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jeudi 23 octobre 2014
MOTOGP : Cap sur la Malaisie pour l'avant-dernière manche de la saison2014 / Rossi on a high in second as Marquez looks to win again
La tournée outre-mer prend fin cette semaine au Circuit International de Sepang, où Marc Márquez tentera de renouer avec la victoire tandis que Valentino Rossi voudra conforter son avance dans la lutte pour le titre de vice-Champion.
Vainqueur des dix premières manches de la saison, Marc Márquez est actuellement sur une série de résultats qui contraste fortement avec son exceptionnel début de saison. Le pilote du team Repsol Honda, qui a remporté son deuxième titre de Champion du Monde MotoGP™ au Motegi, ne s'est plus imposé depuis Silverstone, à la fin du mois d'août, et n'est monté sur le podium qu'une fois, au Japon, sur les quatre dernières courses, avec un abandon sur chute dimanche dernier en Australie.
Le double Champion du Monde MotoGP™ a cependant encore deux courses devant lui pour égaler; voire dépasser, le record du plus grand nombre de victoires remportées en une saison dans la catégorie reine, établi par Mick Doohan avec un total de 12 en 1997. Márquez avait fini deuxième à Sepang l'an dernier, derrière son coéquipier Dani Pedrosa.
Suite à sa victoire à Phillip Island, où il avait hérité de la première place suite à la chute de Márquez, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) compte 82 victoires en 250 courses dans la catégorie reine et un total de 108 victoires sur l'ensemble des trois catégories. Le nonuple Champion du Monde a d'autre part pris la seconde place du classement général en solitaire, avec huit points d'avance sur Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) et vingt-cinq sur Pedrosa. Le coéquipier de l'Italien est actuellement sur une série de huit podiums et n'a gagné qu'une seule fois à Sepang, en 2006, lorsqu'il courait en 250cc.
Contraint à l'abandon en Australie après avoir été percuté par Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing), Pedrosa aura à coeur de se relancer ce week-end en Malaisie, en essayant de rattraper Rossi dans la lutte pour le titre de vice-Champion, sur un circuit où il avait gagné l'an dernier ainsi qu'en 2012.
Cinquième du classement général avant le Grand Prix Shell Advance de Malaisie, Andrea Dovizioso a réussi à finir quatrième en Australie, où neuf pilotes ont abandonné, dont son coéquipier Cal Crutchlow, tombé dans le dernier tour alors qu'il occupait la seconde position.
Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) a profité du malheur de son compatriote pour faire sa première apparition sur le podium MotoGP™ avec une troisième place qui lui a permis de revenir dans la lutte pour la sixième position dans le classement général. Smith est désormais huitième, devant Iannone et Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda), qui ont tous les deux abandonné en Australie suite à leurs erreurs respectives.
Aleix Espargaró (NGM Forward Racing) mène cette bagarre pour la sixième place avec un petit point d'avance sur son frère cadet Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3) et neuf longueurs d'avance sur Smith. Les deux Espagnols étaient parmi les pilotes à abandonner dimanche dernier à Phillip Island.
La première séance d'essais MotoGP™ du Grand Prix Shell Advance de Malaisie a lieu vendredi matin à 9h55, heure locale (GMT +8), soit 3h55, heure de Paris.
After 2014 MotoGP™ World Champion Marc Marquez’s crash in Australia gave Valentino Rossi the opportunity to notch his second victory of the year, the Repsol Honda rider will be striving for nothing less than a win at Sepang.
It is Marquez’s hunger for victory which drove him to this year’s title in fine style with 10 wins from the opening 10 rounds, though since then he has added just the one further triumph at Silverstone and has now gone four races without a win. Marquez still has the chance to match - and eclipse - Mick Doohan’s record from 1997 for most premier class GP wins in a single season of 12 victories.
Last year at Sepang Marquez was second in the race behind his Honda colleague Dani Pedrosa and he will aim to go one better this time.
