TOP !! Riding a Honda C90 motorcycle through the Arctic Circle in Winter

“This is a music video that I put together using the footage from my motorcycle ride through the Arctic Circle in February 2013.
I was alone with only my trusty c90, a camera and camping equipment. The coldest temperature I recorded was -23oC inside my tent.
Visit my website: c90adventures.co.uk for more videos and info on this and my other trips me and little c90 have done together.
I also sell t-shirts through dirtpunk.co.uk who sponsored me my Arctic sleeping bag and as such are the reason I’m still alive :)
The roll mat I used what sponsored by Stace Martin and supplied by traveldriplus.com. The mat was an Exped 9 LW.
My Arctic suit was sponsored by Chris Neil and was a Refridgiwear freezer suit.
Thanks to you guys and everyone else who kept me alive :)”

24H NÜRBURGRING : ANALYSE D'UN CRU EXCEPTIONNEL !

La 41e édition des 24h du Nürburgring s'annonçait comme un grand cru et elle a effectivement tenu toutes ses promesses. Après un récital de l'Audi R8 LMS/Phoenix de Frank Stippler en début de course, l'Aston Martin Vantage GT3 de Turner-Mücke-Simonsen-Lamy a littéralement dynamité les débats, célébrant au mieux les 100 ans du mythique constructeur de Gaydon.

En fin de soirée, le brouillard et des pluies torrentielles s'abattaient sur la Nordschleife, contraignant les organisateurs à interrompre l'épreuve au drapeau rouge. Une sage décision approuvée par l'ensemble des concurrents dont Sabine Schmitz : « La pluie percute votre pare-brise avec une telle intensité que la visibilité est complètement nulle. Peu importe qu'un concurrent vous précède ou non, on y voit absolument rien. A tel point que j'avais l'impression d'être un pêcheur de crabes sur la mer de Bering ! ».

Il fallait attendre 8h30 le lundi pour que la meute soit enfin relâchée, quand bien même la pluie tombait toujours de manière abondante. Repartie en tête, l'Aston Martin se faisait rapidement déborder par la BMW Z4 GT3/Marc VDS de Maxime Martin. Le Bruxellois poursuivant le festival entamé la veille où il reprenait par moment la bagatelle de 40 secondes à ses rivaux. En fin de matinée, la pluie s'estompait et la piste commençait à sécher en de nombreux endroits. Des conditions mixtes dont les Mercedes SLS se délectaient, bien aidées, il est vrai, par leurs pneumatiques Dunlop. Alors qu'ils s'étaient jusque là tenus en embuscade, Bernd Schneider, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Sean Edwards et Nicki Thiim faisaient le forcing et s'emparaient autoritairement du commandement. En état de grâce, le multiple champion DTM accumulait les rondes d'anthologie et finissait par croiser le drapeau à damier en vainqueur, remportant par la même occasion l'un des plus beaux fleurons manquant à son impressionnant palmarès. Le comble c'est que c'était la toute première fois que l'ancien pilote Zakspeed en F1 parvenait à rallier l'arrivée du double tour d'horloge de l'Eifel ! Un bonheur n'arrivant jamais seul, Jeroen Bleekemolen, en passe d'être papa, avait déjà quitté l'enfer vert !

Titrée en VLN en 2008, 2009 et 2011, victorieuse des éditions 2012 et 2013 des 24h du Dubai, la formation Black Falcon ajoute un nouveau succès de prestige à son joli pedigree et s'affirme de plus en plus comme l'une des références du petit monde de l'endurance. Très en vue lors des essais, notamment lorsqu'elle était pilotée par Andreas Simonsen, la seconde SLS engagée par l'écurie basée à Meuspath a connu une course beaucoup plus difficile, une rupture de suspension entraînant une sérieuse sortie de piste. Pour l'honneur, l'équipage Lebed-Simonsen-Rostek-Proczyc poursuivait néanmoins sa ronde et franchissait la ligne d'arrivée au 128e rang.

