jeanrowald

Monday, December 31, 2012

Gilham Racing signs Goff for 2013

Gilham Racing signs Goff for 2013 British Touring Car squad Tony Gilham Racing has signed Renault Clio Cup champion Jack Goff for its 2013 line-up.

Goff scored two Clio Cup victories on his way to the 2012 crown and tested with Gilham’s BTCC squad last month.

The 21-year-old has now been confirmed in one of the two NGTC Vauxhall Insignias Gilham plans to run next year.

“We’ve been talking to Tony for quite a while,” said Goff. “We had the test and gelled straight away; he’s been keen to help us make the step to touring cars.”

Goff, who has raced against BTCC race winners in Dave Newsham and Aron Smith in Clios, believes he can run at the front.

“I feel like we’re quick enough,” he added. “People have gone from Clios and won races recently and I think I’m at least as quick.

“Hopefully we can win a race in the first season. I can’t wait to get out there.”

Gilham, who has also confirmed Tom Onslow-Cole in one of his new NGTC Passats, said: “We’re going to have two strong line-ups.

“We tested Jack and he was quick immediately. He’s level-headed and it’s a natural progression from the Clio Cup.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/btcc/gilham-racing-signs-goff-for-2013

Roberto Guerrero Maurício Gugelmin Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood

Fast Facts: Kyle Larson

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/fast-facts-kyle-larson.html

Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle

Suzuki recalling 2,800 XL7 models over faulty fuel pump

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Safety, Suzuki

A recall has been issued for the 2007 Suzuki XL7, but only those vehicles either bought or registered in four states: Texas, Arizona, California and Nevada. Potentially 2,380 of the SUVs manufactured from June 13, 2006 to December 22, 2006 could have an issue with their fuel pump modules: The plastic supply or return port could crack. If that happens, it could lead to a fuel leak and then to a fire.

Suzuki hasn't said when the recall will begin. Once it does, owners will be notified and can have their dealers make the necessary repairs free of charge. There's a bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration below with more information.

Continue reading Suzuki recalling 2,800 XL7 models over faulty fuel pump

Suzuki recalling 2,800 XL7 models over faulty fuel pump originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/29/suzuki-recalling-2-800-xl7-models-over-faulty-fuel-pump/

Billy Garrett Jo Gartner Tony Gaze Geki Olivier Gendebien

Success For Carla in Australia

Week Eight brought the iRacing.com Skip Barber Series to Oran Raceway Park, located in Narellan, New South Wales, Australia. The twelve turn, 1.62 mile (2.61 km) circuit challenged drivers with a tight inner-section, followed by a long front straight. This created exciting online racing all week long, attracting 555 race entrants, 238 of them completing qualifying laps, and 123 completing time trials throughout the week.

Oran Raceway Park attracted over 550 entries for Week Eight of the Skip Barber Series.

Tommaso Carla (Italy) lead the way in the week’s standings, scoring 203 points in the 3293 SOF race which he scored the pole position, lead every lap with only one incident point, and brought home the victory by 0.662 seconds. The race was fairly close with third place only 1.098 seconds behind at the finish. Tommaso also competed in two other races throughout the week, one of which he scored a win, and the other where he encountered connection issues.

George Streetley (England) was next in the week’s standings, scoring 186 points in the same 3293 SOF race which Tomasso competed in. George started the race from the second position, which is also where he finished with only one incident point. This race saw very little passing, but with the top three cars running within one second of each other for the entire race, pressure was kept on the drivers to not make any mistakes. George ran one other race throughout the week, where he placed fourth with four incident points.

Kenneth OKeefe (Eastern Canada) was next in the week’s standings, scoring 181 points once his top two scores were averaged. Kenneth scored 190 points in a 3091 SOF race, and 173 points in a 2841 SOF race, but chose to compete in more than four races, causing his top 25% of point races to be averaged. In these two races, Kenneth scored the pole position once and started second in the other. He scored the victory in both races, with one and two incident points. Kenneth also competed in four other races throughout the week, where he placed first in three and third in the other after a first lap crash.

Kenneth O’Keefe competed in six races at Oran Raceway Park, here he leads Norbert Sulzer (2) and Amjed Yamin (3).

