ACE CAFE RADIO

    vendredi 29 mai 2015

    DUST MOTORCYCLES BLOOD ORANGE


    Dust Beemer ADust Motorcycles tank swapping BMW’s first appeared in the ‘Shed a little over a year ago, since then Stephen Bentley has wasted little time in bumping his Bike Shed archive up to four and a half builds, the dual personalityJekyll & Hyde counts for the extra half, coming with a second interchangable outfit. Steve has now made it an even six with his latest commissioned bike, Blood Orange repeating the cross dressing trick.
    Dust Beemer BSteve was approached by a customer looking to purchase a previous build, The Twin Strokerbut that machine was already in the hands of a happy new owner, thankfully the would be customer had a ’84 R80ST of his own so Steve suggested transforming that instead.
    “As far as commissions go Mike was a real nice guy, a true gent, cut his teeth as a motorcycle courier whilst studying and instead of picking up on his marketing degree the dispatch took over and a good few years later he now owns the company… All very cool and mucho respecto, and thinking about it, this could be part of the reason I surprised myself. Usually when people mention the words clean, minimal and motogadget… I throw them a sideways look and run for the hills, but I figured what the hell, anyone who’s spent time bouncing off cars/lampposts and riding in all weathers deserves a bit of luxury.”
    Dust Beemer C
    Once Mike had converted Steve to the idea of minimalism some further conversations about style and inspiration were in order, but now it was Mike who needed convincing, He had too many ideas to nail down one distinct machine.
    “He loved the idea of an out and out scrambler, something to blat up the local hill climbs on and get stuck in the mud while riding with his mates…  but and this is the big ‘but’, his missus loves bikes just as much as he does and over the years they’ve pretty much spent all their free time in one country or another exploring the far reaches on two wheels. So I kinda got the feeling this build was for both of them and did the only decent thing…suggested a ‘dual build’.”
    Dust Beemer D
    “Having already done the Jekyll it was easier to get the idea across.. two distinct looks, two different purposes, a cool street bike (with little panniers for meandering the countryside on summer days with the missus) and a cool scrambler (for bumping shoulders with the boys) and best of all I reckon these ST’s are just about versatile enough to do the job… All that was needed now was to pin down the colour schemes and get the ball rolling..”
    Dust Beemer E
    As it transpired pinning down colours was to be one of the trickier aspects of the build, Mikes tastes were clashing with the designer in Steve.
    “Mike had some pretty wild ideas about the colours.. candy metalflake bright orange tank with a brown seat.. a red tank with an oxblood seat, everything that instinctively sets the alarm bells ringing. However and sometimes (this was one of those occasions) you just have to laugh and think what the hell, I need a bit of a challenge!”
    Dust Beemer F
    With final designs awaiting approval from both sides Steve set to work on the mechanics. One of the first things he noticed on the bikes arrival in the workshop was the suspension alterations the machine had received in a GS styled previous incarnation. A cracking Wilbers shock stacked up the rear but the suspension upfront was lacking in comparison, lofty and loose DR forks with a puny single disk. Steve took it back to a 19′ set up with twin discs. The revised stance sat perfectly.
    Meanwhile, the frame was powder coated, painted gloss black and lacquered, the same treatment was applied to the modified rear sub frame. The rear pillion hangers on the ST formed part of the exhaust shield, Steve removed these and fabricated new loops for the pillion pegs to hang from.
    “With the trails/scrambler look in mind I also realised the solo look would be better without the rear frame loop, (but obviously still needed it for the twin seat), so I made it detachable.”