Another rider who knows all about winning is Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s remarkable nine time World Champion Rossi who delighted his fans at Phillip Island with his 82nd premier class victory in his 250th race in the top category of Grand Prix competition.
It was also Rossi’s 108th win across all classes and the 25 points from Australia helped him to move clear in second place in the World Championship. Rossi leads Lorenzo by eight points with two rounds remaining.
Lorenzo described his result in Australia as the luckiest second place of his career as his pace dropped in the second half of the race, but his rostrum appearance was the eighth consecutive podium of an excellent recent run.
Last year’s Sepang race winner Pedrosa was unlucky on Sunday at Phillip Island as his efforts came to en early end after he was hit by Andrea Iannone and was forced to retire. That DNF result saw Pedrosa slip to fourth in the standings, 25-points adrift of second placed Rossi.
Fifth overall ahead of the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix is the ever-consistent Andrea Dovizioso who stayed upright in Australia to take fourth, with nine riders in total unable to finish the race – including his Ducati Team colleague Cal Crutchlow who went down on the last lap with second place looking almost guaranteed.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Bradley Smith got his first MotoGP™ podium at round 16 and has forced his way back into the battle for sixth in the standings. That third place Phillip Island result took Smith up to eighth overall above Pramac Racing’s Iannone and LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl – both of whom aim to bounce back in Malaysia after their respective mistakes on Sunday.
Smith is now also only nine points behind sixth placed Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) and eight adrift of his Tech 3 teammate, Aleix’s brother, Pol Espargaro – with the Spanish siblings also suffering Australian DNFs.
The first premier class practice session at Sepang will start at 9.55am local time (GMT +8) on Friday morning.
BROUGHAM: A CADILLAC-INSPIRED SOFTAIL
In the Hollywood of the late 1950s, if your name was Clark or Frank and you wanted to make a splash, you bought a Cadillac Eldorado. And not just any Eldorado: it had to be the exclusive, hand-built Brougham.
From the quad headlights to the outrageous tail fins, the Brougham just oozed style—and wealth, since it cost even more than a contemporary Rolls-Royce.
Fabulous as the Brougham may be, it’s not an obvious inspiration for a bike build. But this Softail custom is one of the sleekest, classiest Harleys we’ve ever seen.
It’s the work of German engineer and master craftsman Julian von Oheimb, who runs a shop called One Way Machine. And when he saw Clark Gable’s Brougham twenty years ago on a trip to the USA, the experience stuck in his head.
Von Oheimb has been steadily picking up awards around Europe, and he’s just won the ultimate accolade for a V-twin builder—the Modified Harley-Davidson Class at the AMD World Championship. By show bike standards, his builds are unusually practical too: “Modern customers are looking for authentic, credible and easy-to-ride bikes,” he says. “The times are over for excessive, hard-to-ride trailer queens.” And amen to that.
‘Brougham’ started life as a 2001 Softail Deuce with a mere 900 kilometers on the clock, liberated from Harley’s Saarbrücken dealership. (“It was basically in ‘new’ condition.”)
Most owners would start a regime of polishing and maintenance to preserve such an unmolested bike, but von Oheimb had other ideas. In his Staufenberg workshop he stripped the Softail down to the essentials, cleaning up the frame and the swingarm, and installing modified Dyna forks.
The engine and transmission have been refinished with new cases and black paint, adding to the vintage vibe. The custom oil tank could be a straight lift from a pre-WW2 bike.
Von Oheimb’s choice of fuel tank is inspired. The stock Softail Deuce tank is pretty sleek by Big Twin standards, but it’s no match for a 1930s DKW tank. The tank was completely remodeled to slip over the Softail frame and to create a remarkably low profile. It’s topped off with a vintage car hood ornament that does double duty as a filler cap.
The upper visual line of the Brougham defines the bike. It segues neatly from the compact tank into the solo seat, and then terminates right above the back axle, with a delicate custom fender held in place by slim vertical struts. The lower visual line comes from a pair of straight-shot custom pipes.
