From the Passenger's Perspective: 2013 Chrysler 300

It is slightly unusual for me to be testing a big, American sedan such as the Chrysler 300.  This is actually our rental car for a vacation/business trip to the Big Island of Hawaii.  A Cadillac CTS was the original option, but the 300 ended up being the car for the job.

Exterior Looks
The Chrysler 300, unusual for cars of this type, looks very good.  I love the aggressive yet restrained look of the grille/headlights combo, and the intimidating stance.  It looks very gangster-esque.  I imagine Al Capone would drive this if he were to stalk the streets of Chicago today.  It compels you to drive it with just your left hand on the top of the wheel.  The Cadillac Escalade does the same.


Interior Looks/Functionality
I will start this section of by saying the 300's interior does not stack up to some of it's German rivals.  However, it is cheaper, with a starting MSRP of around $30,000.  It doesn't have quite the same quality or gadgets as it's competitors.  However, for the money, you do get a fairly nice place to be.  The plastics are a bit scratchy, but I love the seats, and the 8.4-inch touchscreen system works surprisingly well.  It took a few minutes to get familiarized with the system, but is very easy and simple to use.  It is also the first car I've been in with an analogue clock.  I thought it would look a bit cheesy and overdone, but it looks nice. However, the headlights are very strange, as the high-beams would only come on if you held the little lever down. Another minor issue would be the gear selector.  It is too sensitive, and the space in between the P,R,N and D are so small you almost always end up going to far or too little.  The interior could also do with a sat-nav, which is an optional extra.



Comfort
For a big car like this, you kind of expect a lazy, sloppy ride.  But with the Chrysler, you don't get it.  It was fairly comfortable, the driving position is good, and the rear seats have adequate leg room.  The ride is a bit bouncier than say a Mercedes C-Class, but for the price this is a comfortable car.  I did note that the ride in the back is a bit jigglier than in the front.

Driving Dynamics
This isn't a sports car.  Nor is this base version a muscle car.  The steering is a bit vague, and the front wheels are a tad disconnected.  But as far as the engine goes, perfect.  It offers adequate power with minimal fuss.  The steering may not be as good as say a BMW, but again, you have to consider price.

Who is this car for?
I have just introduced this little section, which describes what kind of person I think fits this car best.  The Chrysler is tough.  I'm tempted to say it's good for a middle-aged dad who likes to ferry his kids around in an big, tough, muscle car.  But the 300 is more than that.  I think it works for two people.  The aforementioned cool dad, and I think a retired person who loves big, luxurious American cars with looks and a good engine.

Update
Over the course of the trip, I have learned more about certain aspects of the 300.  For instance, the gear selector is really an issue, it is far too sensitive, you almost always end up going past the gear you are looking for.  Second, it makes a very irritating noise when you reverse, like a ghost howling.  Finally, I have noticed something about the interior plastics.  In the passenger seat, where my knee hits the center console, the black plastics have started to wear and become gray-ish.  Further investigation reveals that if you so much as scrape your knuckle against the plastic, it leaves a white streak on the plastic.  This may be fixed by simply wiping down the plastic, but I'm not so sure.  This could leave the car looking very worn very quickly, considering this particular 300 only has 13,500 miles on the clock.

Conclusion
When I first got in the Chrysler, I didn't think I'd like it.  I usually like little European cars with complicated interiors and great handling.  But the 300 surprised me.  I love it's looks, presence, touchscreen system and the general feeling that you are in a big, intimidating car.  This isn't even the full-bore V8 300S, but even so, it's a great car.

From the Passenger's Perspective: Winter 2013 4X4 Comparison

In anticipation of the upcoming winter, I decided to do my first comparison test, between a few 4X4s.  Many thanks to Geneva Foreign & Sports in Geneva, NY for letting me in the cars for the test.  Here are the cars and some of the stats:

2006 BMW X3 3.01
AWD Six-Speed Auto
225 HP 3.0L I6
15/23 MPG

2009 Jeep Patriot Limited
4WD Five-Speed Auto
172 HP 2.4L I4
23/28 MPG

2006 Subaru Forester 2.5 X Premium
AWD Five-Speed Manual
173 HP 2.5L Boxer-4
23/28 MPG

2007 Volvo XC70 Wagon
AWD Five-Speed Auto
208 HP 2.5L I5 Turbo
19/26 MPG

So those are the contenders, let's get to it

Looks
None of these cars are what you would call striking on the outside, and of course, that isn't what they are about.  Nonetheless, of the four I think the BMW looks the best, a combo of the kidney grille and the sportier-than-the-rest stance.  The Subaru comes a distant second with the Volvo clinching third, and the Patriot coming in fourth.
On the inside, things are very similar as far as aesthetic appeal. Take note this has nothing to do with the functionality of the interior.  I think the BMW also has the best looking interior, a combination of modern German tech and a nice color arrangement.  The Volvo comes second with a slightly-sleek but still very logical and Swedish design.  The Subaru gets third, with a nice simple metallic feel, though the upholstery looks a bit 1990s.  The Jeep again gets fourth, only because everything seems miles away from where you are sitting.  You'd have to be at least 6' 2" to reach the rear-view mirror.



















Interior Quality
With big 4X4s like these, you expect all of them to be made to withstand abuse and harsh climates.  This segment deals with the quality and functionality of the interiors of the contenders.
I would have expected the X3 to again win the segment, but I am actually going to award first place to the Volvo XC70.  It seemed to be the best interior as far as the way it was screwed together, and the layout was nice and logical.  You could almost hear Spock telling the Volvo engineers what to do. It had everything you would need, and nothing you could do without.
The BMW comes a close second.  It was overall a better place to sit in than the Volvo, but in layout and control functionality, it received some demerits.  The main issue was finding buttons.  It took a few minutes to figure out how to unlock the car, until finding out that the unlock button was where the hazard light button was.
Third and fourth are more difficult.  I liked the simple, utilitarian feel in the Subaru, but the Jeep had more actual things in it.  Overall I'd say the Subaru clinches third just because in the Jeep, you can never find anything because everything is laid out so oddly.










































Driving Dynamics
Again, none of these cars are meant for pure driving feel, but it is still important.  BMW has always been great at making cars handle well, and the X3 is no exception.  It has often been praised for feeling like a car to drive, and that the X3 does.  It takes a little while to get yourself accustomed to the heavy steering (or so I've been told), but when you do, the car feels like it has grip.  The X3 feels solid, and, to an extent, you can feel the road through your fingertips.   The BMW also has the most power, and you can tell.  It sounds the best, too.
In second comes the Volvo. It may not handle as well as the BMW, but it still goes around corners with some confidence.  The steering is perfectly weighted, and the power feels just right.  The five-cylinder turbo in the Volvo doesn't feel as refined as the engine in the BMW, but the turbo kicks in and you get sufficient power to startle the kids in the back.
Again, in third place comes the Forester.  It was the only manual we drove, and the gearbox was just too clunky, and it really strained the engine.  As for the handling, well the Subaru is a box on wheels, so it handles like one.
And in fourth comes the Jeep Patriot.  It lacked in the handling department.  You feel as though you have no control over the front wheels.  However, the engine didn't feel as though it lacked power, it was just too harsh in delivery.

