Ford is teaming up with Richard Petty to produce 143 limited-edition Mustang GTs in 2015 as a tribute to the seven-time Sprint Cup champion.

The cars will be built by Petty’s Garage with the 143 total made up of 100 Stage 1 examples and 43 Stage 2 cars.

In addition to 627 horsepower, the Stage 2 GTs are painted in Ford Tuxedo Black over Petty Blue and feature Richard Petty’s signature on the dash, custom floor mats, and embroidered headrests.

If you want to join AC/DC singer Brian Johnson as an owner of one of the cars, start looking between the cushions for loose change to cover the $62,210 price tag.

Hastings Manufacturing Company, a 100-year global piston ring manufacturer, announces the appointment of Kristen Phipps as Director of Business Development.
 
Phipps has accepted the position of Director of Business Development reporting to Jeff Guenther, Vice President of Business Development. She comes to Hastings with over 20 years of sales and marketing experience including 16 years at Federal-Mogul, where she managed numerous functions ranging from operations, customer service, inside sales, brand marketing, global supply chain, and global marketing.
 
In her new role with Hastings, Phipps will provide full support of Hastings sales and marketing global growth plans.
 
Phipps’s education background is extensive, including BA from Hillsdale College, Master of HR and Project Management from Villanova University, and a MBA from Wayne State University. She is a dedicated volunteer for the Boy Scouts, and resides with her family in South Lyon, Michigan.
 
Hastings Manufacturing Company designs and manufactures piston rings for the worldwide engine manufacturing and service industries. Hastings holds TS16949 and ISO14001 registrations, and is an approved piston ring supplier to OEMs and Aftermarket Specialists worldwide in over 42 countries.

Late last year, Lime Rock Park President Skip Barber committed more than $3 million to a wide variety of projects to rebuild, refine and renew Lime Rock’s infrastructure.

The goal of the Road to 60 Project is to dramatically enhance the spectator experience from 2015 onward.

“From the paddocks and the bathrooms to the hillside viewing areas, we’re changing Lime Rock’s infrastructure from pre-historic to be perhaps the most fan friendly road course in North America,” Barber said.

Not since Lime Rock Park’s race track surface itself was re-built in 2008 has a construction project of this magnitude been greenlighted at the famous 1.5-mile automotive and motorsports venue in Connecticut’s Northwest Corner. Some of those projects will be complete in time for Lime Rock’s season-opener—the Memorial Day Weekend Trans Am Series, and Royals Sunday Car Show, May 22-24—and many more in time for the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar weekend July 24-25.

“In 2008, the track itself had to get done—it was exceedingly bumpy, it needed more guardrail, better run-off areas—and that’s what we did for the competitors. Road to 60 is for the fans,” Barber said.

The target for completion of all Road to 60 projects is 2017, when Lime Rock Park celebrates its 60th anniversary.

“We’re doing what we need to do—what we want to do—to ensure the track’s professional racing future,” Barber says. “Major sports car races have defined Lime Rock since the day it opened, and I’m making sure that continues well into the future.

“It’s important to note that everything we’re doing, all the changes, all the improvements… all will make Lime Rock more useful, easier to navigate, more sensible – but all with an eye to making Lime Rock even more beautiful than it already is. I have no doubt that, just in the case of our paddocks, Lime Rock’s will be the most attractive in the U.S.”

Of the multitude of Road to 60 projects underway, the highlights are:

A-Paddock – To be completely re-done and much larger, plus: laser-graded-and-paved to eliminate standing water; it will be landscaped; there’ll be defined spectator walkways and cobblestone curbing; and the roadways through the paddock will be much wider. The new A-Paddock is specifically designed to allow two complete race rigs, tractors included, to park in-line – with a walkway in between – from inside Big Bend up to Victory Circle. Additionally, it will provide large and extremely efficient driving exercise and hospitality acreage for automakers as well as other ride-and-drive, press day and driver-training clients.

