Indholdsfortegnelse for March 1969 i Hot Rod

Honda's 450 Scrambler doesn't kid around. Its looks should tip you off. It comes in wild colors like candy red and blue. Or sleek black. And the swept back tail pipes and trim fenders give it just the right amount of chrome. It looks mean … and it is. The 43 bhp DOHC engine powers the 450 through the quarter in 13.5. And keeps the big bike flying up to 110 mph. Other exciting features include a great new five-speed transmission, independent speedometer and tach, and electric starter. The Scrambler 450 is right at home off the road. And when you do get it on the highway… better take along a drag chute. This is the twin that will really move you. To prove it, try keeping up with this…

The World War II “baby boom,” the ubiquitous Volkswagen, a country-wide mania for do-it-yourself projects, an abundance of leisure time, and a temperate environment are key factors in the phenomenal growth of the lightweight “hot rods.” In numbers, these “new concept” rods are more than equal to the '32 Ford-type street rods that became the standard-bearer of the sport. How did all this happen? Quickly, very quickly, my friend. In the early 1950's, vehicles of every type and description that had been nursed through WW II were carted to the sand dunes and desert areas of the Southwest and flogged unmercifully by small clusters of free-swinging ex-GI's who had enjoyed a good ride or two in a drab, four-cylinder do-all called a Jeep. Throughout the 'fifties, the sedans continued to…

American Motors and Hurst have collaborated on the custom-built SC/Rambler. It's a limited production car; only 500 units are planned at this time. Enough to qualify the SC/Rambler for stock classes in drag racing. The price is $2,998! Which is very little money when you see what it buys. 1. 390 cubic inch AMX V-8 Engine. 2.4-speed all-synchromesh closeratio transmission. 3.Special Hurst 4-speed shift linkage with T-handle. 4.A Sun tach mounted on the steering column. 5.Dual Exhaust system with specialtone mufflers and chrome extensions. 6.Functional Hood Scoop for coldair induction. 7.Twin-Grip differential. 8.10 1/2 “diameter clutch. 9.54:1 axle ratio. 10.Power disc brakes (front). 11.Rear axle torque links. 12.Handling package (heavy…. duty front sway bar plus heavy duty springsand shocks). 13.Heavy-duty cooling system (heavy-duty radiator, power-flex fan and fan shroud). 14.A…

THE RECORD GOODYEAR TIRES WERE ON 126 WINNING CARS ALL OTHER TIRES WERE ON ONLY 31 WINNING CARS WINNERS GO Their tires: GOODYEAR BLUE STREAKX Racing Tires…

Norm LaRiccia held the D/MP record at various times in three associations for three years, then built this new E/MP '55 Chevy for '68. With it he holds the NHRA e.t. record at 12.26, set when he captured his class at the Nationals. He also led the points race in Div. 3. Rolling on Cragar wheels and M&H rubber, the Chevy features a 268-inch mill, completely gone through by Skeeter Jordan of Speed Equipment Company in Cleveland. A Crane 286 cam and kit, valves, and polish job let it breathe. An M/T manifold with dual quads, Jardine headers, Weber steel flywheel and Schiefer clutch, along with a Mallory Mini-Mag, provide the power needed. The Chevy sports a '57 Poncho rear end with 5.57 gears, Henry's axles, Cure-Ride shocks, coils with…

A steelworker by trade, 40-year-old Tom Thimis still digs roadsters, proving there is no generation gap around his pad. He belonged to the Ramblers of San Francisco back in '45, left rods for a while, then began helping buddy Andy Brizio build chassis in his spare time. Tom's 'T' was one of the first of Andy's “Instant T's.” The frame of 2x 4x.120-inch tubing, is of 96-inch wheelbase, sports a Pete Ogden tube axle and Ford spring up front, a '56 Chevy rear end with coils on top, plus an anti-sway bar. A modified Corvair steering with Grant wheel guides the Chevy front spindles. Steve Archer built the 'glass '23 'T' body, upholstered in black leather by Mack. S-W gauges were installed in one of Andy's wood dash panels, wired…

