Moto News: April 2012

Sabtu, 28 April 2012

Shutter Speed: Terror in Zolder

There had been many changes to the driver line-up in the off-season. Andretti now drove for Alfa-Romeo. Emerson Fittipaldi retired from Formula One and left Keke Rosburg to carry the Fittipaldi colours. Rene Arnoux was still at Renault with newcomer Alain Prost. Formula Three star Nigel Mansell shared the driving orders at Lotus with Italian Elio de Angelis. The Williams team remained unchanged with Carlos Reutemann and Alan Jones, the new World Champion. Only Ferrari and Renault had the all-powerful turbo until the new Toleman team appeared with a Brian Hart turbo. It was entered in the Italian Grand Prix with Brian Henton at the wheel. It started twenty-third and finished tenth. Derrick Warwick was unable to qualify the sister car.

At the Belgian Grand Prix, again held at Zolder, Gilles qualified seventh, over a second and a half behind Reutemann's Williams on the pole. Pironi out-qualified Gilles in third.

Reutemann had an unfortunate incident which put a damper on the weekend and his solid qualifying run for the pole. As he set out for his final qualify attempt on Friday, Osella mechanic, Giovanni Amadeo, fell from the pit wall into Reutemann's path. Reutemann was unable to avoid him. Amadeo died from extensive injuries the following Monday. A second incident, also involving a mechanic, occured at the start of the race.

There was mass confusion on the starting grid; first protests by the drivers who supported the mechanics threatened to delay the start. The cars returned to the starting grid after the warm-up lap and several drivers promptly got out of their cars. The protest was over the lack of organizers listening to the driver's view on pre-qualifying sessions to reduce the number of cars during official qualifying in the interest of safety both on the track and in the pits. The mechanics, very upset after the serious injuries to one of their own, joined in to protest the extremely cramped conditions in the pit lane. The drivers each saw a $5,000 fine, but reluctantly returned to their cars with people still standing all over the grid area.

The signal was given for what everyone thought was a second warm-up lap. Upon returning to the start location, Piquet overshot his grid position and was waved off on another lap of the circuit. The rest of the grid was held in position for the start. By the time Piquet had returned there were many engines beginning to overheat badly. At this point it was still thought there would be a proper pace lap. Patrese began waving his arms over his head'his engine had stalled! The red start lights, to start the race, came on just as Patrese's chief mechanic, Dave Luckett, jumped over the pit wall with an air-line to start the stricken Arrows on the second row of the grid. As he crouched down to attach the line the lights turned to green! Alan Jones, right behind the Arrows, could clearly see the problem directly ahead of him and promptly moved to the left with Eddie Cheever and Mansell following. Further down the grid the drivers had not seen the mechanic jump the wall with the air-line. They had no idea of the potential situation awaiting them further up the grid. There had been no yellow flag to indicate a problem of any kind. Siegfried Stohr, starting just his third Grand Prix, had pulled to the right of Rosburg's Fittipaldi and found himself with a stationary car directly ahead. Stohr got on the brakes, but hit his team leader's Arrows squarely in the back. Luckett was trapped, still in a crouch, between the two cars. Amazingly, he suffered only a broken leg, hand and facial lacerations in what appeared would result in far worse consequences.

Out on the circuit, Piquet led from Reutemann and Pironi.

The leaders passed the horrible scene on the pit straight twice and still there was no sign of a red flag to stop the race. In the end Pironi slowed right down and signalled to the other drivers behind him to do the same. The field slowed to a halt in front of the pits with the luckless mechanic still trapped between the two cars. The whole grizzly scene was right in front of them.

Almost an hour later the race was restarted and was basically uneventful. It was halted in the fifty-fourth lap when heavy rain forced the organizers to bring out the chequered flag fifteen laps early. Gilles was classified fourth and won his first three points in the 126C. Pironi finished eight.

The circus moved to Fairyland ' Monaco!

Caution, the following video is graphic and may be quite upsetting.

Read the rest of the Shutter Speed series.

Shutter Speed: The new kid on the block
Shutter Speed: The first book and the first nine!
Shutter Speed: Motorcycles, Racing and a New Camera
Shutter Speed: The continuing brush with greatness
Shutter Speed: 1976 ' A Big Year!

NASCAR ' Mark Martin Leads the Field, Drivers Playing it Safe, Dale Jr Fastest in Practice

Mark Martin has the pole for tonight's race in Richmond

Mark Martin is the oldest kid in the NASCAR sandbox, and yesterday he proved that he can still be the fastest. Turning the second fastest lap on his first run around the track there was nowhere to go but up. On his second time around the 3/4 mile D shaped oval he topped the speed set by Carl Edwards just minutes earlier to take the pole for tonight's Capitol City 400 presented by Virginia is For Lovers. Setting the pace at 128.327 mph was enough for the 53 year old to take the coveted pole position. So how does the oldest kid on the block feel about taking his 5th pole in Richmond?

'As far as I'm concerned, this is just as big a deal,' he said.

After running his laps Martin showed his trademark humility about how his talent and experience kept him out front.

'I was very close to skinning the car up, especially off of four [on] the second lap,' Martin said. 'I'm driving it as hard as I can go, and at the very limits of my talent.'

'I did not ask Rodney [Childers] what he put under the car,' said Martin. 'We made some improvements to the car in happy Hour [final practice] in race setup right at the end.

'If it would have been me, I probably would have incorporated those changes into the qualifying setup, and I didn't want to ask Rodney if he did or not, or what he did to the car. All I want to do is roll out on the race track with no preconceived notion and drive it as fast as it'd go and rely on him and his judgment.'

'I was really hoping that he [Childers] would call me [on the radio] on the first lap and tell me to shut it down ' I told him to tell me to shut it down if we happened to get the pole on the first lap. When he didn't, I was afraid, 'Oh, no, we're 15th-fastest. That wasn't near fast enough, and I've really got to get up on the wheel.'

'I was very close to skinning the car up, especially off of [Turn] 4 on the second lap, and that was my concern. That was my concern in practice, as well. Both the qualifying runs I made in practice, I almost skinned it up, too. So I was driving as hard as I can go ' at the very limit of my talent, for sure ' and if I keep pushing the limits, I'm going to run out of talent here, one of these days.'

Carl Edwards will sit on the outside of row 1 beside Mark Martin.

Carl Edwards will be sitting on the outside of row 1 beside Martin when the green flag drops tonight. Edwards' top lap at 128.290 had hung on through 17 drivers, but when Martin moved to second on the scoring tower with his first lap, Edwards paid much closer attention.

'I thought we had him, and then he shot up to the top of the scoreboard,' he said.

Edwards was asked how he feels his 2012 season is playing out and what he feels about the fans concerns about the log green flags in the previous races causing a drop in the ratings from fans looking for more excitement in the form of wrecks and/or tempers flaring on and off the track.

'We are [11th] in points and don't have a win,' Edwards said of his status. 'It is not like we are tied for first right now. We have to be very cautious with our points. Let's say we know some things. Let's assume some things that are true. Right now we don't have the fastest car on the race track every week so we can say, 'Alright for the next 16 or 18 races we might still not have the fastest car.'

'Under the old points system we would say, 'Damn, we are already ninth and not running that great, let's just go for it here. Let's do some crazy stuff and get a win or two and have some fun.' But we can't do that now because we say that we have to make it into the top 10. We cannot give up any points.

'What we are banking on, what we hope comes is that we hope in those last 10 races that we are good enough then to go shoot for the championship.'

'If you were in my position you would never be able to forgive yourself if you were ninth in points here in Richmond and they drop the green flag on the last restart and you have a great race car and you go for some banzai run and wreck the thing and don't make the Chase.

'Let's say those last 10 races we have a hell of a run and would have won the thing if we would have made it. I would be a moron to give it up right here at Richmond. I don't know if that is right or wrong but that is why it ends up this way because guys start to think, 'OK, just gather all your troops here, focus, work everything out, make the Chase and then go get 'em.' That wasn't intended by NASCAR I am sure but that is the way we feel.'

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''-

Dale Jr talks about his newly returned confidence and the firestorm he caused by saying he is"the best driver" in the Hendrick stable.

Last week some comments by Dale Earnhardt Jr caused a bit of a firestorm in the garage when he stated that he felt he was the best driver at Hendrick Motorsports, maybe even the best in the entire garage. In Friday's interview session at Richmond International Raceway he reconfirmed his opinion and then in final practice for Saturday's Capital City 400, put an exclamation point on it by outrunning 44 other drivers.

'That is a healthy debate, that is healthy among race fans as far as who is the best driver,' Earnhardt said. 'All the drivers in the garage feel like they are the best, individually, and they should. That is kind of the way you have to approach it.

'I figured that was definitely debatable and the race fans are going to voice their opinion and that's good. I certainly don't like to rock any boats, but you have to answer the question honestly.'

Jr lays a lot of his confidence at the feet of Steve Letarte for giving him the best equipment he can, and for being the best cheerleader in the business. Keeping his mind in the game when frustration might normally take over, and keeping him focused on the race are just a few of the things Jr credits his crew chief for.

'He's definitely made me more accountable, would be a way to explain it for the words I choose to use and how I choose to describe the car to him,' Earnhardt said of Letarte. 'He's not going to put up with me verbally abusing him or the equipment. I wouldn't expect anything less than him being a professional, as well.'

'I think we have a good in-race relationship. He does a really good job of providing me with information and calming me that we are going to fix any issues we have. I feel confident that he has fixed enough issues and improved the car during enough races that I don't really get as worried about it when something isn't quite right. I know that the chances of it getting improved and fixed are really good.

'I've got great confidence in him and his abilities to orchestrate the weekend as good as I would expect. We get along really good because of that confidence between each other. I think there is good trust there, too.'

That confident attitude send waves through his team and pit crew as well.

'I learned a long time ago that if you don't have confidence in your car that can be problematic for you,' Earnhardt said. 'If you don't have confidence in your crew chief then that can be problematic for you and if you don't have the same confidence in yourself it's not conducive to being successful.

'You have to feel like you're here and you're the best and that is the way you should feel. In any profession, you have to have that kind of confidence.'

So off we go to Richmond tonight, under the lights, for what some drivers call a race on the ultimate short track. Get those helmet straps and set belts tightened folks, it's looking like a good race tonight.

NASCAR ' Hendrick's Leads the Field as Gordon Takes the Pole, Drivers Comment on The 2 Car Push
NASCAR ' Mark Martin Takes the Pole for Talladega Proving You Are Never Too Old to Go Fast
NASCAR ' Mark Martin Edges Out Trevor Bayne for the Pole at Daytona
NASCAR ' Mark Martin Takes The Pole For Phoenix ' Hendrick's Teams Look For Big Rebound
NASCAR ' The Field is Set, The Fans Are Ready, The Drivers Are Looking to Win! 2012 Here We Go.

Jumat, 27 April 2012

Review: 2012 Dodge Journey

I confess, my first experience with the Dodge Journey did not impress. It was 2009, and The Garage's videographer, Scott Simmons had a rental Dodge Journey that would serve as transport for the 2009 IMPA Test Days held in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Riding in the back seat with Founding Editor Gary Grant riding shotgun, the Journey screamed rental car with an interior of inexcusable quality. I still recall Scott negotiating an off-ramp at 25mph, the Journey's tires squealing in protest while the three of us were in utter hysterics at just how awful the Journey was.

But that was 2009, the darkest days of Dodge and Chrysler. The Dodge Journey received some much needed revisions in 2011, so it was finally time for The Garage to once again revisit the Journey. Would the Journey still be nothing more than a warmed over rental car special, or has Dodge transformed the Journey into a legit player in the hotly contested crossover market? Read on to find out.

From the outside, the Journey looks essentially the same as it has since it was originally introduced as a 2009 model. A new grill and front fascia are basically all that differentiates the Journey from the original. Which isn't exactly a bad thing, as the Journey is not a bad looking crossover. It is not cutting edge or dripping with class. I'd call it just about right, with nary an offensive line to be found. That said, our test car, finished in Storm Grey Pearl off-set with rather plain looking 17' alloys did a fine job of getting lost in a parking lot.

After my first trip in a Dodge Journey I was appalled at how cheap the interior was. Thankfully, Dodge got the memo that it sucked and finally made good with the 2011 refresh. This time around, it looks like Dodge actually paid attention to detail with the Journey's interior. Quality of materials and fit and finish are vastly improved. Soft touch surfaces abound, as opposed to the rock hard plastics of the past. Apart from decent materials, the Journey was also quite roomy and comfortable to boot.

Base Journey's are equipped with a 2.4L four cylinder rated at 173hp, coupled to a rather archaic 4-speed automatic. I would strongly urge anyone shopping for a Journey to go for the optional 3.6L V-6, good for 283hp and hooked up to a six-speed automatic. We have sampled this new V-6 in other Chrysler products and we remain impressed with its power and refinement. While four cylinder Journey's are only available with front-wheel drive, V-6 models have the option of all-wheel drive. Our test car was a front-wheel drive V-6, with EPA fuel economy figures of 17/25MPG city/highway.

Dodge has a habit of offering a dizzying amount of trim levels, and the Journey is no exception. Our test car was the mid-level SXT. We appreciated the dual-zone temperature control, but it seemed strange Dodge couldn't offer auto climate control. Other standard features included a six-speaker stereo with XM satellite radio, and touch-screen audio interface. Our test car added the Popular Equipment Group, which included a trip computer, power driver's seat, alarm, LED interior lighting, and UConnect Bluetooth technology. Including delivery charges, our Dodge Journey SXT rang in at a very respectable $26,785USD.

If you had asked me back in 2009 what Dodge should do with the Journey, I would have answered the car should be scrapped. Yet somehow Dodge was able to salvage a decent crossover from this horrible mess of a vehicle. With a fantastic new V-6 and a class-leading interior, Dodge has managed to transform the Journey from a joke to a legitimate player in the highly contested crossover market.

A New Journey for Dodge
This week in The Garage: 2009 Dodge Journey R/T
Review: 2011 Dodge Caliber
Review: 2011 Dodge Avenger
Review: 2012 Kia Sorento

Rabu, 25 April 2012

Acura Introduces the 2013 ILX

Acura is getting back to its roots here in America with the new, entry level ILX. Back in 1986, Acura was the first Japanese automaker to market an upscale luxury brand, years before Lexus and Infiniti were conceived. Honda introduced Acura with two cars, the luxurious Legend and the sporty Integra. The Integra was based on the Civic platform. While our neighbors in Canada have had an upscale Civic available to them, the Civic-based ILX is new to us here in the States.

The 2013 Acura ILX has a base price of $25,900USD. With that, you get a 2.0L four rated at 150hp paired to a five speed automatic. Buyers can opt for the Premium Package for an additional $3,300, which adds leather seats, heated front seats, a power drivers seat, HID headlights, foglights, upgraded audio with XM satellite radio, 17' alloys and a rearview camera. For an extra $2,200, the Technology package adds surround sound stereo and navigation. Enthusiasts will want to opt for the 2.4L four, rated at 201hp, mated to a six-speed manual as seen in the Honda Civic Si. There will also be an ILX Hybrid, powered by a 1.5L four with a CVT, which is priced at $28,900. Acura is typically straightforward with its option packages, so I find it odd the base ILX can be had with the Premium and Technology packages, while the 2.4 can only get the Premium package, and the hybrid can only get the Technology package. The 2013 Acura ILX hits the showroom floor late May.

Acura Announces Pricing for 2013 RDX
Acura Announces Pricing for All-New Turbocharged 2007 RDX
Acura Adds TSX Sport Wagon for '11
The Ax Falls on New Acura NSX
Review: 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon

Selasa, 24 April 2012

NASCAR Vs. Hockey ' A NASCAR Lovers Guide to Surviving Hockey Playoff's

When talking sports in Canada the usual topic I find at this time of year is Hockey. It's playoff time so the fans are all wearing their team colors. Living in the land of Maple Leaf blue and white I have seen very little of this activity over the past 7 years, but the feeling of playoff season abounds. So instead of seeing the traditional Blue and White of the Maple Leafs around the city, what I see in stead is a cacophany of colours as support for every team that has made the play offs can be seen everywhere, in every bar, on every street corner, it's obvious that it is playoff time in Hockey.

When traveling in the US however it is a different type of sport altogether that allows for interesting conversations in airports and restaurants. NASCAR fans have the same passion for their sport as Canadians do about Hockey. Although the team dynamic is much different between the 2 sports (43 teams at each race vs 2 teams on the ice at a time) the passion of the fans is hard to distinguish between the 2 sports. With the obvious differnence between the 2 sports, one being winter and played on ice, while the other is a summer sport and plays out on asphalt, the similarities between the sports and their fans must not be over looked.

Hockey fans come from all walks of life, rich, poor and in between. So do NASCAR fans. Hockey is played on ice, but the venue is always shaped in an oval. NASCAR races on ovals'. with the exception of road courses twice a year to remind the drivers that they can turn to the right sometimes. Hockey fans love their beer, so do NASCAR fans. Hockey players slap the rubber around the rink, NASCAR drivers burn rubber all around the track. The biggest money making team in the league (the Toronto Maple Leafs) have not made the playoff's in 7 years and have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967, the biggest money earner in the sport of NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr., has not won a race in 133 starts, way back in 2008, and yet in both cases, the fans always feel that next year will be different.

