Auto News 5

From press release

Kids will get to take the front seat at Scotia Speedworld this Friday for the second and final Kiddie Rides Night of the season.

Gather up the kids and kick-off the Labour Day long-weekend with one of Scotia Speedworld's most popular events - Kiddie Rides, where kids get the unique opportunity to go for a ride in a racecar with their favorite driver! Kiddie Rides get underway at 7pm sharp so be sure to get there early. Grandstand gates open at 5 pm.

The format for Kiddie Rides is simple and safe. Drivers bring their cars to the front stretch and park. Once all engines are stopped, the grandstand gate is opened and children come onto the track and climb into their favorite car.

When all children are safely in the cars the drivers are led around the track at a safe speed by the pace car. After a few laps, the cars are stopped; the children climb out and proceed back to their seats in the grandstand to enjoy the rest of the night's events.

Following Kiddie Rides fans will enjoy great racing action from five Weekly Racing Series divisions. First up are the Hydraulics Plus Bandoleros who will run a 20-lap feature. This race will serve as their INEX National Qualifer, which was originally scheduled for August 15th but was postponed due to rain.

The rain soaked August 15th date also cancelled the Thunder & Lightning Twin 50's, one of the biggest events of the season for these two divisions. This week the Thunder cars will run their 50-lap feature; the Lighting cars make up their 50 lapper on September 5th. The Lightning cars will run a 25-lap feature this week.

Also on the Kiddie Rides Night bill are the Strictly Hydraulics Legends and the Dartmouth Dodge Sportsman.

Admission for Kiddie Rides is just $12 for Adults; Youth (8-15) are $2 and children 7 and under are free. Tickets are available at the gate on race day (cash only).

For complete schedule and event information please visit www.scotiaspeedworld.ca

An accident took place this morning at the building site of the new Toro Rosso factory in Faenza, Italy.

From press release

This morning, at the site where construction of a new building is underway, to become part of the team factory here in Faenza, an accident took place.

Two of the construction workers were injured while working on the second floor, as they fell when the ceiling collapsed.

After receiving immediate attention at the site, both men were taken by ambulance to the Cesena Hospital, where neither men is in a serious condition. We wish them both a full and speedy recovery.

Photo: ToroRosso.com

From press release

Peterborough Speedway's 2014 season got underway Saturday, May 17 and with just the Championship Clash - Saturday, August 30 - left to settle the score.

Tyler Junkin and Ryan Babin are deadlocked for the lead in the Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock title chase at Canada's Toughest 1/3-Mile Oval. Each driver has enjoyed a strong campaign, but know they won't just be battling each other for the crown.

The Mini Stock title tilt won't be the only tight fight to be settled during the Championship Clash.

After last weekend's action, Howie Crowe's advantage over Anthony DiBello in the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car field is down to just a single point.

Jack Dallin has a 27 marker cushion over defending track champion Bill O'Hara in the Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck division, while Willow Barberstock is 31 points ahead of Ray Schroer for the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun crown heading into the final night of regular season racing at the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road, west of the Liftlock City. The Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model contest will also be decided, but it looks like Ryan Kimball's battle to lose as the Norwood, Ontario speedster has a 75-point buffer over Adam Cuthbertson.

Action Saturday, August 30 will also include the crowd favourite OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models, who won't settle their 2014 championship until the Autumn Colours Classic. Pit gates open at 2 pm, with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 4 pm and the night's first green flag at 6 pm.

Fans can always find the latest news at www.peterboroughspeedway.com.

From GMM

Jenson Button has admitted for the first time that he might be forced to "retire" at the end of 2014.

As McLaren and Honda look ahead to their new works partnership beginning next year, it is clear the Woking based team is hoping to sign a truly top driver.

Disgruntled Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have been linked with the seat, but so too has Ferrari's frustrated Fernando Alonso.

The Telegraph claimed the Spaniard could make an enormous $32 million per year with McLaren, Honda and also his sponsor Santander pitching in.

Williams' Valtteri Bottas and the Eric Boullier-linked Romain Grosjean are also believed to have been considered by McLaren, so while the situation remains unclear, the future of 15-year F1 veteran Button hangs in the balance.

Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes, Spa-Francorchamps. (Photo: WRi2)

"We haven't sat down and talked about it," the 34-year-old Briton and 2009 world champion told the BBC.

"If I have to retire at the end of the season then so be it, but I feel I have so much more to give and I can't imagine life without motor sport and especially formula one," Button said.

Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey has just signed a multi-year promotion contract with Lincoln. A long-term lover of the brand, he will narrate upcoming Lincoln broadcast and digital campaigns.

Speaking about his passion for driving and for this American brand, McConaughey will start his promotional campaign with the 2015 Lincoln MKC.

“Authenticity is a word that kept coming up in our initial meetings. It was clear from the start they appreciated me as an individual first and foremost, and I would be able to be myself in this collaboration,” said Matthew McConaughey, a long-time admirer of Lincoln. “Lincoln is an iconic American brand and I like where they are heading with their transformation. I had the chance to drive the new MKC around Texas and I think they are doing a good job.”

Who else than former F1 Mark Webber can explain the rivalry that exists between the teammates of a Formula 1 team?

During five consecutive years, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel fought hard at Red Bull Racing.

During a visit to Red Bull sports show Sport und Talk, Webber described what went so wrong between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes AMG.

This past weekend, the pair touched on lap 2 of the Belgian Grand Prix, damaging Rosberg's front wing and causing a puncture to Hamilton's left rear tire.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

“This is not just about one incident in one corner,” Webber said.

“Obviously this whole situation has been brewing like it always does inside the teams and you've got two guys fighting for victories”.

Webber continued: “Well, it's ... a passing move. Nico is trying to have a look on the outside, but it's Lewis's corner.

“At this point (moments before the contact) Nico knows he has no chance to get the move done. It's strange that he tried to come in so tight behind Lewis.

“It wouldn't have been a big deal at all ... it would have been nothing if there was no puncture, but the puncture changed the whole race. In the end both of their races were in trouble,” Webber continued.

Mercedes AMG now made of two teams?
The new Porsche driver thinks that the Mercedes team's management, comprising of Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe and Niki Lauda, is going to have a tough time getting the pair to work together again.

“Now we have a very difficult situation at Mercedes where the drivers are not enjoying a good relationship,” Webber declared.

“It's going to be interesting, not just for the rest of this year but can they drive together in the future? Is it okay for 2015 for the team to have the two guys together?

“The thing is, who is now going to try to put this back together? Is it the people who pay Niki's and Toto's wages? Because at the end of the day, if the drivers are not listening to these guys, do they have to say, ‘Lewis and Nico, you go chat to the big guys at Mercedes, because they're paying you guys to get the job done in a team environment.' At the moment it's not a team, it looks like the drivers are doing their own thing'. Webber said.

Complexe situation for Niki Lauda and Paddy Lowe at Mercedes AMG. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Media nightmare in Monza
Webber predicts the Italian Grand Prix in Monza to be a nightmare for the entire Mercedes team.

“The (tought) thing is for the drivers to stay focused on driving the cars now, because for them it's going to be a nightmare. The Thursday, the Friday, all the stuff out of the car, the media ... and this will just keep going up,” Webber explained.

“Let me tell you, when they get to the track, they'll only be thinking about each other. There's no one else really in the race. They are really only focused on beating each other, and that's what happens when you have a car that is so dominant,” Mark Webber told.

The NHTSA has released on its website a vehicle recall search tool based on vehicle identification numbers (VIN).

As of today, consumers may enter the VIN to find out whether their vehicle is under recall (current or past) or whether the recall has already been repaired. Consumers may also find out if a manufacturer has issued specific instructions for a recall.

“This should be a one-stop shop for consumers,” said Jim Schulte, NHTSA's director of digital strategies. “If you have a recall that has not been repaired, this is how you find out.”

This search tool was made available upon the request of several automakers, including General Motors, which has recalled a record number of vehicles this year. According to the NHTSA, 37.5 million vehicles were recalled in the United States in the first six months of 2014, representing more cars and trucks than in any prior year.

Search tool users will be able to retrieve recall campaigns dating back to 15 years. Moreover, the tool will help used car dealers determine whether their vehicles in stock are under recall.

Source : autonews.com

From press release

Brighton Speedway is ready for the first of three huge events to conclude the 2014 season.

