Jonny Walker est l’un des trente invités du film “RIDE: World Elements” réalisé par les Australiens deFour Oh Four et consacré aux pilotes d’enduro, motocross, supercross, freestyle à travers le monde (Pierre-Alexandre Renet, Alex Salvini, Daniel Milner…).
Le film intégral est disponible à la vente en DVD ou téléchargement sur www.ridethefilm.com
lundi 2 mars 2015
WRC, Mexique : Du soleil, du soleil… Mexican sunshine
Après un long épisode hivernal qui a débuté en novembre 2014 avec les tests du Wales Rally GB, le WRC va enfin retrouver des températures estivales sous le soleil du Mexique. Qui va profiter d’un Sébastien Ogier contraint de balayer les pistes jusqu’à dimanche matin pour s’imposer à Leon ?
C’est peut-être ce week-end, sur les pistes du Rallye du Mexique, que les effets du nouveau règlement (le leader du championnat ouvre la route jusqu’au dimanche matin) seront le plus pénalisant pour Sébastien Ogier. « En théorie, je n’ai aucune chance au Mexique », explique le vainqueur des Rallye Monte-Carlo et de Suède.
En théorie… Mais le double vainqueur mexicain ne sera peut-être pas très loin de la tête dimanche matin, au départ de la plus longue spéciale du rallye (56 km). A voir… Qui va alors profiter du lourd boulet que vont traîner les trois ouvreurs, Sébastien Ogier (VW), Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) et Andreas Mikkelsen (VW), sur 319 km de pistes polluées par la gravette, la « sablette » et les pierres mobiles ?
Jari-Matti Latvala (VW) s’élancera en 4e position, devant Mads Ostberg (Citroën) et les deux pilotes officiels M-Sport Elfyn Evans et Ott Tanak (Ford). Kris Meeke (9e, Citroën) roulera derrière Paddon (Hyundai) et devant le revenant Dani Sordo (Hyundai) rétabli à temps pour gravir les côtes mexicaines après deux côtes cassées. A suivre aussi Robert Kubica (Ford) qui aura une position très favorable.
Avec seulement trois semaines cette année entre le Rallye de Suède et le Rallye du Mexique, les teams étaient en tests la semaine dernière en Espagne pour préparer l’épreuve nord-américaine. Les essais ont porté sur les set-up châssis/suspensions/pneus, mais aussi sur les moteurs pour adapter les cartographies aux hautes altitudes mexicaines. Les Hyundai i20 WRC disposeront d’une évolution moteur au Mexique pour compenser la perte de puissance. Le paddle-shift est attendu pour l’Argentine.
Les nouvelles Polo R WRC ont également roulé en Espagne, de même que la nouvelle Ford Fiesta RS WRC qui devrait débuter au Rallye du Portugal. Seule l’équipe Citroën-Total Abu Dhabi n’a pas effectué d’essais pré-Mexique.
Le Rallye du Mexique 2015, dont le parcours est des plus classiques, a réuni un plateau de 35 engagés. Mais ils ne seront que 34 maximum au départ, après le forfait d’Henning Solberg, dont 14 WRC. Outre les pilotes officiels et habituels du WRC (Prokop, Bertelli, Kubica), le Mexicain Benito Guerra disputera de nouveau son rallye national sur une Ford Fiesta RS WRC.
En WRC-2, on note le retour du champion sortant Nasser Al-Attiyah (Fiesta RRC) copiloté par Mathieu Baumel, et celui d’un autre Qatarien, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (Fiesta RRC), vainqueur WRC-2 de la manche mexicaine en 2013. Vainqueur de la catégorie l’an passé, l’Ukrainien Yurii Protasov est de retour en WRC-2 sur une Fiesta RRC, alors que le lauréat WRC-2 en Suède, Jari Ketomaa, est attendu sur une Fiesta R5. A suivre aussi le Péruvien Nicolas Fuchs (Fiesta R5) et le Français Stéphane Lefebvre qui découvrira ce rallye où ont brillé ses compatriotes Seb Loeb (6 victoires d’affilées) et Seb Ogier (2 victoires, 1er Junior en 2008).
Avec 40% du parcours total chronométrés, le Rallye du Mexique est toujours le plus compact de la saison. Il est en revanche quasi identique à celui de 2014, avec pour seule modification le retour de la Superspéciale asphalte de Leon (1,37 km). Le départ sera toujours donné au son desmariachisà Guanajuato jeudi soir, immédiatement suivi par une Superspéciale souterraine dans l’ancienne cité minière, puis par une autre Superspéciale sur l’autodrome. Les journées de vendredi, samedi et dimanche comptent chacune une longue spéciale à parcourir (El Chocolate, 44,13 km, Otates, 42,90 km et Guanajuatito (55,82 km).
