A slow-motion shakedown / Un Shakedown au ralenti

Mads Ostberg, Jari-Matti Latvala and Kris Meeke topped the order on this morning’s shakedown. However, most drivers chose not to push too hard in order to save their studs…

The Priority 1 and 2 drivers have an allocation of 28 tyres for this week’s Rally Sweden, including shakedown. As a consequence, given the lack of snow on the stages, they preferred to take care of their studs during their mandatory four attempts at this morning’s test run.

Only Latvala, Ostberg and Meeke turned on a little speed in order to evaluate the handling of their respective cars as the conditions worsened progressively. The best time (1m55.8s) ended up in the Norwegian’s hands after he beat the Finn (1m56.2s) on his final pass.

Hyundai will be reassured with Neuville’s fifth place (1m58.0s) at his second attempt, just ahead of Irishman Craig Breen who is driving a WRC car (Ford) for the first time here. Henning Solberg (4th) and Juho Hanninen (7th) also squeezed beneath the two-minute mark.

World champion Sébastien Ogier was a lowly 10^th: “I wanted to be first into the stage this morning to see what I can expect tomorrow [Thursday]. That’s when I posted my best time, so it was a positive sign,” related last year’s rally Sweden winner. “After that, I just drove slowly to spare my tyres. This promises to be a very complex rally.”

The week began badly for Citroën’s Kris Meeke who clouted a stone and damaged his steering. “When you have a problem on shakedown, the rally always goes well,” commented the team’s Chief Engineer Didier Clément as he waited for the DS3 WRC’s return on a trailer.

There was lots of talk about the weather this morning. The latest forecast predicts overnight snow which could be up to 3cm deep on SS2 as it continues to fall on Thursday morning. Rain is then expected on Friday, followed by more snow on Saturday…

Competitors now face this evening’s super-special at Karlstad’s hippodrome (1.9km) at 7pm, just after the Historic competitors have been through. It could turn out to be the snowiest and iciest stage of the rally!

Mads Ostberg, Jari-Matti Latvala et Kris Meeke ont signé les meilleurs chronos du Shakedown, mais la plupart des pilotes ont préféré rouler sagement pour économiser leurs clous…

Les pilotes Prioritaires 1 & 2 disposent d’un quota de 28 pneumatiques pour le Shakedown et la course et, vu le faible enneigement dans les spéciales de Rallye de Suède 2014, ils ont pris la décision d’économiser leurs pneus cloutés ce matin sur les quatre passages obligatoires du Shakedown.

Seuls Jari-Matti Latvala, Mads Ostberg et Kris Meeke ont voulu insister pour jauger le comportement de leur voiture sur les pistes dégradées par les passages. Le Norvégien a fini par arracher le meilleur temps (1min55s8) des mains de Jari-Matti Latvala (1min56s2) à sa 4^e et dernière tentative.

Thierry Neuville a rassuré l’équipe Hyundai en réalisant le 5^e meilleur temps (1min58s0) à son second passage. Pour ses débuts sur une WRC, l’Irlandais Craig Breen a lui aussi été crédité d’1min58s4. Henning Solberg (4ème) et Juho Hanninen (7ème) sont également passés sous la barre des 2min00s.

Sébastien Ogier n’a réalisé que le 10^e meilleur temps : « J’ai voulu passer en 1^er pour voir les conditions qui m’attendent demain et c’est au 1^er passage que j’ai signé mon meilleur temps, donc c’est plutôt positif », racontait le champion du monde et vainqueur sortant en Suède. « Ensuite, on a roulé plus lentement pour économiser les pneus. Ce rallye s’annonce très compliqué ».

Le Rallye de Suède 2014 a mal commencé pour le pilote Citroën Kris Meeke qui a tapé une pierre et endommagé sa direction au Shakedown. « Quand on a des soucis au déverminage ou au Shakedown, le rallye se passe toujours bien », commentait l’ingénieur en chef Didier Clément en attendant le retour de la Citroën DS3 WRC sur la remorque.

Les conditions météo étaient au cœur des conversations ce matin. Les dernières prévisions prévoient des chutes de neige cette nuit et peut-être 3 cm dans l’ES2 demain matin. Il devrait neiger une bonne partie de la matinée. Ensuite, c’est la pluie qui est annoncée pour vendredi avant un retour de la neige samedi.

Ce soir, les concurrents vont disputer la Superspéciale (1,9 km) sur l’hippodrome de Karlstad à partir de 19h00, juste après les voitures historiques. C’est peut-être là qu’il y aura le plus de glace et de neige pendant le rallye !

Rétromobile guide 2014: What not to miss in Paris

The big Rétromobile week in Paris is almost upon us – and promises numerous special exhibits, a diverse range of cars for sale, and no fewer than three major auctions. We summarise what you shouldn’t miss at the show…

Special show themes: Land speed records, Alpines and Maharajas

In addition to the offerings of numerous dealers, some very special visitors are waiting in the wings of the Paris spectacular. One display will see daring mid-20s land-speed drivers John Parry-Thomas and Malcolm Campbell honoured: the streamlined machine ‘Babs’ (in which Parry-Thomas tragically lost his life) will show off its military bomber-sourced 27-litre V12, while Campbell’s 500HP Bluebird Napier will provide a static hint of its proven 175mph potential.

Elsewhere, paying tribute to Alpine founder Jean Rédélé, 13 prominent road and competition cars will be gathered from the collections of marque enthusiasts. The exhibition of Maharaja cars from the 20s and 30s promises to be even more majestic, with the famous ‘Swan Car’ heading up a list of 15 of these impressively customised creations. For further information, see retromobile.com.

Purchasable jewels – The best cars on sale

More than 420 exhibitors will present their wares, which include not only classic cars but also motorcycles, art, books, scale models and collectables. In anticipation, we’ve asked the dealers what they intend to bring to the floor here.

RM’s auction on Wednesday 5 February 2014

Although Artcurial has traditionally hosted the Rétromobile auction, 2014 will see RM attempt to gain a large slice of the action. The Canadian auction house will bring 10 Le Mans-style cars back to the country that hosts the world-famous endurance race – you can read more here. The previews take place on Tuesday 4 (11:00 – 22:00) and Wednesday 5 February (9:00 – 17:00), with the auction commencing at 19:00 on Wednesday.

All lots from RM’s Paris auction can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

Bonhams’ auction on Thursday 6 February 2014

The British auction house has previously used the Rétromobile sale as a springboard into the classic car season, and this year is no different. Notable lots include a lavishly restored 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, a 1929 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, and a 1989 Porsche 962C wearing Brun Motorsport’s Jägermeister livery. The consigners have also shown their humorous side, as you will see in our round-up of the oddest offerings from the Paris auctions.

Pre-sale viewings take place between 9:00 and 17:30 on Wednesday 5 February, and again on Thursday 6 February from 8:00 until the auction start. Automobilia lots begin at 10:30, with motorcycles at 12:30 and motor cars at 14:00.

All lots from Bonhams’ Paris auction can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

Artcurial auction on 7 and 8 February 2014

The final auction of the week is a double-header from Artcurial. The first day will see a 200-lot automobilia sale followed by a car and motorcycle sale at 16:00, with highights including a Ferrari 166MM with racing history and a rare Citroën SM Cabriolet. Adding to the list of more unusual cars being sold in Paris will be the mustard yellow Fiat Shelette by Philippe Stark.

All lots from Artcurial’s Paris auction in the Classic Driver Market.

The next day at 15:00, the intriguing ‘Solo Alfa’ auction will take place. More than 40 prominent cars from the marque’s history will go under the hammer, with highlights including a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS and a 1965 Giulia TZ Coupé.

All lots from Artcurial’s ‘Solo Alfa’ auction in the Classic Driver Market.

BMW R1100GS BY CAFE RACER DREAMS

If you’re planning a trip to North Africa, you need a bike that is absolutely bulletproof. Pedro García knows how to take a motorcycle apart and rebuild it, and he’s made his living transforming everything from vintage Honda CBs to modern Triumph Scramblers. But for his impending trip to Morocco, he’s chosen a BMW GS.

Café Racer Dreams’ 42nd build is a BMW R1100GS with a difference. Strong and reliable, the GS is the perfect bike for rocky roads and long hours in the saddle. But it’s not going to win any beauty contests, and there are a helluva lot of them around. So Pedro couldn’t resist adding a little CRD magic to his own personal ride.

His first stop was designer Sylvain Berneron, better known as Holographic Hammer. Berneron sketched out a makeover for the 1998-year machine, and Pedro transformed the ink into metal.

The core of the bike is wisely unchanged, but Pedro stripped the frame back to the metal and refinished it with the toughest black powdercoat he could find. The exhaust system and seat unit are bespoke, and the stock oil cooler has been relocated high up into the airstream—just above the Ducati Monster S2R headlight and behind the Motogadget instrument. Eagle eyes will notice that the front fender has been trimmed down in size, and Pedro has also installed a fresh set of Continental TKC80 rubber.

It’s a build that doesn’t compromise the famed ruggedness of the GS, but adds a dash of Spanish flair. Who says custom bikes have to be impractical?

Check out previous CRD builds in the Bike EXIF Archives, and keep up with CRD’s news on their Facebook page or website.

via BIKEEXIF

1999 BMW R1100 GS

 

 by Officine Sbrannetti

Just introduced in Verona during the last Motor Bike Expo, here is the official photoshoot provided to Inazuma Cafe by Jody Basso and friends. Obviously in HD... Read the beautiful details of this bike in the rest of the post. 

 

The bike frame has been modified in the tail and new brackets have been built to mount the new custom gas tank, seat and rear fender. The tank comes from a Yamaha Tenerè 600. It has been shortened and reshaped in the lower part where there used to be fasteners for the front fairing . The electronic injection pump has been relocated outside, where the ABS control unit was located. The driver seat and the passenger one (removable) are entirely custom handmade. The luggage rack is handmade and works as a support for the passenger seat. The custom fenders are aluminum made: cut and finished by hand. The controls on the new Renthal handlebar have been completely renovated. The bike frame and the wheels have been powder coated. The engine was painted in house with Foliatec products suitable for high temperatures. The steel tank has been custom painted to maintain the metal finish. The instruments have been simplified and replaced. The front brake is from a BMW 1200GS. The Mivv exhaust system has been custom modified and changes made are reversible. The new battery with same performance has got reduced weight and size . The tires are Metzeler Karoo 3. The headlight is from a 1958 Same Super 68 tractor and houses the instruments’ lights. An auxiliary yellow beam headlight was also fitted: it’s an original vintage Lucas mounted on a custom built bracket. The oil cooler has been moved downwords behind the front wheel in order to keep clean the look of the engine. The gussets on the fork legs hide their excessive length due to telelever system, which is sufficiently hidden as well. A very difficult bike to modify, and such a good result for this young team of builders.

The Tractor and the Six Days by Officine Sbrannetti