A short documentary about the motorcycle custom company : Cafe Racer Dreams.
CRD was created in 2010 by Pedro Garcia in Madrid. Since 2012, Efraon Triana is his partner. They are now based in Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
The main idea is to rehabilitate and transform CRD motorcycles. Although at first the brand name focused on the Cafe Racer, CRD goes beyond and encompasses all kinds of styles. In short, motorcycles with a vintage look and different from what we usually see on the roads.
Built not bought - Short Documentary - Cafe Racer Dreams from resilients.tv on Vimeo.
mercredi 26 août 2015
BRSCC MAZDA MX-5 SUPERCUP ; Oulton Park ; Henderson tightens his grip on the 2015 SuperCup title....
A month after the frantic racing at Cadwell Park the BRSCC MX5 SuperCup rolled on to the Oulton Park meeting which would take place as always on the International layout of the Cheshire circuit. In the run up to the meeting the weather forecast deteriorated, with the dreaded “two blobs” of rain indicated on the BBC weather app for the majority of the one day meeting. Fortunately these predictions are not always correct…
Practice
Having rained overnight the circuit was definitely wet as the drivers headed out for a very early 8.30am start, the busy one day meeting meaning that with 4 sessions for the SuperCup drivers they were first out on track. With a wall of spray being kicked up into Old Hall corner many drivers perhaps felt caution in these conditions for the first session of the day was the way to go and times built slowly throughout the session. Having acquired Chris Dawkins car after the Cadwell meeting, James Blake-Baldwin’s first action was to find the tyre wall and sustain minor damage to his new car. But that didn’t stop him continuing on and setting fastest times for the majority of the session. It wasn’t until the final lap that championship leader Alan Henderson topped the times with a 2:13.2 lap time, much slower that the pace expected if the circuit were dry.
Qualifying
With only short break after practice decisions on whether to go for a wet or dry set up had to be made quickly and with no rain in the air and the temperature rising most drivers gambled on it drying out. Once on track it was clear that some sections remained damp while a dry line had appeared around the majority of the circuit so lap times again got quicker as the session progressed. Blake Baldwin set the early place until on lap 4 Henderson became the only driver to dip below the 2:01 mark and this was the way it stayed, Henderson going quicker again late in the session to take a dominant pole. It was Cadwell race winner Liam Murphy who pipped Blake Baldwin to 2nd fastest but still 0.8 of a second behind pole. John Davies took his best qualifying result of the season in 4th while Charlie Charmin was also right on the pace in only his second SuperCup meeting qualifying in 8th. Lap times were close, with only 1.2 seconds covering 2nd to 11th on the grid, setting up as usual for some very close racing later in the day.
Race 1
Following on from the last race at the Cadwell meeting several drivers had Blue Book imposed grid penalties to serve, demoting Murphy to 6th , JJ Clements to 11th and Jonathan Greensmith to 15th. The weather had improved and the sun shone with no sign of the predicted rain… perfect conditions for racing.
The front row was Henderson and Blake-Baldwin and as the race got underway it was Henderson who made the better start, leading into the first corner. Behind it was Goddard who slipped into third ahead of Davies as several further back in the pack scrabbled across the grass on the exit of the first turn.
From there on the front two were in a class of their own stretching away a significant lead over the first lap as the cars behind fought for position. It was Davies however who came over the line in 3rd followed by Nield and then Goddard, the group having gone into the Knickerbrook chicane three abreast earlier in the lap. On lap two it was all change as Blake Baldwin took the lead from Henderson while a spin for Nield left Davies fending off Goddard and now Murphy for 3rd.
The racing at the front was superb, Henderson running bumper to bumper all the way round the lap behind Blake Baldwin for several laps until finally retaking the lead on lap 5. By now the front two were 10 seconds clear of the chasing pack and its was a straight fight for the win but despite Blake-Baldwins best efforts he couldn’t find a way past a defensive Henderson who took the chequered flag just over 1 second in front. Fastest lap went to Henderson set on the final lap of the race.
The battle for third was another thriller with Murphy, Clements and Greensmith all recovering superbly from their grid penalties to begin pressurising Davies for third place. The racing was close but fair and in the last few laps it was Davies who just had enough pace to keep Muphy at bay for the last step on the podium.
Further back and no-one was left without a good fight newcomer Will Picken enjoying a superb race with the ever improving Carl Garnett and returning Paul Sheard Autos Driver Justin Newnam – Justin’s in-car footage is available on YouTube and is well worth a watch! With only a single DNF resulting from Charlie Charmans unfortunate off at island bend (causing only minor damage) the first race at Oulton was a return to the clean close racing the drivers expect in the MX5 SuperCup.
Race 2
The sun shone again and the temperature was up as the cars lined up for race 2 of the day following another only short break. Lining up in finishing order of race one (no penalties!) it was again Henderson who lead the way into the first turn this time Davies challenged for 2nd but had the door firmly shut by BlakeBaldwin.
Once again the front two cars streaked away in a race of their own while the battle for third was a huge pack of cars circulating as one. Davies hung onto 3rd as the cars arrived 3 abreast into cascades then on lap 4 it was Greensmith pressurising Davies for third having moved ahead of Murphy. One lap later and a brake issue for Davies caused him to lose control at Island bend in a race ending copy of Charmans incident earlier in the day.
Out front the race was frantic once again with Blake-Baldwin hitting the front on lap 3 but unable to stay there as a late braking move into the Knickerbrook chicane saw Henderson slide back in front on lap 6. The next time round and Blake-Baldwin tried to repeat the same move but was too far back and forced both drivers down the run off escape and to cut the chicane, fortunately with enough in hand to re-join without pressure from the chasing pack. From there on Blake-Baldwins challenge faded as Henderson put in successive laps at record pace to take a second win by over 3 seconds.
For third it was Greensmith who was hanging on, showing his experience to hold off former race winners Murphy and Clements to a take his first proper podium of the season. Other notable drives came from James Aspinall who ran right on the front running pace and Charlie Charman who recovered from the back to take 11th. It was a tough weekend for Richard Wiklen who was dogged by mechanical issues with little time to remedy them between sessions despite which he did a great job bringing the car home in both races.
Hendersons new lap record of 2:00.20 is impressive and his lead in the championship is further extended after Oulton but with James Blake-Baldwin clearly happy with his new car Henderson will not have it easy for the rest of the season. Overall the pace of all drivers was much quicker than 2014 and shows just what a high quality field there is in the MX5 SuperCup.
Championship Standings: http://www.mx5supercup.co.uk/standings
ERC, Barum Rally Zlin : Skoda en reconquête / Skoda targeting home win
Skoda Motorsport est de retour en Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA à l’occasion de la manche tchèque, le Barum Czech Rally Zlin, avec une Fabia R5 officielle pour Jan Kopecky. Breen (Peugeot) et Kajetanovicz (Ford) vont s’affronter pour le titre européen.
Une semaine après l’ADAC Rallye Deutschland où Jan Kopecky et Skoda Motorsport ont brillamment remporté la catégorie WRC-2, le pilote et le constructeur tchèque sont au départ du Barum Rally Zlin (7e manche ERC) pour décrocher le titre national et reprendre le pouvoir sur ce rallye. Invaincue à Zlin de 2009 à 2013, Skoda a été battue par Vaclav Pech et sa Mini John Cooper Works l’an passé.
Après cinq victoires d’affilée en WRC-2, la Skoda Fabia R5/Michelin officielle débute en ERC et vise un premier succès européen devant son public que l’on attend très, très nombreux. La 45eédition du Barum Rally Zlin a attiré 143 concurrents (118 en ERC) dont pas moins de 22 voitures R5 et S2000 !
