I Need to Defend My Boys

Porsche is one of the biggest names in the business, and yes the 911 "hasn't changed in 40 years", we know all about it. Except in almost every way possible it has. Lets end this whole discussion on the engine being in the wrong place because yes, dynamically it is in an awkward position. But I'm curious, where's the engine in a Formula One Car? It isn't in the front, or the middle. They don't seem to have too much of a problem since they can corner at 190 mph and pull 4 lateral G's. Weight distribution was somewhat of a difficult task in the early 911's but you cannot deny the fact that it is what defines Porsche as who they are. Porsche 911's of today are some of the most poised cars on the road. However they will never feel as good as a cayman because of the engine placement, but a cayman will never be a 911. The 911 is one of the most iconic cars in the motoring world, and anyone who would argue this doesn't really grasp the ideas of sport cars or motor sports too well. I'm sure we've all watched Top Gear, it is my favorite show, but please don't listen to every word that comes out of Mr. Clarkson's mouth. He always says that Porsche design is so lazy and it hasn't changed, but it has. So when you go and say the same thing, it's an immediate clue that a) you have no idea what you're on about and b) you're taking the words out of his mouth with no real knowledge of the subject. Having never been in a 911 makes your argument even less credible. I've been in 911's from every era, from the first 930's all the way up to the 997.2 GT3 RS. Want to try and tell me there's no change? Obviously they look somewhat similar but every time they evolve to make it that much better. When looking at other car models and seeing the drastic change, it's usually because they have to change them. The 911 has always been the case of fine tuning and keeping with tradition. There's a sense of pride these engineers have about this car, why are you trying to deny them from it? The same could be said about Audi. Their engines were almost in front of the front axel, which would cause horrific understeer. But they weren't too bothered by that, seeing as how they won countless rallies and branded the "Quattro" name doing so. Every car has a defining feature, BMW's inline six, which has always been fantastic. But again, you get people who will listen to a straight piped e46 M3 and say "That rasp is terrible, sounds like my lawnmower". That rasp however doesn't sound like your lawnmower, it is an iconic soundtrack that a connoisseur will recognize. In closing, please take some time to look past all the common stereotypes to investigate the truth, you may turn out to love something you once didn't.  A while back I bought into all that talk about being lazy and the cars were ugly, but spend a day with one and you'll start to understand. I've developed a passion for these cars and I'm sure you could as well. Oh and for good measure, here's a list of all Porsche's achievements due to their "lack" of design...

▪                14 Makes and Team World Championship              

▪                3 IMSA Supercar-Series

▪                6 German Racing Championship

▪                20 European Hill Climbing Championship

▪                22 Daytona 24 Hours 

▪                15 IMSA Supercar-Race (USA)

▪                16 24 Hours of Le Mans

▪                18 12 Hours of Sebring

▪                1 Rallye-Weltmeisterschaft

▪                11 Targa Florio

▪                4 Rallye Monte Carlo

▪                2 Paris-Dakar Rally

          1 Formula One victory 

Bring me spring

Few things in the world can excite petrol heads as much as car racing. Maybe watching it on the television can get boring, but there is nothing like being at a track. All the noise, the smell, the excitement and the beautiful machines is a great experience. Unfortunately, the winter months up north mean that most car racing is on stand by. For those seeking a thrill indoors though, there is always the indoor carting experience which holds us over till the brisk spring days. But there is nothing like being outside in real cars. Not only are people up north affected by the winter, these months also mean breaks for various race series. I've made a habit this year of waking up at ridiculous hours to watch Sebastian Vettel claim his second Formula One title. I miss Formula One and the American Le Mans Series. Winter needs to be over quick, or at least have some snow so we can all go to empty parking lots and make ourselves either look like heros or the exact opposite of that...

I think we could all use a divine wind...

I'll start off by apologizing now if I seem to be too biased but it is just passion. The same type of passion this beautiful man has shown the world through his automobiles. Horacio Pagani is a man with a vision, much like all of us. I believe Pagani to be a link between the heavens and the mortal world. He started from scratch learning his trade with Lamborghini and eventually went out on his own to conquer the supercar frontier. A place where companies like Ferrari and Lamborghini leave no prisoners, the "built in shed" supercars come and go. I already did a piece of Mr. Pagani so you already know his story. He started with the Zonda, one of the all time greats, and now that his company is flourishing it is time for his newest creation. The Pagani Huayra is the latest masterpiece and has taken him and his designers seven years to build. The new model looks fantastic and keeping with Zonda tradition, it is still as crazy. It is named after a South American wind god, keeping in the Pagani tradition as well. The attention to detail with the car is something to behold. It is an aesthetic beauty that you can only find on some of the greats, and this car has it in spades. Every single piece has such acute detail, from the carbon fiber weave to the metal finishes. The gauges were built by Swiss watch makers and are said to cost around $5000. The engine is the usual Mercedes built AMG. A 6.0 liter V12 power plant, blown with bi-turbo's and producing over 700 horsepower and 1000nm of torque. With a top speed around 230 mph and low 3 second 0-60 times, the Huayra also goes with the vigor that a Pagani should. While the Huayra is the Zonda's successor, the two cars are not alike. Other than the Huayra's astronomical price tag of 1.3 million, something I wouldn't even think twice about, the cars are designed on two different concepts. It was very interesting listening to Mr. Pagani speak about his influence for the two cars. He has always said the Zonda philosophy was based on a group C Le Mans prototype and with the looks and that unbelievable soundtrack, it isn't hard to see where he is coming from. The inspiration for the Huarya however was taken from an airplane at take off, just as it leaves the ground. Watching him struggle to explain this to interviewers, you can feel the passion through the screen. He loves these cars so much, they essential are him, reincarnated into a carbo-titanium shell that will leave almost every car in its wake. Listening to the Huarya on full chat, you will quickly understand the airplane reference. I will leave a video to watch, so please do that. Oh and I almost forgot the best part about the Huarya, it will be sold in the United States. If you can afford one get your checkbook out, if you can't then get the cameras ready, because this car is going to be quite a spectacle. Watch the whole thing if you want or just go to 2:30 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRBCbMy_Tw0

Powering The Future

Hybrids seem to be the "it" thing at the moment and to be brutally honest, I can't see why. This whole idea about saving the environment is very important, but how much saving are you actually doing with your eco-box? If you were to look beyond all the hype, I'd say not much. Of course you'll use less gas than a normal car, but in the real world, you will struggle to get the claimed numbers. And what about that battery? The nickel for a Prius battery is first mined in Canada at a location known as the "smoke stack", where there is no significant form of life for approximately three miles due to the pollution. Then it must be shipped to Europe and refined, then on to China and Japan for final production. The battery does more miles before being put in the car than you'll do in the first year, not to mention all the pollution along the way. Disposal of the battery is another issue, they are extremely expensive and I doubt the acid will recycle well. Electric cars powered by batteries alone are just as bad, only even more impractical. The range is extremely limited and charging stations are far and few between. But remember, when you do find a charging station, where is that electricity coming from to power your "save the world" car? It's coming from a massive power plant, burning an enormous amount of fossil fuel and throwing more carbon dioxide into the air than the "saved" plants can convert. People buy into the hype too much and overlook some possible options. Diesel power is just as economical as a hybrid but with almost none of the drawbacks. I think diesel is hugely underrated and the demand for diesel powered cars in the United States should be greatly increased. It is a very useful power plant. Yes, you are still using fuel, but you are in a hybrid as well. All of these options are only temporary fixes as I see it. To me, there is one clear choice to save us all, hydrogen. The Honda FCX Clarity is absolutely brilliant and the rest of the world needs to get on board with what Honda is doing because it is near perfect. It uses an electric motor, but it is powered by hydrogen, not a battery. The only waste product is water, and it doesn't need to be charged. You simply go to a gas station and fill it up like a normal car with compressed hydrogen which is man-made and inexhaustible. The way I see it, everything that is powered by a gasoline engine can be replaced with a hydrogen drive. It is a new technology so quirks would need to be dealt with, but once moved past that, the possibilities would be endless. Airplanes, trains, ships, trucks and cars would never need fossil fuels again. The fuel crisis would be over and the environment would thrive. I am a massive petrol head and I'll want the sports car to never die, but with this new hydrogen power, I think the sports car would be preserved. This was an observation Jay Leno made and I think it is absolutely spot on. The time is now for hydrogen to power the future, the world and future generations desperately need it.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3V3trzcKQk

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To all my readers out there, I would sincerely appreciate it if you could follow the link below. I'm trying to get the page likes up. I'm looking to make the Facebook page a more lively event with pictures and captions. Please do your best. Thank you...

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"Old School"

Growing up in the 21st century, I've been surrounded by sleek, modern and advanced cars. The posters in my bedroom are all of recent 997 Porsches and newer BMW's. New is the only way I've known so far. But over the last year or so, I've come into touch with more classic rides. I believe that older cars of previous generations had something special about them. There was an aesthetic substance to them which you can't really quantify. New cars are jammed full with new technologies making them faster, stronger, safer and "better" than whatever came before. Apart from the safety part, which I have no issues with since I don't want my knees to be a crumple zone, do these "better" technologies really mean better? I'm going to argue that they do not entirely. Of course, using launch control is very impressive, showing all you're friends how quickly a computer can get you off the line. But wouldn't you have a greater sense of satisfaction in doing it yourself? And what about this ongoing horsepower war? When will it end? I have to utmost respect for those constantly pushing the boundaries of what an engineering team can get out of an engine, look at Porsche's flat six, or Ferrari's tiny V8's. They continuously push the envelope, achieving marvels only certain car companies could dream of doing. Other car manufacturers use force induction to get massive amounts of horsepower from smaller capacity engines. But these new engines and cars are quieter, sound generators are becoming an ever-present part of new cars. Baffles in exhaust open and close depending upon your preference. Why can't they be open all the time? Again, I'm not going to say these new cars and technologies are bad, but sometimes simpler is better. There is a raw, mechanical feeling that is lacking in these new models. There is such a visceral component of older super cars. If you haven't heard the engine note of a Mclaren F1 at full chat, I beg of you to search Youtube immediately.Whenever I go to Lime Rock Park, I see all these beautiful new super cars and I really do mean beautiful. But then you see the occasional '72 Carrera RS, or the original e30 M3 with ///M livery and I am just a loss for words. They seem so much more special and unique. Cars of this nature seem to form relationships with those who drive them. You really do become "one" with them. Someone who values the art of driving can appreciate this type of relationship. Sitting low and slung, cocooned in a metal shell. With no electronic aids, a manual gearbox and the sound of brutal engine. I believe the folks at Singer Porsche know what I'm on about. Their 911, "Restored-Reimagined-Reborn", is an excellent example of how fantastic old cars can be. They capture this aesthetic substance that I've been banging on about.  Unfortunately, I think this time in automotive history has finally peaked. The last couple years have marked the last of the true breed. Yes, cars will continue to get faster, lap times will continue to drop and economy will go up, but at what cost? With news of increased pressure on fuel economy and emissions, I can't see some of the companies who made their name in motorsport, thrive like they have. Could you imagine the governing body walking through the front doors of Sant'Agata Bolognese and saying by a certain date your cars need to produced over 40 mpg? Ferruccio would roll over in his grave, if he hasn't already. I understand this is the way forward for cars, and I realize people will still buy them. I respect this and I will be forced to take part in it as well, but it doesn't seem right. I just want to be taken to a place where it's me, seat, stick, and a truly great road. Something old school...