Im a lucky guy!
VIDEO: Hotchkis Porsche 962 laps up Laguna Seca
In the mid-Eighties, Porsche released the 962, a long-wheelbase variant of the 956, to compete in IMSA's GTP class and later in Group C (as the 962C). Even though IMSA's GTP rules stipulated that only one (unfortunately named) KKK turbocharger could be used, the 962 was bloody-your-nose fast.
This past weekend at the Monterey Historics, Mark Hotchkis proved just how fast the 962 was/is by lapping half the field in his class during a ten lap race. That's kinda ridiculous. In fact, the only car that gave Hotchkis any trouble at all was a nine-year newer ALMS Kremer-Porsche Spyder K8 (the same type of car Derek Bell raced at his final Le Mans). Anywho, we've got a righteous video of the 962 quite literally eating up Laguna Seca at 10/10s. Oh, and that metal wheel Hotchkis's left hand keeps fiddling with? That's the boost dial which can summon up to 50 pounds of pressure. Put another way, crank your computer's volume all the way up. Thanks to Dan K for the video.
GTP: Hotchkis Porsche 962 In-Car, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca from GrandTouringPrototype.com on Vimeo.
Source: The Detroit News
Ducati 1098 S Martini Racing
While cars are definitely the conveyance of choice on the track at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Historics, there are enough motorcycles, scooters and mopeds zipping all over the paddock to make you realize that car people can very often be bike people as well. One pair of bikes that really caught our eye were the Ducatis you see above; One in Gulf Racing orange and blue, the other in the classic red and blue stripes on white of Martini & Rossi, better known as Martini Racing. That was the one that really captivated us.Created as a tribute to Porsche, the Ducati 1098 S Martini Racing Bike was built to be displayed alongside the 1971 Martini Porsche 908/3 over the race weekend. This one-off Ducati honors the powerful and highly successful Martini Porsche and Lancia racing machines of the 1960's and 1970's. It looks awesome too, and we wish they would make more. And send them to our garage. Soon.
Source: Autoblog
Gumpert Apollo Sport sets new record at the Nürburgring
German automaker and motorsports company Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur (yes, that’s how you spell it) manufactures some of the most extreme vehicles on the planet and has recently proven the merits of this claim with a new Nurburgring lap time for its supercar. The Sport is a mid-tier option for the company’s Apollo line of supercar models and for the run the car was optioned with a 700 horsepower version of its regular Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V-8.
The time set by the Apollo Sport is an independent recording noted by German magazine Sport-Auto and comes in at 7m 11.57s. Gumpert is claiming the 'road car' record for the ‘Ring but it’s well known that the Radical SR8 in road legal trim has clocked a blistering 6m 55s lap time.
The Apollo Sport was piloted by 26 year-old driver Florian Gruber on August 13, edging out the Donkervoort D8 RS06, which posted a time of 7m 14.89s back in November 2005, as well as the more recent Nissan GT-R and Corvette ZR1.
As for the car itself, the Apollo Sport comes with a tubular space frame of chrome-molybdenum steel with an integrated safety monocoque structure fabricated in carbon-fiber. The huge air intakes on the roof and side panels feed cold air to the twin-turbo mid-engine powerplant.
The Sport edition is differentiated to the standard Apollo thanks to the addition of a full racing aero package with a huge GT wing and lower front spoilers, while the interior gets comfort mod-cons not usually found in such vehicles. The list includes Alcantara trim, air-conditioning, a CD player and sat-nav, and even a reversing camera as standard. The list price for the Apollo Sport is €299,500 ($423,167) plus taxes.
Translated from : here
Sweden’s Koenigsegg has closed its purchase of Saab from America’s General Motors according to a report from Reuters Newsagency this afternoon.
Although financing arrangements have yet to be finalised, the sale was agreed upon at an unannounced price sources claim to be “very low”.
“The price tag is non-existent but GM has a deal that grants them revenues as well if Koenigsegg manages to get Saab back on its feet,” a source close to Saab said.
The deal requires the Swedish government to guarantee a loan by Saab from the European Investment Bank. The bank is expected to process Saab’s loan application by end-September.
Sweden said on August 7th that it had received information on a possible pullout of investors backing the deal. But there has been no further statement by the government on the issue since then.
I got a bit more money when I sold mine...
For better or worse, not all of us can be Sam Witwicky, swapping spit with Megan Fox and attempting to foil galactic evil robots taking the form of common automobiles. But then, there's nothing common about this particular automobile. It's the actual Saleen Mustang that played the part of Barricade from the first Transformers movie. And one lucky collector just got his hands on it.
