jeanrowald: March 2013

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Kansas City Residents to Missouri DOT: Enough With the Highways Already

Usually when we hear news from a Streetsblog Network member about the Missouri Department of Transportation, it’s because the agency is blocking ideas like a complete streets bill or a highway-to-boulevard conversion in downtown St. Louis. The advocates at BikeWalkKC report that now the agency is feeling some grassroots resistance to its cars-first approach:

Photo: Patch/MoDOT

The Missouri Department of Transportation’s listening tour stopped in KC for three nights recently, and KC area residents were very clear in their preferences for the future of the state’s transportation system. MoDOT was seeking input on how spend a possible new state-wide transportation sales tax. Citizens at all three KC sessions said loud and clear that MoDOT should use any new funding to improve transportation choices for Missourians.

Audiences expressed strong support for increasing state funding public transit, passenger rail, bicycling, and walking. And it wasn’t just a desire for more choices. There was also a significant discussion about limiting highway construction. MoDOT often talks about how they have one of the largest state highway systems in the country, and participants wisely started questioning the need for new or expanded highways. More than one person used the phrase “no new lane miles.”

It was very encouraging to hear such a strong public consensus that it was time for Missouri slow down highway building and start making meaningful investments in transit, rail, walking, and biking. Later this year MoDOT will released its list of projects that would be funded by a new sales tax, and we will see if they really listened.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Wonder why state DOTs have such a windshield perspective? Maybe part of the reason is that it’s hard to get to most state DOT headquarters unless you drive, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign reports. James Rowen at the Political Environment says Wisconsin’s dismal job creation record under Governor Scott Walker is no surprise given his rejection of federal rail construction funding. And Tucson Velo tracks the arrival of some new bike corrals.

Source: http://streetsblog.net/2013/03/29/kansas-city-residents-to-missouri-dot-enough-with-the-highways-already/

Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt

Conway, Pizzonia get G-Drive seats

IndyCar racer winner Mike Conway and ex-Formula 1 driver Antonio Pizzonia have joined the G-Drive/Delta-ADR squad for this year’s World Endurance Championship.

Conway has signed up for a full season aboard the G-Drive Racing-entered ORECA-Nissan 03 to be run by Silverstone-based Delta-ADR, while Pizzonia has agreed terms to start the WEC in Delta-ADR’s own entry.

The 29-year-old Briton, whose only confirmed IndyCar drive for the coming season is with the Rahal squad in Long Beach in April, will share the G-Drive entry with Russian Roman Rusinov, who raced the car last year when it was run by Signatech, and Delta-ADR regular John Martin.

Pizzonia will drive alongside Tor Graves, who was also part of the line-up that took Delta-ADR to second place in the LMP2 teams’ standings in last year’s WEC, and a yet-to-be-confirmed third driver.

Delta-ADR team manager Simon Dowson, whose squad has Nissan partner team status in 2013, said: “Our objective was always to have the strongest line-up possible as we attempt to go one better than last year and with the support of G-Drive we are well on the way to doing that across two cars.”

Conway’s manager, former Le Mans 24 Hours winner Mark Blundell, explained that his driver was changing focus following his decision to stop racing on ovals.

“That made getting a deal in IndyCars quite difficult,” he said. “Sportscar racing was something that had been in his mind for a while and it is definitely the right time to step into this kind of racing, which is on the up again.”

Blundell stressed that Conway was not drawing a line under his single-seater career.

“It is not out of the question that Mike could end up doing some more IndyCar races, probably on the street courses,” he said.

“He proved his undoubted speed again when he was the fastest Honda runner at Barber [Motorsports Park] earlier this month.”

Pizzonia joins Conquest for ALMS round Conway is due to get his first taste of the G-Drive ORECA-Nissan at the official WEC test at Paul Ricard, starting on Friday.

His only previous sportscar experience came at the wheel of the HVM Status team’s Lola-Judd/BMW B12/80 at the Algarve circuit late last month.

Dowson explained that the intention was for Pizzonia, who is currently only confirmed for next month’s Silverstone series opener, to complete the season alongside Graves.

“We are working hard to keep Antonio in the car for the season,” he said, “although there is a little way to go yet.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/conway-pizzonia-get-g-drive-seats

Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon

Sauber: Hulkenberg drive proves quality

Nico Hulkenberg Force India F1 2013 Malaysia Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn believes Nico Hulkenberg’s drive in the Malaysian Grand Prix was the kind of performance that shows the team was right to hire him.

The German put on a strong showing at Sepang to score his first points with Sauber after finishing in eighth position, ahead of the McLaren of Sergio Perez and right behind the Lotus duo.

Hulkenberg had been unable to start the season-opening race in Australia because of a car problem.

Kaltenborn praised Hulkenberg’s fighting spirit throughout the race.

“Of course you can see it’s tough for us to keep certain cars behind us but I think that Nico did a very good job and fought as well as he could. I think he showed his skills and proved the reason why we’ve taken him,” said Kaltenborn.

“We see in him a very efficient driver and a fast driver. He made use of what he could with the car and I was quite impressed that he did try to hang on that long to the Lotus.

“He fought a lot but still he could hang on to them, which was very good.”

Sauber enjoyed its strongest season to date last year, finishing in sixth position in the standings after four podiums.

The Swiss squad has so far been unable to start a race from the top 10 this year, but Kaltenborn remains bullish about the potential of its car.

