1975 Corolla. V8 + Supercharger. The Smoking Tire

A homebuilt 1975 Toyota Corolla packing Lexus V8 muscle and a supercharger.

Mark Still’s 1975 Toyota Corolla epitomises the ‘built not bought’ philosophy of car culture. It’s even more impressive as Mark, despite being a practical sort of chap with fabrication skills aplenty, didn’t really have much experience as a car builder. What he did have was a love of old Corollas and so he started there, with a 1975 example, and ended up here, with a wide arched supercharged V8.

Homebuilt cars, as a form of automotive self-expression, tend to bring out the lovers and haters in equal measure. It really shouldn’t matter what side of that flipped coin you’re on if you can truly appreciate the dedication and skill required to see a project through from inception to completion. This is the Corolla that Mark Still’s built. Himself. That earns our respect every time.

Source – TheSmokingTire

Bikes, beards and bikinis at the 2014 Wheels & Waves Festival

Every year, the European motorcycle scene gathers at the Wheels & Waves Festival on the French Atlantic coast. Hermann Kopf took not only his bike, but his trusty Leica to Biarritz, too…

Mediterranean weather, curious bikes, long beards and illegal racing

Anticipation for the third running of this event was huge, thanks to the flood of media images released in the preceding few months. Mediterranean weather, curious bikes, long beards and (apparently) dirt track racing more than surpassed expectations. This is no marketing event, it’s an honest four-day festival run by the Southsiders Men, mixing art, music, surfing and custom motorcyles. 

Contemporary motorcycle culture in an old industrial building

On day one, surfing friends came together at the nearby beach for the amateur surf contest, before riding into town that evening for the ‘Art Ride’ exhibition, housed in an old industrial hall. The artists themselves were present, their works reflecting the spirit of this ‘scene’. They came from around the world, travelling here to share their interpretations and exchange ideas with like-minded people. Contemporary motorcycle culture was brought to the fore. 

Sprint race in the Basque Country

The following day we travelled to the Spanish side of the Basque Country for a sprint race. Thirty-two riders on old machines took to a picturesque 800-metre mountain route on the Jaizkibel. Although this year the race was properly organised, with compulsory leathers and safety areas, the ‘spirit’ was not diminished in the slightest. 

Surfing, mountain riding and a stunning sunset

On Saturday, the Southsiders invited us on a tour of the Basque mountains. About 80 riders were in attendance, and that evening both the best surfers and the best bikes were chosen. Brian Bent and his band were on hand to play some appropriate music to accompany the fine sunset. 

Threatening success?

We wonder whether the Southsiders will throw a fourth edition in Toulouse next year, or has the surging popularity of the event tainted their vision of what the festival was originally meant to be? We'll just have to wait and see…

Photos: Hermann Köpf

You can find numerous classic motorcycles in the Classic Driver Market. 

Le saviez-vous ? Indianapolis 2014 / Did you Know? Indianapolis 2014

Indianapolis accueille ce week-end la 10e des 18 manches de la saison MotoGP™ 2014 et motogp.com vous propose une sélection de statistiques sur le mythique circuit américain.

- Indianapolis accueille cette année son septième Grand Prix consécutif suite à la première venue du Championnat du Monde à l’IMS en 2008.

- Il s’agit du 26e Grand Prix organisé aux Etats-Unis. Les deux premiers eurent lieu à Daytona en 1964 et 1965. 15 Grands Prix ont plus tard eu lieu à Laguna Seca, 6 autres à Indianapolis et enfin 2 au Circuit of the Americas.

- Les pilotes Yamaha avaient remporté les deux premières courses MotoGP™ à Indianapolis avant que les pilotes de Honda ne s’imposent ces quatre dernières années.

- La troisième place de Nicky Hayden en 2009 est le meilleur résultat de Ducati en MotoGP™ à l’IMS.

- Les quatre premières courses du MotoGP™ à Indy ont toutes eu un Américain sur le podium, avec Nicky Hayden à la deuxième puis la troisième places en 2008 et 2009 puis avec Ben Spies à la deuxième puis la troisième places en 2010 et 2011. En 2012, le premier Américain à l’arrivée était Colin Edwards, treizième, tandis que c’était Nicky Hayden, neuvième, en 2013. 

- Dani Pedrosa est le seul pilote à s’être imposé plus d’une fois à Indy en MotoGP™, en 2010 et 2012.

- Jorge Lorenzo est le pilote qui est le plus souvent monté sur le podium MotoGP™ à Indianapolis, avec un total de 5.

- Cinq pilotes de la grille MotoGP™ 2014 ont participé aux six dernières courses MotoGP™ à Indianapolis : Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, Colin Edwards, Valentino Rossi et Dani Pedrosa.

Indianapolis will host the tenth of 18 Grands Prix in the 2014 MotoGP™ season, with Marc Marquez having won last year’s premier class race on his first attempt. However, there are numerous facts and figures available when it comes to MotoGP™ and the Motor Speedway…

- This year’s race at Indianapolis will be the seventh consecutive Grand Prix at the venue, with the first having taken place in 2008

- This will be the 26^th occasion on which there has been a motorcycle Grand Prix held in the USA. The first two events in 1964 and 1965 were held at the famous Daytona circuit. 15 GP events have taken place at the Laguna Seca circuit, there have been six held previously at Indianapolis and two at Circuit of the Americas

- Yamaha riders won the MotoGP races on the first two visits to Indianapolis, whereas Honda riders have won for the last four years

- Nicky Hayden’s third place finish in 2009 is the only MotoGP podium by a Ducati rider at the Indianapolis circuit

- In the first four appearances of MotoGP in Indianapolis, one American rider finished on the podium each year: Nicky Hayden was second in 2008 and third in 2009, whereas and Ben Spies was second in 2010 and third in 2011. In the 2012 MotoGP race at Indianapolis, the first American rider across the line was Colin Edwards in 13^th place and last year it was Nicky Hayden, in ninth

- Dani Pedrosa is the only rider to have had more than a single victory in the MotoGP class at the Indianapolis circuit: in 2010 and 2012

- Jorge Lorenzo’s five MotoGP podium finishes at the Indianapolis circuit is more than any other rider

- Five of the riders who will be competing this year have taken part in all six previous MotoGP races that have been staged at the Indianapolis circuit: Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, Colin Edwards, Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa

9 dinky ways to get from berth to beach

After a long day at the beach, the last car you want to return to your yacht in is a dark-coloured luxury saloon, neatly doubling as a mobile sauna. Why not blow off the sand with these fun and dinky door-less classics?

Fiat Topolino 'Mare'

Could this Fiat Topolino ‘Mare’ be where the beach car began? Certainly in 1954 a vehicle as casual and superfluous as this would only have been commissioned by the most wealthy of customers. Cutaway doors, a fabric awning and wicker seats – it’s an enduring recipe, as you’ll see below. 

Isetta 600 Moretti

With its fashionable blue and white canopy, the Turinese coachbuilder Moretti’s elegant beach conversion of BMW’s Isetta 600 is the ideal summer shore shuttle. What’s more, four beachgoers (complete with picnic hamper) can easily enjoy the smile-per-mile motoring thanks to the removal of the original car’s cumbersome front door. After all, no one wants to go to the beach alone. 

Fiat 500 Jolly

The Jolly was born of Fiat Boss Agnelli’s desire for a fun and practical land-based tender to accompany his yacht along the Med. Little did he realise that the miniature classic would come to symbolise the dolce vita era, becoming the token vehicle for the rich and famous and inspiring a smorgasbord of spin-offs. 

Fiat Michelotti Shellette beach car

Bearing almost no resemblance to the Fiat 850 on which it is based, Michelotti’s Shellette, designed in collaboration with yacht designer Phillip Schnell, perfectly reflects the design trends of the late 1960s. Both quicker and more comfortable than the Jolly cars, why restrict yourself to the beach with this charismatic classic?

Mini Beach Car

Built by British Leyland’s Experimental Department (don’t laugh), the Mini Beach Car, aka the ‘Riviera Buggy’, was Austin’s answer to the Jolly Fiats. Although only around 15 were built, they proved a momentary sensation – even the Queen was lent a car in which to zip around Windsor Castle. More fun than the Rolls, we reckon…

Renault 4 Plein Air

There aren’t many Plein Airs around today, thanks in part to the fact that not many were produced in the first place, but also because lots of the rich kids who bought them took the ‘beach car’ idea too seriously, the salt water claiming a great number of victims as a result. Still, it must have been fun while it lasted.

Citroën Méhari

In comparison to the Plein Air, the Citroën Méhari was a snip. And we can’t think of a better way to transport several friends and their surfboards to the beach. The unpretentious styling and unrivalled practicality was a real hit, and almost 150,000 were produced. Interestingly, the car was so light that the French army used to parachute them behind enemy lines. The dunes shouldn’t be a problem, then. 

Fiat 600 Multipla 'Eden Roc'

Why catch the bus to the beach when you and eight others can squeeze into this chic creation?Pininfarina’s 1956 Fiat Multipla ‘Eden Roc’ was designed for use at the Villa Leopolda in Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Agnelli’s personal home. Allegedly, Henry Ford bought one the day it went on sale. We can’t say we’re surprised – the Eden Roc is about as close to a land-based Riva as you’d ever find. 

DAF Kini

When Prince Willem-Alexander (the current king of Holland) was born, the former Dutch auto manufacturer DAF presented the royal family with a bespoke creation, the Michelotti-designed Kini (Bavarian for King). The quirky styling isn’t to everyone’s tastes but, as a beach car, you couldn’t go far wrong. 

Photos: Artcurial, Bonhams, Citroën, Renault