Louis Chevrolet himself would be proud of this fire-breathing B/Gas 427 cu. in. 'Vette. Owner/builder Dan Roberts can justifiably take great pride in his handiwork. Stockappearing '56 'Vette body rests on a really way-out chassis, designed by Dan, that incorporates some very interesting and unusual ideas in suspension and weight transfer theory. Turn a few more pages and get a look at the underside of this quick rodent. The 427 engine breathes via a set of Hilborn port injectors, with ram tube intakes. A Sig Erson cam controls the breathing, while a stock '68 ignition with a 10-degree curve handles the firing. Stock rods have been shotpeened and Magnafluxed, with Ramco Double-Moly rings being used on the stock pistons. A Hays steel flywheel and clutch assembly is used to get…

Bob Steokley of Steakley Brothers Chevrolet, located in Waco and Dallas, Texas, entered the D/G ranks with a stormin' 1957 Chevy Bel Air. Average e.t. is 11.40 at 120 mph. The 350-cubic-inch engine was built by Bob Steakley and Tommy Dodd, with credit for balancing and blueprinting going to Wayne Calvert of Denton, Texas. Milodon 4-bolt main caps secure a Crankshaft Company radiused, hard-chromed, and counterbalanced crank. CSC also supplied the shot-peened and boxed NASCAR rods fitted to the Forgedtrue lightened and buttoned 2-ringer pistons. Other goodies include radiused Valley heads, Hunt magneto, Crane rocker arms, Sig Erson 990R roller cam. Aviaid 9-qt. oil pan, Hilborn injectors, Hays 40-pound flywheel, Schiefer Rev-Lok setup, and Jardine headers. The Chevy 4-speed trans with Hurst linkage mates to a 6.17:1 '60 Olds rear…

STEAM AT INDY?... Race cars powered by steam may be in the starting line-up for the 53rd annual Indianapolis 500 next May 30. Speedway president Anton (Tony) Hulman recently re-emphasized the Speedway's policy of encouraging the development of all types of engines and announced that the '69 entry form will provide for such vehicles on a conditional basis. He said that lack of information concerning the performance qualities of such propulsion systems at this time makes it impossible to establish precise maximum “specs” comparable to those already in effect for other types of engines. However, Hulman also stated that the supplementary regulations for the race will give the speedway the right to reject or accept such an entry, pending a thorough evaluation of it, and that this may necessitate a…

The first automobile overdrive that can be used with automatic transmissions has been developed by engineers at the Borg-Warner Corporation. It is described as a super-high gear that adds at least 10 percent to gas mileage under normal driving conditions, while making quieter, smoother highway cruising possible. The unit can also be used with manual transmissions and can be installed in-any new or used passenger car, light pickup truck, or camper. John C. Estelle, group Vice President Transmission products, said that the device is being discussed with auto makers and is soon expected to become available as an option. An important aspect of the new unit is the fact that both engine and drivetrain can run 30 percent slower than normal during most of the vehicle's life span, which means…

Bob Joehnck, one of the sharpest engine men in the country, exhibited this foolproof wiring on a Trans-Am-prepared car. By bringing individual wiring into the battery terminal for such vital items as fuel pump and tach, trouble is eliminated; and if problems do arise during the heat of battle, they are quickly isolated, since all wiring and terminals are exposed. This is also the reason for exposed switches and wiring in the cockpit of the Camaro. BIKE MAP Even if you don't plan to go off-road racing, it's a good idea to have an area map. This one is attached to a roller and mounted inside a box which is secured to the tank of the bike. Many an off-roader has had an anxious moment or two when he realized…