    Dust Beemer G
    The engine was in great condition, so other than a 450 watt alternator upgrade it received little more than a thorough clean, fresh valve set, service and a new oil temperature gauge. An Earth X lithium battery was tucked up between the seat and the rear subframe.
    Dust Beemer H
    Those troublesome colour schemes were back on the agenda.
    “After a few more chats I got the felling Mike really liked the decadence of the classic car scene.. the Mille Miglia and  Goodwood, cruising around in style drenched in leather with the top down and sunglasses on.. so I kinda warmed to the idea of the colour schemes and what better way to set the scene than an AC cobra wide stripe for the red tank!
    With the idea of the classic race cars still buzzing around I turned to his other colour choice, the candy metalflake orange, ‘But with a  brown seat!’ some things are just too much.. (There’s 70’s cool then there’s 70’s curtains).. so I had a quick flick through the flips and came across a TVR Sunburst, not quite red not quite orange but very cool, but still not working with brown! So with memories of red rockets, Triumph T5’s and Husks I convinced him a black leather seat was the way forward!”
    Dust Beemer I
    “To keep it simple ‘Blood’ is the street and ‘Orange’ is the scrambler.
    ‘Blood’ has an RD 350b fuel tank with monza fuel cap (just because) a dark brown leather seat and detachable panniers. The panniers simply buckle onto straps that wrap around the frame..can be taken off easily and have a shoulder strap so pretty useful.
    Orange has an XS 650c tank.. with a pair of sportster side panels (the oil filler cap was filled in then they were painted gloss black and the numbers (03) stuck on the side (Mikes call sign as a courier, zed three)”
    Dust Beemer J
    The pipes are the original downs with links and UK made raw steel reverse cone megas. In scrambler mode the links and cones are abandoned in favour of straight through pipes and a throaty burble.
    “The airbox was removed and an aftermarket cover put on. (the little connectors on the side of the cover are from the engine breather and during the winter months a pipe links the breather to the underside of the K&N’s to warm the air for the carbs. (or stick into your boots, your trousers.. anywhere really).”
    Dust Beemer K
    The Motogadget equipment includes the Classic speedo, M-unit, Mini switches and air temperature sensor. Keyless ignition and a start button from a speed boat also grace the classy looking bars. The Bates headlamp and practical stainless guards were brushed in accordance with Mikes non-shiny tastes. Tyres are a square block trail Heidenau on the rear and a 4.00 19 for the front produced by the Classic Bike Shop with a very similar compound to the Heidenau.
    “The clean look has been helped by losing the handlebar master cylinder and going for an earlier under the tank one (which luckily works with both tanks) Goodridge braided hoses feed the twin Brembos on the ’82 R80 ex-police front end and the brake/clutch cables connect to old school Tomasellis.. (same with the throttle.. twin pull Tommaselli)”
    Dust Beemer L
    Blood Orange turned up for the epic Bike Shed London show last weekend and proved to be every bit as splendid in the metal as the pixels. The collaboration and meeting of minds between customer and builder has created a machine that both are rightly supremely proud of. Mike’s visions have grown with Steve’s tweaks and Steve’s ideas have broadened with Mike’s tastes, giving Mike a machine he can interchange depending on his mood. We doubt Mike will ever convince Steve to make him a brown seat to pair with that orange though…
    The Dust Motorcycles Facebook page is here if you’d like to chat to Steve about your penchant for Schizophrenic Bavarian twins.
    Credit for the photographs go to Jon Brook, the leather work and panniers were crafted by Aaron and the paintwork executed by Grove Hill.
    via The Bike Shed

    The road to Le Mans: Scuderia Corsa


    Aux 24 Heures du Mans 2015, Michelin est partenaire de 20 teams que nous présentons jusqu’au début de la semaine mancelle. C’est avec une invitation de l’IMSA que l’écurie américaine Scuderia Corsa découvre les 24 Heures du Mans.
    En 2011, Giacomo Mattioli et Art Zafirapoulo ont créé le team Scuderia Corsa pour faire rouler les clients Ferrari américains dans différents championnats (Endurance GT, Grand-Am, Ferrari Challenge, NAEC…). En 2013, Scuderia Corsa a remporté le championnat Rolex GT Teams, Pilotes et Constructeurs.
    Giacomo et Art ont déjà participé indirectement aux 24 Heures du Mans puisqu’ils étaient propriétaires de la Ferrari engagée par Risi Competizione en 2007 et 2008.
    C’est donc en tant que patrons du team Scuderia Corsa qu’ils reviennent cette année dans la Sarthe. La saison 2015 est d’ailleurs chargée puisque le team basé en Californie aligne une Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 en TUSC et trois en Pirelli World Challenge.
    Grâce à ses bons résultats en Tudor United SportsCar Championship 2014 (victoire GTD aux 24 Heures de Daytona), Scuderia Corsa a reçu une invitation pour participer aux 24 Heures du Mans 2015 en catégorie LM GTE Am.
    Une invitation que Scuderia Corsa a souhaité honorer avec le seul équipage 100 % américain du plateau composé de William Sweedler, Townsend Bell et Jeff Segal.
    Scuderia Corsa souhaite écrire un nouveau chapitre de la belle histoire des Ferrari du North American Racing Team aux 24 Heures du Mans avec la victoire de Gregory/Rindt sur Ferrari 250 GT LM NART en 1965 et la 9e place de la Ferrari 512 BB/LM NART de Cudini/Morton/Paul en 1982.
    LML LM12 SCUDERIA CORSA0

    We’ll be counting down the days to the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours by presenting each of Michelin’s 20 partner teams at this year’s race. Scuderia Corsa received an invitation from IMSA to take part in this year’s race.
    It was in 2011 that Giacomo Mattioli and Art Zafirapoulo founded Scuderia Corsa to run American Ferrari customers in championships like Endurance GT, Grand-Am, the Ferrari Challenge and the NAEC. In 2013, Scuderia Corsa won the Rolex GT Teams’, Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles.
    Giacomo and Art have previously participated indirectly in the Le Mans 24 Hours as owners of the Ferrari entered by Risi Competizione in 2007 and 2008.
    They return this year as team bosses as part of a busy 2015 campaign for the Californian squad which is running a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship (TUSC) and three in the Pirelli World Challenge.
    It is thanks to its strong results in 2014 (GTD victory at Daytona) that Scuderia Corsa received an invitation to compete at Le Mans this year in the LM GTE Am class. Its answer was to bring the grid’s only all-American driver line-up with William Sweedler, Townsend Bell and Jeff Segal.
    The team will be hoping to write a new chapter in the story of North American Racing Team Ferraris at Le Mans after the victory of Gregory/Rindt (Ferrari 250 GT LM) in 1965 and the ninth place of Cudini/Morton/Paul (Ferrari 512 BB/LM) in 1982.
    Cars entered for the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours
    N°62 Ferrari 458 Italia N°62 (LM GTE Am): William Sweedler / Townsend Bell / Jeffrey Segal
    Le Mans record
    First participation

    Dovizioso et Ducati dominent la première journée au Mugello / Dovizioso and Ducati dominate opening day at #ItalianGP


