MUSCLE CAR MANIA

The Agent was flipping through the pages of his new AutoWeek magazine and saw a couple of items that gave him a little pause. Seems like baby-boomers just can't get enough of the Sixties era muscle cars, as there was a photo of a tube-framed '69 big block Camaro that is going to be built and sold as a latter day version of the old Baldwin/Motion Performance Coupe. The hand-built car is evidently going to be very expensive when it is debuted at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas (the price has not yet beem determined). The magazine also had a couple of photos of the new Chip Foose limited edition '06 Mustang which will result from a collaboration between legendary Ford guy Chip Foose and Mike Ashley's former sponsor Doug Hasty and his Unique Performance group. [8-25-2005]

KLOEBER GOING 'MANO A MONO' WITH THE IHRA

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Even though NHRA and their tech department evidently decided to withdraw the approval that Mike Kloeber thought he had from them, he is going forward with his newly developed, FIA approved (we think) mono-strut wing design. Instead of debuting the mono-strut car with the IHRA and then bringing it to NHRA, the car will run only at IHRA events for the time being, Kloeber told the Agent.

It would be very interesting if a lot of the Top Fuel teams at IHRA who also run NHRA find that in IHRA competition the mono-wing works better and they have to have a mono-car to keep pace. [8-25-2005]

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Less than 30 days from today, cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you can start to receive sales calls. You will be charged for these calls to your cell phone. To prevent this, the Agent suggests you call the National Do Not Call List from your cell phone at 1-888-382-1222. It will only take a minute of your time and it blocks your number for five years. You can also register online at www.donotcall.gov. [8-25-2005]

A BEE IN YER BONNET

It seems as though racer Ron Capps had a bee fly into his Funny Car while staging at Memphis. It also seems that Capps does not like bees; he REALLY does not like bees. Now, the Agent can relate to the panicky feeling that resulted, as in his youth the Agent jumped out of a (slowly) moving car to avoid a bee that had flown in the window. However, resident DRO poet, Bob Fisher, could not let the incident pass without notice. Check out No Rhyme Nor Reason. [8-25-2005]

FOLEY & LEWIS EXTEND TEAM THROUGH 2007

Team Owners Doug Foley (shown) and Tim Lewis of Foley and Lewis Racing, currently second and fourth in the IHRA Top Fuel point standings, have committed to two more years of racing.

"With Torco Racing Fuels/Skull Gear taking over the primary sponsorship of both team cars, we have the opportunity to focus on competing to the best of our ability while continually looking at new marketing opportunities to continue the team's growth," Foley said. He added, ". . .with Evan Knoll's continued support of our race team we have decided to ink Rick Cooper to a two-year extension, keeping both cars competing well into the future." (Greg Lortz photo) [8-25-2005]