Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by John T. Welsh
What separates the new GRMN Corolla from the GR ? Several things.
By Colin Wood Jun 2, 2026 | Toyota, Toyota GR Corolla, Toyota GRMN Corolla Photography courtesy Toyota There’s a new sheriff in town. Well, we still have the same sheriff as before, but now there’s a second one that’s even tougher on crime. That new sheriff? The 2026 GRMN Corolla. For those that need a refresher, “GRMN” is short for “Gazoo Racing Meister of Nurburgring,” and is reserved for the most extreme versions of Toyota’s high-performance products.
Remember when we wanted a Z24?
It’s all in the details, and I have worked to keep/make my ’84 Porsche 911 very period correct: Instead of modern wheels and tires, it rides on wider Fuchs wrapped with period-correct Yokohama A008 tires. There are 1984 New York inspection and registration stickers on the windshield. The New York plates are from the right era. Even the plate frame is correct. The stickers on the windows–IMSA, Vans, my friend’s BMX freestyle team–are all appropriate for 1984. I have put different bikes on the roof.
Help, my friend says I should buy another car-and my wife agrees
By David S. Wallens Oct 1, 2025 | Nissan, Nissan Skyline, Column | Posted in Columns | Never miss an article Photograph courtesy Nissan What car to buy next? We all have our lists, right? Attainable cars, dream cars and cars we just want. Who says they all have to make sense? This topic comes up often with a good friend–via text, over breakfast, and basically whenever we’re together. He has a rather specific short list for himself and is currently on the worldwide hunt.
Paul Reubens: Not just Pee-wee Herman, but a Mazda rotoryhead, too?
By J.G. Pasterjak Jul 11, 2025 | Mazda, Mazda RX-7 If you haven’t watched the exceptional two-part HBO docuseries “Pee-wee as Himself” featuring hours of candid, raw and honest (or are they?) interviews with the late actor Paul Reubens, do yourself a favor and check it out. Shot shortly before his passing in 2023, Matt Wolf’s film shows Reubens as more of an artist than probably anyone ever gave him credit for, as he largely became known for his most visible creation, Pee-wee Herman.
Tech Tip: Did we just find the ultimate autocross numbers hack?
By Paris Van Gorder May 9, 2025 | Ford, Tech Tips, Ford Mustang, Project car Photograph by Chris Tropea Need numbers for your next autocross event? Ditch the painter’s tape and try this easy, budget-friendly GRM solution instead. While preparing our Club Spec Mustang for its first autocross, we needed new numbers for all five of our drivers. But we didn’t want to use vinyl or tape, which aren’t ideal for driver changes.
Pamela L. Lucina | WealthManagement.com
Discover how cutting-edge AI and data analytics are transforming advisor-client relationships.
New Mustang: Do we like it or not? | Discuss.
And here's the official release: All-new Ford Mustang Dark Horse is the first new Mustang performance series in 21 years, featuring a sinister yet premium exterior and interior styling hinting at the best performance ever from its new 5.0-liter V8, projecting 500 horsepower Mustang Dark Horse with available Handling Package is the most track-capable 5.0-liter V8 street-legal Mustang ever, thanks to improved aerodynamics, upgraded hardware, new software and tuning with an available six-speed...
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander review
It’s easy to kind of forget that Mitsubishi still has a major automotive presence in the U.S. Nothing they do is particularly flashy, they don’t do a ton of high-profile advertising, and their days of producing halo sporty cars like the Starion or Eclipse or 3000GT are long past.
Is an electric Mini your next autocrosser?
By Steven Cole Smith Nov 22, 2023 | Mini, Review, Cooper SE | Posted in News and Notes | From the June 2022 issue | Never miss an article Photography Courtesy Mini Say, have you noticed those gasoline prices lately? You haven’t? Then you must be reading this magazine at your dentist’s office. Research suggests the vast majority of our readers drive and thus must have noticed gasoline prices–even if it’s for their own amusement. And those amused people would be electric car drivers.
Did someone here really turn a shopping cart into a roof rack?
First, we know the shopping cart was legally obtained, right? (Oh course it was–just kidding.) Looks like this may have required two not-at-all-questionably attained shopping carts in its construction. Hail satin, indeed. I like it but sadly they did away with the kid seat. Hilarity would ensue. I love it.
