Performance oil company Royal Purple, Porter, Texas, named Mike Mead of Springfield, Mo., and his 1970 Dodge Coronet convertible the winner of a photo contest on the Royal Purple fan page.

Mead was awarded the opportunity to go on the 2013 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour, June 1-7

Royal Purple will cover his tour registration expenses and provide a $500 Visa gift card to defray travel costs and provide a space in the Royal Purple booth on tour for his car.

“I never dreamed this old car would do the things it has done and put me the places it has,” said Mead after learning of his selection.

1981 Yamaha Maxim 650 with a Hairdryer?

"TurboMax"

Including parts from Harley Davidson. Moto Guzzi. Triumph. Yamaha. Suzuki and stuff I don't what its off of.

Everything was powdercoated by me at home. Black Wrinkle. Silver Vein. Satin Black and Gloss Black.

The Turbocharger will boost 15psi on the 650cc Carbureted Yamaha inline 4. 5 speed transmission and shaft drive. Controls are from VMax along with some suspension and differential. Stock maxim Wheels. Single Disc up front and drum in the rear. Yep, gonna NOT want top stop. LOL!  Instrumentation: Garmin Nuvi GPS Speedometer. Autometer boost gauge.

INDIANAPOLIS – Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, will drive the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Pace Car to lead the pack of 33 racers to the start of the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, this Sunday.

Harbaugh, who took the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012, is no stranger to Indianapolis. He was a quarterback for the Colts football team from 1994 through 1997. During his time with the Colts, he was named AFC Player of the Year and named to the Pro Bowl in 1995.

Harbaugh is also a racing fan and a principal at Panther Racing, which fields the two-car, Chevrolet-powered IndyCar team with drivers J.R. Hildebrand and Townsend Bell. Hildebrand will drive the No. 4 National Guard Chevrolet in Indianapolis 500 and Bell will compete in the No. 60 Sunoco “Turbo” Chevrolet.

General Motors has shown off prototypes of its in-car app platform for months, but today the automaker has finally committed turning its tech demos into a reality. In an interview with CNET, March Chan, the president of GM's global connected consumer division, said the company plans to have apps up and running in its dashboards sometime in the second half of the year, as 2014 models arrive at dealerships. But just what apps and just what cars will be a part of this rollout hasn't yet been announced.

What we do know at this point is that GM wants its apps to run in a car's in-dash entertainment system, and not rely on a smartphone to work. GM has demoed early versions of its in-car app platform in vehicles that have their own LTE connections built in. As to whether or not the apps will be free or paid, how they'll be downloaded or which ones will be included, that's all yet to be determined, Chan told CNET. GM will initially select which apps are installed in its vehicles, but eventually an app store will be made available, and other apps can be downloaded. The apps will be built specifically for GM cars, but the company hasn't decided if the apps will be free, a part of a new paid service, or set up with individual subscriptions, Chan said in the interview.

INDIANAPOLIS  (AP) — Antron Brown joked that he wouldn't mind making a couple of left-handed turns the next time he's on the track. Ed Carpenter thought it'd be fun to ramp up the speed by about 100 mph.

Maybe they ought to swap rides.

Brown, the reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion, stopped by his old pal's garage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, slipping into Carpenter's No. 20 Chevrolet and getting a quick lesson in paddle shifting on the car that will sit on the pole for the Indy 500.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 22) -- Decorated drag racer and crew chief Dave Connolly will contest the national Stock Eliminator championship this year after inking a major sponsorship deal with Berger Chevrolet and its online parts division, GMPartsNow.com.

Connolly will be driving and tuning the stunning 2012 COPO Camaro he recently raced to a strong semifinal finish at the 4-Wide NHRA Nationals, which sported a "Grumpy's Toy" tribute paint scheme. A salute to Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, Connolly's mentor, will remain on the car, taking up new residence on the rear fenders, while the doors will now be adorned with GMPartsNow.com.

"We've had a great relationship with Berger Chevrolet since 2004 and this is an extension of that," team owner Victor Cagnazzi said. "We're anxious to let the millions of NHRA fans out there know about GMPartsNow.com. I recently visited the facility and they have more than 60,000 square feet of warehouse space and 6 million dollars in inventory specifically dedicated to GM parts. They stock the full gamut of GM parts, from mechanical and powertrain to collision, performance and outlet parts."

New York, New York (21 May 2013) - This year's Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, 1 and 2 June at Roger
Sherman Baldwin Park will feature an interesting car that defies identification
at first - or second or third - glance, baffling even knowledgeable collectors.
Its smooth lines, lustrous red paint and Carrozzeria Ghia crest confirm its
Italian heritage, but what, exactly, is it?

