Meeke au McRae Rally Challenge / Meeke to appear at McRae Rally Challenge

Avant le Rallye du Portugal, le Britannique Kris Meeke va participer au McRae Rally Challenge (Ecosse) au volant d’une Citroën Xsara WRC/Michelin identique à celle pilotée par le champion du monde 1995.

Ce week-end, le McRae Rally Challenge va célébrer les 20 ans du titre mondial remporté par Colin McRae/Derek Ringer sur une Subaru Impreza 555. L’événement se déroulera à Knockhill (Ecosse) autour d’un rallye de 10 spéciales, d’une parade et d’un forum et de nombreuses autres festivités.

Quinze voitures ayant marqué la carrière de Colin McRae seront exposées, comme une BL Mini récemment restaurée, sa première voiture de course à 16 ans, une Talbot-Sundeam, une Vauxhall Nova (Rallye de Suède 1987), des Subaru Impreza 555, Ford Focus WRC…

Kris Meeke, récent vainqueur du Rallye d’Argentine et protégé du pilote écossais, participera à cette épreuve au volant d’une Citroën Xsara WRC identique à celle pilotée par son mentor en 2003. Parmi les invités, Alister (Proton Satria) et Jimmy McRae, Stig Blomqvist et Hannu Mikkola sur Audi Quattro, Ari Vatanen, ainsi que les copilotes Derek Ringer, Nicky Grist et Robert Reid.

La fête promet d’être superbe sur le Knockhill Racing Circuit où de nombreux spectateurs sont attendus pour se remémorer les heures glorieuses de Colin McRae en WRC. Le champion écossais a remporté 25 victoires entre 1993 et 2002. Il a disputé son 146^e et dernier rallye mondial en 2006 (Turquie), en remplacement de Sébastien Loeb blessé. Colin McRae nous a quittés en 2007 dans un accident d’hélicoptère.

Before traveling to the Rally de Portugal, Ulsterman Kris Meeke will take part in the McRae Rally Challenge in Scotland in an identical Citroën Xsara WRC/Michelin to the car driven by the 1995 world champion.

Next weekend’s McRae Rally Challenge will celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the world title won by Colin McRae/Derek Ringer in a Subaru Impreza 555. The event will take place in Knockhill, Scotland, and festivities will include a 10-stage rally, a parade and a forum.

On display will be 15 cars that marked McRae’s career? From the recently restored BL Mini the Scot first drove at the age of 16, a Talbot Sunbeam, a Vauxhall Nova (1987 Swedish Rally), a variety of Subaru Impreza 555s, Ford Focus WRCs, etc.

The 2015 Rally Argentina winner and McRae protégé Kris Meeke will compete in an identical Citroën Xsara WRC to the one driven by his mentor in 2003. Other star guests include Alister (Proton Satria) and Jimmy McRae, Stig Blomqvist and Hannu Mikkola (Audi Quattro), Ari Vatanen, and co-drivers Derek Ringer, Nicky Grist and Robert Reid.

It promises to be a superb weekend at Knockhill Racing Circuit where plenty of spectators are expected to turn out to honour Colin McRae’s glorious career. The 1995 world champion claimed 25 WRC wins from 1993 to 2002. His 146^th and last world class appearance was Turkey in 2006 where he stood in for the injured Sébastien Loeb. Colin McRae lost his life in a helicopter crash in 2007.

Pharaons Rally day1 ; Al Rajhi, Al Balooshi and Abu Issa: Middle East dominion in the first day

TIBNIYA – It was still dark when the first bike has left the Caesar Bay Resort of El Alamein direction start of the first selective section of 2015 Pharaons Rally. A transfer of 215 kilometres has taken to the start of special, the first real commitment for the competitors with its 228 kilometres.

Yazeed Al Rajhi (Toyota Overdrive) among the cars, Mohammed Al Balooshi (KTM) among the bikes and Mohamed Abu Issa (Yamaha) among the quads on the opening day of the rally.

Among the four wheels drive the strong Saudi has wished to immediately assert his intention to win again the Pharaons and like last year he has pointed toward the prince of the desert, Nasser Al Attiyah (Mini), preceeding him by two minutes.

Third position for the Polish Adam Malysz (Mini), some six minutes from the winner, while a fourth has concluded to be the actual World Champion, the Russian Vladimir Vasilyev (Mini), at 6’33’’ from Al Rajhi.

Good day also for the Brazilian Reinaldo Varela (Toyota), fifth at the finish in front of his mark companion Marek Dabrowski.

Among the bikes the forecast for the eve has been widely respected and the three pilots mostly accredited for the final victory have occupied the first three positions. The conductor of the Emirates, Mohammed Al Balooshi (KTM) has been the fastest preceding by 1’47’’ the Polish Jakub Piatek (KTM) and by 2’37’’ the winner of the last edition, the Bolivian Juan Carlos Salvatierra.

Among the quads imposed himself the Qatarian Mohamed Abu Issa (Yamaha), with four minutes above the world champion and winner of the last Dakar, the Polish Rafal Sonik (Yamaha).

Tomorrow the second stage will start directly from the bivouac and will head toward East with 343 kilometres of special with the difficult and beautiful cathedral dunes of Sitra. A very difficult challenge, where navigation will ask for particular attention.

Yazeed Al Rajhi: “We started in the eigth position and we catched five cars, we overtook three of them and followed the other two. It was a good stage for us, the only small problem was that after 30 km, my co-driver seat as broken, so it was moving until the end of the stage.”

Nasser Al Attiyah: We took it easy from the beginning because the plan was to catch Vasilyev and we didi t. It was a fast track with some dangerous places like broken dunes. It’s a good option not to start first tomorrow.”

Adam Malysz: “It was a good day for us, the first day with my new co-driver, Xavier Panseri. I never got a navigation in english buti t was interesting. We were fast but not too much.”

Mohammed Al Balooshi: “I’m very happy to have won my firts stage in a World Championship race. It was not easy because at km 110 I had a problem with the oil radiator. I was all covered with oil and also it affected my rear brake. I was leading the race and then I had to low my rithm. But at the end I won anyway.”

Mohammed Abu Issa: “Today was a nice day a quite short stage but with a very rough liaison. The stage was quite fast and was a good introduction to the rally. My speed was very high and as I love high speed I really enjoyed the stage. I got my first test of navigation in Egypt, a CAP based navigation that was a good test for next Dakar.“

Enduro ; GP Espagne 2015 : que des doublés en Espagne / double-whammies in Spain

Christophe Nambotin (KTM), Antoine Meo (KTM), Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna – Michelin) et Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna – Michelin) ont chacun signé le doublé dans leur catégorie respective, E1, E2, E3 et Juniors lors de la deuxième épreuve du Championnat du monde FIM d’Enduro (EWC) à Jerez en Espagne.

La catégorie E1 a été la moins spectaculaire du week-end où Christophe Nambotin a archi-dominé ses adversaires lors des deux journées. Eero Remes (TM) et le régional de l’étape CristobalGuerrero (Yamaha)doivent se contenter des places d’honneur.

Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco - Michelin) termine la première journée à la quatrième place alors que Marc Bourgeois (Yamaha – Michelin), très incisif au Chili, complète le Top 5. Danny McCanney (Husqvarna - Michelin) se classe à la sixième place. Le second jour, le champion du monde Junior en titre arrache la quatrième place aux dépens de Simone Albergoni de plus en plus à l’aise sur sa Kawasaki. Marc Bourgeois se classe sixième.

La catégorie E2 a été sans doute une des plus disputées avec l’E3. Le premier jour, Antoine Meo et Pierre-Alexandre Renat (Husqvarna – Michelin) se sont livrés une splendide bataille en se rendant coup pour coup. Alex Salvini (Honda) complète le podium de la première journée alors que Johnny Aubert (Beta – Michelin) rallie l’arrivée en quatrième position.

Antoine Meo a récidivé lors de la seconde journée où il a dû affronter Alex Salvini  qui s’est montré redoutable. Champion du monde en titre, Pierre-Alexandre Renet a dû se contenter de la troisième place et affichait une mine déçue à l’arrivée.

Auteur de plusieurs temps scratch, Johnny Aubert termine une nouvelle fois à la quatrième place devant les jeunes Loïc Larrieu (Sherco – Michelin) et Deny Philippaerts (Beta).

On a assisté au même scénario en E3 où Mathias Bellino a remporté les deux journées. Leader de la catégorie après le GP du Chili, Matti Seistola (Sherco – Michelin) est parti rapidement à la faute le premier jour. Auteur d’une belle remontée, il a sauvé les points de la quatrième place.

