Autoblog

Mini headed to North Pole to meet Santa Claus

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST

It seems that retailers are bringing out the Christmas decorations earlier each year, but Mini's premature holiday spirit could be one for the record books. The day after Black Friday, the "Mini Goes to Santa Claus" adventure will depart from BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany and head up Rovaniemi, Finland (just outside the Arctic Circle) to deliver Christmas letters to Santa Claus -he must have an mail outpost here for his North Pole workshop. Guinness World Records is also getting involved with this trek, by competing for a for the longest-ever wish list to Santa.

Mini has assembled teams of vehicles from 16 countries consisting of all of its current models to drive the almost 1,900 miles. Although it won't be a part of the convoy, the Mini Paceman will be in Rovaniemi to welcome the groups along with former rally driver Rauno Aaltonen who will "demonstrate his unequalled talent" while driving the Paceman. We're not exactly sure what this means, but snowy climates and rally drivers always seem to be a recipe for great entertainment to us.

Scroll down for Mini's press release, but we'll have to wait until later in the month to see what should be some pretty cool pictures of the trip.

Continue reading Mini headed to North Pole to meet Santa Claus

Mini headed to North Pole to meet Santa Claus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Coulthard catches speeding golf ball at 120 mph in Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Noah Joseph — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, UK

Golf and driving are things that many men would rather be doing than working, so automakers are always keen to find an association between the two. The latest publicity stunt, however, drives the point home in more ways than one.

The undertaking involved pro golfer Jake Shepherd, Formula 1 veteran David Coulthard, and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. Jake teed off at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in England and hit the ball at an astonishing 178 mph. Coulthard sped off after it in the SLS and caught it in the open cockpit some 900 feet afield - that's over three football fields in distance - at 120 mph.

The feat was enough to put Shepherd, Coulthard and the SLS in the Guiness Book of World Records on only the second attempt. Mercedes-Benz will debut the video footage in early July, but for now we've got a handful of photos and the official announcement below.

Continue reading David Coulthard catches speeding golf ball at 120 mph in Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

David Coulthard catches speeding golf ball at 120 mph in Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British madman creates 25-seat motorcycle, calls Guinness

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Europe

Colin Furze, the English loon responsible for the fire-breathing moped, has released yet another cracked creation. Furze, 31, who makes his money as a plumber, built a 72-foot-long moped that seats 25, videotaped himself riding it, and send the footage to the Guinness Book of World Records.

According to reports, Furze has hit 35 miles per hour on the elongated scooter, built from the remains of one and a half 125cc mopeds and more than 50 feet of frame extension. For right now, it simply holds passengers (read: doesn't move them), but with some chassis and suspension mods, it should be able to ferry them around under power.

British madman creates 25-seat motorcycle, calls Guinness originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin, Jr., unimpressed with drifting "world record," suggests raising the bar

Michael Harley — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Specialty

Vaughn Gittin Jr's 1969 RTR-X Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

Just what is a "world record" drift? That is the question posed by 2010 Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr. and many of his fellow professional drifters, following the announcement by Mercedes-Benz that it had set a new drifting record over this past weekend. According to the German automaker, Mauro Calo drifted a C63 AMG around a skidpad for 7,572 feet, topping Gittin's original record of 6,285 feet set in December of 2008 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Impressive, but maybe not so much. Is circling a flat skidpad in a continuous loop until one of the tires blows considered drifting? Or, is real drifting a skill that requires a lot more talent?

Guinness World Records defines drifting as, "driving a car with rear slip angle that is greater to the front." Vaughn Gittin, Jr., and fellow Formula Drift competitor Michael Essa, call that a "donut." After watching the C63 circle the concrete pad for more than two minutes, Gittin was unimpressed. "There are about 60 drivers that show up to Formula Drift every month, as well as thousands of grassroots drifters, that can do giant donuts until the tires pop, as well."

It is time for Guinness World Records to recognize the talent behind drifting, not the spectacle of a smoky donut. To put credibility back into the attempt, Gittin suggests redefining the record as, "drifting without intersecting your drift line." This is the way Formula Drift operates, with competitors tossing their vehicles into turns at 100 mph and holding the car sideways throughout a challenging course. Most importantly, adds Gittin, "This result would be a record that took a lot of skill, balls, and wouldn't put you to sleep watching the video of it." We couldn't agree more.

Vaughn Gittin, Jr., unimpressed with drifting "world record," suggests raising the bar originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo's iconic P1800 turns 50 as record-holding owner passes 2.9 million miles

Noah Joseph — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Volvo

Irv Gordon's 1966 Volvo P1800S - Click above for high-res image gallery

Think of Volvos and you're likely to picture a station wagon carrying kids home from soccer practice. But 50 years ago, the Swedish automaker produced one of the most curvaceous sportscars on the market.

It was called the P1800, and it still stands as an icon in the company's history and a cult favorite among collectors. Conceived in Sweden, designed in Italy and built in England, the P1800 gained fame on the screen as Roger Moore's car in The Saint, and served as a precursor of today's halo cars, envisioned to draw customers into the showroom.

The P1800 offered customers Ferrari-like styling with Volvo levels of dependability. That last part has certainly proven true for one owner, who holds the world record for most miles traveled in a non-commercial vehicle, and continues to beat his own record every time he pulls out of the driveway.

Irv Gordon - a retired science teacher from Patchogue, New York - racked up 1,500 miles in the first 48 hours after buying his P1800 in 1966. Within ten years of ownership, he had put on 500,000 miles. He reached the Guinness Book of World Records with 1.69 million miles in 1998, and hit the big two-million mark arriving in Manhattan's Times Square in 2002. As of this writing, his odometer reads 2.9 million, and he's not about to stop short of the three-million mark, touring classic car events around the world on Volvo's behalf.

Follow the jump for a related press release and check out the images of Irv's P1800 in the high-res gallery.

Continue reading Volvo's iconic P1800 turns 50 as record-holding owner passes 2.9 million miles

Volvo's iconic P1800 turns 50 as record-holding owner passes 2.9 million miles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Irv Gordon's Volvo P1800 closing in on 3 million miles

Dan Roth — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Volvo, Celebrities

Irv Gordon and his Volvo P1800 - Click above for high-res image gallery

While Irv Gordon is already retired, he's taken to accruing miles on his already impressively well-traveled Volvo 1800 like it's his job. It took a while to rack up the first million miles, but the second million came more quickly, rolling the odometer over in Times Square back in 2002. Now Gordon is headed for 3 million a mere eight years later. Only big rigs put on a million miles more quickly, and even that might be debatable.

"Who would have thought such a decision, to buy a Volvo, would have created so many opportunities?" Gordon tells Autoblog. Some of his favorite miles out of the 2.8 million currently showing on the odometer (he was at 2.6 million the last time we checked) were his first trip across the United States and a trip to Europe where the 1800 and its intrepid driver drove from the United Kingdom into Sweden to see the car's original birthplace before rolling on to other continental hamlets and accruing 5,000 miles in a month.

Irv's 70 years old now, and he wouldn't mind selling his beloved red Volvo coupe. Asking price? "A dollar per mile," says Gordon. Despite what Irv calls "some very interesting offers," nobody has offered him his asking price. That's okay with Gordon, who acknowledges that his Volvo is the star. "Once I sell the car, no one will invite me anywhere any longer," he quips.

Should the right buyer for the trusty red 1800 come along, Gordon knows what he'll do. "It'd be nice to have a car with all the new creature comforts to travel in, and who knows, should I live another 10-15 years, I could put a million miles on my next vehicle and start the cycle all over again."

While unlikely, putting three million dollars in his bank account would make those long treks more comfortable, affording fine hotels and gourmet dining versus at times sleeping in the 1800 to save some bucks. Gordon's not complaining, "I have indeed been a very fortunate fellow," he says. You have to respect his commitment to the little Volvo coupe that was originally purchased as a refuge from a pair of demonically unreliable Chevrolets, too. A retirement lifestyle that would allow one to travel in style and worry less about finances is a nearly universal goal, too. Gordon's got a leg up on all of us, having put in the seat time to earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records and turn a stolid, stylish Swede into a wheeled pension plan.

Gallery: Irv Gordon and his 2.8 million mile Volvo

[Source: AOL Autos | Photos: Josh Max - Irv Gordon]

Irv Gordon's Volvo P1800 closing in on 3 million miles originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Blind man fails attempt to set 200 mph speed record [w/video]

Chris Shunk — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., UK, MISC

Anyone who has ever perused the Guinness Book of World Records knows that there is an entry for just about anything imaginable and plenty more things you just haven't yet wrapped your head around. There is apparently even a land speed record for bank managers. Well, blind bank managers, anyway. Mike Newman failed yesterday to become the first blind person to crest the 200 miles-per-hour barrier when his (unnamed) Nissan failed to accelerate beyond 174 mph. Newman's failed attempt on the UK's Pendine Sands came after his original steed, a 260mph Keating TKR was somehow damaged prior to the race. The Daily Mail reports that there were "hundreds" of spectators on hand to root on Newman in his quest to hit 200 mph.

Blind driving sounds pretty unhinged to us, but this competition isn't anything new. Newman himself was at one time the unsighted speed champ, as the man from Manchester hit 182 mph in a BMW M5. Blind Turkish pop singer Metin Senturk later broke the record by taking a Ferrari F430 to 183mph. In this case, Newman made his attempt on a four-mile stretch of hard-packed beach at Pendine Sands with only a radio link from his father in a helicopter overhead to guide him.

Sighted or not, reaching speeds of 174 mph is an experience most will never get to experience. But if you ask us, that's not even Newman's most impressive feat by a long shot. The bank manager currently holds the record for the fastest motorcycle time by a blind person for hitting 89mph on a 1,000cc Aprilia Falco. Now that's either gutsy or completely crazy - probably a mixture of both, and that's something we can get behind.

Newman has vowed to fix the Keating for a second attempt which could come later this month. In the meantime, you can learn more about Mike and his remarkable quest by checking out the video after the jump, or by checking out his Speed of Sight website, which includes details on how he raises money for Vision and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

[Sources: Daily Mail; Speed of Sight; YouTube]

Continue reading Report: Blind man fails attempt to set 200 mph speed record [w/video]

Report: Blind man fails attempt to set 200 mph speed record [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World's longest fingernails clipped in SUV accident

Michael Harley — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:36:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities, Humor

Seatbelts save lives... and prevent broken fingernails, too. An apparently unbelted Lee Redmond was ejected from her SUV during an accident earlier this week. While the noteworthy Utah resident somehow survived the crash, her record-setting fingernails didn't fare as well. The Guinness Book of World Records-certified growths (yeah, they are more than a bit grotesque) were all broken, apparently leaving Redmond rather stumped.

As she recovers in the hospital from her injuries it would be wise to ponder the case of Shridhar Chillal. The previous record fingernail holder from India cut his own nails off in search of a more normal life several years ago. However, he was so emotionally distressed afterward that he had them glued back on. Apparently, when it comes to fingernails, there's nothing that a bit of super glue can't fix!

[Source: Google/AP]

World's longest fingernails clipped in SUV accident originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another Guinness World Record: Longest Contiguous Line of MINIs

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Mini

How many MINIs does it take to ~~screw in a light bulb~~ earn a world record? Apparently 273. Last Sunday, June 10, 273 MINIs old and new lined up at Virginia Beach and stretched over five miles to re-establish the record for the longest continuous line of MINIs set just last year. The parade of MINIs just edged the 269 cars that congregated in the UK last year. The tiny cars assembled and then drove along "in an uninterrupted chain more than 5 miles long!" Survivor Season One finalist, Rudy Boesch, led the parade of cars that got rolling at 1 PM. Some two hours later the last MINI was underway. 40 minutes later the group had covered 5.8 miles and set the record. Five miles of MINIs sounds like some kind of punchline, but it's an official Guiness-certified World Record now. Or at least it will be when the paperwork reaches Guinness World Record Headquarters in London next week.

There's an online album of pics from the event available by clicking here and a list of those involved who deserve credit after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Max!

[Source: Motoring File]

Continue reading Another Guinness World Record: Longest Contiguous Line of MINIs

Another Guinness World Record: Longest Contiguous Line of MINIs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wanted: Experienced couch driver

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:09:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

All right ladies and gentlemen, here is an event destined for an American to conquer.

Sofa.com has built what they believe is the fastest road-going, street-legal couch in the world. There goal is to pilot this "sofa-racer" to a top speed that will obliterate the previously held world record, set in 1998, of 87 MPH.

Want to pilot this piece of daft human ingenuity? All you have to do is go to www.sofa.com and guess the amount of coinage pictured in the jar. Ten lucky winners will be invited to Northampton International Raceway (in the UK, mind you) for a weekend of driving events. The winner of these events will go on to drive the record breaking piece of furniture to a top speed of over 100 MPH, in front of thousands of crazed spectators.

We've already made our estimates, so do it for Autoblog and do it for America.

[Source: Pistonheads]

Wanted: Experienced couch driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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