Bubble cars take a bow

The Goodwood Revival is one of the biggest celebrations of classic sports cars in the world, but for 2006 the event is also applauding some of the smallest, slowest cars ever built.

The Goodwood tribute to bubble cars will feature 30 of the pint-pot motors, and they will even have their own parade laps on the Sunday.

Every type of bubble car will be on show, from the obvious BMW Isettas and Messerschmitts to the obscure in the shape of a Zundapp and a Kleinschnittger.

Sir Stirling Moss is planning to recreate a 1956 news film by driving a Berkley three-wheeler around the track with a period film camera strapped to the car.

The Goodwood Revival runs from September 1-3.

© Source: original article on topgear

Mercedes G 55 AMG - now with 500 hp

The most "venerable" model in Mercedes Benz's catalog receives a furhter injection of vitality: after the announcement of the m.y.2007 engines for the G class, now comes more power for the engine of the G 55 AMG.

The 5.5-liter V8 AMG engine now outputs 500 ps (24 more than the old one), while maximum torque is 700 Nm between 2,750 and 4,000 rpm. This power is sufficient to shave a tenth of a second from the time the G 55 AMG takes to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (now 5.5 seconds). Top speed is still electronically limited to 210 km/h.

The main exterior detail that distinguishes the 2007 MY are the new 18" alloy rims, painted "titanium grey", with 285/55 tyres. Standard spec includes bi-xenon headlights, oval foglamps with a cornering function and new, "more scratch resistant, nano-technology based paint finishes of calcite white, periclase green metallic and teallite blue metallic".

All it takes to buy one is 113.332 € (in Germany, including VAT).

© Source: original article on eurocarblog.com

Open Wheel War heats up

No, not between ChampCar and IRL... but between Canuck warriors Paul Tracy and Alex Tagliani...


In a nutshell, PT had a brainfade and took both of them out early at San Jose, on Sunday. 'Tag' was furious - some would say understandably so - and lost it.

The result was a rolling on the ground, arm flinging spectacle that would have made Bobby Clarke proud. Unfortunately, neither PT or Tag will have a place in the 'new' NHL. Although the brawl brings back memories of the pre-sanitized NASCAR when the boys would thump each other in the infield during the Daytona 500.

More on the steel-cage-match, battle royale here.

Norris McDonald: Message to G.P. of T.O... Bring back CASCAR

In his Saturday column, Toronto Star Wheels columnist Norris McDonald believes bringing back CASCAR and Canadian content is the key to reviving the sagging G.P. of Toronto.

STEELBACK SAUBLE SPEEDWAY: WEDNESDAY NIGHT DASH FOR CASH RESCHEDULED!

From Steelback Sauble Speedway....

RESCHEDULED!
After being rained out this past Wednesday, Steelback Sauble Speedway will take another shot at hosting the Wednesday Night McDonald's Dash For Cash Invitationals at the Beach on Wednesday, August 2.

Sandwiched between this Saturday night's regular action and next weekend's busy Saturday / Sunday ALSTAR show, promoter Joe Chisholm is calling it "Steelback Sauble Speedway's version of Speedweeks!"

Cars are expected from all over Ontario for this special feature at 'The Beach', inluding Ltd. Late Models (35 laps), the Pro Stock / Thunder Cars (25 laps), Pure Stocks (20 laps), and the 4 Cylinders (20 laps).

The best will be at 'The Beach'. For more information please see: www.saublespeedway.com

CAYUGA: Hot Head Henry 200 CASCAR Tickets now available!

NELLES CORNERS, ON (July 26, 2006) – As Cayuga International Speedway gears up for its action-packed Labor Day Weekend Classic of racing, tickets for the event are now available through Ticketmaster.

Ordering tickets is convenient and simple by just calling Ticketmaster at 416-870-8000, or ordering online through www.ticketmaster.ca.

There are several individual and family packages available, but no matter what is chosen, pre-race purchases are entitled to a discount. And children under 12 are free at all times when with an adult.

On September 2, an adult admission is $20, and a family package of two adults and two youths is $50. Youths and seniors prices are $15. On September 3, an adult ticket is $25, the family package is $70, and youths and seniors are $20.

Weekend passes for all events are: $40 adult, youth and seniors $30, and $100 for the family package.

Set on about 300 acres, Cayuga International Speedway offers the motorsport fan a full range of amenities. 1,500 campsites - most fully serviced with hydro and water - refreshment and souvenir booths and free supervised parking ensure comfort and enjoyment for all who attend the events.

An added bonus is the free entertainment every night of the Special Event Weekends under the covered band shell pavilion - a popular gathering spot for all who enjoy the excitement of racing at Cayuga International Speedway.

For information about the Labor Day Weekend Classic at Cayuga International Speedway call (866) 670-1958.

As Canada’s largest oval track auto racing facility, Cayuga International Speedway has presented the best in racing on its 5/8ths-mile paved oval. Generations of fans have witnessed top racers in stock car and open-wheel competition at this Southern Ontario track for more than 40 years.

With a new team of dedicated professionals, Cayuga will maintain its rich heritage and use this foundation in building an innovative state-of-the-art facility, providing a new stage of motorsport entertainment at an international level.

Cayuga International Speedway is located one kilometer north of Nelles Corners, ON. From the town of Cayuga take Highway 3 west for eight kilometers to Nelles Corners and turn right on Haldimand Road 20.

For more information, please contact Cayuga Speedway at: info@cayugaracing.com

DOOLEY AND JOHNSON KIDS CLUB BIKES TO GO IN WILKENS MEMORIAL AT MERRITTVILLE: PASTA DINNER TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

Thorold, Ontario … “ Throughout the 2006 season,” reveals Merrittville Speedway’s Erica Bicknell, “ Meridian Credit Union Kid’s Club Members receive ballots based on their participation in events … the more events … the more chances to win one of 7 Bikes that have been customized by drivers.”

Paul Klager from the Premier Mademoiselle Fitness Centers Classic Mod Lites and Brad Rouse from the Original Pizza Logs Sportsmen Division have made two young race fans happy as the two veterans have already gave their Bikes away.

Josh MacPherson – younger brother of 2006 Sportsmen Rookie Tyler McPherson was the most recent winner – taking home the Ripley’s Believe it or Not/ Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment/ RCM Racing Equipment # 1 on July 15th.

Brad Rouse kicked off the new unique program – awarding his Baron Roofing & Siding Nu-Craft Window and Door 18R Bike back on July 1st.

When the Advance Auto Parts Big Block Modified Super DIRT Series visits Merrittville Speedway on Monday August 7th - the ‘Candy Man’ Mike Dooley from the Hoosier Stocks and DIRT’s winningest driver and former Merrittville Speedway Champion Alan Johnson will present their bikes to two lucky young race fans.

Dooley is a former Merrittville Hoosier Stock Champion and as well won last year’s inaugural Duel on the Dirt Series against the Brighton Speedway Pro Stocks. Always a fan favorite, Dooley’s Brian’s Tire Repair 310C Bike also is adorned with the St. Catharines driver’s trademark M&M’s characters.

Alan Johnson – one of the many drivers that will travel to Merrittville Speedway for the return of the Dirt Big Block Modifieds – has quite a track record at the Thorold track in special events over the years and the 14J Bike Winner will take home quite a keepsake of the special night. ,

Through the month of August, defending Original Pizza Logs Sportsmen Champion and current point leader Wayne Conn, Scott Wood from the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Division and Justin Sharp’s Premier Mademoiselle Fitness Centers Classic Mod Lite G4 will all be given away.

“When Alan heard news of this contest,” said Nancy Bicknell, “ although he’ll only be with us one night – he was real excited and eager to do his part and what can we say about our own drivers … hats off to them.”

Since 1972, Merrittville Speedway has hosted the annual Civic Holiday Classic but not since 1993 has the event featured Big Block Modifieds as it had become a 358 Modified Title Race since then.

Ironically the last time the Advance Auto Parts Big Block Super DIRT Series event was held at Merrittville – a 358 Modified driver won – so our regular L. St. Amand Enterprises Weekly Competitors stand a strong chance. The event in question saw Ron Smoker overtake Brett Hearn coming out of turn 4 for the last time with the checkered flag in sight.

Th event o f the summer for Southern Ontario and Western New York Race fans has been run in memory of an up and coming driver – Trevor Wilkens – who passed away 14 years ago. The 100 lap Main Event in addition to the 25 lap Hoosier Stock Duel on the Dirt Special and the Classic Mod Lites will be presented by Toolneeds.

Toolneeds Inc. is a one-stop source for machine and manufacturing industries to service their tooling requirements for the most demanding applications. Toolneeds represents the finest lines of industrial tool supplies from world class manufacturers. Toolneeds is the ultimate source for all your tooling and industrial supply needs.

Toolneeds is located at 227 Bunting Road in St. Catharines Ontario. Visit them or call tool free 1-800-407-6236 – their professional sales representatives are knowledgeable and will answer your questions and research your needs.

Once again, Club Castropignano will present the Pre-Race Pasta Dinner and tickets are still available during racing events or from the Speedway Office.

Gates open at 4 PM for the Pasta Dinner while racing will start at 7:00 PM.

For further information on the return of the Advance Auto Parts Big Block Super DIRT Series including the Club Castropignano Pre-Race Pasta Dinner and the Meridian Credit Union Kid’s Club Bike Draw call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.

Audi Q7 Wide Body Kit from JE DESIGN

True to the motto of "everything or nothing", the car styling specialist from Leingarten,Germany, customizes the Q7 to create an impressive car. In addition to the muscular wide body kit, which makes this Audi look even more powerful, JE DESIGN is also offering a performance enhancement, new rims and an electronically lowered suspension.

For the large 3 liter V6 TDI, JE DESIGN is offering a power boost by means of a modified engine management system. The Audi specialist boosts the series specs of 171 kW/233 bhp and 500 Nm to 210 kW/285 bhp and 550 Nm, thereby lending this heavyweight ship superior poise. The top speed has also increased accordingly from 210 to 219 km/h. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is improved from 9.1 to 8.4 seconds. Needless to say, the modifications also include a TЬV parts certificate. Neither do clients have to worry about complying with the EI regulations.

Muscular styling kit

JE DESIGN has already showed off its expertise in designing wide body kits with the Seat Leon. This tuning specialist lends the Audi Q7 greater width and an awesome-looking stance. The styling kit includes headlamp lens caps, which lend the car a more aggressive look. Fitting the impressive front spoiler helps to reduce lift. It can also lend the Q7 greater prestige when overtaking. Also, it is possible to equip this Audi SUV with a set of JE DESIGN twin headlamps, which look far better than the original headlamp design. JE DESIGN enhances the appearance of the rear end by equipping the Q7 with a new tailgate skirt attachment, which incorporates diamond-shaped openings on the right and left. In each of these openings belongs a JE DESIGN dual tailpipe from made permanently shiny, corrosion-resistant stainless steel.

The upper part of the rear end is also spectacular, which JE DESIGN adorns with a wing spoiler tail fin including a C-pillar trim. A feature that is sure to get heads turning. The same also applies to the JE DESIGN fender flare kit "WIDE BODY", for which matching door panels are also available. In front of the rear fenders, air inlets lend the car a sportier look, without appearing "plump". JE DESIGN is offering the muscular look as a complete body-styling kit which is cheaper than buying all single parts piece by piece.

Which rim?

Also when it comes to rims, JE DESIGN does not miss a thing. First off, the tuning specialist offers its complete set of wheels JE DESIGN "361" in the dimension 10 x 22 ET 20 (front) and ET 10 (rear) fitted with size 295 / 30 R 22 Y tires. The rims are also sold separately and are specially adapted to the wide body kit. Secondly, JE DESIGN offers a complete set of wheels AZEV "R-Wheel" in the dimension 10 x 22 ET 50 with size 295 / 30 R 22 Y tires. These rims are also sold separately . For rims with a wheel offset of 50, JE DESIGN recommends using its aluminum track extensions, which add an extra 60 mm width on the front axle and as much as 80 mm on the rear axle.

The fine figure of the JE DESIGN Q7 is rounded off by an electronically lowered suspension, which the car customizer from Leingarten offers for cars with air suspension and which finally helps the JE DESIGN Q7 to morph into a true racing SUV.

© Source: original article on fourtitude.com

Brabus saloon rockets to 225mph

Those speed-crazed engineers at Brabus have done it again and come up with the world's fastest saloon.

This time, the German loony tuners have shoehorned a twin turbo 6.2-litre V12 engine into a CLS to create a 225mph monster, appropriately called the Rocket.

The engine produces some 730bhp after Brabus has worked its magic, and it also has a whopping 974lb ft of torque.

For road use, the Rocket has a speed limiter fitted that holds it back to 350kph, or 219mph.

Nought to 60mph takes four seconds, but more telling is the 0-125mph time of just 10.5 seconds.

Hauling all of this to a stop are ceramic brakes discs that hide behind 19in alloy wheels.

The tyres on the Rocket have been specially developed by Yokohama to cope with the power and performance.

If you fancy a slice of this sort of lunacy, and God knows we do, you'll have to dig down the back of the sofa for around £250,000.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

HEADZ GAMEZ INTERNATIONAL CORP. TO SPONSOR PETER SHEPHERD IN SEVEN ADDITIONAL RACES

CONCORD, N.C. (July 26, 2006) - Headz Gamez International has extended their sponsorship of Roush Racing's development driver Peter Shepherd in additional races.

Shepherd will drive the No. 50 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the Nashville Superspeedway on August 12, as well as in six ARCA races, starting with this weekend's Shop 'n Save 150 at Gateway International Raceway, IL.

Roush Racing has teamed up with Roulo Brothers Racing to enter Shepherd in their No. 39 Ford for his six ARCA Races. Shepherd will be competing in the ARCA races at Gateway on July 28, Nashville Superspeedway on August 12, Michigan International Speedway on August 18, The Milwaukee Mile on August 27, Chicagoland on September 9 and Talladega Superspeedway on October 6.

"I'm thrilled to have Headz Gamez on board for the Truck Series Race in Nashville and for the ARCA races," said Peter Shepherd. "I just can't thank them enough, they took a chance on sponsoring me in my first truck race and everything went really well. I'm focused on the rest of the year; it is great to have the support of a company like Headz Gamez behind me. I plan on doing my best to get good finishes for them."

"Headz Gamez could not be happier coming on board with the Roush Racing dynasty for the remainder of the year," said Kerry Martens C.E.O. and President of Headz Gamez International. "We have had amazing results in our company since Peter's first race. It has proven what a great vehicle NASCAR is for corporations to get their name in front of such a dedicated and substantial fan base. To be able to help Peter Shepherd, who was a driver of substance in Canada, make a name for himself in NASCAR is truly an honor for our company."

