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    jeudi 16 juillet 2015

    Babes Ride Out - A Motorcycle Story

    Babes Ride Out founders Ashmore Ellis and Anya Violet wanted to create an environment where women can come together to share their cross country journeys, triumphs, close calls and disasters on the bike. GoPro Production Artists Tina Marchman and Annemarie Hennes joined these five hundred ladies in Joshua Tree for this women’s only event. See what happens when they hit the open road.



    To donate to Diamond Schiffers' medical fund please visit: http://www.gofundme.com/fhuy20

    Enduro GP Belgique : Remes, Meo, Bellino et McCanney se rapprochent du titre / A step closer to title success for Remes, Meo, Bellino and McCanney


    Les leaders, Eero Remes (TM), Antoine Meo (KTM), Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna – Michelin) et Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna – Michelin) ont conforté leurs places en tête des quatre catégories, E1, E2, E3 et Juniors à une épreuve de la fin du championnat.
    En catégorie E1, blessé au genou, Christophe Nambotin (KTM) est parti à la faute dès le premier jour et a été rapidement distancé par Eero Remes (TM). Le Français a terminé deuxième. Alors que les pilotes se livraient un superbe duel le second jour, Nambotin a commis deux nouvelles erreurs qui lui ont coûté la victoire.
    Danny McCanney (Husqvarna – Michelin) a complété le podium du premier jour et a fini quatrième le second.
    Quatrième et écopant d’une pénalité la première journée, Lorenzo Santolino, remonté comme une pendule, s’est classé troisième dimanche.
    Remes compte 14 points d’avance sur Nambontin avant d’aborder la finale en septembre en France.
    Sérieusement blessé à l’épaule lors de l’Enduro test le vendredi soir, Pierre-Alexandre Renet (Husqvarna – Michelin) a perdu ainsi toutes chances d’être titré cette saison en E2. Son rival, Antoine Meo (KTM) a remporté haut la main les deux journées et s’apprête ainsi à coiffer une cinquième couronne mondiale.
    Alex Salvini (Honda) a terminé à deux reprises derrière l’officiel KTM et compte 37 points de retard sur le Français.
    Loïc Larrieu (Sherco – Michelin) a signé la performance du week-end en montant sur la troisième marche du podium samedi et dimanche devant Jaume Betriu (Husqvarna – Michelin).
    Venu en pigiste sur cette épreuve, David Knight (KTM) a prouvé qu’il n’avait rien perdu de son talent en finissant deux fois cinquième.
    En signant un nouveau doublé, Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna – Michelin) a fait un grand pas vers le titre en E3.
    Très accrocheur, Matti Seistola (Sherco – Michelin) a rallié l’arrivée des deux journées respectivement aux deuxième et troisième places. Matthew Phillips (KTM), encore en lice pour le titre au départ de ce Grand-Prix, a échangé ses positions avec le Finlandais.
    Mathias Bellino conforte ainsi son avance au championnat avec 24 points de plus que Matti Seistola.
    Vainqueur samedi et dominateur dimanche, Steve Holcombe (Beta) a laissé filer la victoire dans la dernière spéciale en Juniors. Premiers podiums pour Davide Soreca (Beta) qui a terminé troisième et deuxième.
    Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna – Michelin), avec une deuxième place et une victoire, possède 27 points d’avance sur son premier adversaire, Giacomo Redondi (Beta – Michelin).
    Prochaine épreuve : Grand-Prix de France, 3 et 4 octobre
    The E1, E2, E3 and Junior pace-setters Eero Remes (TM), Antoine Meo (KTM), Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna-Michelin) and Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna-Michelin) all strengthened their grip on their respective classes with one round remaining.
    In E1, Christophe Nambotin (2nd, KTM), who was suffering from a knee injury, made a mistake on Day 1 and was soon outdistanced by Eero Remes (TM). The same two riders produced a thrilling battle on Sunday but two more errors by Nambotin cost him any chance of victory he may have had.
    Danny McCanney (Husqvarna-Michelin) came third and fourth in Saturday and Sunday’s events.
    After securing fourth place after a penalty on Day 1, a wound-up Lorenzo Santolino bounced back to take third on Sunday.
    Remes now leads Nambotin by 14 points ahead of September’s finale in France.
    Pierre-Alexandre Renet (Husqvarna-Michelin) picked up a nasty shoulder injury on Friday evening’s practice run and consequently lost any hope of the 2015 E2 crown. Rival Antoine Meo (KTM) collected both victories to take a decisive step to what could be his fifth world title.
    Alex Salvini (Honda) finished both days in the wake of the KTM factory rider and is now 37 points short of the Frenchman in the provisional standings.
    Strong runs from Loïc Larrieu (Sherco-Michelin) earned two third places, chased by Jaume Betriu (Husqvarna-Michelin) on both days.
    A one-off appearance by David Knight proved that the KTM rider hasn’t lost his touch, since he came fifth twice.
    Another double-whammy success has taken Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna-Michelin) nearer to the E3 title.
    He is now 24 points clear of Matti Seistola (Sherco-Michelin) who went to well claim second and third places respectively. In the championship standings, the Finn has even eased past Matthew Phillips (KTM) who had been in the title fight prior to the trip to Belgium.
    Steve Holcombe (Beta) won Saturday’s Junior contest and was on target for another success on Sunday until the very last stage. Davide Soreca (Beta) enjoyed podium honours for the first time (third, then second).
    Jamie McCanney (second and first, Husqvarna-Michelin) is now 27 points safe of his closest threat Giacomo Redondi (Beta-Michelin).
    Next round: French Grand Prix (October 3-4).

    New Expedition Overland vehicle builds.

    See how the crew at Expedition Overland outfitted their 2015 4Runners for the big trip into Central America. 




    Expedition Overlands Central America Expedition

    The crew is back together to take on the next portion of the Pan-American Highway in this one hour season premiere! Central America. The crew gets everything ready including outfitting their all new Toyota 4Runners for the big journey ahead. 10,000 miles, 10 countries, 1 EPIC adventure. 






    McMillin Racing at the 2015 RZR Mint 400


    Video: Le Mans tyres, from conception to victory

    Watch how Michelin tyres won Le Mans 24 Hours with Porsche, all the steps from the conception to the victory.


    Waking up Milan with Gianni Agnelli's Ferrari 166 MM


    Dawn in the streets of Milan, and the air is torn apart by the sound of a 1950s Ferrari under full acceleration: not just 'any' 1950s Ferrari, but a very, very special 166 Mille Miglia. Rémi Dargegen takes up the tale...

    A long list of luminaries

    If you spent the last month or two asleep, or trekking to Machu Picchu, you might have missed one of the most important stories in the classic car world: that the Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este was this year won by the ex-Giovanni Agnelli 1950 Ferrari 166 Mille Miglia. But the Fiat patriarch wasn’t the only notable previous owner. Next was Belgian Viscount Gery d’Hendecourt, who competed with theBarchetta and also had Olivier Gendebien, the four-time Le Mans Winner, win his first ever race, at Spa. Later, legendary Ferrari Concessionaire and Ecurie Francorchamps Grandee, Jacques Swaters, after buying and selling the car six times, finally decided to keep the Ferrari for himself. Many years down the line, he commissioned a full restoration, before being invited to display it at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1993. The Swaters family affectionately nicknamed the car ‘Nonna’ (Italian for Grandma), and ultimately owned her for 46 years.

    Purity of design

    As much as that particular period of ownership deserves to have its own tale told (perhaps another day...), let’s back-track to the first of its many important owners. The 1950 ex-Agnelli Coppa d’Oro winner, chassis 0064M, is number 24 of only 25 Ferrari 166 MMs built, one with several flourishes uniquely applied at Agnelli’s behest (in secret, we might add). Most notable are the ‘teardrop’ rear lights, and the understated, yet utterly striking two-tone paintwork. Beyond that, the car represents pure design and efficiency: just a small-capacity V12 engine, ultra-thin Superleggera-framed bodywork, and the driver. Created by Carrozzeria Touring in Milan, it was developed from the Ferrari 125S, and the Barchetta (meaning ‘little boat’) is a masterpiece of simple style. Just as importantly, the model (whose MM moniker was derived from a different version of a 166 winning the 1948 race) enjoyed a series of headline racing successes, including first place at the 1949 Mille Miglia and that year’s Le Mans and Spa 24 Hour races, firmly putting Ferrari on the international map.

    Travel back to June 1951

    So now, imagine it’s June 1951, in the streets of Milan. It’s 07.00 and you’re enjoying a decent coffee at Cova, the famous bar in the old city, when suddenly you hear a sound tearing up the silence of the morning streets. A few seconds later, you see a shape being parked in front of Cova and Giovanni Agnelli himself comes inside to order a coffee, to help him recover from a hot night in Milan and ensure a good start to the day.

    Early-morning donuts

    To photograph a Ferrari 166 MM is a real honour. But to photograph it at 05.00 in the centre of Milan, in action, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We decided to do a sort of ‘Agnelli Tour’, to visit all the places Agnelli might have enjoyed during one night in the Italian city: the Scala Theatre to start the evening, the Duomo and its galleries, the navigli for some night fun, Cova for a morning coffee, and the Arch of Peace, known as the place for some early morning automotive donuts to wake up all Milan with the engine’s incredible music. For while you might enjoy the beauty of this machine through these pictures, they lack the magical sound of its engine... and what a sound it is. Metallic, light, but full of fury at high revs, it’s very (very) impressive to hear it at full acceleration in the streets of Milan. 

    Agnelli's magic

    The car has tremendous sex appeal. Everyone stares, and listens, and yet nobody realises what a piece of history it is, what a monument that has – for a few hours – joined the other numerous monuments in the streets of Milan. Okay, so perhaps we didn’t ask for the necessary authorisation to shoot everywhere, especially at this time of the morning, and yes, we had to deal with the police… but really, it wasn’t difficult. One sentence was enough: “Eh, ma è quella di Agnelli!” (“Hey, but it’s one of Agnelli’s!”), and the police officers stand dumbfounded, mouths open, taking a step back in respect. “Okay, va bene!” they cry and we know that everything is going to be fine. In Italy, this is the magic of Ferrari and this incredible memento of Agnelli.
    Photos: © 2015 Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver
    With thanks to Clive Beecham, the car's current owner, for providing historical information

    The Legacy Power Wagon is the new king of trucks


    Gallery Legacy Power Wagon Photo 2
    if you live in Beverly Hills, Coral Gables or Monmouth Township, then sure, a Veyron or a 599 is what you drive. In those places, people understand and appreciate a car like that as a symbol of your magnificence. But try cruising Jackson Hole, Aspen or Telluride in a Ferrari and you’d be seen as -- possibly -- a little out of touch. Perhaps even, gawd forbid, a poseur. Pull up in a 1947 Dodge Power Wagon, however, and ski bunnies will pile into the bed of the truck and squeal.
    Sure, that’s a vast oversimplification, but there is cool and then there is high-country cool. The Legacy Power Wagon is country cool with a capital K. Legacy Classic Trucks in Jackson Hole, Wyo., takes iconic 4WD Dodge Power Wagons from 1945-1968 and restores them to their original glory and beyond. Well beyond.
    Gallery Legacy Power Wagon Photo 4
    “The original trucks will go maybe 40 mph, and the brakes sometimes work,” said Legacy founder Winslow S. Bent. “I felt if we could modify these things so they’d go 80 mph and pull horse trailers, then maybe high-end clientele would be interested in them.”
    So he restored one, doing the first truck himself.
    “The first one, it looked like this,” he said, gesturing to a recent, glorious restoration. “I sold it for $100,000. I was, like, ‘Hey, this is great!'”
    Now Bent has 10 employees and a 10,000-square-foot facility in Driggs, Idaho, a half-hour west of his home in Jackson Hole, and there’s a waiting list for Legacy Power Wagons six months to a year long. Turns out there is indeed a market for this particular mix of beauty and brawn.

    Legacy Power Wagon front end
    You can get a winch as big 16,500 pounds.

    Most of Legacy’s customers own their own land -- so much of it that a massive and mighty Power Wagon is what they need to roam around on it. While the Legacy work is concours perfect (should concours ever start to accept trucks), the price for all this meticulous restoration isn’t cheap. Depending on how you outfit yours, the final bill ranges from $185,000 to $300,000. But once you see one of these magnificent beasts, chances are you’ll agree it’s worth it.
    Legacy goes through the whole truck, bumper to bumper, and makes everything new and better. Bent was thorough about what was needed to do a job like this right. Rather than just hammer out truck parts from sheetmetal, he invested $150,000 in tooling to make new truck beds and $50,000 for fender tooling. All new pieces are stamped in Detroit. Everything on the trucks is American-made, said Bent.
    Gallery Legacy Power Wagon Photo 6
    After the rust is repaired, the frame rails are fully boxed (instead of being C-sectioned on the ends), and the interior is brought up to like-new with a modern radio and air conditioning. On the truck we got to drive, the retro-looking gauges were made by Classic Instruments, the wooden steering wheel was by Nardi, the carpet was from Mercedes-Benz and the headliner was made of Porsche microfiber. The wood on the floor of the bed in back was African mahogany swathed with tung oil.
    You can even resize it. While there is a regular cab option, we recommend, after sitting in both, the extended cab, which has 14 more inches of interior space and 14 more inches of wheelbase. You can also get the original-SUV Carryall.
    And power? Oh man. On most conversions, the original engine is swapped out for a 585-hp, 550-lb-ft supercharged 6.2-liter Chevy LSA V8 retuned for mid-range torque.
    “From 2,000 to 4,500 rpm, it pulls like an animal,” said Bent.  
    Gallery Legacy Power Wagon Photo 3
    There are other engines available, too. For instance, there are those who claim putting a Chevy engine in a Dodge Power Wagon is sacrilege.
    “So for them we offer a stroked small-block Chrysler. It’s available, but not one customer of the 60 we’ve delivered has asked for the Chrysler.”
    You can also order a 6.2-liter, 430-hp, 420-lb-ft Chevrolet LS3; a 7.0-liter, 430-hp, 500-lb-ft Chrysler 426; or a 170-hp, 480-lb-ft 3.9-liter Cummins turbo-diesel. The Chevies get a four-speed automatic, while the Chrysler and Cummins get five-speed manuals. But most people get the LSA Chevy V8.
    “The LSA engine, transmission and computers come straight from Chevy Performance,” Bent said. “They’re simple, they have a ‘connect-and-cruise’ package that makes them easy and simple to install and they come with a two-year, 50,000-mile warranty that they actually stand behind.”
    And so far, after 60 turnkey Legacy conversions, they all seem to work.
    “You could drive to Vegas at 80 mph,” Bent said. “It’s the gentleman’s cruiser.”

    Legacy Power Wagon interior
    The Legacy Power Wagon has a modern interior.

    We cruised in a big, red extended-cab Legacy Power Wagon with paint so deep you could swim in it. Our test-rig started life in 1947 as a snow plow for the town of Breckenridge, Colo., a job it did until 1977. After that, it worked stacking logs for log homes (they know the histories of all their trucks at Legacy). A recent Dodge Carryall had been hand-painted 15 times, Bent said, but under the paint they found numbers that indicated it had served in Tunisia in WWII as a forward radio control vehicle. “In the A-pillar, we found a German harmonica,” Bent said. They restored the harmonica, too.
    When Legacy got our Breckenridge snow-plow Power Wagon (the one you see pictured here), the client for whom it was built had asked for “… the all-time cool truck.”
    It’s safe to say the client got just that.
    Gallery Legacy Power Wagon Photo 1
    The Legacy team stretched the cab back 14 inches, adding replacement curved glass from a 1950 Chevy truck in each rear corner for better visibility.
    “Fourteen inches allows you to put in big, comfy seats,” Bent said. And they are.
    Indeed, we cruised around some Central California hilly roads a little bit, and it felt like a hot rod. The ride on paved roads with leaf-spring suspension was a little bouncy, maybe, which could have been evened out with a load of bricks in the bed, but it wasn’t painful. A 130-inch wheelbase helps smooth out anything. We rode on monster 40-inch Toyo M/T 40x13.50 R17 LT Open Country tires. Our truck had a hidden mount for a goose-neck trailer in the bed, a popular option for horse-trailer-towing. Legacy added a remote oil cooler and a remote charge air cooler inside the bed-mounted toolbox.
    When we tried a brake-torque drag strip launch on a flat, paved, private road, the truck felt like a real dragster –- 585 hp is hard to overlook. The tires lit up evenly, and the truck launched straight. Acceleration was a little beyond brisk. Bent says to expect 0-60 in 6.2 seconds. Imagine taking this from the Legacy factory in Driggs across the state to the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals Aug. 13-16 at Firebird Raceway in Eagle, Idaho. You’d rule!
    We did have one software glitch during our drive. Shortly after that launch, the engine quit. It restarted after a couple tries, and Bent later said it was due to an error code in the throttle position sensor caused by a tuner who had the truck on the dyno the day before. We think maybe it freaked out because we brake-torqued it, stepping on the brake and the gas at the same time then lifting off the brake suddenly. Whatever the cause, it seemed to fix itself, and we didn’t have any problems the rest of the day.
    From there we crept up into the hills above Ojai, put it in four-wheel low and crawled up and down some steep dirt trails. We’re pretty sure it was unstoppable. The rear Dynatrac Pro 80 axle and front Dana 60 are serious off-road implements. While you could drive to Vegas at 80, you could also drive straight up pretty much anything at 8.  

    Legacy Power Wagon reg cab
    Legacy Power Wagon regular cab. Kind of snug but livable.

    This is easily the best combination of drag-racing launches and slow-motion rock crawling we’ve ever driven. If there was a biathlon of mega-trucks, combined with a Concours de la Truck (and if there isn’t a Concours de la Truck, there should be), this meaty beast would win easily.
    You can get your own from legacypowerwagon.com. There’s a six-month wait for a regular cab, nine months for the extended cab and a year for a Dodge Carryall. In addition to what he has in stock, Bent estimates there are maybe 30 more Power Wagons he can get his hands on. After that, they’re all gone. But he has plans beyond this truck. Legacy will do Mack, Diamond T and Studebaker trucks; they do a Jeep Scrambler now, and in 2016 they will start doing 1955-57 NAPCO Chevy Stepsides. With one of each, you could have a fleet of Legacy trucks and rule the world. Now that would be fun.
    Gallery Legacy Power Wagon Photo 7

    Read more: http://autoweek.com

    Flat Track


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