via straightspeed
mercredi 6 février 2013
La Mestiza by CRO
Another gem from CRO, based around a Sanglas, a brand little known outside it's native Spain, and swallowed up by Yamaha in the early eighties.
via straightspeed
via straightspeed
Opening theme tune to Austin Vince's Mondo Sahara
2013 Porsche Cayman based SpeedART SP81-CR announced for Geneva
SpeedART has released the first details about the SP81-CR, ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
Based on the Porsche Cayman, the SP81-CR features a sporty body kit that includes a new hood, a front spoiler and carbon fiber accents. Out back there's a new bumper, a rear diffuser and a fixed rear wing.
The model also features an adjustable sports suspension, a center-mounted dual exhaust system and 21-inch LSC-FORGED wheels. If isn't impressive enough, customers can order a bespoke interior with leather and Alcantara upholstery.
For added performance, the company will offer tuning packages which will enable the flat six engine to develop 345 HP (254 kW), 360 HP (265 kW) or 400 HP (294 kW).
Source: SpeedART
via worldcarfans
La petite bombe suédoise / The tiny Swedish bomb!
Shortly after Alpine-Renault’s sensational one-two-three finish on the 1973 Rallye Monte-Carlo, Saab produced an equally resounding result when Stig Blomqvist and Per Eklund claimed first and second places in Sweden with the Saab 96 V4.
Après l’incroyable triplé Alpine-Renault au Rallye Monte-Carlo 1973, Saab a signé un doublé tout aussi retentissant au Rallye de Suède avec des Saab 96 V4 pilotées par Stig Blomqvist et Per Eklund.
It was practically 40 years ago to the day (February 18, 1973) that a front-wheel drive car won a round of the World Rally Championship for the first time when a Saab 96 V4 triumphed in front of home fans.
It wasn’t the first major rally success for the model, however. Previous victories included the RAC Rally in 1960, 1961 and 1962, the Rallye Monte-Carlo in 1962 and 1963, and the 1000 Lakes in 1960, 1963 and 1964, well before the WRC’s creation in 1973, and mostly in the hands of Erik Carlsson.
The first homologated Saab 96 in 1960 was powered by a two-stroke, three-cylinder 38hp engine fed by Solex carburettors. In March 1963, a 52hp version was introduced based on the Saab 96 Sport. By this time, however, its rival – the Mini Cooper S – already boasted 70hp!
The Group 2 Saab 96 V4 was homologated at the end of 1966, now sporting the 1,498cc V4 from the Ford Taunus. It is this basic version that the Swedish make would campaign in the WRC until 1976, but with some changes…
The 1973 Swedish Rally was the second round of that year’s world championship. The event featured an evolution version of the Saab 96 powered by an American 1,815cc Ford engine with twin Weber carburettors. Cars were entered for local aces Stig Blomqvist, Per Eklund, Roger Johansson, Stig Abrahamsson and Mats Andersson.
They counted on the agility, narrow tracks and big wheels of the Saab 96 V4 (170hp/815kg) in their bid to ward off rivals like the Alpine-Renault A110, Renault 12 Gordini, Volvo 142S, Lancia Fulvia HF and Fiat 124 Spyder.
The use of studs was not authorised for the 1973 event which started in Karlstad on February 15 and which was dominated by Stig Blomqvist and Per Eklund who scored a one-two finish ahead of Jean-Luc Thérier’s Alpine-Renault A110. On the same event three years later, Eklund and Blomqvist secured another one-two finish and one final WRC win with the last version (1,933cc) of the diminutive Saab 96 V4.
Il y a près de 40 ans, le 18 février 1973, une 2-roues motrices traction avant remportait pour la 1ère fois une épreuve du Championnat du monde des Rallyes : la Saab 96 V4.
Mais la petite suédoise avait triomphé en rallye – RAC Rally 1960, 61, 62, Monte-Carlo 1962, 63, 1000 Lacs 1960, 63, 64 - bien avant la création du WRC, en 1973, grâce notamment au funambule Erik Carlsson.