The remainder of the top ten for Week 8 at Oran Raceway Park included, Norbert Sulzer (DE-AT-CH), Rudi Reinkort (Central-Eastern Europe), Andrew Cowell (Australia/NZ), Luca Zanetti (Italy), Amjed Yamin (Texas), Paul Mills (England), and Daniel Garrison Jr (West).

The overall standings now show Norbert Sulzer with 1400 points as the leader, with Luca Zanetti back in second closely followed by Kevin Vaughn, Ermanno Palumbo2, and Victor Nandez. All these drivers have eight weeks scored, but there are a few sim-races who we will have to watch for a big jump in the standings as they are a few weeks behind.

Next week we will head to the famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, located in Monterey, California, USA. The 2.238 mile (3.602 km) track will allow drivers to experience huge elevation changes. Being one of the first tracks on the iRacing service and included in the rookie content, this track is expected to be highly populated with new talent.

Keep your eyes on inRacingNews.com for weekly updates on the iRacing.com Skip Barber Race Series, updates on other series throughout the service, and many other informational articles to please the interest of any race fan!

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/success-for-carla-in-australia

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

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Lewis Hamilton: 2012 in quotes

Lewis Hamilton

Despite finishing only fourth in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, Lewis Hamilton was one of the biggest stories of the 2012 season.

The ‘will he/won’t he’ McLaren contract wrangle filled plenty of news outlets until his Mercedes deal was announced.

But aside from all that, Hamilton drove superbly through much of the year and, without points lost to unreliability and early-season pitstop blunders, would surely have been in the title hunt.

Lewis Hamilton: 2012 in quotes

“Last year I think I struggled to do 30 laps. We struggled to do 10 laps without the exhaust failing. So to do a whole day and to do 120 laps, I can’t remember the last time I did that many laps. Definitely, we feel in a much more comfortable place and confident that we can be at the front fighting with the guys at the top.”

Enjoying the improved pre-season testing compared to 2011′s problems

“I haven’t even got into thinking about it, to be honest. It’s such an intense season and I’ve got to stay focused. If I take my eye off the ball to focus on that and lose points because of that, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.”

Telling AUTOSPORT early in the season that he’s not concerned about a contract for 2013

Lewis Hamilton wins in Montreal, 2012 “One of the most enjoyable races that I’ve had ’til now. I was just thinking today to finish at the front, as I did in my first win here in 2007, would be very, very special for me – which it has been. I couldn’t believe it when I was coming across the line. That feeling inside, it’s like an explosion. It’s really just incredible.”

Enjoying breaking his 2012 duck in Canada

“In a lot of other teams, the drivers get their original trophies. As a racing driver, what you work for and what you want to take home are two things; one is your crash helmet and the other is your trophy. For me, they are priceless.”

Revealing why keeping his trophies was a stumbling block in a potential McLaren deal

“I could take the easy route and just stay here and just cruise on for the next three years in a great team and a great car, making decent money. But that’s not what I want to do. I want to go and struggle. I want to help them get to the top and start winning. That’s going to be the coolest, most satisfying feeling if we do get there. And if we don’t I’ll only be 31 at the end of it.”

Relishing the struggle of making Mercedes a regular race-winner

“Just noticed @jensonbutton unfollowed, that’s a shame. After three years as team-mates, I thought we respected one another but clearly he doesn’t.”

Stirring up a Twitter-storm

“My bad. Just found out Jenson never followed me. Don’t blame him!”

Trying to diffuse a Twitter-storm shortly after realising his mistake

“I had a few burgers last night so I was nice and heavy today! I tell you what, I’m so happy to be here. We’ve had such a great weekend. I actually don’t really drink. I had a little bit of champagne, it doesn’t really taste that good. Fernando [Alonso] said it was 7-Up or Sprite at the last race, it wasn’t the same this time.”

Enjoying himself after winning the first United States Grand Prix held at Austin

“I’ve made friendships here that I know will last for life. But life is about challenge. I don’t so much feel like I’m leaving home to go to university, more that I’m leaving university to go to my first job. Mercedes will be a huge challenge, but I feel I’m ready for it.”

Speaking after his final race for McLaren

“It is to do with the process of growing up, of leaving home. That’s why I am taking the next step, to grow as a driver and as a human being.”

