2013 Dakar Rally raid preview

from Twowheelsblog 

We are just a week away from the 2013 Dakar Rally, the most important raid of the season that will kick off in Lima, Peru, on January 5. The event has abandoned the African continent a few years ago in favor of the rugged and beautiful landscapes and forests of South America but, at least as far as the motorcycle competition is concerned, the main theme will once again remain the same: hunting for KTM, the Austrian manufacturer whose hegemony in the event lasts continuously since 2001, when it was the late Fabrizio Meoni to triumph in Dakar with the LC4 660R.

After the announced defection of Spaniard Marc Coma - who’s still struggling with a shoulder injury suffered in the Rally of Morocco - Frenchman Cyril Despres becomes the obvious favourite for the win as he and his injured teammate have won the last seven editions of the Dakar. Certainly the absence of Coma was a blow to the KTM Factory Team - which had to call in American Kurt Caselli in his stead - but the proven competitiveness of both Despres and the KTM 450 Rally machine will surely allow the squad to fight for its twelfth consecutive win.

As specified by the KTM team menager Dorringer, Caselli will be able to race without any pressure on him to achieve a top position. The American will be supported by the two regular “water carriers” of the KTM Rally team, Ruben Faria of Portugal and Juan Pedrero of Spain. This year KTM is also fielding a Factory “B” Team made up of South African duo Darryl Curtis and Riaan van Niekerk, who are joined by Poland’s rising rally star Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski.

KTM Rally Team 2013

Honda HRC Rally Team 2013

Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain 2013

However, the KTM guys will have to face quite some serious competition this year, starting with the resurrected Honda HRC Factory team, that will return to the Dakar after a 23 years-long absence. The official team of the Japanese giant also had to deal with two last minute defections due to injury (Brazilian Felipe Zanol and British Sam Sunderland) and will therefore field a line-up of three riders: Portuguese Helder Rodrigues, Argentinian Javier Pizzolito and American Johnny Campbell, all of whom will have the tough job of bringing the brand new CRF450 Rally to success in the most harsh and demanding competition out there.

Another team with high and justified hopes of success is the Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, the official factory team of Italian-German-Swedish brand that will field four TE449RR entrusted to Joan Barreda of Spain (who was the winner of the recent Rally of the Pharaohs and finished in second place in the Rally of Morocco), Paulo Goncalves of Portugal, Botturi Alexander of Italy (best rookie of the 2012 Dakar) and Matt Fish of Australia. As for the outsideres we suggest you keep an eye on San Marino-born rider Alex Zanotti, 2012 World Champion of the Baja 450, who will compete with the TM Rally 450 of the official TM Racing team.

The rally was moved to South America when the 2008 edition was canceled after terrorist threats in North Africa emerged the night before competitors were to set out from Portugal. Now for the first time the South American Dakar will take a north-south perspective over the 14 stages, starting in Lima, Peru and traveling south to finish in Santiago, Chile, taking in four stages in Argentina on the way. Riders set out on January 5 and finish on January 19 with one rest day scheduled on January 13. They will first tackle the coastal desert of southern Peru and according to organizers will be under constant pressure for the eight stages up until the rest day. Stage nine will be the longest of 2013, some 852 km.

2013 Dakar Rally - Program

Jan. 5 - Stage 1: Lima (Peru) – Pisco 
total distance 263 km: 250 km liaison and 13 km special
(shortest stage in the 2013 edition)
Jan 6 – Stage 2: Pisco - Pisco (loop)
total distance 327 km: 85 km liaison; 242 km special
Jan 7 – Stage 3: Pisco - Nazca 
total distance 343 km: 100 km liaison; 243 km special
Jan 8 – Stage 4: Nazca - Arequipa
total distance 718 km: 429 km liaison; 289 special
Jan 9 – Stage 5: Arequipa - Arica 
total distance 411 km: 275 km liaison; 136 km special
Jan 10– Stage 6: Arica – Calama
Total distance 767 km: 313 km liaison; 454 km special
Jan 11 – Stage 7: Calama – Salta (rally enters Argentina)
Total distance 806 km: 586 km liaison; 220 km special
Jan 12 – Stage 8: Salta – Tucuman
Total distance 738 km: 247 liaison; 491 km special

