One look is all it takes. The unfettered, steel-gray sides look just as tough and muscular as they did the day it rolled off the line for the first time. Up front, the massive mechanical components reaching skyward have an all-business look that you wouldn’t want to mess with. Out back, the handcrafted steel skeleton […]
Full disclosure: usually magazine features are fairly sterile things, devoid of much emotion and full of endless details about the build. The author typically refers to the magazine as an entity, like “we saw this…” or “we asked that.” At RPM we’ve worked to change that over the past 17 years by building personality into […]
With 21 years of racing under his belt, Craig Watson and his small tire 1973 Chevrolet Nova have many tales and memories together. The duo began evolving from the time Watson hit the ripe age of 17, and the team spun many a story together in the years that followed. The Chevy, which has been […]
As we hit Virginia during what we like to call our 2014 RPM Magazine Search For Horsepower Tour, we kept hearing about this jet black, Shafiroff big block powered, nitroused ’57 Chevy pickup. Apparently this thing was feared on the streets, on the track and even on the Christmas parade route, (we’ll get to that […]
I pray this finds everyone healthy and safe from the global pandemic we are facing. Home quarantine had its perks during the first week, as I locked myself in my shop and never looked back. Then the reality of our business not generating ANY income right now set in and promptly removed the fun out […]
This month we’ll reflect back to a time just before coronavirus or Covid 19 became household names worldwide. It was mid-March 2020 and just after a long winter of making upgrades to my Camaro (Big Red), I was hoping for an early spring and anticipating driving and racing the car throughout the season. One of […]
South Bend, Indiana’s Tony Karamitsos has one heck of a cool job. The Die-Cast Brand Manager and Designer for Johnny Lightning, Auto World, American Muscle, and Racing Champions is instrumental in turning cool real-life rides into small scale replicas for collectors and enthusiasts. But he doesn’t just build the small stuff. He builds the real […]
Grudge no-time drag racing has grown from the roots of both street racing and organized street car style class drag racing. Add in the component of not having time clocks telling everybody what a car is capable of (that’s why it’s called “NO TIME”) and you just managed to level the playing field to almost […]
To car enthusiasts in the United Kingdom, the United States is well known as “the land of milk and honey”. First, because of the relatively low cost of building a hot rod, but even more so because of the availability of the donor cars and trucks themselves. What we sometimes take for granted, others can […]
Maybe it was blessed by a priest. Or maybe it has a secret compartment of fairy dust hidden somewhere in the dash. Or maybe there’s a four leaf clover ghosted into the clearcoat. We aren’t sure, but whatever it is, Mick Bodigon’s low-slung retina-searing red Nova is just rolling along in a charmed life. Some […]
You may have noticed that my name (Tony Weber) has been absent from RPM for some time now. Without getting all deep on our readers, for the past several months I’ve struggled with many different aspects of my life from family to work and beyond into my racing world. Years ago I entered the world […]
In 1963, upper management at General Motors sent word from on high that none of their divisions would be allowed or authorized to have formal corporate involvement in auto racing. Long known as a performance-oriented brand, Pontiac was left only one option: turn their attention to production platforms or rebrand altogether. Thankfully for musclecar enthusiasts, […]
How many people first learned to drive in an old VW Bug? Myself, I remember coming home from school to hop in a ‘69 Bug that sat at my grandfather’s shop. I must have put 100 miles on that thing and taught myself how to drive a stick in it. It almost broke my heart to see […]
Anyone into the big motored, wildly painted, fat tire’d pro street scene of the ’80s and ’90s knows that the movement lived a strong and happy first life throughout the United States, but it was also all the rage in Canada, too. You couldn’t hit any event in the country and not find a solid […]
When the third generation Camaro was first introduced for the 1982 model year, it was heralded as a next-generation muscle car for a new era. Although the F-body cars always handled adeptly, they sported such forgettable engine combos as a 2.5L four-banger and the almost-perfectly named Cross-Fire Injection (many refer to the setup as “ceasefire […]
What was the best phone call you’ve ever received? When Jonathon West of Highlands Ranch, CO looked at his buzzing phone screen, an unfamiliar number from Bowling Green, Kentucky stared back. West assumed it was a telemarketer, but answered anyway. However, rather than the expected robotic accent pedaling cellular snake oil, Holley Director of Marketing, […]
