This past month has been a very busy one starting with the 3rd Annual Shelby Las Vegas Bash. Each year through the hard work of the Shelby American and Mid-America Ford and Team Shelby Nationals teams the event has been the place to be in early January.

The event is begins with a cruise from Shelby Licensing in Gardena, California to Las Vegas and the Aliante Station Casino hotel. The Aliante is a new facility and is the perfect host hotel,located just a few miles from Shelby American and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Two days of open track on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway road course, a scenic poker run on Saturday morning, a fun banquet and Sunday's car show make for a great time with some of the best people you will ever meet.

Shelby GT350 Unveiling at Barrett- Jackson Opening Gala

It was 45 years ago that Shelby American launched the 1965 GT350 at Riverside Raceway in Southern California. History does repeat itself as this year at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction Opening Night Gala Shelby American unveiled the 2011 GT350 during a special introduction presentation. Rick Titus, son of 1965 SCCA B Production National Champion and Shelby GT350 team driver Jerry Titus, did a masterfull job as master of ceremonies. Rick, also an SCCA Series Champion, noted journalist and Ford Motor Company spokesperson introduced Carroll Shelby to the pack house. Shelby recalled stories of Jerry Titus' driving talent and plus how Lee Iacocca talked him into building the first GT350. Shelby American President, Amy Boylan spoke next and presented the new GT350. The audience reacted with with thunderous applause and climbed up on the stage for a closer look. Steve Davis, Barrett-Jackson President and a long time Mustang and Shelby enthusiast told me he had never seen so many people on stage. Finally people were asked to step down so the stage did not buckle. The GT350 was a hot attraction all week as Shelby American was very busy taking orders for the latest Shelby. The car is a winner and it did not take people long to figure that out.

Enjoying the evening program are, L-R, George Huisman, President, Classic Design Concepts, Scott Lassiter, Mid-America Co-Director, Jim Wicks and Baer Brakes, Todd Gartshore.

Open track tech inspection with Rick Titus next to his Shelby GT. Ted and Rae Segerstrom brought their replica 1967 Terlingua Racing Team Mustang for Rick to drive for a future article in Hot Rod Magazine.

Rick Titus puts the Replica Terlingua Racing Team Mustang through its paces as Greg Reynolds follows in his 1967 GT350 vintage race car. The Replica was built to exact 1967 race specs by R-A Motorsports, even the bell housing is a date correct part.

Carrol Shelby and Mustang Marketing Manager, Fritz Wilke share a laugh during the GT350 Unveiling program.

During the week of the Barrett-Jackson Shelby American displayed their 2011 GT350 and also took many consumer and dealer orders. Long time Shelby and Cobra enthusiast Mike Roberts on the right and Gary Patterson, Shelby American VP of Sales are pictured by the Shelby.