L exploit pour F.Baumgartner

Le parachutiste à battu le record du monde de vitesse en chute libre, en passant le mur du son.

Il sautait d'un ballon monte à 39 000 m

Posté avec Blogsy

Meyerbuilt Metalworks Honda CB550 Cafe Racer

The grit and determination of old school metalworking is alive n’ well in Cliff Meyer’s 1976 CB550K cafe racer. Cliff owns and operates Meyerbuilt Metalworks, a metal fabrication shop where an oft-used English wheel awaits its next creative assignment. This li’l Honda is a great example of the unique craftsmanship that’s coming outta this up-and-coming Hoosier garage.

When most mortal motorcyclists flip through magazines or catalogs to find the right gas tank for their custom bike project, Cliff buys sheets of aluminum and makes one. Of course, he’s not averse to sourcing great parts when he needs to, he simply likes the challenge of making metal submit to the bends, curves and shapes he’s after.

During today’s trend of cafe’d CBs, this example stands out to us as not only an extension of the builder’s skill, but of his desire to create an enjoyable, ride-able machine. It’s made up of original parts with dings and chips that have been tastefully brought back to life, new armor that sits atop re-assembled bones and custom parts and pieces made by hand.

Meyerbuilt tailpieces are becoming a popular request. In a sea of mass-produced fiberglass cafe tails, Cliff’s stand out in a crowd. Shaped, welded, sanded, and polished by hand, this aluminum pod houses a small AGM battery and a retina-burning LED taillight. A removable panel on the bum stop allows access to the electrics.

The two-sheened gas tank was also meticulously shaped to help create a more tenacious persona for the bike. The wheeled top and front portions are polished smooth while the roadrace-inspired knee indents are left finely sanded. A cool push-down-and-turn gas cap was fitted flush for a clean profile.

To add a bit of modern performance, Cliff found a GSX-R front end and mated it to the stock frame. He created a new mono-shock sub-frame, replacing the two old towers with a single sportbike shock.

Braking was upgraded in a big way with Hayabusa front rotors and a Harley rear disc. The gleaming 40-spoke wheels maintain a vintage look, but come from a late model Narrow Glide (front) and a Softail (rear). It sounds easy, but when Cliff explained the necessary adjustments required to make all these different pieces work together, he was quickly over our head. He made his own rear caliper mounts, machined new axles, and shaved thousandths off this and that to make it all come together nicely.

Other fun details are the rear LED turn signals, which are frenched-in to the new sub-frame. And the front sigs are uniquely handcrafted rods with embedded LEDs, both mounted to a custom headlight bracket. With the exception of the foot pegs, the rear sets were also strategically built and fitted.

This Honda is a great representative of Meyerbuilt’s handcrafted quality and unique style. It’s a bike that has been visually revived by an inspired hand and propelled by a capable, smooth-running ol’ 4-cylinder. We’re betting he’ll get a lot of curbside, gas pump and parking lot conversations with this thing. Keep an eye on Indianapolis-based Meyerbuilt Metalworks to see what Cliff’s English wheel will crank out next.

Alvaro Bautista: "I knew I could fight for the podium"

with Twowheelsblog

At Misano, Gresini Honda’s home race, Alvaro Bautista took a very special third place, but today at Motegi the Spanish rider celebrated his renewed contract with another third place - his second podium in MotoGP racing and both so far this season.

Bautista and Cal Crutchlow were the only two riders that provided a brief but entertaining battle for the third when the Spaniard shoved his Honda on the inside of Crutchlow’s Yamaha on the fifth lap - and touching twice (Bautista’s leathers have black tire marks to prove it) and it looked like it would go to the line but then Crutchlow ran out of fuel on the very last lap, leaving the Gresini rider home free.

“It was a great weekend, also signing the contract for next season with Gresini Racing. I knew I could fight for the podium because yesterday [Saturday] we proved we had a good race pace - so I tried and succeeded. I didn’t start very well and I lost some positions, but I recovered quickly. Later, when I caught up with Crutchlow, I saw that we were the same speed and I tried to keep a safe distance not to overheat the brakes. With five laps left I pushed more and I attacked. It was a good fight and I had fun. I’m very happy for my team mechanics, who have worked hard together with Showa to give me a competitive bike, also by sponsors and HRC, which is giving me all the necessary support. I hope to continue this in the coming race,” said Bautista.