The poster car of the 2013
Greenwich Concours d'Elegance is a 1955 Jaguar XK140MC, with a custom aluminum
body by Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin, Italy. Photo by Bruce Wennerstrom

Selected as the Poster Car
for the 2013 Greenwich Concours it is a 1955
Jaguar XK140MC, with a custom aluminum body by Ghia of Turin,
Italy. The MC suffix signifies that the engine was upgraded to produce 20 more
horsepower, for a total of 220 hp. It was built for Marge and Gower Champion,
the Hollywood musical stars, who later sold it to fellow actor, Ricardo
Montalban; it is currently owned by Greenwich-collector Michael Schudroff.
Thanks to its hand-made aluminum body, the coupe is substantially lighter than
a stock XK140. Its greenhouse has slender roof pillars and greater glass area for
a bright and airy interior. The greatest owner satisfaction though, comes from
the exclusivity and the stir it creates wherever it appears at a gathering of
car enthusiasts.

Consumer Reports said the Samsung Galaxy S4, is now it top-rated smartphone, dethroning the LG Optimus G, which has enjoyed the top slot for the past several months.

The S4 took the honors due to its “excellent” 5 inch, 1080p display, its many sensor-based functions and the fact that the touch screen display can be operated even with gloves on.

Another big plus for the phone is it lets you run two apps at the same time on a split-screen view so you can watch a video and check email simultaneously.

LAS VEGAS, NV– - Cobra Electronics Corporation announced the nationwide general availability of the Cobra iRadar ATOM, an ultra-compact smart detection system delivering class-leading detection performance and enhanced situational awareness for the ultimate in driver safety and information. The iRadar ATOM is available now at Amazon.com and www.cobra.com for a price of $199.95.

Based on the award-winning Cobra iRadar system, the Cobra iRadar ATOM is the most compact detector on the market while delivering unrivaled performance typically only available from units costing hundreds more. By utilizing state-of-the-art advancements in system design and the latest in component engineering, Cobra iRadar ATOM sports a 35 percent smaller form factor than previous iRadar models. The iRadar ATOM leverages Cobra’s first-to-market and rapidly evolving iRadar app family, allowing users to connect their iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth to the iRadar detection unit. Once paired with the free iRadar app, users can share alerts in real-time with other iRadar users nearby, including warnings of upcoming speed and red light camera enforcement, caution areas, dangerous intersections and live police locations.

Kenwood said it will ship in June a 7-inch WiFi tablet announced in January that is intended as a “second” screen for the rear seat when used with either of two Kenwood WiFi Connected Car Radios.

The tablet works over a WiFi networked connection to the Kenwood DNN 990HD and DNN 770HD to share movies, videos and photos between devices or between a connected smartphone.  It is not offered as a standard tablet, although it is an Android tablet that may be used outside of the car as it  runs on a USB powered rechargeable battery.

Kenwood says its LZ-T700 tablet gives new meaning to the term “dual zone,” allowing the kids in the back to view apps while mom or dad listens to music or navigates to a destination.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest is looking for the person who will give the start to the formation lap for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours.

A spectator will be given this honor in the context of the 90th anniversary of the world-famous endurance race. The lucky winner will be drawn by lot from among those with a grandstand seat.

As a sports organizer, one of the ACO’s priorities has always been its determination to be as close as possible to its public. Since 1923, the Le Mans 24 hours is living proof of this with an annual crowd of around 250,000 spectators.

This year, the ACO is asking one of the spectators to give the start to the formation lap of the race. Only Daniel Poissenot, the Clerk of the Course, experiences this thrilling sensation, which he’ll share for the first time this year.

An Ultimate Service Provider to Win an Ultimate Service Truck in Federated Car Care Sweepstakes

STAUNTON, Virginia – May 21, 2013 – Federated will award one of its Car Care Center members with the ultimate grand prize in the Federated Ultimate Service Truck Sweepstakes. This is not just any truck; it has been designed by renowned motorsports artist Sam Bass and modified by Matt Steele and Bruno Massel, hosts of the SPEED show Truck U.

The grand prize winner of the Federated Ultimate Service Truck Sweepstakes will also receive an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas for the 2013 Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo (AAPEX) where they will claim their truck. In addition, hundreds of other terrific prizes will be awarded to Federated Car Care Center members throughout the country.

SONOMA, Calif. (May 19, 2013) - The fourth annual Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Sonoma Raceway celebrated the Corvette's 60th anniversary in fine fashion, as 32 Corvettes, among an entry of more than 350 historic cars in 15 groups, raced on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course in the heart of Northern California's wine country today.

Three Corvettes came in first in their groups: Noel Park, of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., in his 1958 Corvette; and Ross Thompson, of Phoenix, Ariz., took two wins, one in his 1964 Corvette and the other in a 1976 Corvette.

The paddock throughout the weekend was filled with a variety of collector Corvettes, including a 1956 Corvette SR2 and a 1994 Guldstrand Corvette GS90 Coupe.

From a 1925 Bugatti T-35C, a 1911 National 40, to a 1972 Gulf Mirage M6, Can-Am cars from the 1960s and ‘70s, and the fan-favorite Trans-Am cars of the same era, an enthusiastic crowd was treated to close competition among many classic race cars from the last 100 years at the 27th annual historic-car event organized by General Racing Ltd.