One of only three made, this 2005 Mustang was built specially by Saleen and further outfitted by the props gurus at DreamWorks SKG for the film. The car started life as a Saleen S281 Extreme, with a 4.6-liter V8 and five-speed shifter, before being turned into the rolling Decepticon, for which the studio added a push bar, emergency light kit, white doors and decals aplenty. With only 4,550 miles on the odometer, minimal wear and tear, and unsurpassed bragging rights, bidding started on the Barricade Saleen at $1000 and the car sold at $36k – a far cry from the $100,000 - $300,000 they wanted.
Source: Autoblog
Confederate Motors debuts P120 Fighter
Way back in 1991, Matt Chambers started Confederate Motor Company, intending "to create machines utilizing a holistic, avant-garde process for celebrating the art of rebellion." Seven years ago, Confederate Motors scared the Hellcat out of the motorcycle-riding public. Five years ago, they wowed the biking world with a Terminator-like two-wheel contraption they dubbed the Wraith. Yesterday in Monterey, the company unleashed its latest challenger to the conventions of two-wheeled conveyance, the Confederate P120 Fighter.
The Fighter uses a massive 120-cubic-inch motor (1966cc) that provides 160 hp and 145 foot-pounds of torque.
It's mounted in a lightweight aluminum frame, and promises nimble handling and a no-compromise riding experience. Should be a helluva performer, plus it looks like a 22nd century mount for an apocalyptic rider, which is probably worth as much as the performance to most would-be buyers. Many of the people who saw it unveiled at the Quail Lodge today couldn't believe it was actually a production vehicle. Most assumed it was some kind of Hollywood prop, but trust us when we say it's the real deal. Check out this gallery featuring Wraiths and a pair of fighters.
Source: Autoblog
Nissan GT-R – Rapid Response at the Nurburgring
You’re looking at the world’s fastest fire engine, which despite carrying an extra 200 kilograms of specialised equipment on board, this GT-R will still lap Nurburgring’s Nordschleife circuit in less than 8 minutes.
With hundreds, if not, thousands of accidents each year on the this feared track, during the so-called public sessions after 5.00pm each weekday, emergency response time can be mean life or death.
You see, “The Ring” as it is known to enthusiasts worldwide, is a staggering 22.8 kilometres per lap, complete with 72 corners, many of them blind. The problem is, when you add punters driving at speeds up to and beyond 300km/h, things can go horribly wrong, as it so often does.
The specially designed Nissan GT-R has been presented to the Nurburgring operator, as a gesture of appreciation for their collaboration in developing the budget priced supercar.
German based M&M Automotive did the fire fighting conversion on the car, which has a 50-litre water tank in place of the two rear seats, in addition to a medium pressure extinguisher system with a winding device for the hose.
The system can spay foam up to 18 metres and can fight fire for up to two minutes on one tank.
On April 23 2009, a factory spec GT-R Nissan achieved the incredible lap time of 7 minutes 26 seconds at the Nurburgring.
The front row alone is worth more money than you or I will ever have.
When it was announced that Porsche would be the featured marque at this year's Monterey Historics, I knew we were in for a vintage racing treat come August. That time has nearly come, and we can't wait to see the dozens of Porsches that will be at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend. One third of the 450-car field will bear the Porsche shield, many of which are already at the track to prepare for the upcoming three days of racing.
As is tradition, the Porsches gathered on the straight between turns three and four for a group photo. As you can see, the collection of legendary racecars is unbelievable. Along with the Porsches that will be on track, special models will be on display from the Porsche Museum in Germany, and hundreds of owners have also traveled to Monterey to join in the festivities. Be sure to check back over the next few days for full galleries of the races.
SSC Plans To Build World's Fastest Electric Production Car
Shelby SuperCars already has the world's fastest production car title belt, now they're planning to up the ante, introducing the Ultimate Aero EV: The world's fastest electric production car, with a ten minute charge time.
Not only is SSC claiming that they're creating the world's fastest electric production car, but they're also claiming that it'll be one of the fastest charging electric cars in the world. Their Nanotechnology Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery pack is said to take only 10 minutes for a full recharge on a standard 110 volt outlet and will grant the driver a total of 200 miles on a single quick charge. Watch out Volt, Tesla and Fisker.
While the super fast charging time sounds great, it's the electric motor system that piques our interest. SSC has dubbed it the AESP, or All-Electric Scalable Powertrain, and what makes it unique is its scalable horsepower rating and liquid cooling in a single light-weight, compact package. The AESP is being developed to fit a wide assortment of applications from a 200 HP mid-size car; a 500 HP light truck or SUV and up to 1,200 HP with a "piggy back" setup for heavier duty trucks, buses and military equipment.
SSC won't say which of these motors the Ultimate Aero EV will receive, but our guesses are leaning heavily on the 1,200 HP version.Source: Guess...