Reflecting on the next step in his life

Lewis Hamilton

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/lewis-hamilton-2012-in-quotes

Hans Klenk Peter de Klerk Christian Klien Karl Kling Ernst Klodwig

Kia Design Chief Peter Schreyer Named Company President

Peter Schreyer

Peter Schreyer, who has led Kia’s design efforts as it raises both its reputation and sales on world markets, has been named a president of the South Korean automaker.

He will be one of three presidents in the company and the first non-Korean to hold the title. The promotion reflects the impact the Schreyer-led “tiger nose” design theme has had in lifting Kia’s reputation from that of a maker of cheaply built penalty boxes to a purveyor of higher quality and better performing rides. The shift has no doubt delivered higher profits per car, too.

Kia Optima Turbo

Bloomberg quotes Seoul-based KB Investment & Securities analyst Shin Chung Kwan as saying, “The promotion shows Kia’s key focus areas shifting from production and cost efficiency, which were traditionally considered more important, to design and research and development. It also symbolizes Kia’s urge to advance as a global company, showing a foreigner could make it to one of the top positions.”

Kia famously hired Schreyer away from Volkswagen in 2006 and installed him as its chief design officer, a title the 59-year-old retains. Schreyer had a strong start in corporate VW when Audi gave him a scholarship to study at London’s Royal College of Art in 1979. He quickly rose through the corporation, spending time during 1991 and 1992 in the company’s California design studio before returning to Germany.

The 2007 Kee concept, among the first Kias to be penned under Schreyer’s guidance and one which pointed to the brand’s current design language.

The Bavarian native was quoted in 2007 as saying, “In the past, the Kia cars were very neutral.” That changed at the 2007 Frankfurt show with the debut of the Kia Kee concept, which set the tone for the Kias of today. At the time, Schreyer said that the coupe “represents the ‘key’ which will open the door to success for our brand.

While it’s unusual for a design executive to move to business management, it isn’t unprecedented. Ralph Gilles, Chrysler’s senior vice president of design, was named to head Dodge in 2009, a post he held until 2011 when he was put in charge of the SRT division while retaining his design responsibilities.

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

Eddie Irvine Chris Irwin Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James

Jim Brennan Reintroduces $4.5 Billion Bond Measure for Transit and Roads

When New Yorkers go to the polls less than a year from now, they’ll definitely be voting for a new mayor, and they might also be voting for billions in state-backed transportation funding, if a measure put forward by Assembly Member James Brennan clears Albany.

The second time around: Assembly Member James Brennan wants to put a statewide transportation bond on the ballot in November.

Brennan, a Brooklyn Democrat representing Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Kensington, is reintroducing his bill for a $4.5 billion statewide transportation bond, evenly split between roads and transit. Starting in January, he’ll be making a push to sign up additional Assembly co-sponsors (there are now 16, all Democrats), and to find a sponsor for a Senate companion bill, with an eye toward recruiting Republican support.

“When we put it out there last year, we had no intention of passing it,” Brennan legislative director Lorrie Smith explained, saying that they wanted to begin circulating the issue in Albany before making a push in 2013. ”We’re taking the next step and trying to fashion a proposal that will go before voters in November.”

Some of the bond money is expected to go to the MTA’s next five-year capital program. Although that slate of maintenance and expansion work is still undefined (the current capital program runs through 2014), it’s likely this time around that keeping the system’s existing infrastructure in a state of good repair will be a higher priority than big-ticket projects like the 7-train expansion.

“We’re going to have to find different sources of revenue in order to find the capital necessary to sustain a state of good repair,” MTA Chairman Joe Lhota said earlier this year.

Although advocates welcomed the bill’s reintroduction, they cautioned that it is by no means a complete fix, for either the MTA or the state’s larger transportation system, which both have tens of billions of dollars in unfunded needs.

“We remain a little concerned that this might pass and voters and legislators might think that our funding needs have been resolved when, in fact, they have not,” said Tri-State Transportation Campaign Executive Director Veronica Vanterpool. Separately, both Tri-State and Transportation Alternatives said that Brennan’s proposal should be part of a larger revenue plan. Brennan himself said in April that the bond issue would still leave a hole of at least $6 billion in the capital program, even with federal matching funds taken into account.

While a more ambitious legislative package would address a heftier chunk of the MTA’s funding needs, it would also be tougher to enact.

“Brennan at the moment is the only game in town” because he’s “proposed something other than agency borrowing,” said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign. The Brennan bond would be backed by general tax revenues, unlike much of the borrowing for the current capital plan, which is paid for out of the MTA’s operating budget. Moving borrowing from the MTA’s books to the state’s can take pressure off straphangers, who, absent initiative from Albany, are paying for debt service through fare hikes.

Even with this bond issue, MTA debt service is on track to keep growing, and that’s before factoring in the agency’s extra borrowing to repair Hurricane Sandy damage that is not covered by insurance or the federal government.

The bill is similar to the transportation bond issue voters approved in 2005, which provided an inflation-adjusted $3.42 billion split between roads and transit. But the funding mix isn’t the only similarity. ”It’s intended for the ballot in the fall under the theory that a big turnout of city voters would help, which was the case for the 2005 bond act,” Russianoff said. “The timing seems to be politically well thought-through.”

A transportation bond on the ballot in 2000 — a year with no mayoral election — failed despite a wide margin of support in New York City.

But before voters have a say, the legislature and Governor Cuomo must approve. “We would love to interest the governor and hear about it in his State of the State, but we have no idea if that will happen,” Smith said.

“I’m upbeat about Brennan being able to make this issue one that gets on the legislature’s top agenda,” Russianoff said.

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/19/brennan-bond-would-have-new-yorkers-vote-on-transportation-in-2013/

Eddie Keizan Al Keller Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy Loris Kessel

Report: EV owners in WA to pay extra $100 annual fee

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Electric

Anyone purchasing an EV in the state of Washington will have to pay an extra $100 with their registration - a bit counter-intuitive, considering that the government generally promotes EV purchases with incentives. You see, owners of gasoline-powered vehicles in WA pay an annual gasoline tax, and this new EV fee ensures that all drivers pay for the annual upkeep of roads.

According to the new rule, vehicles powered by electricity and capable of speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour will have to pay $100 with their registration, starting on or after February 1, 2013. "$100 isn't that big of a deal, but it's not well-balanced policy," says Jay Friedland, legislative director of Plug In America. "EV drivers really want to pay their fair share," he continued,"but it seems ridiculous from a policy standpoint."

It does seem incongruous due to the fact that the state offers tax exemptions for the purchase of EVs. It should also be noted that the new fee provides for "evaluating the feasibility of transitioning from a revenue collection system based on fuel taxes to a road user assessment system." For us, it might be a moment of bureaucratic irony, but for EV drivers in Washington state, its $100 more out of their pocket.

EV owners in WA to pay extra $100 annual fee originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/30/ev-owners-in-wa-to-pay-extra-100-annual-fee/

Brian Gubby André Guelfi Miguel Ángel Guerra Roberto Guerrero Maurício Gugelmin

Tandy lands Porsche factory deal

Nick Tandy lands Porsche factory deal Briton Nick Tandy has landed a factory deal with Porsche for 2013.

The 28-year-old, who won the Porsche Cup as the most successful privateer driver of 2012, becomes the 10th factory driver. He joins a roster that includes Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Jorg Bergmeister, Marc Lieb and Patrick Long.

Tandy said: “A big dream has come true; I’m absolutely thrilled. Ever since I first drove a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, it was clear to me that there could be nothing better than to become a works pilot for Porsche.”

“It’s great that Porsche recognised what I have achieved so far and that they included me in the factory pilot family. I’ll do everything to merit this trust.”

No programmes have been alloted to individual factory drivers as yet. Tandy’s only confirmed drive so far is at next month’s Daytona 24 Hours with a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup run by Konrad under the Orbit banner.

Tandy started racing Porsches with guest drives with the Konrad team in the German Carrera Cup and then the Supercup at the end of 2009.

He finished runner-up in both series in 2010 and started appearing regularly aboard customer Porsches in international sportscar events around the world from the beginning of 2011, the year he also won the Carrera Cup in Germany

The contract with Porsche comes at a time when the German manufacturer is gearing up to re-enter topflight sportscar racing with a petrol-electric LMP1 hybrid in 2014.

Porsche is understood to favour drivers with recent single-seater or prototype experience for its P1 squad.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/tandy-lands-porsche-factory-deal

Ingo Hoffmann

Frijns: Vandoorne can thrive as rookie

2012 Formula Renault 3.5 champion Robin Frijns believes his Fortec replacement Stoffel Vandoorne can thrive under the relatively low expectations of his rookie season.

