Without a doubt, 2014 was one of the hottest summers on record. But I’m not talking about 128 degrees in Death Valley—by “hot” I mean more like the record-breaking horsepower, hellacious burnouts, multiple speed-record attempts, and Pony (Ford  Mustang) and Elephant (Hemi engine) anniversary celebrations that have turned up the automotive heat all over the nation. And the best news is there’s no end to the excitement in sight.

Storming to Showrooms

Dodge started off the season pinned in top gear, as the announcement of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat revealed some staggering numbers: 707 hp, and an NHRA-certified 11.2 seconds at 125 mph in the quarter (improved to 10.8 sec. at 126 mph on street slicks). Those are stronger numbers than the Chevy ZL1 Camaro and Ford’s Shelby GT 500. Chrysler design chief Ralph Gilles demonstrated what those numbers can do in an epic burnout at this summer’s Mopar Nationals. Rumor has it Ford is planning to better these figures in a 2016 Mustang. Until then, consider the bar raised.

Not to be left out, the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT showed some stunning styling updates by Gilles’ team. The legendary Hemi performance remains, and there are rumors of a Hellcat version for this model in the works as well. What a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 426 Hemi and the 100th anniversary of Dodge!

Mitsubishi also revealed the 2015 Lancer Evolution. It’s a bittersweet announcement, since this is slated to be the final version of one of the best hot compacts. However, the Evo has aged gracefully and still packs unbelievable performance in a small package, so consider this your last chance to get a new one. No word yet from Mitsubishi on a replacement.

Show Time

Speaking of anniversaries, Mid America Motorworks, the giant Corvette parts and accessories company, was scheduled to celebrate its 40th year at their big FunFest bash September 18–21. Founder Mike Yager has been hosting this event since 1994 as a “thank you” to loyal customers. In recognition of this special anniversary, this year’s FunFest was designed to be the biggest and best yet, with a huge car show, a cruise and live entertainment—all free. FunFest is held at the company’s headquarters in Effingham, Illinois, about 70 miles from St. Louis. See www.CorvetteFunFest.com for more info.

Each year Carlisle Promotions hosts 11 different shows at the 150-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. The final event of 2014 was set to be the Fall Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet and Corral on October 1–5, featuring a collector and classic-car swap meet, car corral and auction. Talk about big—there were expected to be 8100 vending spaces and over 2000 vehicles for sale in the car corral. Founded in 1974, Carlisle Events still hosts some of the best gatherings around. Get up to date at www.CarsAtCarlisle.com.

It may feel like winter in Chicago in late November, but it’ll be warm and dry at the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals. That’s because the show, scheduled for November 22–23 this year, is held inside the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, near O’Hare International Airport. Billed as the largest indoor event of its kind, only the finest Muscle Cars and Corvettes are invited.

Honoring the 50th anniversary of the 426 Hemi, special invitees this year include factory 426 Hemi-powered Dodge and Plymouth cars from 1964–1971. Also lined up is Mustang Madness, an anniversary celebration with the hottest performance Mustangs from 1964–1971, and a Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race Display, with 12 of the fastest AMC, Buick, Chevy, Ford, Molar, Oldsmobile and Mercury muscle cars that appear exactly as they left the assembly line. Plus, one lucky ticket holder will score a 1970 Oldsmobile Pace Car in the second annual Great American Muscle Car Giveaway. Get on it at www.Mcacn.com.

Hot-Rod Culture

Sure, the cars are great, but it’s the fraternity of rodders that makes our hot-rod culture so special. If you’ve never experienced a major outdoor hot-rod event, we suggest checking out one of the 20 shows the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association produce annually. Goodguys is the world’s largest hot-rodding association with over 70,000 members worldwide. Besides hot rods, the events feature customs, trucks, muscle cars and classics at marquee locations such as fairgrounds and super speedways. Craft shows, activities for ladies, live entertainment, vintage drag racing and more broaden the appeal. Other Goodguys events include the 25th Autumn Get-Together, scheduled for November 8–9 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California. Get up to speed at www.Good-Guys.com.

This is the second year that the National Hot Rod Association has expanded its Hot Rod Reunion to three events. Produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, the Hot Rod Reunion events serve the museum’s “living history” philosophy, which aims to bring to life the sights, sounds and people who made history in the early days of drag racing, land-speed racing and the golden age of American car culture.

Each Hot Rod Reunion event features a wide variety of activities, including NHRA vintage drag racing starting some of the sport’s most famous and historic cars and drivers in exhibition runs. The highlight of each event is the nighttime “Cackle-fest,” in which vintage nitro-fuel cars fire up in a cacophony of sound and flame. Proceeds from the Hot Rod Reunion events benefit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, which can be found at www.Museum.NHRA.com.

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Mustang Golden Anniversary

Back in April, Ford celebrated the 50th anniversary of the most popular American performance car, the Mustang. But the Mustang Club of America continued those celebrations throughout the summer and into the fall at their regional and national meets, with the last one being held in mid-October in beautiful and historic Savannah, Georgia. Check it out at www.MustangsInHistoricSavannah.com.

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles also celebrated the Mustang’s anniversary with a special display through mid-October—Mustangs Forever: 50 Years of a Legend. Other ongoing special collections include Town Cars, Arriving in Style, which runs until February 8, 2015. Go to www.Petersen.org for more information.

Farewell, Rockford

Finally, we’re saddened by the passing of James Garner at age 86 on July 19. If anyone in Hollywood understood gearheads, it was Garner. He played the lead role as driver Pete Aron in director Jerry Frankheimer’s 1966 film “Grand Prix,” and impressed many professionals with his driving talents. He then went on to form his own racing team, American International Racing, with the support from Corvette legend Dick Guldstrand and comedians Tommy and Dick Smothers, earning a second-place finish in the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona. He also personally raced in some of the first Baja off-road events. Over the years, he played everything from cowboys to astronauts on both TV and the silver screen, but he may be best remembered as lovable Firebird-driving private investigator Jim Rockford in “The Rockford Files.”

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Smashing Records

By the time you read this, Danny Thompson may have attempted to break the official land speed record for piston-engine vehicles. His father, the legendary Mickey Thompson, tried a number of times. In 1968, Mickey built the twin-engine Challenger II to smash the 406-mph mark set in 1965, but bad weather prevented the attempt and Mickey never got to try again.

This year Danny, in the restored and updated Challenger II, was determined to finish the job. He went 317 mph in July in a test on Bonneville’s short course—without even getting Challenger II into high gear! At press time, the entire 10-mile-long course was scheduled to be available to assault the current 437.183-mph record during the Bonneville Speed Week from August 9–15 and again at the World of Speed from September 6–9. Find out more at ThompsonLSR.com.

Don Garlits proved speed keeps one young. At 82 years old, “Big Daddy” wanted to break the quarter-mile record for electric-powered vehicles, and crack the 200-mph barrier doing it. His “Swamp Rat 37” dragster silently broke the record in June at 186 mph, but a malfunction shut down the six GE motors early, and he missed the 200 mph mark. He’ll make another attempt at 200 run next year. If you like Facebook, check out Facebook.com/QuestFor200mphOnBatteries.

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