All posts by Greg Wackett

Saleen Owners and Enthusiasts Club co-founder. Operates the Saleen Locating Service. Saleen historian and memorabilia collector.
Enthusiast News

SALEEN’S SLEEK, SWIFT MACHINES

By: N.A. on March 28, 2004
Original Article: SUNDAY TIMES, THE (PERTH)

CALIFORNIAN-BASED Saleen has made about 8000 vehicles since it was started in 1983 by avid race-car fan Steve Saleen.

The first saleable Ford-based car came in 1986 when the marque won its first major event at the 24-hour race at Mosport Park, Ontario.

It won there again in 1987 and 1988, becoming the first Ford-powered vehicle to win three consecutive series since the Le Mans campaign in the late 1960s.

Saleen’s cars also won all four SCCA championship titles in 1987.

It raced Indy in 1989 and in 1991 won the SCCA Race Truck Championship using a Saleen Ford Ranger ute.

In 1995 Steve Saleen formed a partnership with TV actor/comedian Tim (the Tool Man) Allen to create a Saleen/Allen Speedlab race team to run Saleen Mustangs in the SCCA series.

It won in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Saleen now makes seven vehicles: The S281, the high-performance S281-E (each in coupe and convertible) and SR Mustang-based cars, the purpose-built S7 racer and more recently a Ford Focus-based N2O Focus.

It used to make the XR8 ute and a modified Ford Explorer.

Details on Saleen are available from www.saleen.com.

Press Release

ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCES SEBRING DRIVER LINE UP

Brabham to Join Borcheller and Mowlem

SPRING LAKE, Mich., Feb. 16, 2004 – Adding to its already potent driver lineup for the 2004 ALMS season, ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS owner, Jeff Giangrande has announced that David Brabham will join the team’s principal drivers, Terry Borcheller and Johnny Mowlem, in the ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS Saleen S7R for the 52nd running of the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 17-20, 2004.

Owner of one of the most famous last names in racing, David Brabham has had a distinguished career in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). After racing Prototypes the first four years of the series, he switched to the GTS class in 2003 driving a Ferrari 550 and was runner-up in the Championship with three wins.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge of Sebring this year,” commented Brabham. “Not only am I going to have the opportunity to drive the competitive Saleen S7R, but I’ll be racing head-to-head with my old friend and teammate, Jan Magnussen. This should be fun!”

The dynamic duo of Borcheller and Mowlem thus becomes the terrific trio of Borcheller, Mowlem and Brabham for the opening round of the 2004 ALMS season as Jeff Giangrande places an exclamation point on his determined bid to end the Corvette and Ferrari dominance of the GTS Class.

Borcheller and Mowlem arrive at Sebring having already scored wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the endurance race that signals the start of a new season of international road racing every year in North American. Terry finished first overall in a Daytona Prototype while Johnny finished second overall and first in GT behind the wheel of the Orbit Racing Porsche.

The 2004 12 Hours of Sebring represents a renaissance for both the S7R and Pirelli as Saleen returns to the ALMS after a year’s absence from factory support for the S7Rs and Pirelli continues to expand its presence in the North American marketplace.

“Since 1995, Pirelli has won seven Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships each in North American sports car competition but none since returning from a one-year hiatus in 2002,” stated Peter Tyson, Pirelli’s Vice President of Marketing. “We’ve been trying to build a “Dream Team” around the Saleen with drivers like Borcheller and Mowlem and Brabham since our return, and we can’t wait until the green flags fall for qualifying at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March.”

To that end, ACEMCO, Saleen and Pirelli have been conducting an aggressive testing program during the next several months, including extensive tire testing at both Sebring and Homestead in preparation for the 12 Hours of Sebring.

“Anyone who has watched the GTS battle the last several years knows that this is where the competition is,” stated Giangrande, ACEMCO’S owner. “We’re also very aware of what the privateer Saleen S7Rs accomplished in their first two seasons of competition winning seven of eight championships, 37 of 72 races and holding the majority of the class poles and fastest lap records,” he continued. “With Terry, Johnny and David on board, we’re looking for nothing less than a GTS Class victory at Sebring.”

With more than 50 years of manufacturing experience, ACEMCO AUTOMOTIVE is a leader in the engineering, manufacture and assembly of metal stampings for light trucks, SUVs and passenger cars with three plants located in the western Michigan area. Products include frame and engine mounting components, as well as interior metal insert assemblies. ACEMCO’s Team Goal is to provide Customer satisfaction, manufacturing Excellence and
quality products while Maintaining a clean, safe working environment and Continuously improving processes to ensure 100% On-time deliveries.

Pirelli Tire North America specializes in the manufacture and marketing of highperformance car, light truck and motorcycle tires and currently has three of its highly advanced MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) modules in operation in a new factory in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the American OEM and Replacement markets. For more information, visit the Company’s web site at www.us.pirelli.com.