Name a car that you wouldn’t take-even if someone paid you
Sometimes an unreliable/poorly built/all-around-bad car can be easier to live with if the price is low enough–or can be had for free. But is there a car that’s so terrible that you wouldn’t take, even if someone paid you to take it? I would let someone pay me to take a Medallion provided it's a manual transmission. From what I recall it's one of the NG series gearboxes, so somewhat desirable in the Lotus Europa crowds.
Have any driving tips for people visiting your hometown?
In the same way that there are tips for improving lap times at certain tracks, what are some tips that everyone should know before they visit your hometown? Perhaps there’s a stretch of highway that should be avoided at all cost, or maybe there are a few stoplights that just had some cameras installed. Whatever the case is, what should we know before we drive in your neck of the woods? My top driving tip for visiting Central Florida? Don't.
I bought a Prius | Column
Perhaps you’ll read that title and think, “Well, I guess he’s finally just given up. Certainly slippers and some sort of muumuu can’t be far behind.” While those things are appealing in their own right, I want to present a far stronger case for why the Toyota Prius is worthy of appreciation in our world. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the Prius is the Miata of derp cars.
You have all the Snap-on tools, so why not get the truck, too?
If you don’t have the truck, can you really say your collection of Snap-on tools and equipment is truly complete? At any rate, we came across a seller offering an all-too-familiar Snap-on truck for $15,500 in a Facebook group local to GRM headquarters. I hate you, now I'll not sleep all night. Coolest small car hauler ever right there. I don't think that I'd like people trying to flag me down all the time then calling corporate Halloween will be a cinch next year with that.
Can you really tow a car across the country with an electric truck?
Tow a car from Detroit to Los Angeles. Simple enough, right? But what about towing a car from Detroit to Los Angeles using an all-electric truck? Can it be done? Easily? And is that an autocross Mustang on the trailer? To find out, a brand-new Rivian R1T is preparing to make that very trek, starting the week of Thanksgiving. You can follow along with the intrepid adventurers by checking out GideonTheRivian on Instagram.
Blue Origin. Space flight comes to my small town in big pieces
If you are into space, and Blue Origin, I thought you might find this interesting. Also interesting if interested in moving big things. Last week, this "vessel" arrived in the Huron River in Huron, Ohio. (Pictures lifted off FB) The vessel is a barge pushed by a tug boat. That is five, 40ft shipping containers stacked double high on each side. The ends are capped by what appears to be a roll-up garage door on each side. The whole area is then covered by some sort of plastic/fiberglass roof.
One Lap of America charts its 2022 course
Teams will again start at Tire Rack’s headquarters in South Bend, Indiana, before taking a circuit through the meat of the country–south and then east, with stops in Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama, then all the way west to Oklahoma and Kansas. From there, teams still have to make it back to Tire Rack. The Tire Rack One Lap of America Presented by Grassroots Motorsports runs from April 30 through May 7.
40+ teams have registered for the $2000 Challenge, but who will win?
The Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by CRC Industries and Titan Fuel Tanks now has 41 teams registered with less than a week before its start. They’ll all meet this Friday, October 22, at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, to see who’s stretched their meager budget the furthest as they compete in three grueling events. Their builds, each assembled for less than $2000, will battling head to head across an autocross, drag race and concours competition.
Today, October 15: Wear Your Helmet to Work Day Presented by Stilo
That’s right folks, today, October 15, is our annual Wear Your Helmet to Work Day, the only day of the year that not only lets you show the world how much you like driving race cars, but also gives you the chance to win a brand-new helmet from Stilo.
Why not a time trial series for old cop cars? | Spec P71
What does it take to create a racing program these days? How about a dream and a nearly endless supply of inexpensive, long-wearing donor cars? Brett Madsen, an SCCA autocross national champ with a pair of high-output Mustangs in the stable, came up with Spec P71, a Southern California time attack series for decommissioned Ford police cruisers and similar sedans. These Ford sedans are basically big, comfortable, long-wearing Miatas, he explains.
