Autoblog

Ultimate Reveal: Uncrating buried treasures, Honda NR 750 and RC30 [w/video]

Devon Brozek — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Performance, Videos, Honda, Motorcycle, Racing

Two-wheeled treasure chest - Click above to watch the video of the uncrating after the break

We're sure you are familiar with the old expression that hindsight is 20/20. In most cases this adage holds true, particularly, when it comes to all of the beautiful cars and motorcycles we wish we would have kept over the years. It wasn't exactly a case of hindsight, but rather well planned forethought that drove Bengt Gunnarson to hang on to two of Honda's most elusive models by tucking them away safely in his shop's basement.

Gunnarson, who is the owner of Stockholm's MC-Varuhus (Motorcycle Warehouse), does something most dealers are terrified of: he actually collects motorcycles in between selling them. In 1992, when the Warehouse received its shipment of not one, but two Honda NR models, Bengt quietly stashed one in the basement for a rainy day. Since then, we have yet to see many eight-valve V-four engines with oval pistons floating around. But this was not the first time that Gunnarson had seen the writing on the wall. Only three years earlier, in 1989, as Honda's HRC division was producing a limited number of RC-30 models to meet World Superbike homologation rules, a parking place was also made for a boxed RC in the cellar.

Recently, the crew at MC-Varuhus opened the vault and uncrated these two beautiful bikes. The plan is to let them spend some time out in the open, albeit in display cases, where visitors to the dealership can get a first-hand view of both bikes. Click past the break to watch the unveiling video, as this may be as close as we get to coming to grips with two of Honda's most unique motorcycles.

[Source: Hell For Leather]

Continue reading Ultimate Reveal: Uncrating buried treasures, Honda NR 750 and RC30 [w/video]

Ultimate Reveal: Uncrating buried treasures, Honda NR 750 and RC30 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Honda uses vintage iron to announce return to grassroots racing

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Classics, Performance, Honda

1974 "Tokyo Joe" Honda Civic 1200 Racecar - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda is using SEMA to show off their 2010 vehicles and the accessories available for each. It's also using the show to signal its return to grassroots racing, displaying several vintage racers and production cars alongside their descendants. Although we're covering the entire Mugen-accessorized 2010 lineup elsewhere, we didn't want to miss a chance to talk about three little cars at the back of the booth that had us drooling.

A mint 1971 N600, with its original, yellowed window sticker shows how far we've all come. At $1,395 the N600 cost just about a-buck-a-pound and its 598 cc air-cooled two-cylinder put out just 36 hp, but that was enough to get it to 80 MPH and still return 40 MPG. The N600 was also the car that introduced Americans to Honda automobiles, and firmly established Honda's reputation for frugality and fun.

Next to the N600 sat "Tokyo Joe," the 1974 Bolus & Snopes Civic 1200 racecar that scored six SCCA GT5 championships between 1985 and 1990. It was campaigned by American Honda employee Bob Boileau and once held the title of "World's Fastest Civic" when it was clocked at 146.698 MPH on the Talladega Superspeedway back in 1976. It also looked like it might move the frugal/fun ratio for Hondas a little to the other side of the equation.

Balancing both nicely was the spotless 1984 Mugen CRX prototype. Using a host of parts developed by Mugen, the car showed the performance possibilities inherent in the CRX platform. The Mugen sported a body kit designed for high speed stability, engine mods, a thoroughly reworked suspension, and meatier (but still just) 13-inch tires. A real throwback to the early days of Honda road and racing machines.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Vintage Honda Racers

Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading SEMA 2009: Honda uses vintage iron to announce return to grassroots racing

SEMA 2009: Honda uses vintage iron to announce return to grassroots racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda and FILA team up to create new line of racing shoes

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Design/Style

Honda Racing shoe series by FILA - click above image for high-res gallery

Actually, it would be more accurate to call the fruits of this collaboration driving shoes, as these five new Honda Racing shoes aren't covered in flame-retardant Nomex. But no matter -- FILA is releasing five new shoes inspired by "Honda Racing's commitment to fulfill every car enthusiast's racing dreams."

When you cut past the marketing hoopla, what you have are a new set of footwear packed with driver friendly features such as floor mat-grabbing cupped polyurethane heels, "ballistic" mesh for breathability, low profile outsoles for better pedal feel and and light weight that helps reduce fatigue. The new shoes are available in either low or mid top and four different colors. Hey, why not? The Honda/FILAs are even kinda good looking. And come to think of it, our must-have-'cause-we're auto-journos Pilotis are getting a bit long-in-the-tooth.

Gallery: Honda FILA Racing Shoes

[Source: Pitch Engine]

Honda and FILA team up to create new line of racing shoes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda Performance Development kicks off Grassroots Motorsports Initiative

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Acura, Honda

Following BMW's move into providing factory racing parts for amateurs, if you're a licensed racer in a Honda, you can now buy racing products directly from the Big Red H. Honda Performance Development is making the move into privateer support by opening Honda Racing Line, a membership portal that will "include and array of products and services for Honda and Acura customers who compete in amateur and professional racing."

You can buy parts once you become a member of Honda Racing Line. To do that, you need to show membership in a nationally recognized sanctioning body, and you need to show race results - actual finishes - from two races in the past year. Get over those hurdles, and your name could join those of Andretti-Green and Patron Highcroft in the hall of legends. You can check out the full press release after the jump.

[Source: Honda]

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Honda Performance Development kicks off Grassroots Motorsports Initiative originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda tapped to supply racing bike engines for new Moto2 series

Noah Joseph — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Motorcycle

Could things be turning around for Honda's racing department? The Japanese industrial giant began canceling its motorsport programs one by one when things took a turn for the worse economically, but after withdrawing from the AMA Road Racing motorbike series a few months ago, Honda is getting back in the saddle according to reports by supplying the engines to all the teams competing in the upcoming new Moto2 series.

Like GP2 is to Formula One - or the Nationwide Series is to the Sprint Cup in NASCAR - the new Moto2 championship slots in as a feeder and support series to the top-tier MotoGP. Currently the 250cc class (like the Honda example pictured above) serves that function, but like the organizers did with MotoGP and the pre-extant 500cc class, the new Moto2 bikes will be mixed into the field for next season before the new formula replaces the old one in 2011. The new Honda engines, however, will be 600cc, four-stroke units with over 150 horsepower on tap, potentially prepared by European Honda tuner Ten Kate. Who knows, maybe they can still bolt a couple of these together and get back on board with Brawn GP, too.

[Source: Autosport]

Honda tapped to supply racing bike engines for new Moto2 series originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 May 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda pulls out of AMA Road Racing

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Motorcycle

Just about a week ago, Honda announced that it was dropping out of Formula 1, but in subsequent reports Honda confirmed that it was not planning to pull support from other motorsports endeavors. That doesn't quite seem to be the case. Yesterday, Honda announced that it will be removing factory support from AMA road racing. The only Honda factory rider already contracted for the '09 season is Neil Hodgson. Jake Zemke, winner of last year's AMA Formula Xtreme Championship, now seems likely to race for the Erion Honda team, which Honda will still be offering support to, along with the Corona Honda team. Motocross and Supercross will not be affected by Honda's decision.

Honda cites the "current global economic situation and its impact on Honda" for the change, but we wonder if the ongoing dominance of Mat Mladin and Ben Spies' Suzukis may have made AMA Superbike an easy series to drop -- a move last made by Ducati in 2006. We're also left wondering if the ongoing conflict with Daytona Motorsports Group, the new management for AMA Pro Racing, had anything to do with the withdrawl. In any case, we won't be seeing any Honda Factory teams in AMA road racing for 2009.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda pulls out of AMA Road Racing

Honda pulls out of AMA Road Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda commits to remaining motorsport programs after F1 pull out

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Acura, Honda

Click on the Highcroft Acura for a high res gallery from the Detroit Sports Car Challenge

The current economic climate has only just started to wreak havoc in the motorsports world, with last week's announcements that Honda is pulling out of F1 and Audi is leaving the American LeMans Series. Things are likely to get worse before they get better as other automakers, including those based in Detroit, will almost certainly cut racing programs and budgets.

What won't be affected - at least for now - are Honda's non-F1 endeavors, including its motorcycle programs, the Indy Racing League and the American Le Mans Series. The ALMS and IRL programs are both operated by Honda Performance Development out of Torrance, CA. Unlike the F1 program, the IRL engine program generates revenue from the teams that lease these engines. The Acura ALMS program will definitely continue in 2009 as the team moves up from the LMP2 to the LMP1 class. The big bummer is that Acura won't have any competition from the Audi R10, which is leaving the ALMS next year.

Gallery: Detroit Sports Car Challenge 08

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: F1-Live]

Honda commits to remaining motorsport programs after F1 pull out originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KERS gets Formula 1 green light for 2009

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Green, BMW, Honda, Renault

Despite some serious reservations regarding the safety and high cost of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System
(KERS), the hybrid system has received the green light for introduction into the 2009 Formula 1 season. After BMW and Renault had some, uh, issues with KERS, Renault called a meeting to discuss whether the new flywheel-based system should be postponed until 2010. BMW Sauber, Honda Racing and Williams are apparently feeling confident enough in their own systems to resist the delay. Because F1 rules dictate that a consensus must be reached to change the previous ruling, F1 cars in 2009 will run with the new drivetrain. The only thing which could still hold back the new technology would be if the teams were unable to guarantee the safety of their systems, and this seems unlikely given that Honda has already completed a successful track test last week.

[Source: autosport.com]

KERS gets Formula 1 green light for 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2008: Honda F1 RA300 and RA108

Noah Joseph — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Geneva Motor Show, Japan, Honda

Click above for high-res gallery of Honda's 1967 RA300 and new RA108

Honda has a long history in grand prix racing. The sport's first Japanese team debuted with its own home-grown chassis and engine in 1964, taking its first victory in only its second year in Formula One at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. The original RA271 was replaced by the RA300 at the 1967 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, which John Surtees won on its maiden race. Honda withdrew from Formula One in 1969, supplied engines to various teams between 1983 and 1992 and again with British American Racing in 2000, which Honda had adopted as its own factory team by 2005 before winning the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Keen to highlight its rich heritage in Formula One, Honda came to the Geneva Motor Show with and old RA300 and its latest successor, the RA108. Compared to the 3-liter 420-hp V12 and 5-speed manual in the vintage RA300, the new RA108 is driven through a seven-speed sequential gearbox by a 2.4-liter V8 producing over 700 hp. The two cars represent over 45 years of F1 development, clearly evident in their forms that you can see for yourself in our high-resolution gallery by click-clickin' on the thumbnails below.

Gallery: Honda F1 RA300 and RA108

Geneva 2008: Honda F1 RA300 and RA108 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda Racing F1 unveils '07 rides

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda

High-res gallery of pics available by clicking image above

We just told you about Marco Andretti getting a test with Honda's F1 team, making him the third Andretti to take the wheel in a Formula 1 car. That was in a test last month in Jerez. Now the team has had its first full test of the new 2007 RA 107 at Catalunya and has issued a statement saying they are ready for the new season. OK, what did you expect them to say? The team is playing up its collaboration between the Japanese parent company's engineers and the Formula One engineering stronghold in England. They also are looking forward to a great year from drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.

The car itself was still sporting its black and white test colors, as they're waiting to reveal the new sponsor livery until next month. Improved aerodynamic efficiency, meeting new crash safety regulations, and cutting the overall weight of the car have been the most significant challenges. Honda has also put a lot of work into optimizing the suspension to work better with the Bridgestones. Testing on the RA107 will continue right up to the first race of the season in Melbourne on 18 March.

[Source: Honda Racing]

Gallery: 2007 Honda RA 107 F1 car

Honda Racing F1 unveils '07 rides originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda F1 sets land speed records at Bonneville

Alex Nunez — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 21:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Honda

All week long, the Honda Racing F1 team has been out at the Bonneville Salt Flats pursuing a lofty goal: setting a new Formula 1 car land speed record over the Bonneville flying mile with an average speed of 400 kph. Honda simply called the mission the Bonneville 400.

The instrument being used to make the attempt was a V10-powered Honda 007. For the runs out on the salt, the car was outfitted with an upright rear fin instead of the standard wing, and also employed the use of a parachute to help slow itself at the completion of each attempt. Driver Alan van der Mewe was behind the wheel for all the early-morning record runs, and through the course of the week, Alan, the team, and the car have broken F1 class records three times.

During today's final set of attempts, the Honda produced two land speed records for Formula 1 cars. Over the Bonneville flying mile, the car hit an average speed of 397.360kph (246.908mph). The second record set was over the flying kilometer, where it averaged 397.481kph (246.983mph).

The magic 400 kph average remained out of reach, though earlier this week, the car did hit 400.454 kph on one pass of the measured mile. It wasn't able to match the feat on the return trip, unfortunately.

While disappointed that they didn't set the record at 400, all parties involved deemed the week a success. Given the time and effort that they put into the event and the challenges they faced running an F1 car on the salt flats, you can't help but agree.

Check out the Bonneville 400 site for a host of info, including full coverage of the week, images and video of the attempts.

(Additional photos after the jump)

[Source: Honda Racing F1]

Continue reading Honda F1 sets land speed records at Bonneville

Honda F1 sets land speed records at Bonneville originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jul 2006 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda F1 "View Suspended": The ultimate technical diagram

Alex Nunez — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Europe, Honda, Misc. Auto Shows

The Honda Racing F1 car is made up of 3,200 individual parts, and if you go the the British International Motor Show this week or next, you'll be able to see every single one. Literally.

That's because Dutch artist Paul Veroude has seemingly worked magic with his exhibit called "View Suspended," in which each and every part of the car is suspended from above, creating a living exploded technical diagram. As awed as we are by the photographs of the display, we can only imagine how impressive it looks in person. Everything down to the smallest little screw is hanging in suspended animation.

Manufacturers always strive to have interesting displays at autoshows, whether they be safety demonstrations, cutaways, or other imaginative ploys to generate visitor interest. With "View Suspended," it's a safe bet that Honda will be capturing the attention and imagination of every single person who walks by it. It's just that cool.

Click on any photo to enlarge it. It's the best way to get a sense of the painstaking effort and incredible attention to detail that went into this piece.

(Additional photos, info after the jump)

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda F1 "View Suspended": The ultimate technical diagram

Honda F1 "View Suspended": The ultimate technical diagram originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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