Parmi les autres prétendants à la victoire, l’Irlandais Craig Breen et sa Peugeot 208 T16 qui était lui aussi au Rallye d’Allemagne la semaine passée, le Polonais Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5), sans oublier le vainqueur sortant Vaclav Pech (Mini John Cooper Works) et le vainqueur du dernier Rally Estonia, le Russe Alexey Lukyanuk (Fiesta R5).
Les pilotes tchèques sont toujours très véloces sur ce tracé qu’ils connaissent par cœur, comme Tomas Kostka (Fabia R5), Pavel Valousek (Fabia S2000 ou encore Jan Cerny (Skoda S2000). A suivre aussi le retour de l’Allemand Sepp Wiegand (Skoda S2000). Les partenaires de Michelin disposeront de la gamme de pneus rallye asphalte « Compétition-Clients » (R11, R21…) élargie avec le nouveau R32 (hard).
Cette épreuve très populaire se déroule autour de Zlin, au sud de la Moravie, près des frontières slovaques et autrichiennes. Le parcours asphalte présente un profil très rapide, étroit et vallonné, avec des passages en sous-bois où le tarmac peut rester humide et piégeux. Les conditions météo peuvent rapidement évoluer dans cette région.
La spéciale la plus redoutée est Pindula (18,43 km), mais Trojak (23,01 km), Semetin (11,74 km) ou encore Kudlovice (17,97 km) sont également très difficiles. Le rallye s’élance traditionnellement avec une Superspéciale nocturne tracée dans les rues de Zlin, près du siège de Bata, marque de chaussures bien connue fondée par Tomas Bata.
La Qualifying Stage est programmée vendredi, avant la cérémonie de départ et la Superspéciale à Zlin. Arrivée dimanche 30 août après 15 ES et 229 km chronométrés.
The factory Skoda Fabia R5/Michelin is poised to make its first FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) appearance at its home event, the Barum Czech Rally Zlin, in the hands of Kopecky. Breen (Peugeot) and Kajetanovicz (Ford) will go to head in their 2015 Euro title bid.
Less than a week after the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, where Jan Kopecky and Skoda Motorsport scored an assertive victory in WRC2, both the driver and the Czech make will be back in action at the Barum Rally Zlin, round seven of the ERC. Their aim will be to secure the national title and resume Skoda’s winning record on home soil that lasted from 2009 to 2013. Last year, the brand was thwarted by Vaclav Pech and his Mini John Cooper Works.
With five straight WRC2 wins to its name this year, a factory-run Skoda Fabia R5/Michelin will be making its first ERC appearance in front of a huge crowd. The Barum Rally Zlin has attracted 143 entries (118 ERC-registered), including no fewer than 22 R5 or S2000 cars!
Potential winners include Irishman Craig Breen (Peugeot 208 T16), who was also in Germany last week, Pole Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5) and, of course, the 2014 victor Vaclav Pech (Mini John Cooper Works), plus the recent Rally Estonia winner Alexey Lukyanuk (Fiesta R5) from Russia.
Home-grown drivers have always been strong on this event which they know by heart. The list includes Tomas Kostka (Fabia R5), Pavel Valousek (Fabia S2000) and Jan Cerny (Skoda S2000), while a guest star will be Germany’s Sepp Wiegand (Skoda S2000). Michelin’s partners will benefit from the usual customer range (R11, R21, etc.), along with the new hard-compound R32.
The Zlin-based rally visits southern Moravia, near the Slovakian and Austrian borders. Its asphalt stages are very fast, narrow and hilly, and are famously tricky under tree cover where the roads can be damp. The weather can change quickly in the region, too.
The most feared stage is Pindula (18.43km), but Trojak (23.01km), Semetin (11.74km) and Kudlovice (17.97km) are also notorious challenges. The rally will start with Friday’s traditional night-time super-special in the streets of Zlin near the headquarters of shoe brand Bata.
That will be preceded by the Qualifying Stage and the official start ceremony. The finish will be on Sunday, August 30, on completion of 15 stages totalling 229km.
HIGH PASSES AND RAIN STORMS
A trip through Southern Colorado’s Famous Trails
Wrapped in bacon and pan fried with plenty of salt and butter, James and I were furiously consuming what may have been the moistest steaks either of us had ever eaten. It’s difficult to say though, it was pouring with such force that much of that was likely just rain flavored with steak juices. But no matter, this is just part of the fun and we had our tents set up before the rain came. One great advantage of eating in the rain? Mother nature does most of your dishes.
This was only our first night of six planned for southern Colorado. Despite the downpour that began the instant our steaks were done, the days drive from Prescott to our camp north of Dolores had been quite uneventful. With a new 5 speed transmission in the old FJ60, 80 miles per hour was pleasantly possible despite the factory 2F motor. Saturday morning greeted us with a continuing threat of rain until we reached Ophir, where the weather broke and we were had our first views of the Rocky Mountains and Ophir Pass. Though Ophir Pass was just a quick out and back for us it was well worth the drive. Another quick detour was had through Telluride and up to Bridal Veil Falls for lunch on the tailgate.
There was a music festival going in Telluride, but despite the tourist crowds in town we only encountered one other vehicle climbing Tomboy Road. This was just fine by us, giving plenty of opportunities to ogle the views before reaching the Tomboy Mine. At Imogene Pass the dogs had the time of their life bounding through snow drifts. I pulled up to an overlook just east of Imogene Pass looking to stretch our legs a bit more. Two days in the driver’s seat had left me itching to get away from the truck for a bit, so I walked up to snoop around the old Army lookout hut at the peak. James changed shoes while I was checking out the hut and we then walked down to Ptarmigan Lake. I had dreams of loading my pack and spending the night on the lake, but James was a little more skeptical and insisted on leaving the packs behind; and he was right. The walk was harder than I thought, especially at 13,000ft and deep snowdrifts crossing the road didn’t help any. Despite the amazing views from the old miners cabin, I finally relented and we returned to the Land Cruiser. On the way down we met a Phoenician named Marty who had sank his FJ Cruiser in a snow bank. Good thing we happened along when we did, otherwise a Jeep might have had to pull him from the snow and that wouldn’t be good for any self respecting Toyota owner. Not too much further down the road James and I made camp in an old cabin at Upper Bird Camp.
By noon Sunday burgers and a pint were had at the Ouray Brewery while James and I studied the maps for Engineer Pass. By this point we were both getting leery of the trip reports we had read from others. Not that the FJ60 was having any trouble, or the roads were beyond our comfort levels, but the reports claimed things such as Subaruable for Imogene; Bollocks. That said, the only trouble we had getting to Engineer Pass was convincing the Range Rover Sport driver and his friends in their side by side to reverse 20ft up the trail rather than our reversing a quarter mile down the trail. Personally I feel it should be a flexible thing based upon location of pullouts but if they are reading this; No, the rules of the road aren’t randomly different in Colorado, those going uphill do have right away. After the short detour to Engineer Pass, we returned to the large mine near Mineral Creek for the night. Again camping in an old mine cabin we moved in before the rains began, enjoying our drinks of choice with our pipes. Soon the sun was setting with a spectacular double rainbow over camp and a light sun-shower.
A Dark and Stormy and a Mojito made with Silverton distilled rum seemed like a good way to finish off the Alpine loop Monday afternoon. The day had been filled with more spectacular scenery on the way down through Animas Forks, including a tailgate lunch while watching people drown their Jeeps in a nearby ford. The plan was to camp near Clear Lake, then backpack into Ice Lake for two nights of spectacular scenery. Our first clue of that plan’s demise was while enjoying the rum looking at NOAA. 60% chance of rain the next two days and starting tonight. That played out as scripted soon after making our way to Clear Lake and setting camp. The weather thankfully broke long enough for some spectacular views to be had however, so I got plenty of exercise running all around Clear Lake with the camera. By morning the rains had returned in full and we agreed a new plan was needed. Based upon weather, we opted to make a pavement run up to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
For anyone thinking of going––do. Montrose is nothing to boggle the mind, but the National Park is pretty stunning; and the routes (the Park Service doesn’t see fit to call them trails) to the river are pretty epic. I arose at 5:45 for a good breakfast and the mile walk down to the Visitors Center to fill out my back country permit. Why such an early start for a measly two mile round trip hike? Because, that one mile route from Visitors Center to the river drops 1,800 feet, that’s why. That is the easy route too! Again, for anyone thinking of going, do. It’s only two miles, just try not to think about 3,600 feet of total elevation change in that two miles. For obvious enough reasons, I had no interest in putting forth the effort to find another campsite outside the park, so stars were again gazed from the South Rim Campground.
Montrose’s inability to impress largely had to do with my inability to find a decent breakfast there at 9am on a Thursday. We finally stopped for a breakfast burrito made fresh to order. Too bad it was made with Kraft cheese, Jimmy Dean sausage and they didn’t have any coffee. Such is life I guess, not everything can be perfect. Coffee was had at a barista across the street and it was now time to head for home. Being homeward bound doesn’t mean the fun is over though, Black Bear Pass is on the way and had just opened that week. This lead us to some more amazing views, fields of wild flowers, and the only mud bog of the trip. Nothing 33 inch Mud Terrains can’t handle, but it’s worth a thought for anyone with lower vehicles since even my lifted FJ60 was dragging the frame most of the way. After another lunch near Bridal Veil Falls, James and I met a friendly family with quite the story to tell; The parents had been born in Telluride. Grandpa had worked the mine at Via Ferrata, and Great Grandma had been brought down from the Tom Boy in winter where her husband worked through the mines and trams to give birth in Telluride.
Our final camp of the trip was had west of Dunton on the Dunton Road. The dogs ran and played until they dropped while James and I sipped some Bundy rum and smoked our pipes around the first campfire of the trip. With visions of the Milky Way fresh in our minds we crawled into our mosquito proof tents. Fridays drive was of course long, made worse by a fierce west wind badgering the poor 2F motor down to 55mph. We did, however, make a quick scouting trip through Canyon de Chelly National Monument on our way, a must see site to return to on another trip.
High Passes and Rain Storms
Published by on August 19th, 2015BMW R50 – Cytech
Written by Martin Hodgson.
Cytech of South Africa have one simple motto: “Never say die”. So when this 1955 BMW R50 came in on a stretcher with yellow skin, complete organ failure and no pulse they fired up the defibrillator and injected new life into this 60-year-old Bavarian.
Go for a ride with some true old timers and their machines of yesteryear and it won’t be long before they take a look at your fresh off the factory floor bike and with a dismissive tone claim “They don’t make them like they used to”. Twenty minutes later, with oil covering their jeans, pulled over at the side of the road… again, reaching under the seat for your factory supplied tool kit to find enough gaffer tape to keep their handlebars on. It’s part of the charm, it’s why we love ‘em, but new bikes are for the most part built better in almost every single way and all categories of bikes are covered and then some.
But the BMW R50 is one of the few exceptions to the rule, they simply don’t make them like they used to, it’s a level of sophistication and refinement that just doesn’t exist in modern touring machines, there is no modern equivalent and when first reviewed it was described simply as “gentlemanly” and praised because “the machine could be ridden in ordinary walking clothes without any fear of their becoming soiled.”
So it made sense when a Father and Son team brought the R50 to Cytech for a rebuild that it was done in a manner that would allow them to restore it to original, if and when they could find those rare parts. Starting with a pension aged, non-running condition, banana yellow painted R50 just goes to show the level of ability Cytech have to produce what you see before you.
The original frame has been cleaned up before being powder coated in satin black for a period correct, durable finish. The gorgeously simple swingarm received the same treatment and like the entire bike is held in place by Galvanised nuts, bolts and mounting parts throughout. To get it into a rolling state the aluminium wheels have been refurbished and rebuilt before being painted satin black and then wrapped in Kenda dual purpose tyres and tubes.
One of the key features to the level of refinement and exceptionalism that is part of the R50 experience is the ultra-smooth, pull from any revs, 500cc boxer twin. Cytech left no stone unturned in returning it to its original glory and that started with sandblasting the engine, gearbox and drive housing. The engine was then pulled down and totally rebuilt with new gaskets, bearings and wiring to support the also new 6V battery and electrical system. Fuelling comes courtesy of a set of new Bing carburettors that are fed by chrome induction pipes from a flat black painted air filter housing. To match the tappet covers, cylinders and kick-start lever were all given the same flat black treatment resulting in an uber clean look.
Just like the engine the suspension came in for rave reviews in 1955 with one magazine noting “The machine could be heeled over stylishly on slow or fast curves in the sure knowledge that it would follow the chosen line faithfully.” This at a time when most bikes had you leaving your tooth fillings scattered along the roadside, but for a little 21st century technology Cytech added a taper roller bearing to the steering head. The front and rear shock absorbers and Earles front fork suspension has all been completely rebuilt and the covers painted satin black. While the polished steering damper and polished shock caps and swingarm caps add a great contrast to the satin finish. The twin shoe 8 inch drum up front and single 8 inch rear brakes have been rebuilt and fitted with new shoes. While the outer front brake housing has been sandblasted and a new brake cable along with new clutch and accelerator cables fitted.
The mechanical features of the R50 alone make it a beautiful bike to look at but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved upon with a thorough refurbishment. The fuel tank and headlamp shell were both panel beaten and painted matt black with stunning enamel BMW tank badges providing a rare hint of colour. New knee pads have been fitted with a toolbox behind the left pad and a polished aluminium tank cap to top the whole show off. Adding just the slightest bling to this elegant machine are the chrome headlight surround and chrome handlebars that are finished with Magura twistgrips and bar end mirrors for some safety on the African roads.
Riding high in comfort and style a gentleman finds his perch on a Pagusa single saddle seat that is mounted to the frame. And so Sir can enjoy the sounds of the Bavarian Boxer in all its majestic glory a pair of black cone mufflers attached to wrapped pipes are one of the few non-standard features. In the end Ray, Don and their team have completed one of the nicest R50 builds anywhere on the planet, a bike that can be ridden and not just sit in a Museum. That should come as no surprise, as Cytech not only build the best BMW’s in Africa they also ride them all over the continent and you can too if you join in on one of their magic tours.
via PIPEBURN
BMW’s 3.0 CSL Hommage given racing suit for Pebble Beach
BMW has again used a world-class concours event to reveal a new concept car. The racing version of the 3.0 CSL Hommage first revealed at Villa d’Este will go on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance…
Same car, different concours, new outfit
Design-wise, the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R is almost identical to the Golf Yellow concept shown at Villa d’Este, though it has now been given the marque’s signature racing livery to stunning effect. Racing-relevant updates include a fire-extinguisher system, a steering wheel that displays current track and race position, and a helmet that provides the driver with speed and engine information.
Build it already!
Despite a rapturous reception for the CSL Hommage since Villa d’Este, BMW is unlikely to put it into production due to high development costs. Instead, it will serve as inspiration for a number of more extreme, lightweight variants of existing models created by M division – the first of which, the M4 GTS, will also be displayed at Pebble Beach this weekend.
Photos: BMW
You can find many modern and classic BMWs for sale in the Classic Driver Market.
All the news from this year's Monterey and Pebble Beach events can be found in our regularly updated overview.
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