Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/12/28/1738339/tony-stewart-set-for-chili-bowl.html
Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart Gene Hartley Masahiro Hasemi
zaterdag 31 december 2011
Hooks Rolls at Thompson
Week Eight saw the r iRacing.com Street Stock Series travel to Thompson International Speedway. Thompson, which is located in Thompson, CT, is a 5/8th mile semi-banked oval. 760 sim racers attempted at least one online race during the week, while 274 racers turned a qualifying lap. Weekly High Strength of Field Last week’s high Strength of Field (SoF) race had a rating of 2666, which paid 161 points to win. Kevin Moody (New York) started on the pole and lead all 40 laps in route to a seven second victory over Benjamin Harste (Midwest). Harste collected 143 points for second while Moody racked-up 161 points for the victory. CJ LaVair (New York) finished in the third position, nearly 10 seconds behind and earned 125 points. Chad Cole (Midwest), who started [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/hooks-rolls-at-thompson/
Aldo Gordini Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi
2012 Rally Argentina to top 300 miles
Rally Argentina organisers have issued the longest World Rally Championship route in recent history for the 2012 event. The route for the classic South American rally was one of the talking points of this season, with the event putting itself forward as a test case for the return of the endurance style event favoured by FIA president Jean Todt. The organisers haven't been entirely revolutionary, however.
Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews
Report: Auto applications sought for new advanced metal that's 100x lighter than Styrofoam [w/video]
Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Technology, Videos
Automakers are being pinched to increase safety and improve fuel efficiency, but those two goals often work against each other. That could change thanks to a material that is 99.99-percent air.
Ward's Automotive reports that the California Institute of Technology, HRL Laboratories and the University of California-Irvine have combined to develop a micro-lattice material that is said to be 100 times lighter than Styrofoam and strong like steel. We'd call this material paper-thin, but the truth is even more impressive: the material is comprised of tiny woven tubes that are 1,000 times thinner than a human hair.
The U.S. Department of Defense is obviously interested in this material for top-secret projects like next-generation aircraft, but the micro-lattice is also of great interest to the auto industry. The material could greatly reduce weight and drag, which would in turn significantly increase efficiency. At the same time, the material can reportedly almost completely recover after stress of up to 50 percent and has impressive energy absorbing characteristics. That means the material could also be a safety asset, which is good news for automakers and consumers.
Cal Tech Professor Julia Greer adds that the material could ultimately replace any non heavy-steel component that isn't already light in weight. A material with less air would reportedly be the next step in the evolution of lightweight metals, and the scientists are working on a nano-lattice that can do just that.
We don't know much about these micro and nano materials, but we're guessing it will be a while before the materials are inexpensive enough for automotive applications. But if the U.S. government and airplane manufactures can jump aboard and bring down the manufacturing costs, we could see this type of material helping automakers achieve those 50+ mile per gallon fuel economy standards. For more information and a demonstration of the micro-lattice's properties, check out the videos after the jump.
Auto applications sought for new advanced metal that's 100x lighter than Styrofoam [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/auto-applications-sought-for-new-advanced-metal-thats-100x-ligh/
Report: 2012 Toyota Camry gets Consumer Reports "Recommended" rating
Toyota was once the unquestioned lead sled dog when it comes to the Consumer Reports "Recommended" list, but the automaker and the consumer advocacy group have had a bit of a falling out over the past couple years. In 2010, the publication removed the Recommended ratings of many models as a result of Toyota's unintended acceleration controversy. In January Ford nearly overtook Toyota in overall Recommended ratings.
We're on the verge of a new year, and it appears that the Toyota is getting back on CR's good side. Bloomberg reports that the February issue of CR reveals that the 2012 Camry has scored the coveted tag. The non-profit lauded the Camry for its improved interior and fuel economy, along with an upgraded ride. The four-cylinder Camry averaged 27 miles per gallon during CR testing, tying the Hyundai Sonata for most efficient in the mid-size segment.
We're quite certain that the 2012 Camry would have sold like gangbusters whether or not it was Recommended by Consumer Reports. But at the same time, CR subscribers seem to really like their Toyota models, so it certainly helps to have a thumbs-up from the powerful publication.
2012 Toyota Camry gets Consumer Reports "Recommended" rating originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/2012-toyota-camry-gets-consumer-reports-recommended-rat/
David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch
Bugatti Veyron does 1/4 mile in 10.1 sec against Nissan GT-R
Here's a video of the two vehicles at the Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida. As the story goes, the owner of Bugatti was actually at the adjacent road course before being persuaded to take a run on the drag strip.Fred Gamble Howden Ganley Frank Gardner Billy Garrett Jo Gartner
Official: Chevy puts out APB on missing Sonic brake pads, issues recall
Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Recalls, Hatchback, Chevrolet
We report on a lot of recalls, and most are seemingly innocuous defects that require the solar system to perfectly align before anything catastrophic could happen. Then there are recalls like this one for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic that appear to be much more dangerous than they probably are.
It turns out that Chevrolet let a few Sonics built between June 2 and November 21 leave its factory in Orion Township, Michigan minus a brake pad. General Motors claims that of the 4,873 Sonics built during that time, some 20 to 30 may be missing either an inner or outer front brake pad. The company says 4,296 of the potentially shoe-less Sonics were sent to the U.S., while 577 migrated north to Canadian customers.
A car minus just one inner or outer brake pad doesn't lose its ability to stop, but its braking performance will suffer and there is the possibility that other elements of the braking system, like the caliper or rotor, could be damaged as a result of their omission.
GM vows to notify all potentially affected Sonic owners and install any missing pads and, if necessary, replace any calipers or rotors free of charge.
Continue reading Chevy puts out APB on missing Sonic brake pads, issues recall
Chevy puts out APB on missing Sonic brake pads, issues recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/2012-chevy-sonic-brake-pad-recall/
Yuji Ide Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine
vrijdag 30 december 2011
HAYDEN INJURED IN TRAINING ACCIDENT
DUCATI HAYDEN INJURED IN TRAINING ACCIDENT Thursday Dec 29 2011 Nicky Hayden's winter vacation was marred on Tuesday, December 27, when he broke his left scapula and fractured two ribs while training near his home in Owensboro, Kentucky. Hayden was...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/hayden_injured_in_trainin.php
Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth
Webber ready for title tilt next season
Mark Webber believes he can carry his excellent win in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix last month into a full-blown title challenge next year. The Red Bull driver was forced to sit and watch while team-mate Sebastian Vettel conquered all before him as he became the youngest ever double world champion in the history of [...]
George Amick Red Amick Chris Amon Bob Anderson Conny Andersson
Raikkonen team-mate announced
Romain Grosjean will join the returning Kimi Raikkonen at Renault next year, the team who will be renamed Lotus. Grosjean – who was dropped by Renault in 2009 – admits that he is delighted to be given another chance, this time alongside the legendary Raikkonen. The 25-year-old said: “There’s a big grin on my face at [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/jLetzcwR1kE/raikkonen-team-mate-announced
Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson
De Tomaso Mangusta Legacy Concept - a modern interpretation
Design graduate and digital artist/illustrator, Maxime de Keiser, has created this modern interpretation of the 1965 De Tomaso Mangusta.Richard Attwood Manny Ayulo Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey
HRT expects short-term struggle
HRT's new team principal Luis Perez-Sala has admitted that the squad will probably start 2012 in worse shape than it ended 2011 as its restructuring progresses - but is confident that the team's longer-term prospects are now much brighter.
Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley
Zipadelli cherishes family, anticipates opportunity (NASCAR.com)
Zipadelli cherishes family, anticipates opportunity
Timo Glock Helm Glöckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals
Logano and Keselowski Visit Troops at Guantanamo Bay Cuba
Partnership Strengthens Military-Motorsports Connection To Boost Troop Morale DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 15, 2011) –NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Dodge for Penske Racing, and Joey Logano, driver of the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing,brought holiday cheer, smiles and good times to troops and their families on [...]
James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya Joseph Francis Nemechek III Ryan Joseph Newman
donderdag 29 december 2011
Video: Traveling across Australia's Outback by Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Filed under: SUV, Etc., Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Australia, Luxury
If you've ever taken a good long look at the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and wondered just how tough the leather-lined SUVs are compared to their military-grade counterparts, Inside Line has the answer for you. Corespondent Alistair Weaver joined up with a Mercedes-Benz convoy in a G of his own as the company took off across Australia's infamous stock route. The trail is little more than a dusty path scrawled across the outback. Weaver braved vicious washboard roads, insects, snakes, dead camels and heinous heat to make the trek. How did his G Wagen handle the rough roads and deep sands? Let's just say there were a few issues.
For starters, the washboard dirt tracks made short work of the AMG's Bilstein rear shocks, forcing mechanics to pull the pieces altogether for one short stint before replacements could be flown in. Likewise, the spare tire carrier and both side-view mirrors suffered cracks along the way. Not surprisingly, the military-spec edition suffered no ills over the course of the trek. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.
If that's not enough fun in the Australian sun for you, click back and take a look at Motor Trend's trek across the continent in a Subaru Outback.
Continue reading Traveling across Australia's Outback by Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Traveling across Australia's Outback by Mercedes-Benz G-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/28/traveling-across-australias-outback-by-mercedes-benz-g-class/
Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr
Ferrari pushing for more testing
Ferrari is pushing for an increase in testing in Formula 1, with its president Luca di Montezemolo claiming that it is crucial for the development of young drivers.
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil
Statement from Richard Petty Motorsports on A.J. Allmendinger
Note: This release came to our email @ 11:52am eastern, well after Penske’s announcement that AJ had already joined them at 11:23 am. STATEMENT FROM RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS REGARDING THE RELEASE OF AJ ALLMENDINGER CONCORD, N.C. (Dec. 21, 2011) – “Richard Petty Motorsports has released AJ Allmendinger to pursue other opportunities within the sport,” stated [...]
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2011/12/21/statement-from-richard-petty-motorsports-on-a-j-allmendinger/
Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV
Smile! Your Car’s on Camera: We Ride Along to Learn What the Cops Know About You
Cruiser-mounted cameras can scan about 700 license plates an hour. We ride along with a cop to learn what automatic scanners know about you. “Might wanna watch the floor over there,” says Officer Brian Walczak, 42. “They just detailed my cruiser, lots of Armor All.” No sooner has he issued this warning than my loafers [...]
François Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill Phil Hill
Caterham’s ’12 car passes crash tests
Caterham technical chief Mike Gascoyne has announced that the Caterham squad's 2012 contender has passed its crash tests. The former Team Lotus also officially switched over to its new Caterham title this week.
Gary Hocking Ingo Hoffmann Bill Holland Jackie Holmes Bill Homeier
Smile! Your Car’s on Camera: We Ride Along to Learn What the Cops Know About You
Cruiser-mounted cameras can scan about 700 license plates an hour. We ride along with a cop to learn what automatic scanners know about you. “Might wanna watch the floor over there,” says Officer Brian Walczak, 42. “They just detailed my cruiser, lots of Armor All.” No sooner has he issued this warning than my loafers [...]
Boy Hayje Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings
Video: Watch the story of the flaming Lamborghini that won this year's Targa High Country
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Lamborghini, Australia, Racing
Not too long ago, we caught the dramatic finish to the Targa High Country in Australia. The last stage of the event featured one very on fire Lamborghini Gallardo piloted by Jason and John White as the duo sped to the finish line. Why didn't the team stop and put out the fire? For starters, White notes there were more fire extinguishers at the finish line than there were in the car. Additionally, the teammates beat out their closest competitor by just 10 seconds. That may be a lifetime on a track, but in targa, ten seconds can be come and go in an instant.
Now the Whites have released a video of the events that led up to the race's dramatic conclusion. The short clip follows the team through the more dramatic moments of the 2011 Targa High Country, including multiple tight passes, wide open driving and tight, technical stages. Check it out after the jump.
