Pink Floyd's Carrera Panamericana

In 1991, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Pink Floyd's manager Steve O'Rourke participated in the infamous South American automobile race La Carrera Panamericana. The film, released in 1992, features footage of the event and is set to the music of Pink Floyd.
The rest after the jump
(YT via Bill Caswell)







--> READ MORE

Hey drunk dudes: cars don't work without front wheels...

What's with this rash of accidents involving people royally screwing up their supercars and then thinking it's a good idea to continue driving down the road?

Jalopnik had found this incident involving a fully lipsticked 2011 997 GT3 RS in Texas. Details are sketchy other than evidence the car hit a curb but the owner kept going down the road leaving a trail of pars and fluids.



But crashing a simple RS pales in comparison to crashing a Mclaren SLR... twice and then blowing the engine by trying to drive the wreck onto a sidewalk.



The protagonist of this second spectacular fail is the husband of a pneumatically enhanced, ex-Flavio Briatore girlfriend, Italian "showgirl" Adriana Volpe.

The man, Roberto Parli, was heading home early in the morning towards Lugano, Switzerland when he sideswiped a car he was passing with enough force to shear off his front right wheel. Mr. Parli decided the best course of action would be to keep on going on three wheels, after all the SLR is a superbly balanced car, what could possibly go wrong? So on he went into a highway tunnel where he promptly had another crash, this time colliding with a truck and blowing his front left tire off the rim.

Those SLR are built strong because the guy still kept going for a few hundred meters when he finally decided it might be a good idea to park it...on a sidewalk.

Now, a sober man would have... ok, this would not have happened to a sober man, but someone less ripped would have realized the SLR was now a bit low in the front. Not so Mr. Parli who proceeded to gun the SLR's handmade engine in an effort to get the nose over the curb. He only stopped when smoke and fire started to come out the bonnet and a passing motorist convinced him to quit.

Police came, found his blood alcohol more than twice the legal limit and ripped up his license on the spot. Reports say Parli was heard proclaiming "I'm a millionaire, I'll pay for everything I don't care". Considering how the Swiss give out tickets based on personal wealth, we think he cared once he sobered up!


(Blick.ch)

end of post --> READ MORE

Le Mans and Sebring in 8mm

Axis readers are the best resource for interesting stuff: Jonny Shears set us a clip he edited from old 8mm films shot in the 60's at Le Mans and Sebring by his grandfather who, at time, used to manage the OSCA team.

Jonny is himself quite handy with the camera, check out his web site portfolio at jshearsphotography.co.uk. Thank you!


end of post --> READ MORE

Bordeaux Red

"Wednesday morning, we were going to the Rallye de Paris to see supercars, and this 599 GTO went to us!!!
Followed for 150km after Bordeaux at an average speed of 180 km/h!!!"
By [ JR ]



end of post --> READ MORE

2011 Australian GP Executive Summary

photo: Alex Comerford

The 2011 F1 season starts off where 2010 left off, with domination from Red Bull and with the best drivers still Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso.

I don't want to get bogged down too much about it: it's a long season and 2010 taught that early domination means little, but I'm not sure I'm a big fan of how Red Bull is behaving with regards to their obviously flexing front wing and, especially, with their not running KERS at all.

While it's perfectly legal for them not to use KERS, it seems to me that if there was an agreement among the major teams to run this expensive green technology fig leaf with all the packaging and reliability compromises it entails, Red Bull stuck it to everyone by choosing to run without it. That means less cooling, and more flexibility in balancing the car. Clever... again.

The movable rear wing seems to only kind of work, certainly it's not as dramatic as advertised. What I did notice was that, at least on this track, cars were able to run much closer together in the turns.

A big thumbs up to Mexican rookie "Checo" Perez for his excellent driving in the opening lap chaos, shame Sauber were later excluded on a technical infraction.

Big thumbs down to Barrichello who, in his 308 GP start, drove like you might expect a rookie pay driver might: he went off in qualifying, in the race he went off in the second corner and later managed to destroy the only remaining Mercedes of Rosberg with a divebomb maneuver usually seen at local arrive & drive kart tracks.

Finally the question everyone is asking, Petrov did a great job finishing third but what if Robert Kubica had been there?

Pass of the race? No contes:, Alonso's outside pass on Kobayashi on the fasters turn on the track. Brilliant.