DAVID BRABHAM
Date of Birth: September 5, 1965
Birthplace: London, UK (raised Sydney, Australia)
Residence: Maidenhead, England
Marital Status: Married, wife Lisa
Children: Jayson, Sam, Finn
Team (Class): ACEMCO Motorsports – Saleen S7R (GTS)
Website: www.davidbrabham.com
PR Contact: Jack Gerken; (714) 436-9900; Jack@Gerken.org

Owner of one of the most famous last names in racing, David Brabham has had a distinguished career in the American Le Mans Series. After racing Prototypes the first four years of the series, he switched to the GTS class in 2003 driving a Ferrari 550 and was runner-up in the Championship with three wins. At Sebring, “Brabs” joins Terry Borcheller and Johnny Mowlem behind the wheel of Jeff Giangrande’s ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7R.

2003: Entered GTS ranks and drove Prodrive Ferrari in partnership with longtime cohort Jan Magnussen.

Began season at Sebring in Team Bentley livery along with Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell and helped pilot team to third place. Finished 2nd at the Le Mans 24hrs with Bentley.

Was asked to drive the #80 Ferrari in year’s third ALMS event, Infineon, and drove to 3rd place behind the two Corvette entries, with whom Brabham/Magnussen would battle the rest of the season.

Ran 4th at Trois-Rivieres, again trailing the Corvettes, then 3rd at Mosport, just behind other Ferrari entry.

Took sensational last-lap win at Road America, then declared GTS winner at Laguna Seca when #88 Ferrari was excluded due to technical violation.

Won 3rd consecutive race at Miami, with Darren Turner substituting for Magnussen, before dropping to 2nd position at Petit Le Mans to #88 machine driven by Tomas Enge and Peter Kox.

Finished second in GTS driver championship points.

2002: Campaigned all year in P900 Panoz LMP vehicle, with Magnussen.

Started slowly at Sebring, covering just 56 laps before mechanical problems ended the day.

Deficiencies corrected, piloted Panoz machine to win at Sears Point, edging Tom Kristensen and Johnny Herbert on lead lap.

Ran 3rd at Mid-Ohio.

Encountered misfortune again at Road America, dropping out (mechanical) after 69 laps.

Rebounded again at Washington for big win over Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello.

Took 5th at Trois-Rivieres and 4th at Mosport.

Had another 4th place finish at Laguna Seca, then ran 5th at Miami.

Added David Donohue for long-distance Petit Le Mans and came in 7th, Brabham’s final race with the Panoz factory team.

2001: Continued with Panoz factory team, with co-driver Jan Magnussen, starting season with new Panoz LMP07 design.

Opened year by taking 3rd position at Texas.

Car came undone at Sebring, retiring after 109 laps (mechanical).

Brought back older Panoz LMP1 and ran 3rd at Sears Point behind pair of factory Audi entrants.

Broke Audi dominance with win at Portland, then followed up with solid 2nd position at Mosport.

Claimed 2nd win at Mid-Ohio, fending off three challengers on final lap.

Dropped out at Laguna Seca after 57 laps (accelerator), then ended season 8th at Petit Le Mans.

2000: New co-driver Jan Magnussen with Panoz factory team.

Went to the post 11 times.

Blown engine at Sebring continued string of bad luck at 12-hour event.

Ran 2nd in Charlotte behind JJ Lehto and Jorg Muller.

Went overseas and again finished 2nd to Lehto-Muller before turning tables on them with win in the rain at Nurburgring.

Took 5th position at Sears Point, then did not see action at Mosport after Magnussen was involved in crash on lap 41.

Came back nicely at Texas with 3rd place showing and was 2nd at Portland.

Took 3rd at Petit Le Mans, but retired very early at Laguna Seca (engine) after 66 laps.

Ended Las Vegas race in 6th position.

After Magnussen ran just two laps at Adelaide (alternator), Brabham partnered with Greg Murphy and Jason Bright in another Panoz car and finished 3rd, 9th overall.

1999: Raced the entire inaugural season of ALMS with Panoz factory team. Partnered with Eric Bernard at Sebring, dropping out (fire) after 103 laps.

Drove to 5th position at Road Atlanta, then he/Bernard took 2nd place at Mosport behind fellow Panoz drivers Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell.

Sears Point yielded 2nd place finish, followed by victory at Portland over JJ Lehto/Steve Soper and Magnussen/O’Connell, all three on lead lap.

Brabham and Bernard then won Petit Le Mans, one lap up on nearest competitor.

Mechanical failures forced dropout near end of Laguna Seca and blown engine at Las Vegas put damper on end of first ALMS year.