AUSTIN, Texas (May 19, 2013)- In what has been an unbelievable 2013 Pirelli
World Challenge Season, GMG’s James Sofronas took his third victory of the
season during this weekend’s fourth and fifth rounds at Circuit of the
Americas.

“Wow, what an incredible day,” stated Sofronas. “Yesterday’s race with Johnny
showed we knew we had a good car, and once again luck was on our side today.
The key to this entire season has been having a reliable and consistent car in
the Audi R8 LMS, and a crew that has been relentless in looking over every
detail. The support we’ve had from Audi on this program has obviously been
instrumental, and the guys have been working non-stop to get us here. I’m glad
we can celebrate with all of them.”

Following a successful test at the brand-new Austin, Texas facility, the entire Global Motorsports Group (GMG) came in to this weekend’s rounds of the championship knowing that they had a team capable of victory. With a series-record seven cars entered by the team, five of them being the Audi R8 LMS, Sofronas never lost a step in pursuit of his first series championship.

A new custom kit for smaller form tablets (like the iPad mini or Nexus 7)helps installers put tablets in the dash.

It uses the same swappable inserts for each type of tablet, and as new tablets become available, supplier Fifield Fabrications, Brea, CA, plans to make new inserts available.  The MINI-U kit includes a single “bucket”, plus separate inserts for an iPad mini, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, Nook and other devices.

The inserts click into the bucket and the tablet is secured in a magnetic mount

There are openings on the side of the bucket to fit different style connectors and cables. Custom installers then can paint or file the bucket to suit the installation at hand.

In May 1913, James Radley set off from Brown’s Hotel in London’s  Mayfair for a famous motoring adventure – the 1913 Alpine Trial.  A  century later, the same Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost driven by this  pioneer, aviator and adventurer has returned to Brown’s Hotel, ready  to depart for a re-enactment of the event.

Radley’s account of his departure in 1913 reflects the spirit of  those early days of motoring:
“We must have a bottle to christen her. Here, John, just fetch    a bottle of ‘The Widow’, will you? And there outside Brown’s was    duly christened, and a glass of champagne was poured into my radiator.”

Forming the modern-day Rolls-Royce Works Team, Radley’s car will  join a contemporary pioneer, a 2013 Alpine Trial Centenary Collection  Rolls-Royce Ghost on a faithful re-enactment of the rally in June this year.

-- All the Action from Rounds 5 and 6 at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park –

(Photo Credit: Lucas Oil Off Road)

CORONA, Calif. (May 20, 2013) – The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS), the nation’s fastest growing short course off road racing series, made its 2013 southern California premier at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Lake Elsinore, California over the weekend. The action started early on Friday with teams hitting the track for practice sessions in an effort to get their race cars ready for both Saturday and Sunday’s racing excitement.  The Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park saw a record number of racers and fans come out to participate in rounds 5 and 6 at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park. The three day LOORRS event in Lake Elsinore took place from Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 20, 2013 and showcased some of the closest racing action of the year.

Lamborghinis can be challenging cars even for experienced drivers, let alone amateurs who aren’t familiar with how quickly 552 hp can break loose whatever traction the tires have and turn the bull into an unguided missile. The latest toreador to get stabbed by the bull? A Chinese journalist who totaled this new Gallardo 560-4 during a media drive.

According to reports from China, the 30-something journalist had tried to pass a slower car just beyond a toll road on wet pavement near Hangzhou when he lost control, slamming the front of the car into the highway barrier, then bounced across the road into another guardrail. No one was injured in the crack-up, and the driver was only stunned, but Lamborghini’s Chinese arm will apparently have to total one of their Gallardos, which carries a sticker price of more than $500,000 in that country.

CONCORD, N.C. (May 18, 2013) – Kurt Busch saw a potential victory slip to a fifth-place finish in Saturday night’s rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

After the four 20-lap segments in the non-points race, Busch posted the best average finish among the 22 drivers and was positioned in first place before teams were required to make a mandatory four-tire pit stop heading into the final winner-take-all 10-lap segment.

But when Busch left pit road for the 10-lap shootout, he was positioned in fifth place when the race went green for the final time. He ended the race in the same position when the checkered flag waved on Lap 90.

“Our four-segment average guaranteed us coming down pit road first for the final stop, but it didn't guarantee us leaving pit road first ,” said Busch, driver of the Armed Forces Day Furniture Row/Sealy Chevrolet. “We were one tick slow on our pit stop and one tick off on the chassis adjustment. That was the difference. You have to be perfect to win this race. We weren’t. It was an A- overall performance.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 19) – On the day when Jeg Coughlin Jr. collected his 500th round win in Pro Stock, he more importantly won the NHRA Kansas Nationals Sunday at Heartland Park Topeka, his first win of the season and first in the JEGS/Mopar Dodge Avenger.

"We've been knocking on the door all year," said Coughlin, who last won at the Brainerd event in 2010. "We've had our ups and downs and never quite been able to seal the deal and get a race win. We came out of a test in Tulsa earlier this week really happy with what we had and were extremely aggressive all four runs."