Autoblog

Watch spectators rush to save lives of rally drivers trapped in capsized Renault

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Renault, Racing

We don't need to tell you why rally racing - though awesome - is incredibly dangerous. As much as we love to watch turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Euro hatches being flung around on dirt, gravel, snow and tarmac, the fact that many of these races go through small towns and wooded trails leaves plenty of room for disaster.

Case in point: This Renault Clio racer went off course during the 2012 Mazowiecki Rally, leaving driver Patrick Osowiecki and navigator Maciej Wrona trapped upside-down in a lake. According to CarScoop, no race officials were near the scene of the accident, but some selfless spectators rushed in to attempt to free Osowiecki and Wrona from their racecar. Scroll down to watch the action unfold.

Continue reading Watch spectators rush to save lives of rally drivers trapped in capsized Renault

Watch spectators rush to save lives of rally drivers trapped in capsized Renault originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Axles Attack: Watch a Camaro drag car's rear axle snap

Zach Bowman — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:44:00 EST

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

On the surface, drag racing seems so simple. Apply right foot liberally, keep the vehicle pointed down track and wait for a quarter mile to pass. Unfortunately, the real world is rarely so black and white. Pesky details like applied horsepower, traction and the fallibility of materials results in all manner of challenges. Just ask the driver of the '68 Chevrolet Camaro in the video after the jump. Shortly after launch, the high-horsepower machine sheds its left axle. With a massive racing slick under full thrust, the resulting carnage is, well, impressive.

The video is a pleasant rarity in the drag racing universe. Not only are we afforded a look at the ensuing drama from inside the cockpit, but a solid look at just how quickly a situation can turn hairy from outside as well. Check it out for yourself.

Continue reading When Axles Attack: Watch a Camaro drag car's rear axle snap

When Axles Attack: Watch a Camaro drag car's rear axle snap originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A PSA from ATS: Don't run red lights

Zach Bowman — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

Abiding by traffic signals is perhaps the simplest rule of the road. Any preschooler can tell you what red light means, but that doesn't stop a staggering number of drivers from ignoring the lights altogether. ATS, a company responsible for manufacturing red light cameras, wants us to think a little harder about coming to a complete stop the next time we lose the right of way. The company says that more than 100,000 people are injured in collisions involving a driver who ignored a red light.

The video after the jump compiles a number of incidents in New Jersey involving inattentive or downright stupid drivers. Some of the clips feature near misses, while others involve scary collisions. Hit the jump to see for yourself, and remember to heed the traffic signal the next time you're behind the wheel.

Continue reading A PSA from ATS: Don't run red lights

A PSA from ATS: Don't run red lights originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazilian motorcycle stunt show doesn't go as planned

Zach Bowman — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle, South America

We have serious respect for the individuals employed in the world's various stunt shows. It takes hours of practice, meticulous choreography and massive amounts of skill to be able to manipulate vehicles in concert, and the specter of immediate death is waiting just off screen should you miss your cue. Take the stunt show at the Beto Carrero World theme park in Brazil, for example. The action centers on two dueling motorcyclists in a faux city center. After an impressive burnout display, the two riders were to pull a wheelie before narrowly threading between three compact hatchbacks.

That's what was supposed to happen. As you can tell from the screen capture above, that's not exactly how things went down. At the last minute, the motorcyclist in the black gear clipped one of the oncoming cars, went airborne and fell to the pavement. Miraculously enough, no one was seriously injured in the calamity, and our intrepid biker turned catapult victim showed up at work the next day. Hit the jump for the full video.

Continue reading Brazilian motorcycle stunt show doesn't go as planned

Brazilian motorcycle stunt show doesn't go as planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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Sand hill climb accident is the longest, most deliberate crash ever

Zach Bowman — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos, Middle East, Racing

If you've ever found yourself in a vehicle accident, chances are it felt like all of the crashing and banging lasted forever. The human mind has a nasty habit of prolonging the unpleasant even when actual events take just a few seconds. That's not the case with the crash in the video after the jump. A driver at the Tal Mireb sand hill climb in the United Arab Emirates lost control of his racer while near the top of the course and wound up slowly and painfully rolling his way back down the dunes one flip at a time.

