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1950 Chevrolet Styleline Bel Air Sport Coupe

by | Jul 15, 2021 | 0 comments

1950 Chevrolet Styleline Bel Air Sport Coupe
A 1950 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe

The Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe was new for 1950.  (Chevrolet)

BY MARK MAYNARD

Chevrolet’s exterior styling of the 1950 Bel Air Sport Coupe was revolutionary and set a pattern for decades. According to ClassicCars.Fandom.com, “The Bel Air Hardtop (on the DeLuxe line) was styled as a convertible with a non-detachable solid roof.”

The redesign followed the 1942-1945 shutdown of vehicle production during World War II. And even as production restarted, the “new” 1946-1948 models were mildly updated carryover models from years earlier.

New for 1950

According to Hagerty.com, Chevrolet overhauled its entire lineup in 1949 and moved from prewar designs to new cars. The modern styling emphasized full-width bodies and pontoon fenders.

The exterior two-door hardtop styling might have been new, but visual changes were minimal from 1949.

Special and Deluxe models were offered in Fleetline and Styleline series. According to Hagerty’s “History of the 1949-1952 Styleline,”  a bare-bones business coupe cost as little as $1,300. Pricing rose to $2,200 for an eight-passenger station wagon.

The only powertrain available was a 216-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine. It was mated to a three-speed manual transmission. However, cars with the automatic received the 235-cubic-inch truck engine.

Bel Air Sport Coupe

The model is named for the city of Bel Air on the west side of Los Angeles.

According to Wikipedia, the Bel Air Sport Coupe name was used only from 1950 to 1952 for the two-door hardtops. The first-year production reached only 76,662.

The “Lost Speedways” of American motorsports history

by | Jul 12, 2021 | 0 comments

The “Lost Speedways” of American motorsports history
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matthew Dillner sit along a banked portion of the Texas World Speedway,

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matthew Dillner sit along a banked portion of the Texas World Speedway in “Lonely Star”  (Allie Fredericks/Dirty Mo Media)

BY MARK MAYNARD

I was shuffling through TV channels recently and landed upon an episode of “Lost Speedways. The docuseries on Peacock was created and hosted by Earnhardt and co-host Matthew Dillner. Together they explore historically significant and visually stunning racetracks that are now abandoned, dormant, or in decay.

Dale Jr. and his team explore deserted tracks, search for artifacts and solve unanswered questions at venues all across the country.

I immediately connected with the show because of my interest in history and cars. And the show’s focus on automotive history and motorsports made the discovery even better. I had tuned into “Danger Zone,” which was episode seven from the first season. It told the history of the Jungle Park Speedway, an hour west of Indianapolis.

The half-mile dirt track opened in 1926 and closed in 1960. It closed after one more in a long line of horrific accidents, according to a 2016 report by Will Higgins of the Indianapolis Star.

Reclaimed By Nature

Nature has been reclaiming the grounds ever since it closed. But remnants remain, such as the grandstand.

“Sycamore trees stand 40 feet tall in the middle of the first turn. Honeysuckle grows thick in what once was the pits.

“The grandstand is the most obvious remnant. It was built in 1947.

“Jungle Park Speedway, a half-mile oval with a quarter-mile oval in its infield, was one of the premier speedways in the Midwest in the early 20th century,” Higgins wrote. “It was a proving ground for some of the top American race drivers. Eight Jungle Park veterans went on to win the Indianapolis 500, including one of Indy’s all-time greats, Wilbur Shaw, who won the 500 in 1937, 1939, and 1940.”

Jungle Park on Facebook

“It’s been over fifty years since the big cars roared around the Parke County racing bowl, wrote author Tom W. Williams in the intro to the Jungle Park Speedway Facebook page.

“It was a track where a driver could hardly tell how many curves there were or where the next one started. It was a place where engine noises echoed off the trees and hills like voices in a cave. If you go there, you may experience the presence of ghosts as well. Perhaps you will encounter a spier darting off the track into the trees or flitting from seat to seat in the old grandstand, empty for so many years. The ghosts are most certainly there.”

Williams is the author of “The Ghosts of Jungle Park, History, Myth, and Legend, the Story of a Place Like No Other.”

Free Streaming

Eight episodes of “Lost Speedways” were produced for the first season that debuted on July 15, 2020. The eight-episode second season debuted on July 1, 2021.

Season 2 of “Lost Speedways” is available to stream for free on Peacock now.

Speedways featured in Season 2 include Arundel Speedway (Arundel, ME), Pennsboro Speedway (Pennsboro, WV), and Columbia Speedway (Cayse, SC).

Racing legends, such as seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty, join as guests throughout the series.

2022 Honda Civic Hatchback Overview

by | Jul 10, 2021 | 0 comments

2022 Honda Civic Hatchback Overview
The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback in the new paint color of Boost Blue Pearl.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback in the new paint color of Boost Blue Pearl. (All photos courtesy of Honda)

BY MARK MAYNARD

Take a look at the handsomely redesigned 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback with its claimed Euro-inspired exterior. The fresh styling smooths the loud angles, vents, and peaks of the previous hatchback. The new speed-line stance of the 2022 model is almost luxury-class in its presence.

The 2022 hatchback builds on the same styling as the new Honda Civic sedan, which has just gone on sale. In addition, the compact hatchback will be built in the U.S. for the first time at Honda’s Greensburg, Ind., plant. Production is scheduled to begin later this year, and cars are expected in dealerships in the fall.

Read my 2022 Honda Civic sedan first look here.

It is no surprise that Honda aimed the Civic Hatchback at young, active buyers. The hatchback has a sportier driving character, Honda says, and will again be available with a short-throw six-speed manual transmission.

Honda debuted the 2022 Civic Hatchback during the Civic Tour “Remix” performance on the Honda Stage YouTube Channel. Watch the 51-minute video here.

Sign up for updates or to preorder here.

Front seats of the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The driver area has a clean design with improved outward visibility, Honda says.

Ride and handling

The hatchback’s suspension and steering were developed in Europe and fine-tuned for North America.

The rear track is wider by 0.5-inch for added stability, and the additional 1.4-inches of wheelbase help smooth out its ride quality, Honda says. In addition, new rear lower control-arm bushings promote better straight-line stability and turn-in. The new hardware also reduces noise and vibration inside the cabin. In addition, the electronic power steering has been re-tuned for better feedback and improved straight-line stability.

The suspension and steering upgrades resulted in a smoother and more precise feel in turns, Honda says. Other chassis updates include low-drag front brake calipers and low-friction wheel bearings that reduce rolling resistance.

The foundational improvements will benefit any planned higher-performing models, such as the Civic Si and Type R. But Honda will not confirm or deny future plans for those models. However, those sportier models have long been part of the Civic line.

A front view of the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The coupe-like profile of European sportbacks inspired the hatchback’s exterior styling, Honda says.

Powertrains

The Honda Civic Hatchback will be available in two engine choices for the first time. The previous model had just a turbocharged,1.5-liter four-cylinder.

Both engines will be available with a six-speed manual transmission or continuously variable automatic. The CVT was revised for improved fuel economy, and new step-shift programming simulates physical gear changes under hard acceleration.

The entry LX and Sport trim levels will have a 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The engine produces peak torque of 138 foot-pounds at 4,200 rpm.

A 180-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder powers the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. The engine produces peak torque of 177 lb.-ft. from 1,700-4,500 rpm, also on 87 octane fuel.

Fuel economy ratings for the 2022 models have not been released, but expect the mileage to be comparable to or better than the 2021 hatchback. The base 2021 CVT model has mileage ratings of 31 mpg city, 40 highway, and 34 mpg combined on 87 octane. The six-speed manual in base models has ratings of 29/37/32 mpg city/highway/combined.

The Honda Civic Hatchback cargo area.

1.6-inches widened the hatchback’s cargo opening.

What’s new on the Civic Hatchback?

  • Lightweight composite hatch structure reduces hinge size for a clean roofline;
  • The enhanced structure is 19-percent stiffer in torsional rigidity;
  • Rear legroom was improved by nearly 1.4 inches;
  • The cargo opening was widened by 1.6 inches;
  • Boost Blue Pearl and Smoky Mauve Pearl are new paint colors.

Civic Safety

Standard safety features in the Honda Civic Hatchback include10 air bags, including side rear-seat bags, and the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies. A new single-camera radar-based system provides a longer and wider field of view. The system also adds Traffic Jam Assist.

Honda Civic Hatchback Pricing

Pricing for the 2022 model has not been announced. However, for comparison, the 2021 Civic Hatchback has starting prices of $23,215 to $30,415, including the freight charge from Japan.

BMW Driving Experience at Indianapolis

by | Jul 8, 2021 | 0 comments

BMW Driving Experience at Indianapolis
A BMW high-performance drives through a race course

The BMW Driving Experience at Indianapolis Motor Speedway begins  July 8 and will run through Aug. 8, 2021. (BMW)

BY MARK MAYNARD

BMW announced July 8 that it would offer new BMW Driving Experience programs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The German carmaker said that the opportunity is a milestone expansion for Midwestern customers and enthusiasts.

The new driving experience at the IMS race track will offer a range of high-performance driving activities. Track and on-street sessions will be in BMW M vehicles, racing vehicles, and core BMW models.

The BMW’s performance driving school at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began on July 8, 2021, and will continue on select days through August. There are two half-day sessions, the morning session is from 8:30 a.m. to noon and the afternoon session is from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $499 per session.

Driving Experience Programs

The IMS driving experience will provide owners and enthusiasts with several high-performance driving programs.  The goal for all courses will be to hone participants’ car control skills and challenge their abilities under the guidance of experienced instructors.

BMW’s M Track Experience is well known from the brand’s performance centers in Thermal, Calif., and Spartanburg, SC.

Courses offerings include:

M Track Experience. This program will be an instructional experience to familiarize participants with track driving.

M Track Days. BMW Performance Driving School instructors will teach participants to bring BMW M vehicles to the absolute limit.

M4 GT4 Experience. The full-day experience is centered around the BMW M4 GT4 racecar. The day includes classroom and track instruction.

Test Drive Experiences. A variety of BMW and BMW M vehicles will be available for on-street test drives. The test sessions will include xDrive off-road challenges in BMW’s X Series Sports Activity Vehicles.

Custom programming. An array of corporate or curated experiences will be available.

More information on the BMW Performance Driving Schools is available here.

About Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The 112-year-old Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the oldest continually operating racetrack in the United States. It is also the world’s largest sports-seating facility and has nearly 250,000 permanent seats. The speedway hosts the largest single-day sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500

The facility is owned and managed by Penske Entertainment.

San Diego owners’ 1963 Corvette makes the cover of the National Corvette Museum magazine

by | Jul 7, 2021 | 0 comments

San Diego owners’ 1963 Corvette makes the cover of the National Corvette Museum magazine
The blue 1963 Corvette on the cover of the National Corvette Museum magazine.

The Daytona Blue 1963 Corvette was photographed for the cover of the National Corvette Museum magazine. (Darwin Ludi)

BY MARK MAYNARD

San Diego car enthusiasts Darwin and Pat Ludi sent a catch-up email about their adventures with their two 1963 Corvette split-window coupes and 1965 Pontiac GTO.

Darwin wrote: “This past April our Daytona Blue ’63 was photographed for the cover of the National Corvette Museum magazine. We just received our copy of the magazine and I have attached a few photos.

A blue 1963 Corvette on the cover of the National Corvette Museum magazine

The Daytona Blue ’63 was featured in a multi-page layout. (Darwin Ludi)

“We have had fun showing our cars around the country at various Concours events. We have won awards at most of them. This year we will be heading to Colorado for an AACA meet where we hope to earn a Senior Award.    We might even be invited to Hershey for the Nationals.

“In October we will head to the Hilton Head Concours. I was told we will compete against nine or 10 other Corvettes. We have to have as much fun as possible.

A black 1963 Corvette along Mission Bay in San Diego

The Ludi’s black 1963 Corvette along Mission Bay in San Diego. (Darwin Ludi)

Dedicated caregivers

“Before long, as age creeps up the cars will have to move on to new caregivers,” Darwin said.

The Ludi’s Tuxedo Black 1963 Corvette coupe is now having its correct red interior installed. And they have owned their red 1965 Pontiac GTO tri-power for more than 30 years. And it, too, is all restored and in show condition, Darwin said.

A 1965 Pontiac GTO tri-power at a past Goodguys Del Mar Nationals car show

The red 1965 Pontiac GTO tri-power at a past Goodguys Del Mar Nats. (Darwin Ludi)

“We will take the black Corvette to have it judged NCRS and Bloomington Gold next year. The blue ’63 is already certified by both groups. I want to make sure that the next caregiver of these cars ends up with the best we can provide.

“Last year the National Corvette Museum had a virtual event and 95 cars were registered for the C2 class, in which we won. We have been invited to the EyesOn Design car show in Detroit next year. And in 2019 we won at the Art Center in Pasadena, as well.

“Take care, stay healthy and keep busy. Hope to see you down the road.”

— Darwin & Patricia Ludi