Retour sur la participation de 7 étudiants de Telecom SudParis aux 24h du Racing Kart de Cormeilles.

Les 3 et 4 mai derniers, sept étudiants de l’école Telecom SudParis ont eu la chance de participer aux 24 Heures du Racing Kart de Cormeilles aux côtés de Jean-Eric Vergne, pilote de Formule 1.

Préalablement sélectionnés au sein de leur école, ces sept veinards ont donc vécu une incroyable aventure humaine d’un week-end entier sur la piste du Nord de Paris. Tous amateurs ou novices, les futurs ingénieurs ont pu compter sur la grande expérience du pilote de la scuderia Toro Rosso pour organiser les relais et leur stratégie d’équipe. Egalement disponible entre deux relais, Jean-Eric Vergne a pu échanger au calme avec les étudiants et se mesurer à eux manette en main, sur Gran Turismo.

Au final, l’équipe formée par les sept amis a terminé 36ème de la course. Vous pouvez revivre l’incroyable week-end des sept étudiants de l’école Telecom SudParis en photos ou en vidéo ci-dessus ! 

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Rossi et Lorenzo en deuxième ligne / Rossi and Lorenzo on second row

Les pilotes du team Movistar Yamaha MotoGP partiront respectivement des cinquième et sixième positions au Monster Energy Grand Prix de France.

Valentino Rossi et Jorge Lorenzo ont manqué la première ligne au Mans, où les qualifications ont été extrêmement serrées derrière l’intouchable Marc Márquez et où les deux pilotes du team Movistar Yamaha MotoGP ont fini à un dixième de seconde de la deuxième place.

Rossi, qui partira devant son coéquipier pour la première fois de l’année, a commenté : « Je suis assez content, surtout après le désastre d’hier. Je n’avais pas pu piloter correctement mais aujourd’hui nous avons vraiment amélioré notre set-up et j’en suis satisfait. Je suis rapide, j’ai un bon rythme et de bons réglages. En qualifications nous avions le potentiel pour être en première ligne mais au final nous ne sommes pas mal placés. Je suis cinquième devant Lorenzo et Pedrosa et je pense que ce seront de sérieux adversaires pour demain. Márquez est aussi très rapide mais je peux me battre avec eux ! »

Lorenzo a de son côté affirmé : « La situation est à l’opposé de celle de Jerez. Ici nous avons un bon rythme mais nous n’avons pas pu faire de tour très rapide. Je n’ai pas fait de tour parfait et nous avons fini à un dixième de la seconde place. Pour la course, nous avons plus d’options que pour les épreuves précédentes et je vais essayer de finir sur le podium. Nous devrons faire attention aux premiers tours parce que tout le monde essayera de doubler mais je pense que nous pourrons être aux avant-postes si nous arrivons à maintenir notre rythme. »

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo will start Sunday’s Monster Energy Grand Prix de France race from the second row with Rossi in fifth and Lorenzo in sixth position.

An intense 15-minute qualifying session saw both riders hold provisional positions on the front row as the lap times tumbled, only to be denied in the last moments. Their final times on the second row were just a tenth of a second from second place.

Rossi stated, “I’m quite happy, especially after Friday which was a disaster. I wasn't able to ride the bike in a good way then, but today with my team we improved the setting a lot and I’m satisfied. I’m always fast; I have a good pace and a good setting so I like the bike. In the qualifying I had the potential to be on the front row but at the end it's ok like this.”

“I’m in fifth ahead of Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa and I think they will be great rivals. Marc Marquez is also very fast, but I can fight with them!”

Rossi’s teammate Lorenzo commented, “It’s been the opposite of Jerez, here we have good pace but we couldn't make a very fast lap time. I didn't make a perfect lap and just by one tenth I couldn’t be in second place. For the race we have more options than the last races so I’m going to try and finish on the podium. We have to pay attention in the first laps because everyone wants to overtake but I think we can keep our place and move up.

Moto GP, Le Mans : Márquez en pole pour la cinquième fois de suite / Marquez charges to fifth consecutive pole

Le Champion du Monde en titre a survolé les qualifications au Monster Energy Grand Prix de France et signé un nouveau record du circuit.

Sous un soleil radieux, Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) n'a pas perdu une seule minute en qualifications et a établi un nouveau record du circuit du Mans dès sa deuxième sortie en Q2, en 1'32.042, soit 0.605s de mieux que l'ancien record (Dani Pedrosa, 2008).

« Je suis très heureux d'être en pole et d'avoir autant d'avance sur la deuxième place, » a commenté le Champion du Monde en titre. « La course de demain va être intéressante parce que mes principaux adversaires, Dani, Jorge (Lorenzo) et Valentino (Rossi), ne sont pas en première ligne mais sur la deuxième ou la troisième. Je sais cependant qu'ils seront présents dans la bagarre et que nous devrons être préparés. Partir de la pole est un avantage, je vais essayer de capitaliser et, comme toujours, de me battre pour la victoire ! »

Son coéquipier Dani Pedrosa, récemment opéré d'un syndrome des loges à l'avant-bras droit, partira de la troisième ligne, en neuvième position.

« Je pilote de manière plus fluide ce week-end, en étant moins agressif en raison de ma blessure à l'avant-bras, et quand j'ai voulu attaquer pour améliorer mon chrono je n'ai pas réussi, » a expliqué Pedrosa. « Je crois que nous avons bien travaillé durant les essais, je vais essayer de prendre un bon départ parce que je suis assez loin derrière. Ce sera important de faire monter le pneu en température sur le tour de chauffe et d'essayer de doubler le plus de pilotes possible sur les premiers tours. »

After dominating the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France weekend so far, Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez recorded his fifth pole of the season - setting the fastest lap ever on two wheels at the Le Mans circuit.

Teammate Dani Pedrosa will start from the third row of the grid in ninth position after struggling somewhat in qualifying.

Marquez wasted no time to set a fast time on his first run in the sunny conditions of Le Mans. However, on his second exit of Q2 Marc bettered his own time by half a second and lapped the 4.185km circuit in a new record time of 1’32.042, which was 0.692 faster than anyone else, and beat Pedrosa’s record time from 2008 by 0.605s (1’32.647).

Marquez commented, "I'm very happy to be on pole and also with the gap between myself and second place on the timesheet. Tomorrow will be interesting as my main rivals - Dani, Jorge (Lorenzo) and Valentino (Rossi) - are not on the front row but on rows two and three. However, I know they will be there in the battle and we must be prepared. Starting from pole is an advantage and I will try to capitalise from it and give 100% - as always - to fight for the win!”

It was a tougher session for teammate Pedrosa who had been fast all weekend but was unable to push in hard qualifying. Despite being the fastest rider in the speed trap with a top speed of 309.7km/h, Pedrosa was only able to qualify ninth for tomorrow’s 28 lap race with a time of 1’33.023.

“I’m riding a little smoother this weekend and not so aggressive, due to my injured forearm, and when I wanted to push to improve my times I wasn’t really able to. I think that in general we have done a good job in practice and I will try to get a good start in the race, because I am very far back. It will be important to bring the tyre temperature up on the warm-up lap and try to overtake some riders in the opening laps,” said Pedrosa

Twenty Eight Feet: life on a little wooden boat

A short documentary about David Welsford, who has given up the luxuries of land in search for happiness and adventure on a 50 year old wooden boat he restored from a scrap heap. Featuring music from Bahamas, Acres & Acres and Ben Howard!

Vossen World Tour | Wörthersee 2013

It’s May and that means the event season is now in full swing. We’ve got some especially big ones going on this month with Wekfest in both Japan and LA, along with Wörthersee in Austria.

In this video from Vossen we can get a little idea of the craziness that goes down at Wörthersee every year. They will be back there this year, as well as at the two Wekfest events happening on both sides of the Pacific; and naturally we’ll be along to follow. In fact, Keith will be taking the Vossen-equipped KM4SH FR-S to Long Beach, Dino is tagging along with the Japan wing, and Bryn will be getting amongst the action in Europe.

We’ve been checking out the social media feeds and it looks like a lot of you are going to be at these events too, anybody got any plans we should know about? It’s going to be crazy, so buckle up and we’ll see you there!

Vossen Wheels

Circular X Kawasaki | Motorcycle Design Workshop 2014

Motorcycle Design Workshop is a one-week-workshop format with young transportation designers.
The aim of the course is to design a new bike for Kawasaki.

Circular X Kawasaki | Motorcycle Design Workshop 2014 from Circular on Vimeo.

Moto Guzzi ‘Retro Le Mans’

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There’s not many bike builders that would buy a brand new Moto Guzzi Griso just to cut it into pieces. But then there’s not many customizers that are as passionate about Guzzi’s as Stefan Bronold from Radical Guzzi. When it comes to building bikes, he really aims to put the “racer“ back into café racers. Everything on the bike is there for a reason and helps to achieve Stefan’s favourite word… performance.

The starting point for the ‘Retro Le Mans’ project was a simple question: What kind of bike should Moto Guzzi come up with to create a similar sensation as BMW with the R Nine T? A bike combining heritage and performance. For Stefan the combination of the modern 4 valve engine with it’s powerful punch and the classic Tonti frame was the perfect base for a contemporary Guzzi in the tradition of the Le Mans models.

The outcome is visually stunning, offering outstanding performance and handcrafted detail. The 1200cc engine was bored to 1450cc and delivers around about 120 – 130 HP. The chassis features a self made rear end, integrating a stabilizer that delivers a better performance than Guzzi’s stockl rear ends. Ohlins chassis components and a Ducati 1098 front fork further improve the bike’s road performance.

When asked what the most difficult part of the build was, Stefan had a hard time defining it. “Of course, the engine did not want to fit into the frame very easily” he says. He did eventually make the engine fit but there was no way of using the modern gearbox. So the ‘Retro Le Mans’ now sends its power through an adapted classic five speed transmission. Another headache was caused by the intention to do without the fuel injection in favor of carburetors. It meant adapting the round opening of the carburetor to the oval outlet of the Griso’s cylinders.

The custom designed mono shock in the rear took several stages of fabrication due to unexpected powers eating up the fixing plate. The list of trial and error solutions is a long one. It is truly amazing that a bike like this could be designed without the help of computers the good old fashioned way of a hands on approach.

The ‘Retro Le Mans’ is Stefan’s most ambitious custom project so far. Some of the parts developed in the 6 year building process are now part of Radical Guzzi’s catalogue. If you like what you see, check out the bike in action here – it helps if you speak a little German.

via PIPEBURN

JOEY SUBRIZI’S ROADGOING YZF 426

Images © Frank Bott. Check out Facebook page for more fine motorcycle photography.

BMW R60/5 ‘DUSTBEEMER’

If the name Séb Lorentz doesn’t ring a bell, it should. Séb is one of Europe’s most gifted bike builders, with an eye for a line and a willingness to break the mold.

He’s built two of our all-time favorite customs: a slammed Yamaha XS650 and the amazing Sprintbeemer—the BMW racing motorcycle that triumphed at last year’s Glemseck 101 sprint races.

Séb is now back with another aerodynamic BMW, but this time, it’s road legal. “I was a bit tired of all the naked cafe and Bratstyle-lookalike custom bikes coming from everywhere,” he admits. “So I decided to look for another direction. I’ve always been in love with streamliner design on one hand, and ‘lead sled’ custom cars on the other.”

Séb scouted around for a Moto Guzzi Eldorado or Ambassador, and then stumbled across this 1973 BMW R60/5. “I couldn’t refuse the Beemer because it was really cheap! I also thought it would be more fun to build a German gran turismo kustom bike.”

It’s a short wheelbase model sporting the famous ‘toaster’ tank, but Séb has fitted the engine from an R75/5 to get a few extra stout German horses. The exhaust system has been upgraded with classic Hoske mufflers and power goes to the road via a standard R60/5 gearbox with a short ratio rear end.

Custom parts include a one-off seat pan and new upholstery, which Séb describes as being “temporary but has lasted longer than planned.” The bars are from a US-spec Triumph T120, and are fitted with Posh grips.

The BMW R60/5 is normally quite a high-riding bike, so Séb has shortened the forks and fitted more compact shocks to lower it closer to the ground. But it’s the bodywork that grabs the attention, starting with the magnificent, all-enveloping fiberglass fairing, located by Atelier Chatokhine. The rear fender has been modified to take a 1933 Ford taillight with a grill, and the front fender—not that you can see it under the fairing—is a /6 BMW Police-spec fitment.

It’s the perfect custom for leisurely cruising around central Europe, and pretty practical as well—thanks to the authentic Wixom Ranger panniers. And if you get lost, there’s a little illuminated Hull compass to refer to, a popular post-War auto accessory and far more charming than a GPS unit.

Séb’s BMW R60/5 is probably less suited to long-distance touring than a slick new Honda VFR800, or an American V-twin. And it might not be the fastest bike in the world, either. But I know what I’d rather swing a leg over.

As the saying goes, it’s better to travel than arrive.

Images by Daniel Beres. Follow the adventures of Séb via the Lucky Cat Garage websiteand Facebook. ‘Dustbeemer’ will make its first public appearance at next month’sWheels & Waves show in Biarritz, France.

via 

Water-wafting: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed Collection

Rolls-Royce has unveiled a special edition ‘Waterspeed Collection’ Phantom Drophead Coupé in celebration of Sir Malcolm Campbell’s water speed record success back in 1939…

Revealed to a select group of customers at the former headquarters of the Bluebird Motor Company on the King’s Road, Chelsea, the Waterspeed Collection Phantom also illustrates the breadth of bespoke options available to Rolls-Royce buyers. Painted in ‘Maggiore Blue’ – a special colour that extends to the engine and takes inspiration from the Bluebird’s famous scheme – the Drophead also has its usual teak decking replaced with hand-beaten brushed steel, while the hand-painted coachline culminates in a Bluebird motif.

Inside, the subtle tributes to Sir Malcolm continue among the Windchill Grey leather and Abachi wood trim. One nice touch is the new interpretation of the familiar ‘Power Reserve’ dial, which sees the needle sweep into a yellow and blue zone when pressing on – much like Campbell’s K3 boat ‘going into the blue’ on full attack.

The Rolls-Royce Waterspeed Collection Phantom Drophead Coupé will be limited to 35 examples, each costing £435,000.

Photos: Rolls-Royce

You can find both classic yachts and Rolls-Royces for sale in the Classic Driver Market. 

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