Si la Mercedes SLS/Rowe Racing de Hartung-Heyer-Rehfeld-Hohenadel a dû renoncer suite à une sortie du premier nommé dans les conditions apocalyptiques du dimanche soir, les montures de Graf-Jäger-Seyffarth-Bastian et Arnold-Roloff-Seyffarth-Jäger ont, en revanche, fait excellente figure, se classant à de superbes 3e et 4e positions. Encore 2e et 3e à 30 minutes du terme, elles auraient même pu offrir un triplé historique à Mercedes mais c'était sans compter sur un éblouissant Maxime Martin. Non content de marcher sur l'eau, « Moïse » Martin avionne également sur le sec ! Le pilote officiel BMW explosant littéralement le meilleur tour en course pour coiffer sur le fil les flèches d'argent et ainsi offrir une sensationnelle seconde place à la BMW Z4 GT3 qu'il partageait avec Yelmer Buurman, Andrea Piccini et Richard Göransson. Longtemps en lice pour le podium, la seconde Z4 GT3 alignée par le Marc VDS Racing pour Leinders-Moser-Palttala-Göransson devait, par contre, abdiquer dans le courant de la matinée. Bas Leinders ayant tapé le rail en tentant d'éviter un concurrent en perdition.

Figurant parmi les grandes favorites de l'épreuve, les BMW Z4 GT3/Schubert ont également été frappées par une noire malchance. Ainsi, peu avant la fin de la première heure de course, Uwe Alzen se faisait surprendre, derrière un sommet, par un groupe de voitures roulant au ralenti et ce en raison d'un double drapeau jaune. Comble de malchance, le lauréat 2010 des 24h heurtait l'arrière de la BMW Z4 GT3 de son équipière Claudia Hürtgen. Si la petite Allemande, victime d'une crevaison à l'arrière gauche, perdait plus d'un tour dans l'aventure, le constat était pire encore pour l'infortuné Alzen, la direction de son coupé Z4 étant touchée. Les troupes de Torsten Schubert s'évertuaient bien à remplacer l'organe blessé mais, après deux boucles, Dirk Müller rentrait au box avec une monture au comportement loin d'être parfait. Vu que toute chance de succès s'était évanouie, décision fut prise de retirer la BMW blanche de l'épreuve.
Loin de se démonter, Claudia Hürtgen, Jens Klingmann, Martin Tomczyck et Dirk Adorf allaient au charbon et effectuaient une solide remontée qui s'achevait au 6e rang en dépit d'une séance d'aquaplanage du dernier nommé. Quant à la Z4 GT3 aux couleurs Dunlop de Walkenhorst-Oeverhaus-Partl-Silvester, pour sa première participation aux 24h, elle a effectué une course sage qui se solde par une honorable 17e place.

Victorieuses l'an dernier, les Audi R8 LMS ultra ont fait illusion en début de parcours via Frank Stippler et Marcel Fässler avant de rentrer dans le rang au fil des heures. Team Principal du Phoenix Racing, Ernst Moser s'en explique : « Nous étions très compétitifs sur le sec mais, à partir du moment où la pluie a commencé à tomber, nous n'étions tout simplement plus assez rapides. Les voitures équipées en Dunlop bénéficiant d'un avantage dans ces conditions. Malgré tout nous avons fait de notre mieux et décroché le meilleur résultat possible. » En l'occurrence une 5e place pour le quatuor Rockenfeller-Fässler-Stippler-Winkelhock. Ammermüller-Stippler-Stuck-Stuck et Biela-Jöns-Ludwig-Rusinov se classant respectivement 8e et 9e et ce au terme d'une course exempte d'ennuis, si ce n'est un contact avec le rail de Michael Ammermüller surpris, comme tant d'autres, par une traînée d'huile. Laurens Vanthoor aura connu moins de réussite. Le jeune Belge, pour sa première participation à la grand messe de l'Eifel, naviguait à une excellente 4e position lorsqu'il se fit également piégé par une coulée d'huile. Il percutait à de nombreuses reprises les glissières de sécurité, mettant, bien malgré lui, une fin brutale à la belle progression de l'Audi R8 LMS/WRT qu'il partageait avec Edward Sandström, Christopher Mies et Christopher Haase.

Excellent second l'an dernier, Chris Mamerow n'aura pu rééditer cette performance, sa course étant d'emblée contrariée par une température d'eau excessive et de nombreux changement de splitter. Avec le concours de Marc Basseng, René Rast et Thomas Mutsch, il attaquait tant et plus pour tenter de remonter, peut être même un peu trop, l'Audi R8 LMS/Prosperia devant tirer sa révérence lundi en fin de matinée suite à une sortie de route.