Pos  Driver        Team                       Time
 1.  Vettel        Red Bull-Renault           1h29:30.259
 2.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes           +    22.297
 3.  Petrov        Renault                    +    30.560
 4.  Alonso        Ferrari                    +    31.772
 5.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault           +    38.171
 6.  Button        McLaren-Mercedes           +    54.300
 7.  Perez         Sauber-Ferrari             +  1:05.800
 8.  Kobayashi     Sauber-Ferrari             +  1:16.800
 9.  Massa         Ferrari                    +  1:25.100
10.  Buemi         Toro Rosso-Ferrari         +     1 lap
11.  Sutil         Force India-Mercedes       +     1 lap
12.  Di Resta      Force India-Mercedes       +     1 lap
13.  Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari         +     1 lap
14.  Heidfeld      Renault                    +     1 lap
15.  Trulli        Lotus-Renault              +    2 laps
16.  D'Ambrosio    Virgin-Cosworth            +    3 laps

Fastest lap: Massa, 1:28.947

Link to the song used


end of post --> READ MORE

Is Red Bull's front wing flexing again?

You tell me...



end of post --> READ MORE

Red Bull's clever again.

Photo:Alex Comerford

Recently there has been some rumbling from Bernie Ecclestone about how F1 rules should not be conceived by the FIA, which is perhaps more interested in image and politics, but by the teams and the Formula 1 organizers . Bernie says, we know what we need and we should make the rules, the FIA's job should be to simply enforce them.

Hard to argue with that when the FIA mandated KERS rule can be , cleverly, circumvented as Red Bull has. Apparently one of the main technical issues this season is with the placement of ballast within the car, this year the location is restricted. Red Bull is rumored to be using a miniature version of KERS with much smaller, lighter batteries and used exclusively for the start when not having it would mean getting burned off the line. This allowed Adrien Newey to balance the car much better providing crucial drivability and blinding speed. Combine that with Vettel, who burned everyone by 7/10th, and you have a package that can only defeat itself.

Check out turns 11-12, that left-right complex on the back side of the track, the speed is absolutely mind bending.

Pos  Driver                Team                  Time             
 1.  Sebastian Vettel      Red Bull-Renault      1m23.529s
 2.  Lewis Hamilton        McLaren-Mercedes      1m24.307s  + 0.778s
 3.  Mark Webber           Red Bull-Renault      1m24.395s  + 0.866s
 4.  Jenson Button         McLaren-Mercedes      1m24.779s  + 1.250s
 5.  Fernando Alonso       Ferrari               1m24.974s  + 1.445s
 6.  Vitaly Petrov         Renault               1m25.247s  + 1.718s
 7.  Nico Rosberg          Mercedes              1m25.421s  + 1.892s
 8.  Felipe Massa          Ferrari               1m25.599s  + 2.070s
 9.  Kamui Kobayashi       Sauber-Ferrari        1m25.626s  + 2.097s
10.  Sebastien Buemi       Toro Rosso-Ferrari    1m27.066s  + 3.537s
Q2 cut-off time: 1m25.882s                          
11.  Michael Schumacher    Mercedes              1m25.971s
12.  Jaime Alguersuari     Toro Rosso-Ferrari    1m26.103s
13.  Sergio Perez          Sauber-Ferrari        1m26.108s
14.  Paul di Resta         Force India-Mercedes  1m26.739s
15.  Pastor Maldonado      Williams-Cosworth     1m26.768s
16.  Adrian Sutil          Force India-Mercedes  1m31.407s
17.  Rubens Barrichello    Williams-Cosworth
Q3 cut-off time: 1m27.222s                          
18.  Nick Heidfeld         Renault               1m27.239s
19.  Heikki Kovalainen     Lotus-Renault         1m29.254s
20.  Jarno Trulli          Lotus-Renault         1m29.342s
21.  Timo Glock            Virgin-Cosworth       1m29.858s
22.  Jerome D'Ambrosio     Virgin-Cosworth       1m30.822s
23.  Tonio Liuzzi          HRT-Cosworth          1m32.978s
24.  Narain Karthikeyan    HRT-Cosworth          1m34.293s

107% time: 1m31.266s

--> READ MORE

Axis 1 Lap: It's ALIVE!

The first firing of the Brum BMW Z3M V8: Oh so sweet! Congratulation to Shawn and the team, now let's tune the sucker.
Check out the sound especially you surprising number of haters, still think this is just a run of the mill M5 engine?

Shawn writes:
"This is the initial start-up of the DInan V8 in the Brum BMW Z3 MV8... Very smooth for the first start, great oil pressure, no leaks, well no fluid leaks... We have touch of an exhaust leak... Sounds like what just won the 24 Hour and the last GT race at Homestead..."



