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    mardi 18 août 2015

    Endurance (EWC) : les 8 Heures d’Oschersleben décisives pour le titre ?


    Troisième et avant-dernière épreuve du Championnat du monde d’Endurance (EWC), les 8 Heures d’Oschersleben se disputeront samedi 22 août 2015. Avec 29 points d’avance, le SERT est en tête du classement provisoire et pourrait coiffer une 14ème couronne mondiale dès cette épreuve.
    Vainqueur des 24 Heures Motos et quatrième des 8 Heures de Suzuka, le SERT  (Philippe/Delhalle/Masson) pourrait accrocher un 14ème titre mondial à une épreuve de la fin du championnat. Pour cela, l’équipe de Dominique Méliand doit empocher les 35 points de la victoire et compter sur un résultat blanc de ses deux rivaux au classement général, le GMT 94 (Checa/Foray K/Gines) et Team Bolliger Switzerland qui comptent respectivement 29 et 31 points de retard. Si ce scénario se réalisait, le SERT repartirait ainsi d’Oschersleben avec plus de 60 points d’avance,
    Vainqueur en 2012 et 2013, le SERT s’était classé sixième en 2014 suite à une chute en début de course.
    A rider tackles the dazzling light during sunset at the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race at the Suzuka International Circuit, Japan
    Cinquième des 24 Heures Moto et sixième des 8 Heures de Suzuka, le GMT 94 peut rester dans la course au titre mais doit obligatoirement terminer dans le top 5 s’il souhaite conserver une chance de défendre son titre lors de la dernière épreuve, au Bol d’Or, en septembre prochain sur le circuit du Castellet. La Yamaha n°94 avait terminé deuxième en 2014.
    Régulier, le Team Bolliger Switzerland est à surveiller. L’équipe Suisse occupe actuellement la troisième place du général à seulement deux points du GMT 94. Auteur de bons résultats en Allemagne, Team Bolliger Switzerland pourrait créer la surprise.
    Contraint à l’abandon sur chute lors des 8 heures de Suzuka, Kawasaki SRC (Leblanc/Lagrive/Foret) est quatrième avec 42 points grâce à sa deuxième place aux 24 Heures Motos.
    BMW Motorrad France team Penz13.com, qui avait signé une pole historique l’an dernier alors que l’équipe était engagée en Superstock, défendra ses chances de victoire à domicile.
    Avec seulement 14 points, Honda Racing Endurance (Gimbert/Da Costa/Foray F), vainqueur des 8 Heures d’Oschersleben 2014, visera à nouveau la victoire pour tenter de recoller au peloton de tête au classement général.
    Après deux résultats blancs, le YART (Parkes/Morais/Silva) tentera de marquer ses premiers points en Allemagne.
    Les 8 Heures d’Oschersleben marquent le retour de la catégorie Superstock menée par le Junior Team LMS Suzuki devant le Team Louit Moto et Tati Team Beaujolais Racing.
    Les essais libres débuteront jeudi 20 août à partir de 11h30, à suivre en live surwww.motoracinglive.com
    OSCHERSLEBEN 8 HOURS
    On Saturday 22 August, the Oschersleben circuit near the town of Magdebourg in Germany will host the third round of the motorcycle endurance world championship (FIM EWC). With SERT (Suzuki Endurance Racing Team) and the GMT94 Yamaha squad practically neck and neck in the standings, the 8-hour race might well determine this year’s world champion.
    Before heading to Germany, the top squads in this year’s FIM EWC (Endurance World Championship) took part last month in the Suzuka 8 Hours. This unique race featured an outstanding line-up, with no fewer than five MotoGP riders travelling to Japan. Australian champion Casey Stoner crashed out early on, and the factory Yamaha ridden by Pol Espargaro, Bradley Smith and Katsuyuki Nakasuga took the win after a thrilling battle.
    Noriyuki Haga of Team Kagayama competing at the Suzuka 8 hours 2015 motorcycle endurance race at Suzuka International Circuit, Japan
    Suzuki Endurance Racing Team placed fourth in Japan, bolstering its world championship lead, and is currently the top regular team. But it faces a threat from the GMT94 Yamaha squad, which took sixth place at Suzuka and is only 29 points behind in the regular team standings. With 35 points for a win at the Oschersleben 8 Hours, the championship is still wide open. And let’s not forget that Bolliger Team Switzerland is only two points behind in third place. The squad often puts on a good show in Germany, and is likely to show its mettle this time around too.
    Several other teams look to be in fine fettle for Germany. SRC Kawasaki entered Suzuka as a first-timer and was forced to abandon the race, but the team has got what it takes to come back strongly. Same goes for Honda Racing, winner of last year’s Oschersleben 8 Hours, and Monster Energy Yamaha YART, now featuring Superbike rider Max Neukirchner.
    BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com entered the Superstock class last year and pipped the top teams to pole position, finishing fourth. This year, they’re contenders to be reckoned with in the top category.
    Junior Team Le Mans Sud Suzuki will be in Germany as points leader in the Superstock class, and are tipped to win the race. But they’ll have to watch out for Team Traqueur Louit Moto 33, their nearest rivals at the Le Mans 24 Hours, not to mention Tati Team Beaujolais Racing and AM Moto Racing Competition.
    Other teams worth keeping an eye out for are Yamaha Viltais Expériences, with new riders, and the British and German squads. Völpker NRT 48 by Schubert Motors will be playing on home ground. Meanwhile, British team Jackson Racing has been on top form in other races this season, and Prime Factors Racing has signed Endurance expert and former rider Steve Plater as team manager.
    The Oschersleben 8 Hours is the highlight of an entire week of motorcycle races, festivities and concerts – a popular outing for the German public.
    STATUS OF THE PERMANENT TEAMS (contd)

    WRC, Allemagne : Au fil de la Moselle / our own Mosel cruise


    Une bonne partie du Rallye d’Allemagne se déroule sur les coteaux escarpés qui bordent la Moselle. A bord du Kloster Machern, nous avons appareillé à Trèves pour un aller/retour d’une centaine de kilomètres jusqu’à Bernkastel-Kues.
    Depuis près de 15 ans, pour aller sur les spéciales du Rallye Deutschland, on arpente chaque année la route B53 qui longe la Moselle en regardant avec envie ces péniches glisser sur les eaux limpides de la rivière. Hier, nous avons embarqué à bord duKloster Machernpour une balade de huit heures au fil de la Moselle, de Trèves à Bernkastel-Kues, et retour.
    L’embarcadère se trouve à Trier Zurlauben, tout près de la Porta Nigra. Notre vaisseau a appareillé à 9h00 pétantes avec une bonne centaine de moussaillons à bord, dont la plupart étaient déjà attablés à 9h01.
    Après une bonne demi-heure, une fois passé les différentes zones industrielles et commerciales de Trèves, on arrive à Schweich, porte d’entrée des vignobles mosellans. Notre navire est en fait un bateau-bus qui va observer 16 escales jusqu’à Bernkastel-Kues.
    A Mehring, la Moselle décrit de belles courbes que l’on négocie à 6 nœuds, ce qui nous laisse le temps d’admirer les coteaux abruptes plantés de différents cépages. Puis on arrive à la première des deux écluses que compte notre parcours. Il y a 28 écluses sur les 545 km de la Moselle, dont 10 en Allemagne.
    NotreKloster Macherns’engouffre entre deux murets de ciment et s’immobilise derrièreRival, une monstrueuse péniche de 110 mètres de long, 3303 tonnes. Jusqu’à Bernkastel-Kues, nous naviguons dans le sens du courant. Derrière nous, une énorme porte métallique se soulève hors de l’eau, tandis que devant, une autre porte s’entrebâille lentement.
    DSC00580
    Il faudra 10 minutes pour vider les 22 millions de litres d’eau que compte l’écluse et nous retrouver 6 mètres plus bas pour poursuivre notre route. C’est encore plus impressionnant au retour où, en une dizaine de minutes, l’eau soulève les navires de commerce comme de simples jouets en plastique dans une baignoire.
    La Moselle nous emmène aux villages-vignerons de Trittenheim, Neumagen, Piesport, Brauneberg pour arriver à Bernkastel-Kues et ses magnifiques maisons à colombages. La rivière poursuit jusqu’à Coblence où elle se jette dans le Rhin, mais pour nous, c’est le terminus. Après une promenade dans les rues pavées du village et une pause Currywurst-Kirschtorte, il est l’heure de réembarquer sur leKloster Machernpour rentrer à Trèves, à contre-courant et sous la pluie.

    Much of Rallye Deutschland’s action takes place in the vineyards which line the Mosel River. We boarded the Kloster Machern in Trier for a cruise of around 100km to Bernkastel-Kues and back.
    For almost 15 years now, we have become accustomed to taking the B53 road which follows the Mosel to access many of Rallye Deutschland’s signature stages, enviously watching the barges that sail slowly up and down the river. Today, we decided to indulge in an eight-hour cruise from Trier to Bernkastel-Kues and back.
    You board at Trier Zurlauben, close to the city’s famous Porta Nigra monument. We departed at the stroke of nine with around 100 fellow passengers, the majority of whom were already sitting in the restaurant at 9:01am!
    After a good half-hour, once out of the port area, you arrive in Schweich which serves as gateway to the riverside vineyards. It was the first of the 16 stops that our ‘bus-boat’ made on its way downstream to Bernkastel-Kues.
    In Mehring, the Moselle began a series of sweeping meanders as we reached a speed of six knots, a leisurely pace which left time to admire the steep, vine-clad valley sides. After that, we reached the first of the two locks that punctuate the trip – two of the 28 locks to be found along the Mosel’s 545 kilometres.
    We slipped into the lock just behind the Rival, a huge 110-metre long, 3,303 tonne barge. The enormous metal gate rose in our wake while another opened slowly ahead of us.
    It took 10 minutes to empty the lock’s 22 million litres of river and position us six metres lower down. It was even more impressive on our way back as the water raised our vessel as though it was a mere plastic duck in a bathtub.
    The journey took us past wine-trading villages like Trittenheim, Neumagen, Piesport and Brauneberg before we reached Bernkastel-Kues, famous for its medieval houses. This is our terminus, but the river continues to Koblenz where its joins the Rhine. We took an hour to explore the paved streets and treat ourselves to a Currywurst and cherry cake before embarking for the return leg… in rain.
    Teaser Image

    1961 Willys Wagon Barn Find Fix-up!

    Ever on the lookout for another project truck, Fred is constantly searching for old treasures. On this episode of Dirt Every Day presented by 4 Wheel Parts, Fred hears about a barn-find ’61 Jeep Willy’s Wagon for sale cheap and jumps on the deal to drag it home. The Jeep hasn’t been running since 1978 because of a blown engine, but Fred has a week to get it back in the dirt after sitting under a coat of dust for 37 years! Can he find a new powerplant to motivate the old SUV without breaking more old school drivetrain components?


    Strange & Extreme TRAINS & Locomotives - PART 2


    Timeless Classics: Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour de France’


    The Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour de France’ – originally named the 250 GT Berlinetta – sired a dynasty of road and race Ferraris that were hugely successful in the 1950s and ’60s, and today command the car world’s top prices. Without the 250 ‘TdF’, there would be no 250 GTO, no SWB, no California Spider…

    What’s in a name?

    The TdF acquired its nickname retrospectively, as a result of winning the 1956 Tour de France Automobile in the hands of the flamboyant and daring Spanish marquis, Alfonso de Portago. He too had a nickname – ‘Fon’ – which is a mercy, given that Fon’s full official title was a mite harder to remember: Alfonso Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Carvajal y Are, 13th Conde de la Mejorada, 12th Marquis de Portago.

    Scaglietti’s swoops

    When, in 1956, Ferrari turned its attention back to sports-racing cars after a full-on Grand Prix focus the previous year, the Italian marque thought its 250 GT chassis would made a good basis for a new road-going competition sports car. Ferrari therefore commissioned Scaglietti to build the coachwork for nine cars initially, the body featuring a truncated fastback tail that incorporated a large glass section, a long, curvaceous bonnet and an ‘egg-crate’ grille (Zagato, meanwhile, designed the bodies of another five first-series cars).
    The new Berlinetta achieved creditable results in hillclimbs and sprints that year, but nothing to touch Alfonso de Portago’s outright win on the Tour de France.

    The actual Tour de France winner

    The car in the pictures is that actual car – chassis 0557GT (with an engine number to match) – that de Portago drove to victory in the great French event. It was the fifth of only seven Scaglietti-bodied competition cars built in that first run of 250 GT Berlinettas, but certainly the most historically significant of all the Tour de France cars – subsequently named, as they were, after this one example. Indeed, it’s one of the most important of all Ferraris.

    A dash of Pebble provenance

    De Portago took his car, with its Italian road registration of BO 69211, to many other victories before his untimely death in a Ferrari 335 S in the 1957 Mille Miglia. Passing through the hands of several top collectors, the TdF was given a sensitive but thorough ground-up restoration in the early 1990s, and subsequently won many of the world’s top concours events, including a First in Class at Pebble Beach.
    This article is part of the 'Timeless Classics' feature series that is presented and supported by our friends at RM Sotheby’s.

    Evade the LAPD in Steve McQueen’s special-order Porsche 930


    It was Steve McQueen’s bad-boy image that helped make him the legend he is today. In 1976, true to form, the King of Cool ordered a Porsche 930 from the factory, and had a kill-switch for the rear lights fitted – supposedly to help him evade capture by the LAPD…


    Steve McQueen’s 1976 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo – complete with special-order options such as Slate Grey paint and a LSD – will go to auction during Pebble Beach week via Mecum, on 13-15 August 2015.
    You can find several Porsche 930 Turbos for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

    GOLDWING




    We first encountered Yann and Manu at Bike Shed Paris earlier this year, a polite and talented pair of guys who drove across from Brittany with a trio of gorgeous bikes. Manu is a trained motorcycle mechanic, previously specialising in Hondas and boilers. No, that’s not a euphemism for rotund women or water cooled bikes but another handy skill, he can weld and properly too. If his joints can keep steam and gas in, frame tubes should be a doddle.
    SLCDR B
    The other half of the duo os Yann, a bodyshop painter who’s plied his trade in both Canada and France. But if you’re reading this then you were probably attracted here by the geometric harlequin of a fuel tank on this striking Goldwing, Yann’s talent extends beyond painting panels, and his artwork has featured in galleries from Montreal to Lyon.
    SLCDR C
    Together they embarked on an adventure, setting up a workshop to build café racer, board & dirt tracker inspired bikes, pushing their own skills each time with the aim of feeling that motivational sense of achievement that’s so prevalent with tangible endeavours.
    This ’76 Honda Gl 1000 had been abandoned in a barn and arrived at the workshop in a sorry state, requiring a complete strip down before work could begin. First step was to adapt the frame for the new tank and create a tidy tail for a bobbed café look.
    SLCDR D
    Anticipating not only a heavy but also a thirsty machine, Honda engineers wisely created a fuel tank that stretched down under the seat, the company logos were merely mounted on vanity panels which covered relays and other bits of the electrics on one side and the coolant reservoir on the other. I know, a water cooled bike on the Bike Shed, whatever next!
    With this Quasimodo vessel out of the way the guys could reduce the electrical clutter and utilise the free real estate under the new saddle for a custom airbox to feed the quad downdraught carbs. Whilst rolling out the tail section from aluminium Yann knocked up a couple of side panels and the seat base, handy chap that he is.
    SLCDR F
    The BMW tank is not only capacious but burly enough in proportion to visually balance that hunk of an engine hanging beneath. A fair amount of modification was required to achieve a decent fit so whilst chopping it about a cylinder was inset for the Motogadget mini speedo and also a neck for the flush mounted, pop-up filler. Being a graffiti artist under the alias MrDuPonT Yann set about the new tank with a batch of Montana spray cans (the best in the business apparently – I’m not arty enough to know this), and from the looks of things a lot of masking tape. After three days of spraying, waiting, peeling, spraying and waiting it was ready; for eight coats of lacquer!
    SLCDR G
    One benefit of running nice, fat 16″ wheels front and rear is that there are choices other than the obvious Firestone Deluxe Champions, Coker make a decent option but the Shinko SHR 270 must be one of the best looking treads available in this style. Glad the guys agree with us.
    To further beef up the front end the forks have been shortened and covered with shrouds, handmade of course. These match the classic sheathed Hagons suspending the rear.
    Surles Chappeaux Big Honda HOverall Yann and Manu have achieved that oh so tricky of things, near proportionate perfection. With an aggressive stance the just gimme the keys factor is high. It’s without surprise then, that with no information at all, an album of this bike published last week turned out to be one of the most popular Facebook posts of the year so far. People know just right when they see it.
    via PIPEBURN

    The Aga Khan’s yacht needs a new captain


    Prince Karim Aga Khan IV has always known how to enjoy life – whether on land, at sea or in the air. In 1964, he commissioned a custom-built motor yacht from the Baglietto shipyard in Italy. Now, the ‘Betti Lazuri’ is for sale.

    A yacht with a jet-set history

    Too bad that boats can’t speak – the Baglietto Minorca that goes by the name of ‘Betti Lazuri’ would certainly have a tale or two to tell. Having first been owned by the Aga Khan, one of her later owners was the French singer and pop idol Claude François. More recently, Betti Lazuri was completely restored by her present owners and fitted with a new interior, a swimming platform and two new C12 Caterpillar engines with 1430HP, enabling a respectable speed of 24 knots. The prestigious 20-metre yacht is currently for sale in the Classic Driver Market; the price is 2.9 million euros.
    A great many classic and modern yachts can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

    Tatoo.......