RALLYE MONTE-CARLO HISTORIQUE

 by News Classic Racing 

Déjà couronné à deux reprises en Principauté de Monaco, Le Belge José Lareppe, associé à Lieven David, remporte une troisième victoire, après une course très disputée, qui aura vu cinq équipages se succéder en tête durant les cinq jours de course.

Depuis 1h30 ce matin, sous un ciel zébré d’éclairs, les 257 rescapés de la 17e édition du Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique rangent leurs voitures sur le port de Monaco, là où se dressent, une fois par an, les stands du Grand Prix de Formule 1.

2e Petter Granerud-Stein Roed,

En attendant, ce midi, la publication officielle des résultats, et le traditionnel dîner de remise des prix à 20h30 dans la Salle des Etoiles du Sporting Monte-Carlo, tout ce beau monde va pouvoir profiter de quelques heures de repos bien méritées.

La Brabançonne (l’hymne belge) retentira ce soirpour la sixième fois en 17 éditions, la troisième pour José Lareppe, lorsque le rideau tombera sur la scène monégasque. L’équipage d’outre-quiévrain a toujours été aux avant-postes et a su mettre à profit son expérience pour placer son Opel Kadett GT/E en tête du rallye à cinq spéciales de la fin et gérer son avance jusqu’à la ligne d’arrivée.

Leur premier dauphin, le Norvégien Petter Granerud et son co-équipier Stein Roed, leaders au départ du quatrième jour, n’ont rien pu faire et placent leur Porsche 911 SC sur la deuxième marche du podium, complété par une autre Porsche,celle des Français Jean- Michel Coll et Marc Dedieu.

3e Jean Michel Coll-Marc Dedieu

De nombreux équipages se sont distingués tout au long de ces cinq jours de courses, à défaut de tous les citer, nous noterons principalement la superbe cinquième place de Morgan Aimé, qui vient juste d’obtenir son permis de conduire, et de son père Pascal, habitué de l’épreuve et deuxième en 2007.

Classement général final provisoire
1. José Lareppe/Lieven David Opel Kadett GT/E  1749 pts
2. Petter Granerud/Stein Roed Porsche 911 SC   +326 pts
3. Jean-Michel Coll/Marc Dedieu Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 +397 pts
4. Raymond Durand/Joseph Lambert Opel Kadett GT/E  +420 pts
5. Morgan & Pascal Aimé Autobianchi A112 Abarth +491 pts

6. Dirk Van Rompuy/Jens Vanoverschelde Opel Ascona 2000  +542 pts
7. Fabio Babini/Maurizio Torlasco Porsche 911   +623 pts
8. Tore Johannessen/Anita Sorsto Porsche 911T 2.2  +691 pts
9. Jean-Luc Hasler/Sylvain Blondeau Ford Escort RS2000 +724 pts
10. Raymond Horgnies/Christophe Hayez Porsche 911   +783 pts

A Guide to Vehicle-Attached Tents & Trailers

TOM MORR | WRITER

from http://www.fourwheeler.com

Kitchen-Sink Camping

The overlanding movement has made rural roughing-it downright civilized. Remote vehicular adventure has evolved from sleeping on seats to nearly Ritz-caliber accommodations. Innovative tents and camping trailers are rounded up here for your exploration. Some of these companies also provide turnkey expedition vehicles and even travel consultation.

Adrenalin Campers
The Adrenalin Blast is a hard-floor camper trailer made from folded aluminum. It has an adjustable independent air-ride suspension and a 360-degree off-road swivel hitch. The symmetrical tent accommodates up to 12 people. Standard features include a queen bed, a stainless sink, onboard powered water, and 12-volt outlets. ATVs, bikes, and kayaks can be towed on top.
Information: Adrenalin Campers
970.275.5566, www.adrenalincampers.com.

ARB
The Simpson III, ARB’s newest rooftop tent, is designed for the ultimate in ease and convenience. All bedding can remain inside the tent, freeing up storage space in the vehicle and allowing the tent to be quickly packed away. This updated design incorporates new materials for better strength, rigidity, and water resistance. Features include insect-screened windows and doors, a retractable aluminum ladder, and an integrated pullout veranda. A high-density foam mattress and UV-stabilized laminated PVC cover are included. Dimensions: 55 inches wide, 941⁄2 long, 51 high.
Information: ARB USA
866.293.9078, www.arbusa.com.

AT Overland
AT Overland’s Adventure Trailers feature proprietary independent trailing-arm air suspension. The Chaser model is targeted to technical 4-wheelers, featuring a low center of gravity and high ground clearance. AT says its first design, the Horizon, remains popular. AT also offers fuel can holders, storage systems, rooftop tents, refrigerators, and complete turnkey global-ready expedition vehicles and consultation services.
Information: AT Overland
877.661.8097, www.atoverland.com.

AutoHome
AutoHome has manufactured shelters since 1958. The tent shells are made from lightweight fiberglass or carbon fiber for four-season protection and comfort over the long haul. AutoHome rooftop tents have thick mattresses, gear storage space, a strong alloy ladder, and even LED lights on Maggiolina and Air Top models.
Information: AutoHomeUSA
888.852.2359, www.autohomeus.com.

Bivouac
Bivouac Camping Trailers manufactures lightweight, off-road utility trailers and camping trailers for outdoor adventure. BCT’s flagship is the M.O.A.B. Fort. It is self-contained and offers large-trailer amenities in a smaller package. Also, this trailer is marketed as more affordable than many other models. Specs: 10.2 feet long, 6 feet wide, 16 inches of ground clearance with 31-inch tires, 2,500-pound axles with brakes, 19.7 cubic feet of storage, 1,300-pound curb weight, 2,500-pound GVWR.
Information: Bivouac Camping Trailers
480.235.5557, www.moabaz.com.

Eezi-Awn
Eezi-Awn Rooftop and Trailer Tents have won awards around the globe over the past 30-plus years. The Series 3 and XKLUSIV rooftop models combine comfort with classic design and craftsmanship. The Globe Trotter trailer-based tents offer the same four-season tent characteristics at a lower mounting height.
Information: Equipt Expedition Outfitters
866.703.1026, www.equipt1.com.

Feather-Lite
The Front Runner Feather-Lite rooftop tent was designed in South Africa and Australia to be the next step in the evolution of rooftop tents. According to the manufacturer, it has the lowest profile on the market and is lighter than other comparable rooftop two-person sleeping solutions. Other features include a flysheet for unobstructed four-window views, durable 400D Oxford fabric, and hardware that mounts to common roof racks. Options include a retractable awning, a ladder extension, and a shower annex.
Information: Front Runner
818.253.1322, www.frontrunneroutfitters.com.

Four Wheel Campers
Four Wheel manufactures slide-in popup campers designed specifically for off-highway travel. They are engineered with reinforcements in several critical areas and designed to absorb the stresses, strains, vibration, and flex encountered in an off-road environment. Because they aren’t permanent, Four Wheel Campers are well suited for daily driven pickups.
Information:
Four Wheel Campers
530.666.1442, www.fourwheelcampers.com.

Hallmark
Hallmark Manufacturing has made four-season slide-in truck campers since 1958. Each is built to customer specifications based on a choice of four floor lengths. Custom building materials, appliances, electronics, lift systems, rack systems, solar systems, and fabrics are some of the choices. Customers control the weight of their campers using an à la carte options list. Hallmark offers full indoor shower and toilet systems in some models. Full- and midsize bodied trucks as well as 51⁄2-, 61⁄2-, and 8-foot bed lengths can be accommodated.
Information: Hallmark Mfg.
877.659.5753, www.hallmarkrv.com.

Ironman 4x4
The Ironman Luxury Rooftop Tent comes with an Annex. Features include a climate-cover flysheet, a popup window awning, waterproof ripstop tent material, a high-density foam mattress, a retractable ladder, and a waterproof PVC car cover. Setup is said to take less than eight minutes.
Information: Ironman 4x4
888.882.5531, www.ironmanm4x4.com.

James Baroud
This French company offers rooftop tents in different sizes and styles. The wedge-style Discovery model is rally-tested and supposedly sets up in five seconds using gas-charged struts. Included are a fiberglass shell, wind- and water-resistant tent canvas, a mattress, LED lighting, solar-powered ventilation, and a ladder.
Information: James Baroud
908.454.6973, www.jamesbaroudusa.com.

Kodiak
Kodiak Truck Tents attach to a pickup bed using a clamp-on rail design with an integrated 3⁄4-inch steel tube frame. Material is Hydra-Shied cotton duck canvas, chosen for its durability, water-resistance, and breathability. The tent has five windows, including one for cab access. Interior ceiling height is five feet.
Information: Kodiak Canvas
801.726.0243, www.kodiakcanvas.com.

Moby1
Moby1 makes custom teardrop-style trailers for off-road adventurers. The top tier is the XTR, available in two widths: 54-inch double bed or 60-inch queen beds. Features include high ground clearance, a coil-spring independent trailing A-arm suspension, and adjustable Rancho shocks. Standard items include a propane cabin heater, A/C, a vent fan, a sunroof, tankless hot water, a shower, a sink, a sound system, a combination fridge/freezer, and 36 gallons of fresh water. Available enclosable awnings and several rooftop tents increase capacity from solo/couple to a family of six or more.
Information: Moby1 Expedition Trailers
801.872.4054, www.moby1trailers.com.

Phoenix Campers
Phoenix Campers are custom-made and sold factory-direct. Tested in the Rocky Mountains, Phoenix Campers are engineered to complement trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. From a Jeep Wrangler popup to self-contained F-550 and Unimog flatbed/chassis-mount living units, Phoenix strives for innovative, extreme-performance camp units.
Information: Phoenix Pop Up/Coyote RV
303.286.3921, www.phoenixpopup.com.

Rightline
Rightline Gear’s SUV Tent With Screen Room lets you sleep off the ground in the comfort of your own vehicle. The water-resistant tent with tape-sealed seams connects to the back of any SUV, minivan, wagon, or pickup truck with cap. The bug-free screen room facilitates eating, playing games, or reading. The “alligator clamping sleeve” easily disconnects from the vehicle, allowing you to leave the tent behind at the campsite. Overall dimensions: 15 feet long, 8 wide, and 6.7 high.
Information: Rightline Gear
888.685.GEAR, www.rightlinegear.com.

Sportz
The Sportz SUV 84000 Tent wraps around the cargo area of your vehicle, allowing you more access for sleeping space or storing gear. No more unzipping and zipping the tent doors and opening and closing vehicle doors to get something you need from your vehicle. This 10x10-foot tent boasts 7 feet of headroom, sleeps five to six people, and has a 7x6-foot floorless screen room attached for bug-free relaxation.
Information: Napier Enterprises
800.567.2434, www.napieroutdoors.com.

So-Cal Teardrops
So-Cal manufactures handmade teardrop trailers for on- and off-highway travel. The Krawler model has a powdercoated frame built of 2x3x0.120-wall steel tubing. The 3,500-pound axle has 10-inch electric brakes. Suspension is Old Man Emu leaf springs and nine-way-adjustable Rancho RS9000XL shocks. The Krawler’s cabin is built with a reinforced Baltic birch rib system, and the doors are double-sealed. Amenities are customized to the owner’s needs.
Information: So-Cal Teardrops, 909.982.1199, www.socalteardrops.com.

Tepui
The Kukenam rooftop tent is a three-person unit made from 600D ripstop ventilate-coated material. The A-frame design offers headroom to fully sit up on the 21⁄2-inch-thick mattress. Doors and windows have mosquito netting. The Kukenam comes with universal mounting brackets that attach to most roof racks or aftermarket roof bars. The tent includes an 8-foot 6-inch telescoping ladder.
Information: Tepui Tents
800.301.9874, www.tepuitents.com.

Thaler Design
Thaler’s Jeep ActionCamper is designed for two-person expeditions. The slide-up roof with insulated hard walls offers up to 6 feet 3 inches of clearance. All windows are insulated. The roof has a panorama window and recesses for two 120-watt solar panels. The camper can be taken off the Jeep in minutes.
Information: Thaler Design
435.224.3807, www.actioncamper.info.

VMI Offroad
VMI makes lightweight expedition and overlanding trailers—both production models and built-to-spec versions. VMI Xtender trailers are made from high-tech marine and aerospace aluminum materials. Features include a 3,500-pound solid axle, a 3-cubic-foot locking tongue toolbox, and a swing-away spare carrier. Many option and accessories are available, as are rooftop tents and complete expedition vehicle conversions.
Information: VMI Offroad
360.224.2109, www.vmioffroad.com.

Wild Boar
The Camper Case and Bushwagon are two pop-up camping creations distributed by Wild Boar Products. Both are designed for comfort and ease of use. The Camper Case (shown) is a rooftop camper that reportedly goes up in less than 20 seconds. The Bushwagon is a tow-behind tent trailer designed for off-road use. Both are constructed of honeycomb fiberglass and 600 Denier tent material.
Information: Wild Boar Products
888.998.1980, www.camp-n-case.com or www.bushwagon.com.

XP Camper
The XPCamper is engineered to be a popup overlanding solution: convenient, compact, and easy to drive. The base vehicle needs a minimum 2,000-pound payload capacity. A hydraulic system raises the roof 3 feet to provide 61⁄2 feet of headroom. Seamless exterior construction is made from carbon fiber and Kevlar. Kitchens are standard; each camper is built to order.
Information: XPCamper, 415.672.1504, www.xpcamper.com.

Live the legend: Shelby FIA Cobra resurrected 50 years on

Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney and Ken Miles. They’re all racing superstars who helped pilot the legendary Shelby Cobra to immense success in the Sixties. And now you can drive in their tyre-tracks, with the exclusive, factory-built continuation of the 289 FIA Cobra…

It’s been 50 years since Carroll Shelby introduced the Ford-powered FIA Cobra and, to commemorate the occasion, Shelby American is releasing a limited edition continuation of the car, held to be among the most important in American racing history.

Authentic (and undeniably cool) features such as the period FIA livery, black original-style wheels with knock-off hubs, and widened front and rear wings have all been retained, while integral components have been upgraded to contemporary standards in the name of safety and performance – the brakes and chassis, for example.  

Offered with either a glassfibre or a slightly lighter aluminium body, each of the 50 ‘Viking Blue’ 289 FIAs – internally dubbed the CSX7000 – will be delivered as a rolling chassis. Choice of powertrain is up to you, though we’d stay true to the original and plump for a 289 Ford unit ourselves, with which the car weighs a mere 952kg or, in other words, the lightest Cobra ever built. Incidentally, each car is fitted with a complete side-exit exhaust system for the Ford V8. 

Dropping a powerful American engine into a small, lightweight chassis was a stroke of genius on Shelby’s part, allowing his small Southern Californian shop to take the fight directly to the likes of Ferrari, Jaguar and Chevrolet, across two different continents. The tried-and-tested formula has been imitated by manufacturers the world over ever since. 

Prices start at $94,995 for a glassfibre car, while the aluminium body will set you back $159,995. An iconic shape, a distinctive noise, incredible power-to-weight and exploitable, dynamic handling – the 289 Cobra is every bit as enticing today as it was back in 1964. And if that isn’t enough to tempt you, each car will also be documented in Shelby American’s ‘World Registry’, so there will be a notable absence of critics when it comes to authenticity. The Cobra legacy is safely intact; long may it continue. 

Photos: Shelby American

Classic Cobras can be found for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

1974 Honda CB550K 'Lucy' by Hot Sake Cycles

This pretty little thing is named 'Lucy' and she is the 15th café racer built by Hot Sake Cycles in Orlando, Florida. We were surprised we hadn't heard of them before, but that's probably because ‘they’ are actually a single guy named Shannon Hulcher who builds these professional-looking bikes in his spare time. By day he works as a biology teacher who dissects frogs to show kids how the body works. By night, he dissects motorcycles to show the rest of us how to build a café racer. "I don't have a professional shop" says Shannon. "Lucy is a culmination of skills I've been developing over the years". I wanted to build an ultra light weight bike that would be fun to ride. The whole goal was to make it as light as possible" he says. He started the build with no deadline, but then Cafemoto Orlando asked him if he could finish it for the AIM Expo. With the show only one month away, Shannon got to work.

The build started when Shannon found the perfect donor bike – a stock standard but running CB550K. He started by stripping the bike down, and like most café racers, removed everything that wasn't needed. The frame was modified, detabbed and a rear hoop was fabricated.

The stock 550cc SOHC inline four engine was reconditioned and then tuned. The stock carbs were replaced with performance Keihin 26mm units. The standard pipes have been swapped with 4-into-1 ceramic coated witha stainless shorty muffler that gives the bike a nicer look and a much better bark.

The original CB550 tank has been traded for a Legendary Motorcycles Lyta Sprint tank. To match the lines Shannon hand made a fiberglass seat that sits perfectly with the tank. He also made some special features that aren't as obvious as the tank and seat. "My favorite piece is the one no one ever sees" says Shannon. "The carbon fiber battery tray. I was charging the battery in my GSXR when I got the idea – plastic battery trays weigh less."

For a smoother ride, the old shocks have been ditched for 13.5” remote reservoir alloy shocks. As for the front and rear wheels, Shannon chose Lester mags – 19" X 2.15 on the front and 18" on the back. And the front and rear fenders have been custom made from carbon fibre to make them as light as possible. The headlight is a 7" light from our friends at Dime City Cycles and the tail light is an LED unit.

Shannon struggled to complete the build in a month, with a young family and only working on it part time he was lucky to finish it in time for the show. He was actually still working on the bike at 2am the morning before. "Building the bike was a blur" says Shannon. "I guess that's what happens when you build a bike in a month and you have a day job. But the response to the bike has been overwhelming."

[Photography by Eric Runyon]

via Pipeburn

Contest Cafe Racer of the Year