Total Performance Grows AgainThe response to the announcement of the planned Total Performance Inc. showroom at Destination Daytona, a mega complex just south of Daytona Beach, Florida, as well as the successful Cruisin' Destination Daytona, cosponsored by Total Performance, prompted Mickey Lauria, president and CEO of Total Performance, to expand his Florida activity to include an all-out hot rod shop in addition to the showroom.
Located between Daytona Beach and Palm Coast, Florida, on US 1, just three miles north of Destination Daytona, Total Performance Hot Rod Parts is a 4,800-square-foot facility stocking hot rod parts from all of the major manufacturers. In addition, the full line of Total Performance T-bucket kits and parts will be available as well. If you are in the area of "The World's Most Famous Beach," be sure to stop by Total Performance Hot Rod Parts and say hello to Mickey and his crew.
AHRF Collects Hot Rod History Dust off the time machines, kids-this is a cool one. Back in their September 2004 issue, the AHRF chronicled an archetypal postwar-style hot rod that Loveland, Colorado's Custom Auto built for Steve Memishian. In that same story, they noted that Steve's passion for our industry's history prompted him to create the American Hot Rod Foundation and commission documentary filmmaker Henry Astor to interview hot rod industry pioneers on camera.
By the time they printed that story, they'd hit the 52-interview mark. In the two years since, Henry and his film crew have interviewed more than 150 hot rod pioneers! "So much has been written about these characters: their engineering feats, their crazy stories and unbelievable speeds," AHRF's Henry Astor said. "But to actually hear it from those who were there, to go back in time with the very people who made it all happen and record it on film ... it's a wonderful experience."
And the inventory isn't just interviews; they've collected and scanned some 20,000 photographs and digitally transferred vintage 8- and 16mm films specifically for this archive.
The AHRF established a Web site that holds much of this information, including thousands of photos, pioneer interviews, and the ability to interact with hot rod legends (through the new Ask The Experts section).
The AHRF has made its first documentary entitled "Slingshot," produced to broadcast-quality standards to tell the story of the birth of drag racing using much of the footage and photos they have collected.
Due to the overwhelming response to the Web site and the high level of interest in what they are doing, the AHRF now offers a membership. "People really appreciate what we're doing and want to get involved. And this is a great way to include the hot rodding community," said Astor.
For more information, call (212) 219-2559, or visit www.ahrf.com.
Trosley gets "into it"It's big news for us when our pal George whips up another cool piece of garage art, and this latest is a gas. Some of us change our oil and do tune-ups, some of us are a bit more involved and do mechanical work and repairs, and then there are those of us who are really "Into It," as demonstrated in this latest painting from the brush of automotive artist George Trosley.
Reproduced in brilliant full color on double-weight, acid-free paper, each 11x17-inch limited-edition print is signed and numbered by the artist and personalized if you wish, then shipped next-day in super sturdy mailing tubes. Set the attitude level in your garage to "Into It" for a paltry $19.95 each, with free postage and handling in the U.S.
To see more cool street rod art, check out George's Web site at www.georgetrosley.com.