Leg 1: VW heading for a Swedish 1-2-3? / Etape 1 : Vers un triplé VW ?

Sébastien Ogier wrapped up Day 1 in Sweden at the top of the leaderboard ahead of VW team-mates Andreas Mikkelsen and Jari-Matti Latvala. Ott Tanak (4th, Ford) deprived the German team of a stage-win monopoly by claiming SS5. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Ford/Michelin) leads the WRC-2 fight ahead of the specialists.

After a brief visit to neighbouring Norway, Rally Sweden’s Day 1 action ended with a 7.03km night-time stage near Torsby. Entertainment for spectators included fireworks, a big screen, music and food stalls, while the ‘mild’ weather (-1°C) helped produce an enjoyable atmosphere to which the competitors also contributed.

“I didn’t think I’d be leading this evening,” remarked Ogier who improved on his morning’s attempt at the same stage by four seconds. “Tomorrow, Andreas, Jari-Matti and I will be on a level footing in terms of road order, so it’s going to be a tough fight.”

Mikkelsen led overnight thanks to his victory on Wednesday’s super-special and he recovered top spot briefly by 0.2s after claiming SS6. “Unlike Sébastien, I didn’t fit fresh tyres for SS7,” he explained on the stop line after dropping six seconds and falling back to second.

Latvala (3^rd, +12.2s) was the most disappointed VW driver tonight. “I didn’t drive well today,” he declared as he pulled off his helmet. “I had trouble finding grip. Thankfully, we’re still in the fight, though.” The two-time winner of this event was actually slower on today’s last stage than Rally Sweden rookie Kris Meeke (10^th, Citroën DS3 WRC) who was fourth on the test.

Meeke’s team-mate Mads Ostberg (5^th, Citroën DS3 WRC) is another driver who had hoped for better today: “The conditions are completely different to our pre-event test.” Even so, second place on SS7 saw the Norwegian squeeze past Mikko Hirvonen (6^th, Ford) in the provisional order. “At least I’ve made it further than last year,” joked the Finn.

Estonia’s Ott Tanak (Ford Fiesta WRC/Michelin) celebrated his return to the WRC by posting some strong times: “It’s been a very positive day and I’ve even surprised myself. Perhaps I had the benefit of a good road order in places. We’ll see tomorrow.”

It was a positive run, too, for Hyundai whose drivers are seventh and eighth. Thierry Neuville even came close to earning the i20 WRC’s first stage victory on SS5…

Pontus Tidemand (Ford), who figured well here before retiring in 2013, is ninth (+44.6s), while Robert Kubica (Ford) is 11^th, on the same minute as the leader and ahead of another rookie Elfyn Evans (Ford). Henning Solberg (Ford) suffered a puncture on SS7.

Today’s last stage proved difficult for WRC-2 pace-setters Yazeed Al-Rahji (Ford/Michelin) and Jari Ketomaa (Ford) who both admitted to ‘moments’. Yurii Protasov (3^rd, Ford) is complaining of gearbox trouble and is only 3.2s clear of Anders Grondal (Subaru).

Friday’s action will take crews east of Hagfors to three ultra-fast stages, namely ‘Lesjofors’, ‘Fredriksberg’ and ‘Rammen’.

Sébastien Ogier a conclu la première journée du Rallye de Suède 2014 en tête devant ses deux équipiers Andreas Mikkelsen et Jari-Matti Latvala. Ott Tanak (4e, Ford) a privé Volkswagen d’un grand chelem en remportant l’ES5. En WRC-2, Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Ford/Michelin) est leader devant tous les Nordiques.

Après un crochet par la Norvège voisine, la 1^ère journée du Rallye de Suède 2014 s’est terminée par une spéciale nocturne aux portes de Torsby. Feu d’artifice, écran géant, musique, buvettes, température estivale de -1°C : tout était réuni pour créer une belle ambiance à laquelle les pilotes ont apporté leur contribution.