Devant Mathias Bellino et Matthew Philipps (KTM) se sont disputés la première place à coup de seconde sur chaque spéciale qui est revenue au Français. Très constant, Manuel Monni (TM) complète le podium.

Mathias Bellino, très en forme, a imprimé un train d’enfer  tout au long de la seconde journée pour enlever le doublé avec une grosse seconde d’avance sur ses adversaires. Deuxième, Matti Seistola reste un sérieux candidat au titre.

Ephémère leader en début de course, l’Espagnol Jonathan Barragan (E - Gas Gas) a chuté à la 8eme place avant de remonter en haut du classement pour coiffer la troisième place aux dépens de l’épatant Manuel Monni.

Jamie McCanney s’impose brillamment lors des deux journées et prend les commandes de la catégorie Juniors. Diogo Ventura (Gas Gas) et Steve Holcombe (Beta) complètent le podium de la première journée. Steve Holcombe a haussé le rythme le second jour pour mettre la pression à McCanney et termine deuxième devant Giacommo Redondi (Beta - Michelin).

Prochaine épreuve : Grand Prix du Portugal, 16 et 17 mai

Christophe Nambotin (KTM), Antoine Meo (KTM), Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna-Michelin) and Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna-Michelin) all won both their races (E1, E2, E3 and Junior classes) at round two of the FIM Enduro World Championship at Jerez, Spain.

The E1 class was the least spectacular of the weekend as Christophe Nambotin dominated his opponents on both days. Eero Remes (TM) and local hero CristobalGuerrero (Yamaha)had to settle for podium honours both times.

Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco -Michelin) ended the first day in fourth spot, while Marc Bourgeois (Yamaha-Michelin) followed up his strong showing in Chile to round off the top five. Danny McCanney (Husqvarna-Michelin) was sixth.

The second day saw the outgoing Junior world champion clinch fourth from Simone Albergoni who is looking increasingly comfortable on his Kawasaki. Marc Bourgeois was sixth.

Along with the E3 class, the E2 battle was perhaps the closest of the meeting. On Day 1, Antoine Meo and Pierre-Alexandre Renat (Husqvarna-Michelin) provided a fierce fight, tailed by Alex Salvini (3^rd, Honda) and Johnny Aubert (4^th, Beta-Michelin).

Antoine Meo repeated his victory on Sunday when he had to shake off Alex Salvini who was in fine form. Defending champion Pierre-Alexandre Renet was clearly disappointed with third place at the finish.

A number of fastest times helped Johnny Aubert to claim fourth again, ahead of youngsters Loïc Larrieu (Sherco-Michelin) and Deny Philippaerts (Beta).

There was a similar scenario in E3 where Mathias Bellino collected both victories. Despite leading the class standings after the visit to Chile, Matti Seistola (Sherco-Michelin) survived an early mistake on the first day to finish fourth.

Meanwhile, Mathias Bellino and Matthew Philipps (KTM) battled hard for supremacy but the win ended up in the hands of the Frenchman. The consistent Manuel Monni (TM) was third.

Mathias Bellino set the pace again on Day 2 to beat second-placed Matti Seistola who is sure to be a big threat in the title chase.

After briefly leading early on, Spaniard Jonathan Barragan (E-GasGas) fell to eighth before slicing his way back up to third. The impressive Manuel Monni was fourth.

Jamie McCanney was the top Junior on both days. Diogo Ventura (2^nd, GasGas) and Steve Holcombe (3^rd, Beta) were his main rivals on Saturday, while Steve Holcombe put McCanney under pressure on Sunday to secure second place ahead of Giacommo Redondi (Beta-Michelin).

Next round: Portuguese Grand Prix (May 16-17).

Taming Alaska's Deadly Dalton in the 2014 Toyota 4Runner Limited!

It's known as one of the most dangerous roads in the world: the rough, desolate two-lane Dalton Highway that shadows the Alaska Pipeline from Fairbanks to the Arctic Ocean. Host Arthur St. Antoine takes up the challenge of this infamous byway in a 2014 Toyota 4Runner SUV, driving from the Canadian border all the way past the Arctic Circle to the alien oil fields of Prudhoe Bay. Along the way, he encounters dog mushers, floatplanes, thundering big-rigs, bears, wrecked vehicles, and a landscape unrivaled for its challenges, remoteness ... and beauty.

WHAT’S COOL ABOUT THE RECORD THAT STAR WARS’ IDRIS ELBA BROKE IN A BENTLEY?

Yesterday British actor Idris Elba broke a ninety year old speed record on a British beach in a very modern Bentley GT3...and it got us thinking.

A 90 year old record that was beaten at just 180 mph? That’s awfully slow—until you realize that it was set on a stretch of cold, dark, beach sand in Wales.

The beach is Pendine Sands, a seven mile, ruler-straight beach now owned and operated by the Ministry of Defense* but beloved by speed demons for more than 100 years. This stretch of sand has seen many hot rod and speed attempts, but apparently the Ministry of Defense has also used it as a bombing range for decades. Signage warning of unexploded ordinance is still displayed to this day, which makes the size of Elba’s record a bit more substantial.

The last land-speed record set at Pendine in an automobile and the one Bentley and Elba were attempting to break was originally set by Malcolm Campbell in 1927. Campbell was a classic English gearhead of the 19th century, starting on motorbikes and later moving to cars. Campbell set quite a few land-speed records, most notably in the UK the very one that stood until yesterday at Pendine Sands.

In 1927, the vehicle at Campbell’s disposal was known innocuously as, ‘Blue Bird’, a 500 horsepower V12 beast of a car that topped out at over 200 mph well before modern safety technology existed. In fact, the Napier-Lion engine used in the car was from an aircraft, as car engines at the time didn’t have the requisite horsepower to push that much air around.

However, a small note about that record-breaking day in 1927 makes Elba’s record slightly less impressive (never mind the differences in the cars). According to the book The Land Speed Record, the Blue Bird actually hit 195 mph that day on a single run, but in order for the record to be verified, the speed was calculated on a two run average—something Campbell was unable to do.

In those years, the need for ever greater land speed records made both the Pendine Sands and the Blue Bird obsolete in less than a year. The pursuit led participants to Daytona Beach and finally to the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats, where extreme land speed records are still being attempted.

Today, both Bentley and Elba should be commended. A British driver in a British GT car tackling a 90 year old sand-based speed record…on an ammunition-littered beach in Wales? That’s pretty great—and one for the books.

*The Brits certainly do government titles better than us Yanks, don’t they? 

via http://www.petrolicious.com/

Snapshot, 1957: Caution, mermaids crossing Daytona Beach

While today’s bikini-bathers on Florida’s most popular stretch of beach fear the sun’s rays most, in the 1950s there was a more immediate risk – being run over by a burbling eight-cylinder…

A hot, early summer's day in 1957. What on earth is going on, on the sands of Daytona Beach? Children play in the surf and young women parade in the latest swimsuits of the season, while in between, men tear up and down with their cars and motorcycles. In a country that today covers its coffee mugs with warnings, it's almost unthinkable that the United States of the 1950s actually happened. The only car-free zone was the living room and at least one or two Daytona Beach mermaids per season were fatally injured – but little, if anything, was done about it. Especially cheeky or lazy bathers parked their car right up near the surf, to avoid getting sandy feet, or they used the vinyl seats of convertibles as beach chairs. Even while taking a short ‘nap’ with one’s latest beach date, the Chevy or Buick was always within reach. Who was it that said, all progress depends on the unreasonable man?

Photo: J. Baylor Roberts/National Geographic/Getty Images

JAMIE’S CB500/4 ROAD BURNER

Amateur – noun – [am-uh-choo r, -cher, -ter, am-uh-tur] – A person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit.

Today’s dose of shed built inspiration comes from Jamie Smith of Peterborough, a proud amateur. Nothing can compare to work that is simply the result of pleasure seeking. Of course many lucky professionals get paid for doing what they love, but they also pick up a pay check. The amateur is sated purely by the process and the product. We have said it before and we will say to again, Shed Builders we salute you.

To bring home his pay check Jamie works on huge machines, as a valve train engineer for Caterpillar. Working on a comparatively tiny motorcycle must be a splendid tonic to the day job.

“I’m a one man operation with mental help from my family, and a few select friends with skills (CAD & laser cutting).” Handy friends to have around…

Although Jamie has modified a lot of motorcycles in the past, he considers this machine as his first true, clean sheet build.

The bike in question is a 1974 Honda CB500/4 that Jamie procured through ebay.

“It was rusted through, noisy engine and in hindsight I should of started with something much better. I’d always wanted the cafe style of bike, but I didn’t want chrome and glitter paint. I wanted it dark, and I wanted people to see the engineering more than a glossy finish.”

