Shunji Yokokawa: Salt Flats World Record

During Speed Week of 2013, Shunji Yokokawa and his two man crew from Japan, traveled to the Bonneville Salt Flats to break a world land speed record. The trip was Shunji's first ever to the Salt Flats where racing and attempting to break the world record became more challenging than the crew had envisioned.

Shunji Yokokawa: Salt Flats World Record from VITA BREVIS FILMS on Vimeo.

DMD route to Wheels And Waves 2015

We went to Biarritz surfing on the waves of desire, on the wheels of our bikes. Yes, there was much more taste to go on bike. And not whatever bikes: they were Wheels and Waves bikes.

Uwe Ehinger

Brighton Mods

Brighton Mods from Dominic Hinde on Vimeo.

Will the Aston Martin DB9 GT become the best DB9 ever?

At this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Aston Martin will launch what it says is ‘the most compelling DB model to date’ – the DB9 GT…

Bond might have traded up to a limited-edition super-coupé but, when it comes to civilians like us, we’ll have to wait a little longer for an all-new successor to the DB9. However, in the meantime,Aston Martin will use the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed to launch the DB9 GT – which sees a raft of updates and improvements to give the 11-year-old model a ‘final hurrah’.

The most potent, refined DB9 ever

Major revisions have been held back for the imminent replacement, unofficially christened by the media as the DB11. Instead, the GT will apparently become the best a DB9 can be, “refining the DB9’s already impressive attributes – a careful and delicate process,” according to Ian Minards, Product Development Director at Aston Martin. Among the changes are a new touchscreen infotainment system, minor styling tweaks inside and out, and a power boost to 540bhp for the familiar 6.0-litre V12, making it the most potent DB9 ever. Well, they always say the first and last examples of a memorable model become the most collectable.

The 2016 DB9 GT will be available from Autumn 2015.

Photos: Aston Martin

You can find hundreds of modern and classic Aston Martins for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

Celebrate Italy's art de vivre with menswear brand Caruso

This beautifully shot promotional short, created by thriving Italian menswear brand Caruso, proves that a well-attired gentleman makes all the difference…

Starring the renowned Italian thesp Giancarlo Giannini, ‘The Good Italian’ is a playful yet stylish expression of not just fashion, but wider Italian culture – think opera, dining and architecture. The film also features 'Fefè', from Napoli, one of the brand’s fictional characters on which it bases the traditional Italian dressy elements in its collection.

EURO FIGHTER: AVON TYRES’ WILD BMW F800S

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If you were a tire company, what bike would you select to show off some new dual-sport rubber? The obvious answer would be a BMW R1200GS.

But the venerable British company Avon (est. 1904) has plumped for something very different—a custom BMW F800S with a radical front suspension system.

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The ‘TrailRider X-Over’ is the work of two Frenchmen: Charles-Henrick Gaurier, who works for Avon France, and Thierry Marie, a specialist alloy fabricator.

Together, they’ve built a machine that’s almost impossible to pigeonhole. We’d say it’s a café racer with bobber genes and a scrambler-esque stance. It’s certainly an engineering masterpiece, and a fine match for the new TrailRider tire—which Avon pitches as it’s most advanced yet, with a higher silica content than any other motorcycle tire.

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So what was the appeal of the F800S and its Rotax-developed parallel-twin? “The choice of engine might seem funny,” Charles agrees. “But you should take into account the 360 degree firing interval—just like British engines from the good old days.”

Another reason is Thierry’s love for the Mini brand, owned by BMW. “The X-Over is a natural consequence of a simple idea: if Alec Issigonis was commissioned to design a bike today, how would it look?”

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Little remains of the original BMW F800S: the power plant, wheels and swingarm are there, but just about everything else is new.

The most eye-catching addition is the completely bespoke front suspension system. It borrows the best ideas from several vintage designs—resulting in a system that separates steering and damping via a single, adjustable shock hidden in the steering column.

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The arms, rods and links have all been made from raw 2017/AU4G alloy. The same material is used for the custom-made frame, tank, seat cowl, fenders and speedo casing. (According to Charles, Thierry handcrafted it all “between some orders from Parisian palaces and the building of prototype furniture.”)

The airbox intakes have been redesigned too, and the headlight is a custom-made LED unit.

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In all, Thierry put in over eight hundred hours of fabrication. And it shows. Most of the aluminum has been left raw to show off the amazing craftsmanship. The only splashes of color are Union Jacks on the air intakes, and the frame and wheels in British Airways blue.

The riding experience is more akin to a Euro Fighter than an A380, though. The Trailrider X-Over tips the scales at less than 155kg, but records 85hp and 86Nm on the dyno.

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Looks like the new TrailRider rubber will have its work cut out keeping this machine on the road. But we’d happily take it for a joyride.

Avon Tyres | Facebook

via BIKEexif

This Jaguar C-type could be your ticket to Holyroodhouse

Fancy exhibiting in the immaculate grounds of Holyroodhouse at the Concours of Elegance this September? This ex-Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type, to be offered by RM Sotheby’s at its Monterey sale, could be your ticket…

Innovator

The second of just three special ‘Lightweight’ cars prepared by the factory for the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans, this Jaguar C-type was driven in period by no fewer than five Le Mans winners. It finished fourth overall at Le Mans in 1953, but was subsequently campaigned successfully by Ecurie Ecosse, racking up eight race victories in 1954. The last development of the mighty C-type, the Lightweight cars featured thinner aluminium bodywork, a fully synchronised gearbox and upgraded Weber carburettors. They were also the first cars to race at Le Mans with disc brakes, an innovation that would prove both invaluable and influential.

Further, given the Ecurie Ecosse celebration at this year’s Holyroodhouse Concours of Elegance, comprising the largest ever gathering of the famous Scottish team’s cars, ‘XKC 052’ could grant you entry to the Royal pageant in September. It will cross the block at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction on 13-15 August. 

Photos: Patrick Ernzen, courtesy of RM Sotheby's.

You can find the full catalogue for the RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction listed in the Classic Driver Market.

Stand out with the Made To Order Driver by Salvatore Ferragamo

Salvatore Ferragamo’s driving shoes are esteemed by sophisticated men the world over, and a staple of the classic driver’s wardrobe. For the first time, the Italian brand is offering its customers a personalisation programme, and the options are endless…

A unique touch

Whether you want your Drivers in crocodile, ostrich or calf’s leather,  or in Antique Saddle, Metallic Blue or Graphite, the extensive customisation options in Ferragamo's new personalisation programme should keep even the most discerning fashionista happy. And for a unique touch, how about some lettering?

To help promote its new Made To Order Driver, Ferragamo enlisted the help of racing driver Mathias Lauda, SoundCloud founder Alexander Ljung and model/photographer Johannes Huebl. The three dapper gentlemen, each wearing their own personalised Drivers, look particularly chic relaxing in Tuscany. What are you waiting for? Start configuring your personal Drivers now.

Photos: Salvatore Ferragamo

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