The “Racecraft” is the new division of Saleen, and the first product of this division is to be the 420S high-performance Mustang. Aside from the Racecraft’s powerful 4.6 liter V8 engine, a supercharger also will be added under the Mustang’s hoods. Likewise, some of their parts will be upgraded as well. Overall, this 420 horsepower powerhouse can definitely make it to the race track.

This performance kit also features a great suspension for cornering, exterior decals, lightweight wheels, and great trims in its interior. Its pricing is just about right in the $40,000 range. And if you aren’t satisfied with all these features yet, you can purchase the upgraded 475 horsepower version at the Saleem Racelab catalogue for less than $1,000. The upgrade will not void the 36,000 mile/3 year warranty for the kit while putting you extremely close to the power of GT500 at around $5,000 less.

Racecraft is basically put together for a single purpose; that is, to provide high-performance vehicles without the sky-high price. It also gets rid of all the frills in race cars to give you only the most cutting-edge technology in vehicle engineering and performance parts.

You also can work together with Racelab easily for more customization and upgrades. In addition to the 420S, Saleem also promises to unveil more performance vehicles in the near future. In fact, its release date is set at as early as October this year.

For a mere £15, an adult can attend the motor show on a weekend day. However, if you want an even better bargain, adult tickets are only £10 on weekdays. You even can purchase a family package that includes 2 adult and 2 children tickets for £35 on the weekend (£25 on weekdays).

So, what do you get for that bargain price? According to the press release for the British Motor Show, “There is something for everyone with hundreds of cars on display, global premieres and tons of interactive features.” Plus, if you like music, you can purchase tickets for the British Motor Show Music Festival.

Almost every night of the motor show there is a different musical act. Choose the artist or artists you want to see in concert, purchase a ticket to that show (most are £30), and attend the motor show for free.

To learn more about the British Motor Show, click here to visit their website.

Looking for some racing helmets? They’ve got them. Maybe some racing suits? You’re covered for them here as well. I was looking through the selections, and I’ve got to say that my personal favorite is the Simpson karting suit with brilliant flames on it. Who could resist? From gloves to seats to shoes to racing undergarments, this site should have exactly what you’re looking for. They might even have something better than what you are looking for.

This is definitely a great online one-stop shop for all types of racing gear. RacingDirect.com has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, but you know what you’re getting because all of the equipment is from top brands like Force, Pilota, and Bell. These products can be for Auto, Off-Road, Street, Kart, and Motorcycle Racing.

Ready…Set…Go to RacingDirect.com today.

• 68% Driving Less
• 51% Keeping The Car Well-Tuned
• 18% Carpooling
• 12% Looking for a New Car
• 9% Using Fuel Additives

• 21% Blue
• 18% Black
• 13% White
• 12% Red
• 11% Silver

Oddly, green was left off this list (that is the color of my car).

What is your favorite?

We knew that a new car was going to be completely out of our budget so we went in search of a good used car. You have to be very careful when buying used and make sure you do your research. We took our search to a used car lot. Although there are other options like buying privately, we wanted the added assurance of dealing with a professional even if the prices were higher.

When we decided on the car, a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am GT for a really good price from a reliable dealership, these are the steps we followed to make sure we didn’t drive a lemon off the lot.

1) We inspected the inside and outside for rust, cracks in glass, leaks and checked the odometer.

2) We test drove the car listening for unusual sounds, and then we made sure that the A/C, heater, stereo, windshield wipers, and power windows and locks worked.

3) We took the car to our mechanic to have the engine checked out to make sure it was sound.

4) We asked for a vehicle history report. We wanted to ensure that the car didn’t have habitual problems that needed repair, nor been in any major accidents.

Then before you even start to think of signing on the dotted line, consult the Kelley Blue Book and make sure that what they are asking isn’t astronomically out of proportion to what the car is worth — keeping in mind they are a little more expensive bought off a lot.

According to R.L. Polk & Co., hybrid vehicle sales increased by 38 percent in 2007.  While hybrid sales account for less than 3 percent of total auto sales in the U.S., that is still a significant increase.

With more hybrid styles being offered through different manufacturers, it seems that hybrid sales should continue to rise.

I wonder if there might be a surge of Hummers at an auto auction.  Perhaps, the mammoth Ford Excursion will become a frequently seen vehicle at the weekly car auction.  I surely doubt that  many  hybrids will be available.

With all of the snow that we get in a typical New England winter comes plenty of sand and salt on the main streets and back roads.  So, shortly after the geese fly south, classic vehicles get put in garages for the winter.  Just like flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts, so are the Ramblers and Deuce Coupes put away for the season.

However, spring is here.  Vintage vehicles are on the road again, which leads me to ponder, are any of these classic cars for sale. . .

1. What is your name and what shop do you own/operate?
Well, I don’t know if I’m what you’re looking for or not, but I will give you my information. My name is Donnie Smith; however, I am a Collision Repair Instructor for Butler Community College in Kansas. I am not a shop owner.

2. How long have you been in the collision repair business?
I started working in a dealership in high school. After graduating, in 1988, I went to Laramie, Wyoming (WyoTech) and obtained an Associates degree in Collision Repair and Management. Since them I have worked in the collision industry. The last four of those years as an instructor. Three in Texas ans one in Kansas.

3. What do you think is the single biggest development in the business in the last couple years?

Internet has been the biggest development of the way a shop does business. The shop-insurance relationships, auto part shop-parts relationships, drp shops, and even training have been affected by Internet.

4. How has the business component of the industry changed in the last couple years?
All the different types of metals used today: mild steel, high strength steel, ultra high strength steel, boron steel, laminated steel, laser rolled steel, aluminum, cardon fiber, etc. This has greatly affected the industry, as each one of these take different procedures to repair. The days of sectioning and and performing tasks by a general set of procedures are gone. Each car may have different recommendations of the correct repair procedure. Therefore, the technician must be highly trained to work on these modern day cars.

5. What do you think will be the next great development in the business?
I’m not sure, with the speed of new technology today; nothing would surprise me.

With overall new world car sales dragging, it causes me to wonder if there will be a surge in other options for purchasing cars. Will auto auctions become a more popular way to acquire a vehicle? Will more interest be shown in used cars for sale, such as used auto BMW?

As I am looking for a new car, I will be checking all of the options. I wonder what others will do.