matra and Venturi, and several foreign car builders put up manufacturing facilities in France. Of more than 400 auto manufacturers that have been in business in France, historically, today, there are about 20 French car builders remaining, and the top car manufacturers include Renault, Peugeot, Citroën / DS, Alpine and Bugatti.
Along the way, French cars have been exciting and have made history on the world’s tracks and streets. There have been many along the way, and there are some awesome current-model automotive works of art and power on the road today, but paying homage to the past, here are some of the more memorable wheeled-wonders born in France.
Citroën
Often called an umbrella on wheels, the 1948 Citroën 2CV was built as an affordable urban commuter. With innovative engineering and strengthened corrugated bodywork, the vehicle was part of a tax program that taxed owners based on horsepower, so 2CV, at 9 hp, was actually called the "two tax horsepower" since it only had two taxable horses.
The 1955 Citroën DS replaced the Traction Avant at the top of the Citroën line-up in the mid-’50s, and was outfitted with the revolutionary hydraulic suspension Citroën began testing in 1954 on the Traction Avant’s rear axle. It was innovative, architecturally alluring, comfortable and high-tech for its era.
The Citroën GS was an aerodynamic pioneer from 1970-1986, gaining a fastback hatch in 1978. The front-engine, front-drive, four- or five-door, five-passenger family car was technologically advanced, with class-leading comfort, safety and aerodynamics.
Renault
The Renault Megane may have captured the European “hot hatch” movement. Since 1995, the Megane has been comfortable at ralleys and at home. It won the hearts of those who see it as a daily driver and it won British and European racing championships.
The Renault 12 was a mid-size family car praised for its spacious, comfortable interior, styling, performance and low fuel consumption. In 1970, a high-performance Renault 12 Gordini model was introduced, equipped with the all-aluminum 1565 cc block from the R16 TS that was fitted with two double-barrel Weber carburetors and five-speed gearbox. The car achieved a top speed of 115mph.
The Renault 18 was produced between 1978 and 1994, and was intended as a replacement for the Renault 12. The 1981 Renault 18i was available in the US as either a sedan or a station wagon. Power was delivered by an inline overhead-valve four-cylinder displacing 100.5 cubic-inches and offering 81 horsepower. They had a four-speed manual transmission with disc brakes in the front and drums at the rear.
The Renault 5 Turbo was a 160hp rally competitor. Designed with aluminum body panels to save weight, later Turbo 2 Models in the 1980s got steel panels. The Renault 5 Turbo kicked off a hot hatchback revolution and the R5 Turbo inspired the Clio V6 Trophy model.
Alpine
Alpine merged with Renault Sport in 1976, but before that, Alpine put out the A110 as technologically advanced evolution of the A108. With a mid-engine configuration, the rear-wheel-drive A110 was a winner on the track, winning at Monte Carlo and several French ralleys, and was an eye-catcher on the road. Brought back in 2017, today’s version is a 288hp show-stopper.
Bugatti
Where do you start and end when talking about Bugatti? From its founding in 1909, it gained a rep for design beauty and race championships. Today’s Bugatti – Chiron and Veyron -- feature cutting-edge design, tech and power. But looking to the past, Bugatti earned its cred with many models.
The Bugatti Type 35 was the most successful of the Bugatti racing models, winning more than 1,000 races including 351 races in 1925-26, going on a run in which it averaged 14 race wins a week, and capturing the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926. The Type 35 set 47 records in those two years and it remains one of the most recognizable racers ever made, thanks to its innovative alloy wheels with inboard brakes. Introduced in 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 was light, reliable, fast and elegant, producing 90hp with the Type 35 and 135hp with the Type 35B.
The Bugatti Type 51 was a track star and a celebrity finder … Jay Leno has one.
The original Type 51 was launched in 1931. Its engine was a 160 hp, twin overhead cam evolution of the supercharged 2.3-liter single overhead cam straight-8 found in the Type 35B. The obvious external differences of a Type 51 include the supercharger blow-off outlet situated lower in the bonnet’s louvered section than in the Type 35; one piece cast wheels instead of bolted-on rims; twin fuel caps are behind the driver and the magneto of the 51 is off-set to the left on the dash.
The Bugatti Type 57CS Atlantic racer was built as a Touring car from 1934 to 1940. It sported a square-bottom horseshoe grille. The sides of the engine compartment were covered with thermostatically controlled shutters. It was a taller car than most for the era and it produced 135hp.
There are so many French works of automotive art that deserve spotlighting, we’ll have to save some for next time. They include, but are not limited to the 1959 Panhard PL 17, 1956 Facel Vega Excellence, 1962 Simca Coupe 1000, 1991 Venturi Coupe 260, 1947 Delahaye 175 and a collection of Peugeots from the 1987 205 GTI Rallye to the 106 Rallye and 406 Coupe, as well as many more from the badges of yesteryear to the supercars of today.
You can see a full display of 1980s-era Renaults and French cars galore, as well as a comprehensive assortment of international vehicles at the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds, May 14-15. The event showcases more than 2300 unique and stunning vehicles from around the world as well as domestics, kit cars, motorcycles, trucks and high-end performance rides.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
“I'm not going to lie I was terrified when I first started” admits the 23 year old, “I mean who wouldn't be, but I think that nervousness is almost a good thing when you're racing because you're always on the edge, you're always concentrating and you're always focused.”
