If you live in the United States, by now I’m sure you have heard that the U.S. House of Representatives have approved the $700 billion financial bailout plan, but not before sweetening it with $110 billion in tax cuts. One of those tax cuts directly relating to automotive racing….
2. Sec. 317. Seven-year cost recovery period for motorsports racing track facility. .
I bet you weren’t expecting that now were you? This obscure provision allows race track owners to right off the cost of their facilities over a seven year period. Track owners have been getting tax breaks for a while now from cities and states eager to get racers off the street and on the track. The provision will be extended 2 years till the end of 2009 and will cost $100 million. The provision encompasses all facilities including grandstands, parking lots and concession stands.
With gas prices going up its becoming even more painful for the average person to drive a car these days, but what about for the motor heads? Those of us that drive more than just cars, we drive our hobbies, are gas prices affecting your auto modification behaviors? Is it time to sell the race car and by a Prius? Or maybe move to more visual mods instead of engine mods?
Starting this weekend, Abarth, Fiat’s tuning workshop will be releasing two new performance kits for the Grand Punto Abrath, the Assetto and the essesse kits. From what we have seen so far it looks the Assetto kit is more of a handling upgrade kit rather than a performance upgrade. It will include upgraded cross-drilled brake rotors for both the front and rear and upgraded brake pads, along with high-performance coil springs that drop the suspension 15+mm. The Assetto kit will also include 18″ white alloy wheels with 215/50-ZR18 Pirelli PZero tires.
Now if you are looking for some horsepower gains the essesse kit (pronounced SS), is for you. This kit will also include a bigger Garrett turbo, dual exhaust with chrome tips, an ECU reflash and a BMC carbon dynamic induction kit. Abarth is claiming an additional 25 horsepower gain from this kit.
You probably won’t be seeing this kit in the U.S. anytime soon, but then again, you probably don’t see very many Fiat Abarth’s around. These kits are set to hit the market first in Italy for €2,500 for the Assetto and €4,500 for the essesse kit.
It looks like Abarth wanted to give even a little more to tuners and around the same time they will be launching their new high performance driving school which will be headed by former rally star Sandro Munari.
