Owner: wheelspin URL:http://wheelspin83.blogspot.com Join Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 13:24:00 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: An Irish perspective on cars, driving and motorsport. Site statistics:Click here
Busy days ahead 2007-08-28 18:40:00 Plenty of drifting action in the coming weeksIt's going to be a quiet weekend (except for anyone heading to Electric Picnic), but after that there's a very busy few weeks of car events coming up. Most exciting for me is the Formula Drift season finale in Irwindale, California on October 13th, which I'll be travelling to and reporting on - can't wait! But there's also a full calendar of Irish events on the way - check it out:September 9th: Japfest at Mondello Park including static displays, time attack, drag racing and drifting displays.September 23rd: Prodrift season finale at Punchestown - finally we get to see the boys around this spectacular temporary track after the earlier weather-enforced venue change. Or, if circuit racing is more your thing, check out the Leinster Trophy race meeting at Mondello Park.September 30th: Sleek FX show at Limerick racecourse, including static displays and drag racing.October 20th and 21st: Prodrift Battle of Nations - presumably taking place in Read more:ahead
Nissan GT-R: More details surface 2007-08-28 18:23:00 CGI mockup of the new GT-R's rear endI've just discovered a cool new blog, 7tune.com, thanks to their scoop about a secret test drive of the all-new Nissan
GT-R, one of the most hotly anticipated new cars for quite some time. Nissan advertising and marketing types were invited to a back-to-back comparison test with a Nissan Fairlady Z and the GT-R's expected main rival, the Porsche 911 Turbo.One of the most interesting tidbits revealed by the piece is the fact that the new car will feature 19 different fuel maps for various export markets - no prizes for guessing which market will get the highest power output, then. Read more:details
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A1GP update: Carroll tests Irish car again 2007-08-28 18:13:00 Carroll behind the wheelPortadown driver Adam Carroll completed a full day's testing in the A1 Team Ireland car at Silverstone today, setting the 4th fastest time of the day, only 0.183s behind pace setters South Africa. The team tests
former driver Ralph Firman tomorrow, but if the decision is between the two, I really hope they go for Carroll. Firman has had his chance and was solid but uninspiring. Carroll has shone in his irregular GP2 appearances and would really benefit from the stability a full season of A1GP would bring.Elsewhere, the championship organisers have announced that all A1GP cars will run on a biofuel mixture this season, adding to the growing shift towards alternative fuel in all disciplines of motorsport. Read more:Carroll
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Dear Santa... 2007-08-28 18:09:00 Hours of fun!I know this letter is a bit early, but can I please have a Scalextric set that will let me drift and do donuts in a Lamborghini Gallardo while being chased by a police Range Rover? Thank you! Read more:Santa
, Dear Santa
More green speed machines 2007-08-28 18:04:00 Bioethanol beastA cool feature from Wired magazine - the ten fastest green cars on the planet. I'll take the 1200hp bioethanol-powered Viper, please. But some of their selections aren't very fast at all. And they forgot the hybird GT Supra and diesel WTCC SEAT. Read more:machines
In the papers... 2007-08-28 17:49:00 Thousands of motorists may have been unjustly fined and received penalty points for breaking red light, according to an expert. [Independent]Dublin Bus looking to bring in more QBCs. [Times]The UK LibDems are thinking ahead - they want all petrol-powered cars banned in Britain by 2040. [Guardian]Maxol are introducing a new biofuel that will run in standard petrol engines. [Times] Read more:papers
Creators of The Matrix working on Speed Racer movie 2007-08-28 17:30:00 This does not concern us at all! Haha! Haha!The creative force behind the Matrix
trilogy, the Wachowski brothers, are working
on a big-screen adaptation of the popular motorsports-themed Japanese anime SpeedRacer
. Actress Susan Sarandon revealed some intriguing details about the project in an interview with Collider.com, including a revolutionary new camera that will keep the entire frame in focus, all of the time, just like a cartoon. It certainly sounds like a more interesting and worthy proposition than the mooted fourth (*groan*) Fast & The Furious movie
. Read more:Speed Racer
Carzone Pick of the Week: Fix the damn site! 2007-08-28 17:26:00 There will be no Carzone Pick of the Week this week, as the Carzone website is running excruciatingly slowly at the moment, making browsing impossible. Sort it out guys! I bet the people who've paid for ads are even more annoyed than I am.
