Legal Detroit Drag Racing - New Detroit Motorsports Venue?

Legal Drag Racing in Detroit

When the “No Holds Barred” Motor City Showdown legal drag race at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport was finally legitimized and given an official date, all Detroit and surrounding area car enthusiasts were ecstatic, to say the least. With the two closest drag strips to the Detroit area being long traffic crammed drives away, this gave illegal street racers a place to show off what they had without the worry of authorities or traffic intervening and with safety personnel on hand.

The event went off without a hitch and everyone seemed to have a blast. Detroit Police Chief James Craig kicked off the event with a parade of many classic-looking roadsters and hot rods. After the short but glamorous parade, the competition began. Drag racers and their cars from all across the Metropolitan area made many quarter-mile passes giving the jam-packed crowd and their cameras just what they wanted - smoky burnouts, wheelstands and side-by-side action-packed drag racing.

Now that the event has come and gone with such success, many racers and fans are wondering if it’s going to be an annual event or even better, will the washed-up airport be turned into a complete Motorsports venue. This thought has been tossed around at many city council meetings. Current Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is accepting proposals for what to do with the airport with a drag racing venue being just one of many other proposals. Other proposals include an update and revamp to the airport, an area designated for techno dance clubs, and others that haven’t been publicly announced yet.

Although the Detroit airport is still in use it has not had regular service from commercial airliners in 15 years and is on pace for a $1.3 million loss for the 2017 fiscal year. With Detroit still trying to recover from its most recent major economic decline, the job opportunities a Motorsports venue will create would be ideal. And just like with Detroit’s professional sporting events, concerts, auto shows, and the many other activities that Detroit puts on every year, it will only help bring business to a city that desperately needs it. There is also talk about moving the very profitable Detroit Grand Prix to the new Motorsports venue if it gets built. This would help with some of the conflicts that Detroit has been having with the Grand Prix in the last few years.

So what’s the verdict? Mayor Mike Durgan just recently got re-elected, and from what everyone seems to understand is that he likes the Motorsports venue idea and is eager to do something profitable with the airport. We also have two major problems in the city - drugs and illegal drag racing. With a place nearby to drag race legally, that would definitely help combat the drag racing problems (Detroit has always had a bad one), and adding techno dance clubs to the city would probably help promote more opportunities for drug use and drug distribution. To me, it sounds like a Motorsports venue would be a win-win for the city of Detroit.  

Brian Olatunji and his group Leadfoot Events LLC. are the ones that came up with the idea for the “No Holds Barred” Motor City Showdown. Brian is a native of the city and a professional drag racer. He says, “We hope that this will bring tourism and highlight the city no different than other major events such as the Thanksgiving parade and the auto show”

It could do just that. With the right amount of big names behind a state-of-the-art Motorsports venue, getting big money IHRA and NHRA events to Detroit might be something the city could end up seeing. With Kalitta Flying Services located next to the Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti about 50 miles outside of Detroit - the owners of the mega-aviation business are some of NHRA Top/Fuel drag racing’s biggest faces - and that could really help way in on a decision to bring another professional race event to the Motor City.

As far as a permanent answer, Detroit should have one for the second annual “No Holds Barred” Motor City Showdown by spring of 2018, with more information on more permanent plans for the airport by the fall of next year.

Electric Corvette Ready To Go Into Production

Electric Corvette

Would you feel comfortable in a Corvette that doesn’t rumble like America’s most iconic sports car? The guys at Genovation Cars believe that this will be the future for all cars including cars like Challengers, Camaros, Mustangs, etc. So to see if this generation is ready for that type of technology, Genovation Cars will put an all-electric sports car into production that is based on the seventh-generation Corvette Z06.   

The Genovation GXE Corvette is the fastest electric car in the world breaking its previous record of 205.6-mph with a top speed of 289.481-mph. The current Corvette we have been seeing in videos breaking these records was based on the six-generation Z06 whereas the Corvette that will be going into production will be based on the seventh-generation.

Making this move to production all possible is the Genovation’s decision to team up with two very tech-driven companies. The first partnership that the Genovation team formed is with the Michigan-based Prefix Corporation. Prefix will be in charge of vehicle prototyping, engineering, integration and vehicle production planning. The other partnership that Genovation has created is with a California-based corporation called Stafl Systems. This well-respected team of engineers will be responsible for the electrical systems, battery-pack integration, powertrain refinement and performance.

“We’re thrilled to have begun the next evolution of the GXE with these two world-class partners,” Andrew Saul, CEO of Genovation Cars, Inc. says. “We’re a driven team that is focused on offering the highest performing street-legal electric car in the world.”

The development of the prototypes for the seventh-generation Genovation GXE Corvette is on the way at the Prefix Corporation's headquarters. You can expect to see a debut of these electric sports cars at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas early next year. When Genovation starts taking orders for the Corvettes, how much can you expect to pay? Well, the number that comes up the most is around $750,000. So yes, these cars are not being produced for the average Corvette enthusiast.  

2018 Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Hot Wheels Edition

2018 Hot Wheels Edition Camaro 

Back in 2013, Camaro offered up a Hot Wheels Special Edition Camaro that came with a Kinetic Blue Metallic paint job. For 2018, Camaro will be offering another Hot Wheels Edition to celebrate Hot Wheels' 50th Anniversary. This time the Camaro will be dressed up with a Crush Orange paint job. Although some might think that the Camaro color is the famous Camaro Hugger Orange, it’s not. The Crush orange is actually a tribute to Hot Wheels' iconic orange race tracks they produced for many years.

Stretched across the center of the Camaro, running from bumper-to-bumper, are a set of Satin Graphite racing stripes with Ice Metallic accents. Along with the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition package comes Satin Graphite ground effects, blacked-out bowtie badges, 50th Anniversary Hot Wheels fender emblems, darker tail lights, and orange brake calipers. Hot Wheels-inspired 20-inch wheels with Chevrolet center caps round out the bold but sleek-looking special edition exterior looks.

The interior has its own set of goodies. Special Hot Wheels Edition door sills pop right out at you when you open up the door. The gorgeous Jet Black interior is trimmed with Crush Orange stitching and other orange inserts like knee pads, door panel inserts, custom-made seats, and more. You’ll even find a Hot Wheels logo on your steering wheel for a constant reminder of your special edition purchase.

These 2018 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition packages can be ordered on the 2018 2LT and 2SS Camaros for $4,995.00. At the 2017 SEMA Show Chevrolet introduced the new 2018 COPO Camaro Hot Wheels Edition with an updated 302 small block race engine. Most of the special accented parts and accessories that you receive on the Hot Wheels 2SS and 2LT trim models are the same on the COPO with two big exceptions. The wheels and tires are different and beefier to accommodate competition racing, and on the doors and quarter panels of the COPO is a pretty good-sized Hot Wheels 50th-anniversary decal that is a little lighter shade of orange than the Crush Orange. So although a pretty big decal, it’s not intrusive to the exterior look.

The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition can be ordered both with the coupe and the convertible. These are going to be limited edition Camaros, and orders have already been being processed with delivery dates sometime in the spring of 2018.  

65th Anniversary Corvette Carbon 65 Edition

If you like your cars decked out in carbon fiber, then you will really like what Corvette has in store for their 65th anniversary edition. To celebrate 65 years of being the baddest American sports car ever put into mass production, Corvette will offer 650 2018 Corvette Carbon 65 limited edition cars.

These limited edition 2018 Corvettes will be offered on the Grand Sport and Z06 models. Both convertible and coupe versions will be available, and all Carbon 65 editions will come with a unique VIN and an interior plaque highlighting the build number.

Like with most special edition cars, the big changes for the 2018 Corvette Carbon 65 are visual upgrades. A new exterior color is introduced. The Ceramic Matrix Gray looks more like a white then a gray but still looks great trimmed in carbon fiber with blue brake caliper covers and unique blue Carbon 65 fender decals.

Blue Convertible Top

Carbon fiber exterior parts include hood, ground effects, spoiler, roof, or tonneau inserts if it’s a convertible, wheel center caps and more. All Corvette Grand Sport models will come with cup-style wheels while Corvette Z06 models will come with blade-style wheels.  

On to the interior, as you open the door, you will notice special edition Carbon 65 door sill plates with the Corvette flag emblems on them. The seats are competition units with carbon fiber inserts in the head rest. You will also have a carbon fiber steering wheel ring among other carbon fiber inserts. Much of the rest of the interior will be wrapped in jet black suede with blue stitching giving the interior its usual elegant sporty feel.

To get a closer look at the 2018 Corvette Carbon 65 edition, some dealerships might have one on hand, but there will definitely be a few at the SEMA show. Pricing is unannounced for the time being, but they will go on sale sometime in the first quarter of 2018.

2018 Corvette ZR1: LT5 Overhead Cams

Nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to a prototype that has only been seen in camouflage, but as far as the ZR1 is concerned, we know that it exists, and more and more about it leaks out every week. It should come as no surprise that although the Z06 is probably the baddest American sports car on sale to date, the 2018 Corvette ZR1 will be just that much more badass.

One of the stretched out rumors that has just about come confirmed now is that the ZR1 will be receiving a supercharged LT5 overhead cam powerplant. Amongst the whispers about it for the last year from just about everyone, there are also other indicators. For instance, the massive tall hood is taller than any other hood that Corvette has ever used. This room the hood provides is needed since an overhead cam setup is much taller than an in-block cam engine. The supercharger is a no-brainer when you hear the Corvette drive around the Nurburgring track, the unmistakable whine gives it away.     

The other change that the video will show - believe or not - there will probably be an automatic option for the new ZR1 Corvette. When you hear the Vette whipping around the track, there is no doubt that the up and down shifts are so quick and precise that it’s not something that can be replicated by a human hand. What kind of automatic will be offered? Probably the 10-speed automatic that is offered along with the ZL1 Camaro.

Exterior options seem like they’re going to be broaden this time as well. In an attempt to bring in more sales, it’s highly speculated that there will be a convertible option. A lot of Corvette enthusiast may hate this idea, but the convertibles that Corvette has on the market now are extremely stiff and capable of handling a lot of power and tough cornering. It looks like there will be two different spoiler options, a bigger front splitter option and a few other hidden aerodynamic upgrades that are concealed by the camouflage. The reason for the different and bigger spoiler and spittler options could be because Corvette is in the works for a 1LE option like they have introduced on the ZL1.    

When can we expect a debut date? That’s still unknown, but as time goes on, we will probably hear and see more of the 2018 Corvette ZR1 assuming they’ll have to take it out for more and more test runs. There is a rumor out there - restated by Road & Track - there is a strong possibility that it will be unveiled at the National Corvette Museum.

Whatever the case, I hope it’s soon.

Long Awaited 2018 BUICK REGAL GS

We’ve seen many different renderings and prototypes of what the 2018 Buick Regal GS could look like, and we’ve heard many different rumors about how this current Regal will create a power takeover like the turbo Regals of the late ‘80s. But we all kind of knew that Buick wouldn’t and couldn’t put something out that would take away from the current extremely successful Camaros and Corvettes like it did over 25 years ago. 

Although still a stunningly good-looking car, the four-door sedan hardly looks as aggressive and mean as some Buick fans may have been waiting for. Regardless of what you were hoping for, this 2018 Buick Regal GS still has a lot to offer. Upgrading from the 2.0 turbocharged engine that the base Regal comes standard with, the Regal GS will come equipped with a 3.6-liter Direct Injection 310 horsepower V6. The 282-lb-ft of torque is distributed smoothly at all RPMs by use of GM’s nine-speed automatic transmission. With standard cylinder-deactivation and start/stop technology, the Regal GS is very capable of being a well-rounded economical car while at the same time providing you with plenty of power for plenty of fun.  

Helping you handle all that power and fun is a standard all-wheel-drive system with an active twin-clutch, but maybe the most overlooked features on the Regal GS is the Second Generation Continuous Damping Control suspension and Interactive Drive Control. Together these two features combined use a Driving Control Module to monitor your acceleration, braking, and cornering to adjust in just milliseconds all four dampers to better accommodate to your driving style. The Driving Control Module can also monitor behaviors like lateral and longitudinal acceleration, steering wheel motion, throttle response, and vehicle speeds.

You can also choose between three different driving modes: Standard, GS, and Sport. Each mode will offer you a different set of driving parameters by affecting your throttle response, steering sensitivity, and shift patterns of your automatic transmission. All and all, no matter the situation or the driving condition you plan on encountering, the 2018 Buick Regal GS can help you handle them all.

The exterior of this four-door sedan uses a set of bold upgraded front and rear fascias, side skirts, and a rear spoiler to match the aggressive power the Regal GS manages to offer. An optional set of full LED headlights will go great with the standard Buick waterfall grille. Brembo Brakes, a sport tuned exhaust, and 19-inch rims also come standard for the Regal GS. One other thing that a lot of people might not notice right away is the sporty sedan is actually a hatchback.  

On the inside, you will find an 8-inch touch screen infotainment setup with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and an easy to read 8-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster. Heated and cooled massaging performance seats fit right in with the heated flat bottom steering wheel and metal pedals. These amenities won’t only make you feel right at home, but they will also help remind you that you're driving the high-performance Buick Regal. Safety won’t ever be an issue either. The optional Driver Confidence II package offers you Front Pedestrian Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Automatic Braking, Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning.

Production will come to an end for the Regal in Oshawa, Canada and resume in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The 2018 Buick Regal GS that is based off an Opel Insignia chassis will go on sale in late 2017 with a starting price of $39,990.00.

New Corvette Discount - $8,000?

Corvettes are expensive and getting a deal on them from the dealership is an almost unheard of phenomena. But from now until about May 1st of 2018, you might have a chance to purchase a brand new Corvette ZO6 or Grand Sport equipped with a set of Carbon-Fiber Brembo brakes with an $8,000 discount.

The discount will come in the form of a three-part deal. The first part is a loyalty discount. This will give you a $2,000 rebate if you are already a proud owner of a Corvette. The second rebate will come on all Corvettes with the high-performance brake setup. Chevrolet has yet to make a statement on the reason why they are offering this discount, but purchase any Corvette with the high-performance brake package and you will get a $5,000 discount. Usually, when a car company beefs up the performance of a vehicle they also beef up the price, but for a $5,000 discount, why ask any questions. Your last rebate will be a $1,000 “Bonus Tag” discount for a total savings of $8,000. Again, it’s very rare to find new Corvettes with marked-down prices or big discounts, so the answer to the question of why? It’s kind of a mystery. One could only speculate that increasing sales and making room for more Corvettes that are coming in the near future would be the reason. Maybe statistically the Corvettes with the Brembo brake package don’t sell as well. Let’s face it, unless you are planning on doing some serious road racing, the heavy duty brakes won’t do you a lot of good and will leave you about $5,000 lighter in your pocketbook.