Dans sa 1ère version homologuée en 1960, la Saab 96 était mue par un moteur 3-cylindres 2-temps de 38 cv gavé par des carburateurs Solex. En mars 1963, une seconde version de 52 cv fut homologuée en rallye sur base de Saab 96 Sport. Mais déjà sa concurrente, la Mini Cooper S, affichait 70 cv…
Homologuée fin 1966, la Saab 96 V4 Groupe 2 fut alors motorisée par un 4-cylindres en V de 1498 cm3 d’origine Ford Taunus. C’est cette version qui a représenté Saab en WRC jusqu’en 1976.
Au Rallye de Suède 1973, 2e manche du WRC, c’est une « évolution » (moteur Ford d’origine US de 1815 cm3, double carburateurs Webber) de la Saab 96 V4 qui fut proposée aux Suédois Stig Blomqvist, Per Eklund, Roger Johansson, Stig Abrahamsson ou encore Mats Andersson pour rester maîtres sur leurs terres.
Avec 170 cv pour 815 kg, la Saab 96 V4 comptait beaucoup sur son agilité, ses voies étroites et ses grosses roues pour rivaliser avec les Alpine-Renault A110, Renault 12 Gordini, Volvo 142S, Lancia Fulvia HF et autres Fiat 124 Spyder. Cette année-là, les pneus cloutés étaient interdits.
Stig Blomqvist et Per Eklund ont dominé l’épreuve, partie de Karlstad le 15 février, pour signer un doublé devant l’Alpine-Renault A110 de Jean-Luc Thérier. Trois ans plus tard, Eklund et Blomqvist ont offert un nouveau doublé mondial – et dernière victoire WRC - à la petite Saab 96 V4 (en version « ultimate de 1933 cm3) au Rallye de Suède 76.
via best-of-rallyliveAprilia launches new website for 2013 SBK team presentation
Thursday February 7th at 11:30 am (CET), at the Spazio Broletto (Piaggio Group’s show room) in Milan, Aprilia will be officially presenting their 2013 World Superbike team, withEugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli and taking the wraps off the livery of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory (which will probably be almost the same as last season).
Anticipating the presentation, Aprilia has launched a new website for the event, with photos, interview videos with Gigi dall’Igna, Eugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli who speaks an excellent Italian, but unfortunately for non Italian speakers only Laverty’s interview is in English.
There’s also a small gallery of detailed photos of the RSV4 racing bike, so if you’re interested in taking a peep before tomorrow’s presentation just click here.
from TWOWHEELSBLOG
Dani Pedrosa works on weight distribution and Marquez on electronics
On the second day of testing at Sepang Dani Pedrosa was once again the top rider and while he ‘only’ completed 37 laps he set the fastest time of the day of 2.00’549 on lap 29 (in the afternoon session).
According to the official MotoGP website, Pedrosa spent this second day working on weight distribution - to find the ideal placement of the additional 3kg as dictated by the new 2013 rules. In the afternoon he had planned to test the new rear tyre compound from Bridgestone, but after only 1 lap rain arrived and halted his testing for the day.
“Today I was able to try some more things on the bike and we made a few positive steps forward from yesterday. The feeling is good, I’m happy and that’s what’s important. We had planned to try a few more things in the afternoon, like the hard compound tyres, but it started to rain early and we were unable to go out. We hope that it is good weather tomorrow so that we can try them out, as in the coming season it will be important to ride fast on that compound. We also hope to continue moving forward with our quest for the best bike setup.”
Marc Márquez continues to gather accolades from the press for his stunning start in MotoGP, but especially receives them from a veteran rider like Valentino Rossi who continues to compare the MotoGP rookie to himself when he first started racing in the 500cc class, and despite that the young Spanish rider is one of his rivals, Rossi says he’s become a Marquez ‘fan.’
Today Márquez began to work with the electronics for the first time and continued to learn the braking point limit on his RC213V. He completed 34 laps with his fastest lap of 2.00’803 on lap 20, placing him 3rd on the time sheets.
“I am happy, because we improved our pace a lot and that is what our focus was for today. The final stints on track were more consistent, which helped us to obtain better data. Today I started to work a little with the electronics and we have a few ideas to put into practice tomorrow or in future tests. This is making me learn new things and I am little-by-little understanding the way the electronics behave on this bike.”