Despite the racer's roll cage succumbing frighteningly to multiple, repeated impacts, the driver apparently managed to walk away from the disaster with nothing more than a bruised ego and a bashed hill climb vehicle. That's what we call very, very lucky. Hit the jump to check out the protracted and cringeworthy crash for yourself.

Continue reading Sand hill climb accident is the longest, most deliberate crash ever

Sand hill climb accident is the longest, most deliberate crash ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best description of a car accident ever?

Zach Bowman — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Humor

In the words of Rick James, adrenaline is one hell of a drug - just ask the unidentified motorist seen above. You see, a local news crew caught up with George Lindell shortly after a fairly spectacular traffic accident. As he tells it, a vehicle rear-ended his van, flipped onto its side and then slid into a power pole, knocking out an electrical transformer at the same time. As anyone who's seen a transformer go down can tell you, a light show ensued, complete with plenty of arcing electricity, a shocked finger and one stunned driver.

If it sounds dramatic when we tell it, you should hear the tale straight from the horse's mouth. Admittedly, we have no idea if this is a new video or not, nor if the motorist in question is intentionally trying to overdramatize things, but it's the first time we've laid eyes on the footage, so watch it along with us: Hit the jump to partake in the hilarity.

Continue reading Best description of a car accident ever?

Best description of a car accident ever? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heroic bystanders lift fiery BMW off trapped motorcyclist

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, BMW

Humans working together can do amazing things. An example of this was recently caught on video, when bystanders at the scene of fiery accident came together to save a life. In Logan, Utah, a 21-year-old motorcycle rider collided with a BMW. The resulting accident created a flame-filled scenario of danger, with the young biker lying trapped under the front of the heavy sedan.

A bystander noticed the injured man under the car, and others quickly arrived to try and help. The car was too heavy for the first few initial responders, but soon, more folks arrived to offer a helping hand. The collective strength of the group was enough to lift the BMW off the injured man, and another good samaritan quickly pulled him out from under the burning vehicle. Click past the jump to see the amazing rescue for yourself

Continue reading Heroic bystanders lift fiery BMW off trapped motorcyclist

Heroic bystanders lift fiery BMW off trapped motorcyclist originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netherlands' worst driver proves it in graphic video

Zach Bowman — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Videos

Worst driver in The Netherlands - Click above to watch video after the jump

We've seen some pretty bad ideas for reality TV shows come to fruition, but they all pale in comparison to De Allerslechtste chauffeur van Nederland? (Who Is The Worst Driver In The Netherlands?) - a concept that takes bad drivers and puts them behind the wheel in a series of contests.

Show organizers apparently got their answer when a contestant identified as Pim mistook the accelerator for the brake, veered off course, took his hands from the wheel, covered his eyes, struck a car and ran down both a camera man and the show's host. By some small miracle, no one was seriously injured in the episode, though host Ruben Nicolai spent some time in the hospital as a result of Pim's excursion.

Strangely enough, the show shoved two passengers into the car with Pim for his stunt. Neither of the two ladies were harmed in his off-course adventure despite the fact that he hit a staff car hard enough to shatter the windshield in his Volvo and blow the airbags. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Continue reading Netherlands' worst driver proves it in graphic video

Netherlands' worst driver proves it in graphic video originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda teammates collide on last lap of British Touring Car race

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Videos, Honda, UK, Racing

Honda teammates collide on last lap of BTCC race - Click above to watch the video after the break

Uh oh, looks like someone just got Red Bulled. Don't know what that means? Remember back to the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix, in which the Red Bull racer driven by Mark Webber was leading the race with his teammate, Sebastian Vettel, right behind in second. It appeared to everyone watching that the famous energy drink's team would earn the first two spots on the podium, but it was not to be.

Vettel dove to the inside in a daring and dangerous maneuver and collided into his teammate. Vettel's day was done, Webber managed to finish the race in third. Stupid.

So memorable was the incident that it's now become a verb. The latest set of teammates to pull a Red Bull? Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, who race matching Honda Civics in the British Touring Car Championship. On the last lap of the second race at Oulton Park on June 5th, Neal, who was in second place behind his 'mate, decided he deserved to take the win. His passing maneuver, though, ended in tears.

See for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading Honda teammates collide on last lap of British Touring Car race

Honda teammates collide on last lap of British Touring Car race originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mitsubishi Evo IX goes airborne at 2011 Targa Tasmania

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Mitsubishi, Australia

Kym Illman's Mitsubishi Evo misses a turn - Click above to watch video after the jump

Apparently, "left four and a half after crest" is code for 'hold on tight!'

Kym Illman and co-driver Kirrilee Gentleman were cruising along a late stage of the 2011 Targa Tasmania. Their Mitsubishi Evo IX was running well and Gentleman was shouting out the guidance so Illman could keep pushing. Apparently, however, the pair got mixed up on one crucial route point - a slow left immediately following a fast straight with a crest at the end.

As Gentleman tried to point out the rapidly approaching "left 4.5 after crest," Illman was trying to clarify what he heard. They didn't have time for that, however, because the car went light over the crest while traveling approximately 190 kilometers per hour (118 miles per hour). Again, left four and a half after crest!

"LEFT FOUR AND A HALF AFTER CREST!"

Brakes don't work too well in this particular situation, so the Evo flew right through the turn, and wound up in the Tasmanian countryside.

"Sorry."

Thankfully, neither driver or co-driver were hurt. The video cameras were rolling, providing footage from two angles. The first angle shows us Kym and Kirrilee's vantage point while the second reveals just how violently the jolt shock the co-driver. Illman was wearing a HANS device while Gentleman, sadly, was not. Click past the jump to see the clip.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Mitsubishi Evo IX goes airborne at 2011 Targa Tasmania

Video: Mitsubishi Evo IX goes airborne at 2011 Targa Tasmania originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Driver of shocking road debris accident interviewed by NBC's Today Show

Aaron Richardson — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Kia

Wendy Cobb NBC Today Show interview - Click above to watch video after the jump

The driver who very nearly filmed her own death has been interviewed by NBC's Today Show after video of her shocking road debris accident went viral. Wendy Cobb of Shelby, North Carolina was driving on April 1 when the accident happened.

Cobb says she was using her cameraphone to film two trucks who were holding up traffic so she could report the incident. As Cobb turned her phone toward the road in front of her, the truck and trailer in front of her kicked up a 2x4 lying in the road that shattered the windshield of her Kia Sedona minivan and very nearly impaled her. Luckily, Ms. Cobb's children weren't with her when the accident happened, or the results may have been far more tragic. According Cobb, the only injury she received was a tiny glass cut. Damage to her car was limited to the hood and windshield.

Cobb says she hasn't watched the video since the day of the accident, but has received plenty of emails from people who still think it was an April Fool's prank - check out the video after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Adam!

[Source: NBC]

Continue reading Video: Driver of shocking road debris accident interviewed by NBC's Today Show

Video: Driver of shocking road debris accident interviewed by NBC's Today Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Why you should never follow other cars too closely

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

Scary road debris accident - Click above to view video after the jump

Flying road debris is a scary enough prospect when you're paying attention to the road and not filming the truck driving along beside you with a cameraphone. While we don't think the driver could have reacted quickly enough to avoid the flying road debris at that distance if he weren't busy recording, we certainly don't advocate this sort of thing.

According to the video's description, everyone inside the car was miraculously okay, though their nerves were no doubt more than a little frayed. According to a study by the American Automobile Association, 25,000 accidents like this one happen every year, and around 100 of those are fatal. Yikers. Take a deep breath, then follow the jump.

[Source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Why you should never follow other cars too closely

Video: Why you should never follow other cars too closely originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Urine trouble now, Audi driver

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Audi, Humor

Something 'round yonder bend is waiting - Click above to watch video after the jump

When you gotta go, you gotta go. We're not talking about dying, we're talking about answering nature's clarion call. However, the individual seen in this video very nearly combined the two. While the side of a seemingly empty road might provide an ample spot for an emergency bathroom, you should be sure it is, in fact, empty. This one is not.

An Audi driver was on the road, apparently enjoying his German sedan con brio when he lost control. Did he succumb to oversteer because he spied a man relieving himself, or because of the camera man filming the his buddy? Perhaps he saw both - or perhaps he saw neither. In fact, perhaps the video isn't even real, but it certainly looks it. If it's the real deal, we wouldn't be at all surprised to learn than more than one person soiled themselves in the making of this video.

Hop the jump to view the clip and tell us what you think in Comments. Top tip, Marshall!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Urine trouble now, Audi driver

Video: Urine trouble now, Audi driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: European cars on ice in snowy slow-motion plow pileup

Noah Joseph — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Videos

European skating rink - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Cars keep getting more advanced all the time. Traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability management... all in an effort to combat the laws of physics in adverse situations. But there are some conditions where no matter what you have at your disposal - winter tires, all-wheel drive, even a snow plow - there's just no traction to be had. And then it gets ugly.

With record snow storms sweeping across Europe over the past couple of weeks, one camera-toting bystander, helpless to stop the icy car-carnage unfolding before him, filmed it for posterity, and set it to some comically serene music while he was at it. The footage after the jump is perfectly safe for the workplace, but the obscenities you'll likely to spurt out in disbelief while watching it might not be. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: European cars on ice in snowy slow-motion plow pileup

Video: European cars on ice in snowy slow-motion plow pileup originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Fórmula Truck - The bigger they race, the bigger they crash

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos, South America, Racing

When ~~worlds~~ Fórmula Trucks collide - Click above to watch video after the jump

Bruno Junqueira, veteran of both Formula One and IndyCar, is now racing in Brazil's spectacular Fórmula Truck series. Along with moving to a larger series comes larger accidents.

According to reports, Bruno lost his brakes just before a turn on the Interlagos circuit, causing him to run straight into a back of another competitor's truck, with the collision sending him airborne and into the other cab. The result was king-sized carnage and, thankfully - shockingly - only minor injuries for Junqueira and no injuries for Diumar Bueno, the racer whose truck was decabitated. Follow the jump for the stunning video footage.

[Sources: YouTube, ITN, Fórmula Truck]

Continue reading Video: Fórmula Truck - The bigger they race, the bigger they crash

Video: Fórmula Truck - The bigger they race, the bigger they crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 24 Hours of LeMons Ford Escort ZX2 flips out

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Ford

Rubbing is Racing - click above to watch the video

One of the common, angry refrains that veteran 24 Hours of LeMons teams voice is the fact that the $500 junker series keeps increasing the safety requirements, especially when it comes to roll cages. After all, their cage passed the tech inspection last time, no problem. Why the hassle, man?

It can be safely assumed however, that the driver of the Ford Escort ZX2 sees no problem with tighter, tougher (and yes, safer) LeMons roll cage requirements. First and foremost, the driver walked away from the wreck (it took place at last weekend's Gator-O-Rama 2010 race near Houston, TX) with zero injuries. Second of all, the following video is a very good lesson in why your wheels shouldn't stick out past your car's fenders. Sadly, the AMC Gremlin that the Escort climbed up isn't visible. However, you can see a little piece of its side wing airborne in the image above. Watch the video, after the jump. Thanks to DrWife for capturing the footage!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: 24 Hours of LeMons Ford Escort ZX2 flips out

Video: 24 Hours of LeMons Ford Escort ZX2 flips out originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: From the "Not What We Meant" file - this Porsche flies

Dan Roth — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Videos, Porsche

Kelvin Burns was racing along in his Porsche, tearing up the track in Thruxton, England when the car got out of shape and performed a Triple Lindy over the fence and off the track. 0-60 Magazine has video highlights culled from the broadcast of the race, which features a shockingly intimate angle of the crash. It appears that a small bit of contact at a very wrong moment will send your 911 twirling through the air, right past a cameraman with titanium nerves, neatly landing in the perfect orientation to be hoisted up and towed away. Hit the jump to check out this gnarly ride.

[Source: 0-60]

Continue reading VIDEO: From the "Not What We Meant" file - this Porsche flies

VIDEO: From the "Not What We Meant" file - this Porsche flies originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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