Posts Tagged ‘ Industry Icons ’

Top Builders to Select Builder’s Choice Awards at Goodguys National Events

By Ashley Smissen , January 21, 2010 in News & Events, Rod Shops

GG Builders Choice

The Goodguys Builder’s Choice awards program returns in 2010 to recognize the country’s finest rods, customs, trucks and muscle cars! At nine events this year, the Builder’s Choice awards will be selected by some of the nation’s top builders, adding a unique air of prestige and offering award recipients customized, hand-crafted awards, said Goodguys.

Legends Dinner to Feature Five Decades of the Winternationals Stars

By Ashley Smissen , January 5, 2010 in News & Events

The NHRA community will be afforded a rare opportunity to hear stories from the drivers who lived it when NHRA hosts the Legends Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 13 in Pomona, California, as part of its weeklong celebration of the 50th running of the iconic Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals.

Shelby Autos Changes Name to Shelby American

By Ashley Smissen , December 29, 2009 in News & Events

Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc., will honor the 45th anniversary of the 427 Cobra and Shelby G.T.350 by consolidating its operations under the Shelby American banner.

Gene Winfield's "Maybellene" Cadillac To Be Auctioned Off in January

By Ashley Smissen , December 21, 2009 in News & Events

Gene Winfield designed his custom Cadillac "Maybellene" with the lyrics to Chuck Berry's song in mind.

After listening to Chuck Berry’s hit song “Maybellene,” legendary custom car builder and designer Gene Winfield decided he would build his own custom Cadillac that would be worthy of the name “Maybellene” and to serve as his personal drive-around custom.

When Winfield finished his dream car, he had created a show-stopping Cadillac masterpiece. And now this masterpiece will cross the auction block at the Russo Steele auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, on January 20-24, 2010.

“Speedy” Bill Smith Releases Autobiography

By Ashley Smissen , December 17, 2009 in Industry Voices, News & Events

Speedway Motors Fast Company Book Release “Speedy” Bill Smith, the colorful founder and president of Speedway Motors, has released a new book, Fast Company: Six Decades of Racers, Rascals and Rods, an autobiographical collection of the industry icon’s stories.

Mickey Thompson Exhibit Set to Open at NHRA Museum

By Ashley Smissen , December 8, 2009 in News & Events

The late Wally Parks and Mickey Thompson shown at Lions Drag Strip. Photo credit: Greg Sharp Collection.

Gale Banks Engineering and the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum are proud to present the Museum’s latest exhibit: “Mickey Thompson: First American to 400 mph,” which opens to the public on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals.

1933 Brizio Hemi Coupe Brings the Heat

By Ashley Smissen , November 20, 2009 in Rod Shops

1933 Brizio Hemi Coupe

During one of his visits to Brizio’s South San Francisco-based shop, businessman Jorge Zaragoza fell in love with a yellow 1933 Ford Hemi- powered coupe that was in the final stages of assembly at the shop. He decided to add a similar car to his already-impressive stable of collector cars.

Edelbrock’s 1946 Ford Woodie

By Ashley Smissen , July 13, 2009 in Rod Shops

HRR July Car of the Month

Woodies have long had a treasured place in the Edelbrock family history. After World War II, Vic Edelbrock Sr. started using woodies to tow his midget racing cars. In fact, according to Vic Jr., he would need to get a new woodie every year to tow the vehicles around California, to places like Gilmore on Thursday nights and to San Bernardino on Friday nights for races. He used them until the late 1940s, when a ’51 or ’54 Ford became his tow vehicle of choice. Later he would use a pickup truck.