     Dovizioso and Ducati dominate opening day at #ItalianGP
    Andrea Dovizioso a été l’auteur du meilleur temps à chacune des deux premières séances d’essais du Grand Prix TIM d’Italie.
    À domicile ce week-end et sur un circuit où il était venu plus tôt dans le mois pour un test privé avec Ducati, Andrea Dovizioso a démarré très fort au Grand Prix TIM d’Italie et s’annonce déjà comme l’homme à battre pour les qualifications. 
    Avec un nouveau casque mais aussi un nouveau carénage pour sa GP15, l’Italien a d’abord devancé d’un rien Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) et son coéquipier Andrea Iannone (Ducati) le matin avant de se confirmer en tête du classement l’après-midi, avec 0.164s d’avance sur Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda), vainqueur au Mugello en 2014, et 0.373s sur Lorenzo. 
    Alors que les pilotes Factory de Honda et de Yamaha disposent de pneus arrière en gomme medium et dure ce week-end, ceux de Ducati ont le choix entre la gomme tendre et la gomme medium, que Dovizioso a privilégiée pour cette première journée afin de concentrer ses efforts sur la préparation de la course. L’Italien attendra samedi pour tirer profit de la gomme tendre et viser sa seconde pole position de la saison après celle du Qatar. 
    Avec 33 points de retard sur Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Márquez doit à tout prix revenir sur le podium ce week-end en Italie après l’avoir manqué au Mans et est bien parti puisqu’il avait commencé la journée en quatrième position, à un peu plus d’un dixième de Dovizioso, et l’a finie à la seconde place. Le Champion en titre avait l’an dernier remporté l’épreuve du Mugello juste devant Lorenzo, qui complétait le Top 3 de la journée.
    Après avoir découvert qu’il souffrait d’une fracture à la tête de l’humérus (bras) gauche quelques jours avant de prendre la route du Mugello, Andrea Iannone (Ducati) n’a pas eu trop de soucis pour se montrer compétitif et a terminé en quatrième position, en étant toutefois le seul pilote du Top 10 à avoir réalisé son meilleur temps le matin plutôt que l’après-midi.
    Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) est le premier pilote satellite dans le classement combiné, à plus d’une demi-seconde de Dovizioso, en cinquième position et juste devant son compatriote Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda).
    Rossi: “I had some problems under braking”Récemment opéré du pouce droit, Aleix Espargaró (Team Suzuki Ecstar) a souffert sur les freinages et notamment celui de San Donato, au bout de l’une des plus longues lignes droites du calendrier, mais était tout de même septième, devant Scott Redding (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) et Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). 
    Sixième à quatre dixièmes de seconde du leader le matin, Rossi s’est ensuite fait distancer l’après-midi et a terminé neuvième sur le classement combiné, à sept dixièmes de seconde de Dovizioso et après une courte sortie de piste causée par un freinage manqué dans le premier virage.
    Inscrit en wildcard sur GP15, Michele Pirro participe à son premier Grand Prix de l’année et s’est classé douzième, derrière Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3) et Yonny Hernández (Octo Pramac Racing).
    Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) a quant à lui conclu en quatorzième position, à près d’une seconde de la première place, tandis que Héctor Barberá (Avintia Racing) était le premier pilote Open, à la seizième place. 
    Les Français Loris Baz (Athinà Forward Racing) et Mike Di Meglio (Avintia Racing) occupent respectivement les 21e et 22e positions, juste devant Álvaro Bautista, qui étrenne la nouvelle transmission seamless de la RS-GP ce week-end avec l’Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. 
    Les essais libres de la catégorie MotoGP™ reprennent samedi matin à 9h55 au Grand Prix TIM d’Italie.

