Collector Cars: How I Got My Deal of the Century
Before After "Barn finds" really happen. In the mid-1990's my dad was visiting an old high school buddy in southern Indiana. As they talked of the good old days, my … Read More
Author: Stephen Cox
Four Cylinder Racing Is Here To Stay
A 4-cylinder bucket of bolts – they're a dime a dozen, but who really cares to see them race? Once upon a time, entry level stock car divisions at local … Read More
Parity achieved!
I’ve not yet seen a World Racing League event. I’ve not driven in one, either. But I know a good idea when I see it, and the World Racing League … Read More
U.S. Gas Prices Haven’t Changed in 30 Years
Old Gas Station Get your hot rod out of your garage and enjoy it with a clear conscience. No matter what anyone tells you, driving your classic muscle car does … Read More
Against All Odds – 1970 24 Hours of Daytona
This is an excerpt from the first chapter of Stephen's new book, “Against All Odds," which is free and available here. Cliff and Jeri Gottlob at the 1970 24 Hours … Read More
INDYCAR: Even the Chosen Few Are Priced Out
Conor Daly After the release of my column last week asking whether IndyCar was still a viable career goal for American racing drivers, I received a very interesting quote from … Read More
Can Road Racers Again Dominate USA Motorsports?
Jim Hall Auto racing in the United States is a mess. NASCAR has peaked. Their response to dwindling attendance has been new cars and fuel injection. In IndyCar, the barriers … Read More
The War on Driving, Part II: V2V Is A Reality
The government's goal is to have every car on the road talking to all cars around it. To no one’s surprise, US Dept. of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced at … Read More
Carroll Shelby’s Stolen Engine Caper
Shelby 289-cubic Inch V8 A good Shelby-built 289 engine was a coveted item in the mid 1960’s. Many were stolen out of the legendary Hertz Shelby “Rent-a-racers." They left the … Read More
IndyCar: New Markets Require New Thinking
Ana Beatriz at Sao Paulo More than 90% of American race drivers are oval specialists. A brief review of active racetracks indicates that in the United States, ovals outnumber road … Read More
Mercury’s Undervalued Cougar
1968 Mercury Cougar I have a confession to make. I don’t pay much attention to the multi-million dollar collector cars on the auction block. They prance across the stage looking … Read More
Please… Give Me the Worst Tire You Can Find
Taking wide tires to the extreme Doug Strasburg is an easy guy to talk with. His humble, soft-spoken manner belies a lifetime of motorsports experience and wisdom. The Mid-American Stock … Read More
The King’s Last Ride – Don’t miss it
Steve Kinser If you didn’t see the Beatles in concert, your opportunity is gone forever. If you didn’t see Elvis when you had the chance, you never will. A few … Read More
The War on Driving, Part I
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications is coming Over the next few weeks you’re going to hear more about a new system called “V2V," which stands for “Vehicle to Vehicle Communications for Safety." It’s … Read More
Rebuilding My Totally-Not-Collectible Mustang, Part I
My 86-HP 1980 Mustang GL I am proud to own one of the most incredibly rare Ford Mustangs ever built… the 1980 Mustang GL. It is rare today because nobody … Read More
IndyCar is Running Out of Heroes
IndyCar loses one of its few remaining heroes, Dario Franchitti. Readers of AR1.com know that over the years we have stressed that heroes drive every sport. Each hero IndyCar loses … Read More
Racing Past 40: Slower Reaction Times, and Other Lies
Dario Franchitti still winning, but not as much By age 40, most racing drivers are considered past their prime. Age 50 is considered “old," and anyone racing into their late … Read More
America’s Lost Hobby & the Salvation of Our Youth
I have figured out what is wrong with America’s youth. They don’t race slot cars anymore. In addition to being overly tattooed, body pierced and not pulling their pants up, … Read More
Babies Whine. Girls Scream. Engines Growl
Jenson Button and Honda Racing in action during the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring on July 30, 2006 So the big news from Formula 1 last week … Read More
The Miracle in Phoenix: An Interview with Jim Guthrie
Jim Guthrie down low in the No. 27 races Stephane Gregoire at Indianapolis, 1997 One of the biggest miracles ever performed on four wheels took place on March 23, 1997 … Read More
Racing’s greatest upsets: Oh, wait… there aren’t any
Yes, that's me in victory circle. When I spend the right amount of money I am competitive and can win. Same driver, different budget. Think for a moment about the … Read More
Wisconsin and the Calamitous Commitment Cone
Having never been to Wisconsin's La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway before, it was no surprise when I qualified near the back of the field last weekend after only six laps of … Read More
Indy’s new road race: A Band-Aid for a broken arm
IndyCars on Mid-Ohio Road course. No elevation change at Indy I love the idea of adding a road race for Indycars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. What worries me are … Read More
The National Short Track Stock Car Championship
Rockford action For 48 years, race fans have sojourned to Rockford Speedway in northern Illinois to watch the finest short track stock car drivers in the world compete for the … Read More
Movie review: The Getaway… Run While You Can
Dollars are hard to come by these days for pretty much everyone. Perhaps I can save a few of yours by preventing a disaster of epic proportions. Do not under … Read More