Saturday, June 28, 2014

Saturday Morning Motorvation - Porsche One Direction

  This week's Saturday Morning "Motor"vation comes to us from Porsche Motorsports and their drivers training in only one direction.  They have a pit crew to handle everything else for them.  This is especially true at the Nurburgring during the 24 hour race.  When the cars come into the pit lanes, they enter either parrellel to the track or with the front pointed slighting inward because of the tight space and number of teams doubled up on the limited garages.  The pit crews will always lift the car on dollies and spin it pointing facing at an angle out for a faster and safer pit row exit.


Friday, June 20, 2014

Porsche Congratulates Audi for 2014 Le Mans and promises Rematch


This just released video, from Porsche, is a total class act.  Porsche graticously congratulates Audi on their victory, recognizes the hard work and successes of their teams and most important to us, confirms their return to next year's race.  Only three hundred and sixty days to go.



Wednesday, June 18, 2014

ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race: The 24 Hours of Nurburgring Viewers Guide

    First ran in 1970, the 24 hour race at the Nurburgring is one of most famous auto racing events in the world.  This fame comes from not only the location, the infamously long and notoriously dangerous track but also from the party atmosphere and impromptu camp ground/village that forms along the track.  Because of the extreme length of the track and it's meandering path through woods and villages, it's extremely assessable to the average race fan.  There is no requirement to purchase expensive tickets to sit near the track (like in F1), for the Nurburgring, one can simply walk through the woods and stand at the fencing a few feet from the edge of the track.  Of course, this accessibility has backfired during the past ten years as more and more spectators fill the edges of the track and stake their claim.



  This year, the homemade grand stands, tents and elevated platforms were popping up more than ten days before the start of the race.  As the crowds grown in size, the competition for prime viewing areas increases.  It is still entirely possible to show up on the day of the race and catch the action and the majority of the spectators are accommodating and accepting of others, a visit must be prepared for the large crowds and traffic.  During the tourist days and even the VLN races, it's fairly simple to park along one of the roads or parking lots and find a spot along the track, during the 24 hour race it's a completely different scenario.


  In addition to the spectator areas being jammed pack, the track will be completely full as well.  More than 200 hundred cars will take to the 26 kilometer course at almost the same time.  The speed differences between the classes of cars varies greatly and the tight track leads to some rubbing and crashing.  Only the best drivers are able to keep their car running at full speed and on the track when it's empty, add hundreds of other cars trying to do the same and it's guaranteed chaos.


  In addition to staking a claim track side, tickets are available to enter the F1 Grand Prix circuit section of the course.  These relatively inexpensive tickets give you access to the grand stand seating area and also the in-field viewing area.  This year, BMW is a major sponsor of the race and have arranged multiple activities and displays centered around their M Series cars.  The in-field area will also be completely packed with the drivers, support teams and their vehicles along with various food and merchandising vendors.




  If you are unable to travel to Germany to watch the race firsthand, there are a few online viewing options available.  http://www.24h-rennen.de/en/live will be broadcasting the race and there are numerous other websites and video streaming services to catch the action.  Unfortunately there are no televised broadcast coverage of the race stateside. 


 The only European racing available on TV in the US will be the F1 Austrian Grand Prix which will be a great race, just not as epic as the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.



http://www.24h-rennen.de/en/live Live streaming of the race, in English



https://www.facebook.com/24hNurburgring This is the official Facebook page for the race, in German but between Facebook's translate option and Google translate, you can decipher the posts






Monday, June 16, 2014

F1 Austrian Grand Prix

This coming weekend will be another big one for motor sports.  In addition to another 24 hour race (Le Mans last weekend, Nurburgring this weekend) Formula 1 is back at on the track.  The teams are back in Europe for the Austria Grand Prix on 22 June.  The Austrian circuit is a 4.325 kilometer course with nine turns.  The race will consist of 71 laps, covering a total distance of 307.020 kilometers.

  There is no doubt that Lewis Hamilton will be pushing again hard at this one.  Despite his four wins in a row at the start of this season, he failed to take first in the last two races.  In Monaco, a month ago, he was beat out by his team mate Nico Rosberg and had to settle for second. During the last race, the Canadian GP, vehicle problems forced him to retire from the race early.

  The action starts on Friday, 20 June with two practices, followed by practice 3 and qualifying on Saturday afternoon.  The race kicks off on Sunday 22 June  at 2pm Austrian time (8 am for those on the US East Coast).  NBC Sports will broadcast the practice, qualifying and pre-race shows on Friday and Saturday.  The race will air on NBC Sporsts on Saturday morning.  

Michael Schumacher out of the hospital

According to the "Michale Schumacher (MSC) Facebook page, the official spokesman for the driver, "Michael is no longer in a coma and has left Grenoble Hospital. His further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye."
  It's great to hear that he is out of the coma and going through some more rehabilitation, we hope for the best for him and his family and continue to support him  We also hope that everyone, especially journalists/paparazzi continue to honor and respect the family by leaving them alone and not violate their privacy just to get a story.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

24h Le Mans - Less than ten minutes to start

  In less than ten minutes, the 82nd running of the 24 hours of Le Mans will kick off.  This year will be an epic battle between Audi and Porsche among all the other classes of cars.  You can catch all the action on Fox Sports or at 24h-lemans.com

Saturday Morning Motorvation: Father's Day Edition - The Norton Project

Since tomorrow is Father's Day, we thought this would be the perfect Saturday Morning Motorvation.  Unfortunately, because tomorrow is Father's Day, you probably won't be able to put together anything this cool for your dad by tomorrow.


Sunday, June 8, 2014

F1 Canadian Grand Prix

The practice and qualifying are completed and there's only a few hours left till this one kicks off.  Should be a great race and since it's in North America at a 'normal' time.  NBC Sports Network coverage kicks off at 1:30 pm this afternoon, thirty minutes before race time.  Just switch over to NBC at 2 for the live race coverage.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

24 Hours of Le Mans App for IPhone and Android

Look's like a great way to catch all the action, especially for those of us on this side of the Atlantic without full TV coverage and limited streaming options.

24 hours of Le Mans App

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Michelin x Porsche Le Mans Documentary: We Are Racers - Ep 1

This year's 24 hours of Le Mans is only a few week's away and Porsche continues their hype.  We are all looking forward to watching them and see how this race shapes up.  They are definitely prepared for the race but with Le Mans, anything can happen.



Sunday, June 1, 2014

Grand Theft Auto Prank by fouseyTUBE

Crazy prank but I have to wonder why the guy in the backseat remained so calm about the whole thing.  I think a lot of people would have really started to fight this guy or try to choke him out when he was driving.