samedi 11 janvier 2014
Yamaha SR400 - Gasoline Custom Motorcycles
The most recent of Gasoline's two-wheel custom work, taking the title "Tomahawk", manages to transform one of the world's most popular motorcycles into a custom dream machine worthy of any garage. The Yamaha SR400 has been toyed and tampered many times before. It's an old favorite to work with, being one of Japan's biggest selling motorcycles for over three decades. So you'd think that the platform might just have been exhausted. If so, it looks like no-one has told these Aussies; they have pushed the boundaries to create a classic thumper with a streamlined, modern edge. At first sight the transformation looks deceptively simple, but peer deeper and you can see the beautiful details that has been included by the team in their East Sydney workshop, Gasoline Custom Motorcycles, run by Jason Gasoline.
Starting from the ground up, the wheels are clearly the outstanding feature that sets off the look for this build. Straight off a totaled Yamaha XS650 from a US motorcycle wrecker and based on the old-school red line BMX bicycle, these ‘tuffs’ have been powdercoated in a killer matt finish. They were then hugged with a set of 18" and 19" Shinko Trials tyres, which Jason says were strangely difficult to source in Australia and finished with black coated disc rotors, which resulted in a super tough look.
Taking the on-trend concepts of ‘recycle’ and ‘reuse’, the fabricated metalwork throughout the bike is inventive, stylish and purposeful by contrasting a scuffed, raw finish with a simple chrome headlight and a neat silhouette. The hand-fabricated rear seat base and tail spoiler has been thoughtfully placed to hug a LED shark tail light and accommodate the LED satin black mini-bullet indicators.
The thought behind the brake system was also reusable and rustic. This included sourcing calipers and master cylinders from the U.S. and Australia. What couldn't be sourced was either made with a clever improvisation of parts from Gasoline’s stockroom or cool finds from swap meets. The crew at High Tech Mufflers were instructed to fit a superb hand-crafted exhaust to hug the contour of the motorcycle, delivering a low, deathly rumble on the streets of Sydney.
The freedom of lightness, typically found on classic café racers, was achieved by stripping most of the heavy steel out of the rear-end and eliminating the ugly standard heavy exhaust. This starkness is typical of the very first café racers who realised that making bikes lighter also meant making them faster - something that never goes astray in the world of two-wheel customisation. And top to it off, the side stand gives you that awesome lean-over stance when the motorcycle is parked on the street. In fact, if it was any lower you'd probably have to turn it upside down to drain the sump.
And for those of you in or around Sydney, we'd strongly encourage you to drop by the Gasoline store. Jason's love of all things two wheeled makes for a pretty interesting way to pass the time; whether it be bikes, Vespas, fixies or even risqué 1960s velvet paintings, Jason's your man. Just tell him we sent you.
via PIPEBURN
Land Rover Freelander replacement spied with Range Rover styling cues
Should be significantly larger than its predecessor
The Land Rover Freelander has been around for what seems like an eternity but our spies have managed to snap new photos of its replacement.
Rumored to become part of the Discovery family, the prototype has an evolutionary design that borrows a number of cues from the Evoque and Range Rover Sport. The details are hard to make out but we can see sweptback headlights, an upward sweeping shoulder line and a sloping roofline. The crossover also has a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a dual exhaust system.
Land Rover hasn't said much about the crossover but it is expected to ride on an extended version of the LR-MS platform that underpins the Evoque. Reports have also indicated the model could use aluminum and composite body panels to reduce weight.
Engine options remain unconfirmed but the crossover is slated to use a new range of four-cylinder petrols and diesels that offer improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
The Freelander replacement could be introduced sometime later this year, so expect to learn more in the coming months.
1934 SCOTT FLYING SQUIRREL RACING MOTORCYCLE
This Scott Flying Squirrel Racing Motorcycle is a rather unique little beast, it has one of the last long-stroke, fixed cylinder head engines and it has one of the most unusual frame geometries that I’ve ever seen.
The Scott Flying Squirrel is fitted with a 498cc 2-stroke, single-cylinder engine that uses a unique water-cooled circulation method known as the thermosyphon system. It has a 3-speed transmission, a centrally positioned flywheel, twin inboard main bearings and a multi-plate clutch.
Interestingly, in 1929, The Scott Motorcycle Company won the Isle of Man TT with a Flying Squirrel – giving the bikes some serious pre-war street cred.
She’s due to hit the auction block with Bonhams at the Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais Auction in Paris on the 7th of February 2013, the estimated price of the Scott Flying Squirrel is $8,000 – $11,000 USD which puts it firmly into affordable ownership territory.
Images courtesy of Bonhams – 2013
JRM returns to rallying, and new Fiesta Cup / JRM revient en rallye… et nouvelle Fiesta Cup
The British outfit JRM has confirmed news of its official partnership with Subaru Tecnica International (STI). It has also revealed the new three-box Group N Subaru WRX STI it will develop in association with the Japanese make. Meanwhile, in the WRC, Ford Fiesta R2 fans will be able to compete in the new “Drive DMack Fiesta Cup”.
L’écurie britannique JRM a annoncé aujourd’hui un partenariat officiel avec Subaru Tecnica International (STI). Elle a révélé également la nouvelle Subaru WRX STI Groupe N trois-volumes qu’elle va développer conjointement avec la marque japonaise. En Mondial, les fans de la Ford Fiesta R2 pourront se mesurer au sein de la nouvelle « Drive DMack Fiesta Cup ».
It was in 2008 that James Rumsey acquired ADR Motorsport to found JRM. ADR had been active in the British Rally Championship for several years and was entrusted with Mitsubishi UK’s official participation in the series from 2004. This programme was continued by JRM who went on to claim the Teams’ title in 2010 with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
JRM has also built up a successful racing operation, with a presence in the FIA GT championship in association with Nismo, as well as in prototype endurance racing, including an appearance in the World Endurance Championship and at Le Mans in 2012 with an HPD-ARX LMP1 prototype.
This morning, it profited from the opening day of the 2014 Autosport International show in Birmingham, England (January 9-12) to take the wraps off a new project which will see it develop a new Group N Subaru.
The car in question is the first three-box Group N WRX STI of its generation to be seen in Europe and, according to the team, this architecture brings an advantage over the more familiar hatchback version in terms of aerodynamics, traction and balance.
The programme will be run from JRM’s premises in Daventry, England, and 2004 Production world champion Niall McShea has been recruited to take part in the project.
“I have happy memories of the time I drove the Group N Subaru in the world championship,” notes the 39-year old Ulsterman. “This car has a great deal of potential and I am delighted to be involved.”
JRM has not provided a precise timeframe or any details of a programme with the car, however.
Meanwhile, a new competition known as the Drive DMack Fiesta Cup has been created to run within the framework of the world championship. With Citroën and Michelin now nominated as suppliers to the Junior-WRC for the next two seasons, this will allow the fleet of Ford Fiesta R2 prepared by M-Sport to continue competing.
The inaugural series will be based on five rounds of the WRC, namely Portugal, Poland, Finland, Germany and France. For an all-inclusive price of £99,950 (a little more than €120,000), the aim is to be the sport’s cheapest WRC-based formula. Yet the top prize is even more mouth-watering than that proposed by the Junior-WRC, since a programme of seven WRC-2 rounds in a Ford Fiesta R5 awaits the winner in 2015!
En 2008, James Rumsey a racheté la société ADR Motorsport pour créer JRM. Depuis de longues années, ADR était engagée en Championnat britannique des Rallyes où elle a géré le programme officiel Mitsubishi UK à partir de 2004. JRM a poursuivi les activités rallye, décrochant le titre britannique Teams en 2010 avec une Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
JRM s’est également développée sur circuit, en FIA GT avec Nismo, puis en Endurance en catégorie prototype. JRM Racing a participé notamment au Championnat du monde d’Endurance 2012 et aux 24 Heures du Mans avec un prototype LMP1 HPD-ARX.
Aujourd’hui, à l’occasion du salon Autosport International organisé du 9 au 12 janvier à Birmingham, Angleterre, JRM a dévoilé un nouveau projet qui la verra développer une nouvelle Subaru en vue de son engagement en Groupe N.
Il s’agit plus précisément de la première WRX STI Groupe N ‘berline’ de sa génération en Europe et, d’après le team, cette carrosserie trois-volumes apportera un avantage sur les plans de l’aérodynamique, de la motricité et de l’équilibre général par rapport à la version ‘hatchback’.
Le programme sera géré à partir des ateliers de l’écurie à Daventry, dans le centre de l’Angleterre. L’ancien champion du monde Production (2004) Niall McShea a été recruté pour participer au projet. « J’ai de très bons souvenirs de la période où je conduisais une Subaru Groupe N en Championnat du monde, » souligne l’Irlandais du nord, 39 ans. « Cette auto a beaucoup de potentiel et je suis ravi de faire partie de l’équipe chargée de sa mise-au-point. »
JRM ne fournit cependant pas de planning, ni de détails d’un programme futur avec la voiture.
En attendant, une nouvelle série baptisée « Drive DMack Fiesta Cup » a été créée dans le cadre du championnat du monde. Citroën et Michelin étant désormais fournisseurs du championnat Junior-WRC pour les deux saisons à venir, les Ford Fiesta R2 préparées par M-Sport pourront ainsi continuer à concourir.
Cinq manches mondiales sont au programme cette année avec Portugal, Pologne, Finlande, Allemagne et France. Pour 99 950 £ (un peu plus de €120 000) tout compris, la formule se veut la plus abordable du WRC. Et la carotte est intéressante, plus intéressante que celle du championnat Junior-WRC puisque sept manches du championnat WRC-2 2015 sont offertes au lauréat sur une Ford Fiesta R5.
Ferrari LMP1 prototype spied testing in Europe
Ferrari LMP1 prototype spy photo / S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Due in 2015 or 2016
Our spy photographers have managed to take better shots of Ferrari's very possibleLMP1 contender.
The vehicle was spotted at a secret test track in southern Europe wearing a LaFerrari-like wide body with a huge rear wing. It also had more air intakes than the road-going supercar and featured an additional front lip. Moreover, the prototype was equipped with a different rear diffuser and a roof scoop, clearly indicating we are not dealing with a production model.
Not too long ago Luca di Montezemolo said something about a possible LMP1 return in the near future and this could Ferrari's weapon to triumph at Le Mans. Rumors are indicating the car will be launched for the 2015 or 2016 motorsport season.
Rock-hard and well-groomed: Five muscle cars from the Market
There is probably no other automotive genre that so authentically embodies the potential of a V8 engine as the powerful coupés and convertibles of the muscle-car era. We pick our five favourites from the Classic Driver Market...
Photos: Classic Driver dealers, RM Auctions
You can find plenty of other muscle cars for sale in the Classic Driver Market.
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