Beautiful Chicara motorcycles on display in NY
Make no mistake, these bikes are high art and Chicara is one of the best. Chicara Nagata of Chicara Motorcycles in Saga, Japan, was voted the 2006 Official World Champion Custom Bike Builder at the third annual staging of what is now regarded by builders and industry insiders alike as the world’s most prestigious open custom bike building competition (AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building).
These Chicara Motorcycles aren’t meant to be driven. That’s a point you have to understand before you divert your eyes at the photos below. These are works of art — Million dollar bikes that are built for visual pleasure .
Mr. Chicara has built 13 bikes to date, 3 of them that can be seen at the Ippodo right now where you can also buy them for about a million each.
Madass 500. I want.
We all know about the 2009 Sachs MadAss 125 shown here, but I cant seem to find anything on the bigger brother, the Madass 500. Somehow Sachs has filled a gap I didn't know existed. The want factor Level : HIGH
ZR1 vs Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce
If you want the prestige you get with a Ferrari or Lamborghini, you have to pay, and pay dearly. If you want the performance you still have to pay, just not as much.
With companies like Devon, Shelby SSC, Saleen and others vieing for the supercar title, they all have to really take a close look at the good 'ole Corvette. Of course, not the base model but the 100k ZR1. It's a fraction of the amount you would pay for any of the above, ahead in refinement, rock solid warranty, and its as brutal and fast as the Italian boys.
This really is an unbelievable video. First of all, you got two of the hottest cars in the world. Second, the Lambo should be a bit quicker than the ZR1, right? It has around 30 more horsepower, weighs about 60 pounds less and has AWD, allowing it to exit corners more quickly. Plus, the Lamborghini has a factory driver at the helm while the Corvette is being piloted by (ugh) an auto journalist. Only thing is, well... watch for yourself.
One more thing – not counting the "joke's on you, rich people!" Reventon, the LP670-4 SV is Lambo's most expensive vehicle and the ZR1 is (obviously) Chevy's. Can you image a race between the two brands' cheapest vehicles? Aveo vs. Gallardo LP560-4. I got 5 on it.
With companies like Devon, Shelby SSC, Saleen and others vieing for the supercar title, they all have to really take a close look at the good 'ole Corvette. Of course, not the base model but the 100k ZR1. It's a fraction of the amount you would pay for any of the above, ahead in refinement, rock solid warranty, and its as brutal and fast as the Italian boys.
This really is an unbelievable video. First of all, you got two of the hottest cars in the world. Second, the Lambo should be a bit quicker than the ZR1, right? It has around 30 more horsepower, weighs about 60 pounds less and has AWD, allowing it to exit corners more quickly. Plus, the Lamborghini has a factory driver at the helm while the Corvette is being piloted by (ugh) an auto journalist. Only thing is, well... watch for yourself.
One more thing – not counting the "joke's on you, rich people!" Reventon, the LP670-4 SV is Lambo's most expensive vehicle and the ZR1 is (obviously) Chevy's. Can you image a race between the two brands' cheapest vehicles? Aveo vs. Gallardo LP560-4. I got 5 on it.
TV goodies: Aug. 10-16, 2009 (American Le Mans Series, MotoGP, AMA ProRacing)
Please remember that times are eastern.
N = new : R = repeat.
Sorry, there's not too much this week! Next week, there's much more.
August 13-16, 2009
6:00P-7:00pm Death Road (History Channel)
7:00P-8:00pm Modern Marvels - Superhighways (History Channel)
Friday : August 14, 2009
10:30A-11:00am MotorWeek (N) (Speed)
Saturday : August 15, 2009
12:00A-12:30am The Grid - Ep 21 (N) (Speed)
7:00A-7:30am MotorWeek (N) (Speed)
:00P-9:00pm AMA Pro Racing: American Superbike 1 - VIR (N) (Speed)
9:00P-10:00pm AMA Pro Racing: Daytona Sportbike 1 - VIR (N) (Speed)
Sunday : August 16, 2009
2:00P-3:00pm MotoGP 250 - Brno (N) (Speed)
3:00P-6:00pm American Le Mans Series - Road America (live) (Speed)
6:00P-7:00pm MotoGP - Brno (N) (Speed)
Monday : August 17, 2009
12:00A-1:00am AMA Pro Racing: American Superbike 2 - VIR (N) (Speed)
1:00A-2:00am AMA Pro Racing: Daytona Sportbike 2 - VIR (N) (Speed)
The vector was a truly sad failure.
Preston Tucker beat the odds and design/developed a product superior to what the big three were producing before they teamed up to crush him.
Although John Deloreans company failed, some would consider it a success in that the product was good (eventually) and the high numbers of cars on the road today back that up.
Gerald Weigerts company Vector Areomotive, was one that was high on concept, high on technology, bad on timing and awful with management. The cars that they produced over the years are legendary in the automotive world, but not all legends are good. The most famous being of the unfinished vector that was sold to Andre Aggassi, who returned it in short order after it caught fire on the highway.
However, when the car was on, it was ON. Amazing angular design that evolved with the times (it was the 80's) and performance that was heralded by journalists. The car had an attitude that made the outrageous top speed claims of 220+ mph seem reasonable.
Twin turbo, aluminum block v8, 3 speed automatic tranny, aluminum and fiber honeycomb chassis that was bonded and riveted together, Liner slide gauges patterned after jet fighter gauges, etc. The car had so much potential. It could have been Americas supercar.
There are many sites telling the tale of Vector's rise and fall, This being a particularly detailed one.
On a personal note, I'm a major fan of this car and the concept behind the company. When I was 10 I wrote Gerald a letter telling him so and asking for advice on how to create a car company. He never responded. Extremely disappointing.When I did get to meet him 17 years later, I shook his hand a little tighter than I should have.
He noticed.
500bhp Lazareth Wazuma quad. ONLY a v12...
You know what? I don't think this is crazy. As automotive racing evolves, people will be looking for new and more exciting (i.e dangerous) was to race. The Dodge Tomahawk started a trend, with bigger and crazier things to come.
Cramming a BMW V12 and a turbocharger into a quad bike wasn't enough for French bike builder Ludovic Lazareth, he needed more power, so he added ethanol.
Better known as a bio-fuel favored by Iowan farmers; Ethanol, or E85 in this case, has a higher octane rating (typically 100-105) than traditional pump gas, which allows higher compression ratios and more power. The engine actually makes only 350 HP in its current form, with the 150 necessary to take that figure up to 500 HP coming soon in the form of a turbocharger.
There's no fancy traction or stability control keeping all that power in check, so it's all going to be up to the rider being careful with the throttle and quick with the countersteering. Luckily, the rear track is much narrower than the front, which should work to counteract a quad's naturally tendency to dump riders on their heads, encouraging rear slide over grip.
Source: JalopnicNurburgring's production lap record going down. Maybe.
This is the Devon Motor Works GTX supercar, which has been track testing ahead of its unveiling at this week's Pebble Beach Concours.
The GTX, which is due to go on sale next year, is being funded by businessman Scott Devon. These are the first official pictures of the car; previous images have been artist's renderings.
Although little information has been released about the car so far, its makers have announced that they will be chasing the Nurburgring production car lap record with it.
To this end, it has hired endurance racer Justin Bell, son of Le Mans legend Derek, to undertake the bulk of the development driving.
The Nurburgring's production lap record is currently held by Radical's SR8, which lapped in 6min 55sec.
Although unconfirmed, reports suggest the car will have over 650bhp and an ultra-light carbonfibre body. It also has a distinctive glass roof section, demonstrating the car hasn't been designed purely with track work in mind.
The interior is said to be close to production ready, and mixes a state-of-the-art electronic dashboard with a gear lever that harks back to the 1970s muscle car era.
The car has been designed by Daniel Paulin, the man responsible for the Fab 1 Thunderbird and the Focus C-MAX concepts for Ford.
Source: Left lane
This Vette is history.
What you are looking at here is not only a bad ass piece of equipment, but its one of the most successful, and well-traveled Corvette race cars in the world. It also happens to be one of the very few survivors of one of Chevrolet’s “back door” racing programs managed and implemented by Zora Arkus-Duntov.. Starting in 1968, this car was campaigned at Le Mans a total of 6 times, a record no other car has matched. The car is said to have reached speeds of 191 mph on the Mulsanne Straight. Whatever the case, the car should sell on looks alone. Get ready the car goes on the block Saturday. Check out the Auction info here.
No man, no.
This is whats wrong with everything. If they had any creativity, they wouldn't make the "first electric chopper" look like part of a dieing fad... Oh well.
Source: Jalopnik
Old Guzzi's dont die...
After being literally thrown in the trash, this Guzzi was saved put on a dyno and spit out a crazy 23 hp!
Cook Custom Choppers wins AMD World Championship of Bike Building
Considering America's well-known love affair with custom motorcycles, you might think that the Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building would be dominated by U.S.-based builders. Interestingly, though, this year marks the first time the top prize has been won by an American, in this case Dave Cook of Cook Custom Choppers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The winning bike is called Rambler, and it's definitely not the typical custom Harley. In fact, it's not even powered by a V-twin engine. Instead, an air-cooled 550cc four-cylinder engine from International sends power through a modified BMW gearbox and shaft drive to the 21-inch rear wheel. See for yourself in our gallery below.
Second place went to another non-Harley-based custom built by Kris Krome Customs of Freeland, Michigan. Called the Re-flex-tion, the machine is powered by the mill from a Triumph T120. Bronze went to Krugger Speedshop from Belgium for its S&S-powered Overmile. Hit the jump for the official press release and click here for a complete rundown of winners.
Source: Autoblog
