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Loeb to contest Pikes Peak for Peugeot / Loeb à Pikes Peak sur Peugeot

It has been confirmed that Sébastien Loeb will contest this year’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb (June 30) in a Peugeot 208 T16 ‘Pikes Peak’ equipped with Michelin tyres.

C’est désormais officiel : Sébastien Loeb disputera la célèbre course-de-côte de Pikes Peak (30 juin 2013) sur une Peugeot 208 T16 « Pikes Peak » équipée de pneumatiques Michelin.

After its visit to Pikes Peak with the 205 T16, followed by Ari Vatanen’s record-breaking attempt in a 405 T16 in 1988, Peugeot has chosen to return to the American hill climb (Colorado) this year with a Peugeot 208 T16 in the hands of another world rally champion, Frenchman Sébastien Loeb.
The car – which has been entered in the ‘Unlimited’ class – and has been given the start number ‘208’. It will run in the colours of the operation’s partners: Total, Red Bull and Michelin. 

Since last year, the celebrated ‘Race to the Clouds’ is today an all-asphalt affair with a 20km course that climbs to an altitude of 4,300 metres via 156 corners. The current record for the ascent was established in 2012 by Rhys Millen (9m46.164s), while Romain Dumas finished just 17-thousandths of a second short of the Hyundai Genesis driver in his Michelin-equipped Porsche. Last year’s climb was postponed until August because of fierce forest fires in the state of Colorado earlier in the summer.

Après la Peugeot 205 T16, puis le record d’Ari Vatanen sur la Peugeot 405 T16 établi en 1988, Peugeot est de retour à Pikes Peak avec un Peugeot 208 T16 et un autre Champion du monde des Rallyes, le Français Sébastien Loeb.
Engagée en catégorie « Unlimited », la Peugeot 208 T16 portera le n°208 et les couleurs de Total, Red-Bull et Michelin, partenaire de cette opération. 
Depuis l’an passé, la « Course vers les Nuages » se déroule entièrement sur asphalte. Sur les 20 km d’ascension jusqu’à 4300 mètres d’altitude, la route compte 156 virages. Le record a d’ailleurs été battu en 2012 par Rhys Millen en 9min46s164 sur une Hyundai Genesis, alors que Romain Dumas a échoué à 17 millièmes sur sa Porsche/Michelin. L’édition 2012 avait été reportée au mois d’août en raison de violents incendies dans le Colorado.

MOTO MORINI 350 BY AD HOC

Just outside Barcelona is a small workshop called Ad Hoc Cafe Racers with a story we can all relate to. It’s run by David, a man with a keen sense of priorities. “I started Ad Hoc as a project about a year go,” he says. “My old job was not fulfilling enough, and I needed to do something more creative. I’d already restored several classic motorcycles, and then cafe racers came into my life…never to leave.”

David’s workshop is on a quiet mountain, away from the bustle of the city. But that doesn’t matter: He can turn his hand to many of the tasks needed to build a motorcycle, from welding to painting to powder coating. And this 1986 Moto Morini 350 K2 cafe racer is a testament to his skills.

The 350 K2 is not one of Morini’s most glamorous creations, but David has created the proverbial silk purse from a sow’s ear. The little bike was completely broken down and the frame stripped of all superfluous parts and brackets before being shortened at the back. David then chromed the frame, an unusual approach that strangely works.

The fenders are from an old Puch mini-cross bike, cut and polished, and the seat and tank are from Europlast, modified to fit. The Morini was also rewired, and a neat touch is a little storage tray (below) where the battery used to live.

The most difficult task was finding a dual-disc front hub to work with the spoked wheels. In the end David found that a Honda Transalp set-up would work, and matched it to the rear hub from a Moto Morini Coguaro, a rare 1990 enduro bike built to tackle the Dakar rally. But it’s the luscious paint that really strikes the eye: A Subaru color that acts as the perfect foil for the chrome frame.

The next Ad Hoc project will be based on a Honda CB750 Nighthawk, I’m told—and there’s a flat track bike on the way too. Stay tuned, and in the meantime, follow Ad Hoc’s progress via David’s website and Facebook page.

Thanks to the Bike Shed. Images by Sebas Romero.

fromBIKEEXIF

Renault TwinRun concept spotted, rear-wheel drive and mid-engined?

Modern Renault 5 Turbo

The Renault TwinRun (or possibly TwinFun) concept was caught on camera while shooting for promotional purposes in Madrid.

Renault might be working on something very interesting as the TwinRun seen in these short clips has a rear-wheel drive layout to go with that tremendous engine sound. In addition to the vents in front of the rear wheels and on the rear bumper this leads us to believe this is a mid-engined car. We also notice a roll cage, center dual exhaust setup, a roof-mounted spoiler and the rear side windows which are thickened and opaque - perhaps to cover what lies inside.

If there will be a production version of this concept, we assume it will be a Twingo Alpine or something similar, like a modern interpretation of the Renault 5 Turbo which can be seen running behind the TwinRun in one of the photos.

via WORLDCAFANS