Are we in the modern golden age of performance cars? | Column
In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) : I think that comes down to a usage scenario. 99.9% of cars will never see a track were sustained high g corners are a concern. The cars that are marketed that way tend to have it addressed, and the more pedestrian versions dont. Track cars have needed modification since there was track cars. I think we are at the golden era of ICE performance cars. New car emissions hit its lowest in like 2005 or 6 and has been rising since.
Which normal cars have unrecognized motorsports potential?
Most of the cars in our scene have some sort of connection to motorsports–from autocrossing to endurance racing and everything in between. But what about cars outside of that niche? Are there vehicles that didn’t compete but, given the proper opportunity, maybe should have? Comments View comments on the GRM forums Hyundais. All of them. Jeep built the Compass as a "Rally car inspired" crossover SUV. It used the same platform as the Mitsubishi Lancer.
Name a carmaker that never produced a convertible
Mazda, Honda, Porsche, BMW, Ford, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce–virtually every company that builds cars has offered a convertible at some point in its history. But can you name a car company, big or small, that never made a convertible–and probably should have? And to define our terms, "convertible" includes cars with Targa (and Targa-style) tops, barchettas, landaulets, drop-head coupes, roadsters, spiders, and any other car that doesn't feature a fixed hardtop roof.
Is the Prius the Miata of derpy cars?
1 2 First, yes, I totally stole that line from JG. But we have like four Prius threads on the main forum page now with one more over in Off Topic. Is the second-gen Prius now the early Miata for hybrids? Discuss. There's over a million second-gens on the road. That seems pretty real. I can agree with the derp part.... but not the miata part.
After the Countach and Integra, what car to reintroduce next?
Lamborghini revealed a new Countach and Acura confirmed a new Integra, but what's next? What cars do you want to see put back into production? Hoping for a new 510 from Nissan, holding out for a next-gen Mazda RX-7, or are you waiting for something completely different? Datsun 510. Nomad. A real wagon. It'll never happen in a zillion years, but MR2. Not this, though. This is awful: In reply to JG Pasterjak : Wait, I kind of like the bottom one. I do not like the one above it, though.
ICYMI: Volvo V90, lower-trim V60 axed for North America
According to reports from Motor Trend and CNET, Volvo will end sales of the V90 and base-model V60 wagons at the end of this year. Thankfully, the V90 and V60 Cross Country as well as the V60 Polestar will still be offered—for now, at least. Can’t think of the last time you saw a V90 on the road? We’re not surprised, as the big wagon was never stocked in showrooms. Instead, Volvo only made the V90 available through a special order—a decision that might have impacted sales.
What is your favorite unicorn version of a “normal” car?
Normally, a Toyota Camry really isn’t thought of as a rare car, unless it’s the predecessor to the Solara, the Camry Coupe. The coupe version of the third-gen Camry was only sold in North America from 1994-1996, making at least somewhat of an unusual sight on the road. What are some rare versions of totally normal cars that you know of? Any that you own?
Which car ended up living up to the hype?
A lot of cars in our scene–new or old–receive quite a bit of hype when it comes to how fast they are or how well they drive. Unfortunately, it’s also just as common for such cars to be overhyped, leaving a bad first impression, or, even worse, giving praise to a car that never really deserved it to begin with. However, what was one car that you felt was overhyped, but realized it lived up to all that hype after you drove it? Focus RS lived up to the hype personally.
Looking for a Mazda RX4? Why not try your local used car lot?
The Anchor Auto Outlet of Raleigh, North Carolina, has you typical used car dealer fare: plenty of late-model trucks, a handful of German luxury cars, an assortment of mid-size sedans, and a 1976 Mazda RX-4. And not just a stock RX-4, either, as this one sports a 200-horsepower, turbocharged, four-port 13B engine–among other mods–and looks to be set up for drag racing based on the wheel and tire combo alone. I'll predict that this leaves for Australia.
Average vehicle age now 12+ years old, GRM readers likely to blame
According to a study released by IHS Markit, a global financial services company, the average age of cars driving on American roads is now 12.1 years. In comparison, 12 years ago, in 2009, the average age of cars on the road was a little over 10 years. Sure, a number of factors from 2020—a global pandemic and worldwide chip shortage, just to name two—have pushed many people to hold on to their cars longer.
