Limited Edition Prints on Metal
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Speaking About Paradise Mesa
Why he was using a "Red" flag and not a "Green" flag...one only wonders.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Hybrid Report
What's it like driving the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, the world's fastest hybrid vehicle?
Ask driver Patrick Long, and he'll tell you he's "still pretty charged up (forgive the pun)" after returning to the States following two weeks of testing the car on the Lausitzring circuit outside Berlin.We had a chance to chat with Long next to one of the world's only two 911 GT3 R Hybrid models, incongruously parked outside a swanky restaurant in midtown Manhattan. He was there to announce that the groundbreaking hybrid would make its first appearance in U.S.competition in the Petit Le Mans race, the last event of this year's American Le Mans Series, to be held October 3 at the Road Atlanta racetrack."It's an exciting platform," said the boyish-looking Long, whose normal ride in the series is a Porsche GT3 RSR which he drives for the Flying Lizard Motorsports team.
Compared to the RSR, he said, he could brake later into turns and accelerate earlier, knowing he had up to 160 horsepower available to power the front wheels for added thrust out of corners.The R Hybrid provides that front-wheel power for 5 to 7 seconds after the driver initiates it via a small gold paddle behind the steering wheel.A row of LEDs shows the driver its state of charge at any given point; once the driver triggers it, Hybrid Manager software determines how much torque can be delivered to the front wheels, based on speed, steering angle, cornering force, wheel slip, and a host of other sensor data.
When the driver asks for power, a clutch connects the flywheel to a motor-generator that flows power through cables to a pair of electric motors below the front axle, each connected through a reduction gear to a front wheel.
The system adds about 140 pounds on the front axle, roughly 100 pounds for the flywheel-generator package, and another 60 pounds for power electronics, cooling systems, and cables. To offset this, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid replaces the RSR's steel roof with one made from magnesium. That the system works as well, and as powerfully, as it does is "a testament to the guys at Weissach," Long said. But like many, he was a skeptic at first. "I saw it as a project" or a technology test, he admitted, "until I got in, and saw how refined it was." That was when "I knew we were onto something," said a grinning Long. "I just kept asking myself, why hasn't Bergmeister been talking more about this? It's amazing."
The results of improving the 911's efficiency by recapturing wasted brake energy? The standard 911 GT3 RSR can do 10 laps of the Nurburgring circuit on a tank of gas; the hybrid saves enough fuel to do an entire extra lap before having to pit. And in endurance racing, a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency can win you races just through time saved. Just ask the Le Mans victims of the Peugeot and Audi diesel endurance racers.
Via: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/07/22/testing-worlds-fastest-hybrid/
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Saturday, July 24, 2010
Cut!...It's A Take!
Photo: Denis Cameron/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images Jan 01, 1965.
Thanks to Ferrari's reputation in motor sports, and the work of importer Luigi Chinetti, the United States became an important market. John Von Neumann, the west coast representative, thought that there was potential for an open Spider suited to the Californian sun, a sort of open 250 GT Berlinetta. Chinetti welcomed the proposal and convinced Enzo Ferrari that it was a good idea. Scaglietti was therefore given the opportunity to create this beautiful car, building 106 of them, nine with aluminium bodies. Today, these babies are worth well over several million apiece.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Carmel Concours On The Street
"As most of you know CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA CONCOURS ON THE AVENUE has been rescheduled for 2011. We have decided to step back, find solid footing for the future and present a full scale event in August of 2011."
"However, there is good news! A Limited Edition event for 2010 including thirty five vehicles on Ocean Avenue in the heart of Carmel will present this years motorized fun. Tuesday, August 10 is the date and 12:00 noon until 1:30 pm is the time. The very popular television series Chasing Classic Cars with Wayne Carini will be filming an episode to air this fall on Discovery HD Theater and the Discovery Channel, so join in on the fun."
"We hope you will visit Carmel, view the automobiles, motorcycles and trucks plus have some lunch and enjoy the village! Thank you for your continued interest and support!"
All the best, Doug and Genie Freedman, The Founders
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Just A Day At Pikes Peak
I grabbed these shots at the recent Porsche Parade...it's the car that Jeff Zwart drove at this years hill climb. The Porsche was entered in the "2WD Time Attack" class and he posted a time of 11:31.1...Blisteringly fast!
It's a 2007 GT3 Cup Car with modified suspension and under body shielding.
It has a 2010 Grand-Am 3.8l engine, rated at 450 hp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5djWO2oCSo
Saturday, July 17, 2010
A Day With The Midgets
What a way to spend an afternoon!
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Speaking About a Little Bean Bandit
Here are some of the Club members about 1953, check out all the hardware!!!
This is the same dragster today, restored, with their club logo.
Monday, July 12, 2010
San Diego's First Drag Strip...Paradise Mesa
There are many stories of how the cars would line up with 8 cars & race. The fastest 4 would turn around & race back followed by the slower 4. Eventually this would continue until 4 were going one way & 4 were coming the other way. If everyone observed 'the imaginary center line' there wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, accidents did happened. Later, after the strip became recognized, they would run two cars at a time.
The guys that were serious about racing (the club called "The Bean Bandits", Monique's mom was a member of the club) grew tired of being chased off by the police, so they organized to get use of the field and with the beginnings of the NHRA to help, events were held on weekends from 1951-59. Even so, the police would try to run the street racers off the strip or catch them, but their under-powered police cars were no match. So San Diego had it's first drag strip.
According to auto racing historian Bret Kepner, the Sweetwater runway was used as a commercial drag strip until 1959.
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
# 3 Wins It
I love to look at these old photos of a time long past. Check out the "7up" truck, '57 Ford Ranchero, '57 T-Bird and several '58 Corvettes. Number 3 looks like it may be a Lotus 11, but I may be off on that...anyone know for sure?
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Monday, July 5, 2010
The Second Time Around...Road Trip, The Final Story
This is no small accomplishment...the first show ever for George and his Speedster.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Second Time Around...Road Trip Day Four
It's been a great adventure with a good friend...we've hit just about every BBQ joint we could find. I think today I'm eating lite...maybe some BBQ on a salad. I've also become good friends with the "Cracker Barrel" restaurants, one of Georges favorites.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Second Time Around...Road Trip Day Three
Then it was into the state of Missouri, which is dotted with old barns. This is a typical Missouri roadside.