Four guys in their seventies take on The Ultimate Challenge

Four retired Suzuki Jimny fans are now well on their way around the planet on a huge fundraising tour for their charity www.heavencanwaitimbusy.com which is in aid of Save the Children and the Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington, Hampshire.

The expedition was masterminded by retired businessman Leslie Carvall and it began in Southampton four months ago on Easter Sunday. The crew of Seventy year olds are travelling alone with no frills, luxuries or a support team.

The two Jimnys have completed Stages One, Two and Three through Europe, Kazakhstan, Russia, through Mongolia and back into Russia.  The vehicles were put on board a container ship at Vladivostock and arrived in Vancouver on July 21^st.  Stage Four of the journey takes them from Vancouver up to Anchorage where they arrived on August 2^nd. From there they begin their journey south, crossing the Canadian Border at Calgary then through the United States and plan to reach Newark on August 28^th for the ship to Southampton.

Despite the long and very gruelling sections through Russia and Mongolia the vehicles have certainly proved their reliability with a broken shock absorber bolt being the only running repair needed. They have driven 11,300 miles so far with a further 7,000 to drive.

The team’s progress through 16 countries and across three continents can be monitored on Google earth. Updates to the website are being added regularly together with some interviews and humorous video clips of the challenge so far.

As with any charity project, all donations would be gratefully accepted via their Just Giving page set up on www.heavencanwaitimbusy.com. Progress can also be followed on facebook and twitter.

The Jimny model was chosen for the trip as Les Carvall and the team wanted to prove that the mammoth expedition could be achieved in low cost 4x4 vehicles with a strong record of durability.

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Porsche sales soaring

Porsche AG can look back on a very successful first half of the ongoing 2013 fiscal year. Sales of the sports car manufacturer rose by 4 percent to 7.03 billion euro from January to the end of June. With 1.29 billion euro, the operating result stood at 3 percent above the value of the previous year. Deliveries increased by 18 percent to 81,565 vehicles.

Given the clouded economic environment in Europe, Lutz Meschke, Chief Financial Officer of Porsche AG, was very satisfied with the mid-year result. Mr. Meschke underscored the earning power of the company reflected in the high return on sales of 18 percent. “Through growth and cost discipline, we compensate our substantial expenditures for the development of new models such as the super sports car 918 Spyder and the sports SUV Macan,” Meschke explained. For both the Macan and the 918 Spyder, production will start still this year. The high expenditures, though, have not yet been offset by corresponding vehicle sales in the ongoing fiscal year. These sales will only be realized as of 2014 when our new models are sold.” Nonetheless, according to Meschke, Porsche AG aims for a result in the 2013 fiscal year that matches the very high level of the prior year.

Matthias Müller, President and CEO of Porsche AG, attributes the growth primarily to the attractive model range: “Our new vehicles are highly praised by customers, the trade press as well as the renowned American market research institute J.D. Power.” Thus Porsche placed first in two recent surveys conducted by J.D. Power: one on the quality (“Initial Quality Study”) and one on the attractiveness (“Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study”) of new vehicles.

The Porsche President and CEO remains optimistic for the course of the second half of 2013. “With the new 911 GT3, the new 911 Turbo and Turbo S as well as the '50 Years 911' exclusive special model, we have more exciting vehicles hitting the road.” Moreover, Porsche is currently launching the new generation of the Panamera, which now includes the Panamera S E-Hybrid. “With this first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the premium segment, we are able to prove our innovative power and the top position the Porsche brand holds in terms of technology,” Matthias Müller emphasized. Looking at the individual markets, the Porsche President and CEO is convinced that the sports car manufacturer will continue to grow on its most important sales markets in the United States and China.

Deliveries in China rose by 20 percent to 18,323 vehicles in the first half of 2013; in the United States, by 30 percent to 21,309 units. Deliveries to customers in Europe rose only slightly by 2 percent to 26,199 vehicles in this difficult economic environment.

With regard to the model range, the new Boxster series, which includes the new Cayman, showed the highest growth with a jump of 186 percent to 12,886 vehicles in the period from January to June 2013. The model series most in demand was again the Cayenne with 42,354 deliveries (plus 22 percent), followed by the 911 range, of which 15,834 vehicles were delivered (plus 10 percent). Due to the new model generation, the Panamera recorded a fall in deliveries by 33 percent to 10,491 vehicles in the first half of 2013. Sales of the new Panamera models began in July.

