Grassroots Motorsports $2008 Challenge

With the economy tight and everyone looking to pinch some pennies, project car enthusiasts tend to push their projects to the back burner to focus on more important things, like paying bills.

Fortunately for enthusiasts, there are more frugal options for racing in today's world. Grassroots Motorsports Magazine is out to prove that cheap racing is still alive and well.

The Kumho Tires Grassroots Motorsports $2008 Challenge is entering it's ninth year. The magazine crew dedicated to amateur motorsports has organized an annual competition of cars built around a budget equal to the current year in dollars.

While this may sound ridiculously restrictive given the high cost of racing in general, but some competitors come in under the cap. The 2007 champion, a Chevrolet Corvette, managed to top the field for less than $2,000. The cost cap forces participants to be creative and use some backyard ingenuity.

The $2008 Challenge will take place October 3 – 4 at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL. The cars will spend a grueling two days dueling it out on the autocross course, drag strip and even the parking lot for a car show. Competitors should also be brushed up on their accounting skills since they are required to keep an itemized list of all their expenses. This detail keeps the event fair and also offers the magazine's readership inspiration to create their own budget racers.

PRESS RELEASE

Sept. 22, 2008 – ORMOND BEACH, Fla.

It's not easy to build a racer that handles and performs like a supercar. Tack on a $2008 budget, and the task becomes seemingly impossible-unless you're a competitor at the Kumho Tires Grassroots Motorsports $2008 Challenge.

For the ninth consecutive year, Grassroots Motorsports magazine has challenged its readers to buy, build and race a car on a tiny budget. Each year, some of the craziest car nuts in the country have risen to the challenge and built penny-pinching powerhouses.

This year's Challenge will be held October 3-4 at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Fla. Keeping with tradition, the budget has increased by one dollar to $2008.

Despite the low budget, past entries have been able to outrun exotic supercars with 10-second quarter-mile passes, and they've done so while looking good enough to wow seasoned concours judges.

And while this event is no clunker-fest, you can expect to see some pretty outrageous machinery. Entries from the $2007 Challenge included a Zamboni that traded the ice rink for the autocross track. Also entered was a twin-turbo Corvette fitted with some special features: An additional engine and fan created a Chaparral-inspired suction unit that glued the car to the track. Looking at this event's history, it seems that the outrageousness and performance levels of Challenge creations increase every year.

Competitors and their cars are judged on how well they perform in three areas: autocrossing, drag racing and concours. And, of course, Challengers may not spend more than a total of $2008 to build their vehicles. Some trading and selling is allowed, but each vehicle entered must be accompanied by a detailed budget that itemizes each and every dollar spent.

For complete details, including rules, a schedule and a list of entrants, see http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/events/2008-challenge/

For details and videos from last-years' $2007 challenge, including the budget for the $2007 Challenge-winning Vette sucker car, see http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/events/07-challenge/

Grassroots Motorsports is the how-to magazine for the serious sports car enthusiast. From profiles of new sports cars to in-depth--and occasionally off-the-wall--project cars, for 25 years each issue of GRM has been packed with practical tips helping real-world sports car enthusiasts get race car performance out of their daily drives. To receive a free trial copy of Grassroots Motorsports, request one online at grassrootsmotorsports.com/try/ or call the magazine's offices at 800-520-8292.

2010 Camaro accessories revealed

More news now on the 2010 Camaro after the SS has been revealed, courtesy of the folks at Camaro5.com forums. According to the site, dealers will begin taking orders for the new musclecar on October 13th, although pricing may not be available at that time.

Also revealed are a list of performance and appearance accessories that includes a rear spoiler, rear diffuser, ground effects package, many different kinds of stripes, different engines covers for both the V6 and V8 models and performance parts like a cold air intake, catback exhaust, shorty headers and Hurst short throw shifter.

Interior accessories include the obligatory carbon trim kit, a body-colored lighted trim kit, floormats and a nostalgic looking subwoofer, while a selection of chrome and painted wheels will also be offered.

Quite an impressive list of modifications, which will definitely help the Camaro live a long healthy life with enthusiasts. View the thread here to see more pictures of the plethora of accessories that will be available.

SSP bringing back the Firehawk name on G8 GT

The Firehawk is coming back. Much to the chagrin of Firebird fans, however, it won't appear on a new version of the Firebird but on the upcoming G8 GT.

The Firehawk name is well known by GM performance buffs, having graced some of the highest performing Firebird models from 1991 until 2002. Built by New Jersey based SLP (Street Legal Performance), the Firehawk models received various levels of performance upgrades and could hang with the best of American muscle during its day: the later models could run 0 to 60 mph in around five seconds and passing the 1/4 mile in the mid 13's.

While the Firebird sadly wasn't reborn alongside the new Camaro, SLP has decided to bring back the Firehawk moniker and use it on the Pontiac G8 with three special editions. The V6 and V8 will be offered with performance packages, along with a supercharged edition. The upgraded rides will be offered alongside the regular models at dealerships and will carry a full warranty.

While this sounds like great news to most of us, the folks at LS1Tech.com were literally outraged that the Firehawk name would be used on anything besides a Firebird, much less a four door sedan.

For the record, SLP owns the Firehawk name and can use it any way it seems fit. We'll save final judgement for when the car is unveiled and we get some solid performance numbers.