Blancpain -NAVARRA - A HEXIS RACING LA VICTOIRE, À WRT LE TITRE !

La pluie s'est invitée sur le tracé de Navarra à 40 minutes de l'arrivée, si bien que la voiture de sécurité est entrée en piste jusqu'à l'arrivée, la course étant interrompue quatre minutes avant son terme. En tête depuis le premier tour, la McLaren MP4-12C remporte son premier succès dans la série avec la #7 du Hexis Racing de Mako/Dusseldorp/Parente. Fred Mako n'aura eu qu'à ronger son frein au volant avec un relais passé sous régime de drapeau jaune. L'équipe de Philippe Dumas n'a pas raté son entrée dans le championnat après une campagne 2011 en Aston Martin DBRS9. Au final, l'équipage de la McLaren/Hexis a devancé l'Audi R8 LMS ultra/Belgian Audi Club Team WRT de Ortelli/Mies/Haase de moins de deux secondes. Ces derniers remportent la couronne 2012 et succèdent à Greg Franchi, l'équipe de Vincent Vosse faisant la passe de deux au championnat. Chez Marc VDS Racing Team, on attendait la pluie et elle est venue, mais la position de départ de la BMW Z4 GT3 de Martin/Leinders/Palttala n'a pas permis de transformer l'essai, même si le trio de la #3 a pris une belle quatrième place. Les pilotes n'auront rien à se reprocher, sachant que l'arrivée de la troisième Audi pour ce meeting belge a mis à mal les envies de titre du Marc VDS Racing Team. La #6 de Jarvis/Stippler/Albuquerque a pris la troisième place, et c'est justement cette place qui a manqué au trio de la BMW Z4 GT3. Le Marc VDS Racing Team rate donc le titre pour trois points. Victorieux au Nürburgring, Goossens/Maassen/Hennerici ont rentré la Porsche 911 GT3-R/ProSpeed Competition dans le quinté de tête. Très en verve en début de course, la McLaren MP4-12C/Boutsen Ginion Racing #5 de Verdonck/SOucek/Amberg s'est finalement classée 8ème.

En Pro-Am Cup, Louis Machiels et Niek Hommerson décrochent leur deuxième titre consécutif, malgré une sixième place en Navarre au volant de la Ferrari 458 Italia/AF Corse. Le Vita4One Team Italy comptait bien tenir le titre, mais un problème de suspension a mis à mal les espoirs de Bonacini/Amos/Petrobelli. Si McLaren s'est imposé en Pro-Cup, il en a été de même en Pro-Am Cup avec la MP4-12C du ART Grand Prix de Grégoire Demoustier et Duncan Tappy (9ème au scratch), malgré quelques frayeurs sous la forte pluie pour Greg Demoustier. La BMW Z4 GT3/DB Motorsport de Danyliw/Habets/Knap monte sur la deuxième marche du podium, devant la Mercedes SLS AMG GT3/Black Falcon de Morley/Jans/Edwards. La Ferrari 458 Italia/Team SOFREV-ASP de Badey/Beaubelique/Goueslard échoue au pied du podium.

Du côté du Gentlemen Trophy, l'Audi R8 LMS/JB Motorsport de Bender/Brunstedt/Roos s'est imposée devant l'Audi R8 LMS/Saintéloc Racing de Giauque/Hirschi/Hissom, mais ce sont bien ces derniers qui sont titrés.

La pluie a donc eu raison de la fin de course. Avec autant de gentlemen drivers en piste, il semble que la décision a été sage vu le nombre de tête à queue, même sous régime de neutralisation. On notera qu'une première séance de safety-car a eu lieu à 40 minutes de la fin suite à l'arrêt au milieu de la piste de la McLaren MP4-12C/Gulf Racing UK de Mike Wainwright.

by Laurent Mercier(endurance-info.com)