vendredi 4 septembre 2015
Blancpain Sprint Series ; Ready for action in Portimao
Reiter Gallardo on top in first free practice
Sunny and hot conditions for the first free practice at the Autodromo Internacional Algarve, albeit with a strong wind blowing over the Portuguese track. All teams and drivers immediately started preparing for what promises to be an exciting couple of races.
Albert von Thurn und Taxis in the #88 Reiter Lamborghini quickly set the reference time and his lap time would only be improved by his Dutch team-mate Nick Catsburg.
Albert von Thurn und Taxis in the #88 Reiter Lamborghini quickly set the reference time and his lap time would only be improved by his Dutch team-mate Nick Catsburg.
The most recent Blancpain Sprint Series main race winner, the #84 Bentley Team HTP of Maxi Buhk and Vincent Abril set the second time, just over half a second slower than the black-and-white Gallardo. Series leaders Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns ended up in third, just four hundredths of a second behind the Bentley.
HTP Bentley fastest in second free practice
The winners of the most recent Blancpain Sprint Series race, Maxi Buhk and Vincent Abril in the #84 Bentley Team HTP Continental, were quickest in the second free practice session for the Portuguese round of the fastest GT Series on the motorsports planet.
Vincent Abril lapped the Algarve circuit in Portimao in 1'44.871, which was almost four tenths quicker than the best lap time in the first free practice session.
That time had been set by Nick Catsburg and although the Dutchman left it late in the second session, Catsburg was again at the sharp end with his #88 Reiter Lamborghini, only a quarter of a second off Abril's time. In third was the #1 Audi Sport Team WRT R8 of Frijns and Vanthoor, even though the car caused a brief interruption of the session, when Frijns ended up in the gravel trap in turn 7.
Tomorrow's action starts with qualifying at 9:45, the Qualifying Race will get underway at 14:15.
Road mob Trip
Comme on le sait tous, le jeune à pas de pouvoir d'achat, le jeune est fourbe, t'écoutes pas quand il est sur son portable ......le jeune est virtuel, mais le jeune vu qu'il a passé sa vie sur des trucs à la con, un jour, il faut qu'il découvre les gens, les routes, les villages, il faut qu'il avance...........donc HOUND MOTORCYCLE dans son programme "sauver le jeune" à sponsorisé avec des frais colossaux cet équipage composé de MC (ça se dit M SI) bref Marie Clarisse et de Florent chevauchant deux mobs, ils descendent (ça ira plus vite) dans le bassin d'ARCACHON, un truc de con, un truc de jeune, donc nous vous tiendrons au courant ici de l'évolution du raid avec un compte rendu journalier que l'on analysera à la Hound Factory, à notre façon.......bonne route à eux et faitiez pas les cons
MAJOR KRUEL
GEAR GUIDE #62
In Gear Guide #62 we review the classic Bell Custom 500 helmet, the Helstons Cruiser jacket in dark blue and the latest messenger bags from British firm Kriega.
HELSTONS CRUISER JACKET – BLUE
I’ve never been a huge fan of black leather and usually plump for a tan or brown where possible but in a bid to add a degree of flamboyance to the wardrobe I threw caution to the wind and ordered this blue Cruiser, from French outfitters Helstons. Having tried a range of their clobber recently we’re really impressed with the quality and attention to detail.
First off I like the slightly retro styling, just enough quilting and ribbing to break up the slightly more gregarious colour choice. This is a medium, but cut for a Englishman who drinks ale with a handle and doesn’t trim fat off a steak. It fits perfectly, with or without the liner and once this tremendous summer departs I’ll be able to fit a thick jumper underneath. This is one of the only jackets I’ve tried of late that is of this cut. Most seem to be for sleek European Pernod sippers who enjoy the snugness of slim fit shirts from Zara. I’m no fatty or gym bunny, but do hate constrictive shoulders and elbows. The Helton’s Cruiser fits like, a glove I suppose.
The long arms culminate in excellent cuffs, the ergonomic zips easily manageable with gloves on. Ride open and tucked inside for sunny days or zipped-up and gloves over to block out the evening chill. Obvious, but button cuffs and other fiddly nonsense don’t feature here. Pockets are plentiful and all lined with thick yet soft cotton, sunglasses can be shoved in without fear of scratching. The collar doesn’t chafe and thankfully the fastening strap can be secured and doesn’t flap about.
The blue is not uniform and has been treated with a patinating coating which usually has me running a mile. But after two rainstorms, in which I remained totally dry, the finishing sheen has dulled and the leather is breaking-in nicely and looks the business. With the liner, on a 13 degree evening I rode for two hours with only a t-shirt underneath and the wind didn’t even stand a chance of cooling me off, and I’m a snake! It’s made of cow and has proper, well positioned CE armour throughout, including a decent length, non-quasimodo back protector, the latter barely noticeable. It’d be a shame to scuff the lovely blue leather but it feels like you’d be well protected if you wanted to have a go. I won’t ride in flimsy gear and it surpassed my expectations and requirements. Hopefully I don’t see the black or brown versions anytime soon as I think I’d want one of each. Dear Santa…. Review by Ross Sharp.
First off I like the slightly retro styling, just enough quilting and ribbing to break up the slightly more gregarious colour choice. This is a medium, but cut for a Englishman who drinks ale with a handle and doesn’t trim fat off a steak. It fits perfectly, with or without the liner and once this tremendous summer departs I’ll be able to fit a thick jumper underneath. This is one of the only jackets I’ve tried of late that is of this cut. Most seem to be for sleek European Pernod sippers who enjoy the snugness of slim fit shirts from Zara. I’m no fatty or gym bunny, but do hate constrictive shoulders and elbows. The Helton’s Cruiser fits like, a glove I suppose.
The long arms culminate in excellent cuffs, the ergonomic zips easily manageable with gloves on. Ride open and tucked inside for sunny days or zipped-up and gloves over to block out the evening chill. Obvious, but button cuffs and other fiddly nonsense don’t feature here. Pockets are plentiful and all lined with thick yet soft cotton, sunglasses can be shoved in without fear of scratching. The collar doesn’t chafe and thankfully the fastening strap can be secured and doesn’t flap about.
The blue is not uniform and has been treated with a patinating coating which usually has me running a mile. But after two rainstorms, in which I remained totally dry, the finishing sheen has dulled and the leather is breaking-in nicely and looks the business. With the liner, on a 13 degree evening I rode for two hours with only a t-shirt underneath and the wind didn’t even stand a chance of cooling me off, and I’m a snake! It’s made of cow and has proper, well positioned CE armour throughout, including a decent length, non-quasimodo back protector, the latter barely noticeable. It’d be a shame to scuff the lovely blue leather but it feels like you’d be well protected if you wanted to have a go. I won’t ride in flimsy gear and it surpassed my expectations and requirements. Hopefully I don’t see the black or brown versions anytime soon as I think I’d want one of each. Dear Santa…. Review by Ross Sharp.GET IT HERE
BELL CUSTOM 500 HELMET
I had always been a full face man. The anonymity and security they afford had invariably tipped my head away from the open face shelf. But with high anticipation of the 2012 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride I ventured to my local shop and bought the cheapest open face lid in stock. It was a piece of tat with all the protection of a cloth cap but it taught me one thing, open face rules. Wind on the face, unparalleled vision and the potential to interact with the rest of the world, city riding has been open faced for me ever since.
Bell’s Custom 500 is the definitive open faced lid, Bell pretty much invented the modern motorcycle helmet back in the fifties and the Custom 500 maintains many of those early styling cues while benefitting from modern construction techniques and full CE safety approval. It is a quality piece of kit a world away from my first open faced ventures. As soon as you open the box to reveal the luxuriously lined helmet bag you know you are dealing with a class item. The details and fixtures are all beautifully executed, from the perforated and quilted lining to the red leather embossed tab on the double D ring closure.
There are colours available to suit all tastes, I plumped for the matte grey option. The finish is beautifully smooth and tactile, tempting you to get creative with the brushes or sharpies but for now it is too damn nice to deface. Of course none of this matters a jot if it doesn’t function on the bike. It is confusingly quiet for an open faced lid and doesn’t lift at speed as others I have owned have been inclined to do, as with all helmets the fit is key and this Bell definitely suits my noggin. No corners have been cut here with judicious placement of extra padding, the Custom 500 comes in five different shell sizes which helps maintain the helmet’s low profile whatever size you come up at.