Comfort
Now, these cars are for the school run, so they should be comfortable.  In first place comes the Volvo XC70.  My only problem was the slightly unsupportive seats, but other than that, it was spot on.  The suspension absorbed the bumps, and you could just sink into the interior and feel as though you aren't really in a car.
In second place comes the BMW X3.  It has a slightly sportier suspension set up, so of course it will lose its ride comfort somewhat.  However, the seats were perfect and there was almost no noise.
In third again comes the Subaru Forester.  The ride quality was decent, but the engine noise was a bit much and the seats were a bit itchy.
In fourth again was the Jeep Patriot.  The ride was iffy, it was a bit too bouncy.  The body rolled a ton and the engine made a significant amount of noise.

Spaciousness
The primary purpose of these cars is space, that's why you buy them.  The winner of this category is again the Volvo, which impressed me with its huge trunk space, made twice as large by folding the rear seats down.  Volvo has always been good at spacious wagons, and the XC70 is no exception.
In second is the X3.  Despite it's sporty look it has very spacious rear seat area, and decent trunk space.
In third comes the Jeep Patriot.  It had decent space in the back and the trunk was pretty good as well.. However, it was a bit difficult to get the rear seats down.
The Forester got fourth, only because it is much smaller than the other three.  For its size however, it is very spacious indeed.

Conclusion
In conclusion, all these cars could be justified.  However, overall in first place is the Volvo XC70.  I loved it's logical interior layout, the comfort of it's ride and the incredibly spacious trunk.  Perfect for the mom with some children to ferry to and from school/sports etc.
Second place goes to the BMW X3, with it's excellent interior and great car-like driving experience.  Not so much a journey car, but an epic urban taxi.
Third is the Subaru Forester.  It would be the ideal car for somebody who needs a small, cheap, utilitarian workhorse.
And in fourth is the Jeep Patriot (Again).  However, if you are somebody who just needs a car that should be able to do some off-roading, this is your car.
Those are the standings, but I will say the car I would buy with my own money would be the BMW X3.  It wasn't quite good enough to win the test, but it wins my vote.

Note: All these cars are currently available on www.gfs1.com in Geneva, New York, all for under $18,000.

Top 10 Iconic 1990s Cars

These are in no particular order, but here are what I think are the most iconic 90s cars.

1.Mclaren F1-This was the fastest car in the world until the Bugatti Veyron came along.  I especially like the fact that the driver sits in the middle.  It not only means you feel like a racing driver, but it means you can get two passengers in what is technically a two-seater car.



2. Jaguar XJ220-It was a complete failure.  Simple as that.  But it still showed the world what Jaguar was capable of, regardless of it's pitiful sales figures.  And I still think it looks really, really cool.


3. Nissan Skyline-This is my favorite Japanese sports car, and it pretty much led the invasion of the Japanese sports car on the Western world in the 1990s.  It also led us to the current Nissan GT-R, which is important.



4. Nissan 300ZX-This was really the last true Nissan Z-Car.  Some will argue that the current 350Z and the 370Z are Z-cars, but they don't quite adhere to the same recipe set by the 240Z in the 70s.



5.Pagani Zonda C12- This was the first in a long line of brilliant cars.  This car was the first Zonda.  It started one of the few supercar startup manufacturers who actually made it in the world.  And would you just look at it?



6.Ferrari F50- The F50 was made to honor the man who started it all, Mr. Enzo Ferrari.  Some will tell you that it doesn't live up to the name.  I tend to agree.  However, it is still one of the best supercars for pure driving feel and connectivity, even though you are also directly connected to the engine through a 1/4 inch piece of sheet metal.



7.Toyota Supra- Again, it was one of the headliners in the Japanese sports car scene, and it was and still is a car that is great for tuners.



8.BMW M3/M5- Though the M3/M5 started in the 80s with the brilliant original M Cars, along with the M1, the 1990s models really got the ball rolling and continued the bloodline of the best super sedans in the world.



9.Mercury Sable-  You have just looked at that and thought, "what?!", but this is a list of the most iconic cars of the 90s.  And most people will say you can't have 90s cars without some pretty boring cars.  So these last two satisfy that quota.  The Sable was.....um....fill in the blank there I cannot say these things on the Internet.



10.Ford Mustang/Chevrolet Camaro-This may anger some Mustang and Camaro enthusiasts, but the 90s were terrible decades for these two muscle cars.  And in the case of the 'Stang, the 80s as well. They were both underpowered, had prehistoric suspension setups and were incredibly dull to look at.

2013 WKA/WKC Road Race #7 at Summit Point Raceway, West Virginia

This weekend was the seventh and final race on the WKA's (World Karting Association) Road Racing calender.  It was also the fourth race on the WKC (Woodbridge Kart Club) schedule.  This being my first season in this series, I'd never been to the Summit Point Raceway before.  I did race earlier in the year at the Summit Point Shendandoah Course, but never on the full two mile track.
The track begins as a long straightway, terminating at a tricky, increasing radius right hander, followed by an incredibly bumpy full speed left hander up to the highest point on the track.  The third bend is a full speed right, followed by the braking zone for turn four, a tight left hander, which takes you into the carousel.  This consists of another increasing radius right-hander.  You keep left, around a gradual turn into some gentle esses, followed by another full speed right.  The final turn on the track is a foot-to-the-floor right onto the front straight.
This weekend was especially important for me, as I went into it with a lead in the championship.  I had to win both of my races to clinch the championship in the respective classes (Jr. Sprint Lite on Saturday and Jr. Sprint Heavy on Sunday).  Friday is always the practice day in WKA events, and we used the same setup we had at the previous race at the VIRginia International Raceway.  After I learned the track, we changed gears, up two teeth.  Other than that, not much occured on practice day.  What's nice about practicing with a variety of different karts and drivers, from four-cycle animals to two-cycle Stock Leopards, is that after a faster kart passes you, you can duck in behind and learn about the racing line from them.  For instance, during one of my practice session, a two-cycle sprint kart driven by Walter Troup went by me on the front straight.  I ducked in behind him to see what sort of line he was taking into turn one.  I discovered that he swung really wide, and dove in at the last second to get the straightest line possible.  And later that evening, Don Guilbeault told me more about the line around the entire track.  That's whats nice, everybody is willing to help you have fun and do well.  Don's son Tyler ran my kart a few years ago, special thanks to Don for all the help this season.  I'd also like to send special thanks to Mike Hines (Support on Everything), Keith Buffo(Support on Everything), Brian Fisher (Engine Tuner), and John Fisher (On-track support).  All of these people, including my parents of course, helped to make this season special.
But at this point in the article, the season isn't over yet.
Saturday brought another hot day to northern West Virginia.  My first race of the weekend wasn't due to start until 12:45, the phrase "hurry up and wait", was used frequently.  I'll admit I was nervous, but that always goes down once you get in the seat and the engine fires up, which fortunately, it did.  The sensation when you see the green flag come out, yet to be unfurled is, well, indescribable, but suffice to say, adrenaline was up.  Because we do standing starts in road racing, there are several waves of the flag.  There can be up to 40 karts on track, with huge speed differences.  This meant I was to start on the third flag.  The kart started at the wave of the first.  Then the second flag dropped.  Rev the engine.  Keep revving. Wait, waiiiiiit.....Green!  And my race had begun.  even before i had exited onto the track i ran into traffic.  But it seemed as though I was in the lead.  But as I came around the final turn for the first time, the nose of the second place kart came into view.  This meant I had to take the outside line around the last turn, but we managed to stay side by side for a drag race down the main straight.  Relief settled in when the nose of the other kart disappeared from view as we entered the first turn.
I didn't see second place for a while, so I just banged in consistent laps, focusing on driving the track.  And suffice to say I never saw him again.  As I passed under the flagger tower, with the chequered flag waving, I, well, didn't do much really.  I had won my first WKA championship.  I don't really like to make a big deal about it, but a championship is a championship.  I had met my goal for the weekend, win one of my two races, and in turn clinch a championship.  Check.

