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Kyle Busch dominates Nationwide race at Iowa:

July 31, 2010

Kyle Busch dominated Saturday night’s US Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway, getting his ninth Nationwide Series win in 17 starts this year, the 39th of his career and his 75th all-time among NASCAR’s top three series.

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Ferrari drops new photos of 458 Challenge test session at Vallelunga

July 31, 2010

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge - Click above for high-res image gallery

A few weeks ago, Ferrari officially debuted its latest Challenge race car, based on the 458 Italia. Now they’ve released new photos of the car during its test session at the Vallelunga race circuit. Factory test drivers Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo were on hand to provide feedback on the 458 Challenge, and predictably, both seem impressed with the car’s capabilities. Mediani described his drive as “very quick and extremely good fun,” while his counterpart commented, “I am sure that Prancing Horse competition owners will be very pleased with the car.”
Using the standard roadgoing 458 Italia as a base, Ferrari creates the Challenge version by increasing output of the 4.5-liter V8 to 570 horsepower, cutting weight via thinner and lighter body panels, adding a race-specific suspension setup, fitting 19-inch BBS wheels with Pirelli racing slicks, installing [...]

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Ferrari drops news photos of 458 Challenge test session at Vallelunga

July 31, 2010

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge - Click above for high-res image gallery

A few weeks ago, Ferrari officially debuted its latest Challenge race car, based on the 458 Italia. Now they’ve released new photos of the car during its test session at the Vallelunga race circuit. Factory test drivers Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo were on hand to provide feedback on the 458 Challenge, and predictably, both seem impressed with the car’s capabilities. Mediani described his drive as “very quick and extremely good fun,” while his counterpart commented, “I am sure that Prancing Horse competition owners will be very pleased with the car.”
Using the standard roadgoing 458 Italia as a base, Ferrari creates the Challenge version by increasing output of the 4.5-liter V8 to 570 horsepower, cutting weight via thinner and lighter body panels, adding a race-specific suspension setup, fitting 19-inch BBS wheels with Pirelli racing slicks, installing [...]

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Kentucky likely to get Cup race:

July 31, 2010

Bruton Smith, president of Speedway Motorsports Inc., has scheduled what he calls and#8220;a big press conferenceand#8221; for Aug. 10 at his Kentucky Motor Speedway in Sparta. He wouldn’t say it involves a long-coveted Sprint Cup date for his 1.

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NASCAR NOTEBOOK: Drivers fined for comments, Cup practice, more:

July 31, 2010

NASCAR insists it’s not trying to stifle free speech, but admits it wants drivers to choose their words more carefully when criticizing the sport.

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Elliott Sadler wins Truck Series race at Pocono:

July 31, 2010

Elliott Sadler became only the 21st driver with victories in each of NASCAR’s top series by winning Saturday afternoon’s Camping World Truck Series 125 at Pocono Raceway.

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BMW commits to Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with M3 GT2

July 31, 2010

Filed under: Motorsports, BMW, Racing

BMW M3 GT2 - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW has decided to officially compete for the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with the M3 GT2. This year’s initial iteration will include three races at England’s Silverstone, the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and Zuhai in China. Peugeot has already committed to run the LMP1 class 908 and Audi is considering running the R15+ TDI.
The M3 GT2 debuted in the American Le Mans Series in 2009 with Rahal Letterman Racing and BMW added Team Schnitzer in Europe for 2010. Schnitzer will campaign the cars in the cup runs at Silverstone and Zuhai, while Rahal will be responsible for the American race. In 2011, the Intercontinental cup will expand to six races, including Sebring and Le Mans.

Gallery: 2010 Rahal-Letterman Racing ALMS BMW M3

[Source: BMW]
Continue reading BMW commits to Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with M3 [...]

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1941 Tatra T87 named The New York Times’ Collectible Car of the Year

July 31, 2010

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Etc., Europe

The web has spoken and a 1941 Tatra T87 has been voted The New York Times 2010 Collectible Car of the Year. The rear-engined, air-cooled V8 Tatra beat 30 finalists (overall, there were 651 entrants), including noteworthy cars from Packard and Checker. The T87’s owner, Paul Greenstein, was shocked to hear that his car - one of three Tatras he owns - came out on top. Greenstein says the Tatra has a unique allure that can’t be matched by other manufacturers. For Americans, rarity factors into that, as the Czech marque was never sold in the United States.
Greenstein picked up his car in 2001 for the princely sum of $8,000. At the time, the fin wasn’t in show-quality condition, so he had the T87 shipped to the Czech Republic for a full restoration. Fringe benefits of having the work done in the old country included [...]

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Jari-Matti Latvala becomes youngest driver to win Rally Finland:

July 31, 2010

Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala has become the youngest man ever to win the Rally Finland, eclipsing the record held for 35 years by the legendary Markku Alen.

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Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Big Dog quadricycle

July 31, 2010

Filed under: Etc., Humor

Big Dog quadri-cycle - Click above for high-res image gallery

Friday afternoon, we had the opportunity to walk around the site of the first-ever Maker Faire Detroit while exhibitors were getting set up. Among the wheeled contraptions we encountered was the contraption you see above: the Big Dog. This human-powered conveyance was designed and built by Tom Wilson of Royal Oak, Michigan in his basement and garage. Big Dog is actually the third such vehicle Wilson has constructed, with his original inspiration coming from a similar device he saw at the Burning Man festival several years ago.
Looking closely at the 600-pound machine (which stands a towering eight feet, six inches tall), it’s clear that Wilson put serious thought and craftsmanship into it. Note the inboard-mounted rear disc brakes and the elaborate gear-change and chain mechanism. The centrally-mounted propane tanks are there to support the flame effects from [...]

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