The Great Sand Springs Soapbox Derby held in Sand Springs, OK, is an event used to raise money for the Sand Springs (surprise!) Civiton Club, which will renovate a park for special-needs kids. Zebco decided to go in for a pound and managed to score the fastest time through the traps, despite just missing out on a win in head-to-head racing.

They may not have finished at the top of the podium this year, but that's not really the point: it is for charity, after all. We imagine they'll be back next year with a renewed fire in their belly and resin under their fingertips. We wonder how Wert would feel if we took some time for a nice fall fishing trip. Press release follows.

ZEBCO THE TRUSTED NAME IN FISHING REELS BUILDS A GRAVITY RACER TO RIVAL VOLVO.

Zebco Enters The Great Sand Springs Soapbox Derby With A Stunning Example Of Technology And Ingenuity.

What do you do when asked to compete in a local soapbox derby for charity? You make a car worthy of racing against the likes of the Lotus and Volvo gravity cars. Zebco the maker of America’s Favorite Fishing Reel the Zebco 33, called in the troops to design, and build an example of the technologies going into their Quantum, and Fin-Nor lines of fishing reels all after hours and on weekends. The team building the car named themselves the Zebco Skunkworks since the project was kept quiet from the public and race officials until the car was ready for the race.

“This unique vehicle is constructed using a combination of cutting edge design, manufacturing and materials. “The number 63 car began life as a computer generated model developed using Pro Engineer software. After analyzing the race rules, the direction for the vehicle was set as a body on frame design using a three wheel configuration. By measuring the driver’s height, width and vision needs a body envelop was developed. In addition, the objectives of low aerodynamic drag, and simple manufacture were established. These dimensions and specifications were then transferred to the industrial designers to shape the body. The resulting model was rapid prototyped at 1:12 scale, using an Objet Eden machine for visual reference. The files were also, transferred to a plotter. The plotted drawings gave the fabrication team a life sized set of cross sections and profiles from which to begin the body’s construction.” according to Pete Sandretto Lead Engineer on the project.

Using composite materials, an extruded aluminum frame, high end recumbent bicycle wheels, and components the Zebco 63 car was deemed the fastest car at the first annual Sand Springs Soapbox Derby in Sand Springs Oklahoma by everyone who saw it race. The race, over 2 city blocks down Main Street brought out 107 cars made by everyone from engineering students to the average joe. “Zebco raised the bar on this, and next years Sand Springs Soapbox Derby. Hopefully, next year we will see some entries from the local aerospace companies in Tulsa. We put so much into this gravity racer that we would love to take on Lotus or Volvo since their cars inspired the Zebco 63 car.” commented Brad Ruprecht leader of the Zebco Skunkworks team.

Official dates are being set for next years Sand Springs Soapbox Derby, however Zebco is looking for additional competitions they can compete in. There is also talk of a second car pulled from the same body molds but with improved components and an improved tubular frame.

[Zebco]

Audi factory driver Frank Biela has already been putting the R8 GT3 through its paces. The cars are scheduled to enter production at Hungary's Györ plant, with expected delivery to customers starting some time next year. No word on how many will be built, or what they'll cost, but we're sure it's more than a road-going R8. [via MotorAuthority]

The Drag Package Challengers are also stripped down and fitted with lightweight components like a composite lift-off style hood, which also comes in handy if you want to disturb the peace in your neighborhood. Of course, the cars won't be street legal, so if you want to cruise Woodward, you'll be asking for trouble.

Center Line, Mich., Jul 13, 2008 - Mopar® is bringing the iconic Dodge Challenger muscle car to National Hot Road Association (NHRA) drag-racing competition. Mopar revealed two Dodge Challenger Drag Race Package Cars at the 29th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals today before thrilled fans at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo. Mopar Mile-High Nationals is the longest-running NHRA sponsorship.

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Judy "Miss Mighty Mopar" Lilly were behind the wheels for their inaugural track run. Garlits drove the car featuring the Stone White paint scheme. Lilly was behind the wheel of the "Mopar Liquid Metal" prototype. NHRA named Garlits the #1 driver of the Top 50 drivers from its first 50 years. His victories and accomplishments are virtually unmatched in drag-racing history. "Miss Mighty Mopar" is one of the female pioneers in drag racing. Spending 12 years on the NHRA circuit, Lilly is the only female driver to win two NHRA national events in one year.

Mopar built the first two Challenger Drag Race Package Cars for development and testing for its new Challenger Package Car program. Based on the Challenger SRT8®, the prototypes were finished in Stock Eliminator configuration. They ran successfully in June 2008 as proof-of-concept and for NHRA certification. Mopar dropped approximately 1,000 lbs. off the production Challenger SRT8 by eliminating major production components and systems. To accentuate the weight savings, they also feature added composite, polycarbonate and lightweight components designed for drag racing that will be part of the new Package Car program.

The engine was repositioned to improve driveline angle and weight distribution. The 116-inch wheelbase was shortened by ½ inch. They also feature a front cradle with bolt-in crossmember and solid engine mounts.

"Today is a great day for Mopar, Dodge, SRT, drag racers and motorsports enthusiasts everywhere. Not made for the streets, our drag-race-only Challengers will be running soon in NHRA competition—the best grassroots racing series in the world," said Sunil Lahoti, Mopar Marketing and Brand Manager, Chrysler LLC. "And who better to drive our new Challenger Package Cars on their inaugural track run than 'Big Daddy' and 'Miss Mighty Mopar'—the greatest drag racer of all time and a female pioneer of the sport."

New Dodge Challenger Drag Race Package Car Program by Mopar
The first drag-race, factory-prepped package cars built in 40 years, the new Challenger Drag Race Package Car by Mopar builds on the heritage of the limited-edition 1968 HEMI®-powered Package Cars. Those '68 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas solidified the Mopar brand as a quarter-mile force.

Mopar will build a minimum of 100 Challenger Drag Race Package Cars to meet NHRA requirements. Based on the production Dodge Challenger SRT8, Mopar's modern factory-prepped Challenger Drag Race Package Car will begin as a special Body-in-White (BIW) from Chrysler's Brampton, Ontario, Canada, assembly plant. The body sealer, sound deadener and undercoat will be eliminated. To reduce vehicle weight, major production component and systems will also be eliminated including: windshield wiper assembly, complete HVAC system, all airbag components, rear seats, power steering system, exhaust system and underbody heat shields, cross-car and side impact door beams, rear bumper beam and rear deck lid spoiler.

The drag racer has three engine options—6.1-liter or 5.7-liter HEMI or 5.9-liter Magnum® Wedge—as well as manual or automatic transmission.

A build book/owner's manual will be provided to document the modifications made to the Challenger SRT8 as well as provide recommendations to finish the Package Car for Stock Eliminator competition. To accentuate weight savings, there are unique drag-race components in the Package Car program including: composite lift-off hood with functional scoop, Viper-style front seats, polycarbonate door windows, lightweight cooling module with electric fan, manual rack and pinion steering, special cable-operated deck lid release, special lightweight front brake assembly and special cable-operated throttle linkage and pedal assembly.

The Challenger Drag Race Package Car will be eligible to run in three Eliminator categories—Comp, Super Stock and Stock—and potentially 40 classes.

Depending upon the configuration selected, the U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Challenger Drag Race Package Car program will range from the low to mid $30s. Each car will carry an identification plate with sequential serial number.

The Challenger Drag Race Package Car will be available for order in late August to early September. A toll-free number will be designated for ordering. Details will be posted on www.mopar.com.

Now in its fifth decade, NHRA is the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body with 80,000 members, 140 member tracks, more than 35,000 licensed competitors and more than 5,000 member-track events. NHRA is second only to NASCAR in terms of fan attendance.

70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s—the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of "Special Parts" for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

Today, Chrysler LLC's Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components, restoration parts, accessories and performance parts for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.

The new motor is a 3.3-liter V8 fitted with twin turbos. Combined with a 100kW electric motor, the car has 630 HP readily available. The juice for the electric motor is charged up by regenerative braking technology. We're not sure what Gumpert's plans are for any possible road version of this setup, but we bet even Al Gore would want one.
[World Car Fans]

Well, the car is allegedly made of carbon-fiber. Though we're not too sure how much time (if any) has been spent refining the aerodynamics in a wind tunnel. Power comes from a 3.5-liter engine, which is pretty impressive, considering that F1 cars only have 2.4-liters. Thing is, while the 2.4 in Ferrari or McLaren racer is a V8 estimated as making around 800 HP, the Geely's 3.5 is a V6 that we estimate as making around 80 HP— ok, maybe a little more than that. We're not saying we'd turn down a chance to take it around a track and play with its 6-speed semi-automatic gearbox, but until it gets a fancy nose piercing like Ferrari's race car, we're not so excited by the GF.
[thetycho]

And no racer would be complete without some sort of carbon fiber, so that's been thrown in as well. If you've got a quarter-mil just sitting around and don't feel like taking the time to build your own we say go for it. [Nismo via Japanese Performance Car News]

The straight-line special sheds weight by using components such as a composite hood and a lightweight front brake assembly. Basic amenities, including windshield wipers, power windows, sound deadening and rear seats, are also deleted in a quest for lightness. Altogether, the hardcore Challenger has lost about 800 lbs.—and its street legality. So c'mon GM, bring us a stripped-down Camaro with the ZR1's LS9 and really heat up the Muscle Car Wars. [via Allpar]