NICKEY TO REPRESENT MCACN AND SHOW THEIR LATEST AT RP EXPO

The 7th Annual Race and Performance Expo is back this weekend for 2 BIG DAYS, February 22nd & 23rd, with new hours; Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday 9 am to 4 pm.

Each year when February rolls around, we all start to get the itch to break out the 4-wheel toys, (at least those of us that are not currently buried in the snow!) For us, February means it is time for the big Race and Performance Expo. Held at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL. (which also happens to be the hometown of MCACN Sponsor Nickey), this is a show that allows direct access to all kinds of manufacturers and builders, and allows you to talk shop with those who are not just sitting in the stands! Several rooms and buildings are FILLED with everything from engine parts and safety equipment to tracks, and of course, builders, including Nickey.

This weekend, Beth and Stefano Bimbi and the Nickey crew will be helping us spread the word about the upcoming Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show, and also showing what is new from Nickey Headquarters. They are breaking out several of their latest creations and talking about not only Gen 5 Camaro’s, but also vintage muscle all the way up to the latest for the new C7 Corvettes. Since they do a whole lot more than just bolt on parts, they can fix you up with the proper parts and tuning or they can build an engine or a complete car for you using one from their inventory or your own personal ride. And don’t forget to ask about their onsite Dyno...

The Race and Performance Expo is actually 3 shows in 1. The Circle Track Expo, located in the DuPage Expo Center, has everything you need for your upcoming Circle Track Season. Last year’s hit, The Car Builders Showcase will be located in the St. Charles Ballroom, which is where you will find the Nickey and MCACN displays. You will also see local car builder’s projects and find out what they can do to finish your project this year. The Race and Performance Expo will have all your Drag Racing, Muscle Car, and Performance Street needs covered. You will also be able to find the latest exciting products and get the latest 2014 Circle Track Schedules.

Educational Racing Seminars are back for the seventh year. Come get the knowledge directly from the experts who design the parts you use and dominate your competition this season. Many of the popular seminars are back for 2014, and you can count on a long list of new seminars daily. Be sure to bring your wallets as the Race and Performance Expo and Circle Track Expo will have the Midwest’s best retailers on hand featuring the best prices of the season! Admission is only $15.00 with FREE Parking.

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Join the MCACN Crew at the Muscle Car Adventures Event in Wisconsin this weekend!

Nickey Super Camaro

While we’re talking about events, don’t forget that next weekend we head over to the beautiful Chula Vista Resort for the First Annual Muscle Car Adventures event. This is a driving event, for anyone who prefers to spend some time behind the wheel of their special car. MCACN Sponsor Nickey is the Title Sponsor, and MCACN is also one of the sponsors for this one. Whether you drive a Modern Muscle car like a Stage 3 Nickey Camaro or a vintage Muscle Machine or Corvette, you need to be a part of the action! There are a variety of incredible driving routes in the Wisconsin Dells that are lined up, “because there are no straight roads in Wisconsin, the drive is sometimes better than the destination!” There will also be all kinds of other events happening throughout the weekend including quality time at the Dells Raceway Park, a Surf and Turf Dinner Cruise and much more. There is still time to sign up and it is sure to be a blast. For more information, go to www.musclecaradventures.com and I can assure you, Stefano and the Nickey crew will be representing with several Nickey Super Cars, including the latest Gen 5 ZL1 based Nickey creations!

MID AMERICA MOTORWORKS KICKS OFF 20TH ANNIVERSARY CORVETTE FUNFEST; IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!

MID AMERICA MOTORWORKS KICKS OFF 20TH ANNIVERSARY CORVETTE FUNFEST;

IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!

Out in Effingham, Illinois there are quite a few corn fields. Although relatively close to Chicago, it definitely has a “small town” feel, at least most of the time. Near both I-57 and I-70, when you drive a few miles down Route 45, you come upon the Campus of MCACN Sponsor Mid America Motorworks. This is like a whole community, with the offices, the MY Garage Collection, a variety of great big domed structures, a really neat amphi-theater style stage and acres of nicely groomed grass...surrounded by, you guessed it; corn fields! The Yager family has spent years developing the grounds to create the perfect setting for several neat events, with the big one happening right now. The Corvette Funfest is exactly what the name implies; Fun! No high pressure judging here, although they do present a variety of “Celebrity Pick” awards throughout the weekend.

The list of activities is long and diversified, with literally something for every member of the family, even if you aren’t a car person. Free seminars, a burn-out contest, a golf simulator, special deals on all kinds of stuff, a car for sale area, a swap area (new this year), the Friday charity event, a Fun Run, the big concert Saturday night featuring Bachman & Turner and filming for the Velocity TV channels new show, Corvette Nation. And of course, there are rows and rows of Corvettes. You will find everything from beaters to shining all-out show cars of every generation. There are always some unexpected surprises mixed in, and with the emphasis on the fun factor, you know it is going to be good. With 20 years of experience and constant improvements and additions to both the grounds and the event every year, this is a definite must do event, whether you are able to take in the full four days or can just come in for an afternoon. Either way, we encourage you to experience this event and help us support those who support what we do! For all the information, including the schedule of events and directions, go to www.corvettefunfest.com and plan on having an awesome fun-filled weekend.

SHELBY'S Invade Chicago's Autobahn this Saturday!

Larry Ballard

1965 Shelby GT-350

2013 MCACN Participant

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MCACN TEAM HEADS TO AUTOBAHN FOR 1ST ANNUAL SAAC SHELBY MEET THIS SATURDAY!

