VERTIGO70 CB500 MCQUEEN

The guys from Vertigo 70 first piqued our interest and appeared on The Bike Shed with their BMW R65 ‘TNT’ build. A classy boxer scrambler that openly took cues from established builders such as the Wrenchmonkees and CRD. But now the five Vertigo70 guys, Max S, Max F, Angel, Ale and Emi are forging their own direction and trusting their own group instincts to create motorcycles. What started out as a hobby and common interest has become work and a fledgling business with the guys now modestly regarding themselves as “semi pro”. Based in the province of Pavia outside of Milan they are pressing on with determination and flair, and as promised, here is the next product of their endeavour.

A friend owned this 75′ Honda CB500, and the guys had always had a thing for old Japanese fours (don’t we all?) so they bought it and set to work. Its evolution began with those long established Italian principles, passion and pleasure, at the heart of its concept. The guys state, “All our bikes are born without a blueprint, but only with an idea, then we like to design and build because the ideas are on the journey of building”. For this build the idea was to create a bike inspired by the elegance and style of Steve McQueen. McQueen as an icon has been thoroughly hijacked by the bike fashion industry, adorning a thousand mud splattered T shirts (track down Gary ‘Sideburn’ Inman’s brilliant article for more on this) but no doubt he would be glad to know he still has clout with makers wielding grinders and wrenches as well as needles and thread.

The journey of building began as Max F, Angel and Ale stripped down the bike before shortening the frame, cleaning up engine parts and re-polishing. The brakes were upgraded to more modern items as they were regarded a weak point of the original machine. Weight removal was the key aim in the bikes reassembly with many parts removed and binned including the centre stand. Lightness and agility over practicality all the way.

The tank was stripped and repainted in elegant warm vintage tones of cream and grey with gold highlighting. The unusual central panel adds a visual flourish with its brushed grey shades and detail lettering. The seat took shape around a fibreglass base and was shaped to style before being covered in diamond stitched earthy brown leather and fitted with a pillion strap. High bars were fitted to add a hint of Motorcross to the road going steed that rides on classic Firestone zig zag rubber, fully exposed with no front mudguard, but this bike does live in North Italy.

The bike retains a retro, almost factory charm, with comparatively large orange indicators chosen over smaller clear offerings and a chrome round mirror also reflecting the original machine. This old elegance continues to the riding experience with the boys describing it as having the drivability and ease of use of riding along on a bicycle, whilst drawing many happy admiring glances.

Next up the intrepid quintet are planning work on a modern Triumph and intriguingly intend on fitting some wooden parts to a Honda 750… Keep up the teamwork gents.

See more from Vertigo70 on The Bike Shed

Posted by Gareth@TheBikeShed

Arctic Trucks at the North Pole

Toyota Hilux modified by Arctic Trucks performing amazing driving in extreeme conditions.

In Napoleon’s footsteps! / Sur les pas de Napoléon 1er

As Sébastien Ogier seeks to maintain his imperial rule over the WRC, the Frenchman and his opponents are following a path trod – in the reverse direction – by Napoleon two centuries previously! There are numerous echoes of the so-called ‘Route Napoleon’ in the itinerary of this year’s Rallye Monte Carlo.

Alors que Sébastien Ogier s’est imposé comme le nouvel empereur du WRC, les concurrents du Rallye Monte-Carlo marchent sur les pas d’un autre Empereur, il y a deux siècles. Le parcours 2014 suit plus ou moins la célèbre « Route Napoléon ».

The origins of the ‘Route Napoleon’, which basically follows the course of today’s RN85, date back 199 years. The episode was part of a 100-day period that covered Napoleon‘s escape from exile on the island of Elba in March 1815 to his ultimate defeat at Waterloo the following June.

In a bid to retrieve his former power, Bonaparte decided to march to Paris accompanied by a small army which gradually swelled as he progressed. To avoid Provence-based royalist troops, he chose an itinerary through the Alps that took him from his landing-point on the Mediterranean coast (30km southwest of Monaco) via Barrême, Digne, Sisteron and Gap en route to the French capital.

Thursday’s Monte action never strayed far from the path taken (from south to north) by Napoleon and his men, while three of Friday’s four stages start and finish very near what is today the RN85. Two centuries ago, however, this busy road was little more than a dirt track, and not even that in places!

We retrace several fascinating parallels between the Emperor’s historic journey and the Monte’s second leg…

Barrême (March 3, 1815): After a taxing trek through deep, narrow gorges, Napoleon arrived in Barrême at 8pm. The villagers gave a warm welcome to the Emperor who dined and slept at the local judge’s house which competitors will pass en route to SS11. Food was ordered from the Cheval Blanc Inn. Had Napoleon arrived today, he could have eaten across the square at the pizzeria formerly owned by Patrick Magaud, a former Ford and Citroën works driver!

Col du Corobin (March 4, 1815): To reach Digne, Napoleon passed via the Corobin mountain pass. At the time, it was a mere donkey trail, but it has since become a classic Monte stage! It was even supposed to have featured on this week’s rally but was dropped because of a threat of landslides!

Digne: Napoleon spent three hours in Digne. While his men rested and ate along the Cours des Arès, the Emperor lunched at the Petit-Paris Inn. The establishment no longer exists, but a plaque marks its former location on Rue du Jeu de Paume, just metres from today’s Regroup!

Sisteron (March 5, 1815): The Sisteron-Thoard stage has frequently played a decisive role on the Rallye Monte-Carlo. In 1815, Sisteron was crucial to Napoleon’s plans, too. It sits in a narrow breach in the mountains and an ambush by Royalist sympathisers was feared. An advanced detachment quelled any potential opposition, however, allowing Napoleon to arrive via the small bridge which straddles the Durance River, metres from the start of SS10!

La Saulce/Tallard: With the danger of Sisteron behind them, the troops pursued their march north across flatter land, passing close to Faye and Vitrolles, the finish and start locations of SS7/9. The soldiers even stopped awhile in nearby La Saulce, alerting inhabitants to the Emperor’s imminent arrival. The latter greeted Napoleon and his men with wine and food. Suitably rested, they continued to Tallard where today’s airfield has often served as a Monte Carlo service park in the past…

Gap: Later the same day, Napoleon arrived in Gap via the RN85 (Avenue de Provence), passing close to, or perhaps even through the site of the current sports complex that was the rally’s epicentre before today’s drive south to Monaco.

Les origines de la « Route Napoléon », qui emprunte principalement la RN85, remontent à 199 ans et couvrent une période de 100 jours entre l’exil de Napoléon Bonaparte de l’Ile d’Elbe en mars 1815 et sa dernière défaite à Waterloo au mois de juin.

Pour retrouver tout son pouvoir, Bonaparte avait décidé de marcher vers Paris en compagnie d’une petite troupe qui s’est peu à peu décimée au fil des kilomètres. Pour éviter la Provence et les partisans royalistes, il a choisi un itinéraire à travers les Alpes qui a débuté à une trentaine de kilomètres au sud-ouest de Monaco, via Barrême, Digne, Sisteron et Gap, en route vers la capitale.

Jeudi, le parcours du Monte-Carlo ne s’est pas beaucoup écarté de cet itinéraire (dans le sens opposé) suivi par Napoléon et ses hommes. Vendredi, les départs et arrivées des quatre spéciales sont tout près de la RN85. Il y a 200 ans, cet axe très fréquenté était un peu plus difficile : il s’agissait la plupart du temps de pistes en terre, voire de chemins par endroits…

Voici quelques points communs entre le périple de Napoléon 1^er et la 2^e étape du Monte-Carlo 2014

Barrême (3 mars 1815) : Après un trek à travers les gorges étroites et profondes, Napoléon est arrivé à Barrême à 20h00 où il fut accueilli en héros. L’Empereur a dîné et dormi dans la maison du juge ; les concurrents vont passer devant en allant vers l’ES11. Les plats avaient été commandés à l’auberge du Cheval Blanc. Aujourd’hui, Napoléon pourrait dîner à la pizzéria située sur la place, anciennement tenue par Patrick Magaud…

Col du Corobin (4 mars 1815) : Pour rejoindre Digne, Napoléon a franchi le Corobin. A l’époque, c’était un chemin de muletier, avant de devenir une spéciale du Monte-Carlo ! Elle devait figurer au programme de cette édition, mais des éboulements ont contraint les organisateurs à modifier le parcours.

Digne : Napoléon a passé trois heures à Digne. Pendant que ses hommes se restauraient sur le Cours des Arès, l’Empereur déjeunait à l’auberge du Petit-Paris. Cet établissement n’existe plus, mais une plaque commémorative prouve qu’il se trouvait Rue du Jeu de Paume, à quelques mètres du parc de regroupement.

Sisteron (5 mars 1815) : La spéciale Sisteron-Thoard a souvent été décisive au Monte-Carlo. En 1815, Sisteron fut aussi une étape cruciale pour Napoléon. La ville se trouve au pied des montagnes et l’Empereur craignait une attaque des Royalistes. Des hommes sont partis en éclaireurs et Napoléon est entré dans la ville un peu plus tard par un petit pont qui enjambe la Durance, tout près du départ de l’ES10 !

La Saulce/Tallard (5 mars 1815) : Le danger de Sisteron écarté, les troupes napoléoniennes ont poursuivi leur marche vers le Nord à travers les plaines, en passant vers Faye et Vitrolles, départ et arrivée de l’ES7/9. Les soldats se sont arrêtés vers La Saulce pour prévenir ses habitants de l’arrivée imminente de l’Empereur. Ils ont été accueillis avec vin et nourriture. Bien requinqués, les hommes de Napoléon ont repris leur route vers Tallard, dont l’aérodrome a longtemps servi de parc d’assistance au rallye.

Gap : Le même jour, Napoléon est arrivé à Gap, par l’Avenue de Provence, passant près de, ou peut-être dans le Parc des Sports qui accueille le Rallye Monte-Carlo cette année !

Porsche 911 Targa: Dramatic debut of a modern classic

The latest Porsche 911, today revealed to the world at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, is a dramatic combination of old and new, mating the classic Targa concept with today’s cutting-edge roof technology...

And doesn’t it look terrific? There was much ooh-ing and aah-ing in the Classic Driver office when the first picture was released, thanks to the characteristic wide bar that replaces the 911’s existing B-pillars. This bar is an unambiguous testament to the first 911 Targa of 1965 – when the stainless-steel-clad rollover bar was a necessary, functional feature adopted to address strict American safety regulations. Today, it has become a striking design element to complement the lines of a modern 911.

As with the original Targa of the 1960s, the latest Porsche also features a wraparound rear window with no C-pillar plus – of course – a removable roof section above the front seats. But thanks to modern technology, today’s 911 driver can open and close the Targa roof at the touch of a button. Porsche promises that the innovative, automated process of stowing the roof behind the rear seats will be an eye-catching spectacle in itself. 

There will be two model variants, both offered exclusively with all-wheel drive. The 911 Targa 4 has the 3.4-litre, 350HP engine, while the 911 Targa 4S delivers 400HP from a displacement of 3.8 litres. Acceleration from rest to 62mph is given as 4.8 seconds and 4.4 seconds, respectively.

The new models will be launched onto the market in May 2014 and, in Germany, will carry price tags of 109,338 euros for the 4, and 124,094 euros for the 4S, inclusive of VAT and country-specific equipment.

Photos: Porsche

Classic Porsche 911 Targas can be found for sale in the Classic Driver Market.