Good & Rich - BFGoodrich & The 2010 MPG Track Day

The Editor's Mustang at MPG Track Day, Show and Shine.

aMPG members line up to check in for the two day MPG Track Day event presented by BFGoodrich Tires. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Good & Rich - BFGoodrich & The 2010 MPG Track Day

You know the old saying ... it is never bad to be too Good (lucky) and too Rich ... well the Motor Press Guild's 2010 Track Day sponsored by the BFGoodrich Tire company held September 14th and 15th was a healthy dose of Good & Rich for the nearly 200 journalists gathered at the Auto Club Speedway.

Automobile manufacturers placed 109 cars throughout the infield paddock area for journalists to drive and test in two major driving circumstances of "Street" and "Track". The purpose of The 2010 MPG Track Day being that these manufacturers could have the unique opportunity to impact those journalists who are compelled to communicate what they encountered, experienced, or were presented about the state and nature of the 2011 automobile selling season. For nearly all who gathered to be exposed to this event, judging by the hub-bub that preceded the event banquet and awards presentation, this event was at the barest minimum ... Good & Rich.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

MPG president James Bell said before the event, “The relationship with BFGoodrich Tires and our many other corporate partners helps MPG deliver an affordable Track Day event that meets the high expectations established by previous events and best supports the mission of the guild's working automotive journalists. With the participation of BFGoodrich Tires we are on track to deliver the most productive and newsworthy event in the guild's history, one in keeping with my ‘make it fun’ mantra."

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

“BFGoodrich Tires is honored to be presenting sponsor of Motor Press Guild’s Track Day,” said Tom Jupena, marketing communications manager, BFGoodrich Tires. “It is a great event and provides us the opportunity to expose a very influential group of people to our valued partners as well as demonstrate the grip, acceleration and toughness of the BFGoodrich tire lineup.”

The event was a huge success largely due to the involvement of the title sponsor, BFGoodrich Tires. They made their commitment to participate as the title sponsor of the Motor Press Guild's Track Day event in a short time before the timing of the event ... but even-though they had only a few weeks to respond to this opportunity, they were able to commandeer a transporter and some partners with several example specialty cars to show of their tires in the many applications they were designed for.

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Further, their influence of professionalism in event presentation had a positive effect on the way the rest of the participating sponsors were able to show off what they had to say as well. For the first time in the memory of many of the members of longstanding ... this MPG Track Day had the glisten of a SEMA show with all of the exhibitors, sponsors, and automobile manufacturers placing their best foot forward in their effort and message placed before this crowd of dedicated communicators.

This excerpted and edited from BFGoodrich Tires press kit materials about the presenting partners associated with the BFG MPG Track Day participation -

Rich Evans Designs

Image Credit: Rich Evens Designs

Owner of Huntington Beach Bodyworks and Rich Evans Designs, Evans is a
master automotive fabricator, welder and painter. His custom-made rides have
appeared in numerous movies and television programs, including Pimp My
Ride, Monster Garage, Man Cave and Chop, Cut & Rebuild. The Southern
California native also recently debuted a new iPhone App, "The Rides of Rich
Evans."

His one-of-a-kind Mopar-flavored ride for the 2010 SEMA Show will begin with
a base 2010 Dodge Challenger. Evans will employ an array of Mopar parts,
some modified with his own fabricated spin, in order to create a new
automotive work of art. Rich Evans Exclusive Parts, as well as products from
numerous aftermarket suppliers, will be used during the build, which will be
documented in a series of podcast videos posted to Mopar's YouTube
channel. Evans will also pen exclusive blogs for posting on www.mopar.com,
as well as his own Web site, www.huntingtonbeachbodyworks.com.

"Rich Evans has crafted some of the most remarkable customized rides on the
street today," said Pietro Gorlier, President & CEO - Mopar Service, Parts &
Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. "This Mopar SEMA project will
demonstrate to our customers what they can create with proven, quality-tested
Mopar parts and accessories."

Hurst Performance Vehicles

Hurst Performance Vehicles, a company responsible for some of the most iconic pace cars in racing history, will once again debut a special-edition Mustang built to serve as the official pace car for the 2010 Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Series.
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Larry H. Miller Dealership Group has confirmed that it will partner with Hurst Performance to donate the vehicle for this project. Other partners of the project include Whelen Engineering, Ford Racing, BFGoodrich Tires. Motorsports artist and Roger Warrick will create original art for promotional items.

“Hurst has a history of creating unique, high-quality, emotionally-charged muscle cars and the 2010 Hurst Ford Racing Mustang Challenge pace car is no different,” said Nate Shelton, Chairman of Hurst Performance Vehicles. “We are so proud to have yet another opportunity to set the pace for others to follow and give something back to a deserving organization.”

The stunning Hurst Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Pace Car comes equipped with 20” BFGoodrich g-Force™ T/A®KDW tires for maximum performance and attitude, 20” Hurst polished, forged aluminum wheels and a Hurst Competition/Plus shifter with a black T-handle.

The engine pounds out 550-horsepower, or nearly 200-horsepower more than the FR500S race Mustangs, and 542 lb.-ft of torque, courtesy of the Ford Racing polished supercharger, Ford Racing FR500S stainless-steel cat-back exhaust and K&N filter. With its race bred Ford Racing suspension, this car is sure to keep people straining just to see it zoom by. And to stop all this power, the car is equipped with an upgraded braking system featuring 14" rotors and 4-piston calipers, also from Ford Racing.

ICON

ICON JOINS TIRE PARTNER BFGOODRICH TO INTRODUCE MOTOR PRESS GUILD MEMBERS TO FJ AND NEW CJ3B VEHICLE LINE UP

BFGoodrich Tires Special Guest ICON Founder Jonathan Ward Presents the Very Best in Vintage Inspired Modern Day Utility to Members of the Motor Press Guild, (9/13)

Serving as the special guest of BFGoodrich Tires, ICON Founder Jonathan Ward looks forward to bringing the company’s Baja FJ40 and new CJ3B bespoke utility vehicles to the Motor Press Guild (MPG). Known for infusing modern day engineering with the very best in classical design elements to make rugged off-road ready designs, Ward has enjoyed an exclusive partnership with BFGoodrich as the sole tire provider for all ICON vehicles. As the designer and lead builder of all ICON vehicles, Ward was honored with BFGoodrich’s invitation to display various ICON vehicles and looks forward to continuing to partner with BFGoodrich on future projects.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to show members of the Motor Press Guild what ICON is all about and were extremely happy to hear about the invite from our partner in tires, BFGoodrich,” comments ICON Founder and Chief Builder Jonathan Ward. “With the MPG’s obvious passion for automotive, we feel members will have a blast seeing what classic elements we incorporate into our various vehicle designs and the commitment we take in melding them with modern day technology and build materials.”

Samuel Hübinette Racing

Image Credit: Matt Galantuomini

A newcomer in X Games 16, professional stunt driver and two-time Formula Drift champ Samuel Hübinette adds rallycross to his list of successes behind the wheel, with a Bronze medal win in RallyCar Super Rally. "I'm very happy with the combined effort ACP Racing, BFGoodrich Tires, Sparco, Stack Performance, DV Wraps and ES Motorsports made for us to be here," said Hübinette.

He and X Games teammate Andrew Comrie-Picard of ACP Racing each piloted Mitsubishi Evolutions to Bronze medal finishes, with Comrie-Picard taking the medal in the RallyCar Racing event. While his teammate elected to compete in both RallyCar events this year, Hübinette said, "We decided to save the car and only run in the Super Rally event." We saw drivers like Travis Pastrana braking their cars before the SuperRally started, so we were happy with our decision.

Skip Barber Racing Schools

Image Credit: Skip Barber Racing

For more than 30 years, Skip Barber Racing has operated a fully integrated system of racing schools, driving schools, racing championships, corporate events and OEM events across North America. With more than 200 dedicated and passionate professionals, no other organization delivers the same high quality instruction, equipment, facilities and memorable experiences.

THE OFFERINGS:
• The Skip Barber Racing School is held at more than 20 of the most prestigious race tracks in North America.

• Skip Barber Mazda Driving School, utilizing Mazda's performance sedans and sports cars, operates at five world-famous destination locations.

• The Skip Barber Race Series is collectively three separate, equal-car racing championships — the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda, an entry level professional open-wheel series which awards a $350,000 title bonus to its champion, a regional amateur open-wheel series, and the Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge, an amateur championship featuring identically prepared MX-5 Miata race cars. All the series are part of Mazda's unique MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder system.

• The Corporate Events unit creates custom racing and driving programs for companies of any size that desire special, exciting events to train, entertain, educate and reward.

• OEM Events provides unique, specialized automotive-related training, analysis, evaluation, logistics and consultation.

THE VEHICLES:
• 201 racecars: With 70 Formula Skip Barber and 61 Mazda MX-5 Cup racecars for the Racing School and Corporate Events and 70 Formula Skip Barber race cars for the three racing championships, it is the largest racecar fleet in the world.

• More than 94 passenger/street cars: BMW 330i sedans, Lexus IS F, Lotus Exige S, Mazda RX-8s, MX-5s and MAZDA3s, and Porsche 911s, Caymans and Boxsters for use in the Driving School and Corporate Events.

• 30 transport and support vehicles: Ford Econoline vans and Mazda CX-9s. Skip Barber cars and parts are maintained at five base locations around the country. With the largest race car fleet in the world, we can deploy transporters and school staff to tracks nationwide.

Team Hybrid

Image Credit: Team Hybrid

Team Hybrid stands for a rich tradition in creativity, originality, and quality. “The idea is to create a team with a diversity of hardworking members and a special individuality to every car. By providing the Team with goals to strive for, each member spends countless hours of time, effort, and dedication to show “Hybrid luv and our purpose. It’s not just about winning a show or a race. It’s about getting there as a team”.

Team Hybrid launched January 7th, 1995 in Oxnard, CA when James Lin decided his ride would complement his peers who value and respect his work. Everyone knows it’s easy to gather a group of friends, and just give it a title to start a Team, but in contrast, James, the co-leaders, members and hunnyz have built a team of legendary status and respect.

Wide Open Excursions

Flogging an OEM’s latest offerings around the track is perhaps the one of the most entertaining times to be had on pavement. You get to push vehicles that few have driven to their limits and potentially marvel over the latest vehicle technologies. Not a bad way to spend a couple of days.

Now add the following: dirt, challenging terrain, sand, water, and air (as in you will definitely be getting some air; see picture, top right). Wide Open Excursions, the world’s most unique high-speed, adrenaline-filled adventure provider, and partner BF Goodrich will have on display at the Auto Club Speedway during MPG’s Track Day event the very vehicle that will allow you to live out this scenario.

It’s called the Desert Challenge Car and it’s a $100,000 purpose-built off-road racer with a Subaru engine, custom suspension with a massive 18” of travel, suspended racing seats, and BF Goodrich off-road racing tires. Since 2000, more than 121 Desert Challenge Cars have run the Baja 1000 and have continuously survived the brutal conditions and attrition rate to post one of the most successful records for any off-road vehicle.





... notes from The EDJE