After the long winter period, WRC regulars will find a little sunshine at last in Mexico this week. Who will benefit from the fact that VW’s Sébastien Ogier will be on ‘road sweeping’ duty until Sunday morning?
It’s perhaps this week, in Mexico, that Ogier will suffer the most from the new ruling that the championship leader must run first on the road for all but the final day. “On paper, I haven’t got a chance in Mexico,” predicts the Monte Carlo and Sweden winner.
That said, the two-time Rally Mexico winner perhaps won’t be too far back come Sunday morning and the start of the event’s longest stage (56km). Time will tell…
But who is most likely to benefit from the handicap that front-runners Ogier (VW), Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) and Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) face over 319km of dirt tracks which tend to be coated by a layer of gravel, sand, or loose stones?
Jari-Matti Latvala (VW) will be fourth on the road, ahead of Mads Ostberg (Citroën) and M-Sport’s Elfyn Evans and Ott Tanak (Ford). Kris Meeke (9th, Citroën) will be behind Hayden Paddon (Hyundai) but in front of Dani Sordo (Hyundai) who has recovered from his rib injury. Robert Kubica (Ford) has a favourable start order, too.
Most teams used the short time available since Rally Sweden to test for Mexico in Spain. Their work focused on the set-up of their respective chassis/suspension/tyre packages, as well as on engine mapping in readiness for this week’s high altitudes. The Hyundai i20 WRCs will have an evolution engine to compensate for the power loss, while paddle-shift transmission is expected in time for Argentina.
The new Polo R WRC also ran in Spain, as did the new Ford Fiesta RS WRC which will probably make its debut in Portugal. Only Citroën-Total Abu Dhabi didn’t do any pre-Mexico testing.
The 2015 Rally Mexico has attracted a 35-strong entry, including 15 World Rally Cars, but Henning Solberg has since withdrawn. The list includes Mexican Benito Guerra in a Ford.
The WRC2 entry sees the return of the 2014 champ Nasser Al-Attiyah (Fiesta RRC) and fellow Qatari Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (Fiesta RRC), the class’s winner in Mexico in 2013. Last year’s WRC2 victor Yurii Protasov from Ukraine will have a Fiesta RRC, while Rally Sweden’s WRC2 winner Jari Ketomaa will be in a Fiesta R5.
Other top names include Peru’s Nicolas Fuchs (Fiesta R5) and Frenchman Stéphane Lefebvre who will be making his debut on the event that has been so successful for his compatriots Loeb (six consecutive wins) and Ogier (two wins, 2008 Junior winner).
Stages account for some 40 percent of the total distance, which makes Rally Mexico the most compact round of the year. The 2015 route is practically identical to last year, the only change being the return of an asphalt super-special in Leon (1.37km).
Once again, Thursday evening’s start will be held in Guanajuato, followed by the traditional super-special through the former mining community’s tunnels, followed by another spectator stage at the nearby autodrome.
FOR THE RIDE men - Jimmy Cornett & the Deadmen
COOL KID CUSTOMS GS750
Time to take things back to basics. It can reach a point where saturation takes hold, and you begin to question the specific location of certain parts, the right way to do something or even the damned designation of what a bike may be. This is all well and good but you can get so close to the minutiae that it’s easy to forget the bigger picture: Take a step back, and enjoy what’s been achieved. As the sun begins to peak through the cloud, I’m less inclined to worry about the frustrations in my workshop and am ready to have some fun; cue Cool Kid Customs who seem to have that down-pat.
Hailing from Amsterdam, the laid back vibe can be felt all through their bikes. Previous builds have shown playful use of colour and a fantastic disregard for towing the party line. This 1977 Suzuki GS750 was bought from two gentlemen that lived in the local neighborhood and at first glance it seemed a little past it’s expiry date. White clouds of smoke puffed from the rusty exhaust and dodgy duct-taped wiring rang the alarm bells. An average buyer wouldn’t look twice at it. But Michel from CKC thought his give this old work-horse another chance in life, so took it home.
After stripping the bike down, the onerous cleanup started. Out came the grinder and off came brackets and tabs. The looped slightly kicked for mudguard clearance. Simple, clean and off to the coaters, this time for some basic black powder. A new battery box sits in the rear triangle while the ignition now resides under the seat, cleaning up the top yoke. An entirely new, simplified loom replaces the bodged original, so those nasty electrical gremlins should be long gone.
The stance has been tweaked by lowering the front forks by an inch or so, and now riding on a set of classic Avon tyres, the bike is perfect for cruising about town.
Thanks to the ominous white smoke, the engine was taken apart for inspection. It became apparent that the valve stem were letting oil past, but along with a through relapping of valves and a new set of piston rings there’s plenty of life left in the 4 cylinder lump. The rusty old 4-into-2 exhaust made it’s way over to the dumpster and a 4-into-1 system was fabricated from an old exhaust manifold and a Megaton muffler. Points were replaced and the engine was cleaned and painted before working it’s way back into the cradle.
The original, bulky GS750 tank was swapped out for a smaller GS550 tank. Rather than the usual neon splashed of colour, the palette was kept dark. A rose pastern inspired by the lace effects as seen on old-school American low-riders covers the brown tank while liberal use of black powder keeps things clean and simple elsewhere.
The seat received some diamond stitching and matching grips tie it all together. Smoked blinkers, a drilled tail light and a black and yellow glass headlight are all classy and subdued. A different look from the usual Cool Kid style but pulled off with panache.
Freshly made up, the old dame once again is back to her best; she really doesn’t look too shabby for a 38 year old junkyard dog; the essence of what we’re all here for. Taking a dowdy UJM that’s out of mind and out of sight and giving it some care and attention. As Michel says: “I hope the bike is happy again”. I’m certain it is.
There are plenty of build pictures over on the CKC Facebook page so go check them out. Oh, and if the bike tickles your fancy, it happens to be for sale.
via the bike shed
This Porsche 914-6 Is Forgotten Only by Those Who Don't Know
After expressing an interest in racing, saying it "looked like fun," Mr. Jack Griffin found himself strapped to a race car contesting the 12 Hours of Sebring. Sure it was his first time sitting in a proper race car, but he had four days of training in a Nissan 280ZX at Bondurant a week or so earlier. In spite of his ample experience he found himself crunched against one of Sebring's concrete barriers only fifteen laps into his stint.
Fortunately, he's had better luck with this 1970 Porsche 914-6 that he has now owned for thirty-eight years. Even though he'd been looking for a 911 (and has since owned several), he has completely fall for its light, quick manner and very predictable, solid handling. And while he doesn't consider the Porsche beautiful, Jack does think it looks "interesting" and loves the rarity. It may not be as popular as the 911, but this 914-6 ensures that the model, far from forgotten, will grow in prestige.
Drive Tastefully®
http://Petrolicious.com
‘83 BMW R80 – Kevil’s Speed Shop
Written by Marlon Slack.
While possibly the least effective language to serenade someone, the German dialect has an unusually large repertoire of words to describe some very particular feelings. For example – deppenfahrerbeäugung is the glare you throw a bad driver after overtaking them and backpfeifengesicht means a ‘a face that asks to be slapped’. UK-based Kevil’s Speed Shop have seized this wonderfully descriptive language to name their 1983 BMW R80 the Uber – a German prefix meaning anything great or superlative. And also an affordable crowd-sourced taxi company. But mostly the superlative bit.
The last 12 months have been an incredibly busy period for Kevil’s Speed Shop, rolling out no less than 15 BMW customs – including their take on the gorgeous new BMW R nine T. They’ve gone from a typical small, specialized operation to customizing relative swathes of Bavarian motorcycles with Krupp-like efficiency. The owner, Kevin Hill, is particularly proud of the way his workshop has managed this increase in business – and is also a little bit chuffed at how this 80’s boxer-engined twin came into his possession.
The ‘Uber’ arrived at Kevil’s from Germany – a gentleman who is associated with a motorcycle luggage manufacturer of some repute approached him to build the bike, which he then shipped all the way from Munich. How’s that for a journey? The bike was bred in Germany, given a work over in England and then sent back to the Fatherland. Similar to a Mercedes F1 engine or a Luftwaffe airman.
When the customer visited Kevil’s Speed Shop he had a pretty clear idea of what he wanted – an alloy-tanked street scrambler, with a high-mounted exhaust system and a distressed leather seat. Yes, that tank – which I initially thought was just a /5 toaster tank that had been stripped and polished – is actually hand-crafted alloy. That’s a particularly nice touch on the bike – there was a cheaper, albeit messier option available but the guys at Kevil’s decided to go to the effort of fabricating an alloy tank from scratch.
It really seems like Kevil’s aren’t satisfied with the easiest options when building a bike – look at the bespoke stainless exhaust system and its stubby muffler. It navigates its way just around the petcock – and while I certainly wouldn’t be game to play with the fuel tap while the pipe was hot it’s hard to argue with the tolerances they’ve worked to. The fenders were also made from stainless steel with a brushed finish that was clear coated and the rear subframe has been swapped out for an assembly manufactured in-house, which also mounts some tidy little LED indicators.
The pannier was put together with the same leather used for the seat – made just the right size to fit a tablet. And just behind the saddlebag there’s a power outlet – enabling the device to be charged on the run. To give the frame that open, light appearance the battery was moved under the transmission.
There’s also a whole heap of other work that went into the BMW that remains unnoticed – the usual sitzfleisch (‘seat meat’ – the more routine or dull part of a task) that comes with any overhaul of a classic bike. Kevil’s are quick to point out that this occurs to all the motorcycles that go through their workshop – the brake system was overhauled, the frame was tidied up and powder coated, the engine and transmission was refreshed and the fuel system replaced.
