2012 Car Show Season is Quickly Approaching

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Last year’s car show season was a big success with strong member turnout at local shows, rallies, and Henry’s Gourmet Cruises. We had four very successful member rallies at Advanced Auto Parts in Clear Lake with 9 to 11 cars participating. These car rallies and cruises are rare moments when we get together as a club. Thanks for a very good year.

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Looking ahead for 2012, the event flyers are stacking up and it looks like it’s going to be a jammed packed fun-filled year of local shows. Some early events are posted now; however, the big kick-off event will be the Space City Cruisers Spring Extravaganza Car Show in League City.  This will be my entry point into the 2012 season. Check out the link below for the latest events.

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2012 Event Schedule

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Thanks to all of our members!

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Hertz GT-350H "Rent-a-Racer"

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Dean Arnold
1/8/2012
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I bought this little GT-350H tribute last week after having it inspected and settling on a price that was arguably reasonable. The car was restored four years ago from a well preserved 2+2 A-code platform by a couple in Oklahoma. The restoration was highly focused on recreating a 1966 GT-350H Shelby Rent-a-Racer. I'd say mission accomplished, the car is a very well built tribute. The interior and exterior is a spitten image the original GT-350H. The engine compartment sports a 289-4v with a 4 speed transmission. I am not sure how detailed the engine compartment matches a true GT-350H but I am doing the research now. If not, I will kick it up a notch. The car will be shipped on Monday (1/9). I should have it in my garage by Wednesday evening. Show season begins soon - I can't wait to bring it out for a good showing.
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click on image to enlarge

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click on image to enlarge

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As for a true original GT-350H, well - they are rare and out of reach of the average Joe (like me). I will settle for a very good tribute.
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Shelby produced 1,003 of these cars. Most Hertz cars featured gold LeMans stripes and rocker panel stripes, although a few were white with blue stripes. The first 85 Hertz cars were available with four-speed manual transmissions and Hertz advertised them as "Rent-a-Racer" cars. During rental, these cars were sometimes used as production class cars at SCCA events, and were rumored to have been returned to Hertz with evidence of roll bars being welded in. Hertz ordered the last 800 models with black paint, gold stripes and black interior, as well as automatic transmissions. 
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Source: WIkipedia at web site: www.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_Mustang#1966_Hertz_Models
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Thinking back at the most memorable Mustangs, I can't help but rate the 1966 Shelby GT-350H at the top of my list of favorites. Its performance (for the day), aggressive stance, bold color schemes (just black, white, blue, and red), and that striking Hertz gold stripe just screams "check me out - I am Incredible!" With only 1003 made, few were privileged for see these gunslingers on the road. Looking on the Internet, I see today's price for one of the truely original masterpieces is in excess of $150,000. Before the great recession, these cars were $240,000+.  Of course a tribute car will never compare in terms of demand or price.
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Thanks to all of our members!

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Visit Ford's New Customizer web site.
It's Worth the Trip
I recently visited the Ford web site and found a page for the Mustang called the customizer. This flash site lets you customize a new Mustang in interesting and realistic ways.  I spent about 30 minutes dressing up my preferences for a unique Mustang that just might be a one of a kind. That is, if I were to order the car as specified. When playing on this site be sure to wear headphones to get the full effect of swapping parts.

The customizer has a menu that lets you customize almost every exterior view of the car.

Adding a new front-end accessory or headlight package is as easy as flipping a page. Almost every exterior aspect of the car can be customized on the screen with dealer options.
. Try customizing your new Mustang!

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Thanks to all of our members!

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We had a another great year of car shows, rallies, and cruises.

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Our club turnout this year was outstanding and we all enjoyed the outings. Well done!

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This year's final event is the Houston AutoRama; as always a great car show that never disappoints. See details below.

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November 24th thru 27th.

52nd. Annual

Houston 2011 AutoRama

 At George Brown Convention Center.

Click here: 11-24,25,26,27-11 AutoRama 52nd.Annual Car Show
Click here: 2011 AutoRama Entry Form

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Thanks to all of our members!

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