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[<em>The List</em> goes racing on <em>Speed</em> tonight at 10PM EST/PST... honest!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/26/the-list-goes-racing-on-speed-tonight-at-10pm/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/26/the-list-goes-racing-on-speed-tonight-at-10pm/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/26/the-list-goes-racing-on-speed-tonight-at-10pm/#commentsFiled under:

Autoblog's The List - 1,001 Car Things To Do Before You Die - title graphic

Remember last Tuesday when we told you that a new episode of The List was going to air on Speed that night? Yeah, well... sorry about that. Scheduling snafu. But Autoblog's series is back on network television tonight after a week off for special programming.

This week's episode of The List on Speed brings together two segments of the series that highlight some unique forms of four-wheeled competition. The first is the 24 Hours of LeMons, in which hosts Jessi Combs and Patrick McIntyre compete on a team that dredged the depths of British automotive history to find their race cars.

The second segment, meanwhile, has J and P in upstate New York on a frozen lake to freeze their buns off while watching Engadget Editor-in-Chief Tim Stevens go ice racing in stock Subaru WRX. Of course, their job is to participate, so we don't let them leave the lake until they've gone head-to-head on the ice themselves. Be sure to tune in or set your DVR for 10:30pm Eastern tonight - or better yet, start it at 10pm and catch the latest episode of our sister show, Translogic!

The List goes racing on Speed tonight at 10PM EST/PST... honest! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1001 car things24 hours of lemonsice racingjessi combslemonslemons racinglistpatrick mcintyrespeed channelspeed networkTue, 26 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20479075/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/26/the-list-goes-racing-on-speed-tonight-at-10pm/20479075/article-detail.xml 20479075 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/the-list-title-v2-opt-1361307130_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/the-list-title-v2-opt-1361307130.jpg <![CDATA[<em>The List</em> goes racing on <em>Speed</em> tonight at 10PM EST/PST [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/the-list-goes-racing-on-speed-tonight-at-10pm/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/the-list-goes-racing-on-speed-tonight-at-10pm/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/the-list-goes-racing-on-speed-tonight-at-10pm/#comments

This week's episode of The List on Speed brings together two episodes of the series that highlight some unique forms of four-wheeled competition. The first is the 24 Hours of LeMons, in which hosts Jessi Combs and Patrick McIntyre, compete on a team that dredged the depths of British automotive history to find their race cars.

The second segment, meanwhile, has J and P in upstate New York on a frozen lake to freeze their buns off while watching Engadget Editor-in-Chief Tim Stevens go ice racing in stock Subaru WRX. Of course, their job is to participate, so we don't let them leave the lake until they've gone head-to-head on the ice themselves. Be sure to tune in or set your DVR!

UPDATE: It turns out that Speed is saving our latest episode for next week, February 26 at 10:30 PM EST/PST. Sorry for the false alarm!

The List goes racing on Speed tonight at 10PM EST/PST [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of lemonsengadgetice racingjessi combspatrick mcintyrespeedspeed networkspeed tvtim stevensTue, 19 Feb 2013 16:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20467919/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/19/the-list-goes-racing-on-speed-tonight-at-10pm/20467919/article-detail.xml 20467919 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/the-list-title-v2-opt-1361307130_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/the-list-title-v2-opt-1361307130.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissan-juke-r-goes-ice-fishing-in-norway/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissan-juke-r-goes-ice-fishing-in-norway/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissan-juke-r-goes-ice-fishing-in-norway/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nissan Juke-R on ice

There's something about the boffins over at Nissan - particularly those working at its racing headquarters in the UK. We're not quite sure what it is. Oh, right: they're bonkers. Absolutely off their rockers, in the best way possible. How else would you explain the decision to take an entry-level crossover and swap out its powertrain for that of a supercar?

We're talking, of course, about the Juke-R, the 480-horsepower demon cockroach from hell. After racing it against a field of supercars in Dubai, Nissan has taken the Juke-R to a decidedly different setting - an ice track near the former Winter Olympics site in Lillehammer, Norway - and set it loose.

And if that wasn't quite enough, the Japanese automaker didn't put it in the hands of an veteran ice racer - say, the four-time Formula One World Champion who drives for its sister company in the Andros Trophy, they gave it over to its gamer-turned-racer Lucas Ordonez who, being from Spain, had never driven on ice before. Sounds sane to us. Scroll on down to see the results in the brief video clip.

Continue reading Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway

Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 nissan jukeiceice racingjukejuke-rlillehammerlucas ordoneznissannissan juke-rnorwayordonezsnowvideoThu, 24 May 2012 12:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20244294/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/24/nissan-juke-r-goes-ice-fishing-in-norway/20244294/article-detail.xml 20244294 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/juke-r-ice_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/juke-r-ice.jpg <![CDATA[The List #0032: Go Ice Racing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/03/the-list-0032-go-ice-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/03/the-list-0032-go-ice-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/03/the-list-0032-go-ice-racing/#commentsFiled under: ,



Despite the unusually warm winter we're having this year, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to have Jessi and Patrick check ice racing off The List. So we sent them to New York to meet our good friend and ice-racing expert, Engadget.com editor-in-chief Tim Stevens, for an inside look at this very special and frigid sport. Thanks to the courtesy of the Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club, they were able to get in and complete their objective before the warm temperatures returned the track back into a lake.

As Tim explains in the episode, the great thing about ice racing is the amount of time you actually spend racing. And with two classes that cover both stock and modified vehicles, anyone can race with whatever they've got in their garage. But as Jessi and Patrick learn, racing on ice is easier said than done.

Click here to watch The List #0032: Go Ice Racing.
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Continue reading The List #0032: Go Ice Racing

The List #0032: Go Ice Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engadgetengadget.comice racingjessi combspatrick mcintyrethe-listtim stevensTue, 03 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20206840/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/03/the-list-0032-go-ice-racing/20206840/article-detail.xml 20206840 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/the-list-ice-racing-2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/the-list-ice-racing-2.jpg <![CDATA[Who said the KTM X-Bow isn't good in snow?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/who-said-the-ktm-x-bow-isnt-good-in-snow/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/who-said-the-ktm-x-bow-isnt-good-in-snow/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/12/who-said-the-ktm-x-bow-isnt-good-in-snow/#commentsFiled under: ,

KTM X-Bow ice racing

As we head towards the second half of February without having had a real winter here in the Midwest, we'll admit to being ticked off. Those Blizzaks we bought for our long-term Mini Countryman? We haven't had much chance to put them to use. Nor have we had any occasion to enjoy the singular pleasure of driving a massively overpowered sports car on an icy road, enjoying every fishtail, opposite-lock correction and powerslide, all while traveling under the legal speed limit, of course.

So what do we do to console ourselves? Watch videos on YouTube like this one, featuring the KTM X-Bow doing a little ice racing with an accompanying motorcycle/quad tandem. We love that this X-Bow's owner is out getting down and dirty in the cold - and that he's willing to pull his buddies on a tube behind his race car.

Click past the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading Who said the KTM X-Bow isn't good in snow?

Who said the KTM X-Bow isn't good in snow? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 ktm x-bowiceice racingktmktm x-bowvideox-bowSun, 12 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169191/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/12/who-said-the-ktm-x-bow-isnt-good-in-snow/20169191/article-detail.xml 20169191 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/x-bow-ice-racing-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/x-bow-ice-racing-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia challenging Andros Trophy with new Lodgy MPV ice racer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/dacia-challenging-andros-trophy-with-new-lodgy-mpv-ice-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/dacia-challenging-andros-trophy-with-new-lodgy-mpv-ice-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/dacia-challenging-andros-trophy-with-new-lodgy-mpv-ice-racer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dacia Lodgy Glace

Typically when an automaker makes a new rally car - whether for gravel, sand, snow or ice - it's based on... well, a car. Usually a hatchback, like the Subaru Impreza, Citroën DS3 or Volkswagen Polo. Lately, some have been going a different route with crossover-based rally cars, but Renault's latest is neither hatchback nor sedan nor crossover. It's a minivan.

After contesting the Andros Trophy for two years with a specially-prepared Dacia Duster - which also formed the basis for its Pikes Peak challenger - the French automaker's Romanian budget brand is returning for a third winter season to the French ice racing series with a new beast based on the Lodgy MPV. The production version of the minivan isn't set to be unveiled itself until the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The resulting Lodgy Glace (the latter from the French for "ice") was prepared by independent contractors like Tork Engineering and Sodemo under the watchful eye of Renault Sport Technologies. Its tubular steel frame packs a Nissan-sourced 3.0-liter 24-valve V6 engine mounted amidship and sending 355 horsepower to all four wheels via a SADEV six-speed sequential gearbox.

The season kicks off on December 3 at Val Thorens, where four-time F1 champion Alain Prost and his son Nicolas, together with ice-racing veteran Evens Stievenart, will be taking on all comers. Follow the jump for the full press release and scope out the quarter of high-res images for a closer look at their new ride.

Continue reading Dacia challenging Andros Trophy with new Lodgy MPV ice racer

Dacia challenging Andros Trophy with new Lodgy MPV ice racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androsandros trophydaciadacia lodgydacia lodgy glaceice racingice rallyrenaulttrophée androsMon, 14 Nov 2011 18:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20105967/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/14/dacia-challenging-andros-trophy-with-new-lodgy-mpv-ice-racer/20105967/article-detail.xml 20105967 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/webdacia-lodgy-glace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/webdacia-lodgy-glace.jpg <![CDATA[Video: How the Swedes make a VW Scirocco (hint: 627 horsepower)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/14/video-how-the-swedes-make-a-vw-scirocco-hint-627-horsepower/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/14/video-how-the-swedes-make-a-vw-scirocco-hint-627-horsepower/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/14/video-how-the-swedes-make-a-vw-scirocco-hint-627-horsepower/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

640 hp VW Scirocco
Volkswagen Scirocco Ice Racer - Click above to watch video after the jump

Despite Volvo's rather staid image as a maker of, well, staid cars, not all Swedes are obsessed with safety and practicality. These particular Swedes are into racing 627-horsepower, all-wheel-drive Volkswagen Scirocco hatchbacks. On ice. I'll see your sleepy Volvo and raise you automotive lunacy.

Besides the horsepower figure and the make and model, we don't know much about this car. Obviously, it's faster than scalded cat and that can make for some seriously sketchy moments when combined with ice, but that's about all we know.

Click past the jump for video of the insanity.

[Source: Autoholics via Carscoop]

Continue reading Video: How the Swedes make a VW Scirocco (hint: 627 horsepower)

Video: How the Swedes make a VW Scirocco (hint: 627 horsepower) originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 Volkswagen Sciroccoice racingsciroccoswedenvolkswagenMon, 14 Mar 2011 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19878001/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/14/video-how-the-swedes-make-a-vw-scirocco-hint-627-horsepower/19878001/article-detail.xml 19878001 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/swede-scirocco-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/swede-scirocco-630.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Mazda takes the MX-5 to the ice]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/25/video-mazda-takes-the-mx-5-to-the-ice/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/25/video-mazda-takes-the-mx-5-to-the-ice/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/25/video-mazda-takes-the-mx-5-to-the-ice/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mazda MX-5 Ice Drifting
Mazda MX-5 ice racing - Click above to watch video after the jump

Bentley isn't the only company that's been busy on the ice lately. Mazda just wrapped up a four-hour race in Åre, Sweden, that brought 20 MX-5 roadsters out on the open ice for a little fender-to-fender action.

Teams faced temperatures that dipped as low as -24 degrees Fahrenheit and stiff competition from racers from around the world. Spiked tires were standard equipment for all of the vehicles, though it's worth noting that the talent behind the wheel wasn't professional by any stretch of the imagination. Mazda invited fans and automotive journalists from a total of 26 countries to participate in the event.

While early on it looked as if a team from Australia would take home the checkered flag, a late-race spin allowed a Russian team to pull ahead and complete the most laps around the three-mile circuit within the four-hour time frame. Hit the jump to check out video from the event as well as the full press blast.


Gallery: Mazda MX-5 Ice Racing


[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Video: Mazda takes the MX-5 to the ice

Video: Mazda takes the MX-5 to the ice originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ice raceice racingmazdamazda mx-5mazda mx-5 ice racemazda mx-5 ice racingmx-5mx-5 ice racingFri, 25 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19859673/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/25/video-mazda-takes-the-mx-5-to-the-ice/19859673/article-detail.xml 19859673 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/mazda-miata-ice_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/mazda-miata-ice.jpg <![CDATA[Villeneuve heading to France to go ice racing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/30/villeneuve-heading-to-france-to-go-ice-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/30/villeneuve-heading-to-france-to-go-ice-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/30/villeneuve-heading-to-france-to-go-ice-racing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Jacques VilleneuveThere are any number of racing series around the world that are eager to welcome former F1 drivers onto their grids - and Jacques Villeneuve has tried nearly all of them. Traditional outlets have included DTM and Le Mans, to name just two, but lately retired grand prix drivers have found their groove again in such varied series as NASCAR and the World Rally Championship.

Alain Prost, however, has found satisfaction in his post-F1 career racing in the Andros Trophy. Now the four-time World Champion (the third most successful driver in F1 history behind Fangio and Schumacher) will have some company in the French ice racing series as fellow former champion Jacques Villeneuve hits the frozen grid as well.

The French Canadian driver recently abandoned efforts to get back into F1, and was tipped to focus his energies on making it in NASCAR, but will contest at least four rounds of the Andros Trophy this winter season, driving for recently crowned IRC champions Skoda alongside Olivier Panis. A former Monaco Grand Prix winner, Panis was last teamed with Villeneuve at BAR-Honda in the 2001 and 2002 Formula One World Championships. The pair will debut on ice at the season opener on December 4 at Val Thorens.

[Source: Andros Trophy via Autosport]

Villeneuve heading to France to go ice racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androsandros trophyice racingJacques Villeneuveskodatrophée androsvilleneuveTue, 30 Nov 2010 18:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19737785/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/11/30/villeneuve-heading-to-france-to-go-ice-racing/19737785/article-detail.xml 19737785 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/androsvilleneuve_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/androsvilleneuve.jpg <![CDATA[There Will Be Mud: An express course in ice racing with Subaru]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/there-will-be-mud-an-express-course-in-ice-racing-with-subaru/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/there-will-be-mud-an-express-course-in-ice-racing-with-subaru/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/there-will-be-mud-an-express-course-in-ice-racing-with-subaru/#commentsFiled under: ,

Subaru Ice Racing School - Click above for high-res image gallery

John Haugland, the man tasked with turning us flacks into ice racers, advised us to do several things the night before our instruction. For whatever reason, being "water positive" stuck with me the most. So before heading to bed I chugged a bottle and a half of water, woke up in the middle of the night, downed the other half and then drank another bottle before heading out to the makeshift circuit. When the time came to man-up in one slightly modified Subaru WRX, I had to liberate some liquid... badly.

Exacerbating my bursting bladder was the near-freezing temps of Park City, Utah, but despite the mid-30s weather and an early morning departure, by the time I rolled up to the staging lights, a fair amount of the course had succumbed to the sun. The result was a circuit comprised of equal parts snow and ice, with a few mud pits thrown in for dramatic measure.

But no matter the state of terra firma, sliding is sliding, grip is grip and opposite lock antics were mine for the taking, so after a quick trip to the port-o-potty I dialed in a few thousand revs, dropped the clutch and sped my way towards the first chicane. It took all of two turns and several muffled orders from Haugland to begin to see the allure of ice racing and understand what our man Tim has been proselytizing in his ongoing series.

My first go-round was suitably slow and occasionally sideways, but for the most part it was an exercise in anticlimactic understeering. And then... epiphany!


Gallery: Subaru Ice Racing School

Continue reading There Will Be Mud: An express course in ice racing with Subaru

There Will Be Mud: An express course in ice racing with Subaru originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredice racingIceRacingimprezastisubarusubaru impreza wrxsubaru impreza wrx stiSubaruImprezaWrxSubaruImprezaWrxStiwrxFri, 19 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19400652/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/19/there-will-be-mud-an-express-course-in-ice-racing-with-subaru/19400652/article-detail.xml 19400652 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/lead1subaruiceracing2010_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/lead1subaruiceracing2010.jpg <![CDATA[Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-6-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-6-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-6-w-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

THE THAW

You had to know it couldn't last forever. Most recently our Subaru ice racer was in action way up north in the wilds of Quebec, getting sideways on a frozen circuit. As it turns out, if we wanted to keep on racing we should have stayed up there. This form of motorsport needs frozen lakes and some unfortunately turbulent weather in the northeast over the past month didn't do the local bodies of water any favors. But, we were able to make it to one final event before the season was put to rest. We have some highlights to share below, including footage of what it looks like to be inside a pirouetting WRX, plus some discussion about how to safely stow your winter racing gear for the summertime off-season.


Gallery: Ice Racing at Warner Lake

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amecan introduction to ice racingAnIntroductionToIceRacingbridgestonebridgestone blizzakBridgestoneBlizzakfeaturefeaturedfeaturesice racingIceRacingintroduction to ice racingIntroductionToIceRacingmotorsportsubarusubaru wrxSubaruWrxFri, 12 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19395750/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-6-w-video/19395750/article-detail.xml 19395750 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/ice-racing-20100311-630-11_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/ice-racing-20100311-630-11.jpg <![CDATA[Face Off at Center Ice: 2010 BMW S 1000 RR [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/19/face-off-at-center-ice-2010-bmw-s-1000-rr-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/19/face-off-at-center-ice-2010-bmw-s-1000-rr-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/19/face-off-at-center-ice-2010-bmw-s-1000-rr-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,


BMW S 1000 RR with studs - Click above to watch the video after the break

We are amidst one of the most persistent bouts of winter weather many parts of the world have ever seen. Chalk it up to Punxsutawney Phil predicting six more weeks of this dreaded season, or perhaps just a good old fashion case of cabin fever, but either way, the crew at Max BMW Motorsport couldn't wait another second to give the 2010 BMW S 1000 RR a good Twist of the Wrist. What? You gonna let a few feet of ice stop you?

Take your regular old 193-horsepower Beemer, fit a set of Michelin Pilots with cleats and you have the makings of a good snow cone business. After watching the video, we think the new BMW S 1000 RR looks ready for battle - the exhaust note alone will confirm that. Plus, you can choose from four unique color selections, as well as BMW's typical A' la carte menu of safety and performance options.

Not convinced? The claimed best-in-class power-to-weight ratio may just quicken your pulse. If you find yourself sitting comfortably behind closed doors warming your toes by the fire while you await that first ride of spring, don't fret! Looks like Germany may have actually come up with a cure for the winter blues. Hit the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Two Wheels Blog]

Continue reading Face Off at Center Ice: 2010 BMW S 1000 RR [w/video]

Face Off at Center Ice: 2010 BMW S 1000 RR [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw s 1000 rrbmw s1000rrBmwS1000rrice racingIceRacingMax BMWMaxBmwFri, 19 Feb 2010 19:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19361264/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/19/face-off-at-center-ice-2010-bmw-s-1000-rr-w-video/19361264/article-detail.xml 19361264 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/bmw-s-1000-rr-ice_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/bmw-s-1000-rr-ice.jpg <![CDATA[Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 5 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/19/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-5-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/19/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-5-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/19/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-5-w-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

A TRACK DAY WITH SNOWBANKS



This week we're taking a bit of a break from the on-ice action that we've been covering so far this season, trading wheel-to-wheel antics for something more controlled. Way up north in the wilds of Quebec there's a facility called Mecaglisse that runs driving schools all year round. In the winter it hosts snowbound track days, events where people (generally in Subarus) show up and strut their stuff on a perfectly groomed ice surface bordered by tall snowbanks. It's like a stage plucked out of WRC Sweden, coiled around such that its end and beginning meet, and then presented for you to just keep on rallying over and over until you run out of gas -- which we very nearly did.

A track day at Mecaglisse was an opportunity for low-grip practice that we couldn't pass up, and we'll take you along with video of a hot lap on this frigid circuit. You'll also find some discussion about shifting technique below, so if you've ever wondered how to cover all three pedals in a standard car with only two feet, you'll want to click on through.


Gallery: Winter Track Day at Mecaglisse

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 5 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 5 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>an introduction to ice racingAnIntroductionToIceRacingfeaturefeaturedfeaturesice racingIceRacingintroduction to ice racingIntroductionToIceRacingmecaglissesubaruFri, 19 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19365154/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/19/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-5-w-video/19365154/article-detail.xml 19365154 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ricardo-20100219-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ricardo-20100219-630.jpg <![CDATA[Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 4 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-4-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-4-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-4-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

THE SEASON SLIDES ON

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 4 [w/video]

If you've been following along, you got your first ever taste of wheel-to-wheel action on ice last week - and in that first event things didn't go so well. We delivered a mediocre performance and, sadly, saw others deliver some damaged bodywork. Things would improve, though. In this, the fourth installment of An Introduction to Ice Racing, we'll cover rounds two and three of the AMEC 2010 season, show you how we fared at both, and again give you plenty of in-car (and on-car) footage to demonstrate just how much fun you can have on ice - without studs.


Gallery: Ice Racing at Lake Algonquin, NY

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 4 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 4 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>an introduction to ice racingAnIntroductionToIceRacingfeaturefeaturedfeaturesice racingIceRacingintroduction to ice racingIntroductionToIceRacingsubarusubaru wrxSubaruWrxFri, 12 Feb 2010 12:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19355354/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/12/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-4-w-video/19355354/article-detail.xml 19355354 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ice-race-hed-20100122-630-1265943183_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ice-race-hed-20100122-630-1265943183.jpg <![CDATA[Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 3 [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-3-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-3-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-3-w-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

HITTING THE ICE



The time has come to do it for real. We've walked you through the various classes offered by the club we'll be racing with, and we've shown you what it's like to drive at speed on the ice, so there's nothing left but to do it in anger. In this installment of An Introduction to Ice Racing we'll hit the first event of the season, tell you how to get ready to race once you're on the ice, and dazzle you with plenty of in-car video from first event's three heats - including footage of a few unfortunate incidents that left fenders crumpled and tensions flared.

It's all below, so click on through and check out the action. We promise not to put a single dent in your monitor.


Gallery: Ice Racing at Caroga Lake, NY

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 3 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 3 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featurefeaturedfeaturesiceice racingIceRacingimprezaintroduction to ice racingIntroductionToIceRacingsubarusubaru impreza wrxsubaru wrxSubaruImprezaWrxSubaruWrxwrxFri, 05 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19345672/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/05/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-3-w-video/19345672/article-detail.xml 19345672 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ice-race-hed-20100122-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ice-race-hed-20100122-630.jpg <![CDATA[Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/29/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/29/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/29/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-2/#commentsFiled under:

THE WHAT AND THE HOW Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2
It's time to delve a little further into the crazy, sideways world of ice racing - where grip is at a premium but the grins come cheap. In last week's first article in the series we gave you a little bit of information about the sport in general, or rather sports, and talked about the class structure used by AMEC, the club we'll be running with. We'll be participating in the street legal class with a 2002 Subaru WRX, a very early model purchased right after it finally hit American shores in 2001. It's mostly stock, but the club does have some required changes we'll cover here, and there are some other things you'll want to know before you show up on the ice.

What sorts of things? Well, one important thing is how to drive, or rather how to go quickly around a track of ice without getting yourself high-sided on a snowbank or bumper-locked with a competitor. So, we'll give you an overview of driving technique too, including a little demonstration video that'll give you your first taste of driving at-speed on-ice in a car with no studs. Click on through and join the fun.


Gallery: Ice racing preparation

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzakbridgestonebridgestone blizzakBridgestoneBlizzakfeaturefeaturedfeaturesiceice racingIceRacingintroduction to ice racingIntroductionToIceRacingmotorsportsubarusubaru wrxSubaruWrxFri, 29 Jan 2010 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19336726/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/01/29/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-2/19336726/article-detail.xml 19336726 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/ice-race-hed-20100122-630-1264723934_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/ice-race-hed-20100122-630-1264723934.jpg <![CDATA[Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/22/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/22/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/22/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , ,


"You race on what now?" This is the typical response given when the topic of ice racing comes up. People can't seem to get their head around the idea that you, a sane human being with as strong a survival instinct as the next guy/gal, would drive a car out onto a frozen lake at speeds upwards of 100mph - often sideways. Mention that the racing action is wheel-to-wheel against dozens of competitors at once and you're almost guaranteed to be labeled clinically insane.

Ice racers may be a little special but most are not insane, and if you live in parts of the world that get cold enough, you can join in their fun for a pittance. Ice racing is, dollars to seat time, one of the cheapest forms of motorsport out there. It's also one of the most thrilling and, for those of us who find ourselves driving in frequently inclement conditions, it's even a genuinely useful exercise. Sure, autocrossing is cheap, safe and educational, but where cone-dodging helps you find your car's limits, ice racing teaches you to drive far beyond them, to stay in control (or close to it) when by all rights you should be spinning wildly into a snowbank.

Just like we did last summer with karting, we're going to take you along for the ride and let you get a taste for ice racing. Naturally there will be some changes: instead of a racing suit we'll be investing in a set of thermals, and rather than sticky slicks we'll be budgeting for heavily siped snow tires. It's a whole different ball game, managing slip instead of grip, but the thrills are just as great. And, since you can compete with just about any car, it's open to almost anyone who has a need for speed -- and who doesn't mind spending the day hanging around on a frozen lake.


Gallery: Ice racing variety

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 1

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionfeaturefeaturedfeaturesiceice racingIceRacingintro to ice racingintroduction to ice racingIntroductionToIceRacingIntroToIceRacingracingsubarusubaru wrxSubaruWrxwinter drivingWinterDrivingwrxFri, 22 Jan 2010 14:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19326848/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/01/22/introduction-to-ice-racing-part-1/19326848/article-detail.xml 19326848 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/ice-race-hed-20100122-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/ice-race-hed-20100122-630.jpg <![CDATA[Snow Drift: Dacia Duster debuts for Trophée Andros with Alain Prost]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/18/snow-drift-dacia-duster-debuts-for-trophee-andros-with-alain-pr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/18/snow-drift-dacia-duster-debuts-for-trophee-andros-with-alain-pr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/18/snow-drift-dacia-duster-debuts-for-trophee-andros-with-alain-pr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Dacia Duster Trophée Andros - Click above for high-res image gallery

Let's set one thing straight here. The retirement of a leading Formula One driver is often portrayed as some sort of tragedy - for the driver himself especially. But the truth of the matter is that for a former World Champion, the world is his oyster. Retired F1 drivers can go on to compete in virtually any racing discipline they wish, with nothing to prove in the process. Of contemporary retired World Champions, Hakkinen and Rosberg went to DTM, Mansell took the Indy title, Lauda's training to become an astronaut and Villeneuve's gone...well, everywhere. But Alain Prost has gone another route entirely.

Having retired from F1 in 1994 after his fourth World Championship, Alain started his own team. Prost Grand Prix eventually folded in 2002, and the following year, the French driver began competing in the Trophée Andros. The most prominent ice racing series in the world, the Andros Trophy is held primarily in France where it draws some big names. World Touring Car Champion Yvan Muller won the Andros Trophy ten times, but in 2006 and 2007, Prost took the title twice in a row, driving a specially prepared Toyota Auris. This year, however, the quadruple F1 champion will be driving this: the new Dacia Duster.

Although a production version of the budget SUV won't be unveiled until Geneva in March - a year after the concept version debuted there - the Romanian subsidiary of French automaker Renault has given the world a sneak preview with this ice-racing version. Specially built by Renaultsport - the same outfit that fields single-seater formulae and makes all those wonderful hot hatches - the Duster ice racer packs Nissan's highly decorated VQ engine: a 3.0-liter 24-valve V6, mounted in the middle (that is, behind the driver) of a tubular chassis, driving 350 horsepower through a six-speed sequential gearbox to all four wheels via limited slip differential and a mechanical four-wheel-steering system. A fiberglass body helps keep weight down to just 2,100 lbs - the minimum allowed in the series - which should help Prost keep his competition on ice and keep Dacia fans (like Top Gear's James May) cool until the production version hits proper tarmac. Check out the full details in the press release after the jump and photos in our high-res image gallery below.


Gallery: Dacia Duster Andros Trophy


[Source: Dacia]

Continue reading Snow Drift: Dacia Duster debuts for Trophée Andros with Alain Prost

Snow Drift: Dacia Duster debuts for Trophée Andros with Alain Prost originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alain prostAlainProstandrosandros trophyAndrosTrophydaciadacia dusterdacia duster andros trophyDacia Duster Trophée AndrosDaciaDusterDaciaDusterAndrosTrophyDaciaDusterTrophéeAndrosdusterF1F1 world championF1WorldChampionFormula OneFormula One World ChampionFormulaOneFormulaOneWorldChampionice racerice racingIceRacerIceRacingprostrenaultrenault dusterrenault sportRenaultDusterRenaultSportTrophée AndrosTrophéeAndrosWed, 18 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19244326/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/18/snow-drift-dacia-duster-debuts-for-trophee-andros-with-alain-pr/19244326/article-detail.xml 19244326 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/web-01-dacia-andros_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/web-01-dacia-andros.jpg <![CDATA[Marlboro's Stars on Ice: Stoner beats Massa in winter kart race]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/marlboros-stars-on-ice-stoner-beats-massa-in-winter-kart-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/marlboros-stars-on-ice-stoner-beats-massa-in-winter-kart-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/marlboros-stars-on-ice-stoner-beats-massa-in-winter-kart-race/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click on the image above to see the ice kart race in high-resolution

What happens when you coop up a bunch of racers at a snow-capped ski resort for a few days? Well you can bet they'll be racing each other down the slopes. It's just in their blood. But snow or no snow, eventually they're going to find a way to race something motorized. And that's exactly what happened this past weekend in Madonna di Campiglio in the Italian Alps, where every winter Marlboro's two premier racing teams - Ferrari in Formula One and Ducati in MotoGP - meet to kick back before the racing season kicks off.

Apparently tired of swooshing down the slopes or hitting on Tamara Ecclestone in the lodge - the Formula One chief stopped by with his model daughter for a cup of hot cocoa - a handful of Ferrari drivers and Ducati riders went karting...on the ice and snow. With Ferrari test driver Marc Gene off to work testing the new F60 and Kimi Raikkonen out with tonsil trouble (shame, because he's the one with the most ice racing experience), test driver Luca Badoer, Felipe Massa and his brother Eduardo lined up against Ducati riders Casey Stoner, Nick Hayden and test rider Vittoriano Guareschi. Felipe, who organizes the occasional karting event in his native Brazil, was in the lead until his knee-scraping counterpart Casey Stoner passed him on the penultimate lap and beat him to the finish line. Hayden took the final step on the podium ahead of Badoer, Guareschi and Eduardo Massa, proving that, on ice at least, racing prowess on two wheels is worth at least as much as four.

Gallery: Ferrari vs. Ducati ice karting


[Source: Autosport]

Marlboro's Stars on Ice: Stoner beats Massa in winter kart race originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casey stonerCaseyStonerducatifelipe massaFelipeMassaferrari ducatiFerrariDucatiice kartingice racingIceKartingIceRacingmarlboromarlboro ducatimarlboro ferrariMarlboroDucatiMarlboroFerrarimassamassakartoff seasonOffSeasonstonerstoner kartStonerKartvroomTue, 20 Jan 2009 19:20:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1432862/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/01/20/marlboros-stars-on-ice-stoner-beats-massa-in-winter-kart-race/1432862/article-detail.xml 1432862 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/massa-icekart_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/massa-icekart.jpg <![CDATA[Let it snow: Ice Drag Races supplant luge as coolest winter sport]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/15/let-it-snow-ice-drag-races-supplant-luge-as-coolest-winter-spor/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/15/let-it-snow-ice-drag-races-supplant-luge-as-coolest-winter-spor/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/15/let-it-snow-ice-drag-races-supplant-luge-as-coolest-winter-spor/#commentsFiled under: ,



Ice racing has been around for a long time, but ice drag racing is fairly new. Well, new to us at least. The video accompanying the source article is incredible with a detailed overview of the sport and equipment. These things have 5,000 to 6,000 screws in each tire! There are also "Rubber" classes for street-tired vehicles, and at the top 140 mph bottle-fed supercharged dragsters. This particular frozen drag strip has been around since 1965, when the Merrill Ice Draggers started racing on Lake Alexander in Merrill, Wisconsin. The level of organization and the caliber of equipment used to stage these unique drag races boggles the mind.

Click through the read link for a video showing dragsters, muscle cars, and even a Gremlin trying to hustle down the icy 1/8 mile. As the Sentinel article tells us, Merrill Ice Draggers is a non-profit group that donates any surplus monies raised to local charities, including the Lincoln and Marathon County Humane Societies and Ronald McDonald House. Upcoming races are scheduled for Feb 17 and a benefit dance is also planned for March 31. Check out their website for more information.

[Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Let it snow: Ice Drag Races supplant luge as coolest winter sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drag racingDragRacingice racingIceRacingMerrill Ice DraggersMerrillIceDraggersThu, 15 Feb 2007 18:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/754645/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/02/15/let-it-snow-ice-drag-races-supplant-luge-as-coolest-winter-spor/754645/article-detail.xml 754645 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/picture-2_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/picture-2.png -1 2