As the Pacific Northwest mist dripped off of the forlorn Camaro’s bumper, I vowed that I would make that trip. The first few years were hindered by a lack of a driver’s license or a useable car. Then there were the years where I had a car and license, but was poor enough that I was counting pennies to make sure I had dinner for the week. Then there were the military years, where I had the car and the money, but no free time to hit the road. Then school… then work… you know the story.

This year, I bit the bullet. Hot Rod’s Power Tour happened for the 30th round. I’m 41 now. With my ’76 Charger up and running with fresh gears and an Interstate-friendly transmission, there was no reasonable excuse why I couldn’t go. Haley was willing to co-pilot, I had nothing scheduled on the calendar. And for an added bonus, this year’s route was very close to home: Bowling Green, Nashville, Louisville, Columbus and Indy. PERFECT. Even the weather was looking great, with no rain in the forecast and temperatures in the upper-80s.

The icing on the cake was that Matt at American Powertrain hooked us up with sponsor parking passes, which meant that (A) I spent money on multi-day passes that weren’t required, and (B) I had guaranteed parking at the American Powertrain display on the midway so I could show off the TKX swap. We packed a cooler for drinks, some chairs, sunscreen and on Monday morning, parked up.

Monday and Tuesday were awesome. I was pleasantly surprised to see the reaction to the car and had the pleasure of talking with many people. Some had questions regarding the swap, others wanted to share the memories of cars like mine from the past. I was all about it. Every now and then we’d stretch our legs and go see what interesting rides had been brought to the Tour. We’d arrive early and leave before the traffic jam became insurmountable. We planned to return home until Wednesday, then we’d leave early Friday as we had a family event to attend on Saturday.

Things unraveled pretty fast after leaving Nashville Super Speedway. After exiting Interstate 40 to the country highways, it was clear that the Charger was seriously down on power. Hills that shouldn’t have been a blip on my radar were requiring more throttle to surmount. I suspected that the car was getting hot, so we stopped for dinner in Portland, Tennessee to give the 360 a chance to cool. It seemed to help a little, but by the time we were through Franklin, Kentucky it was evident that the issue was back. I hadn’t messed with anything, so what gives?

I got my answer on the last turn before my driveway: at a complete stop the oil pressure gauge dove to nearly zero and the engine was shaking the car like an earthquake. Sure enough, once I pulled in my driveway I checked the oil and got my answer: nearly none. We had topped off the fluids that morning before driving to Nashville. Not continuing on the Tour wasn’t an option, so the Charger was stuffed into the garage and our truck was employed for the remaining distance.

Aside from the one fly in the ointment, however, the Tour was great. We caught up with many friends throughout the week and got to tour some quieter parts of the middle of the country that we normally would just blast past on the Interstate. I will say that next time I drive the tour, I’m linking up with a group of friends to run with, because driving it on your own leaves something to be desired. Finding the local eateries is a must. Making a 1-2 pull in the tunnel leading into Nashville is a must. Hanging out in the bed of a truck sipping something cold while watching UPS jets taking off from from the airport in Louisville is a must.

Fixing my wounded Mopar for the next adventure isn’t a must. It’s a vow.

The post Unhinged: Power Tour 2024, From The Eyes Of A First-Timer appeared first on BangShift.com.

Here are the highlights.

Event winner Kyle Larson secured his 3rd win of the season at Sonoma Raceway, completing the 110-lap race in Victory Lane. Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher followed in second and third place, respectively. Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain completed the top five, with AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Todd Gilliland rounding out the top ten finishers in the race.

Kyle Larson– Larson took the lead from Martin Truex Jr. with nine laps to go and held on to secure his third win of the 2024 season.

Michael McDowell– McDowell benefited from Martin Truex Jr. running out of fuel late in the race to finish in the second position.

Chris Buescher– Buescher had a strong run to finish third in the race.

Chase Elliott– Elliott crossed the finish line in fourth place.

Ross Chastain– Chastain rounded out the top-five finishers with a solid performance.

This race saw Kyle Larson capitalizing on fresher tires and sufficient fuel to make a decisive move for the lead, ultimately securing the victory at Sonoma Raceway.

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE BELOW TO SCROLL THROUGH THE NASCAR SLIDE SHOW

The post Kyle Larson Wins The NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 At Sonoma Raceway appeared first on BangShift.com.

One of the show’s crown jewels is our 1973 Ford Bronco build. Sitting on a robust Kincer chassis, this Bronco’s focus is on reliability and drivability, with a 5.0L Coyote engine and 10-speed automatic combination. The addition of Tractive adaptive suspension takes ride quality to the next level, while the four-wheel disc brakes guarantee it stops on a dime. This Bronco isn’t just a rebuild; it’s a statement of modern engineering blended with classic charm.

And then there’s Dain’s ’68 Corvette, which is set to be an absolute show-stopper. Built on a SpeedTech chassis, this ‘Vette is getting a heart transplant in the form of a 427ci LST V8 from Mast Motorsports, cranking out a whopping 700 horsepower. It’s getting everything from massive brakes, to ABS, to traction control, to massive tires on all four corners. The cantilever IRS setup promises superb handling, while the Forgeline wheels and widebody design will add an aggressive stance that’s hard to ignore. The best of both worlds is the focus of this car. Form meets function.

A huge thanks to everyone who came out and made this show unforgettable. Your support means the world to us. Keep your eyes peeled because we’re doing it all over again this fall. More cars, more prizes, more fun—stay tuned!

CLICK ANY IMAGE BELOW TO SCROLL THROUGH THE SLIDE SHOW

The post Classic Car Liquidators Show Coverage: North Texas’ Gearhead Paradise Draws Some Seriously Cool Hot Rods, Classics, Muscle Cars, And More! appeared first on BangShift.com.

We can’t thank our contributors enough for being a part of the BANGshift family. We couldn’t do it without them and are so appreciative of their photo coverage. We know you enjoy them as well, enjoy the first gallery of photos below and we’ll have more coming over the next few days.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE PREVIOUS GALLERIES!

Hit the images below to expand them and then scroll on.

The post The Last Of Our NHRA New England Nationals Photo Coverage: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, And Pit Photos From This Sold Out NHRA National Event! appeared first on BangShift.com.

We can’t thank our contributors enough for being a part of the BANGshift family. We couldn’t do it without them and are so appreciative of their photo coverage. We know you enjoy them as well, enjoy the first gallery of photos below and we’ll have more coming over the next few days.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE PREVIOUS GALLERIES!

Hit the images below to expand them and then scroll on.

The post NHRA New England Nationals Photo Coverage: More Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, And Pit Photos From This Sold Out NHRA National Event! appeared first on BangShift.com.

We can’t thank our contributors enough for being a part of the BANGshift family. We couldn’t do it without them and are so appreciative of their photo coverage. We know you enjoy them as well, enjoy the first gallery of photos below and we’ll have more coming over the next few days.

Hit the images below to expand them and then scroll on

The post NHRA New England Nationals Photo Coverage: We’ve Got Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, And Pit Photos From This Sold Out NHRA National Event! appeared first on BangShift.com.

Crack open an incognito window and Google “best race tracks in the world” and Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca will probably make most of the lists. Narrow it down to just the United States and it won’t be absent from anyone of them. The speed, the elevation changes, the iconic corkscrew- Laguna Seca has it all.

It should be no surprise then, that it is always one of the first tracks to sell out on the schedule for the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car series, presented by Advance Auto Parts, but that presents a bit of a conundrum for at least some of the competitors. Big fields full of competitive cars make wins and series points very hard to come by and that was certainly the case here.