VTEC here, VTEC there, VTEC everywhere 2007-08-28 17:04:00 Powered by HondagrandJDM recently highlighted the increasingly popular trend of classic Japanese cars running modern powerplants (particularly Honda VTEC engines, regardless of whether it's a Honda or not). Here's a classic Honda, Toyota and Nissan, all running examples of Soichiro's finest powerplants. And let's not forget 2007 Prodrift Irish Series champion Eric O'Sullivan's 'VTEC 86'. Read more:everywhere
Nick Hogan injured in car accident 2007-08-28 16:51:00 The price of arroganceThis is hardly hot-off-the-press breaking news at this point, but I felt compelled to weigh in anyway. Nick Hogan
is one of a new breed of spoilt, listless celebrity children who get everything handed to them on a plate and have never known a day of hardship in their lives. Until now, I guess. The son of former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan crashed his highly modified bright yellow Toyota Supra in Florida on Monday, injuring himself and his passenger.Nick rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way in the past when he was gifted a free works entry into a Formula Drift event driving a brand new Dodge Viper, to the digust of grassroots drifters who scrimp and save every day of their lives to keep 15-year-old Japanese coupes going.I find it hard to have any sympathy for Nick. He cleary didn't respect the power of the car he was driving or the road he was driving it on - if any good is to come of this accident
, maybe the necessary respect will replace the unchecked juvenile ar Read more:injured
Sideways Evo 2007-08-28 16:35:00 Team Orange's latest creationFrom the people who brought you the Team Orange Subaru Impreza comes this all-new Lancer Evo drift car, as piloted by Japanese D1GP championship contender Kumakubo Nobushige. It's always cool to see something different than the standard selection of AE86s and Silvias being drifted and I'd say this Lancer is a sight (and sound) to behold in the flesh. Ireland is a good a source as any of 'oddball' drift machinery, with Declan Munnelly's Ford Escort and Tommy McDonagh's Cosworth-powered Volvo 740 being among the crowd favourites at Prodrift events. Any other examples of 'different' drift cars that people can think of? Read more:Sideways
Muller scores first diesel win for SEAT 2007-08-26 18:30:00 Diesel powerSEAT driver Yvan Muller made a little bit of motorsport history on Sunday, scoring the first ever win for a diesel
-powered car in touring car racing. The success comes only a short time after the diesel Leon's introduction and will no doubt encourage other manufacturers to look at the oil-burning option. Read more:scores
Another good day for Breen 2007-08-26 18:13:00 On the podium againDundalk's Niall Breen continues to rack 'em up in the British Formula 3 championsip, scoring a second in the second of Sunday's two races at Thruxton. He finished down in 12th in the first race. Compatriot Michael Devaney posted an 8th in the first race but failed to finish in the second.
YouTube Clip of the Week: On-board drifting 2007-08-30 18:10:00 Just getting in the mood for the Formula Drift finale in October - I'm loving the chilled out music and great in-car shots in this clip. Read more:YouTube
In the papers... 2007-08-30 18:01:00 New car sales continue to show an increase on last year. [Independent]Big rise in the number of drink-driving charges. [Times]AA calls for a record of foreign driver's penalty point offences to eliminate current loophole. [Independent] Read more:papers
Prodrift Irish Series Round 6 2007-09-25 19:56:00 Five out of six for O'Sullivan in '07It was the perfect end to a near-perfect year for Eric O’Sullivan in Rosegreen on Sunday. With the title already in the bag, the determined Dubliner powered his way to his fifth victory from six rounds of the 2007 Prodrift Irish
Series, a season that will now forever be associated with his dominance. But as spectators, staff and drivers made their way home from Tipp on Sunday night, they were all too aware that this could yet prove to be the final drift event ever held at Tipperary Raceway. Everyone involved with the sport will be hoping that the pending High Court case goes in favour of the circuit and 2008 will once again see drift cars being pushed to the limit around the much-loved ‘Rosebowl’.Click here to see my photos from the day.
In the papers... 2007-09-25 19:49:00 Last Friday, the government announced plans to increase the M50 toll yet again when barrierless tolling comes in next August... [Independent]Predictably, motoring and consumer groups, as well as opposition politicians were voicing their opposition the next day. [Independent]Meanwhile, the government is to spend €1.1 million upgrading its fleet of official cars. [Independent] Read more:papers
YouTube Clip of the Week: The luckiest man alive? 2007-09-25 19:32:00 Australian drag racer Phil Lamattina had a miracle escape this week when his dragster disintegrated and burst into flames at 260mph. Unbelievably, he walked away with only a burn to the tip of one finger. Less fortunate was American drag racing legend John Force, who suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, a deep laceration of the right knee down to the bone, broken fingers and lacerations on the right hand and a dislocated left wrist in this crash in the States. He'll be bandaged up for a while, but fortunately his injuries are not life-threatening. Read more:YouTube
NEWSFLASH: Alonso to Ferrari, Massa to Toyota in '08? 2007-09-24 18:07:00 Alonso: Ferrari
-bound?I'm taking this one with a large pinch of salt for the time being, but the News of the World is reporting the (hugely ironic if true) news that Fernando Alonso will be moving to Ferrari next season in a deal worth $40 million. His team-mate Massa is also said to be on the move to Toyota
, in the belief that his manager's father Jean Todt is on the verge of being ousted as team boss by a returning Ross Brawn. Cue an unruly scramble for the two Ferrari seats if so... Read more:Alonso
Carzone Pick of the Week: M-fest! 2007-09-24 17:44:00 M-squaredA choice of two cars in this week's Carzone pick, both BMWs carrying the legendary M-badge. A very clean-looking 1987 example of the E30 BMW M3 with 65k miles on the clock, going for a shade under 13 grand, or a slightly high-mileage 2001 BMW M5 for €22,950 - a lot of car for the money.
Shelby Aero knocks the Veyron off its throne 2007-09-22 12:41:00 Speed RacerThe Bugatti Veyron
is no longer the world's fastest production car. The title has now been taken (subject to official approval by the Guinness Book Of Records) by the SSC (Shelby
Supercars) Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo. The car made two runs down a stretch of Nevada highway, with one run in each direction in accordance with Guinness Book of Records rules. The first run clocked 257.11mph, the second 254.55mph. The average: 255.83mph.The Aero is an altogether more brutal and functional creation than the Veyron - it lacks the luxury, panache and history of the Franco-German masterpiece. No word on whether any of the ultra-exclusive (and lighter) 'Pur Sang' versions of the Veyron revealed at the Frankfurt show have been pushed to the limit yet. Could Bugatti still have an ace up its sleeve?Video clips of the SSC Ultimate Aero's high-speed runs can be viewed here. Read more:knocks
BTCC: Gone for good? 2007-09-20 18:48:00 BTCC action at Mondello in 2004The 2008 BTCC calendar has just been released and Mondello Park once again doesn't make an appearance. When the Co. Kildare circuit was dropped by the BTCC for this season, the circuit said they would make every effort to bring it back in '08. Sadly, it looks as though they were unsuccessful and the days of top-line touring car racing at Mondello are over for good.
A1 Team Ireland official launch 2007-09-20 13:51:00 Burning rubber in BelmayneThe Irish A1GP team was officially launched last weekend at sponsor LM Developments' Belmayne housing estate in north Dublin, with a spectacular display by the car on a closed section of road. Ralph Firman took the wheel for the event, and he has also been confirmed as the team's lead driver for the first race at Zandvoort at least, although Adam Carroll is expected to be given the chance to race later in the season.The team then conducted their final pre-season test at Silverstone, with Firman clocking the seventh-fastest time of the day in the afternoon session.More of my photos from the launch can be found here. Read more:Ireland
YouTube Clip of the Week special: Colin McRae 1968-2007 2007-09-20 13:27:00 Last weekend saw the tragic death of one of rallying's most popular and respected figures, 1995 World Champion ColinMcRae
. While he may not have had the devastating consistency of the likes of Sebastian Loeb, he did approach every event he entered with a remarkably determined fighting spirit, winning the love and admiration of rally fans everywhere, as well as introducing a whole new generation to the sport.At this time, I'm reminded of Jacky Ickx's tribute to Jochen Rindt, the Ferrari F1 driver who in 1970 became the sport's only posthumous world champion:"Even if one can talk of an untimely death, all I can say is that the duration of a man's life should not be measured in days or hours, but by that which we achieve during the time given to us."Rest in peace Colin. Read more:YouTube
, Colin McRae
In the papers... 2007-09-19 13:20:00 17,000 drivers have been given penalty points for using a mobile phone behind the wheel in the past year. [RTE News]A group of women in Saudi Arabia are campaigning for the country's ban on female drivers to be lifted. [Guardian]Motor insurance premiums are set to rise again, according to leading industry figures. [Times Motors]Luxury cars targeted in tyre-slashing attack. [Independent] Read more:papers
Carzone Pick of the Week: Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R 2007-09-16 17:50:00 Turbo... check. RWD... check. Looks great.... check. What more do you need?A latter-day Japanese muscle car this week, the Nissan
Silvia S15 was the last of Nissan's renowned S-series line. One of the few truly good-looking Japanese sportscars, this is a great example of the Spec-R turbocharged model, putting out 250bhp from its SR20DET engine. €19,500 takes it away.
YouTube Clip of the Week: Starting Up 2007-09-12 14:08:00 Another of Honda's genius TV ads, this one celebrates the many forms of motorsport the company is involved in. Read more:YouTube
Six-round Time Attack series for 2008 2007-09-11 16:48:00 The Couture Auto Time Attack EvoAfter a promising start in 2006, and then being largely abandoned by Prodrift in 2007, Time Attack looks set to take off in a big way in 2008 with the announcement from Mondello Park that it will be running a full six-round
championship next year. Time Attack is going from strength to strength in the UK, where it is starting to get noticed by the motorsport establishment due to the involvement of several professional drivers.The Japfest round of Time Attack is also set to be re-run at the October Bank Holiday track day, after transponder problems meant times were not recorded for all cars taking part on the day. Read more:series
Japfest a big success 2007-09-11 16:22:00 Packed outThe inaugural Japfest car show took place at the weekend and was deemed a great success overall, with huge numbers passing through the gates on the day. While the organisation could have been a little better and things felt a little hectic at times, I think Japfest has set the blueprint for future car shows in Ireland by offering an excellent balance of display cars, on-track action and 'audience participation' as it were. Will anyone want to pay €20 to walk around an oversized shed half-full of stationary cars again?There were some amazing cars to seen on the day, including an immaculate KE-model Toyota Corolla Coupe, no less than two examples of the brand new Honda Civic Type-R and Couture Auto's incredible Time Attack Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. The car of the show for me though was the Predator Motorsports Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, looking truly stunning in black with gold Volk alloys. They weren't afraid to open it up on the track, either - always good to see!Jonathan Mu
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