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.
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.
UPDATE 10:00 a.m. – General Motors is gearing up for the 2016 Camaro to be built at the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant. In a morning news briefing, GM officials said 500 workers would be added into a second shift to …
The renovations to the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant include three new paint systems for the 2016 Camaro and two robotic framers. GM is vying for the top spot in the pony car market with the redesigned, amped-up …
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.
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.
The 2016 Camaro SS is powered by a Corvette Stingray-sourced 6.2-liter V8 that produces 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the 2015 Camaro SS has 426 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. No matter the engine, the …
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.)
For years, Henry and Edsel Ford had been denying that the day was approaching. Asked whether they were working on a new model of car, after nearly two decades of producing the famous Model T, they kept mum. But, as TIME noted back then, “in the U. S. …
Bothell Park gets Ford Model T sculpture, dedication Saturday. This Ford Model T Sculpture at Red Brick Road Park in Bothell was created by local high school students. — image credit: Contributed photo. 0 …
There are some areas of your drag, oval or road course beast that are weak areas for the stress of 420 hp and 400 ft-lbs of torque. Here is a great way to eliminate one. Chase the link at the bottom for the complete story from Chevy Hardcore!!
When considering the essential parts list for a race car build, we tend to think of exhaust headers, cylinder heads, turbochargers and so on. While it might not be the most glamorous piece of the puzzle, the starter is an absolutely vital component in your build – if it kicks the bucket, you’re dead in the water. And though it may not see the same sort of prolonged stresses that a driveshaft or set of tires sees on race day, it’s still contending with plenty of abuse from heat exposure and demands of high performance components which typically operate far outside the design specifications of an OEM starter.
But it was Dreyer’s government which plumped for an unlikely Nürburgring buyer: auto racing parts company Capricorn with a head office not far north of the circuit in Düsseldorf. Her transport minister, Roger Lewentz, said at the time that it was …
Roo Motorsports, the new Aussie NASCAR team based in Salisbury, plans to enter the truck-racing series next year and perhaps the Nationwide series in the future. Roo held an event, complete with satellite link to owners in Australia, earlier this month …
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last full week of May 2015.
May 26, 1906 Mauri Rose was born in Columbus, Ohio. Rose still holds the 2nd spot for the most Indiana 500 wins. His first win was in 1941 but he didn’t finish in the car he left the starting line in. The first car was a Maserati and developed mechanical issues and he moved to a Wetteroth/Offenhauser car. He managed two back-to-back wins in 1947 and 1948, driving one of a Deidt/Offenhauser Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials.
Mauri in the Maserati were he started in pole position in his first win.
Muari in Wetteroth/Offenhauser car
Mauri in the Blue Spark car!
May 29, 1946 Kaiser-Frazer produced its first vehicles. Kaiser-Frazer’s plant was located in Willow Run Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company was formed when the two purchased the defunct Graham-Paige (of which Frazer was once Present, prior to WWII). There first cars were called the Frazer and Kaiser, one a mid-level luxury car and the other an innovative front wheel drive model.
The two parted ways in 1951 and the company name was changed to Kaiser. They went on to design some fantastic cars like the Darrin (named after one of the designer – Dutch Darrin. Bill Tritt was the other part of the team.) and on to the Jeep fame with Willys-Overland.
1950 — Johnnie Parsons. 1949 — Bill Holland. 1948 — Mauri Rose. 1947 — Mauri Rose. 1946 — George Robson. 1942-45 — No races, World War II. 1941 — Floyd Davis and Mauri Rose. 1940 — Wilbur Shaw. 1939 — Wilbur Shaw. 1938 — Floyd Roberts.
The Manhattan has been honored by the community and is the first hot rod to win the people’s choice award two years in a row at the annual Kaiser Frazer Club National Convention. Share This Article. Facebook Twitter Google+ Email. Author: Christopher …
Members of the Binghamton Kaiser Frazer Club will bring vehicles, Reilley said. The Seward House Museum, at 33 South St., will showcase several cars, including the Seward family’s own Packard. There will be automotive memorabilia for sale and, if you …
His nickname was “Spence” Airman First Class. He was from one of the Northern States. He was 18 and his future wife was a senior in high school.
He didn’t make to war, but he served his country and gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Spencer and I were in the same BMTS and I was assigned to help him meet physical requirements, in particular making the 1.5 mile under the required time.
We bunked next to each other and trained after duty hours every day. He made great progress in our sessions and we were both confident that the running portion PT was going to be a breeze.
It was the last week of basic training and the day for the final run came. We were required to run in formation for the first .5 miles. Our plan was to break formation at the 1/2 mile mark and find each other and finish together.
Formation was arranged by height and Spence was in the front and I was in the rear. Around a quarter-mile, I saw Spencer fall out of formation and step to the side. I caught his eye and give him an encouraging shout as he fell behind. I was aware that he had dropped to one knee and I saw an assistant MTI get to him and he stood and moved to the MTI. I saw him fall as I ran and watch as the MTI preformed CPR, however Spence was gone.
Today, 35 years later, I remember Spencer and his determination and sacrifice.
I’m a bit old school about driving like feeling the road (yeah even the pot holes!!) and not floating, making a car hit the curve just right and shoving the clutch pedal to the floor and find the next gear! That’s all part of the enjoyment for me. But paddle shifting is here to stay and I’ll be disappointed if the clutch pedal disappears from all new cars.
I’m sharing this article from Mind Over Motor as it hits on some key points I can relate too when it comes to this “new fangled” 🙂 way of changing gears.
Mind Over Motor
I am someone who has publicly lamented the decline of the manual transmission. But I’m also someone who has enjoyed the merits of modern paddle shift gearboxes in many cars.
I find myself very much split on this issue, so lets take a look at the various reasons why shifter paddles are replacing a gear lever and a third pedal in some of our favorite cars.
Note: To clear this up right away, by “paddle shift” I mean cars with automated manual gearboxes, either dual-clutch or single-clutch. I am in no way talking about anything like a Toyota Camry with the “sport package”, which has paddle shifters as a marketing gimmick.
1. More versatile on the road. (Having your cake and eating it too)
If you had something like a Lamborghini Diablo back in the mid 1990s chances are you had a lot of fun out on the open road. However, when you got into town and hit traffic, the heavy clutch made driving the car more of a $250,000 chore than an enjoyable way to spend a weekend afternoon. Considering the average speed of traffic on most roads is around 25-30mph, you’d be spending far more time putting along slowly than stretching the car’s legs. It’s a wonder why most owners hardly ever drove their exotic cars.
Today, Lamborghini only offers their cars with a paddle shift transmission. The sales numbers spoke for themselves, once paddle shift was offered back around 2004, demand for manual Lambos simply fell off.
Paddle shift basically solved all the issues described above with the Diablo. Now, in an Aventador, you can rip your way into town and then just put the car in automatic mode when you hit traffic. You have a car that is a ferocious supercar when you want one, but is also just as easy to drive as a Toyota Camry when you don’t. You are no longer writing a six-figure check to put yourself through misery. And I agree, that is a major plus, especially in cars that had very difficult manual gearboxes like most supercars did.
Chase the link below for the rest of the article and come back and let me know what YOU think!!
Paddle Shifting the 997. Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Paddle Shifter. Created by Holinger, supplier of gearbox components to Porsche AG, this paddle shift system is designed specifically for the 997 GT3 Cup, replaces the tunnel-mounted sequential …
Paddle shifters are the ultimate “cool factor” of a car. For people who experience paddle shifting for the first time, you might as well be Mario Andretti. They look super cool on the car, and are functionally genius. However, there …
The automatic features several shift modes, as well as manual paddle-shifting, and the manual transmission features automatic rev-matching for drivers who haven’t yet mastered the heel-toe shift method, and it has a no-lift shift feature allowing you …
Nestled in the engine compartment is Audi’s familiar, silky-smooth direct-injected 2.0L TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to a traditional six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic paddle shifting. The engine churns out 200 horsepower …
You may have noticed the big announcement that ROUSH Performance made last week: that our all-new 2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang is producing 670 horsepower and 545 lb-ft of torque. That’s an incredible 235 horsepower and 145 lb-ft over a stock 2015 Ford Mustang 5.0L.
With 134 horsepower per liter, the 2015 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang overshoots the competition with the most horsepower per liter when compared to Dodge’s most powerful offering in the segment (114 horsepower per liter) and the 92 horsepower per liter rating of another well-known supercharged 6.2L GM engine in the segment.
Power is important, but high horsepower numbers don’t mean nearly as much if you’re trying to move a ton of weight. The RS3 is again at the top of the ranks with the lowest weight per horsepower of the competition (approximately 5.70lbs per horsepower) compared to an estimated 6.32lb/hp* and 7.10lb/hp respectively.
– See more at: http://www.torquedmag.com/2015-roush-stage-3-mustang-670-hp-on-tap/#sthash.Vzt4t6cz.dpuf
Roush has announced the final output of its prodigiously powerful supercharged RS3. Is it the latest to join the “700-hp Club?” Find out at Car and Driver.
Tired of Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat owners having all of the fun at the drag strip? For any sixth-generation Mustang owners out there, famous Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] tuner Roush has a package that may just …
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.