BRABHAM NOTES: Born in England but grew up in Australia and is an Australian citizen

One of few drivers to have won at least one race in every year the ALMS has existed

Has raced around the world in various forms of competition, mainly in sports cars since his F1 career

GT1 class winner at Sebring in 1998

Second overall and GTP class winner in Daytona 24 Hours in 1992

Brabham has had two different Formula One rides

In 1990, drove for Brabham F1, starting eight times. Mechanical woes forced five retirements, and two others resulted from crashes, though Brabham did finish 15th at French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard

Returned to Formula One in ’94, making 16 starts for Simtek team

Had two 10th place finishes, at Catalunya in Spanish Grand Prix and Hockenheim in German Grand Prix

Also raced in Formula 3

Won ’91 Spa 24 Hours touring car event

Also raced in Japan with John Nielson and was 1996 Japanese GT champion

Began his Panoz association in ’97

Won British Rallycross event at Brands Hatch in ’93

British Formula 3 Champion in 1989

Early racing experience includes 4th overall in 1986 Formula Ford 1600 competition and the’87 Australian

Gold Star Champion in Formula 2 series

Competed in 1988 British Formula 3 Class B series finished 3rd and won the overall Championship the following year

Fourth in the Australian Formula ford Championship (four wins) in 1986

Raced a Ford laser (two wins) in 1985

First race in a 100 cc sprint kart in Australia in 1984; won the Canberra Cup and the New South Wales Country Karting Championships

First drove at eight years old in an EH Holden on the family farm in Wagga, Wagga, Australia

Most memorable victory came over future F1 legend Michael Schumacher in the Macau F3 World Cup

Son of Sir Jack Brabham and brother of former IMSA star Geoff Brabham

Favorite drivers as youth were Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost

Lived in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for a year in 2002 and 2003 before moving back to England

Favorite sports team is Manchester United

Avid player and follower of soccer

Also enjoys cricket, golf, tennis and running

Enthusiast News

PRE-ORDERS: THE SALEEN BOOK BY BRAD BOWLING

A message from Mark LaMaskin: New Saleen Book PRE-ORDERS

Performance Autosport is taking Per-Orders for the new Saleen book. It will not be shipped until the 2nd week of April. We only have a limited run, so get yours now.

We have a pop up going live tonight on our website, www.performanceautosport.com – (804) 784-8851.

People are talking about The Saleen Book and Owners Registry: 20 Years of Saleen Mustangs – the 430-plus page hardcover scheduled for release April 1 by Driveway Books.

“The Saleen Book is such a thorough and colorful telling of the Saleen Mustang story that even I learned a lot reading it!” – Steve Saleen

“It’s about time somebody did a book on Steve, and I’m delighted to be a small part of the Saleen history.” – comedian and co-founder of Saleen/Allen Speedlab Tim Allen

“The Saleen Book and Owners Registry is a long-anticipated history of the Saleen Mustang in pictures and words. It’s a must for anybody interested in high-performance Mustangs. I’ll be using it for reference for years to come.” – automotive writer/photographer Jerry Heasley

The Saleen Book, of which only 5,000 will be printed, is available in two formats:

“The Standard” hardback edition includes a full-color history chapter for each year of Saleen production; the all-encompassing Owners Registry, which lists specs and available information on more than 7,000 individual Saleen Mustangs; an extensive media bibliography; and sidebars on cars of interest from the past two decades. This 20-year history retails for $60 (plus applicable sales taxes, shipping and handling).

The premium hardback edition is known as “The Saleen 500,” as that’s how many are being produced with individual serial numbers on a bound certificate of authenticity; a high-quality, illustrated jacket; and Steve Saleen’s autograph. Each copy of this desirable collector’s edition is $120 (with no charge for shipping and handling, but applicable sales tax).

Automotive journalist and former Saleen publicist Brad Bowling wrote The Saleen Book from an insider’s angle that gives his story a uniquely intimate perspective. Illustrating the book are more than 500 of the 8,000 slides Bowling shot of original, unmodified cars as he traveled coast-to-coast researching this book, as well as many from Steve Saleen’s company archives.

Because this special publication is expected to move as quickly as a supercharged S-351, Driveway Books is encouraging PRE-ORDERS through this Web site (where VISA and MasterCard are welcome). Shipping for both versions of The Saleen Book will begin the first week in April; please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Credit card orders using VISA and MASTERCARD can be taken over the phone at (804) 784-8851.

Click here to participate in the discussion.

Product Review

RAW POWER IS DIVINE

By: NIKA ROLCZEWSKI on December 20, 2003
Original Article: TORONTO STAR (CANADA)

Saleen Offers Power For Mere (rich) Mortals

Driving God’s car, you would think that I could have found some divine intervention, but even a silver Saleen S7 – the same wheels actor Jim Carrey drove in Bruce Almighty – wasn’t going to free me from the hell of Montreal traffic.

Here I was, patiently awaiting just a short glimpse of roadway, thinking I would give my kingdom for a green light, a clear street and a road full of twists and turns.

Far as I may have been from sainthood and sports-car roads, I still felt like a god behind the wheel of the S7.