There’s a small supporting cast of aftermarket parts: Harley’s own smooth-laced wheels in 21” and 19” fitments, Beringer brakes, and an air filter and ignition cover from Mooneyes. The pulled-back bars are a One Way Machine product, already available for order in either black or chrome.
It all hangs together immaculately: there’s a place for everything, and everything is in its place. Few custom builders understand the power of restraint, especially when aiming for a trophy on the show circuit, but von Oheimb is the exception.
His Softail is simply a masterclass in modern-day custom Harley building.
One Way Machine website | Facebook | Images by Steffen Theis.
via BIKEexif
WEZ’S R100
Wez from Port Elizabeth, South Africa proved he has what it takes to put a bike together when he sent us his beautifully finished MB100, take a look here. He said he’d be back with something bolder and grander; and here it is.
When the wife and kids are tucked up in bed, Wez sneaks off to his humble shed and gets customising. 7 months of midnight oil later and here we have a nicely sorted 1981 BMW R100T, built in true shed style with limited tools and a budget to match. Wez hit a fairly steep learning curve, going form a single cylinder two stroke to a Bavarian mass of wiring and over engineering. Luckily his mates kept him on the straight and narrow, offering motivational “Dude, just get it finished already” speeches and the occasional beer no doubt.
The donor arrived in full touring spec, including a leather tank cover. The superfluous fairings, pannier racks and other heavy bits were removed, leaving a bare bones machine ready for a personal touch. But before the fancy stuff comes reliability, looking good broken down isn’t a good look; so Wez removed the motor, stripped it down and replaced anything that was vaguely worn out. Whilst at it the paint on the casings was painstakingly removed, a thankless task at the time, but the results are worth it.
The subframe is 150mm shorter with a kick-up loop welded in, providing a mounting for the moulded PVC seat base and stitched vinyl cover. Uprated Hagon shocks suspend the new rear and give a plusher ride. Low and wide bars are sleek, with end mounted mirrors so as not to interfere with the view, both when riding and whilst admiring.
Brown must be this season’s new black as this is the second Beemer in a week to sport a lustrous dark tone. The tank badges are the car versions and as such needed a good deal of persuasion to get them to fit. Forks are standard but with fresh oil and seals, kept clean by ribbed gaitors. Satin black powder coat and Bridgestone Spitfires sorts the wheel side of things out.
Why buy when you can make? The licence plate mount is precision bent aluminium, finished with black anodising. Exhausts are stock but modified to kick up at the back, keeping in line with the rear hoop. The rear mudguard wasn’t allowed back from the parts bin, the licence plate playing the role of dirt deflector. BMW didn’t half put a big battery box in these things but with new tech smaller options are available, lurking under there is on two thirds the size, wrapped in figure hugging black vinyl; very slimming apparently.
A small and simple speedo with tiny idiot lights gives just enough information without being distracting. Whilst tidying the dash Wez fabricated a small stainless steel plate to mount the ignition.
The build had its ups and downs and caused much head scratching but once the learning curve was crested Wez decided that this was an endeavour too enjoyable to keep as a hobby. After 15 years in secure, full time employment, Wez has decided to go forth and build bikes for a living. Best of luck to you, just remember to send us the photos of the next one.
If you live near Port Elizabeth and fancy a new ride, drop Wez an email.
Photography by Marc Sing Key
via The Bike Shed
Analog Motorcycles at Barber Vintage Festival 2014
Analog drove down from North Chicago to Birmingham Alabama for the 2014 Barber Vintage Festival - a bucket-list event for any motorcycle enthusiast. We set up shop in the paddock area with Vanson Leathers and a few of our other friends in the industry including Revival Cycles. This is the story of our trip and a glimpse of what Barber Vintage Festival is all about.
Analog Motorcycles at Barber Vintage Festival 2014 from Grant Schwingle on Vimeo.
