Autoblog

CNN catches up with champion handcyclist Alex Zanardi

Jeffrey N. Ross — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:01:00 EST

Alex Zanardi has faced many challenges since a devastating 2001 accident at a CART race in Germany left him a double amputee, but the 46-year-old Italian is in excellent spirits these days after coming off a gold-medal performance in the 2012 Summer Paralympics. In a video interview on CNN, Zanardi acknowledges that he cheated death in auto racing, and he is now seeing how far he can push himself in his latest sport, hand-bike racing.

He first began cycling in 2007 as way to keep fit, although his competitive spirit quickly kicked in as he looked for ways not only to race but also to improve the sport, such as helping develop the carbon-fiber body for his hand bike. Zanardi averages about 28 miles per hour on the machine, which is far slower than the 200+ mph of his CART race car, but still faster than the 25-mph speed limit for motorcycles in Italy.

In comparing his bike to his former open-wheel racer, Zanardi says that the "dashboard" display on his hand bike is more complicated than the gauges he would see in a car. While he is still looking to get back into car racing, it seems that he's thoroughly enjoying his new role in competitive paracycling.

The interview is posted below.

Continue reading CNN catches up with champion handcyclist Alex Zanardi

CNN catches up with champion handcyclist Alex Zanardi originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ex F1 racer Zanardi wins cycling gold at London Paralympics

Zach Bowman — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

Former Formula One racer Alex Zanardi took the Paralympic gold in para-cycling earlier this week by laying down a time of 24:50.22. Para-cycling pits competitors against one another in handbike races. On taking the checkered flag, Zanardi slid from his carbon-fiber bike and hoisted it above his head with one hand in triumph. The victory underscores just how far the former race car driver has come since September 15, 2001.

Nearly 11 years ago to the day, Zanardi was competing in a CART race in Lausitz, Germany when a horrific crash saw a competitor clip across the front of his car at nearly 200 miles per hour. The impact took both his legs, and the racer lost over 70 percent of his blood before he got to the hospital. Miraculously, he survived, and while doctors cautioned of a lengthy recovery, Zanardi was walking again in months. Dissatisfied with his prosthetic legs, he designed a set of his own, and it wasn't long before he returned to auto racing in specially-modified cars.

Originally, Zanardi began hand biking to stay in shape, but slowly began competing. This week, he bested former gold medalist Oscar Sanchez for the win.

Ex F1 racer Zanardi wins cycling gold at London Paralympics originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mini "Britalian Job" celebrates London Olympics with sendup of heist film

Zach Bowman — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:44:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Mini, UK, Celebrities

Mini is gearing up for the Olympics in a big way. The company has released a short film featuring a gaggle of former gold medalists, including Daley Thompson, James Cracknell, Jonathan Edwards and Matthew Pinsent. Thompson plays the ringleader of an elite driving squad sent to retrieve a set of gold medals pilfered by none other than supermodel Jodie Kidd. In the film, Kidd sets to tearing through London on a supermoto, pursued by three London 2012 Edition Mini Cooper models. The scenes feature some iconic shots lifted from the classic 1969 film The Italian Job.

Directed by Top Gear lead director Phil Churchward, the clip boasts some impressive stunt driving. There's even a close-formation jump that includes all three Mini models as they sail through the air. Check out the full show for yourself to see what we mean.

Continue reading Mini "Britalian Job" celebrates London Olympics with sendup of heist film

Mini "Britalian Job" celebrates London Olympics with sendup of heist film originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi is the official premium car of the Beijing Olympics

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 11:07:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Audi, Volkswagen

At the Shanghai Auto Show, Audi showed off a "Passion for Movement" A8L, part of the "Official Premium Car" fleet for the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. As sponsor of both the Olympics and the Paralympics, Audi is providing more than 1,000 chauffeured A6L's, A8L's, and Q7's for competitors, officials, and VIP guests.

The Passion for Movement project will also include concerts and cultural events in advance of the games to promote the Olympics -- and Audi -- around the world. Partnering with Audi are Adidas and Air China. The most intriguing part of the program might be the "Olympic Extended Family," in which Audi dealers in 87 cities will get an "Olympic Corner" for marketing purposes and merchandise sales. The aim of the extended family project is "to extensively motivate dealers and employees and to further intensify their commitment to the Audi brand." Perhaps it is just a coincidence in light of another auto maker's push to rally the troops, but Audi certainly does provide a nice template: good events and good marketing in support of good products.

[Source: Fourtitude]

Audi is the official premium car of the Beijing Olympics originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Apr 2007 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments