WRC ; Ogier égale McRae ; Ogier goes level with McRae

Grâce à une 25e victoire mondiale obtenue au Rallye Monte-Carlo 2015, Sébastien Ogier rejoint l’icône écossaise Colin McRae au palmarès du WRC. Sébastien Loeb, quant à lui, porte son score à 905 épreuves spéciales remportées. 

Il n’est pas faux, ni vexant, d’affirmer que le retour de Sébastien Loeb en WRC a donné un sérieux coup de boost à cette 83e édition du Rallye Monte-Carlo. A voir les milliers de spectateurs au bord des routes et les attroupements autour du nonuple champion du monde tout au long du rallye, on se demande encore comment les marques Citroën et/ou DS peuvent se passer d’un Loeb en WRC en termes d’image et de communication…

Au niveau des performances, Sébastien Loeb n’est pas mal non plus (leader jusqu’à l’ES7, 5 meilleur temps) et ceux qui doutaient de sa compétitivité après 18 mois d’absence en rallye sont désormais rassurés… même si le résultat final (8e) est son plus mauvais à Monaco où il n’avait jamais fini au-delà de la 2e place au volant d’une WRC !

Mais le grand vainqueur de ce Rallye Monte-Carlo long, difficile, piégeux, est évidemment Sébastien Ogier, malgré une position bien inconfortable et inédite pour lui -  sans splits, le double champion du monde a roulé « en aveugle » jusqu’à dimanche –. Seb a roulé très fort sur les spéciales du Champsaur pour prendre la tête de l’épreuve, après avoir « reçu » 30s9 dans l’ES1 et 15s dans l’ES3 par son rival. A partir de l’ES8, Ogier a pu dérouler jusqu’à l’arrivée pour remporter sa 25e victoire mondiale. Il égale le record de feu Colin McRae et talonne El Matador Carlos Sainz.

De son côté, Volkswagen signe un triplé historique à Monte-Carlo, où seules quatre marques avaient réussi cet exploit depuis 1973 (Alpine-Renault en 1973, Lancia en 1976, Audi en 1984 et Citroën en 2003). Jari-Matti Latvala et Andreas Mikkelsen n’ont signé aucun meilleur temps, mais ils ont profité des infortunes de Tanak (sortie ES10), Evans (touchette ES11), Bouffier (sortie ES2), Kubica (pb électriques et trois sorties)… pour monter sur le podium. Mads Ostberg et les deux pilotes Hyundai i20 WRC, Neuville et Sordo, ont également bénéficié de ces faits de course pour conclure aux places d’honneur.

La nouvelle Polo R WRC 2015 a donc frappé fort pour ses débuts en course. Mais on a pu constater que les évolutions apportées à la DS3 WRC (8 meilleurs temps sur 14 spéciales) ont permis à Loeb et Meeke de suivre le rythme sur ce terrain si particulier. Qu’en sera-t-il sur neige et sur terre ? En parlant de Suède, les trois VW vont ouvrir la route jusqu’au dimanche, soit 260 km chronométrés…

Du côté des privés, Sébastien Chardonnet (DS3 WRC) a connu un rallye difficile avec deux sorties de route. Henning Solberg (11e, Ford) n’avait plus roulé sur asphalte depuis 2012 et a rendu une prestation sans faute. Discret lui aussi, Martin Prokop (Ford) a terminé dans le top-ten.

Michelin a remporté son 24e Rallye Monte-Carlo depuis 1973. Pour affronter la glace, la neige, le givre, l’humide et les routes sèches de cette 83e édition, toute la gamme de pneumatiques hormis le Pilot Sport H4 (hard) a été utilisée.

Sébastien Ogier’s 25th world class win on Sunday in Monte Carlo takes him level with the late Scottish legend Colin McRae. Sébastien Loeb has taken his score of WRC stage victories to 905.

It has to be admitted that Sébastien Loeb’s presence provided the 83rd Rallye Monte-Carlo with a big boost. You only had to see spectator numbers and the crowds that formed round the nine-time world champion throughout the event to understand how popular he remains. He is still very much a valuable asset for Citroën in the WRC in terms of image and communications…

The Frenchman is still extremely competitive, too, since he led up to SS7 and posted five fastest stage times to reassure those who doubted his ability to bounce back after an 18-month absence from the championship. That said, eighth place was his worst ever Monte Carlo result since he had previously never finished any lower than second in a World Rally Car!

The big winner in the Principality at the end of the long and treacherously complex event was, of course, Sébastien Ogier who had to cope with running first on the road for the majority of the event. He also had to live without ‘split times’ for the first time. Even so, he succeeded in easing into the lead in his home valley after being beaten by his rival by 30.9s on SS1 and by 15s on SS3. Once in front after SS8, however, he was able to cruise to his 25th world class victory which takes him level with the late Colin McRae and not far behind Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen monopolised the podium in Monte Carlo, an achievement accomplished by just four other makes: Alpine-Renault (1973), Lancia (1976), Audi (1984) and Citroën (2003). Neither Jari-Matti Latvala nor Andreas Mikkelsen won a stage but they benefited from the misfortunes of Tanak (accident, ES10), Evans (accident, ES11), Bouffier (accident, ES2), and Kubica (electrical problems and three accidents) to claim second and third places. Mads Ostberg (Citroën) and Hyundai i20 WRC drivers Neuville and Sordo finished in the wake of the VW trio.

The 2015-spec Polo R WRC won out of the box, but the latest version of the DS3 WRC notched up eight fastest times from 14 on this highly specific event. We will soon see how it performs on snow and dirt. Talking of Sweden, the VW drivers will be first on the road on Friday and Saturday (260 competitive kilometres).

Privateer Sébastien Chardonnet (DS3 WRC) had a tough week (two crashes) but Henning Solberg (11th, Ford) didn’t put a foot wrong on his first asphalt event since 2012. The consistent run of Martin Prokop (Ford) was rewarded with a top-10 finish.

Michelin tyres claimed their 24th Rallye Monte-Carlo success since 1973.

Road Hunter episode 2: Austria. Faaker See and the Finkenstein castle

Second episode of the "road hunter", the new format produced by DMD Helmet. In every chapter DMD bikers invite our road hunter to share a drive with them. This time Marco take him in a nice road around Faaker See in Austria during the Faaker See european bike week. Who is gonna be the next? 

Naked Speed: Meet Bryan Fuller

Wednesdays 10pm | 9pm central on Velocity. Master builder Bryan Fuller and motorcycle journalist Mike Seate provide an insider’s look into the craft and culture of motorcycles. In each episode, Bryan and Mike discover top builders from all over the world, join them in stripping down bikes to bare metal and then highlight their transformation into fast and stylish, race-ready machines. From cafe racers, to street fighters, to land speed bikes, they tackle some of the most challenging builds.

The Typhoon - Old Empire Motorcycles

The Imperial Collection is restricted by one rule ‘design without compromise’. The bike is developed organically as the build progresses without a predetermined layout or time scale. The result is beyond limits, without compare, just pure motorcycle.

Arizona auctions reveal new trends for 2015

Each year, the Arizona auctions offer us an early look at the forthcoming trends in the classic car market. We’ve analysed the results from the sales held by the ‘big three’ – here are our findings…

As expected, Bonhams and RM both achieved the largest single lot results of the Arizona sales with their ex-Scuderia Filipinetti Ferraris, achieving $9.4m and $9.6m for their 275 GTB/C and 250 LM, respectively. RM also achieved two world auction records for Ferraris, with a 275 GTS and a 288 GTO fetching a corresponding $2.37m and $2.75m, while Gooding sold its headline lot – a LWB Cal’ Spider – for $7.7m.

However, success was by no means across the board for all Ferraris: 275 values in particular look to have plateaued for now, perhaps simply down to no fewer than six being offered across the Arizona auctions. That said, it appeared modern, limited production Ferraris might be an emerging trend to watch in 2015, as one of our market experts suggested it might a few weeks back: RM sold a 575 America for a heady $517,000, with Gooding doing well to fetch $286,000 for a 360 Challenge Stradale.

Keep searching those barns!

It appears the cachet of the ‘barn-find’ rings truer than ever in 2015, which will no doubt delight Artcurial ahead of its Rétromobile auction in a few weeks. Despite stuttering prices for Dinos in Arizona, Gooding commanded a healthy $418k for a not-so-healthy 206, also selling a dilapidated 356A Speedster for $484,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $275,000-375,000. It starts to get a little absurd, however, when a ‘barn-find’ Cobra sells for $979,000 – just $100,000 less than a good example that, unlike the former, still wears its original paint.

On face value, it appeared two of the auction house catalogue must-haves – the Porsche 2.7 RS and Mercedes 300 SL – have slowed following last year’s price surges. Neither of the 2.7s could attract bids beyond their reserve prices, but the Mercs were perhaps caught out by over-enthusiastic estimates: on average, the total prices have risen slightly since 2014, but the majority still sold below their middle estimates. According to Robert Johnson of Classic & Sports Finance, this trend was reflected across the Arizona sales: “Although the auction houses will be happy with average sell-through figures of 90%, there’s a lot to be said of the amount of cars selling below or in the lower half of their estimate windows. Across last year’s auctions, this figure remained constant at 40% – at Arizona this was more like 65%.” Johnson also points out an increase in price separation of the very best examples of any given model; it seems buyers are becoming even more particular about provenance.

Photos: Bonhams / Ben Majors © 2015 courtesy RM Auctions

Bonhams Top 10 results

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione - $ 9,405,000
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe - $1,375,000
1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster - $1,237,500
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 - $1,017,500
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster - $902,000
1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta - $748,000
1938 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster - $671,000
1914 American Underslung 646 Five Passenger Touring - $528,000
1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Coupe - $511,500
1948 Automobile Shippers Special Indy Roadster - $473,000

RM Auctions Top 10 results

1964 Ferrari 250 LM - $9,625,000
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 - $3,657,500
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider - $3,300,000
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB - $2,750,000
1984 Ferrari 288 GTO - $2,750,000
1966 Ferrari 275 GTS - $2,365,000
1971 Lamborghini Miura SVJ - $1,897,500
1962 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II - $1,705,000
1965 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS - $1,650,000
2005 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione - $1,622,500

Gooding & Company Top 10 results

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider - $7,700,000

1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe - $4,070,000

1968 Ferrari 330 GTS - $2,420,000

1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6 - $1,980,000

1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso - $1,925,000

1959 BMW 507 Series II - $1,815,000

1988 Porsche 959 Sport - $1,705,000

1965 Ferrari 275 GTS - $1,595,000

1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster - $1,567,500

1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S / 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra - both $1,155,000

BSMC GEAR GUIDE #44

Finally we managed to find something from Malle we thought didn’t exist – cool panniers. Not content with that we’ve bought you a classic collaboration between two great British brands Norton and Clarks, some turquoise gorgeousness from Bell, and a tough functional pack from Ally Cappelino. All in this week’s Gear Guide.

PRODUCT REVIEW BY THE BIKE SHED’S VERY OWN NEARLY CANADIAN – TIMM WELLENS – MALLE JOHN TOOL BAG/PANNIER

There are loads of companies out there trying producing stuff for everyday punters with the intention of innovation and quality. Most of the stuff is dreamt up based on one man’s vision, but often only is intended for himself. The guys at Malle are doing something very special with what they create. Their thing is bags. Not handbags, but proper bags to carry stuff, inspired by trade hold-alls from an era gone by.

Based on a show they did with DeBolex in London, I got their John Tool Bag. It’s a good sized bag, not too big that it’s bulky, not too small that it only fits a pair of gloves. Like a Goldilocks bag one might say. On first impression the thing is amazing. It is made of a heavy waxed canvas with leather base and trim. Apparently the cotton lining is organic. So it’s got that going for it.

The big thing about it is the details. There are several pockets inside, in different sizes to carry various things. I use it for work, so it neatly stores my ipad, cables, notebook, pens and change of clothes. It fits everything neatly inside with easy access without having to remove half the contents to find your bloody pen. Some like the ‘one bag’ thing, I say life is too short for searching.

It has discrete straps that turn the bag into a pannier, simply by fastening to the rear sub-frame, so no longer do you need break your back carrying your crap to work.  Another clever idea is that it goes from a backpack to a shoulder carrier by use of the same strap. Maybe this has been done before, but I haven’t seen it. And the part that gets me most is the opening. They have used the old doctors bag mechanism so you open the bag and it stays open. With the heavy duty construction and robust leather base you stand the bag up, open the top and go in grab what you need easily without struggling to try and keep it open. I like the way these guys think. They really have thought of everything. The bag comes in three different configurations.

If you are looking for a stylish, well thought out bag that is top quality, contact these guys. I am sure that you will be as happy me.

http://mallelondon.com/product/john-tool-bag/

CLARKES NORTON ZIP BOOT

Two of the UK’s most iconic brands collaborate on an exciting new range of built for business mens biker-styled footwear. Clarks have been making shoes in the UK since 1825 and with their distinguished heritage in the art of shoemaking, benchmark innovations and a passion for cobbling, they have created enduring classic styles. Similarly, Norton have designed and engineered some of the most iconic and innovative machines in motorcycling history – the Manx, the Dominator and the legendary Commando. Given the ‘national treasure’ status of both brands and our their obsession with function and form, it was only natural that a fruitful collaboration should arise – and, what a stunning collaboration this is.

The Norton Zip is a classic high rise boot to be worn over jeans or leathers. They have a calf length over 4cm taller thantheir popular Norton Brass engineer style and are made from thick, hardwearing black leather with double buckle fastenings and a rear zip finishing the look. An Ortholite® footbed cushions and wicks away moisture, while reinforced gear change toe panel detailing and a Goodyear Welted construction enhance the engineered aesthetic.

These have a classic cafe racer look, but with a modern twist. They are a tough boot, and will look after you well through the bitter winter months.

http://www.clarks.co.uk/p/26103105

REVIEW BY THE BIKE SHED LEGEND KNOWN AS ‘LITTLE BIG NOISE’ – AKA VIKKI VAN SOMEREN  – ALLY CAPPELINO FRANK BAG

When I was asked if I’d be up for testing out a new bag (after moaning for months that I needed a new rucksack) I finally received my first Ally Capellino bag. To be honest, I hadn’t heard of them before and I looked at it thinking, “Umm nice bag, but way to square and big for my little back!”

I really thought that it would be pretty useless for my small frame, I was giving Gareth the evil eye every time he came round showing of his slender version of the same bag.

I finally took it for a road test, well actually it was an over night trip to Paris to recce the BSMC venue. To mine and Dutch’s delight, I could fit all my crap in it: my overnight clothes, make up, spare trainers, laptop and cables! Yes fellas, it fits loads of stuff, but the real surprise was how comfortable it was on my back. Somehow, despite being wide and full of stuff, the load was spread evenly and easy to wear. I should know I lugged it around Paris for a day!

The bag also works well on the bike too, the straps are positioned perfectly, so it doesn’t move around nor restrict movement. There are no straps to tuck away and again, despite being full with my laptop and gym kit, it was still comfy.

So a bit about the bag, it’s British, its called Frank and its waxed cotton – how ironic. With a quirky heritage dating back from the early 80’s and a renegade from the outset, founder Alison Lloyd’s debut collection of T-shirts based around the 1980 Moscow Olympics scandal caused a stir. Since then she has been a constant on the scene, working with Apple and The Ace Hotel… need I say more. The bag is well-built, soft to touch and has some really nice detail on it, like the leather base and bridal straps.

So if you’re in the market for a unisex bag, that fits loads of stuff, British made, comfortable on ya back and all in a smart little big’ish package, this is the bag for you.

http://www.allycapellino.co.uk/frank-waxed-cotton-rucksack-in-olive

BELL BULLITT RETRO BLUE HELMET

Those of you who know me are more than fully aware I’m partial to a bit of turquoise bling, so it is with was delight I discovered the limited edition Bullitt Retro Blue lid. The Bullitt was the hot lid of 2014, anticipated with baited breath, and as lovely as the design is, the initial colour-ways were a touch sombre. It’s good to see that they’ve ramped it up with their limited runs. This is a lovely shade of seventies tinted turquoise, similar to the iconic and gorgeous Bianchi blue used on generations of racing pedal bikes.

The Bullitt is a special lid. It’s  lightweight and offers a wide field of view, great for hyper alert city riding and general all-around safety. It’s also highly adaptable—run it with the included straight clear shield or with one of many straight or bubble-shaped aftermarket shields. Plus, thanks to a slick leather-clad magnet tab, the shield can be cleanly removed and the helmet can be worn with glasses or goggles.

The Bullitt’s features include three shell EPS system, ergonomic quick snap cheekpads, five metal mesh air intake vents, a five year warranty, luxurious leather interior and leather trim, a “Magnefusion” shield closure, a very low profile, and removable and washable comfort liner. There’s also a hidden switch inside the chinbar that toggles airflow on and off.

It’s fully rated ECE 22.05 European Safety Rated.

Here’s a lovely of bit  trivia courtesy of Union Garage NYC: “The Bullitt has been on the drawing board since 2009. And it wasn’t Bell’s drawing board, but that of an industrial design student named Chad Hodge, who spent half a year developing the Bullitt as his senior thesis.” Not a bad first design into production for Chad!

http://www.motolegends.com/helmets/full-face-helmets/bell-bullitt-helmet-retro-blue.html

 

HELSTONS DOUGLASS LEATHER JACKET

If you’re looking for a leather Trailmaster style jacket, but don’t want to pay the Beckham brand prices, the Douglass from French bike wear brand Helstons is a great alternative. It’s build quality is extremely high, and meets the same specifications their products have become renowned for.

It’s manufactured from full grain cow leather 0.9/1.1mm thickness. It is vintage treated with oils for natural and supple finish, and has anti-abrasion lining in sleeves. It’s been subjected to a wash treatment for a worn and aged finish. It has heavy duty traditional cotton lining and a removable thermal lining.

It features CE approved armour in the elbows, shoulders and back, and has a waterproof membrane, and a zip around the collar housing a lightweight, waterproof hood.

The 3/4 length style allows you to layer up with warm winter jumpers and fleeces, and at least give you half a chance of keeping your arse warm on a winter commute. It looks pretty good too once you get there.

http://www.motolegends.com/brands/helstons/helstons-douglass-jacket-beige.html

via PIPEBURN

Snapshot, 1967: Window-shopping in Mayfair with the Bee Gees

In 1967, we find Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb admiring Bentleys and Rolls-Royces through the window of renowned automotive dealer Jack Barclay’s Berkeley Square showroom. But with international success imminent, they won’t need to window-shop for much longer…

After some early success in Australia, the brothers Gibb have returned to their homeland, where Beatles promoter Brian Epstein has taken control of the band’s management duties. He passes a demo tape to producer Robert Stigwood – who immediately hands them a five-year record deal, pretty much unheard-of at the time. From this moment, the fortunes of Barry, Robin and Maurice rise steeply, and the luxury saloons sold by the likes of Jack Barclay have all of a sudden become a reality: Christmas will see Stigwood buy the trio a 1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith as a festive reward. An Aston Martin DB6 and a Mini Cooper soon join the fleet, as does a Mulliner-bodied Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud – which is promptly crashed by Maurice while rushing to a party. A far cry from the not-so-distant days of noses pressed up against plate-glass windows.

Photo: Getty

You can find Bentleys and Rolls-Royces for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

She is Barbara....