Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Bicyclists walk away after terrifying Mulholland motorcycle crash]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/bicyclists-walk-away-after-terrifying-mulholland-motorcycle-cras/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/bicyclists-walk-away-after-terrifying-mulholland-motorcycle-cras/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/bicyclists-walk-away-after-terrifying-mulholland-motorcycle-cras/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Motorcycle Bicycle Crash on Mulholland - screen cap

Now for a lesson in target fixation. As we're sure most of you know, your vehicle tends to go where your eyes go, and that's doubly true for motorcycles. Lock eyes with something you don't want to hit and invariably, that's precisely what you'll do. One rider in California recently found that out the hard way when he was confronted with a pair of bicyclists pedaling up Mulholland Highway. The rider exited a corner with plenty of angle left in his bike at a completely reasonable and legal speed, but panic took over when he spotted the cyclists. Rather than continue to lean, and thus turn, the rider grabbed a foot full of brake, stood his motorcycle upright and rammed both bicycles from behind.

All we can say is, it was a miracle no one was seriously injured in the collision. Everyone appears to have walked away with a few scrapes and bruises. You can watch the video below to see the whole disaster take shape, just be warned that the clip isn't for the weak of stomach. There's no serious gore, but watching the cyclists play Gumby is a terrifying sight all the same. There's some explicit not-safe-for-work language, too.

As riders of both bicycles and motorcycles, we sympathize with both parties. Yes, the motorcycle rider is clearly at fault here, and yes, the bicycles have a right to be on the road. They were even well to the shoulder as they should have been, but part of riding a bicycle is choosing where to do so safely. Sure, Mulholland is a mecca for both bicyclists and motorcycle riders, but the winding canyon road is far from a safe stretch of asphalt for slow-moving vehicles of any ilk.

Continue reading Bicyclists walk away after terrifying Mulholland motorcycle crash

Bicyclists walk away after terrifying Mulholland motorcycle crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicycle failfailmotorcycle bicycle crashmotorcycle crashmotorcycle failmotorcycle hits bicyclesmulholland drivevideoTue, 30 Apr 2013 14:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20553273/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/30/bicyclists-walk-away-after-terrifying-mulholland-motorcycle-cras/20553273/article-detail.xml 20553273 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/motorcycle-bicycle-crash-628-1367342873_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/motorcycle-bicycle-crash-628-1367342873.jpg <![CDATA[Shelby Cobra driver says 'Hey, y'all, watch this!']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/shelby-cobra-driver-says-hey-yall-watch-this/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/shelby-cobra-driver-says-hey-yall-watch-this/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/shelby-cobra-driver-says-hey-yall-watch-this/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



A burnout is like a boast, the rubber-shredding equivalent of Babe Ruth pointing his fingers at the center-field bleachers. And everyone knows once you've boasted, you've got to back it up. If The Babe had grounded out to first, the "Called Shot" would be a laugh, not a legend.

After doing a little burnout for the onlookers, the driver of this Shelby Cobra replica above ends up on the wrong side of the equation when his Cobra bites back. Thankfully, nothing but bodywork and some pride was hurt. Hopefully the driver has learned his lesson and knows to lift off the brakes and steer next time. You can watch it all go wrong in the quick video below.

Continue reading Shelby Cobra driver says 'Hey, y'all, watch this!'

Shelby Cobra driver says 'Hey, y'all, watch this!' originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car failcobra replicacrashdriver failfailshelbyshelby cobrashelby crashvideoThu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20548776/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/25/shelby-cobra-driver-says-hey-yall-watch-this/20548776/article-detail.xml 20548776 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shelby-cobra-booboo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shelby-cobra-booboo.jpg <![CDATA[Watch these videos of an NHRA racer's bodywork blowing off into a crowd]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/watch-these-videos-of-an-nhra-racers-bodywork-blowing-off-into/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/watch-these-videos-of-an-nhra-racers-bodywork-blowing-off-into/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/watch-these-videos-of-an-nhra-racers-bodywork-blowing-off-into/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Just a few months ago, fan safety at racetracks was a hot topic following the last-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series crash at Daytona that sent large pieces of racecars into the grandstands injuring 33 fans. Now, a freak incident at a National Hot Rod Association event resulted in a drag racer's bodywork flying into the crowd at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte over the weekend. The carbon-fiber body of Robert Hight's Ford Mustang funny car blew off toward the end of a run when his engine exploded, but fortunately, the two fans evaluated after the incident were later released without serious injury.