To be continued.........*ominous music*..............Tune in at some point in the near future.........

2013 International Classic at Oswego Speedway

On Saturday night my dad and I drove up to Oswego Speedway in Oswego, NY for the Saturday night races for the 57th Budweiser International Classic.  Four different types of cars participated on Saturday night. These being, Classic Midgets, Three-Quarter Midgets, Small-Block Supermodifieds and the ISMA Supermodifieds.  By far the loudest would have been the Supermodifieds, which can hit speeds around the half-mile oval, known as the Supermodified capital of the world, of 150 MPH.
We arrived during one of the ISMA practices, and just in time to watch the qualifying time trials.  The previous lap record was held at just over 15 seconds by Mike Lichty.  However, toward the end of the session, DJ Schullik in his #94 car set at blistering time of 14.972 seconds at a top speed of 150.281 MPH.  As soon as "14.972" appeared on the lap board the crows went berserk.  It was genuinely exciting.  Second in time trials was previous lap record holder Mike Lichty, with a time of 15.054, third was Chris Perley at 15.145, fourth was Ray Graham at 15.296, and fifth was Lou Cicconi at 15.372 seconds.
The first feature of the race was the American Three-Quarter Midget Racing Association's 25-lap race.  It was a relatively short race, but with lots of racing action around the shortened track, which cut through the infield between corners three and four.  First place was the #33 Frank Fischer, second was #1B Ryan Tidman, Matt Roselli came third in #98, fourth was Ian Cummins in the #29, and fifth was #02 Joey Bailey.
Next up was the longest and most exciting race of the night, the 75 lap feature for the Small-Block Supermodifieds.  The race started out clean enough, with the first caution being brought out by the #44 of Zach Amo for spinning in turn 1.  Early on in the race, the leader were single file, until they came up on the lap traffic of the Greg O'Conner in the #90.  The leaders, namely the #93 of JJ Andrews, the #18 of Andrew Scharnter, and the #11 of Jason Simmons.  O'Conner spun on his own in turn two, collecting Andrews and tapping Schartner.  This ended O'Conner's race and put a damper on Andrews'.  This occurred after the blue flag was given to O'Conner numerous times. (The blue flag basically means that the leader are going to lap you, get the heck out of the way)  I felt that O'Conner probably could have given the leaders more room, but after all, racing is racing.
The race continued, with Schartner leading, and the #13 of Russ Brown close behind.  Another caution came out after the #44 of Zach Amo spun again out of turn four and hitting the inside wall, ending his race.  Schartner led the rest of the race, despite the hard charging Brown, and the #04 of Kraig Heroth coming from third.  Schartner won the race, with Russ Brown coming in close second, and Heroth took third.  Fourth place was the #9 of Jack Patrick, and fifth was the #11 of Jason Simmons.
The third and final event of the night was the 60 lap feature for the ISMA Supermodifieds.  By far the loudest and fastest cars of the night. This was a very fast paced race.  The event started out with a significant caution after Tim Ice, Bobby Magner, and Danny Shirey got together at the exit of turn two.  Lap Record holder DJ Schullick started way back in the field, but made the race very exciting by charging up through the pack into second.  However, by then, previous lap record holder Mike Lichty had checked out from the field and went on the the win.  Second was Schullick, third was the #71 Lou Cicconi, fourth was #38 Alison Cumens, and fifth was #74 Rob Summers.  Good racing from the front to the back, hard chargers coming through the field, and exciting incidents made for a great evening at the race track.

From the Passenger's Perspective: 2000 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet

Specifications:

Engine: 3.4L Flat-six

Transmission: 6-speed manual w/hydraulic clutch

Output: 300 Horsepower @ 6800 RPM

358 ft-lb of Torque @ 4600 RPM

Fuel Economy: Highway MPG: 25

City MPG: 17

 

 

 

 

 

The Porsche 911 is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year, and of the generations, the 996 has been my least favorite.  The 996 generation was sold between 1998 and 2005.  However, a Porsche 911 is still a Porsche 911, and this particular one is very, very cool.

When I approached the black convertible Porsche I was surprised.  When i look at pictures of 996 gen Porsches, I think they look kind of boring (Compared to other Porsches).  But this one looks perfect.  The speed dependent rear spoiler, the twin exhausts, and the red brake calipers, all make this car a masterpiece of design.
As I step into the passenger seat, I am taken aback with the space.  This is a two seater sports car, and I have more legroom than in the Mercedes-Benz C300 I wrote about a while ago.  The dash, though flat and very 90s, is welcoming and simple.  The steering wheel appears to be perfectly sized, and the gauges remind you of the fact that you are in a sports car.
The day I tested this car was warm and pleasant, so I wanted to try some convertibles.  The Saab 9-3 I was in was a convertible, and I loved it.  This Porsche though is fantastic.  As the electronic roof lowered, the whole of the sky was revealed.
And then that beautiful flat-six started up.  Something about the flat-six sounds like no other.  It isn't the deep, baritone bellow you get from a V8, nor is it the high-pitched tenor of a V12.  Somehow the 300 horsepower flat-six just sounds perfect.
I noticed earlier that the peak horsepower was acheived at 6800 RPM, which is fairly high, but this car gains revs so willingly, and with that sound, amplified by the fact that it is right behind you, with nothing but the blue sky between you and it, you get instant acceleration.  This is a seriously fast car.  And though I can't drive it, I can tell you it is the best handling car I've been in.  It never loses grip, and that famous Porsche lift-off oversteer is non-existent.
Along with this performance, you get surprising comfort.  The seats are supportive, and the ride is good.  It's not just good for a Porsche, it's good for any car.  And looking at the MPG figures, it seems fairly economical.
This is a great car.  The only faults I can see with it is a fairly unimaginative dashboard layout, but is that really all that important when everything else is spot on?  Many people say the Porsche 911 is nothing more than a glorified VW Beetle, and it hasn't changed a micron since it's introduction.  But drive this one, and the skeptics will be put to rest.



This 2000 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet is for sale now at Geneva Foreign and Sports in Geneva, New York for $31, 487.

 

 

 

 

 

 



From the Passenger's Perspective: 2005 Saab 9-3 Linear Convertible

Today I rode in my first Saab.  Not exactly a riveting milestone, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I was under the impression that the sensible now-defunct Swedish manufacturer made rather good, but boring, cars for very sensible people. Now all of this is true, except for the boring part.  Today is a very nice day, so I chose to ride in some convertibles.  This is just the second cabrio car I've ever been in, and I absolutely adore it.  Before I get to that though, some statistics.  The Saab is powered by a nice, quiet 2.0L inline-4 with a turbo, producing a modest, but adequate 175 horsepower and 195 ft-lb of torque.  It sends this power to the front wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission.  This is the smoothest automatic transmission I've seen.  You barely even notice it's there.  This may be an eight year old car, but the fuel economy figures are up to modern standards, at 22 city and 32 highway.
As I climbed into the Saab, I could tell this was a Swedish car.  All of the controls were arranged on the laser straight dashboard, in very sensible positions, and it was very well-equipped.  In my short stint inside the Saab, I spotted traction control and very cool flip-out cupholder, among many other buttons.
All of these things were overshadowed by two things.  One of which is the incredible comfort.  I liken the experience of going over railroad tracks in the Saab as like driving over railroad track made of silk and pillows.  And small rabbits. (Thats a joke, I don't suggest running over small furry organisms)  This is the most comfortable car I've ever been in, this including a Volvo S60 of the same year.  The other important aspect of the Saab is the electric-folding roof.  This opens up a whole new endless vista of blue sky.  In some convertibles, the wind and noise get to be unbearable, but in the Saab it is a welcome experience.  Its the perfect Sunday cruiser.

I love the Saab, its comfortable, easy to drive, sensible, and lets not forget access to all the world's skies.  As a passenger all you think about is the wind in your hair and the full cabriolet experience.
Oh.  Throughout this whole article I've said Swedish cars are very sensible.  I seem to have forgotten about Koenigsegg.....

This car is currently for sale at Geneva Foreign and Sports in Geneva, New York at $11,392.





Car ID Help

This is a picture of my great-grandmother sitting in an unknown race car of sorts.  I have done lots of work, but established little.  It appears to be a handmade racer, judging by the fact that it has BMW front fenders, but a strange grille and no badges.  The grille seems to have been cut out from metal, again seemingly handmade.  I can tell you that the license plate is a New York plate, dated 1924.  I'd appreciate it if anybody could tell me anything more about this car.
Thanks.

WKA Road Racing at Virginia International Raceway

This past weekend was the second to last WKA Road Racing event, taking place at VIRginia International Raceway, in Danville, Virginia.
My first event was the Junior Sprint Lite race on Saturday.  The start to the race went poorly, and I set off 30 seconds behind the competition.  I worked my way through the field, and by the second to last lap I was 15 seconds behind first place.  Unfortunately for me, I was not able to catch up, and i finished second 11 seconds behind.  However, my best lap time was a 2:49.3, a full three seconds faster than the first place finisher.
Because the starts have been an area that could use improvements, I worked on keeping the engine running, at using the carburetor needle to regulate the flow of fuel into the engine.  This helped profoundly in Sunday's race.
I started well, coming into the first corner in second place.  I quickly overtook for first, and stayed there until the second to last lap.  The second place went by coming through the uphill esses, and as we went into the famed Oak Tree Turn, i went to the inside.  He went wide and over the rumble strips, allowing me to go by.  On the last lap, we went side-by-side through the esses and into Oak Tree.  I again edged him out through Oak Tree, maintaining the lead into the Roller-Coaster.  He went inside, I held him off through the last turn.  I came onto the main straight in the lead, and eventually won by 0.06 seconds, or about half a kart length.
The championship will be decided in early September at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia.

WKA Road Race at Virginia International Raceway Practice Day

The next stop in my kart racing career is here in a rolling green hills of southern Virginia right on the North Carolina border.  I'm currently leading the championship points in the two classes I run, and i plan to maintain my lead into the final race of the season at Summit Point, West Virginia.
Today was practice for my races tomorrow and Sunday.  WKA (the event, however, is run by the Woodbridge Kart Club) runs the full 3.27 mile course here at VIR, which is essentially a big triangle with some esses and hills thrown in.  It's more fun then it sounds...  As some of you may know, recently the iconic VIR Oak Tree, which looked over the hallowed Oak Tree turn at the south end of the course, fell down about a month ago.
Nevertheless, the track continues without its silent sentinel standing guard over the track. 
Not much happened today in practice, i learned the track in the first two sessions, then my crew and I (namely my parents and I) wanted to find some more strait line speed, as there are three long straits on this course.  We changed gears and such, found that my lap times actually went down.  That's pretty much all that happened, other than the engine cutting out on the final series of corners.
I actually couldn't figure out a conclusion to this article other than"I hope I win".  That should pretty much cover it.

The Difference Between a Hypercar and a Supercar

This has been of subject of literally no debate over the years, but I would like to change that.  You see, to a casual observer these two are basically the same.  Both are very fast, both are very expensive, and both are very loud.  Most people who care about this kind of stuff determine the difference by the figures.  There is no set line to distinguish between a hypercar and a supercar, such as it must get to 60 from a standstill in under three seconds to qualify as a hypercar.  An example of what most people would call a hypercar would be the Bugatti Veyron, for obvious reasons.  This is a car of mind boggling numbers.  It has 10 radiators, 1001 horsepower, and can reach speeds in the area of 250 miles per hour (look it up if you really want to know the exact number).  The Supersports version of this car can hit 270!  Now for an example of a supercar.  Most would say the Ferrari 458 Italia is a supercar.  It can still top 200, it goes around corners incredibly well and makes a hypnotizing noise while in the process.  But it somehow isn't as incredible as the Veyron.
But the way I see it, the difference shouldn't be in the numbers.  It should be in how the cars feels.  In order to be a hypercar, you must be laughing and enjoying yourself while driving it, regardless which way you're facing.  However, you are probably saying  "Oh well on that basis a Ford Focus ST is a hypercar then because it's fun to drive!", but no, I'm not finished.  A Hypercar must also exhibit a certain level of lunacy and ridiculousness.  The Italians tend to be very good at this, hence Lamborghini and Pagani (I know the owner of Pagani is Argentinian).  Cars that fit this bill include pretty well every Lamborghini, every Pagani, and the Spyker C8.  There are more, but i'd like to move on.
Now by now you may be thinking that somebody could still say an everyday car could be a hypercar by these standards.  To cure this, I've decided that a car must first qualify to be a supercar before it can become a hypercar.  Now becoming a supercar is still mainly reliant on numbers, so we'll stick to the established supercars.
So there, I've just given a comprehensive to a question nobody is asking.

