Video: 2011 Volvo S60 flogged around track by... blindfolded Kiwi racer?!

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volvo

Jonny Reid drives the Volvo S60... blindfolded - Click above to watch the video after the break

We don't exactly know why this video was filmed, other than the fact that it's somehow supposed to make us more interested in the Volvo S60, but we don't really care - just because it's cool is reason enough for us.

In any case, well-known Kiwi racer Jonny Reid, who is currently competing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, belted himself into the driver's seat of a brand new 2011 Volvo S60 sedan at the starting line at Hampton Downs Motorsports Park in New Zealand.

No big deal, right? Not until you consider the fact that Reid was blindfolded and going all out based solely on his knowledge of the track and the instructions from his co-driver, Earl Bamber. We can't really say how it compares to any other times, but he ended up lapping the track in one minute and 28 seconds.

Now, it should be noted that Reid knows Hampton Downs very well. In fact, he's a track instructor during driver training and corporate events. Still, the video is pretty darn cool, and in the end, that's all we really care about, right? See for yourself after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo S60: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Car & SUV]

Continue reading Video: 2011 Volvo S60 flogged around track by... blindfolded Kiwi racer?!

Video: 2011 Volvo S60 flogged around track by... blindfolded Kiwi racer?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

A1GP drag races a Boeing 777 in New Zealand

Noah Joseph — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Australia

Car vs. Jet. It's an epic battle that never seems to end, with new contenders continuously lining up on the runway. And we love it. Top Gear raced a Bugatti Veyron down the runway and back against a Eurofighter, Lamborghini pitted its jet-inspired Reventon against a Tornado, Audi raced its Le Mans-winning R10 TDI against an RAF Harrier jump-yet at Goodwood and Spyker F1 faced off against a Royal Dutch Air Force F16 fighter. (Volkswagen even pulled a 747 jumbo jet with a Touareg V10 TDI.) Now meet the latest challengers: "Black Beauty", Team New Zealand's Zytek-powered Lola A1GP race car, against an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-200ER.

The showdown took place on the runway at Auckland International Airport between Kiwi racer Jonny Reid and Air New Zealand pilot Dave Morgan as a publicity event to promote the A1GP races in Taupo, New Zealand this coming weekend. The promotional event seems a little at odds with the recent announcement that the series was switching to bio-ethanol for environmental reasons, but you know what? We don't care. (That's what AutoblogGreen is for.)

Neither did the masses of spectators, who reportedly lined up in the light rain by the terminal windows and alongside the airport perimeter to see the race. Two drag races were staged down the runway: In the first run, the A1GP car had trouble gaining traction off the line in the wet and the 777 won (with a light load and a head start, mind you), but in the second round the racing slicks gripped onto the tarmac and the car took the checkered wind-stocking ahead of the jet. A draw, then - we'll just have to wait for the next showdown.

Follow the jump for the video and press release.

[Source: A1GP]

Continue reading A1GP drag races a Boeing 777 in New Zealand

A1GP drag races a Boeing 777 in New Zealand originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments