Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEO: Old Dirty Bastards - The glory of Group B]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/06/video-old-dirty-bastards-the-glory-of-group-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/06/video-old-dirty-bastards-the-glory-of-group-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/06/video-old-dirty-bastards-the-glory-of-group-b/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Group B Quattro
The gorgeous insanity of Group B - Click above to watch the video

You know, there's a reason people talk about Group B racing - and the drivers who participated in it - in practically hushed tones. After all, we're currently in an era where motorsports news is just as likely to be about ever-more-restrictive regulatory efforts or the deranged hooker fantasies of the F1 illuminati as it is about, you know, racing. But during Group B's brief, crazy tenure, it was the regulations that fostered the lunacy, giving us unforgettable, insanely-powered cars and legendary drivers.

Of course, immense power and infinitesimal margins for error meant that the dangers were high -- for the drivers, obviously, but also for the spectators, who were, in their own ways, as bonkers as the factory pilots they idolized and flocked to see, forming masses of humanity that routinely spilled onto the circuits as the hyper-powered rally cars flew by. Eventually, those dangers led to tragedy, which, in turn, led to the abrupt end of the Group B era. But it's not easily forgotten, and every so often, someone posts a reminder why.

Follow the jump for eleven minutes of heaven, edited together (miraculously) without a lick of crappy, distracting music. The only soundtrack you'll hear is the one coming from Group B cars engineered to explore the limits, piloted by drivers who routinely (and expertly) exceeded them. It is, in a word, beautiful. Thanks to Danijel for the tip.

[Source: YouTube via MyCarVid]

Continue reading VIDEO: Old Dirty Bastards - The glory of Group B

VIDEO: Old Dirty Bastards - The glory of Group B originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>group bGroupBnostalgiaracingrallyRally CarRallyCarrallyingvideoSun, 06 Dec 2009 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultimate rally car collection hits the block]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/ultimate-rally-car-collection-hits-the-block/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/ultimate-rally-car-collection-hits-the-block/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/ultimate-rally-car-collection-hits-the-block/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

UPDATE: Images removed by request of owner

In the eighties, David Sutton owned the company that prepared rally cars for Audi UK. It turns out he was collecting cars at the same time as he was preparing them, and putting them in his Historic Motors Ltd museum. The assortment includes seven Audis, some of which are Group B monsters, as well as an RS200 Cosworth, a couple of Lancias, a 1944 Volvo, and even a Skoda. Now the lot's being sold, 22 cars in all, through Morris & Welford. It's the kind of collection that, even if you had the time, money, and connections, would probably take you years to assemble individually. But you can have it all, right now... if you have what is likely to be an enormous sum of cash. Check out the other items on offer in the gallery below.

[Source: Motive Magazine]

Continue reading Ultimate rally car collection hits the block

Ultimate rally car collection hits the block originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david suttonDavidSuttongroup bGroupBhistoric carshistoric motorshistoric motors ltdHistoricCarsHistoricMotorsHistoricMotorsLtdmotorsportsrally carrally carsRallyCarRallyCarsSun, 31 Aug 2008 12:09:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Playing indoors - Lancia Delta S4 on a kart track!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/27/video-group-b-indoors-lancia-delta-s4-on-a-kart-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/27/video-group-b-indoors-lancia-delta-s4-on-a-kart-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/27/video-group-b-indoors-lancia-delta-s4-on-a-kart-track/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



How many times have you heard someone use the phrase, "That thing handles like a go-kart." Well, in the case of the Lancia Delta S4 of Group B fame, it's true. The video embedded after the jump was taken at an indoor track. Killer stuff, and it had to have sounded incredible in there while this was going on. Wherever this is, there's some pretty sweet hardware parked inside the tire barriers, too. Based on some Googling we've done, we're guessing the pilot is Bruno Ianello, who appears to have been driving this particular Delta S4 in recent years at historic rallies. We found some nice shots of the car here and here, if you'd like to have a better look at it.

Follow the jump for the video of the indoor action.

[Source: Dieselstation]

Continue reading VIDEO: Playing indoors - Lancia Delta S4 on a kart track!

VIDEO: Playing indoors - Lancia Delta S4 on a kart track! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 May 2007 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brunio ianelloBrunioIanellodelta s4DeltaS4go-kartgroup bGroupBindoorslanciaSun, 27 May 2007 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Porsche 959 takes the Paris-Dakar Rally]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/21/video-porsche-959-takes-the-paris-dakar-rally/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/21/video-porsche-959-takes-the-paris-dakar-rally/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/21/video-porsche-959-takes-the-paris-dakar-rally/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



In the early '80s, the FIA devised a new set of rules for production based race cars that could be used for both track racing and rallying. The Group B rules spawned some of the wildest homologation specials devised at that time. Under the rules, a minimum of 200 production models had to be built (not necessarilly sold) and then evolution specials could be derived from those. Some of the products of Group B were the MG Metro 6R4, Ford RS200, Peugeot 205 Ti16, Ferrari 288 GTO and the Porsche 959.

Only a couple of GTO Evoluzione models were built and they eventually spawned the legendary F40. Most of the Group B cars ended up competing in rallies around the world and were the ancestors of the later World Rally Cars like the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo. Many of the production models remained unsold for years and ended up going at fire sale prices, especially after a spate of rally accidents with the high powered Group B cars that prompted the FIA to cancel the whole category.

There's more after the jump including two incredible videos of the 959 in action.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Continue reading VIDEO: Porsche 959 takes the Paris-Dakar Rally

VIDEO: Porsche 959 takes the Paris-Dakar Rally originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 May 2007 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>959Group BGroupBMon, 21 May 2007 09:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Night Watch: Michele Mouton on the sound of the Audi Quattro]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/night-watch-michelle-mouton-on-the-sound-of-the-audi-quattro/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/night-watch-michelle-mouton-on-the-sound-of-the-audi-quattro/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/night-watch-michelle-mouton-on-the-sound-of-the-audi-quattro/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Michelle MoutonIn the YouTube clip embedded after the jump, former Audi driver Michele Mouton briefly reminisces about her time behind the wheel during the crazy Group B days.She talks about some of the things that were the most emotionally stirring and tells the documentary crew," If I have some emotion, of course it's the noise of the Quattro. I mean, nobody can forget the noise. Even today, I think we miss this kind of noise."

From there it cuts to around 30 seconds of the Quattro at full tilt, making that glorious roar peppered with the occasional backfire pop. If that sound can't get a rise out of you, you're a soulless corpse. Watch (and listen) after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Night Watch: Michele Mouton on the sound of the Audi Quattro

Night Watch: Michele Mouton on the sound of the Audi Quattro originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 23:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Audi QuattroAudiQuattrogroup bGroupBmichelle moutonMichelleMoutonFri, 02 Feb 2007 23:31:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: More sights & sounds of Group B]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/09/video-more-sights-and-sounds-of-group-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/09/video-more-sights-and-sounds-of-group-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/09/video-more-sights-and-sounds-of-group-b/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Put together by the same person who assembled the clip we brought you yesterday, here's another round of hot, slippery, and sublime Group B action. The more you watch, the more you appreciate the skill of these drivers. Not only did they have to contend with their supremely powerful cars and the tricky rally courses they hurtled through, but they had to do it all in the midst of a fan base that seemingly had a collective death wish, stepping out of the cars' paths at the last possible second.

Amazing video, and eternally enjoyable.

[Source: YouTube]

VIDEO: More sights & sounds of Group B originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Dec 2006 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>group bGroupBSat, 09 Dec 2006 18:17:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: The sights and sounds of Group B]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/08/video-the-sights-and-sounds-of-group-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/08/video-the-sights-and-sounds-of-group-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/08/video-the-sights-and-sounds-of-group-b/#commentsFiled under: , ,



I'm guessing that I had you at "Group B."

Click on the video above and take the time machine back to the days of Group B, where the rally cars were audacious and overpowered, the drivers heroic, and the action unrivaled and dangerous. All you hear are the cars and the crowds, and as car-related videos go, this is about as close to porn as it gets.

Happy Friday.

[Source: YouTube]

VIDEO: The sights and sounds of Group B originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Dec 2006 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>group bGroupBrallyrallyingFri, 08 Dec 2006 17:35:00 EST