Vandoorne graduates into the FR3.5 after triumphing in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup, just as Frijns did in 2011.

Frijns went on to seal the title despite being a rookie and competing against a stellar grid which included a host of Formula 1 junior drivers.

Click here for AUTOSPORT’s Formula Renault 3.5 season review

Frijns, who has been signed up as Sauber’s new F1 reserve driver, tipped Vandoorne to surprise in next year’s campaign.

The 20-year-old Belgian broke Frijns’s lap record on the final day of FR 3.5 testing at Aragon in November.

“I think Vandoorne is going to do well, he was really quick in my car in testing,” Frijns told AUTOSPORT.

“He is like me [in 2012], a rookie, so he is more free than some of the other guys because he doesn’t have to win the championship in the first year.

“The more experienced guys have a lot more pressure to win the championship.”

Vandoorne earned €500,000 towards a FR3.5 budget after winning his two-litre crown, and also tested for DAMS during the off-season. He said choosing Fortec was an ‘easy’ decision however.

“My choice was quite easy between the teams I have tested for in FR3.5,” Vandoorne explained.

Stoffel Vandoorne “I felt very good with Fortec straight away, and we showed some really good speed during the post-season tests.

“I’m happy that finally the deal is done, and I can start focusing on next year. The step from FR2.0 Eurocup to FR3.5 was quite big; the FR3.5 car has a lot more downforce and power compared to the FR2.0 car, but it’s a car I like to drive and I feel very comfortable in it.”

Team manager Jamie Dye tipped Vandoorne to feature in next year’s title fight, adding: “He has the attitude and drive to make his mark on the championship and I’m extremely confident he will be one to keep an eye on next season.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/frijns-vandoorne-can-thrive-as-rookie

David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris Cuth Harrison

Wayne Auton named director of NASCAR's Nationwide Series

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/18/2553202/wayne-auton-named-director-of.html

Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III

Priaulx certain of stronger 2013

Andy Priaulx is certain that the lessons learnt in his maiden DTM campaign this year can make him a much stronger competitor next year.

Priaulx scored points in four of the 10 races in 2012 on his way to 13th in the championship.

But the RBM BMW driver often found himself on the receiving end of opening-lap trouble after qualifying in mid-pack.

The three-time World Touring Car champion is looking forward to his second year and is determined to strengthen his challenge for honours.

“It was great driving in a completely different series and I can’t wait to go into year two, as I know I’ll be able to make use of all that I learnt this year in my M3,” he said.

“I was always aware that the DTM would have its challenges. I had some highs, including being the first BMW driver to score points this year at the opening round. And I had some lows as well; the non-finishes.

“However, that’s 2012 and now the focus is on 2013. The preparation is well underway.”

Priaulx’s M3 will be part of an expanded eight-car line-up as Ernest Knoors’ MTEK squad joins RBM, Schnitzer and RMG.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/miscellaneous/dtm/priaulx-certain-of-stronger-2013

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

MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING TEAM REPORT NHRA Nationals

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas
Another final round for Nobile in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (October 29) - still one week shy of his 21st birthday, Mountain View Racing Pro Stock driver Vincent Nobile has never pulled the lever on a slot machine or played a single hand of black jack, but that doesn't mean he hasn't gotten lucky in Las Vegas. For the second time this year, Nobile drove Nick Mitsos' NAPA/Mountain View Dodge to a Pro Stock final round at the famed Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Nobile was runner-up to teammate Allen Johnson at the first NHRA Las Vegas event last April and the Mopar duo repeated that performance this weekend with the win once again going to Johnson. Nobile did his job on the starting line with a great reaction time but his 6.67 elapsed time fell to Johnson's 6.63.

"Obviously, it would have been great to win but overall we're very happy with the way our weekend went," said Nobile. "We thought we had a good chance to win the final but we broke a lash cap on the run and that hurt our performance a bit. We've been knocking on the door of another final round for the last few races and it was nice to finally get there again."

On his way to the final round, Nobile drove past reigning NHRA Full Throttle series champion Jason Line and also claimed a crucial victory against Erica Enders, his closest rival in the points battle. Enders is currently ranked third while Nobile is fourth. The strong showing allowed Nobile to move to within 14 points of Enders with one event remaining in the 2012 season.

"That's our goal right now," said Nobile. "We know that we can finish in third place and that would be awesome for our team. We finished fifth last season and obviously we'd like to improve on that. A couple of races ago I wasn't so sure we could do it but it's definitely within our grasp now.

"The final race of the season is also in Pomona, which is the home track for the Mitsos family and the whole Mountain View Tires team. Nothing would make me happier than to end the season with a victory there."

The season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California Finals will take place at Auto Club Pomona Raceway, Nov. 8-11.

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/10/mountain_view_racing_team.php

Jackie Holmes Bill Homeier Kazuyoshi Hoshino Jerry Hoyt Nico Hülkenberg

John Wes Townley joins Red Horse Racing

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/john-wes-townley-joins-red-horse-racing.html

Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart

Get Something Shiny and Gadget-y for the Holidays? Download C/D for Your Mobile Device Now!

Car and Driver e-Edition Not sure if you’ve been paying attention to the television this holiday season, but if so, you probably saw them: ads for tablet devices. Large tablets, small tablets, medium-size tablets. Three new screens from Amazon, two from Apple, and one from Microsoft, all being stroked and plied by children and bright-eyed teens of diverse ethnicities over a backdrop of bold color blocks and soft sans-serif type. The future is here, and a toddler is going to show you how to use it. Indeed, the tablet is becoming so enmeshed in modern life that some pundits are saying it is going to replace the desktop. Nice that someone’s not bloviating about the death of print for a change, but of the conventional computer. I digress.

Regular readers might expect me, at this juncture, to rail against all this shiny happiness and huff off, lexically speaking. But I actually like these things, if not the saccharine aftertaste of their marketing. They’re not saviors of humanity, just another product, but I believe they have a lot to offer readers of car magazines. An issue of Car and Driver can be even better on a screen than it can be in print, with deepened storytelling, stunning video, more images, and group conversations that paper magazines can only start. I also like using my tablet (an iPad “classic,” circa 2010) to make my daily sluice through the internet’s various tubes.

Car and Driver is developing content for all these devices, and making it available through all of the major virtual newsstands, including those of Apple, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Next Issue, and Zinio. We are readable in forms ranging from straight reproductions of magazine pages to carefully and beautifully reimagined versions. We are in the process of remaking our website so that it conforms and adapts to your smartphone or your tablet. So you can have your C/D any way you like it, anywhere you like it, even if you left your paper copy on the coffee table or—let’s be honest here—on the top of the Kohler tank.

We often talk in our office about “putting the reader’s butt in the seat”—somewhat crass imagery, sure, but it reminds us that our primary job is to give you as much of the experience of driving a car as possible. Previous to the arrival of the tablet and integrated video, the only way we could do that was with carefully selected words and pictures. Now we can deliver the fuller sensory picture. Our goal here is to give you a great experience, wrapped around a great read. Who could be grumpy about that? — Eddie Alterman

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/Vb2wTfNj1PY/

Paul Goldsmith José Froilán González Oscar González Aldo Gordini Horace Gould

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Masters clash for European F3

Will buller Carlin F3 Euro Series 2012 Norisring The FIA has produced a revised calendar for the 2013 European Formula 3 championship that leaves its Norisring round clashing with the one-off F3 Masters event at Zandvoort.

Recent changes to the Formula 1 schedule led to the German Grand Prix running on the same date as the DTM’s high-profile Norisring street race on July 7.

DTM organisers have moved the Norisring round back a week to July 14, which now means the supporting European F3 championship clashes with the Zandvoort Masters event.

Other changes to the F3 schedule as a result of the new DTM calendar are the championship round at Zandvoort moving from late July to late September, and the Hockenheim round moving from September to October.

23-24/03     (I)    Monza
 13-14/04     (GB)   Silverstone
 04-05/05     (D)    Hockenheim
 18-19/05     (GB)   Brands Hatch
 01-02/06     (A)    Red Bull Ring
 13-14/07     (D)    Norisring
 17-18/08     (D)    Nürburgring
 28-29/09     (NL)   Zandvoort
 19-20/10     (D)    Hockenheim
 26-27/10     (F)    Paul Ricard

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/masters-clash-for-european-f3

Gus Hutchison Jacky Ickx Yuji Ide Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue

NASCAR makes changes to its competition personnel structure

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/nascar-makes-changes-to-its-competition.html

Jerry Hoyt Nico Hülkenberg Denny Hulme James Hunt Jim Hurtubise