The Winner’s Watch: ‘Lange 1 Time Zone Como Edition’ by A. Lange & Söhne

‘The Winner Takes It All.’ When it comes to the Villa D’Este Concorso d'Eleganza, Swedish pop group ABBA was right on that one, as Best of Show will earn its lucky owner a special ‘Como Edition’ of Lange & Söhne’s desirable Time Zone watch.

The caseback of the watch will be engraved with the crest of the annual Concorso, while on the rotating city ring ‘Berlin’ has been replaced by ‘Como’, the provincial capital of the Lake Como region representing Central European Time.

Related Links Only the winner of Best of Show at Villa D’Este can wear this special ‘Como Edition’ Lange 1. For details of all Lange & Söhne timepieces, visit www.alange-soehne.com.

Text: J. Philip Rathgen (Classic Driver)
Photos: Jan Baedeker

Trial : the win and the leadership for Adam Raga / la victoire et le leadership pour Adam Raga

For his comeback in the USA, the 2013 World Trial championship had an unusual result. Tony Bou (Montesa Michelin) has been defeated twice by Adam Raga (Gas Gas), who is the new leader of the series, one point ahead of Bou.

Pour son retour sur le sol Américain, le championnat du Monde 2013 de trial a offert un scénario surprise puisque Tony Bou (Montesa Michelin) a été dominé à deux reprises par Adam Raga (Gas Gas) qui s’empare du même coup du leadership du Mondial avec un petit point d’avance sur Bou.

On day one the race finally turned in a ‘low scoring event’ and the organizers changed some of the sections for the second day, in order to have more severe challenge. On Saturday Tony Bou was tight with Adam Raga after the first lap, but both were dominated by Jeroni Fajardo (Beta); Bou and Raga reacted in the second lap, and Raga took the lead.

He will record later a well deserved win, followed by Bou, Fajardo and Albert Cabestany (Sherco Michelin). The event was more selective on Sunday, but at the end of the day Raga and Bou were tight in the standings with twenty marks each after a third and decisive lap. Bou lost the win by a single clean, and also lost the leadership of the series by a single point. Fifth and third, Takahisa Fujinami (Montesa Michelin) is third in the standings, three points ahead of Jeroni Fajardo who got a third and fourth position this weekend.

Après une première journée trop facile où les zones n’offraient guère de difficultés à l’Elite mondiale, les organisateurs ont revu leur copie pour la seconde journée qui s’avéra beaucoup plus sélective. Dominé samedi par Jeroni Fajardo (Beta) lors du premier tour et à égalité de points avec Adam Raga, Tony Bou ne pourra finalement prendre le meilleur sur Raga, devançant toutefois Fajardo et Albert Cabestany (Sherco Michelin).

Sur un parcours modifié au niveau de quatre des douze zones, Raga et Bou allaient se livrer un intense duel dimanche, terminant la journée à stricte égalité de points : 24 ! Départagés au nombre de zones franchies ‘à 0’ Raga s’imposait au final devant le champion du Monde, qui perd du même coup pour un petit point le leadership mondial. Cinquième et troisième, Takahisa Fujinami (Montesa Michelin) reste sur le podium provisoire, avec trois petits points d’avance sur Jeroni Fajardo troisième et quatrième ce weekend.

Classements :

Première journée : 1.Raga (ESP, Gas Gas) ; 2.Bou (ESP, Montesa Michelin) ; 3.Fajardo (ESP, Beta) ; 4.Cabestany (ESP, Sherco Michelin) ; 5.Fujinami (JAP, Montesa Michelin) ; etc….

Seconde journée : 1.Raga ; 2.Bou ; 3.Fujinami ; 4.Fajardo ; 5.Cabestany; etc… Championnat : 1.Raga, 70 ; 2.Bou, 69 ; 3.Fujinami, 59 ; 4.Fajardo, 56 ; 5.Cabestany, 49 ; etc….

Renet winner of ‘Le Trèfle Lozérien’ / Renet As de Trèfle

Already winner of the Trèfle Lozérien in 2011, Pierre Alexandre Renet (Husaberg Michelin) claimed his second success in this race, winning the event after three days of racing among more than 500 other riders. The reigning E2 World Champion had to fight during three days with Julien Gauthier (Sherco Michelin), finally defeated by only eleven seconds after fifteen stages!

It’s the first time in the long history of this race that the weather was so cold, and on Saturday morning the riders even discovered some snow on the race! This autumnal weather didn’t disturbed the event, scheduled on three days with five timed practice stages each day.

Winner of four stages on Friday, Julien Gauthier was the first leader of the race and ended the first day three seconds ahead of Pierre Alexandre Renet and nine seconds ahead of Emmanuel Albepart (Beta). Gauthier confirmed his great shape with another fastest time in the first stage on Saturday, but then Renet reacted and won the three next stages to come back in Mende as leader of the race on Saturday evening, even in Antoine Meo (KTM) won again the fifth stage. Starting the third and last day only five seconds ahead of Gauthier, Renet lost the leadership in the first stage as he conceded fourteen seconds to his rival! Jeremy Tarroux (Sherco Michelin) was the second winner of the day, but then Renet won the last three stages to secure the overall win. Gauthier finished second eleven seconds behind him, while Tarroux got the third position after his excellent ride on Sunday.

Results: 1.Renet (Husaberg Michelin) ; 2.Gauthier (Sherco Michelin) ; 3.Tarroux (Sherco Michelin) ; 4.Bourgeois (Yamaha Michelin) ; 5.Albepart (Beta) ; 6.Joly (Honda) ; 7.Deparrois (Yamaha) ; 8.Meo (KTM) ; 9.Larrieu (Husaberg Michelin) ; 10.Lebrun (KTM) ; etc….

Déjà vainqueur du Trèfle Lozérien en 2011, Pierre Alexandre Renet (Husaberg Michelin) signe son second succès dans cette classique, en s’imposant après trois journées de course et devant plus de 500 autres pilotes. Le Champion du Monde E2 en titre n’a toutefois pas eu la tâche facile, Julien Gauthier (Sherco Michelin) lui menant jusqu’au bout la vie dure et ne s’inclinant que pour onze secondes !

Jamais on n’avait eu aussi froid au Trèfle, la neige s’invitant même à cette fête de l’enduro samedi matin ! Ces conditions automnales n’ont toutefois pas influencé la course, disputée sur trois jours avec pas moins de cinq spéciales au programme de chaque journée.

Parti en trombe vendredi en s’imposant dans quatre des cinq spéciales, Julien Gauthier pointait au commandement à l’issue de la première journée, suivi à trois petites secondes par Pierre Alexandre Renet lui même suivi à six secondes par Emmanuel Albepart (Beta).

Si Gauthier poursuivait sur le même rythme samedi en remportant la première épreuve du jour, Pierre Alexandre allait répliquer en s’imposant dans les trois spéciales suivantes et en rentrant à Mende en leader de l’épreuve, tant bien même Antoine Meo (KTM) signait le scratch dans l’ultime spéciale. Avec seulement cinq secondes d’avance sur Gauthier l’affaire n’était pas gagnée, et Gauthier reprenait d’ailleurs la tête du Trèfle dès la première spéciale dimanche, Renet concédant pas moins de quatorze secondes !

Dauphin de Jeremy Tarroux (Sherco Michelin) dans la seconde spéciale, Renet allait finir la journée en trombe en s’imposant dans les trois derniers chronos pour remporter l’épreuve avec onze secondes d’avance sur Gauthier et quarante sept sur Jeremy Tarroux auteur d’une excellente journée.

Vidéos :

Jour 1 :

Jour 2 :

Jour 3 :

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Buy your ticket to Goodwood or Pebble Beach at RM’s Villa Erba sale

Ownership of the ‘right’ car brings you more than the car itself: it opens the door to unofficial membership of an exclusive club, potentially granting you insider access to the world’s greatest events. So which car might you select from RM Auctions’ 25 May Villa Erba sale as a possible ticket to the best gatherings? 