When the bike was delivered the customer must have been delighted with the result. They’ve received a really good-looking BMW that doesn’t really sacrifice much in pursuit of aesthetics. It’s got fenders (albeit short) on both ends, capable Dunlop Trailmax rubber and underneath it all a boxer engine that will probably outlast religion.
The bike, like everything to come out of Kevil’s, is legal to ride on the road and comes with 12 months registration – surely enough to satisfy the most cynical internet handschuhschneeballwerfer Pipeburn readers out there.
via PIPEBURN
Jeep Renegade Hard Steel concept unveiled for Geneva
Comes with a matching trailer
Jeep has unveiled the Renegade Hard Steel concept, ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
Based on the Renegade Trailhawk, the concept has a Brushed Steel exterior with a ventilated hood and matte black accents. The crossover also has black mirror caps, a skid plate and a Mopar grille. Other notable highlights include a raised suspension and 16-inch alloy wheels with BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires.
The concept also has a matching trailer with a WiFi hotspot and a massive touchscreen display that provides access to a number of online services including Deezer, TuneIn Radio, Reuters, Tom Tom LIVE, Facebook and Twitter.
Jeep declined to release interior pictures but said the model has Frau leather seats, Brushed Steel trim and light grey contrast stitching.
Source: Jeep Europe
LA BUSCA THE BONHAM
For those of you partial to a paradiddle and fond of flams, the Bonham name immediately conjours an image of flailing sticks and whiplash hair. Unfortunately the only thing John hit harder than his snare was the liquor bottle, and he sadly became another entry on the list of musicians gone too soon. But the numerous Zeppelin songs and rock folk-lore stories that litter popular culture ensure his innovation, aggression and legacy will long be remembered. It’s not hard to see why Bonham is a hero to many including Jez of La Busca Motorcycles.
So when a Guzzi V50 rolled into his workshop, it’s Zeppelin shaped tank immediately resonated with Jez and a Bonham based build direction was formed. The first build from the La Busca nest, their VXR400 based ‘Dispatch’ appeared on these pages last October, and while keeping with the small capacity V-twin flair, this time it’s with of a European nature. With the new build came new challenges for Jez:
“How far do you push to change what is already considered a classic? The V50 may not have the same kudos as the Le Mans but it does have a style that’s all of its own and right from the outset I decided to work with this, retaining the bike’s essential Guzzi-ness.”
“The Moto Guzzis of the eighties era remind me of body builders in stilettos, skinny forks and wheels holding up a bulked up engine and tank. I wanted to slim the looks of the bike down and show off more of the engine while giving the forks and wheels a touch more beef.”
With this in mind he fabricated some new side panels, moving the convoluted rear brake master cylinder inside the frame and sending a connecting rod through the panel. Neat.
And the number on the side? “The panels bear a subtle, embossed ‘32’ – the number of years John graced this earth, a tip of the hat to a true master of his craft.”
While the rear brake master cylinder is large thanks to the linked brake system, it meant Moto Guzzi were able to keep the bars clean and clear of clutter. The rest of the braking system was rebuilt using braided cables, and the high-riding calipers completely refurbished to make the most of the triple disc setup.
The original delicate wheels were powder-coated black, giving the illusion of a deeper profile tyre, without degrading the handling with balloon-shaped rubber. Gaiters on the the refurbished forks also beef up the looks of the front end of the bike, balancing the profile further.
Decluttering the rear was the next step, a simple ribbed seat, shortened to reveal the bobbed mudguard rising through the frame rails. A shortened system runs straight along the base of the engine, terminating in slimline silencers, revealing a lot more of the intricately cast swingarm and transmission.
Ensuring that the ever present worry of Italian electrics wouldn’t cause a roadside visitation, the bike underwent a complete loom rewire. The starter motor was rebuilt and the original speedo rehoused with new LED warning lights. The Guzzi headlight retained, it was repositioned slightly lower on the forks to give the front end cleaner lines. The large unit is a feature that almost threatens to dominate the bike but it’s such a classic shape that Jez deemed it worth keeping.
Rather than making sweeping changes to what was already a solid bike, Jez focused on refining and tweaking the key elements. In his own words:
“This build has been an exercise in enhancement, in working with classic lines that should be celebrated and allowed to breathe easy within new form. I kept and worked with as much of the original bike as I could and the build has responded to this, it rides and feels like a true classic, quick through the turns and sounds like the man himself, in full flow on his favourite Ludwig drum kit.
For a bike called Bonham, there’s an ironic subtlety to process. The next build for La Busca is already underway, a commissioned Triumph Sled, that will be appearing in the spring. Catch up on progress over on their Facebook.
via PIPEBURN
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