Month: March 2012

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Ford Motorsports News Video

Bill Brown, Bathurst survivor

Bill Brown, Bathurst 1971

“The car rolled down and cut in two.

“I walked away from it and drove home that evening.”

They’re the words of Bill Brown in reference to his spectacular and famous accident at Bathurst in 1971. That’s him there in the picture above, you can see his head about to make contact with the wooden fence.

Back in the day, that’s all there was separating spectators from the competitors at McPhillamy Park. Not the best place to have a tyre blow out at around 180km/h.

Speaking to Speedcafe, Brown explained, “I thought we were in trouble then there was banging and crashing and I was rested upside down.

“I went around to have a look at the car and they said they’d take me to hospital, they wanted to put me on a stretcher, but I refused.

“The car didn’t have a roll cage as such, I was fortunate though when I came to rest my hat was only grazed on the left hand side, I was pretty lucky.”

You don’t say! Having seen footage of that crash many times we’ve always wondered how on earth Brown survived.

Follow the link below to read the full article. It’s a fascinating insight into Australian motor racing in the 1960s and 70s. There’s also a video of the incident after the break which shows rescue crews working on the car after the crash.

[Source: Speedcafe.com]

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Accessories & Tech Motorsports News

Bathurst to be included in Gran Turismo 6

Bathurst to be included with GT6

Thanks to the magic of the internet we can bring word that Australia’s most famous race track, Mount Panorama in Bathurst, appears to be headed for the next evolution of Sony’s Gran Turismo franchise, GT6.

Last week a Bathurst local posting to the GTplanet forums, with the username jjh101, noticed numerous photographers working at the track for a few days. Wearing hi-vis vests and negotiating the track in a variety of vehicles, including a truck with make-shift camera rigs on the back, it appeared something was up. So, going all investigative journo jjh101 strapped a camera phone to his body and went and asked the smiling chaps what they were up to:

jjh101: G’day. Seen you guys here for a few days, wondering if you guys are here for a game or something?
Photographer: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah… A [?] game… Err… Gran Turismo?
jjh101: Oh, Gran Turismo?
Photographer: Yeah, yeah.
jjh101: Is it an update or… Do you think they’re making GT6 or…?
Photographer: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah… Gran Turismo 6 [?] Bathurst

So there you have it. The video can be seen after the break, along with another clip from the same guy showing more Polyphony Digital workers on site scanning, measuring and photographing the track.

Oh yeah, Gran Turismo 6 isn’t expected to be released for another couple of years. That’s assuming Sony can manage to meet a release timetable this time.

[Source: GTplanet via Internode | Pics: GTplanet]

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Ferrari News

The dynamic ribbon

Dean Wills private track, Kulnura NSW

Dean Wills, former head honcho of Coca-Cola Amatil. Recognise the name? Well off bloke with his own private “race track” north of Sydney. Ringing any bells yet?

If you’re in Australia, chances are you’ve heard of this mysterious track, home to numerous urban myths. Thankfully for us Wills has put the record straight in an interview with the official Ferrari magazine.

Here’s a grab from the article which cuts through the hyperbole:

‘People are inclined to call it a track, but it’s a private road, a two-way country road,’ says Wills. True, as our photographs reveal. No barriers, no gravel run-off areas, no ripple strips, no garish advertising signs, nothing to suggest Wills’ wonderful road could be construed as a race-track. The road has no crown, flat curbs and regular road signs on each corner. It’s so politically correct that there are even recommended corner speed signs. The strip of blacktop runs through grassy fields, native Australian eucalyptus trees dot the paddocks and the road rises and falls with the undulations of the gentle hills. And, because the road is free of any of the safety measure now mandatory for a track, if you should somehow tire of perfecting the apexes, you can drive it in the other direction for an entirely different learning experience. Motoring heaven.

It’s certainly worth reading the full article (link below). If nothing else it provides a reliable background about the once mythical track.

No doubt Wills worked hard to earn himself the chance to fulfill his own motoring fantasy. We’re guessing many readers will have dreamt of having their own private tarmac ribbon too. Wills has shown it can happen!

[Source: Ferrari Magazine | Thanks to Micky and Dylan for the tips]

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Caterham Formula 1 Lotus Red Bull Racing Renault

Renault reminds us they make F1 engines

Renault Megane RS, Formula One livery

Red Bull Racing, Williams, Caterham and Lotus will all be running Renault engines in 2012. And just in case you had forgotten, they have prepped these four Megane RS models to act as a reminder.

As these cars are left hand drive we imagine they’ll be touring around the globe with the F1 circus so fans the world over will get a chance to see them up close.

The promotional cars are designed to help demonstrate to buyers there is a direct link from F1 car to road car. So, are you convinced?

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Formula 1

Fresh doubts over Robert Kubica’s F1 future

Robert Kubica

Former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari has expressed doubts over the F1 future of Robert Kubica. In a recent interview with BBC Radio Alguersuari claimed Kubica is struggling to overcome the injuries suffered in his rally accident at the start of last year.

“At the moment the latest information I have about him is not very good. He cannot drink using his hand—I mean, he cannot take a glass and drink—so it doesn’t look very good. I think his injuries are more than expected,” Alguersuari said.

Meanwhile, an unnamed friend of Kubica’s has provided a more positive update, saying the 27-year-old is showing positive signs.

“He drives his road car and goes out by himself. He is still building up the strength in his right arm,” explained Kubica’s friend. “It will be June or July before it can be determined if he is fit enough to test a F1 car.”

[Source: FoxSports | Pic: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic]

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Lamborghini Lotus Mazda Mercedes-Benz Motor Shows Nissan Opel Pagani Peugeot Range Rover Renault Skoda smart Toyota Volkswagen Volvo

2012 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 2

2012 Geneva Motor Show

Here’s the second and final part of our 2012 Geneva Motor Show photo gallery, featuring manufacturers from L–Z (well V actually). Highlights include the Aventador J pictured above along with a reappearance of the stylish Mazda Takeri concept. The awesome Pagani Huayra is also on show, check the raw carbon fibre model, it looks sublime. Oh, we’d love to hear what you think of the Valmet Automotive Dawn, if it was a person it would no doubt be referred to as one weird cat.

Continue reading “2012 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 2”
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Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bugatti Chevrolet Citroen Ferrari Ford Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Koenigsegg Motor Shows

2012 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 1

2012 Geneva Motor Show

After a couple of days for press previews the doors to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show are about to be opened to the public. Figuring you probably can’t make it we’re bringing you our biggest photo gallery ever. That’s right, there’ll be over 200 images from the floor of Geneva for you to enjoy.

We’ve kept things varied and ensured there’s dream cars, like the Ferrari F12berlinetta and Lamborghini Aventador J, as well as everyday stuff like the new Audi A3 and the Subaru Impreza Hatch. Then there’s the Valmet Automotive Dawn. We’re not quite sure what that is and you’ll see it in part 2 of our gallery, to be added later today.

After the break you can enjoy the first installment where we’ve taken an alphabetical approach and presented manufacturers from A–K.

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News

Will der Nevada-ring become a reality?

3D style vintage Nurburgring map

Word comes through this morning that Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports in the United States, is having discussions to build an exact duplicate of the “Newboogring”. In a radio interview Smith said, “we’re being asked by Germans and what not to build, or duplicate if you would, the Nürburgring.”

The location would most likely be within a 10 mile radius of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Smith revealed, “the proposal came up about three years ago.”

“We’re going to have a little bit of a meeting here with the Governor and if the state of Nevada, if they really want it, then we’re going to out there and build a copy of the Nürburgring,” he added.

According to Smith the Bureau of Land Management is prepared to donate 8000 acres for the project. “If we get a go on this thing, well I’ll have engineers in Germany, we’ll do a lot of studying and photographing, aerial topography, and come up with everything exact,” he explained.

Smith says part of the motivation comes from the manufacturers who want to have a Nordschelife they can use throughout the year, with fewer impediments from snow and inclement weather.

At the moment no motor racing is planned for the Nevadaring—or should that be the Vegaschliefe—it would be used mostly for manufacturer testing, although it would also be open to the public much like Touristenfahrten days. But, if it does get built, you’d have to think it would only be a matter of time before competition took place.

So, what do you reckon, could this work?

[Source: Jalopnik]

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Bathurst 12 Hour Ferrari

VIDEO: Ferrari’s Mount Panorama lap record

2012 Bathurst 12 Hour

Last November Danish ace Allan Simonsen set a new official lap record around Mount Panorama in Bathurst. Simonsen’s record mark is 2:04.956 and was set at the wheel of the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458 GT3.

Just a couple of weeks ago Simonsen was at it again when he took the same car to a new official race lap record in the Bathurst 12 Hour with a time of 2:06.3311. No V8Supercar has beaten either of those times.

After the break you can watch onboard footage of Simonsen’s 2:04 lap.

[Thanks to Stephen for the tip]

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Motor Shows Porsche

Geneva 2012: Porsche Boxster

2012 Porsche Boxster

Back in January Porsche revealed the first official photos and information on its all-new Boxster. However, Porsche had always planned to wait until the Geneva Motor Show for the roadster to make its public debut.

There’s no new press material, so we’ve repeated the text from January for you after the break. There are a few new press photos and also a short video from the launch in Geneva.

Bernhard Maier, Sales and Marketing board member sums it up best: “Driving experience, on a winding road, on a Sunday morning. The sun is shining. Good music, the best music is coming from the Boxster itself, the motor. That seems to be one of the perfect days in my life.”

One final thing, imagine how much better the Boxster will look when it’s not in gold or brown paint!

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Motor Shows Rolls-Royce

Geneva 2012: Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II

Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II

Given our coverage of the Geneva Motor Show so far you could be forgiven for thinking it’s little more than a hot hatch playground. But we’re here to show you how the other half live. Actually, it’s probably more like half of the other half. If that; you get the point. Which brings us to the Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II.

Taking the company’s motto of “Take the best that exists and make it better”, CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös has overseen a compete makeover of the entire Phantom range. That includes the standard Phantom Saloon—if there’s such a thing as a standard Roller—the Coupé, the Drophead Coupé and the Extended Wheelbase models.

“Today I am delighted to present Phantom Series II, a family of models that feature significant improvements in design, drive-train and technology,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös. “As a consequence of these changes, we will continue to present with pride the best motor cars in the world, which re-confirm Rolls-Royce’s position at the very pinnacle of the ultra-luxury goods marketplace.”

Who are we to argue.

Actually, we’d never paid too much attention to the Phantom Coupé before. Maybe its suicide doors are a bit silly, maybe they’re the most practical doors on the market. Who knows, what we do know is the Coupé has a uniqueness about it that makes it quite cool. We’ll let you fight over the other models.

There’s a short press release, a heap of photos and a couple of videos for you after the break. If you had to choose a location to shoot promo videos for the Phantom Series II do you reckon the Ascari race track would be on the top of your list? Anyway, make sure you take the time to watch the second clip. It’s quite long and is an assortment of clips probably not designed for YouTube use, but there’s some quite interesting footage from the production lines towards the end.

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Drive Thru Porsche

Drive Thru: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

A while back I arranged with a mate in Melbourne to test his 997 Porsche 911 GT3 for AUSmotive. Then, a couple of weeks before I arrived he did something stupid and traded it in. True story! But it’s okay, because he managed to come up with what I soon discovered was a worthy substitute. As the title suggests it was a 911 Carrera GTS.

Only thing was, I was sworn to secrecy for a time, for a number of reasons which I shan’t bore you with here. The test took place late at night, actually it was probably early morning, and it was all a bit The Fast and the Furious. It was quite exciting. And that’s even before I’d set eyes on the car.

You see, due in part to being based in Canberra, it’s not that easy for AUSmotive to arrange access to press cars. You also have to remember that this humble website isn’t exactly the first thought that comes to mind of those handing out the keys. Least of all the no doubt lovely and sincere folk at Porsche Cars Australia. (Do you think they’re reading?) So, with grace and great appreciation I have to strike when opportunity presents.

Enough background, time to share. This test would be my first 911 experience. Indeed, it was my first Porsche experience. I was anxious, excited and just a little bit nervous.

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