In the case of either sport I find, as I travel around the continent, that you can start up a conversation to pass the time with strangers simply by noticing their team colours. It helps pass the time while sitting around in airports and bus stations, with all kinds of interesting people. You see a guy in a Flyers jersy walking through the airport and say 'So man how'd your team do last night?' and you can prepare to spend at least the next 15 minutes in conversation with someone who can tell you every detail about the game the njight before. Walk up to ANY NASCAR fan wearing a shirt, or a jacket and ask 'How'd you driver do on Sunday?' and you can prepare to spend at least the next 30 min discussing everything that happened on the track the Sunday before, and how the points race is shaking out as well.

Now for those of you who live North of the Border like myself, NASCAR is a sport that is carried by the TV networks only when there is no Hockey being televised. Most Nationwide races get relegated to the late night re-plays while Hockey is shown live. It is hard as a racing fan to watch another sports take precident over your favourite, but then again, Hockey Is Canada's unofficial national sport. (Lacrosse is the official sport' really??) At Least there's no Hockey on Sunday afternoons.

And when it comes to game time/race time traditions, I find that there is almost no difference in how you prepare. Make sure the beers are cold and the snacks are at the ready, because in both sports if you happen to leave the room for any reason, you might just miss something important on the screen, who slammed who into the boards, or who slammed who into the wall.

The best part about Hockey and NASCAR and the way their seasons play out is that while one is in playoffs (NASCAR in the Fall and Hockey in the spring) the other sport is just getting started. The fans CAN actually watch both sports and not have to worry about conflicting schedules (with the previous mentioned Nationwide late night re-plays aside).

As a Canadian travelling around to watch NASCAR races it has been said that I should have my Canadian Citizenship revoked since I would rather watch racing than Hockey. In fact if you ask my kids who their favourite sports starts are, they will tell you Tony Stewart, Dale Jr., and Jimmie Johnson. And if you ask them about Hockey they will look at you with quizzical looks on their faces and say''Hockey?? I play that outside on my rollerblades sometimes.'

While both sports have their version of 'The Redneck Fan' (Canadiennes Fans in Hockey and Kyle Busch fans in NASCAR) they appeal to almost everyone because of the speed of the action onteh screen. Anything can happen at any time, and the excitement in the voices of the announcers will bring you running from any room in the house to the television when something big does go down.

In the end, I live being a Canadian NASCAR fan. Although the only hockey that makes it on my television is during the 3 month long NASCAR off season, I do still keep abreast of where my home town team is in the stats (not hard when they are at the bottom most of the time). So for those racing fans out there who are having trouble dealing with the pre-emtion of our sport to the Hockey playoff's, relax, once they are over the only thing left will be NASCAR.

Whoever said hockey was safer than racing?
2010 Chevrolet Equinox: 3 hockey bag test
Red Bull Racing plays pond hockey in Quebec
NASCAR ' Edwards Takes the Pole, Top Chasers Start Deep in the Field and Travis Pastrana Enters the NASCAR World
NASCAR ' How to Deal with Racing Withdrawl.

Senin, 23 April 2012

2012 Mazda2 Long Term Test/Project ' Introduction

Quite a few members of the automotive press have driven and been impressed by the Mazda2's sporty handling characteristics, light weight, and great transmission. When I drove one on a twisty road, I realized that it was exactly what I had hoped my 2009 Civic Si would be, a practical, economical front wheel drive car that would still be tons of fun in the corners, and just over a week later, I traded the Si for a 2012 Mazda2 Touring in 'Liquid Silver Metallic.' (For our Canadian readers, this car is roughly equivalent to the GS model. It lacks automatic wipers and headlights and heated mirrors, which is a typical difference between US and Canadian models, and is also missing the GS's side sill extensions. Color choices are also slightly different.)

The car is relatively well-appointed, with quality materials used throughout. The single CD player supports MP3/WMA files and has an auxiliary input. I've used that input to rectify one of my main complaints about the Mazda2, its lack of satellite radio, by installing the aftermarket XM Radio unit visible between the seats in the above photo. The seats and interior trim, which are exclusive to the higher trim level, look great and have been well-received by everyone who's been in the car. One omission that I'm going to take care of is the lack of an integrated Bluetooth system. Mazda has just released one, which should be included on 2013 models, and can be installed in 2011 and 2012s. It supports streaming music wirelessly in addition to the typical phone calls. The stock shift knob was far below the quality of the rest of the interior, so I've temporarily replaced it with a leather one from the local parts supplier, and will eventually find something really cool from one of the Mazda specialists. Another necessary change was to add the center armrest, which is an accessory that can be ordered through the dealer. It removes the rear cupholder, and needs to be swiveled up to access the two front ones, but it adds some much-needed storage and is a must-have for long drives. The armrest can be seen in the photo below.

I've had the car for almost four weeks, and have already covered nearly 1150mi (1850km) in it. Yesterday, I joined a caravan of Mazda enthusiasts from my area (Sacramento, California) to a large Mazda meet in Dublin, CA, exactly 100mi (160km) away. The Mazda2 did a great job on the trip, and I'm looking forward to taking it on the 400mi (650km) drive to Los Angeles, which I do several times a year. It achieved great mileage on the drive, too, and there's still over a third of a tank left in the car. At the car meet, the Mazda2 was a focus of attention, despite being surrounded by nearly 100 other Mazdas, many of them heavily modified. I seem to be the first enthusiast in the region with a Mazda2, and everybody was interested in checking out just what you get in Mazda's smallest, least expensive model. Most came away quite impressed, especially at the quality of the interior and exterior and the amount of space inside.

Simply driving from place to place isn't why I bought this car, though. Although it will remain a daily driver, 'Project' is in the title of this post because I'm planning on taking advantage of this car's dynamics, along with a few upgrades, to have some fun on the track and at Autocross events. There's a rapidly growing aftermarket for this car, and I plan on taking advantage of it. Suspension is one of the higher priorities, and I'm planning on slightly lowering and stiffening the car, while still keeping its drivability in mind. One upside of the car's torsion beam rear suspension is that a simple brace can provide noticeable improvements in handling, reducing understeer, but is cheaper and easier to install than the sway bars that most larger cars use. Replacing the car's stock all-season 185/55/15 Yokohamas is critical, so some stickier 195/55/15 tires and lightweight 15'x7' wheels to mount them on is are the top of the list as well. I'm also planning on installing an aftermarket air intake, which will inexpensively add a few horsepower and improve throttle response, and installing some performance brake pads and lines for those long days at the track.

The future holds a lot for this fun, practical car, so stay tuned!

Long Term Test: 2006 Mazda 6 Sport Wagon
From the Archives: Long term test 2003 Xterra
Review: 2012 Mazda2
Mazda2 fills the need from road to track
Project Rising Sun

NASCAR ' Hamlin Takes the Checkered Flag in Kansas, Leaving Martin Truex in the Wind.

Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag at Kansas on Sunday after passing Martin Truex Jr with 30 laps to go and holding him off until the checkered flag.

The #56 NAPA Auto Parts car piloted by Martin Truex looked untouchable. For most of the day he was, leading mosre laps in one race than he has in 2 season previous in total, Martin Truex looked like he ws the one to beat, and then the sun came out. When the sun came out it loosened up everyone in the field, but for Truex it spelled the end as Denny Hamlin's #11 Fed EX car improved enough under the new track conditions that, with 30 laps to go, he was finally able to make the pass and hold off Martin Truex Jr. right up to the checkered flag. Truex gave it all he had making 2 serious dive bomb attempts at retaking the lea but it simply was too little and too late to catch Hamlin before the checkered flag.

'Whether it was coincidence or not, our car definitely seemed like, [relative] to the field, was better once the sun came out,' Hamlin said. 'I felt like our car lost a lot of grip when the sun came out, but I guess a lot of guys did when that happened. I felt like all day I was behind the No. 56 [Truex], and his car looked so superior to the field.'

'We just needed some kind of change ' weather or adjustments or something to get where he was at ' and we kind of got both of them. In overcast conditions, the cars run a little bit tighter, the grip level's higher in the race car, and it's more of a track-position type race. When the sun's out, the drivers, in my opinion, are more prominent.'

'You move around, find the grip, do things in the car to make up for what you don't have. The slicker the conditions are, the better it tends to [be] for our race team. Luckily, we had that run in sunshine.'

Martin Truex was very dissappointed with his second place finish in Kansas

For Truex the 2nd place finish was the most disheartening second place finish he has ever felt. After being the dominant car all day long, to lose because of something as simple as sunshie really burned the leader of the MWR team.