The Southern Ontario Sprints (SOS) will thunder in to Brighton Speedway for two full nights of racing this Labour Day weekend. Lucas Oil, Rock 107, Extreme Rush Adventures, and Mystical Distributing present the SOS for the final time this season on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31.

Southern Ontario Sprints: The fifth and sixth SOS races of the season at Brighton will decide the 2014 champion. Mitch Brown (No.10b Pro-Fit Health Club) of Brantford, Ont. won the first three races of the year. Glenn Styres (No.0 Case IH Tractors) of Ohsweken, Ont. won the most recent meeting at Brighton on August 9 and enters the final weekend as the points' leader. Brown is second in the championship standings, trailing Styres by 70 points.

Saturday, August 30: The OilGARD Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, Bill's Johns Comp 4s and Quinte Septic Stingers will also be in action on Saturday.

The OilGARD Canadian Modified division holds the tightest points battle of the weekly Brighton divisions. Dan Ferguson (No.11 Kilmarnock Enterprise) is the current points leader by 20 markers over Ryan Scott (No.33 J&J Automotive). Andrew Hennessy (No.87 Custom Automotive) is also in the mix, 100 points behind Scott. Doug O'Blenis (No.32 John's Car Care) and Adam Whaley (No.12 John's Equipment) round out the current top-five in the standings.

The Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks are one of two weekly divisions to pull a double header for the Classic Weekend. Point leader Doug Anderson (No.72 Hunt's Bobcat Service) is fresh off his sixth victory of the season. He leads Leslie Mowat (No.2 Cormier's Auto Recycling) and Justin Ramsay (No.03 Empey Tire) for the top spot in the standings.

The Bill's Johns Comp 4s will also pull double duty this weekend, racing on both Saturday and Sunday nights. Rich Sanders (No.29 Fowl Mood Racing) increased his point lead with a win last Saturday night. Brady Greer (No.94 Greer Excavating) remains in championship contention in the second spot ahead of Shelby Mills (No.78 ABC Taxi).

The Quite Septic Stingers have been the victim of rainfall twice so far this season, limiting their on track action. Del MacGregor (No.19 R.Ward Construction) leads the standings on the strength of four feature wins to start the year. Rick Phillips (No.7 Ontario Duct Cleaning) is second in the standings. Chris Lammle (No.95 Lammle Auto Repair) sits third after his win on August 2.

Sunday, August 31: The Southern Ontario Sprints will headline another full card of racing on Sunday evening. The SOS will crown the 2014 champion following their 25-lap feature. The SOS 'Dream' race for drivers who have yet to win an SOS race will run after the primary feature. One driver is guaranteed to pick up their first checkered flag in a sprint car.

At the conclusion of the SOS point race, the sprint cars will remove the top wing and race topless for bragging rights to conclude their season.

The Vanderlaan Building Products Pro Late Models will also compete topless on Sunday. The second-last points race of the season will see the drivers remove the roof. Drivers will have the opportunity to hot lap minus the roof on Saturday, but will not get in to race action until Sunday. Charlie Sandercock (No.57 Bellevue Fabricating) enters as the point leader with two points races remaining. Steve Baldwin (No.5 cigarchief.com) and Phil Potts (No.29 Vanderlaan) occupy the second and third spots in the standings.

At the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas, leading experts in computer hacking revealed which vehicles are the most vulnerable to hacker attacks.

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee and the 2015 Cadillac Escalade topped the list of the most hackable vehicles. Meanwhile, the 2010 Range Rover Sport, the 2006 Toyota Prius and the 2006 Ford Fusion were deemed the most secure.

The report also concluded that almost all models after 2010 have some potential vulnerability. Chrysler was rated the worst for security failings in all categories, including network architecture. The Infiniti Q50 also presents important security flaws, namely, hackers can remotely deactivate the vehicle's cruise control.

Meanwhile, the Audi A8 was praised for its secure gateway that separates the car's connectivity and communications from the driving systems, such as steering, brakes, and throttle.

Source : trucktrend.com

Photo: Cadillac

PROs: Kia Optima 2015 is a midsize offering plenty of space to all sorts of occupants. In terms of style, it's definitively in the groove with a very modern look. Here's a comfortable car that has a welcoming allure. Even after four years, the Optima doesn't look its age and stacks up nicely compared to other midsize sedans that have either gone under the knife or been given the chop. It goes to show just how sharply effective the pencil of design chief, Peter Schreyer, has always been. In terms of mechanics, two 4-cylinder as well as one hybrid powertrain models are all up for grabs. Better yet, the Optima behaves like a European thoroughbred on the road.

CONs: Nevertheless, it's not all cloud nine...the 2015 Kia Optima has some minor annoyances. For backseat passengers, head space seems a bit limited. On the driving side, let's just say that the turbocharged 4-cylinder will be a regular visitor to to the gas pump if you like putting the pedal to the metal. Finally, those opting for the hybrid version will find their trunk space somewhat curtailed by the battery pack.

Photo: Kia

2015 Kia Optima Price: For 2015, Kia will market the Optima in two configurations, as the Optima and the Optima Hybrid. You can choose from four versions: the LX at $24,795, the EX at $27,495, the EX Luxury at $31,495 and the SX at $33,195. As for the Optima Hybrid, its price was not known at the time of publication.

Fuel Economy: If you choose the 2.4L GDI engine, fuel consumption rates are 10.2 L/100 km for city driving and in 6.9L/100 km on the highway. For the 2L SX Turbo engine, the numbers are 11.7L/100 km in town and 7.7 L/100 km on the road. Finally, if you opt for the Optima Hybrid, you can take advantage of a parsimonious 5.4 L/100 km in the city and 4.9L/100 km out of town.

Improvements and Changes: With a silhouette that may well morph into another shape in 2016, the 2015 models are keeping up with current appearances, so no major changes.

2015 Kia Optima Powertrain: Under the hood of the 2015 Optimas, Kia offers a choice from the range of 4-cylinder all aluminum engines. First, a 2.4L DOHC delivering 192 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Second, a 2L turbocharged DOHC generates 274 hp and a torque of 269 lb-ft. Finally, the hybrid consists of a 2.4L 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine plus an electric engine whose combined power reaches 199 hp. All models come with automatic 6-speed transmission, so no CVTs for the 2015 Optima models.

Cargo Capacity: The Optima provides 487L of storage space. However, that drops to 305L if you choose the Hybrid (because of the battery pack).

Safety: In terms of safety the 2015 Kia Optima features 4-wheel ABS, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, hill assist system and rearview camera parking assist.

Lear agreed to buy automotive leather supplier Eagle Ottawa in a deal valued at $850 million that aims to strengthen the company's global seating business.

Keith Crain, editor in chief of Automotive News and chairman of Crain Communications, will be honored with a 2015 Automotive Lifetime Achievement award at the ninth annual Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance in February.

Mercedes is renaming the M-class as the GLE class as part of a strategy to align the badges of its SUVs with the most closely related sedan.

Mercedes-Benz is ditching the M-class nameplate as part of a comprehensive renaming strategy. When the vehicle receives a face-lift in early 2015 for the 2016 model year, it will be called the GLE class.

Kia plans to produce 'a range' of small cars for markets including the United States at its $1 billion plant in Monterrey, Mexico, after production begins in the first half of 2016, the company said in a statement.

China's ongoing investigation into anti-competitive practices in the country's automotive industry has picked up momentum in recent weeks, with some of the biggest companies in global automotive industry accused of abusing their market position.

BMW scored a coup when former Apple executive Tony Fadell became one of the first owners of the new i8 plug-in sports car in the U.S. Fadell, who worked with Steve Jobs to develop the iPod, lends some much needed cred to BMW in Silicon Valley.

BMW scored a coup this month when former Apple executive Tony Fadell became one of the first owners of the new $136,000 i8 plug-in sports car in the United States.

Subaru hopes the redesigned WRX line will capture a wider customer base with better fuel economy and safety features after spinning off the nameplate from its Impreza stablemate.

General Motors said on Wednesday (27 August) it would spend US$185m to make small petrol engines at its Spring Hill manufacturing complex (once a Saturn plant), retaining 390 jobs. GM also said it would build the next generation Cadillac SRX there, moving the model from Mexico.