« J’aurais signé pour être dans cette position ce soir », a avoué Sébastien Ogier après avoir amélioré, de nuit, son chrono matinal de 4 secondes sur les 7,03 km. « Demain, Andreas, Jari-Matti et moi serons à peu près tous à égalité au niveau de la position sur la route, donc il va falloir se battre pour la victoire. »

Vainqueur de la Superspéciale hier soir et donc 1^er leader du rallye, Andreas Mikkelsen avait repris la tête de l’épreuve pour 2/10^e à l’issue de l’ES6. « Contrairement à Sébastien, je n’ai pas mis de pneus neufs pour cette spéciale. », expliquait le Norvégien à l’arrivée de l’ES7 où il a concédé 6 secondes et reperdu les commandes du rallye.

Jari-Matti Latvala était le plus déçu des trois pilotes VW : « Je n’ai pas été bon », a déclaré le Finlandais en ôtant lentement son casque. « J’ai eu du mal à trouver l’adhérence… Heureusement, on est encore dans la bagarre (3^e, +12s2). » Le Finlandais, double vainqueur de ce rallye, a conclu l’ES7 derrière le débutant Kris Meeke (10^e, Citroën DS3 WRC), auteur du 4^emeilleur temps.

Son équipier Mads Ostberg (5^e) était lui aussi un peu déçu de sa prestation au volant de la Citroën DS3 WRC : « Les conditions sont complètement différentes de celles rencontrées en essais. » Le Norvégien a tout de même signé le 2^e meilleur temps dans l’ES7 pour prendre la 5^eplace à Mikko Hirvonen (6^e, Ford) : « Au moins, je suis allé plus loin que l’an passé ! », plaisantait le Finlandais à l’arrivée de l’étape.

Pour son retour en WRC, l’Estonien Ott Tanak est dans le rythme des leaders au volant de sa Ford Fiesta WRC/Michelin. « C’est une journée très positive, je suis surpris moi-même. J’ai peut-être bénéficié d’une bonne position sur la route à certains endroits, on verra demain. » La journée fut positive aussi pour l’équipe Hyundai puisque ses deux pilotes sont 7^e et 8^e. Thierry Neuville a même failli offrir un meilleur temps à l’i20 WRC dans l’ES5.

Brillant l’an passé avant son abandon, Pontus Tidemand (Ford) est 9^e à 44s6. Pour ses débuts sur neige, Robert Kubica (Ford) est 11^e à moins d’une minute du leader devant l’autre débutant Elfyn Evans (Ford). Henning Solberg (Ford) a été victime d’une crevaison dans l’ES7.

En WRC-2, la dernière spéciale fut difficile pour les deux leaders, Yazeed Al-Rahji (Ford/Michelin) et Jari Ketomaa (Ford), auteurs de petites touchettes. Yurii Protasov (3^e, Ford) se plaint de sa boîte de vitesses et devance Anders Grondal (Subaru) de seulement 3s2.

Demain, l’action se déroulera à l’Est d’Hagfors, sur les spéciales ultra-rapides de Lesjofors, Fredriksberg et Rammen.

ELMC

ELMC is Gary Eastmans brand , a long time motorcyclist and probably the worlds foremost expert on US army flying jackets turned his hand to making a range of jackets based on original US motorcycle jackets with modern cuts . The boots and sweats/tees are made by one of the best in Japan . All leathers jackets made in a workshop in Devon.
Watch the video with some familiar faces:
James Jordan And Tamara Bell from The Kingdom of Kicks
Jason Buckam Unionsix
Max Knight MeatBall Chop & Speed
Written by Dave Heuman
Photography:
John Isaac
Gary Margerum

ELMC from Gary Eastman on Vimeo.

A fashionably late rendezvous with the 'Ferrari' Dino?

Dino prices are higher than they’ve ever been, but is it too late to bite the bullet? Classic Driver asks the experts…

With its roots in racing, a great design, excellent handling and an illustrious television career, the Dino had all the ingredients to become a truly great Ferrari. Just one thing was missing – a V12 engine. The concept of a compact, mid-engined sports car was a milestone in Ferrari history, the Dino deservedly bearing the prestigious name of the patriarch’s tragically dead son. 

Fabrizio Carugati, who runs Swiss sports car dealership Carugati Automobiles along with his father Tiziano, says that the collectors’ market had already expressed its interest in the Dino in the Nineties, before the market collapsed. Good examples have now cracked the €300,000 mark at auction, particularly in the United States. The red 246 GTS pictured below was sold by Gooding & Co for nearly $430,000 incl. buyer’s premium (around €315,000) – the colour, quality of its restoration and the corresponding concours awards all contributing towards the exceptional hammer price. Another Dino, this time a coupé equipped with the now-desirable ‘chairs and flairs’ option, sold at the same auction for almost €350,000. 

So will Dinos reach the half-million-dollar mark? “In the coming years, prices may rise by 25 to 30 per cent,” predicts Carugati. “The Dino is a great alternative to the classic 12-cylinder models from Maranello, its design is among Ferrari’s finest in my opinion. It was ahead of its time, its V6 engine sounds fantastic and the low-slung seating position makes you feel as though you’re in a lightweight prototype. It's also remarkably suitable for everyday use; I’d happily drive mine to work every day.” 

“Looking back, the Dino was built at a time when Ferrari was not doing so well economically,” says Uwe Meissner, founder of Modena Motorsport. “The cars were more or less cobbled together and owners drove them come rain or shine. Today, you’ll find very few high-quality untouched examples, as most have been restored to some extent. It’s where and how the car has been restored: that’s what counts when it comes to the really expensive cars. It’s hard to say whether prices will rise noticeably in the near future when the level is already so high.” 

Though coupés command impressive prices, the targa-top 246 GTSs tend to achieve higher. “GTS prices are, on average, 15 to 20 per cent higher,” explains Christophe van Riet, owner of Gipimotor in Brussels, itself devoted to the Ferrari brand for over 25 years. “The special, open-air driving experience definitely plays a role in this.” 

Whether GT or GTS, it’s the whole package that makes the Dino so desirable, confirms Gipimotor’s sales manager, Kristoffer Cartenian. “The chassis and the suspension are incredibly well balanced. The car drives so easily and they look great! For me, this is a car worthy of any good collection. I’m sure that good, clean examples with extensively documented histories will attract higher prices further in the future.”

Photos: RM Auctions, Gooding & Co.

The yellow Dino 246 GT shown here is expected to make between €180,000 and €220,000 when it goes under the hammer at RM’s Paris sale on 5 February. The silver car, a GTS from 1974, will also be auctioned by RM, on 8 March in Amelia Island. 

Many more Dino GTs and GTSs are currently for sale in the Classic Driver Market. 

ICON 1000 TRIUMPH SPEEDMASTER

ICON Motosports is back with a killer new custom. It’s the company’s third hookup with Triumph, who delivered a 2013-model Speedmaster for baptism by Sawzall at Icon’s Portland headquarters.

In the 1960s, Triumph 650 twins ruled the drag strips and the ICON 1000 Speedmaster is a nod to this past—with a few discreet updates for modern competition. Like a Holley nitrous oxide system with twin fork-mounted bottles, which supply enough juice to double the horsepower at the push of a button.

A custom-fabricated exhaust system built by Vance & Hines gives the Speedmaster an edge over the quarter-mile, and race specialists Latus Motors Triumph have fettled the internals of the 865cc air-cooled twin. Which, incidentally, sports the same rumbling 270º firing interval as the Triumph Scrambler.

Working with design director Kurt Walter, the Icon crew swapped out the stock Speedmaster wheels for lighter rims from a Tiger 800XC. Out back is a period-correct M/H Racemaster drag slick; up front is an (appropriately named) Avon Speedmaster tire. A Kawasaki ZX-10 master cylinder is hooked up to Galfer brakes with EBC pads, to ensure the fun stops when it needs to. The rider hangs on tight using clip-ons from Zombie Performance and rearsets from Loaded Gun.

Helping to cushion the sudden power rush are 970-series piggyback shocks from Progressive Suspension, and a custom seat from New Church Moto prevents the rider sliding backwards when the Speedmaster is rushing forward. And, just quietly, the headlight is from a humble Honda Dream.

The tank, believe it or not, is from a 1960 BSA C15, and fits just perfectly. Lean over it and you’ll see a motto inscribed on the top of the NOS bottles: “Go Fast, Look Flash.”

Quite.

Watch the bike in action in the official video or head over to the ICON 1000 site for images of the company’s previous spectacular builds. You can see what a stock Speedmaster looks like on the Triumph Motorcycles site.

from BIKEEXIF