B-Paddock – To be completely re-done: Paved in its entirety (and also laser-graded to eliminate standing water), there will be much more usable space. Like A-Paddock, it will provide large and extremely efficient driving exercise and hospitality acreage.

Infield Spectator Hillside – Completely re-done: Close to 100,000 square yards of earth was moved, re-contoured, re-sloped and/or removed to dramatically improve and expand the sightlines as well as make Lime Rock’s famous “picnic-blanket-and-lawn-chair” experience even more enjoyable. Thanks to the re-working of the hill, close to 45 percent of the track can now be seen from this Hillside – with just a turn of the head.

Additionally, the Infield Spectator Hillside has been extended all the way through the inside curve of the Righthander, creating an entirely new and exciting viewing area of No Name Straight and the Uphill. The Hillside reconfiguration has also allowed the spectator fencing to be moved even closer to the circuit in many locations.

Hospitality Acreage – There are now a total of three large areas of Lime Rock property dedicated to corporate, race team and VIP hospitality. The popular Outfield hospitality acreage remains essentially the same but the existing hospitality area in the Infield (between the Chalets) has been significantly increased in size and laser-graded. The third is an exciting new hospitality area that overlooks the Righthander and No Name Straight.

A-Paddock Rest Rooms – The Men’s Room will be completely rebuilt, and the Ladies Room totally refreshed.

Handicap Access – It will be improved and/or added throughout much of the facility.

There will also be a new PA system; expanded and robust wi-fi; improved cellular service; and improvements and expansions to the other spectator areas.

“Road to 60 accomplishes many things for Lime Rock’s future, both short term and long,” said Barber. “For each project, I asked myself, ‘What’s the best way to do this to make the Lime Rock experience better for the fan?’ While not forgetting the competitors, sanctioning bodies, the car makers, hospitality clients, the Lime Rock Drivers Club and all the driving and racing organizations, I’m pretty sure we’ve made good decisions.”

The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association announced four first-time entries in its second annual “Indy Legends” Charity Pro-Am race, the feature event of its June 11–14 Brickyard Invitational at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Familiar to Indianapolis 500 fans but new to the SVRA’s Pro-Am are Richie Hearn, Stephan Gregoire, Davy Jones and Darren Manning.

All have filed entries to a field that has grown to 16. The SVRA expects 33 Indianapolis 500 veterans to start.

Hearn, who was Toyota Atlantic champion in 1995, first appeared in the Indianapolis 500 in 1996 and finished third, the top rookie in the field. He competed in six other 500’s with a best finish of sixth in 2002, his last appearance coming in 2007. Hearn won the 1996 Las Vegas Speedway Indy car race and finished fourth in the Indy Racing League (IRL) championship point standings that year.

A former French Formula 3 champion, Gregoire also raced extensively in both Indy cars and sports cars. He earned a seventh-place finish in his first crack at the Le Mans 24 and a fourth-place in the GT class at the Sebring 12-hour, both in 2003. He competed in 46 Indy car races, including seven Indianapolis 500s. He was second at the Pikes Peak IRL race in 1997 and cracked the top 10 at Indianapolis with an eighth in 2000. Despite having no prior oval experience and being the youngest driver in the field he qualified seventh fastest for the 1993 Indianapolis 500.

Chicago-born Jones first gained notice when he placed third in the 1983 British Formula Three championship behind Ayrton Senna. Bernie Ecclestone tested him for a Brabham Formula One seat the same year. Jones later competed in the New Zealand Formula Atlantic series, winning that country’s grand prix in 1984 and ’87. In 1986 he scored BMW McLaren’s only IMSA GTP victory at Watkins Glen.

A top-tier sports car driver, he brought home the overall win in both the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1990 24 Hours of Daytona. In an Indy car career spanning nine seasons, including six Indianapolis 500s, his best finish came at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing in 1996 when he was second. He placed seventh there in 1989.

Manning is another driver with a massively varied resume, starting in karting at age 10. By 18 he was racing Formula Vauxhall scoring two victories. He continued such success when he graduated to British Formula 3 with two wins including the support race for the 1998 British F-1 Grand Prix. Moving to Japan in 1999 he captured that country’s Formula Three championship.

These successes garnered him the attention of the Formula One paddock as he tested for Williams and was hired as test driver for BAR Honda F1 in 2000. By 2003 he was racing in Indy car with Walker Racing and then in 2004 he joined the Ganassi Racing. After a stint in A1 Grand Prix he returned to Indy car for a ride with the legendary A.J. Foyt. Manning competed in four Indianapolis 500s with a best placement of ninth in 2008. An accomplished sports car driver he led his team to a second-place finish in the 2007 24 Hours of Daytona.

“We joke these guys are rookies because they haven’t been with us before,” said SVRA CEO Tony Parella. “The reality is all these drivers are champions and evidence we will make the Brickyard Invitational a bigger and stronger festival every year. We expect a full field of 33 Indy Legends.”

Like last year, the SVRA, America’s premier vintage racing organization, is presenting the “Indy Legends” Charity Pro-Am for veterans of the Indianapolis 500. It is a 40-minute race of American muscle cars on the Speedway’s 2.43-mile Grand Prix road course on Saturday, June 13.

All the veterans will be in 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of “Group 6,” with an engine displacement limit of 355 cubic inches.  Professionals will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting stints at the wheel at their discretion.

The Indy Legends Pro-Am is the crowning event of the Brickyard Invitational but there is literally a festival of other activities. Like last year, the storied 2.5-mile oval will be utilized with exhibition runs by a wide variety of cars including several of the crowd-favorite 1950’s Indianapolis 500 “roadsters.”

The weekend not only promises a huge gathering of race cars but also some of the finest collector cars. Motostalgia, with offices in Austin, Mexico City and Monaco will stage a June 12 auction of select automobiles from around the world. The Brickyard Invitational will also expand out onto the world-famous infield IMS golf course with car corrals for organizations and clubs united by special marques and vintages.

The SVRA has 11 groups of race cars spanning 100 years of vintage machines and all will be at IMS.  The array of entries include select pre-war machines, classic sports cars, Formula One and Le Mans prototypes as current as 2009. Race fans can enjoy every minute of the action with overnight camping inside IMS.

Pro-Am cars and drivers will also participate in a Fan Walk through the starting grid prior to the opening ceremonies allowing fans to see the cars up close, take photos and chat with the drivers. All entry fees will be donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum Foundation.

John Surtees OBE has bought go-karting track Buckmore Park for an undisclosed sum.

The famous karting track near Chatham was raced around by F1 Champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton while the drivers were still learning their craft.

The motorports legend, who lives in Edenbridge, stated that he had acquired the business and assets of the companies operated by former owner Bill Sisley at Buckmore Park.

The businesses, Buckmore Park Karting Limited and Buckmore Park Kart Club Limited, will continue to be operated by Surtees under the same trading names.

It was also announced that Bill Sisley will remain at the park continuing as a consultant for the companies.

The operation team will continue as before, but with Chris Pullman stepping up as joint managing director with Mike Griffiths. Mr Pullman will be responsible for the day to day operations of Buckmore Park.

Let me start by clarifying that “drag racing” is a sport, not a term that should be used in the mainstream media to identify a high-speed accident on the street. The term “speeding” is usually not used either—rather, they claim that multiple people were “drag racing,” and the cars got out of control and caused the accident.
 
Racing, or high-speed driving, is a fact of life, as many of today’s automakers tout horsepower, 0-60 MPH acceleration and overall performance as reasons to buy a particular vehicle.
 
Decades ago, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) founder Wally Parks had a vision to provide a safe environment for hot rodders to race their cars without the common risks of racing on the streets. He also created what is known today as the Safety Safari, which places trained safety personnel at race tracks around the country in the event of an accident. As the sport of drag racing grew over the years, more race tracks became available to satisfy adrenaline junkies’ “need for speed” in a safe environment.
 
Many race tracks around the country today are trying to figure out how to attract young adults—the “street racers”—to their facility, giving them a place to race without the risk of street racing.
 
Here at Thunder Road Raceway in Gilliam, Louisiana, we are creating several different opportunities to entice the street racers to “Keep it off the Streets and Take it to the Track.” On select Fridays we have a Street Fest, which is a gathering for young adults that includes a Car Show, DJ Music and “Instant Green Drag Racing,” where the traditional countdown starting line (Sportsman Tree) lights are not used—instead, the cars are paired and an instant green light comes on (like traffic lights at an intersection), and scoreboards are turned off so elapsed time is not shown on the run, just a win light.
 
We are also working with local police in an effort to reduce street racing or high-speed driving in the streets of Northern Louisiana. Under the agreement, officers will give first-time speeders a break if they come to our Friday Night race sessions and listen to the statistics of accidents in our area due to street racing or high-speed driving; then, they are given the opportunity to race on the track in a controlled environment, with EMTs and fire safety equipment on hand. 
 
The program’s objective is to introduce “street racers” to a safe alternative to fulfill their need for speed in a safe place while reducing the risk of accidents or fatalities due to racing on the streets. 
 
Education is needed to communicate to this ever-growing population of new racers, and if more race tracks reach out to community leaders and local law enforcement, together they could curb the problems related to illegal street racing and help save lives in their communities. 
 
Race track owners and managers have an obligation to help their community grow, providing a safe and exciting environment for all who enjoy racing fast cars.
 
Till next time.

Nelson Hoyos is the co-owner/operator of NHRA-sanctioned Thunder Road Raceway Park in Gilliam, Louisiana, and co-founder/lead instructor/motorsports director at Driven2Win Drag Racing School. He also is a two-time NHRA National Champion driver, and a record-setting (243.217 MPH) land speed driver of the GM Performance Division’s 4-Cylinder Turbocharged Cobalt at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Previously, Hoyos was the driver for the Team Steam USA LSR Streamliner, and for many years served as technical director at Ferrea Racing Components.

The 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship was launched yesterday, at a Media Day held at the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona with confirmation made of the teams and drivers competing in this years series.

WorldRX in 2015 will see eight teams competing for the FIA World Rallycross Teams Trophy whilst 18 drivers will battle to become the second ever FIA World Rallycross Champion after Petter Solberg took the crown last year. There were a number of surprises during the Media Day announcements.

First, Petter Solberg and Liam Doran have teamed up to work together as SDRX, giving Solberg a chance to defend his title in his Citroen DS3 whilst Doran is looking forward to a better year of WorldRX after a difficult 2014 season in his Citroen DS3. While both drivers will operate out of Norway and England respectively during testing and set-up work, this team-up also allows them to try and win the Teams Trophy as well as aiming for Driver Title glory at all 13 WorldRX Events.

The 2014 Champion is looking forward to working with Doran and aiming for more title silverware.

“We’ve been working on the car for some time and I’m feeling very well prepared for the start of the season. We’ve got some pre-season testing in France with the DS3 next week ahead of the first race in Portugal at the end of the month,” confirmed Solberg.

The Norwegian World Champion added: “I’m also very excited to be joining forces with a talented RX driver like Liam Doran. He has worked hard over the winter to refocus, and has come back stronger from a very tough season in 2014. This really shows his motivation to want to fight back. I think the dynamic will work well between us this year.”

Another big announcement came from Double European Champion Timur Timerzyanov, who has signed with 2014 FIA World Rallycross Teams Trophy winners Ford OMSE to drive a full season Wildcard entry run by Namus OMSE. Ford OMSE have retained 2014 drivers Andreas Bakkerud and Reinis Nitiss, who between them took three Super Event wins last year. All three drivers will pilot Ford Fiesta ST Supercars, while OMSE have retained works support from Ford for 2015.

Timerzyanov feels confident in his move during the winter, ahead of the 2015 campaign.

“Team boss Andreas Eriksson wants to be the best and he will do anything to try to be the best,” said Timerzyanov. “The people in this organization know every bolt on the cars and they know what they need to do to win. I trust this team.”

Team Peugeot-Hansen confirmed its lineup last week, with rapid Frenchman Davy Jeanney joining 2014 ItalyRX winner Timmy Hansen in brand new Peugeot 208 WRX Supercars.

Volkswagen Sweden has expanded its lineup to four VW Polo‘s for this season with Toomas “Topi” Heikkinen being joined by Per-Gunnar Andersson at Marklund Motorsport while Kristoffersson Motorsport joins WorldRX for its first season after appearances in EuroRX during 2014. Johan Kristoffersson is joined by former EuroRX driver Tord Linnerud.

There are five Audi Supercars competing in WorldRX this yesr with three different models in use. Mattias Ekstrom‘s EKSRX Outfit has committed to a full season in 2015 after rapid progress was made last year. Anton Marklund joins Ekstrom in the Audi S1 whilst Ekstrom will miss the Hockenheim round due to his DTM commitments. Edward Sandstrom will step in for that round.

Muennich Motorsport joins WorldRX for its first full season, with Team Owner Rene Muennich piloting one of the teams Audi S3‘s in all thirteen events. 2006 Formula Renault 3.5 Champion Alx Danielsson has been confirmed in the second S3 Supercar for Portugal, Hockenheim and Belgium only so far. 2014 EuroRX Champion Robin Larsson has stepped up to a full WorldRX Campaign this season, remaining with Larsson Jernberg Racing and he will be using the rapid Audi A1 Supercar that took him to several podium finishes last year.

Another new team to WorldRX this season is WorldRX Team Austria, being run by Austrian Rallycross driver Max Pucher. Former WRC driver Manfred Stohl will join him in the team as both drivers will pilot Stohl Racing built Mk7 Ford Fiesta Supercars.

UK Team JRM Racing were also present at Media Day with their Mini ClubmanRX Supercars. The Daventry-based team have confirmed a limited program in 2015 ahead of a full championship assault in 2016. American drivers Danny Way and Dave Mirra were on hand for driving duties, however no drivers have been named for the 2015 season as yet.

World RX Managing Director for IMG Motorsport, Martin Anayi, spoke about various new TV deals for the upcoming World RX season, with a combined household reach to exceed more than 800 million homes worldwide.

“The number of broadcasters taking World RX has grown steadily since IMG took over the rights to the Championship at the end of 2012 and we have commitment from a number of key broadcasters to show extended World RX coverage live in 2015,” he said.

“The amount of free-to-air TV broadcast coverage has increased dramatically and we’ll continue to offer live coverage via our website to ensure that fans across the globe can keep up with the race for the World and European RX Championship titles.”

The opening round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship will take place at Montalegre in Portugal on April 24–26. Coverage in the UK will be broadcast live and delayed as live for some events on British Eurosport while Quest will show a highlights program after each round.

2015 World RX Permanent Teams & Drivers:

SDRX: Petter Solberg (Norway)

SDRX: Liam Doran (UK)

Ford Olsbergs MSE: Reinis Nitiss (Latvia)

Ford Olsbergs MSE: Andreas Bakkerud (Norway)

Marklund Motorsport: Topi Heikkinen (Finland)

Marklund Motorsport: PG Andersson (Sweden)

Team Peugeot-Hansen: Timmy Hansen (Sweden)

Team Peugeot-Hansen: Davy Jeanney (France)

Volkswagen Team Sweden: Johan Kristofferson (Sweden)

Volkswagen Team Sweden: Tord Linnerud (Norway)

EKS: Mattias Ekstrom (Sweden)

EKS: Anton Marklund (Sweden)

EKS: Edward Sandstrom (Sweden)

ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport: Rene Muennich (Germany)

ALL-INKL.COM Muennich Motorsport: Alx Danielsson (Sweden)

World RX Team Austria: Manfred Stohl (Austria)

World RX Team Austria: Max Pucher (Austria)

Permanent individual entries: Timur Timerzyanov & Robin Larsson

Just a quick note to companies that exhibit in the PRI Trade Show: April is the month to go online, complete the exhibit contract for the 2015 PRI Trade Show in December, and provide a deposit.
 
The deadline is May 1.
 
We suggest you do it today. Use the link below to get started. It's a pretty fast process:
 
www.PRI2015.com/contract
 
PRI will take all of the companies that have completed the online exhibit contract by May 1, and provided a deposit, and plot them on the initial floor plan for the 2015 PRI Trade Show that we will unveil on June 1.
 
Returning exhibitors from the 2014 PRI Trade Show have first rights to their existing booth location for the 2015 PRI Trade Show as long as they meet the May 1 deadline.
 
It was a terrific Show last year, and we're working on the 2015 PRI Trade Show to make it the most productive ever for exhibiting companies. So, get your contract and deposit in now!

NHRA officials have announced that Hobbs Motorsports Park in New Mexico has returned to the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the NHRA’s South Central Division.

“As a longtime NHRA facility, we are excited to have Hobbs Motorsports Park back in the NHRA Member Track Network after only a few years away,” said Trey Capps, director of the NHRA South Central Division.

Hobbs Motorsports Park is a quarter-mile facility located in the Hobbs Industrial Air Park near Hobbs, New Mexico. The facility is operated by Darrell Reid and is a popular track for racers in the West Texas and New Mexico area. As a former B-17 training base in the mid-1940s the facility not only has a great Drag Racing heritage but it is a part of American history as well.

“We are glad to provide our loyal racers with more sportsman programs by joining the NHRA again,” said Andy Vanover, Hobbs Motorsports Park track operations manager. “The box programs that NHRA offers to the racers, through the track, work well to promote the drag racing in our area.”

BFGoodrich, a manufacturer of race tires, will continue its support of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series in 2015 with an expanded 18-event season that began March 20-21 at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Lake Elsinore, California.

BFGoodrich will again offer full-service trackside support to all BFGoodrich racers, along with a strategic marketing and communications plan to co-promote the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series through BFGoodrich's racing partners, which include Bryce Menzies, Rob MacCachren, RJ Anderson, and Casey Currie. BFGoodrich will also continue its social media content calendar in partnership with Menzies Motorsports and Discount Tire to promote the BFGoodrich partnership with the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. 
 
"BFGoodrich is proud to continue our partnership with Lucas Oil for the 2015 season," stated Peter Calhoun, Motorsports Manager BFGoodrich Tires. "We are proud to provide our partner drivers the world's toughest, highest performing off-road racing tires in every pro class including the new DOT legal BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 in Pro Lite as we chase season championships in all four Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series pro classes."
 
Race series Director Ritchie Lewis said, "The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is an ideal place for BFGoodrich to demonstrate their off-road tires. We look forward to their increasing visibility as the season progresses."

Mar 20 - 21, Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, Lake Elsinore, CA, Pro: All/Kart: All

Apr 24 - 25, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, AZ, Pro: All/Kart: All

May 30 - 31, Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, Lake Elsinore, CA, Pro: All/Kart: All

Jun 20 - 21, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, UT, Pro: All/Kart: Modified Kart Only

Jul 18 - 19, Glen Helen Raceway, Glen Helen, CA, Pro: All/Kart: All

Aug 1 - 2, Baja International Short Course at Estero Beach, Pro: All/Kart: Modified Kart Only

Aug 22 - 23, Wild West Motorsports Park, Sparks, NV, Pro: All/Kart: Modified Kart Only

Sep 18 - 19, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV, Pro: All/Kart: Modified Kart Only

Oct 24 - 25, Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, Lake Elsinore, CA, Pro: All/Kart: All

Dec 5, TBA Awards Banquet