"The Griddly Headz* name will appear on the cars that we sponsor for Peter Shepherd and we hope that the NASCAR fans, as well as all the other sports fans in the world check out 'The Worlds Toughest Board games.' We know that are our games are a good fit with the sports fans and just like the Roush racing teams our games are also quality entertainment," continued Martens.

About Headz Gamez Enterprises International Corp.- Headz Gamez Enterprises International Corp. has developed a unique new line of sports themed board games corresponding to each major sport in the world. Over and above the innovative and exciting features of the games, we are partnering with some of the most desirable and successful sports leagues in the world, resulting in a whole new product category; licensed sports board games! In a world full of passionate sports fans, buyers have quickly recognized the enormous appeal our games have to these fans, and the prospective sales for their organizations. For more information, please visit www.griddlyheadz.com

- From Roush Racing

Sexy Brit's big Climax

Stop sniggering at the back. The Concept Climax is nothing to do with bedroom antics, even if this fabulous new British sports car does have a Climax Control.

What the Climax Control allows is for the driver to make adjustments to the engine's fuelling and characteristics through a laptop computer.

A great idea, but it's the looks of this stunning new two-seater that should have the punters drooling, not the Climax Control.

Looking better than Ursula Andress stepping out of the sea, the Concept Climax revives a famous British name from motor racing in the 1950s and 1960s.

It's the brainchild of three Coventry University Auto Design graduates, and they have brought the idea bang up to date with an environmentally friendly fuel source.

The Concept Climax will run on ethanol, which is sustainable and has low carbon dioxide emissions.

The fuel powers a mid-mounted flat-four engine producing 270bhp and driving through a five-speed gearbox.

Performance is estimated at 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and top speed at 160mph, while 30mpg economy should be easily possible.

Of even greater interest to us is the V8 engine option, which will provide even stronger performance in a car that weighs just 546kg.

Light weight has been at the heart of the Concept Climax's design philosophy, and composite materials are used throughout for the body. A featherweight space-frame chassis is used underneath.

To further save weight and evoke a feeling of racing cars from the 1950s, there are no doors for the Concept.

The team behind Concept Climax says the car is not far from being production ready, and they are currently taking enquiries from prospective customers and investors.

Prices for the Concept Climax are expected to start from around £35,000.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

Sales downturn for Ford pick-up

The Ford F-150 pick-up is losing its grip on the title of the US's best-selling vehicle.


Falling sales have been blamed on increasing consumer awareness of environmental issues and the spiralling cost of fuel.

To counteract slipping sales, Ford has further discounted the F-150, with savings of up to $4,500 (£2,445).

The entry-level F-150 costs from $18,710 (£10,164) and with the discount available comes in at around $14,500 (£7,900).

The F-150 accounts for more than 25% of Ford's sales in the US, where it should sell 900,000 of the pick-ups in 2006.

© Source: original article on topgear

Fiat, we've ruined your car

It's a case of the public wanting what the public gets with most major car manufacturers. But someone at Fiat has got their market-savvy hat on.

The all-new 500 is nearing production and, while the basic design has been signed off, there's still time to finalise those important details.

So, in its infinite wisdom, Fiat is giving us the chance to spec up our own cars, with the intention of using the input as market research.

Perhaps for the first time in this office's bipolar history, the mental cogs all turned in perfect unison: imagine what would happen if 1.5 million Top Gear readers went out of their way to queer Fiat's democratic pitch.

Go to www.fiat500.com and do your worst. There's an almost infinite combination of classic, sporting and psychadelic accoutrements with which to bugger up this perfectly attractive car.

Fiat is also planning a funky looking cabriolet and Abarth versions of its own, too, so don't be shy.
The first cars will hit our streets at the start of 2008 and prices will start at around £8,000. Before options, that is.

© Source: original article on topgear

Citroen shows off perky Pluriel

The latte is a stylish coffee drink, sipped in cafes.


The Citroen C3 Pluriel Latte is a special edition of the pointless French convertible based on the 1.4-litre petrol model.

Ivory paint is standard for the Pluriel Latte, to give it that coffee look, while there are also aluminium inserts in the roof 'arches, bumpers and door handles.

Leather covers the seats, with dark grey to the lower sections and cream to the upper parts.

Air-conditioning, all-round electric windows and a CD player are all included in the £12,745 price, which includes Citroen's current £1,500 cashback offer.

© Source: original article on topgear

New 1.8-liter turbo engine for the Audi A3

Audi has announced a new 1.8-liter turbo engine for the A3.


We talked about it a couple of weeks ago, together with a 2.8 V6 FSI ValveLift, but now it's official:
160 PS;
250 Nm of torque;
top speed of 220 km/h;
8,2 seconds from 0-100 km/h
and a price about 500 € higher compared to the A3 2.0 FSI.

This new turbo-charged engine will probably be present soon all over the Volkswagen-Audi Group's brands. According to Autoweek.nl it should become the base engine for the new TT.

© Source: original article on eurocarblog.com

Volvo C30 breaks cover

Here are the first pictures of Volvo's new C30 small hatch, and we reckon it could warrant a place at the right end of Top Gear's Cool Wall.


There's no mistaking the C30 is a Volvo from the front end or the pronounced shoulder running along beneath the window line, but there's plenty of muscular style thrown in too.

At the rear, the tailgate is an all-glass affair, with lights wrapped around either side.

The C30's shape is almost unchanged from the Design Concept car that was first seen at the Detroit motor show in January this year.

Inside, the C30 provides plenty of space for four adults, the rear two getting individual seats.

Volvo promises a whole host of options for customers to create their personal take on the C30.

Engine options include three petrol and two turbodiesel units.

There are 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, a 2.4-litre D5 turbodiesel, and two T5 turbo petrols with 178bhp and 217bhp.

Ride and handling promise to be excellent thanks to the C30 using the same chassis as the Ford Focus.

As you'd expect of a Volvo, safety is also high on the list of priorities, and the C30 will come with anti-whiplash headrests, six airbags and the option of Volvo's BLIS blind-spot warning system.

No word on prices yet, but the C30 goes on sale in the UK in January 2007.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

Benny Parsons fighting lung cancer

1973 NASCAR Champion Benny Parsons Battling Lung Cancer

CONCORD, N.C. (July 26, 2006) – Benny Parsons is all about winning. He’s the 1973 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion; a Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 winner; and, in recent years, has emerged as one of NASCAR’s leading television and radio commentators.

Now, Parsons is calling upon that winning attitude as he battles lung cancer.

Parsons, 65, had experienced difficulty breathing and, after consulting with physicians, was informed by his family doctor, Dr. Scott Moss of Charlotte, that he has the disease. His treatment regimen starts immediately.

“Needless to say this was a huge shock,” said Parsons. “I’ve got a great deal of faith in all of my physicians, including Dr. Steven Limenpani, who treated NASCAR car owner Rick Hendrick during his battle with leukemia. I’m determined to pull through this and I appreciate everyone’s concerns and prayers during this time.

“The first thing everyone asks me is, ‘are you a smoker?’ The answer is that I smoked my last cigarette way back in 1978 and since then I’ve hated being around smoking. I don’t even allow anyone in my foursome to smoke on the golf course.”

Parsons is an analyst on NBC and TNT’s coverage of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing and hosts “Fast Talk with Benny Parsons” on the Performance Racing Network. He plans to continue his duties with NBC/TNT and PRN throughout his treatment.

“Everyone I work with has been gracious and accommodating,” said Parsons. “I plan to keep on talking about racing for as long as I can.”

Friends and fans wishing to send words of encouragement to Parsons can do so by e-mailing him at bp@goprn.com or on a special message board at www.NASCAR.com.

Joint NBC/TNT Statement Regarding
NASCAR Analyst Benny Parsons

“Benny is an important part of our television families. We respect his privacy and will support him in any way we can in his efforts to get well.”

Question & Answer

Q. When will Benny be returning to the booth?
A. Benny has begun treatment and was not scheduled to work this weekend. He plans to be in the booth at The Brickyard as scheduled.

Q. Will you replace him if he is unable to return?
A. It is too early for us to even consider that scenario. We will continue to support Benny through his recovery, and bring continue to bring them NASCAR coverage through the conclusion of the Chase.

Q. Does this rule out Benny being an analyst for TNT next season?
A. Our thoughts are with Benny as he faces this latest challenge in his life. That being said, we will always have a place on our NASCAR telecasts for Benny Parsons.

From Turner Sports

NEWS & NOTES: Stewart apologizes and Danica spurns Rahal

Tony Stewart was here....

Following Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Pocono, where Tony Stewart once again failed to take his own advice on how racers should respect each other and use their heads, Carl Edwards asked, "How can a person make it this far in life being that much of a jerk?"

Maybe that was a wake-up call for Stewart. Having Carl Edwards call you a jerk is like being in a fight with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Whatever the case, Stewart has had a look in the mirror and seems to agree with Edwards. The current Nextel Cup champ has taken full responsibility for the chaos on Sunday.

Stewart said, "I'm taking 100 percent responsibility for the final incident that occurred on lap 32 between myself, the 07 [Bowyer] and the 99 [Edwards]. It was totally my fault."

So, while the "new Tony" does a mea culpa and promises never to do it again... until next weekend... racing fans who have seen it all before can visit this website and play "PUNCH TONY STEWART".

In other racing news, Danica Patrick - the most popular and in-demand racer never to have won a race - is leaving Rahal-Letterman and heading to Andretti-Green, ending talk that she's heading to NASCAR.

Finally, TSN.ca ran the full release from Saturday's Griddly Headz 100 CASCAR Super Series / Flo~Pro.Com Western Series race at the Grand Prix of Edmonton. Thanks to TSN and all of the other sites that carried the news.

Seventh Place For Andrew Ranger In Edmonton, Charles Zwolsman Tenth

Courtesy Karina Redmond

Edmonton, Alberta, July 23, 2006 The Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Team scored their third double-top-ten finish today at the West Edmonton Mall Grand Prix with Canadian Andrew Ranger and Dutchman Charles Zwolsman finishing respectively seventh and tenth in sunny and hot weather conditions in Edmonton.

Ranger who was starting eighth was able to maintain his position throughout the race up until lap 70 when a crash by Nelson Philippe moved him up one position into seventh where he remained for the final 15 laps. With today s result, the young Canadian slides down one position in the Championship Standings and now sits fifth, three points behind Paul Tracy.

It wasn t an easy race, but I m very happy with the final result. At the start I tried to save fuel and hoped for a yellow but that didn t happen so I ended up losing a bit of time to Nelson Philippe and Will Power. Overall everything went well, the pit stops were great, the team worked really hard, and our result is good for the championship. It was a satisfying day.

From his 12th place on the grid Charles Zwolsman moved up to ninth at the start and had a good first stint but stomach problems, that had appeared earlier in the morning, crept back after the first pit stop and affected the rookie s performance. Despite not feeling well, Zwolsman managed to hold on and come home in tenth position, three laps down.

Our first stint went well, but then I started feeling bad to the stomach and I could barely hold on to the steering wheel anymore because I felt bad, but with that in mind it s good to finish tenth.

The Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Team will next be heading to San Jose, for round nine of the Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series which takes place this coming weekend, from July 28 30.

CASCAR: Dilley / Dodge-sponsored Charger - Western Report

Dilley nets top-10 finishes during CASCAR’s western swing
Dodge-sponsored Charger driver sits ninth in the points after 5 events

(PHOTO BY PERRY NELSON)

BARRIE, ON – CASCAR veteran Mark Dilley had what he calls a “semi-successful” two-race swing through western Canada. The Dodge-sponsored Charger driver recorded 10th and seventh-place finishes on consecutive weekends in Vernon, BC and Edmonton, Alberta.

This year, CASCAR’s tour of western Canada included stops at Sun Valley Speedway (Vernon) and an appearance at the prestigious Grand Prix of Edmonton ChampCar weekend. And while the Barrie, ON resident wasn’t doing cartwheels over his results, they were more than respectable and the venues offered great exposure for his sponsors.

At Sun Valley, (July 15-16) the Dodge / Mobil1 / Exide / Leland / Avenue MotorWorks / CRS Dodge Charger team battled to find the perfect setup under sweltering conditions.

“We struggled to find the setup all weekend in Vernon,” said Dilley. “We were fast in one of the practice sessions, but the track changed with the heat during the 300-lap race, and we held onto a semi-respectable 10th-place. We’re not overly happy about the result, but it was probably the hottest I’ve ever been in a racecar. The team did a great job that day, though, getting me a few spots in the pits with their quick work.”

Prior to the feature race, the Dodge-sponsored Charger came home fourth in its 100-lap qualifying heat race, to line up seventh in the field of 37 starters at the half-mile Vernon tri-oval.

Following the Sun Valley race, the CASCAR caravan headed to Edmonton to prepare for action in front of one of its biggest crowds ever. According to Dilley, the response from the fans was extremely gratifying.

“It was a great event. Attendance was well over 50,000 on both Friday and Saturday. The fans couldn’t thank us enough for being there. It was great to hear people say that they were at the track because CASCAR was there.”

During practice and qualifying for the Edmonton race, the heat and track conditions challenged the #9 Dodge Charger team as they fought to master the 14-turn temporary road course laid out on the tarmac of the City Centre Airport.

“We were fast in practice; sixth in the first one and third in the second,” recalled the former CASCAR champ. “In the first round of qualifying, we were sixth-fastest and 10th in the second, so we started 10th. I wasn’t unhappy about that because the lap times had dropped about five seconds from when we first got there as everyone learned the track. I was pushing pretty hard but wanted to keep it in one piece for the race.”

Dilley describes the start of the race: “I fell into line at the beginning after some pushing and shoving. There was a caution and a re-start where a few guys got tangled together, but we got through all of that. And from there, we’d kind of gain a spot and lose a spot.”

Dilley continues, “The heat was really an issue, with the hot tires and brakes, causing the cars to tighten up. The rubber being laid down by the ChampCars was another factor, which made it kind of a guessing game as far as how much to loosen the car up as the day went on. Everyone was having a tough time making up positions. In the race itself, we were really tight for most of it.”

In the end, the Dodge / Mobil1 / Exide / Leland / Avenue MotorWorks / CRS Dodge Charger came across the finish line in seventh-place, of the 38 who participated. Dilley is philosophical about his road course program. “We seem to be able to race between fourth and seven in the road course races. I never thought of myself as a road course ‘ace’, because that’s not my forte, but we’re pretty happy. All in all, seventh was a solid result. We still have two more road races this season, at Trois-Rivieres and Montreal, and we’re feeling good about them.”

With the result, Dilley sits ninth in the overall Super Series points following five events. “I’d like to thank our crew for all the hard work out west, and a special thanks to all of our sponsors for making it possible for us to compete.”

The next outing for the #9 Dodge-sponsored Charger team will come in two weeks (on Aug. 4-6) at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, in Quebec.

RACE NOTES: During CASCAR’s tour through western Canada, the Super Series appeared at Vernon, BC’s Sun Valley Speedway (July 15-16) and at the Grand Prix of Edmonton (July 21-22). Veteran racer Brad Graham earned his first-ever Super Series win at the half-mile Sun Valley track, while Jeff Lapcevich won his first CASCAR race in almost two years by taking the checkered flag in the prestigious Griddly Headz 100 road course race at Edmonton’s City Centre Airport.

Prepared by Inside Track Communications // For more information about the #9 Dodge team and its sponsors, visit www.whitlockmotorsports.com. For more on CASCAR, including complete race results, reports, point standings, event schedules and upcoming broadcast times for Super Series races on SPORTSNET, see www.cascar.ca

CASCAR: Bourque on Edmonton & NASCAR

Fresh off his first-ever CASCAR race weekend, Pierre Bourque talks about the experience and how he got involved in stock car racing.

Here is the full story, on driving.ca.

Ferraris set Pan-American test

Taking a long drive across the US in a Ferrari sounds like the perfect trip to us, but how does the thought of tackling 20,000 miles from Belo Horizonte in South America to New York grab you?

Spread out over 15 stages, the Panamerican 20,000 will take 84 days and pass through 16 countries.

The chosen steeds for this Ferrari road trip are a pair of 599 GTBs. Each has been decked out in unique paint schemes, while thick underbody protective plates have been fitted to cope with the rough roads.

The suspension of both cars has been set higher to help them pass over rock-strewn tracks, but otherwise the cars are standard.

The Panamerican 20,000 kicks off on August 24.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

Subaru launches Tribeca SUV

Subaru may be one of the acknowledged experts in all-wheel drive, but the B9 Tribeca is the firm's first foray into the full-sized SUV market in Europe.

Aiming for the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5 market, the Tribeca comes with a 3.0-litre 'boxer six-cylinder engine with 242bhp and a five-speed auto 'box.

That's enough power to see the Tribeca hit 121mph and 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds.

Subaru has designed the Tribeca for on-road refinement and handling rather than off-road ability, and the car has been further tweaked to suit European tastes.

Prices start £28,995 for the S5 trim, which includes six airbags, 18in alloy wheels, air-conditioning and a six-disc CD autochanger with MP3 connection.

The next trim is the SE5 at £31,995 and this adds leather seats, a sunroof and satellite-navigation, while the SE7 at £33,995 brings a third row of seats to make it a seven-seater.

Order books are already open at Subaru dealers, and the first Tribecas reach the UK in November.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

Mercedes CL 63 AMG - first official photo

eMercedesbenz tips us off to the first official image of the CL 63 AMG.

Shot from a low position, with a wide-angle lens, this image makes us think about a shark.
A big shark, ready to devour any road.

© Source: original article on eurocarblog.com

IHRA Canadian Nationals Washed Out

TORONTO, Ontario (July 22, 2006) – The weather front that washed out Friday’s IHRA Canadian Nationals professional qualifying sessions at Toronto Motorsports Park refused to cooperate for Saturday’s scheduled racing as well. After hours of steady downpour in Cayuga, IHRA decided to pull the plug on the weekend’s event. The IHRA Canadian Nationals have been rescheduled for the weekend of September 23-24.

“It’s unfortunate, but these are the realities you have to face when you hold outdoor events. Mother Nature does not always cooperate,” IHRA President Aaron Polburn said. “We looked at the weather report for the rest of the day today and tomorrow and decided things weren’t going to work out. We’ll come back in September and have a great event.”

All spectator tickets purchased for this weekend will be valid for the rescheduled event in September. Crew passes and car and driver passes purchased for the IHRA Canadian Nationals will also be honored in September. Though some sportsman classes ran qualifying sessions Friday, IHRA will start the event over in September with new entries welcome. In addition, racers who wish to drop their rigs off in Toronto on their way back from the Epping, New Hampshire, event September 8-10 will be welcome to do so.

For competitors not able to return for the rescheduled event, car-and-driver and crew passes may be transferred to another eMax Drag Racing Series race this season. Please contact IHRA at (419) 663-6666 for more information.

The next event on the 2006 eMax Drag Racing Series is the Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals, August 4-6, at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Cross-country Road Trip !

Three guys are driving a Ford Crown Victoria that has been converted to run on E85 ethanol fuel: www.KickTheOilHabit.org/RoadTrip

The goal is to get from DC to LA in a FlexFuel car, only stopping at stations with E85 pumps. Given that there are only about 750 stations that offer E85 out of the 170,000 gas stations in the U.S., it’s a pretty significant challenge.

Stretched Hummer on show

It may not be the most tasteful car at the British motor show, but it's certainly the longest.

Say howdy to the Hummer H2 stretch limo on the www.limosrus.co.uk stand.

Packed full of more than lights and tacky effects than Stringfellow's nightclub, this is the ultimate in hen night transport.

It's so tacky, in fact, that we kinda like it.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

VW Tiguan - official design study

Volkswagen has a press release out, confirming the choice of the Tiguan name for its future compact SUV; coming out in 2008.

The press release is accompanied by a nice design sketch, anticipating a car that is (fortunately) very different from the test mules that have been running around with a Golf Plus body.

© Source: original article on eurocarblog.com

Edmonton Sun: CASCAR fan friendly

Here's a nice story from the Edmonton Sun on how approachable and friendly the CASCAR crowd is. Includes quotes from Dave Whitlock and CASCAR first-timer Pierre Bourque.

ChampCar cancels Korean race

From TSN.ca

The inaugural Ansan Champ Car Grand Prix race in South Korea has been removed from the Champ Car World Series calendar. Officials did not offer any explanation as to why the event was cancelled. It was scheduled for October 15-17.

.... more at the link above...

CASCAR: Edmonton - Results

Jeff Lapcevich wins the Griddly Headz 100 CASCAR race at the Grand Prix of Edmonton

EDMONTON, AB – Jeff Lapcevich ended an almost two-year CASCAR Super Series winless drought on Saturday afternoon in the Griddly Headz 100 at the Grand Prix of Edmonton. The Caistor Centre, Ontario resident started fourth in the 38-car field and never looked back after coming out on top of an early-race battle with polesitter J.R. Fitzpatrick.

It was the sixth Super Series win of Lapcevich’s career. The Tim Hortons / EMCEA Transport Chevy last visited victory lane following the Vancouver Indy, on July 24, 2004. Kerry Micks, who won the Father’s Day CASCAR race at Mosport Raceway, finished second in his Cdn. Detailing Services Ford Taurus, ahead of CASCAR newcomer Kenny Habul (Hot Wheels Chevy), who recorded his first-ever Super Series podium finish.

Points leader J.R. Fitzpatrick of Ayr, Ontario started on the pole for the 32-lap race around the 14-turn road course, after dominating practice and qualifying in his Milwaukee Tools Chevy. His Fitzpatrick Motorsports teammate Don Thomson Jr. started alongside of him, in the Home Hardware Chevy, but had a tire go down early in the race, forcing him to the pits for new rubber. The five-time and defending Super Series champion recovered to fifth at the end of the Griddly Headz 100.

