SRT-8 Grand Cherokee Packing New 6.1L Hemi
Street Performance tires and wheels, a performance exhaust, a street performance stance - this isn't what most people would expect from a Grand Cherokee. But then this Grand Cherokee is powered by the new 6.1L V-8 Hemi and is rumored to produce between 380-420 hp. Our sources tell us that the launch of Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is imminent, but the rollout of the SRT versions of the Grand Cherokee and Magnum is timed for later in the year. A factory Jeep with street heat - who'd a thunk?
Study Recommends Closing California Air Resources Board
A study looking for ways to improve the efficiency of California's state government recommends closing down the California Air Resources Board, folding the board's scientific and regulatory functions into a new department of environmental protection. This thought has a lot of environmental activists and state and federal regulators worried. The reason they're worried is that they rely on the efforts of this board to basically make the rules that other states can follow regarding their emissions policies.
Automobile Club Of Southern California Signs Multi-Year Sponsorship Of Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
The Automobile Club of Southern California has signed an agreement to be the presenting sponsor of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California, according to museum officials. The Auto Club sponsorship includes a specially designated Automobile Club of Southern California area inside the museum that will feature a permanent display of historic racing memorabilia. As part of the deal, the Auto Club will also remain presenting sponsor of the annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield. The museum is available for private parties, meetings, corporate events, weddings, and special group tours. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, is located at Fairplex Gate 1, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona. For further information on special exhibits, museum events, or directions, contact: (909) 622-2133, http://museum.nhra.com.
Gale Banks Engineering Gearhead Bash
Every other year, Gale and Vicki Banks host a few hundred of their closest friends at what they call the Gearhead Bash. All the industry movers show up, and most bring their latest and greatest toys to share. The Banks' ranch has a beautiful park area, where they display a quality and range of cars and trucks you're not likely to see anywhere else. They had areas for hot rods, street rods, Corvettes, Rat rods, classic trucks, off-road trucks, and some odd marques that only television personalities can afford. By the way, if you missed the Gearhead Bash, be sure to fall by the Gale Banks Engineering booth at SEMA. The company hasn't displayed at SEMA in nearly 10 years, so we bet it'll take the spirit of the Gearhead Bash to Las Vegas.
1. Jay Leno cruised in with...
1. Jay Leno cruised in with his 190-inch-wheelbase custom-built hot rod powered with a Chrysler-built air-cooled engine from an M-47 Patton tank that makes around 1,500 lb-ft of torque.
2a. Most of the trucks at...
2a. Most of the trucks at the bash were classic - but they were cool classics.
2b.
3. There are plain old ordinary...
3. There are plain old ordinary hubcaps. And then there are hubcaps with style.
4. Gaylord's brought this...
4. Gaylord's brought this clean custom toy to the bash.
5. Here's a view of the Rat-rod...
5. Here's a view of the Rat-rod nest. That's a Cadillac-powered rod in the foreground with a late-'30s, early-'40s Dodge pickup, sporting three deuces and an attitude center frame.
Durango Sema Sport Truck
Here's a preview of a sport truck version of the new Dodge Durango. It's a project underway with a band of renegade stylists at DaimlerChrysler working in tandem with the purveyors of turbocharged power at Gale Banks Engineering. The Banks team is building a twin-turbo version of the 5.7 Hemi that'll spool up quick and make gobs of power. We're lobbying hard to put this sport truck to the test. The Hemi Durango is a great-handling piece with the factory Hemi, and we're itching to find out if it can be tuned to handling the power of a turbocharged Hemi.
Sema Project Preview
California Custom Sport Trucks of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and General Motors have partnered to create the Beverly Hills Touring Package GMC Yukon Denali XL to be featured at the 2004 SEMA show in Las Vegas, November 2-5. The vehicle will be displayed in Ground Force's booth inside the convention center.
The truck will feature a carbon-metallic paint with red and orange graphics and Steve Stanford paint design, applied by Teresa Crane. Body modifications will include a custom front bumper, hood, and Sir Michaels steel roll pan. Traffic Jams will install the mobile entertainment package, consisting of a flip-out head unit with DVD, XM radio, and navigation; JL Audio speakers and amplifiers; a KVH Trac Vision A5 antenna for mobile DIRECTV satellite television reception; and VizuaLogic headrest monitors and 15-inch flip-down. The truck will have a 2/3 Ground Force lowering kit installed as well as Hotchkis antisway bars. Its Brembo eight-piston calipers with 15-inch rotors put the stop to 24-inch Gianelle Milos-6 wheels shod with BFG's 24-inch tires. Performance will be accomplished by installing a MagnaCharger supercharger on top of the 6.0L V-8 with B&B stainless after-cat exhaust system and JET Performance module.
If you're headed to SEMA, it'll be in the Ground Force booth. If you want the shop to build you one, call (954) 981-7223.
FOX Racing, SMA Limited-Production H2
FOX Racing and SMA have partnered to build 500 limited H2s. You can find more information on this vehicle and where it can be seen at www.smahummer.com.
DaimlerChrysler Launches www.hemi.com
For more than 50 years, the Hemi engine has stood for unparalleled automotive power and performance. In response to the overwhelming interest and popularity of the Hemi engine, DaimlerChrysler has launched the official Hemi Web site (www.hemi.com), dedicated to Hemi owners and enthusiasts worldwide.