Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/get-to-know-joshua-laughton
Monday, February 18, 2013
Get to Know: Joshua Laughton
If you want to talk about quick learners, then you’ve come to the right place. The driver I interviewed for this week’s Get to Know joined iRacing in mid-2008, but did not start using iRacing competitively and full time until 2010. When he got serious in 2010, he really got serious. How serious? He went from a Class C license to an oval pro license in less than half a year. He then went on to compete in the second season of the NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship, running in 16 of the 18 total races. This week’s featured driver is Joshua Laughton. The 29 year old Laughton, who currently lives in California, has accomplished a lot on iRacing. In his case, appearances are deceiving. From a glance at his [...]
Sunday, February 17, 2013
ETC: Experimental mid-engine XP-819 Corvette going up for auction
Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Chevrolet, Misc. Auto Shows
It seems to be commonplace that when a new Corvette is in development, rumors swirl about a possible mid-engine layout. As is the case of Chevy's most recent C7 Corvette, these rumors never pan out.
In any case, the idea for a 'Vette with an engine mounted behind the driver can probably all be traced back to a single car, the 1964 XP-819 prototype. Built as an "engineering exercise" back in 1964, the prototype was designed with a rear-mounted engine. History tells us that the idea of a rear-engine Corvette fizzled, and the XP-819 was eventually cut up into pieces and stored at a shop in Daytona Beach, FL.
After sitting for untold years, a restoration project started on the car, and while it isn't yet fully completed, the current owner of the car, Mid America Motorworks, will have the car on display at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance as a "driveable chassis" with hopes of having a fully completed car ready to bring to next year's show.
While we don't know many of the details behind this car, we can obviously see that it wears strong C3 styling details four years before the third-generation Corvette ever launched. We will be on hand at Amelia Island next month, so we'll bring you more coverage of this one-of-a-kind Corvette, but until then, check out the original images of the car above and the press release below.
Continue reading Experimental mid-engine XP-819 Corvette going up for auction
Experimental mid-engine XP-819 Corvette going up for auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/17/experimental-mid-engine-xp-819-corvette-going-up-for-auction/
Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage
Video: Drifting on a frozen lake with a studded Lexus looks like fun
Filed under: Videos, Lexus, Humor, Specialty
Sometimes you come across a list of ingredients and you don't even need to know what's being made, you just know you need to be there when it's done. So if you saw a recipe for a Vimeo video that was one snow-covered frozen lake, one Lexus IS, four studded tires, two ice fisherman and one guy lounging on a couch, do you think you'd have any questions?
We didn't. The dish was cooked up by the Wide Open Drift Team and KSP Productions, and it's exactly what you'd think it is. Right down to the guy on the couch. We're glad we got to partake, and you can too in the video below.
Continue reading Drifting on a frozen lake with a studded Lexus looks like fun
Drifting on a frozen lake with a studded Lexus looks like fun originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/drifting-on-a-frozen-lake-with-a-studded-lexus-looks-like-fun/
Helmuth Koinigg Heikki Kovalainen Kevin Harvick Armour Vienna Sausage Kroger Chevrolet
One Year and 280+ Deaths Later, No Council Progress on NYPD Crash Reforms
Christine Quinn remains noncommittal on whether NYPD should investigate maimings and killings on NYC streets. Photo: James Estrin/New York Times/Redux
It was a year ago today that the City Council transportation committee, led by James Vacca and Peter Vallone Jr., convened a hearing on pedestrian and cyclist safety and the failure of NYPD to properly investigate [...]
It was a year ago today that the City Council transportation committee, led by James Vacca and Peter Vallone Jr., convened a hearing on pedestrian and cyclist safety and the failure of NYPD to properly investigate [...]
BMW unveils new Z4 GT contender
BMW has unveiled the car that will carry its hopes in the American Le Mans Series from this season. The Z4 GTE, which was revealed at the Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday, replaces the successful M3 GT that won the ALMS GT class drivers' title in 2011 and manufacturers' crowns in 2010 and '11 with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing squad.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/bmw-unveils-new-z4-gt-contender
Rosberg denies Mercedes destabilised
Nico Rosberg is confident the late changes to Mercedes' management structure ahead of the 2013 Formula 1 season will not destabilise the team in any way.
Toyota Racing 2013 Sprint Unlimited Race Recaps
Toyota Racing LogoMATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 5th How was your car in the race? “I think we had a really strong car. The Dollar General Camry was extremely fast, I just couldn’t get back in that position — nobody was having any luck on the bottom....more»
Beppe Gabbiani Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica
MotoGP to use old pits at Silverstone
MotoGP will use the pre-2011 Silverstone pits and startline from this season rather than the 'wing' complex on the run to Abbey.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Today’s Headlines
More on Bloomberg’s Final State of the City: NYT, Post, WNYC
The Times’ Car Blog and TransNat Detail the Mayor’s Electric Vehicle Parking Plan
NY1-Marist Poll Shows Christine Quinn Still Not as Popular as Bike Lanes (CapNY)
Touting Car Theft Numbers, DA Richard Brown Has Nothing to Say About Traffic Deaths (Gazette)
Livery Cab Owners Sue to Stop Hail Apps (WSJ)
CUNY [...]