The early action featured back-and-forth racing between Fitzpatrick and Lapcevich. After swapping the lead a few times following the race’s lone full-course caution, Fitzpatrick experienced electrical problems and fell off the pace, to 14th at the finish. At the checkered flag, Lapcevich cruised home almost 15 seconds ahead of Micks, despite never having raced on the Edmonton circuit before.

“After we got past J.R. [Fitzpatrick] that second time, it was pretty uneventful,” said Lapcevich, following the race. “My biggest concern was making sure that we had a few cars between us and Kerry [Micks] in case there were any late restarts. I was behind him for that restart at Mosport when he got by [Peter] Gibbons and I didn’t want to take any chance of that happening to me today.”

Lapcevich credited his A.P Engine for putting him into contention in Edmonton. “We had trouble at Mosport and we found out later that we had an ignition problem that we weren’t aware of for a while. We fixed that and we were more than competitive in Edmonton.” Lapcevich continued, “I don’t know what the crowd was today, but I spoke with people who said it was the biggest we’ve ever raced in front of. I did several ‘donuts’ during my victory lap and there were a lot of people who hung around to enjoy them.”

Fourth-place went to CASCAR’s ‘Ironman’ DJ Kennington in the Castrol Dodge Charger, ahead of Don Thomson. Dodge Charger racers Ron Beauchamp (MOPAR), Mark Dilley (Dodge) and Dave Whitlock (NTN Bower / Headz Gamez) came home sixth through eighth, respectively, while Peter Gibbons (Cdn. Tire Chevy) and Jim Lapcevich (EMCEA / Tim Hortons Chevy) rounded out the top 10 finishers.

In addition to being a CASCAR Super Series race, the Griddly Headz 100 was also a CASCAR Flo~Pro.com Western Series points race. EMCO Taurus driver Kevin Dowler’s 17th-place overall result was the best of the Western regulars, which earned the Sherwood Park, AB racer top points toward his goal of earning a record-extending sixth Western Series championship.

After a pair of events in western Canada, the CASCAR Super Series returns to the east and will make its next appearance on the streets of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec on Aug. 4-6 for the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.

CASCAR ON TV: For information regarding initial airings and replays of CASCAR Super Series races on SPORTSNET, please check your local listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.

POINT STANDINGS: CASCAR SUPER SERIES: Unofficial After 5 Events (Top 15): 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (907 pts.); 2. #02 Kerry Micks (902); 3. #22 Scott Steckly (889); 4. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (877); 5. #17 DJ Kennington (860); 6. #39 Dave Whitlock (852); 7. #19 Brad Graham (849); 8. #10 Doug Brown (837); 9. #9 Mark Dilley (819); 10. #1 Peter Gibbons (816); 11. #25 Jim Lapcevich (809); 12. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (801); 13. #3 Jason Hathaway (772); 14. #14 John Fitzpatrick (752); 15. #11 Ron VanEs (702)


CASCAR Super Series
RESULTS: Griddly Headz 100
Round #5 // July 22, 2006 // Grand Prix of Edmonton
Edmonton, Alberta // City Centre Airport // 14-turn road course

FIN. ST. # DRIVER (HOMETOWN) SPONSOR(S) / MAKE LAPS
1 4 23 Jeff Lapcevich (Caistor Centre, ON) Tim Hortons / EMCEA Transport Chevrolet Monte Carlo 32
2 5 02 Kerry Micks (Mt. Albert, ON) Cdn. Detailing Services Ford Taurus 32
3 8 75 Kenny Habul (Etobicoke, ON) Hot Wheels / Variety Village Chevrolet Monte Carlo 32
4 3 17 DJ Kennington (St. Thomas, ON) Castrol / N.P.P. Dodge Charger 32
5 2 4 Don Thomson Jr. (Hamilton, ON) Home Hardware Chevrolet Monte Carlo 32
6 13 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Windsor, ON) MOPAR / Mobil1 / Exide / Chrysler Jeep Dodge Svc. Dodge Charger 32
7 10 9 Mark Dilley (Barrie, ON) Dodge / Mobil 1 / Exide / Leland / Avenue M.W. / CRS Dodge Charger 32
8 9 39 Dave Whitlock (Wyoming, ON) NTN Bower / Headz Gamez Inc. / NMT Dodge Charger 32
9 16 1 Peter Gibbons (Stouffville, ON) Canadian Tire / Monroe Brakes Chevrolet Monte Carlo 32
10 17 25 Jim Lapcevich (Hamilton, ON) EMCEA Transport / Tim Hortons Chevrolet Monte Carlo 32
11 15 19 Brad Graham (Glencoe, ON) Challenger Motor Freight / Logel’s Dodge Charger 32
12 7 22 Scott Steckly (Milverton, ON) ERB / AW Millwrights Dodge Charger 32
13 11 8 Marc Miller (Holland, MI) Carhartt Dodge Charger 32
14 1 84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON) Milwaukee Tools Chevrolet Monte Carlo 32
15 19 10 Doug Brown (Brantford, ON) NAPA / AUTOPRO Chevrolet Monte Carlo 32
16 23 3 Jason Hathaway (Appin, ON) ® Snap-On Tools / Arctic Cat / Super 8 Dodge Charger 32
17 6 35 Kevin Dowler (Sherwood Park, AB) EMCO Ford Taurus 31
18 25 09 Kent Nuhn (Williamsford, ON) ® Nuhn Motorsports Pontiac Grand Prix 31
19 20 30 Derek Polack (Stony Plain, AB) Bulldog Protective Coatings Chevrolet Monte Carlo 31
20 24 36 Jim White (Kamloops, BC) MOPAR / Kamloops Dodge Charger 31
21 21 2 Carl Harr (St. Albert, AB) Zimmer / Wheaton GMC / GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo 31
22 29 44 James Van Domselaar (Ft. Sask., AB) South Fort Chevrolet Monte Carlo 31
23 27 14 John Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON) Latta Cranes Chevrolet Monte Carlo 31
24 36 5 Fred Whiteman (Edmonton, AB) KPSA & Associates Chevrolet Monte Carlo 31
25 28 29 Pierre Bourque (Ottawa, ON) ® Pollara Public Affairs / Full Metal Minerals / Driving.ca Dodge Charger 31
26 34 86 Shawn Press (Calgary, AB) Crestview Homes / All Weather Windows Dodge Charger 31
27 26 6 Todd Nichol (St. Albert, AB) Pennzoil / Rocky Mountain Sales / SEM Chevrolet Monte Carlo 30
28 35 26 Shaun Polack (Stony Plain, AB) Thompson Brothers Chevrolet Monte Carlo 30
29 30 42 Lyle Paulson (Enderby, BC) ® New Era Promotion Pontiac Grand Prix 29
30 22 71 Daryl Harr (St. Albert, AB) Westworld Computers / GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo 27
31 32 41 Fred Del Pero (Edmonton, AB) Castrol Ford Taurus 24
32 14 79 Wade Lee (Calgary, AB) Sun Valley Speedway Chevrolet Monte Carlo 22
33 12 88 Robin Buck (Campbellville, ON) Lou's BBQ / CPS Flooring Ford Taurus 16
34 31 87 James Ward (Maple Ridge, BC) Lordco Racing Ford Taurus 15
35 18 11 Ron VanEs (Smithville, ON) Star Van Systems Chevrolet Monte Carlo 13
36 37 21 Jason White (Sun Peaks, BC) Zimmer / Wheaton GMC Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1
37 38 24 Scott Dennis (Edmonton, AB) ® Antrim Construction Fluid Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1
38 33 59 Brad Musart (Lac La Biche, AB) OK Ford Sales Ford Taurus DNS
® after the hometown denotes Rookie contender.

POLESITTER: #8 J.R. Fitzpatrick (1 minute and 22.582 seconds) // TIME OF RACE: 52 minutes and 5.655 seconds // MARGIN OF VICTORY: 14.699 seconds // CAUTIONS: 1 for a total of 7 laps // LAP LEADERS: #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (1-10), #23 Jeff Lapcevich (11-32) // GOODYEAR BELTS & HOSES FASTEST LAP: #23 Jeff Lapcevich (1 minute and 24.710 seconds)

Contact CASCAR’s Toronto Office at (416) 531-4714 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications.

CASCAR: Saturday Qualifying

EDMONTON, AB - J.R. Fitzpatrick posted the fastest time of the Saturday morning qualifying session for the CASCAR competitors at the Grand Prix of Edmonton to earn the pole position for Saturday afternoon's Griddly Headz 100. His Fitzpatrick Motorsports teammate Don Thomson Jr. was second quickest and will start on the outside of the front row.

In all, 40 drivers posted qualifying times during the Friday and Saturday sessions.

COMBINED QUALIFYING TIMES (TOP 10)
1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick / 1:22.582
2. #4 Don Thomson Jr. / 1:23.101
3. #17 DJ Kennington / 1:23.800
4. #23 Jeff Lapcevich / 1:23.860
5. #02 Kerry Micks / 1:23.893
6. #35 Kevin Dowler / 1:24.233
7. #22 Scott Steckly / 1:24.262
8. #75 Kenny Habul / 1:24.361
9. #39 Dave Whitlock / 1:24.502
10. #9 Mark Dilley / 1:24.549

NOTEWORTHY: #1 Peter Gibbons blew a motor in the Saturday morning session...

CASCAR: Edmonton Friday Qualifying Session

EDMONTON, AB - J.R. Fitzpatrick posted the fastest lap of the Friday afternoon qualifying session, in advance of Saturday's Griddly Headz 100 CASCAR Super Series race at the Edmonton City Centre Airport.

The #84 Milwaukee Tools Chevy driver lapped the 14-turn road course in a time of 1 minute and 24.732 seconds. Kenny Habul was second-fastest, with a lap of 1:25.527 around the 3.175 km circuit. Former Western Series champ Wade Lee was the quickest Western regular, in 11th. Reigning Western Series champion Kevin Dowler recovered from his earlier engine woes to qualify 16th.

A second qualifying session for the CASCAR competitors will take place on Saturday morning during the Grand Prix of Edmonton race weekend. The starting grid for the Griddly Headz 100 will be finalized after that session.

TOP 10: 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick, 2. #75 Kenny Habul, 3. #02 Kerry Micks, 4. #4 Don Thomson Jr., 5. #17 DJ Kennington, 6. #9 Mark Dilley, 7. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr., 8. #1 Peter Gibbons, 9. #23 Jeff Lapcevich, 10. #8 Marc Miller

Thanks to Joel Robinson for the update.

CASCAR: Griddly Headz 100 at the Grand Prix of Edmonton – First Practice Session

EDMONTON, AB – Joel Robinson just called in with an update from the first CASCAR practice session for the Griddly Headz 100 at the Grand Prix of Edmonton. There is another practice session at 11:45 a.m. (Western time), followed by the first qualifying session (4:30 p.m. Western time).

Super Series points leader J.R. Fitzpatrick turned in the fastest lap with a time of 1:25.850. Five-time Western Series champ Kevin Dowler broke a motor during the session, while the fastest Western Series regular of the 30 racers who took to the track was Daryl Harr, of St. Albert, AB (in 15th).

The top 10 were: 1. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick; 2. #75 Kenny Habul; 3. #23 Jeff Lapcevich; 4. #4 Don Thomson Jr.; 5. #1 Peter Gibbons; 6. #9 Mark Dilley; 7. #17 DJ Kennington; 8. #22 Scott Steckly; 9. #8 Marc Miller; 10. #02 Kerry Micks

OSCAAR: Fletcher preview for Sauble Speedway

Team JNE Consulting Head to the "Beach"



MILTON, ON – John Fletcher and Team JNE Consulting will ride a wave of success to Sauble Beach Speedway this Saturday. With the cooler temperatures anticipated for this week's action, the beach may have been able to handle both hot streaks. John will head to the 1/3 mile speedway with a 122-point lead but is realistic about the situation.

"We came to Sauble in 2005 and broke a tranny" Fletcher said, leaving Team JNE Consulting with a DNF that they could not over come the remainder of the season. Team JNE Consulting will continue to work hard towards the season title with the eye on being competitive each and every night and finishing strong.

There are still a handful of teams that are in position for the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model Series title should the 61 of Fletcher falter. The team would like to enjoy a day at the beach but with a hungry bear on the loose look for Fletcher to have his picnic basket high up in a tree and continue to race up to the hype and have another strong finish.

Mercedes CLK 500 m.y. 2007

Mercedes has announced a new engine for the CLK 500: the old 5-liter V8 with 3 valves per cylinder by the new 5.5-liter V8 with 4 valves per cylinder. Power goes up to 388 ps (from 306 ps) while maximum torque is now 530 Nm (up from 460).

The new engine and the new 7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox combine to give a nice boost to the CLK 500's performance data: the sprint from 0-100 km/h takes only 5.2 seconds (5.9 for the old CLK 500), while the top speed is still the "same old" electronically limited 250 km/h.

Viene da chiedersi a cosa serva la CLK 63 AMG ...

Despite the 26% boost to the engine's power fuel consumption is unvaried: on average 11,4-11,5 liters / 100 km on the combined cycle.

The CLK m.y. 2007 can also be equipped with the new AMG styling pack: "front and rear apron, side skirt panels, an AMG spoiler lip on the boot lid and a chromed AMG twin tailpipe" plus new 18" AMG alloy rims. All for 4,402 € (including 16% VAT in Germany).

© Source: original article on eurocarblog.com

Topless Bentley takes off

The great British public has its first chance to gorge it eyes on the sublime new Bentley Continental GTC.

Even more impressive than the coupe, the soft-top GTC carries off the balance between style, space and presence to a tee.

It'll cost you £130,500 if you can get your name down on the waiting list.

For that, you will receive a sleek four-seat convertible capable of 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds and 195mph, courtesy of the 552bhp W12 engine.

Bentley also assures us the GTC will drive every bit as well as the coupe, thanks to some very high-tech body stiffening.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

Kia shows off special ED

Kia is a company on the march at the moment and it didn't pass up the opportunity of another international motor show to dish out details of yet more new metal.

Although not at the British motor show itself, these are the first pictures of the Kia ED.

The ED is the car Kia hopes will take on the small hatchback class, up against rivals such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra.

The ED, which is still a codename rather than the final moniker for the car, will go on sale in December this year.

There will be 1.4-, 1.6- and 2.0-litre petrol engines, along with a new 1.6-litre turbodiesel.

Expect to see the final version at the Paris motor show in September, while a three-door hatch and five-door estate will follow on later in 2007.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

CASCAR: Pierre Bourque Looking Forward To CASCAR Debut

OTTAWA, ON – Taking a breather from his hectic NASCAR Busch East Series (BES) schedule, Ottawa, Ontario’s (Canada) Pierre Bourque will look to make a smashing debut in Canada’s version of NASCAR from Edmonton, AB in the running of Saturday’s Grand Prix of Edmonton.

PHOTO CAPTION: Pierre Bourque (L) with three-time CASCAR Champion and Team Owner Dave Whitlock.

Bourque, Canada's only full-time NASCAR driver is teaming up with Whitlock Motorsports for the first of three events this season.

“I’m really looking forward to Edmonton this weekend,” stated a confident Bourque this week. “I’m grateful to Whitlock Motorsports for allowing me to be a part of their team. Hopefully we can keep our nose clean and garnish a good finish for everyone.”

Before heading into Edmonton, Bourque tested at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary on Wednesday preparing for this weekend’s prestige event.

Bourque will use this race not only as experience in the CASCAR Series but as additional seat time in a stock car. Bourque is spending 2006 in a variety of different racecars and sanctions, but anytime an opportunity arises to acquire seat time to boast his racing resume, it’s not a hard decision.

“The NASCAR Busch East Series is off this weekend and I want to keep my rhythm going in a racecar and competing in this weekend’s event allows me to do so. I’m really pumped about the race on Saturday. I’m not going to try and go out and slaughter any records this weekend, I just want to run competitively and finish well. Everyone deserves that.”

Bourque will drive the No. 29 Dodge Charger for Whitlock Motorsports in all Canadian events. Next weekend, he will be back competing for Andy Hillenburg's Charlotte, NC, based Fast Track Racing Team in the 2006 NASCAR BUSCH EAST championship where he currently lies 18th in the points chase.

Driving.Ca will adorn the primary sponsorship role this weekend. Driving.Ca is Canada’s No. 1 Automotive website.

In addition, Canada.com, Canada's biggest online community, Working.com, one of North America's top career sites, and Dose.Ca, a cool site that caters to hip Canadian urbanites coast-to-coast, will all serve as secondary sponsors on Bourque’s machine this weekend.

All four new sponsors are part of Canwest-Global, Canada's largest media company with interests in television, radio, newspapers and the internet. All four will be backing of Bourque’s NASCAR Busch East season, his three CASCAR races, and his forays into ARCA.

“I’m really excited about our new sponsors,” he said, "they are leaders in their respective fields, both in terms of the way they use new technologies and the way they attract a sizable user base. I’m looking forward to helping them expand their reach into the North American stock car base, particularly within NASCAR's Canadian fan base, which according to public opinion polls, number some six million die-hard fans.”

Full Metals Minerals and Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, Bourque’s NBES sponsors will also continue to back Bourque’s racing effort for the balance of the season as associate sponsors. “It’s a great treat for my sponsors to be involved in Canadian event,” explained Bourque. “They have been behind my racing program 100 percent and I really appreciate it. Hopefully everything will go our way this weekend and we’ll perform brilliantly in front of my fans.”

Following his debut in the CASCAR Series, Bourque will board a plane and head to Nashville, Tennessee to participate in the open test session at Nashville Superspeedway on Monday, July 24th. Bourque will utilize the test session in preparation for his ARCA Superspeedway debut at the 1.333-mile concrete racetrack next month.

In addition to running three CASCAR Series races with Whitlock Motorsports, Pierre Bourque will also compete in a full NASCAR Busch East Series schedule and a limited ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule for Fast Track Racing and car owner Andy Hillenburg.

For further in site on Canwest-Global and its associates please log onto http://www.Driving.Ca, http://www.Canada.com, http://www.Working.com and http://www.Dose.Ca

For more information on Full Metals Minerals, please visit http://www.fullmetalminerals.com

For additional input on Pollara Strategic Public Opinion, please logon to http://www.pollara.ca

Prepared by Chris Knight / Fast Track Racing

"I See Airbags..."

Haley Joel Osment in car crash
Actor in hospital after one-car accident

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, California (AP) -- Actor Haley Joel Osment was hospitalized early Thursday after he apparently lost control of his car while heading to his Los Angeles-area home, authorities said.

Osment, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as a boy who could see dead people in "The Sixth Sense," was driving a 1995 Saturn about 1 a.m. when the car collided with a brick pillar and flipped, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Greg Sisneros.

The 18-year-old actor was awake and talking following the crash, Sisneros said. He had been alone in the car and was taken to Huntington Hospital in nearby Pasadena.

Sisneros had no information on his condition, and an emergency-room receptionist said no one under that name was at the hospital.

Osment is set to appear in the upcoming "Home of the Giants." In the film, he plays a high school journalist covering a basketball team as it heads toward the state championship.

La Canada Flintridge, a suburb of Los Angeles, is about 14 miles northeast of downtown.

CASCAR: ARCTIC CAT & BERTRAND GODIN COMING TO THE CASCAR SUPER SERIES

Beginning at the CASCAR Super Series event in Trois Rivieres former open wheel racing sensation Bertrand Godin will be behind the wheel of the Arctic Cat Chevrolet prepared by MidAmerica Motorsports. Godin will compete in the remaining events in the CASCAR Super Series racing schedule this year and participate in the full season in 2007.

Bertrand Godin is continuing the tradition of great racers emerging from the province of Quebec. Names like Villeneuve, Carpentier, and Tagliani are just part of the rich racing heritage.

Bertrand Godin is a past participant in the Atlantic Series and other open wheel racing series and has many fond memories of those years. “Winning on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal was very special” he stated. “To claim a victory in your hometown is very nice, I’m looking forward to the new challenge of stock cars in the CASCAR Super Series and very excited that one of the races will be back on Ile Notre Dame in Montreal”.

“We are very pleased to enter this new partnership with Arctic Cat and to have a proven race winner in Bertrand Godin behind the wheel. Bertrand is a winner in open wheel racing Atlantic cars and I have no doubt he will adapt quickly to the CASCAR Super Series stock car” stated MidAmerica President Dave Didero.

The CASCAR Super Series is Canada’s premiere stock car racing series with 11 events on ovals, temporary street circuits and road courses from coast to coast. For more information on Mid America Motorsports and the CASCAR Super series log onto http://www.cascar.ca/ and watch all of the races on Rogers Sportsnet.

Prepared by TL Sports & Entertainment // Photo from www.bertrandgodin.com

Ford Focus Coupe-Convertible

Ford has shown off the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet in its finished form for the first time at the British motor show.

Recognising that Brits buy more soft-tops than anyone else in Europe, we were treated to a world premiere. The Focus CC is a handsome machine and it avoids the dumpy rear-end styling that afflicts many of its rivals.

We also expect it to be one of the best handling convertible around, and Ford tells us the chassis set-up is just as agile as the Focus hatch's.

Practicality has not been forgotten and the Focus CC has the largest boot in its class, boasting 534-litres of space with the roof raised.

Sales start in October in the UK and the entry level model will be a 1.6-litre petrol. There will also be a 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

NICE Mega City

It's nice to be nice, especially if you are NICE and happen to build a new electric car that makes its debut at the British motor show.

NICE stands for No Internal Combustion Engine and its Mega City is aimed at those who don't need to go beyond urban limits.

With a top speed of just over 40mph and a range of 50 miles, the Mega City can carry a driver and passenger.

The car comes with an automatic gearbox and is offered with options such as customised satellite navigation to direct the driver to recharging points.

NICE has also joined up with car-share scheme Streetcar to use a fleet of VW Golfs for longer trips.

The NICE Mega City is on sale now and costs from £9,995.

© Source: original article on topgear.com