Continue reading Watch the story of the flaming Lamborghini that won this year's Targa High Country
Watch the story of the flaming Lamborghini that won this year's Targa High Country originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/28/watch-the-story-of-the-flaming-lamborghini-that-won-this-years/
Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González Oscar González Aldo Gordini Horace Gould
Marussia Virgin Racing Launch Their 2011 Car
Marussia Virgin Racing have launched their car to take on the 2011 world championship in a lavish London ceremony. The Marussia name now preceeds Virgin following a major tie up with the Russian sportscar manufacturer and the team at the end of 2010. It has led to the new car being designated as the MVR-02. [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/marussia-virgin-racing-launch-their-2011-car/
Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood Mika Häkkinen Bruce Halford Jim Hall
Give This Week and Levi’s Commuter Jeans Could Be Yours
I’m pleased to announce that thanks to an outpouring of support these past two weeks, Streetsblog and Streetfilms are more than halfway to our goal of raising $25,000 by the end of the year. If you haven’t given yet and you value the high-impact reporting and videos that we produce day in and day out, [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/12/20/give-this-week-and-levis-commuter-jeans-could-be-yours/
Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green Keith Greene Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith
More Than 50 NASCAR Drivers To Appear At NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented By Sprint
NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by SprintDrivers To Sign Autographs And Interact With Fans At Inaugural Fan Event DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 16, 2011) – More than 50 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are now confirmed to appear at the inaugural NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented...more»
Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley Frank Gardner Billy Garrett
woensdag 28 december 2011
Fast and Furious
While I was off work I was able to get some kits done.Both are box stock.except for the motor in the Charger,which I made. HOPE YOU LIKE THEM???
This is also my first import...
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/993312.aspx
Analysis: Schumacher top overtaker
Michael Schumacher ended the season as Formula 1's top overtaker, with his impressive opening lap efforts throughout 2011 helping him edge out Sebastien Buemi. In strategic data compiled by Mercedes GP over the course of the campaign, and obtained by AUTOSPORT, Schumacher's end-of-season tally has been recorded as 116 passes - just two ahead of his Scuderia Toro Rosso rival
Elmer George Bob Gerard Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani
GP drivers join new i1 Supercar series
Former grand prix drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Giancarlo Fisichella have joined the new i1 Supercar Series. The championship will use Radical SR3 cars for its inaugural season, which will visit the Buddh International circuit in India, the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, the Losail circuit in Qatar, Sepang in Malaysia and Sakhir in Bahrain. Villeneuve and Fisichella will be joined by former and current GP drivers like Jean Alesi, Tonio Liuzzi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Karun Chandhok and Mika Salo, according to Indian media.
François Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill Phil Hill
Kurt Busch Joins Phoenix Racing
Kurt Busch - Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett - Getty Images2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and 24-Time Race Victor To Compete in Full 2012 Sprint Cup Season with Car Owner James Finch CHARLOTTE, N.C., (Dec. 22, 2011) – “I just want to get back to having fun in the racecar.” Those were the words spoken...more»
Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari
Jaime Alguersuari: “I am not a victim…”
Jaime Alguersuari says he’s in a positive mood despite yesterday’s decision by Toro Rosso to drop him from the team. The Spaniard has issued a statement outlining his thoughts on the situation, in which he confirms that as of earlier … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/12/15/jaime-aguersuari-i-am-not-a-victim/
Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch
AUTOSPORT voted best F1 magazine
AUTOSPORT magazine has been voted by fans as the best motor sport publication for Formula 1 coverage in the inaugural Silverstone Media Awards. More than 5,000 fans cast their votes across a number of categories for both F1 and MotoGP, both of which count Silverstone as their British home
Bobby Ball Marcel Balsa Lorenzo Bandini Henry Banks Fabrizio Barbazza
70 Super Boss 429........It's Finished...................12.27
I am doing this one a little different..........................
More coming soon.................................
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/989091.aspx
Mário de Araújo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell
dinsdag 27 december 2011
Hulkenberg: Understanding tyres key
Nico Hulkenberg believes that understanding the Pirelli tyres in qualifying and race conditions will be key to a strong start on his Formula 1 return with Force India in 2012. Although the 24-year-old completed almost 2000kms of running for the team in testing and Friday practice during 2012 on the Italian rubber, his last experience of qualifying and racing was for Williams in Abu Dhabi one year ago. This was when Bridgestone still supplying F1 tyres
Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett
Among Democrats, Cuomo Lags Far Behind on Transit Policy
When it comes to transit, Andrew Cuomo seems to see only the costs and never the benefits.
Under Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York's transit policy is being eclipsed by states like Utah.
Responding to near-unanimous support for transit on the Tappan Zee Bridge from the Hudson Valley’s elected officials, including the county executives on both sides of [...]
Under Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York's transit policy is being eclipsed by states like Utah.
Responding to near-unanimous support for transit on the Tappan Zee Bridge from the Hudson Valley’s elected officials, including the county executives on both sides of [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/12/20/among-democrats-cuomo-lags-far-behind-on-transit-policy/
Mack Hellings Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann
Reflections on Japan and Korea
Greetings from Seoul. It's 0800 on Monday and I'm sitting in bed with a coffee, contemplating when to prize myself out of a comfy bed and into the shower.
We are now playing the waiting game and twiddling our thumbs until we can clamber aboard the plane home. A further 12 hours and an epic fortnight in Japan and South Korea is over.
There are many wonderful pleasures attached to this job, and arriving home in the UK is certainly one of them.
After two weeks of emotional, fraught, pressurised and dramatic television - the kind I think only live sport can deliver - walking in through the front door always feels strange, and it takes a couple of days to adjust emotionally as the adrenalin melts away.
I normally help the process along by heading out to my local pub for dinner with my wife, just to really feel like I'm home. By the time you're reading this I may well already be there - pint of bitter in hand.
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In the fortnight we have been out of the UK, history has been written.
Sebastian Vettel has been crowned the Formula 1 world champion, Red Bull have defended their constructors' title, and I have turned 33.
Many thanks, incidentally, to the person on Twitter who tweeted simply, "4 months and you'll be a third of the way to 100-Happy Birthday"...
Well, perhaps using my advancing years - but, I'm glad to say, not receding hairline - as an example, let's consider how impressive the achievements of the past two weeks actually are.
Let's start with the team of the moment - Red Bull.
I think what team principal Christian Horner, chief technical officer Adrian Newey, adviser Helmut Marko and all at their Milton Keynes base have achieved is incredible.
Consider the dedication at McLaren, the blueprint for success at Ferrari, the wealth of Mercedes and the casualty rate of new teams. For Red Bull to achieve what they have in just six years is stunning.
I know they weren't a start-up like Virgin Racing or Team Lotus, they were a reincarnation of an existing team, but as an example it has been a similar amount of time since the Jordan name left F1. In that time Midland, Spyker and now Force India have operated from the same base and their achievements are incomparable to Red Bull's.
Yes, the company's commercial success in selling fizzy drinks means they are able to fund big salaries and huge budgets, but only a fool would think money alone could buy the titles.
I have been impressed by the passion in the squad. They are racers and there is a huge desire to win, true disappointment when they don't, and an ability to have a good party when things go their way. Which I also like ;-).
There is a strange ethos in F1 that you don't stop to smell the roses.
I often wonder whether Robert Kubica revelled sufficiently in his 2008 Canadian Grand Prix win, or whether Lewis Hamilton really absorbed what an incredible start he had to his career in 2007.
The thing I say most to my wife is "savour it" and I'll be the same with my children. I think that's the most important lesson a person can learn.
It was John Lennon who said "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans" and you, me, Vettel, everyone should avoid that at all costs. Life is too short - so savour it.
And on that front I'm happy to report that, having been just feet from him as he won title number two, Vettel is well aware of his achievements and just how lucky he is.
Whether you like him as a driver or not, he is very impressive as a person. Without naming names, there are a number of drivers who not only are reluctant to speak to the media, but, even worse, are quite dismissive or condescending.
I guess that the F1 paddock is just a snapshot of everyday life and so therefore it is to be expected, even if some might consider it unforgivable.
However, you can trust me when I tell you that Vettel is as impressive as anyone who currently drives an F1 car, for all the right reasons. He is approachable, accessible and, most importantly, genuine.
Those who have known him for a while say he's always been the same and so credit to his parents for bringing up a person who realises that being the fastest driver in the world is just a phase. World champion isn't who Vettel is; it's a title he wears.
On Sunday he talked about when he retires in many, many years, and he is already aware that even he doesn't possess the talent of immortality among his many skills.
When the fawning has died down, the trophies have become tarnished and the attention has turned to someone younger and faster, the man left behind is what matters. On that score, Vettel is also a champion.
My highlight of this whole trip was the F1 Forum after the Japanese Grand Prix. I remember a few grumbles at the start of the year about the new-look forum, where we move around the pit lane rather that sit in a motorhome by a big TV. Well, Japan - or Monaco - this year, are exactly why we don't do that anymore. To be in the heart of that drama, the celebrations, the rare display of emotions in the scientific world of F1 is great to see.
I loved Japan, particularly the racing history it has seen. The past couple of weeks I've been out running the tracks with a couple of members of the BBC production team, producer Tom Gent and video editor Robin Nurse.
It was great fun, particulary Japan, where we pointed out where Nigel Mansell had a couple of big accidents, and stopped at the exact places where Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost had their famous incidents.
Those are just a few examples where, in those moments, the people involved thought of nothing but what had just happened on track.
It would have been all-consuming, no time to stop and appreciate the moment. Yet suddenly, here we are 20 years later. The bodywork has long been swept up, the tears of joy and happiness have dried, and all we, and they, have left are our memories and Murray Walker's wonderful voice.
With that in mind - and particularly having seen the sad events in Las Vegas on Sunday that led to the death of British driver Dan Wheldon - whatever you are up to this week, wherever in the world you are, my only advice to you is very simple - savour it.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2011/10/greetings_from_seoul_its_0800.html
Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González Oscar González Aldo Gordini
Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 118: 2012 Chrysler 300C
On Tuesday, we posted an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note. We also threw in the incentive of a Save the Manuals prize pack for the first commenter to identify this week’s sound. To hear it again, click play above. A lot of you guessed that the exhaust note came from a Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/cEjBUQBr5Bc/
Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen
Raikkonen: I’m as fast as before
Kimi Raikkonen is adamant he will be as fast as he was before leaving Formula 1 when he returns to grand prix racing with Lotus next year. The Finn has secured a two-year deal with the team and will make his comeback in 2012 after a two-season absence from Formula 1. Raikkonen, the world champion in 2007, says his motivation is higher than ever before and is confident he will be as quick as he was before he went rallying
Jimmy Jackson Joe James Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson
iRacer Profile: Landon Sciacca
Columbus, Ohio’s Landon Sciacca is a fan short tracks, be they real or virtual. His favorite track on the iRacing service? Richmond International Raceway. His favorite “real life” tracks? Toledo Speedway,Columbus Motor Speedway and Winchester Speedway. Sciacca knows where-of he speaks in both cases, competing in the Main Event Racing Series and focusing on NASCAR iRacing.com Class B, C, Late Models and Legends in iRacing. To good effect. With 13 top fives (and six wins) in 27 starts, he’s currently second in points to Bill Wease in Class C (fixed) Division 4, and 12th in Legends Cup Division 1 with 37 top fives (and 11 wins) in 48 starts. Q: How long have you been sim racing? A: Five or six years now, with Dirt Track Racing 2, rFactor, Nascar [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/iracer-profile-landon-sciacca/
Oscar González Aldo Gordini Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried
1/16 Scale Peterbilt aftermarket parts?
Hi all.
Anybody know any good web sites that I can get some aftermarket parts for my 1/16 Scale Peterbilt truck? I have found a few but they all are 1/24 or 1/25 scale.
kenny b
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/976198.aspx
Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley Frank Gardner
Stats, speed and success spur on Vettel
It is an open secret in Formula 1 that Sebastian Vettel, who became the youngest double world champion in history this year, is motivated at least partly by statistics.
The Red Bull driver himself, though, has been a little shy about admitting it so far - but on Wednesday he went as far as he ever has towards acknowledging that, yes, he would not mind having a crack at the all-time records.
Until Vettel's remarkable run of success, particularly this year, Michael Schumacher's landmarks of seven titles, 91 wins and 68 pole positions looked unbeatable.
But Vettel, at the age of 24, already has 20 victories and 27 poles, as well as those two titles. Suddenly, Schumacher's records don't look quite so impregnable after all.
Vettel on his 2011: "Seasons like this don't happen too often... we want to enjoy it." Photo: Getty
"I like statistics," Vettel said, "as in I care about the sport, I know the sport, I know ex-F1 drivers, the big names, and know a little bit the numbers according to the drivers.
"The only thing I like from time to time is to see if my name is somewhere there. I don't really set myself a target of wins and poles, I am not racing for statistics, so I know some numbers, but not all. I love Formula 1, I always did as a small kid and that hasn't changed."
A little later, the mask seemed to slip a little further when someone asked him who was the youngest three-time world champion.
"I don't know," Vettel replied. "Michael is the youngest seven-time world champion."
So that's the ambition?
"That is a long, long way to go," Vettel said. "Obviously we have had two phenomenal seasons and sometimes then you get over-excited and start to talk about those things.
"But really we know how much it takes to win a race, and a whole championship. That really puts things in perspective. It's a long, long way. I don't think you can set the target to say I want to win seven world titles. What Michael achieved in many ways was outstanding."
Vettel was talking at Red Bull Racing's Milton Keynes headquarters, where a news conference on Wednesday morning preceded a private team party in the afternoon.
Vettel - and Red Bull - have every reason to celebrate, after putting together one of the most extraordinary seasons in F1 history.
With 16 races down and three still to go, Vettel has won 10 races, taken 13 pole positions, finished on the podium in every race but one (when he was fourth) and tied up the title in Japan 10 days ago with four races to spare.
But he admitted that it took the most mundane of things for the fact that he was a double world champion to finally sink in properly.
He arrived home in Switzerland on Monday from the Korean Grand Prix to find that his heating had broken. "It was quite cold, so I put the fire on," he said, laughing. "I won't go into details."
Regardless, he said, "I really enjoyed the moment of opening the door, going into the house, knowing what we have achieved. It's those small things that really make you realise what has happened.
"I really like it when nothing is happening, to enjoy the peace, to enjoy time. I didn't do anything special on Monday - just surfing the internet, sleeping, just enjoy the peace and no stress. That's when things really start to sink in.
"It's a nice feeling, because you know all the hours you have spent in the gym, on the race track, it paid off."
Vettel was in a sunny mood on Wednesday - as he so often is. But there was no mistaking the underlying steeliness that is part of what makes him such a formidable competitor.
Anyone who thought his ambition might have been dulled by such towering success so young will need to recalibrate their expectations.
Can you be as dominant next season, he was asked.
"We try," he said. "You never want to come back and do worse than you have done. We set the benchmark very high, and it has been a special season for both sides.
"I had a very good run and the team had a phenomenal run, reliability was great - we've had no technical failures so far. We'll see. We are working hard and we are extremely motivated."
Sebastian Vettel "drove perfectly" all season, according to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Photo: Getty
None of their rivals at McLaren and Ferrari are under any illusions that Vettel and Red Bull will be anything other than formidably tough to beat next year.
After a 2010 season in which, as Vettel has admitted himself, a series of mistakes made winning his first world title much more difficult than it should have been, he and the team have moved on to another level.
He did make mistakes this year. One thinks of the half-spin on the last lap in Canada that handed victory to a charging Jenson Button. Or another spin when trying to stay in touch with the leaders in Germany, his least competitive race of the season. Or his couple of crashes in Friday practice sessions.
But none of them badly affected him, and overall he "drove perfectly", as Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, the previous youngest double champion, described it.
Vettel looked at the new form F1 took on this season with deliberately high-wear Pirelli tyres and the DRS overtaking aid, realised what was needed to succeed in races, and ruthlessly used the best car on the grid to crush his rivals.
Race after race, he took pole, used the car's inherent pace advantage to build the lead he needed to protect himself at the first pit stops while taking only what he needed to out of the tyres, and held the cushion for the rest of the race.
This strategy formed the bedrock of his season, and generally worked even on the few occasions when the Red Bull was not the fastest car in the race.
His driving was matched by a team that, operationally as well as in terms of the performance of its car, was in a league of its own.
"After every race, I get a print out of the race results, the championship standings and everything and the first thing I do is rip the championship standings off, because the only thing that matters is what we did on that day," Vettel said.
"If you get beaten, you have to accept it. You shouldn't like it, because then you would be in the wrong sport, but there are other very smart people and other very good drivers, and you never get beaten for no reason.
"This year some of the racing has been close, but if there was a chance to open a gap and benefit from it for the rest of the race we were always in a very strong position and many times used that to go for that.
"But I don't think it's fair to say we had a massive advantage all year long. Seasons like this don't happen too often and that's why we want to enjoy it.
"I am extremely proud and to see my name alongside some of the great names is really special. As much as the first world title, the second one people can't take away from you. Many things in life come and go but this will stay forever."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/10/stats_speed_and_success_spur_o.html
Ingo Hoffmann Bill Holland Jackie Holmes Bill Homeier Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Alonso: Ferrari wants ‘dominant’ car
Fernando Alonso says Ferrari is going all out to produce a 'dominant' Formula 1 car for next year, after praising the determination that he has seen at its Maranello factory this week. The Spaniard claims that his outfit is eager to enjoy the success that Red Bull Racing has experienced for the last two campaigns, which is why it has been willing to take more risks with the design of its 2012 challenger. And after seeing the new car in the windtunnel this week, Alonso says he is convinced Ferrari is putting in the effort that will allow it to hit back in style at the start of next season.
Brian Gubby André Guelfi Miguel Ángel Guerra Roberto Guerrero Maurício Gugelmin
GP drivers join new i1 Supercar series
Former grand prix drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Giancarlo Fisichella have joined the new i1 Supercar Series. The championship will use Radical SR3 cars for its inaugural season, which will visit the Buddh International circuit in India, the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, the Losail circuit in Qatar, Sepang in Malaysia and Sakhir in Bahrain. Villeneuve and Fisichella will be joined by former and current GP drivers like Jean Alesi, Tonio Liuzzi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Karun Chandhok and Mika Salo, according to Indian media.
Walt Ader Kurt Adolff Fred Agabashian Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers
maandag 26 december 2011
'The point of no confidence is quite near'
 The wreckage of Jochen Rindt's car at Barcelona |
“Colin. I have been racing F1 for 5 years and I have made one mistake (I rammed Chris Amon in Clermont Ferrand) and I had one accident in Zandvoort due to gear selection failure otherwise I managed to stay out of trouble. This situation changed rapidly since I joined your team. “Honestly your cars are so quick that we would still be competitive with a few extra pounds used to make the weakest parts stronger, on top of that I think you ought to spend some time checking what your different employes are doing, I sure the wishbones on the F2 car would have looked different. Please give my suggestions some thought, I can only drive a car in which I have some confidence, and I feel the point of no confidence is quite near.”A little more than a year later Rindt's Lotus suffered mechanical breakdown just before braking into one of the corners. He swerved violently to the left and crashed into a poorly-installed barrier, killing him instantly.
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/the_point_of_no_confidence_is.php
Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews
McLaren MP4-26 Launch pictures ( 4th of February)
McLaren launched a rather radical MP4-26 during their scheduled Vodafone media event on 4th February at Potsdamer Platz located in Berlin, Germany shortly after the first test session of the season in Valencia.
The nose of the McLaren MP4-26 features the same high design as many of the other cars this season, while its sidepods are extremely sculpted and L-shaped. In addition, the airbox tweaks have been intensively reworked, while the car's exhaust system presents a classic rear-side design.
Technical specifications
| Chassis | Moulded carbon fibre honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures and integral safety fuel cell |
| Suspension (front) | Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement |
| Suspension (rear) | as front, except operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement |
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz FO 108Y 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 (90°). Naturally-aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited with KERS, mid-mounted. |
| Transmission | McLaren Seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with reverse gear hand-operated, seamless shift |
| Weight | 640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver) |
| Fuel | ExxonMobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel) |
| Mobil Synergy Fuel System | |
| Mobil 1 lubrication | |
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero |
| Enkei wheels (front and rear): 13" |
Links
McLaren MP4-26 - L-shaped sidepods ( The Official F1)
"There is no doubting the new MP4-26 is very different from all the other 2011 cars. Technical director Paddy Lowe has exploited to the extreme the idea of higher outer sidepods, last seen on the likes of Benetton's B195 from 1995 and Ferrari's F310 from 1996."McLaren MP4-26 – “L” shaped sidepods (Scarbsf1's Blog)
"It remains to be seen if this set up works better than conventional undercut sidepods for creating rear downforce. Others team would be able to recreate the McLaren “L” shaped sidepod inlets. Although it would require a significant change the radiators and bodywork, making it a major package upgrade and not a quick test."McLaren MP4-26 Launch pictures
Photos © McLaren
Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey Mauro Baldi Bobby Ball Marcel Balsa
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