Jan 13: REST DAY in Tucuman, Argentina

Jan 14 – Stage 9: Tucuman – Cordoba 
Total distance 852 km: 259 km liaison; 593 km special
(longest stage of the 2013 edition)
Jan 15 – Stage 10: Cordoba – La Rioja 
Total distance 636 km: 279 km liaison; 357 km special
Jan 16 – Stage 11: La Rioja - Fiambala 
Total distance 483 km: 262 km liaison; 221 km special
Jan 17 – Stage 12: Fiambala – Copiaco (rally enters Chile)
Total distance 715 km: 396 km liaison; 319 km special
Jan 18 – Stage 13: Copiaco – La Serena 
Total distance 735 km: 294 km liaison; 441 km special
Jan 19 – Stage 14: La Serena – Santiago
Total distance 630 km: 502 liaison; 128 km special

Jan 20 – Closing ceremony Santiago

Norton CS1: the oldest motorcycle still being raced in the UK

At a remarkable 84 years of age, the Norton CS1 you can see in these pictures is currently the oldest race bike still regularly involved in racing activities in the United Kingdom. This lively jewel does not only boast the longevity record though, it also has more than 400 victories in ‘classic’ races under its belt and is currently owned by Ian Bain, a Liverpool-based rider that takes it on the track thanks to the support of the helmet manufacturer Davida.

The historic CS1 500 was designed by Walter Moore and produced by Norton between 1927 and 1929. This very model was built in 1928 and bought ‘for a song’ in 1957 by Ian’s father Geoff, who had found it in a scrapyard near Liverpool. After completing the purchase, it seems that Geoff had to push it for 15 miles (24 km) to bring it home, but given the amount of thrills and chills that this bike was about to provide his family with in the coming decades, it was definitely worth it.

It goes without saying that a motorcycle of this age requires a lot maintenance, and from this point of view the fact that Bains own a foundry is definitely an advantage, as many parts of the engine had to be replaced over the years, and they could basically replicate all they needed. The carburettor has been handmade by Ian himself, while the 8-inch front brake was lifted from a BSA of the 60s.

via | BikeExif and Twowheelsblog
foto | Brian Maher

A Day in the Life of Miami’s vintage motorcycle scene

Take a look at a day in the life of Miami’s vintage motorcycle scene. If you’re into classic bikes and find yourself in Miami look us up.

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Norway’s North Cape in a Classic Porsche 911: A true winter wonderland...by ClassicDriver.com

Norway's North Cape is one of the most northerly points in Europe. When the time was right, Classic Driver Frank Strothe checked the battery and alternator of his 1966 Porsche 911 (shod with studded winter tyres), stuffed a sleeping bag and other essentials under the ‘bonnet’ and set off.

The Idea

I’ve always wanted to go to the ‘Nordkapp’, writes Frank Strothe. I’ve been before, in the summer, but there was no challenge in it. So for years I’ve pondered a winter expedition; driving in the snow is more fun, especially in a classic car that relies on your driving skill to keep it on the road, rather than a host of electronic safety measures. In Finnmark – Norway’s northernmost county – mothers use run-of-the-mill hatchbacks to take their children to school in -40deg temperatures.
So to make the trip worthwhile I needed a slightly more adventurous ride: what better choice than an original, unrestored Porsche 911?

I was given various tips on how to make sure the first leg of my journey wasn’t to be my last. Recommended equipment included a portable heater, a satellite phone, auxiliary fuel tank, additional lights and a crash course in basic mechanics. Perhaps a little naively, I ignored them all. I wanted a ‘pure’ experience, so I checked the battery and alternator, fitted spiked winter tyres and packed a sleeping bag and tent into the front luggage compartment. No more messing around, it was time to get going.



