Not sure if this guy likes the car or not!!!!
Source: EVO Tests The Manic Lamborghini Aventador SV | Mind over Motor
Thanks for reading.
Tim
The Greenwich Concours was nothing short of epic this year. There were insane cars in attendance of all types, and it was thoroughly entertaining to cover. This year there were a few European exotics mixed in with the American cars on Day 1. I’m not sure why, but it made a nice spectacle.Of note, Jim Glickenhaus brought out his one of a kind Ferrari 330 P3/4 (above), two Pagani Huayras showed up, and the Packard 8 that won Day 1 was just immaculate.
Source: Our Highlights From the 2015 Greenwich Concours Day 1 | Mind over Motor
It’s good to be home!!!
Along with the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, the Chevrolet Camaro is one of the most recognized American muscle cars. But ever since the fourth-generation Camaro was released in the early ’90s, the iconic U.S. car has been manufactured in Canada.That will end when the last 2015 Camaro rolls off the General Motors Canada assembly line in Oshawa, Ontario, on Nov. 20. The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro that goes on sale in the fourth quarter will be made in Lansing, Michigan. The shift is part of a $5.4 billion package of investments General Motors has slated for its U.S operations over the next three years.ADVERTISINGGM said last week it would invest $175 million to upgrade its Lansing plant to accommodate the new Camaro, which will go on sale in the fourth quarter. The vehicle will be built on the same platform in Lansing as the Cadillac CTS and ATS midsize and compact luxury sedans.
Chase this link for the rest of the article:
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Keanu Reeves is setting out on another excellent adventure.
The actor and motorcycle enthusiast has teamed up with bike builder Gard Hollinger to launch the Arch Motorcycle Company.
The Los Angeles-based outfit has started taking orders for its first ride, the KRGT-1.
Not just another custom rod, the big V-Twin features an all-original design built with handmade parts and powered by a unique 2032cc motor developed with S&S Cycle good for nearly 122 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque sent to the rear wheel through a 6-speed Baker Drivetrains transmission. The motor breathes through a unique downdraft induction system that channels air from intakes next to the headlamps through the center of its twin fuel cells, which take 66 hours to produce from a 534-pound hunk of billet aluminum. The bike itself weighs just 538 pounds, thanks in part to a set of carbon fiber wheels. LED lighting is featured front and rear, and the retro-futuristic bodywork would look right at home on the streets of Mega City.
Source: Keanu Reeves’ motorcycle company debuts first bike | Fox News
The KRGT-1
If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the video of the Jalopnik journalist hitting the wall with a 2016 mule Camaro. Enjoy and then check below for my commentary.
Clearly the guy felt bad and a little shaken up, but the reality is, he shouldn’t have driven the car. If you just look at the beginning frame of the video or notice the position of his arms just before he hit the wall, you can tell there the skill set just isn’t there.
I auto cross my cars – my C4 when I had it and my C6 now (not to mention my drag racing stint with my Mustang). I’ve attended my SCCA Solo courses and even attended some training with Bondurant at Phoenix International Raceway with Formula 1 cars. And what I’ve learned is that you must have more than just enthusiasm over a new car, especially a powerful one. You have to have some driving skills and you must have respect for the car’s abilities and know yours.
Here is a parallel event I was part of with my corvette club. We rented a part of the Bondurant facility to have an auto cross event. It included all generations of Corvettes as well as a few other non-Corvette vehicles. One of our members just purchased a brand new C6 and was very eager to run the course. Short version of the story is – he lost it on his second run, went through the chain-linked fence at a post and got the car hung up on the concrete footing. We had to dig him out and the Bondurant crew weren’t all that happy. Clearly he wasn’t ready for the abilities/power of his C6 even though he had the enthusiasm (and for pete’s sake keep the traction control on until you are used to the car).
Don’t get me wrong, accidents happen, just watch any F1, drag or NASCAR race and you’ll see professional skilled driver hit the wall. It happens.
Now back to the Jalopnik incident. If you watch the video you can tell the journalist seems pretty excited. However his driving skills seem a bit off in a number of ways. For instance, his sitting position is off, especially for track driving (maybe he’s just super tall or the mule car is not equipped with adjustable seats) for one. You can tell by his expression in a corner, prior to his last corner and the contact with the wall, that he was at he edge of his abilities with that particular car. As he goes into the now famous turn his arms cross – I didn’t realize a human could contort himself that much!!
I also found interesting was some of his commentary leading up to the crash with words like “rolly-poely”, “composed”, “nimble” especially in light of his comments that he was there to discuss the how it handles at the track. You must have the ability to test those things to give your readers a comparison and the proper (or more familiar) terminology helps e.g., replace “rolly-polly” with “body roll”. Wouldn’t GM want that too or at least his publisher?
There was a comment in his piece where he gave full disclosure, stating that GM wanted him to drive so badly, that they flew him out and paid for food and booze. Don’t know if that’s ‘special’ or standard fare. I also didn’t understand his comment – “GM asked me to leave the track” and they had to continued the video out in the street – seems a tough way to deal with someone, you really wanted there. Hopefully, GM doesn’t want their money back for the airfare or bill him for the damage to the mule.
Now I’m not a great blogger nor the greatest driver, but I do have car guy experience (including testing new models in a small auto cross scenario) and a fair grasp of the my native language. I’m not sure what all of his credentials are, he did say he had some track time, and I did look over some of his other entries and gained my own opinions.
It suffices to say that I much prefer a “car guy turned journalist” vs. “journalist turned car guy”, especially when to reading ‘car guy’ stuff and certainly for reviews like this one.
I do feel badly for him and GM and but I’m also sure it wasn’t the first time on media day that a writer dented one of the cars. He just had his published. And thank the auto gods that he wasn’t driving a Z28!!! I would have wept opening.
Regards
Tim
Here are your Auto Factoids #AutoFactoids for the beginning of June, 2015.
May 31, 1927 – Ford produced the last Model T. There is some debate as to actual date and it’s said that the 15th million Model T rolled off the production line on May 26th, 1927 and the Henry and Edsel drove it off the line. The Model T was one of the major factors for governments push for the develop of our road system. And did you know that Henry Ford was green? Yes, he recycled the scrap wood from the production of the Model T and turned it into charcoal. It was originally call Fords Charcoal. It was later renamed for Henry’s brother-in-law who selected the charcoal plant – his last name was Kingsford – as in Kingsford Charcoal.
The 15 Millionth Model T!!!
June 2, 1899 – Locomobile Co. was founded. The company was formed by the editor of Cosmopolitan John Walker, after he purchase a design plan for a steam car from the Stanley brothers ( who didn’t being production of their Stanley Steamer until 1902). Their plant was first located in Watertown, Mass and moved to Bridgeport, Conn in 1900. The first car bodies were just runabouts with steam engines. 
The company was the first to have their automobiles used in a war – The Boer War. It was used as the tractor and chuck wagon of sorts. The production of steam cars continued until Locomobile began R&D with internal combustion engines. By 1902 they had seven body styles and had sold over 4000 cars. Production of gas powered engined in 1904. Their honors included the first U.S. built car to win an international race.
Vanderbilt Cup Winner
Powered by a 60hp, straight 4 cylinder engine it won the Vanderbilt Cup in 1908.
In 1919 they produced their most enduring car, the Model 48. The 48 was a large car and powered by a side valve straight 6 cylinder with 525 cubic inch displacement and producing 48.6-hp.
Company was purchased by Durant Motor (Billy Durant of GM fame) and continued to operate as Locomobile, selling cars under that name until 1929.
Model 48
June 3, 1864 – Ransom Olds was born in Genvea, Ohio – Founder of the now defunct Oldsmobile car manufacturer. Although Henry Ford often get credit for inventing the assembly line production – Ransom was the first to use the assembly line. (Ford gets credit for improving it and adding universal parts.)
1905 Olds
Thanks for reading.
Tim
#AutoFactoids.
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