Vacation time! Here's some posts to keep you busy in the meantime.

The bad news, at least for the readers, is that it's time for my annual big vacation. The good news is that we've got lots of juicy posts to keep you occupied while I'm gone.

There is a lot going on in the world of domestic performance right now. It's really a good time to be a fan of muscle. So without further ado, we have eight new posts for you to check out:

SV Motors 9 Competizione, in pictures!

Why you won't be seeing Chevrolet's Camaro in NASCAR

Momentum Race Group to run Camaros in KONI Challenge

Phoenix Trans-Am conversion kit coming for Camaro

Hennessey Venom GT to debut at 2010 Geneva Motor Show

2011 Mustang to get upgraded Track Pack to handle Coyote 5.0 power?

Corvette C7 coming in 2012?

Video: Iacocca Mustang commercial debuts

Enjoy, and we'll see you next week!

SV Motors 9 Competizione, in pictures!

Italian style meets American muscle in a perfect harmony thanks to the SV Motors 9 Competizione. And now we have pictures to show the real deal, not just artist renderings. Based on a Chevrolet Corvette C6 and utilizing the LS3 powertrain, the 9Competizione features Italian-designed carbon fiber bodywork that lowers the curb weight to just 3085 lbs. Performance figures are scarce, but SV claims the car can pull 1.03g and brake from 60-0 mph in 107 ft.

The car is an individualist's dream, as there are 25 different exterior color choices to go along with multiple wheel options, and several interior colors and materials to choose from. Customers can even pick five different brake caliper finishes. SV has boldly capped production at 1,000 units, and while pricing has not been announced, the company claims the 9 C will cost no more than $100,000.

Why you won't be seeing Chevrolet's Camaro in NASCAR

With the Ford Mustang set to make it's debut in NASCAR, many have been expecting the Camaro to follow suit and maintain the classic rivalry between the two pony cars. The reason you won't be seeing this is pretty simple: Chevy wants the Camaro to look like a Camaro, not a painted standard body.

GM's Mark Kent said that because of "the need to have templated bodies in that series, we felt that by forcing the Camaro into the Nationwide templates that we were compromising the body lines of an iconic car."

Momentum Race Group to run Camaros in KONI Challenge

The Chevrolet Camaro is finally set to take on the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang in the KONI Sports Car Challenge Series under the banner of Momentum Race Group. The Dallas based outfit will run a two car team featuring cars built by Riley Technologies and sport a lineup of well seasoned drivers led by SPEED World Challenge veterans Robb Holland and Jeff Altenburg. Teams will start testing in September and will compete in the last race of the season at Virginia International Raceway in October.

PRESS RELEASE:

DALLAS, Texas - Momentum Race Group is pleased to announce it will be fielding a new two car team for the 2009 Grand-Am KONI Challenge competition. Featuring the new Riley Technologies-built Camaro, the team is putting together key personnel to prepare for the 2009 season and beyond.

"With times as tough as they are, I can sleep well at night knowing that we have not only chosen what I feel to be one of the premier race cars in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge GS class, but also one which is as all-American as the Camaro," said Ray Butler, President of Momentum Race Group.

Momentum Race Group will begin testing cars in September in preparation for its October debut at VIR.

"Being one of the first teams to field the new Riley Camaro, as well as with the talent we are assembling, we hope to have a strong showing starting from our first race and to be contending for the 2010 championship," said Jordon Musser, Executive Vice President of Momentum Race Group and Lead Driver.

Momentum is finalizing its driver lineup, but is expected to include Musser, Robb Holland and Jeff Altenburg.

"Jordon Musser was my first choice for Executive Vice President and Lead Driver because of his uncanny attention to detail and of course his ability to hustle a car around a race track," Butler said.

Robb Holland, a veteran of the SPEED World Challenge, will co-drive the first car with Musser.

"Robb is a great driving talent, an all around great guy and good face for the team," Musser said. "His presence will be invaluable in helping us acquire sponsors and his skills behind the wheel will keep us up front."

Momentum is excited about the opportunity of having Jeff Altenburg be the lead driver in the second car.

"Jeff has been a champion at all levels of motorsports and has great experience at setting up and developing race cars. We will be relying on that experience to help us make our Camaros competitive straight out of the box," Musser said.

Momentum is hoping to announce its finalized driver lineup within a few weeks. Momentum is also in talks with several veteran KONI Sports Car Challenge crew chiefs and strategists to make sure the team has strong leadership on race weekends.

The team will be busy in the off season with testing, solidifying driver line ups, sponsors and key personnel with in the team for the end of 2009 and into 2010. Several positions are available. Interested parties should contact Momentum Race Group.

Phoenix Trans-Am conversion kit coming for Camaro

Pontiac is dead, but that doesn't mean that Trans-Am fans can't get the car that they dreamed of the last few years since it was announced that the Camaro would rise from the dead.

Trans Am depot will be offering body kits that transform a standard Camaro into a Trans Am. Since they were always basically Camaros with body kits anyway, this should easily appease the masses and allow some folks to differentiate themselves from the masses.

Press Release

Phoenix T/A

Like its mythical namesake that rose from the ashes to a new life, the Trans Am of yesteryear has been born again... the Phoenix T/A. If it is true that good things come to those who wait, then we have surely been rewarded for our patience.

Trans Am Depot is pleased to announce our partnership with designer Kevin Morgan in turning a three-year dream into reality. We, like many of you, have lusted over Kevin's retro interpretation of the '77 - '78 Trans Am based on the 2010 Camaro platform. We began early last year discussing the idea of how we might work together to bring this vision to life.

Phoenix T/A Currently, we are completing a one-off Kevin Morgan "Trans Am" Concept, which we intend to unveil at the 2009 Trans Am Nationals. The concept will be followed by the first production conversion later this year. It will vary from the concept car but will be an exact version of the conversion kits we will hope to be offering this fall. We are working closely with a Detroit auto design firm to bring this kit to market. We will be offering everything from the body conversion only to the limited Phoenix Edition. The kits will be available as an installed conversion only. Order details, pricing and delivery information will be coming soon. If you are interested in having a conversion performed on your Camaro or purchasing a turn-key conversion from Trans Am Depot, please fill out the customer form below.
The Phoenix conversion will include:

Exterior

1' - 1.5' Lowering Kit w/sway bar handling upgrade
Wheels & Tires
Front: 20x9.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 275/45ZR20
Rear: 20x11.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 305/35ZR20
Hood
Shaker Scoop
Fender Extractors
Exhaust Conversion w/ splitter tips
Rear Fascia Clip w/tail lamp lenses and bulbs
Rear Spoiler
TA Graphic Package


Interior

Embroded Head Rest and Console Lid - KM Graphic Punch
Turned Aluminum Door Panel
Turned Aluminum Dash Inserts
Turned Aluminum Instrument Cluster
Door Panel Badges
T/A SN Badge and Designation

Hennessey Venom GT to debut at 2010 Geneva Motor Show

It's been two years since John Hennessey announced that he was going to be building his own supercar, but the plans are still a go as it has been announced that the car will make it's debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Some specs have changed. Curb weight is down from 2700 to 2400 pounds. The proposed engine is now a "Hennessey V8" instead of a Viper V10. Power is up to 1200hp rather than the inital 1000hp, and top speed is said to be 274mph. Soon we will know if that car can pull off these lofty goals.

2011 Mustang to get upgraded Track Pack to handle Coyote 5.0 power?

Car & Driver was recently down at GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan, where it ran into some Ford engineers testing some preproduction 2011 Mustangs. The unusual thing about the cars was that they featured not only adjustable shocks, but some serious supercar rubber. The same tires that are used on the Lamborghini LP560-4, for example.

The car was lapping 1.88 mile track just as fast as the current BMW M3 they brought along. How is it possible that a 315hp car could keep up with a 414hp one? Both the Mustang and the M3 weigh in almost identical, so the most logical explanation is that the Mustang was packing a little something extra underhood.

The logical explanation here is that the Mustang was packing the Coyote 5.0, a 400hp big time upgrade over the stock 4.6L. It's also possible that the white car with one tailpipe is sporting the EcoBoost V6, which is rated higher than the standard GT. Either way, check out the article and let the speculation begin!

Corvette C7 coming in 2012?

Corvette lovers had a slight scare in the state of the current economy with the bankrupcy of GM and word that performance models would be placed on the backburner, like the Z28. In a world of ever increasing gas prices, would the legendary Corvette meet it's demise after a long run as America's sports car?

Well it looks like the 'vette will continue on, at least if the latest two year product plans coming from GM hold out to be true. The plan is to introduce the C7 Corvette in 2012 as a 2013 model. Previous plans were to hold off on a new Corvette until 2014. Having a mid engine layout is a dead idea, as the C7 will continue on with the classic front engine, rear drive layout.

Rumors are that C7 will be smaller and lighter than the C6, which could be accomplished with the use of more exotic materials such as carbon fiber and aluminum in the construction. Rumor also has it that styling could be influenced by the 2009 Chicago Auto Show's Stingray Concept, the car you see in the pictures above. Well, we hope that rumor isn't true.

Video: Iacocca Mustang commercial debuts

Celebrating the Mustang's 45th anniversary in style, Ford has rolled out 45 copies of the Iacocca Mustang for those who prefer their pony car with a little style. Iacocca is celebrating his latest ride by bankrolling this commercial, which sports some Sinatra tunes and SoCal scenery.