Analog Motorcycles at Barber Vintage Festival 2014 from Grant Schwingle on Vimeo.
mercredi 22 octobre 2014
On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter - Official Trailer
http://onanysundayfilm.com
Four decades after the original "On Any Sunday" scored its Academy Award-nomination for Best Documentary Film, “On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter” shows that the passion for riding motorcycles is as strong as ever. Dana Brown directs this modern take on the original, capturing what it means to ride in the United States and abroad. “On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter” is an exploration into the pursuit of excitement, passion and life in the world of motorcycle riding. The film will be in theaters nationwide on November 7.
Four decades after the original "On Any Sunday" scored its Academy Award-nomination for Best Documentary Film, “On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter” shows that the passion for riding motorcycles is as strong as ever. Dana Brown directs this modern take on the original, capturing what it means to ride in the United States and abroad. “On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter” is an exploration into the pursuit of excitement, passion and life in the world of motorcycle riding. The film will be in theaters nationwide on November 7.
WRC, Espagne : Un point de plus…/ WRC (Espana): a single point will suffice!
Si Sébastien Ogier marque un point de plus que son équipier Jari-Matti Latvala au Rally RACC-Rally de Espana 2014, il sera alors sacré Champion du monde des Rallyes FIA pour la deuxième année consécutive dimanche après-midi. Sinon, la fiesta attendra le Wales Rally GB…
Après avoir sauvé une balle de match au Rallye de France-Alsace, Jari-Matti Latvala va-t-il réussir à prolonger la partie jusque dans les forêts galloises ? Pour cela, il doit impérativement devancer le champion du monde en titre Sébastien Ogier sur les pistes et routes catalanes, ce que le Finlandais est tout à fait capable de réaliser eu égard à ses dernières prestations au RallyRACC-Rally de Espana (3 podiums d’affilée).
En 2012, il avait fait jeu égal avec Sébastien Loeb sur asphalte. L’an passé, il était leader jusqu’à l’avant-dernière spéciale après avoir bouclé la partie tarmac en tête devant Sordo et Neuville. Cette année, décomplexé par sa première victoire asphalte en Alsace, Jari-Matti Latvala peut encore s’illustrer et rêver au titre 2014, d’autant que Seb Ogier va ouvrir et balayer les pistes le premier jour.
Cette année, à l’inverse de 2013, le parcours du RallyRACC-Rally de Espana débute par la partie terre avec six spéciales (dont Terra Alta, 35,68 km) totalisant 138,54 km. L’ordre des départs sera donc déterminant, avec, s’il fait beau, un avantage évident pour des garçons comme Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), Kris Meeke (Citroën), Elfyn Evans (Ford) ou encore Dani Sordo (Hyundai) capables de conserver cet avantage sur l’asphalte les Jours 2 et 3.
Pour marquer la 50e édition du RallyRACC-Rally de Espana, les organisateurs ont prévu une Superspéciale dans les rues de Barcelone jeudi soir, et surtout une spéciale longue de… 50 km samedi.Escaladei reprend une grande partie de la spécialed’El Prioratet sera sans doute décisive dans le résultat final. La gestion des pneumatiques sera capitale car Escaladei est groupée avecTivissa (3,96 km) etColldejou (26,48 km) dans une boucle de 80,44 km, une des plus longues de la saison.
Côté engagés, le RallyRACC-Rally de Espana 2014 prévoit d’accueillir 74 équipages au parc de Salou. En WRC, le plateau traditionnel est complété par Khalid Al-Qassimi (Citroën), l’Américain Ken Block (Ford) et Henning Solberg (Ford). En WRC-2, les trois leaders du championnat font l’impasse (Protasov, inscrit en WRC, Bertelli hors-championnat, Ketomaa absent) et offrent une belle occasion à Nasser Al-Attiyah (Ford) et Karl Kruuda (Ford) de revenir sur la tête du classement avant le Wales Rally GB. A suivre les prestations des Français Sébastien Chardonnet et Stéphane Lefebvre sur Citroën DS3 R5/Michelin.
A suivre également la finale du Drive DMack Fiesta Trophy où 42 points (25 pour la victoire et 17 pour chaque ES remportée) sont à distribuer. L’Estonien Sander Pärn devance le Britannique Tom Cave de 29 points et doit finir sur le podium pour être titré et gagner une saison 2015 en WRC-2.
Sébastien Ogier only needs to score one point more than VW/Michelin team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala in Spain to secure his second straight FIA WRC Drivers’ crown on Sunday. If he fails, celebrations for one of the two will have to wait until Wales Rally GB…
Latvala succeeded in keeping his championship hopes alive after the recent visit to Alsace, but will he be able to maintain the suspense until the series reaches the Welsh forests? To stay in the chase, he must absolutely finish ahead of Ogier in Catalunya, and three straight RallyRACC-Rally de Espana podiums for the Finn suggest that is by no means science fiction.
In 2012, he was a match for Sébastien Loeb’s pace on asphalt and he led last year’s event until the penultimate test after completing the tarmac section in front ahead of Sordo and Neuville. This time, with his asphalt duck broken since the Rallye de France, Volkswagen’s Finn is still in contention for the 2014 crown, especially as Ogier will be first on the road on Day 1…
Unlike in 2013, this year’s Rally de Espana begins with the six gravel stages (including ‘Terra Alta’, 35.68km) which total 138.54km. Start orders are consequently likely to play a big role, and that will clearly play into the hands of drivers like Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), Kris Meeke (Citroën), Elfyn Evans (Ford) and Dani Sordo (Hyundai) who are capable of defending any advantage it may give them until the finish.
To celebrate the event’s 50th edition, the organisers have planned a super-special in the streets of Barcelona on Thursday evening, while Saturday’s menu includes a potentially decisive 50km stage (‘Escaladei’) which uses much of the infamous ‘El Priorat’ test. Clever tyre management will be essential because ‘Escaladei’ is just part of an 80.44km loop – one of the longest of the season – along with ‘Tivissa’ (3.96km) and ‘Colldejou’ (26.48km)!
The Salou-based RallyRACC-Rally de Espana has attracted 74 entries, with the WRC regulars joined by Khalid Al-Qassimi (Citroën), Ken Block (Ford) and Henning Solberg (Ford).
None of the WRC-2’s provisional top three will be in contention for points, however, since Protasov is driving a WRC car, Bertelli is not registered as a WRC-2 competitor and Ketomaa will be absent altogether. It could therefore be a chance for Nasser Al-Attiyah (Ford) and Karl Kruuda (Ford) to close the gap ahead of Wales Rally GB.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Frenchmen Sébastien Chardonnet and Stéphane Lefebvre perform in their respective Michelin-equipped Citroën DS3 R5s.
There is suspense, too, in the Drive DMack Fiesta Trophy where 42 points will be up for grabs: 25 for the win, plus 17 per stage victory. Sander Pärn currently leads Welshman Tom Cave by 29 points. If he finishes on the podium, the Estonian will clinch the 2014 series and win a WRC-2 programme for 2015.
‘State of the Art’ Ferrari California T
Swiss artist Fabian Oefner celebrates the brand new Ferrari California T with the a wind tunnel and a cack-ton of UV paint.
A few weeks ago we brought you the creative talents of Fabian Oefner, who demonstrated what a 1961 Jaguar E-Type and a 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 look like when ‘disintegrated’. This eclectic style certainly caught the eye of Ferrari, who recently invited the Swiss artist to Maranello to interpret its brand new California T as an art form.
In order to emphasise the ‘bold design and fluid form’ – and after a quick spin behind the wheel – Fabian was adamant that the sensation of speed play a big role in the project, called ‘State of the Art’. After experimenting with a scale model of theFerrari, a small windtunnel and a LOT of ultraviolet paint, Fabian was ready to try the real thing….
Source – Studio Oefner and Ferrari USA
KTM 450 EXC v Datsun 240Z rally car
This car Vs. bike battle from evo is a little bit different. This is no super car Vs. super bike in a straight line shootout down the strip. This is part on-track and part off-road with tarmac, gravel and even a jump standing in the way of victory between two very different machines.
