Recession? Not in Supercar Land

Posted on Dec 13, 2019 in Racing | Comments Off on Recession? Not in Supercar Land

Much to the chagrin of certain members of my family, I’m not a fan of the Indy 500. I don’t deny the significance of the race (a riveting look at it is coming later this afternoon from jgoods) but in my simple view, racing 500 miles around an oval isn’t of much interest. I know, though, that the race isn’t just about the race. At an average speed of 150-160...

Trump Declines Indy Pace Car Drive

Posted on Nov 19, 2019 in Racing | 3 comments

We have just been deprived of what would have been the Greatest Spectacle in Racing: Donald Trump driving the Chevy Camaro pace car at the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day. After much public pressure, the Great Man stepped aside, because as the Speedway claimed, “he may be announcing shortly his intention to run for the office of President of the United States,...

McLaren MP4-12C: Best Sports Car in the World?

Posted on Sep 10, 2019 in Racing | 4 comments

There have been a number of blog pieces comparing the MP4-12C to the Ferrari 458 Italia, including this one, and most give the edge to the McLaren. A lot depends on who’s doing the comparing, of course. McLaren gave the car to some media folks to drive at the great Autodromo circuit in Portugal, and we’ll show you the video after the break. Interesting to watch...

Bentley, Ferrari and Mazda Take to the Ice

Posted on Aug 10, 2019 in Racing | Comments Off on Bentley, Ferrari and Mazda Take to the Ice

Mazda MX-5 ice race “Hey, did you hear a 20-year-old rookie won the Daytona 500!?” The phone call came from a friend last week within minutes of Trevor Bayne’s unlikely victory. I couldn’t even pretend to be interested. “Oh, was that today? I don’t really follow NASCAR.” In fact, not being from Virginia or North Carolina, I don’t even like NASCAR racing, much...

You Like Supercars? Here’s the Bloodhound SSC

Posted on Jun 5, 2019 in Racing | Comments Off on You Like Supercars? Here’s the Bloodhound SSC

Bloodhound driver gets parking ticket in London The Brits have always been a little bit crazy, especially about such challenges as land speed records, climbing Mt. Everest, and so forth. Now, after three years in development, they arestarting construction of the Bloodhound SuperSonic Car, to reach 1,000 mph on a dry lake bed in South Africa in 2012-2013. Power...

Cadillac Back on the Track with the CTS-V Coupe

Posted on Apr 10, 2019 in Racing | 4 comments

When I was younger, the very idea of a Cadillac on the track would make people laugh. Lately, the grins have been fading. The company is now preparing the CTS-V Coupe to race in the Sports Car Club of America’s World Challenge, where it formerly competed successfully with the CTS-V Sedan in 2005 and 2007. The car will be on the Cadillac stand at the Detroit...

Porsche 918 Coupe Design Still a Detroit Surprise

Posted on Feb 9, 2019 in Racing | Comments Off on Porsche 918 Coupe Design Still a Detroit Surprise

*UPDATE: The Porsche 918 RSR has now appeared in concept form on the stand at Detroit (above) and, as we suggested, it’s different from the renderings—and better. The car is indeed a hybrid, taking its power from a flywheel-based system like the GT3 R Hybrid uses. Short bursts (up to 7 seconds) provide 767 hp. There is also a good deal of Porsche’s great 917...

Ford Mustang Boss 302 Gets Special Key for Track Mode

Posted on Jan 16, 2019 in Racing | Comments Off on Ford Mustang Boss 302 Gets Special Key for Track Mode

Anyone who owns an American pony car dreams of tearing up a track or, at the very least, takes pride in leaving lesser cars in their dust at stop lights. While rush-hour drag races can be mildly entertaining, actually preparing a car for the track can be a time-consuming and expensive affair. Buying a 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 makes the process much easier;...

A Super Limited Edition, Flying Cars, and Great Sounds

Posted on Dec 21, 2018 in Racing | Comments Off on A Super Limited Edition, Flying Cars, and Great Sounds

The “jet black vessel of violence” Maybe you didn’t know this, but the famed Nurburgring race track in Germany is open to the public. Not all the time, mind you, but occasionally a guy such as you or me can take our Ford Focus to the track and turn some laps. Doing so is a dream for many of us. So imagine casually shooting the apexes, then looking...

New 911 GT3 Cup Car: Porsche Is Taking Orders

Posted on Nov 22, 2018 in Racing | Comments Off on New 911 GT3 Cup Car: Porsche Is Taking Orders

I like Grand Touring (GT) racing, because it puts a real premium on car design and driver skill. And the cars are all production-derived. For some years, the worldwide standout has been Porsche’s 911 GT3, and the 2011 racing version, called the Cup Car, will be no different. It is the latest edition of what Porsche claims is the best-selling race car of all...

Fiesta and Focus: Competing or Compatible?

Posted on Sep 10, 2018 in Racing | 5 comments

Ford will likely have two winners on its hands with the 2011 Fiesta—launched four months ago and doing quite well, thank you—and the new Focus, coming early next year. The Focus is being touted as a global car, though there will be different trims for different regions. The U.S. will get a four-door sedan and a five-door hatch, but the hot ST (250 hp), recently...

G-Power BMW M5 Hurricane RR Sets Speed Record

Posted on Aug 5, 2018 in Racing | 3 comments

G-Power BMW M5 Hurricane RR The title of “world’s fastest” has a powerful pull on guys. We have a certain need for speed, which, in most cases, is a good thing and a source of bragging rights among buddies. A great example is a former boss who demanded we call him “Mr. 155,” because that’s how fast he once managed push his Audi A6 on a deserted stretch of I-90....