The Times’ Car Blog and TransNat Detail the Mayor’s Electric Vehicle Parking Plan
NY1-Marist Poll Shows Christine Quinn Still Not as Popular as Bike Lanes (CapNY)
Touting Car Theft Numbers, DA Richard Brown Has Nothing to Say About Traffic Deaths (Gazette)
Livery Cab Owners Sue to Stop Hail Apps (WSJ)
CUNY [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/02/15/todays-headlines-1573/
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki
Gordon: New car demands more skill
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon believes the new-for-2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup technical package will demand more driver skill in close racing.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/nascar/gordon-new-car-demands-more-skill
Espargaro, Vinales top Valencia test
Pol Espargaro and Maverick Vinales were quickest in Moto2 and Moto3 pre-season testing at Valencia respectively, while Moto2 title threat Tom Luthi suffered arm and collarbone injuries in a crash. Paddock rider Luthi, who has finished in the top five in Moto2 for the past three years, collided with Gresini's Ratthapark Wilairot on Thursday. Luthi was taken to hospital with a suspected broken right arm and collarbone, while Wilairot was treated at the circuit medical centre for a minor head injury
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/espargaro-vinales-top-valencia-test
Legge to legally contest Dragon exit
Katherine Legge is planning legal action following yesterday's announcement that she will be replaced at Dragon Racing by Sebastian Saavedra for the 2013 IndyCar season. The Briton, who returned to open-wheelers with Dragon last season after three-year stint in the DTM, said in a statement that she signed a two-year sponsorship deal with TrueCar that she then took to Dragon for the 2012 season.
Williams does not see Bottas as a rookie
Valtteri Bottas is effectively not a rookie driver heading into his debut season racing in Formula 1, according to Williams chief race engineer Xevi Pujolar.
Spy Shots: Scion FR-S Convertible (in Toyota GT86 form) spied in South Africa
Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Scion, Subaru, Toyota
Though the eventual existence of a convertible version of the Toyota GT86 (and its Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ versions for America) is a no-brainer, we've yet to get a glimpse of the real-deal car until now.Spotted in Cape Town, South Africa, of all places, this completely undisguised GT86 convertible seems to be in a remarkably advanced state of development. The image seen here was obviously sniped from quite a distance and without the aid of a powerful lens, but we can still make out a production-ready looking piece of rear bodywork for the convertible top to hide away in, as well as a functioning trunk lid. It's hard to make out with any certainty, based on this evidence, but there does seem to be space retained behind the front seats for two, small rear chairs.
With the first car spotted, we'd expect to seem some more and better images of it flow through in the near future, and if not, Toyota has already confirmed a concept version for next month's Geneva Motor Show, dubbed FT-86 Open, so stay tuned. For now, click through to the FT86Club.com forum to have a slightly closer look at the images.
Scion FR-S Convertible (in Toyota GT86 form) spied in South Africa originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/scion-fr-s-convertible-in-toyota-gt86-form-spied-in-south-afri/
Hiroshi Fushida Beppe Gabbiani Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard
Mercedes-Benz AMG’s Turbo Four: Downsizing We Can Get Behind
With the launch of the A45 AMG and the upcoming reveal of the CLA45 AMG, Mercedes-Benz AMG is charging hard into the compact-performance segment. Back home in Germany, the AMG pair meet two established competitors: the outgoing Audi RS3 Sportback, producing 340 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.5-liter straight-five, and the BMW M135i, with a turbocharged [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/4kI4uAVqTj0/
Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr
Vettel upbeat on Red Bull reliability
Sebastian Vettel says he leaves the first winter Formula 1 test of 2013 feeling more comfortable with Red Bull's reliability than he had 12 months earlier. The reigning world champion believes his team will be better prepared for its latest title defence after a relatively smooth start to its running with the RB9. Asked how his feelings compared to the same point in 2012, Vettel replied: "A little bit better, because I think last year we had some issues with the reliability
Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth
Friday, February 15, 2013
2013 NASCAR Media Day Q&A with NSCS Ford Racing Driver Marcos Ambrose
Driver Marcos Ambrose poses during portraits for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. - Photo Credit: Nick Laham/Getty ImagesMARCOS AMBROSE, No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion – WHAT HAVEN’T WE DISCUSSED ABOUT THE NEW CAR YET? “Well, the Gen 6 car is going to...more»
Loeb admits Ogier was in control
Sebastien Loeb admits he was powerless to halt Sebastien Ogier's run to victory on Rally Sweden. The Frenchman, who will now not reappear until Rally Argentina in May, claimed an early lead when he won the superspecial but then surrendered more than 31 seconds on Friday.
Report: EPA says it will more closely monitor fuel economy claims from automakers
Filed under: Government/Legal, Hyundai, Kia
The unintended acceleration brouhaha at Toyota led to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration tightening the vise on recall procedures. Likewise, the fuel economy kerfuffle that blew up with Hyundai and Kia's admission of overstated fuel mileage claims could lead to the Environmental Protection Agency policing automaker assertions by performing more audits.
At least, that's what a senior engineer with the government agency said while in Michigan giving a talk, according to a report in Automotive News. What that actually means, however, is still in question. Just ten to 15 percent of new vehicles - something like 150 to 200 cars per year - are rested by the EPA to verify automaker numbers. The EPA's own tests include a "fudge factor" to adjust lab mileage for real-world mileage, and the agency still relies on automakers to submit data for tests that it doesn't have the facilities to perform. How much more auditing can the EPA really expect to do, or perhaps a more relevant question would be how much more accurate could the EPA's audits become?
The price of gasoline, the psychological importance of 40 miles per gallon to a frugal car buyer, an automaker wanting to further justify the price premium of a hybrid, all of these things contribute to fuel economy numbers that insist on creeping upward. Perhaps the senior engineer encapsulated the whole situation best when he said, "Everybody wants a label that tells you exactly what you're going to get, but obviously that's not possible. A good general rule of thumb is that real-world fuel economy is about 20 percent lower than the lab numbers." If the lesson isn't exactly 'buyer beware,' it's at least 'buyer be wary.'
EPA says it will more closely monitor fuel economy claims from automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/epa-says-it-will-more-closely-monitor-fuel-economy-claims-from-a/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)