Ethanol powered Ford Mustang chases speed record

Brent Hajek loves racing cars and corn. The Oklahoma corn farmer is also the proprietor of a race car museum, and has managed to combine his two passions in an effort to set a new land speed record.

The idea sprung from a record that Ford set with a Mustang Mach 1 some 40 years ago. Hajek wanted to commemorate the event by returning to Bonneville, and even got the original record driver's son to pilot his modified S197 Mustang. The idea really gained steam – and support from FoMoCo – when Hajek and co. decided to go for the record using E85 bio-ethanol.

They set a top speed of 252.78 mph, which will be a new record if and when they manage to replicate it so it can be etched into the books. In the meantime, Hajek is convinced the initiative will pave the way for Ford to produce an E85-powered Mustang straight from the factory.

Check out the video for a look at the record breaking event, and pardon the corny hair band music (and the pun).

RDP Motorsport Dodge Challenger - 1,000 hp and twin superchargers

Anything approaching 1,000hp is a sure recipe for tire roasting, sideways driving mayhem. If that type of maddeningly uncontrollable power quenches your appetite for destruction, there is a new member in the insane horsepower club.

The RDP Motorsports tuned Dodge Challenger features a stroked 6.1 liter HEMI that displaces 440 cubic inches. The block is topped off with not one, but two superchargers and offers up an astounding 1,000 horsepower. That's enough power to push the heavy Challenger down the quarter mile in the nine second range, if you can get traction.

This over the top pony car was revealed at the PRI Show in Florida. The Australian company will be happy to replicate this car for the right price, or will work with buyers to create their own custom combination.

Autoblog drives the Hurst Hemi Challenger

Well, somewhat of a first drive. Although they were limited to 25 mph, the folks at Autoblog were able to obtain some opinions on what makes the car tick.

The speed limitation was due to the fact that the car still wears prototype wheels, in all their retro glory. The car itself is a nice homage to Hurst's glorious history of making shifters as well as the Hurst Olds of the 1970's. The gold and white package complete the package.

For the complete and somewhat limited, driving impressions, head over to Autoblog.