Representing the two-wheeled corner is a KTM 450 EXT which is apparently a nice piece of kit if you like that type of thing. And in the four-wheeled corner? Well, that would be an awesome Safari Rally-prepared Datsun 240Z.
Place your bets.
Source – EVO
ERC Rallye International du Valais 2014 : La route des titres passe par la Suisse / The ERC title trail moves to Switzerland
Le Rallye International du Valais, 10e manche du Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA, retrouve sa traditionnelle date fin octobre. La 55e édition s’annonce palpitante entre les ténors de l’ERC et les pilotes suisses toujours très rapides dans leurs montagnes. Les quatre leaders du championnat ERC seront au départ.
Organisé pour la première fois en novembre l’an passé, le Rallye International du Valais retrouve sa date historique du dernier week-end d’octobre. Et tant pis si ça clashavec le 50e RallyRACC-Rally de Espana (WRC). Après tout, le Rallye International du Valais – ex Rallye du Vin – est plus ancien que l’épreuve catalane puisqu’il fête cette année sa 55e édition.
A cette occasion, les organisateurs ont choisi d’étendre son parcours en Haut-Valais, vers les villes germanophones de Varen, Inden, Linkerbad, avec une 1ère spéciale de 8,25 km. La suite est plus classique avec des ES tracées entre Sion, ville de départ, et Martigny, ville d’arrivée. 19 spéciales sont au programme (260,20 km), dont la célèbreLes Cols (32,13 km) le dernier jour.
Le parcours, au profil montagneux, est plutôt rapide et technique. Il comprend traditionnellement quelques portions sur terre que les concurrents doivent négocier avec des pneumatiques asphalte. Michelin, vainqueur en 2013 avec le pilote officiel Skoda Motorsport Esapekka Lappi, propose à ses partenaires sa gamme de pneus Compétition-Client asphalte Pilot Sport R01, 11 et 21, ainsi qu’un pneu neige (NA00), on ne sait jamais…
Vainqueur en titre et leader du championnat ERC, Esappekka Lappi est de retour dans le Canton du Valais au volant de sa Skoda Fabia S2000/Michelin, où il sera opposé aux Ford Fiesta R5 et Peugeot 208 T16/Michelin dont les moteurs 1,6-Litre turbo offriront sans doute un avantage dans les longues ascensions alpines.
Tous les ténors du championnat ERC sont du déplacement en Suisse avec Lappi, Craig Breen et Kevin Abbring (Peugeot 208 T16), Sepp Wiegand (Skoda Fabia S2000), Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5), Bruno Magalhaes (Peugeot 208 T16) et les Tchèques Tarabus, Orsak et Tlustak. La délégation helvète sera emmenée par Olivier Burri (Ford Fiesta R5), Sébastien Carron (Peugeot 207 S2000) ou encore Nicolas Althaus (Skoda Fabia S2000). Attention aussi aux Subaru Impreza R4 de Mark Higgins et de Florian Gonon car on se souvient que l’an passé, Andreas Aigner avait joué les premiers rôles sur une même machine.
En championnat Junior, les trois leaders, Stéphane Lefebvre, Jan Cerny et Gino Bux font l’impasse sur cette épreuve. Andrea Crugnola et Chris Ingram ont donc l’opportunité de se repositionner avant le Tour de Corse.
Le 55e Rallye International du Valais, avant-dernière manche ERC 2014, s’élancera jeudi matin avec la Qualifying Stage tracée près des casernes de Sion. L’arrivée est prévue samedi après-midi à Martigny.
Round 10 of the 11-round 2014 FIA European Rally Championship takes teams to the Rallye International du Valais which has reverted to its traditional late-October slot. The 55th running of the event promises an exciting showdown between the ERC front-runners (including the provisional top four) and the local stars who are always in their element in the Swiss Alps.
After moving to November in 2013, the 55th Rallye International du Valais has recovered its traditional slot, namely the last weekend of October. Although this means a clash with the WRC’s 50th RallyRACC-Rally de Espana (WRC), the Swiss classic (formerly known as the Rallye du Vin) dates back to before the Catalonian event.
