Every year we sit on our couches watching Formula One or NASCAR thinking to ourselves, 'Ya know, I could be competitive had I wanted to become a professional race car driver, I just chose not to'. Suuure buddy - keep telling yourself that.
The annual Toyota Celebrity/Pro race is evidence that we are likely very wrong. Pro BMX rider Dave Mirra won the event this past Saturday, holding off Martina Navratilova and Mike Skinner (IMDB Link: I didn't know who he was either) by a few seconds. What most spectators hope for is no different than a professional race - crashes!
Apparently it takes far more than the build of a famous scientologist and deep pockets to become a professional race car driver. George Lucas, the genius behind Star Wars, found this out the hard way when he forgot to brake and started playing bumper cars. I admit it does look fun though!
A few weeks ago we reported on a number of cannonball-style automotive rallies held around the world, and now a new one worth mentioning has entered the fray. The Arab Run appears to be the real deal, starting in the most talked about city in the World, Dubai.
Assuming my calculations are correct, the entry fee is around 2700 dollars, making this rally inexpensive by both rally and Middle Eastern standards. Being the first year, Arab Run is lacking many of the characteristics of more establish rallies, such as Celebrities or legendary brushes with the law - but give it time!
The rally starts on April 27th so be sure to check out their web site for updates: http://www.arabrun.com
Like most readers I grew up around Wranglers and Cherokees, so when the latter went the way of the dodo I was eager to see Jeep's replacement. The Liberty was disappointing for a variety of reasons, with cheap styling being the biggest offender. Cherokees were synonymous with rugged yet classic lines, while the Liberty looked like something Barbie would drive to Ken's house.
This new Liberty promises to be more fitting of the Jeep name, with an aggressive exterior and more impressive performance than the previous model. It recently debuted at the New York Auto Show under rainy skies. The abysmal weather did not dampen the spirits of journalists as it appears Jeep is finally getting back on track despite parent company Chrysler's eminent divorce from Daimler.
The Lexus LS460 sedan has more tricks than Inspector Gadget.Previous generations of Lexus' flagship were recognized for their unparalleled reliability, comfort, and resale value.Lexus chose a different route with the new LS by emphasizing seemingly useless features instead.Hooray for marketing!
The experience begins with the SmartAccess feature which allows the driver to “open the trunk and start the ignition - all without having to take your keys out of your pocket or purse”.I guess it was too much to take your key out, disarm the alarm, and start the car.This feature is actually pretty convenient having used it on late model Mercedes sedans, but it’s not that cool.
Once on the road, the driver can relax by activating the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control which adjusts the vehicle’s speed so you don’t run into the car in front of you.What worries me about this feature is that between talking on the phone and checking the vanity mirror, drivers will pay even less attention to the road.
I shouldn't be concerned though as Lexus has thought of everything.As part of the same 2,850 dollar package, the Pre-Collision System assists the driver by providing maximum braking power when an accident is unavoidable. Of course a lengthy disclaimer states the PCS system is not a substitute for safe driving habits – I’d certainly hope not.
Not impressed yet? Well get ready to be impressed.Almost every advertisement about the new Lexus mentions the Advanced Parking Guidance System.In this commercial a handsome 40 year-old man finds a spot that requires him to parallel park.This should be the first sign of something fishy as we all know LS owners are over 65 and always valet.The stylish sedan miraculously parks itself while the driver watches in amazement.The verdict is still out on whether or not this system works, but check out the Lexus commercial and then an independent test by some automotive journalists - the results are slightly different.
Maybach, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley engineers must be losing sleep wondering why they didn’t invent this first.As Borat would say, NOT!
Bullitt, Days of Thunder, Ronin, The Cannonball Run, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Le Mans, The Fast and the Furious, Rebel Without a Cause. What do these classics have in common with the upcoming movie, Redline? Nothing. Destined to be the automotive version of Torque but with lesser stars, Redline is scheduled to premiere on April 13th after months of online promotion.
My expectations for this movie couldn't be any lower. Starring Eddie Griffin, Tim Matheson, and Angus MacFadyen, the director and the rest of the cast are about as well-known in the film industry as you are. The selection of exotic vehicles is impressive, but the reason why "The Fast and the Furious" was entertaining is because there was a plot, no matter how hard it was to find. Depending on which Redline trailer you watch, the movie is based on two protagonists, three kingpins, half a dozen exotic vehicles, and many, many women in "Daisy Dukes". Think LA Auto Show meets Girls Gone Wild.
Like a car accident - the curiosity over how bad the wreckage is will likely drive me to the theatres. However, in an attempt to save you ten dollars I have compiled a number of clips that feature the same exotic cars in Redline. I have even included a video from the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show so you can get your female fix as well.
Exotic Car Top-Speed Run:
Bugatti Veyron and Porsche Carrera GT Autobahn Run:
The unconditional love that people give their vehicles can border on obsession. My name is James and I have suffered from this affliction since the first ride in my father's Alfa Romeo GTV as a child. My condition worsened when I drove his rusting Porsche at age 13, and it reached a full blown madness on my 16th birthday.
Fast forward twelve years, and I am still hopelessly in love with the internal combustion engine in all forms. After running a garage, having my car appear in some magazines, and owning the largest BMW enthusiasts web site in the world, Lifeskool tapped my resources to bring you the buzz on transportation.
My goal is to show you what's hot for automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts, and hopefully raise your level of knowledge too. While the Internet provides a real-time view of the world, too often there is no method to the madness. I hope to provide an objective and complete picture of what’s out there without worrying about advertising dollars.
The fastest cars in the world generate some unbelievable forces to reach 300 miles per hour in less than 5 seconds. The concussion in the stands feels like an earthquake and the sound is deafening. This video captures that energy like you’ve never seen before.
Burt Reynolds is the man, but the modern version of Cannonball Run might give him a heart attack. Dozens of rallies have sprung up over the past few years, but three leaders have emerged offering something for all budgets. The cross-continent and cross-country rallies make a point of informing entrants that “this is not a race”, but somehow the drivers regularly end up in jail anyway. Good times!
Gumball 3000 entry starts at $55,000 per car and is known for international debauchery and celebrity entrants: http://www.gumball3000.com/
BullRun entry at $17,500 per car has sparked the most interest as a relative newcomer with their own TV show on Spike TV: http://www.bullrun.com/
AKA Rally at just $3,250 per car is the Cannonball for the incognito. AKA became famous for being featured on MTV’s True Life in 2004, and continues to grow larger every year: http://www.akarally.com/
Al Gore’s movie about Global Warming has made me feel guilty about driving a car that gets less than 100 miles per gallon. Hybrid vehicles are still the craze among the environmentally conscious, but none of the current offerings have interested me until now. The 2007 GMC Yukon Hybrid claims 25% better fuel economy than regular Yukon, and still pounds the pavement with reckless abandon. Since E85 is not widely available yet, the Yukon Hybrid is the best way to decrease emissions and retain the utility of a full-size SUV.
Supermotards are motorcycles designed to be equally as comfortable on the street as the dirt. Created in the early 80’s in the US; interest in these motorcycles died out and they made their way across the pond. In 2000 the Supermotards came back to the US, and have made a full return with their own competition in the Summer X-Games the last three years and counting. Two of the hottest new bikes are the Aprilia SXV450 Supermotard and the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 offering two distinct Supermotard riding experiences.
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