As you can see in the image above, the body flew high into the air before landing on a walkway in front of the grandstands, a bit of happenstance that likely gave most fans enough time and space to move out of the way. Scroll down to watch a couple of videos showing what happened, including one from a fan's perspective that also reveals what appears to be part of the body's metal bracing landing dangerously close to the crowd.

Continue reading Watch these videos of an NHRA racer's bodywork blowing off into a crowd

Watch these videos of an NHRA racer's bodywork blowing off into a crowd originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drag racingfailfan safetyfordford mustangfunny carnational hot rod associationnhranhra four-wide nationalsrobert hightvideoTue, 23 Apr 2013 12:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20547503/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/23/watch-these-videos-of-an-nhra-racers-bodywork-blowing-off-into/20547503/article-detail.xml 20547503 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/robert-high-nhra-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/robert-high-nhra-crash.jpg <![CDATA[8-year-old girl drives Audi 60 mph on icy roads, investigation ensues]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/8-year-old-girl-drives-audi-60-mph-on-icy-roads-investigation-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/8-year-old-girl-drives-audi-60-mph-on-icy-roads-investigation-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/8-year-old-girl-drives-audi-60-mph-on-icy-roads-investigation-e/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

8-year-old Russian girl drives Audi - video screencap

While it might be the world's safest practice, many of us got our first taste of driving as kids sitting on our mom or dad's laps while they let us steer. But that was usually done in a safe place (large parking lots or open fields) at very slow speeds. The safety aspect is what has two Russian parents in trouble after they filmed their 8-year-old driving an Audi at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour with slick road conditions.

In the video below, the girl - using a plastic container as a booster seat and not wearing a seatbelt - drives along the snowy road with the music blaring and her mother videoing it all from the back seat, a jaunt that reportedly resulted in parents Dmitry and Lena Mikulchik being investigated by St. Petersburg police. Hey, at least they weren't using their daughter as a designated driver, right?

Continue reading 8-year-old girl drives Audi 60 mph on icy roads, investigation ensues

8-year-old girl drives Audi 60 mph on icy roads, investigation ensues originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad parentingfailkids drivingmikulchikparenting failrussian 8 year old driverrussian driversrussian8yearolddriverst. petersburgunderage drivingvideoFri, 01 Mar 2013 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20483476/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/01/8-year-old-girl-drives-audi-60-mph-on-icy-roads-investigation-e/20483476/article-detail.xml 20483476 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/russian-audi-girl_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/russian-audi-girl.jpg <![CDATA[Tel Aviv woman's car painted into handicap spot and then towed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/tel-aviv-womans-car-painted-into-handicap-spot-and-then-towed/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/tel-aviv-womans-car-painted-into-handicap-spot-and-then-towed/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/tel-aviv-womans-car-painted-into-handicap-spot-and-then-towed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tel Aviv parking video - screencap

As a general rule, we try to follow a few simple principles throughout the day, and one of the most important is, "don't anger the road workers." Why? The guys and girls responsible for taking care of our nation's roadways wield the seldom-seen power to seriously put a kink your day. If you need proof, look no further than the clip in the video below. In it, workers in Tel Aviv, Israel carefully paint a handicap space around an otherwise legally parked vehicle. After they finish, it doesn't take long for a tow truck to come along and haul off the "offending" sedan.

The owner was then fined around $270 for being illegally parked, and took to Facebook to vent about her situation. Local authorities got wind of the situation and quickly apologized, saying, "This was a severe mistake and a case of incompetence that the city of Tel Aviv does not accept." The city is reportedly also working to make sure something similar does not happen again. Check out the scene in the video below.