'I guess if we can be this disappointed with second, it shows how far we've come as a race team,' he said.

'I felt like [Sunday] was kind of a day where I thought I was back, and felt really strong that we'd have a car that could contend for the win going into the race. And then to be able to do that all day long, it was a good feeling.'

'I know our wins are going to come. We just need to keep running like we are. It's been a long time since I've won, and I know I'm capable of it, and that's the most disappointing thing, letting one slip away [Sunday]. If I had made a mistake or we'd made a bad adjustment or something, it would probably be a little bit easier to swallow, to be honest. But to put tires on, and not touch the car, and all of a sudden the car drives worse than it has all day, it is pretty frustrating when you haven't won in a while. But again, I've got a lot of confidence in this team right now. ' Good things are in the future for us, and I've just got to keep looking at that direction.'

When asked about his moves at the end while trying to retake the leads, Truex hinted at his frustration in his desperate moves.

'Desperation,' Truex said wryly. 'I was a little bit faster than Denny at the end, but he was running against the wall right where I needed to be, and I was just trying to gain a little bit of ground.

'It was desperation ' last-ditch effort ' just trying something. There was no chance to make it work.'

'I'm just not really sure what to think of that last set of tires,' Truex said. 'The car had been really good all day, we put the last set on, and I was just wrecking loose for the first 20 laps of that last run.

'Denny was able to get by me, and once he did, the race was over. The car got better longer in the run, and I was able to get back to him, but I'd get three or four car-lengths from him and pick up the aero push '

Jimmie Johnson feels his 3rd place finish is showing that his team is ready to be back in contention.

Jimmie Johnson however feels strongly that his 3rd place finish was a show that he and his race team are back and ready to be in contention.

'This week it doesn't register,' Johnson said. 'To me, last week at Texas [and] the week before, to lead a lot of laps at Martinsville and have our cars be one, two, three and not get the victory ' [Sunday], to get near the end and not close the deal does sting. We ran well but we weren't a dominant car and kind of finished where we should have.

'[Sunday] doesn't bother me. Sure, I'd love to [win the 200th], but the No. 56 [Truex] and the No. 11 [Hamlin] at the end had more pace than we did.'

'I commend Chad for trying something a little different, strategy-wise,' Johnson said. 'If things would've played out different at the end, maybe we could've put two on while the other guys were putting four ' something, just trying to give us some options.

'I don't think it affected our finish. We got basically back to where we were [before the stop]. I think I was ahead of the No. 11 but the No. 11 was real strong that last run and went up there and got the win.'

Dale Earnhardt Jr had another strong showing with a 7th place finish, good enough to keep him in 4th in the overall points. Steve Letarte, in an intervfiew with Claire B. Lange from Sirius / XM NASCAR radio, said it isn't how far you are frm teh top, they're more concerned with not falling past 11th in the standings. 64 points ahead of 11th place is the way they are thinking right now. If they can remain as consistant as they have been so far this season, the wins will happen, as long as they don't get ffrustrated before they get there.

Tony Stewart, the reigning 2011 champion had another off day with the #14 Mobil 1 car. Starting back in the field in 29th he never really seemed to gain any traction in his move towards the front. Coming on strong at the end of the race he managed to improve his position up to 13th dropping him to 8th in teh overall points.

Next week we head to Richmond for the first of 2 races there. Richmond being a short track is usually as very aggressive race, however the feeling doesn't really seem to be there for the first race of the season. Drivers and crew chiefs both expect to see a lot of green flag racing in comparison to what we will see in the fall. Only time will tell.

NASCAR ' Hamlin Takes His First Checkered Flag of the Season ' Dale Jr. Shows The Passion Fans Have Been Waiting For
NASCAR ' Jimmie Johnson Takes the Checkered Flag and Proves He Is Always Relevant in the Chase
NASCAR ' Martin Truex Sets The Pace in Texas for the Samsung Mobile 500
NASCAR ' Stewart Takes His Fourth Checkered Flag of the Chase, With 2 Races Left It's Definitely a Two Man Chase
NASCAR ' Truex Jr Brings Home the Pole for the Third Chase Race of 2011 at Dover

Minggu, 22 April 2012

NASCAR ' Allmendinger Wins the Pole At Kansas, Engine Trouble for Logano Moves Him to the Back of the Field

A.J. Allmendinger gets his first pole driving for Penske Racing and his first since Phoenix in 2010.

A.J. Allmendinger has been here before, leading the field to the green flag, but this is his first in his new ride with Penske in the number 22 AAA sponsored ride. This is the 97th all time pole for Penske racing and after waching almost the entire field qualify before him, Allmendinger edged Kevin Harvick (175.747 mph) by .043 seconds at the 1.5-mile intermediate speedway to take the poole position at Kansas Motor Speedway. How does Allmendinger deal with the pressure of being new to a team who us used to success on the race track?

'More than anything, I put so much pressure on my shoulders to go out there and perform,' Allmendinger said. 'They [his Penske team] are used to winning, running up front, getting poles. It's good just to build momentum.

'So, hopefully, we have a solid 400 miles. It's good, but we know the bigger picture's on Sunday, and I'm happy to be part of the team.'

Kevin Harvick will sit on the outside of Allmendinger after qualifying second for the STP 400 in Kansas

Kevin Harvick will start beside him on the outside in position 2. Harvick had an excellent lap in the making but got 'a little excited' as he entered the final 2 corners and lost a little bit of ground.

'That might have cost us the pole, but overall it's been a great year for us qualifying-wise so far,' Harvick said. 'The cars have been fast every week, and as soon as we put together a whole weekend without me making a mistake or things not going exactly right, I think everything's going to come together nicely.

'So I'm pretty happy with the way everything's gone so far this year.'

So what about the other big names in NASCAR? Teams that carry the big names in the sport, Roush and Hendrick have been the power houses in the sport for the past few seasons, and yet that strength hasn't really been shown on the track so far this season.

Greg Biffle, the current points leader and last weeks winner in Texas, was asked about the pecking order of the team. After delivering his first win in 49 starts last weekened, who is the #1 driver in the Roush Stables? Carl Edwards did sign a multi million dollar contract to re-up with Roush for the next 4 season, and his team finished second in points in 2011 by being consistant, but only marked one win fo the season. So far this season Edwards has yet to lead a lap. But if he were to choose one racetrack this year to get that win and break his 40 race losing streak, Kansas would be where he wants it most.

Biffle is leading in the points and Edwards has yet to score a win in over 40 races. So who is at the top of the pecking order in the Roush Stables?

'There would be no bigger win on the circuit,' Edwards said. 'If I had to choose between winning one race throughout the year, that would be the one I would pick. The amount of pride that I would have ' winning that close to home and in front of so many people that are friends of mine and people that have helped me ' that would be huge.'

But who is the number one driver in the Roush stables as they see it? Who is getting the better deal when it comes to equipment? Both Edwards and Biffle were very coy with their response to that question.

'No, I still think the No. 99 [Edwards] is the number one team at Roush,' Biffle said Friday, allowing the smile to play at the corners of his mouth. 'I'm the underdog.'

Edwards disagrees. Based on current performance, he says it's easy to identify the top team at Roush.

'Right now, Greg is the No. 1 team ' the No. 16 team is ' because they're leading the points and winning races,' Edwards said.

Dale Jr feels that right now, he is the best driver in the Hendrick Stable, and he very confident about that feeling.

So what about the most consistant driver in the Hendrick stables ths season, Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Is there a pecking order at Hendrick Motorsports that decides who get the best equipment? How does he feel about his chances in the 2012 season?

Asked whether he thought Johnson was a better driver, Earnhardt was emphatic in his response.

'No, he's a hell of a race car driver, but I feel like I'm the best,' Earnhardt said. 'I think that's the way you have to feel. I feel like I'm smarter than everybody, and I can drive better than everybody, and I know a lot of people ain't going to agree with that, but I feel pretty strong about it.'

'There is a bit of a pecking order, and it really comes down to what you've done lately,' Earnhardt said Friday at Kansas. 'I think that Jimmie and Jeff will always carry a certain role in that company that I will probably never achieve, just due to them being there that long and having that trust built up with Rick [Hendrick] and all the employees there ' and their accomplishments, obviously.'

So on to the track we go in Kansas for the STP 400 to decide the winner, and who has done the most lately in the pecking order for both of these power house teams.

NASCAR ' Toyota Sits 1,2,3 With Logano on The Pole
NASCAR ' Kenseth Makes Big Moves in the 2011 Chase and Wins the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte
NASCAR ' Kenseth Wins Another With Martin Runner Up as Late Race Call Wins The Race
NASCAR ' Denny Hamlin Wins at Phoenix, Johnson Climbs Out Of The Hole, EFI Causes Trouble For Stewart
NASCAR ' Kyle Busch Wins From the Pole at Kentucky for His 99th Career Win

NASCAR Vs. Hockey ' A NASCAR Lovers Guide to Hockey Playoff's

Whoever said hockey was safer than racing?
2010 Chevrolet Equinox: 3 hockey bag test
Red Bull Racing plays pond hockey in Quebec
NASCAR ' Edwards Takes the Pole, Top Chasers Start Deep in the Field and Travis Pastrana Enters the NASCAR World
NASCAR ' How to Deal with Racing Withdrawl.

Kamis, 19 April 2012

Review: 2012 Honda Civic Si

Here at The Garage, we're fortunate to have a steady stream of new automobiles to review and share with you, our readers. I was particularly interested when I got word I would be loaned the new 2012 Honda Civic Si. Sure, The Garage had already reviewed the redesigned Civic EX sedan, but while that car is a commuter appliance, the Civic Si is not. On a personal level, I owned a 2007 Honda Civic Si four door for three years, with many enjoyable miles and memories. I wanted to see what Honda did with the new Si.

As we've seen, the 'all-new' Civic is a very conservative evolution of the last generation. In other words, the Civic underwent a very mild refresh, so if the Civic Si seems, well, familiar, it is. Foglights, front and rear spoilers, a chrome exhaust tip and beautiful 17' alloys help distinguish the Si from plain vanilla Civics. Our test car, finished in Rallye Red certainly helped putting a sporty emphasis on the car, and I thought the honeycomb grill was a nice touch. While I appreciated the new, more rounded rear fascia on the four-door Civic, on the coupe with its steeply raked rear windshield, the same treatment gives the Civic coupe the appearance of having a pretty big rear end.

As with the exterior, the interior of the Civic Si was instantly familiar. The two-tier digital speedo/analog tach may not be for everyone, but it is easy to read at a glance, and certainly different from any other competitor. Controls are of course, simple and easy as pie to use. Red stitched sport seats, aluminum pedals and shifter and a meaty leather steering wheel confirm this isn't your mom's Civic. The sport seats were very comfortable, and offered exceptional support. While lesser Civics have all the charm of a corporate office cubicle, the Civic Si's cabin is sporty and inviting.

The last generation Civic Si had a 200hp i-VTEC four putting out 200hp. Quick? Yes, but critics of the old Si called it a torque-less wonder. To address that criticism, Honda dropped in a new 2.4L four, making 201hp but producing more torque. The performance characteristics of the new engine do not seem all that different from the old one. The Si produces a nice burble at idle, is quite docile around town, but always seems happiest when brought straight to redline. This, as before, is an engine that is at its best at the absolute limit, will gladly do so all day, and sounds intense and glorious doing so. For the price of admission there are few cars that sound as intoxicating and exotic as a Honda Civic Si at the limit.

In that vein, the Civic Si retains its Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde persona. Happy to put put around town doing errands, and ready to scream through your favorite roads. Keep in mind, you are not getting all 201 horses until that tach hits 7,000 rpm. The Civic Si is utterly refined around town yet offers fantastic handling, steering and braking abilities without any compromise in ride comfort. Also as before, the Civic Si is only available with a six-speed manual, a decision that gives me enormous respect for Honda, and that will keep the posers away. But the auto journo cynic in me tells me Honda just is not interested in spending the money to develop a twin-clutch automated manual. And the five-speed automatic employed in other Civics would make no sense in the Si.

In typical Honda fashion, how you want your Civic Si is kept very simple. In addition to the standard equipment already mentioned, the Civic Si is equipped with a seven speaker premium audio system and Bluetooth. The only options, apart from dealer installed accessories are summer performance tires and a Navigation package, which is sadly the only way to get satellite radio. Our test car was a base Civic Si, with a sticker price of $22,975USD, including delivery. In all, the Civic Si does represent a decent value for the performance it provides.

Yet having lived with a 2007 Civic Si for three years, and spending a week with a 2012 Civic Si, I felt let down. From the seat of my pants, it was as if I was driving the same car. For a car company who earned a reputation for automotive engineering excellence beyond reproach, I look at the Civic Si and cannot believe this is the best Honda has to offer. With the S2000 long gone, the Civic Si also bears the mantle of being the hottest Honda available in North America, and that's a lot to ask from a 201hp car. Honda had a chance to match or beat its chief competition, the VW GTI. Honda did neither. Sure, it costs a tad more, but for my money I'd switch to a Ramen noodle diet because the GTI is that much better.

Review: 2012 Honda Civic
Honda Delays New Civic
New Honda Civic 3 door to debut in London
Honda CUV News for 2012
Review: 2012 Chevy Sonic

Marcelli takes fourth in Long Beach

Team press release

(Long Beach, California) April 17th 2012 ' It was a street fight Saturday afternoon during the 38th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach as the American Le Mans Series Presented by Tequila Patron roared around the 1.9 mile temporary racing circuit in downtown Long Beach, California. Merchant Services Racing driver Kyle Marcelli and co-driver Anthony Downs raced to a 4th place finish in the LMPC category.

For the drivers of the American Le Mans Series, it was a race weekend that offered zero dry practice laps prior to taking the green flag for the two-hour sprint race.

Teams and drivers had a two-hour free practice session on Friday morning to learn the circuit and test set-ups. Unfortunately, it was under very wet conditions. For 22-year old Kyle Marcelli, he had no problems coming to grips with the circuit under the miserable conditions. Marcelli posted the fastest lap in the LMPC category which impressively was second fastest overall behind the Muscle Milk Honda LMP1 of Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf.

'If you ask me, I rather enjoyed it.' Said the Canadian racer Kyle Marcelli. 'I've driven many permanent road courses in wet conditions but never a temporary street circuit. The car was very good under braking and on turn-in, I suffered most just trying to get the power down as the car has no traction control.'

American Le Mans Series qualifying is divided into a fifteen minute qualifying session per class beginning with the GT cars and ending with the Prototypes. For the first time in a long time, ALMS qualifying was cancelled as mixed weather conditions provided a dry track for GT and a wet track for Prototype. Race officials made the right call as this would have inverted the grid making for an unsafe race.

According to the rulebook, the starting grid was then based off overall point standings. Unfortunately, for the #8 Merchant Services Racing LMPC driven by Kyle Marcelli and Anthony Downs, this meant a back of the grid starting spot as a DNF at the first round in Sebring, Florida left them with zero points.

Race strategy for the #8 Merchant Services Racing LMPC appointed Anthony Downs behind the wheel to start the race with Kyle Marcelli in to take the checkered. For Anthony, this marked his first time racing on a temporary street course and in the American Le Mans Series.

140,000 fans were on their feet as thirty-five of the world's most exotic sports cars and prototypes roared down lakeshore to take the green flag. Downs was P8 in class but running strong and clocking consistent lap times close to the leaders pace. However, struggling with a lack of rear grip, Downs spun the car on the exit of turn six. Luckily avoiding the walls, Downs kept the car in the race but fell two laps down. Soon thereafter, it was about the forty-five minute mark in the two-hour race when the first and only caution came out. Merchant Services Racing as well as most teams utilized this caution to pit for a driver change. The team opted to take only fuel. Marcelli was now behind the wheel but two laps down. Racing out of the pits and back onto the circuit, Marcelli found himself positioned behind the LMPC class leader of Ryan Dalziel. Consistently clicking off fast laps, Marcelli past Dalziel getting one lap back then charged through to P4 in class. Everyone on the Merchant Services Racing team including Marcelli was praying for another caution which would allow them to hopefully get another lap back and challenge for a podium, however the race remained green until the end. The #8 Merchant Services Racing LMPC driven by Marcelli crossed the stripe P4 in class with the second fastest race lap.

'All in all, it was a good weekend for us in the #8. Although we don't have any pretty hardware to show for it, we certainly proved to have winning pace. We'll just have to put it all together in the next one.' Said Kyle Marcelli.

Next up is the American Le Mans Series Monterey Presented by Patron. Held at the beautiful Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, this 6-hour endurance race will be a spectacle for the fans. Be sure to watch on May 13th 2012 at 5:00pm EST on ESPN2, Canadian fans can watch all the action on Rogers Sports Net.

Race Driver Kyle Marcelli is supported by: MBRP Performance Exhaust, Lafarge, Braille Battery, Merchant Services Ltd, Barrie Trim & Mouldings Inc, Pfaff Automotive Partners, The Garage, OGIO and Larche Communications Inc.