I have been running the helmet with either sunnies or a flip-up bubble visor, but there are a plethora of visor and goggle options to style the helmet and protect your eyes, a low down of the options will follow in an upcoming Gear Guide. Price is often a pointless discussion, with one man’s pocket money being another’s weekly wage, but with this lid price is truly relevant. One hundred and thirty quid for an item of this quality and heritage is a bloody bargain by anybodies standards, why I wasted so much time in supposedly cheap rip offs I will never know. Get the original – you won’t regret it. Review by Gareth Charlton.
Bell’s Custom 500 is the definitive open faced lid, Bell pretty much invented the modern motorcycle helmet back in the fifties and the Custom 500 maintains many of those early styling cues while benefitting from modern construction techniques and full CE safety approval. It is a quality piece of kit a world away from my first open faced ventures. As soon as you open the box to reveal the luxuriously lined helmet bag you know you are dealing with a class item. The details and fixtures are all beautifully executed, from the perforated and quilted lining to the red leather embossed tab on the double D ring closure.
There are colours available to suit all tastes, I plumped for the matte grey option. The finish is beautifully smooth and tactile, tempting you to get creative with the brushes or sharpies but for now it is too damn nice to deface. Of course none of this matters a jot if it doesn’t function on the bike. It is confusingly quiet for an open faced lid and doesn’t lift at speed as others I have owned have been inclined to do, as with all helmets the fit is key and this Bell definitely suits my noggin. No corners have been cut here with judicious placement of extra padding, the Custom 500 comes in five different shell sizes which helps maintain the helmet’s low profile whatever size you come up at.
I have been running the helmet with either sunnies or a flip-up bubble visor, but there are a plethora of visor and goggle options to style the helmet and protect your eyes, a low down of the options will follow in an upcoming Gear Guide. Price is often a pointless discussion, with one man’s pocket money being another’s weekly wage, but with this lid price is truly relevant. One hundred and thirty quid for an item of this quality and heritage is a bloody bargain by anybodies standards, why I wasted so much time in supposedly cheap rip offs I will never know. Get the original – you won’t regret it. Review by Gareth Charlton.GET IT HERE
KRIEGA MESSENGER BAGS – URBAN & SLING
Much like the motorcycles that compel our attention a lot of the kit in our scene harks back to a simpler age. Wax cotton, leather, and denim abound in a predominantly gore tex free world. But like every other square eyed screen gazer of this world we are ever more reliant on our tech and the fear of losing a laptop to an unexpectedly soggy ride with a cool but useless canvas bag was starting to creep. So when the latest issue of Sideburn landed, featuring two new messenger bags from british firm Kriega, the ultimate manufacturer of functional motorcycle luggage, our attention was piqued.
The 16 litre Urban and 8 litre Sling feature all of the technical excellence you would expect from a Kriega bag in a pleasingly simple looking package. They are 100% waterproof with a roll top closing on the main compartment and a YKK water resistant zipper on the easy access side pocket. Both bags also feature the inspired CNC adjustable shoulder buckle and a removable waist strap. The size of our apples dictated the bag distribution with me and my 12 inch taking the sling and Ross with his 14′ going for the Urban.
Ross: “The patented strap release is the real icing on the cake for me. Ever put your lid on having forgotten to put a normal courier bag over your shoulder? Pain in the ass and infuriating. Of equal annoyance is forgetting something buried in your bag just before setting off. With the Kriega strap release you can flick it up, drop the bag to your side, swing it around and bingo, the waterproof pocket is right there, the zip ready to be opened by your free left hand. The Kriega desingers have been inside my head on the angriest of days. Thanks guys, I’ve got 99 problems but my bag ain’t one.”
Everything has been thoroughly thought out, the back of the bag is a super grippy material to stop it swinging around on your jacket, the waist belt is removable for shorter journeys, the lining is white for clarity of contents and removable for washing, the attention to detail is relentless. If you haven’t already guessed it, we are huge fans of these bags, if your daily carry is in need of better protection as the short summer swiftly recedes, you will not go wrong with either of these brilliant packs from Kriega. Check out the Kriega website for the full details and their excellent technical videos. Review by Gareth Charlton & Ross Sharp
The 16 litre Urban and 8 litre Sling feature all of the technical excellence you would expect from a Kriega bag in a pleasingly simple looking package. They are 100% waterproof with a roll top closing on the main compartment and a YKK water resistant zipper on the easy access side pocket. Both bags also feature the inspired CNC adjustable shoulder buckle and a removable waist strap. The size of our apples dictated the bag distribution with me and my 12 inch taking the sling and Ross with his 14′ going for the Urban.
