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: Alex Roy shows Tanner Faust and Sony PSP how to <i>really</i> drive Laguna Seca]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/video-alex-roy-shows-tanner-faust-and-sonys-psp-how-to-i-real/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/video-alex-roy-shows-tanner-faust-and-sonys-psp-how-to-i-real/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/02/video-alex-roy-shows-tanner-faust-and-sonys-psp-how-to-i-real/#commentsFiled under: ,

Click image above to view the video after the jump

Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust's PSP-powered run around Laguna Seca didn't seem to impress the interminable Alex Roy, so he strapped a big screen TV and an Xbox into the back of a Porsche Cayenne, threw on an eerily familiar helmet and stuck Rene Villeneuve behind the real wheel while Alex manned the virtual one. Check out the painful results after the jump.

Continue reading VIDEO: Alex Roy shows Tanner Faust and Sony PSP how to really drive Laguna Seca

VIDEO: Alex Roy shows Tanner Faust and Sony PSP how to really drive Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex royAlexRoylaguna secaLagunaSecaPSPrene villenueveReneVillenueveFri, 02 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Alex Roy retires from rallying, campaigning team in Grand Am Rolex series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/alex-roy-retires-from-rallying-campaigning-team-in-grand-am-rol/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/alex-roy-retires-from-rallying-campaigning-team-in-grand-am-rol/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/alex-roy-retires-from-rallying-campaigning-team-in-grand-am-rol/#commentsFiled under:

In a move that's sure to surprise almost no one, Alex Roy - head of Team Polizei, multi-rally champion, author of The Driver and the man responsible for crossing the continent in 31:04 - has officially retired from road rallies. Roy, who hasn't participated in one of the ego-fueled events since his record-setting run, has tried to raise awareness about the inherently unsafe nature of the "sport" over the last few years, Now, he's taking the next step to prove that the time, effort and capital necessary to participate in the world of rallying would be put to better use on the track.

Roy plans to race and campaign a team in the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, along with veteran Ferrari Challenge driver Henri Richard and Rene Villenueve as driver/team captain. Team Polizei is partnering with TRG, the 2008 Grand Am winners, to run at Laguna Seca on May 17, all the way through to the series' finale at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

In addition to bringing professional drivers and the street/tuner/rally world together, Roy is working on a new interactive track-side model that will combine live, streaming, high-definition video from the team's Porsche 911 race car, GPS/GPX tracking and a crew of volunteers/fans to work on video editing, web-content delivery and mapping to the masses.

Naturally, Team Polizei plans to be competitive, but Alex admits that they're in it to do more than win - the team wants to revolutionize the way motorsports coverage is delivered. Plan on reports from the pits at Laguna Seca for the team's first outing, followed by more from Watkins Glen on June 6.

Alex Roy retires from rallying, campaigning team in Grand Am Rolex series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexalex royAlexRoygrand amgrand-amgrand-am rolex sports car seriesGrand-amRolexSportsCarSeriesGrandAmhenri richardHenriRichardlaguna secaLagunaSecarene villenueveReneVillenueveroyteam polizeiTeamPolizeithe driverTheDriverThu, 16 Apr 2009 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[They've arrived! Alex Roy, Damon and crew about to cross Bay Bridge]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/theyve-arrived-alex-roy-damon-and-crew-about-to-cross-bay-bri/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/theyve-arrived-alex-roy-damon-and-crew-about-to-cross-bay-bri/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/14/theyve-arrived-alex-roy-damon-and-crew-about-to-cross-bay-bri/#comments
Click above to view the crew crossing the Bay Bridge live

Damon, Alex Roy, Davey G. Johnson and Liz Moses (they picked her up in Wyoming) are about to cross the San Francisco Bay Bridge that will officially mark the end of their 80 in 40 trip. Unfortunately, they didn't exactly travel the length of I-80 in 40 hours. It was more like 46 hours thanks to Liz's incoming flight into Wyoming being delayed. But nevertheless, they've safely traversed the lower 48 and you can watch them cross the Bay Bridge live by going to Roy's blog at gumball144.com. Oh, and we'd suggest you turn your volume down if you're at work.

