From Grand-Am.com
There's no better place for a world premiere than sunny California. This weekend, two famed automobile marques will make their GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series debut, when Aston Martin and Lotus compete in Sunday's Continental Tire Sports Car Festival at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Months in the planning, TRG will field the No. 66 PayPal/Hewlett-Packard Aston Martin Vantage for factory driver Darren Turner and Brandon Davis. SDR/Lotus Racing will roll out the No. 11 Lotus Evora GX for Scott Dollahite and Jeff Mosing in the GX class.
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| Aston Martin Vantage (Photo: Grand-Am.com) |
TRG owner Kevin Bucker said his new car was built specifically for the Rolex Series. He shook the car down with a sixth-place finish at the recent SCCA World Challenge race at Sonoma Raceway - an event won by Davis in a similar Aston Martin.
“I've been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Buckler said. “We've been working on this car since January. We're not sure how competitive it will be the first time out, but we brought in the best of the best for this weekend. “
Buckler also plans to run the new Aston Martin for the 2013 Rolex Series finale at Lime Rock Park on Sept. 28 in preparation for an all-out assault on 2014, beginning with the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
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| Lotus Evora (Photo: Grand-Am.com) |
It's been a long and winding road for Lotus to enter the Rolex Series. Originally, McMahon Raceworks planned to run the new Evora in the GX class, but sponsorship failed to materialize.
The team sold the car to Scott Dollahite and his father Bill, and they've spent the last five months getting ready at their shop in Austin. The SDR facility also includes a test track - Driveway Austin - where Scott Dollahite and Jeff Mosing did plenty of testing.
On September 6th and 7th 1914, over 650 Parisian cabs, Renault AG1's, were requisitioned in order to carry troops from the front to stem the German advance on Paris. 3,000 soldiers from the 7th Division boarded these vehicles (1 on the running board, 3 in the rear and 1 by the driver). Called Marne Taxis, these vehicles made history.
The Renault AG1 ran on wooden wheels and was powered by a 2-cylinder engine. Lighting consisted of a petrol-soaked wick lamp. They needed to stick close together at night so as not to lose sight of each other. This initiative can be considered as the first ‘'mechanized unit'', which proved to be so successful in WWII.
This operation constituted the first mechanized unit. For the record, the requisitioned vehicles cost the pubic treasury some 70,000 francs, as the drivers were paid the regular fees for their services...
Source : Musée Automobile Reims Champagne
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| Taxi de la Marne © musée de l'Armée (Dist. RMN-Grand Palais) Photo: Pascal Segrette |
From Caterham F1 Team
Caterham F1 Team's racecars, driven by Charles Pic (#20) and Giedo van der Garde (#21), will bear the silhouette of a brand new concept Caterham road car on the side of the two CT03s at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend.
The new ultra-high performance model will be unveiled by Tony Fernandes, Chairman of Caterham Cars, during the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix race weekend (September 20th to 22nd).
The concept is the first model to be designed and developed with significant input from all of Caterham Group's specialist business arms - Caterham Technology & Innovation, Caterham Composites and Caterham F1 Team.
Separately, Caterham's all-new two-seater sportscar, which is being developed as a joint-venture with Renault-Alpine, continues to move apace ahead of its launch in early 2016.
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| Charles Pic, Caterham CT03, Monza (Photo: WRi2) |
From GMM
A furious storm, with Fernando Alonso right in the middle, is brewing at Ferrari.
Earlier at Monza, even though the Red Bull switch rumours have ended, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone let slip he thinks the Spaniard is "not happy" at Ferrari.
The Italian team has been playing down reports of tension between Alonso and Luca di Montezemolo, but the Ferrari president was visibly furious after qualifying at Monza -- and refusing to give interviews.
Alonso qualified fifth, behind Massa, and reportedly slammed the team on the radio afterwards. According to former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi, the Spaniard told his team members they are "stupid".
Earlier on Saturday, McLaren's Jenson Button was quoted by Brazil's Totalrace: "I heard an interesting rumour today.
"Someone told me about Fernando going to McLaren.
"I don't know if it will happen -- he didn't exactly leave McLaren in a good way (in 2007)," he added. "Let's wait and see."
