Autoblog

Meet Dick Eytchison and his '65 Chevelle autocrosser

Zach Bowman — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Classics, Sedan, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

There are few things we love more than seeing well-sorted classic cars being put to task. It seems we're in good company on that front. Dick Eytchison shares our belief that, "you just don't appreciate them unless you get out there and drive them."

Over the years, Dick has whipped his 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle sedan into an autocross terror. With a breathed-on 383 crate V8 spitting out around 400 horsepower, the Chevelle has no deficit of grunt. Of course, getting a mid-sixties muscle bruiser to sprint in a straight line has never been an issue; it's getting the machine to go right and left that's the challenge.

The 68-year-old weekend racer ditched the factory rear end for a stout Ford nine-inch with a Truetrac limited slip, and a set of Baer brakes on all four corners bring the machine down from speed. Up front, 13-inch rotors get pressed by four-piston calipers, while the back axle makes due with a couple of 12-inch discs.

A full suite of Hotchkis goodies, including A-arms, sway bars and spindles, help keep the machine planted, as do Bilstein shocks on all four corners. The finished product looks right at home dodging cones. We dig it. Check it out in the video below.

Continue reading Meet Dick Eytchison and his '65 Chevelle autocrosser

Meet Dick Eytchison and his '65 Chevelle autocrosser originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Who makes the best night-vision system? Car and Driver weighs in

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Luxury

Car and Driver Tested continues with an episode comparing the night vision systems from the Big Three German luxury makers. While the testing involves a remote-controlled turkey and a deer crossbred with a construction cone, the most interesting thing the guys from C/D do is to cover the windshields of the cars to try and drive through an autocross course relying on technology alone. Hence the conversation through the sunroofs you see pictured above.

And the results? While we wouldn't call it an epic fail, it is an entertaining one. Night vision is one of the bells and whistles that's probably not destined to trickle down from the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz CL-Class anytime soon, but like most luxury features it's an impressive display of engineering.

Scroll down to watch the full episode.

Continue reading Who makes the best night-vision system? Car and Driver weighs in

Who makes the best night-vision system? Car and Driver weighs in originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Watch GM engineer's Cadillac CTS-V wagon blow its airbag during autocross run

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Luxury

So many things can go wrong before a wedding that a entire movie and reality television genres have been created because of it. An unintentionally exploding side-curtain airbag is probably low on the list, put that's the unlikely snafu that caught out driver Brad Doerr.

Doerr was, though, doing an unlikely thing just a couple hours in advance of his wedding: autocrossing his Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. Doerr was also an unlikely victim: he's a General Motors engineer, who, with his now wife, was crossing the country in the Cadillac with the Hot Rod Power Tour. The inadvertent deployment happened at the end of the run when Doerr said he was doing about ~~1.9 G~~ 0.92 G, but having not suffered an accident, he still has no idea why it happened. The deployment even triggered an OnStar emergency call. We're guessing it has something to do with the stability control

A local dealer loaned the now-married Doerrs a Chevrolet Impala to continue their trip. He'll probably think twice before autocrossing it. Scroll down to check out the video.

Continue reading Watch GM engineer's Cadillac CTS-V wagon blow its airbag during autocross run

Watch GM engineer's Cadillac CTS-V wagon blow its airbag during autocross run originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chevrolet Corvette redefines curb rash during autocross

Zach Bowman — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:46:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet

Autocross critics are quick to tell you that the pastime is a good way to learn bad habits behind the wheel. We say that, while it may be true, caning a vehicle around a parking lot while dodging a few cones is a good way to have a lot of fun behind the wheel in a fairly low-risk environment. Most autocross courses are designed to keep the speed down and the technicality up, which keeps both drivers and their vehicles safe from any real damage. Or at least, that's how its supposed to work.

A driver behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette recently found out just what can go wrong when there isn't enough runoff around a cone slalom at a Speed Ventures autocross. According to YouTube, the driver had just returned from a break, meaning that both the track and the vehicle's tires were cold as he came into the esses. The vehicle's rear breaks lose in a slow, drawn out slide that culminates with the entire passenger side of the vehicle getting cozy with a nearby curb. It's gut-wrenching at best. Hit the jump to check out the carnage for yourself.

Continue reading Chevrolet Corvette redefines curb rash during autocross

Chevrolet Corvette redefines curb rash during autocross originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cool dad introduces son to autocross in Corvette Z06

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet

Father-son bonding is important, and if dad's a car guy, he may choose to hit local autocross track on some weekends. It's hard to think of a more fun place for a kid and his pop to spend a little quality time together. Clearly, the owner of this Chevrolet Corvette Z06 agrees. He's sharing his passion for cars with junior by popping a helmet on his noggin, strapping him into the passenger seat, and hitting the course.

When this little guy grows up and does likewise with his own kids, he'll always remember when and where that seed was planted. Click past the jump to watch the family fun unfold.

Continue reading Cool dad introduces son to autocross in Corvette Z06

Cool dad introduces son to autocross in Corvette Z06 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog attends 23rd annual Nissan Z Car Convention

Zach Bowman — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Nissan

23rd Nissan Z Car Convention - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Nissan North America headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee played host to the 23rd Annual Z Car Convention this past weekend. While we missed out on Friday's autocross and drift challenge action, we were on hand Saturday morning for the car show. Owners from around the country rolled out their pieces of Z history, from the 240Z to the 370Z. Nissan itself pulled a few heritage models out of the mothballs and parked them on the lawn for all to enjoy. Talk about tasty.

There were even a handful of vintage machines with nary a Z or Fairlady badge in their bloodline on display as well. We were particularly smitten with the blue Patrol poised to go where no 240Z had gone before. Likewise, there were a bevy of cars from the Z's racing history nestled at the foot of the Nissan tower. No matter how hard we begged, the Nissan crew wouldn't let play with the East African Safari 240Z in the open fields around the headquarters, but they did trot out the refreshed 2011 Rogue crossover, and more to the point, they were kind enough to let us have a peek under the fiberglass of Paul Newman's Bob Sharp prepared 1981 Datsun ZX Turbo. That'll do.

Gallery: 23rd Annual Z Car Convention

Autoblog attends 23rd annual Nissan Z Car Convention originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Porsche's 911 GT3 RS is so easy a 10-year old kid can drive it

Zach Bowman — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Videos, Porsche

10 year-old Stepi Wörle hoons a Porsche 911 GT3 RS - Click above to watch video after the jump

Germany must be a magical place. Typically, if we were to tell you about a story that involved a 10 year-old boy, his 14 year-old brother and their father's Porsches, it would end with some totaled sheetmetal at best. But that's not the case in Der Vaterland. Instead, we give you the heartwarming tale of the Wörle family. Mr. Wörle owns a prominent Porsche dealership, and as such, his sons Steppi and Schorschi lend a hand around the family business. How does the guy reward them? By letting them compete at local auto club events with two 911 GT3 RS testers.

If you've never been jealous of a ten year-old, we highly suggest hopping the jump to see the full 11-minute video for yourself. The sight of the Steppi flinging that green monster through the cones is enough to make any Zen master start coveting the kid's lot in life. Even more surprising, despite the apparent silver spoon, Schorschi even manages to do fairly well at the event.