Nico Hulkenberg Force India F1 2013 Malaysia “It’s too early to make any kind of call into any direction,” she said. “For us we can clearly say that we are convinced in the potential of the car.

“Of course we lost out on collecting all of the data we could in the first race.

“Importantly now with the data we’ve collected, we analyse it properly at home because we need an understanding of that to see where we can still improve.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/sauber-hulkenberg-drive-proves-quality

Eddie Irvine Chris Irwin Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James

Wood loses S2000 class victory

Lea Wood BTCC 2013 Brands Hatch British Touring Car Jack Sears Trophy frontrunner Lea Wood has lost his class victory from race three at Brands Hatch.

Wood’s Vauxhall Vectra was the fastest S2000 runner in qualifying, but suspension problems in race one cost him class victory to James Kaye’s AmD VW Golf.

A driveshaft failure caused Wood not to start race two, but he then overcame David Nye’s Welch-run Ford to win the class in the final race.

Now Wood has been excluded after failing the ride height test.

“We changed the dampers [after race one] and unfortunately something wasn’t quite right,” he told AUTOSPORT.

“We’re gutted, but the pace was there.”

Wood’s exclusion means Motorbase Ford driver Liam Griffin take his second class victory of the weekend.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/btcc/wood-loses-s2000-class-victory

Jean Pierre Jarier Max Jean Stefan Johansson Eddie Johnson Leslie Johnson

Successful First Start at Auto Club Speedway For Hal Martin

Hal Martin

Charlotte, NC- March 24, 2013 – Despite difficult handling conditions during qualifying as well as during the race, Martin was able to take home a top 25 finish for his No.44 American Custom Yachts Toyota Camry team in the Royal Purple 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.

Hal Martin on Auto Club Speedway

This was your first time racing at Auto Club Speedway, what did you think of the track?

“I thought the track was fun after I got used to it. The seams in the track made navigating and choosing lines difficult because as soon as you drove over one, the car took on completely different handling characteristics” stated Martin. “It was a challenge, but I really enjoyed the difficulty in having to really focus on where the car was on the track at all times.”

You participated in Toyota Motorsports Day tell us about your experience.

Martin replied, “Toyota holds an annual event for it’s employees at their U.S. headquarters in Torrance, CA where they are able to meet Toyota drivers across multiple racing series to get autographs and to take pictures. We also had lunch in the Toyota USA Automobile Museum and were able to walk around and look at all of the Toyota vehicles. I was able to see everything from a Toyota Sienna mini-van to an Eagle MkIII GTP, it was an awesome tour and a privilege to meet some great Toyota employees.”

You visited a service member in the TriStar Motorsports family at the California National Guard Armory in Azusa, how was that?

Martin recalled “Sargent Don Siebert gave a tour to my fiancee and I of his facility. During the tour, we saw different weapons as well as a variety of military vehicles. I’ve been to military museums, like the National World War II museum in New Orleans, before but it’s different when you get to see equipment that is used today to defend our country. The experience really opened my eyes to the every day experiences of our service men and women. I had a great time.”

Looking Forward:

Martin will next compete in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, which will take place in Dallas Texas at Texas Motor Speedway on April 12th. In the meantime Martin plans on traveling to New Orleans, LA to spend time with family and to plan his wedding with his fiancee.

Race Recap:

Royal Purple 300

Auto Club Speedway

Fontana, CA

Start: 34

Finish: 24

American Custom Yachts

American Custom Yachts, Inc. is a 63-acre one-stop custom construction, repair, service and storage facility in the Southeastern United States. Our services range from construction, fully-equipped carpentry, custom wheel work and electrical upgrades; to Fiberglass, Kevlar, steel and aluminum repair, mechanical repair and repowering, bottom maintenance and transmission/running gear repair. With unsurpassed resources – including a dedicated paint prep building and 43′ clearance paint bay; covered dockage with a 52′ clearance; three haul-out bays; 150-ton, 75-ton and 35-ton marine travel lifts; 24 deepwater slips accommodating vessels up to 135 feet; and boat storage for up to 250 vessels – American Custom Yachts has a solution to your boating needs. Whether it is a custom-built yacht or your own vessel, we give best-in-class service from the best-trained in the business. For more information, visit www.AmericanCustomYachts.com.

Ingersoll Rand

A partner’s true value comes from being proactive with ideas, innovations, solutions and products that have a strong and lasting impact on your overall production and profitability. Ingersoll Rand’s innovative and reliable solutions for all areas of your business translate into maximizing the efficiency and productivity of your operation.

Ingersoll Rand is a global company that has built a reputation for keeping its customers up and running for over a century. From our complete compressed air systems, to our tools, pumps, material handling systems and comprehensive services – we have the depth of knowledge, expertise and experience to provide the best solution to meet your needs. For more information on Ingersoll Rand products, please visit www.ingersollrandproducts.com.

Source: Hal Martin Media Relations Press Release

The article Successful First Start at Auto Club Speedway For Hal Martin is from Catchfence.