Ross: “The patented strap release is the real icing on the cake for me. Ever put your lid on having forgotten to put a normal courier bag over your shoulder? Pain in the ass and infuriating. Of equal annoyance is forgetting something buried in your bag just before setting off. With the Kriega strap release you can flick it up, drop the bag to your side, swing it around and bingo, the waterproof pocket is right there, the zip ready to be opened by your free left hand. The Kriega desingers have been inside my head on the angriest of days. Thanks guys, I’ve got 99 problems but my bag ain’t one.”
Everything has been thoroughly thought out, the back of the bag is a super grippy material to stop it swinging around on your jacket, the waist belt is removable for shorter journeys, the lining is white for clarity of contents and removable for washing, the attention to detail is relentless. If you haven’t already guessed it, we are huge fans of these bags, if your daily carry is in need of better protection as the short summer swiftly recedes, you will not go wrong with either of these brilliant packs from Kriega. Check out the Kriega website for the full details and their excellent technical videos. Review by Gareth Charlton & Ross Sharp
via The Bike Shed
Blancpain Sprint Series title fight hotting up under Algarve sunshine
The Algarve round of the Blancpain Sprint Series starts the second half of the 2015 season, with three rounds remaining on the calendar. With new winners in both the qualifying and main races of the Moscow round in early July, the fight for the teams and drivers titles is hotting up nicely.
In Moscow Lamborghini (#88 Reiter Engineering Gallardo of Albert Von Thurn und Taxis and Nick Catsburg) and Bentley (#84 Bentley Team HTP of Maxi Buhk and Vincent Abril) joined the ranks of race winners of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series, the fastest GT series on the planet, an exclusive circle which already counted BMW and Audi as its members.
Championship leaders Robin Frijns and Laurens Vanthoor had a difficult end of the first half of the season and with their #1 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT R8 they only managed a fifth place in the main race of the Russian round. That means that even though they had a perfect weekend in Brands Hatch and Zolder, the Belgian-Dutch pairing arrives in Portugal with just fifteen points in hand over the Bentley-duo of Buhk and Abril. With 102 points still to play for, an exciting second half of the season seems guaranteed.
Especially since Maxi Buhk and Vincent Abril are not the only title rivals for series leaders Frijns and Vanthoor. Even though Valdeno Brito and Atila Abreu missed the opening round in Nogaro and have yet to stand on the top step of a rostrum in 2015, the Brazilian drivers are only 19 points behind the leaders. The Algarve round is held at the Autodromo Internacional in Portimao, which forms the European base of the BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil. One might consider it to be a home race for the yellow-and-green machines, and Brito and Abreu will do everything it takes to conquer their first win of the season in Portugal.
It would be the second victory for the Brazilian squad however, since talented substitutes Dirk Müller and Maxime Martin opened the score in Nogaro. The 31 points scored in France come in very handy in the teams’ standings, where BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil sits in second place, 16 points behind Belgian Audi Club Team WRT. However, the Belgian squad has the advantage of having three cars regularly scoring points – Stéphane Ortelli and Stéphane Richelmi are in fourth in the driver standings – whereas the Brazilians have to defend their chances with two cars.
Another duo vying for their first win of the season are Ferrari drivers Norbert Siedler and Marco Seefried. In 2015 their green Rinaldi Racing 458 Italia has been on the front two rows of the main race three times already – twice on the front row even – but due to bad luck and racing incidents the Austrian-German pairing only managed one podium finish, in Moscow. It is clear that the car and the drivers have a lot potential, so count on them to be at the sharp of the field in Algarve.
The Portuguese round of the Blancpain Sprint Series, which hosts also the 3rd round of the GT Sports Club, starts with an exhibition and a parade in Portimao on Thursday September 3rd. From 17:00 onwards the cars will be in front of the Santa Catarina Fortress, while the parade will start at 20:15. It will be followed by an autograph session with the Blancpain Sprints Series drivers.