The growth strategy of Porsche is also reflected in the continually growing number of employees. It exceeded the threshold of 18,000 employees for the first time in June 2013. Exactly 18,148 persons were on board at Porsche as at the end of June 2013. This is equivalent to a growth of 4 percent in comparison to the end of the year in 2012. Of the over 18,000 employees, around 5,000 have been added in the last 3 years.

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Global Rallycross Mid-Season Review: OMSE2

OMSE2 is an offshoot of the successful OlsbergsMSE operation, campaigning the same older-model Ford Fiestas that took four of six Global Rallycross victories last year. And while drivers Steve Arpin and Scott Speed aren’t racing in the same equipment as drivers like Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan, they haven’t been pushovers either.

Arpin and Speed rank seventh and eighth in points, respectively—not bad for two drivers who had never set foot in a rallycross car until just months ago.

The highlight of the season so far came in the opening race at X Games Foz do Iguacu, when Speed, in his first-ever rallycross event, took GRC’s “Star Car” to victory over two of the newer OMSE Fords. Arpin finished fourth, capping off a strong debut for both drivers.

Since then, things have returned to earth a little bit; each driver has missed two finals, while Speed had to advance to the main event in the first X Games Munich race and at New Hampshire by virtue of the last chance qualifier. An issue with the engine plagued Arpin at New Hampshire, while Speed’s Bristol run ended in frustration after contact in the second heat and further issues in the last chance qualifier.

Still, neither driver should be hanging their head going into X Games Los Angeles. There, Speed’s car will be run in conjunction with DRR-SH Racing, two IndyCar teams making their first foray into Global Rallycross, while Arpin will look to kick off the second half of the season with his first podium.

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Over 200,000 flooded cars back on U.S. roads

Hundreds of thousands of flooded cars have washed up on the shores of every state in the country. According to new research from Carfax, more than 212,000 cars that were branded as flood damage by a state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are on U.S. roads right now.

Nearly two-thirds of these flood damaged cars are on the road in ten states – Texas, New Jersey,Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, Illinois, New York, Florida, Mississippi and Virginia. However, as the Carfax research shows, scam artists are moving flood cars to any state where unknowing consumers will buy them.

"Our research proves that flood damaged cars are everywhere," said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. "It's big business for professional con men to quickly clean up and resell these cars miles from where the flooding occurred. Consumers need to look out for flooded cars no matter where they live. They're a serious danger to anyone who unknowingly buys one."

Floodwater, especially salt water like from Superstorm Sandy, rots and corrodes vehicles from the inside out. Carfax recently recovered a Hurricane Sandy flood car to analyze the extensive internal water damage as well as demonstrate how easily cars can be made to appear safe and reliable on the outside.

"Flood cars are a volatile mixture of water, metal and electricity," continued Gamache. "Once a car is ravaged by water, the mechanical, electrical or safety systems can fail at any time. There's also the health risk, as mold and bacteria permeate the vents and soft parts of the interior. Know what you're putting you and your family into before laying down your hard-earned money. Start with a Carfax Vehicle History Report and thorough inspection by a trusted mechanic."

Historically, about half of the cars damaged by floods get resold, some to unsuspecting buyers. As a service to consumers, Carfax lets you check for flood damage free of charge at flood.carfax.com.

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Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing teaming up for the Global RallyCross Series at the 2013 ESPN Summer X-Games

Rhys Millen's Veloster in mid-air.

Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing are once again teaming up for the Global RallyCross Series at the 2013 ESPN Summer X-Games in Los Angeles. This year’s competition moves from the ultra-tight circuit on the streets of downtown Los Angeles to the purpose-built racing facility in Irwindale, California. This new circuit is sure to change the dynamics and strategy for the race, with more room for the late braking, passing, drifts and big-gap jumps that make this event a racing fan favorite.

“I can’t wait to get back in the Veloster Rallycar racing seat”, said Millen. “Of course it’s a great opportunity to go wheel-to-wheel with some of the best rally drivers in the world, right in our own backyard. Even more, it’s a great opportunity to show off the performance potential of the Hyundai Veloster Rallycar, just a few miles from Hyundai headquarters. With Veloster’s power and handling and my rally experience we’re aiming to be first off the apex on Sunday.”

Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor America, echoed, “The Hyundai Veloster, with its high performance direct-injected, turbocharged powertrain and wide, aggressive stance, is the perfect sport coupe for enthusiasts of any lifestyle. It’s great to team up again with a world-class racer like Rhys Millen to show Veloster’s full potential. We’re more than excited about our prospects on Sunday.”

HYUNDAI RMR VELOSTER RALLYCAR

CHASSIS

RMR employees applied everything they know about fabricating racecars into the Veloster Rallycar. The production Veloster was stripped to bare metal and the chassis spent five days in an Alkali bath removing all rubber and adhesives. The chassis was also stitch welded for added structural rigidity.

CARBON/KEVLAR BODY PANELS

Millen quickly decided to take the already lightweight Veloster and make it even lighter. His crew took molds of the Veloster body panels to replicate them out of carbon/Kevlar. The hood, doors, quarter panels, front fascia and rear fascia are all built out of carbon/Kevlar. The carbon/Kevlar panels are 75 percent lighter than the sheet metal they replaced. Downforce has been further increased by a custom RMR rear wing. The hood is vented to dissipate heat.

SUSPENSION

The Hyundai RMR Veloster Rally car utilizes a custom suspension with generous travel for the big-gap jumps.

WHEELS, TIRES AND BRAKES

To ensure that the enhanced power plant translates all the way to track performance, RMR added custom built 18-inch HRE wheels and 245/40-18 Hankook Racing tires. Stopping power comes from 14-inch Alcon brake rotors and six piston Alcon calipers.

RMR VELOSTER RALLYCAR SPECIFICATIONS
Curb weight: 2,656 pounds
Engine: Hyundai 500-horspower four-cylinder turbocharged
Transmission: Xtrac six-speed sequential
Transfer case: Xtrac four wheel drive
Front and rear differentials: Xtrac
Suspension: Proflex jumbo coil over
Front Brakes: 14-inch Alcon rotors with 6-piston Alcon calipers
Rear Brakes: 12-inch Alcon rotors with 6-piston Alcon calipers
Wheels: 18 x 8.5-inch HRE
Tires: 245/40-18 Hankook racing tire
Seats and harnesses: Sparco

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Global Rallycross Mid-Season Review: Subaru

After a frustrating 2012 season that saw Subaru PUMA Rallycross Team score only one podium in 19 starts between four drivers, the goal for 2013 was to be a more competitive team overall. Though bad luck has still plagued them this season, there’s no doubt that Sverre Isachsen, Bucky Lasek, and Dave Mirra are more competitive this year than in the last one.

Subaru’s season started a round later than the rest of the paddock, making their first starts at X Games Munich after missing X Games Foz do Iguacu and being unable to compete in the rain-cancelled X Games Barcelona event. The first Munich race ended in disappointment, as no Subarus made it into the main event.

Things appeared to turn around when Isachsen made it to the main event in the second Munich race, but the race ended in frustration yet again when Ken Block turned Isachsen around with less than half a lap to go in the final. The incident cost Subaru a sure-fire fourth place finish, but the speed that Isachsen demonstrated proved that the cars were more competitive than last year.

Both Isachsen and Lasek made the main event in New Hampshire, making up for a left front hub issue that prevented Mirra from building upon his spot atop the charts in the first practice session. Isachsen finished sixth, while Lasek would have scored a top five run if not for damage that caused his motor to quit working just short of the finish.

Bristol was another up-and-down weekend for the team, with neither Mirra nor Lasek making the final. But Isachsen made up for it by charging into the first turn, coming out of the carnage second, and preserving fourth place despite a damaged exhaust.

X Games Los Angeles will be the real test of just how far Subaru has come. Mirra is X Games’ all-time leading medalist, while Lasek has swept the past three skateboard vert competitions this year. Isachsen may stand the best chance of medaling among the three, but a strong showing would go a long way towards establishing the team as a bona-fide contender for victories down the road.

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GM donates $900.000 for stem STEM education

John Calabrese, General Motors vice president, Global Vehicle Engineering, announced Friday at Eastern Michigan University, a $300,000, three-year renewable grant for Project Lead The Way programs in Michigan.

Project Lead The Way is the nation’s leading non-profit provider of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, curriculum for middle and high schools throughout the United Sates. Unlike traditional math and science courses, Project Lead The Way’s engineering and biomedical sciences curricula brings together the application of math and science principles in a real-world context, helping students develop strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will prepare them for college and careers.

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