RideLust

Every now and then we get a story submitted to us by a faithful reader and member of the automotive community. Scott Vandekerckhove is such a person as he’s not only a rabid car enthusiast, but the man responsible for putting together last years über successful HEMI Highway Tour for Chrysler and a lead contributor to “Modern Mopar Magazine”. So when I read his latest story on how Huntington Beach, California resident John Fortuno had influenced the development of the new 2011 Chrysler 300 sedan I just had to post it. Click through for the entire article.
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In the world of collector cars the Dodge Challengers from 1970-1971 are some of the most desirable cars on the market today. They’re well styled, relatively quick and actually quite reliable when tuned properly. They also have this aura about them that sets them apart from average muscle cars thanks to films like “Vanishing Point” and “Death Proof”. In today’s world of instant information we can find things like car reviews on any year/make/model by simply doing a quick search on the internet. Back in the late 1960′s and early 1970′s though there was really only one place to go, that being, Bud Lindemann’s “Car & Track”. Even though the tests were crude and the results not entirely accurate, this show was the public’s one true link when it came to seeing how these cars performed in road going settings.
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As Smoking Tire Fans know, Matt Farah recently had back surgery. Ever the fearless professional, on the day before surgery Matt was filming a video review, instead of turning his freak knob up to 12 with hookers, beer, peanut oil and ski wax. The result is the video below, a review of the same 2011 Dodge Challenger 392 we told you about a few weeks back. As usual, Matt’s right on the money, and we agree with everything he has to say about the hot, plus-size model that is the Challenger 392. Here’s wishing Matt a speedy recovery, and in the mean time, enjoy the latest video from The Smoking Tire.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; every full grown male should, at some point in time, be able to mash the throttle in a big, high horsepower American muscle car. You see there is something very primal about huge torque, high horsepower and the ability to incinerate your rear tires at will. In fact if you’ve never done a knock-down drag out burnout, well then… you’re missing out on one of life’s great pleasures. Thankfully there are those in the auto industry who still feel this way and they’re working hard to not only make sure that this tradition continues, but they’re also dedicated to giving us some of the best performance cars on the market today. Don’t believe me, just take a look at the new SRT line-up for 2012.
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As the proud owner of a Dodge Magnum SRT8 I can safely say that it’s one of the best vehicles I’ve ever owned. It’s big enough to haul 4 adults in total comfort, fast enough to surprise the unsuspecting Porsche Boxster or 911 and has some of the best styling to come out of the Mopar underground in the last 20 years. There are those however who seek to ruin these rare beasts by over modifying them to the point where they are simply no longer desirable to anyone. This poor poor red wagon for example has been stripped of its usefulness in favor of a rotating sound box. Sure, it may live in some minor glory at a few local car shows, but for the most part, this Magnum should just be taken out to pasture and shot dead. Oh the humanity… Click through for a very disturbing 12 seconds of video.
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Listen… it’s pretty well understood that the last generation Dodge Durango was sort of an engineering and design hash. It was thrown together with a combination of brick-like styling and mid-1980′s interior components which meant that in the end, it was pretty awful. But that was then and this is now, and ladies and gentlemen let me tell you that “now” is SO much better than “then” and Dodge knows it. The new 2011 Dodge Durango packs in elegant styling, a 360 hp HEMI and the highest towing capacity (7,400 lbs) in its class. It also feels the need to advertise that it can whoop-ass on the new 2011 Ford Explorer in just about every category. So while this may be childish in a grandstanding, I’m better than you kinda’ way, we hear at Ridelust.com simply applaud Dodge for bringing back the Durango the way it should be – big, burly and bad ass. Click through for the video.
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*Photo Credit: Autoblog

In 2006 Chrysler’s 6.1L HEMI made 425hp / 420 lb-ft of torque. In 2011 that number jumped to 470 hp / 470 lb-ft of torque thanks to a bump in displacement to 6.4L. Now for 2012 Chrysler is saying that they’ll be slapping a supercharger on their SRT8 Charger and 300 sedan’s and bumping power to a stump pulling 570 hp. We all figured that it wouldn’t be long before SRT CEO Ralf Gilles jumped on the horsepower bandwagon. You see this guy is a horsepower junkie and I have a feeling that he got a little peeved when he found out that the new 2012 Camaro ZL1 was going to have 570 hp. Chrysler’s SRT8 cars are brilliant automobiles, and I’m not just saying that because I own one. They ride and handle beautifully, have gobs of power and stop on a dime thanks to their fabulous Brembo brakes. If there is one caveat though, it would be their weight, as they’re a bit on the chubby side.
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The much maligned Caliber SRT4 was the last compact SRT offering. Image: Chrysler Group LLC

Based on on interview with SRT head Ralph Gilles in Ward’s Auto, the internet is abuzz with rumors of an SRT-tuned C-segment product. While such an animal may be in development, there’s no indication that it will be market ready any time soon. Gilles reflected on cars like the VW GTI, which represent entry-level performance at an affordable price. Of Dodge’s former Neon-based SRT4 turbo, Gilles said, “The Neon put the whole street tuning scene on its ear with the factory turbo. We have to figure out how to get an entry-level SRT product to capture the next generation.” Read More…

Good news, Dodge fans: Ralph Gilles, head of Chrysler’s SRT brand (and former head of Dodge) has let slip that a replacement for the Magnum station wagon is a very real possibility. Built from 2004 through 2008, the Magnum shared Chrysler’s LX platform with the Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300. Available with engines ranging from an anemic 2.7-liter V-6 through a fire breathing 6.1-liter Hemi V-8, the Magnum represented the rebirth of an American icon: the full-size station wagon. Read More…

Small racetracks once populated the rural landscape of America. As a kid, I remember driving past a small dirt oval on the way down to my grandmother’s house. On a Friday night, the lights would be on and the stands would be packed with people there to watch locals duke it out in backyard-built stock cars. That track, New Egypt Speedway, is still around, but many others aren’t. Mountain View Motorsport Park, where I learned that even front-wheel-drive cars can oversteer, is gone. Second Creek Raceway, my favorite track to drive back in the day? It’s gone, too. Read More…