Infiniti names Sebastian Vettel as Director of Performance

Will be more involved in development

Three-times F1 champion Sebastian Vettel has been named by Infiniti as Director of Performance.

Following collaboration for the FX Sebastian Vettel Edition, Red Bull's F1 team sponsor Infiniti has given Vettel an important position in the company as from now on he will have a more active role in the development of future models.

Vettel already helped with the Q50 development together with F1 test driver Sebastien Buemi as the two tested and tweaked the car on a series of tracks like the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain and the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.

In an official statement, Sebastian Vettel declared "I am really happy to extend my relationship with Infiniti and become their Director of Performance".

Source: Infiniti

via worldcarfans

Kawasaki KZ 400 - Free Kustom Cycles

Although we're about as religious as Karl Marx around this here blog, we thought that for Easter we'd like to show you bike from a country that would understand the irony of celebrating the religious holiday about resurrection with a rebirth of a slight different kind. Here's the latest build from Barcelona's Free Kustom Cycles, a bunch of guys who obviously know a trick or two about bringing things back to life. It's it a miracle? Probably not, but by gosh it sure is pretty.

Here's Marcos, head honcho at FKC. “The story began a few months ago when the bike's owner, Joao, came to me to make him the bike he had always dreamed of riding. He was very clear as to what he wanted the bike to be; he told me that his bike must be a bike with a classical essence.”

“I started by tearing down the bike to strip all the pieces, re-assembling it roughly and then modify the parts necessary to give the appearance that Joao was looking for. The next step was to cut the rear subframe to do a new round rear hoop. The engine has received ​​a facelift (the internals were clean) and then we polished all the covers. I cleaned the carburetors and an air filters were installed with chrome highlights, then we rejetted to make sure the carburation was making full advantage of the engine.”

“All the electric parts, including the battery, are now under the seat in small box that we made; under it is the ignition key and the starter switch. This work was the most difficult, because I had to simplify all the electrical wiring to put it inside. The other parts that I changed were the original tires for a Firestone Deluxe 4.00x18s, the handlebars and a new front brake line by Goodridge.”

“Then we added a speedometer with all the indicator and warning lights on a support made by us too. The grips are Biltwell kung-fu grips. We also added the turn signals, a new/old headlight and a new taillight, the new footpegs, and I adapted a new aluminum rear fender, too.”

“As for the exhaust pipes, we adapted two megaton baffles with exhaust wrap and made some new brackets to hold one on each side of the bike. The paint job is classic and simple, just as Joao wanted, and was done by our bro Kilian Ramirez of Pic-Astudio - he did the pics, too.”

via PIPEBURN

THE KID ROCKER: MATSUI’S ’29 FORD MODEL A HOT ROD

So there I was, an Italian photojournalist in Yokohama’s Chinatown district, shooting an American hot rod, built and owned by a Japanese guy. I just had to smile. True passion obviously has no borders, nor do actual styles. And seeing how well Japan manages to integrate tradition, modernity and western culture – the choice of location for this rather special car feature really couldn’t have been more perfect.

Yokohama especially is an important city; it was the first port in Japan to open its doors to the outside world and even today you can still feel this openness, a willingness to do things differently. From the city’s layout to its architecture as well as the higher number of import cars that you see on the streets, there is something marginally foreign about it all. So it all felt almost normal sitting next to Keita “Kid Rocker” Matsui as he drove his hot rod down the streets of Honmoku…

…on our way to the city’s center. It was my very first time riding in one of these minimalistic creations and I literally couldn’t wipe the grin off my face for the whole time I sat in the damn thing. I have shot, driven and ridden shotgun in some fast and prohibitively expensive cars, but I have never seen anything, and I mean anything…

…draw quite so much attention as this skeletal interpretation of a 1929 Ford Model A Roadster Pick Up (RPU). And that is saying a lot for Japan, because if you were to run around half naked wearing a fluorescent pink chicken costume down a crowded street, hardly anyone would even bother paying attention to you! Our plan was a simple one. We would cruise down some back streets in Chinatown…

…before heading towards the Minatomirai district, the newest and glitziest area of Yokohama, built on reclaimed land.

The views we would encounter there would serve as an even more evident contrast to Matsui’s ride, as well as give us a chance to talk a bit about how the car came together. This is actually the second incarnation of his ’29 Ford RPU, it was built up a few years back and then involved in an accident in central Tokyo. While parked on the side of a street a young kid crashed his car right into it. It was a very unlucky thing to happen but as Matsui says, it was a good chance to start afresh and build it into the more extreme creation he had always pictured in his mind.