UPDATE: bonus video after the jump with the first easy revving of the beast!





Shawn: "We were doing a throttle response test... Time to tidy up the installation, build the air inlets and air cleaner box. Finish the power steering and head to the chassis dyno!"
.
--> READ MORE

Australian GP: Wing Comparison

Don't read too much into this , there are just too many variables and unknowns in Friday practice, but have a look at this RTL comparison between Red Bull and Ferrari's use of the movable rear wing, it suggests Red Bull can "open up" sooner.

As I said, grain of salt but it's something to look for in qualifying when wing use will be free. In the race, following FIA logic, wing use will be limited to FIA approved circumstances on specific sections of the track.

Practice 2 results:

Pos  Driver         Team                   Time              Laps
 1.  Button         McLaren-Mercedes      1m25.854s            32
 2.  Hamilton       McLaren-Mercedes      1m25.986s  + 0.132   31
 3.  Alonso         Ferrari               1m26.001s  + 0.147   28
 4.  Vettel         Red Bull-Renault      1m26.014s  + 0.160   35
 5.  Webber         Red Bull-Renault      1m26.283s  + 0.429   33
 6.  Schumacher     Mercedes              1m26.590s  + 0.736   31
 7.  Massa          Ferrari               1m26.789s  + 0.935   34
 8.  Perez          Sauber-Ferrari        1m27.101s  + 1.247   39
 9.  Barrichello    Williams-Cosworth     1m27.280s  + 1.426   34
10.  Rosberg        Mercedes              1m27.448s  + 1.594   23
11.  Alguersuari    Toro Rosso-Ferrari    1m27.525s  + 1.671   31
12.  Petrov         Renault               1m27.528s  + 1.674   29
13.  Heidfeld       Renault               1m27.536s  + 1.682   22
14.  Buemi          Toro Rosso-Ferrari    1m27.697s  + 1.843   30
15.  Kobayashi      Sauber-Ferrari        1m28.095s  + 2.241   35
16.  di Resta       Force India-Mercedes  1m28.376s  + 2.522   33
17.  Sutil          Force India-Mercedes  1m28.583s  + 2.729   31
18.  Maldonado      Williams-Cosworth     1m29.386s  + 3.532   29
19.  Kovalainen     Lotus-Renault         1m30.829s  + 4.975   22
20.  Trulli         Lotus-Renault         1m30.912s  + 5.058   23
21.  D'Ambrosio     Virgin-Cosworth       1m32.106s  + 6.252   36
22.  Glock          Virgin-Cosworth       1m32.135s  + 6.281   30
23.  Liuzzi         HRT-Cosworth          No time               1

All Timing Unofficial

end of post --> READ MORE

Axis 1 Lap: It's here and it's nuts!

OK, some of you guys guessed right, the car my friend Eric and I will be driving is, well let's be honest, probably the nuttiest street legal BMW M Coupe in existence in North America.

What used to be a sedate S52 engined M Coupe is not a Carbon fiber clad animal powered by a 600HP racing V8. What could possibly go wrong?

This M Coupe is the dream of Dr. Eric Brum who has owned it from new and steadily built it up to what you will see here. Eric is a long time Axis reader and of course I was ecstatic when he asked me to co-drive the car in this year's One Lap of America. How could you say no to driving such a mad car?



OK let's go over some of the details starting with the body:

• Carbon Fiber hood saving about 55 lbs
• Carbon Fiber roof saving about 40 lbs (from the original with sunroof)
• Carbon Fiber front bumper cover with splitter and additional cooling ducts
• Grand-Am spec Carbon Fiber rear wing by Crawford Composites
• Carbon Fiber front and rear quarter panels

Now some of the underneath bits:

• CCW 18x9.5 and 18x 11 wheels
• Michelin PS2 265/35/18 and 315/30/18 tires (1 lap requires street tires)
• Rotora 6 piston 355x32 and 4 piston 330x34 brakes
• TC Kline Double adjustable shocks and camber plates
• H&R swaybars
• Ireland Engineering Subframe Bushings and rear Toe Adjusters
• RRT front and rear subframe reinforcements

Now the juiciest bit, the engine:

• Dinan Built race spec BMW S62
• Custom 3 ring lightweight composite Mahle pisons
• race spec camshafts, billet steel crankshaft, solid lifters, velocity stacks, Carillo rods, valve springs and valve retainers
• Dry sump side mounted on oil pan
• Engine management and traction control via Pectel SQ6 ECU

Transmission and final drive:

• TR2CD racing clutch by OS Giken
• Super Lock LSD by OS Giken

Cooling:

• Two Setrab SET125 oil coolers
• Dual PAss racing spec radiator

Of course putting all this together requires not just, Eric considerable energy but sone serious technical knowhow, in this case the wizards are:

Shawn Bayliff of Trinity Motorsports in Ohio. A racer with experience in Daytona Prototype and Porsche Cup car preparation, Shawn is the man who installed the engine in the car. He is also responsible for the carbon Fiber fabrication.