Face it: some of us just can’t leave well enough alone. When “good enough” is rarely (if ever) good enough and when “decent effort” is unacceptable in light of best effort, rest assured that you’re afflicted. The unshakable roots of perfectionism have a way of plunging hard into the depths of your psyche, leaving you […]
‘My first pass down the track was a blistering 14.85 @90 mph,” said Scarborough, Ontario’s Chris Damovski with a hearty laugh. And fast it wasn’t. But a start, it was. And we all gotta start somewhere, right? Damovski acquired the car as a hand-me-down from his uncle while working in his grandfather’s shop at the […]
Most of us are familiar with the idea of hibernation. You know the drill: animals bury themselves deep in a hole and sleep through the winter. Hibernation is an energy-saving measure that allows the critter to survive long periods of time when food is typically scarce. However, some animals like snakes who live in milder […]
Since most of the outlaw style events have been gone for some time in the northern and Mid-Atlantic states, the talk over last year’s 2013 Yellow Bullet Nationals was even more than expected. Picking up steam each year, the Yellow Bullet Nationals (AKA the YB Nats) for 2014 had its own share of controversy, just […]
PROJECTS – HOME GROWN COPO – Powered, Wired & Shifted
It’s been six long months since we last checked in with Project Homegrown COPO, an RPM MAG-influenced tribute to the factory modified racecar offering from Chevrolet, and we’ve made some decent progress. It might not seem like much if you are a fan of TV shows that pack a year’s worth of work into a […]
PROJECTS/BUILDS – 4 LUG THUG – Nitrous Express Water Injection
For eons we have become accustomed to water methanol injection on both diesel and gasoline engines. It has been used in boosted racing and street performance primarily, but in the last few years water injection has become increasingly popular for nitrous engines, as well. Although it may seem like someone just recently discovered the advantages […]
INSTALL – 4 LUG THUG – RaceCraft Part 2 – Suspension Upgrade
Last month, we started our RaceCraft rear suspension upgrade in the RPM Magazine THUG mule Mustang with the install of a much-needed upper control arm doubler kit. RaceCraft’s stock upper torque box upgrade not only reinforced the control arm bolt holes but gives us another set of bolt holes above the stock location for more […]
INSTALL – 4 LUG THUG – RaceCraft Part 1 – Upper Torque Box Doubler Install
We decided while rebuilding the rear section of project 4 Lug Thug over the winter that we should upgrade our cheap second-hand upper and lower control arms while its jacked up and stripped down. While the car as originally going to be a mild street/strip ride, it has slowly morphed into more than we thought […]
TECH – Cover Your Butt – Engine Diaper Install
If there is one thing I’ve learned in my first 14 months of fatherhood, it is the vital importance of diapers. I never gave them much thought for the first 38 years of my life, but now I realize how fast things get out of hand without one. Even 10 minutes with a miniwild man […]
RPM Magazine January 2021 Issue Released
The January 2021 issue of RPM Magazine is released. Click image below for a teaser copy or subscribe today to read receive your link to the whole issue and 12 months more. FEATURE CAR – NO CAKE WALK – Building the Murder Vette was no easy ride for Dave Mianowski! THE BULLY – West Coast […]
FEATURE – Waylon – Jeramie Mattingly & Nick Redner – 89 Mustang
One man’s frustration can become another one’s opportunity, as long as you’re in the right place at the right time. Browse any well-known racing classifieds or even sale groups on social media and you can stumble across projects ready for a new owner at any stage of the game. With many years of accumulated racing […]
FEATURES – PROFESSIONAL GRADE – Ron Fountain ’68 Camaro
Severn, Ontario’s Ron Fountain was tired of the hassle. Fed up with the fight. Weary of the war. With a 9-second capable but non-caged 1970 Nova that he had street raced for years, every time he went to the track he’d get scolded for having a car that lacked the necessary safety equipment for its […]
FEATURES – C-10-MENTAL – Justin Moore
Speaking from experience here, it’s funny what we remember from our childhood as we age. For some, it’s a familiar smell of grandma’s kitchen. For others, it is just a few notes from a beloved song. But for the car guys and gals among us, it is fairly common that some of our best and […]
FEATURED – Full Assault – Mark Robert – 1966 C10 Pickup
There was little doubt that Waterdown, Ontario Canada’s Mark Robert would be wheeling some sort of fast car on the street—and eventually the dragstrip—as soon as he was old enough to drive. “I can remember my dad bringing a transmission into our apartment living room to rebuild it, and he was repairing and rebuilding cars […]