They've arrived! Alex Roy, Damon and crew about to cross Bay Bridge originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>80 in 4080In40alex royAlexRoybay bridgeBayBridgeThu, 14 Aug 2008 12:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Alex Roy reviews his dream car: the Audi R8 Blackbird]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/alex-roy-reviews-his-dream-car-the-audi-r8-blackbird/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/alex-roy-reviews-his-dream-car-the-audi-r8-blackbird/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/alex-roy-reviews-his-dream-car-the-audi-r8-blackbird/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click above to view video after the jump

Alex Roy, currently locked in an M5 with our own Damon Lavric, recently got a video tour of a rather nifty Audi R8 owned by someone who insists he remain nameless. Codenamed Blackbird, the coupe is stuffed with enough gadgets to be a testbed for NASA's shuttle replacement, but don't for a second think the interior resembles a jungle of wires, screens and antennae: all the electronic gear is seamlessly integrated in a most impressive way. A sample of the wares in the blacked out supercar with the gunmetal gray blade include four GPS units, two radar detectors, police scanner, CB radio, kill switch for all rear lights, high-speed broadband Internet with Wi-Fi running on a tablet PC, power ports, takedown lights, a remote-controlled exhaust bypass valve, and -- get this -- a liquid-cooled infrasonic wave pulse generator. Apparently, you don't want to stand by that last item if you wish to have children. Follow the jump for the whole story in moving pictures. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Alex Roy reviews his dream car: the Audi R8 Blackbird

Alex Roy reviews his dream car: the Audi R8 Blackbird originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex royAlexRoyaudiaudi r8audi r8 blackbirdAudiR8AudiR8Blackbirdblackbirdgadgetsr8 tunerr8 tuningR8TunerR8TuningtuningvideoWed, 13 Aug 2008 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[80 in 40: The Modern American Road Trip]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/80-in-40-the-modern-american-road-trip/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/80-in-40-the-modern-american-road-trip/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/80-in-40-the-modern-american-road-trip/#commentsFiled under:



I'm writing this from the passenger seat of Alex Roy's 2000 BMW M5 after my four-hour stint behind the wheel. Despite the 5er's luxurious confines, I'm contorted into the front seat, shoehorned between four sat-navs, two night-vision screens and one streaming video camera beaming it to you live. When Roy called last Thursday to offer up one of two co-pilot slots on a cross-country jaunt from New York to Monterey, he didn't have to lay it on thick to get me on a plane to NYC. There are very few people I'd consider joining on such a journey, and Alex is on the top of that list -- his M5 seals the deal.

Continue reading 80 in 40: The Modern American Road Trip

80 in 40: The Modern American Road Trip originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>80 in 4080In40alex royAlexRoydavey g. johnsonDaveyG.JohnsonmontereyWed, 13 Aug 2008 00:41:00 EST<![CDATA[LIVE: Autoblogger doing I-80 in 40 hours with Alex Roy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/live-autoblogger-doing-80-in-40-with-alex-roy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/live-autoblogger-doing-80-in-40-with-alex-roy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/live-autoblogger-doing-80-in-40-with-alex-roy/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above to watch the 80 in 40 streaming live

When Damon asked if he could take two days off from blogging to do a cross-country road trip with his buddies, I wanted to break the news to him gently that it takes more than two days to drive across the U.S. of A. Then he told me his buddies were Davey G. Johnson and Alex Roy, the current record holder for doing a transcontinental run in 30 hours and 4 minutes, and that their transportation would be Roy's own BMW M5 "Team Polizei" car. Their plan is to travel the entire length of Interstate 80 from the George Washington Bridge in NYC to the Bay Bridge in San Francisco and then own down to Monterey for this weekend's events surrounding the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The pace will be a little slower than Roy's record run, with 40 hours being the target time from start to finish.

Of course, I released Damon from his blogging bonds and wished him well in his duties as co-driver. The trio began their trip this morning and are streaming a live feed of their journey on Roy's blog, Gumball144.com, as we speak. I just watched them pass a Doritos truck in Pennsylvania. (Be aware that the feed will go dark sometimes as their EVDO card hits an area without reception, and keep your volume down as they like to drive with the windows open.) Damon will be reporting on his experience over the next two days, so keep an eye out to learn what it's like to road trip with professionals.