Dusty Renteria, Dinan Engineering, lead the engine building and tuning. His goal was power combined with the reliability needed to complete the almost 3600 miles of the One Lap.

Neel Vasavada, Apex Speed Technology, is responsible for managing electronic integration, including ECU, ABS and traction control.

These guys were asked to produce a lightweight BMW Z3 M Coupe with 600 hp from a bulletproof engine while still maintaining street drivability, a comfortable interior, and the original exterior design elements...an M Coupe perfectly suited for One Lap of America, the descendant of the legendary Cannonball Rally and the most grueling week of racing in America. This year One Lap will bring drivers in street-legal racecars from Tire Rack Headquarters in Indiana, through West Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama before returning north to Illinois and Indiana for a variety of time trials, drag racing, autocrossing, and skid pad challenges...all in the span of one week!

Like I said, what could possible go wrong? The engine is supposed to be fired up this week, as soon as it does we'll try to bring you at least a sound clip so, stay tuned. In the meantime revel in the huge build gallery after the jump.

--> READ MORE

TTs in 3D now!

Cheap TT jokes aside, I want for someone to arrange a double feature in New York of this, TT3D: Closer to the Edge and the Nürburgring 3D movie, is that too much to ask? They should show the ring movie first though because the TT makes the green hell look positively tame!
( thanks Amadeus for the link)

. --> READ MORE

Ferrari 458 Challenge onboard video

Vallelunga, Italy (YT via Motorsportblog.it)

end of post --> READ MORE

A sure sign of the pending apocalypse?

Wow, I couldn't even get back home that this picture was Jalopnik'd, those guys are the ninja masters of the internets! Fine, I'll have to kick their buts on a track one day :).

Anyway, I was driving by on 11th Avenue when saw the FIAT store going up, even as a jaded New Yorker I did a double take. I never thought I would see it to be honest. I don't think I'm alone, got a funny reply on the Axis Twitter feed claiming this was a sure sign of the pending 2012 apocalypse!

end of post --> READ MORE

That famous M3 El Camino...

it's the automotive unicorn that had everyone in a tizzy last week. And they say Germans don't have a sense of humor!


(Auto Motor und Sport)
end of post --> READ MORE

Jenson Button smokes Mt. Panorama

In one of those ultimately meaningless but still awesome events, Mclaren ran their F1 car on the famed Bathurst/Mt. Panorama track today.
What makes this cool is it gives a tangible measure of a Formula 1 cars performance: presumably driving well within himself, Jenson Button pulled off an unofficial 1:48 sec lap. Compare that with the already blistering fast qualifying times for the V8 Supercars driving 11/10th and tuned specifically for the track, they group about the 2:07 mark. Now that's impressive.

I'm sure a nice polished video will be released soon, in the meantime, youtube offers some fan clips (after the jump) and a news report





.t --> READ MORE

Axis 1 Lap: One last tease...

Which should pretty much give it away :)





end of post --> READ MORE

2011 MotoGP: it's Stoner under the lights of Quatar

Casey Stoner was the man in the inaugural 2011 MotoGP under the lights of the Losail circuit in Quatar. He beat out Jorge Lorenzo on the Yamaha and Dani Pedrosa on the other Honda. Valentino Rossi, after a great start ended up seventh, fighting a nasty handling Ducati and pain from his recent shoulder operation.

(motoGP.com)

Results - 22 laps:

Pos  Rider             Team/Bike         Time/Gap
 1.  Casey Stoner      Honda           42m38.569s
 2.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha            + 3.440s
 3.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda             + 5.051s
 4.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda             + 5.942s
 5.  Marco Simoncelli  Gresini Honda     + 7.358s
 6.  Ben Spies         Yamaha           + 10.468s
 7.  Valentino Rossi   Ducati           + 16.431s
 8.  Colin Edwards     Tech 3 Yamaha    + 26.293s
 9.  Nicky Hayden      Ducati           + 27.416s
10.  Hiroshi Aoyama    Gresini Honda    + 28.920s
11.  Cal Crutchlow     Tech 3 Yamaha    + 34.539s
12.  Hector Barbera    Aspar Ducati     + 34.829s
13.  Karel Abraham     Cardion Ducati   + 37.957s

Retirements:

     Toni Elias        LCR Honda          18 laps
     Loris Capirossi   Pramac Ducati        1 lap
     Randy de Puniet   Pramac Ducati       0 laps

end of post --> READ MORE

BMW M3s survive to take Sebring 1-2

BMW-Rahal build tough race cars: flat tires, collisions, spins were just tossed aside with the team scoring a convincing 1-2 finish in GT at 2011 12 hours of Sebring.