Matsui works at Mooneyes Japan and always talked about wanting to fix up his truck into a proper hot rod. Lack of time, funds and space meant that he had no choice but to do things slowly until Shige – the president of Mooneyes - told him to go ahead and use the workshop at Area-1 and get the damn thing built! Wouldn’t we all want to have a boss like that!

It seems you can’t really park a car like this anywhere without people flocking to it, a strange magnetism luring them in to find out just what they are looking at. Unfortunately, this also meant the local Police stopped by for a look, and to inquire why no plates were fitted up front. In retrospect parking in front of the  Kanagawa Prefecture Police HQ wasn’t a good idea, but once they saw all the papers they were satisfied and told us get on our way.

I quickly packed up my gear but not before taking at least one final shot with the car in front of the Landmark Tower!

We headed to the other side of Minatomirai, towards the quieter, more residential area. Matsui didn’t seem too fussed with all the driving around I made him do…

…he was just enjoying seat time in his creation as well as the warm, sunny spring afternoon.

Yokohama really does serve up some impressive views that’s for sure!

As Matsui circled the block right in from of the Yokohama Pacifico exhibition center I just enjoyed looking at this beautiful piece of automotive art move…

…as the burble from those rusty headers filled the tranquil surroundings with a loud, unsilenced V8 growl.

It seemed all the driving around and the time spent in stop and go traffic through the busier intersections…

…caused the engine to overheat. Unfortunately that’s a little issue the car has, caused by a somewhat compact top-to-bottom flow radiator which just doesn’t seem to be able to keep water temps low enough when driving at slow speeds. So we found a little quiet backstreet and parked up. While we waited for the coolant to drop back down to more normal temps it was the perfect opportunity to take in all the details that make this car so unique.

First the engine, a ’51 Ford Flathead 8BA, which has been made to look and perform just right with a few additions…

…like the Offenhauser heads and more aggressively profiled cam.

The motor breathes through a Thickstun PM-7 intake onto which the two Stromberg 97 carbs are mounted. Matsui couldn’t pass up the chance to fit some original Moon items like the old style fuel block and breather cap. The use of a generator rather than an alternator points at how hardcore Matsui is with the details. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a 1939 Ford 3-speed manual transmission. Matsui built the car with the help from his friend Louie, a hot rod fanatic and the owner of the Model T rod we saw last month at the Mooneyes Cruise. They both worked hard at it for three months in the Mooneyes workshop…

…making sure that every detail was just right. For the time being Matsui is running without a windscreen, the cut windshield frame the only thing “protecting” him from the elements.

The car is still very much a work in progress, but as Matsui likes to say, “it runs good.” Wondering where the mirrors come from? That’s a bit of  JDM touch as they were sourced from an old Honda motorcycle

Spot the eyes!

The wheels are off a 1935 Ford truck and a few days before the shoot Matsui painted the caps flat white. He wasn’t too impressed with the look so this is something that might change pretty soon.

The minimalism of the car continues on the inside where just the bare necessities can be found. The big 1940 Ford steering wheel and the shift knob off of a Harley Davidson chopper are some nice personal touches, as are the pedals from a 1939 Ford. Check out the accelerator “pole!”

Moon gauges keep an eye on vitals, like the two water temp readouts, one for each bank of cylinders. The Ford V8 – notorious for having overheating issues – runs a twin water pump set up that shares a common radiator, hence the twin temp sensors.

The controls for the turn signals, lights and engine starter are located on a handmade aluminum switch panel right above the gearbox housing.

With the coolant almost back to normal temperature it was almost time to jump right back into the car and make our way back to the Mooneyes Area-1 where our journey had started off a few hours prior. Still I wanted to take in a few more details…

…like the beautifully simplistic rear end and gate behind which hides…

…the mother of all coolant reservoir tanks. In an attempt to address the overheating issue Matsui fitted this huge tank in the hope that the sheer volume of liquid circulating will help keep the temperatures down. It’s usually so hot you can easily cook eggs on it!

A fuel pump aids in boosting coolant flow between the tank and engine.

With everything exposed you can really admire this Model A rod in its purest form, right down to the modified rails and custom front member.

It’s definitely from inside the cabin, as your butt bounces up and down on what is nothing more than a little cushion, as you see the road rush beneath you through the gaping holes under, in front and to your sides…

…that hot rods should be experienced. After years of looking and attempting to understand these curious creations I really do get them now. It’s all about enjoying motoring in a totally different way, putting together a personal interpretation of classic rides and in the process selecting a well thought out mix of bits and pieces from various time periods. They aren’t so much built to be judged but rather to be appreciated, something that is hard not to do with Matsui’s Model A.

1929 Ford Model-A Roadster pick up

ENGINE

1951 Ford Flathead 8BA, Hi cam, Offenhauser heads, Thickstun PM-7 intake manifold , 2x Stromberg 97 carbs, old style MOON fuel block, Moon breather cap, custom twin-feed radiator, custom rear reservoir tank, electric secondary water pump, custom overflow tank, Moon aluminum fuel tank

DRIVELINE

1939 Ford 3-speed manual transmission

FRAMA / CHASSIS

Customized 1929 Ford Model-A frame, custom front member, 2-inch front drop, 5-inch rear kick up

WHEELS / TIRES

1935 Ford wheels, vintage tires

EXTERIOR

Chopped “glass-less” windscreen, custom body

INTERIOR

1940 Ford steering wheel, 1939 ford pedals, Harley Davidson shifter, custom switch panel, Moon gauges

Mooneyes

Mooneyes Japan

MOTORCYCLE GLOVES

SILODROME SELECTION | By James McBride

The fifth in our Silodrome Selection series, a weekly round-up curated by Silodromeeditor James McBride.

I’ve often heard it said that when a person comes off a motorcycle, the first part of their body to hit the ground is a knee, followed by the hands. Putting our hands out is a natural defence mechanism we’ve all been using since childhood—but when we fell over as kids, we weren’t flying over hard, abrasive asphalt at 60 mph.

I’ve seen a staggering number of riders decked out in a full-face helmet, an armored jacket, armored pants and armored boots—and then no gloves at all. Or a pair of thin gloves designed for nothing more strenuous than light gardening on a Sunday afternoon.

But I’ve become quite attached to my fingers and thumbs, and you probably like yours too. So this week’s selection is focused on leather motorcycle gloves: the type that’ll keep your digits attached to your palms, while looking good at the same time.

Spidi Summer Leather gloves This Italian company has been in business for over 30 years: They were supplying gloves to Kenny Roberts back in 1977, their first year of production. The $65 Summer Leather gloves are made from a combination of goat leather and ‘Clarino,’ a fabric consisting of ultra-fine fibers impregnated with polyurethane. There’s extra padding on the palm, and thermoformed polyurethane knuckle protection. Choose from the tan color shown here, or Black or White. [Buy]

Icon 1000 Beltway gloves The bright red Beltway Glove by Icon 1000 is made from French cowhide and is fitted with state-of-the-art D3O® impact protectors across the knuckles. For $130 you get a beautifully styled, well-ventilated glove with a mid-length wrist and a strap to keep it bolted to your hands. The color might not be for everyone, but I like it. Anything that makes me more visible to half-asleep, texting drivers is a good thing. Also available in Black and Bone colors. [Buy]

River Road Taos gloves A throwback in design to the sort of gloves motorcyclists were wearing in the 70s. The $60 Taos gloves are 100% leather and have a ‘Hipora’ waterproof and windproof coating on the outside, and Thinsulate insulation on the inside. The wrist straps are solid and there’s a rubber ‘windshield wiper’ on the index finger of the left glove. Readers in the southern hemisphere who are now heading into winter might want to take a good look at these: the insulation should stop your hands from turning into frozen blocks of ham after a long ride. [Buy]

Tour Master Deerskin gloves These classic gloves by Tour Master are made from aniline deerskin leather, with a dye that penetrates the whole hide. Outseam stitching means fewer internal ridges and extra comfort, and the gloves are designed to mould to your hand’s shape over time. They also have perforated fingers, a velcro wrist strap and padded knuckles. These $75 gloves come in both black and tan, and are recommended for wear in warmer weather. [Buy]

Speed & Strength Strip Search gloves These gloves have a look that I think will come to define our current era: thermoplastic knuckle protectors, hook and loop wrist closures, and pre-curved fingers. The Strip Search also offers a reinforced palm, a leather covering on the knuckle protectors, and a clean design that’ll never go out of style. The gloves cost $70 and are widely available: Speed & Strength is actually owned by the giant US motorcycle parts distributor Tucker Rocky. [Buy]

Roland Sands Design Diesel gloves RSD’s reputation is building as a manufacturer of gear that’s both good looking and well-made. The $90 Diesel is one of three RSD glove designs, and sports an unusual styling motif: flexible ribbing that stretches right across the back of the hand. The Diesel also has padded fingers, a padded palm, and a wrist strap to keep it fastened when you need it most. Choose from either Black or Tobacco colors. [Buy]

The number of leather motorcycle gloves on the market at the moment is huge: any list is little more than an exercise in personal preference. If space wasn’t a factor, I could easily have included a dozen more gloves. So tell us in the comments which gloves you own now, or have worn in the past. What would you add to this list?—James.