UPDATE 1: Just to clarify, they are not racing across the country and don't care much if they miss arriving in California within 40 hours. They have also not been pulled over or "busted" as some commenters believe.
UPDATE 2: Damon's behind the wheel!

[Source: Gumball144.com]

LIVE: Autoblogger doing I-80 in 40 hours with Alex Roy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>80 in 4080In40alex royAlexRoydamon lavrincDamonLavrincdavey g. johnsondavey johnsonDaveyG.JohnsonDaveyJohnsonTue, 12 Aug 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear hosts developing live arena show for U.S.?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/12/top-gear-hosts-developing-live-show-for-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/12/top-gear-hosts-developing-live-show-for-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/12/top-gear-hosts-developing-live-show-for-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,



You may remember Alex Roy from his book, The Driver, about his team's record-breaking run across the U.S. in a BMW M5, but he's also a deep automotive insider that gets information from a number of cloaked sources who wear dark sunglasses and pass manilla envelopes under the yellow lights of parking garages. He's got some new information about Top Gear's plans for the U.S., and what's interesting is that it doesn't involve the TV show. It seems that TG hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond may be developing a touring car show for the U.S. called Top Gear Live. If you're thinking it will be like the famous MPH car shows they do in the UK, you're wrong, so so wrong. According to a document Roy has seen, Top Gear Live will be Circue-Du-Soleil meets Stomp... with cars. We're thinking a stage, lots of ramps, people playing instruments made out of car parts, dancers, etc. So let's recap... the three greatest automotive TV personalities of all time want to do a live, traveling road show in the U.S. that marries theatrical production qualities with their famous brand of car humor and mechanical destruction. Of course, we can't say for certain that any of this is true, but Roy's sources tend to reliable. We're not exactly sure if we want them to be reliable this time, though. Can't we just get new episodes of the original Top Gear here in the U.S. in a timely manner? Is that too much to ask? Click the source below to visit Roy's site where he explains what he knows in his own words.

[Source: Gumball114.com, Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty]

Top Gear hosts developing live arena show for U.S.? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex royAlexRoybreakingjames mayjames maysJamesMayJamesMaysjeremy clarksonJeremyClarksonrichard hammondRichardHammondtop geartop gear liveTopGearTopGearLiveThu, 12 Jun 2008 15:02:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Alex Roy on the Late Show with Letterman]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/video-alex-roy-on-the-late-show-with-letterman/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/video-alex-roy-on-the-late-show-with-letterman/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/video-alex-roy-on-the-late-show-with-letterman/#commentsFiled under:



You may remember Alex Roy as a member of Team Polizei, which drove a BMW M3 across the continental U.S. in the unofficial record time of 31 hours and 4 minutes in late 2006. The record is unofficial because maintaining an average speed of over 90 MPH for a day and a half isn't exactly... legal. You can read about the monumental effort required of Roy and his team in his book The Driver, or you could watch the video after the jump of Roy's appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman last Tuesday. Having met Roy, the amazing thing about him is that he's fully aware of how dangerous and crazy his endeavor was, and on some level agrees with those who take offense with what he did. It's a disarming quality that makes him easy to talk to even if you're one those who disagree with his need for speed. That comes through in his interview with David Letterman, who belabors the illegality of Roy's record run a bit too vociferously in our opinion. Roy takes it like a champ and we think, by the end, wins Dave over. And once you've got Dave, you've got Paul, too. Check out the video after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Chris!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Alex Roy on the Late Show with Letterman

VIDEO: Alex Roy on the Late Show with Letterman originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex royalex roy interviewAlexRoyAlexRoyInterviewdavid lettermanDavidLettermanthe late showTheLateShowFri, 11 Jan 2008 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[The Driver: U.S. Transcontinental rally record broken, details, debate and more]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/the-driver-u-s-transcontinental-rally-record-broken-details/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/the-driver-u-s-transcontinental-rally-record-broken-details/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/the-driver-u-s-transcontinental-rally-record-broken-details/#commentsFiled under:


Click the shot above for over 80 pics, scans and images.