A la peine l'an dernier, les Porsche n'ont guère connu plus de réussite. La palme de la malchance revenant indiscutablement au Timbuli Racing, lequel perdait, dès les essais, la 911 GT3 R de Hennerici-Brück-van lagen-Seefried suite à une violente sortie de route. Pire, alors qu'il occupait une probante 7e place après 2h de course, Marco Seefried était victime d'une incompréhension avec une Toyota. Le contact était une nouvelle fois relativement violent et la Porsche qu'il partageait avec Norbert Siedler, Pierre Kaffer et Marc Hennerici devait renoncer à son tour.
Marqué pas de chance pour une écurie ô combien brillante depuis l'entame de la saison en VLN !

Bien dans le rythme, la Porsche 911 GT3 R du Frikadelli Racing a été contrariée dans la première partie de l'épreuve par un double changement d'amortisseur. Klaus Abbelen, Sabine Scchmitz, Patrick Pilet et Patrick Huisman n'en ont pas moins assuré le show pour finalement remonter au 16e rang. Dans le coup également, la Porsche 911 GT3 R/Falken Motorsports de Henzler-Dumbreck-Ragginger-Asch a même occupé furtivement la première position lundi en cours de matinée. Las, à 2h30 de l'épilogue, un contact avec une BMW dans la région de Flugplatz provoquait de sérieux dégâts à l'avant de la Porsche n°44, laquelle devait finalement se contenter d'une 20e position bien peu en rapport avec son potentiel.

Comme souvent, c'est le Manthey Racing qui a sauvé les meubles pour le constructeur de Weissach. Profitant d'une excellente stratégie, la formation d'Olaf Manthey était d'ailleurs parvenue à hisser ses deux montures de pointe au 2e et 3e rang avant la neutralisation. Très compétitives sur le mouillé, les Porsche « Moskovskaya » étaient plus à la peine lorsque la piste a commencé à sécher. Un mauvais choix de pneus les faisant définitivement perdre le contact avec la tête de la course. Si la 911 GT3 RSR de Lieb-Dumas-Luhr-Bernhard parvenait néanmoins à décrocher la 7e place, la 911 GT3 R de Holzer-Tandy-Bergmeister-Lietz, ralentie en sus par un petit souci mécanique, finissait juste aux portes du top10, précédant la Porsche 911 GT3 R/Haribo Racing Team de Westbrook-Collard-Stursberg-Riegel et la Porsche 911 GT3 RSR/Wochenspiegel Team Manthey de Weiss-Kainz-Jacobs-Krumbach.

Véritable révélation des essais, avec le superbe 2e chrono de Pedro Lamy, l'Aston Martin officielle a signé un début de course époustouflant, s'échangeant à maintes reprises le commandement avec les Audi Phoenix. En tête au moment de la neutralisation, la belle Anglaise connut plus de difficultés par la suite. Nettement moins à l'aise sur le mouillé, la Vantage/Bilstein se fit déborder par la BMW de Martin lors du restart avant de sombrer au classement. Lamy ne parvenait d'ailleurs pas à éviter une touchette dans la section de Bergwerk. De fait le quatuor Turner-Mücke-Simonsen-Lamy se retrouvait avec une monture nettement moins bien équilibrée et ralliait l'arrivée en 10e position.

Quoi qu'il en soit voilà une nouvelle monture qui immanquablement fera partie des prétendantes à la victoire lors de la prochaine édition. On en dira pas autant de la McLaren/Dörr Motorsport de Kox-Adams-Klasen trahie par son moteur avant d'avoir effectué le moindre tour ! Très à son affaire lors de la première séance qualificative, la Nissan GTR du Schulze Motorsport a, elle aussi, subi une casse moteur dans les premières heures de course. Après changement de l'organe défaillant, le quatuor Yamauchi-Schulze-Schulze-Krumm a pu reprendre la piste pour achever l'épreuve à une très lointaine 134e position.

