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To some people, the sound of a rotary engine revving at 9000 rpm is like nails on a chalkboard. Not me. But its constant, high-pitched hum sounds similar to that of a busy beehive. It's one of the most distinct sounds in the automotive world and has experienced great success both on the road and on the racetrack.inline_mediumwraptextright0027594569/reviews/editors_notebook/1004_2010_mazda_rx8_r31004_04+2010_mazda_rX-8_r3+side_view.jpgtrue

Today was the fourth time I've driven on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, the famously challenging, 13-mile racetrack in the Eifel Mountains of Germany. I had only two laps, but they were among the best I've had there, and they were in the unlikeliest of cars: the new 2011 Buick Regal. Yep, a Buick at the 'Ring. Who woulda thunk?inline_mediumwraptextright0027609932/reviews/driven/1004_2011_buick_regal2011-buick-regal-on-nurburgring-front.jpgtrue

It's called Ultra4, or unlimited four-wheel-drive racing. The few rules that are written down address safety, environmental, or team-behavior issues, but vehicle construction generally falls to the builder's innovation and boldness.inline_mediumwraptextright0028543411/features/racing/1005_2010_king_of_the_hammers1005_z_01+2010_king_of_the_hammers_race+modifed_jeeps.jpgtrue

He started building just for himself, 1:32 scale slot-car tracks that are lifelike representations of real racing venues, but David Beattie's hobby grew into an obsession and then a business: Slot Mods. Located in suburban Detroit, Beattie, his partner Mike Giampetroni, and their crew of six have shipped their painstakingly detailed creations to clients all over the country. Beattie's magnum opus, a 170-foot track with sections from several different historic venues, is his own setup, located (where else?) in his basement.inline_mediumwraptextright28547401/features/racing/1005_david_beatties_tiny_racers1005_z_04+slot_mods+beattie_at_monaco_straight.jpgTrue