If you were scouring the interwebs yesterday, you might have come across a story about Team Polizei's record-breaking transcontinental run from New York to L.A. Our friends over at Jalopnik were present at the start and finish lines, with Spinelli seeing Alex Roy and Dave Maher off from the Classic Car Club in NYC, and Davey G. present at the Santa Monica pier when the team arrived 31 hours and four minutes later - substantially undercutting the previously record of 32:07. A Wired article went live late yesterday detailing the players, the tech and the run itself, and yours truly has been in contact with Mr. Roy as he's planned for the ensuing media blitz.

While the ethical implications of maintaining an average speed of over 90 mph over a day-and-a-half can (and will) be endlessly debated, we're here to cover, not condone. After we signed a non-disclosure agreement, we were afforded the opportunity to read Roy's book and were provided with all the meticulously maintained details of the team's high-speed excursion westward. If you're interested in the background, the story and the man behind the madness, follow the jump. If you're patently disgusted with the idea, feel free to move on to the rest of the industry news you've come to expect.

Gallery: The Driver: Alex Roy's Transcontinental Rally Record

Continue reading The Driver: U.S. Transcontinental rally record broken, details, debate and more

The Driver: U.S. Transcontinental rally record broken, details, debate and more originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>32 hours and 7 minutes32HoursAnd7Minutesalex royAlexRoycory wellesCoryWellesdave maherDaveMaherfeaturedteam polizeiTeamPolizeitranscontinental rallyTranscontinentalRallyTue, 16 Oct 2007 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Fear the man: British cops channel their inner Makinen with EVO cruisers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/19/fear-the-man-british-cops-channel-their-inner-makinen/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/19/fear-the-man-british-cops-channel-their-inner-makinen/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/19/fear-the-man-british-cops-channel-their-inner-makinen/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A recent conversation with a colleague, whose previous stint as a traffic officer in the UK equipped him to become one of the preeminent driving instructors in the U.S., prompted a discussion of law enforcement exercises. Apparently in the U.K., it's not uncommon to see an unmarked Volvo, with neither a siren blaring nor lights flashing, traveling upwards of 140 MPH down the M1. Only a sticker on the rear proclaims the vehicle's purpose: "Police Training."

As if that wasn't disconcerting enough (albeit incredibly cool), our new friend Alex of Team Polizei fame was fortunate enough to have a reader send in shots of one of two Mitsubishi Evolution 8s currently used by the UK ANPR police. His story is accessible by clicking the "Read" link below, but according to Mr. Ed these two Evos won't be the only AWD rally rides carrying the boys in blue - they'll be getting two new Subaru WRXs, complete in yellow and blue livery within the next couple of months; all paid for by traffic offenders. Drive right and read on.

[Source: Gumball144]

Fear the man: British cops channel their inner Makinen with EVO cruisers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8alex royAlexRoyevoevo 8evo VIIIEvo8evolutionEvoViiimitsubishipolicesubaruteam polizeiTeamPolizeiwrxThu, 19 Jul 2007 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[The saga continues: Gumballer Nick Morley guilty, but may be released]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/08/the-saga-continues-gumballer-nick-morley-guilty-but-may-be-rel/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/08/the-saga-continues-gumballer-nick-morley-guilty-but-may-be-rel/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/08/the-saga-continues-gumballer-nick-morley-guilty-but-may-be-rel/#commentsFiled under:

Earlier today, we got word from Team Polizei founder Alex Roy that a court in Macedonia found Nick Morely responsible for the deaths of the Cepuljoskis, which resulted after his Porsche Turbo struck the couple during the 2007 Gumball Rally. At this point, however, the court has decided to release Morely on a suspended sentence.

The Team Polizei site has compiled a number of sources, including a timeline of the events, and Mr. Roy has taken the time to voice his own opinions and conjecture. Roy is justifiably skeptical about whether or not the Macedonian court will actually let Morely walk, considering how convoluted the process has been thus far.

Time will tell whether or not the tragic events of the past month will dampen the enthusiasm of rally participants, but we already know that rally organizers are in the process of planning their next event for 2008.

[Source: gumball144.com]

The saga continues: Gumballer Nick Morley guilty, but may be released originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex royAlexRoygumballgumball 3000gumball rallyGumball3000GumballRallyteam polizeiTeamPolizeiFri, 08 Jun 2007 17:58:00 EST