     Dovizioso: 'We are still carrying out some tests'Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso dominated the opening day at Mugello, topping both Free Practice sessions.
    Ducati were always going to be a force to be reckoned with at Mugello, especially as the Factory team completed a private test at the Tuscany circuit recently, and they sent the partisan crowd home happy after topping the combined timesheets after day one of the Gran Premio d’Italia TIM.
    Dovizioso improved his time from the morning session by over four-tenths of a second to set a 1.’47.479.  The Italian hitting the ground running straight away in FP1, clearly taking advantage of the data gathered during that test to find a good set-up straight away: “I am very happy with how this weekend has started for us and above all with the time I set at the end of the session. We are quick and this is fundamental in the search for the best set-up. We are still carrying out some tests in order to improve certain aspects of the Desmosedici GP15 that will allow us to be competitive right until the end of the race.
    Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez improved throughout the day as he tried a number of different set-up combinations in an effort to deal with the front end issues and engine problems the RC213V has been suffering from this season. The reigning MotoGP™ World Champion seemed to find something that worked, as he ended the day just 0.164s behind Dovizioso in second place overall: “Overall, today went quite well. It was a Friday in which we tried several things, especially in terms of electronics to try and improve the engine character, and I'm happy because we have taken a step forward. I’m not yet completely comfortable, but I felt pretty good and it seems that the direction we have taken is the right one.”
    Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo came to Mugello full of confidence following his comprehensive victories at Jerez and Le Mans, and straight away, he looked fast and smooth around the 5.2km circuit. The Spaniard, who has not finished outside the top two in the last 6 races at Mugello, set the third fastest time of the day, just 0.373s off the top, although he feels there is room for improvement: “I‘m not completely satisfied with the way the bike is working. Concerning the setting of my YZR-M1, I think we have a big margin for improvement. Little by little we are going to make progress in most of the corners, but to begin the weekend with second and third place and a good pace is a nice start.”
     Lorenzo: 'Let's see if we can improve the bike'Andrea Iannone ended the day in fourth overall, but admitted he had struggled to ride with his fractured arm that he injured in the Ducati Team’s private test at the circuit: “It’s not so much a question of pain, it’s more that I need too much strength, which in this moment I simply don’t have. I am not able to move my left shoulder the way I want to and so I’m losing a lot in the changes in direction, and there are a lot of them here at Mugello.”
    It was a good day for British riders as Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Bradley Smith ended the day in fifth as the leading Satellite rider, managing to finish just ahead of his compatriot Cal Crutchlow on the CWM LCR Honda, with less than a tenth of a second separating the two. Smith was content with his pace, but knows he will have to step it up a gear tomorrow: “Overall, we’re less than two tenths back from the factory Yamaha of Lorenzo, so we are in a good place, but tomorrow we need to make another step forward to get into the 1’47 lap times.”
    Smith: 'We have been fast from the word go'Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS’s Scott Redding showed signs of improvement as he finished in eighth overall, just behind the injured Aleix Espargaro on the Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR in seventh. Espargaro underwent surgery on his right thumb to repair a damaged ligament after Le Mans and he was finding it hard to get enough brake pressure through his injured hand, with his team saying they will assess his injury session by session.
    It was another hard first day of Free Practice for the current MotoGP™ World Championship leader Valentino Rossi, who found himself down in ninth place on the combined timesheets. Once again, the Italian struggled during the Friday of a Grand Prix weekend, emphasising his woes by running off track late on in FP2 as he pushed too hard: “I had some problems under braking. We tried to modify the setting so I could brake harder, but we didn‘t find a good solution and at the end I came back out on my normal bike and decided to try the harder tyre on the front and rear. The front wasn‘t so bad, but the rear was a bit too hard and I didn‘t have enough grip on the left side for me to push to the maximum.”
    Pol Espargaro completed the top ten on the second Monster Yamaha Tech 3 M1, with Avintia Racing’s Hector Barbera finishing as the top Open class rider in 16th.
    Check out the combined MotoGP™ Free Practice times from Friday at Mugello; FP3 is scheduled to start at 9:55am local time on Saturday.

    The Heinrich Maneuver.

    The Heinrich Maneuver. from Deus Customs on Vimeo.

    2012 KTM 500 EXC by Cab Moto


    KTM_CabMoto_SethBecktonPhoto_-172
    Words by Ian Lee | Photos by Seth Beckton
    When you grow up riding dirt bikes in Colorado, you get a good feel for what a decent bike is. That’s where the builder of this KTM custom started out, stirring up the dirt on the trails of the American wilderness. With a build brief based on a Roland Sands design, this 2012 KTM 500EXC has been given a full work over, while retaining the reputation this model has to be thrown around on the dirt. Built by Cab Moto for an ex motocross rider, as Casey the builder says himself ‘I have a tendency to want to turn street bikes into dirt bikes and dirt bikes into street bikes. I guess they turn out somewhere in the middle. Which is very functional for where I live’. This Austrian trailblazer definitely is the machine for taking on those dirt roads, as well as the ability to ride the tarmac to get to them.
    KTM_CabMoto_SethBecktonPhoto_-137
    The build began when Casey had his next door come over with a picture of the Roland Sands/Kurt Caselli KTM and a fresh 500EXC with only 20 hours on the clock. With the direction set for the way the build was to go, the practically new bike was stripped of it’s plastics and fueltank, then the factory sub frame given the heave ho. A new, softer angled sub frame was manufactured and mounted, along with new fenders and bracketry.
    From there, Casey set about the task of fabricating a new fuel tank. Which turned out a little harder than he originally thought because he had never done a fuel injected bike before, due to a need for machined parts to complete the build process. Once the tank was mounted, a new battery and electrical junction box was fitted to the frame. The ubiquitous trimmer, Ginger of New Church Moto, produced the immaculate orange stitched leather cushion, sitting atop a seat pan of Casey’s own making.
    KTM_CabMoto_SethBecktonPhoto_-139
    In relation to performance this bike is a weapon, even in stock form. As Casey said about the build ‘I was really excited to start with something this awesome’, so performance upgrades have been kept simple. The air filter is now Uni open air intake, and the exhaust system is a Werkes setup from a Yamaha R6. Rolling stock are 18 runs laced up by Woody’s Wheel Works, running Excel rims on RAD hubs. The rubber chosen for the build is Mefo Super Explorer Rubber.
    KTM_CabMoto_SethBecktonPhoto_-40
    When it came to the paint job, Casey had a good idea of what he wanted, leaving the work in the hands of Wrench Face Motors. Thanks to their quality work, in the words of the builder ‘the work turned out better than I could have imagined’. An interesting touch to the build is that nothing has been changed that can’t easily be changed back to stock should the need/legalities arise.
    Built on a solid platform, this KTM trail blazer is a part of an evolution of Cab Moto’s building style. From the CL360 that was featured here last on Pipeburn, you can see how the Colorado workshop is taking their builds new and exciting places. Just like you would if you owned this bike really.
    via PIPEBURN

    24h du Mans ; Journée Test : 64 voitures en piste / 64 cars for official Test Day


    La Journée Test lance véritablement les 24 Heures du Mans. 64 voitures sont attendues dimanche pour huit heures de roulage sur le grand circuit des 24 Heures.
    Le paddock du Mans s’anime peu à peu depuis la semaine dernière avec l’arrivée des premiers semi-remorques et le montage des immenses structures Audi, Porsche, Toyota et Nissan derrière les stands et au Raccordement.
    Si 56 voitures maximum disputeront la 83e édition des 24 Heures du Mans dans quinze jours, 64 véhicules sont attendus pour la Journée Test, dont les 34 engagés du FIA WEC. En attendant l’extension des garages, certains teams seront forcés de se partager l’espace.
    Parmi les « invités pour l’apéro », le team LNT et ses deux Ginetta-Nissan/Michelin LM P3 uniquement admises aux tests. L’ancien champion cycliste Sir Chris Hoy va découvrir le mythique circuit du Mans, et trois pilotes officiels Nissan sont inscrits sur le second proto LM P3 (Chilton/Matsuda/Buncombe) + le vainqueur de la GT Academy 2013 Nick McMillen.
    Ibanez Racing et KCMG sont attendus avec un second proto LM P2 chacun (Oreca-Nissan N°44 et Oreca-Judd N°49, 1ère suppléante. En LM GTE Am, l’équipe réserviste Formula Racing fera rouler sa Ferrari 458 N°60 (Laursen/Jensen/Rizzoli), alors qu’AF Corse sera là avec deux 458 supplémentaires (7 en tout !) - la N°81 (Perrazini/Cioci) et la N°82 (Mallegol/Bachler/Blank/Mouez) - qui ne font pas partie des suppléants. La Porsche N°86 Gulf UK Racing réserviste sera également là dimanche.
    Certains teams ont ajouté un 4e pilote à leurs équipages, comme le Japonais Kamui Kobayashi (pilote de réserve Toyota) sur la TS040 Hybrid N°1, et Frédéric Makowiecki engagé sur les trois Porsche 919 Hybrid LM P1. Le double poleman GTE Pro devrait donc boucler ses premiers tours manceaux en prototype.
    Sven Muller a été ajouté aux deux équipages Porsche 911 RSR Manthey, et Stéphane Raffin complète l’équipage de l’Oreca-Nissan N°44 Ibanez Racing.
    Cette Journée Test verra les premiers tours de roue officiels des nouvelles Rebellion R-One désormais propulsées par un moteur V6 turbo AER, ainsi que des très, très attendues Nissan GT-R LM Nismo officielles planquées dans le Kentucky depuis le début de l’année.
    Les concurrents n’ayant jamais participé aux 24 Heures du Mans ou ne figurant pas sur la liste des pilotes confirmés depuis l’édition 2010 (381 pilotes), hors pilotes hors Platinium, doivent obligatoirement boucler 10 tours de circuit minimum lors de la Journée Test.
    Contre un chèque de 11 500 € H.T., les teams pourront rouler pendant huit heures sur le circuit de 13,629 km. C’est l’unique opportunité d’évoluer sur le grand circuit avant la séance d’essais libres et les qualifs du mercredi après-midi.
    The pre-Le Mans Test Day on Sunday, May 31, has attracted no fewer than 64 cars. Eight hours of track time are scheduled.
    The paddock at Le Mans is getting gradually busier as the teams’ trucks park up and the huge hospitality facilities of teams like Audi, Porsche, Toyota and Nissan are erected behind the pits and at the ‘Raccordement’ turn.
    Although 56 cars (maximum) will participate in the race itself in two weeks’ time, 64 entries have been accepted for the Test Day, including the 34 cars registered for the 2015 FIA WEC. Until building of extra pit garages is completed, certain teams will consequently have to share space this weekend.
    The ‘additional’ cars at the Test Day include LNT’s two Michelin-equipped LM P3 Ginetta-Nissan prototypes, one of which will be driven by the former cycling champion and Le Mans rookie Sir Chris Hoy. There are three Nissan factory drivers listed for the other LM P3 car (Chilton/Matsuda/Buncombe), plus the 2013 GT Academy graduate Nick McMillen.
    Ibanez Racing and KCMG are both expected to have a second LM P2 prototype each: the N°44 Oreca-Nissan and the N°49 Oreca-Judd, the first car on the reserves list. Formula Racing - also a reserve entry - will have its N°60 Ferrari 458 for Laursen/Jensen/Rizzoli (LM GTE Am), and AF Corse will have two extra 458s (N°81 for Perrazini/Cioci, N°82 for Mallegol/Bachler/Blank/Mouez) taking its total to seven cars in all! Gulf UK Racing’s reserve entry N°86 Porsche will also lap on Sunday.
    Some teams have added a fourth driver to their line-ups, like Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota reserve driver) in the N°1 TS040 Hybrid, while Frenchman Fred Makowiecki has been listed for all three Porsche 919 Hybrids. The two-time LM GTE Pro pole-winner is likely to get his first chance to drive an LM P1 prototype at Le Mans.
    Sven Muller’s name has been added to the two Porsche 911 RSR Manthey line-ups, and Stéphane Raffin appears on the same line as Ibanez Racing’s N°44 Oreca-Nissan.
    Meanwhile, the Test Day will mark the first public appearances of the new Rebellion R-Ones (now powered by an AER turbocharged V6) and of the eagerly-awaited Nissan GT-R LM Nismos which have been out of sight in Kentucky, USA, since the beginning of the year.
    With the exception of the ‘platinum’ stars, those drivers who have never previously contested the Le Mans 24 Hours, or who haven’t appeared on the entry list since 2010 must contest at least 10 laps during the Test Day.
    The chance to pound round the full 13.629km track may cost €11,500 but it’s the only chance teams will get of lapping the 24-hour circuit before official practice starts on the Wednesday of race week.

    Pour mémoire, les chronos réalisés lors de la Journée Test 2014 :
    LM P1 : 3min23s014 – Toyota TS040 Hybrid (Buemi)
    LM P2 : 3min37s795 – Morgan-Nissan (Rusinov)
    LM GTE Pro : 3min57s260 – Porsche 911 RSR (Makowiecki)
    LM GTE Am : 3min57s403 – Ferrari 458 Italia (Ruberti)

    BMW 328 ‘Hommage’