How could I not? At 104 cm inches high, it’s lower-slung than the new Ford GT, and its long, wide shape is punctuated by gaping air intakes slashed into its bumpers, sides and rear deck.

This is far from the glorified kit car I was expecting: up close and personal with it, I see smooth lines and minimal gaps – quality that suggests this hand-built car is made to robotic production-line standards.

On the one hand, Montreal’s posh, party-loving rue Crescent isn’t really the place to be driving a $600,000 Le Mans-engined exotic that you’ve spirited away from its Canadian unveiling.

On the other hand, why not be a show-off?

The S7’s 349 km/h top speed, and the 7.0 L V8’s ability to propel the S7 from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 to 3.3 seconds, is as much symbolic as it is real. You may floor the gas once or twice off the track to experience that heavenly sensation, but the real fun bit is telling your friends – and the bystanders that gather wherever you park – about it.

Besides, full throttle in the S7 is not for the inexperienced. Unlike some other high-end exotics these days, it isn’t adorned with driver aids – Saleen considers them mere bells and whistles that make us better drivers than we are – so there’s no ABS, no traction control, no paddle shifts, just pure muscle pulsating under that reptilian skin.

The all-aluminum powerplant pounds out 550 hp at 6400 rpm. The intergalactic gearing isn’t set up for city driving, and the clutch – already replaced in this copy from loading and unloading during short bursts of driving – is very heavy.

As for the brakes, at a red light, I experience full wheel lockup with a brush of the pedal. If you want fluff, go elsewhere, because the S7 is a driver’s car, and an experienced driver’s car at that.

On the street outside, well-dressed executives strain to look into the low, low car. I labour to elegantly enter and exit its simple gray interior. Doors that swing up and my mature bones make this a daunting task.

The big, voluptuous body draws stares on the street; I hear whispers of “What is this?” in several languages.

Passersby peer inside to discover a fairly pedestrian interior: just enough Mazda- and Ford-sourced knobs and buttons for the air conditioning, radio and the car’s one bit of high-tech wizardry, a camera to aid the view when you back up.

But who cares what’s behind us? In a car this fast, it’s the visibility out front that matters – and it’s fine.

The S7 comes from Saleen Inc., which for almost 20 years has engineered modifications for many Ford road cars and built award-winning race cars.

The Californian-born S7 road car was unveiled in August, 2000, to an appreciative audience of enthusiasts and racers. Shortly after, its maker, Steve Saleen, announced plans to race a competition version in the latter half of 2000’s American Le Mans Series.

The car did respectably well on the track, and since then, magazines have compared the road version to exotics such as the Lamborghini Murcielago. While it’s lacking in racing pedigree and brand prestige, the S7 has held its own. The first delivery was made in July, 2002.

There are, says Joseph Gambieri of Auto Bugatti in Montreal, the S7’s sole Canadian distributor, a select few buyers who want a $395,000 (U.S.) supercar with all the qualities common to that exalted category.

Although a hard-core Italian car fanatic, he acknowledges that the S7 is “a great car – for half the price of a Ferrari Enzo. Stupid fast and crazy. One test drive and it can sell itself.”

Unlike the Enzo, for instance, it spoils its drivers with power windows, locks and mirrors. There’s a six-disc CD changer to go with the lightweight, six-piston Brembo brakes and the stiff-shifting transmission.

This is a car that you can get comfortable in.

But, in true Le Mans-racer style, the S7 also reeks of testosterone and hard-core, track-inspired authority. There are no names etched on a manifold to boost Saleen’s ego, but the car’s predatory nature is evident in its design and in the way the engine delivers its power.

At low speeds, the ride isn’t bad; someone in the crowd chuckles that it’s like having a beautiful and intelligent woman that can cook. I guess what he means is that the S7 has it all – passion, performance and driveability.

If you want a fancy name, go for a Ferrari or a Lambo. But if it’s a raw, almost animalistic quality in a car that you’re after, go Saleen.

Just 300 to 400 will be built in a five-year span; the carbon-fibre body manufactured in Britain rings in at around $100,000 (U.S.) all by itself. Order an S7, and a dedicated team will need three months to build it, start to finish.

Clearly, this exclusivity speaks to some people: two S7s will be arriving in Canada in the next few months.

Another honk of a horn, more double-parked cars and a crazy Montreal driver’s kamikaze move bring me back to reality.

I wonder how Bruce Almighty parted the sea of cars. How much more he could appreciate this beast than I can, stuck in this gridlock.

Then again, he was God, and I’m just a mere traffic-bound mortal.

Maybe one day, I’ll get the opportunity to drive this car the way it was meant to be driven. But there isn’t a chance in hell… this time.

Nika Rolczewski is the founder of www.racerchicks.com.

Press Release

ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCES 2004 DRIVER LINE UP

Pirelli Committed to Winning GTS Championship for Michigan Team

SPRING LAKE, Mich., Nov. 24, 2003 – It took two years but Saleen’s “Dream Team” is finally ready to challenge the big guns in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GTS Class thanks to Jeff Giangrande and ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS as Terry Borcheller and Johnny Mowlem were confirmed today as the team’s principal drivers for the 2004 season.

Terry Borcheller, six-time sports car champion including three as a Saleen factory driver, won the 2001 ALMS GTS Drivers’ Championship in the Saleen S7R’s inaugural season by winning the 12 Hours of Sebring, earning 4 poles and setting 7 fastest laps. Most recently, Borcheller won the 2003 Rolex Cup Drivers’ Championship in Bell Motorsport’s Daytona Prototype.

Joining Borcheller is Brit Johnny Mowlem. Interestingly enough, Mowlem replaced Borcheller as Saleen’s lead factory driver in 2002 just as Saleen was awarded the contract to build the Ford GT. Recognized as one of the top Porsche drivers, he distinguished himself the year before by setting the fastest GTS lap at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in his first and only drive in a Saleen S7R. This past season, he finished second overall in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in a Risi Competizione Ferrari 360, competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an ACEMCO Ferrari 360 and won Road America in the White Lightning Porsche.

After two years, the two Saleen factory drivers are together for the first time on ACEMCO’S “Dream Team” to contest the entire 2004 ALMS season and all points beyond.

“Anyone who has watched the GTS battle the last several years knows that this is where the competition is,” stated Giangrande, ACEMCO’S owner. “We’re also very aware of what the privateer Saleen S7Rs accomplished in their first two seasons of competition winning seven of eight championships, 37 of 72 races and holding the majority of the class poles and fastest lap records,” he continued. “With Terry and Johnny on board, the Saleens will once again become the fastest guns in the west.”

ACEMCO also announced that Pirelli Tires would be providing the engineering and tire support for the Saleen S7R. “Since mid-season, we studied the performance of the various tire companies in GTS and GT,” commented Giangrande. “It was fairly obvious that Pirelli had an improved product and we’re very excited about developing a winning combination with them.”

“Since 1995, Pirelli has won 7 Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships each in North American sports car competition but none since returning from a one-year hiatus in 2002,” stated Peter Tyson, Pirelli’s Vice President of Marketing Communications. “We’ve been trying to build a “Dream Team” around the Saleen with drivers like Borcheller and Mowlem since our return and we can’t wait until the green flags fall for qualifying at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March.”

To that end, ACEMCO, Saleen and Pirelli will conduct an aggressive testing program over the next several months beginning with a shakedown of the first Saleen S7R next week at Willow Springs, just north of Saleen’s Irvine, Calif.-based headquarters. The team will then move east for extensive tire testing at both Sebring and Homestead in preparation for the 12 Hours of Sebring.

With more than 50 years of manufacturing experience, ACEMCO AUTOMOTIVE is a leader in the engineering, manufacture and assembly of metal stampings for light trucks, SUVs and passenger cars with three plants located in the western Michigan area. Products include frame and engine mounting components, as well as interior metal insert assemblies. ACEMCO’s Team Goal is to provide Customer satisfaction, manufacturing Excellence and quality products while Maintaining a clean, safe working environment and Continuously improving processes to ensure 100% On-time deliveries.

Pirelli Tire North America specializes in the manufacture and marketing of highperformance car, light truck and motorcycle tires and currently has three of its highly advanced MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) modules in operation in a new factory in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the American OEM and Replacement markets. For more information, visit the Company’s web site at www.us.pirelli.com.

Motorsports News

COMPETITION: FLASH

By: N.A. on September 22, 2003
Original Article: AUTOWEEK, VOL. 53, ISSUE 38

Pagani delayed
The race return of the Pagani Zonda supercar scheduled for next month’s Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta has been set back. The Dutch-based team put the race program on hold for the Mercedes-engined GTS contender after a disappointing Le Mans performance in June. A projected return for the American Le Mans Series finale is delayed while the team awaits new development parts. The revised car, which will run a 7.0-liter engine and an Xtrac gearbox for the first time, should test in early October and then compete in the Le Mans Endurance Series Nov. 9 race on the Le Mans-Bugatti circuit.

Junior will do the 24
NASCAR Winston Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will contest next year’s Daytona 24-hour with the Freisinger Porsche team. Eamhardt Jr., who made his debut in the sports car classic in 2001 driving a factory Chevrolet Corvette he shared with his late lather, has signed a deal to race the German team’s lead 911 GT3-RS in the Florida event next February. Freisinger team leader Stephane Ortelli will join him in the car. Team boss Manfred Freisinger said, “We have a mutual friend who contacted us about Dale. Everything has been agreed and the deal will be signed this week.” Eamhardt Jr. currently sits second in Winston Cup points in the Chevy owned by DEI Inc., the team his late father started.

Customer Lambos
Lamborghini wants to sell more than 10 of its new V12-engined Murciélago R-GT racers around the world next season. The Audi-controlled sports car maker is pitching the new design, unveiled at the Frankfurt show (page 17), as a turnkey customer car for privateers. The R-GT will be eligible for the FIA GT Championship, the American Le Mans Series and the Le Mans Endurance Series in Europe. Manfred Fitzgerald, Lamborghini head of marketing, explained that the program had been kick-started by requests from potential customers. “So many of our clients were asking us for a tool to use on the racetrack that we felt we had to do something,” he said. “That’s the motivation behind what I am calling our customer sports program.”

Saleen return?
U.S. supercar manufacturer Saleen will make a full-time return to the American Le Mans Series in 2004. The California company, which has been represented in only a handful of this year’s races, is selling two cars to the American Acemco Motorsports team. Jeff Giangrande, who owns the team, intends to field a Saleen in all ALMS events next season. Giangrande entered a GT class Ferrari in the ALMS this year, but said he likes GTS because that’s where the competition is. “We believe [GTS] is the best place to be competitive as a privateer,” he said. It is unclear who will run the car in 2004. The Ferrari 360 Modena that Acemco has entered in the ALMS this year has been run by Risi Competizione. No drivers have been announced, although Giangrande said that his pairing of Terry Borcheller and Shane Lewis were both on the “short list.” A deal for Borcheller would mark the 38-year-old’s return to a Saleen three years after he won the ALMS’ GTS crown in a Konrad-entered car.

Press Release

SALEEN ANNOUNCES CANADIAN MANUFACTURING FACILITY

IRVINE, Calif., July 31, 2003 — Steve Saleen, president of Saleen, Inc., announced today the formation of Saleen Canada. This company, set up under a special manufacturing and licensing agreement with Joe Visconti, president of Saleen Canada, will manufacture and sell Saleen automobiles through select Saleen-certified Ford dealers throughout Canada.

The manufacturing facility will be located in Montreal and will produce specific Canadian-certified Saleen models, including the S281 and S281 Supercharged Mustangs, the Saleen Thunderbird — Bonspeed Edition in both naturally aspirated and supercharged configurations, and a special version of the Focus.

“This is a natural “next step” in the growth of our company,” commented Saleen. “For a number of years we’ve had strong demand for Saleen products from our neighbors to the North,” he continued. “We’ve been considering this expansion for some time and Joe Visconti is a perfect partner for Saleen to expand its expertise in niche manufacturing and performance sales throughout Canada.”

“I am very proud and excited to be a part of Saleen Canada at the very beginning,” said Visconti. “As for the S281 – what can one possibly buy in the market place that gives the same performance numbers with a factory warranty to boot?”

“Our Canadian facility will build the same high quality products we turn out in our Irvine, California manufacturing plant.” Saleen stated. “And we’ll follow the same procedures and ‘best practices’ to manufacture Saleen vehicles in compliance with all Canadian regulations.”

This isn’t the first expansion for Saleen beyond its Southern California base of operations though. Last December, Saleen signed an agreement with Martin Josephi, former president of VW of Mexico, to sell the full product line of Saleen vehicles, including the S7 supercar, throughout Central America. And in March of this year, Saleen began assembling the first prototypes of the legendary Ford GT in a second manufacturing facility near Detroit.

During the past 20 years, Saleen has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to design, engineer, manufacture and market high performance specialty vehicles working closely with Tier 1 suppliers around the world.

“The experiences we gain by expanding throughout North America will hopefully lead to Saleen becoming a world player in niche vehicle manufacturing and sales,” Saleen commented.

About Saleen
Since the company’s inception in 1984, Saleen has produced over 8,000 vehicles, more than any other specialty manufacturer. An eight-time Manufacturers’ Champion in GT sports car racing, Saleen’s facilities include research, design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The company’s line of products and services also includes the Saleen S281 and S281-E, the exotic, mid-engine Saleen S7 supercar, Saleen Competition, Saleen Performance Parts, and Saleen Engineering and Certification.

Saleen has also been commissioned by Ford to help produce the legendary Ford GT in a second Saleen manufacturing facility near Detroit.

Contact Saleen at 949-597-4900, or for more information about Saleen – its people and products – visit the web site at www.Saleen.com.

Saleen Canada can be contacted through Umberto Bonfa, director sales & marketing, at 514 631-0071 or by email: ubonfa@saleencanada.com.

Lifestyle

REVVING UP FOR FILM ROLES

By: ANDY SEILER on May 21, 2003
Original Article: USA TODAY

‘Terminator 3’ Pops The Top On A Lexus

The hot movie cars of summer range from affordable to inconceivable to downright illegal:

Mini Coopers, which should have star billing in The Italian Job opening May 30, start at $16,975.

A Ferrari 575 Maranello, driven by Will Smith in Bad Boys II, will set you back more than $200,000. Galpin Motors in North Hills, Calif., is selling the Saleen S7 supercar that’s capable of 200 mph driven by Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty for about $500,000.

Some of the cars in 2 Fast, 2 Furious are not street legal in the USA — at any price.

USA TODAY’s Andy Seiler profiles some of the summer’s wild cars, with stries on how they got there.

Ferraris cut to the chase in ‘Bad Boys II’

“There are some epic, massive car chases in Bad Boys II ,” says director Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor , Armageddon ). “I started to get nervous because we were getting very close to shooting, literally a month away, and we did not have a lead car. It’s very important to get the right car.” When Porsche turned him down, Bay decided to make his own car the star: a Ferrari 550 Maranello.

“When you do this, you need three cars, because otherwise you could be shutting down production. I had a Maranello. But Ferrari doesn’t need to put cars in movies. They make something like 250 a year worldwide. People put themselves on lists that are years out from getting one.”

Luckily, Ferrari lent the production two even grander 575s. “I swore on my life that I wasn’t going to damage these cars,” Bay says. “We used the 550 for the heavy stunt work where we could have totaled it so easily.”

Near the end of shooting, “the Maranello was perfect, not a ding. Then Martin Lawrence was driving, and he suddenly rammed this car into a concrete block. I’m like, ‘Martin, dude, what’s going on?’ ”

The ding was “not bad,” he says.

* Other cars in the film: Hummer H2, Cadillac CTS and Buick’s Blackhawk prototype. Bad guys drive vintage cars: 1968 Pontiac Firebird, 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle and ’70 Nova, 1971 Dodge Super Bee and 1971 Pontiac TransAm.

Supercar, muscle car for “Angels’

The Angels’ cars express their personalities, says Cyril O’ Neil, who as car wrangler for Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle has dealt with every car on the screen. His next project is the Spider-Man sequel.

Demi Moore , as a “fallen (former) Angel,” drives a Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari’s newest supercar. “They are essentially barely street legal Formula One cars,” O’Neil says. “The sticker price on the Enzo, if you could find one on a waiting list, is over $600,000.” Only 399 of these next-generation supercars, which can go 217 mph, are being made. “Like Demi’s character, it’s just pure and raw, but somehow distinctly refined power. It is speed, elegance, and there’s nothing like it in the world.”

Lucy Liu does not drive a car in this second episode of the big-screen series, but the other two Angels make up for it: “Drew Barrymore’s character is a rough-and-tumble let’s-go-get-’em kind of woman, so she drives a classic muscle car, a 1970 Chevelle LS6. It’s actually a clone, which means that it is exactly the same car but not a factory-assembled car. It’s a tough car — we blew the thing probably 10 feet in the air when it exploded.

“Cameron Diaz’s character is, of the three, the motoring and automotive aficionado. She’s a vehicle expert, so she drives a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder. That is one of the rarest cars in the world. There were only 100 ever made between 1959 and 1962. There are a handful of them in the United States. We got it from a private collector, and it’s since been sold for $1.3 million.”

* Other cars in the film: 1967 Shelby Cobra, 1967 GTO Pontiac Special Edition, 2003 Maserati Spyder and an unstoppable Osh Kosh M977 HEMTT (heavy expanded mobility tactical truck). There are Suzuki and Yamaha motorcycles in the film, too.

Mini Coopers get the ‘Job’ done

Director F. Gary Gray jettisoned all the characters and much of the plot from the cult 1969 Michael Caine movie The Italian Job.

But he wanted to keep the heist that could be executed only with Mini Coopers during a traffic jam.

“When I read the script, I wasn’t actually sure that they were coming out with new ones,” says Gray (Set It Off, Friday). “I thought we might have to use the old” Minis, as last summer’s The Bourne Identity did. “It was actually a coincidence that they were going back into production. Now I wish I had stock in BMW (which now makes the cars). I love the old ones, but I really love the new ones.”

Mini USA, which first showcased the car in last summer’s Austin Powers in Goldmember (Caine got to drive one again), provided Gray with 30 cars, including three special electric Minis that aren’t available to consumers for a subway system chase scene. “No combustion engines could be used,” Gray says.

Gray preferred wrecking real cars to simulations because he says audiences disengage when they suspect action is not real.

The Minis turned out to be frustratingly safe. “We had to disconnect all the safety features,” Gray recalls.

In one remarkable shot, Charlize Theron screeches into a small parking space between two SUVs. And yes, that really is Theron driving.

“When we sent our cast into training, it was less about training Charlize than trying to hold her back,” Gray says. “I saw her do two reverse 180s with two cameras mounted on the car. She would test the car beyond its limits — and I would totally freak out.”

‘Terminator 3’ pops the top on a Lexus

Villainous Terminatrix Kristanna Loken drives a Lexus SC hardtop convertible in this movie, which just happens to be the same car driven by Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines director Jonathan Mostow (Breakdown ).

“I wanted a cool convertible that hasn’t been too overexposed in the movies,” Mostow says. “I like the idea of a Terminator driving my car! The car suits her personality. It’s sleek, it’s sexy, it’s powerful and it’s fast — which are all traits that fit the character.

“It was a very strange sensation to destroy a car you own,” Mostow says. “Same color, same interior, same exterior colors. I take good care of my car. I love my car.”

Two of the convertibles were destroyed, but Mostow felt less sentimental about the loss of a dozen Toyota Tundra pickups. They were wrecked, and shot from every angle, to create the illusion of just one being destroyed.

“That’s how warped Hollywood filmmaking has become,” Mostow says. “I tell the car company, ‘We’ve got to destroy $150,000 worth of cars.’ And they said, ‘No problem.’ ”

These cars are ‘2 Fast 2 Furious’

“The Mitsubishi Evo that Paul Walker drives is an extension of him,” says 2 Fast 2 Furious director John Singleton.

“It’s kind of cool, because the Evolution VII is the dream car of a lot of people who are into import racing,” Singleton says. “There’s a whole culture of people who are into the whole scene of import racing. The cars are too fast, and they don’t meet U.S. standards, but some people get the cars anyway.

“I think you can get the Evo in the States, but you can’t get a Nissan Skyline GTR, another car Paul drives, because it’s not U.S. street legal. The Skyline has right-handed steering, and it’s like 500 horsepower.”

Walker also drives a Chevrolet Yenko Camaro.

Because the characters in the film are themselves car fanatics, their cars are meant to look like a vehicle they would have designed themselves.

“While Paul’s car is more subdued, more of a racing car, Tyrese Gibson plays a flashy guy, so Tyrese’s car (a Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder) is flashier: more rims, a flashier paint job.”

Gibson also drives a 1970 Dodge Challenger Hemi.

“Suki, played by Devon Aoki , is a live-action girl who looks like an anime character. So her car is a Honda S2000, supercharged and tricked out, with pink neon trim and everything.”

Other cars in the film: 1994 Toyota Supra, 1995 Mazda RX7, 1994 Acura NSX and a 2003 Dodge truck, making this manna for car mavens for the price of a movie ticket.

Press Release

SALEEN S7R DRIVERS — CHAMPIONS ON TWO CONTINENTS

Konrad Motorsports Earns Second Straight Podium

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 22, 2002 – Last month two Saleen S7Rs finished on the podium on the same day on two different continents. First in England and third in Canada. This month provided a similar story as two Saleen S7Rs took their drivers to the GTS Drivers’ Championships in their respective series, once again on two different continents.

Graham Nash Motorsports’ team of Brazilian Tommy Erdos and Brit Ian McKellar continued to dominate the British GT Championship with a victory last Sunday at Thruxton in England, thereby clinching the GTS Drivers’ Championship for both drivers. They followed that up with a second-place finish at Donington Park today. Erdos’ pole earned him the title of “Top Gun” and the Team Championship for GNM. The duo has been on the podium ten out of eleven races this year winning an amazing seven of them. McKellar was the 2001 European Le Mans GTS Drivers’ Champion.

GNM’s entry in the Spanish GT Championship also continues to dominate as Pedro Chaves and Miguel Ramos each won a pole this weekend and finished second in their heavily restricted Saleen S7R.

On this side of the pond, Chris Bingham won his second straight Rolex Cup GTS Drivers’ and Team Championship without turning a wheel at Mt. Tremblant as his nearest competition stayed home. Saleen can clinch its second straight Grand-Am GTS Manufacturers’ Championship simply by taking the green flag at Daytona in November.

Not quite as lucky has been the Konrad Motorsports’ team of Terry Borcheller and team owner Franz Konrad in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). In spite of Borcheller being the “fastest gun in the West” by claiming most of the GTS poles last year and finishing as the 2001 ALMS GTS Drivers’ Champion, the car has been hampered by an ACO-imposed restriction that has reduced performance by approximately 100 horsepower.

The duo did gain their second straight podium this weekend at Monterey’s Laguna Seca as they finished second to the ProDrive Ferrari 550 Maranello, shutting down the factory Corvettes for the first time this season. The final two races of the ALMS season will be in Miami on Oct. 5 and Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans on Oct. 12.

Lifestyle

IT’S JIM CARRY!

By: N.A. on September 9, 2002
Original Article: THE SUN

Funnyman picks up Friends star Jennifer

LOOKS like joker Jim Carrey has swept TV’s stunning Jennifer Aniston off her feet.

But Jen’s hubby Brad Pitt has nothing to worry about – she and Jim were filming their latest movie Bruce Almighty.

The Friends star chuckled as she clutched flowers in Pasadena, California. In the film Jim, 40, wins his dream girl with the aid of Godly powers – and a Pounds 260,000 Saleen sports car.

Jen, 33, dressed down for the part in jeans and a plain T-shirt – but still looked a Pitt of all right.