It’s with that same laser focus Kat has successfully transitioned from behind the wheel to in front of the camera. “I would say my experience in racing would definitely be a strength because I had the opportunity to meet and speak with people all over the country and build relationships.”
Kat adds “I believe women in motorsports are appreciated now more than ever because we have to know and understand every part of the car from top to bottom” which instantly earns Redner credibility and trust.
“Believe it or not” says Kat, “I was always pretty shy. It wasn’t until the last five years or so that I really saw myself coming out of my shell. If you can find something that you're really passionate about you’ll really start to open up and that's exactly what I did!
I have a love for cars and I think if you love what you're doing you can speak about it so much better. I’ve had some great mentors and people I look up to encourage me to follow mine and I hope one day I can be that person for the next little girl who has a dream.”
Currently, this amazing young woman is looking forward to sharing great stories on Discovery’s Destination America channel and reminding the next generation who will undoubtedly look up to her, to “be kind and always believe in yourself.”
Always a winning formula.
Photos and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.
About the Author: JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.
All vendors, past and present, are treasured Carlisle Events family members; and all have played a huge part in the 47-year history of the event co …
All vendors, past and present, are treasured Carlisle Events family members; and all have played a huge part in the 47-year history of the event company. They have been part of the foundation of the Carlisle Events story since the beginning.
On September 26, 1974, Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation), founded Carlisle Events for “car guys and girls just like them,” on the rented Carlisle Fairgrounds, when “Post War '74” took place. It was the first car event promoted by the company, and in a year notable for its gas lines and inflation, nearly 600 vendors set up in more than 800 spaces, and 13,000 spectators paid the $1 admission to sample their wares.
Those 600 vendors and 800 spaces gave grown considerably since, and along with loyal attendees, the vendors remain family members, and the lifeline that continues to drive Carlisle Events’ success.
Tim Demark, Carlisle Events Vendor Manager said, “All 3000 vendors in 8200 vendor spaces today, and all vendors historically, as well and all of our customers – past, present and future -- are instrumental in our enduring success and in our tapestry, and have been key here since the beginning.”
As each member of the vendor family is considered essential by Carlisle Events and all have stories that make historical and entertaining reading, each one could be the focus of a fun and enlightening story. However, in the interest of keeping this an article, and not a book, here are a few stories included as an illustration of what drives the original vendors to continue year after year.
Prior to Carlisle Events' emergence, anyone interested in restoring or showing 1950s‐ or 1960s‐era cars had few options. Over the past 47 years, Carlisle Events and the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds have become a Mecca for collector car enthusiasts all over the world. The presenter of 11 automotive events annually, Carlisle Events shows and flea markets in Pennsylvania and Florida attract more than 100,000 visitors each year.
When Carlisle Events began, Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller, who became friends through a mutual interest in cars of the 1950s, began attending car shows and swap meets, where like-minded individuals would hunt for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles, and saw a need for more events that focused on more than simply pre-WWII automobiles.
Bill Miller Jr. said, “Back in the day, the Antique Auto Club in America held one big event and there were a number of small local events held. Chip and I went everywhere, talked to vendors and handed out fliers. Back then, anything that wasn’t 35-years-old or older wasn’t considered antique and wasn’t presented. We were in our 20s and liked 20-year-old cars, so we established the market on post-war vehicle shows with ‘Post War ’74.’ But it was the vendors, then and now that allowed us to proceed and grow.”
Miller said that early on, “Old Cars Weekly and Hemmings Motor News were instrumental vendors who supported us and helped build a niche for us and for them. They mingled with vendors to learn from them and to sell subscriptions. They provided great coverage and helped establish this new market.”
Miller continued, “In the beginning, our vendors were guys who were restoring cars and they brought extra parts here to clean out their garages or to swap parts for money to buy parts for their ongoing projects. Over time, that evolved, as many of these people grew to understand that parts that are hard to find could be reproduced and sold at shows or by mail order. Our first vendors largely were folks and enthusiasts rather than business people FOR enthusiasts, and the business has evolved to that scope today.”
Miller added that the original vendors also helped event growth and support, as they achieved good business, and helped promote events by word of mouth and by handing out fliers at their shops and within mail order shipments.
Dianne Vaughn, who, for nearly 38 years served as promotions manager, facilities director and director of customer relations of Carlisle Events, said that there are 36 of the original vendors still selling their wares at the events and promoting the shows today.
While Vaughn and Miller have stories about nearly all of them, they gave a shout out to an original vendor who has passed.
Miller said, “We lost Dennis Carpenter recently. From the beginning, he sold antique Ford parts and had grown his business from a pop-up tent to huge tents selling reproduction parts.” Vaughn added, “He passed away over Thanksgiving and he is already missed.”
Vaughn and Miller reminisced about a few original vendors and smiled when they spoke of Chuck Begley. Miller began, “Begley sold a little bit of everything. He is still here, and very knowledgeable.” Vaughn summed up, saying, “He is always on top of the market and he has a part for everyone.”
Miller thought back and said that many early vendors helped prepare the venue, even helping place location discs in the ground at appropriate vendor and car display spots on the field. He said, “Craig Hollar is one of the original vendors that helped with disc layout back in the day and continues to vend at some of the events to this day in Building Y.”
Miller brought up the many original vendors who have introduced subsequent generations them to the events, “There are so many multi-generational vendors still with us …S&S Sales comes to mind. They sold tools here and have expanded into car tires and through multi-generations of their family.”