The Trip
I trailered the 911 from Germany with – what else? – a modern Land Rover Discovery. From Kramfors onwards I left my fate to the old Porsche, which I drove to Rovaniemi for the first night. Next day, the goal was to reach Ivalo where my reward would be a session at the Porsche Driving Experience, to drive some of my car’s descendents on a frozen lake. It was very impressive, but, when dusk settled, I was glad to return to the wheel of my classic 911.


The next morning, I attempted to make the short trip from the old fishing village of Gjesvær to the North Cape. However, progress was halted by an oversight in my journey planning. Due to crossing a time zone, and the ban on covering the last few kilometres to the Cape alone, I had to wait an hour to join a twice-daily convoy.


Our cavalcade was a rather small one as it turned out. Led by a listless snowplough, it was just a BMW X6 with Russian plates and my 911 bringing up the rear – probably one of the most diverse trio of vehicles I’ll ever belong to. Since it was so deserted that day, I had ample time to photograph the car next to The Globe, the North Cape’s landmark monument.


During one refuelling stop, I noticed the tyre pressures were a little low. I corrected them and went on my way, only to spin the car while pulling out of the petrol station (much to the amusement of a bus full of German tourists). I made my getaway, ego somewhat damaged, and again began to enjoy the sprawling, empty road ahead. By this point I had covered over 2,000km in snowy and icy conditions and had become accustomed to them, happily wagging the 911’s tail through corners.
Unfortunately, another dramatic spin soon left us both in deep snow, the 911 truly beached. It turned out that the air pressure gauge at the petrol station was wrongly calibrated: each tyre had been overinflated, so the spikes were no longer effective on the ballooning tyres. A friendly group of Norwegians came to my rescue - but not before the return of the holidaying Germans who had another chuckle at my expense.


Apart from that, and a spell where the alternator threw a wobbly for a few hours, the 911 was very well behaved. It even played saviour when I returned to the Land Rover at the end of the trip, as the Discovery’s battery had drained away. In total, I travelled 6,000km in six days, and pretty well loved every minute.
Car & Equipment
1966 Porsche 911 SWB, with the carburettor trumpets partially taped-over to prevent them icing up. The only other modifications were the studded winter tyres. The car is unrestored and totally original.
Be careful. You should always carry enough in the car to survive a night outside at -40deg: an Arctic sleeping bag, a tent (or, at a push, you could sleep in the car), a down jacket, thermal trousers, thick gloves, a hat and plenty of food.
I didn’t, but you should really take snow chains for emergencies. Fill up whenever the tank is half full. The 911's heater will not work properly below -20deg. So, while driving, I wore ski pants, a Polar anorak, thick mittens, a hat, and hiking boots. And still froze.


All the windows were frozen solid, too, apart from the windscreen. But in such a deserted land, it’s only necessary to look ahead…

Related Links We congratulate Frank Strothe of Pure Classics on the completion of his North Cape tour in his classic Porsche 911. For his current dealer stock, visit the Classic Driver Marketplace Around 650 classic and modern Porsches can also be found for sale in the Marketplace

Text & Photos: Frank Strothe (
from Classicdriver.com 

Snake Motors Kitano Replica K-16 First Edition 2013

from :planet japan Blog

   

Racing Version

Foto: Snake Motors e SCS Tokyo

Video: YouTube

Smart ForTwo modified for the 2013 Dakar Rally

The Smart ForTwo isn't known for high-performance, but that hasn't stopped Team Feber from trying to enter the 2013 Dakar Rally with one.

Set to tackle the grueling 8,000 km (4,970 mile) course, the specially modified ForTwo has been equipped with a modified body, an off-road suspension and a four-wheel drive system.

Unfortunately, Team Feber wasn't able to raise enough money to support their Dakar adventure. According to driver Jose Luis Alvarez Alarcón "We have no choice, we love to dream ... we like movies with happy endings" but even though we cannot compete in Dakar this year, "the movie was pretty, very pretty ...."

Source: VW Vortex

Team couldn't raise enough money to compete