This year’s route extends to the German-speaking towns of Varen, Inden and Linkerbad for the opening stage (8.25km). The rest is more conventional, with action based between the start in Sion and the finish in Martigny. The programme features 19 stages totalling 260.20km), including the famous ‘Les Cols’ test (32.13km) on the last day.
The mountain roads tend to be fast and technically demanding, but there are also the usual portions of dirt which competitors will tackle on asphalt tyres.
Michelin, which won the 2013 event with Skoda Motorsport’s Esapekka Lappi, will have its range of Pilot Sport R01, 11 and 21 catalogue tyres available for the weekend, plus the NA00 snow tyre, just in case…
Lappi, who currently tops the ERC standings, will be back in his usual Skoda Fabia S2000/Michelin and will face a field of competitive Ford Fiesta R5s and Peugeot 208 T16s whose 1.6-litre turbocharged engines will no doubt give them an edge up the long high-altitude climbs.
Other ERC front-runners contesting the rally are Craig Breen and Kevin Abbring (Peugeot 208 T16), Sepp Wiegand (Skoda Fabia S2000), Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5), Bruno Magalhaes (Peugeot 208 T16) and Czech drivers Tarabus, Orsak and Tlustak.
The Swiss brigade will be led by Olivier Burri (Ford Fiesta R5), Sébastien Carron (Peugeot 207 S2000) and Nicolas Althaus (Skoda Fabia S2000).
There will also be Subaru Impreza R4s for Mark Higgins and Florian Gonon and this car proved particularly competitive in 2013 in the hands of Andreas Aigner.
None of the three ERC-Junior pace-setters (Stéphane Lefebvre, Jan Cerny, Gino Bux) have included the Swiss round in their programmes, so Andrea Crugnola and Chris Ingram will have a chance to close the gap before the finale in Corsica.
The Rallye International du Valais will kick off with Thursday morning’s Qualifying Stage near the army barracks in Sion and is due to end on Saturday afternoon in Martigny.
CABIN FEVER: DANIEL PETER’S XR650
Daniel Peter is a photographer with petrol running through his veins. When he’s not shooting, he’s riding—and his ride is worth a close-up of its own.
‘Cabin Fever’ is based on a Honda XR650, although you’d be hard pressed to tell. Like its CX500 stable mate, the XR650 is one of those bikes often passed over in favor of more photogenic machinery.
Daniel was after “a motorcycle that didn’t exist: 70s styling, twin shocks, air cooled, powerful yet light and reliable, with enough ground clearance and suspension for riding trails, and electric start.”
Of course, the answer was right in front of his nose: he was already the owner of an XR650. “The performance was there, but the looks were seriously lacking. Awkward all-plastic bodywork, purple side covers … good enough for a dirt bike, but not quite the pony that would turn heads.”
Daniel is good with his hands as well as his eyes, so he’s treated the Honda to a completely new subframe, suspended by twin YSS shocks. A custom seat nestles into the frame rails, upholstered in brown antelope leather by Janusz Kukulski.
The front end now sports LSL Street Low bars—with brown Tommaselli grips—behind a Hella 500 Black Magic headlight. A compact Shorai battery hides in an aluminum box under the seat.
To boost performance from the 644cc air-cooled single, Daniel focused on the breathing. He’s ditched the stock 40mm Keihin CV carb and installed a 41mm Keihin FCR-MX flat slide, supplied with fuel via a high flow Pingel petcock.
Gases now exit through a high-ridin’ custom exhaust: The 2-into-1 header has a slip-fit mid pipe, terminated with a 1.75” Cone Engineering muffler.
“The carburetor and stainless exhaust are the only performance mods on this bike,” he says. “I felt that the XR650 motor offered just the right balance between performance and reliability. The engine is much more responsive now and the pipe has a proper bark to it.”
Bigger upgrades were reserved for the suspension and brakes. Daniel has lowered the lofty stock forks by three inches, fitting stiffer springs and Race Tech Gold Valves for better damping.
Stopping power now comes from 4-piston Brembo calipers, clamping on a 320mm floating front rotor taken from a Husqvarna SM610. (“I had to machine the XR650 hub and change the bolt pattern to match.”) Stock hubs are laced to classy Excel rims, using stainless spokes from Buchanan’s.
Daniel has given his XR650 the body to match its performance, with a low-profile Honda CG125 tank and shorty aluminum fenders. The dewy, subdued two-tone paint job comes from the Chicago specialist Polowy Fab & Finish.
The paint is also the inspiration for the ‘Cabin Fever’ name. “I saw a grayish-green paint chip with said name in a small hardware store in Wisconsin,” says Daniel. “That was to become the base for the bodywork color.”
Back in 1992, Cycle World described the XR650 as “the most fun you can have on two wheels.” Daniel Peter has just ramped up the fun factor a notch—and turned the ugly duckling into a swan.
via BIKEexif
Pre-A Porsche 356 party in Italy
Every year, a small group of enthusiastic friends spend a weekend together with their toys: the Porsche 356 Pre-A. These cars are not simply the first examples of a celebrated model, but the beginning of the Porsche legend...
Quality over quantity
The Porsche 356 Pre-A meeting began nine years ago, aiming not for quantity but for quality. The most recent gathering took place in Italy in late September, near Reggio Emilia.
Twenty-five cars took part, enjoying the landscapes of this beautiful region, where the empty mountain roads proved perfect for the cars. Almost all the Pre-A’s years and body types were represented, with some rare examples among them. A highlight was the 550 Spyder #0040 which arrived on Friday morning, and spent the whole weekend with the group. No, it’s not a Pre-A... but would you have turned it away?
Different reasons for cherishing the same car…
Michel, from France (Olive Green 1951 Coupé): “When I was younger, I had many classic cars, mostly French and American. One day, I went to a meeting and a friend of mine arrived with a 1951 Coupé. I was amazed, and decided I had to have one. I began with a 1952 Coupé in bad condition, which I completely restored and sold a few years ago. In the meantime, I found a 1952 Coupé and this 1951 Coupé. The car was repainted long ago in a non-original colour, but it has such a wonderful patina that I want to preserve it in this condition for as long as possible.”
Bernard, from Switzerland (Warson Motors sunroof 1955 Coupé): “I was part of the VW scene for a long time, and the Pre-A was a dream I couldn’t afford. Then, a few years ago, I had the opportunity to buy one for a bargain price, so I didn’t hesitate. The dream came true, and now I drive it as much as I can.”
Angling towards eligibility
Alberto, from Italy (Red 1955 Speedster): “I've had a few 356s, and the last one was a 1958 Speedster. But I wanted something more exclusive and eligible for the Mille Miglia. A friend of mine heard about this 1955 Speedster for sale, so I sold my other car to buy it. I definitely wanted a Speedster because it’s lighter than the Convertible and, in my opinion, more fun to drive. But... I don’t like red, so I’m looking for another Pre-A Speedster in either Ivory or Speedster Blue.”
Robert, from the Netherlands (Black 1951 Coupé): “I love all Pre-As, but there’s one thing I love above all else: a Pre-A with wood. So, when I started my collection, I had no option but to buy a split window to have the wooden parts on the doors. I have some others waiting for restoration, but my next project is a Gmünd Coupé.”
Göran, from Sweden (Silver 1952 Coupé): “Sweden has been a very big market for Porsche since the creation of the brand but, in the 70s, nobody wanted these old 356s, because of the 911. I’ve had many 356s, but I kept Pre-As for one reason: the shape. This shape is incredible, and really unique.”
At the end of such a weekend you feel like a member of this small family, which doesn’t intend to grow much bigger – the organisers prefer to keep the atmosphere of the meeting just as it is. Hence the rendezvous for next year has already been decided… but it’s a secret!
Photos: Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver © 2014
You can find numerous Porsche 356 Pre-As for sale in the Cassic Driver Market.
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