For information on the American Le Mans Series visit: www.americanlemans.com

For information on Kyle Marcelli visit: www.kylemarcelliracing.com

Marcelli: Becoming Quite Familiar to the Front Row of ALMS
A character building weekend for Kyle Marcelli at Mosport
Disappointment For Marcelli At Road America
Kyle Marcelli to partner with Pfaff in Porsche GT3 Cup
James Hinchcliffe wins Indy Lites race in Long Beach

Rabu, 18 April 2012

Shutter Speed: The new kid on the block

The 1981 Formula One season continued with the on-going dispute between the FIA, the sports governing body and FOCA, the Formula One Constructors Association. At the first race it came to a head and only at the insistence of the principal sponsors of the teams would any kind of reconciliation take place and the season got underway at Long Beach.

At Ferrari there was a new kid on the block. Jody had retired having achieved his goal of the World Championship in 1979. He stuck around for 1980 with the T5 disaster falling down around him. Some drivers would have just thrown up their hands and called it a day, but Jody showed his class by sticking to Ferrari so they could capitalize on his achievement. The new kid was Didier Pironi who had moved over from Tyyrell.

'When I joined Ferrari the whole team was devoted to Gilles. I mean he was not just the top driver, he was much more than that,' recalled Pironi. 'He had a small family there'he made me fit right in. I felt at home right away. Gilles made no distinctions. I was expecting to be put in my place. I was not number one. I was number two yet he treated an equal all the way.'

During the off-season Gilles had toiled away at what he loved best'a faster and better car. As it stood, anything would have been an improvement on the T5. Everyone in Formula One was playing 'catch-up' in an attempt to gain on the power advantage the turbo Renaults had over the normally aspirated engines.

The 126 had made it's debut in 1980 at Monza during Saturday's practice, but was not raced due to lack of development. When it turned up at Long Beach there was something missing'the beautiful sound of the flat 12 engine. The new engine was a fully turbo-charged V-6 that developed 560 bhp at 11,500 rpm. The sliding skirts had been banned for many reasons, one being safety. The car would not be totally on rails as it had been for the last number of years; the driver would again be in control. This delighted Gilles. Now dubbed the 126C, the red rocket hit the streets of Long Beach flying.

Gilles managed to put the car into fifth place on the grid right out of the box. Pironi was back in eleventh in his first drive for Ferrari. Ricardo Patrese sat on the pole in an Arrows to everyone's surprise. Alongside him was the new World Champion Alan Jones in a Williams. Third was Carlos Reutemann in the second Williams with Nelson Piquet in fourth.

At the start Gilles took advantage of the incredible power of the Ferrari and attempted to take the lead on the outside. The attempt was very nearly successful, but Gilles slid wide going into the Queen's Hairpin. He attempted several other 'late-braking' manoeuvres, but continued his backward slide. He eventually coasted to a stop with a broken drive-shaft. Pironi would also retire with fuel pick-up problems. Jones would claim the first victory of the season.

The only other event I remember that weekend was while standing with Dr. Hugh Scully of the Canadian Medical team that oversees much of Canadian racing including the Canadian Grand Prix. Hugh was accompanied by his young wife. Crowds tend to have some sound at a Grand Prix even during practice, but I noted that the spectators at the turn we were standing at were silent. I also noticed they were not looking at the cars at all. Most were looking in our direction. I could not figure out what their interest was until I saw Hugh's wife doing a stretching exercise by putting her foot up on the cement guard rail next to the track near a marshall's station. I looked at her then pointed at her new fans. She promptly took the foot from the cement wall in both her hands and raised it until it was straight up! Her toe was perfectly pointed into the heavens! The crowd went nuts! Hugh's wife is Vanessa Harwood, at the time a principal ballerina with the National Ballet Company of Canada! Did I get a shot of it? Don't ask. It embarrasses me that I did not.

Gilles DNFed in both of the South American races after starting 7th in each. The turbo let go in Brazil and another drive shaft went in Argentina.

The Italian Grand Prix had been relocated in 1980 and held for the first time at Imola, a small principality just south east of Ferrari's home of Marenello. It was so successful that a new race was created as organizers were able to skirt the rules governing the number of Grand Prix per country and the distances between circuits. Imola and Monza were certainly close by most standards, which should have had to be dealt with according to the rules, but Monza, the traditional Italian Grand Prix remained on the calendar for September.

Friday saw many of the teams threatening to boycott the race over various ground-effects infractions. Colin Chapman had withdrawn his Lotus 88 when it was declared illegal during scrutineering. Eventually things settled down with all moveable or flexible skirts on the underside of the cars being removed. A ground clearance check was made on every car as it returned to the pits after a run. A number of teams found ingenious ways to have the car lower itself while on the circuit. This post run inspection created chaos and line-ups in the pits.

For the first time in Italy a Ferrari would carry the number '27'. Pironi would campaign '28'. Gilles promptly put '27' on it's first pole ahead of Reutemann in the normally aspirated Williams-Ford. Pironi was back in sixth. It was the first pole for Gilles since Long Beach in 1979. He fully admitted it had been a long dry spell.

At the start, in the wet, Gilles took the lead with Pironi slicing through the pack to take second. The two Ferraris drove the fans nuts until Gilles dove into the pits to change to slicks as the track began to dry. Luck being what it is, the rain began again as he drove out onto the track. Two laps later he was back in to change his rubber again. In effect, his race was run as he was the better part of a lap down in fourteenth.

Gilles charged on with his usual gusto and set the fastest lap over and over, but still found himself in seventh at the end. Pironi scored the first points for the 126C with a fifth.

Gilles and Didier had become good friends by this time. Both shared any information they had about their cars and encouraged each other. Later, when Didier's wife gave birth to twins, they named one of them Gilles.

next: Terror at Zolder!

Read the rest of the Shutter Speed series here.

Shutter Speed: Down; but not out!
Shutter Speed: The first book and the first nine!
Shutter Speed: 1976 ' A Big Year!
Shutter Speed: More World Cup and the disastrous T5
Shutter Speed: The continuing brush with greatness

Racing Towards the Sunset: Gord Green Remembered

The P & G Special MK5 was one of many in a series of race cars built by Gord Green

A long time friend of Leighton Irwin, Gord Green held a special place in Canadian sports car racing history. Even here in The Garage, he left his mark, with the P & G Special. This memorial story was written by Colene Allen.

On March 23, 2012 long-time CASC Regional competitor and official Gord Green passed away at hospital in Haliburton, Ontario. Gord is remembered for the significant accomplishments he made as a competitor, good friend, car builder, and official. His contributions to racing are many, significant, and well known. In the summer of 1966, Gord competed in the Sundown Grand Prix at Mosport International Raceway. Gord's race that day was a recipe of a pinch of grit, a teaspoon of determination, a lot of talent and skill, and a sprinkling of luck. Gord's co-driver, Ron Evans, told me the story of that historic race.

Ron and Gord met back in 1958 when Ron started racing. Both competed in various cars and classes, with Gord racing a Lotus 7 starting in 1964 and Ron following Gord with a Merlyn 6A in 1965. By this time, Gord and Ron had known each other for six years. They both slept at the track on race weekends, paddocked next to each other, and began combining their resources to save money. They were part of a larger group of racers that spent time together that included Al Sutter, Gary Magwood, Willy Cleeland, and Leighton Irwin. At some point, Ron tried to convince Gord to buy a Merlyn, but Gord was happy to keep racing with his Lotus 7.

Gord was a talented driver and fierce competitor on the track, but a class act and real gentleman off the track. Ron remembers helping Gord fix his Bug-Eyed Sprite with limited time before the call to grid and just barely getting Gord on the grid. Gord promptly went out and beat Ron quite resoundingly in the race. Ron laughs and insists that it was about the friendship and the camaraderie, not winning the races. At one point in early 1965, the two of them were talking about how they were effectively a team already and agreed to have a go at winning the 1965 Sundown Grand Prix. Ron suggested to Gord they should use his new Merlyn 6A for the race. To convince Gord, he let him drive the car during an open lapping day at Harewood.
Since getting the Merlyn, Ron had been having problems getting the car to shift properly. He was not familiar with the Hewland gearbox in the car. After 10 laps around Harewood, Gord pitted the Merlyn, claiming that the gearbox was beautiful and the car had a shot at winning the Sundown Grand Prix. The problem Ron had been having with the gearbox related to double-clutching the gear shifts. Gord had no problems at all, demonstrating how good a driver he was to recognize the way the Hewland gearbox worked. The decision was made. The Merlyn was the car of choice for the two new co-drivers for the 1965 Sundown Grand Prix.

