Was dope. #1

Photo courtesy of volksforum.com

What to watch this weekend (Nov 18th - Nov 21st)

• Off Road Championship - The Kumbo Pro 4x4 class combine with the Amsoil Pro 2WD. Friday @ 4pm - 5pm (Discovery's High Def Theater)
• GT - Racer: Magny Cours: Drifting and endurance racing at Magny Cours in France. Sunday @ 11am - 12pm (Discovery's High Def Theater)
• Montery Motorsports Reunion - Honoring Dan Gurney. Sunday @ 3pm - 4pm (SPEED/SPEEDHD)
• Australian V8 Supercars - Symmons Plains; from Symmons Plains Raceway in Launceston, Tasmania. Sunday @ 5pm - 7pm (SPEED/SPEEDHD)
• Top Gear America - Premier episode. Sunday @ 10pm - 11pm  (History Channel/History Channel HD)

Vettel took the F1 Championship in Abu Dhabi like a big dog, but now the season is over. Aww. The 2011 F1 season should be even better and will be here before we know it. In the meantime, the Aussies are still tearin' up the tarmac and there's more GT Racer. I guessed right on the whole season being re-aired. Oh and I almost forgot...after years of back and forth with different networks, Top Gear America debuts on the History Channel. I hope it lives up to the legacy that precedes it.

photo courtesy of carmiddleeast.com

Quick Vid: Ford Escort RS Cosworth

Ford Escort RS Cosworth...I've thought more and more about these AWD gems from the early 90s lately, so I figured I'd dig up some history and share with those needing enlightenment. This automobile was the result of homologation for the Group A Rallye car Ford and Cosworth built a few decades back. In this clip Jeremy Clarkson does a spot on the demise of this and many other great sports cars of 'the day'. Even though this was broadcast when I was in middle school it almost feels like groundhogs day; as emissions and safety restrictions grow tighter worldwide, bidding adieu to future classics happens about every 7-10 years.



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Classic Vid: Porsche 936 Qualifying lap @ 1977 Le Mans.

Nothing better than classic racing footage. Enjoy.


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Car Pron: BMW M3 GTS

Track-ready Clubsport cars that you can buy directly from the manufacturer have been getting popular in the last several years. In essence it's the greatest thing you can hope for as an enthusiast with a wallet capable of tracking a higher end sports car; you get factory power upgrades, factory braking and chassis upgrades. More importantly you get all of these goodies with a warranty as well as exclusivity of models sold. The Porsche 911 GT3/GT3RS model has been the leader of this front for some time, with Challenge and Scudaria variants of Ferrari's base sports car models echoing the sentiment from Maranello. BMW has now entered the arena with a clubsport version of their latest (E92) M3, the M3 GTS. The V8 engine from the base M3 has grown in size to 4.4 Litres (a la E39 540i), putting out 450hp. Weight has been reduced (over the base M3) by a few hundred pounds even with the addition of a roll cage, enormous 14.6" front disks and an adjustable rear wing. Price tag? $170k USD. While I applaud BMWs' efforts to take care of their track loving customers' whims (customers outside of the US mind you, as it isn't going to be available here), I would by a 911 GT3RS for that money. I'm still golf clapping though.



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