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    mardi 29 octobre 2013

    THE RACER BY DP CUSTOMS


    Harley Custom Motorbike 3 The Racer by DP Customs
    DP Customs have a habit of consistently turning out some of the cleanest American customs you’ll find anywhere. They often have a vintage Formula 1 or motorsport influence which is hard not to love and this bike, called The Racer, is no exception.
    The Racer is based on a 2003 1200cc S Model Sportster, although the frame is obviously a new bespoke unit the suspension on the front end was maintained as was the stock fuel tank and wiring loom. The exhaust is a DP Customs unit and the seat, grips and throttle sleeve are all from Biltwell. The pegs were located in the Burly catalogue, the tires are Pirelli Night Dragons and all the paint work was done in house by the DP Customs team.
    The overall concept design of this bike was done by Andre Costa, he won a competition that was held on Local Motors with his vintage Formula 1 inspired hardtail Harley. You may not have noticed it yet, but take a look at that air intake on the right hand side, it’s immediately reminiscent of the air intake on many 1976 F1 cars including James Hunt’s Hesketh.
    If you’d like to see more from DP Customs you can click the links to see The MeleThe Super Sano Beach CruiserThe Top Fuel II and The Del Ray.
    If you’d like to visit DP Customs directly, you can click here.
    Harley Custom Motorbike 1 The Racer by DP Customs
    Harley Custom Motorbike 2 The Racer by DP Customs
    Harley Custom Motorbike 4 The Racer by DP Customs
    Harley Custom Motorbike 5 The Racer by DP Customs
    Harley Custom Motorbike 6 The Racer by DP Customs
    Harley Custom Motorbike Photograph The Racer by DP Customs
    Harley Custom Motorbike The Racer by DP Customs
    Image credits: Jed Strahm
    via SILODROME

    Introducing the Double Down RTR


    I’m really pumped to introduce everyone to our new Double Down Mustang RTR project, or perhaps I should say, experiment.  As most of you know, I introduced the Mustang RTR just a few short years ago. The RTR is all about performance, fun, and having looks that kill; just some of the things we always strive for. We try to push the limits and stray away from the norm whenever possible. It’s through those core values that we’ve built some fun project cars and feel we have created the most diverse Ford Mustang available; suitable for daily driving, drift, grip, and drag duties on the track by way of the adjustable suspension that comes on our Spec 2s.
    In just a few short years, we have broken a lot of barriers and opened a lot of minds to what is possible with the Ford Mustang that I love so much and it is just the beginning of what RTR plans to do in this world. This project is no different in the fact that we are once again straying from the norm and exploring a new territory by partnering up with Air Lift Performance to put their Mustang air suspension kit to the test. I know a lot of you are thinking, “If RTRs already have awesome suspension, why change it?” Well I don’t see anything wrong with a bit of exploration and a little fun sprinkled on top! You with me?
    Speedhunters_Air_Lift_RTR_Mustang-1
    This project came about very organically after I received a call from a friend at Ford who just so happened to take some hot laps in Air Lift’s R&D car at a local track day in Michigan. He was ranting and raving about how it felt. During that call I was rolling my eyes picturing the way low-riders and mini-trucks bounce all over the place, thinking my friend was out of his mind and there was no way it would work out on track. However, he was so adamant that I try it out, that I was intrigued to look into it a bit. I reached out to Brian at Air Lift via a phone call and after nerding out on all the details of this new technology, was very surprised at what they have developed. It seemed that on paper this might be the ‘be all and end all’ for those of us that were tired of ride height versus performance versus ride quality compromises. I organized some track time for Brian and I at Ford’s steering and handling course, knowing that in just a couple of laps of testing through all the challenges on that track I would know what we were working with. After a few laps of feeling the car and starting to push it pretty hard, my mind was blown with how this new technology handled what I threw at it. After the experience and further nerding out with Brian at lunch, my brain started to wonder what the limits of this new air suspension technology was. Can it… drift? Grip? Drag? Blast over speed bumps? Maybe even JUMP??? And also offer a good ride quality on the street? Those questions are what led us here and are the crux of this project. So we’re going to have some fun over the next year and find out!
    Speedhunters_RTR_Camden_Thrasher-2
    I swore to myself I would not have a car at SEMA this year – I just had too much going on and I really did not want to add to the workload. However, Rod Chong twisted my arm and I now felt challenged, which means I had to make it happen. Rod suggested that perhaps Keith Charvonia and I partner up to make it happen. I knew who Keith was from his incredibleKaiser project and thought it would be really cool to work with someone who also loves cars but normally plays in a different space. After a call to Keith, I quickly realized he would be a great person to work with to make this happen. We briefly went over the project and agreed to meet in person at Formula Drift Irwindale to finalize his portion of the build.
    Speedhunters_RTR_Camden_Thrasher-4
    By the time Keith and I met there, I had followed through on my responsibilities. I took a Mustang RTR Spec 2 that was born an automatic and converted it to a manual transmission, installed a Torsen differential, Exedy Stage 2 Clutch, and had a custom tune built for it, as well as installed RTR fender blisters. Keith and I did a walk around the Double Down RTR and came up with a game plan to complete everything in the short time before SEMA.
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR-4
    Prior to the car leaving Irwindale to make the trek to Arizona, we removed the slightly too big temporary wheel spacers in the rear, in order to not rip the fenders off.  This picture is a perfect example of how not to fit your wheels! It also shows you how far the fender blisters widen the car.
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-1
    Immediately upon his return to Arizona, the Air Lift Performance air suspension had arrived and it was go time!
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-8
    On the lift and ready for a new chapter in its life. A chapter in which it’s going to be used and abused!
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-2
    PRESENTATION MODE
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    While the Air Lift install is designed to be easily installed by a do-it-yourselfer in only eight hours, we obliged for the offer of the Air Lift team to fly out and help with the install. It never hurts to see the pros in action! Brian even uses an air ratchet, isn’t he fancy?
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-3
    Not only can the ride height be adjusted by the actual air, but there is adjustment on the shock body, similar to most coilovers to get the exact range you want.
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-4
    The air bag adjustment offers over four inches of adjustment from fully laid out to fully inflated front and back. Adjustable camber plates are included as well.
    Speedhunters_Air_Lift_RTR_Mustang-14
    In short, the installation is close to being as simple as a coilover install or a shock swap with the addition of installing a tank, one or two pumps, and some minor wiring and running of air hose.
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-6
    Fitting perfectly in the trunk like Keith is not required for the install.
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-7
    If you hadn’t noticed, the overall adjustment range of this set-up is massive. Having options is a good thing, especially given the crux of the project. The damping is 30-way adjustable; this adjustment and their proprietary valving is where I believe Air Lift has really figured it out. Having proper damping adjustment to work with the ‘spring’ rate variations the bags offer is key to performance. During our short test, I confirmed that adjustments DO make a difference in the way the car reacts. So many shock products claim damping adjustment these days and for many, the changes are negligible at best.
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-11
    Did I mention adjustment? This in-cockpit controller allows you to manually lower the front and back of the car or choose a previously defined height setting to cater to your needs.
    Speedhunters_Charvonia_RTR_Mustang-12
    With everything installed, it was time to see how low Double Down could go. Now if only driving like this was functional and fun…
    Speedhunters_RTR_Rotiform_BLQ-1
    Keith is still hammering away knocking out a few remaining details to get ready for SEMA. One detail is the arrival of our new Rotiform wheels. Not that Double Down doesn’t already look tough as nails rocking the RTR wheels, BUT the Satin Bronze three-piece Rotiform BLQs are going to look incredible. I’m really pumped on the project and look forward to having a lot of fun with everyone involved! If you make it to SEMA, stop by the Exedy Clutch booth and check it out!
    So what does everyone think? Can Air Lift’s performance air suspension be the end of compromises? I’m looking forward to finding out!

