lundi 18 février 2013
We've Landed: Daredevil Chicherit's Full MINI Backflip
THE SEVENISH by DEUS EX MACHINA
Kinda, sorta, maybe the seventh bike to roll off the rack in Woolie’s Workshop, The Sevenish is the latest bike that’s been brought into being by Deus Ex Machina’s US Motorcycle Design Director, Michael Woolaway. A bit about the name—Although the total number of finished builds out of Woolies Workshops numbers eight or nine, this bike has the very distinctive “007 Woolie” stamp pressed into its steel skeleton, meaning it’s a full frame-up, Deus Ex Machina manufactured, custom build: about as Deus as a bike can get. Combine that with the fact that the build was commissioned by motion picture helicopter pilot Fred North, who just happens to have done aerial film work on several Bond movies, and the name The Sevenish finds clearer focus. Don’t let the wishy washy nomenclature fool you, though. The Sevenish, much like its owner, is incredibly precise in its purpose. And it is without a doubt incredibly fun to ride.
It’s a full competition dirt track set up that’s super light and handles extremely well. It’s planted. The seating position is very forward, right at the base of the tank. There’s a lot of ground clearance. The tires are dirt track racing spec. “The Sevenish spins up the tire accelerating in first gear, loves to back into turns and slides into stop signs. It’s really really fun to ride,” says Woolie. With only about two-ish people in the world that can attest to that, we’ll take his word for it.
Woolie’s Workshop would like to extend a very special thanks to:
-Ed Sorbo at Lindemann Engineering
-James Elliand at Rizoma USA
-Pierre Vallaincourt at Works Performance
-Ed Sorbo at Lindemann Engineering
-James Elliand at Rizoma USA
-Pierre Vallaincourt at Works Performance
3.8-litre six-cylinder Jag engined madness
from VISORDOWN by Ben Cope
I have so many questions and unfortunately not enough answers.
Firstly is this a motorcycle or is there is third wheel hidden by the gigantic six-cylinder Jag XK lump?
Just how many metres would you get from that tank (mounted infront of the bars)?
What sort of high-grade metals are used in the spokes of that front wheel to support said Jag engine?
Just how much flex is there, from the BMX handlebars to the homemade chassis, to those forks?
Lastly, why. Or should that be: why not?
Enjoy your stay ...or not
by Christopher Dodd from visordown
IN the next in what is fast becoming a regular series of weird motorcycle-related promotional videos, we see Gavin Godfrey of Nitro Circus terrifying punters in a hotel casino in Nevada.
While I was watching it, I couldn't help but wish for a recreation in an old-fashioned British coastal B&B. Just imagine it.
IN the next in what is fast becoming a regular series of weird motorcycle-related promotional videos, we see Gavin Godfrey of Nitro Circus terrifying punters in a hotel casino in Nevada.
While I was watching it, I couldn't help but wish for a recreation in an old-fashioned British coastal B&B. Just imagine it.
The 'Operation Caracas' Porsche 550 Spyder: Brother of the 'Little Bastard'
News of James Dean’s ill-fated romance with his petite Porsche spread well beyond the automotive community, but his wasn’t the only 550 with a tale to tell – that of the ‘Operation Caracas’ Spyder is just as fascinating.
Starting life as one of the factory cars, it was soon enlisted for an assignment known internally as ‘Operation Caracas’. With the inaugural Venezuelan GP looming rapidly, the 550 was air-freighted to its destination (it was too late for the usual method of travelling by sea) where it was met by Porsche’s racing team manager and head of PR Huschke von Hanstein – who would go on to win the Targa Florio a year later in another 550.
Against such formidable opposition as Fangio in his 3.0-litre straight-six Maserati 300S, von Hanstein steered the underpowered Spyder (1.5-litre boxer-four) to a respectable eighth place in the South American race. Shortly after Fangio’s champagne had evaporated from the podium, the 550 was sold to a local Caracas privateer – a common practice to save Porsche’s sparsely-funded Rennsportdivision the cost of a return journey – and subsequently disappeared for several years.
The 550 resurfaced in 1963 on a Florida forecourt having been taken as a part-exchange… for a Ford pick-up truck. The new owner was thankfully more clued-up about the car’s potential. Bill Benecker, who was associated with American racing team and dealership Brumos Porsche, raced the Caracas 550 for a decade before the four-cam engine finally gave way.
It was then consigned to storage for a number of years before being bought by Brumos and restored to the full glory of its time with von Hanstein – and given the ‘Huschke’ licence plate it still sports today in his honour. Interestingly, red stripes were added to the tail-fins (with Porsche often entering four or more cars in a major race, different colours were used to allow the pit crews to differentiate between them), although these have since been removed to remain faithful to the adventure with von Hanstein.
Today, still in the ownership of Brumos, the car regularly makes appearances at top American events such as the Rennsport Reunion. While it’s often the more tragic tale that captures the prolonged attention of the public, the Caracas 550 story presents a welcome contrast to that of the ill-fated ‘Little Bastard’.
| Related Links Plenty of Porsches, both classic and modern, can be found in the Classic Driver Marketplace |
Text: Joe Breeze, with thanks to Brumos Racing, and Andrew Hoskings oftype550.com
Photos: ©Frazer Spowart for Classic Driver, source of period images unknown
LE DÉBUT D'UNE NOUVELLE ÈRE EN GTE ?
Il y a tout juste un an on ne donnait pas cher de la peau d'une catégorie GTE en grande perte de vitesse. On annonçait McLaren, Chrysler, Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Nissan ou encore Lamborghini. Il n'en fallait pas moins pour aller contrer Aston Martin, Ferrari et Porsche. Une Balance de Performance plus tard et bonjour les Viper GTS-R et BMW Z4 GTE. On ne va pas revenir sur la cylindrée de la GT américaine sachant que chez Riley Technologies on va à contre-courant en sortant une GTE sans avoir de GT3. Chez BMW, on est parti de la base bien connue de la Z4 GT3 pour sortir une Z4 qui n'est au bout du compte qu'une GT3+. Et si BMW ouvrait une nouvelle brèche pour le futur de la catégorie GTE ? L'auto est équipée d'un moteur V8 4.4l et BMW a le don de semer le trouble avec ses GT de course. On se souvient de l'épisode BMW M3 aux 24 Heures de Spa avec une GT2 rebadgée GTN.
On ne verra pas les Z4 GTE aux 24 Heures du Mans cette année, mais il y a fort à parier que les choses changent en 2014. On pourrait alors avoir Aston Martin, Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Viper, Corvette, avec pourquoi pas McLaren. On ne sait pas trop combien de temps Audi va pouvoir rester hors du coup, même si chez Audi Sport on clame haut et fort que la R8 LMS n'est qu'un programme « customer ». Certes, mais au sein du groupe il reste Lamborghini et Bentley. Comprenne qui veut...
La BMW Z4 GTE correspond à la réglementation ACO avec une bride différente de celle du modèle GT3. L'effort financier pour faire passer une GT3 à une GTE est bien moindre que de développer une vraie GTE, sans compter tout le reste. On parle de 2.5 millions pour une saison FIA-WEC en GTE-Pro et 1.8 millions en GTE-Am.
L'esprit du GTE original pourrait bien s'effilocher petit à petit pour laisser place à une catégorie GTE issue du GT3 dont la FIA et l'ACO ne veulent pas dans le championnat phare d'endurance. On ne sait pas ce que va donner l'hypothétique changement de la catégorie GT dans les années à venir dans les séries badgées ACO. Ce n'est pour le moment qu'un groupe de travail et rien n'est encore décidé pour le futur. Les GTE sont de vraies vitrines technologiques mais l'idée est tout de même de récupérer des euros dans cette fameuse vitrine. L'idée de partir d'une GT3 pour arriver à une GTE que l'on pourra qualifier de GT3+ risque bien de se développer au fil des mois. Si tel devait être le cas, il va falloir une Balance de Performance pour étalonner tout ce beau petit monde.
Avec des GT3 qui deviennent aussi rapides que des GTE et des autos qui se ressemblent comme deux gouttes d'eau, il devient de plus en plus compliqué pour le quidam de faire la différence entre les deux. Allez expliquer qu'une Aston Martin Vantage GTE roule avec un V8 4.5l d'environ 500 chevaux alors que sa petite sœur qui évolue dans la catégorie inférieure est équipée d'un V12 6l un poil plus puissant.
Au final, si tous les constructeurs y trouvent leur compte, tout va bien dans le meilleur des mondes. Le prochain à arriver devrait être McLaren avec en prime les débuts programmés de la Corvette C7.R en 2014. Mercedes veut revenir au Mans, tout comme Bentley. Lamborghini va développer une nouvelle GT3 en partenariat avec Reiter et Maserati vient de donner son aval pour une GT3 développée par Swiss Team. Une chose est sûre, l'arrivée de BMW avec sa Z4 GTE pourrait bien donner des idées à d'autres.
En attendant 2014, on va avoir droit cette saison à une bataille de toute beauté en Championnat du Monde d'Endurance sans oublier aux 24 Heures du Mans. L'ALMS nous habitue à des batailles acharnées malgré une Balance de Performance de plus en plus présente, ce qui est le cas en GT3. Le spectacle est là donc qui s'en plaindra. Les constructeurs savent où ils mettent les pieds. Et si finalement les belles années du GTE étaient finalement devant nous, le tout avec l'aide des GT3...
by Laurent Mercier(Endurance-Info)
The ‘Crocodile On Wheels‘
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The ‘Crocodile On Wheels‘ is about 9 meters long and weighs about 300 kg and was built over a period of 9 months by Mr. Pradeep Kumar Mehta.
Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG V8 Supercars racer breaks cover
Erebus Motorsport has unveiled its Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG V8 Supercars racer.
After we saw the Holden VF Commodore and Nissan Altima contenders for the V8 Supercars championship, now it's time to have a look at what Erebus Motorsport has to offer. Based on the facelifted E63 AMG, the car is built in Australia by Erebus and represents the first AMG race car produced outside Germany.
Erebus represents an AMG customer team and will race three of these cars in the V8 Supercars 2013 season. "Car of the Future" regulations require engines with a displacement of no more than 5.0 liters and an rpm limit between 7,000 and 7,500. In addition, the engine's output has to be limited to approximately 650 hp (485 kW).
Clipsal 500 Adelaide will be the inaugural race of the 2013 V8 Supercars series and will be organized between February 28 and March 3, following a pre-season testing session set for this weekend.
Source: Erebus via WORLDCARFANS
Dongfeng Motor Corp looking to takeover Fisker
Fisker spokesman Roger Ormisher declined to confirm the report, but acknowledged the firm has "received detailed proposals from multiple parties in different continents, which are now being evaluated by the company and its advisers."
While Dongfeng is one potential bidder, another could be the Wanxiang Group which recently bought A123 Systems which makes the battery that powers the Karma. In aprevious interview, Wanxiang President Pin Ni said he is open to a strategic alliance and "It's in our interest if we can help Fisker."
As we have previously reported, the bankruptcy of A123 Systems has halted Karma production for over six months. This has put a serious strain on the company's cash flow which is expected to run out by mid-year unless a sale or investment can be arranged.
Source: Bloomberg
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