Have you ever considered tuning your engine for proper fuel mixture strength by observing the color of the combustion flame? Likely not, but a company in England gave this subject deep consideration and came up with an engine tuning kit for variablejet carburetors that does precisely this: allows you to see the color of the combustion flame while your engine is running. Change jets, or adjust them, thus changing the mixture, and the color of the flame changes. Known as a Colortune engine tuning kit, this unit is available in this country through Jack McAfee Motors in Burbank, California, for only $19.95 per copy. We obtained one of the units and gave it a try on a 318-inch Dodge engine, two-barrel variety. Though the instruction sheet illustrates SU and Zenith…

HOT ROD MART Requirements: 25 word limit per ad, not including name and address. We reserve right to edit copy or refuse ads. While not responsible for accuracy of description, we will reject misleading statements. No ads from commercial firms. Only one car may be listed in any one ad; this limitation not to apply to parts or equipment, however. $10 per ad must accompany each insertion. When photo is included, the rate is increased to $15 per insertion. Due to normal publication schedule, allow at least two months from time ad is received until it is printed. SELL — 1956 Chevy w/396 Chevy engine, Hooker headers, Muncie 4-speed, Hurst 9” slicks, Traction Masters, I-beam axle, custom body, white rolled/ pleated interior. Must sell. $1500 or offer. John Heiney, 19…

From this day on, you don't have to depend on an off-the-shelf fuel system to make you a winner. The Carter Competition Series is here. Every piece is competition-engineered for competitive driving conditions. If you're a competitor, these components were designed for you. The Thermo•Quad™ era has begun. Big in performance, and big in CFM. That's new Thermo •Quad. The Thermo•Quad is the. Carburetor known as “the hot one that runs cool.” Thermo•Quad's new and unique fuel bowl is made of mineral fill phenolic resin, not metal, so the fuel stays 15 to 20 degrees cooler than in conventional carburetors to fight vapor lock and fuel starvation. Two Thermo•Quad models-one an 850 CFM and the other an incredible 1000 CFM-give you something for both big and couldn't-be-bigger engines. The huge…

Cars are your way of life. You've built 'em from the ground up. You know how to get that last horse. All right. Where do you go from here? Do you want your own service shop? Maybe you'd like to be sitting in Detroit designing the cars of tomorrow. Or, you want to be an automotive or aeronautical engineer. Wishing won't make it so. These jobs take special training. You have to know the mathematics behind the mechanics, the geometry of design, the structure of a successful business. How do you get this training? You can do it through the success-proven I. C.S. method of home study. I.C.S. Courses are prepared by automotive and mechanical experts, who know what you need to know to go places. Everything you learn you…

While the major sanctioning bodies put on large national meets in various parts of the country, a few major drag strips and promoters are beginning to follow suit with series of their own. One such strip, the beautiful Orange County International Raceway, located in Southern California, recently initiated their 1969 All-Pro Championship Series. The All-Pro meets are held at OCIR once a month over a four-month period, with a total cash purse of $32,000. Final funny and dragster winners at every meet pocket $1500 each, along with garnering “Championship Series'' points. The next three runners-up in each division are also awarded reasonable cash prizes at each meet. The introductory meet, though nearly rained out, was a smashing success, with no fewer than 26 of the nation's fastest and quickest fuel…

The cars in Ford's Performance Corner have to be winners. So we called all our competition engineers together and built a new road car—Boss 429. We start with the same 429 block casting the NASCAR boys get. We four-bolt the mains, put in a forged steel crank, forged rods with 3/8 inch bolts, and forged pop-up pistons. She redlines at six and a half grand. On top we went a little ape. Aluminum heads mated to the deck, huge canted valves that open way up on hydraulic I lifters and forged rocker arms that just don't bend. Ports are oversized, chambers are crescent shaped. Manually I controlled Ram-Air induction comes on strong via a 735 cfm 4-barrel Holley and aluminum high riser manifold. It all I adds up to 375…

Oddly enough, many racers are still using, or have been using, so-called 90/10 shocks, for no particular reason other than that they seem to be the hot setup. They were —five or six years ago. Since then, tire development has come so far that the theory of 90/10 shocks has long been obsolete. Lift — how quick and how much — has been the big question. Apparently, successful racers prefer the front end to lift as much as possible, but not immediately or too quickly. Of course, the trend is now favoring 20/80 shocks, which allow the front end to lift with greater resistance but settle faster; many swear that 20/80's are the answer. One fellow who isn't satisfied with what is available in the line of shock absorbers is…

A few years ago, two guys decided to team up and go racing, professional-style. And from the beginning, the “Old Reliable” team was among the most successful racing teams in the history of the sport. Back in 1961, they set the very first NHRA National stock car record in OS/S at 13.24 and 106.64, and since have amassed over 20 National Records. Even with their staggering list of racing accomplishments, Dave Strickler and Bill Jenkins haven't finished casting their bid for eliminator titles. The '68 World Finals was a prime example of their intent to penetrate all eliminator events. With the '68 Super Stock crown in their corner, the “Old Reliable” will be exceptionally hard to beat this season. Along with the heavy race schedule for the '69 season, the…

Tom and Jim Tignanelli are lucky to have a dad like Bob, a guy interested in cars. After a number of years running sprinters, he switched to a '47 Ford with hemi Chrysler, a show car. Then the boys started to drive. Three drag cars led to this sleek tri-colored '68 Dodge Charger. Dad built the car, based on a Logghe chassis, at his Shadowood Auto Center. Tom, a Chrysler mechanic, built the Hilborn-injected hemi. Al Bergler did the aluminum work. The Chrysler mill contains such goodies as an Isky 590 cam and kit, TRW pistons with Dykes rings, Mallory igniter, Hooker headers, Schiefer flywheel backed up by an M & M Automotive ClutchFlite trans, and super-race head work by Bartley Kenyon. Twin Eelco fuel tanks feed Sunoco petrol to…

owners: Bilby-Densham-Plueger Bellflower, California car: '27 'T' Chrysler A/GS The '69 Chrysler hemi was built up by Steve Plueger, who selected a Reath crank, M/T rods and rings, Jahns 8:1 pistons, Herbert #70 cam, Hampton-prepared 6-71 with Cragar manifold and drive, plus a Hilborn bugcatcher. Ignition is by Cirello, headers by Jardine. Driver Gary Densham's comments on car after first run gave us our title for this feature. After six months' time and approximately ten grand, the Bilby, Densham & Plueger A/GS Roadster lit 'em off. Before their 8.70 e.t.'s and 161 mph runs (on gas), there were the hours of watching at S&B, Race Cars in Bellflower while the chassis of 3-inch rectangular steel tube was fitted with a 1 5/8-inch 4130 tubular roll cage, an S&R 3 1/2-inch…

When building this trick suspension for his B/Gasser, Dan Roberts endeavored to keep things as simple as possible and hold welding to a minimum. Some welding must be done to fabricate the parts and pieces, but installation is almost entirely a bolt-together operation. The Don Blair tubular axle mounts '56 'Vette spindles, but will accept all the '41 through '54 Chevy spindles, and can be used with the brake system for street machines. Dan used XKE Jag rear shocks with a variable upper mounting bracket to allow the front end to be raised or lowered a total of 7 inches as traction conditions dictate. The upper bracket bolts to a square steel tube mounted vertically on top of the frame. This tube has a series of holes to permit varying…

Are you a big-motor man? Affirmative? Then I've got something good for what ails ya! No, it's no fourbanger, but it is about the strongest medicine outside the Milwaukee city limits, and besides that it's got a radically new thing going for it that represents a breakthrough in motorcycle concept. Rally 'round and I'll dial you in on the first truth about Norton's “Commando” 750 for 1969. They have something to brag about all right, for they've taken a giant step forward. Not in engine design, for they already had a Charles Atlas-type 45cubic-inch twin capable of making the best of the wild ones get down and grunt on a hard pull; Norton turned their talents in another direction — chassis engineering. Their accomplishment consisted of isolating the engine from…

If the current rate of development continues, don't be surI prised if someone qualifies a VW-powered vehicle at I Indy in a couple of years. We're stretching a point a bit, but in some quarters of Southern California there are VW engines producing great gobs of horsepower and torque. Needless to say, product development is an integral part of this hop-up activity Isky's new dry-sump oiling system for the VW was engineered to give constant oil and thus long life to those VW engines running in competition (especially those running off the road). While under development, there was the usual shop speculation that the unit might actually “produce” horsepower. This it does — as much as seven horsepower at the upper end with no other changes. What manner of beast…

If you're one of the thousands of guys running a 351-inch Ford engine, you'll be interested in the performance tricks presented here. And just in case you haven't pulled those valve covers, you're in for a surprise. The rocker arms on these engines incorporate “side walls'' on the valve-stem end that allow the rockers to maintain alignment at both ends. These same rockers are also used on the 1967-and-later lowperformance 289-inch engines, probably because they are just as easy to forge, and their use eliminates a broaching operation in the heads (in which a rectangular-shaped slot is cut to keep the pushrods in alignment). These slots are found in the 289and 302-inch high-performance engines that use standard rocker arms. Now to the meat of our subject. Because the high-performance engines…

It has always been common practice to lower the pickup J of an oil pump any time the pan sump is deepened so I that it is always in close proximity to the bottom. Some may feel that they deepen their pan solely to increase their oil volume, which will aid in keeping the engine cool and prevent starvation. This may be true, but people in the know don't add enough additional oil to equal the amount the pan was deepened: in other words, if the capacity is increased by six quarts, they would add only three or four. This lowers the oil level in the pan, thus lessening chances of the oil becoming foamed up by that crank spinning above it. But let's get back to the oil pump…

If that woman in your life is a bit heavy-handed with the gearbox in your boat, you need no longer worry when she's towing you on the slats. Casals Engineering in City of Industry, long famous for their V-drive gearboxes, have come up with an all-new, super quiet, synchro, and in-and-out driveline coupler. This new unit is based on the old cone-clutch principle, and although the cone clutch isn't new, Castle's engineering approach is new and interesting. Simplicity is the key, although the description may become a bit involved. Check the pictures, and things will become much clearer. The gear-driven output shaft and the prop-shaft coupler are mated in the in- and-out box, just as the input and output shafts in a manual transmission are joined. The prop-shaft coupler has…

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT The presence of carbon deposits on breaker points is proof positive that oil, vapor or acid are entering the distributor — so claim Champion Spark Plug servicemen. When carbon forms a hard, high-resistance shell over contact surfaces, check for: a. Clogged oil filler breather cap (forms pressure in crankcase and forces oil or vapor into the distributor body past bushings and seals), b. Wrong lubricant on cam or over lubrication of cam. C. Over lubrication of advance mechanisms. (Never squirt oil on springs and counterweights.) d. Oil or perspiration on contacts at time of installation. (Keep fingers and screwdriver blades off point surfaces.) Now's the time to mention another practice mechanics should avoid... laying the distributor on its side during bench work. When you pull a…

OUR “FANS” Dear Sirs: Say, how come you tried to fake us out with your December '68 cover photo? We bet you guys have the greenest grass in Los Angeles. How come the fan is going like gangbusters and the alternator and crank pulley aren't moving? Just thought you guys would like to know that someone looks at the cover and not just all of the good stuff inside. Also, in the same issue, we were hoping that you could enlighten us as to the purpose of Dick Sims' rollbar on his dune buggy (page 40). It looks to us that it would do a pretty good job of keeping the air filter from being dented in case of a roll over. All criticism aside, we think you guys run…

The introduction of Pontiac's Trans-Am Firebird converts the car maker's perennial promise of a good roadworker into a strict reality. Whatever they've done here, they've done correctly. And just because it's U.S.-built doesn't prohibit comparison outside this realm. There are going to be some mighty surprised purists among the tea-bag and tennisshoe contingent. The Trans-Am is a suspension car. The engine combinations have been there all along. And what Pontiac has applied has been there all along, too. It was just a matter of fitting them together in the right order. Helping out in this program was Jack Brabham, three-time World Driving Champion and a good engineer as well. Originally there'd been talk of dubbing the car after him, which would've been a nice gesture; but SCCA is surely a…

“Copying others makes you dull and, at best, can only put you on equal footing with them. If you want to beat the competition, original thinking must be employed.” Thus Doug Roe, a development engineer from Mesa, Arizona, rationalized the purchase of a well-used '60 Corvair, and at the same time summarized his racing successes in slaloms, road races, hill climbs, and in V4and V2mile dirt track events with the car that Ralph Nader vilified in his book, “Unsafe At Any Speed.” Although Doug began his crusade in 1965 to prove the versatility of the much-maligned Corvair with a near-stock machine, the ensuing years and a couple of SCCA rules changes have resulted in the highly specialized mount shown here. His placement in SCCA's 'A' Sports Racing Class provided Doug…

While most of the nation shivered helplessly in the icy grip of winter, several thousand men, women, and children cavorted in 80-degree weather at Buttercup Bowl (also known as the Jolly Green Giant's sandbox) near the California/Arizona border. It was four days of family fun and competitive furor known to all as the Imperial Valley Dune Buggy Association's 8th Annual Winternationals. Friday witnessed an almost never-ending influx of contestants and spectators seeking to stake out the best campsites and ride a few of those big dunes before dinner. Like fingerprints, no two sand slingers are exactly alike, so an after-dinner stroll through the campgrounds quickly brought one up to date on the latest engine trends and suspension theories. The evening atmosphere was one of incredible friendliness, and every stop brought…

After close inspection of Carter's new Thermo'Quad carburetor, one gets the very distinct impression they sent their engineers out to the drag strips and race tracks to ask the boys what they really wanted in a carburetor. The first clue is size: large (850 cfm), and WOW! (1000 cfm — that oughta be enough to cool the whole house!). Primary bores are 1 1/2-inch-diameter with 1 3/8-inch-diameter venturis. The secondary system consists of two 2 1/4-inch-diameter straight-through holes; no venturi restriction whatever. Two big nozzles and a butterfly-type air valve to put the proper pull on the fuel are all that even slightly impede the massive secondary air flow. The “Thermo” portion of the new carburetor's name refers to the heat-insulating ability of the new design achieved by the use…

Everyone has overstepped his budget at one time or another, but Ray Elliott flat blew it when he pegged $800 as satisfactory for construction of the “Psychedelic T.” In all fairness, the eight bills were destined by Ray for nothing more than adequate transportation. A nice hot rod— his first one. The $6200 difference between his trophy taker and his original plan was the result of Ray's boundless enthusiasm and desire for only the best, the wildest. Ray began with a '24 Ford frame. He boxed it and added a '32 Ford front axle with a 4-inch drop, '46 Ford spindles minus brake assemblies, and mounted Rader wheels and 7.00 x 13 Goodyear rubber. The rear axle, a '56 Chevy with 4.56:1 gears, is supported by a 'T' spring and…

Glen purchased a '65 VW chassis 2 1/2 years ago for $125 complete. Try that today. The project began as a show 'n' go car, but it got so pretty he decided to keep it as a show-only machine. The basic chassis is VW with a 14-inch center section chop, giving an 80-inch wheelbase. Original floorpans were removed and 1/4-in. aluminum diamond plate sections installed. Outer rails are 1 1/4-in.-o.d. x 1/16-in. wall tube. All welds were ground flush, and entire chassis was sandblasted before painting. Japanese cycle wheels are used in front, with 12inch-wide Tacoma rims at rear. The tires are cycle front with 11.00 x 15 Delta implement tires handgrooved in rear. Note the neat instrument console arrangement. The '65 Corvair engine develops 140 hp at 5200 rpm…

Ever since guys began pulling their old flathead V8's and replacing them with late-model engines, the trend has been to change transmissions and rear ends, too. A lot of gearboxes and rear ends were done in with even a mildly hopped-up flathead, and now that more power is available, those units don't stand a chance for survival. The alternative was, and still is, to go to late-model components in these areas also. Rear end assemblies from '55-'57 Chevys have been quite popular, since they are lightweight and can stand the abuse. Installing them with either a Ford transverse spring, parallel leaf springs, or coil springs has been a simple matter. But there are a few rodders around who would rather run something different, not just a plain old rear end…

Last month, if you recall, we stated I that this article on cam checking would be issued in three parts. However, we feel that cam checking and its procedures can be better understood when presented step-by-step in the same issue, so we've combined the last two parts in this article. With that thought in mind, let's continue. By now you should have the necessary tools and instruments, as well as a basic understanding of how to find top dead center (TDC). The important thing to remember is that if the TDC mark is not absolutely correct, your cam checking results will not be accurate. You must also use the same crank gear, cam gear (pre-drilled for cam bushings), and timing chain that you plan to use with the engine. Let's…

Did you expect less? Shame! This is The Judge. And The Judge claims Pontiac's great GTO as its closest of kin. Which explains The Judge's bump-proof Endura snoot. And the bulging hood scoops which can be opened or closed from the driver's seat. And the very unspongy springs and shocks. And the Morrokide-covered front buckets. And the no-nonsense instrument panel. Now, if you want to think of The Judge as Billy s kid brother, OK. Just keep in mind that the family resemblance only goes so far. You see, The Judge comes on with a 60” air foil. A custom grille. Big, black fiber glass belted tires. Special mag-type wheels. Blue-red-yellow striping. And name tags (like the wild one below) inside and out. Keep in mind also that this baby…

The only people I ever knew in Talladega, Alabama, were from Talladega. It just hasn't been big on tourist lists until recently, but many of us will be getting our first look at the town this fall. That's when NASCAR's newest super speedway will open there. It's almost a stamped-out copy of Daytona, including management under Bill France. It outdoes Daytona slightly, having steeper banks in the turns on its two-and-one-half-mile circuit. If there are to be 200-mph stockers this year, Talladega will have them. Talladega itself was probably the most surprised witness to a car's being named after the town. Ford now has a special, limited-edition Talladega Torino. Sounds far-out, but then so is the car. What is meant by “limited edition” is that not many more will be…

Have you ever wondered why you seldom, if ever, see a motorcycle patrolman lying bent up in the middle of the road as the result of a traffic mishap? It's almost unbelievable when one considers the mileage these motorized minions of the law compile over a year compared with that of an average motorist. There's no luck to their accomplishment, nor has it anything to do with their authority or that big red light. You might say that their safety record is no accident. It is a result of intensified training that bears an amazing resemblance to our monthly fun-and-games feature. Being considerably more aware of the battlefieldlike conditions that exist in modern traffic, state and city police officials insist that before one of their officers sets a wheel on…

SHOW SCHEDULES INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA Rod & Custom World of Cars, June 6-8, Forum. Custom Show Headquarters, P.O. Box 400, Maywood, California 90270. LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA International Custom Car & Motorcycle Show, April 24-27, Memorial Sports Arena. Tridents Car Club, P.O. Box 400, Maywood, California 90270. TAMPA, FLORIDA Motorama & Sports Car Show, March 28-30, Curtis Hixon Convention Center. Custom Enterprises of Florida, 2316 Carroll Place, Tampa, Florida 33612. WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA Custom Auto Show, April 4-6, West Palm Beach Auditorium. Alice Anne Holz, 2170 West Ridge Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603, (717) 872-5802. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Custom Auto Show, March 7-9, Navy Pier. International Productions, 2170 West Ridge Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603, (717) 872-5802. ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS Auto Speed and Sport Show, March 7-9, Armory. National Custom Auto Shows, P.O. Box…