Le rideau est tombé sur une 41e édition en tous points exceptionnelle. Rendez-vous est pris l'an prochain pour une nouvelle cuvée à consommer sans modération.

Les photos de la course sont ici.

avec Fabrice Bergenhuizen (Endurance-Info)

trop belle !!!

John McGuinness ready to fight at the 2013 Tourist Trophy

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

The 2013 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is almost upon us - with the traditional ‘Practice Week’ beginning this Saturday, May 25 - and, as usual, many eyes will be on the legendary John McGuinness, the fastest man ever on the mighty Mountain Course, who will try to add more silverware to his already impressive tally of 19 TT wins. In the Superbike and Senior races, the 41 yeard old from Morecombe will race once again under the banner of the fierce Honda TT Legends team, which will also field another two ‘big names’ in Road Racing, Michael Rutter and Michael Dunlop, who already have 3 TT wins each under their belts.

Following a disappointing start to the road racing season with the cancellation of the North West 200 Superbike races, the stellar three-man TT Legends line-up is even more determined to put on a good show for the thousands of TT fans that flock to the event every year. According to the John McGuinnenes himself, the NW200 letdown will just give him further motivation to do well at the imminent race TT:

“We were all gutted not to get out on the Superbikes at the North West, so the TT is all the more important this year. As always, I’ll be a bit nervous heading in to the first practice sessions this weekend but as soon as I get on the bike and head out for the first time it will feel like home. There’s no denying that the young guns are nipping at my heels but I’ll be fighting as hard as any of them. I’ve said it before but when the sun is out there is no better place to be than the Isle of Man TT, so let’s just hope that the weather is good and we can put on a good show for the fans.”

Michael Dunlop - of the mythological Dunlop dynasty - will surely give a hard time to the ‘old’ King of the Mountain, also because he will have to defend the honor of the family: with 26 TT wins, the late and great uncle Joey is the only man to have scored more victories in Manx than McGuinness, but Michael is also quite close to his late father Robert, who won 5 times on the Isle and still is, in turn, the most successful rider in the history of the NW200. At the recent NW200, Michael was able to take a victory in the ‘mutilated’ Supersport Race before the rain came down and forced the promoters to call it a day:

“The North West was a mixed bag for me because I did get a win on the 600, but the weather was horrendous and it was a shame we didn’t get to go out on the big bikes. My machine was going well in practice and I would have been on pole for the race, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do at the TT. It’s my favourite road racing circuit and if the weather is good, it’ll be a pretty good show.”

Even the ‘new guy’ of the Honda TT Legends team, 40-year old Michael Rutter, boasts a pretty impressive record at the NW200 - with 13 victories, he is second alongside Joey Dunlop in terms of wins behind the 15 wins brought home by the aforementioned Robert Dunlop - but he’s got some family-related matters at the TT too: his father Toni in fact has won 7 times on the Isle of Man, and of course Michael hopes to close the gap with the parent in the TT ranking:

“After the wash-out of the North West I can’t wait to get back to the rock and have a go on the Superbikes. I know the Louth-based team means business on the roads and I’m looking forward to being back with them on the Isle of Man. My team-mates just happen to be two of my biggest rivals, but I’m sure that will make for some good racing, we just need to keep our fingers crossed for good weather.”

Last but not least, Honda TT Legend’s main man Neil Tuxworth tells us what his expectations are for the upcoming event:

“The North West 200 was hugely disappointing for everyone involved as we didn’t even get to turn a wheel on race day, so we’re looking forward to the TT even more this year. We’ll be running a three-rider line-up in the Superbike and Senior races and it’s one of the strongest line-ups we’ve ever had. McGuinness, Rutter and Dunlop are all proven winners at the TT so we have high hopes in terms of race results this year.”

Kempton Park Motorcycle Jumbles

Less than a week to the next event at Kempton Park. The Southern Classic Bike Show & Large Autojumble. 300+stalls of Motorcycle related goods, 30 stands of Classic Bikes, large show of Cafe Racers in the Ace Cafe London Corner and see their New Ace 1200CR Street Special. If you have a bike, want a bike are restoring a bike or just want to meet up with like minded friends this is where you need to be next Saturday!!! Free Car Park £6 Adults £5 over 65/child over 12 Food on site Free Car Park Kempton Park Racecourse TW16 5AQ

Yamaha DT 250 by Gravel Crew

Foto: StreetRide via Planet Japan Blog

Life on the Road: Choosing the Right Car for Any Road Trip

By NICK CARUSO

When it’s time to make tracks — whether you’re escaping the daily grind or heading to the next adventure — few things will make or break your time on the open road more than the vehicle you’re piloting. Sometimes it’s best to tailor your ride to the destination; sometimes, the car itself should play more of a starring role in your road trip story than your map waypoints do. Why not go all out? From fun-to-fling to made-to-cruise to needs-to-be-seen, we dreamed up our ten fantasy road trip cars, one ideal for every getaway.

Head to the next page for all the details.

MORE INCREDIBLE VEHICLES 15 Coolest Movie Cars | 10 Best Convertibles | 10 Great Art Deco Cars |30 Cars We Want to Drive in 2013

Ferrari FF

If you want to bomb around on snowy mountain roads with three friends.

A Ferrari with four-wheel-drive. At first blush the notion seems blasphemous, but consider that Ferraris, while beautiful and perfect in so many ways, are all inherently evil. Ferarris are sin on rolling stock: a practice in pure, unbridled indulgence to the tune of speed, wealth and ostentation. So check the blasphemy option box and get a svelte, four-seat (the first “F”) hatchback coupe with four (the other “F”) V12-powered wheels. Skiing road trip? A slalom though rainy mountain roads? Perfectly dry roads where you don’t even need four wheel drive? All perfect. Hand us the keys to a vicious, grip-heavy prancing horse and we’ll find a reason to get away.

LEARN MORE: HERE

’78 Firebird Trans Am Special Edition

If you’re running from the altar and/or the law (mustache not included).

Let’s say you’re a bootlegger running interference for your speeding, semi-trailer driving, booze-smuggling accomplice and his dog and you pick up a runaway bride along the way, attracting the suspicious eye of an unshakable sheriff. Or let’s say you just want a big, flamboyant, devil of a car born in the oil-crisis-and-disco decade and made especially for melting asphalt — with T-tops and a gold screamin’ eagle on the hood, to boot. If you’ve got a mullet, even better: this baby’s got muscle out front, room (and a couple extra seats) out back. (Full disclaimer: no matter how pristine your ’78, you’ll never hold a candle to Burt. So don’t kid yourself.)

LEARN MORE: HERE

Tesla Model S

If you can stop for several hours every few hundred miles.

The future of road trip travel is here: 300-mile bursts (maximum range between charges) in a whisper-quiet, roomy, tech-laden sedan that’ll trounce near everything else on the road and at the drag strip. Tesla’s all-electric Model S sedan may look unassuming, but because the batteries are stored in a flat tray under the cabin’s floor, there’s more passenger space than you’d expect. Almost 100% of the car’s functionality — save the actual driving part — is controlled via a humongous touch screen console in the dash. And because electric motors develop 100% of their torque at zero RPM, this stealthy sedan will rocket to 60 in just over 4 seconds.

LEARN MORE: HERE

VW Golf GTI

If you’re a practical performance nut on a budget.

Volkswagens are notoriously cute. Older models are somewhat cartoonish, but even back in the day there was a certain je nais se quoi about VWs that made you sort of happy just looking at ‘em. Call it the Love Bug effect. Sure, the Golf GTI has compromised over the generations, adding creature comforts here, a rounded feature there — plus a lot of weight all over — but it’s kept the important bits in place: a six-speed bolted to a 200-horsepower engine; four doors and a hatch out back; not to mention fling-able driving dynamics and plaid upholstery. It’s just right for a few fun friends and the open road.

LEARN MORE: HERE

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

If you want to turn heads on- and off-road.

If your adventures involve less-than-paved thoroughfares but you can’t stoop so low as to get a proper truck (can’t have the Joneses pegging you as tacky), Land Rover’s got the solution for you. Stylish and suitable for the road or light trail (or just the “two track” between the country road and your cabin in the woods), the Evoque is a small crossover with striking concept car looks. Even with its off-road cred, sticking to populated places is what this Land Rover’s good at. And should you come across a freak snow storm or minor flood, you’ll be able to wade through with aplomb.

LEARN MORE: HERE

Rolls Royce Phantom

If you’re a high roller looking to roll in a Rolls.

Most road trips are a casual affair: you throw some duds in a weekend bag, toss it in the trunk and hit the road, hoping for clear skies and high mileage. But the elite do it in the back seat… of a Rolls Royce. Take the Phantom for a weekend in the country away from the proletariat, and remember you’ll need to put your driver up for the night, lest he bunk in the car (though who’d blame him?). Or ditch him entirely and drive for yourself, because this hand-built Brit is powered by a 6.8-liter V12. Packed with bespoke comfort, it’s also ogle-inducing and able to gobble miles of roadway without flinching. Though if you’ve got nearly half a million bucks to spend on a car, why not pay your vacation to come to you?

LEARN MORE: HERE

Volkswagen Eurovan

If your inner hippie wins out over every rational instinct you have.

After a long U.S.A. hiatus, the Eurovan reappeared for a while around the turn of the millennium. A perennial favorite among a very certain set of the population, the EuroVan was an updated take on the Westfalia vans of days past — vans converted into moving campers, replete with small kitchens and pop-up camper roofs. Last decade’s VW van offered a pop-up top option too, providing sleeping quarters for four people. VW wedged a 200-horse V6 under the hood (rather than in the far back as in its earlier iterations), nearly doubling the power of the original vehicle. If you’ve got no destination chosen and might end up camping out, why not camp in your ride? It’s what Cheech and Chong would do.

LEARN MORE: HERE

Porsche Cayenne Turbo

If you can’t fit all your friends in your 911.

Quite controversial when it was first announced (like its Panamera sedan sibling was years later), the Cayenne SUV is to Porsche what trilogies are to summer blockbusters: profitable and popular, even though the glory and success of the original instant classic was all we thought we wanted. But if it’s existential justification you need, note the Cayenne can go places its progenitor, the 911, cannot (which should be clear from a quick look at the two). The big, turbocharged SUV can swallow all your family’s luggage and still have room for, well, your family. It’ll tackle off-road duty, blast around the track at 172 MPH and hit 60 in less than 4.5 seconds. Not bad for a truck posing as a sports car… but is it really posing at all?

LEARN MORE: HERE

BMW E39 M5 Touring

If it existed.

Maybe the ultimate sleeper, the M5 has always been a drool-inducing fantasy for most car nuts. A souped-up version of BMW’s near-perfect 5 Series sport sedan, most M5s over the years haven’t been visually conspicuous, preferring to flex their muscle in less immediately obvious ways. The E39 generation might be the pinnacle of the M5 progeny — its clean, unassuming lines disguised a tire-burning, hairpin-ironing beast. A 400-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 controlled by a six-sped Getrag shifter made quick work of the pavement. But the ultimate expression of the E39 M5 was the Touring version — a one-off wagon that never made it to production, despite how obviously incredible it would have been. Next time you’re going to kill our dreams, BMW, will someone please check with us first?

LEARN MORE: HERE

Caterham 7

If you are eccentric. Or simply don’t value your own comfort (or life).

Man A is a principled individual, and owns a skeletal, frighteningly quick and agile British track car because he thinks every driving experience should be a pure one. He’ll take his toy for a quick spin downtown or on the track. Man A is charming and eccentric; he likes what he likes. Man ‘B’ is eccentric and does zany things because he is literally psychotic. He takes his skeletal British track car on long road trips because he has no regard for his hip joints or spine. He doesn’t have any luggage, doesn’t care about being rained upon or going deaf or getting stone chips in his face. He tries to pass semi trailers by driving beneath them. Though Man A and Man B have similar interests, they probably won’t see eye to eye on everything. But hot damn do they both have fun.

LEARN MORE: HERE

Ruby X Corpses From Hell

Ruby X Corpses From Hell

ateliersruby.com X corpsesfromhell.co.uk

Jusqu’ici ca va

Helmet: Ruby Castel
Riding: Maxwell Paternoster & Ross Herrod
Art: Maxwell Paternoster maxwellp.co.uk
Video & Photography: Richard Baybutt richardbaybutt.com
Locations: Peak District peakdistrict.gov.uk/
Mud Crab Diner mudcrabindustries.co.uk/sheffield
Materials: Yellow gold leaf, white gold leaf, One Shot paint.

« Street Fight » à Monaco

Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb, who are currently first and second in the World Rally Championship standings, will go face-to-face in the streets of Monaco this weekend. They will be driving Porsche 911 GT3 Cups in the second round of the 2013 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

Les deux leaders du Championnat du monde des Rallyes, Sébastien Ogier et Sébastien Loeb, se retrouvent ce week-end dans les rues de Monaco au volant de Porsche 911 GT3 Cup pour la deuxième manche de la Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup 2013.

Four months after their last clash in the Principality (the Rallye Monte-Carlo), the two ‘Sebs’ will race each other this weekend in Monaco at the wheel of 460hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cups in what is one of the world’s most competitive single-make competitions.

Loeb recently took part in the opening round in Barcelona (11^th), but the series will be completely new for the WRC’s VW star whose Porsche will be run by Team Allyouneed by Project 1 in the colours of Pop Art Tag Heuer. Ogier was given a chance to familiarise himself with the 911 GT3 Cup last week at Hockenheim where he received tips from GT expert Sean Edwards, winner of the Supercup race in Catalonia and also winner of last weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hours with Mercedes Benz.

“The main thing will be to have fun,” says the provisional WRC leader. “I will naturally give it my very best shot and everybody is expecting another battle with Loeb, but he’s got far more experience of circuit racing than me.”

The weekend after his victory in Argentina, Sébastien Loeb was a guest of Porsche at the opening round of 2013 Mobil 1 Supercup in Barcelona. In qualifying, an overheating engine prevented him from finishing any higher than 13^th and from making full use of the new Michelin Cup N2 tyre. He ended the race in 11^th place, ahead of the 2012 Cup France winner Jean-Karl Vernay.

Round 2 will serve as curtain-raiser to the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. Free practice will run from 5:20pm to 6:05pm on Thursday, May 23, followed by qualifying on Friday (9:30am) and the 16-lap race on Sunday (9:45am).

Quatre mois après leur dernière confrontation en Principauté, lors du Rallye Monte-Carlo, les deux « Seb » se retrouvent donc sur le circuit de Monaco au volant de Porsche 911 GT3 Cup de 460 chevaux dans la formule mono-marque la plus relevée au monde.

Si Sébastien Loeb a participé à la manche d’ouverture sur le circuit de Barcelone (11^e), le pilote Volkswagen va découvrir la Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup et sa monture aux couleurs Pop Art Tag Heuer engagée par le Team Allyouneed by Project 1. Sébastien Ogier a pris en main la Porsche 911 GT3 Cup la semaine dernière sur le circuit d’Hockenheim et bénéficie des conseils avisés d’un « maître » du GT, Sean Edwards, vainqueur à Barcelone en Supercup, qui vient de remporter les 24 Heures du Nürburgring avec Mercedes-Benz.

« Je suis là avant tout pour prendre du plaisir », déclare le leader du WRC. « Bien sûr, je vais faire de mon mieux et tout le monde attend la confrontation avec Loeb, mais il a beaucoup plus d’expérience que moi des courses sur circuit. »

Le week-end suivant sa victoire en Argentine, Sébastien Loeb était invité par Porsche pour la première manche de la Mobil 1 Supercup à Barcelone. Qualifié en 13^e position après des ennuis de surchauffe moteur qui ne lui ont pas permis d’exploiter tout le potentiel des nouveaux pneus Michelin Cup N2, Loeb a terminé 11^e, devant le vainqueur de la Cup France 2012 Jean-Karl Vernay.

La deuxième manche de la Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup se déroulera donc ce week-end en lever de rideau du Grand Prix de Formule Un de Monaco. Les essais libres auront lieu jeudi 23 (17h20-18h05), les qualifs vendredi matin (9h30) et la course dimanche 26 mai à 9h45 (16 tours).

KAWASAKI KZ750B BY 76HUNDRED

This Kawasaki KZ750B street tracker is the latest creation from the talented team at 76Hundred, it’s based on a 1979 model KZ750 with the standard parallel twin, 745cc OHC air-cooled engine producing 55hp.

76Hundred is a Miami based custom motorcycle garage that we featured a little earlier this year, with their 1968 Yamaha YAS1 125cc 2-stroke cafe racer called Cortadito, this new bike from the garage shows a number of different influences, the use of leather throughout is a nice design touch with the seat, grips and tank-strap all being made from the same cut of hide.

A fair bit of work went into the mechanical elements of the bike’s design with the whole thing having been stripped back to its constituent parts, the frame has been cropped, the headlight, blinkers and brake light are all new, enduro tires were fitted front and back and a number of other, smaller mods have taken place to create a rideable custom specifically designed for use in a place like Florida.

If you’d like to see more from 76Hundred, click the link to Like their Facebook page, or click here to visit their website.

via Silodrome

HARLEY CROSSBONES BY WARR’S

By Wes Garcia | Megadeluxe

Introducing Wes Garcia, a new contributor to Bike EXIF. Wes is the chief editor ofMegadeluxe, an online magazine covering the world of speed, sport and design.

The latest build from Charlie Stockwell of London-based Warr’s Customs is this F1-inspired Harley-Davidson Crossbones. It’s decked in the trademark red-and-white livery of the McLaren F1 team that became famous during the era of Ayrton Senna. With a handmade F1-inspired exhaust system, and a one-off brake system from the Japanese company Akebono, this bike is strikingly different from the designs Stockwell has created in the past.

Taking inventory of Charlie’s past work, it’s amazing to me how each build is so different, and creative from bike-to-bike. But as Charlie explains, “It’s not all about the visual of the bike. The performance and handling characteristics are just as important. Every bike I design and build must handle, perform and ride as well as any original Harley. I don’t like the idea of a customer having a bike that looks great but is horrible to ride.”

According to Charlie, this Crossbones needed the performance and the handling to match its extreme look. After all, racing was the backbone of Harley-Davidson for over a century—bringing hard-core enthusiasts together on and off the track.

Charlie turned to the Warr’s Racing Team (which works closely with the official Racing Team in Milwaukee) to put together an engine capable of fueling adrenalin and delivering high-performance. The result is a tuned Screamin’ Eagle 120ci Twin Cam motor producing 156 bhp and 140 ft/lb of torque. Although it has brute power, it’s been carefully tuned to be ‘rideable’ at the lower rpm range as well as high.

The brakes needed to be special for this build. In Charlie’s mind, who better thanAkebono, the guys who are the current supplier and sponsor of the McLaren F1 team? Akebono worked closely with Charlie throughout the design, development and testing. Three titanium Monobloc calipers, brake discs, clutch and brake master cylinders were made especially just for this project. According to Charlie, it’s a first of its kind and unheard of in this industry.

Since suspension defines the riding experience, the choice was easy for Charlie: it had to be Öhlins USA. He worked closely with Öhlins Racing to build a pair of World Super Bike specification race forks capable of working well with the extra weight that a Harley carries—especially when compared with a more nimble 175kg race machine. They were fitted to a huge pair of Honor Moto triple trees. He also fitted Öhlins springs inside the rear shock absorbers to give it good balance and feel all round.

Charlie is known for taking full control on the look, but on this bike he worked closely with the customer on the styling. Fabrication of the bodywork was handled by Charlie and his trusted ally and friend Russell Brown. These two are the brains behind all that comes out of Warr’s King’s Road customs. The gas tank was thanks to Pete Pearson. The supple leather used on the small solo saddle was sourced from McLaren; it’s the same as currently used on McLarens MP4 road car.

According to Charlie, the bike has to be seen to be fully appreciated. I don’t doubt that, but it looks brilliant from here.

Follow Warr’s Customs on Facebook and via the Warr’s website. Photography byMarianne Logica.

Specification

2011 Harley-Davidson Crossbones
Engine Screamin’ Eagle 120R
Öhlins FGR200 Front Forks
Öhlins Rear Springs
Triple Trees: Honor Moto
Brakes & Master Cylinders: Akebono for Warr’s
Wheels: Performance Machine
Design: Charlie Stockwell
Fabrication: Charlie Stockwell & Russell Brown (Warr’s Customs)
Exhaust: Warr’s Customs
Nickel plating: London Chroming
Custom Paint: Image Design Custom

via BIKEEXIF