Photos © Getty Images
via TWOWHEELSBLOG
Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo talk day 2 at Sepang - with videos
Valentino Rossi rested a little easier last night after finishing fourth yesterday, happy that he can be still be competitive and hasn’t lost his mojo and today will continue to rest easy again even though he finished fourth again.
The Italian managed to carve off half a second today and would have been able to break the 2.01 mark if he hadn’t made an error on the final turn where he lost almost 2 tenths of a second. In a interview he said that he’ll now concentrate on reducing the gap with his rivals and complete his testing programme.
“The second day of testing in Sepang is finished and the balance of the day is positive for us, especially as we finished some work on the bike. We have some different parts for the bike for this season and we continue to work on the setting. The positive is we improved compared to yesterday in terms of time on one lap with the new tyre but especially on the rhythm, I was half a second faster than yesterday which is not so bad. Fourth position is quite good especially as we are less than half a second behind Pedrosa and Lorenzo. Unfortunately it started to rain so we had to stop earlier, because our target this afternoon was to go into 2’00 but we will try again tomorrow.”
The consistency of reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo is always impressive. He too like his Yamaha team mate shaved more than half a second off his yesterday’s lap and was the first rider to break the 2.01 mark and worked on different set-up positions and continued to test variety of chassis and engine specifications which made him even faster.
“Today in the morning the conditions were good and I could easily do the lap times from yesterday, I improved by more than half a second. Later we tried some little parts we couldn’t try yesterday, but not so much and the bike didn’t improve a lot. In the last hour it started to rain so I decided to exit and ride in the wet. We made more than eight laps in the rain. I think it was important to find the feeling in these conditions and also try the new tyre.”
Video from day 1 at Sepang
Photos © Getty Images
via TWOWHEELSBLOG
Garage Project MC’s CX500
Garage Project Motorcycles have been on the Australian custom scene for a while, inspired by the likes of Deus and an integral part of the Australian Cafe Racers and deeply involved in events like the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. It’s fair to say that Rex Havoc and Co definitely punch above their weight when it comes to their presence in the cafe/brat custom culture.
This Honda CX500 is their latest build, and was originally commissioned as a very low budget build by a guy from Adelaide, over 2,500kms away from their shop. After an initial consultation they ended up with a choice between a BMW R80 and the CX (which was ironic because he’d wanted something slim) for the same money. They went with the CX because it’s smaller and he wasn’t a big guy.
The guys were about to begin the build when the customer called back to say he’d lost his job and wanted to sell the bike. However, it wasn’t all over for the CX as a new customer turned up: James wanted an “industrial” bare-metal cafe racer, and he was also on a very tight budget. The guys at GPM were snowed under with other projects, so they had a chat with Brett at Hand Made Vintage Kustoms.
After a three-way chat James agreed to go with Rex’s design and Brett’s work. The donor bike was a 1982 Honda CX500 which had been recently restored to standard condition.
Rex stripped the bike the next week and designed a seat pan to fit the custom style tank. James had wanted a two-up ride, but it wasn’t possible to achieve that and get the look he wanted, so they gave up on it and Brett built the solo seat pictured instead. Brett put a in lot of work in to get the seat unit just right, and it paid off.
Chrome Dunstal Replica 27″ stainless reverse cone mufflers were initially ordered. They were swapped out for 12″ stainless reverse cones but those would have needed a totally new exhaust system made up, which the budget didn’t allow for, so Australian ingenuity stepped-in and a pair of Harley mufflers were adapted instead, and they ended up looking and sounding great, while staying within budget.
A CX500 really benefits from removing the airbox but again, the budget didn’t allow for all the work involved, so the guys painted the side covers matt black to blend them in to the rest of the bike.
The biggest dilemma faced by Brett was the rear fender. In Western Australia the police love picking on bikes that don’t have a fender which reaches to 45 degrees from the axle. The guys thought about a rear hugger, which Rex liked but Brett hated, so instead Brett fabricated a little fender that will be added later later.