Remember when 911s were known as widowmakers? We've come a long way, baby.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

[Source: YouTube via Inside Line]

Continue reading Video: Porsche's 911 GT3 RS is so easy a 10-year old kid can drive it

Video: Porsche's 911 GT3 RS is so easy a 10-year old kid can drive it originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Corvette ZR1 goes autocrossing

Chris Shunk — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet

Click above to view video after the jump

The Corvette ZR1 is the fastest, most ridiculously cool production Corvette ever produced. After taking the ZR1 for several hot laps of the Lutzring in Milford, we'd go as far as to say it's one of the fastest vehicles we've ever driven. Journalists aren't the only ones who have driven the ZR1 either, as a select few General Motors employees get to drive the 638-hp supercar as their daily driver. One GM worker by the name of Karen took the ZR1 to an autocross event in Ohio and put the supercharged LS9 Corvette through the cone gauntlet. Hit the jump to see and hear the ZR1 zip through the course. Unfortunately, the camera operator didn't zoom in on the Vette or follow it very well, but it's worth your :58 to watch if only to listen to the ZR1 come off the line. Thanks for the tip, Mark!

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Corvette ZR1

[Source: VetteTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Corvette ZR1 goes autocrossing

VIDEO: Corvette ZR1 goes autocrossing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

From the Awesome Files: V6 Miata auto-x weapon

Alex Nunez — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Videos, Mazda

Follow the jump for a video of the owner discussing and driving the car

You don't need to spend much time with a Miata to "get" why so many drivers are attracted to them. Perfectly executed and relentlessly entertaining, it's no surprise that Mazda's little roadster is the track-day weapon of choice for a number of people. While countless 4-banger Miatas do their thing on the autocross circuit, one Mark Snell was interested in kicking things up a level so he could run with the big boys in their 'Vettes and similar machinery. His solution? Drop a Mazda 2.5L V6 into his blue roadster's engine bay, then modify and tune it to the point where it's pushing 180 horsepower to the rear wheels. The view underhood is plenty cool -- we especially dig those Suzuki GSX-R1000 throttle bodies he's added. The Miata sounds pretty mean, too. Follow the jump for a video in which Snell gives a tour of his car and discusses the modifications he's made before taking viewers for a quick spin. We believe that this is what fun looks like. Thanks for the tip, Ryan!

[Source: Driving Sports]

Continue reading From the Awesome Files: V6 Miata auto-x weapon

From the Awesome Files: V6 Miata auto-x weapon originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 May 2008 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2008 GReddy Garage Sale and Performance Festival

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, First Drives

***UPDATE: Video link added***

Click image above for high-res gallery of festival pics

When a friend mentioned that he was heading out to El Toro Marine Base for a day of tuner fun courtesy of GReddy, we decided to tag along and check it out for ourselves. The 2008 GReddy Garage Sale and Performance Festival ended up being a pretty fun event, one of countless such organized automotive activities going on around the country on any given weekend. Seeing as how this particular day of fun was sponsored by GReddy, we were eager to see if we could spot our beloved Five Axis Yaris Club, which featured several GReddy goodies, but alas, it was nowhere to be found. We did see a bunch of GReddy-tuned goodness though, including a couple of Z-cars like the one above that were sporting that trick new VQ35HR twin-turbo system we spotlighted at SEMA last year. If you look closely at our gallery, you'll also spot a different Yaris that tackled the autocross with aplomb. Well, maybe that's a stretch. It certainly leaned a lot less than we expected through the cones.

Check out the gallery to see for yourself. While you're there you'll also see examples of cars participating in other activities, like the Drift 101 demo with a pair of tire-melting Silvias, the Groovy Drift RC demo that rivaled the action on the full-scale tracks, and the huge car club meet with dozens of S2000s, Z-cars, Civic Sis, Evos, STis, RXes, and the like snaking down the old runways for what felt like miles. Besides those sign-then-drive activities there were vendors, a huge free raffle and a big garage sale of GReddy parts with on-site installations and tuning available. Very cool. Best of all, the event was free to all. Without further ado, here are the pics.

***Follow this link for video from the GReddy event by Duane Steiner over at SpeedAndMotion.com.***

Gallery: 2008 GReddy Garage Sale and Performance Festival

2008 GReddy Garage Sale and Performance Festival originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

First Drive, Pt. II: Saleen S331 Track Day

Frank Filipponio — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Truck, Supercars, Ford, First Drives

Click above for gallery of high-res images by Drew Phillips and the author

Day 1 of our first encounter with the Saleen S331 Sport Truck had us exploring the versatility of the truck. We started off by using the vehicle as a swanky ride through the heart of ultra-rich Orange County. A cruise down PCH gave us a chance to sample the ride and power, and to gauge public interest at the extremes of demographic segments. We got just as many thumbs up from the Lexus and Benz set as we did from the pickup and motorcycle crowd. We even had a chance to see how well the truck performed as, well, a truck. With payload that represented what Saleen sees as its target market's toys, we convoyed over to Newport Harbor with a selection of bikes and watercraft that culminated with a 30-ft powerboat. It's definitely a civilized and capable truck, but we wanted to better sample the "Sport" part. And that's what Day 2 was all about.

We met up at the shuttered El Toro Marine Base, which still has its two long airstrips reasonably intact and available for testing. With just about every model from Saleen's current lineup on hand, we were given a pretty compelling reminder that Saleen and performance go hand-in-hand. On one side we had the fleet of S331 Sport Trucks, on the other a row of Mustangs that ran from the Parnelli Jones, to the S281 SC, to the Extreme. At the head of the class sat a silver S7 under the company's new "School of Speed" banner. There is some talk that this will become a traveling show that will allow owners to better understand their vehicle's limits. We also found out a few other things about the truck and the company over the next few hours, most importantly, how the S331 stacks up against Ford's current sportiest truck, the F-150 FX2 Sport that was on hand for comparison purposes.

Follow the jump to find out how the truck (and the author) did in the autocross.

Gallery: Saleen S331 Sport Truck Track Day

Continue reading First Drive, Pt. II: Saleen S331 Track Day

First Drive, Pt. II: Saleen S331 Track Day originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RR of the Day - Supercharged Volvo 1800E

Dan Roth — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 08:54:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Volvo, RR of the Day

Volvo 1800s are widely acknowledged as nice tourers, but not really sports cars in the peformance sense. Oh, they went okay, especially the later E models with fuel injection, it's just that they looked so much faster than they really were. They were built like brick outhouses, though. Tough little cars with a pretty shape. Flickr member autox1800 has forged his own path looking for a zippier 1800E.

More info and pictures after the jump

Continue reading RR of the Day - Supercharged Volvo 1800E

RR of the Day - Supercharged Volvo 1800E originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Ferrari F 50 autocrosser misses apex, hits corner worker

Scott Davis — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Supercars, Ferrari

If this doesn't define the phrase "money can't buy brains," then nothing does. It shows what we hope to be the vehicle's owner attempting to autocross a Ferrari F 50 in the wet. Fortunately for us, everything is caught on tape from both inside the car and out. Unfortunately, the only thing that this guy manages to hit is a corner worker, who he nearly runs over and then lands on top of after his hands-on lesson in understeer.

[Source: Winding Road]

VIDEO: Ferrari F 50 autocrosser misses apex, hits corner worker originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

RR of the Day: 2001 Honda S2000

Alex Nunez — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Honda, RR of the Day

Of his yellow 2001 Honda S2000, Flickr user solo2photo sums things up pretty succintly when he writes, "it comes from the factory already able to be pretty competitive." Since Honda was thoughtful enough to deliver such a capable vehicle to the masses, solo2photo hasn't had to go too crazy with the mods. He runs the car in the A Stock (AS) class and is limited in terms of the changes he's allowed to make, anyway.

The modifications to the Honda include some basic things you expect to see, such as an Invidia exhaust upgrade, a K&N filter, Koni adjustable shocks, and an adjustable front sway bar by Saner. He also has no fewer than 5 sets of wheels, each sporting different rubber. (Talk about being prepared...)

Other niceties include a quick-release wiring system that lets him easily remove his 80+ lbs of stereo equipment in a few minutes (there's that whole being prepared thing again), a Modifry coolant temp driver, Modifry redline shift beeper, and an in-car video system (which produced the two clips we've got posted after the jump). The external appearance is tastefully dressed up with an OEM lip spoiler, side strakes, and decklid spoiler. Since the car's a daily driver, solo2photo has added several convenience and stereo mods, all of which are listed after the jump.

Solo2Photo says that he's done well with the car in local events, and is looking to broaden his horizons by running it at the divisional and possibly the national level. We wish him good luck and admire his nicely-sorted machine, which is today's Reader Ride of the Day.

Make sure you check out the additional photos, a pair of videos of the car in action, and full modification list after the jump!

NEXT WEEK'S THEME: Cars of the '80s!
Break out the leg warmers and your old Atari 2600, because we're going back to the '80s for our next RR of the Day theme. All next week we want to feature glorious cars from the decade that brought us the rise of Kevin Bacon as an actor and synthesized music as an art form. If you have a vehicle that originates from the 1980s, submit it to our Autoblog Flickr Pool to be considered for a RR of the Day feature. Man, it's gonna be a rad week.

Continue reading RR of the Day: 2001 Honda S2000

RR of the Day: 2001 Honda S2000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RR of the Day: Three-wheelin' like only a Miata should

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:05:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Mazda, RR of the Day

We couldn't find a better way to kick off our autocross-themed RR of the Week than showcasing one of the most potent cone-assassins available, the Mazda Miata. Certainly, the two killer photos of Alex Renner's Miata in action made for eye-candy of the highest order, but as soon as we saw the intercooler peering within the Mazda's maw, we knew this had to be Monday's submission.

Alex's '95 Miata is located in Chile and has been perpetually under the wrench since it was purchased in 2002. The aforementioned intercooler provides a steady supply of cool air to the blown 1.8-liter four, as pumped by a Mitsubishi TD04-13T turbo. Naturally, all that additional oxygen needs the appropriate amount of fuel, so Alex enlisted the aid of a Walbro 255 LPH fuel pump that sends the explosive stuff through a JimB fuel rail and feeds 330cc injectors. An Apexi SAFC2 and a Greddy PfofecB boost controller, coupled to a Vortech FPR, handle the computing duties and the whole process has been wideband tuned to create a reliable 12:1 air-to-fuel ratio. Spent air and fuel is sent through a BEGI cast exhaust manifold and out of a custom 2.5-inch turboback exhaust.

According to Alex, the Miata puts 210 HP down to the wheels at 6,500 RPM and 212 ft.-lbs. of twist at 4,500 RPM. On the handling side of things, Mr. Renner went with Tein coilovers that lower the drop-top over a set of 15x7 Rota Slipstreams, wrapped in Pirelli Pzero C tires. Behind the front rolling stock is a set of Wilwood calipers, providing pressure to 11-inch discs via four pistons. The inside gets more race duty details including a HardDog rollbar, Momo seats and steering wheel, and a video camera mount so Alex can relive his weekend excursions (we're waiting for a YouTube link Mr. Renner).

A modded Miata driven in anger is exactly the kind of vehicle (and driver) we're looking for this week, so follow along after the jump to see some of Alex's opposite lock action and get directions on how to submit your own RR of the Day.

NEXT WEEK'S THEME: Cars of the '80s!
Break out the leg warmers and your old Atari 2600, because we're going back to the '80s for our next RR of the Day theme. All next week we want to feature glorious cars from the decade that brought us the rise of Kevin Bacon as an actor and synthesized music as an art form. If you have a vehicle that originates from the 1980s, submit it to our Autoblog Flickr Pool to be considered for a RR of the Day feature. Man, it's gonna be a rad week.

Continue reading RR of the Day: Three-wheelin' like only a Miata should

RR of the Day: Three-wheelin' like only a Miata should originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Wheel falls off race car and returns to its home

Erin Mays — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

In the "Easily Amused" category for today is this video of an unfortunate racer who loses an all-important component -- a tire (or tyre, if you're so inclined to use the British spelling). The wayward appendage put on quite a show for the cameras, bouncing without interrupting the rest of the race and then lands in just about the funniest place possible -- play the video to check it out.

VIDEO: Wheel falls off race car and returns to its home originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dunlop Driver's Cup: Qualifying begins

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Once a year, drivers gather in a central location to test their skills in a myriad of motorized conveyances. The Dunlop Drivers Cup isn't just a day or two of on-track driving. Nor is it limited to four-wheeled vehicles. It's a five day long event that encompasses autocross, road racing, off-road driving, motocross and an ATV trek.

Drivers are selected for both their behind the wheel/handlebar skills, but also their physical prowess and the qualifying begins this September 11th. The winner of the stateside event will then move on to the Dunlop Drivers Cup World Finals sometime in 2007, where they'll compete in events across six different continents, with the final event being held in Africa.

A profile of some of the finalists can be found here, here and here, which are all definitely worth the read, especially for anyone considering entering in the 2007 event. We wish them all the best of luck on their upcoming journey and hope that Team USA trounces whomever they come up against abroad.

More information about the Cup and registration for next year's event can be found at Dunlop's website.

Click on through for some photos from last years event.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Continue reading Dunlop Driver's Cup: Qualifying begins

Dunlop Driver's Cup: Qualifying begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mazda's Zoom-Zoom Live Tour clips cones nationwide

Stuart Waterman — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Mazda

Mazda North America struck fear into the hearts of traffic cones across the U.S. this week with the announcement of its 2006 Zoom-Zoom Live tour, which kicks off in Washington, D.C. August 12.

The tour will visit 10 different cities and offer nearly 50,000 drivers a shot at burning rubber in various Mazda vehicles. Each event features four driving courses where you can test your skills in Mazda's CX-7 crossover, the Mazdaspeed6, and the MX-5 and RX-8 sports cars.

Lots of prizes, food, fun, and best of all - it's free! More details and registration info at the Zoom-Zoom Live website.

[Source: Mazda]

Mazda's Zoom-Zoom Live Tour clips cones nationwide originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Maintenance 301: Transmission R&R, Part I

Eric Bryant — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Maintenance

Several of our readers have been requesting tech topics of a higher level of complexity, and so we went and broke a transmission just so we could show you how to fix it. OK, that's not quite how things went; the Tremec/BWA T56 six-speed manual in our '96 Impala SS started making some seriously bad noises during an autocross event last year, and we're finally getting around to doing something about it.

In the first part of this series, we're going to demonstrate the steps necessary to liberate the transmission from its confines. We'll then go through the disassembly process, at which point we'll be able to show the various parts that allow a modern manual transmission to function. Finally, we'll find and fix the problem, and get our car back on the road.

Continue reading Autoblog Maintenance 301: Transmission R&R, Part I

Autoblog Maintenance 301: Transmission R&R, Part I originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jul 2006 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rev It Up performance driving school returns to U.S. parking lots

Stuart Waterman — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:52:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet

It's summer, and Chevrolet wants you to take a shot at some traffic cones, autocross-style. The Chevy-sponsored Rev It Up program bills itself as the world's largest performance driving school and national racing competition, and if you're anywhere near the six U.S. cities on Rev It Up's 2006 tour, they promise you huge fun for a small price - and the chance to thrash someone else's car!

The program includes instruction from pro drivers, plenty of seat time, competition (with a new Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe for the overall national winner), wheel-to-wheel kart racing, Chevy SS car demo rides, and hot laps with a pro driver in a new Corvette Z06.

For around fifty bucks, it could be the best deal of the summer! Get full details and register online at revitupracing.com.

We're planning on having someone from Autoblog in attendance at one of the Rev It Up programs, so if you can't make it yourself we'll be sure to bring back plenty of pics.

[Source: Rev It Up Racing]

Rev It Up performance driving school returns to U.S. parking lots originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments