Carroll Hall Shelby, the Texan who created the famous Shelby Cobra and uncounted other high-performance machines that turned the auto world on its ear, and made it a whole lot more fun for 50 years, died in Dallas Thursday night at age 89. He had been hospitalized for pneumonia.

While perhaps best known now for his Shelby Cobras and Shelby Mustangs, the racer and car builder’s signature accomplishment was the 1-2-3 finish in 1966 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, ending Ferrari’s then-domination of the event. Charged by Ford with making its GT40 racer competitive, he stuffed it with a 427 cu. in. V-8 and ran the table.

But he’d first taken on the Ferraris and Porsches of the world on their own European sports car racing turf early in the 1960s with his original and now-legendary Cobras, mating a Ford V-8 with a light British AC roadster.

Shelby, who affected the aw-shucks demeanor of the chicken farmer he once was, said, “I never made a damn dime until I started doing what I wanted.”

What he wanted was, if you will, power for the people, automotively speaking.

“I love horsepower,” he said more than once.

Beyond just his efforts in the small world of hot-rodding, Shelby influenced how Detroit automakers thought about high-performance, and he proved that hard work and bit of guile can make a hero.

But to achieve that, he had to jump from chicken-raising — his fowl all died of a disease one year — and into full-time auto racing, which he’d been doing on the side, in the 1950s. He was a success — at first continuing to wear the work overalls that he did as a farmer — and parlayed that reputation into a foothold as a car builder.

The litany of significant cars he created is long, running from the original 1962 AC Cobra — small British sports car with a big (for the times) Ford engine — through a sojourn at Chrysler and a stint with GM via a failed Oldsmobile-powered car, back to Ford. He was involved with development of Ford’s GT 500 Mustang, the 2013 version of which is certified as the most-powerful regular-production car in the world.

Britt Cummings 2012 S/C

The Bayou Boyz racing team has been on a roll as of late and this past weekend proved no different. A Super Comp win by Britt Cummings who defeated Shannon Brinkley helped push the Moser Sponsored team into the winners circle.

It could have been even more amazing because Britt came close to doubling up this weekend. After the Bayou Boyz claimed best appearing with the Corvette and their Firebird, Britt went out and showed how deadly accurate this driver and car combination could be.  He finished with a solid runner up position in only his fourth time out with the new car. The fact that this newly designed package is performing so well in a short time in the Stock Eliminator class is a pleasant surprise. The engineering that went into this Stock Eliminator package is showing its value and giving rewards much faster than anyone thought possible. Look for these Moser Engineering C5 kits to go deep this season and if your interested in learning more about this complete rear for your C5 then click here!

Luke's vette in the far lane!

Also helping out with testing and getting Moser support was Luke Bogacki who won his first National event with his new Corvette, beating out Jeff Lopez, a long time friend of Luke’s. We are so happy for Luke to go out in his first competition with the new car and pull off a victory. The fact that it happened with one of his long time friends makes it even sweeter.

All of this on top of Larry Cummings solid performance last weekend at Dallas it just goes to show that it may prove to be a long season for the competition.

 Although he’s better known to many today as the father of his world champion sons, Britt and Slate, Larry Cummings is a sportsman drag racing legend. 

The victory vaulted Cummings into the third position in the early Division 4 points standings, three spots ahead of his son Slate. The Cummings team will have little time off this week, as they make their way to Houston, TX for the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals, April 27-29. The Cummings team will pursue an ambitious schedule of NHRA events throughout the season, and will also partner with Luke Bogacki to host the BRODIX Cylinder Heads ThisIsBracketRacing.com “Live” Driving School at No Problem Raceway Park on September 5-6.

In addition to major sponsor Moser Engineering, Cummings Motorsports also relies on the following manufacturers for quality components vital to their continued success: FTI Torque Converters, Sunset Racecraft, B&M Performance, Weldon, Afco, Borla, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Mickey Thompson Tires, K&N, Holley Performance, Amalie Oil, Weld Wheels, Richmond Gear, Altronics, Harwood, Nitroplate, Edelbrock, Mr. Gasket, Jeff Taylor Racing Engines, Biondo Racing Products, Auto Meter, Phantom Race Cars, Simpson Safety Equipment, H&F Performance, Folk Race Cars, Weld Wheels and Milodon.

 For more information on this story visit  www.ThisIsBracketRacing.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Photos courtesy of Auto Imagery/Roger Richards

Super Comp driver Furr lays claim to victory in Charlotte once more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 24, 2012) – When it comes to competing at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C., Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitor Michelle Furr can very nearly do no wrong. Last fall, Furr dominated the Super Comp category there to win her very first national event, and she was also runner-up in Super Street to come oh-so-close to a widely and wildly coveted double victory.

The simple truth is that Furr returned to zMAX Dragway and collected her second national event win at the lauded facility in the recent NHRA Four-Wide Nationals by way of efficient starting line skills and a keen ability to drive the finish line stripe, including a dead-on-the-index 8.90 in round four to earn the Strange Engineering Perfectly Strange Performance Award for the category – a particularly notable fact since she hadn’t even competed at a national event since winning last fall. There’s no doubt about it: Furr and the prestigious North Carolina racetrack make a wicked combination.

However, the energetic married mom of two from Galax, Va., is anything but presuming. For the Furr family, the repeat win was absolutely a dream come true.

“This was a Cinderella story for us, and my husband Rick and I just feel so fortunate and grateful to God,” said Furr. “It really solidifies my belief in our abilities as a team, and the greatest reward was looking in the eyes of my family and seeing how very proud they are.

“Our children, Madilyn and Adiayn, were in the grandstands cheering us on, and Rick – who is completely unselfish and works so hard for all of us so that we can do this – was with me on the starting line. Right before I pulled onto the track for the first round of eliminations, he told me, ‘Don’t let them forget; this is your house.’ By the next day and the last few rounds of the event, the statement had turned into an emphatic question. Rick would ask me right before I pulled onto the track, ‘Whose house are they in?’ I’d look up at him and smile through my helmet and say, ‘My house.’ ”

Indeed, Furr made herself right at home and staked claim on the victory with a consistent string of seven passes between 8.89 and the 8.90 target in their Ohio Crankshaft 632-powered Undercover dragster. The consistency echoed Furr’s fall performance, when she clocked six consecutive runs between 8.89 and 8.90.

The Furr family credits much of their effectiveness on the racetrack to engine builder Stan Ray and his reliable Ohio Crankshaft engines that they run in both the Super Street Camaro and the Super Comp dragster. Says Furr, “It’s a great feeling to show up at the track knowing our race cars can run the number.”

The family-oriented race team pairs the Ohio Crankshaft engines with Quick Fuel carburetors, an Aeromotive fuel pump, Moroso plug wires and pans, with a Digital Delay 500 topped by the new K&N carbon fiber hood scoop and filter. Power comes from Turbo Start 16v batteries and Power Master alternators paired with PTC converters, Alto Red Eagle transmission components and a Moser rear end and axles. The rail rides on Good Year tires and uses Hawk Brake Pads, and the power-maker is kept cool with Maradyne High Performance fans. The winning combination is rounded out by RCI safety equipment, an MSD ignition, AutoMeter gauges and Jegs performance parts, with thanks also going to Smith Bros Pushrods, Nitroplate, Jesel, Melling, Number 1 Stop, Mitone Web Design, Staging Light Graphics, and MotorMilePerformance.com.

“It was so neat because we were all there together,” said Furr. “Madilyn and Adiayn, my little Jr. dragster racers, would head to the same spot in the grandstands next to the starting line each round, and all those around them joined in to cheer on their Mom through the final. Adiayn told me that he prayed every round for my win light to come on, and Madilyn would reassure him each round that it did. I’m proud to say that now they each have a Wally – one pewter from last fall honoring the 60th anniversary of NHRA and one gold for this win.

“I have been blessed with the very best family,” Furr continued with a smile. “I have to thank my husband, Rick, to whom I will have been married 25 years this August, and my dad, Ron Privett, for giving me so much support and setting the example for me to follow. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible, and to be partnered with the best in the business, the companies that produce the products that will get the job done, gives us peace of mind in performance and makes my job on the track look easy. I can’t wait to see what we can do next.”

Media Contact:
Kelly Wade
626-675-1679
kelly@winlightnews.com

Moser Engineering Sponsored C5 Corvette

The Moser Engineering rear sub frame Assembly for C-5 Corvettes (1997-2004).

(Click here to check pricing and options)

Moser Engineering is always looking for ways to help our
racers get to the winners circle. The opportunity is now here with the weight advantage
allowed for C5 corvettes in NHRA Stock Eliminator classes and Moser Engineering
is delivering a product to help you beat the competition. We have engineered a
kit that allows the C5’s weight advantage to be capitalized upon while still maintaining
a legal Stock Eliminator car and getting rid of the unreliable and unrepeatable
independent rear. This live axle conversion gives you the strength you need to run
a long Sportsman season without the worry of maintaining an independent rear.
This assembly comes standard with a Pro Gear and Moser Engineering’s Custom
Alloy Axles along with the Moser 12 Bolt unit.

This assembly was primarily designed for NHRA Stock Eliminator classes but can be adapted for other uses. Since the C-5 Corvette is designed to be an independent rear with a transaxle, modifications must be made to the transmission tunnel, torque tube tunnel and upper rear control arm mounts to facilitate this installation. These modifications must be done in advance of the installation of this kit. The lower portion of the rear frame rails directly above the rear end housing may need to be C notched for adequate clearance. The stock fuel tanks, lines, etc…. need to be removed as well.

Quick OverviewThe New Moser Engineering C-5 Corvette Rear Sub Frame Assembly!

Fits: 1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette

*Kit ships within 3 weeks of online order completion!

The standard kit includes the following;
New Moser 12-Bolt Housing
35 Spline Custom Alloy Axles
Moser Lightweight Steel Spool
12-Bolt Pro/Comp Ring & Pinion
1350 Series Chrome Moly Pinion Yoke
Timken Bearings
5/8″ Drive Stud Kit (2″ or 3″)
Sealed Axle Bearings
Chrome Moly – Torque Arm, Driveshaft Loop, Transmission Cross-member, Panhard Bar, Track Locator, Lower Control Arms, Spring Saddles, Anti-Roll Adjuster, Anti-Roll Arm, Anti-Roll Tubes and Frame Rails
Mild Steel – Front Cross-member, Rear Cross-member, Upper Shock Mounts, Spring Mounts
All Associated Hardware is supplied!

IHRA announces Moser Engineering as presenting sponsor for Summit SuperSeries, Summit Team Finals programs

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is pleased to announce that Indiana-based Moser Engineering, the industry leader in performance axles and rear ends, will be the presenting sponsor for the Summit SuperSeries and Summit Team Finals sportsman programs beginning in 2012.

Designed as a championship program for bracket racers around the world, the Summit SuperSeries has crowned nearly two dozen champions and awarded over $1 million in cash and prizes since 2002 and now, with the added support of Moser Engineering, the program will only continue to grow and provide the biggest stage in grassroots sportsman racing today.

“Moser Engineering has always been known as one of the leading sponsors with our support of the Sportsman Ranks. This continued relationship with IHRA shows our commitment to that relationship. We enjoy going to the track and racing ourselves and getting to partner up and promote programs like this is just part of who we are as a company.” – Jeff Anderson, Marketing Director

In addition to adding additional support to the Summit SuperSeries program, Moser Engineering will be the largest backer of the dragster build program which awards a brand new dragster to the Top class winner at the IHRA World Finals. Moser Engineering will also be returning as a major contingency sponsor for all levels of IHRA racing, including providing significant contingency at the Summit Team Finals and Summit SuperSeries championship races as well as rewarding the tracks that the racers represent. 

The Summit SuperSeries presented by Moser Engineering is the World Championship program for IHRA member track sportsman racers. Providing the base for the Summit SuperSeries are the more than 90 member tracks and thousands of IHRA racers around the globe.

Each track determines its Summit SuperSeries champion through head-to-head competition throughout the year. At the conclusion of the season each track’s Summit SuperSeries champion then moves on to race other track champions at the divisional level at the Summit Team Finals presented by Moser Engineering. Those drivers that emerge victorious from the Summit Team Finals will meet at the IHRA World Finals for the Summit SuperSeries World Championship.

“Moser Engineering is proud to partner with companies like Summit and organizations like IHRA that go out of there way to show Sportsman Racers they are the reason for our companies success.  The racers support of us allows us to be successful and we appreciate getting the chance to pay it back.”

 – Jeff Anderson, Marketing Director

A long time supporter of IHRA sportsman racing, Moser Engineering will play a key role in the continued growth of this revolutionary grassroots racing program. Founded in 1982, Moser Engineering manufactures aftermarket performance rear end components for various racing applications. Located in Portland, Indiana, Moser prides itself in its ability to supply quality American-made products at affordable prices.

For more information on Moser Engineering visit www.moserengineering.com and for more information on the Summit SuperSeries, Summit Team Finals and additional IHRA programs visit www.ihra.com for complete details.