For quite a while now, we have been hoping to be a part of a Shelby or Ford specific meet in the Chicagoland area. Well...now thanks to SAAC Windy City Chapter member Larry Ballard, it is going to happen this weekend. Larry has made special arrangements with The Autobahn out in Joliet and he will host what will be the First Annual Windy City Shelby meet this Saturday, May 11, sponsored by Z-Tech 3M Window Tinting of Naperville. This is geared up to be a relaxed, fun day with none of the competitive aspects that sometimes take the fun out of an event. The response has been excellent and we know that the awesome 1965 Shelby GT-350 owned and shown by legendary racer Bobby Rahal at the MCACN show last November in our Shelby Snakepit is among the cars you will see. Several Cobra’s are also expected along with a variety of GT-350’s and GT-500’s.

The show is open to vintage and modern Shelby automobiles and they will also have an area open to Shelby clones and tributes. The idea is to have fun and share the passion for all things Shelby and Shelby related! Vicki and I will be set up with our EZ-Up, talking about MCACN and of course, looking for Shelby’s for the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show, November 23-24. The Autobahn Country Club is the Premier Motorsports club with two outstanding road courses, a huge paddock area and over 350 acres of gently rolling countryside. This is literally, the ultimate setting for this event! If you have never been to The Autobahn, this is an excellent opportunity. The event is open to the public and has plenty of parking for you and your truck and trailer. Entry for participants and spectators is just $5, and spectator parking is also conveniently located nearby. Larry also tells me that they have a great Café onsite, which will be open all day. Gates open at 9 am and the official times for the event are 10 am – 3 pm.

Whew...lot’s of things happening!

Muscle Bikes Return to Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals!

Zach Straits

1968 Huffy "The Rail"

2013 MCACN Muscle Bikes

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MUSCLE BIKES AGAIN INVITED TO MCACN!

At the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, we like to keep things interesting and fun. Last year we added some fine Muscle BIKES to the mix, and the response was outstanding. For me, the two-wheeled drag race inspired bikes of the sixties is one of the ways the seed was planted. My first Schwinn Stingray was a sweet 1967 Radiant Blue Stingray Deluxe that I received for my 7th birthday, and I promptly added streamers, a tall sissy bar, a sparkle sissy bar pad and more to make it even kooler. A few years later, I would graduate to the ultimate; a 1970 Schwinn Orange Krate, and the rest, as they say...is history! Over the years I have had literally hundreds of Muscle Bikes. With the Chicago roots of Schwinn, we certainly can agree that Muscle Bikes belong at MCACN!

Many people commented over the years on the bikes I would be riding around on during set-up. “You know, I used to have one of those” or even, “Hey Bob, I have one of those!” was often heard, so the idea of a show within a show was born last year. We soon found out several major league restorers and collectors share my passion for the 2-wheeled treasures. Did you see the lineup of Schwinn Krate bikes that our friend Scott Tiemann brought in 2012? One of each and every color offered, restored to Tiemann perfection! We had over 30 bikes on display in the Awards area and quite a few more were found sprinkled in throughout the show. MCACN Member Mike Guarise even brought out his earlier offering; a 1962 Schwinn Corvette, still wearing its original paint, that was a part of our “Class of ‘62” circle. And it wasn’t all Stingray’s and Krates...MCACN Day 2 Judging Coordinator and Car Recruiter Dru Diesner broke out a pair of Raleigh Choppers, (as did I) along with his own Lemon Peeler. An immaculate Mattel Bronco was shown by our friends from Koolestuff, Dr. Ken Kadziela broke out several beautiful 5-speed Fastbacks and Kevin Burkett of Burketts Antiques over in Hall B debuted his beautifully restored ‘65 Stingray. Fred Mandrick spiced up our Class of 1972 display with his own Raleigh Chopper and get this; he is the original owner, as is Kevin! Then we had Craig and Michelle Dozeman, coordinators of our “Bee-hive” Super Bee display who brought along some great pieces from their collection, including a Ross Barracuda formerly owned by me! And we can’t leave our sponsors out; Ken Mosier of The Finer Details had several bikes in his booth, (and went home with one of mine) and Mike Mancini of American Muscle Car Restorations, Inc. had a Krate “in restoration” in his display, which I am counting on seeing fresh from his shop in his display this year! I know that many of these people are bringing other bikes and more from their collections for 2013. Whew...another cool gathering!

For 2013, we would like to again extend the invitation to all who own any brand of 60’s and 70’s Muscle Bikes to be a part of the world’s largest specialty show devoted to Muscle Cars, Dealer-built Supercars and Corvettes, November 23-24. Whether it is fully restored or ridden hard and put away wet, we’d love to see it! This is a fun display, not judged, and is also open to related self-propelled 2-wheelers, or even 3-wheelers. If it is fun and from the Muscle era...we want to see it! Entry is open now and you can register directly through our website by clicking here;  If you have a vehicle registered for our show, bike entry is FREE. If not, the fee is just $25, which will include a multi-day Exhibitor Pass.

It looks like most of us are finally getting some decent weather, so hopefully your Muscle Machine (or Muscle Bike!) is ready to go. Or perhaps you are spending some quality time out in the shop, getting ready for the 5th Anniversary of the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. Either way, enjoy it, be safe and please remember to help us spread the word about our show. As always, I welcome your input and suggestions and we look forward to catching up with you at one of the shows over the next few months, as we hit the road to do some good old fashioned “Grass Roots Marketing.”

 Thanks for your continued support!

Bob Ashton
Managing Member
MCACN, LLC

http://www.mcacn.com