From the Passenger's Perspective: 2013 Audi A3 Hatch Euro

This Audi ended up being our rental car for our trip to Switzerland.  We were originally supposed to have an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but that didn't happen.  So we went to look around and found a BMW 1 Series.  It turned out that it was a 120d (we didn't want a diesel), and a rear light was out.  I recommended we rent a Fiat 500L, or the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante over in the corner.  Neither of those things happened and we rented a 2013 Audi A3.
One good mark for this car is looks, up until recently the A3 looked kind of boring, but now that the front end has been altered to look more sinister, it looks better.  The interior though is a different story.  The front passenger seat is uncomfortable, there really aren't enough controls, you basically get a radio and climate control.  I do like how the radio comes up from the dashboard, though in Switzerland we didn't know what they were saying.  Another thing on the radio, it chooses to come on when ever you start the car, which is annoying.The controls do look nice in the interior, and the air con dials have a quality feel to them.  The whole car does seem to be quality.  You know that all of the car is put together with the utmost precision.
One thing that this car has that no other car on this blog has is an electronic parking brake.  This turned out to be a bad thing, as it took about two minutes to figure it out (alright alright we didn't use the owners manual), and it makes a really annoying sound when you engage it.  Sounds a bit like a spaceship that needs some work.
On the driving front, i can report that it has enough power.  We overtook a lot on the roads of Switzerland and this car had the power to do so.  It even handles nicely, though the signature Audi understeer is still present.  However, the steering does feel (I was told) disconnected.  The driver of the Audi said he would much rather be driving a Mini on the mountain passes of the Swiss Alps.
The handling may not be 100% spot on, but this does make for a ride that is very nice.  This is rather spoiled when you are in the seats for more than half and hour.  The driver's seat especially is a problem and the driving position is uncomfortable.  I didn't have enough room in the passenger's seat. The back seats aren't as bad, but for some reason the ride is much, much worse.
As far as space, it isn't too bad.  We managed to get quite a lot into the back.  We did notice that the car we were supposed to have rented, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, may not have been big enough.  We definitely loaded the Audi up.  The Alfa probably couldn't handle all of it.
So the Audi may not be a rival in performance to say, a Mini, however it is a bit more day-today.  Though it doesn't do that very well either.


Specifications:
Engine
2.0L Turbocharged I4
200 Horsepower @ 5100-6000 RPM
207 ft-lb of torque @ 1800-5000 RPM
Top Speed: 144 MPH
Emissions
Tons/yr C02 @15k mi/year: 7.8
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score: 7
Mileage
EPA Hwy: 30 MPG
EPA City: 21 MPG
Range Hwy: 435 miles
Range City: 304.5 miles

From the Passenger's Perspective: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

When I arrived at this year's Geneva Foreign & Sports Benefit Car Show, i didn't expect to be getting any material for one of these articles.  I was wrong.
About a month ago, i wrote an article on the C63's younger brother, the C300.  When i approached the C63, the first thing i noticed was the 6.3L V8 badge on the side.  That's about twice that of the C300, and 2.3 Liters more than anything I've ever been in.  The second thing i noticed were the AMG alloy wheels, the subtle rear spoiler, and the front aero adjustments.
Then, as i stepped inside, I noticed the carbon fiber trim, as opposed to stainless steel (or plastic made to look like stainless steel......) in the C300.  It's interior is pretty much the same, except for one detail.  In the standard C300, when you open the panel on the dashboard you get a screen that displays the radio and a knob down on the center console to control it.  In the C63, when you open the hood, a larger screen folds out with more stuff than the standard.  Then, when you press off (or something else i forget) the whole thing folds back in and the panel slides over it unaided.  I discovered this on accident when I pressed the button while reaching for something else.
Earlier in the day, i heard somebody leave in the C63, and they gave it the beans out onto the road.  It sounded incredible, sort of a deep screaming grumble.  When we pulled out, on the other hand, the driver immediately slowed down and got very scared (my mother).  Unfortunately, we were never able to give it a full throttle blast, mainly because we would have ended up in a ditch.  But this car is fast.  I can tell.  Another incredible thing I observed was the comfort.  The seats were great, they wrap around you so you don't fly out the window when you go into the ditch.  It is also, and this surprised me, more comfortable than the C300. 
This car is really incredible, and it can be yours for $46,000 (at least what i was told, it may be different now) at Geneva Foreign & Sports in Geneva, NY (I'm not trying to advertise..........)

Reader Message

Sometimes, i cannot get to my computer due to other activities, and some days, i won't post anything on my blog.  Normal posting schedules will resume tomorrow, with the May 15th edition of Car News to be posted around 6:15.

Car Show at Geneva Foreign and Sports! June 2nd

Geneva Foreign and Sports, a automotive sales and repair shop in Geneva, New York is hosting a benefit car show on June 2nd, 2013. My family and I went last year and had a great time with our TVR 2500M. You can check out Geneva Foreign and Sports website here.
If you live in the area and have a car you'd like to show or just want to come and see some great examples of automotive excellence, come to Geneva Foreign and Sports benefit car show on June 2nd.
Note: This was not meant to sound like a cheesy advertisement. Sorry.

Car Show at Geneva Foreign and Sports! June 2nd

Geneva Foreign and Sports, a automotive sales and repair shop in Geneva, New York is hosting a benefit car show on June 2nd, 2013.  My family and I went last year and had a great time with our TVR 2500M.  You can check out Geneva Foreign and Sports website here.
If you live in the area and have a car you'd like to show or just want to come and see some great examples of automotive excellence, come to Geneva Foreign and Sports benefit car show on June 2nd.
Note: This was not meant to sound like a cheesy advertisement.  Sorry.

WKC Race 1 at Shenandoah Circuit, Summit Point, West Virginia

This weekend was the Woodbridge Karting Club's first race of the 2013 season.  I've already been to two WKA events this year.  This race was at the Shenandoah Circuit at the Summit Point racetrack in West Virginia.  This is the most technical course i've been on this year.  At the same time i was racing, the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) was having a double major for the D.C. region.  I had some time to watch, and that was very interesting.  The cars ranged from Formula Vees, to Chevrolet Corvettes, to Nissan 370Zs, to Mazda Miatas, and even a Dodge Neon.  This provided entertainment when i wasn't on track.
When i was on track, however, i was having a blast.  All of Saturday morning was practice, and i learned the track quickly.  The Shenandoah course has lots of elevation changes, and even a Nurburghring banked turn replica, though WKC opted not to use it.  The Northeast Shifter Kart series raced alongside us, and provided a different noise then the standard whine of the 2 cycle and the grumble of the Animal 4 Cycles.
I won my race on Saturday, though what is really fun is racing alongside adults in different classes who really knew what they were doing.  I spend most of the 25 minute race with an adult in a Vintage kart and a kid my age in a sit-up sprint kart.  Neither was in my class, but they were fun to race with, especially the Vintage kart.
I didn't practice today, but i did race and win.  I was with the same kid this time for a little while, but got around him early.  I also raced with an adult in a kart kind of like mine, though i don't know what class he was in.
I write this looking back on the weekend as we drive back home through West Virginia on Interstate 81.  It was a great weekend, and i look forward to my next race, a WKA event at Grattan Raceway in
Michigan, in two weeks.

Note: I did not go around the Karussel area, i skipped it with the Karussel Crossover.

Summit Point, West Virginia

As some of you know, i race in the WKA's Road Race Series.  I also race in the WKC (Woodbridge Karting Club).  I leave in a few minutes for my first WKC race in Summit Point, West Virginia.
That's all for now, i race tomorrow an Sunday.  Look for today's edition of Car News around three o' clock.  Also, as a little teaser, i will be publishing a special edition of From the Passenger's Perspective in Mid-June.  I'll give you a hint, it's an Alfa Romeo.

From the Passenger's Perspective: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport 4Matic

Yesterday, my mom and I test drove 4 cars; three of which were to be compared to each other, the Volvo S60, the BMW 328xi, and this, the Mercedes-Benz C300.  This was ultimately the winner, we thought it was extremely comfortable, incredibly good looking, and quite good fun.  All three of these cars were driven at Geneva Foreign & Sports in Geneva, New York.  You can see their website here.
This C300 is a Sport 4Matic model, and has a Black exterior and a Black interior.  This car looks truly sinister from the outside.  A 3.0L DOHC V6 drives all wheels via a perfectly geared automatic transmission.  This power really shows.  When you put your foot down, that V6 makes a wonderful roar.  All this noise isn't for nothing, either.  This car just takes off.  It handles well too.  It feels light and nimble, it will respond to the driver's every command.
This car is not all performance.  It is a relaxing experience to be inside.  I would describe this as a car you can fall asleep in, but you wouldn't want to.  It smooths out the roughest of roads.  It can also be very quiet and serene.
But if you don't feel like relaxing, you can listen to some tunes using either the excellent sound system or the iPod dock in the glove box.  The radio computer is very clever, and is controlled by a small knob on the driver's side of the center armrests, where there is a cool little center console.  Another perk to the inside  are the electric seats, they allow you to adjust your seat to however you like it, from bolt upright to flat lay down.
This was the best car we drove (apart from the 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera), and you can see why.  It gives you a great combination of comfort and performance, along with the good looks to assert the fact.  If i had money to spend on any of the three cars we tested yesterday, this would be it.  Summing this car up is simple. Three words: It's very German.

From the Passenger's Perspective: 2005 Volvo S60

This was the first car my mother and i drove yesterday at Geneva Foreign & Sports in Geneva, New York.  You can see their website here.
This S60 has an Ice White exterior and a Beige interior.  These two colors look very nice together, and make the nice styling stand out.  The exterior looks very good, though restrained.  The interior is my favorite though.  The styling is very edgy and modern, despite being eight years old.
Power comes from a 2.5L DOHC turbocharged I5 engine, sent to all-wheels via a great automatic transmission.  On the transmission, my mom noted that the gear stick requires precise movement to get it into the gear you want.  The engine provides a surprising amount of power, albeit with some turbo lag.  It feels a bit unstable if you put your foot down, though it is a Volvo so its not going anywhere.  It is reported to be a responsive and surprisingly well-handling car, though it is solid.  The brakes are nice and responsive, and the transmission is geared just right.  Despite these performance perks, it is very,  very comfortable. The seats are nice and soft, yet supportive and the suspension flattens out the worst of railroad tracks.
The interior, as said before, is very nicely styled.  The dashboard features everything you need, and the climate control works very well.  I did notice that the control cluster was very flat and uninteresting, but the rest of the interior makes up for it.  This car has a lot of space up front and in back.  This is definitely a car for long trips.  It is also incredibly quiet.  You can have a conversation with the driver, whispering as quiet as you can.
There are also tons of storage compartments around the inside, along with a nice retractable cup holder cover.  The wood trim compliments the Beige interior.
This is a great car.  It has a fantabulous combination of performance and incredible comfort, though leaning toward the comfort side of things.   It also gets good gas mileage and, being a Volvo, is unsurpassed in safety.  This could be either a family car or a car for one person, it really does both. If your looking for a car that will soothe your brow after a hard day's work, look no further.

From the Passenger's Perspecive: 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera

Of the four cars I've been in today, this was the most exiting.  This is mainly due to the fact that it was the only Porsche.  I'd never been in a Porsche before, so this was going to be something very different.  It is also the only car I've ever been in where the engine isn't in the front.  It's way in the back.  This 911 is is black with a black interior.  It has a 3.6L six-cylinder engine, which makes the best sound of any car I've ever set foot inside.  Not that its very easy to get inside in the first place.
I need not say how good-looking this car is, so we'll skip to the interior.
Upon entry, you notice that, despite being a sports car, there are a lot of features inside.  You get a nice radio, and a nice climate control system.  Then you look behind you, and, lo and behold, backseats!  They aren't very big mind you, but bearable.
As the driver starts the car up, you are reminded what you are in with a satisfying purr coming from somewhere way behind you.  Then, as the driver punches it out onto the road, you get a massive roar from the mighty engine.  This alone kept me and my mom entertained for the entire test drive.  It has very light and nimble handling, much better than anything else my mom had since driven.  If only it was warm enough up here in Upstate New York to to put the top down.  The only complaint i have is that the seats aren't very comfortable, and after a little while, my lower back started hurting a little bit.  The gearbox is also very nice, though a bit tough to get in gear.
For a Porsche, the ride is quite surprising.  It is by no means a Rolls-Royce, but it doesn't break your back.  We even went over a few railroad tracks without our spines splitting in two.
I really don't know how to end this article, except by saying that i wish this article could be called From the Driver's Perspective: 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera.

Look for two more reviews tommorrow,
2005 Volvo S60
2010 Mercedes-Benz C300

Car News for April 14th, 2013

Honda Civic Tourer Spied-
www.carbuzz.com
The wagon version of the Honda Civic has been spied in production form, and its looking rather nice.  Though it won't be coming to the US.  Like most good cars.  The front end isn't as radical as it was in concept form, it is now looking like that of the Civic hatchback.  The taillight design and the low roof are, however, features that appear untouched from the concept.  The concept was powered by a 1.6L turbo-diesel engine producing 118 horsepower and 221 ft-lb of torque.  This engine should carry over into production, along with others.  The production version should be revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

Jerry Jacumin Nationals at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina

Yesterday morning was the beginning of my race weekend in South Carolina at the track where the popular Speed TV show "R U Faster Than a Redneck" is filmed.  But I'm here to see if i am faster than a redneck, I'm here to race.  This track is a great blend of high speed turns and tight almost-hairpins.  I am here for the third round of the WKA (World Karting Association)'s Road Race Series. I attended the first round at the Daytona Road Course, home of the 24 Hours of Daytona.  I came into this race as points leader in my class by one point.  Friday was an all practice day, and i was going to need it because I've never been to this course before.  Luckily, all of my practice runs went smoothly, and i was able to increase my lap times considerably, while braking later and later in each corner.  So presumably, i was going into the final practice of the day fairly confident.  But it was not to be.  ON the third lap, in turn 8, which is a high speed corner.  I was taking my normal line in when somebody thought they could sneak through as i was diving to the apex.  This wasn't entirely safe, and we ended up making contact, sending me into the wet red dirt of the southern states.  This was no easy chore to remove, with about 10 pounds of it on the floor pan.
Though the dirt got everywhere, up to and including my shirt, we managed to get the kart ready for my first race, which was earlier today.  The races are usually about 30 minutes in length, and each of the races include many classes.  My race was the largest of the seven, with about 30 karts on track.  Most of my first race at the Carolina Motorsports Park was uneventful, though i started to lose grip quite significantly after the midway point.  My kart is no easy thing to control, its very much like a car with boat loads of power but no real handling, making for a very tail happy ride.  It is fun though.  And hey, i won! (i wasn't going to tell you i was the only person in my class, but i did)
Tomorrow is my second race, and though nobody is currently registered for the event tomorrow, i still look forward to it.  And it isn't like there isn't any traffic to deal with.  Just like in the World Endurance Series, there are cars faster than me and cars slower than i am.  That's all for now, there will be an article on tomorrows race either tomorrow or Monday.

Simeone Foundation Museum

I write this now driving through northern Virginia on the outskirts of the Appalachian Mountains. (I have a mobile hot spot if your wondering).  Yesterday we set off from our home in New York to a race at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina.  I race karts in WKA's (World Karting Association) Road Race series.  I won my event at Daytona International Speedway in December, though I missed the race in February at Roebling Road in Georgia.  This time we decided to take some stops along the way, and one such stop was at the Simeone Foundation Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  This is a museum dedicated to the history of automobile racing.  At the entrance to the building is a sign that says "The first motor race was conceived when the second car was built".  That may not have been the exact quote, but you get the idea.
Inside the museum is a large collection of cars ranging from early Mercer's to modern Aston Martin road cars.  Every year, they have an event called The Best of Britain.  This year, in honor of Aston Martin's 100th anniversary, they had a large exhibit of Astons, from as early as the 1930's to a 2014 Vanquish.  They even had a DB5 finished in the classic James Bond silver.  As you move through the buildings, you begin to see that the museum is focused on early cars.  There must have been at least five early Alfa Romeos.  Then you begin to circle round and see even more Astons, and even a Porsche 917.  They also have a winners circle exhibit and a Le Mans area, featuring a Ford GT40 that participated in Fords first win at Le Mans.
In the back of the building is also a history of NASCAR exhibit, with featuring a Plymouth Superbird, as well as a sports car area.  As if there weren't enough of them.
This museum is a great place an i recommend it to all.  They also have motorcycles from time to time, for those who like that sort of thing.
That's all for now, however i will be visiting the Penske and Waltrip NASCAR/Indycar garages today and tomorrow.  I will have pictures from the Simeone and the garages posted as soon as i get back.

International Motor Racing Research Center

The Chrysler PT Cruiser.  I like it.  This particular one had a manual gearbox and a very cool looking interior.  It's also comfortable.  Wait, I'm in the PT Cruiser with Bill Green, the leading historian at the International  Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, New York.  And we were driving the famous Old Course, where road racing in America officially started.  I was getting the grand tour.  As we drove around the course, i absorbed the mounds of information coming from him, and Kevin Hughey, the Archival Associate at the Center.  Bill wasn't just getting this knowledge from books, though.  No, this knowledge was from experience.  He was there when the Alfa Romeo won the first race at Watkins Glen in 1948.  He was there when there was a temporary hay bail chicane on The Railroad Straight, which was taken down after an MG flipped in practice.  I now know about Milliken's corner and why it's called that.  These two were a constant stream of information, and it was probably one of the coolest things I've ever done.
But my story doesn't stop there, you see.  Because I am also a volunteer at the Center, and I was charged with the task of sorting through hundreds of photos.  This was by no means tedious, as I saw the history of 80s motor racing in front of my eyes.  But don't think the center only covers the 80s, because, oh no, they go from the 1895 Benz motor car to today's Ferrari's.  For instance, I saw pictures of Jeff Gordon's Midget car days.  Every single picture I went through came from the collection of pictures given to IMRRC after National Speed Sport News went to the Internet and stopped making papers.  Everything from Midgets to Formula 1 to NASCAR was covered in these pictures.  It was incredible.  Just being there, amongst all things cars, from the Supermodified car in the center of the room to the Jaguar F1 car model on a bookcase.  This place is the car lovers dream.  They also do events, such as this weekend's Supermodified discussion with a panel of experts led by former TV presenter Dick Berggren.  I wish I could go to that, but I have a school Science Bowl event to go to.
So, if you like cars, or need a car identified or anything like that go to these guys and girls.  They know all there is to know, and I hope to have the same knowledge that they do someday.

Car News for February 24th, 2013

Fiat 500L Gets Two New Engines-
Information Source: CarBuzz mobile app
Image Source: www.designboom.com
While U.S. customers will have to wait for the arrival of the Fiat 500L, European buyers now have two new engines to choose from.  They can have a 0.9L (?!) TwinAir turbo from the 500 and a MultiJet II turbo-diesel four-cylinder.  The 0.9L engine makes 105HP and 107 ft-lb of torque.  With a six-speed manual, that engine will propel the 500L from 0-60 in 12.3 seconds and on to 112 mph.  The 1.6L diesel also makes 105HP, however it has 236 ft-lb of torque, nearly twice that of the 0.9L petrol.  If you mate the diesel to a six-speed manual, the car goes from 0-60 in 11.3 seconds and on to 112mph.  It does get 52.2MPG compared to the petrol's 49.  These new engines will be available next month.




Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Preview-
Information Source: CarBuzz mobile app
Image Source: www.carbuzz.com
Porsche has released photos of the upcoming 911 GT3 RSR that will debut at the WEC race at Silverstone on April 14th.  It has completed more testing at Sebring last week.  This new model will race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as did it's predecessor.  Porsche has not released any specifications or details.  It does have new bumpers, side skirts, and a new aero kit.  Porsche's motorsport chief Helmut Kristen said "We are very pleases with how testing has gone so far.  Our goal is to be well prepared for the challenges of the very strong GTE class in the WEC and at Le Mans.  Until the season kicks off at Silverstone, we will conduct some final tests on the other race tracks so that our new 911 RSR is well and truly ready."

Daytona 500 Starting Grid

Below is the starting lineup for The Great American Race, the Daytona 500.

Driver                                    Manufacturer
1.Danica Patrick                     Chevrolet
2.Jeff Gordon                          Chevrolet
3.Kevin Harvick                     Chevrolet
4.Kyle Busch                           Toyota
5.Greg Biffle                            Ford
6.Kasey Kahne                         Chevrolet
7.Juan Pablo Montoya             Chevrolet
8.Austin Dillon                         Chevrolet
9.Jimmie Johnson                     Chevrolet
10.Clint Bowyer                        Toyota
11.Kurt Busch                           Chevrolet
12.Matt Kenseth                         Toyota
13.Tony Stewart                         Chevrolet
14.Mark Martin                           Toyota
15.Brad Keselowski                     Ford
16.Paul Menard                            Chevrolet
17.Casey Mears                            Ford
18.Jeff Burton                              Chevrolet
19.Dale Earnhardt Jr.                  Chevrolet
20.Jamie McMurray                    Chevrolet
21.Joey Logano                            Ford
22.David Ragan                            Ford
23.Bobby Labonte                        Toyota
24.Marcos Ambrose                      Ford
25.David Gilliland                         Ford
26.Aric Almirola                           Ford
27.Joe Nemecheck                        Toyota
28.Ricky Stenhouse Jr.                  Ford
29.Michael Waltrip                       Toyota
30.Dave Blaney                             Chevrolet
31.Scott Speed                               Ford
32.Josh Wise                                  Ford
33.Trevor Bayne                            Ford
34.Ryan Newman                           Chevrolet
35.Denny Hamlin                           Toyota
36.Carl Edwards                              Ford
37.Martin Truex Jr.                         Toyota
38.Michael McDowell                     Ford
39.Terry Labonte                             Ford
40.Regan Smith                               Chevrolet
41.J.J. Yeley                                     Chevrolet
42.David Reutimann                        Toyota
43.Travis Kvapil                                Toyota

Drive4COPD 300 Results

NASCAR Nationwide Series-

I only had the chance to watch the final 12 laps of the race, but that's all that any one is talking about. On the final lap coming to the checkered flag the leader Regan Smith spun, triggering a massive accident that sent rookie Kyle Larson's #32 car into the catch fence.  The engine was torn from his car and deposited on the other side of the destroyed catch fence.  One of his tires and suspension parts flew into the stands and injured at least 24 people.  Last i heard, 2 of them were in critical condition at the Halifax Medical Center, with one of them being a small child.  Tony Stewart did manage to sneak past the early stages of the accident and win the race.  This was his 19th win a Daytona.  I hope all who were injured in yesterday's accident are okay.  Results are below.
Driver                                        Manufacturer
1.Tony Stewart                           Chevrolet
2.Sam Hornish Jr.                      Ford
3.Alex Bowman                          Toyota
4.Dale Earnhardt Jr.                    Chevrolet
5.Parker Kligerman                     Toyota
6.Brian Scott                                 Chevrolet
7.Justin Allgaier                           Chevrolet
8.Eric McClure                              Toyota
9.Robert Richardson Jr.                 Chevrolet
10.Travis Pastrana                           Ford
11.Nelson Piquet Jr.                       Chevrolet
12.Brad Keselowski                         Ford
13.Kyle Larson                                Chevrolet
14.Regan Smith                                Chevrolet
15.Elliot Sadler                                 Toyota
16.Matt Kenseth                                 Toyota
17.Mike Harmon                                Dodge
18.Joe Nemecheck                              Toyota
19.Brian Vickers                                 Toyota
20.Kasey Kahne                                  Chevrolet
21.Austin Dillon                                 Chevrolet
22.Jeffrey Earnhardt                            Ford
23.Mike Bliss                                      Toyota
24.Jason White                                    Toyota
25.Danny Efland                                 Chevrolet
26.Michael Annett                                Ford
27.Johanna Long                                  Chevrolet
28.Hal Martin                                        Toyota
29.Jamie Dick                                        Chevrolet
30.Reed Sorensen                                   Chevrolet
31.Trevor Bayne                                     Ford
32.Kyle Busch                                         Toyota
33.Jeremy Clements                                Chevrolet
34.Mike Wallace                                      Chevrolet
35.Kurt Busch                                          Chevrolet
36.Danica Patrick                                     Chevrolet
37.Juan Carlos Blum                                 Ford
38.Blake Koch                                          Toyota
39.Scott Lagasse Jr.                                  Chevrolet
40.Jeff Green                                            Toyota

Car News for February 23rd, 2013

Bertone Bringing Concept to Geneva-
Information Source: CarBuzz mobile app
Image Source: www.autoguide.com
Italian car designer Bertone has released a single teaser image of a four-door coupe that they will be bringing to Geneva.  It has looks similar to those of an Aston Martin Rapide.  We will just have to wait.





Wiesmann to Bring MF4 ClubSport to Geneva-
Information Source: CarBuzz mobile app
Image Source: www.carbuzz.com
Wiesmann, a German niche manufacturer of retro sports cars, will be bringing a track-day version of their GT MF4 to the Geneva Motor Show.  It will be called the GT MF4 ClubSport, and it is lighter, with a weight of less than 1300kg.  Under the hood, it has a 4.4L twin-turbo BMW V8 producing 420HP and a 0-60 time of less than five seconds.  Only 25 MF4 ClubSports are to be produced.




2014 Jeep Cherokee Revealed-
Information Source: Automobile News mobile app
Image Source: www.autoblog.com
The Cherokee name is back as a replacement for the old Liberty midsize SUV.  The new Cherokee will debut at the New York auto show later in March.  The Cherokee's looks are new, with 3 sets of headlights and a prominent grille.  The Cherokee is said to offer much better fuel economy than the outgoing Liberty.  It will have a 3.2L V6 with a possible 9-speed automatic.