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Colorado Grand


Probably the least well known of our five events, but arguably the most worthy in that it generates some USD 300,000 each year for small Colorado charities, this five-day September tour covers 1000 miles through the Rockies and is solely for pre-1961 sports and race cars ‘of distinction’. This 1957 BMW 503 Cabriolet could well be the ideal mount, with its recently rebuilt 3.2-litre V8 suggesting it’s tough enough even for the Rockies. RM’s estimate stands at EUR 260,000 – 340,000. 

Auction listing in the Classic Driver Marketplace… >>

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Goodwood Festival of Speed


On 12-14 July, it’s time once again for that fabulous garden party that is the Festival of Speed, where style is (almost) as important as the cars on the famous hillclimb. Clearly, to stand even a chance of being invited to take part, you’ll need an extremely special car that – preferably – is more than a little bit rapid uphill. How about a 1927 Grand Prix Bugatti, said by RM to be “highly original and well-known”? Yours for EUR 750,000 – 1,000,000, if the estimate is accurate. 

Auction listing in the Classic Driver Marketplace…>>

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1000 Miglia


To be accepted for the annual Mille Miglia retrospective, you ideally want a car that has genuine provenance in Italy’s 1000-mile road race. You could hardly do better, then, than the 1947 Mille Miglia Cisitalia works team car – the 202 SMM Nuvolari Spyder – that finished fourth overall that year. Add to that the fact that this is a unique, all-steel prototype and that it was first raced by Cisitalia founder Piero Dusio, and RM’s estimate of EUR 450,000 – 550,000 seems more than reasonable. 

Auction listing in the Classic Driver Marketplace… >>

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Le Mans Classic


Another car with Mille Miglia history, this 1933 MG K3 Magnette would also be a contender for the Le Mans Classic, that wonderful series of historic races that take place throughout a 24-hour period, every two years. Boasting an extensive pre-War race history, the supercharged six-cylinder racing car was the Earl Howe Mille Miglia works team car in 1933; and, with an estimate of EUR 580,000 – 700,000, would surely stand an excellent chance of gaining entry to the 1000-mile retrospective, as well as to Le Mans, or perhaps to the Monaco Historique? 

Auction listing in the Classic Driver Marketplace… >>

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Pebble Beach Concours


And now for something a little different. When it comes to Pebble Beach, it’s not speed that counts, but sublime, exotic styling – the sort that makes onlookers stop in their tracks and stare. And few cars in the world would attract more attention than the 1930 Bugatti Type 46 Coupé Superprofilée, ‘La Petite Royale’, said by RM to be “Jean Bugatti’s most exotic coachwork design” with a “beautifully detailed interior in ostrich leather and walnut”. The Bugatti Royale’s little sister, at a (relatively) palatable estimate of EUR 840,000 to 1,000,000, could be just the job for a trip to the concours lawn. 

Auction listing in the Classic Driver Marketplace… >>



As potential buyers are no doubt aware, no car can ever guarantee entry to an invitation-only event such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed or Pebble Beach. We aim only to suggest the ‘right’ sort of car to be considered for an invitation.

Related Links All lots to be featured at RM Auctions' Villa Erba sale can be found in the Classic Driver Marketplace

Text: Charis Whitcombe (Classic Driver)
Photos: RM Auctions

Ad Hoc #3 Cagiva 350 “Poptah”

We saw this cafe racer from Ad Hoc motorcycles a month ago and chased David for a feature, but he quite rightly insisted on making us wait until he’d had these photos taken, and it was a good call. The bike looks fantastic.

Although it looks at first glance like a Ducati, the base for the build is an Alazzurra Cagiva 350, which you could describe as the little half sister of the Ducati Pantah, in fact they share a chassis and engine – apart from the displacement.

As with every Ad Hoc build the bike was completely dismantled, with brackets remade, as well as the usual modifications to the rear end of the chassis to support the cafe racer seat.

The tank is and NCR unit from Europlast. The seat was a find at a Classic Bike show, where David also picked up the tailpipe and rear view mirror.

She’s a stunning looking machine that looks like a trophy-winner, but believe it or not this bike was a budget build and has few changes it’s mechanics or chassis parts. Most striking is the paint scheme in bright bold lines and colours. Ad Hoc’s name for the bike; “Poptah”, refers to the bright colours but also to the 1980s pop era that spawned her.

See more builds from Ad Hoc Cafe Racers HERE on the Bike Shed, and on their Facebook pages.

Moto GP ; Successful Suzuki test for Randy de Puniet at Motegi

From Twowheelsblog

Randy De Puniet spent two days (last Thursday and Friday) at the Motegi circuit testing Suzuki’s new MotoGP machine after the Le Mans round and apparently it was a successful test according German website Speedweek.de - who has a ‘naked’ photo of the GSV-R, whilemotociclismo.es and mcn.com also have photos.

The Aspar rider wasn’t alone at Motegi as he was in the company of Davide Brivio who expected be the team manager for Suzuki’s MotoGP return and Tom O’Kane as his crew chief and race engineer for the test.

Honda and Yamaha test teams -Takumi Takahashi and Kousuke Akiyoshi for Honda - and Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Wataru Yoshikawa for Yamaha were also present, and De Puniet was faster than the four Japanese riders posting an unofficial lap time of 1.47.00, which was almost two tenths of a second faster than the Frenchman’s own qualifying lap at Motegi last year with the ART.

De Puniet will be back testing the Suzuki in Barcelona for the Montmelo post race test.

The above photo is De Puniet testing Suzuki’s 800cc bike at Valencia in 2011.

RENAULT TWIN’RUN CONCEPT CAR : THE CITY-CAR WITH A BALLS!

• POSTED BY MOTO VERSO

Renault is unveiling the Twin’Run at the 71st Monaco Grand Prix. The new concept car cultivates the sporting spirit of the brand and celebrates automotive passion by paying homage to the legendary R5 Turbo and Clio V6. Renault have made some of the most iconic hot hatches to date with the Renault 5 GT Turbo and the infamous ClioSport 172 and Williams editions. It looks like a bit of a fluffy city car that might even have a flower holder but when you look closer you start to notice the mid engine, no back seats and a huge 3.0 V6. Renault aren’t playing games with the Renault Twin Run Concept Car.

I can only hope that they put this into production, just look at it and when you fin out that it is a real racing car, features a tubular chassis lifted directly from motorsport competition and a mid-engine 320-hp V6 engine based on Mégane Trophy you’ll start dwelling. With a rear mounted engine the Twin’Run has everything that the old R5 Turbo rally car.

Twin’Run was developed with the assistance of Tork Engineering / Poclain Vehicules, a French firm specialised in the preparation of chassis for competition. The concept car is a real racing car that has benefited from that competition expertise. The bodywork in composite material covers a multi-tube steel chassis powered by a mid-engine engine derived from Mégane Trophy.

Twin’Run is fitted with the V4Y engine from the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which is used on the road for Laguna, Espace and Latitude but also used in competition with Mégane Trophy. Mounted longitudinally ahead of the rear axle centerline, the V6 3,498 cc power plant delivers 320 hp at 6,800 rpm and torque of 380 Nm at 4,850 rpm. The engine is full-bodied and generous from low revs, delivering linear acceleration and providing excellent traction around bends and in acceleration.

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The BikeShed Event

From Tim van Someren.

VIA SIDEBURN

Really nice video, but contrary to the dude speaking in the video, not all the bike shows are boring, EICMA for one is always brilliant. Some of it is more commercial yes, but it’s certainly not rubbish.

The bike shed event looks great, but it’s only one part of the massive sport / transportation / culture / industry that is motorcycling.

The markets already exist within which people are being marketed too and all the marketing does is let people know there are some new products out or let them know what new features the bikes have like new forks or ABS or whatever. People not only wait for but actually demand new features and information and it is often revealed for the first time at the big shows. These new features are usually (or always in the case of KTM) developed by people who ride, for people who ride, to make the bikes safer, or faster, or more comfortable, or fun, or more affordable, depending on the market.

Again, it’s a nice video with nice bikes, but the comment at the start of it is a little pretentious in my opinion.

The BikeShed Event from Tim van Someren on Vimeo.

THE 1 MOTORCYCLE SHOW in AUSTIN, TEXAS

Photos from codynutterphoto.com.

soirée télé ???