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Weekend Schedule
Friday 4 September
13:45 – 15:05 Free Practice 1
15:45 – 17:05 Free Practice 2
13:45 – 15:05 Free Practice 1
15:45 – 17:05 Free Practice 2
Saturday 5 September
09:45 - 10:40 Qualifying Practice (live TV)
14:15 – 15:15 Qualifying Race (live TV)
09:45 - 10:40 Qualifying Practice (live TV)
14:15 – 15:15 Qualifying Race (live TV)
Sunday 6 September
08:50 – 09:10 Warm-up
14:05 – 15:05 Main Race (live TV)
08:50 – 09:10 Warm-up
14:05 – 15:05 Main Race (live TV)
Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese reopens
The Alfisti had to wait four long years, but Alfa Romeo has at last reopened its museum in Arese, Italy. On display are numerous icons and racing legends from 105 years of the brand’s history, along with some rare models and little-known prototypes.
In 1976, the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese opened, and became a place of pilgrimage for Italian car fans around the world
In 1976, the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese near Milan opened, and became a place of pilgrimage for Italian car fans around the world. Since the early 1960s, Alfa Romeo had been gathering the most historically valuable specimens from the brand’s history to make them accessible to the public but, in 2011, the plant in Arese ceased production and the museum was closed. The collection fell into a deep sleep, while the Alfisti community waited patiently for news. The end of June 2015 saw the Alfa Romeo museum finally reopen its doors, following a careful restoration. The new museum bears the evocative nickname ‘La macchina del tempo’ and is part of a major brand centre, which also includes a test track and a showroom.
A unique collection
However, the main attraction is the collection of 69 Alfa Romeos, which can be seen in the generous and modern design museum. The spectrum includes the very early racing cars, such as the Alfa 6C 1750 Gran Sport with which Tazio Nuvolari won the Mille Miglia and the Gran Premio 159 ‘Alfetta’ that took Juan Manuel Fangio to victory in the Formula 1 World Championship. Visitors can marvel at the elegant body forms of the Touring Alfa 8C or admire the curves and lines of the Alfa concept cars that Bertone designed in the 1960s – such as the Carabo and Iguana. And of course, you’ll find Alfa Romeo’s ‘Greatest Hits’ – from the Giulietta Spider of the 1950s through the GTV, to the newer models in the brand’s history.
Retold - the story of Alfa Romeo
The exhibits are split into three categories. The first is ‘Timeline’, 19 models that – according to the curators – best illustrate the development of the brand and show how Alfa Romeo became an Italian legend. On the ground floor, you find the great divas displayed under the title ‘Beauty’, exhibiting the work of the best design houses, such as Touring, and showing how their work helped shaped the future of Alfa Romeo. Meanwhile, in the basement, you find the models that capture Alfa’s racing history, displayed under the slogan of ‘Speed’.
The Alfa Romeo Museum is open daily (except Tuesday) from 10.00 to 18.00. For more information, see museoalfaromeo.com.
ELMS, Castellet : Dernière ligne droite (du Mistral) ! / just two more races to go
Avec les 4 Heures du Castellet, l’European Le Mans Series 2015 entame sa dernière ligne droite de la saison avant la grande finale à Estoril. Jota Sport, Thiriet by TDS Racing et Greaves Motorsport se tiennent en 10 points.
Après les essais officiels ELMS organisés fin mars, le circuit Paul Ricard accueille l’avant-dernière manche de la saison qui a vu trois vainqueurs différents. Greaves Motorsport, Thiriet by TDS Racing et Jota Sport sont groupés en 10 points. Les 4 Heures du Castellet s’annoncent donc cruciales dans la course au titre européen.
29 autos sont attendues sur le circuit varois long de 5,861 km, dont 30,69 % pour la seule ligne droite du Mistral, une des plus longues d’Europe où les meilleures LM P2 dépassent les 280 km/h. Jota Sport (Gibson-Nissan N°48), Thiriet by TDS Racing (Ligier-Nissan N°46) et Greaves Motorsport (Gibson-Nissan N°41) présentent leurs équipages habituels.
L’équipe SMP Racing a changé de nom (AF Racing) mais aligne toujours deux BR01 qui avaient bien progressé à Imola. Victor Shaytar remplace Ladygin sur la N°21. Chez Krohn Racing (Ligier-Judd/Michelin N°40), on accueille Olivier Pla, et Richard Bradley rejoint Eurasia Motorsport (Oreca-Nissan N°33). 12 prototypes LM P2 sont engagés.
Vainqueur en 2013 (avec Brendon Hartley !), qualifiée en pole en 2014 et meilleur temps des essais officiels 2015 (1min48s155), l’écurie Murphy Prototypes (Oreca-Nissan N°48) est candidate à la victoire avec son trio Berthon/Lyons/Patterson.
En LM GTE et GTC, AF Corse est invaincue au Castellet depuis deux ans. Pour autant, AF Corse n’est ni leader du championnat GTE (Formula Racing), ni du GTC (TDS Racing) !
Ce week-end, l’équipe italienne engage pas moins de cinq Ferrari 458 et reçoit le renfort d’Andrea Bertolini dans la N°51 (GTE). Les 458 seront majoritaires au Paul Ricard avec AT Racing, Formula Racing et JMW Motorsport qui engagent chacune un exemplaire. Mais on trouvera aussi une Aston Martin Vantage, deux BMW Z4 et deux Porsche 911 RSR.
Quatre prototypes Ginetta-Nissan LM P3 seront en lice, dont deux pour l’équipe LNT qui visera une 3e victoire cette saison. Victorieuse à Imola, University of Bolton sera absente dans le Var.
Les premiers essais libres sont programmés samedi à 10h30. Les qualifs se dérouleront dimanche matin avant le départ des 4 Heures du Castellet à 13h00. De nombreuses animations seront proposées aux fans.
The 4 Hours of Le Castellet in France sees the 2015 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) enter its final phase ahead of the big finale at Estoril, Portugal. Jota Sport, Thiriet by TDS Racing and Greaves Motorsport are covered by just 10 points.
After hosting the official pre-season ELMS test in March, Le Castellet is the venue for the penultimate round of the 2015 championship. The season has produced three different winners to date, namely Greaves Motorsport, Thiriet by TDS Racing and Jota Sport which are blanketed by 10 points.
A field of 29 cars is expected at the French circuit which is 5.861km in length. Slightly more than 30 percent of that figure is monopolised by the Mistral straight, one of the longest in Europe. The top LM P2 prototypes (12 in total) will exceed 280kph.
Jota Sport (N°48 Gibson-Nissan), Thiriet by TDS Racing (N°46 Ligier-Nissan) and Greaves Motorsport (N°41 Gibson-Nissan) will have their usual driver line-ups.
SMP Racing has changed its name to AF Racing but it will still have two BR01s which showed good pace at Imola. Victor Shaytar is standing in for Ladygin in the N°21 car. Krohn Racing (N°40 Ligier-Judd/Michelin) has recruited Olivier Pla, while Richard Bradley has joined Eurasia Motorsport (N°33 Oreca-Nissan).
After winning this race in 2013 (with Brendon Hartley!), having qualified on pole in 2014 and with the best pre-2015 test lap under its belt (1m48.155s), Murphy Prototypes (N°48 Oreca-Nissan, Berthon/Lyons/Patterson) is another potential winner.
AF Corse has gone unbeaten in LM GTE and GTC at Le Castellet for the last two years. However, the Italian operation leads neither of these classes which are topped by Formula Racing and TDS Racing respectively.
This weekend, AF Corse will have no fewer than five Ferrari 458s, and Andrea Bertolini will appear in the N°51 car (GTE). The model makes up the majority of the entry at Le Castellet since similar machines have been entered by AT Racing, Formula Racing and JMW Motorsport. The others runners will be an Aston Martin Vantage, two BMW Z4s and two Porsche 911 RSRs.
Meanwhile, two of the three Ginetta-Nissan LM P3 prototypes will be run by LNT which is targeting its third win of the year. The Imola-winning University of Bolton car will not be in the south of France.
Free practice begins at 10:30am on Saturday, with qualifying on Sunday morning followed by the start of the 4 Hours of Le Castellet at 1:00pm.
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