ROUSH Performance unveiled the 510-horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque P-51A Mustang automobile Tuesday at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. “I’ve often said that there was never a Mustang built that I didn’t like and that includes both the car and the airplane,” said Jack Roush, an aviation enthusiast who currently owns two P-51 Mustang warbirds. “This is the type of product that ROUSH has wanted to produce for at least 10 years but the right platform, the right technology, and the right timing never intersected until now.”

The ROUSH P-51A is easily the highest horsepower Mustang the company has ever produced and represents the first time internal engine components have been upgraded by ROUSH technicians in its Livonia, Michigan, facility. It was determined that the only way to give the P-51A moniker its due was to completely break into the 4.6L, 3V and rebuild several of the functional internal components, which include a forged steel eight-bolt crankshaft, forged aluminum pistons with increased dish to lower the compression from 9:8 to 8:6, and forged steel H-Beam connecting rods. These upgraded parts were necessary for the stock Ford engine (which comes with 300 horsepower from the factory) to be able to withstand the additional power generated from the newest iteration of the legendary ROUSHcharger supercharger system.

Additional alterations include a custom aluminum upper and lower intake manifold for the high-capacity air-to-water intercooler and ROUSHcharger. ROUSH installs a custom fuel rail and high-flow fuel injectors, a high-flow capacity fuel system, and dual electronic throttle body.

The changes to the ROUSH P-51A don’t end under the hood. A ROUSH aerobody kit will be installed, which includes a front fascia, chin spoiler, hood scoop and rear spoiler. The ROUSH black high-flow grill is added along with cooling side shields to give the car the aggressive look it needs while stalking the streets.

Internally, the car will come with ROUSH sport leather seating and custom floor mats, both with an embroidered P-51A emblem. The white face gauges and billet aluminum pedals will get a lot of use as the driver bangs through the gears with the ROUSH short throw shift lever and retro black ball.

For those who look behind the 18-inch ROUSH forged five-spoke wheels will see the vaunted Stage 3 suspension underneath this vehicle. Designed to handle even the tightest twists and turns, this suspension includes specially-engineered and tuned front struts, rear shocks, front and rear springs, front and rear sway bars, and jounce bumpers. The front brakes are also upgraded with 14-inch front two-piece rotors and four-piston calipers. Each component was specifically engineered so that ride comfort was not compromised at the expense of the tremendous gains in performance.

Pricing for the ROUSH P-51A Mustang has not been set, but will be announced shortly. The vehicle is slated to begin production in the first quarter of 2008 and will be limited to 100 vehicles. As with all ROUSH vehicles, the P-51A will carry a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.

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A diverse array of customized and high-performance cars, trucks and SUVs again dominates the General Motors display at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, but this time there is an underlying message: Green goes with mean.

Many of the 28 vehicles GM will bring to the annual convention of the automotive aftermarket performance and appearance industry either run on alternative fuels, such as E85 ethanol, or feature fuel-efficient performance without compromise. The lineup is headlined by an E85-powered Corvette Z06 owned by Jay Leno. The “Tonight Show” host’s new supercar boasts a custom, 500-cubic-inch engine that generates approximately 600 horsepower and is fueled solely by E85.

Another mean, green Chevy at SEMA is FlexFuel Chevy Hot Rod, built by GM Performance Division – a re-creation of the hot rods that competed at early drag strips and land-speed venues of the late 1940s and 1950s. With bodywork inspired by a 1934 Chevy and period styling touches, FlexFuel Chevy Hot Rod mixes vintage style with contemporary technology; it’s powered by a 500-horse FlexFuel version of the turbocharged Ecotec engine. It runs on E85, gasoline or any combination of the two.

In addition to the alternative-fueled performers in the display, GM will also use the SEMA platform to introduce some influential concepts and production models, including the Pontiac Solstice SD-290 concept, which showcases a unique passenger compartment closeout evoking the spirit of vintage racecars, and a tuner-inspired version of the upcoming 2008 Saturn Astra. Chevy will make a couple of sport compact production announcements on Monday, Oct. 29, that will surely please the tuner crowd.

Celebrity endorsements will be in full force all over the SEMA show floor as three urban-inspired Enclaves customized by a trio of the industry’s most influential designers, including Rick Bottom, former NBA star Jerome Williams’ Automotive Street Style, and Mitek will be on display, along with a new Pontiac G8 GT built by rapper 50 Cent and Unique Autosports.

Additional concept and specialty vehicles in the display include:

Cadillac –Factory customized CTS Sport and Escalade Sport concepts show how sporty these new models can look with a few, carefully crafted styling and stance enhancements.

Chevrolet –In addition to the E85 ethanol-powered machines described above, Chevy is featuring a bevy of tricked-out trucks and custom cars, including:

Silverado HD Crew Cab Z71 “Big Red” concept, influenced by last year’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. Big Red concept
Silverado HD Country Music concept with fold-out, portable stage
Silverado Major League Baseball show vehicle
Silverado/GM Performance Parts LSX-powered regular cab truck with 640 horsepower
Suburban HD Z71 diesel, with a new 4.5L diesel engine
Camaro Convertible concept
Impala SS “Car of Tomorrow” NASCAR racecar show vehicle
GMC –The Yukon All-Terrain show vehicle follows in the tracks of last year’s Sierra All-Terrain concept and is designed to complement active lifestyles; and the Sierra HD Denali is a “what if” look at applying GMC’s most premium aesthetic to the Sierra 2500HD.

HUMMER –A pair of serious off-roaders is on hand, including the racing-inspired H3R and the adventure-seeking H2 Safari.

Pontiac –Along with the Solstice SD-290, Pontiac will feature two new G8 performance sedans, including a slightly enhanced version of the G8 GT production model and a completely customized G8 GT from 50 Cent and Unique Autosports (viewed in the Pirelli Tires display).

A collaboration between Pontiac, 50 Cent and Unique Autosports – the New York-based custom shop featured on the show “Unique Whips” – 50 Cent’s red-and-black performance sedan is equipped with a GM Performance Parts LSX 427 engine, custom paint, 22-inch chrome wheels and a custom-tailored interior boasting an 800-watt audio system.

Saturn –Marking the introduction of the all-new Astra sport-compact, Saturn shows off a tuner-inspired example that uses subtle exterior and chassis mods, as well as unique wheels, to give the car a street-wise stance.

GM Accessories and GM Performance Parts

In addition to the concept vehicles at the GM display, General Motors introduces products and initiatives that will surely influence enthusiast projects of the near future, including a collaboration with DUB to develop a variety of appearance and performance components.

GM Performance Parts (GMPP) teamed up with GM Performance Division to give the most famous 1957 Chevy magazine car of all time – Popular Hot Rodding’s Project X – its ultimate “rectification.”

GMPP also introduces a bevy of high-performance engines and engine support components, led by the Anniversary 427 crate engine – a limited-edition, all-aluminum big-block based on the legendary ZL-1 engine. It is completed by the ZZ427, a regular-production crate engine that features most of the same high-performance attributes of the Anniversary 427, but with an iron cylinder block.

Also new from GMPP is an LS3 crate engine, tall-deck LSX cylinder block and a trio of “LS” engine controller kits that make engine integration easy.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

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Monaco is recalling 747 models. The years included are 2006-2007 Camelot, Diplomat, Dynasty, Holiday Rambler Endeavor, Specter, Imperial; model year 2006 Monaco Windsor; model year 2007 Beaver Contessa motorhomes built with Cummins ISL CM850 diesel engines.

Freightliner is recalling 642 model year 2007 XC-R and XC-F motorhomes built with Cummins ISL CM850 diesel engines.

Western Recreational is recalling 58 model year 2006-2007 Alpine and Apex motor coaches built with Cummins ISL CM850 diesel engines.

All of the above models may have connecting-rod machining defects in the wrist pin bushing of the rod that could cause a seizure of the piston pin. If allowed to progress, this can lead to engine failure with the possibility of the rod rupturing the lock cavity spilling oil and debris onto the roadway, increasing the risk of a crash. Freightliner is working with Cummins to recalibrate the engine control module and enhance the engine protection system, enabling it to provide early detection of the failure mode and avoid more serious engine damage and resultant safety hazard. Cummins will also install a new valve cover with a crankcase pressure sensor.

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It was a sunny July day, Friday the 13th and we were feeling good about ourselves for having gotten an early start on our trek across the eastern Oregon mountains on our way to Redmond. We left Boise at 7am and were in and out the Pilot truck stop in Ontario with plenty of day left to make a casual commute to our rally destination. As I waited for the 150 gallon fuel tank to fill I did my usual walkaround looking at the tire pressure, towbar connections and engine bay for anthing awry. All was well so we headed out for our scenic run over the mountains with camera at the ready. As we started up a long but mild grade the coach was running great. I started my routine check of the mirrors when the worst site I always feared came slamming back to my eyes from my drivers side mirror. WE WERE ON FIRE! I hit the emergency brake and was at the exit door with Karen at my side handing me a fire extinguisher. I barked a strong order to get the other one and follow me when I heard Karen say, I can’t find the other extinguisher in the smoke. My mind raced as I went through the list of places I had extinguishers and it dawned on me that there was another one at the passenger seat. I ran back for that one and met Karen outside for a look at what I had to fight to save our home. When I got to the rear of the coach the back end was entirely covered with flame and the van being towed was burning as well. I knew that instant there wasn’t anything I could do to save the coach but I could possibly get the van disconnected if I could get it loose. I emptied both extinguishers on the front of the van and amazingly enough the flame was out. I started to disconnect when I realized the flames building on the back of the coach were searing my skin. The idea of saving the van was dwindling and when I touched the tow bar it was obvious that I wasn’t getting it disconnected. Karen was there at my side asking what were we going to do but I just grabbed her arm and walked away from the coach for safety.

Karen and I stood there staring at the flames with astonishment and total disbelief. This couldn’t be happening, it only happens to other people and read in the newspaper the next day. Our minds raced trying to think of what we could do to pause this horrifying scene but it was not stopping. Matter of fact the flames were growing higher and higher. A stranger tapped us on the back and said you better back up because the fuel tank on the van could explode. We turned around to see a good samaritan standing there with concern on her face. We started to walk away from our home but I didn’t want to go. I needed to do something! My cell phone had no signal and there was no water to be found. What could we do? It was then I saw Karen had no shoes on. She was upset that she not only left her shoes behind but somehow forgot her purse as well. We held each other trying to find some sense of sanity in all this chaos. I looked at the RV door standing open wondering if i could go back in to retreive some strand of our lives before it all was gone. The flames were so hot now you couldn’t get within a hundred yards without getting burnt. I gave up and walked away.

It took fouteen minutes before the first volunteer firemen arrrived. He had a single pickup with a water tank on the back. I was relieved to see him because the coach was already a total loss but the van looked like it could be saved if he could get the flames away from the gas tank. He went to work on the van and it was looking as if he was winning. Unknown to me the interior was burning fiercely and it was heading to the cargo area. Not knowing this I was shocked to see the man open up the rear and flood the interior of the cargo area. That probably saved the back of the van but the smoke had already done it’s damage to the cargo.

When the flames were about out the whole rig was merely a skeleton and a total loss. I climbed to the top of the hill more to see what our home had been reduced to but to also get away from everyone for a moment. It was above 95 degrees outside that day and the blacktop was probably raising the temperature to well over 100 degrees and here I was climbing a hillside. I didn’t even think about it at the time. When I got to the top I remembered the cell phone camera I had on my hip so I instinctively took it out and snapped a keepsake to start our new photo album. I stood there thinking to myself, now what?!

Two days have gone by since this tragedy and our phones have rung steadily with friends and family offering their support and best wishes. We are without anything whatsoever except each other and a circle of great friends & family. We have spent the last day or so buying day to day essentials like a tooth brushes and clothes and it amazing how much all this stuff can cost when gotten all at once. We have been asked over and over if we need anything. The answer is, we need everything but don’t even have a place to put it at this time. For the next few weeks we will be in Ontario, Oregon awaiting the barrage of appraisers and inspectors. We’re not sure what to expect exactly so if you know someone that has been through a scenario like this please ask them to call or email us. We need to know what is coming and how we will get our lives back. You can go to our Contact us page for a sellection of ways to contact us. We have put this page together to let everyone know how we are doing but to also let fellow RVers know what can happen so they will be more prepared than we were in a tragedy like this. We will continue to update this page so stay tuned to see where this quest leads.

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