    No, you’re not seeing double, there really are two ‘m’s in the name of BMW’s latest styling exercise, a two-seater roadster debuting at Villa d’Este. A sort of ‘Hommage’ by name, ‘homage’ by nature, if you like, as the new car is dedicated to the famous BMW 328 which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
    The Bavarian company is justly proud of its heritage, though BMW is stretching the point somewhat to describe its pre-War 328 as one “considered the most successful and best-looking sports car of the 1930s”. Alfa 8C or Bugatti Type 57, anyone? It was a very modern design, that’s true, with a beautifully engineered straight-six that saw racing service well in to the 1950s and in coupé form won the 1940 Mille Miglia – which lends the ‘MM’ to the new car’s name.
    Villa d’Este, the world’s most exclusive concours d’elegance, coming just a week after the running of the modern retrospective Mille Miglia event, was the perfect venue for the striking design created by a team led by top designer Adrian van Hooydonk. “Carbon is the material of the future,” he said, and extensive use is made of what was once a space-age material but is now seen in greater quantities throughout the automobile industry.
    Many styling cues from the 1930s original are reprised in the Hommage. It has a strikingly vertical and pronounced twin-kidney grille. The wheels are two-part with ‘cooling holes’, and the windscreen is asymmetric; split and curving its centre, with the focus on the driver.
    Unpainted, the carbonfibre bodywork has natural-colour leather ‘straps’ as if tying the bonnet down. It also features round headlamps, each divided into four individual bulbs with a ‘cross’ effect imitating the plastic tape used on racing cars in the 30s, 40s and 50s. There are no doors.
    Inside the cockpit, only round instruments can be seen, many having a retro ‘stop watch’ look and feel. The instrument panel is fitted with two iPhones located in special holders. These offer additional display functions for the driver and co-driver.
    The concept is all about style and possible future trends for the innovative Bavarian company – little is known about the running gear apart from the engine being a 3.0-litre straight six. What else.
    BMW 328 ‘Hommage’BMW 328 ‘Hommage’
    BMW 328 ‘Hommage’BMW 328 ‘Hommage’
    BMW 328 ‘Hommage’BMW 328 ‘Hommage’
    Photos: BMW

    A Bull At The Gate: Mad Mike’s 26B-TT MX-5 Has Arrived


    A Bull At The Gate:</br> Mad Mike’s 26B-TT MX-5 Has Arrived
    There are numerous reasons why people are drawn to drifting. The action element is undeniable of course, and the competition itself provides no shortage of excitement – especially when two evenly-matched drivers go head-to-head in a final battle. Then there’s the style aspect, which over the years has transcended down to street level with visual cues and direct links to the motorsport. But in bringing you this story on one of the most highly anticipated drift builds of recent times, it’s innovation that I want to talk about today.
    RADBUL 37
    Drifting is one of very few motorsports where creativity has few bounds. Sure, the rulebook dictates things that can and can’t be done, but for the most part, if you can dream it, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to run it.
    RADBUL 32
    Of course, you’ve got to build it first though, and if you’re talking about an ultra-competitive Formula Drift Pro spec machine, that’s going to take a lot of know-how, a lot of work, and enough funding to see it through.
    RADBUL 27
    There’s risks associated with doing something different of course, but in my mind, for the betterment of the professional side of the sport it’s good to have guys like Mad Mike Whiddett who are prepared to break tradition. And in the case of his latest and greatest creation, also test that fine line between genius and insanity.
    RADBUL 14
    If you’re a regular visitor to Speedhunters, or follow the exploits of the Kiwi drifter through his various social channels, I’m sure you’ll be familiar with his most ambitious drift car build to date.
    RADBUL 15
    It’s been a while since I first laid eyes on the stripped-down chassis that would form the basis for the project, but I remember the day well. It was the day I questioned if Mike had actually gone ‘Mad’.
    RADBUL 19
    As it turned out – and as always seems to be the case with Mike and his cars – the beginnings of this build involved a fair amount of chance.
    RADBUL 67
    Yes, he had always dreamed of slapping a high-horsepower rotary motor into Mazda’s iconic drop-top sportscar and going nuts, but prior to pulling the trigger on this build, it seemed more likely that Mike would make his return to the Formula Drift Pro Championship in 2015 behind the wheel of another RX-8.