After Saturday's events, Eddie Jordan also smells a rat.
"Fernando's not a happy boy," the former F1 team owner said on British television BBC.
"We could be watching something unfold here that we were not expecting."
Although he put on a brave face when speaking to reporters, insisting it had been "a good qualifying", it is possible Alonso's dream relationship with Ferrari is over.
From GMM
Jean Todt has finally indicated he intends to fight for his role as FIA president.
Challenger David Ward has already published his manifesto as he seeks election in December, while incumbent Todt had yet to even say he will push for a second term.
"I guess to have an election you've got to have more than one candidate," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner at Monza.
Finally on Saturday, on a visit to the Italian grand prix, Frenchman Todt told Auto Motor und Sport: "Why should I not want to finish what I have started?"
Also on Saturday, former Ferrari driver and ex Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger backtracked on earlier comments in which he suggested Todt's reign had not been good for F1.
"Jean Todt is 25 years a friend of mine and the reason why I do certain things in the FIA," the Austrian, also at Monza, told Reuters.
"And I support the FIA and Jean, just to clarify this.
"I would be very surprised if Jean does not stay long term in this role," added Berger.
From GMM
Nicolas Todt, who is Jules Bianchi's manager, is not ruling out a second consecutive season at Marussia for the French driver.
Rookie Bianchi, 24, has impressed this year, but it has been rumoured backers Ferrari want him in a better seat in 2014 -- perhaps Ferrari-powered Sauber.
But Bianchi's manager Todt told RMC Sport that Marussia should not be dismissed.
"The fact that there is an (engine) agreement with Ferrari in the long term is a good sign," he said at Monza.
"It shows Marussia has ambition and they will have a better car in the future.
"Yes, Ferrari has relationships with some teams, and it is in Ferrari's interest to exploit their opportunities to get Jules in another team.
"But staying at Marussia would not be regarded as a backwards step, but rather a continuation of a great adventure," Todt added.
Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali confirmed at Monza that the Italian team will continue to support Bianchi in F1 beyond 2013, with the ultimate aim of preparing the Frenchman for a possible future at the works team.
"We want him to do two good seasons with a team that gives him the opportunity to gain experience, and Marussia is one," he said.
On September 6th and 7th 1914, over 650 Parisian cabs, Renault AG1's, were requisitioned in order to carry troops from the front to stem the German advance on Paris. 3,000 soldiers from the 7th Division boarded these vehicles (1 on the running board, 3 in the rear and 1 by the driver). Called Marne Taxis, these vehicles made history.
The Renault AG1 ran on wooden wheels and was powered by a 2-cylinder engine. Lighting consisted of a petrol-soaked wick lamp. They needed to stick close together at night so as not to lose sight of each other. This initiative can be considered as the first ‘'mechanized unit'', which proved to be so successful in WWII.
This operation constituted the first mechanized unit. For the record, the requisitioned vehicles cost the pubic treasury some 70,000 francs, as the drivers were paid the regular fees for their services...
Source : Musée Automobile Reims Champagne
|
| Taxi de la Marne © musée de l'Armée (Dist. RMN-Grand Palais) Photo: Pascal Segrette |
Volvo is recalling 2014 S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 models that are equipped with keyless ignition to fix a software glitch. The company said the central electronic module in the cars and crossovers is not performing as intended.
Volvo is recalling 2014 S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 models that are equipped with keyless ignition to fix a software glitch. The company said the central electronic module in the cars and crossovers is not performing as intended.
It's a banner year for bicyclists.
It's a banner year for bicyclists.
It's a banner year for bicyclists.
It's a banner year for bicyclists.
It's a banner year for bicyclists.
As much as we love the first-generation Ford Mustang, if we had a dime for every classic show we've attended where they made up half the field ... we'd probably have a lot of dimes.
As much as we love the first-generation Ford Mustang, if we had a dime for every classic show we've attended where they made up half the field ... we'd probably have a lot of dimes.
As much as we love the first-generation Ford Mustang, if we had a dime for every classic show we've attended where they made up half the field ... we'd probably have a lot of dimes.
With the current economy the last thing you need is for your vehicle to break down. Whether your driving a reliable car or a busted up
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