La Carrera Panamerica is done for another year and I’m so impressed with our guys on Team California’s Best. They have represented The Garage well with a stage win and a podium. They finished 9th overall and 3rd in Historic C, which is incredible for a virgin rally team. Remember that while Gary Faules and Team CBR have many years of winning road races under their belts, they have never rallied and were driving a brand new car! Just an fabulous performance!
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It sounds like things are going like clockwork for Team California’s Best in Mexico as they prepare for the start of the 20th Anniversary running of La Carrera Panamerica. These guys are pros and it shows. First through scrutineering, and making it through without a hitch, while other teams are still scrambling to get final details together.

Team CBR has been able to take advantage of their spare time to meet the fans, goof around on a funky pit cart and get some camera time for the local news. It looks like they are having way too much fun! Head on over to the official Team CBR blog to see more great pictures.

Team California’s Best has loaded Lucky in the trailer and begin the trek to Mexico at 4 am Cali time this morning. Along the way, Gary will try to keep us up to date with a few photos here and there. The really cool thing about this is that we can all keep track of their progress via our phones, using morf mobile. I’ll let Gary tell you how:

Take a few minutes to create your personal mobile site from your computer, you can share it and interact with others - all on your mobile phones.

You also can include other friends in the mobile community by inviting them to join by sending them your mobile site address SMS or your computer?s e-mail. It?s that simple. There is no need to upload software to your phone or pay monthly subscription fees ? it?s free. We recommend that you upgrade to an unlimited data plan from your wireless carrier.

To get started, login on the web at morf mobile

Check it out! If you have questions then go to the HELP information inside the web portal for details on how each feature works. If you have additional questions or comments send them along to: support@morfmobile.com

Thanks for joining!

Gary and Jon

It’s almost time to slap this pony on the butt and head south of the border to run with some bad hombres. But before I leave I just wanted to thank everyone at THE GARAGE for making Team California’s Best feel right at home. When I was first invited I was told it would be just like hanging out with some friends down at the garage and it has been exactly that for sure.

Please keep an eye on our blog since we will be making another announcement in the next few days when Jon will explain how our new sponsor will make it possible for you to keep up to speed (pun intended) with Lucky and Team California’s Best Racing as we take on the La Carrera Panamericana by utilizing the latest in technology with regards to Social Mobile Networking. In the meantime go ahead and be some of the first to get signed up. It’s easy and it’s free and it is going to be the hottest, newest wave of excitement since the invention of the cell phone. http://teamcbracing.com/signup.html

As we’ve pointed out many times here in The Garage (maybe too many) the car hobby is about more than just cars. It’s about people. We’ve had some incredibly cool people hanging out in The Garage, and maybe the coolest thing is when those people inspire each other. Last week, one of our creative friends, Warwick Patterson from Formula Photographic, Flat Over Crest, MTB Films and God knows what else launched yet another blog.

Inspired by watching Gary Faules chronical the build of Lucky, the GT-350 clone on their way to La Carrera Panamerica, Warwick and friends have decided to launch their own rally timeline blog. With the 2007 running of Targa Newfoundland only just in the record books, Warwick and partner in crime Dave Hord have announced their intention to enter the 2008 Targa. The cool thing here is that we’re going to watch a pair of talented, money strapped young guys from start to finish. That includes sponsor hunting, car choice & build right on up to the actual event. Somehow I suspect that we’ll be treated to some pretty incredible photography and maybe a video or two along the way.

Be sure to bookmark Road to Targa Newfoundland. If we’re lucky, Warwick will shoot the odd tidbit towards The Garage too!

Caution: Boobs Ahead

Not really, the sign is a warning for the evil speed bumps the Mexicans call Topes. This shot was captured by Coop at the 2006 La Carrera Panamerica.

We promised some fun today and who are we to lie? Over at The Jalopy Journal, lucky Ryan Cochrane spent some time interviewing the man himself, Mr. Cooper, aka Coop.

“When I drew that Devil with a cigar clenched in his teeth, it was a one-off thing for a Zippo lighter. It took me about thirty minutes from start to finish, and I had no idea that it was going to become my trademark, my Flying Eyeball or Rat Fink.”

As a late blooming Coop fan, I hadn’t really known too much about the man’s background, only what I’ve picked up from a few e-mail conversations. Oh yes, and my obsession with his Flickr page. When you visit, be sure to uncheck the safe search box on your own Flickr account so you can get the full effect.

Now, enough of me! Head on over to The Jalopy Journal for the full read.

For the last 6 months or so, west coast contributor to The Garage, Gary Faules has been hard at work preparing his GT-350R clone, Lucky, for the 2007 running of La Carrera Panamerica. Earlier this week, Lucky breathed in some fresh air and fuel and burst to life with a roar and a belch of fire. Team California’s Best was kind enough to catch this on video to share with the world.
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Fresh off yesterday’s sweet e-bay find, Gary Faules has come across another cool Datsun 510. This one is being prepped to run this years La Carrera Panamerica against Gary & his GT-350 clone Lucky by a gentleman by the name of Francisco Ortiz.

You can keep tabs of Franscisco’s progress at his blog. You’ll do better if you can read Spanish, as Google Translator doesn’t really do it justice.

West coast contributor to The Garage, Gary Faules has been waiting almost a year to hear the small block for his GT-350 clone Lucky. The engine has finally been completed and began dyno breaking and testing yesterday.

The numbers are incredible. 503 ponies and 385.2 foot pounds of torque at a little over 6800 rpm. From a 289!!! You can visit Lucky’s build blog to get the full stats on the engine.

Follow the jump & crank up the speakers to hear the beast on the dyno.
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There comes a point in every race car build when the project actually starts to feel like a race car. For many of us, that time is when you can actually sit in it. Well, in a racing seat and not a milk crate!

Gary Faules and his crew have been hard at work getting Lucky ready for the 2007 edition of La Carrera Pananmerica. You can follow their progress at Gary’s build blog.