Vaughn also recalled multi-generational vendors and for example, remarked, “Richie DiFabrizzio sold OEM Chevy parts and was big into VW in the beginning. He and his dad sold here every show and we watched his sons grew up. It is the neatest thing when contacts and their families become our family. We often see three generations of vendors and when they bring their grandchildren to start a fourth-generation with us, it makes us smile.”
“These small businesses have grown, but most are still family businesses, and they keep the family atmosphere at Carlisle, which is still a family-owned business, “added Vaughn. “The vendors have shared their families with us and created an atmosphere in which we all knew each other’s lives. That atmosphere has remained the same.”
Miller expanded on the family feel, saying. “Our vendors and our attendees consider us family as well. They hold weddings here on our stage. Some have named their children ‘Carlisle’, for the love of the hobby, and their business has grown from swap vendor to full business BECAUSE they loved the hobby.”
Over the years, the events, the markets and the vendors have adapted to current trends. Miller said, “The vendors are more professional than they were in the beginning. Swap meets were not sophisticated business, and today, vendors realize that they may have only sold Pennzoil back in the day, but now they may need to sell tires, memorabilia, parts and a variety of targeted items to do business. I talk to vendors and they know what they need to do. Their product sophistication is so good now that, while they may have sold everything they owned, in the ’70s, they now have full facilities stocked up before and after the shows.”
Another difference between then and now, according to Miller, is repro parts. Miller said, “The parts sold here used to be all original. Our vendors learned that original parts are still valuable, but remanufactured and new repro parts mean business and sales.”
If there is one thing Miller and Vaughn say they have learned about their vendors since the beginning, it is, and they agree. ”Car people are good people. They make life fun.”
Be part of the vending fun April 21-25 at the fairgrounds as part of Spring Carlisle 2021 presented by eBay Motors! The fun starts at 7 a.m. and continues through the weekend. In addition, Carlisle Auctions offers a two-day collector car auction, April 22-23 at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center. The auction starts at 12 p.m. daily.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
If you are a devout truck enthusiast or even a casual fan, you find something special in the genre. To those of us who are “truck people,” every tr …
If you are a devout truck enthusiast or even a casual fan, you find something special in the genre. To those of us who are “truck people,” every truck is special, but some stand out more than others do.
The evolution of trucks, from steam wagons in the 1770s, to the internal combustion trucks of Karl Benz in 1895 and Gottlieb Daimler in 1896 has evolved into today’s diesel and turbo trucks and electric and hybrid models. The genre of truck may have started with pick-ups, 18-wheelers, tow trucks, and three-quarter-ton representations, but the niche has grown to include, vans, compact trucks, sport trucks, and the most popular derivation outside full-sized trucks in today’s marketplace, the sports-utility-vehicle, or SUV. In fact, as a group, SUVs are currently the world's largest automotive segment, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the world's passenger car market in 2020.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the popularity of SUVs greatly increased, and along the way, sports-ute stars have come and gone. During that time, another genre has gained popularity, the sport truck.
A sport truck is for the “more power” crowd. A sport truck is any truck that has been modified for enhanced appearance and/or performance.
Today, the power, the cosmetics and accouterments are limited only by imagination, but back in the day, a sport truck and an SUV stand out. Limiting the scope to just these two, a turbocharged SUV and its sibling, a sport truck, attacked the market. These pioneers brought performance, big horsepower, and sportscar-killing performance to the truck and SUV niche before the uptweak became commonplace. These two vehicles were GMC’s Syclone compact pickup and Typhoon SUV, revered and followed today by numerous “SyTy” forums.
GMC SYCLONE
The GMC Syclone was a high-performance version of the GMC Sonoma pickup truck, with 2,998 units produced in 1991 and ’92 by GMC along with Production Automotive Services (PAS). Following the Syclone, the 1992 GMC Sonoma GT truck was offered as a sport package with the looks of a Syclone but without the price and performance of its turbocharged predecessor.
Legend has it that Syclone with an "S” was an homage to the “S-10” or “Sonoma”, but Mercury had already produced the Cyclone (with a “C”) from 1964-’71 and GMC did not want to copy that name representation.
Measuring 180.5 inches long, 68.2 inches wide and 60.0 inches high on a 108.3-inch wheelbase, Syclones powered up with a 280hp 4.3-liter turbo V-6. Weighing in at 3,599 lbs., and mated to a 4-speed 4L60 automatic transmission, Syclones were timed in a 4.3-second zero-to-60mph sprint and a 13.4-second quarter-mile.
Engine modifications included lower-compression pistons, special intake and exhaust manifolds, a multipoint fuel injection system, bigger twin-bore throttle body from Corvette's 5.7-liter small-block, and a Mitsubishi TD06-17C turbocharger with a Garrett water-to-air inter-cooler.
Syclone was meant for the street. Its cab carried a warning: "This vehicle is not intended for off-road use. The reduced height of this vehicle will not allow it to clear obstacles commonly encountered in an off road environment. Off road operation could result in serious damage to chassis and drivetrain.” In addition, it wasn’t meant to haul. Syclone had a 500-pound payload capacity, low for a pick-up, and towing was not recommended by the factory.
Syclone only came in black, except for a few third-party exceptions: The Red Marlboro Syclones customized by American Sunroof Company, and the Indy Syclone, used at the Indianapolis 500 race in 1992. Although there were three of these unofficial pace cars, only one (the PPG version) got a multi-colored silver, magenta, and aqua paint scheme, while the other two got sticker packages.
Marlboro Syclones featured Boyd Coddington wheels, Recaro leather seats, a Momo steering wheel, and a targa-style removable roof panel. The Indy had a racing fuel cell, a built-in halon fire suppression system, water-cooled brakes, and color matched leather interior to the exterior paint scheme. The bed had a multi piece tonneau cover that accordion folds with the tailgate to reveal the fuel cell, halon canister mounts and a molded in light bar in the roof.
A GMC ad for the Syclone compared it to a Porsche 911 Carrera 4, with the ad headline: "Think of it as a Porsche 911 that really hauls.”
GMC Typhoon
Based on the GMC Jimmy, General Motors produced 4697 Typhoons from 1991-1993. The two-door mid-size SUV was powered by the same modified turbocharged 4.3-liter V-6 that powered the Syclone, although Typhoon’s transfer case was a BorgWarner 4472 – Syclone used a BorgWarner 1372). Like the Sy, the Ty system also produced 280hp and 350 lb-ft. of torque. The Ty had a 100.5-inch wheelbase and measured 170.3 inches long, 68.2 inches wide and 60.0 inches high, weighing in with a curb weight of 3822 lbs. The manufacturer touted a 5.3-second zero-to-60mph dash, and the SUV ran a 14.1-second quarter-mile.
Typhoon paint colors included Forest Green Metallic, Radar Blue, Raspberry Metallic, Frost While, Royal Blue Metallic, Aspen Blue, Bright Teal, Apple Red, Garnet Red, and black, and it was a favorite among celebrities.
Among those big names who owned Typhoons were Clint Eastwood, John F. Kennedy Jr., Bob Seger, and two Miami Dolphins players – Brian Cox and O.J. McDuffie.
You can see Syclones, Typhoons in Building Y this year presented by the SyTy’s at Carlisle club display. In addition, also at Carlisle are all manners of trucks, from the early days to the present, from the antique to the modern and from the iconic to the obscure, at the Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores August 6-8 at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
Celebrating its 84th birthday in 2021, MOPAR® now encompasses the portion of Stellantis brands (the parent company) that …
Celebrating its 84th birthday in 2021, MOPAR® now encompasses the portion of Stellantis brands (the parent company) that includes, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep – some automotive enthusiasts even envelope all 14 Stellantis badges as Mopar, but it wasn’t always that way.
The term “MoPar” was first used by Chrysler in the 1920s and was introduced as a brand starting in 1937. The name "MoPar", a derivation of “Motor Parts,” was created by marketing executives to use on cans of “Chrysler Motor Parts” antifreeze. The term has since become an inclusive word for any Chrysler-built vehicle—most any Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Imperial, DeSoto or RAM, and often includes AMC, Eagle and JEEP following Chrysler's 1987 buyout of American Motors Corp.
The change may have begun in the postwar years, when the division’s involvement with racing, coupled with internal efforts to develop high-output parts for production cars, merged the Mopar name to high-performance. Mopar has gone from being spelled “MoPar”, to “Mopar,” to the current “MOPAR®” after a 2002 logo redesign.
The Culture
Car culture is often defined as “a society or way of life characterized by excessive use of or reliance on motor vehicles.” But we think “excessive” is a wrong term … we define it as a “love or devotion to motor vehicles as an integral part of car fans’ and mainstream America’s lives and personalities.”
Chrysler is considered by many to be the original pioneer of the “muscle car” boom in the post-war era following the Second World War. With its 300-horsepower Hemi V-8 engine introduced in 1955 C-300 production, the concept of sky’s-the-limit horsepower may have begun the Mopar culture.
Arguably, the strongest, most exciting and fervent Mopar culture era occurred 50 years ago, in the early 1970s, when Mopar was spelled in lower case, and was led by those who were brand loyal and who championed vehicles from Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, DeSoto and Imperial; and to whom the phrase "Mopar or no car" was a way of life. The culture included cars as well as items that have since become nostalgic collectibles, such as posters, T-Shirts, team jackets, logo items and hard-to-find parts.
The People
The car culture of the 1970s was led by “Baby Boomers,” who craved muscle and graphics. Excitement was their daily bread. But not taking a backseat in terms of who was buying and powering-up their street rides were the groups known as the Silent Generation and the Greatest Generation, specifically WWII and Korean War vets who lived through the Depression and craved excitement, horsepower and a device to stay young … embodied in their cars.
The “Mopar or no car” people … embraced horsepower and car wings, heralded Detroit’s Woodward Ave. drag racing, loved bright colors such as “Plum Crazy”, “Panther Pink,” “Go Mango”, “Sublime”, Sassy Grass” and “Top Banana”.
The Stars
Stars can be taken several ways … the celebrities who touted Mopar, the cars themselves that appeared on the screen, and the drivers who brought Mopar power to success and visibility on the track.
In the world of entertainment, Mopar culture made its presence felt. On TV, Mopar culture was represented by spokespersons Robert DeNiro for the AMC Ambassador in 1970, Don Knotts -- Dodge Tradesman “Strong Box” truck, and William Shatner -- 1971 Plymouth Fury and Satellite in 1971.
TV shows that featured Mopars included: "Adam 12” -- 1966 Plymouth Belvederes and Satellites as well as AMC Matadors; “Breaking Away” -- 1967 Coronet and 1972 Charger; “Chase” -- 1970 Plymouth Satellite; “Mannix” -- 1968 Dodge Dart GTS convertible customized by George Barris, 1970-71 Plymouth ‘Cuda convertibles; “Mission Impossible” – everything from a 1968 Dodge Charger, to Dodge Polaras, Dodge Coronets, Chrysler Imperials and New Yorkers; and “The Mod Squad” -- 1970 or 1971 Challenger R/T convertibles. For 1972, both the “Mannix” ‘Cuda convertible and the “Mod Squad” Challenger convertible from the previous season were converted to look like 1972 models because Chrysler stopped production of all convertibles after 1971. The same goes for the Barracuda from “The Brady Bunch” as well as the Challenger from “Medical Center.”
Dodge sponsored “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Lawrence Welk”; Chrysler sponsored “NBC Adventure Theatre”, “NBC Action Playhouse”, “NBC Comedy Playhouse” and “NBC Comedy Theater”.
In movies, the big stars were the 1968 Charger in “Bullitt” with Steve McQueen, the ’69 Charger in “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry” and the 1970 Challenger’s appearance in “Vanishing Point.” There are many others, but these are regarded as some of the most famous Mopar muscle cars to grace the silver screen.
Mopar track and street racing stars were many, and included some household names and some lesser known, but just as important, Mopar drivers.
Richard Petty -- A tried-and-true Mopar fan, Petty once stated, “If you cut me, I still bleed Pentastar Blue”. “King Richard” Petty, the Hall-of-Fame face of NASCAR for many years, piloted a 426 ci. Hemi-powered 1970 Plymouth Superbird to 18 wins and 31 top finishes in the 1970 NASCAR season, and a 426-Hemi 1971 Plymouth Road Runner to the 1971 Daytona checkered flag, 21 race wins and 38 top-five finishes.
Bobby Allison – Bobby Allison ran his Dodge Charger Daytona in NASCAR events and while he switched rides often, his Mario Rossi winged Dodge was iconic.
Buddy Baker – Buddy Baker became the first driver ever to exceed 200 mph on a closed course (at Talladega), and his blue Dodge Daytona rides were historic.
Don Garlits -- Drag racing’s “Big Daddy” Don Garlits introduced the Chrysler Hemi engine to the drag racing circuit. Garlits and his 1971 Hemi-powered rear-engine dragster known as Swamp Rat 14 won the 1971 Winternationals.
Don Prudhomme -- Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and his buddy Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen sold sponsorship rights of their two Mopar Funny Car drag racers to Mattel’s HOT WHEELS group. Prudhomme drove a yellow, Hemi-powered ‘Cuda and took many Top Fuel Funny Car drag events.
Buddy Arrington – NASCAR racer Buddy Arrington never won the checkered flag but ran Dodges and Chryslers competitively for 25 years. Among his race cars were Dodge Magnum, Chrysler Imperial and Dodge Mirada. Buddy Arrington was the last person to drive a Chrysler product in NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series, which he did in 1985.
Ronnie Sox -- “Mr. Four-Speed”, Ronnie Sox, made the move to Plymouth in 1965 and never looked back. The red, white and blue Plymouths of the Sox & Martin team were always a force to be reckoned with and Ronnie’s ability to shift a four-speed gave him an advantage over most of the competition. Ronnie was there for the beginning of Pro Stock in 1970 and won the championship in ’70 and ’71. The NHRA changed the rules for 1972 and the Hemi was defeated by a pencil.
Dick Landy -- “Dandy” Dick Landy’s blue, red and silver 1970 Hemi Pro Stock Dodge Challenger was his main ride and his team drove a Hurst Hemi Dart, a ’68 Charger R/T and Coronet R/T … all to the winner’s circle. Landy conducted performance clinics at Dodge dealers across the US much the same as Sox & Martin did at Plymouth stores.
Jimmy Addison – Jimmy Addison drove his 426-Hemi ‘67 Plymouth Silver Bullet GTX to become a drag racing legend on Detroit’s Woodward Ave. It was something that would never get past the suits and lawyers of today, but the Silver Bullet was actually supported by Plymouth as a way to show the brand’s dominance on the street and not just the track. It was ultimately all about sales.
Bobby Isaac – Bobby Isaac had a successful NASCAR career and is best known for driving the No. 71 Dodge. At the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1971, Bobby Isaac set a land speed record in a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona with its nose cone, rudders, and a 426 Hemi to break an average run record of 210 mph. Isaac literally walked away from NASCAR in 1973 at Talladega when he radioed for a relief driver during the race.
The Cars
During the 1960s, America’s car culture was muscle-oriented, with an emphasis on ponies, powerful engines, wings, smoking tires, street racing, tinted Plexiglas windows, hood scoops, raised front ends with beam axles and open headers. The 1970s saw less muscle as gasoline became precious and fuel prices soared. Fuel efficiency and emission laws reduced horsepower, but Mopar held on to performance longer than most. They also continued the excitement with cosmetic mods, a broad color palette -- “Vitamin C Orange”, Moulin Rouge”, “Curious Yellow” “Tor-Red”, “Hemi-Orange”, “Butterscotch” and “Light Turquoise”, for example -- external graphics and creative architecture.
The cars were the REAL stars of 1970-1971’s Mopar culture and included, but were not limited to, the following:
Plymouth ‘Cuda -- Considered by many to be the lynchpins of the classic days of the Chrysler muscle car culture are the Plymouth Barracuda and the 426 Hemi engine. In 1970, Plymouth presented up to 425 hp in a sleek street beast shell that came in vibrant colors and was one of the fastest, most iconic muscle cars ever. The new E-Body platform was specifically designed with a wider engine bay to accommodate the massive Hemi engine.
Dodge Challenger -- A sister to the ‘Cuda, with the same platforms, track widths, engines, and proportions, Challenger’s 110-inch wheelbase is two inches longer than the Plymouth’s and its overall length of 191.5 inches is three inches longer. The 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A and 1970 Plymouth AAR ’Cuda were the first American muscle cars with staggered tires—wider rubber in the back than the front …15-inch E60 white-letter Goodyears up front and wider G60s in back.
Plymouth GTX -- Plymouth introduced the GTX in 1967 as a luxury option in the Belvedere lineup to compete with the other luxury cars and was equipped with either a 440 Super Commando engine or the optional 426 Hemi.
Dodge Coronet Super Bee -- The Coronet was an intermediate sedan in the Dodge lineup in the late ’60s, but the Coronet got a powerful engine, so it could be turned into a fast street fighter. Dodge presented the Super Bee model in 1968 as their answer to the Plymouth Road Runner and was outfitted with either a standard 383 or the 426 Hemi engine. The new 440 Six Pack engine, with three two-barrel Holley carburetors, became an option starting in mid-1969. The 440 four barrel was an option in 1971 only, the final year for the Super Bee.
Plymouth Superbird – A unique muscle car built with aerodynamics in mind, and a nose cone, hideaway headlights and huge back spoiler. The rear glass deviated from the standard concave shape with a wind-tunnel-tested flush design. The Superbird was built in 1970 only and was Plymouth’s way to lure Richard Petty back to the brand after he switched to Ford for ’69. Much like the Hemi in Pro Stock in 1972, the Superbird was defeated by a pencil as NASCAR changed the rules to make the “wing cars” less competitive.
Plymouth Road Runner -- Road Runner models featured the animated bird character from Warner Bros. Road Runner was a low priced, creatively designed people pleaser with muscle. Road Runner started the trend as the first muscle car with creative graphics. The Road Runner had a bench seat, no luxury options, and manual steering, but was powered by a 383 V8 as the base engine, or Hemi 426. Just like Dodge’s Super Bee, the Road Runner received the 440 Six Barrel as an optional engine choice beginning in 1969 (Six Barrel is Plymouth’s name for an engine with three Holley two-barrel carbs).
Dodge Charger Daytona – The Daytona was even faster at Daytona and Talladega NASCAR tracks than the Superbird. The Charger Daytona was one of the first cars developed in a wind tunnel using new materials in construction. The standard engine was a 440 V8 and had a 426 Hemi option.
AMC Javelin -- American Motors hit the muscle scene from 1968-1970 with AMX and Javelin models. Tricked out with hip styling, AMX was a shortened Javelin with only two seats.
AMC Rebel – Once known as the Rambler Rebel, and replaced by the AMC Matador in 1971, Rebel’s top power model, “The Machine” was outfitted with a 340-hp 390 ci. V8.
Plymouth Duster 340 – The Duster had all new sheet metal when it debuted in 1970 with its fastback styling, but underneath it was still a Valiant. In fact, in 1970, it was actually badged as a Valiant Duster. The largest available engine (1970-1973) was the 340. While never available with a big block, it’s no secret that a 340 Duster (or its Dodge sibling, the Swinger 340) when equipped with a 3.91 Sure Grip rear and a 4-speed transmission, could beat up on many big block intermediate cars.
Plymouth Fury GT -- A two-door coupe version of the Fury sedan, it had full-on power with a 440 V8, 375 horses. The Sport Fury GT was full-size muscle at its finest. In 1970, a handful of Sport Fury GTs were built with the 390 hp 440 Six Barrel.
Dodge Demon -- The Demon was a new nameplate for 1971. The A-body Dodge Dart Demon for 1971 was offered with a 198- or 225-ci. Slant Six or the 318 V-8 engine, but it soon earned a reputation as a low-buck supercar in Demon 340 trim. The Demon started life as a Plymouth Duster shell, save for the Demon-only taillight panel, with Dodge Dart front sheet metal. Even the side marker lights and the wheel lips didn’t match from front to back because of the blending of the two different brands. But that never stopped the Demon from becoming a favorite among the Mopar faithful.
More ’Cudas – The Plymouth Barracuda 440 V8 was a monster pony car, with 375 horses and a tight build. The AAR ‘Cuda was a limited-production model to commemorate Dan Gurney’s All American Racing team, which used ‘Cudas in the Trans Am championship. It came with a 340 V8 small block, with three two-barrel Holley carburetors, a rear spoiler and unique side graphics that included the big AAR logo.
That’s a quick look and you can see all variations of Mopar culture as a showcase of 1971 Mopar muscle at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals at Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds, July 9-11.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
Americans clamored for a muscular, powerful, sporty car for the street and for tire-smoking bragging rights in the early 1960s, and Ford answered t …
Americans clamored for a muscular, powerful, sporty car for the street and for tire-smoking bragging rights in the early 1960s, and Ford answered the bell with Mustang in 1964, launching the Pony Car Wars. Chevrolet’s stable of competing vehicles at that time was limited to the rear-engine Corvair and the Chevy II Nova, with “Super Nova” on engineers’ drawing boards. GM answered the call, attacked the genre, and in two years, put out a vehicle to compete for the 1967 model year … the Camaro.