The 56 BMW M3 of Priaulx, Mueller and Hand crossed the line first followed by the 55 of Farfus, Auberlen and Werner. Amazing considering that the 56 seemed to have a special trouble magnet installed yesterday and that both cars ended with a few pieces missing. No problem though, these M3 are to be built to last! Well done RLR!

The biggest disappointment would have to be the debut of the Ferrari GT2 458 Italia which just did not show the speed which off season tests showed its capable of. Not sure if this had to do with the delays in delivery of the cars to the teams or to restrictions ALMS might have imposed on it.




In prototype LMP1, nice win for the "underdog" Peugeot from Oreca-Malmut, in last year's car.

Provisional results: 12 hours/332 laps:

Pos  Cl      Drivers                        Team/Car                     Time/Gap
 1.  LMP1    Lapierre/Duval/Panis           ORECA Peugeot           12h00m28.423s
 2.  LMP1    Brabham/Franchitti/Pagenaud    Highcroft HPD               + 31.868s
 3.  LMP1    Montagny/Sarrazin/Lamy         Peugeot                     + 44.502s
 4.  LMP1    Capello/Kristensen/McNish      Audi                         + 5 laps
 5.  LMP1    Bernhard/Dumas/Rockenfeller    Audi                         + 6 laps
 6.  LMP1    Dyson/Smith/Cochran            Dyson Lola-Mazda             + 8 laps
 7.  LMP1    Prost/Jani/Bleekemolen         Rebellion Lola-Toyota       + 12 laps
 8.  LMP1    Wurz/Gene/Davidson             Peugeot                     + 17 laps
 9.  LMPC    Petersen/Cameron/Guasch        Genoa ORECA                 + 20 laps
10.  GT      Priaulx/Muller/Hand            BMW                         + 20 laps
11.  LMPC    Bennett/Montecalvo/Dalziel     Core ORECA                  + 20 laps
12.  GT      Farfus/Auberlen/Werner         BMW                         + 20 laps
13.  GT      Beretta/Milner/Garcia          Corvette                    + 20 laps
14.  GT      Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook      Corvette                    + 21 laps
15.  GT      Fisichella/Bruni/Kaffer        AF Corse Ferrari            + 21 laps
16.  GT      Bergmeister/Long/Lieb          Flying Lizard Porsche       + 22 laps
17.  GT      Law/Neiman/Holzer              Flying Lizard Porsche       + 26 laps
18.  LMPC    Jeannette/Gonzalez/Junco       Core ORECA                  + 27 laps
19.  GTE Am  Krohn/Jonsson/Rugolo           Krohn Ferrari               + 30 laps
20.  LMP2    Tucker/Hunter-Reay/Diaz        Level 5 Lola-Honda          + 32 laps
21.  GTC     Pappas/Faulkner/Bleekemolen    Black Swan Porsche          + 33 laps
22.  GTC     Enda/Pumpelly/Li               TRG Porsche                 + 33 laps
23.  GTC     Cisneros/Kauffmann/Edwards     NGT Porsche                 + 36 laps
24.  GTC     Ham/Blackett/Cumming           JDX Porsche                 + 37 laps
25.  GTC     Von Moltke/Ludwig/Norman       TRG Porsche                 + 37 laps
26.  GT      Robertson/Robertson/Said       Robertson Doran Ford        + 38 laps
27.  LMPC    Lux/Julian/Zugel               Genoa ORECA                 + 38 laps
28.  GT      Ortelli/Mackowiecki/Deletraz   Luxury Ferrari              + 40 laps
29.  GTC     LeSaffre/Davis/Faieta          Kelly Moss Porsche          + 41 laps
30.  LMP2    Mailleux/Ordonez/Ayari         Signatech ORECA-Nissan      + 42 laps
31.  LMP2    Barlesi/da Rocha/Lafargue      OAK Pescarolo-Judd          + 45 laps
32.  GTC     Potter/Stanton/Marsh           Magnus Porsche              + 50 laps
33.  LMP2    Tucker/Bouchut/Barbosa         Level 5 Lola-Honda          + 52 laps
34.  GTC     Sweedler/Keen/Wong             Alex Job Porsche            + 53 laps
35.  GT      Brown/Cosmo/Bell               Extreme Speed Ferrari      + 64 laps*
36.  GT      Melo/Vilander/Salo             Risi Ferrari               + 66 laps*
37.  GT      Murry/Lazzaro/Braun            Robertson Doran Ford       + 71 laps*
38.  GT      Jones/Moran/Wilden             RSR Jaguar                  + 76 laps
39.  GTE Am  Lietz/Roda/Ried                Proton Porsche              + 80 laps

end of post --> READ MORE

Some 2011 12 hours of Sebring highlights

In case you have not been able to tune in to ESPN3. It's been a very good race so far, now a dogfight in GT between Ferrari and BMW.







More after the jump










end of post --> READ MORE

If you don't have ESPN3....

Great tip from Matt. If you don't have ESPN3, sign up for an att.net email and log in using att as provider... works great.
Sebring 12 hours is on now at http://www.americanlemans.com/




end of post --> READ MORE

Japan, Onboard

Fuji, Montegi, Sendai and Suzuka courtesy of Smartycam. The others are after the jump.












--> READ MORE

Reminder: 2011 12 hours of Sebring will stream live

The 2011 ALMS/ILMC 12 Hours of Sebring will be streamed live online. Starting with qualifying on Friday March 18th at 2:55 ET on ESPN3.com.





end of post --> READ MORE

Sebring 2011, SVRA Endurance Classic

A 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL photographed by James "Old" Boone at the 2011 Sportscar Vintage Racing Association's Endurance Classic, one of the support events for this week end's 12 Hours of Sebring. Have a look at a slideshow of Old Boone's shots from the event after the jump.





--> READ MORE

Blue Hour by Bob MacMillan
Axis Stee just picked up an S2K for some summer fun, loves it apparently!
. --> READ MORE

Axis 1 Lap: will it live?

This is where the monster engine is going to live...
. --> READ MORE

Old Mclaren vs New Mclaren

Old Mclaren vs New Mclaren, top one is a 1966 Chevy powered Can Am beast, bottom is the new GT3 version of the Mp4-12C. Chevy engine sound wins, I'd say!



end of post --> READ MORE

That's just nuts.

OK, how about the high banks of Daytona on superbikes? Nascar on 2 wheels, six across at probably close to 200 mph. Check out the final laps of the Daytona 200. That's just nuts.



. --> READ MORE

Fukushima Drift

While I'm sure disaster pictures bring lots of precious page views, as car guys we prefer to send our wishes remembering that, among many other things, our Japanese friends are leaders in car culture, innovation and passion.

Hang in there, Tracktards!

Remi Schouten of Okydokyo.com shot these two great clips last year, one is from a Drift matsuri in Fukushima, the second from the 2010 Nismo festival at Fuji Speedway. Enjoy them.



. --> READ MORE

First 20 Porsche GT2 RS delivered in the US.

Very cool presentation by Porsche. Loved the story of the car's development. Congratulations to the owners!



end of post --> READ MORE

Win a Brumos Porsche GT3 and Cayenne S Hybrid!

A raffle held to benefit Camp Boggy Creek, the year round medical facility started by Paul Newman to help seriously ill children.

The contest is sponsored by Grand Am and Continental tire and the prize is pretty amazing: a 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid and a 2011 Porsche GT3, both with custom touches by Hurley Haywood and Brumos.

Tickets are only $3 each.

More details at Wintheporsches.com



end of post --> READ MORE

Axis 1 lap : dyno

I have to handed to you guys, two Hayabusa engines strapped together? Points for a imagination anyway!

Well, Fabrik8 got it right first, but I thought you might get a kick out of the dyne sheet:



Amazingly, it will be significantly underpowered compared to the competition!





end of post --> READ MORE

More Overtaking in F1? I seriously doubt it...

The big novelty in F1 this coming season will be the addition of movable rear wings, this would allow drivers to trade stability for straight line speed and gain the few meters at the end of the straight that allow for a pass. Great you say? Not so fast.

As things stand now, drivers are not allowed to use the wing any time they choose, daring to go longer without rear downforce for example , or using the device in unexpected places on the track. No, wing usage can only happen with an electronic consent from race control!

Here are the basic rules as of today: During the race, a driver following a car within "one second" will see a light, activated by race control, on his steering wheel. Only then can the driver activate his "Drag Reduction System".
This will be available not anywhere on the track but just in "designated passing zones". If the system works that would mean you would never again see a car stuck behind a slower one, think Alonso and Petrov last year. No, all a driver would have to do is get within one second coming out of a corner, done, driver in front has no defense.

I don't know about you, but I find that almost a deal-breaker even as a long time F1 fan. I hope the rule gets modified to allow at the very least, use anywhere on the track, as they are now allowed to do on Friday and Saturday.

Not that that would solve the problem, drivers will still have to proceed mostly in single file, with only one line through corners, any time after the first couple of laps. Why? in the quest for the show, the FIA has asked Pirelli for tires that shed their rubber after just a few laps, the inevitable result will be more marbles than ever before, negating the usefulness of the movable wing.



home --> READ MORE

Axis of One Lap.

Big Week for Team Axis: I have been invited to co drive a car in this year's Tire Rack One Lap of America.

You heard about it, of course, it's where you drive an ungodly amount of miles across the country over eight days, visiting various tracks where Time Trials, drag races, autocross, skidpad, are run for points. A motorhead classic that attracts the gamut of machines, from family cars to sick modified beasts all with one caveat, that they be "street legal" and that they use the same set of tires for the whole event.

OK, so what am I going to be driving? Allow me the pleasure to tease a little: let me say two things about the ride, it's the labor of love of a crazy person person crazy about his car and, it's an insanely inappropriate, totally bonkers vehicle....
Once you figure out what it is I'm sure you'll agree: what could possibly go wrong?

Here's the engine, care to guess what it is and what will be wrapped around it? Feel free to guess if it amuses you (no cheaters, you know who you are!) and we'll go through the whole build between here and the race...


I added another picture.. not much of a clue, I warn you :)

Meanwhile, after the jump, Motor Trend's recap of last year's edition, won by Leh Keen in a "tastefully modified" Porsche 996 GT2








end of post --> READ MORE

Glickenhaus P4/5C laps at Paul Ricard

Speaking of Paul Ricard HTTT, here's some fresh video of the Jim Glickenhaus's Ferrari P4/5C racer testing at speed. Two more after the jump.








--> READ MORE

New Jersey Motorsport Park Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

(photo: aawil)

First, I think I can speak for all enthusiasts in the greater New York area, we're hoping the track pulls through and stays open.
That said, given its financing plan was contingent on sales of trackside vacation homes and shopping mall style retail...in Millville NJ, we are not surprised....

I enjoy NJMP's Thunderbolt track layout. Many are not so enthusiastic but I like the combination of the two fast corners and the more technical section. They have hotel rooms right above the garages, which is nice. and it's relatively close to NYC.

What I keep wondering is why, when they designed this facility, they did not think big enough for a track up to real international standards, with properly done runoffs, with tunnel access rather than bridge access to the infield, with the possibility of joining the two tracks into a single long course... I know it's not a fair comparison, but having driven at a track like Paul Ricard HTTT, I have seen what can be accomplished if you have the right combination of financing and knowhow (Paul Ricard is owned by a company controlled by Bernie Ecclestone, I would bet it's not losing money), I wish, someone would step up here in US... Oh wait, Austin and Tavo Hellmund's group are thinking right. Bummer about Texas being 1800 miles away!

Read the story by the Press of Atlantic City HERE
(thanks to Preeth Kumar and Jaffster for the news)

. --> READ MORE

Axis of Cup!

Fantastic news: CG, after vanquishing the ranks of PCA club racing, has decided it's time to play on a different playground, with a bigger toy.

I'm very excited to announce Carlos will be running at least 4 races of the 2011 IMSA Patron GT3 Cup Challenge, for our European readers, it is the US version of Porsche Supercup.

To make the whole thing even sweeter, the debut will be June 10-12 2011, in the support race to the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada in Montral. How cool is that? We are planning on being in the (at least the supercup) paddock and handing CG his first bottle of celebratory champagne...regardless of where he finishes!

The car, run by TRG/Speedsport will have Capital Managers / Axis of Oversteer livery but there is still plenty of sponsorship space available. If your company is interested in the exposure opportunities on track, television (SpeedTV) and online, via IMSA and through Axis of Oversteer.com. we will be happy to work with you, drop us a note.

Here are the dates. Aside from Montreal, most races run as support to the American Le Mans Series races. Axis fans, now you know who to cheer for if you are attending!

Date                         race 
June 10-12, 2011             Montreal Grand Prix
July 8-9, 2011               LimeRock Park
July 22-24, 2011             Mosport International Raceway
August 18-20, 2011           Road America
September 16-18, 2011        Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway*
September 29-30, 2011        Road Atlanta (Petit LeMans)*

*=either one of the two

So what is a sales brochure for a 2011 GT3 cup like? Have a look after the jump.



My 11 Final Nl Appr 09-17-10

--> READ MORE

Winter series 2011 at Paul Ricard HTTT by Frank Minieri



end of post --> READ MORE

Sunday Drive

Joey Hand chasing Bill Auberlen during practice at Homestead, Florida. The two BMW works drivers are testing the Turner Motorsport M3 entered in the Continental Tire Storts Car Challenge.


. --> READ MORE

BMW E60 M5 Ring-Taxi Drifts into History

Don't go to the Nürburgring this summer's thinking you are going to get all cozy with Sabine and three of you best friends as she giggles her was sideways through the forest. It's the end of an era, with the E60 M5 out of production and the new f10 M5 not for sale yet, it makes little sense for BMW to subsidize the service. A ring taxi service will be working but it will now be either way more expensive, if you want to ride in a 997 or a little less if you don't mind being driven around in a FWD Mini!.

How much much will it cost? After the jump is the email sent sent out by OK Speed Marketing, the company running the Ring Taxi service for BMW.
Over at BridgeToGantry Dale has a different, more in depth explenation and wonders if BMW will be back at all. BMW got a lot of milage (pardon the pun) out of the ring taxi- Sabine myth, I doubt they'll drop it permanently unless the new 'ring management make it cost prohibitive.


Dear Ring-Taxi® customer,

our preparation for season 2011 has been completed.
We are looking forward to a common Ring-Taxi® season 2011.

During our jubilee-season 2011 we enlarged our traditional taxi service. So enjoy with us pure driving fun. Powered by classical sportscars such as Porsche 911 GT3 (415 HP) Clubsport 997 or MINI John Cooper Works (211 HP). Driven by proofed and licensed pilots.

Enjoy Your favourite car as co-pilot
Porsche 911 Clubsport 997 (415 HP) price 349,- EURO incl. 19% VAT
or
MINI John Cooper Works (211 HP), price 195,- EURO incl. 19% VAT

On top you will enjoy our traditional services, served on the most famous race-tracks, starting with one lap Nürburgring (D) Nordschleife (20,832 km) or three laps in Spa-Francorchamps (B), the Ardens Grand-Prix Circuit (21,003 km) or accompanied by further attractions during the season.

Your Ring-Taxi® opportunities until May 2011
Nürburgring Nordschleife (D): 19.03.2011 / 25.03.2011
Spa-Francorchamps (B): 09.04.2011 / 10.04.2011 / 13.04.2011 / 18.04.2011 / 24.05.2011

How will you repeat your Ring-Taxi® adventure? (limited to Porsche)
We can realize your individual Ring-Taxi-lap as video served on USB stick.
The Ring -Taxi® video, 29.90 EURO (inkl. 19% VAT)
Life pics, sounds and data of car, track and (co)-pilot.

Relevant information
Ticket can be booked only with a fixed date for ring-taxi drive.
The ring-taxi adventure is limited to one person only.

If you have further questions please contact as by telephone hot line or by mail.

Ring-Taxi® hotline





--> READ MORE

BMW M3 GT2: what's new at the office?

Can you spot the big new thing inside the cockpit of this 2011 BMW M3 GT2?


This will be "the office" for BMW's works drivers in ALMS this season and I'm sure you already spotted the new feature: paddle shifters are now allowed by the rules. Gone is the big sequential stick, now the drivers can keep both hands wheel.
Check out the roll cage structure forming a loop around the drivers knees, I don't remember noticing that before. Also, note buttons for traction control and "ASC", stability control? differential settings?

BMW fans will appreciate the fancy locating mark on the steering wheel, not in the usual yellow but three bands in the traditional ///M stripes..




--> READ MORE

Cool

I'm a sucker for any beautifully photographed and edited clip. This one was shot, like so many others these days, entirely using a DLSR camera, in this case a Canon 5D by Al Clark of Trackday Films.

205.48 mph on ice in a convertible is not bad either...end of post --> READ MORE

What Roars in the Woods?..

check out more pictures of the 2011 Legend Boucles de Spa rally from one of out favorite car shooters, Julien Mahiels after the jump











--> READ MORE