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Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
No, Gymkhana Is Not Something You Do in a Gym
Per Wikipedia:
Gymkhana events are time and/or speed events in an automobile. These can feature obstacles such as cones, tires, and barrels. The driver must maneuver through a predetermined "track" performing many different driving techniques. What separates gymkhana from traditional autocross events is that the gymkhana requires drivers to perform reversals, 180 degree spins, 360 degree spins, parking boxes, figure 8s, and other advanced skills. Drifting is also encouraged where helpful or necessary. Essentially, a gymkhana is any event featuring a starting point, a finish line and some sort of "obstacle" to get through, around, or by, all within a certain time limit.
Sounds about tight. They only forgot to mention that advanced Gymkhana skills may require a forward roll in the stop box like this RollGolf.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Well Played, DTM Orchestra!
Could GRAND-AM/IMSA have made a better move than associate themselves with DTM? Some of the best racing in the world could be headed to North America in 2015!
Well played!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
OneHotLap Quiz: Name This Pile of Junk
Guess the year, make, model, and what's in this pile of junk.
BMW M1 Turbo at the Nurburgring
Hat Tip to Patrick M.
This is a great video onboard an M1 Turbo making delicious sounds around the Nurbigring. Enjoy a classic BMW-Porsche chase, which picks up nicely halfway through the video.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
So You Think You're Ready To Be an Instructor?
Hat Tip to Jamey F.
Watch this video and determine for yourself if you can:
- Handle the pressure
- Stay calm (calmer than this panicked instructror)
- Have the composure to go over what happened with the student
If you answered "No" to any of the above 3 questions, just continue driving in group "A" and have no regrets.
Stryker Sets Aim for 'Ring Supremacy
Dodge is on the attack. The just-released Viper TA is set to go straight after the likes of the Nissan GTR and Corvette ZR1, and despite the fact that all 33 of these Stryker-badged Vipers will come exclusively in the slightly informal "Crusher Orange" paint scheme, they are taking this game very seriously. It's actually aimed specifically at a different audience than the traditional Viper purchaser (if that's even an appropriate tag). Regardless, track days are the focus, and with revisions across every spectrum, it's looking like one hell of a car. So let's take a look at these changes and see what they mean for us.
With the assistance of pro-racers and the SRT group from Chrysler, the Viper's TA package actually presents itself less than one year after the debut of the new SRT Viper. Lightness is the name of the game for the most part, but they've paid attention to important bits as well. A 50/50 weight distribution (something BMW and Miata owners loved to tout as being exclusive to them) is now also shared with the big beast from the US. Light-weight racing wheels are included in the package and various important bits of aluminum have been replaced by carbon fiber, making everything lighter and more rigid. Seats too were lightened and are now made of mass-reducing material dressed up in orange stitching. Those seats can also accommodate 6-pt racing harnesses if the owner later chooses to strap himself in nice and tight. They have the weight respectably down to about 3,300 pounds. So far, so good.
With the assistance of pro-racers and the SRT group from Chrysler, the Viper's TA package actually presents itself less than one year after the debut of the new SRT Viper. Lightness is the name of the game for the most part, but they've paid attention to important bits as well. A 50/50 weight distribution (something BMW and Miata owners loved to tout as being exclusive to them) is now also shared with the big beast from the US. Light-weight racing wheels are included in the package and various important bits of aluminum have been replaced by carbon fiber, making everything lighter and more rigid. Seats too were lightened and are now made of mass-reducing material dressed up in orange stitching. Those seats can also accommodate 6-pt racing harnesses if the owner later chooses to strap himself in nice and tight. They have the weight respectably down to about 3,300 pounds. So far, so good.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Faiah, Faiah Heah! Achtung, Ladies, Watt Are You Doing?
Hat Tip to Jamey F.
Attention: Hot ladies!!
(must watch with the volume on)
... And a Couple of F1 Race Girls To Go, Please
Top Google Search items directing users to OneHotLap today:
How to throw a party:
I'll take a BMW M6, a set of Direzza ZIIs,
that G Force review, a set of Bridgestones RE11s,
and a couple of F1 race girls to go, please.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Mark Webber Flipping the Bird at His Own Teammate!
Mark Webber controlled today's Malaysian GP up through the last pit stop when he and his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel were told to hold position to the end of the race. Vettel ignored team orders to turn down the engine revs and attacked Webber. He caught Webber offguard and ended up winning a very intense wheel-to-wheel battle. This is how Webber showed his "appreciation" for Vettel's shenanigans after he lost the lead. If it's ever worth punching your own teammate, today's race was it.
The Truth About Lewis Hamilton Pitting in the Wrong Box
"I don't know how that happened. The teams look so similar. I have been stopping in that pit box for years." (true quote from Lewis Hamilton)
"Well-worked double pit stop with an unexpected twist" (true quote from McLaren)
"Feel free to pop in and say 'Hi' any time, @LewisHamilton!" (tweeted by Mclaren)
"You guys don't mind helping me out, do you? Please? Just this one time, for old time's sake?" (What Lewis really wanted to say)
"Guys, please take me back. Like right now. I swear I made a huge mistake leaving the McLaren team" (What Lewis really meant)
Intense Historic Trans-Am Race at Infineon Raceway!
This is fantastic onboard footage with very intense racing action, which picks up nicely halfway through the video. I wasn't sure if 4 cars would fit side by side coming out of the Carousel; now we know for sure!
Enjoy!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Of F1 Girls in Tight Pants and Salad Bowls...
Top Google Search items directing users to OneHotLap today:
Really sorry, we ran out of F1 girls in tight pants
but we're so happy to report that we still have the salad bowl.
Just make sure it's Snell approved!
Monster Moto: Umbrellas, Leather, and Boobs?
Umbrellas, leather, and boobs: this is how The Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha SuperBike team debuted their new livery for the 2013 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season. They make F1 car launches look a bit ugh... tame by comparison.
OneHotLap Quiz: Guess the Car
Guess the year, make and model.
Bonus question: Locate the boost control, fuel swirl pot, coolant, vacuum lines, catch cans, and throttle cable.
Advanced question: If you have found all of the above, find the Easter bunny hidden in the picture.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
"Pass Me the Driving Shoes", She Said...
"Pass me the driving shoes", she said when we got in the car to drive home after the party. And THESE were the two options on the floor of the passenger side:
"Where are the driving shoes?", I asked.
"Isn't it obvious?", she countered.
I knew better than to argue...
3/21/2013 UPDATE
This is what OneHotLap's fans had to say:
Why a Driving School Might Be a Good Idea
Hat Tip to Kamal R.
Somebody call the cleanup crew.
And ask them to bring clean underwear.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Rule #1: Keep Your Eyes on the Road!
Rule #1: Keep Your Eyes on the Road!
If there are pretty girls on the road, and you are looking at them,
you are still not violating rule #1, right?
Just as long as they are ON THE ROAD, RIGHT?
you are still not violating rule #1, right?
Just as long as they are ON THE ROAD, RIGHT?
OneHotLap Quiz: Guess What This Project Is All About
Engine? Suspension? Brakes? Or maybe just an oil change...
Guess what this project is all about.
Hint: This is the same Lotus Exige S from these A Lotus Gone Wild: How an A/C Leak Turned into a 400-WHP Monster writeups:
Part IPart II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Andy Hollis on Dunlop ZII vs. BFG Rival
This part sums it up best:
... the ZII is most likely to be highly setup dependent, and will reward precise driving. The Rival, on the other hand, floats all boats higher. It will make "heroes out of zeros", much in the way that the Kumho V710 r-comp did when it first came out, versus the super-precise Hoosier A3S03 of the day. This is especially critical on the track, where one small mistake can have disasterous results. For autocross, in the right hands and with the right setup, the ZII may prove to be faster for the best drivers.
Related 2013 Tire Posts:
Dunlop Direzza ZII - First Driving Impressions
Dunlop Direzza ZII: The Lap Time Comparison We've All Been Waiting for!
Dunlop Star Spec Direzza ZII: A Tire as Exciting as a Date with Scarlet Johansson!
First Dunlop Direzza ZIIs Shipped to Customers!!
Bridgestone RE11A: A New Suspect Has Entered the Crime Scene
We Have Discovered the Best Aero for Karting!
After exhaustive research, we have found the best aero for karting:
Looking at your own penis!
Monday, March 18, 2013
First Pictures of the 2014 Viper TA (Time Attack) Unveiled!
Just released by Chrysler are these first images of the Viper TA, which you'll be delighted to hear stands for Time Attack. This is a super focused track-oriented example of the beastly machine. Only 33 will be made in total.
Contributed by Patrick Morgan
Patrick Morgan is a Chief Driving Instructor for the Chicago Region SCCA. See more of his writing at www.onetrakmind.wordpress.com. He is a lifetime veteran of all things automobiles and is currently running #02 in SCCA's Spec Racer Ford class. Patrick can be reached for questions at trackoutmultimedia@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @pmorganracing.
We are honored to be the first site to publish these pictures!
Contributed by Patrick Morgan
Patrick Morgan is a Chief Driving Instructor for the Chicago Region SCCA. See more of his writing at www.onetrakmind.wordpress.com. He is a lifetime veteran of all things automobiles and is currently running #02 in SCCA's Spec Racer Ford class. Patrick can be reached for questions at trackoutmultimedia@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @pmorganracing.
Australian GP - Kimi Puts Champagne to Good Use!
The 2013 F1 season opener in Melbourne was absolutely amazing: 3 different constructors on the podium, at least 7 lead changes, different fuel strategies, very tight battles and exciting passes!
It was fantastic to see Kimi win. This is especially impressive considering his Lotus team has a fraction of the funding that the big manufacturer teams have! Not only are Lotus a tremendous outfit, they are also by far the most fun team in the paddock with one of the best and most fun drivers.
This is why we love Kimi: with 2 laps remaining in the race, a 10-second gap to second-place Alonso and running similar lap times, Kimi goes for fastest lap of the race. "Just in case it starts raining", he said when asked "Why?" at the podium ceremony. My type of driver!
"I told you the car was good!", he told his engineer over the radio on the cooldown lap. This on top of "Leave me alone, I know what I need to do" last season!
It was fantastic to see Kimi win. This is especially impressive considering his Lotus team has a fraction of the funding that the big manufacturer teams have! Not only are Lotus a tremendous outfit, they are also by far the most fun team in the paddock with one of the best and most fun drivers.
This is why we love Kimi: with 2 laps remaining in the race, a 10-second gap to second-place Alonso and running similar lap times, Kimi goes for fastest lap of the race. "Just in case it starts raining", he said when asked "Why?" at the podium ceremony. My type of driver!
"I told you the car was good!", he told his engineer over the radio on the cooldown lap. This on top of "Leave me alone, I know what I need to do" last season!
OneHotLap Quiz: Too Much Crack for Track?!
These rotors are still 1-2 mm above their specified minimum thickness.
Would you be comfortable driving with them at the track?
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Perpetual Allure of Road America
Pictures and article by Patrick Morgan
For 3 years consecutive now, the lovely combination of Road America and an autumn day led me to call off work and head into Wisconsin for the weekend. The motivation to make that call was the annual Road America Drive for Babies track day. Hosted by SCCA and helping the Milwaukee chapter of the March of Dimes, it is a wonderful way of getting on track for a genuinely good cause. Being a native of Chicagoland for my life, and with my father being a CART team member, it’s natural that I would eventually go to this famous mid-west track, in fact I’ve been going to RA for 25 years now. I have many perspectives of this track: spectator, driver, corner-marshal.
For 3 years consecutive now, the lovely combination of Road America and an autumn day led me to call off work and head into Wisconsin for the weekend. The motivation to make that call was the annual Road America Drive for Babies track day. Hosted by SCCA and helping the Milwaukee chapter of the March of Dimes, it is a wonderful way of getting on track for a genuinely good cause. Being a native of Chicagoland for my life, and with my father being a CART team member, it’s natural that I would eventually go to this famous mid-west track, in fact I’ve been going to RA for 25 years now. I have many perspectives of this track: spectator, driver, corner-marshal.
Spectating
I can’t really think of a better track than Road America for watching cars go flying through the woods. The 640+ acres that RA is situated on gives you an idea of just how many viewing spots there are. My personal favorites are turn 5, and the walk-over bridge just before the start/finish line. Don’t forget too that RA was voted as the best track food in America by Road & Track Magazine a few years back. If you go, it’s pretty much a requirement that you have a brat and a beer. SJB concessions in the main paddock is a great place, as well as the Lions Club atop the hill outside of T6. Their burgers, and corn on the cob are both top-notch as well. Plus from that vantage point, you can watch T5 and T13-14. Road America offers un-rivaled spectator access as well. Walk through the paddock at major events and it’s more along the lines of walking through a parking lot filled with the coolest cars you’ll ever see. Vintage weekends, like the HAWK (Brian Redman weekend) are jam-packed with historic IMSA, F1 and even NASCAR stock cars.
The Audi R8 Doubles up as the Beermobile!
Just another advantage of mid-engine layouts!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Dunlop Direzza ZII - First Driving Impressions
After 2 days and 100 miles with the Dunlop Direzza ZIIs, a few observations are in order:
 |
| 255/40/17 Dunlop Direzza ZII (left) vs. same size Dunlop Z1 (right) |
1. The ZII run approximately 10 mm wider than the model they replaced. Dunlop already had the Direzzas' width listed on their Dunlop Japan site with most sizes running 2 to 7 mm wider than indicated. For example, 265/35/18 is listed as 272 mm wide, which makes it a "legitimate" cheater tire! Looking at the stack of fours in the baove picture and the fit below makes it very likely that they Direzza ZIIs even wider than that. There is significantly more rubbing against the fender from the back of my Z4 M Coupe now when hitting even the tiniest potholes.
 |
| 275/35/18 Z1 fit (left) vs ZII (right), same car, exact same setup |
OneHotLap Quiz: How Many Track Days Left?
How many additional track days are left
on this Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec?
Friday, March 15, 2013
Golf Owners Love to Work on Their Cars!
It's great to see that Golf owners love to work on their cars!
Can someone who owns a Golf please confirm
that this is how Golf owners typically look?
Our Collective MPG on Saint Patrick's Day
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Here's to an MPG below 1 and happy times!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Name That Caption! (No. 51)
Hat Tip to Patrick M.
***BREAKING NEWS***
The SCCA has revised the 2013 M class rules!
The SCCA has revised the 2013 M class rules!
The Definition of "Nailing the Apex"
Picture by MotorSportMedia
What an amazing picture -
You can SEE the car rotate at the apex in one single frame!
Yeah, Scrape Those Tires!
Picture by MotorSportMedia
Scraping the debree off the tires undoubtedly improves traction. Unless your tires are running so low on tread that you need to go offline and pick some rubber back on to cover the wires sticking out of it...
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