Camaro began as Project XP-836, code-named “Panther”, but the vehicle was always intended, by Chevy leaders to have a “C” letter name to perpetuate the legacy begun by Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II and Corvette. Legend dictates that when marketing leaders discovered a slang French word meaning “pal, friend or comrade,” Camaro was born (though “Camaro” is not recognized in the French language). When Chevrolet product managers were asked what “Camaro” means, they responded with “a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” And The Pony Wars of American muscle was born.
Down the boulevards, across the highways and on the track, Camaro enjoyed a stellar reputation for being sexy, fast and reliable. Camaro was one of the prominent vehicles in the SCCA-sanctioned Trans-Am Series, as Chevrolet contracted with Roger Penske to operate their "unofficial" factory-backed Trans-Am team. The team won the title in 1968 and 1969 with Mark Donohue behind the wheel, and Jim Hall’s Chaparral team replaced Penske for the 1970 season. Beginning in 1975, Camaro was the official car of, and used in the International Race of Champions until 1989, making it the first American car of the series. Camaro has been an Indianapolis 500 Pace car eight times, and a NASCAR Xfiniti Series, stock car since 2017.
Through six generations, 5.5 million Camaros have been sold, with its first four generations produced from 1967 through 2002, and its most recent two generations built from 2010 through the present. From its inception, Camaro has been fast, exciting, popular with the public and a frequent star of the Silver Screen, from appearing in “The Gumball Rally” in 1976 to “2 Fast 2 Furious” in 2003 to “Transformers” as “Bumblebee” in 2007, and dozens more featured roles.
Each of Camaro's generations has had its own Camaroesque personality and its own following.
1967-1969
Hitting the streets in two-door coupé or convertible with 2+2 seating, and a choice of 230 ci., 250 ci. inline-6, or 302 ci., 307 ci., 327ci, 350 ci., and 396 ci. V-8s, on a new rear-wheel drive GM-F body that was eventually shared with the Pontiac Firebird. The First-Generation offered standard, Super Sport, and Rally Sport editions. Power during Gen-One ranged from 140hp for the 230 ci. Six-cylinder, to 425hp for a 427. The 427 could do a quarter-mile in 13 seconds, and the popular 327 was a 10.7 zero-to-60 mph car with an 18.2-second quarter-mile.
1970-1981
Restyled larger and wider for Gen-Two, the new Camaro had a similar frame, subframe and suspension, but later in the run in 1980 and ’81, Z28 models included an air induction hood scoop with an intake door that opened under full throttle. Engine size went from a 5.7-liter, 360-hp LT-1 engine to an emission-requirement drop in 1975 to only 155 horsepower. Track times were often disappointing at 11.0 seconds for a zero-to-60 run and a 17.4-second quarter mile. However, the Z28 could blast a 5.8-second sprint and a 14.2-second quarter.
1982-1992
Gen-Three was the first Camaro with modern fuel injection, four-speed automatics or five-speed sticks, 14-,15- or 16-inch wheels, and hatchback models. The cars were nearly 500 pounds lighter than the Second-Generation model.
Convertibles, discontinued in 1969, returned in 1987 and all base models were outfitted with a 2.8 L V6 (OHV). In 1985, the direct-injection 305 ci. small block V8 was available and in 1987, the L98 350 ci. V8 engine became a regular option on the IROC-Z. Top power models could track run at 8.6 seconds for the sprint and 16.4 for the quarter.
1993-2002
Gen-Four saw an updated F-Body platform and returned to 1967’s coupé body style with 2+2 seating (with an optional T-Top roof) or convertible (reintroduced in 1994). The standard powerplant from 1993 to 1995 was a 3.4 L V6, and a 3.8 L V6 was introduced in 1995. The Z28 trim utilized Corvette’s LT1 275-hp 350 ci. small-block V-8 engine and in 1996-’97, a limited number of Camaro SS models came with the 330-hp LT4 small block from the Corvette, although most were equipped with the 275 hp LT1. Again, Z28s were speed performers with track times as quick as a 5.4 sprint and 14.0 seconds for the quarter-mile.
2010-2015
Bumblebee was the “Transformers” star and Camaro came back after an eight-year hiatus with a complete redesign. Gen-Five saw LS and LT models powered by a 3.6 L V6 producing 312 hp mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with manual shift. The SS had the 6.2 L LS3 V8 and 426 hp. Top stock Camaros could finish off a dash in 6.1 seconds and a quarter-mile in 14.5.
2016—present
The Sixth-Gen Camaro, built on the GM Alpha platform, comes with such engine choices as a 275-hp 2.0 L turbo-charged inline-four; a new 335-hp 3.6 L V6 and for the SS trim, a 455-hp 6.2 L LT1 V8. The super-powered ZL1 has a supercharged 650-hp LT4 based on the Corvette Z06. For 2021, the ZL1 can blaze a 3.5-second zero-to-60mph run and a 12.2-second quarter-mile, and outfitted for today’s high-tech capability, they come with a rear camera, navigation, 8-inch diagonal color screen and all the connectivity demanded by today’s drivers.
You can see all six generations of Camaro, as well as more than 1,000 GM cars that cross more than 100 years of GM history, at the Carlisle AGM Nationals, at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds, June 25-26.