What Car Designs Have Stood the Test of Time?
When discussing timeless automotive designs, a few popular examples come to mind: The Jaguar E-type, Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and probably a Talbot or two. But those aren’t the only good-looking cars to ever exist, so we did some digging to find out what cars truly have timeless designs. You can read our list of cars that will transcend the ages over on Classic Motorsports, but let us know what cars you think have timeless designs–regardless of what era they were built in.
ICYMI: Volkswagen Renames Itself Voltswagen
Volkswagen of America announced today that it will be changing its name to Voltswagen of America, a “public declaration of the company’s future-forward investment in e-mobility.” Highlighting the name change, President and CEO of Voltswagen of America Scott Keogh said, “We might be changing out our K for a T, but what we aren't changing is this brand’s commitment to making best-in-class vehicles for drivers and people everywhere.” He also noted that the plan is to “build EVs for the millions,...
When the Cannonball Run Went Legit
In 1984, the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash went legit, and changed its name to the One Lap America. What was it like to be at the very first One Lap? Thankfully, we didn’t need to drag out the time machine, as Steven Cole Smith was there. In the upcoming May issue of Grassroots Motorsports, he recounts those very first One Lap of Americas—Chrysler minivans and all. Subscribe now to get the print copy of that issue as well as access to your digital subscription.
ICYMI: KW Group to Acquire BBS Wheels This June
KW automotive Group—the company that owns brands like KW suspensions, ST suspensions and Belltech—has announced plans to acquire iconic wheel builder BBS in June of this year. The plans to take over the wheel manufacturer came after BBS filed for insolvency last year.
Would You Get a Car If the Only Way to Buy It Was Online?
Yes, Volvo has joined the growing number of manufactures planning to go fully electric by the 2030s. What sets it apart, though, is that the manufacturer plans to sell its “completely new family of electric cars” entirely online. Hoping to buy that brand-new, all-electric Volvo from the local dealership come 2030? No dice.
1995 Dodge Neon ACR - Celebrity Challenge Car #19
1 2 Up for sale is one of the 1995 Dodge Neon ACRs owned by the then-Chrysler Corporation for use during the Neon Celebrity Challenge races from 1995-1998 (specifically, car #19). More information on the history of the series (including race results and driver lineups) can be found here: https://forums.neons.org/viewtopic.php?t=266966. Additionally, there is a GREAT album of photos from the 1998 Grand Prix of Minnesota weekend located here: http://www.comicozzie.com/gallery2/v/1998/USRRCTA/Neon/.
can-chinas-chery-sell-cars-here | News | Grassroots Motorsports
While Geely technically sells cars in North American through Volvo, Chery is planning on taking more direct approach.
Project F-250: Making It Drivable | None F-250 | Project Car Updates | Grassroots Motorsports
After wanting more than our Super Van could offer, we scooped up this V10 Ford F-250 for the dirt-cheap sum of $3300. Why so cheap? Yeah, we were patient and jumped on a great deal, but the truck also had its fair share of issues. Individually none of them were a big deal, but combined they lowered its price and its utility. Before we could start towing with the F-250—never mind improving it enough to earn its future name as the Super Truck—we needed to start fixing problems.
An easy way to stand out: vintage liveries on modern cars
How do you make a newer car stand out? Paint it up like an old one. Retro paint jobs may not be anything new, but they still manage to stop us in our tracks. Where can you find inspiration? Hop online, flip through old magazines, or visit some events.
“Haters Gonna Hate” (Yes, we bought a V1 for $2k)
1 2 I need to do a build thread. I'm gonna do a build thread. Until then, a handful of people questioned me directly. Another handful were familiar, and aware of the purchase. Apparently there was a BIG handful whispering "That's a $10,000 car." You know who you are. The same people who called BS on Andrew Nelson the first few years, or saw the suck-vette and said "ZOMG Those WHEELS are worth $1,000!!!" - never to their faces, of course.
2019 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab 4X4 Automatic V6: New car reviews | Grassroots Motorsports
The 2019 Nissan Frontier soldiers on with little in the way of substantial changes. If you tick (or untick, we suppose) the right boxes, you can walk away from the dealership with a new truck for under $20,000. And when you compare that to other new vehicles in a similar price bracket, you’re not doing too badly. You get a truck with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that puts out around 150 horsepower and a five-speed manual. And it’ll do everything you could want a truck to do—who could ask for more?
Don Garlits to Race at $2000 Challenge
Our $2000 Challenge Presented by CRC Industries always attracts big names–names like Andrew Nelson, who ran a blistering 9.52-second quarter-mile pass in a car built for less than $2000–but this year will be one for the record-books. To provide a benchmark for the drag racing portion of our three-part competition, Big Daddy Don Garlits, widely known as the father of drag racing, will hit the starting line to try and best our fastest competitors's times at the $2000 Challenge.
Project F-250: We Bought a Truck | None F-250 | Project Car Updates | Grassroots Motorsports
We've had our share of tow vehicles over the years, most recently a 2006 Ford E-250 van, which we dubbed the Super Van. And while we turned that van into an amazing machine, one that could tow a car to the track and then provide a home and workshop for the weekend, we knew we'd eventually go back to the drawing board. Buying a larger trailer–and a heavier car–meant that we were towing at the van's limit, and we grew tired of crouching over when camping in the van on longer trips.
2019 Hyundai Kona Ultimate FWD: New car reviews | Grassroots Motorsports
2019 marks a carryover year for the relatively new Hyundai Kona. Don’t think of it as Hyundai resting upon their laurels, but rather as Hyundai taking a breather. They’ve been busy as of late, with all-new versions of the Santa Fe and Veloster being released this year, alongside the new Nexo—their newest fuel cell vehicle. So slight changes abound for 2019, with minutiae such as dual front USB outlets now being standard across the range or Sunset Orange being added to the color palette.
My dog is the proud new owner of a Volvo V70R
This is Violet. She is awesome, and I love her. She's what you might call a Good Dog. She loves me too. She also loves everybody else. And everything. All the time. We like to go places and take walks. She loves that too. The problem is that she's kind of a jerk in the car.
2020 Corvette Stingray C8: What we Know and First Impressions
Price: The starting price for the entry-level 2020 Corvette Stingray: "Under $60,000" (Potentially this means the Z51 package, Mark Reuss, GM President was slightly ambiguous here.) Engine: LT2 6.2-Liter OHV V8 mounted amidships with a new dry-sump oiling system. Transmission: Eight-speed Dual Clutch Transmission "Shifts faster and better than a human". No word on any manual options down the road, so this sounds like the only transmission.
Project Van: Installing a Front Hitch | Ford E-250 | Project Car Updates | Grassroots Motorsports
We’re working on turning this $2000 van into a do-it-all machine that can tow a car to the track, then serve as a mobile workshop and hotel room for the weekend. Every tow vehicle needs a front hitch, and fortunately they're super easy to add. Odds are if there's a bolt-on rear hitch available, there's one for the front, too. So we spent $126 on Amazon for a Curt front hitch for our van, which came with instructions and installation hardware. It took us about an hour to install.
Project Van: Adding Cruise Control | Ford E-250 | Project Car Updates | Grassroots Motorsports
Jul 11, 2019 update to the Ford E-250 project car We’re working on turning this $2000 van into a do-it-all machine that can tow a car to the track, then serve as a mobile workshop and hotel room for the weekend. Our super van was getting pretty super, especially after we upgraded the suspension so it cruised down the highway with ease. One problem: Thanks to the heat of the engine right next to our feet, our right foot would get awfully tired on highway drives.
Mitsubishi North America is Moving to Tennessee
Ah, Tennessee. Smoky Mountains, Nashville, moonshine, and now Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi, which has called California home since it decided to make the full jump into the American market back in 1988, is moving closer to sister company Nissan. The move is said to bring about 200 jobs to Tennessee and also signals that Mitsubishi is staying in the U.S. market, rather than leaving it. Read the press release below. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov.
The Maserati Biturbo: a cult favorite? | From the Archives
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2006 issue of Grassroots Motorsports.] By Robert Bowen Italian cars seem to fall into two distinct categories, with fun but quirky Fiats and Alfa Romeos inhabiting one group and all-out exotics such as Lamborghinis and Ferraris comprising the other.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with John T.
Contact John T., search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack