Land speed racing for kids!!! The All-American Soap Box Derby held its annual local race today in Sherman Heights on 25th Street between Market Street and Imperial Avenue.  Opening ceremonies included speeches by a few San Diego dignitaries and a cool rendition of the Star Spangled Banner on trumpet. Actor Corbin Bernsen has produced a movie titled “25 Hill” about the Soap Box Derby and he spoke to the crowd and participated in the celebrity race. The competition began after a short delay to move the finish line and timing lights up the hill a bit to provide more room to stop at the end of the course. Local winners in three classes qualify to compete against other local champions at the AASBD World Championship in Akron, Ohio. See the pictures for more of the story or go to sdsoapboxderby.org. A big thank you to the sponsors that support the Soap Box Derby!

The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) kicked off the 2011 land speed racing season with a two-day meet at El Mirage Dry Lake on May 14th and 15th.  JBA cruised up Friday night to hang out for the weekend with our buddies from the San Diego Roadster Club (SDRC). Did we mention that SDRC has been Number One in club points for FIVE seasons straight? It was warm on Saturday and very windy in the afternoon, but all tailwind so that was good (free horsepower courtesy of mother nature). Sunday was overcast and much cooler…still windy! Lots of records fell. Not all the pyrotechnics were on the course. There was a music-blaring, flame-belching pirate ship cruising around the lakebed each night, and of course, Dan performed his one-man twirling-flame light show. See the pictures for a bit more of the story. Or, check out SCTA’s website at www.scta-bni.org.

Thank you to everyone who came out early on Mother’s Day for the May edition of JBA’s Coffee and Cars. Highlights included a really sharp Chevelle with a Detroit Speed chassis and a Kenne Bell supercharged LS2, JD’s wicked-fast GT500 (730 rwhp), a turbo-charged Pontiac G8, an LS1-powered Lexus, a 413-New Yorker, and plenty more (righteous burnouts!). See the pictures for more of the story and just for kicks, look at the collection of engine pictures at the end and try to match them to the right cars. Extra points if you guess which car brought the radio-controlled boat.  Good luck!