We still await the ultimate version of Vanishing Point that would include a tribute to driver and stunt coordinator Cary Loftin, whose brilliant piloting skills made that white Challenger practically dance on film. It would also be good to see something on Max Balchowsky who maintained and modified the cars through production and was a legendary racer in his own right. How about interviews with star Barry Newman and writer Guillermo Cain? And we'd really like more photos and information about that girl riding on the motorcycle
Scouting a Vette
Obviously, today's scouting is more than just learning how to tie knots. Mid America Motorworks (formerly Mid America Direct, www.madirect.com) donated parts and accessories to Explorer Scouts restoring a '73 Corvette that will be displayed at the '04 Autorama Show in Detroit. The Explorer Scouts in the Detroit area are participating in a program in which they restore a car every year.
"For years, GM and the UAW have partnered to support Detroit-area Explorers," said Mid America founder, Mike Yager. "This year, they asked for our help in restoring a '73 Corvette."
Participating in the program exposes the young men and women to all phases of the industry from basic automotive repair to CAD/CAM projects to manufacturing. Each year, as part of the program, the Explorers restore or modify famous GM cars. The Explorers do all bodywork, mechanical repair, and other tasks. All work is done at the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan, under the guidance of 50 UAW Local 160 and GM Tech Center volunteers who donate their time.
The Explorers create award-winning cars. At the '03 Autorama, the Explorers won First in Class for their restored '56 Chevrolet 210 four-door sedan and Second in Class for their modified '98 Pontiac Trans Am.
"At Autorama, the Explorers compete against the nation's leading restorers and customizers. To enter two cars and win a First Place and a Second Place is a tremendous tribute to their dedication and skill," said Yager.
Legislative Alert
California is after the hot rodders again. California State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-District 22) has introduced another bill intended to repeal the current pro-car-crafting provision that allows emissions testing exemption of cars 30 years or older. Lieber's bill would abolish this and require permanent testing of all post-'76 vehicles.
If this sounds like a bad California rerun, that's exactly what it is. The current administration has failed to achieve its air-quality goals and is now grasping for any type of plan that will help. This effort is contrary to the overwhelming evidence that shows that older cars represent such a small percentage of the total vehicle population that these changes will deliver no positive movement toward cleaner air.
To fight this newest threat to older hot rods in California, contact State Assemblywoman Lieber at: Assemblywoman.Lieber@assemblyca.gov. Or you can go to www.sema.org and click on the consumer button. This will tell you how to contact your state representative.
Top10List
Top 10 High-Perf Partnerships of All Time
Throughout automotive history there have been partnerships that have defined motorsports and motoring. Most are duos, there's one trio, but they all prove many heads are better than one.
1. Sox & Martin: Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin pretty much defined what it meant to be professional drag racers just about the time when professional drag racers came into existence. During the infancy of Pro Stock, they won 9 events of the first 23 in their Hemi 'Cuda before OEM four-speed manual transmissions vanished. They were the class of Pro Stock and still are.