    EWC :Qatar back as EWC finale in 2014 / le Qatar de nouveau au calendrier en 2014


    The final round of motorcycling’s 2014 Endurance World Championship will take teams to Qatar in November.
    La finale du Championnat du monde d’Endurance (EWC) 2014 aura lieu au Qatar en novembre 2014.
    Although it didn’t feature on this year’s EWC menu, Losail (Doha) returns to the championship on November 15-16, 2014, when it will be the fifth and final round of next year’s series.
    Qatar had hosted the last round every November since 2007, but that tradition was broken in 2012 when the country held round two of the EWC in the scorching heat of June.
    It is not yet known whether it will be a six- or eight-hour race, but it will stand in for the round initially planned at Navarra, Spain, in May or June.
    The 2014 Endurance World Championship will feature five rounds.
    Absent du calendrier cette année, le circuit de Losail (Doha) recevra de nouveau le championnat du monde d’Endurance les 15 et 16 novembre 2014 pour la cinquième et ultime épreuve de la saison. Le Qatar accueillait depuis 2007 la dernière manche du championnat  en novembre. En 2012, le circuit qatari a rompu avec la tradition en organisant la deuxième course de la saison au mois de juin sous une très forte chaleur.
    Pour l’heure, on ne connaît pas encore la durée de l’épreuve, 6 heures, 8 heures ou plus. Le Qatar remplace l’épreuve initialement prévue en Espagne sur le circuit de Navarra au mois de mai ou juin. Le Championnat du monde d’Endurance compte désormais cinq épreuves.
    Calendrier du Championnat du monde d’Endurance 2014 :
    Samedi 26 et dimanche 27 avril France Bol d’Or (24 h) à Magny-Cours
    Dimanche 27 juillet Japon 8 Heures de Suzuka
    Samedi 16 août Allemagne 8 Heures d’Oschersleben
    Samedi 20 et dimanche 21 septembre France 24 H Moto au Mans
    Dimanche 16 novembre : Qatar

    1967 TOYOTA 2000GT



    Toyota 2000GT Side Profile 1967 Toyota 2000GT
    The Toyota 2000GT is one of those interesting cars from history that’s often forgotten as a result of the fact that only 351 were ever made. The design influences from both the Jaguar E-Type and Porsche 911 are both clearly visible in the shape of the 2000GT however the car possesses its own character and personality that set it apart when it was first shown in 1965 at the Tokyo Auto Show.
    Up until the release of the 2000GT, Japanese cars had been seen as economical, reliable automobiles that lacked the styling and spirit of their European and American counterparts. The 2000GT was set to change all of that forever.
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    Originally a Datsun/Yamaha joint effort, the styling for the car was kept top secret and dubbed “Project Z”. It was designed by Albrecht Goertz (a protege of stylist Raymond Loewy) and it showed enormous promise, sadly the project fell through though and in true Japanese fashion, the reason for the project’s failure was never made public.
    Toyota 2000GT Front 1967 Toyota 2000GT
    Shortly after Yamaha and Datsun walked away from the concept, Yamaha approached Toyota with Project Z and the two companies set to work tweaking the design into what we now know as the Toyota 2000GT (despite the fact that the cars were largely built by Yamaha).
    The chaps at Datsun were rumoured to be understandably annoyed at this development and so they took their own direction with the Project Z design, creating the car that would go onto be known as the Datsun 240Z.
    The surviving Toyota 2000GTs are now worth well in excess of $1,000,000 USD, their rarity coupled with their striking good-looks and impeccable drivability have made them the most expensive and collectible Japanese car of all time. If you’d like to bid on the original, unrestored example you see here you can click here to visit RM Auctions and view the full lot listing.
    Toyota 2000GT Back 1967 Toyota 2000GT
    Toyota 2000GT Detail 1967 Toyota 2000GT
    Toyota 2000GT Interior 1967 Toyota 2000GT
    Toyota 2000GT Engine 1967 Toyota 2000GT
    Toyota 2000GT 1967 Toyota 2000GT
    Toyota 2000GT Back End 1967 Toyota 2000GT
    Photo Credits: Michael Furman ©2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions
    via SILODROME

    Baja Chic: Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart’s ’94 Toyota PPI Trophy Truck is Awesome and You Can Buy It



    1994 TOYOTA PPI TROPHY TRUCK 015
    This ’94 Toyota PPI Trophy Truck was driven by Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer Ivan Stewart, known for tackling and wining entire desert races without a navigator or relief driver, as well as accumulating enough records and wins to fill the deserts he so deftly crossed, in a golden era of Toyota off road motorsport. And it’s up for sale at RKMCCA’s Charlotte Auction, to be held over October 31 to November 3.
    In this car, chassis 015, Stewart and Precision Preparation, Inc. (PPI) took four Baja 500 wins and a Baja 1000 win.
     1994 TOYOTA PPI TROPHY TRUCK 015
    At its heart is an aluminum 302 cubic inch V8 comprised almost entirely of custom bits, and which spits out over 550 horsepower via eight EFI throttle bodies. The power makes its way to the road via a custom PPI transaxle and 5-speed Hewland VGC 200 gear selection box. Making sure the wheels are touching the ground and able to deliver the grunt is a double A-arm suspension set up with custom PPI coil-overs and a mighty 22 inches of travel. If you do ever decide to slow down PPI rotors, Brembo calipers and Tilton master will make short work of your requests.
     1994 TOYOTA PPI TROPHY TRUCK 015
    The car’s been freshly restored by the team at TM1 Motorsports, comprising many of the same people who built the car in the first place, thoroughly documented and reviewed, and the car was even tested by Ivan Stewart himself when the build was completed.
    Head to RKMCCA’s website here for more info on this significant, race-ready and awesome machine, and for the full details of their Charlotte Auction.
    Via RKMCCA
    Images via RKMCCA
    1994 TOYOTA PPI TROPHY TRUCK 015
    1994 TOYOTA PPI TROPHY TRUCK 015
    1994 TOYOTA PPI TROPHY TRUCK 015
    1994 TOYOTA PPI TROPHY TRUCK 015
    1994 TOYOTA PPI TROPHY TRUCK 015
    via http://www.motorsportretro.com

    The EarthCruisers We Can't Have in the US



    If you haven’t noticed, Australia has an almost unfair amount of cool stuff. I’m not just talking about kangaroos, didgeridoos, or places like Coober Pedy. I’m talking about cool vehicles like the latest rigs from EarthCruiser. Last month they announced three new models, all built on Iveco platforms. They are––incredible. Officially, the three models are the Iveco Dual Cab, the 440T Single Cab, and the 360T Single Cab. All powered by Iveco’s 170 hp 3.0 liter 4-cylinder turbo diesel, they offer four wheel drive performance with maximum fuel efficiency. If the Iveco chassis doesn’t do it four you, earlier this summer they released their new FUSO Dual Cab. It would be nice to get those options here in the US, wouldn’t it?







    http://www.earthcruiser.com.au

    Become a hero! Competition spin-offs from the Market


    The rules of homologation have shaped some fascinating road cars over the years, with competition performance, technology and aesthetics brought straight to the streets. Although they were produced in relatively small numbers, the Classic Driver Market is full of notable examples…
    Thankfully, some of the most exciting competition series have required cars to be ‘production-based’: take the Group 3 Grand Touring category (which necessitated 250 GTO production), the GT1 class at Le Mans, or the famous Group B rally category of the 1980s. The rules resulted in ‘homologation specials’ of all shapes, sizes and configurations, but all with one thing in common: the quest to achieve the best possible performance, while meeting the legal requirements of the road – often by the very narrowest of margins.
    The process has given us some legendary competition cars reverse-engineered for the road, so here’s a selection of some of our favourites in the Market.
    Photos: Classic Driver Dealers, Ferrari, Daimler, Maserati, RM Auctions
    Ford RS 200 1986
    Market | Cars
    EUR 160 000
    Ferrari 288 GTO 1985
    Market | Cars
    P.O.R.
    BMW 3,0 CSL 1973
    Market | Cars
    EUR 64 716
    Maserati MC12 2005
    Market | Cars
    EUR 900 000
    Market | Cars
    P.O.R.