RPM Magazine January 2021 Issue Released
The January 2021 issue of RPM Magazine is released. Click image below for a teaser copy or subscribe today to read receive your link to the whole issue and 12 months more. FEATURE CAR – NO CAKE WALK – Building the Murder Vette was no easy ride for Dave Mianowski! THE BULLY – West Coast […]
FEATURE – Waylon – Jeramie Mattingly & Nick Redner – 89 Mustang
One man’s frustration can become another one’s opportunity, as long as you’re in the right place at the right time. Browse any well-known racing classifieds or even sale groups on social media and you can stumble across projects ready for a new owner at any stage of the game. With many years of accumulated racing […]
FEATURES – LOVE AT FIRST BITE – Jim Sciortino – 1970 Barracuda
For some of us, it takes a while to settle on the perfect car for a build. We scour the available targets, consider the pros and cons of each, hunt for a good buy, and eventually we make our choice. But for others like Trumbull, Connecticut’s Jim Sciortino, it is a far simpler choice. “I […]
FEATURES – PROFESSIONAL GRADE – Ron Fountain ’68 Camaro
Severn, Ontario’s Ron Fountain was tired of the hassle. Fed up with the fight. Weary of the war. With a 9-second capable but non-caged 1970 Nova that he had street raced for years, every time he went to the track he’d get scolded for having a car that lacked the necessary safety equipment for its […]
FEATURES – MOPAR REDEMPTION – David Soloman – 71 Dodge Demon
Nothing is forever in the world of drag racing—records are broken, cars become outdated, and money becomes scarce. Spencer, Tenn. resident David Solomon has worked his way up the ladder, like many other drag racers, but that feeling of accomplishment and success was crushed in the fall of 2012, when his entire racing operation was […]
FEATURES – C-10-MENTAL – Justin Moore
Speaking from experience here, it’s funny what we remember from our childhood as we age. For some, it’s a familiar smell of grandma’s kitchen. For others, it is just a few notes from a beloved song. But for the car guys and gals among us, it is fairly common that some of our best and […]
FEATURES – WHO’S THE BOSS – Jamie Pipher ’70 Ford Torino
We aren’t afraid to admit it. In a veritable sea of Mustangs and Camaros, we at RPM are suckers for relatively obscure body styles, alternative colors, and off-the-beaten path engine and transmission combos—especially when such rides are able to crank out insane power. Don’t get us wrong—there are plenty of gorgeous mainstream cars out there. […]
FEATURES – The Man Behind The X – John Sears X275 Chevy Malibu
There’s nothing like the satisfaction of building a car of your own. Whether it is your driver with a few mods or an all-out race car, the feeling of seeing your hard work and effort come together in a well-built project is second to none. John Sears has known that feeling time and time again, […]
PAST FEATURES – BIG GUN – Trey and Heather Cavarettas Pro Street C-10 Pickup
One look is all it takes. The unfettered, steel-gray sides look just as tough and muscular as they did the day it rolled off the line for the first time. Up front, the massive mechanical components reaching skyward have an all-business look that you wouldn’t want to mess with. Out back, the handcrafted steel skeleton […]
PAST FEATURES – UNSTOPPABLE – Scott MacDonalds 1999 Camaro SS
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” That simple quote from Greek philosopher Epictetus originated thousands of years ago yet still resonates with us today. And Scott MacDonald truly embodies everything that simple phrase stands for. When we are young we all have goals, plans, and dreams for […]
United States Motorsports Association Partners With Summit Motorsports Park
The United States Motorsports Association has been named the Official Motorsports Advocacy Group of Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. Formed in 2015, the United States Motorsports Association represents the racing industry in local, state and federal matters, and creates connections between members of the racing industry and government officials. It also serves as a […]
Gerry Treit Of UK’s Tartan Drag’in Race Team Passes
We were saddened to hear over the Christmas Holiday period of the passing of Gerry Treit, a friend and racer from Scotland UK after a short illness. Gerry was the builder, owner and driver of a gorgeous 1940 Willys Coupe – which was both the cover car and feature car back in our February 2012 […]
RPM Magazine January 2021 Issue Released
The January 2021 issue of RPM Magazine is released. Click image below for a teaser copy or subscribe today to read receive your link to the whole issue and 12 months more. FEATURE CAR – NO CAKE WALK – Building the Murder Vette was no easy ride for Dave Mianowski! THE BULLY – West Coast […]
New Universal 3″ Flowmaster FlowFX Muffler!
Flowmaster’s FlowFX series muffler is designed to deliver a subtle performance tone paired with an economical price tag. The popular straight-through muffler lineup has been expanded to include a new, large 3″ universal model. Read on to learn more about this awesome new piece from Flowmaster! FlowFX Muffler Flowmaster’s FlowFX series mufflers […]
6 Fundamental Driving Tips for Beginners and Experts
The views expressed by the Author do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RPM Magazine, it’s owners or affiliates. Driving is not a right but a privilege. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, reminding yourself that you are sharing the road with everyone else is necessary. It’s not just a […]
Who’s In This Issue of RPM Magazine – December 2020
FEATURE CAR – NO “I” IN TEAM – This nasty nitroused big block gets the job done. James and Crystal Smith are not only racers, they are owners of JSC Carbon & Racing Fabrication and make or offer services for pretty much anything relating to a drag or street car, including this rear win. PRO […]
JLT Performance 3.0 Oil Separator 3032P now fits 2015-2018 Ford Edge 2.0L!
We have updated the 3032P Oil separator to include fitment for the 2015-2018 Ford Edge 2.0L! Now available at just $149.00! JLT Performance quality and tested oil separator with 3oz capacity, solid billet construction and simple installation. Our multi-stage filter system is designed to collect the finest of vapors and drop them into the easily […]
Strange Engineering 4-Link Floater
Strange Engineering continues to lead the way in driveline technology by introducing the all-new 9” Modular 4-Link Floater rear end for dragsters. Specifically designed for dragsters, the aluminum rear features a lightweight floater design, large 11 ½” stainless steel 2 piece rotors, and billet calipers for maximum clamping force and braking. The premium 206-T4 aluminum […]
Maradyne Launches New Hydronic Heater – The Carlsbad
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Nov. 3, 2020 – Maradyne, known for heating as well as cooling, is launching their latest Hydronic (engine coolant heated) Heater for the high performance and off road market, the Carlsbad Heater. Producing over 22,000 BTUs/hr. and only 4-9 amps of 12VDC current, the Carlsbad heater is uniquely designed to fit […]
AVON LAKE, OHIO – (Nov. 16, 2020) – Things can happen in an instant in the pits, meaning your pit crew can never be too safe. Keep their eyes, ears and arms protected with safety items from Design Engineering, Inc. DEI’s Pit Crew Safety Kit includes vision, hearing and arm protection for professional mechanics, pit […]
RPM Magazine January 2021 Issue Released
The January 2021 issue of RPM Magazine is released. Click image below for a teaser copy or subscribe today to read receive your link to the whole issue and 12 months more. FEATURE CAR – NO CAKE WALK – Building the Murder Vette was no easy ride for Dave Mianowski! THE BULLY – West Coast […]
TRUCK QUICK TECH – Hit The Brakes
Like most of readers, we use our vehicles for everything Imaginable, and honestly, we are not what you would call “easy” on them. And contrary to popular belief, we don’t cruise around in a fleet of brand new stuff. Instead, just like you, we have to make our old rigs last. Oh sure, we take […]
TRUCKS – Trick Out Your Truck – Lighting & Style F250
With new diesel F-250 pickups running into the upper $60,000 range, we decided it would be worth the upgrades to freshen our 15 year-old reliable Powerstroke instead. The newer trucks actually still have very similar overall body styling but our lights and grille really show how dated our old truck really is. Our 2000 F-250 […]
TRICK OUT YOUR TRUCK – TOW TECH – Safety, Style, Function
If you have a high performance street machine or drag car, chances are that sooner or later you are going to have to haul it somewhere. In fact, having a fully-equipped tow rig is—for many enthusiasts, at least—one of the key steps in being ready for the race or show season and not. If you […]
TECH – TOW TECH – Need a Lift – Air Bag Install
Yes, I am guilty of it. If you consider yourself a gearhead then you are probably guilty of it as well. What am I accusing you of? Gearheads like having toys and usually don’t have enough money to buy something new or something that is the “best” in its class—mostly because we can fix them […]
TRUCKS – TRICK OUT YOUR TRUCK – Flares
Trick Out Your Truck – A Flare for New Shoes My wife has a flair for new shoes and so does our vintage RPM F-250 hauler. Four flares to be exact, but only one set of new shoes. If you have been following the Trick Out Your Truck tech in RPM over the last several […]
TRUCKS – TRICK OUT YOUR TRUCK – In a Day!
FROM MILD MANNERED TO MENACING….IN A DAY! We’ll be honest, we got sick and tired of being made fun of for our mundane 2015 F150 shop truck. We just heard one too many “hey look at the magazine guys driving around in a stock pickup,” comments and decided to do something about it. First, we […]
TRUCKS – Tow Tech – Gettin’ Hitched
If you’ve towed your race car or street machine before, you know that depending on the quality of your tow setup, it can either feel like a stress-induced worryfest where your rig seems to constantly teeter on the brink of disaster or pretty much like any other drive. The less heavy duty your equipment, the […]
FEATURES – ENTROPY – Kevin Amar – 1955 GMC 3100 Pickup
ENTROPHY – Kevin Amar 1955 GMC 3100 Pickup Lack of order or predictability. Gradual decline into disorder.” Entropy isn’t a suggestion. It isn’t a probability. It is a scientific law. In short, it is the natural order of things to decline, decay, and become less organized—unless energy is added to the system. Take Kevin Amar’s […]
WELCOME TO THE NEW RPM MAGAZINE ALL DIGITAL VERSION
Well, it’s finally here….the very first ALL DIGITAL RPM MAGAZINE! Here is just a little Teaser of the June issue. If you were a subscriber, you would already have this in your email inbox today. Subscribe by June 1st and you will receive this issue in your email just as the thousands of other RPM […]
NEWS – Automakers seek new revenue streams from wireless services, upgrades
By Nick Gibbs, ANE The dashboard, once the place where drivers checked their speed or changed the radio station, is fast becoming the car’s most valuable real estate, as automakers seek to generate new revenue through wirelessly delivered services, features and upgrades. The upgrades can include everything from in-dash apps up to software […]
NEWS – Fiat Chrysler confirms talks for $6.8B state-backed loan to weather virus crisis
MILAN — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles confirmed that it is in talks to obtain an Italian state-backed credit line of as much as 6.3 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to buttress the automaker’s finances after the coronavirus caused a steep downturn. In a statement on Saturday, the company said talks were ongoing with lender Intesa Sanpaolo for a three-year […]
AUTO MANUFACTURER NEWS – People Bought More Trucks Than Passenger Cars In The U.S. Last Month
As passenger car sales plummet, trucks overtake them temporarily. Passenger cars have always outsold pickup trucks in the U.S. In some years, as many as 600,000 vehicles separated the two classes. But with the novel Coronavirus affecting all new car purchases in the U.S. in April, pickup trucks stole the sales crown. At least, temporarily. New data […]
Brands push forward with new-EV rollouts
Article by Stephanie Wallcraft COVID-19 has automakers pumping the brakes on r&d spending, but most are still planning — at least for now — the launch of key electric vehicles in the coming months. Matt Girgis, managing director of Volvo Car Canada, said the XC40 P8 Recharge crossover is still scheduled to arrive in Canada […]
Automakers want Ontario showrooms opened to deal with expiring leases
Facing an onslaught of customers returning leased vehicles, some automakers are calling on Ontario to reconsider rules forcing the closure of dealership showrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our dealers are now dealing with record numbers of lease returns at our peak season and they are unable to process them,” Hyundai Canada CEO Don Romano wrote […]
U.S. self-driving startup settles trade secrets lawsuit with Tesla
U.S. self-driving car startup Zoox said on Tuesday it had settled a lawsuit with Tesla after admitting that some new hires from the electric car maker were in possession of certain Tesla documents when they joined Zoox. Tesla lawyers filed a lawsuit in March last year against four former employees and Zoox, alleging the employees […]
ROUSH YATES COLLABORATES WITH BIOMEDINNOVATIONS FOR VENTILATORS
Roush Yates Engines was formed in 2003 by Robert Yates, Jack Roush, and Doug Yates with the leadership of Ford Motor Company to create a world-class race engine company that would compete at the highest levels of the Motorsports Industry. Out of the passion for power and performance excellence, Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions was formed. […]
FCA Canada implements temperature taking protocol for workers
As automakers eye a return to production, FCA Canada says it is taking steps to keep its factory employees safe on the shop floor. Some employees are currently working at the automaker’s Ontario assembly plants in Windsor and Brampton. They’re deep cleaning the facilities and tweaking job stations to make room for social distancing. But those that arrive […]
Jaguar Land Rover aims to make 5,000 protective visors
LONDON — Jaguar Land Rover said it is using its prototype building operations to make a target of 5,000 visors a week for health service workers, as manufacturers repurpose facilities to fight against coronavirus. The British government is trying to boost the amount of personal protective equipment for doctors and nurses and ventilators for patients. […]
Daimler CEO, top executives take pay cut in response to crisis
Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius and members of the automaker’s management board will reduce their fixed compensation by 20 percent until the end of the year in response to the effects of the coronavirus crisis. Other senior executives will see their pay drop by 10 percent for the next three months, Daimler said in a statement […]