Ford Coyote:

“Green” Car Care Products

Going through the ordeal of a full restoration is one of those things you’d probably never tackle if you knew up front exactly how much angst you were going to have to go through. Enigmatically, it’s also one of those experiences you would never trade for anything in the world. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of bringing a car back from the dead to become an object coveted by everyone—even non-car people. The ’68 Nova restored in this issue is that “warm fuzzy” for me.

Got a car you want the world to see?

For the first time in 10 years, Carlisle Events is expanding within the Keystone State, adding the Bloomsburg Nationals powered by Carlisle Events to its schedule. The event, formerly known as the Bloomsburg Annual Rod and Custom Cruise-In, will take place Friday through Sunday, August 10-12 at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. The fairgrounds, located at 620 West Third St. in Bloomsburg - Columbia County, less than five miles from exit 232 and Interstate 80 is comprised of 227 acres of land. On-site amenities include 24-hour security, camping, exhibit buildings and in 2011, saw nearly 7,500 attendees come to town for the event.

Ford Coyote Pistons
Wiseco

In 2011, Popular Hot Rodding magazine joined forces with the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association to sponsor five action-filled muscle car autocross events at Fort Worth, Texas; Nashville; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis; and Del Mar, California. As you probably know, Goodguys already operates their Street Machine Autocross at most of their events—at least at the venues that are large enough to handle such an activity, but we decided to make a few of them even more special.

I’ve been hounding my bosses for years to do some kind of “muscle car olympics.” The proposals I’ve made have included autocrossing, road course racing, drag racing, 0-100-0, 0-60-0, speed stop challenges, 60-0, figure eights, slaloms, car cruises, road rallies, and any combination of those. You name it, I’ve proposed it. My hard drive is packed to the gills with the bones of cool events that never happened, but I never gave up. In the corporate environment, you never know what’s going to happen next, or what new direction they’re going to tell you to shoot in. In many instances, you’re better off to just go with the flow, and eventually the flow will go in your direction.

Holley Performance is proud to announce the Holley "60 Pumps in 60 Days Fuel Pump Sweepstakes." Starting Friday, March 9, 2012 extending to Monday, May 7, 2012 Holley Performance will be giving away one fuel pump per day to randomly selected winners on the Holley Performance Facebook page.

1964 Dodge Polara

This month we take a close look at some of the most badass Pro Touring machines on the planet. And by badass, I mean the guys who build and own them are not afraid to drive the crap out of them. The cars in this issue are all from the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational, which took place right after the 2011 SEMA show in Las Vegas. What I believe we’re seeing here with these cars is a reinvention of Pro Touring that reminds me a lot of its early days.

The U.S. House Science Committee approved a bill (H.R. 3199) directing the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a scientific assessment on how gasoline blended with 15 to 20 percent ethanol (E15 and E20) may impact gasoline-powered engines, vehicles and related equipment. The analysis would consider a variety of issues including tailpipe and evaporative emissions, impact on OBD systems, materials compatibility and fuel efficiency. The National Academy of Sciences would have 18 months to conduct its analysis. HR 3199 will now be considered by the full House of Representatives.

The Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation is hosting their annual Alzheimer's Barbeque and Car Drawing on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at 6 p.m. This year's event will be our 19th Annual ALZ BBQ at the Wickham Park Pavilion, in Melbourne, Fla. Ticket prices are one for $25, six for $100, and 15 for $200. Each ticket includes complimentary food, drinks, and the chance to win a matching numbers 1970 Plymouth Superbird.

1967 Ford Custom 500

Education

As the last engine is crated up at the University of Northwestern Ohio, and the DTS/SuperFlow dyno carts are stowed away until next year, my thoughts turn to next year’s AMSOIL Engine Masters Challenge. By the time you read this, we will have decided the rules for next year’s competition, but right now things are very much up in the air. Will we hold over the same successful format as 2011, or will we change it up to keep readers excited, and competitors inventive? It’s a win-win either way, but irrespective of that, I’m more stoked about who might submit an application, and what they might bring.

New Products

This month’s issue celebrates the average guy who builds his hot rod at home—which is the way the vast majority of you get your projects on the road. Most of the cars in our “26 Readers’ Rides” story were partially or entirely constructed at home, which means you will see a lot of familiar stuff. There is a time and a place to be inspired by high-end cars built with the highest skill and the best parts, but it’s also instructive to see how our gearhead brothers cope with the challenges imposed by a limited skill set, a restricted budget, or a little amount of time.

Got a car you want the world to see?
Send specs and pix to johnnyhunkins@yahoo.com

It’s not very often that political issues are brought up in car magazines beyond the Editor’s Page. We’ve reached such a significant point in time, however, when the gloves have come off and we as hot rodders and Americans have no choice but to look Washington in the eye and not blink.

Bangin Gears

Rumors have flying around freely the past few months as to what Ford's answer would be to the ZL1 Camaro, and now we have it; a blown 5.8 liter (351ci) that delivers an unheard of 650hp and 600 lb-ft of torque! Yes, hot rodders, that does make the '13 Ford Shelby GT500 officially the most powerful production V8 engine in the world. And somehow Ford managed to keep it exempt from the gas-guzzler tax. Looks like 13 is going to be a lucky number for Ford Fans!

1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler
Arnold Tomlinson • Lakewood, CO

Shock Breakthrough:

When cars started being built on TV shows—Overhaulin’ and Pimp My Ride to name two—it created unrealistic expectations that unintentionally harmed us all. The notion that you can somehow build something really special in just a few days isn’t credible, despite the hype. To television’s credit, the attention has exposed the hobby to thousands of people who were previously disengaged—but even the value of that is questionable; how many non-hobbyists are going to suddenly run out and start building a hot rod based on seeing a teary-eyed grandmother have her El Camino pimped out with a plasma TV built into the tailgate?