Joefis Racing is a team of racing specialists driven to push the limits of its racers and their customers’ cars. Owner Joe Brennan has been compelled by racing to develop a niche business that offers value that others do not. The company is small but develops top-of-the-line products for a growing market. This, along with the passion Brennan brings to each customer inquiry, is a great advantage to consumers and one that has increased Joefis’ customer-base to reach across the U.S.

Joefis Racing offers products such as aerodynamics packages, cold air intake kits as well as custom builds. The aerodynamics packages can be offered in a complete kit or just a single part like a rear spoiler. Miata NA chassis aero kits are available to be shipped throughout the U.S. and install with quick release hardware. Joefis also offers aero kits on a handful of platforms heavily used in SCCA Pro Solo racing.

Many model platforms are used in racing. Joefis Racing is prepared to work with customers to develop custom racing components for their track cars. Fabricators at Joefis Racing are thrilled to build components that push customers’ cars to the limit.

Joefis is currently working on a custom project for a notch-back fox body Mustang. The car rolled into the shop already having some extensive modifications done. The original equipment front sub-frame has been swapped to a tubular chassis. The engine has been heavily worked over.

The car came to Joefis Racing for some help fitting a wide wheel and tire package. Brennan and the team have been busy fitting the car with a wide body package. The new front end is complete with an extended bumper, splitter, and of course widened fenders. Work continues on the rear end with wide fenders and a new spoiler that matches the mustangs new body lines. This is not your off the assembly line Ford anymore!

When the Joefis Racing shop is not busy with customer builds and projects, the team has plenty of plans for the shop’s race cars. At the recent Lincoln Nebraska SCCA Nationals, the Joefis team cars were highly competitive. The Joefis Miata and Joefis BMW finished in 7^th and 8^th out of 22 in the C Street Prepared Class.  Brennan’s performance in the Miata at nationals has inspired him to make the car even more competitive for next season.

The cars that absolutely dominated at nationals had extensive suspension work and had much less ground clearance. The plan for the Miata will be to implement a lower, stiffer suspension that utilizes helper springs to avoid rubbing the tires. The current Koni shocks will also be re-valved and tuned. The new suspension should put the car over the top next season.

Brennan has already implemented one of the advantages that other cars had on him during nationals. This addition was upgrading from 4.10 gears to a lower 4.30 ring-and-pinion in the Miata. This made the car much more responsive pulling out of corners. The change in gearing helped push Brennan to a 1^st and 2^nd overall finish the next weekend.

One aspect that makes Joefis Racing different from other fabrication shops or part manufacturers is their consultation. Joefis Racing is passionate for racing and wants to continue pushing SCCA SOLO racing forward. Brennan enjoys racing and wants to help other racers see the small modifications that can take time off a racers’ track time. He has had success helping customers by making very small tweaks to their cars. This can being anything from advice on the correct wheel-and-tire package to making sure the car is properly aligned.

The team at Joefis racing is expanding and has just launched their first iteration of their web site, www.joefisracing.com. Be sure to check it out, provide feedback and keep checking back for updates. If you have any questions about products or are interested in a free consultation, feel free to fill out the contact form or give them a call directly.

You can also connect with Joefis Racing on Facebook  and Twitter  to stay up-to-date on new products, projects, and general racing information.

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The Formula One Korean Grand Prix (F1) race is ready to meet its six hundred million fans worldwide as its third edition kicks off on October 12 at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, a southern area of Korea.

Two practice runs will be held this Friday, and the third one will start on Saturday, followed by the qualifying race. The final race is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The winner of F1 will be determined after drivers get through 20 races. The Korean Grand Prix is the 16th among the races in the ongoing F1 season.

Drivers will do 55 laps on the 5.615-kilometer Korea International Circuit. Sebastian Vettel of Germany was the winner of last year’s race, and he won the title in 1 hour, 38 minutes and 1.994 seconds.

The race champion is awarded 25 points, the runner-up earns 18 points, 15 points for the third-place and so forth. Last year, Vettel had 122 points in the final drivers’ standings.

Fernando Alonso of Spain, the 2010 Korean Grand Prix winner, is in the top position so far, garnering 194 points. Vettel is following him closely with 190 points. Kimi Raikkonen is 33 points behind Vettel in third, so it seems that this year’s battle for the top could be between Vettel and Alonso.

The competition is not only for each driver but also for teams. For the constructor’s championship, twelve teams also compete. Red Bull-Renault is on top with 324 points gained by Vettel and Mark Webber, followed by McLaren-Mercedes with 283. Ferrari is third with 263.

Meanwhile, Korean pop sensation Psy, who is the promotional ambassador for the Korean Grand Prix, will perform his hit song “Gangnam Style” after the final race.

People with a three-day pass or the one-day ticket for the final on Sunday will be able to attend the Psy’s performance regardless of their seating zone. Since Psy’s “Gangnam Style” has gone viral worldwide, organizers of the race are expecting that his performance will attract more people to visit to Yeongam to see the race.

Even one of the F1 drivers is excited to see Psy’s performance. Nico Rosberg, a driver of Mercedes and winner of this year’s Chinese Grand Prix, said “I enjoy the circuit a lot, and I am excited to get to Korea after following the new Gangnam craze on the Internet in the last few months. When I have some time away from the car and engineering meetings, I’m definitely looking forward to his performance this weekend.

Image Courtesy of  CHEN WS / Shutterstock.com

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Bristol, U.S.A. — As the Tri-Cities prepare for the upcoming Irwin Tools Night Race, select Walmart stores will offer authentic NASCAR merchandise and host exclusive fan events starting August 21.

Customers are invited to attend these special events and enjoy special appearances by Brad Keselowski and Eric McClure along with show car and simulator displays–perfect to safely get behind the wheel and feel the power of NASCAR on Auguat 21-24 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., varying by location.

“Walmart is the champion of the racing fan, and we are committed to providing customers with savings on authentic merchandise, as well as unique race time experiences,” said Walmart market manager Jon Tunnell. “We want to give fans affordability and accessibility, so they can enjoy race time with their families and friends.”

Race Time at Walmart

In addition to the fan events happening in Walmart parking lots, area Walmart stores will feature savings on all the food and snacks you need to enjoy the race, plus authentic NASCAR merchandise such as T-shirts and racing flags, with an even bigger selection of exclusive products available at Walmart.com/NASCAR.

Participating stores in the Tri-Cities include:

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Displays free and open to the public include the Scott Ultimate Tailgate Truck, Budweiser Show Car, Coca-Cola 2-Seat Simulator, and Coors Light Show Car at:

Store #3852
110 Rocky Bottom Drive
Unicoi, Tenn.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Displays free and open to the public include the Wheaties Show Car, Cheez-It Simulator, 5-hour Energy Show Car, Miller Lite Show Car, Oreo Ritz Show Car, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger, Hefty’s Show Car Simulator, M&M’s Show Car, Sim Pod and Trophy Display, No. 24 Pepsi MAX Show Car and No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Show Car at:

Store #3829
2915 W. Market St.
Johnson City, Tenn.
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Hefty’s Nationwide Driver Eric McClure from 11 a.m. – noon.
Displays free and open to the public include the Coca-Cola 2-Seat Simulator, Budweiser Show Car, Hefty’s Show Car Simulator and the Coors Light Show Car at:

Store #742
2500 W. Stone Drive
Kingsport, Tenn.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Displays free and open to the public include the Oreo Ritz Show Car, 5-hour Energy Show Car, Cheez-It Simulator, Miller Lite Show Car, Scott Ultimate Tailgate Truck, Wheaties Show Car, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger, M&M’s Show Car, Sim Pod and Trophy Display, No. 24 Pepsi MAX Show Car and No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Show Cars at:

Store #599
3200 Fort Henry Drive
Kingsport, Tenn.
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Displays free and open to the public include the Scott Ultimate Tailgate Truck, 5-hour Energy Show Car, Oreo Ritz Show Car, Budweiser Show Car, Wheaties Show Car and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger at:

Store #690
1001 Over Mountain Drive
Elizabethton, Tenn.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

MillerCoors’ Sprint Cup Driver Brad Keselowski from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Displays free and open to the public include the Miller Lite Show Car, Coca-Cola 2-Seat Simulator, Cheez-It Simulator, Hefty’s Show Car Simulator, M&M’s Show Car, Sim Pod and Trophy Display, No. 24 Pepsi MAX Show Car and No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Show Car at:

Store #1080
3111 Browns Mill Road
Johnson City, Tenn.
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Displays free and open to the public include the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger, Scott Ultimate Tailgate Truck, Budweiser Show Car, Coca-Cola 2-Seat Simulator, Cheez-It Simulator, Wheaties Show Car, 5-Hour Energy Show Car, Miller Lite Show Car, No. 24 Pepsi MAX Show Car and No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Show Car at:

Store #620
220 Century Blvd.
Bristol, Tenn.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Displays free and open to the public include the Oreo Ritz Show Car, Hefty’s Show Car Simulator, and M&M’s Show Car, Sim Pod and Trophy Display at:

Store #2089
13245 Lee Highway
Bristol, Va.
10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For additional details and a complete listing of participating Walmart stores, visit Walmart.com/NASCAR

Image Courtesy of   Doug James / Shutterstock.com

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Auburn Hills, U.S.A. – On August 7, 2012 SRT Motorsports announced that Dodge will withdraw from Nascar competition at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – Street and Racing Technology Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group, made the announcement during a media teleconference call. The decision affects current involvement in both the Nascar Sprint Cup Series and Nascar Nationwide Series. Penske Racing currently fields two Dodge Charger cars in the Sprint Cup Series and two Dodge Challenger cars in the Nationwide Series.

Penske Racing announced in February that it would end its partnership with Dodge, which started in 2003, at the end of the 2012 season.

“We’ve spent an intense five months working to identify and evaluate all options for our future involvement in Nascar,” Gilles said. “A number of opportunities emerged, and our team worked diligently to put a structure together to fit our overall business and competitive objectives. While we have been pleased and enthused with the amount of interest from teams and sponsors over that time, in the end, we simply couldn’t develop the right structure.”

Dodge has recorded 215 wins in the Sprint Cup Series, including 55 since 2001, and has been represented in the Nascar Chase for the Sprint Cup seven of the eight seasons. In 2010, Brad Keselowski captured the Nascar Nationwide Series championship in a Dodge from Penske Racing.

“It’s an extremely difficult decision to know that we won’t be there for our fans next season,” Gilles added. “It’s important to note that we have not lost focus on 2012 or the commitment to our partnership with Penske Racing in both the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series this season.”

Brad Keselowski currently is seventh in the Sprint Cup Series standings and has three wins in his quest to make the 12-driver Chase field for the second consecutive year. In Nationwide Series competition, Sam Hornish Jr. is locked in a four-way battle for the season championship.

Image Courtesy of   Walter G Arce / Shutterstock.com

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Daytona Beach, U.S.A. – NASCAR have concluded a comprehensive agency review that spanned nearly four months, by selecting Ogilvy & Mather as Agency of Record (AOR) to service the sport’s evolving advertising and marketing needs. The agency will help NASCAR and the industry to execute a Five-Year Industry Action Plan to engage and excite existing fans, while creating new ones.

NASCAR embarked on a review to secure a class-leading, full-service advertising agency in early 2012 in order to expand the sport’s marketing efforts and provide an integrated solution to help NASCAR grow its audience in Youth, Gen Y and Hispanic. As AOR, Ogilvy & Mather’s responsibilities will also include target segmentation, brand vision/storytelling, media strategy, promotions and support for the growing NASCAR Digital team.

NASCAR received 110 inquiries and 75 sets of credentials from a host of agencies of all sizes and expertise. The list was carefully analyzed and narrowed to a field of fewer than 10 firms, each of which were visited by a cross-functional team of executives from key business areas across NASCAR. In June, a trio of finalists – Leo Burnett, Ogilvy & Mather and McCann Erickson North America – presented to a group of senior leaders, including NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

“Significant changes in our ecosystem impacted how we deliver our message and position our brand to existing fans while increasing the appeal of NASCAR to new audiences,” said Kim Brink, NASCAR managing director of brand, consumer and series marketing. “We were thoroughly impressed with the caliber of all three finalists; but Ogilvy’s consistency, creativity and dynamic leadership were the key differentiators. We’re delighted to join the agency’s roster of big consumer brands.”

“We view NASCAR as a lighthouse brand,” said John Seifert, chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather North America. “The sport blends marquee stars, jewel events, and some of the fiercest competition on the planet with an intricate ecosystem comprised of historic tracks and compelling personalities. From the beginning of the agency review process, it was clear to us that NASCAR was looking for a true business partner. We firmly believe that NASCAR is a valuable tool in the marketing mix and a place where big brands get high return on investment. We couldn’t be more proud to add the sport to our portfolio of global brands.”

Ogilvy & Mather will complete a comprehensive on-boarding process in 2012, as the agency prepares to help NASCAR launch a new brand platform at the 55th running of the Daytona 500 in February 2013.

Image Courtesy of   Photo Works / Shutterstock.com

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McLaren driver Jenson Button gained a victory in the opening round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship in Melbourne on Sunday. Button took the lead from teammate Lewis Hamilton at the start and never looked back. Hamilton later dropped to third where he finished, with double world champion Sebastian Vettel coming second in his Red Bull.

There was much anticipation about the opening Grand Prix of the season as it became apparent in qualifying that Red Bull wouldn’t have it all their own way in 2012. Pole sitter Hamilton got away poorly and dropped behind his fellow Englishman Button, whilst Vettel and Fernando Alonso both made progress through the field early on. But it was an unfortunate start for Romain Grosjean, the French driver got a poor start from third on the grid, and his race was over on lap two as his suspension buckled after a collision with Pastor Maldonado.

Two-thirds of the German contingent joined Grosjean on the sidelines before lap 10, Nico Hulkenberg retired after a collision early on, whilst Michael Schumacher, who had been running third, retired after his Mercedes gearbox failed. As the first round of pitstops ensued, Hamilton found himself stuck behind the Sauber of Sergio Perez, meaning Button had a clear run at the front and was able to pull away from his team-mate.

The frantic opening calmed down as the order took shape and the field spread out between the first and second stops. Button held his lead, but Hamilton was being charged down by Vettel, Alonso and Mark Webber. Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa had also made charges up the field and found themselves battling for the lower points positions.

But the race turned on lap 37 when Vitaly Petrov pulled up on the pit-straight when his Caterham stuttered to a halt, meaning the Safety Car made its first appearance. This helped Sebastien Vettel pop up in front of Hamilton and in to second.

Once the race restarted, Heikki Kovaleinen compounded a poor day for Caterham as he pulled off in to retirement, and two more joined him soon after when Brazilian duo Bruno Senna and Felipe Massa tangled in turn four, damaging both cars and ending both their runs. As the race entered its final ten laps, Button was comfortable out front, but Hamilton was coming under major pressure from Mark Webber, whilst being unable to put pressure on the other Red Bull in front of him.

Further down the field, Pastor Maldonado was putting an impressive performance in, the Williams driver running sixth, pressing Alonso, but that all came to an agonizing end on the final lap when the Venezuelan hit the wall hard coming out of turn eight, finishing his race.

The drama wasn’t over there, the battle from 7th to 12th came down to the last two corners, Nico Rosberg and Kamui Kobayashi clashed on the final lap, damaging Rosberg’s car and putting him out of the points, Kimi Raikkonen jumped the Sauber, and out of the last corner Paul Di Resta dragged himself past Jean-Eric Vergne to steal the last point on the line. But it was Button celebrating the first win of the season, and he’ll be hoping his good form carries on this weekend in Malaysia.

Image Courtesy of   Pyshnyy Maxim Vjacheslavovich / Shutterstock.com

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2011 Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took his first victory of 2012 in a stop-start race in Las Vegas. Pole man Elliott Sadler lead for a large part of the race before eventually coming third behind veteran Mark Martin. A series of cautions throughout the race meant plenty of lead changes, but it was Stenhouse who pulled away when it mattered to take the checkered flag.

Elliott Sadler lead away from the front in the opening laps as he looked for his second victory in a row after taking the checkered flag in Phoenix last week. Defending champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. moved into second place early on until the first caution came out on lap 12 when Kyle Fowler and Benny Gordon got into a spin at the back of the pack.

Sadler once again lead the field away from the restart as the group spread out with very little wheel-to-wheel racing happening. The track which was criticized last year for pack racing when Dan Wheldon died in a multi-car wreck in the IndyCar finale, and Kyle Busch was the next to hit the Vegas walls on the back straight, bringing out caution number two and another mass of pit-stops. Kasey Kahne jumped Sadler during the caution and he lead away from the restart.

Phoenix winner Sadler had a poor restart and dropped down the pack allowing Kahne to pull away at the front, but it was not long until they were behind the pace car again when Joey Gase brushed the wall coming out of turn two, the same place Busch lost it twelve laps earlier.

Like Sadler on the previous restart, Kahne did not get away well from the outside, and Brian Scott took the lead for the next stint of the 300 miles. The Vegas oval was still failing to provide much close pack racing as the drivers found space fairly easily unless they came up against lapped traffic.

Kahne had retaken the lead when caution number four came out after Mike Bliss turned around Jennifer Jo Cobb on the tri-oval, Cobb managing to keep it out of the wall, but stalling in the middle of turn one. Kahne once again dropped to second from the restart as Brad Keselowski took his turn to lead the field as the race approached its halfway point. It was turning into a race riddled with cautions and very little wheel-to-wheel in between as Kasey Kahne once more regained the lead.

Previous leader Brian Scott brought out the next caution when he hit the wall hard in turn four, and a six-lap caution saw Mark Martin take the lead, with Allgaier and Sam Hornish Jr. also beneficiaries of the yellow flag period. It still was not your regular NASCAR event. Mark Martin held the lead comfortably as once again the pack began to fan out between cautions.

The next caution fell with a little over 50 laps remaining when TJ Bell stalled his car on the track apron of turn two, Stenhouse Jr. beat Martin out of the pits, with Danica Patrick finding herself in sixth place. The caution was out again soon after when Jeremy Clements put his car on the infield after contact with Tayler Malsem as the race approached its finale stages with Stenhouse still out front.

Cole Whitt in the No.88 spot found himself running in the top three, and things were tightening up as Elliott Sadler made a push back up the running group to put himself back in contention with 30 laps to go.

Stenhouse Jr. pushed on and extended his lead as the field entered their final 10 laps, only a caution now would deny the 2011 champion his first victory of the season. As the white flag dropped, it seemed the leader was running out of fuel, but he held on to take the flag ahead of Mark Martin and Phoenix winner Elliott Sadler.

Image Courtesy of   Walter G Arce / Shutterstock.com

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It’s almost that time of year again. The new Formula One season is just days away, and if you believe the rumors the battle is set to be closer than ever. Sebastian Vettel is looking to win his third consecutive world championship, whilst the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher and even the returning Kimi Raikkone will be looking to make sure that doesn’t happen.

2011 had to go a long way to match the drama of 2010, and despite Vettel’s dominance throughout the year, the season still provided some great racing and some great races. But people now believe 2012 could be even better. Minimal rule changes mean there’s not much to discuss on the technical side, but the biggest change is the one which could affect how the season pans out early on.

Blown Diffusers have been banned this year, causing the majority of teams to re-think the design of their cars and how to get the most out of what they are allowed to work with. There is also a new front wing height rule in place, meaning most teams, except McLaren, have gone for an ugly-looking front nose cone which significantly dips down past the driver’s feet. It doesn’t look pretty unless you are a McLaren fan, and most believe the cars will be back to normal in 2013.

Smaller, yet still important rule changes include a change to the proceedings behind the Safety Car. Something that had bugged me for a long time was thinking a yellow flag period would make the race more interesting, only to find two HRT’s and a Virgin stuck between Vettel and Hamilton, allowing Vettel to fly away whilst the Brit got stuck behind the lapped cars. This year, the lapped cars can overtake the Safety Car and re-join the back of the pack, meaning closer racing at the front.

Now, on to the men that matter: the drivers. There aren’t any major changes in the line-ups this year. We say hello to a couple of rookies, but at the front of the grid, all remains as it was. Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari & Mercedes have stuck with their 2011 line-ups, meaning Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Button, Alonso, Massa, Rosberg & Schumacher will fight it out for the top spots.

But don’t rule out Lotus. Yes, Lotus. Not the ones who have been running at the back of the pack for the last two years. The Lotus team is now the old Renault team, but they may as well be a new team, as they have two new drivers this year. Kimi Raikkonen has returned to F1 with Lotus, and will be partnered by GP2 champion Romain Grosjean, who had a brief period in Formula One in 2009.

Pre-season testing would suggest Lotus had left the midfield trailing, and we may be talking about a top 5 team this season, rather than a top 4. But the fight in the middle should still be a closely run thing, with Force India, Sauber, Toro Rosso, Williams & Caterham (previously Lotus) fighting it out. Force India have retained rookie of the year Paul Di Resta, but Adrian Sutil is out and replaced by former Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg.

It’s as if you were at Sauber with Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez still behind the wheel. However, the biggest change comes at Toro Rosso. Everybody thought the drivers of Sebastien Buemi & Jaime Alguersuari were safe, particularly the young Spaniard, but both were dropped after 2011 and have been replaced by ex-HRT driver Daniel Ricciardo, and young Frenchman, Jean-Eric Vergne.

It was the end of an era at Williams, with Rubens Barrichello departing F1 for IndyCar after almost 20 years in the sport. His place has been taken by Bruno Senna, the first time a Senna has raced for the team since that fateful day at Imola in 1994. He partners Pastor Maldonado,who keeps his place with the team. At Caterham, things look much brighter for the former Lotus brand.

The team seems to have stepped up a gear for 2012, and could be ready to challenge the midfield this year. Heikki Kovaleinen has been kept on, and has been joined by former Renault driver Vitaly Petrov for 2012. It’s a strong line-up for Caterham, and they’ll hope for some good early outings.

At the back of the pack, it’s not looking so good for Marussia (formerly Virgin) and HRT. Both have once again had rocky pre-seasons, failing to test their news in any of the three testing sessions, meaning neither team has attended a pre-season test with a new car for the three years both have existed in Formula One.

It seems each year both teams manage to take a step backwards before moving forwards. HRT have signed up experienced Spaniard Pedro De La Rosa to partner Narain Karthikeyan, whilst Timo Glock remains at Marussia, and is joined by rookie Charles Pic.

It’s all set for another bumper F1 season, plenty of close racing should be guaranteed, for the first time ever we have six world champions on the grid, and even a new race. Formula One returns to the USA after a stint away from the states, with the pack heading to Austin, Texas towards the end of the season.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/julien-reboulet/

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Over 30 hours later than scheduled, Matt Kenseth took the chequered flag at Daytona for the second time, holding off Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle after a last-lap dash to the finish.

The race was filled with incident, but it was Kenseth at the front when it mattered as he added to his Daytona 500 win back in 2009. Earnhardt Jr. had expected Biffle to make a last minute move for the lead which never came, allowing Kenseth to hold off the pair to the finish line.

In a typically drama filled 500, it didn’t take long for the cars to start spinning when Elliott Sadler gave Jimmie Johnson a push coming in to turn 1 on the second lap. Kurt Busch, David Ragan and Danica Patrick were all involved, Busch slamming in to the side of Johnson, whilst 2011 winner Trevor Bayne was also involved in the incident. Bayne re-joined not long after, and Patrick resumed over 60 laps down to get some more experience of her new surroundings.

Biffle and Kenseth found themselves at the start for the green flag, but the caution was out again soon after when Ryan Newman appeared to spin off on his own coming out of turn 2, his left tyre deflating badly coming around the banking. Newman caused more problems as the majority of the field hit pit-road, without his rear left he struggled towards his box, allowing AJ Allmendinger to slam in to the back of his car.

A period of green flag racing would follow, the lead swapping between Paul Menard, Biffle, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton and finally Jeff Gordon before caution No.3 was called on lap 64 for debris down at turn 2. Marcos Ambrose joined the leading gang as the much anticipated pack took shape while approaching its halfway mark.

But Jeff Gordon failed to make it when his engine deflated, bringing out the fourth caution of the evening. Terry Labonte took the green flag, but only for two laps as he got turned by Ambrose coming out of turn 4, bringing out the caution yet again.

There was $200,000 in price for the driver in the lead at the halfway point, and after a huge push from Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. led at the 100 lap mark for the second year in succession. More pit stops followed, but Clint Bowyer stopped down at turn 2 after running out of gas, and Carl Edwards was having his own problems, the pole sitter experiencing fuel pressure problems as he ran back in the midfield.

After more green flag racing, David Stremme brought out the caution when his engine blew, but more drama was to follow when Juan Pablo Montoya slammed in to the jet dryer, engulfing it in flames, and Montoya’s car left burning and wrecked on the infield.

The red flag was called with Dave Blayney in the lead, and over two hours later the cars were back on track, Earnhardt Jr. complaining that the scene of the incident wasn’t ready for racing. The green flag dropped anyway with Kenseth leading the pack. A collision between Ambrose and Kasey Kahne brought out the eighth caution before a multi-car crash with just over ten laps to go brought out the ninth.

Jamie McMurray, Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Regan Smith and Aric Almirola were involved but as the remaining cars fired up for a five-lap dart to the finish, the caution was out for a tenth time when an accident occurred in the same spot, this time wiping out 2011 champion Tony Stewart, along with Blaney, Stenhouse Jr., Landon Cassill, Kyle Busch and the unfortunate Ryan Newman.

Two laps were added to race distance, as Kenseth led Biffle and Earnhardt Jr around the final four miles. Biffle never made a move coming out of turn four, allowing Kenseth to win his second Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr did manage to just beat Biffle in to second place as a caranged filled race came to its conclusion.

Image Courtesy of   Walter G Arce / Shutterstock.com

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The Kroger Co. and the USO are strengthening their partnership with a fresh campaign to support men and women in the armed forces and their families.

In conjunction with the Daytona 500 celebration on Sunday, Feb. 26, Kroger will launch ‘Honoring OurHeroes’, a year-long initiative to raise funds for members of our armed forces in partnership with the USO, the leading organization for morale-boosting programs and services for American troops and their families. This is the second year Kroger is sponsoring Honoring Our Heroes.

Thirteen Kroger associates from across the company will join in presenting a $1.5 million donation to the USO prior to the race.  The funds were raised in 2011 in partnership with key suppliers and through the contributions of customers and associates at Kroger’s family of stores across the country. This donation will support USO programs serving members of the military, wounded warriors and their families.

“For more than 70 years, the USO has been lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families in many ways, including free phone calls and internet to connect with their loved ones back home, care packages to let them know they are never forgotten, and USO Centers around the world, where they can rest or get a free bite to eat,” said USO President and CEO Sloan Gibson.

“None of this would be possible without dedicated partners like Kroger. Our partnership with Kroger makes it possible for our troops and their families to know that their efforts and sacrifices are appreciated.  And this is the best way we can honor our heroes.”

In addition to being Kroger associates, these men and women also are active-duty or reservist members of our armed forces. They represent all five branches of the military and the National Guard.

“We can’t think of more fitting ambassadors of our program than our own people, and we are pleased to recognize their service in front of the Daytona 500 race fans,” said Lynn Marmer, group vice president of Corporate Affairs for Kroger.  ”We thank all of our associates in the military for their service to our country, our communities, and our company.  The Kroger family of stores looks forward to helping the USO assist even more of our men and women in uniform.”

As it did in 2011, the Kroger-USO car, driven by NASCAR champion Bobby Labonte, will carry a special Kroger logo in this year’s Daytona 500. This emblem features the names of more than 350 Kroger associates who are active duty or reservist members of the U.S. military, in tribute to their service.  In addition, Labonte will wear a special helmet during Sunday’s race.  Featuring a striking eagle motif and customized paint scheme, the helmet was designed by an associate at Kroger’s general office in Cincinnati especially for this race.

“It’s great to work with Kroger again and have them on board for one of the most prestigious races of the season, the Daytona 500,” Labonte said. “The Kroger logo on the hood of our No. 47 Toyota Camry is pretty cool because it is paying special tribute to hundreds of Kroger associates from across the country.  We also have USO on the car. Kroger did an amazing job through Honoring Our Heroes. We’re proud to carry the USO in The Great American Race on Sunday.”

Kroger is the exclusive retail partner for the Daytona 500. Learn more about special in-store and online Daytona 500 promotions at Kroger and its family of stores at www.kroger.com.

Best known for its entertainment tours, the USO provides programs and services to those who need the USO the most, including deployed troops and their families, wounded, ill and injured service members and their families, as well as families of the fallen. To learn about the USO’s mission to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families, visit www.uso.org.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/imcomkorea/

The article ‘Honoring OurHeroes’ Initiative to Be Launched at Daytona 500 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The world-renowned General Tire Mint 400 was recently acquired by the Martelli Brothers – partners in the nationally recognized marketing/production group Mad Media – who have since formed a multi-year partnership with Casey Folks of Best in the Desert to manage the event. The Mint will now be part of The Best in the Desert (BITD) American Off-Road Racing Series, but will remain open to privateers. Hundreds of race teams will compete in 20 different classes of race vehicles at next year’s Mint 400, which will take place the weekend of March 23 – 25, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Martelli Brothers and Folks have already begun to improve the event by reinstating popular features from the Mint’s glory days (late 1970′s) – and by adding new components to make it even more exciting for spectators and race teams. Folks has designed a new (brutal) 400-mile course located in Jean, Nevada, that will feature a high-speed passing zone near a dedicated spectator area, as well as rocky washes, silt beds, high-speed graded roads, rock gardens, and the giant rolling jumps for which the Mint is famous. Additionally, racers will start side-by-side, making Turn One a new exciting spectacle of the race. Prize purses will increase, including the addition of Oakley “Bomb Awards” for the fastest lap. And each driver of record will also receive a complimentary gift bag with sponsor gifts.

“We’ve expanded the reach of the Mint for 2012 dramatically by increasing the coverage with our TV partner, FUEL TV, and by partnering with Race-Dezert.com for live tracking and web coverage during the race,” said Joshua Martelli. ”We’ve also just pulled the trigger on a new Mint 400 social media package that includes Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. We will be producing a ton of new video content prior to and during the race – and distributing it through these channels to all of our fans. We’re going to elevate The Mint 400 back to being the most important motorsports-event in the world, one year at a time.

“Since 1968, The Mint 400 has held the title of the toughest, most spectacular off-road race in North America.” Martelli continued, “Our goal is to build on that tradition. Between our expanded media coverage, extended entry-list, partnership with Casey Folks of Best in the Desert, and help from the city of Las Vegas, we’re on the way to making the Mint 400 the most remarkable motorsports-event in the world. We have also extended an offer to other series to participate including, but not limited to, Sal Fish of SCORE International. Next year will be an epic battle between the best off-road racers on the planet, in over 20 different classes of race vehicles…all taking place in Las Vegas! You don’t want to miss that!”

For Folks, working with the Martelli Brothers on the Mint 400 is a welcome addition to his BITD schedule: “My first Mint 400 race was in 1972 on a motorcycle – and I’ve been in love with it ever since.” Folks continued, “I won my bike class in 1973 and 1974. Then, in 1976, I was given the opportunity by the Mint Hotel to work with my good friend Walt Lott on promoting the race – which was my very first as a professional promoter. I’m a proud Las Vegas-native, and I have always wanted to have this race be a part of Best in the Desert. Now that it is, it’s time we remind the world what desert racing is all about!”

The Mint 400′s title sponsor, General Tire, swept the podium in 2011 – and they are returning in 2012 as the title sponsor of the race.

“We are extremely excited to continue our support of the legendary Mint 400,” said Dana Zamalloa, manager of PR and communications, General Tire. ”We want to help expand this race into an international phenomenon so that the whole world can see how technical and exciting desert racing is. We have a multi-year commitment with Mad Media and Casey Folks, and are very excited that the Mint is now part of the Best in the Desert series.”

The Mint 400 race will take place Saturday, March 24, in Jean, Nevada – just outside the city of Las Vegas, and there will be an entire week of events leading up to it. Several of the sponsors are planning hosted parties and autograph signings, the annual contingency parade on Fremont Street in Las Vegas will continue, and of course, the famous Miss Mint 400 pageant contest will be held again in 2012!

The 2012 Mint 400 features include:

• New Casey Folks designed 400-mile course
• New side-by-side (2X) start
• New spectator areas – including a high-speed passing zone
• Increased TV coverage
• New live coverage via Race-Dezert.com
• New Mint 400 website and social media package (FB / YT & Twitter)
• Gift Bags for all drivers
• Oakley Bomb Awards for fastest lap
• Increased prize purses
• Hosted parties
• World famous contingency on Fremont Street
• The Miss Mint Pageant Contest

For up-to-date information on the Mint 400 visit www.themint400.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/themint400.

For additional news and updates on the Best in the Desert Series visit www.BITD.com.

The article General Tire Mint 400, The Greatest Off-Road Race in the World appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

For 51 weeks of the year Le Mans is a fairly normal French town. Its efficient and modern tram system and uncongested streets do not give the impression of a place which annually becomes a place of motor sporting pilgrimage for over 250,000 people, yet the Circuit de la Sarthe just outside the town provides one of the most historic and exciting race spectacles in the world.

The marathon begins at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon and continues through the night until the same time on Sunday, however most fans arrive on the Friday to soak up the atmosphere and attend the drivers’ parade which celebrates the races’ heritage on the streets of Le Mans town. On this so-called ‘Mad Friday’ the event takes on a festival-like character as the bars of the town are heaving with visitors, also fancy-dress has become an increasingly common sight around the campsites and with no cars going around the track at this time you could be forgiven for sometimes assuming you were at a comic book convention.

Madness aside, there is an unshakeable competitive spirit at Le Mans every year. The automobile manufacturing giants Audi and Peugeot have been duelling for over a decade at the forefront of the field, each pouring massive amounts of resources into this race to prove to the world that their cars are supreme in this test of both speed and fortitude. Although Audi and Peugeot have made the headlines again this year the 56 car starting grid was full of smaller teams competing in one of the four categories of LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype), LMP2, GTEPro and GTEAm.

The qualifying session that took place on the Thursday before race weekend was unable to separate the 6 works Audis and Peugeots by any more than half a second. A big question mark hung over the Aston Martin Racing team who are historically very competitive at Le Mans but this year came to the race with a completely radical and unproven machine which was well off the pace around the 8.5 mile circuit. Making a debut in the GT car classes were the Ferrari 458s and Lotus’ Evora which were to race alongside the staple Le Mans entries of the Porsche 911s and Chevrolet Corvettes. The diversity of entrants which makes the Le Mans 24 Hours such an attraction was demonstrated by the entry in the GT Amateur class of the Robertson Racing Ford GT which was run by husband and wife team David and Andrea Robertson who would in fact celebrate their wedding anniversary whilst racing on the Sunday.

As day broke on Saturday morning fans made their way from the campsites to the trackside to witness the start, some had clearly gone with the tactic of getting as much sleep as possible to survive as much of the 24 hours as they could, however the lycra-clad wrestlers who had erected their own bar by the roadside near the Porsche Curves obviously were following a different plan. Morning practice again highlighted how close the race was going to be as the Audi R18s and Peugeot 908s were almost identical in terms of lap times. The first competitive action of the day was in the form of the Le Mans Legends classic car race which was won by Carlos Monteverde in his joyously beautiful yellow Ferrari 250 LM and then came the Ferrari Challenge race which involved 50 of the Italian marques creating sonorous reverberations as they sprinted around the track for about an hour.

As 3 o’clock approached, the impatient crowd were delighted to see the field of the Le Mans 24 Hours entrants somewhat menacingly coast around the track behind the Audi A5 safety car which was audibly straining to keep an acceptable pace for the 200MpH machines which it was leading around on the formation lap. As the start finish line was crossed the cars bolted and the 79^th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours was underway.

The run up to Turn 1 was chaotic with cars running 3 and 4 abreast. Allan McNish in the R18 which started 5^th on the grid had said before the race how he would overtake if the opportunity presented itself, however out on the track it was clear that the Scot was going to make his own luck and proceeded to plunge past the #8 Peugeot and was into 4^th after the Dunlop Bridge. It was apparent how much faster the diesel works Audis and Peugeots were even after the first lap as they stretched a huge lead out in front of the 7^th place Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (the car that Peugeot entered at Le Mans last year) which was being run by the Oreca-Matmut team.

The pole-sitting BMW Motorsport M3 in the GTEPro class was swiftly overtaken by the #51 Ferrari 458 driven by Giancarlo Fisichella  but was forced into playing defensive against an onslaught by the #73 Corvette and the BMW.  In LMP2 the #26 Signatech car led comfortably from the start for half an hour but was forced into the pits with a puncture.

The LMP1 Aston Martins defied all expectations regarding how early they would retire during the race as, to the great disappointment of their fans, both cars were in the pits within the opening half hour with the same engine problem.  McNish, after a long time spent hounding Frank Montagny who was sitting in third in the leading Peugeot, finally overtook him on the Mulsanne Straight; however his luck swiftly ran out when trying to lap the Luxury Racing #58 Ferrari which did not see McNish in his mirrors, followed the normal racing line and made contact with the #3 Audi.

The crash looked catastrophic, decades ago such an incident would have resulted in a fatality for sure, however the main safety shell of the Audi R18 stayed intact as it had been designed to do and Allan McNish was able to step out of the car unaided. Unfortunately this meant that the Le Mans hero Tom Kristensen would not get a chance to get out on track, much to the disappointment of the massive Danish contingent who loyally make the journey to La Sarthe every year to show their support. The rest of the crowd were about to be disappointed too as an hour-long safety car deployment was to ensue to allow the marshals time to fix the crash barriers which McNish had destroyed.

The safety car came in just after 5 o’clock and the LMP1 battle at the front of the field raged on at the same intensity as it had been before the crash. The #2 Audi and #7 Peugeot traded the lead whilst they both took their required pit stops but by 8 o’clock Fassler led for Audi chased by the F1-experienced Antony Davidson driving for Peugeot. Meanwhile in the other classes, the Corvette Racing Chevy had seen off the rivalry of the #51 Ferrari and #56 BMW to take the lead in GTEPro and in LMP2 the race was being led by a clear margin by the #48 Oreca Nissan.

It is important to note that LMP1 was not a two horse race between Audi and Peugeot – the honour of being the fastest petrol powered team was hotly contested and was held at the time by the newly reformed Pescarolo Racing team who were competing in their much loved green livery.  At the back of the field GTEAm was just as competitive as the battles at the front: the AMR Aston Martin Vantage in its Gulf racing colours raced hard against the Labre Competition Corvette and the #81 Flying Lizard Porsche 911. The Lotus Evoras entered by the Jet Alliance team appeared to be reliable but unfortunately too slow to be competitive and thus lapped at the back of the field.

At the 7-hour mark Andre Lotterer in the #2 Audi had pulled out a 30 second lead over the Frenchman Marc Gene and Audi looked strong. However the opportunity to stretch this lead out any further was removed when another massive crash quite remarkably involving another GT Ferrari and the #1 Audi driven by Mike Rockenfeller slammed into the barriers at the Indianapolis corner. The crash really was as horrendous as the one which had ended Allan McNish’s race – the car was barely visible as it came to a rest just over the other side of the barriers down the Mulsanne Straight but yet again the cockpit had remained intact and unbelievably, considering the scale of the destruction, Rockenfeller removed himself from the car and walked away.  Night time had well and truly set in at this point in which a long safety car period followed and thus the beer-tents bulged with impatient fans.

The safety car was, in an odd way, despite losing yet another car from their ranks, advantageous to Audi as the splitting of the field among three different safety cars had meant that Treluyer in the #2 Audi had a 2 minute lead over Stephane Sarrazin in the chasing Peugeot 908. The race restarted just after 1AM and the Peugeots were left to give chase to the sole surviving R18 which was being perused like a hunted dog.

The lead switched hands many times through the night as pit stops and a safety car for a crash involving the #16 Rebellion Racing Lola somewhat scrambled any kind of coherent running order. As the sun rose above La Sarthe, the Peugeots, which impressively were running in a convoy-like formation, emerged in front of the #2 Audi but owed a pit stop and driver change. Even in the hazy morning air the drivers at the front of LMP1 showed no sign of slowing as they both set fastest lap times at around 7 o’clock – it was clear that they would be driving flat out until the race finished at 3.

The expansive time and distance of the race was beginning to claim a few more victims as concentration lapsed and fatigue set in. Abdul Al-Faisal, a Saudi prince who was behind the wheel of the #88 Felbemeyer Porsche, crashed out from the GTEPro categeory. Dramatically the GTEPro leader, Jan Magnusson, made contact between his #74 Corvette and the #63 Felbemeyer Porsche, ending both of their races – this meant that the #51 Ferrari 458 run by AF Corse took the lead in that group. LMP2 was a much easier affair to follow, the Greaves Zytek car had stretched out two minutes in front of the chasing pack and in GTEAm the Labre Corvette was leading from the American Flying Lizard Porsche.

Treluyer in the #2 Audi finally caught the leading #9 Peugeot driven by Simon Pagenaud at the 17 hour mark and an almighty battle ensued. The chase wasn’t made any easier for Treluyer as Stephane Sarrazin in the #8 Peugeot, who was a lap behind the front runners, made a nuisance of himself but eventually Treluyer squeezed into the lead at the start of the Mulsanne Straight and proceeded to edge out a gap between him and the French convoy.

Beniot Treluyer drove like a man possessed until he eventually had to relinquish the wheel of the #2 Audi at 11:30, by which time he had created a good enough lead for Andre Lotterer to emerge only seconds behind the Peugeot of Sebastian Bourdais after the pit stop. If it wasn’t heroic enough that Treluyer had singlehandedly driven for nearly four hours at consistently low lap times  on one set of tyres, he said in an interview after he got out of the car that he had been woken up just before he was due to get in and had to jump straight into the car!

By midday on Sunday the LMP2 and GTEAm categories were pretty much decided as the British #41 Greaves Nissan went on to win comfortably and the Labre scored a 1-2 finish with their Corvette and 911. However the battle for victory in GTEPro was fierce as the #51 Ferrari 458 fought the #73 Labre racing Corvette.

As if the race between Audi and Peugeot was not difficult enough to predict the heavens opened and showered the track with not-unsubstantial amounts of rain. Tragically, the leading petrol car, the Pescarolo Judd driven by the experienced Emmanuel Collard, crashed with only a few hours to go at the Porsche Curves as he went into the corner carrying far too much speed.

Lotterer made a stop and opted for slick tyres, which at the time was a risky decision but proved to be the correct one as the rain stopped and the track dried. As Lotterer was teetering around the track on his slicks Pagenaud in the chasing Peugeot was driving with nothing to lose and had caught up massively with the leading Audi. To everyones’ anger the Peugeot driven by Marc Gene, which was several laps behind Lotterer, completely ran him off the road as he came round to pass on the Mulsanne Straight. Fortunately the race was not ruined there and then as Lotterer skilfully saved himself from ending up in the barriers and Marc Gene had earned himself the title of ‘villain of the day.’

Astoundingly with only half an hour to go there was only 7 seconds between #2 Audi of Andre Lotterer and the #7 Peugeot of Pagenaud. The commentary on Radio Le Mans would have caused a wave of regret in the many spectators who were leaving early to escape the traffic, it was a fitting end to an unbelievable race and the fourth closest Le Mans finish in history.

Despite plenty of GT car traffic and oil on the track from a slowing Oak Racing LMP2 car, Andre Lotterer was able to cling on to victory. He crossed the line in the Audi R18 which had completed 355 laps over the 24 hours, behind him was the #7 Peugeot a staggeringly close 13 seconds behind.

The #73 Corvette Racing Chevy managed to cross the line infront of the #51 Ferrari which meant that Corvettes won both the GTEPro and GTEAm classes. Robertson Racing fulfilled their dream of finishing at Le Mans as their Ford GT picked up a commendable third place in GTEAm.

It was one of the truly classic Le Mans races which will be remembered forever in the races long history. Wolfgang Ulrich, the head of the Audi Motorsport operation sportingly shook hands with the Peugeot teams which had given chase to the winning Audi all through the night and day. The winning drivers Benoit Treluyer, Timo Bernhard and Marcel Fassler found the energy to celebrate jubilantly on the winner’s podium whilst fans flooded the pits and start/finish straight to show their appreciation of an epic competition.

The Mulsanne Straight will return to its normal function of being a public road this week and the Le Mans Series will move on to the Nurburgring for another 24-hour marathon but the spirit of motor racing will remain at Le Mans ready to be picked up again next year for its 80^th anniversary running.

Images Courtesy of Ash Watkins: http://ashwatkins.wordpress.com/

The article 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours, Audi Retains Title appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Team Race Bikes is a relatively new racing management company based out of Mondragon, France.  The goal of companies like these is to provide racers with financial and technical stability while they race, at a small cost. With a background in business, team managers deal with speedway and racetrack operations, venue logistics, team management, sponsorship, product promotions, managing race team personnel, media and event management, public relations, and revenue enhancements and branding.

Within one year, Team Race Bikes has become a force to be reckoned with in the French Top-Twin and Superbike racing categories thanks to Ann Gire and Jean-Luc Defour, the owner and team manager, respectively, have poured their hearts and souls into this team. Ann Gire studied Global Communications at the American University of Paris, where she learned market development, worldwide distribution and export sales growth.Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Defour developed extensive experience in financial management and mechanical operations after years of work in the field. Team Race Bikes brings this racing experience to their racers by offering “a job done well, at a fair price.”

Despite their youthfulness, Team Race Bikes has assembled a fine team to support their drivers. They have Peter Clark, the Ducati engineer from New Zealand, and Eric Delcamp of Delcamp Energies, who keep shock absorbers up and running, to name a few. It is absolutely necessary to have a strong camp in order to be successful. Without a constantly functioning bike, drivers cannot hope to be a force to be reckoned with in such a tight competition. On the track, bikes often break down, whether due to tire wear or weather disruptions, and a good team mechanic must be prepared. These road side aides must race against the clock to get the driver going without losing too much time. If the driver cannot get back on the track, he must forfeit.

Team Race Bikes currently has three regulars on the track: Alain Rimbaud (#), Lionel Ancelin (#30), and Stephan Cancela (#). At 29 years old, Rimbaud is their youngest driver, and began competing merely 3 years ago. Regardless, in 2009 his talent put him on the map, when he finished 10^th overall in the O3Z race. This season, at the first race in Le Mans, France, he went from 34^th to 19^th to 12^th place within one weekend, an incredible improvement. His improvement is greatly anticipated this season.

Since his debut in 2002, Lionel Ancelin, 35, has grown exponentially. In 2009 he won The Golden Bowl in the Open category and achieved excellent results in the Top Twin Challenge in 2010. This year, after a devastating mechanical and financial failure last year, he has returned to competition under the Team Race Bikes banner, placing podium at every race he has completed. On the Nogaro race track in May, Ancelin won his second Cup victory in France. Ancelin takes great pride in his motorcycle, which he depends wholly on for his continued success.

“I am very satisfied with the second victory and the great performance of my Ducati 1198S. The bike has excellent handling, grip, and traction. It is an incisive, aggressive, and elitist motorcycle which demands a lot to drive it. It is a real racing machine and fabulous to ride. I am currently second in the championship and will continue to give my utmost to win the title.”

The final racer, Stephane Cancela, 43, considers the bike a passion, a lifestyle, and a childhood dream come true. Since his competitive debut in 1999, Stephane has participated in the Ducati Club de France, internships with the BMC, and Pro-Twin and Top-Twin competitions. Cancela consistently holds his own in the competition, and recently reaced 8^th place on his Ducati 1098R.

Team Race Bikes took the smart but risky move of entering directly into the highest level of French motorcycle racing championships. Hence, should they succeed, they only stand to move further within the realm of championship, gaining higher status nationally and eventually moving into the international arena.

Want to know more? Please visit the sites below:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Race-Bikes/150896861620989?sk=wall

http://www.teamracebikes.com/

Image Courtesy: Team Race Bikes

The article Team Race Bikes, A New Racing Management Company is Breaking Into The Moto-Racing Industry appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is probably one of the most unpredictable sporting events of the year. In 2010 Peugeot  filled the first two rows of the starting grid with four cars which looked formidably fast, however at the end of the day (literally) not a single Peugeot crossed the line, handing victory to the slower but more reliable Audis.

The main contenders this year will again be Audi and Peugeot; they will be the fastest cars on the grid with their super-efficient turbo diesel models. Filling the rest of LMP1 (the fastest class at Le Mans) will be Aston Martin’s controversial open-cockpit AMR-One and a clutch of smaller racing teams who will be running petrol driven machines.

The new ACO regulations have sought to increase the lap times around the Circuit de la Sarthe to around 3 minutes and 30 seconds, this means that the diesel cars have been limited to 3.7-litre engines this year (down from 5.5) and the petrol cars have been limited to 2.0 for turbo and 3.4 for naturally aspirated engines.

Efficiency is therefore the name of the game. Both manufacturers have reduced the number of cylinders from what they ran last year, Audi will be running a V6 and Peugeot a V8. As the differences in engines suggest, the cars have been constructed from difference approaches, it will be interesting to see whether the lighter Audi can overcome the straight-line pace of the Peugeots.

Peugeot’s car looks very similar to the 908 HDI FAP from last year but the designers have built the car from the ground up to make a brand new design for 2011 and despite the new regulations, the new 908 has clocked speeds even faster than its predecessor. The question remains whether Peugeot will avoid the technical problems that ruined their chances in 2010.

Audi have abandoned the open-cockpit design and have put a lid on the R18. The change comes in response to new pit lane rules which only allow two mechanics to change the tyres.  The fewer mechanics mean that putting on new tyres will take longer than the driver change; it will no longer be advantageous to have an open-cockpit which made driver changing easier.

Despite the rule change, Aston Martin have moved to an open-cockpit design, which has baffled many. Their engine choice as well, a 2-litre turbo straight six, has raised many eyebrows in the pits of other teams too – the AMR-One will be a very interesting entrant in this year’s race.

The perceived weaknesses in Aston Martin’s car has led to talk of the privateers in LMP1 being in contention to claim the title of fastest petrol team. Pescarolo return this year with a restricted 5.0-litre Judd chassis and Rebellion Racing will be running a new set of Toyota V8s in their Lola LMP1 cars. Hope Racing will be trying to emulate the Oreca 01’s excellent 4^th place behind the 3 Audis last year with a modified version of the same car.

GT1 and GT2 become GTE Pro and GTE Am, with a few new models present for 2011. The Ferrari 458 Italia will make a debut appearance, so will Lotus’ Evora alongside the stalwart Porsche 997s and Ferrari F430s.

This year is also the first year that the Le Mans 24 Hours will be part of a race series. It is the third meeting in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup – not only is this one of the most prestigious races in the world but now it shall carry championship points.

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davehamster/

The article Le Mans 2011: A Preview appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The beginning of this Formula 1 season bears many similarities with the Brawn GP-dominated 2009 championship in which Ross Brawn’s team had won 5 of the 6 opening races. It looked a foregone conclusion back then: Brawn GP could have won the next few races and have basically secured victory in both the drivers and constructors championships with ease. Fortunately for the other teams, and most importantly the fans, resurgence from Red Bull Racing made the end of the 2009 season a much more closely fought affair.

So will Red Bull be so kind this year and make the rest of the season less predictable? It’s going to be a tall order for the other teams, but like we saw in 2009, the tables can quickly turn and the team who looked invincible can fall foul to reliability issues and the advances of their rivals. The former is probably less likely to impede Red Bull because, bar a few KERS issues, their reliability has been excellent. It will be up to the other teams to raise their game.

So what can the chasing pack do? Or more accurately: what can McLaren do? Fernando Alonso has already resigned Ferrari’s chances to that of a mathematical possibility. He believes unless Ferrari can win the next three races, with Red Bull failing to score, his team have already lost sight of championship victory.

McLaren, despite a 58 point gulf between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel and a 61 point gap in the constructor’s standings, are most likely to stage a comeback. We saw last weekend at Monaco how the speed of the Red Bulls was matched by McLaren, with Jenson Button clawing back seconds per lap towards the ends of the race only to fall foul to a monumentally inconvenient red flag deployment.

Its seems that despite formidable qualifying performances (Sebastian Vettel has started on pole position in all but the Spanish Grand Prix) the pace of the Red Bull cars can be matched by McLaren during a race. The superior tyre strategy of the McLaren team in Monaco meant Sebastian Vettel was exposed to attack from Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton has shown his capability to overtake Sebastian Vettel in race conditions as he did so during the closing laps of the Chinese Grand Prix in which he claimed victory .

The Red Bulls have been less than convincing off the line too: Button and Hamilton snatched the lead into turn one at China, Alonso laughed in the face of the Red Bull front row in Spain and Mark Webber has often lost track position at the first corner.  In the races that Vettel has dominated from the off (Australia, Malaysia and Turkey) he has led from the start and has had the opportunity to forge a comfortable cushion between him and the chasing cars. It seems that if the young World Champion is sitting in pole, his rivals must intervene at the first corner to force the Red Bull team into changing to a backup race strategy.

The technology gap between Red Bull and the other teams is also decreasing. Red Bull began the season with the fastest car no-doubt, their formidable speed at the front of the pack in Australia and Malaysia showed this, however their rivals have been adding new technological additions to their vehicles every race. There were no additions to the RB7 chassis in Monaco and Spain, could that be confidence in their machine or a window of opportunity for McLaren who have brought extensive technical modifications to the last few races?

There is still over half of the season to go and in theory the championship is still anyone’s for the taking. However, the fact remains that the man in front is the reigning World Champion, a supremely fast driver who is sitting in arguably still the fastest car on the grid. McLaren and Ferrari are going to have to pull something out in the next two races: Montreal and Valencia, both street circuits which will not allow the Red Bulls to stretch their legs on lots of open track. They will need to use every ounce of their racing expertise, not to mention some of the fortune which has favoured Sebastian Vettel this season to stay in the running.

The article Formula 1, A One Bull Race? appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The deafening roar of engines silenced the arena. All eyes were on the on the starting line, and heartbeats stretched into infinity. Without warning, chills rolled down my spine, and a gust of wind encircled me as the motorists sped past.

This was one of many similar experiences of the past weekend, as I enjoyed the hospitality of Team Race Bikes trackside at the Championnat Superbike (that’s French for Superbike Championship) in Le Mans, France. It may have been my first time on a race course, but I felt more than at home with the mechanics and team hands that know the sport well.

With a fine team of celebrated engineers and talented drivers, Team Race Bikes has recently entered into the great pool that comprises motorcycle racing. The team boasts four seasoned drivers who dominate their fields, competing in Top Twin and Superbike fields alike. Superbike, for which the championship is named, is the monster of its kind, dominating the track, with Top Twin its formidable brother.

For those not acquainted with the sport, Superbike racing is a class of motorcycle racing that features modified, or “super”, road bikes. Essentially, the manufacturer produces a specific number of roadgoing machines, which can then be tailored into two-wheeled beasts. Modified elements can include brakes, suspension, and wheel size and diameter. Four cyclinder superbikes have 750 to 1000 cc machines, while their Top Twin counterparts have 850 to 1200 cc engines. Take note, however, that Superbikes are not MotoGP’s, prototype machines that do not have to follow the strict guidelines that keep Superbikes so similar to street safe vehicles. For car lovers, this comparison reflects the difference between touring cars and Formula One racing. International and national competitions can be commonly found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Japan, where the sport is quite popular.

To put things in perspective, a comparison of the sport as it is held in France and the parallel competition in the United States is truly one of two cultures, and a biased one at that. Hailing from the United States but having lived in Paris for some time now, I have had the opportunity of experiencing the many elements that compose these differences. For one, the French feel as though sports should be entirely separate from, and thus not interfering with, the academic sphere. Sports should be treated as they are: merely an extracurricular activity that cannot be considered an excuse to miss class or turn in homework late. Not to say the French do not enjoy sports immensely; rather, it is not a priority. In great contrast, Americans pump money by the bucket load into sports and afterschool programs in order to create “well-rounded leaders”, a common saying in public schools.

These differences have resounding effects. The French have a far more closed and anti-social society. This is to be taken lightly, as the French are indeed personable and love talking in cafes for hours on end. They do, however, inhabit a far more conservative and therefore guarded society. Americans, on the other hand, are known for being amiable, albeit in a shallow manner. Many foreigners have remarked to me how welcome they feel in the United States, which I suppose can be considered American’s best marketing capability.

Additionally, this mannerism puts a heavy weight on sports teams themselves. Because of the lack of confidence in sports and the unwillingness to expand the activity, sports teams often find themselves greatly lacking the funds they need to succeed. This lands kids (and adults) with the most money into sports teams. This may be a common practice in the United States as well, and any other country for the matter, but at least the American public education system gives all students a chance.

One great example brings me back to Team Race Bikes, the French motoracing team I referenced earlier on. This company is an entrepreneurial wonder, doing its best to break into a tough field during an even tougher cycle of the economy. After talking with the Team’s head of communications, Ann Gire, it became clear that even the French do not believe in their country’s acceptance of sports. She said, “I don’t look for sponsors in France. We’re too new; they don’t believe in us.” Rather, she seeks sponsors globally, like the Spanish helmet company LS2.

As Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee, once said, “All sports for all people.” Sports have a way of unifying the globe, nowhere of which was more obvious than the 2010 South African world cup. Without the glorious aid of sponsors, none of that would be possible, and we can only hope to look forward to a future where good leadership, peace, and sports rule.

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