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2013/nationwide/03/25/successful-first-start-at-auto-club-speedway-for-hal-martin/

Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart Gene Hartley Masahiro Hasemi

Sammy Swindell maintains his dominance at Merced Speedway

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2013/03/sammy-swindell-maintains-his-dominance.html

Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V

Saldana and 71M Team Prepare for Merced

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2013/03/saldana-and-71m-team-prepare-for-merced.html

Chris Irwin Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James John James

Volkswagen Details U.S.-Spec 2015 Golf and GTI Powertrains [2013 New York Auto Show]

2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI

When Volkswagen debuted the seventh-generation, 2015 Golf at the last year’s Paris auto show and the 2015 GTI at the Geneva show earlier this year, the automaker tantalizingly revealed nearly everything about both rides. That is, everything except final engine options for the U.S. market. Oh sure, VW furnished European powertrain specifications for both rides, but despite the latest Golf and GTI being still about a year away from going on sale here in the U.S., we’re an impatient bunch—after all, the Golf and GTI are among our favorite compacts. Thankfully, the wait is over for U.S.-spec powertrain info, which Volkswagen has announced at the 2013 New York auto show.

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI

While the European Golf offers a host of gas and diesel engines, the U.S. model will offer just two: A turbocharged, gas-fed 1.8-liter four and a 2.0-liter diesel four. The 1.8-liter makes the same 170 horsepower as the outgoing Golf’s inline-five it replaces, but seven more lb-ft of torque. Once again, the diesel will be dropped into the Golf TDI, but this time around it’s an all-new engine. Compared to the current Golf TDI’s 2.0-liter four, the new engine—which is a member of VW’s new EA288 engine family—produces the same 236 lb-ft of torque, but 10 additional horsepower, for a total of 150. Volkswagen’s specificity regarding the regular Golf’s transmission choices starts and ends with the promise that both manual and automatic options will be offered; gear counts and the type of automatic weren’t detailed. We’re betting that we get either the Euro model’s seven- or six-speed dual-clutch auto.

2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI

As for our favorite hot hatchback, the GTI, it will get the same turbocharged, 2.0-liter four as the Euro model. Only our version will make slightly less horsepower, with VW’s initial estimates coming in around 210 ponies. Before you start bellyaching about how Americans always get the short end of the stick, consider that at least the 2015 GTI will make the same 258 lb-ft of torque as the Euro model. The outgoing U.S.-spec GTI packs 200 horses and 207 lb-ft and is hardly a slouch; factor in the newest model’s slight weight loss, and it should be quicker than before. Regardless, the last-gen GTI was down a few horsepower to its European counterpart, too, so any anguish over missing output shouldn’t be a surprise. Once again, a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission will be offered.

Finally, Volkswagen gave no further indication of expected fuel economy for any 2015 Golf derivative, or whether it plans to bring the latest GTD—effectively a diesel-powered GTI—to the States. (We suspect it will make it here.) As for the possible next-generation Jetta SportWagen, well, look no further than the 2015 Volkswagen Golf Variant; we expect that here in the U.S. it will be powered by the same 1.8-liter four or 2.0-liter diesel as the Golf.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/Mqd4FRR_-Ic/

Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya

Disappointing Day for Brian Vickers And No. 20 Dollar General Team in Fontana

Box Score Info:

RACE: NASCAR Nationwide Series Royal Purple 300

TRACK: Auto Club Speedway

DRIVER: Brian Vickers

CAR: No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry

START: 3rd

FINISH: 34th (engine)

LAPS: 53 / 150

POINTS STANDING: 11th

2013 NNS Brian Vickers (Dollar General) - Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Post Race Highlights:

· Brian Vickers and the No. 20 Dollar General team got off to a strong start on Saturday at Auto Club Speedway. Vickers’ qualifying effort placed the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota third for the start of the afternoon’s 150 lap Nationwide Series Royal Purple 300.

· The Joe Gibbs Racing trio of the No. 54, No. 11 and No. 20 cars led the field to the green flag on Saturday. Initially, Vickers reported that his DG Camry was free in and tight to the gas.

· A caution on lap 33 allowed for Kevin Kidd, crew chief of the No. 20 car, to bring Vickers to pit road for four Goodyears, fuel and some adjustments to help with the handling condition. The Dollar General Toyota restarted second when the field went back to green on lap 38.

· The yellow flag was back out on lap 44 and Vickers radioed in that before the caution his oil temps had raised and that there was some smoke inside the car. The gauges went back to normal under the yellow, and Vickers told his crew chief that he thought they were one more stop away from getting the car where it needed to be to compete for the win.

· The No. 20 car restarted fourth on lap 49. By lap 52, Vickers informed the team that his oil temps were maxed out and there was more smoke inside the cockpit. He drove his DG Camry to pit road and Kidd made the call to bring the car behind the wall and into the garage.

· After a thorough assessment, the No. 20 team’s day had unfortunately come to a close. Vickers was left with an undesirable 34th place finish which moved him back to 11th in the Nationwide Series Championship point standings, 63 markers away from the points leader.

· The team will now have a two week hiatus in the Nationwide Series schedule before their next event at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, April 12.

Brian Vickers’ Post Race Thoughts:

“The engine started to tighten up and I had a lot of smoke in the cockpit. The guys are still assessing the damage to pinpoint what exactly happened. I’m not sure what it was, either way it’s not a good day for the Dollar General Toyota team. The guys did a good job all weekend. We were one small adjustment away from being able to win the race, so this is very unfortunate.”

Source: Joe Gibbs Racing Press Release

The article Disappointing Day for Brian Vickers And No. 20 Dollar General Team in Fontana is from Catchfence.