When the guys removed the bikini cowl and headlight they realised there was going to be a lot of wiring that needed to be hidden, and the small triangular chopper headlight they’d chosen for the build wasn’t going to help them. In the end most of it got tucked away under the tank.
Rex had wanted the headlight the other way up to accentuate the V of the engine but Brett preferred it this way, and as it was his build Rex didn’t argue. They tell us it’s probably the part of the bike that is most polarising but either way up it’s a unique look for a modern cafe racer and we think it looks great.
James was never going to be up the front of the pack with Perth Cafe Racers so they decided Firestones were more than adequate for his abilities. Add a bit of pipewrap the bike was ready for it’s first burnout.
Gotta say, for a budget build on a modest donor, it looks superb.
Photos were taken at the local cafe meeting spot – Green & Co, Leederville by Scott G Trenorden
via thebikeshed
News (très) fraîches de Suède / News ‘hot’ from Sweden
Les reconnaissances du Rallye de Suède 2013 débutent aujourd’hui avec 196,61 km de spéciale à prendre en notes à… 70 km/h maximum ! En course, les pilotes friseront les 200 km/h au volant des WRC.
Recce for the 2013 Rally Sweden started today. Crews will note the 196.61 competitive kilometres at a maximum speed of 70kph but will reach speeds of almost 200kph when serious business begins later this week.
Après le Monte-Carlo, le Rallye de Suède est lui aussi un rallye très spécifique qui demande une préparation minutieuse. Les teams d’usine effectuent généralement leurs tests dans les forêts suédoises au mois de décembre. Cette année, Sébastien Loeb et Mikko Hirvonen ont ajouté deux jours d’essais supplémentaires la semaine dernière.
Thierry Neuville, Juho Hanninen et les pilotes Qatar-M Sport ont roulé dans la poudreuse fin janvier/début février. En outre, Mads Ostberg a disputé le Finnskog Rally le week-end dernier au volant de sa Ford Fiesta RS WRC Adapta. Il s’est imposé avec 10s3 d’avance sur un autre Norvégien, Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda Fabia S2000). Martin Prokop (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) n’a terminé que 38e après une petite sortie de route.
De son côté, le jeune Pontus Tidemand s’est entraîné en remportant avec plus de trois minutes d’avance le Rally Vinterpolaken sur une Ford Fiesta RS WRC, avant de finaliser sa préparation par une séance d’essais hier lundi.
Hier également, le Polonais Michal Kosciuszko était en tests à Likenas avec un « moniteur » exceptionnel, Marcus Grönholm, quintuple vainqueur du Rallye de Suède, qui a accepté de prendre le volant de la Mini John Cooper Works WRC du Team Lotos.
Après le Qatar Rally fin janvier, il n’y aura pas de revanche entre Nasser Al-Attiyah et Kalid Al-Qassimi en Suède : Nasser est malade et a laissé le volant de sa Ford Fiesta RS WRC à Matthew Wilson qui sera navigué par le copilote habituel du Qatari, Giovanni Bernacchini.
Jusqu’à hier, il y avait bien peu de neige dans la région d’Hagfors. Mais finalement, les conditions devraient être idéales pour le rallye avec d’importantes chutes de neige annoncées jusqu’à jeudi. Ensuite, le ciel devrait être moins nuageux et les températures maxi ne devraient pas dépasser -10°C en journée.
Like the Rallye Monte-Carlo, Rally Sweden is a highly specific event that necessitates meticulous preparation. The factory teams tend to do their pre-rally testing in Sweden’s wintry forests in December, but this year saw Citroën’s Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen add another two days of work last week.
Thierry Neuville, Juho Hanninen and the Qatar-M Sport drivers all tested at the end of January/early-February, while Mads Ostberg contested last weekend’s Finnskog Rally in his Adapta-backed Ford Fiesta RS WRC. He won by a margin of 10.3s over fellow Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda Fabia S2000). Martin Prokop (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) was 38th after an off.
Pontus Tidemand prepared by winning the Rally Vinterpolaken by more than three minutes in a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, followed by a test session yesterday.
Monday also saw Poland’s Michal Kosciuszko test near Likenas with expert advice from four-time Rally Sweden winner Marcus Grönholm who even got behind the wheel of the Team Lotos-run Mini John Cooper Works WRC.
After their battle on late-January’s Qatar Rally, there will be no re-match between Nasser Al-Attiyah and Kalid Al-Qassimi in Sweden, since the former is poorly. His Ford Fiesta RS WRC will be driven instead by Matthew Wilson who will have the Qatari’s usual co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini alongside.
There has been very little snow in the Hagfors region recently, but the heavy snowfall expected over the next few days should produce ideal conditions. After that, clear skies are likely to ensure that daytime temperatures do not exceed minus 10°C!
via best-of-rallylive
Still a Record-Breaker: 50cc Garelli Monza Special
Size does not matter. So we are told. But for international record-breaking it’s all-important and, if you’ve ever wondered what the best average speed a tiny 50cc bike could achieve over 24 hours, well, it’s 108.834km/h (67.59mph) and this is the bike that achieved it.
Any teenager worth his salt will remember the Garelli marque as synonymous with tuned-to-oblivion mopeds and very small-capacity motorbikes aimed at those too young to ride ‘big’ bikes.
Setting records, therefore, was one way of raising the profile of the company – and had been a significant feature of Garelli’s activities pre-War.
The record attempt was made at Monza in November 1963. Two 50cc bikes, specially prepared by engineer William Soncini, running on alcohol fuel and equipped with large-capacity fuel tanks and all-enveloping 'dustbin' fairings, set eight world records.
The riders were Gianemilio Marchesani, Luigi Pastori, Robert Patrignani, Giulio Pernigotti, Luciano Spinello and GianPiero 'Zubani'. To facilitate night-time running, a single headlamp was installed in the fairing.
Of those eight world records set that weekend, the 24-hour average is still held today.
Bonhams will offer this bike at its 7 February sale at the Grand Palais, Paris.
| Related Links Further details on this motorcycle (est. EUR 50,000 - 75,000) are available fromwww.bonhams.com |
Text: J. Philip Rathgen(Classic Driver)
Photos: Bonhams
Rétromobile 2013 : Alpine fêté sur le stand Echappement Classic
A l’occasion du salon Rétromobile, qui ouvrira ses portes du 6 au 10 février 2013, au Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles, à Paris, Echappement Classic célébrera Alpine, qui fête cette année les 40 ans de son titre de champion du monde des rallyes. Sur le stand du Groupe Hommell, éditeur du magazine, on pourra admirer la très belle A 110 1600 S Groupe 4 prêtée par Christophe Régnier, aujourd’hui à la tête de Mécaparts, spécialiste de la marque à Bourges. Sortie des chaînes en janvier 1971, la Berlinette écume les rallyes VHC aux mains de Christophe depuis 2001, celui-ci ayant conquis le titre de champion de France VHC à son volant, en 2010, en compagnie d’Eric Desseix, son copilote. (photo Rudy Wouts)
Groupe Hommell/Echappement Classic : stand A 15, hall 2-3.
1963 GARELLI RECORD BREAKING RACER
Dustbin fairings, like the example used on this 1963 Garelli 50cc record breaker, make me very happy. This Garelli was built in November 1963, 2 of the bikes were built and specially prepared by Italian engineer William Soncini, the engines were running on ethanol-alcohol fuel, they were equipped with large-capacity gas tanks and that brilliant, hand-beaten dustbin.
All in all the 2 Garellis set 8 world records at Monza in ’63, including a new 24 hour mark at an average speed of 108.83kmh (67.59mph), which to this day has still not been broken.
The riders were Gianemilio Marchesani, Luigi Pastori, Robert Patrignani, Giulio Parnigotti, Luciano Spinello and GianPiero ‘Zubani’. In order to wring every last ounce of speed from the 50cc machines, a second set of footrests was fitted on brackets extending back towards the rear wheel, enabling the riders to obtain a lower, more aerodynamic riding position.
With an estimated value of $67,000 – $100,000 this bike is heading for the Bonhams Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais Auction on the 7th of February, if you’d like to see the official lot listing, you’ll find it here.
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