Continue reading Tel Aviv woman's car painted into handicap spot and then towed

Tel Aviv woman's car painted into handicap spot and then towed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>failhandicaphandicap parkinghandicappedparkingparking failtel avivtel aviv handicapped parking videotel aviv parking videotowedtowingvideoTue, 05 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20449224/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/05/tel-aviv-womans-car-painted-into-handicap-spot-and-then-towed/20449224/article-detail.xml 20449224 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/tel-aviv-parking-video-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/tel-aviv-parking-video-628.jpg <![CDATA[Watch this crazy tumbleweed attack on the open road]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/watch-this-crazy-tumbleweed-attack-on-the-open-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/watch-this-crazy-tumbleweed-attack-on-the-open-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/watch-this-crazy-tumbleweed-attack-on-the-open-road/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tumbleweed Attack video screencap

Tumbleweeds: the Tribbles of the American West. We typically think of the roaming plant matter as little more than a prop in the backdrop of our favorite westerns, but as one driver recently found out, high winds can turn tumbleweeds into a serious hassle. How serious? While traveling through Midland, Texas, the driver in question watched as the entire roadway ahead of his vehicle became covered in the dead plants. The quick video below shows the migrating weeds bounding through the air, bouncing off of his vehicle and continuing on their way. We can honestly say we've never seen anything like it before.

While we feel bad for the driver's paint, at least the weeds are mostly harmless. You can check out the hilarity for yourself in the video below. If you'll excuse us, we need to revisit our Ennio Morricone playlist.

Continue reading Watch this crazy tumbleweed attack on the open road

Watch this crazy tumbleweed attack on the open road originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>failmidlandmidland texastexastumble weedtumbleweedtumbleweed attacktumbleweed videovideoMon, 04 Feb 2013 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20447917/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/04/watch-this-crazy-tumbleweed-attack-on-the-open-road/20447917/article-detail.xml 20447917 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/tumbleweed-video-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/tumbleweed-video-628.jpg <![CDATA[How to jump a Toyota FJ Cruiser over a sand dune... poorly]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/02/how-to-jump-a-toyota-fj-cruiser-over-a-sand-dune-poorly/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/02/how-to-jump-a-toyota-fj-cruiser-over-a-sand-dune-poorly/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/02/how-to-jump-a-toyota-fj-cruiser-over-a-sand-dune-poorly/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Toyota FJ Cruiser about to jump sand dune - video screencap

YouTube is a great place to show off your vehicle and your driving skills, but more often than not, it just helps to prove that vehicle stunts should be left to the professionals. Take this particular driver, for instance. While jumping a sand dune in a Toyota FJ Cruiser, things go very wrong very quickly.

There is no indication as to the condition of the driver, but we that hope he or she is okay and has learned a valuable (if expensive) lesson. The brief video of the would-be stunter is posted below.

Continue reading How to jump a Toyota FJ Cruiser over a sand dune... poorly

How to jump a Toyota FJ Cruiser over a sand dune... poorly originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 toyota ft cruisercrash videofailfjfj cruiseroff-road drivingtoyotavideovideo failWed, 02 Jan 2013 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20413714/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/02/how-to-jump-a-toyota-fj-cruiser-over-a-sand-dune-poorly/20413714/article-detail.xml 20413714 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyota-fj-cruiser-jump_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/toyota-fj-cruiser-jump.jpg <![CDATA[Dodge vs. Chevy tug-of-war taken to the extreme]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/dodge-vs-chevy-tug-of-war-taken-to-the-extreme/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/dodge-vs-chevy-tug-of-war-taken-to-the-extreme/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/dodge-vs-chevy-tug-of-war-taken-to-the-extreme/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



They say "idle hands are the devil's playground," but said playgrounds grow to Disney-sized proportions when a pair of jacked-up trucks, two egos, a chain and an empty mall parking lot are involved. Proof of this is the video below, which shows a Cummins-powered Dodge Ram circa 2006 to 2008 chained tail-to-tail with what looks to be a gasoline-powered Chevrolet Silverado from the late 1990s or early 2000s.

We don't necessarily have to tell you who wins this battle, but we'll let you see for yourself the lengths the "winning" driver goes to prove his point. There's plenty of foul language in the video below, so beware that this might be Not Safe For Work, and not that we should have to tell you, but please, do not try this at home.

Continue reading Dodge vs. Chevy tug-of-war taken to the extreme

Dodge vs. Chevy tug-of-war taken to the extreme originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2500chevroletchevycumminsdodgefailgeneral motorsgmnsfwramsilveradostupid stuntstowing failtug of wartug-of-warvideoMon, 17 Dec 2012 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20405059/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/17/dodge-vs-chevy-tug-of-war-taken-to-the-extreme/20405059/article-detail.xml 20405059 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/redneck-tow-test-1355763846_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/redneck-tow-test-1355763846.jpg <![CDATA[Man given ticket after getting run over by his own truck]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/05/man-given-ticket-after-getting-running-over-by-his-own-truck/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/05/man-given-ticket-after-getting-running-over-by-his-own-truck/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/05/man-given-ticket-after-getting-running-over-by-his-own-truck/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fred Flintstone outside police stationLet it be noted that the best way to stop an out-of-control car with no brakes is to try engaging the parking brake. That being said, it's also a terrifying occurrence, so logic is sometimes thrown out the window in lieu of more of a reflex-oriented response. Brian Reynolds, 40, found himself in the latter scenario when the brakes on his Chevrolet pickup failed near a park in Salem, Massachusetts. While it isn't clear whether Reynolds attempted to engage the parking/emergency brake, at some point he opened the door and tried pulling a Fred Flintstone, using his foot to try and stop his truck.

At some point after opening his door, the Salem Patch reports that Reynolds fell out of his still-moving truck. The pickup ran over his leg before continuing down the street, only to crash into a fire hydrant. Although the specific injury wasn't reported, Reynolds was hospitalized, and adding insult to injury (in the most literal sense of the phrase), the local police reportedly ticketed him for operating a vehicle with defective equipment.

Man given ticket after getting run over by his own truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian reynoldschevrolete-brakeemergency brakeemergency brakingfailfailed brakesfred flintstonemotorist failWed, 05 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20393140/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/05/man-given-ticket-after-getting-running-over-by-his-own-truck/20393140/article-detail.xml 20393140 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/flintstone_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/flintstone.jpg <![CDATA[Why you should never let a family member drive your Ariel Atom]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/why-you-should-never-let-a-family-member-drive-your-ariel-atom/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/why-you-should-never-let-a-family-member-drive-your-ariel-atom/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/why-you-should-never-let-a-family-member-drive-your-ariel-atom/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ariel Atom at VIR - in-car video

Any time you have to hand off the keys to a valued car, it can be a little nerve racking - and with some justification. Just check out this video, which serves as a cautionary tale of sorts. According to its YouTube description, the user, named ShakenBakeRacin, lent his Ariel Atom to his brother and recorded video of him driving the lightweight racer on the north course at VIR - Virginia International Raceway. What was probably not expected was what ensues in the video.

The driver is hot on the heels of another Atom when a combined crest-and-curve results in loss of control (okay, in addition to the car getting light, it looks like our driver may have forgotten his track map). The Ariel unceremoniously exits the racing surface. That alone would have been enough justification for the owner to ask for his keys back, but things don't end there. The scant curb weight of the Atom combined with track-minded tires proves a dangerous combination when skating across the grass infield. Considering the wide-open expanses of green space where the Atom could have slowed to a less-dramatic stop, the results feel doubly unfortunate.

At the end of the wild ride, is it just us, or does it seem like the frustrated Atom just about spits in frustration? "Ptooey!" Okay, maybe it's just us. Watch the video below and judge for yourself.

Continue reading Why you should never let a family member drive your Ariel Atom

Why you should never let a family member drive your Ariel Atom originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentarielariel atomatomfailracecarracecar failracingvideovirvirginia international racewayyoutubeWed, 14 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20379965/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/14/why-you-should-never-let-a-family-member-drive-your-ariel-atom/20379965/article-detail.xml 20379965 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/ariel-atom-at-vir_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/ariel-atom-at-vir.jpg <![CDATA[Don't drive on the sidewalk in Cleveland, or this might happen to you [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/dont-drive-on-the-sidewalk-in-cleveland-or-this-might-happen-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/dont-drive-on-the-sidewalk-in-cleveland-or-this-might-happen-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/dont-drive-on-the-sidewalk-in-cleveland-or-this-might-happen-t/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sheena Hardin passing school bus on sidewalk in Cleveland

There are undoubtedly hefty fines for passing a stopped school bus with its flashing lights on and stop sign deployed, so Shena Hardin, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, thought it would be an acceptable alternative to use the sidewalk to pass instead. Back in September, Hardin was seen using the sidewalk as a bypass on multiple occasions, and a quick-thinking bus driver videotaped her doing so and alerted police. On September 11, police were able to catch her Jeep Compass in the act, and this week, a judge doled out her punishment.