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2013/nationwide/03/24/disappointing-day-for-brian-vickers-and-no-20-dollar-general-team-in-fontana/

Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González

Salminen Closes on Podium; Lotus Stretch Lead

The brilliant (virtual) sunshine of Zolder fell on the CTC in Week Seven.

For Round Seven of the Lotus Classic Teams Championship the field remained in Belgium, moving from the classic Spa circuit to the confines of Circuit Zolder. Most famous as the venue where the legendary Gilles Villeneuve lost his life, this circuit represents a huge contrast to the week before. With three tight chicanes and a hairpin, the average speed is a lot lower than at Spa and the chicanes’ curbs can easily cause a car to spin, so incidents are common around this tricky and technical track.

Once again Nicklas Lindqvist took it all in stride, scoring heavily and extending his championship lead but, in his wake, the battle for second looks to be getting more intense week on week. Ferrari’s Gernot Fritsche once again failed to score more than 200 points and as a result has increasing pressure on from the sim racers behind.

The ex-world champion hasn’t scored strongly since his 205 points score at Watkins Glen and on current performance may drop as far as fifth by season’s end. Tyrrell’s Michel Dudognon has been more consistent in general than the Ferrari driver and his 204 point score brought him to within 80 points of second place.

In fourth spot, Andrea Ventura scored strongly to keep himself in contention while Henri Salminen will, on current form, leap up to second by Round 10 of the championship due to two zero scores. Other than the two rounds he’s missed, the Brabham driver is the only sim-racer to have topped the 200 point mark in every race.

As the rounds tick off, positions tend to stabilise through the field, but Luca Zanetti made excellent progress after he scored a season’s best 218 points at Zolder, leaping seven places to 13th overall and must now be eyeing-up 10th overall.

“See You in Zolder!” Another way of saying, “Welcome to chicanes!”

Good progress was also made by Massimo Morselli, advancing four places to 27th and Nuno Moreira who gained the same number of places to move to P35. Moreira missed the first three rounds, his average of 140 points a round looks likely to put him in the mix for 15th or higher in the final reckoning.

On the team side, Lotus continue to lead the constructors championship and a huge 58 points haul from Zolder stakes them into a nearly unassailable 91 points lead. Brabham’s 44 points strengthened their grip on second ahead of Ferrari.

Behind the top three the battle for fourth is bubbling nicely. Ligier scored a solid 35 points, stretching their lead over Tyrell who were outscored, and caught up by, Williams GP in this second week in Belgium.

The field now moves to the United States and the technical, fast – and often blind — sweeps of Sonoma Raceway.

Bruce Poole images

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/salminen-closes-on-podium-lotus-stretch-lead

Richie Ginther Yves Giraud Cabantous Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock Helm Glöckler

Tight Confines of Merced Speedway Next Up for Kraig Kinser on West Coast Swing

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2013/03/tight-confines-of-merced-speedway-next.html

Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Today’s Headlines

Juliana Busto, 22, Killed in Sunnyside Crosswalk; “No Criminality Suspected” (Times Ledger, Post, News)
Bloomberg Blames Golden, Felder, Skelos for Budget Without Speed Cams (NYT, Gotham Gazette, NY1)
Wait, Don’t All Business Owners Have Knee-Jerk Reactions Against Livable Streets? (NYT)
TA Calls on Mayoral Candidates to Step Up for Street Safety (News)
MTA Board Member Cappelli: Bulk of Bonus Revenue Should Go to Restore or Expand Service (News)
Citing Penn Station Needs, Stringer Says City Should Reject MSG Request (News, DNA, Crain’s)
Cuomo Signs TZB Environmental Agreement With Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson (LoHud, Newsday)
$83 Million for 1,100 More Parking Spaces at LGA? No Problem, Says Port Authority (Times Ledger)
Sandy Recovery Package Includes $22 Million for Ferry Services (Post, News)
Community Affairs Chief Gets Promotion to NYPD’s Top Uniformed Job (News, Post)

More headlines at Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/03/28/todays-headlines-1602/

Billy Garrett Jo Gartner Tony Gaze Geki Olivier Gendebien

When the State DOT Stands in the Way of Local Progress

There should be a special term for the all-too-common phenomenon of a state DOT putting the kibosh on a promising local project. DOT-blocking! (Yes, it’s pronounced “dot-blocking.”)

Because of the Ohio Department of Transportation's over-the-top lane width requirements, there's "no room" for bike lanes on this road in Cleveland. The city may be forced to spend $2 million building an off-street path instead. Image: Angie Schmitt

And have we got a good DOT-blocking story for you today. Ohio Department of Transportation regulations are essentially making it impossible for Cleveland to act upon its recent, hard-won complete streets policy, reports Marc Lefkowitz at local blog Green City Blue Lake. On Twitter yesterday, Walkable City author Jeff Speck called this a “perfect example of how DOTs are the prime enemy of progress.”

Lefkowitz reports that ODOT’s design guidelines, coupled with its general refusal to grant exemptions, essentially force Cleveland to build highway-width traffic lanes through urban neighborhoods. And that means there’s no room for bikes.

A few early projects serve as examples, Lefkowitz explains:

A rule has been cited by ODOT that has removed bike lanes from the W. 65th Street plan, because it would narrow lanes to 10 or 11 feet rather than the standard issue 12 feet. [Here ODOT is adhering to its own design guide for state highways, which requires at least one 12 foot lane in each direction, wider even than the accepted national guide from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which itself can be considered overly rigid and old-fashioned]. With on-street parking, it is admittedly a challenge to fit a five-foot-wide bike lane on W. 65th Street [pictured above].

But FHWA has a guideline for bike lanes with on-street parking, if cities are really interested in having both. FHWA notes that narrowing lane widths is within road engineering standards, especially on streets that have moderate traffic. It’s why FHWA routinely sees cities apply for exemptions to these federal edicts. The Feds grant these exceptions because they recognize that in urban areas, the context of the street should hold greater value. Because they defer to cities that want to fulfill goals of calming traffic, improving safety and comfort for all users on the road.

What does that mean for W. 65 Street? A more common sense and more cost effective solution—bike lanes on the roadway—are being ruled out.

Here’s the really outrageous part: Because the city of Cleveland doesn’t think it can get the Ohio Department of Transportation to grant an exemption, it is planning to install an off-road trail instead, at great expense to this struggling city, Lefkowitz says:

It costs around $1 million per mile to build a bikeway. The stretch of West 65th Street from Denison to Detroit avenues under the plan is 2 miles, and with the city [policy limiting its total per-project investment in] Complete and Green Streets projects at $1 million, something will have to give.

So here’s the question that’s been gnawing at me: Why would the Ohio Department of Transportation, which is fast running out of money, require wider lane widths than the feds? Might it have something to do with the fact that this agency is literally headed by a former asphalt industry lobbyist?

Elsewhere on the Network today: Bike Portland reports there’s a bill in the Oregon legislature that would allow the state to spend gas tax revenues on bike projects. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign notes that car-oriented Staten Island is seeing its population stagnate, while walkable, transit-oriented Brooklyn is booming. And Human Transit wonders whether redistribution should be a goal of federal transit programs.

Source: http://streetsblog.net/2013/03/27/when-the-state-dot-stands-in-the-way-of-local-progress/

Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson Gimax Richie Ginther

The 10 Must-See Debuts from the 2013 New York Auto Show: Hot Sports Sedans to Sucky Vans

With hustle and bustle of the 2013 New York auto show press days drawing to a close, we’ve gathered the 10 production and concept debuts from the Big Apple you absolutely must pay attention to. Many of the rides on this list are here simply because they’re hot—who doesn’t like gazing upon sultry sheetmetal?—but all make the grade because they’re significant in one way or another. Enjoy, and if you disagree with any of our choices, be sure to hit Backfires below and let your voice be heard. READ MORE ››

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/qg6T0X4M02M/

Howden Ganley Frank Gardner Billy Garrett Jo Gartner Tony Gaze

MWR Announces Mark Martin to Return to Aaron’s Dream Machine at Texas

Michael Waltrip Racing Logo

Will Resume His Previously Scheduled Events After Subbing for Denny Hamlin at Martinsville

CORNELIUS, N.C. - Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that Mark Martin will fill in for injured Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 Toyota Camry next weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

Martin will return to the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry at Texas Motor Speedway on April 13 and resume his previously scheduled run of events with MWR for the remainder of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint cup season.

“I think it is great that a driver of Mark’s caliber is available to support our fellow Toyota team during this difficult time for them. We wish Denny a speedy recovery” said MWR founder and co-owner Michael Waltrip. ”Mark is a big part of our organization and is committed to our sponsors, especially Aaron’s and Toyota. We have a lot of goals yet to reach this year and we are very focused on accomplishing them.”

As previously announced, Brian Vickers will race MWR’s No. 55 Jet Edge Toyota Camry for MWR at Martinsville.

Source: Michael Waltrip Racing, Press Release

The article MWR Announces Mark Martin to Return to Aaron’s Dream Machine at Texas is from Catchfence.

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2013/sprintcup/03/29/mwr-announces-mark-martin-to-return-to-aarons-dream-machine-at-texas/

Al Herman Hans Herrmann François Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG: Small and Strong [2013 New York auto show]

Subtlety doesn’t cut it anymore in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim. The new CLA-class, proclaimed a “style rebel” by design chief Gorden Wagener, has made that clear with its voluptuous lines and playful styling elements. This “four-door coupe” appears compact, but it’s only marginally shorter, and actually wider and taller than the legendary 1985–1995 E-class W124 sedan. READ MORE ››

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/I-WVsDlLMcY/2014-mercedes-benz-cla45-amg-photos-and-info-news

François Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill Phil Hill

Yamaha and PETRONAS Conclude MotoGP Partnership

Yamaha Racing
Sunday, 01 Jan 2012

As 2011 draws to a close it marks the end of a successful partnership between Yamaha's Factory MotoGP Team and PETRONAS.

The integrated Malaysian oil and gas corporation came onboard with Yamaha in 2009 and has enjoyed a hugely successful three year relationship.

Yamaha and PETRONAS have been privileged to share in two consecutive Triple Crown MotoGP victories, in 2009 and 2010.

Lin Jarvis,
Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing:

"The relationship between Yamaha and PETRONAS has been a great success, we have enjoyed some major achievements together in the MotoGP class. Now that the partnership has reached its natural conclusion I would like to thank our friends at PETRONAS for the support during their time with us and wish them well for the future".