Practice and qualifying were uneventful. Gord was the driver chosen for the first and third stints, because Gord and Ron had agreed the car owner should be in the car for the checkered flag. The race was started in true LeMans fashion, and Ron watched Gord run across the track in his loafers, throw his leg up to get over the bodywork and into the car, hit his foot on the steering wheel, and knock his shoe off. As Gord struggled to find and put his shoe back on, the other cars on the grid quickly left, leaving Gord the last driver to start the race. Instead of the disappointment one would expect Ron to feel, he was laughing at the absurdity of the situation. These two guys now had work to do if they were going to achieve the result they thought they were capable of.

Near the end of his first stint in the car, Gord had managed to catch up to Ludwig Heimrath Sr. in a factory Triumph TR6. Ludwig Sr. was driving with Craig Hill. Gord had managed to work his way back up into the top ten of the race. Just before he could pass Ludwig Sr. and take the position away, the engine in the Merlyn began to misfire and Gord was forced to pit. After a bit of poking about, Gord and Ron figured out that they had broken a cam follower and they were forced to retire the car from the race before Ron even turned a lap.

The 1966 Sundown Grand Prix ran on August 20th. The favorites to win the race were Eppie Weitez and Francois Favereau in a Ford Comstock GT-40. Among the other big guns in the field were Craig Fisher and George Eaton in a 427 Cobra and Martin Chenhall and Gary Magwood in an MG B. Gord and Ron had decided to enter Gord's Lotus 7 for this race. The two of them had an outside chance at the top three, as the Lotus 7 was underpowered compared to some of the other cars in the field. Neither Gord nor Ron cared where they finished in the race, because this was just for fun.

The race weekend started out with a Friday day practice, followed by a qualifying session, and then a compulsory night practice. Ron doesn't remember any dramas, and the two had qualified reasonably well. All drivers competing in the race had to complete the night practice session. In a strange twist of fate, Ron would step out of their van the morning of the race and seriously sprain his right ankle. Concerned about how much the ankle hurt, Ron went to Race Medical and had the ankle taped up. This created a problem for the duo, as Ron could no longer bend his ankle at all. In order to drive the car, Ron would need to move his entire leg to go between the brake pedal and the throttle. Not wanting to ruin Gord's chances in the race, Ron tried to arrange for Sid Mandell to drive the car in his place, but that wasn't possible because Sid hadn't completed the mandatory night practice. Ron was forced to start the race or they would not be unable to compete.

The first challenge they faced was getting a decent start with Ron limping across the track to do the LeMans start. With 15 starters for the race, Ron somehow managed to get a decent start. He had some trouble adjusting to the gearbox in the Lotus 7, but Gord was very happy with their overall position when Ron pitted about one and half hours into the race to hand the car over to Gord. While Gord raced, Ron went back to Race Medical and had them tape his ankle up a second time. At the halfway point in the race, Gord handed the car back over to Ron. They were still well positioned in the race overall. Ron drove a solid stint, keeping the car in good working order and out of trouble, so that Gord was in a good position when he took over the last hour and half of the race. With one hour to go in the race, Gord was in fourth position overall. The duo had driven a race in which they had not put a foot wrong, except for Ron's sprained ankle. It was a good result, and one both men would have been happy with. However, fourth place wasn't in the cards for Gord and Ron.

In a moment, the luck of Eppie Weitez and Francois Favereau changed dramatically. From leading the race overall, the GT-40 broke a differential and was forced to retire. It was bitterly disappointing for Eppie and Francois, but the best stroke of luck that Gord and Ron could have asked for. After the GT-40 was officially retired, Ron put up a pit board as Gord drove by showing they were now in third place. Gord remained in third place as the sun set in the west, and the checkered flag came out. Their 'trophy' for finishing third was a two inch square dash plaque, which to this day, is glued to the toolbox in Ron's garage.

Gord and Ron didn't co-drive together in another Sundown Grand Prix. They ended up driving with other people in the ensuing years, but the friendship between them deepened. When Ron married C.R.C.A. member Sylvia Freeland on February 18, 1968, Gord was his best man. Gord became the adopted uncle of Ron's daughter and son, and the two men remained the best of friends until 1982. Their paths took them separate ways after 1982, and they saw each other only rarely. Ron remembers Gord as being one of his best friends, a good man to go racing with, a talented and fierce competitor on track, and an engineer with creative ideas and solutions to problems off track. Ron counts himself among the lucky few to have had as good a friend as Gord and to have shared so many wonderful moments with him.

Rest in peace Gord. We will certainly miss you.

Colene Allen is a CASC-OR Scrutineer and Pit Marshal. She is the daughter of Ron Evans.

More historic racing mysteries
Automotive Sunset in the land of the Rising Sun?
Going Fast: Gateway Racing number 07 Corvette is up for sale
Everything was going just perfect' And then the green flag dropped
Bob Long, Mr. Region Racing

Senin, 16 April 2012

Dodge Prices out 2013 Dart Family

The Garage was at Dodge's stage for the global premier of the 2013 Dodge Dart at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The Dart looked sporty, and sounded good on paper. Dodge has been lost at sea in the white-hot compact car market for ages, and without a strong showing it will be very difficult for the brand to prosper. With the Dart, Dodge boasts of its Alfa Romeo DNA built in with the passion of Dodge. The Dart will be available for sale in June, while the top-spec R/T will be in around October. As promised, the Dart will start at $15,995USD, and will be offered in five trim levels. Read on for pricing and features and commentary for the Dart family!

Dart SE: $15,995 The starting point for the Dart. Standard features include 10 airbags, LED taillamps, power windows, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio, as well as a 2.0L four rated at 160hp paired to a six-speed manual. Compare that to the base VW Jetta's ancient 2.0L, good for only 115hp and down a gear. You might punish said Jetta all year from a stop, but come warmer weather, your ego will take a hit as you sweat it out without any AC.

Dart SXT: $17,995 The SXT adds AC, as well as 17' alloys, power mirrors, power locks, keyless entry, six speaker audio, alarm, and folding rear seat. While the SE's price will be seen in all Dart commercials, I see the SXT accounting for a huge majority of all Dart sales.

Dart Rallye: $18,995 For the car guy, this is where the Dart starts to get interesting. Dodge talks about a 'customized look' with distinctive front and rear fascias, foglamps and dual exhaust tips in addition to other sporty styling touches. Inside, the Rallye adds a leather steering wheel with audio controls and a trip computer. Unique to the Rallye is an available 1.4L MultiAir turbo engine. While there is no horsepower advantage from the base 2.0L, the smaller turbo engine provides more torque. I see the Rallye as an attractive alternative to buyers who find the Honda Civic Si and VW GTI four doors as out of their price range.

Limited: $19,995 Builds from the SXT and adds an 8.4' Uconnect touchscreen, rear back-up camera, a unique 7' configurable instrument cluster (so cool that SRT is using it for the new Viper) and a power driver's seat. Positioned as the luxurious Dart, the Limited will appeal to buyers seeking premium features in a compact car. I see the Limited doing well with Gen Y and X buyers who demand current tech in their cars, as well as older buyers who may be downsizing from a larger car but still wanting premium features and creature comforts.

R/T: $22,495 The R/T won't be joining the Dart line until October, but as the top-spec Dart, and positioned as the sportiest, it will offer its own 2.4L four rated at 184hp. The R/T takes all the standard kit on the Limited but goes back to the sporty styling bits of the Rallye, and adds 18' alloys, sport suspension, leather interior, dual auto climate control, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel, a first in this class of car. You wouldn't think it, but the hottest Dart presents the greatest conflict. The buyer is now edging closer to the GTI and Civic Si in terms of price, but falls short in terms of power, yet offers a level of standard equipment none of those cars can match. So, the R/T has a lower price, more premium features standard, but less power. And it is the latter feature that matters a heck of a lot with the demographic cross-shopping the three cars.

Introducing, the 2013 Dodge Dart
Dodge Expands Challenger Line with Rallye Redline
Dodge Launches New Challenger SE Rallye
SRT drops final teaser image of 2013 Viper
SRT Premiers 2013 Viper

NASCAR ' Martin Truex Sets The Pace in Texas for the Samsung Mobile 500

Martin Truex sets the pace for the 2012 Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

For the second time in his racing career Martin Truex Jr will lead the field to the green flag at Texas Motor Speedway. He will be watching his rear view mirror closely however, as the defending race champion Matt Kenseth will be close on his tail starting from his best start ever in Texas, second. Truex in his No. 56 Toyota posted a lap at 190.369 mph (28.366 seconds) to edge defending race winner Matt Kenseth (190.148 mph) for the top starting spot.

Truex, who is tied for third in the Cup standings with Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart, is looking to get his first win since Dover in 2007.

'That's our main goal. This team's good enough. We can get to Victory Lane. We're going to do it soon. I feel good about this team. I'm just having so much fun coming to the race track and driving these cars.'

'We're going to make them proud here pretty quick.'

Tony Stewart will be one to watch as he tries to move forward from his 29th place starting position.

Tony Stewart, who has won four of the past six races on 1.5-mile tracks, including the past three (he's a two-time winner at Texas, most recently this past November) will be one to watch tonight as he makes his way forward from his 29th place starting position. Stewart brushed the wall in practice before qualifying and opted to go with his back up car. Suprisingly, the back up car seemed to respond to changes better than the primary car was.

With the pole secure, Truex will try to win his first race since June 2007, when he claimed his only Cup victory at Dover.

'That's our main goal,' said Truex, who is tied for third in the Cup standings with Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart. 'This team's good enough. We can get to Victory Lane. We're going to do it soon. I feel good about this team. I'm just having so much fun coming to the race track and driving these cars.

'We're going to make them proud here pretty quick.'

Stewart qualified 29th in a backup car after scraping the outside wall during the second lap of Friday's 90-minute practice session. The accident may have been a blessing in disguise for the Stewart, who found the backup No. 14 Chevrolet more responsive to adjustments than his primary car.

'I just got loose and didn't have enough race track to get it gathered up,' Stewart said of the brush with the wall. 'We haven't got a lot of laps on this one [the backup car], but I think we feel better with this one so far.

'It's doing everything that we were trying to get the other one to do ' The top-tier teams, their backup cars are just as good as their primary cars, so definitely no concerns.'

Dale Jr feels like hs is on the cusp of returning to his winning ways.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is looking good with his refound confidence that his fans remember. Sitting second in points over all and making it look easy, Jr says he is ready to win, and hopes it will be in Texas where he got his first ever Sprint Cup win.

'We're getting closer. I feel like we're getting closer,' Earnhardt said. 'I don't really know what the measuring stick is, but hopefully it's real close. I'm ready to win. I'm ready to go to Victory Lane. I've been working with these guys, and they're working so hard. They're giving me really, really good cars. They deserve to win races. I think the team deserves it. Ready to make that happen. We're just going to keep trying. We're getting closer, though. That's the bright spot.'

But don't count out the Roushketeers either. Matt Kenseth comes to Texas as the defending race champion, and Gerg Biffle is leading the overall points battle. Carl Edwards sits just outside the top 10 in eleventh position, and is still chomping at the bit after losing the championship to Tony Stewart after tying in points.

The three current Roushketeers were not only among the most consistent drivers last year, they were the strongest. All three swept the top five and all of them finished the AAA Texas 500 within three spots of their spring effort. Just as important, the group carried that momentum over from previous seasons, which gives them a balance of recent momentum and career strength.

Kenseth may very well be the strongest of the three at Texas. His victory in this race last year was the second on this track during his career, but the first since 2002. He wasn't simply logging laps in the intervening years, however; the driver of the No. 17 earned four runner-up finishes from 2006 through 2010, as well as another two third-place results. In his last 13 attempts, he has amassed nine top-fives and finished worse than 12th only once. Moreover, he's earned these results despite a variety of circumstances that include green-white-checkered finishes, fuel mileage races and rain-delayed events.

NASCAR ' Roush Dominates as David Ragan Sets The Pace in Texas
NASCAR ' Matt Kenseth Sets the Pace in Phoenix, Stewart Keeps Up the Trash Talk, Edwards Keeping Cool
NASCAR ' Kenseth Takes The Win in Texas
NASCAR ' Newman Sets the Pace For The Second Chase Race of 2011
NASCAR ' Ryan Newman Sets the Pace For Bristol

NASCAR ' Biffle Wins in Texas After Passing Johnson During the Longest Green Flag Run Ever

Greg Biffle took the checkered flag in Texas to win the Samsung Mobile 500

Saving equipment and saving fuel while trying to run down the leader sounds like an impossible task with impossible odds, but that is exactly what Greg Biffle had to do in order to take the checkered flag in Texas last night for the Samsung Mobile 500. Johnson had led a total of 156 laps when Biffle finally passed him with only 34 laps to go, taking advantage of the only mistake Johnson had made all night when he brushed the wall and lost momentum after the pass to extend his lead to where Johnson could not catch him.

'I just dug deep,' Biffle said. 'I knew I had to do it and kept trying and trying and trying. I knew the team would forgive me if I wrecked it trying to beat him, so I gave it all I had.'

This is Biffle first win since Oct 3, 2010 at Kansas breaking a 49 race winless streak, and the first win with crew chief Matt Puccia.

'I could say it's about time,' said Biffle, 'But I'm just thankful to be able to drive these cars, as fast as they are. We knew it was a matter of time that we were going to win one soon ' we've been running so good.'

'I was a little short on fuel, so I kind of lifted a little early and let the car roll down through the corners. When he started catching a little bit of traffic, that's when I started going.'

'I just pushed as hard as I could, and I was driving the thing sideways around the corner trying to catch him. I could tell I was catching him, and he had a little trouble with traffic.'

In fact Jimmie Johnson, who took his 5th runner up finish of his career in Texas, was taking offense to the way the cars who were laps down were racing him near the end.

Jimmie Johns ran for his 5th second place finish in Texas after leading the most laps for the day with 156.

'Man, second sucks ' I wish we could have won,' Johnson said. 'I'm definitely disappointed but we had a great race car and there's a lot to be proud of here. Our pit stops were just amazing all night long. We had a very, very fast race car and a little bit more respect through some lapped traffic ' it could've been a little different.'

'When I caught lapped traffic, some guys that were multiple laps down didn't show much respect for myself, the leader,' said Johnson. 'Before I knew it, the No. 16 [Biffle] was there inside of me and got by.

'We ran with him for the next eight or 10 laps, and then I made a mistake into [Turn] 3 and hit the fence. At that point, I just needed to make sure I brought it home. A great night, all in all. I certainly wish we could be in Victory Lane, but we'll try again next week.'

'We've been really close over the last five or six months,' said Johnson. 'You look through last year, even through different points, leading a lot of races and didn't execute at the end for whatever reason.

'It's nice to be running well. It's nice to be in this position. But I want to get back to our winning ways really soon.'

Johnson led Team Hendrick with the best finish but all 4 Hendrick cars finished inside the top 10. Gordon finished 4th, Kasey Kahne finished 7th and Dale Jr, who has been the most consistent Hendrick driver this season, finished in 10th and tied for 2nd place in overall points now with Matt Kenseth.

Kasey Kahne had his best finish of the season so far in 7th, and inside the top 10 with all of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates.

Kasey Kahne was sure that the 48 car was going to get the 200th win for Handrick Motorsports but is just was not in the cards.

'I thought Jimmie had it [Saturday] night,' Kahne said. 'I wasn't worried about it, I thought it was over. Every time I looked up there the No. 48 was leading. Then, I guess 15 [laps] to go I looked up and the No. 16 was leading. Then I thought 'well maybe not.'

'Those guys have been working hard since before I got here. They've been trying to get that 200th. It would be great to get it soon. Any one of the four, we need to get it done and get past that.'

Jeff Gordon is also feeling the pressure for wanting to be the driver who scores that win for Rick Hendrick.

'I'm thinking about it all of the time, and Rick reminds us all the time that it would be nice to get that out of the way,' Jimmie Johnson said. 'Man, we've been all around it and had a lot of shots at it, and unfortunately just haven't been able to pull it off.'

Jeff Gordon is feeling the pressure of getting the 200th win for the Hendrick Motorsports team.

'It's on all of our minds. It's pressure. We know that Rick doesn't come to every single race, and right now he's coming to every race, because he doesn't want to miss that 200th, and none of us want him to,' Gordon said.

'We'll keep digging, we'll keep trying. And we know it's going to happen ' I mean, our teams are just too good, and we're running too good. We know it's going to happen, it's just when. It would be nice to kind of get that one out of the way, because it is somewhat becoming this heavy load that we're carrying.'

Next week takes us to Kansas for the STP 400, starting at 12:30 pm on Sunday. Coverage will still be carried by Fox.

NASCAR ' Jimmie Johnson Takes the Checkered Flag and Proves He Is Always Relevant in the Chase
NASCAR ' Johnson Wins at Talledega ' Is The 2 Car Push Here to Stay?
NASCAR ' Denny Hamlin Wins at Phoenix, Johnson Climbs Out Of The Hole, EFI Causes Trouble For Stewart
NASCAR ' Biffle Leads a Roush Sweep in Texas, Stewart Winning The War of Words With Edwards, Kyle Busch Gets Grounded For the Weekend
NASCAR ' Martin Truex Sets The Pace in Texas for the Samsung Mobile 500