Autoblog

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The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is a racing machine, that's what the three letter suffix denotes (American Club Racer), of course. You don't even have to be within 100 feet of the Viper ACR to know what it is, that wing on the back clues you in. Somewhere, a 737 is missing an elevator flap. If you were to somehow miss the gigantic horizontal stabilizer, the ACR's paint scheme with its wicked-looking asymmetrical stripes announce what it is from a mile away.

The current Viper enjoys a reputation as a natural at the track, though it needs to be handled with a steady, heavy hand. The ACR strips a lot of equipment away in the name of weight savings, and some componentry is swapped out to bring unsprung mass down, as well. The result is a car with even sharper responses than the already born-to-run "regular" Viper. PentastarVideo has supplied us with a very entertaining video, apparently from Chrysler Design Veep Ralph Gilles, of some ACRs ripping it up at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana. Here we sit, using a corporate high-speed internet connection to live vicariously through a heavily compressed piece of video media. Oh cruel world, why can't we just have a Viper and a road course at our disposal?

Follow the jump to watch the action

Gallery: 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR

Vertu has long been cultivating an image of association with the pinnacle of automotive excellence through their branding, use of materials and special editions. The latest effort is a collaboration with Ferrari, that Italian stallion that seemingly manages to get its name on everything these days.

Following on the heels of the exclusive Racetrack Legends series, the Ferrari Challenge edition is likewise based on the sporty Ascent handset that features proprietary "liquid alloy" construction, jewel bearings, a sapphire crystal screen and distinctive leather trim. The Ferrari version is differentiated by a Prancing Horse emblem near the mouthpiece, black and red leather with embossed Ferrari insignia, and a drilled accelerator pedal on the back.

[Source: Sybarites]

Easily one of the coolest automotive sites on the 'net is Trackpedia.com, and the motorsports community continues to flesh out this wiki with telemetry data. Back when we last checked in six months ago, the site had data for only one track, but Trackpedia administrator Billy Newport recently alerted us to the fact that there is now information available for 21 tracks - including venues such as Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca, and Buttonwillow. Included for most of these tracks is a speed-vs-segment map (shown above), as well as speed and lateral/longitudinal acceleration graphs.

Most of the data is provided by use of a MSD/Racepak G2X data-acquisition system, which appears to quickly be establishing itself as the economical system of choice (and yes, we're aware that the term "telemetry" isn't quite accurate for such a system, but we're not going to waddle into a debate over semantics). Certainly, with the price of such technology continuing to drop, we can expect to see more of this information available as time goes on.

[Source: Trackpedia.com]

OK, maybe there is a good reason to move back to the Illinois. On October 4, the wonderfully insightful city of Naperville opened the gates to the country's first public-private automobile test track. The Test Track, built by the City of Naperville at a cost of $1.5 million, is to be used by 12 local automobile dealerships. It's located on a 9-acre piece of property near Aurora and Ogden Avenues, where many of the city's dealerships are located. The enclosed test-driving facility is illuminated for night operations and includes an asphalt track with the following features:

• A 100-foot-long cobblestone surface to simulate driving on a
• brick road.
• A 10 percent hill climb incline intended to replicate driving on a
• dirt road.
• High bank testing area with a 10 percent cross slope.
• Rough road testing on concrete pavement with embedded boulders.
• Suburban driveway and curb comprised of standard concrete driveway.
• Skid pad area consisting of asphalt pavement, irrigated so that it is constantly wet for wet braking tests.
• Three security/Web cameras used to show activity on the track and allowing for live feeds to participating car dealers.
• A simulated railroad crossing.

According to Naperville Mayor George Pradel, "The idea moves many of the customers who are test-driving vehicles off the streets and out of the nearby neighborhoods, thereby lessening congestion and increasing the safety of other motorists." Although the city owns the track facility, the dealers will chip in for its upkeep in exchange for access. We demand that every major city in America build one of these NOW. But let us play with the design a bit. A 1/4 mile drag strip, SOLO II autocross course, and a Nardo-length straightaway for top speed testing are conspicuously absent from the city of Napersville's design.

Thanks for the tip, Chris!

[Source: The City of Naperville]