Mohammad Medan Abdullah,
Senior General Manager of PETRONAS Group Corporate Affairs Division:

"We are happy to have had this opportunity to work with the Yamaha Factory Racing team over the past three years. In that time, we have enjoyed the benefits of strong brand exposure through the privilege of being associated with a team that shares our values and passion. The team has achieved many successes through a high level of competitiveness and stretched performance standards and we wish the team continued success in the future".

Jointly issued by Yamaha Factory Racing and PETRONAS Motorsports

www.yamaha-racing.com

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/01/yamaha_and_petronas_concl.php

Paul Hawkins Mike Hawthorn Boy Hayje Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld

Transportation Alternatives Unveils Policy Platform for 2013 Elections

At its annual membership meeting last night, Transportation Alternatives unveiled its transportation policy platform heading into the thick of this year’s election cycle. Primary day — September 10 — is less than six months away, and TA is calling on candidates in the mayoral and City Council races to include these principles in their campaign platforms:

Safe Neighborhood Streets For All: To ensure neighborhood streets offer safe space for local families, seniors and children to bike, walk and play, the City must fulfill local demand for Play Streets, 20 mph Slow Zones, bike lanes, Safe Routes to School and Safe Routes for Seniors in 50 neighborhoods a year.

Transportation Choice On Commercial Streets: To guarantee New Yorkers have the safe and convenient access to local businesses allowed by a robust variety of transportation choices, the City needs to provide protected bike lanes, Select Bus Service, bike share and pedestrian refuges and plazas on four major roadways in each of the city’s five boroughs each year.

Zero Tolerance Traffic Enforcement: To make New York City streets as safe as they can be, the New York City Police Department needs to enact a zero tolerance policy for dangerous driving by setting a multi-year goal of eliminating traffic deaths and cracking down on the deadliest traffic violations like speeding and failure to yield.

In June, TA will launch a website where supporters can send messages to candidates asking them to support safe streets. The site will also link to voter registration forms and information about the candidates.

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2013/03/28/transportation-alternatives-unveils-election-platform/

Bruce Halford Jim Hall Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire

Followup: Vampire Weekend singer responds to burning Saab controversy [w/video]

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Etc., Videos, Saab

Last week, we tipped you off about Vampire Weekend and their new music video for the song Diane Young, a short film that consists entirely of setting fire to two perfectly nice-looking Saab 900 automobiles. The indie rock band's video - viewable by scrolling down - predictably triggered the internet ire of classic car enthusiasts - Saabophiles in particular - and word of the unrest eventually got back to the band itself.

According to music site Spinner (nb: owned by Autoblog parent AOL), the group was "stunned" at the backlash - enough that lead singer Ezra Koenig felt compelled to respond himself. According to Koenig, the band was under the impression that their record company was "looking to purchase the cheapest, oldest cars possible; they weren't trying to buy a beautiful perfect condition car." By way of apology, Koenig even goes so far as to note that bandmate Rostam Batmanglij is a keen fan of Saab.

Other reports have claimed that the cars may have been purchased under false pretenses, sold by owners who "wanted to see them go to a nice new home," but Koenig takes issue with that characterization, countering that he understood that the cars had substantial electrical problems.

Interestingly, more vitriol appears to have been spilled over the fiery deaths of these two Saabs than was drummed up by Jay Z and Kanye West in their music video for Otis, which saw the superstar rappers take a blowtorch to an exponentially costlier Maybach. Either way, Koenig and Co. appear to have at least some regret that they elected to base their video on the song's opening line, "You torched a Saab like a pile of leaves."

Continue reading Vampire Weekend singer responds to burning Saab controversy [w/video]

Vampire Weekend singer responds to burning Saab controversy [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/vampire-weekend-singer-responds-to-burning-saab-controversy/

Juan Pablo Montoya Joseph Francis Nemechek III Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines

Kyle Busch Wins, After Logano And Hamlin Battle At California

Source: http://thefinallap.com/2013/03/24/kyle-busch-wins-after-logano-and-hamlin-battle-at-california/

Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González

Brad Keselowski Launches Redesigned, Fan-Focused BradRacing.com Website

Brad Keselowski Racing Logo

Bloomfield Hills, MI - Defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and one of the sport’s leaders in digital and social media, Brad Keselowski, launched today a new, innovative version of his website, BradRacing.com, which is designed to provide fans with increased access to the Penske Racing driver and Brad Keselowski Racing team owner. The state-of-the-art redesign allows visitors to access the website through any platform – desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile – for the optimal user experience and includes a variety of features unlike any other driver site.

The website captures the raw power and excitement of racing as well as behind-the-scenes, off-track activity while chronicling the full NASCAR season of the Rochester Hills, Michigan native. All races in which Keselowski competes will feature a detailed mini-site, which includes comprehensive news updates and exclusive, high-quality multimedia content such as videos, images, stories, and analysis generated by fans, sponsors, and the driver himself. Additionally, social media aspects are integrated throughout the site, and fans are able to share content via their social channels.

“We’re fortunate to compete in a sport with such a large and loyal fan base,” said Keselowski. “This site is designed to be at the forefront of digital media and primarily with the fans in mind as a platform for them to engage and interact with me and each other in new and different ways.”

Keselowski’s followers receive exposure to aspects of his Penske Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series teams in addition to his own Brad Keselowski Racing team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Within these sections, profiles highlight all of the vehicles Keselowski drives or owns in NASCAR’s three major series.

Fans will also have the opportunity to contribute to an exciting interactive multimedia platform that rewards participants with exclusive prizes, including the chance to win a paid trip to the 2014 Daytona 500 as Keselowski’s guests, for posting content specific to the NASCAR star both on and off the race track. This platform within the site, which will be known as “The Crew Challenge”, begins Friday, April 5th, and details will be provided by @Keselowski via Twitter. “We have really developed something unique and fun for me and the fans with ‘The Crew Challenge’,” said Keselowski. “It’s another opportunity, along with Twitter, for the fans to utilize technology and have a voice to share their stories about our great sport.”

Source: Brad Keselowski Racing, Press Release

The article Brad Keselowski Launches Redesigned, Fan-Focused BradRacing.com Website is from Catchfence.

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2013/sprintcup/03/27/brad-keselowski-launches-redesigned-fan-focused-bradracing-com-website/

Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González Oscar González Aldo Gordini Horace Gould

Vettel goes from F1 fan favorite to villain

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/03/28/2785686/vettel-goes-from-f1-fan-favorite.html

Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne

Video: Evidence of Renault 5 revival discovered during commercial shoot

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Classics, Europe, Videos, Misc. Auto Shows, Renault, UK, Design/Style

Mystery Renault concept caught on camera phone - video screencap

Renault has exceptional plans for this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, bringing six classic cars, four Formula One cars from this year's season and three current offerings. It will also be showing off two brand-new concepts, one of them gasoline-powered and another that's purely electric, and it's possible that the ICE concept has been spotted in Madrid on a video shoot. If so, it would be appear to be a fresh take on the Eighties-era Renault 5 that would look very nice next to the 1984 Renault 5 Maxi that will be at Goodwood.

Some Spaniards with camera phones caught a little blue Renault hatchback with a number "5" on its flanks and a giant wing hanging off the back. Renault has to have expected someone to catch it in photos, not because it was working with a camera truck but because it was doing donuts in an intersection and spitting out a murderous exhaust note. It might actually have nothing to do with the Goodwood concepts, but the coincidence of a classic Renault 5 showing up in England does provide a potential connection.

Elsewhere in the stand from July 11 to 14 Renault will have a 1920 Renault Type K, a 1926 Renault 40CV, the first turbocharged F1 car, the 1978 RS01, the Alpine that won Le Mans in 1978 and a Groupe 5 Alpine A310 rally car, Kimi Räikkönen's Australian F1 Grand Prix-winning Lotus E21, the Red Bull RB9, Caterham CT03 and Williams FW35. Among current offerings will be the Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo EDC, Captur crossover and all-electric Zoe. Find out more about all of them in the two videos and the press release below.

Continue reading Evidence of Renault 5 revival discovered during commercial shoot

Evidence of Renault 5 revival discovered during commercial shoot originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/evidence-of-renault-5-revival-discovered-during-commercial-shoot/

Ruby Tuesday Dodge Carl Edwards Copart Ford Denny Hamlin Z Line Toyota

Friday, March 29, 2013

Budget key to Lotus’s title challenge

Lotus’s chances of hanging on in the 2013 Formula 1 title battle depends on its financial resources, reckons Romain Grosjean.

Kimi Raikkonen’s Australian Grand Prix victory announced Lotus as a championship contender this year.

The team then slipped back in Malaysia, finishing only sixth and seventh, with Grosjean ahead.

Lotus remains second in the constructors’ championship, 26 points behind Red Bull, while Raikkonen is Sebastian Vettel’s nearest rival in the drivers’ table, nine points adrift.

Asked if he was confident Lotus could stay in the title hunt, Grosjean said he was confident in the team’s capabilities but unsure about its resources.

“It depends on the money that we have. That is the key in F1,” he said.

“We know we have good people, we know they are able to do a race winning car, we know that on development and on factory tools we are there.

“But then again everything is a question of what you can put into it.”

Grosjean said the team’s winning start “should” help bring in more funding.

“Hopefully we get more sponsors, so more development and then more wins and then more sponsors,” he said. “It’s a cycle.”

AUTOSPORT understands the team was working on a major sponsorship deal in the second half of last year, but nothing has come together so far.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/budget-key-to-lotuss-title-challenge

Brian Gubby André Guelfi Miguel Ángel Guerra Roberto Guerrero Maurício Gugelmin

Vettel apologises to Red Bull staff

Vettel apologises to Red Bull staff Sebastian Vettel has apologised in person to Red Bull staff for ignoring team orders at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The German visited the outfit’s Milton Keynes factory earlier this week for preparation work for the next race in China, but also used the opportunity to try and draw a line under the events in Sepang.

Team principal Christian Horner has revealed Vettel said sorry to team personnel for what happened, and vowed that he would never repeat such actions again.

In an interview with Sky Sports News that was broadcast on Thursday, Horner revealed: “He’s said he can’t turn back the clock but he’s accepted what he did was wrong.

“He’s apologised to the team and to every single member of staff for his actions, because he recognises the team is vitally important and being part of the team is a crucial aspect to being able to challenge for those championships.”

RED BULL TEAM ORDERS CONTROVERSY

Red Bull plans further talks with Vettel

Red Bull: Vettel’s actions deliberate

Vettel apologises to Webber

Webber: Vettel stole the race win

Vettel had already apologised to team-mate Webber for ignoring orders to hold position in the closing stages of last weekend’s race.

Webber was furious at what had happened, gesticulating to Vettel in the car and then angrily swerving towards him after the pair crossed the finish line.

Although there has been speculation that the incident could be the catalyst for a parting of ways between Webber and Red Bull at the end of the season, Horner said he was hopeful his Australian driver understood the team had not done anything to try and hurt his victory ambitions.

“It was the intent of the team that Mark should win that race,” he said. “He’s big enough to know that there was no malice, no intent from the team to create any situation like that.

“He’s in a car that’s capable of winning grands prix and hopefully going for a championship so I’ve got no doubt that Mark will see out the season with us.”

Red Bull is eager to move on from the events in Malaysia, and issued a statement earlier this week stating that it would sort out the matter behind closed doors.

The energy drink’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, who is known to favour Vettel, said this week that as far as he was concerned the matter was closed after the world champion and Webber shook hands in Malaysia on Sunday night.

“They don’t have to be completely on the same page, but it must be a solid working partnership,” he said.

“Sebastian apologised in the press conference and I think that was the first correct step to make.

“There was a debrief afterwards with the relevant discussions about the race and then there was a handshake between the two drivers. For us now the issue is settled.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/vettel-apologises-to-red-bull-staff

Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III

Green puts Audi on top at Barcelona

Green puts Audi on top at Barcelona Jamie Green put Audi at the head of the timesheets on the third day of DTM testing at Barcelona.

The Briton, who ended an eight-year stint with Mercedes in the DTM to switch to Audi late last year, completed 180 laps of the Spanish circuit and recorded a best time of 1m07.171s, putting him a scant 0.065s clear of the pack.

“It was a good day,” Green said. “We went through our plan and did everything we had on today’s checklist, so that’s a pretty good thing.

“The track was dry, there were no interruptions, no technical problems and we did a lot of laps – over 100 in the afternoon, and this is all helping me to get a feel for my new RS5 and to help me gel with my engineers.”

DTM rookie Pascal Wehrlein, a race winner in the Formula 3 European Championship at Monza last weekend, was second fastest in what was his first outing for Mercedes since being confirmed as Ralf Schumacher’s replacement at the RSC Mucke squad.

Morning pacesetter Filipe Albuquerque was third fastest for Audi with Roberto Merhi fourth for Mercedes and within a tenth of a second of Green’s benchmark time.

On what was the closest day of the test in terms of times, less than 0.6s covered the 11 drivers that took to the track. Slowest was BMW rookie Marco Wittmann.

The test concludes on Friday.

Pos Driver Car Time Gap
1. Jamie Green Audi 1m07.171s
2. Pascal Wehrlein Mercedes 1m07.236s + 0.065s
3. Filipe Albuquerque Audi 1m07.257s + 0.086s
4. Roberto Merhi Mercedes 1m07.266s + 0.095s
5. Adrien Tambay Audi 1m07.274s + 0.103s
6. Christian Vietoris Mercedes 1m07.309s + 0.138s
7. Dirk Werner BMW 1m07.413s + 0.242s
8. Mike Rockenfeller Audi 1m07.463s + 0.292s
9. Andy Priaulx BMW 1m07.590s + 0.419s
10. Joey Hand BMW 1m07.594s + 0.423s
11. Marco Wittmann BMW 1m07.742s + 0.571s

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/miscellaneous/dtm/green-puts-audi-on-top-at-barcelona

Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki

Kia Reveals Wonder Woman–Inspired Sportage, It’s Disappointingly Visible [2013 New York Auto Show]

Kia Sportage Wonder Woman DC Comics

Kia’s efforts to raise awareness for the We Can Be Heroes giving campaign to fight hunger in Africa has thus far produced six DC Comics–inspired custom Kia show cars. At the 2013 New York auto show, the automaker revealed the seventh car, a Sportage crossover dedicated to Wonder Woman. The Sportage follows the Superman Optima hybrid, Batman Optima, The Flash Forte Koup, Aquaman Rio5, Green Lantern Soul, and Cyborg Forte five-door.

Kia Sportage Wonder Woman DC Comics

But back to the Wonder Woman Sportage; Kia, working with DC Entertainment and Super Street magazine, fitted the crossover with a body kit, a stars-and-stripes paint job derived from Wonder Woman’s outfit, and star-like five-spoke wheels. Wonder Woman’s signature chest shield logo is integrated into the Sportage’s grille opening, the gold trim smattered about the crossover’s body is a reference to Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth—her weapon of choice—and the headlights are tinged with blue as a nod to the hero’s eye color. Finally, Kia slapped a sticker across the top of the windshield that mimics Wonder Woman’s tiara. So this Sportage has a tiara.

Kia Sportage Wonder Woman DC Comics

Inside, the unique Sportage gets red upholstery and blue LED lighting to match the exterior theme, and the seats are embroidered with Wonder Woman’s logo. It’s all for a good cause, and we’re pleased to see Kia turn out such thoroughly worked-over rides to raise awareness. Although if they really wanted to save some time, they could have simply paid tribute to Wonder Woman’s invisible plane and pulled the sheet off of . . . nothing.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/Up8SumVggLA/

Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman