Sounds good Harris!  I may not be able to make it down that early, but a friend that might be accompanying me might have access to a house that we can stay at for free, so if that's the case then I will try and stay the entire week since hotel costs will not be an issue.

Performance Autosport shows off new livery for their Mustang RTR race car
Source: Mustangsdaily.com

We’ve been following Performance Autosport and driver Chris Cobetto since they debuted their NASA American Iron race car in 2011. Not only does the team have lots of success on track,  as they not only have a lot of success on track, winning two straight Mid-Atlantic American Iron championships, but their cars are also beautifully designed. The same goes for the latest iteration of the car, which Performance Autosport debuted this weekend with updated 2013 RTR bodywork and an all new race livery that they describe as a “darker, meaner, more menacing look.”

It’s not all cosmetic, though, as the PAS Mustang has been upgraded with a new suspension system from CorteX Racing including their SLA front suspension and Xtreme-Grip watts-link at the rear.

The new Performance Autosport Mustang RTR will make its racing debut this weekend at Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia.

















http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/04/25/performance-autosport-new-livery-mustang-rtr-race-car/

Ford’s Flat Rock Facility Births Its Millionth Mustang
Source: Caranddriver.com
April 19, 2013 at 1:09 pm by Andrew Wendler

Exactly 49 years after being publicly introduced as the Mustang at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, the one-millionth Mustang to be produced in Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan, facility rolled off the assembly line. A ruby-red 2014 Mustang convertible observed the ceremonial honors, fittingly piloted by Ed Salna, 27-year plant veteran, and Raj Nair, Ford’s vice president for global product development. The event also marks the 50th year of continuous Mustang production, which moved to Ford’s Flat Rock facility in 2004. Ford has recently invested $555 million in the plant, and production of the Ford Fusion within its walls will commence this fall.

Originally produced at Ford’s legendary and imposing Rouge complex located a few miles to the north, the popularity of the first-generation Mustang grew so swiftly that Ford was forced to bring online additional plants in New Jersey and California to satiate public demand. Within two years, Mustang production would hit its first million-car milestone, essentially creating the pony-car segment in the process. To date, more than 8.5 million Stangs have been sold.

Although at the time, Ford refereed to it as “the working man’s Thunderbird,” the Mustang quickly developed an audience that crossed all social-economic and gender barriers, a trait that helped it sell more than 400,000 units in its first year of production. Ford played to this characteristic wisely over the next half a century, always making sure each generation of Mustang was available in varying levels of trim ranging from thrifty four-cylinders to V-8–endowed pavement pounding monsters.

The original Mustang’s launch still stands as one of the most effective product campaigns in modern history, and you can count on Ford squeezing every ounce of publicity from the Mustang’s 50th anniversary it can. In the meantime, why not peruse our gallery of Mustangs spanning its 49-year history?

http://blog.caranddriver.com/fords-flat-rock-facility-births-its-millionth-mustang-mustang-mega-gallery/

Imagine if they used that line today, it would probably be laughed into the ground.

Eleanor Hero Car from Gone in 60 Seconds going up for auction at Mecum
Source: Mustangsdaily.com

A true movie star will make its way down Mecum’s signature red carpet this May in Indianapolis. Known by most simply as “Eleanor,” the modified 1967 Ford Mustang from Touchstone Pictures’ “Gone in 60 Seconds” will cross the block as Lot S135 at Dana Mecum’s 26th Original Spring Classic auction this May 14-19. This collector car icon piloted in the movie by retired master car thief Memphis Raines, played by Nicholas Cage, is the real McCoy. Several cars were built to handle various duties in the filming of “Gone,” but this is serial number 7R02C179710, the “Hero” car driven by Cage during filming and the model used in movie close-ups, posters and promotional materials.

Built by Cinema Vehicle Services with the help of master designer Chip Foose, the body pieces of Eleanor were mocked up on a Mustang using clay and wood. Molds were then made to produce a new fiberglass front end filled with high-powered PIAA driving lights, new fender flares, side skirts and scoops, hood and trunk lid. To give the car big-screen performance, it was treated to a 351/400 HP Ford crate engine, which shares room with a front subframe body brace by Total Control Products, LLC. This progenitor of the Eleanor revolution is relatively untouched inside with the exception of an Autometer Sport Comp Monster tach, fire extinguisher, Go-Baby-Go shift knob button for Line Lock and a switch for activating a nitrous injection system.

“Eleanor has become one of the most widely recognized movie star muscle cars in the world, so when the decision was made to offer the ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ Hero car for sale, Mecum’s Spring Classic auction in Indianapolis seemed like the perfect venue,” commented Ray Claridge, owner of Cinema Vehicle Services. Set to be offered directly from the builder on Saturday, May 18 at the original, best and largest muscle car auction, this is truly the car that started it all.

Thirty-two hours of the Indianapolis auction will be broadcast live on Discovery’s Velocity Network with the entire auction streaming live on Mecum’s website at www.mecum.com. Mecum’s Indy auction is open to buyers, sellers and spectators. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day and general admission can be purchased at the door for $20 per person; children 12 and younger will be admitted at no cost. For more information on the auction or to register as a bidder, visit www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.































[Source: Mecum Auctions]

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/04/01/eleanor-hero-car-gone-in-60-seconds-auction-mecum/

That is awesome!  He's got a sweet ride, his own team, girls, and lots of tires to burn through.  Living the dream.