“My inspiration comes from many things, my love for metal and petrol being the main one. I’m inspired by the recent resurrection of unloved, unfashionable cheap motorcycles and making them noticeable for less money than an Ohlins rear shock will cost you for a new sports bike.” We hear you Jamie.

Jamie set to work on the dilapidated Honda, the frame received the cursory de-tagging before a suitable loop was grafted on. The front end is a combination of Honda CBR600 yokes and shortened Honda Deauville forks. The front hub was modified to take a Fireblade disc, gripped by the 3 pot Deauville calliper. Jamie reports a vast improvement over the stock front end. Beautifully fashioned aluminium finned and tapered wheel spacers were machined for the front and a matching parallel one for the rear, a glorious detail.

“The engine noise turned out to be the clutch output bearing, requiring a full engine strip. All parts were blast cleaned and painted satin black. The engine covers replaced with finned items.” 

Allthough time consuming and initially unwanted, the bonus of Jamie’s extra engine work has given him complete confidence with the internals. A bike as clean on the inside as it is on the outside.

The tank was debadged and lowered to improve the stance of the bike.

“The ‘Patina’ black paint job is sign written with ’74 road burner’. This is a play on a kit Dunstall sold for the 500 in the 70’s.” 

The subtle colour scheme allows the raw colours of the materials to shine; greys, silver, black, brass and the odd splash of copper in a rivet or washer.

Jamie had a stock pile of jobs for his laser cutting mate including the rear set mounts and plates. Modified Bandit 600 foot controls were then sorted to fit. The pegs were turned, knurled and anodised before receiving the intriguing wooden inserts another friend had crafted. An Acewell speedo fitted to a machined housing welded to the yoke takes centre stage of the cockpit, flanked by the swan neck clip ons that were made using the original bars and Harris billet mounts.

The electrics are largely stock at the moment with most of the wires rerouted through the frame to the lithium battery under the seat, but Jamie reports he will soon upgrade to an electronic ignition. When the Road Burner does roar to life, the full stainless Yoshimura replica exhaust from Motowerx in the U.S. sounds just as lovely as it looks.

The tyres are classic Firestone deluxe, but you knew that already…

The amateur tag in this case is a badge of honour, not an excuse. The level of detailing and commitment displayed in this machine show what can be achieved without the pressure of a budget eating hourly rate, it is the result of a pursuit of pleasure. Our hats are well and truly off to you Jamie.

“I’m quite happy with the bike. It looks like it did in my head a year ago. I look forward to getting a few miles on it. My next project will be a Ducati, and I’m thinking endurace racer styling. we will see.”

via The Bike Shed

Does the Daytona have the most stylish classic Ferrari interior?

The story of the sought-after Ferrari Daytona is well known among Ferrari enthusiasts – a car that in 1971 was recorded as capable of a staggering 174mph. This early ‘Plexiglas’ headlight model remains a head-turner to this day…

A driver's car

The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta ‘Daytona’ – to give it its full name, was originally launched in order to replace the much-celebrated 275 GTB. Under the long, drooping bonnet lay a sonorous 4.4-litre V12, complete with six Weber carburettors. Power was transmitted through a five-speed manual gearbox, making it extremely rewarding to drive. In our opinion, the Daytona also boasts one of the most charming classic Ferrari interiors ever produced – the dashboard, slimline seats and wood-rimmed steering wheel are a glorious mix of simplistic 1960s design combined with the more muscular forms from the 1970s.

Owned by Mr Stubberfield

In January 1971, Mr Peter Stubberfield, the then-Chairman and later President of the Ferrari Owners’ Club, GB, bought this particular car new. The car remained in his hands until 1983 – at which point it showed its 33,000 miles with pride. According to its current owner, Kent-based Ferrari specialist Foskers, Stubberfield was also a keen hill-climber of Vintage Bugattis. He must have cut quite a dash in the mid ’70s arriving at Prescott in this mighty Italian thoroughbred.

One of 42

From 1983 to around 2012, the car changed hands several times and received a full restoration; it was then subsequently shipped to Japan. Ed Callow of Foskers commented, “We recently repatriated the car to the UK and have carried out an extensive investigation into the rich history and chain of ownership of the car, which is now in fantastic order. With just 42 original ‘Plexiglas’ UK RHD models produced, the car presents fantastic ownership and investment potential.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Photos: Tom Shaxson for Classic Driver

View all the classic Ferraris for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

KIA Custom Vehicle Build

Guidon ??