Despite video evidence showing her driving on the sidewalk twice, Hardin plead Not Guilty to charges of not stopping for a school bus and reckless operation at a September court hearing, but the judge found otherwise. In addition to a $250 fine and 30-day suspension of her driver's license, the judge also ordered Hardin to stand at an intersection near where she dodged the bus wearing a sign that says "Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus." She'll be out there next Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:45 am to 8:45 am.

Scroll down to watch a video of Hardin's dangerous maneuver, and then let us know what you think of her punishment in the poll below.


View Poll

Continue reading Don't drive on the sidewalk in Cleveland, or this might happen to you [w/poll]

Don't drive on the sidewalk in Cleveland, or this might happen to you [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clevelanddriving failfailschool busshena hardinvideoThu, 08 Nov 2012 12:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20372463/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/08/dont-drive-on-the-sidewalk-in-cleveland-or-this-might-happen-t/20372463/article-detail.xml 20372463 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/jeep-driving-on-sidewalk_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/jeep-driving-on-sidewalk.jpg <![CDATA[Petter Solberg crashes through vineyard, into utility pole at French WRC event]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/07/petter-solberg-crashes-through-vineyard-into-utility-pole-at-fr/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/07/petter-solberg-crashes-through-vineyard-into-utility-pole-at-fr/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/07/petter-solberg-crashes-through-vineyard-into-utility-pole-at-fr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Petter Solberg

If one absolutely must crash out of professional rally event, one might as well do it with style. At least that seems to be the philosophy of Petter Solberg. The Norwegian World Rally Championship driver bowed out of the Rally of France Alsace on Saturday when he left the course, drove through a vineyard, rejoined the course briefly, drove through a second vineyard and struck a power pole. As if that weren't bizarre enough, the impact sent the pole crashing to the ground, narrowly missing spectators and sending power lines arcing across parked vehicles in the area.

Solberg started the day with his Ford Fiesta RS in fourth place overall, but ended his bout for the podium on the first stage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the off. You can take a closer look at the scene in the video below. Trust us, you'll want to watch this one a few times.

Continue reading Petter Solberg crashes through vineyard, into utility pole at French WRC event

Petter Solberg crashes through vineyard, into utility pole at French WRC event originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crashfailfiestafiesta rsfordpetter solbergpetter solberg crashrallyrally crashrally of france alsacesolbergvideoworld rally championshipwrcSun, 07 Oct 2012 12:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20343462/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/07/petter-solberg-crashes-through-vineyard-into-utility-pole-at-fr/20343462/article-detail.xml 20343462 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/solberg-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/solberg-crash.jpg <![CDATA[Surveillance camera shows Mercedes driver parking fail]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mercedes-Benz E-Class owner has costly parking issue caught on security camera

It's happened to you or someone you know: You think your car is in Park and begin to exit your vehicle, and then it starts to roll. Now, most drivers catch themselves that moment, step on the brakes, throw the gearshift into Park and wait for their heart rate to come back down. This was not one of those times.

In this case, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the unfortunate vehicle involved caught on a security camera, and its operator thinks that the car is in Park or that the emergency brake is engaged. We won't even talk about the fact that the driver nearly drags the car along a cement wall while backing it out, but it it appears to come to a stop on the entrance to the street. When the driver gets out to pick something up in the driveway, the luxury sedan starts to crawl forward thanks to gravity, and unfortunately for the driver, it's aimed directly at her.

The driver initially manages to avoid being run over by her own Mercedes-Benz, but in the process of attempting to recover, things get... worse. We'll keep the conclusion a surprise until you check out the video below.

While you may not go to hell for muffling a chuckle in response to this video, we feel bad for the victim here. There is no description for this video, so we cannot confirm if she was badly hurt, but hopefully not. And we can't help but sympathize a little - we've always felt that Benz's newer column-mounted electronic gear selector (with its "P" button on the end of the stalk) can be a bit fiddly. Clearly, it takes some practice.

Continue reading Surveillance camera shows Mercedes driver parking fail

Surveillance camera shows Mercedes driver parking fail originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 mercedes-benz e-classdriving faile-classfailmercedes-benzparking brakerunaway carsecurity camerasecurity videounintended accelerationvideoTue, 02 Oct 2012 09:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20334861/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/20334861/article-detail.xml 20334861 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mercfail_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mercfail.jpg <![CDATA[Is this the world's worst parking attempt?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/is-this-the-worlds-worst-parking-attempt/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/is-this-the-worlds-worst-parking-attempt/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/is-this-the-worlds-worst-parking-attempt/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Renault Sandero Stepway parking mishap - video screencap

Just a little word of advice: if a friend needs your help to back up while trying to park, it would probably be wise not to stand behind her while she does so. Such is the lesson we learn from today's frightening dash cam video.

As the driver of this Renault Sandero Stepway has problems navigating a tight parking area, her passenger gets out in an attempt to help out. She helps out alright - as a human buffer.

It seems as though the driver unknowingly left her car in reverse and then got startled by the results. So what did our driving-challenged motorist do after the initial impact that nearly killed her friend? She finally figures out how to put her car in drive and takes off.

Not only is this woman one of the worst drivers ever, she will definitely be up for "Worst Friend of the Year" award for leaving her seemingly injured passenger behind.

Scroll down to watch the video, and if this is your friend's car... might we suggest taking the bus?

Continue reading Is this the world's worst parking attempt?

Is this the world's worst parking attempt? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dash camdashcamfailparking failparking videorenaultrenault sandero stepwaysandero stepwayvideoWed, 19 Sep 2012 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20325617/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/19/is-this-the-worlds-worst-parking-attempt/20325617/article-detail.xml 20325617 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/worst-parker-ever_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/worst-parker-ever.jpg <![CDATA[Alleged car thief foiled after posting cap-busting footage of himself on YouTube [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/alleged-car-thief-foiled-after-posting-cap-busting-footage-of-hi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/alleged-car-thief-foiled-after-posting-cap-busting-footage-of-hi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/alleged-car-thief-foiled-after-posting-cap-busting-footage-of-hi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ronnie Wynn - foiled YouTube car thief

When are people going to learn that posting videos of themselves on YouTube doing something illegal is impossibly stupid can be used against them in a court of law? Motorcycles carelessly speeding through traffic at triple-digit speeds are one thing, but driving around in the suburbs randomly shooting a handgun out of the window is every bit as asinine.

This is the predicament that Ronnie Michael Wynn of Vancouver, Washington finds himself in after police discovered a video that the 23-year-old posted of himself on YouTube and Facebook. On July 16, Wynn had been arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, but when police found the video online during the course of their investigation, his problems had only just begun. An article on our sister site Huffington Post reports that Wynn had stolen the .45 handgun - as well as an Airsoft rifle, a watch and some checks - from his uncle. Wynn then had a teenage girl in the passenger seat record him driving around in a Chevrolet Malibu showing off the gun and firing it wildly out the window.

According to reports, Wynn, who calls himself "Ron Gotti," has outstanding warrants and faces charges including possession of a stolen vehicle, second-degree possession of stolen property, hit-and-run, driving on a suspended license and making false statements to police. While incarcerated, Wynn has also been accused of everything from second-degree identity theft and forgery to financial fraud. He is slated to go to trial on September 17.

Scroll down to see the video for yourself (Warning: music in the second video includes explicit language).

Continue reading Alleged car thief foiled after posting cap-busting footage of himself on YouTube [w/video]

Alleged car thief foiled after posting cap-busting footage of himself on YouTube [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car thieffailron gottironnie wynnthiefvancouvervancouver washingtonwashingtonyoutubeyoutube failTue, 21 Aug 2012 12:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20305184/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/21/alleged-car-thief-foiled-after-posting-cap-busting-footage-of-hi/20305184/article-detail.xml 20305184 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/wynn-alleged-car-thief_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/wynn-alleged-car-thief.jpg <![CDATA[A case study in how not to drive a BMW M3 on a deserted road]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/a-case-study-in-how-not-to-drive-a-bmw-m3-on-a-deserted-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/a-case-study-in-how-not-to-drive-a-bmw-m3-on-a-deserted-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/a-case-study-in-how-not-to-drive-a-bmw-m3-on-a-deserted-road/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Kid crashes BMW M3

Warning: This is not going to end well.

What you're about to see is a young man driving a very fast car - an E46 BMW M3, it appears - down a deserted road in the desert. We can't say for certain where it took place, but it looks a lot like Arizona. There are just enough elevation changes to make the road a bit challenging for the inexperienced.

Judging from the result of this boy's escapades, inexperienced pretty much sums it up. There's a blind corner, a road that drops away before a sweeping left turn and way too much speed. And then there's an airbag. Fortunately, it seems the driver walked away without serious injuries. The car, on the other hand, didn't fare nearly as well.

Scroll down below to watch the video. *Update: Video link fixed.

Continue reading A case study in how not to drive a BMW M3 on a deserted road

A case study in how not to drive a BMW M3 on a deserted road originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw m3 crashcrashcrash videodriving faile46e46 m3failm3m3 crashteen crash videoMon, 20 Aug 2012 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20305173/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/20/a-case-study-in-how-not-to-drive-a-bmw-m3-on-a-deserted-road/20305173/article-detail.xml 20305173 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/kid-crashes-bmw-m3_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/kid-crashes-bmw-m3.jpg <![CDATA[Kia engineers lock themselves out of Quoris prototype... in the desert]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/27/kia-engineers-lock-themselves-out-of-quoris-prototype-in-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/27/kia-engineers-lock-themselves-out-of-quoris-prototype-in-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/27/kia-engineers-lock-themselves-out-of-quoris-prototype-in-the/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Kia Quoris prototype locks out engineers.

Locking your keys in your car is never a fun experience. You have to call the auto club or tow service, wait for them to either bring you a new key or break into your car for you. It's something that happens to everyone at least once, and then you (try to) remember never to do it again.

A team of Kia engineers putting a Quoris luxury sedan prototype through its paces in the desert have just performed the lockout test - unintentionally. As you can see from these photos from the spy shooters at KGP Photography, once locked out of the car, the entire team went to work, trying to get back into the sedan by the most high-tech means possible: screwdriver, pry bar and wire hook.

According to our intrepid spy photographers, the engineers toiled with the locks of the future Korean flagship for some time before getting the car opened - and not without a bit of embarrassment.

If only the Quoris had some sort of telematics system like OnStar from General Motors or Blue Link from sister marque Hyundai, they could have just called in and had the doors unlocked remotely. Perhaps it'll be an option?

Kia engineers lock themselves out of Quoris prototype... in the desert originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 kia quoriscar failfailkialock outlocked outlockoutquorisremote lockspy shotspy shotstelematicsFri, 27 Jul 2012 17:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20288058/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/27/kia-engineers-lock-themselves-out-of-quoris-prototype-in-the/20288058/article-detail.xml 20288058 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/02kia-quoris-lockout-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/02kia-quoris-lockout-628.jpg <![CDATA[Watch this motorcycle racer suffer from premature celebration]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/watch-this-motorcycle-racer-suffer-from-premature-celebration/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/watch-this-motorcycle-racer-suffer-from-premature-celebration/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/watch-this-motorcycle-racer-suffer-from-premature-celebration/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Motorcycle racer Riccardo Russo blows his race by celebrating a lap early

Some tragedies are funny. Even if it costs you the 2012 Italian CIV championship race in Mugello.

Motorcycle racer Riccardo Russo held a three-bike lead over his nearest racer, but when he started the final lap, Russo thought he had already crossed the finish line.

Russo began his celebration by letting off the accelerator and lifting his arm, cheering for himself as all of the other cyclists zoomed past. "What does it matter?" he must have thought. As a visibly pumped Russo stood on the bike's pegs, the Yamaha Team Italia FMI racer still didn't realize he had cashed in his chips a lap too soon. And while Russo didn't lift the trophy, people will probably still remember him for this monumental flub than the gent who actually took home the hardware.

Scroll down to watch the video, which is worth watching all the way to the end, as the last lap is a fight to the finish - even without Russo.

Continue reading Watch this motorcycle racer suffer from premature celebration

Watch this motorcycle racer suffer from premature celebration originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bike racingfailitalian civmotorcycle failmotorcycle racingmugelloracing failriccardo russovideoWed, 11 Jul 2012 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20276313/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/11/watch-this-motorcycle-racer-suffer-from-premature-celebration/20276313/article-detail.xml 20276313 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/racer-loses-by-celebrating-too-soon_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/racer-loses-by-celebrating-too-soon.jpg <![CDATA[Racer crosses infield to intentionally wreck another competitor, fight ensues]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/11/racer-crosses-infield-to-intentionally-wreck-another-competitor/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/11/racer-crosses-infield-to-intentionally-wreck-another-competitor/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/11/racer-crosses-infield-to-intentionally-wreck-another-competitor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

racer crosses infield to intentionally wreck, fight competitor

If you've never been to a local circle track race, you're missing what could very well be the cheapest and most thrilling form of entertainment on the planet. The cars aren't particularly fast nor the drivers necessarily the world's most skilled, but what the machinery and manpower lack in finesse, they more than make up for in heart. With real wheel-to-wheel action combined with local egos larger than the tracks themselves, something is terribly wrong if the night doesn't end in hand-to-hand combat. It's the hockey of motorsports.

Typically, the fisticuffs are confined to the pits and paddock, safe from prying eyes of the vast majority of the crowd. But spectators in Jeffersonville, Indiana recently got a show when one racer tore off across the infield of the Sportsdome Speedway to blindside another competitor at race speed. Fortunately, "race speed" in this instance is somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 mph and it doesn't appear anyone was hurt from the actual crash.

But that's not where the blood-boiling ended: both machines came to a stop, both drivers jumped from their cockpits and began beating the life out of each other before other racers and officials came to intervene. You can't make this stuff up. Check out the grainy video for yourself.

Continue reading Racer crosses infield to intentionally wreck another competitor, fight ensues

Racer crosses infield to intentionally wreck another competitor, fight ensues originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circle trackfaillocal racingracingracing failroad ragesportsdrometrack ragevideoMon, 11 Jun 2012 19:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20255979/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/11/racer-crosses-infield-to-intentionally-wreck-another-competitor/20255979/article-detail.xml 20255979 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/circle-track-crash-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/circle-track-crash-628.jpg <![CDATA[Lamborghini Gallardo driver shows how <i>not</i> to gun it at a light]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/lamborghini-gallardo-driver-shows-how-not-to-gun-it-at-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/lamborghini-gallardo-driver-shows-how-not-to-gun-it-at-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/lamborghini-gallardo-driver-shows-how-not-to-gun-it-at-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



You are the driver of a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo, and you've been waiting at a traffic light for something like an entire minute. That glowing red orb of light has been the matador's crimson cape to your bull, taunting you, holding you back, making you very, very angry. So crush the gas pedal a few times and let your V10 snort for all to hear - when the light turns green, everyone's going to know you are not to be toyed with.

You get the green flag and drop the hammer... and all of a sudden you - and two motorists in the oncoming lane - wish you could take it all back and do it all over again. Softly this time. Have a look at the Lamborghini video below for a guide in how not to take off from a light. The action starts at 0:40.

Continue reading Lamborghini Gallardo driver shows how not to gun it at a light

Lamborghini Gallardo driver shows how not to gun it at a light originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>failgallardolamborghinilamborghini faillamborghini gallardosupercar failvideovideosyoutubeTue, 15 May 2012 14:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20238265/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/15/lamborghini-gallardo-driver-shows-how-not-to-gun-it-at-a/20238265/article-detail.xml 20238265 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gallardocrash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gallardocrash.jpg -1 2