Tag Archives: Ford

Got Flames – NHRA’s Arizona Nationals

February 25, 2020 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

The action was red hot at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, near Phoenix, AZ when the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) showed up on Friday February 21 through Sunday, February 23, 2020. The Wild Horse Pass Motorsport Park is south of Phoenix and a short hop down the freeway from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Technically it is on the Gila River Indian Community. Despite rain on Saturday, it did not dampen the spirits of racers or fans and NHRA squeezed in a round of pro qualifications for the Arizona Nationals between the rain storms.

Rain Shortened Qualification

So with two rounds of qualifications on Friday to lead the race ladder, the full field was set for a sold out crew of race fans on Sunday. By now you probably know that Erica Enders, Tommy Johnson Junior and Steve Torrance won in the pro ranks. Plus there were plenty of winners in the sportsmen classes as well.

Flames

One of my favorite times at a drag strip is when the skies get dark and the exhaust flames shooting out from the headers are more visible. While the Arizona Nationals are generally run in the day light, the lighting gets dark enough to see some flames. We always enjoy hanging around taking some shots as sunset approaches and checking out the flames. Hope you do too!

Jet cars

Plus of course if you are a race track promoter you have to have jet cars! At the end of the day’s races, what better way to close out the night but to have not just one or two jet cars but THREE jet cars zoom down the track? The heat these engines throw off is actually felt in the stands as the jet cars belch white smoke and streak down the track.

The races ran smoothly and how many racetracks can claim a sold out show? So NHRA must be doing something right, huh.

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Car show, Uncategorized

Leg Show T-Bucket

February 5, 2020 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

The Grand National Roadster Show wrapped up the three day show, announcing the winner of America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) on Sunday January 26, 2020. The winning entry is certainly an awesome Arizona build and I admire the craftsmanship.
But (and you knew there would be a but right?)

Leg Show T-Bucket

I could not take my eye off a T-bucket that seemed to be a tribute to the original Leg Show T-Bucket. This roadster was as outrageous as the original and just screamed at you. I had commented to others that this bucket was the hit in my youth but was too far out there to be the final AMBR winner this year.

Craftsmanship of Leg Show T-Bucket

But hats off to the owners, Walter and Thenia Sigsby. This T-Bucket had some great workmanship and the paint and shiny pieces glowed under the lights in Pomona, CA. The Jaguar rearend was easy to see in this design and the Dan Fink grill was top notch. Due to the stanchions, I couldn’t see much of the Ron Mangus interior but what we could see was awesome. Turns out the gas tank was done by Jim Babbs who had also worked on the original Leg Show T in 1970.

Leg Show T-Bucket Legacy

The original Leg Show T-Bucket made the cover of Rod and Custom in 1971 and was an instant hit. Here’s hoping this one does the same.

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Auctions, Uncategorized

Worldwide Auctioneers Ready for Arizona Auction Week

January 14, 2020 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

Arizona Auction week is in full swing and next up is Worldwide Auctioneers with their Wednesday night show in Tempe, AZ. They are setting up shop on a grassy plain and stressing quality over quantity with a nice collection placed inside one spacious tent.

The new site is near two freeways and offers some calm and relaxing vibes. So while they may not have the volume of cars that others will offer, they offer distinctive cars with volumes of documentation.

Worldwide Auctioneers and American Muscle

For this article we’ll focus on some classic American icons that caught our eye.

We’ll bend the rules by including the 2009 Bertone Mantide, since it was based on the Corvette platform. Hard to believe that all this effort was made with only one unit being produced.

1971 ‘Cuda at Worldwide Auctioneers

A big star will be the 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda. Not only is it a restored convertible but has the ownership provenance of owner/hockey star Ed Belfour. It should prove interesting to see where the market prices a ‘Cuda these days.

Close behind in popularity (at least with MOPAR guys and gals) will be the 1970 Plymouth Superbird. We love the NASCAR background on these winners and this one has been verified by Galen Govier – the master. Nice color and great looker.

I’m guessing there are more 1969 Camaros flying the Indy pace car colors than were ever actually produced and it seems that every auction has to have one. So check out this RS/SS convertible with all the authentics.

C-10 Chevy Truck Selling at Worldwide Auctioneers

Hey I even love the 1965 Chevy C-10 they brought out. Nicely restored “work” truck with newer internals that can show or go.

There are plenty of others in the slideshow and in person at the auction so check them out.

Care to name a favorite or guess a final price point?

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Auctions, Car show, Uncategorized

Cars and Coffee Perks Up for the New Decade

January 7, 2020 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

The weather was better than for three fourths of the country as the first Cars and Coffee car show for the decade in Phoenix, Arizona fires up. Scudderia Southwest runs a pretty cool show the first Saturday of each month in north Phoenix (though some mistakenly call it Scottsdale).

Cars and Coffee

Cars and Coffee refers to a casual group meet up of cars early on a weekend morning. Get a chance to see some cars and show off without too many rules or issues. Then tear out of the parking lot as the merchants open up for the day and continue on to YOUR chores or perhaps another car show? We have covered this show before and enjoyed the displays. Okay we have been covering this event for years like this entry on a hybrid Porsche.

They changed up the format last fall a bit for this version of Cars and Coffee and reserve their spaces for their desired nameplates/entries but even the general public parking lot ends up with some interesting iron to review. They had outgrown the last spot (actually in Scottsdale) and the size of the “entries” mushroomed last year until the group changed up the rules.

McLaren Dealership

At times the reserved parking spots looked like a McLaren dealership on steroids but the star of the moment was a new Senna McLaren. Hard not to notice it or part the crowds standing around looking at it. Plenty of other McLarens and Porsches were on display as could be expected. Today was a chance for the boys (and girls) to show off their new toys.

Arizona Classic Car Auctions

And with the Arizona auctions right around the corner it was the perfect excuse to bring out the horsepower and let ’em rip. Even Drew Alcazar from Russo and Steele was out checking things out and promoting his auction.

So which was your favorite at Cars and Coffee?

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Manufacturer news

NASCAR Paint Schemes for ISM Race

November 16, 2019 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

NASCAR races are always colorful and exciting. Beyond the roar of the engines and the cars chasing around the ovals (or in the case of ISM Raceway the dogleg), one can sense the crowd’s anticipation as they follow their favorite drivers. While three manufacturers, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, are sponsoring cars in the NASCAR Monster Energy Series these cars bare little resemblance to the cars on the showroom floors. Many people complain that the NASCAR cars are “all the same” and no longer do they “buy on Monday, what won on Sunday.”

NASCAR Color Schemes

But one way to differentiate the cars is by their color scheme. Some teams will keep a consistent scheme for their sponsor but with a mix of sponsorships and style many cars will change up their colors on a constant basis. Which if you collect the racer’s models means you need to buy multiple sets too.

At the recent NASCAR Monster Energy Bluegreen Vacation 500 race held at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona the Chevy cars did not have an impressive day, with Denny Hamlin (Toyota) winning and the highest Chevrolet finisher was Kyle Larson in fourth place. But we still opted to check out the cars and their colors for the day.

A special nod to Ty Dillon, whose sponsor Geico noted their government and military basis by adding “military” under their brand. Very fitting since the day after the race was Veteran’s Day.

Color Schemes

Of course calling these “paint” schemes might be tad misleading since now days most of these colors are vinyl wraps. Much easier to apply and swap out as the needs arise.

Alex Bowman’s continues the rainbow scheme that Jeff Gordon used with DuPont/Axalta.

Notice how many sponsors’ names are splashed on the hood to show up and yet Monster Energy drink is happy with just their logo on Kurt Busch’s car. We’ll miss Monster’s title sponsorship of the top tier in NASCAR.

So what do you think? Which color scheme garbs you?

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Uncategorized

NASCAR Driver’s Walk at ISM Raceway

November 13, 2019 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

One of NASCAR’s charms is the approachability of drivers and nowhere is this more apparent than at Phoenix’s (okay Avondale’s actually), Arizona ISM Raceway. The renovated speedway is a fan’s paradise and it is most apparent along the “driver’s walk” on race day.

Infield access

For the price of an infield ticket NASCAR fans get unique access. Along with watching the garages and being at Victory Lane, the fans can camp out along a pathway that NASCAR drivers must walk for the mandatory driver’s meeting. But get there early as often the throngs can be five or ten deep and only a select few will get right up along the fence line.

NASCAR Driver’s Walk

Typically the driver’s will walk in with some helpers and assistants. Someone in the crowd will often yell out which driver is approaching (and hopefully they are right). Fans might shift for a better view or swap out memorabilia that they wanted signed. Drivers, depending on their mood, will stop and pose for photos, chat with their fans and sign autographs. Yes William Byron actually was signing a water bottle!

Drivers aren’t the only celebrities that walk the line. Crew chiefs naturally will amble past and even the occasionally car owner.

Once the NASCAR Driver’s Meeting is over the procession reverses itself, but at times the drivers and others are more focused and determined to get back to their garages and get the last minute details sorted out.

You may see the NASCAR Driver’s Walk on television, but until you see it in person you can’t appreciate it. That ability for fans to say they saw, talked with or got a treasured autograph from their driver is unmatched in most other sports. And ISM Raceway helps make it exceptionally fun and accessible. Buy a ticket to a NASCAR race and pay the upgrade for infield and you are guaranteed to have an awesome event.

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Car show, Uncategorized

Hot Times and Cool Cars in Phoenix, Arizona

September 1, 2019 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

The Arizona Indoor Custom Car Show

While it may be hot in Arizona in the summer, the car show scene is even hotter. Plenty of shows move to the pine country and higher elevations of Arizona but the Arizona Indoor Custom Car Show adheres to their name and just holds the car show indoors in air conditioned comfort.

This year’s show was held at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix. So while it might have been hot outside, that didn’t detour car owners and the public from checking out some awesome rides. And holding it on Saturday , June 15th, just before Father’s Day was a nice touch and a perfect excuse to see a car show.

Indoor Car Show

While there is a huge showing from the lowrider clubs, this show had a little piece of everything in all the car categories, plus cycles and trucks galore. They had a section for pinstripers to style away and a few vendors offering up their wares. Of course there were some food options and libations for the adults in the crowd. This is the fifth year for the show and I think they are on to something, don’t you?

There were hundreds of cars and trucks spread out on the floors of the convention center. So check out just some of our favorites from the show and join us in hoping the temperatures cool down fast. But keep the cars and trucks red hot.

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Uncategorized

ISM Raceway Speeds Fans to a New High

November 14, 2018 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

The ISM Raceway hosted the NASCAR trio of races this past weekend and the premiere turned out to be all that the owners had been predicting. The massive reconstruction took two years but left the historic dogleg mile track intact. The track in Avondale, Arizona was previously known as Phoenix International Raceway (PIR).

ISM Infield

By shifting the stands counter clockwise they put the fans into the afternoon shade, offered wide stadium seats, a better view of the new finish line and overall the bar was raised for track amenities.

If the fans opted for the infield admission ticket at ISM Raceway , they had a close up view of the racers’ garage areas plus they could see the driver’s meeting and the walkway leading to it. They could easily walk through an underground tunnel to get to the infield throughout the race day.

The victory lane area has a sunken pit area where lucky fans who stake out an early spot can enjoy all the victorious festivities. Plus in the infield were seats and shade alongside three sites serving food and “adult” beverages. To maneuver around, nine elevators were added along with four escalators.

ISM Raceway

Fans could get views never before seen, literally standing within feet of a hard working garage crew. Plus over 400 monitors kept fans up to date on the action. Plenty of space remained in the midway for souvenir purchases and the parking was plentiful and easy to get to.

Wi-Fi (free of course) was available throughout the site with no dead zones. Of course the facility offers 51 upgraded suites plus three suites that overlooked the actual NASCAR garage. All in all getting this project done, without interrupting the racing venue’s schedule, was quite an accomplishment. This two year project cost over $175 million and involved no tax dollars! Quite an accomplishment.

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@2018 Route 66 PubCo

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Uncategorized

Hero Cards Display Craftsmanship and Ingenuity

November 13, 2018 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

It is funny how something as trivial as a hero card display can become a functional expression of the craftsmen involved. Hero cards are those 8X11 color shots of drivers, or their cars, passed out at NASCAR races, drag racing pits and at fan appreciation events. Even if you don’t get them autographed, it allows a connection between the fan and the racing team.

At the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas, lots of hero cards were signed by celebrities including Brittany and Ashley Force.

NASCAR Hero Cards

At the latest NASCAR race at ISM Raceway in Avondale, (Phoenix area) Arizona all the race teams from each of the three series, Camping World Truck, Xfinity and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, had hero cards ready to be handed out. But how these hero cards were displayed shows the ingenuity of some teams.

Some were rather bland and basic. A weighted box to hold the hero cards. Ho hum….

Martin Truex’s display had the foresight for a clear cover to avoid rains or strong winds.

Paul Menard’s display utilized a Menard storefront to help pass out the hero cards.

The folk’s from Procore and Kasey Kahne, used a fuel can as their prop.

Winning Hero Card Display at NASCAR’s ISM Raceway

But Jimmie Johnson showed he hit the nail on the head with this design. See how it contrasts with his race mate, Alex Bowman?

Funny how a little time and ingenuity can make you stand out in a crowd. Just like in life, right?

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Manufacturer news, Uncategorized

Easiest Car Repair After a Crash

September 27, 2018 Route 66 Pub Co Leave a comment

With the technology of today’s car getting more and more sophisticated a motor vehicle crash can end up being a major cost and a time consuming process. But there is one part of a repair that is easy to do and takes less than an hour.

Car Seat Replacement

After a major crash, your child’s car seat needs replacing! While it may look safe and undamaged, odds are that it sustained hidden stress and strain while keeping the child safe and unharmed. The car seat did its job, so now you as a parent (or grandparent) needs to do the right thing and get a new car seat for your youngster.

This week, September 23-29, 2018, is Child Passenger Safety Week and several companies are helping to get the message out that after a crash, you need to replace the child car seat.

Car Seat Spokesperson

Spokesperson Shannon Spake, from Fox Sports, noted “when your car is involved in a crash, it’s just as important that you take care of your car seat or booster seat as it is to address the car damage.”

Evenflo, a major car seat manufacturer, stresses that even though the seat may look undamaged, it may no longer be usable and safe to save a child in future impacts. This is clearly a case if being “better safe, than sorry.”

Car repair shops, like the nationwide CARSTAR network, commits to reminding car owners that the seats should be replaced and are often covered under the insurance policies.

Obviously not all fender benders would necessitate a replacement, so the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises car seats do not need replacement if the car was in a minor crash.

Minor Crash Defined

NHTSA further defines a minor crash as

The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site
The vehicle door nearest the car seat was not damaged
None of the passengers in the vehicle sustained any injuries in the crash
If the vehicle has air bags, the air bags did not deploy during the crash
There is no visible damage to the car seat

Also just because the car seat was unoccupied during the crash does not mean it can be used again! It likely still suffered stress and strain even without a child in the seat.

Shannon Spake Spokesperson

After all as Spake notes, “You always want to make sure your children are protected in the car.”

When replacing the car seat, send it to a recycling center and never give it away or offer it to a charitable group for reuse. Plus don’t forget to register your new seat with manufacturer in case of future safety recalls. If the new seat is different, you may seek out help to ensure it is installed correctly.

So when in doubt, throw it out!

Rain Shortened Qualification

Flames

Jet cars

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Leg Show T-Bucket

Craftsmanship of Leg Show T-Bucket

Leg Show T-Bucket Legacy

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Worldwide Auctioneers and American Muscle

1971 ‘Cuda at Worldwide Auctioneers

C-10 Chevy Truck Selling at Worldwide Auctioneers

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Cars and Coffee

McLaren Dealership

Arizona Classic Car Auctions

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NASCAR Color Schemes

Color Schemes

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Infield access

NASCAR Driver’s Walk

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The Arizona Indoor Custom Car Show

Indoor Car Show

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ISM Infield

ISM Raceway

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NASCAR Hero Cards

Winning Hero Card Display at NASCAR’s ISM Raceway

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Car Seat Replacement

Car Seat Spokesperson

Minor Crash Defined

Shannon Spake Spokesperson

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