CAFÉ RACER 76: 05/21/14

mercredi 21 mai 2014

Riding on the Dark Side of the Moon

Waking up in the inn, down by the lake, up top of a volcano, isn’t only a mouthful, it’s a rad place to set out from if you intend to ride the sides of a lava field.

We have to zig through a conifer plantation, which is mentally out of place in Bali, then zag past rich market gardens of plump ripe Roma tomatoes until we finally emerge at a place as desolate as the dark side of the moon. Sharp craggy rocks with a bump infested driveway lead us on a crooked path that finally ends at this field of fine dark grey pumice.

It’s still early and yesterdays rain still inhabits the porous post eruption cover making it this perfect carpet for fanging about on. People just head off in different directions. Something for everyone.

Riding on the Dark Side of the Moon from Deus ex Machina on Vimeo.

THE SMIRK

Spending a good part of its life in a Queensland shed collecting dust and rust, this little SR was given a new start at the hands of Camperdown head mechanic Jeremy.

Starting with a top to bottom engine rebuild. Cleaned and trimmed up the frame finished in classic black powder coat, Blasting every nut and bolt, fitting a KLX Swing-Arm and new Gazi Shocks.

Then moving on to giving it a tracker look with an over sized Kedo oil pump, custom head light mounted with custom headlight number plate, duck tail tracker seat cowl, custom made pipes with a Super Trap muffler, Fork brace mounting the front fender, Mini speedo and K180 Dunlop tyres. The tank and seat cowl were treated to a fresh lick of paint from our good friend Dutchy. With custom surf racks fitted, this smirky SR is laughing all the way to the beach.

Latvala reste dans la course au titre

En remportant le Rallye d’Argentine, Jari-Matti Latvala revient à 24 points de Sébastien Ogier au Championnat Pilotes. Côté Constructeurs, Volkswagen Motorsport compte 97 points d’avance sur Citroën-Total Abu Dhabi et pourrait décrocher son second titre mondial en Australie.

« Oui, c’est peut-être la 1^ère fois que Jari-Matti est plus performant que moi sur l’ensemble d’un rallye », reconnaissait Sébastien Ogier à l’arrivée du Rallye d’Argentine. Le Français précisait aussi qu’il avait ouvert la route toute la 1^ère étape et pointait du doigt ce problème de pneumatique à 1,5 km de l’arrivée de l’ES8 (2.5 secondes perdues).

C’est vrai que Jari-Matti Latvala a maîtrisé ses adversaires en Argentine. Le Finlandais, qui avait un peu fait la fête la semaine précédente, semblait plus détendu qu’à l’accoutumée. Jari-Matti, lui, expliquait surtout cette sérénité retrouvée grâce au travail de son coach mental, Christoph Treier, qui le suit depuis fin 2013 après avoir accompagné Marcus Grönholm.

Reste que la fin de rallye du Finlandais fut quelque peu gâchée par cette Power Stage remportée facilement dans des conditions épouvantables par son rival Sébastien Ogier. « J’aurais peut-être dû aller plus vite », avouait Jari-Matti en conférence de presse. En prenant le bonus maxi, le Français a limité son déficit à cinq points sur ce rallye et a surtout marqué l’esprit de son équipier, du style « je peux accélérer quand je veux ».

Sébastien Ogier compte désormais 24 points d’avance au championnat Pilotes. Jari-Matti Latvala reste à moins d’une victoire du leader et garde toutes ses chances avant le Rallye d’Italie-Sardaigne où il avait brillé l’an passé (meilleur performer). Les Norvégiens Andreas Mikkelsen et Mads Ostberg sont 3^e ex aequo avec 48 points.

Au championnat Constructeurs, ce 2^e doublé 2014 permet à Volkswagen Motorsport de compter 97 points d’avance sur Citroën-Total Abu Dhabi WRT. L’équipe allemande a marqué une moyenne de 37 points par épreuve contre 18 pour Citroën depuis le début de saison. A ce rythme, Volkswagen pourrait envisager un second titre mondial Constructeurs en Australie.

Le championnat Pilotes WRC-2 est toujours mené par Yurii Protasov malgré sa sortie de route en Argentine. L’Italien Lorenzo Bertelli en a profité pour revenir à quatre points de l’Ukrainien et grâce à ses deux victoires consécutives, Nasser Al-Attiyah est 3^e du classement à dix points du leader. Karl Kruuda (4^e) disposera d’une Peugeot 208 T16 en Sardaigne, où le champion WRC-3 en titre, Sébastien Chardonnet, fera débuter la Citroën DS3 R5 en Mondial. Jari Ketomaa (5^e) ne sera pas en Italie.

Les Français Stéphane Lefebvre et Quentin Gilbert sont co-leaders du championnat WRC-3 2014 après leur victoire respective au Portugal et au Monte-Carlo. Ce même Lefebvre est aussi leader du Championnat du monde Junior avant le Rallye de Pologne, prochaine manche de la série.

Premium Motorrad: A successful statement

In just one year, Premium Motorrad has managed to make its name in the world of top-end classic machines and custom bikes. It all started with an unusual appearance at Retro Classics 2013…

On a historic 1970s Mercedes racing transporter, the motorcycle specialist displayed a very special duo: the rare Honda CB 1100R alongside the ultra-rare Egli 1100 R ‘Red Baron’. It was a dramatic statement by premium motorcycle enthusiast Tobias Aichele (pictured right, next to racer Guy Martin). A year later, in 2014, Aichele presented another special pairing in the form of a 1977 BMW R 100/7 and the unique MV Agusta 350 Corsa from 1975.

Premium bikes of the 70s and 80s

For a truly awe-inspiring selection of dream bikes from the 1970s and 80s, see the Motorworld Region Stuttgart (and of course in the Classic Driver Market), where Aichele operates his business premises. The collection consistently includes some 25 highly desirable machines, including such icons as MV Agusta 750 motorbikes from premium Swiss tuner Egli, along with café racer and high-quality conversions based on the best of the 80s-built BMW 2V Boxer. “We are looking for customers who dream of building an exclusive collection, perhaps as an investment. In partnership with a furniture manufacturer, we also suggest creative ways in which a motorcycle might be integrated into a living room – as a piece of art,” says Aichele. “Plus we run our own events for premium motorcycles: for the last 10 years, event management has been one of the core competencies of our parent company Solitude GmbH.”

Early two-wheeled love

When he came to set up his present business, Tobias Aichele had already paved the way with 18 years’ experience of racing a Moto Parilla 175 Competizione motorcycle, and driving classic cars on the circuits of Europe. During his studies in the 1980s, he was a test and photographic driver for the motorcycle publication ‘PS’. The magazine ‘Motorrad’ was an important step for him during his apprenticeship at Motor-Presse Stuttgart. It was then that he learnt about virtually every dream bike of the era. Aichele’s passion for motorcycles and their history also led to his friendship with the World Champions and legends of that era – riders such as Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Jim Redman and Freddie Spencer.

Photos: Premium Motorrad

Spa Classic 2014: Riding the Ardennes rollercoaster

Spa-Francorchamps was once the fastest and (with a variation in altitude of 100 metres) one of the most challenging circuits in Europe. Even after the track was tamed, Spa has lost little of its charm, as the Spa Classic weekend demonstrates...

The Spa Classic is a fantastic journey back in time as racers dice with mechanical masterpieces just as they were in period – long before telemetry data outputs or software-adjustable dampers. And what better venue for their struggles than the world-famous circuit that nestles in the foothills of the Ardennes? Famous for the 24 Hours of Spa, the 1,000 Kilometres and, of course, the Belgian F1 Grand Prix. For the fourth time, May 16-18 saw the Belgian Royal Automobile Club and race meeting organiser Patrick Peter hold a magnificent historic event at Spa, over the same weekend as the Mille Miglia.

Elderly cars on the limit

Even if it felt as though visitors numbers could be higher, this did nothing to dampen the good mood. With perfect weather, the racing – especially on Saturday – offered some spectacular moments. In eight different grids, from historic endurance racers through to the always-popular Touring Cars of the 1980s, there were fierce duels. It is always amazing how the pilots take their elderly cars to the limits… and sometimes beyond. It was clear from the first qualifying laps: those who compete at the Spa Classic come here to win.

Heroes of the Ardennes rollercoaster

The highlights of the weekend were the night races. As the dark shadow of night starts to fall, just before the sun sets on the hot asphalt, you hear a rumbling in the distance. Thunder? But then a cone of light cuts through the near-darkness, accompanied by the roar of an eight-cylinder Ford GT40 engine. It is these moments that revive the legend of Spa: it’s easy to imagine the years from 1966 to 1979, when endurance racing was dominant. A time when Porsche 910, Ferarri 512, or later, the BMW M1 celebrated grandiose victories. These were the times when drivers such as Jacky Ickx, Henri Pescarolo or Gèrard Larrouse were the heroes of the Ardennes Rollercoaster: and that is what the Spa Classic celebrates - in magnificent style. 

Mittendrin statt nur dabei

Unlike many historic race events, you feel yourself to be in the middle of the action at the Spa Classic. The paddock is accessible to all, allowing you a glimpse behind the scenes and the chance to experience first hand the tension of the team before the race, as well as the joy after a victory. The ‘open gates’ policy was a great bonus, too, for the preview of the Bonhams Spa Classic sale. In addition to the first bespoke Porsche 911 Turbo to leave the halls of ‘Porsche Exclusive’, the London auction house also offered a unique Ferrari 308 GTB Group B by Michelotto. The latter changed hands for €609,500. And maybe, just maybe, this white ‘Red Devil’ will be back at Spa next year – but this time on track.

Photos: Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver

YAMAHA RD350LC

The Yamaha RD350LC is a motorcycle that was initially released in 1980 – just about the time the world thought the end of the 2-stroke was nigh. It was an evolved version of the Yamaha RD350 – with added water-cooling and heavily modified porting and exhaust systems to keep the engine within the EPA’s regulations, despite this the model wasn’t officially sold in the USA until a few years after its initial release. It was available in Canada, Australia and much of western Europe where it quickly developed a cult following that persists to this day.

The heart and soul of the RD350LC is its engine – a power unit that would stay in non-stop production from 1980 until 2012, giving it an astonishing 32 year run. The addition of water cooling meant the engine was far quieter and less buzzy that its air-cooled equivalents, the more stable thermal environment also reduced the number of spark plug failures which significantly boosted reliability.

The light-weight frame and relatively small engine contributed to the RD350LC’s giant-killing performance, this was a bike that handled well and could out-accelrated almost anything so long as the rider could keep the tachometer needle banging off the red line.

The Yamaha RD350LC you see here is presented in its original Kenny Roberts paint scheme, the engine has been rebuilt by Bob Farnham and custom steel expansion chambers were custom built by Jim Lomas. It’s now easily one of the finest non-museum examples of the RD350LC anywhere in the world, it also happens to be for sale via Proper Bikes – for those of you who fancy the idea of spanking modern sportbikes before breakfast on the weekends.