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
Car clubs have been organized and filled with enthusiasts since the early days of the automobile. Many point to the Paris-based, Automobile Club de …
Car clubs have been organized and filled with enthusiasts since the early days of the automobile. Many point to the Paris-based, Automobile Club de France, in 1895, as the first car club, expanding to England in 1898, and Austria, Germany and Switzerland by 1900. The concept came to America by 1902 with the American Automobile Association, and by the 1930s, the first of what we would now consider current-concept car clubs were being formed.
The movement took off in America, in the 1950s and 1960s, and by the time the first Carlisle All-Ford Nationals was held at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds in 1995, car clubs were eager to gather at large events to come together, and show off their cars and their clubs.
Since the beginning of the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals, John Clor, Enthusiast Communications Manager / Ford Performance, has been involved in helping cultivate the Carlisle experience for Ford Clubs around the nation, to such an extent that there are currently more than 100 active clubs active with Carlisle Events. (Here is a link to the list of Carlisle’s recognized clubs. Carlisle Ford Nationals - Clubs (carlisleevents.com)
Clor, a veteran journalist and automotive journalist, has owned, raced, worked on and written about Fords and Mustangs for nearly 45 years. He joined the Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in 1995 and spent most of the next decade working on SVT Communications, PR and Marketing. Clor is an Iacocca Award Winner, and hosts a show called “Cars In Context” that has evolved from local cable access to YouTube. In 2007, he developed a club outreach program for Ford Racing that is now known as Club Connect, and today manages enthusiast communications for Ford Performance as well as enthusiast content on FordPerformance.com. He calls Carlisle, “The Super Bowl of Ford Events.”
Clor said, “Through Ford Club Connect, which has 383 registered clubs, we learned that cars resonate on an emotional level and the club people often have names for their cars … they are going to keep their cars and show them off … not trade them in.” The mission of Ford Club Connect was to get out into the community and contact every club. Clor said, “Every club has its own character, and we looked for events to meet them. Ken Appell, Carlisle’s Ford Nationals Event Manager runs the Ford Nationals attuned to the clubs. We attend, and clubs attend Carlisle because they engage with the clubs. They help make it a 3-day party for the brand and the clubs.” Clor added, “I could go on the road to 20 venues and see 20 clubs, or I can go to Carlisle and meet with 100 clubs. I can see 200 vehicles at a typical event, or I can see 3200 Fords in one weekend at one place (Carlisle).”
Clor has seen the club scene change and grow at Carlisle since the beginning. “In 1995, with the Ford Special Vehicle team, we saw a few 10x10 pop up tents. Each year, we saw bigger and bolder displays, more Ford celebrities, greater Ford brand involvement and increased Ford club activity.” He said, “Because of aging and evolution of legacy clubs, the club scene has grown younger and less sophisticated, perhaps. We see more Mustangs, and maybe fewer of the older badges, but it is even more of a party or festival and a venue at which to show off a customized source of pride.”
What used to be a bunch of car guys getting together to talk about and show off their ride, is now gaining more and more family attendance. “The experiential owners get their families involved and bring the enthusiasm to the next generation – their kids,” said Clor. “It used to be by word of mouth and phone calls, and now clubs build with Facebook groups and cruise groups and that attracts even more YOUNG families. There used to be just events and displays for guys, but Carlisle has added a women’s oasis, good food, Hot Wheels races for families, raffles, meetings, awards, activities, and it is more than simply a swap meet and a show. The clubs take it in as a family event.”
To help celebrate the clubs at Carlisle, Clor selects The Coolest Club Hangout Award. “For years, clubs would come to the show with a theme. A T-Bird Club came with poodle-skirted ladies, juke boxes, t-shirts with Lucky Strikes rolled up in their sleeves, jeans and a ‘Happy Days’ feel. A Red Mustang Club once had a pirate theme and the winner of the “Coolest Club” was who had the biggest party. He said the selection process, as with the clubs, has evolved. “I visit the clubs and they present an environment where you feel at home. It is now about the group that had roasters and a family dinner … making turkey so that it is like going home for the holidays. That is what is ‘Cool’ to me … how do they make this feel good. How do they make it fun, from trading war stories, celebrating with family and friends and appreciating brand. That club is where I want to be and hang out … they enjoy the show and each other’s company. That is cool.”
Carlisle Events helps clubs gather together with a tent program. Tent rentals are available at most specialty events to use as club headquarters. Carlisle Events offers free or discounted tents to clubs who register a specific number of Showfield cars as a way of showing appreciation for club participation.
To entice additional involvement, Carlisle Events challenges all clubs to show their strength in numbers. The top three clubs (based on number of registered show vehicles) are recognized at each event's awards parade. Further, the top three also get a special banner, which can be displayed when you come back to Carlisle, or with your club at other events. Contact Carlisle Events for more details.
Ford enthusiastically embraces the clubs and the show. Clor sums up saying, “Ford celebrates at the event, it doesn’t try to sell…the brands mean something and nostalgia sells. The Ford Nationals is for enthusiasts, and the clubs make an emotional connection.”
Car clubs with a focus on the Ford family of vehicles past and present are encouraged to register to be part of the 2021 event, June 4-6. Not only does the event offer a plethora of cars and trucks for you to enjoy, it makes a great "home base" for your club to gather, socialize and recruit. Officially recognized Carlisle Clubs may also qualify for a FREE tent to host your hangout as well. There's even a pair of club awards; largest and coolest. The coolest club honors are chosen by Mr. Clor himself! Learn more about the event and the club scene at Carlisle today at CarlisleEvents.com.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
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