If one has a fat enough wallet or searches long enough, they can probably find some kind of series that races at tracks like Laguna Seca, where just showing up guarantees a podium finish and in many cases, taking the green flag guarantees P1 in class. Crop the empty podium out, toss the photo up on Facebook and wait for the ego-stroking to commence.

That wasn’t the case here. The smallest class on this weekend, the Geaux Moto GTC Class has four entries and three classes had 14 or more. Wins aside, that makes it difficult for anyone in the field to accumulate points, which are coveted for season-long points battles. Competitors West of the Rocky Mountains get three shots- Thunderhill, Laguna Seca and Portland International Raceway. Have a bad weekend at one and the other two become critically important. Miss or stumble on two and the next closest track on the schedule is Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

That puts a lot of pressure on those looking to earn an invitation to the SEMA Show and OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) in Las Vegas. Matt Ramirez’s 2004 Mustang came into Laguna Seca clinging to a one-point lead over Dave Schotz’s Camaro and a two-point lead over Austin Barnes’ Mustang in the Viking Performance GT Class. Ramirez ran strong all weekend and had the fifth-highest point total (points are awarded in segments, regardless of class affiliation), but he still finished third in class, behind the defending champion Schotz and John Falkner’s 2021 Camaro.

Schotz came away with the points lead and now looks to continue running the gauntlet at Road America, where Austin Barnes’ Mustang will be making his second appearance of the season. Ramirez will look to reel Schotz in later this summer at Portland International Raceway, but if things get tight, the final two tracks are nearly in the Atlantic Ocean at Summit Point and VIRginia International Raceway.

In the After Dark Speed GTS Class, two-time and defending OUSCI champion, Bob Sobey’s 2012 Nissan GT-R held a 13-point advantage over Jordan Priestley’s ’21 Tesla Model 3 after Thunderhill and both competitors came to square off again at Laguna Seca. Wet track conditions on the first session of the Falken Tire Road Course Time Trial hurt all the EVs. Sobey wasn’t at his best either but was still faster than all but seven cars in the field and that created a gap Priestley couldn’t overcome in any of the other segments.

Sobey did show some vulnerability though, as his total in overall points on the weekend was just a single point more than Schotz’s Camaro. Historically, if you can put up 490 points at a regular season event, you must be on the short list of contenders for the OUSCI title, where no car has scored 490 or more points since 2019. Schotz now joins Sobey as the only two to have accomplished that feat in the last two seasons, but Chris Smith’s ’70 Camaro will look to join them at Road America.

Grabbing a lot of points at Road America won’t be an easy feat either, as the current registration for that track sits at 95 entries, including four Teslas, which have proven to be the cars to beat on the Classic Car Liquidators Autocross and the Peak Performance Challenge. Win those segments in any class outside of GTS at Road America and finish behind the Teslas and you’re already at 492 points on the weekend, even if you take the top overall spot on the road course and in the Wynrock Speed Shop Design & Engineering Challenge.

Nothing comes easy in this series, but if you can make it to the top of the mountain, the rewards are great, especially now that Racetreads.com has come onboard and offered up a free set of tires for every class winner and Summit Racing Spirit of the Event invitee for the rest of the season! It’s not to late to get in on the action, regardless of where you live. Head over to “http://www.driveoptima.com”www.driveoptima.com, check out the rules and sign up to run your street car or truck!

Top Ten Overall

1. Bob Sobey 2013 Nissan GT-R GTS 492 points

2. Dave Schotz 2022 Chevrolet Camaro GT 491 points

3. Lane Farka 2015 Porsche GT3 GTL 481 points

4. John Falkner 2021 Chevrolet Camaro GT 481 points

5. Matt Ramirez 2004 Ford Mustang GT 474 points

6. Jordan Priestley 2021 Tesla Model 3 GTS 471 points

7. CB Ramey 2024 Chevrolet Corvette GTS 460 points

8. Brandon Hurst 2021 Tesla Model S GTS 456 points

9. Bryan Reilly 2018 Chevrolet Camaro GT 453 points

10. Jake Jackson 2018 Chevrolet Camaro GT 451 points

2024 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Schedule

February 23-25th Sebring Raceway

March 1-3rd Thunderhill Raceway

May 3-5th Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca

June 28-30th Road America

July 26-28th Portland International Raceway

August 16-18th Summit Point Motorsports Park

October 4-6th VIRginia International Raceway

QA1 First Timer Award- Scott Lezchuk 2020 Tesla Model 3

Anderson Composites Competitor’s Choice Award- Keith Corrigan 1955 Ford Thunderbird

Operational Speed Supply Most-Improved Driver- Matthew Waeckerle 2005 Lotus Elise

The post MORE PHOTOS!!! OPTIMA Goes to Laguna Seca – The Ultimate Street Car Series Hits One Of The Ultimate Race Tracks appeared first on BangShift.com.

Crack open an incognito window and Google “best race tracks in the world” and Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca will probably make most of the lists. Narrow it down to just the United States and it won’t be absent from anyone of them. The speed, the elevation changes, the iconic corkscrew- Laguna Seca has it all.

It should be no surprise then, that it is always one of the first tracks to sell out on the schedule for the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car series, presented by Advance Auto Parts, but that presents a bit of a conundrum for at least some of the competitors. Big fields full of competitive cars make wins and series points very hard to come by and that was certainly the case here.

If one has a fat enough wallet or searches long enough, they can probably find some kind of series that races at tracks like Laguna Seca, where just showing up guarantees a podium finish and in many cases, taking the green flag guarantees P1 in class. Crop the empty podium out, toss the photo up on Facebook and wait for the ego-stroking to commence.

That wasn’t the case here. The smallest class on this weekend, the Geaux Moto GTC Class has four entries and three classes had 14 or more. Wins aside, that makes it difficult for anyone in the field to accumulate points, which are coveted for season-long points battles. Competitors West of the Rocky Mountains get three shots- Thunderhill, Laguna Seca and Portland International Raceway. Have a bad weekend at one and the other two become critically important. Miss or stumble on two and the next closest track on the schedule is Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

That puts a lot of pressure on those looking to earn an invitation to the SEMA Show and OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) in Las Vegas. Matt Ramirez’s 2004 Mustang came into Laguna Seca clinging to a one-point lead over Dave Schotz’s Camaro and a two-point lead over Austin Barnes’ Mustang in the Viking Performance GT Class. Ramirez ran strong all weekend and had the fifth-highest point total (points are awarded in segments, regardless of class affiliation), but he still finished third in class, behind the defending champion Schotz and John Falkner’s 2021 Camaro.

Schotz came away with the points lead and now looks to continue running the gauntlet at Road America, where Austin Barnes’ Mustang will be making his second appearance of the season. Ramirez will look to reel Schotz in later this summer at Portland International Raceway, but if things get tight, the final two tracks are nearly in the Atlantic Ocean at Summit Point and VIRginia International Raceway.

In the After Dark Speed GTS Class, two-time and defending OUSCI champion, Bob Sobey’s 2012 Nissan GT-R held a 13-point advantage over Jordan Priestley’s ’21 Tesla Model 3 after Thunderhill and both competitors came to square off again at Laguna Seca. Wet track conditions on the first session of the Falken Tire Road Course Time Trial hurt all the EVs. Sobey wasn’t at his best either but was still faster than all but seven cars in the field and that created a gap Priestley couldn’t overcome in any of the other segments.

Sobey did show some vulnerability though, as his total in overall points on the weekend was just a single point more than Schotz’s Camaro. Historically, if you can put up 490 points at a regular season event, you must be on the short list of contenders for the OUSCI title, where no car has scored 490 or more points since 2019. Schotz now joins Sobey as the only two to have accomplished that feat in the last two seasons, but Chris Smith’s ’70 Camaro will look to join them at Road America.

Grabbing a lot of points at Road America won’t be an easy feat either, as the current registration for that track sits at 95 entries, including four Teslas, which have proven to be the cars to beat on the Classic Car Liquidators Autocross and the Peak Performance Challenge. Win those segments in any class outside of GTS at Road America and finish behind the Teslas and you’re already at 492 points on the weekend, even if you take the top overall spot on the road course and in the Wynrock Speed Shop Design & Engineering Challenge.

Nothing comes easy in this series, but if you can make it to the top of the mountain, the rewards are great, especially now that Racetreads.com has come onboard and offered up a free set of tires for every class winner and Summit Racing Spirit of the Event invitee for the rest of the season! It’s not to late to get in on the action, regardless of where you live. Head over to “http://www.driveoptima.com”www.driveoptima.com, check out the rules and sign up to run your street car or truck!

Top Ten Overall

1. Bob Sobey 2013 Nissan GT-R GTS 492 points

2. Dave Schotz 2022 Chevrolet Camaro GT 491 points

3. Lane Farka 2015 Porsche GT3 GTL 481 points

4. John Falkner 2021 Chevrolet Camaro GT 481 points

5. Matt Ramirez 2004 Ford Mustang GT 474 points

6. Jordan Priestley 2021 Tesla Model 3 GTS 471 points

7. CB Ramey 2024 Chevrolet Corvette GTS 460 points

8. Brandon Hurst 2021 Tesla Model S GTS 456 points

9. Bryan Reilly 2018 Chevrolet Camaro GT 453 points

10. Jake Jackson 2018 Chevrolet Camaro GT 451 points

2024 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Schedule

February 23-25th Sebring Raceway

March 1-3rd Thunderhill Raceway

May 3-5th Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca

June 28-30th Road America

July 26-28th Portland International Raceway

August 16-18th Summit Point Motorsports Park

October 4-6th VIRginia International Raceway

QA1 First Timer Award- Scott Lezchuk 2020 Tesla Model 3

Anderson Composites Competitor’s Choice Award- Keith Corrigan 1955 Ford Thunderbird

Operational Speed Supply Most-Improved Driver- Matthew Waeckerle 2005 Lotus Elise

The post OPTIMA Goes to Laguna Seca – The Ultimate Street Car Series Hits One Of The Ultimate Race Tracks appeared first on BangShift.com.

(Photos by David Whealon) – It was a cool, fast, and adventurous weekend for the stars of the NHRA Mission Tortillas Drag Racing Series at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina. The weather has been a challenge at every NHRA National event this year, but nothing could put a damper on the action in Charlotte or the great photos from our dude David Whealon. We’ve already shared our Nitro photos, but now it is time for Pro Stock, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle action shots.

David Whealon shot these images and there are some stunners in here. From the four wide launches to the tight shots of your favorite door cars, if you dig drag racing, you’ll dig these photos.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF OUR 4-Wide ACTION PHOTOS FROM CHARLOTTE

Hit the images below to expand them and then scroll on to see them all –

The post Our Final NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Pro Stock And Mountain Motor Pro Stock Photos: More Bad Ass Door Car Action Shots From Charlotte’s Four-Wide Nationals Did Not Disappoint! appeared first on BangShift.com.

If you are a custom truck fan then you know the gang from GrinderTV and those dudes have been shooting awesome videos for years from all the best shows. Lone Star Throwdown is no different and so we’re glad to be able to share their video from this year’s Lone Star Throwdown. Check it out below.

If you missed our photos, use the link below.

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISS ANY OF OUR LONE STAR THROWDOWN PICS 

Video Description:

LST 2024 was one for the record books. We can not stress enough…if you have never been…GO.

The post Lone Star Throwdown Video: This Show Is Epic, And Now Instead Of Just Having Photos We’ve Got This Great Video Of All The Cool That Was On Hand In Texas! appeared first on BangShift.com.