Video: Watch a motorcyclist save a coffee cup from certain death

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle

Nate Bos, a 28-year-old motorcyclist, was out for a leisurely ride in Orem, Utah, in early May when he spotted a cup precariously teetering on the back bumper of a second-generation Ford Explorer. Rather than watch the liquid-filled mug fall onto the road, and likely be lost forever, he decided to retrieve the drinkware and return it to its owner. “It just kinda struck me that it was a good thing to do,” Bos told ABC News in an interview this week. “I knew right away, I knew when I saw that cup (that) I was going to give it to the lady. I was going to give that cup back.”

Bos accelerated his 2003 Honda CBR 600RR up to the Explorer’s rear bumper, tucked in low, and then grabbed the mug. After moving it to his left hand, and executing a 90-degree turn and a few impressively smooth shifts (sans clutch), he caught back up to the oblivious driver… who finally noticed him. Scroll below to watch the hand-off happen yourself.

If this story were told to his friends over a beer, few would have believed Bos. But thankfully, he caught the whole escapade on his helmet-mounted GoPro Hero 3 (filming in 1080p, no less). After posting it to YouTube, his stunt has gone viral.

“I’ve got 10 years riding experience. I really wouldn’t recommend anybody else sneaking up on a car like that,” Bos said wisely. But we’d take his advice a few steps further by telling riders to always wear full motorcycle attire and remind them that shadowing another vehicle, regardless of experience, is flirting with disaster – no cup is worth it.

Continue reading Watch a motorcyclist save a coffee cup from certain death

Watch a motorcyclist save a coffee cup from certain death originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intercontinental Le Mans Cup hits Spa-Francorchamps [spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, Audi, Peugeot, Racing

Intercontental Le Mans at Spa-Francorchamps

The second round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup took place in Belgium, and even though the Audi R18 took to the starting line for the first time, Peugeot was able to take the top two spots on the podium after six hours of racing.

Interestingly, the qualifying results were the opposite of the race results: Audi racers occupied the first three positions on the grid, and although a Peugeot 908 was in fourth, it wasn’t a team car, it was that of the Oreca squad. Due to an incident-strewn and red-flagged qualifying session, the first Peugeot Sport Total car was back in 13th, the second was in 18th, and the third wasn’t even classified and started at the back of the grid.

In the race, however, it was Audi’s turn for bad juju. The pole-sitting car spun at the first corner on the first lap, one of the drivers accidentally hit the pit-lane speed limiter button during the race, unscheduled stops for new tires and collisions ate away at their positions. Come the checkered flag, team Audi rallied to take third, fourth, and fifth positions, but first and second went to The Lions – that second-place car being the one that started at the back of the grid.

Even with the copious amounts of shenanigans pre-race and in-race, the results aren’t totally surprising: Peugeot has a knack for emerging victorious at Spa – this was the team’s fifth consecutive win in the Ardennes. Have a look at some of the action in the high-res gallery below.

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup hits Spa-Francorchamps [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Cup USA kicks off at Willow Springs

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Lotus, Racing

2011 Lotus Cup USA

Lotus Cup USA kicked off its 2011 season this weekend at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California. The weather was perfect for the season opener, and Jack Fried took the overall and 2-Eleven class victory in a battle that came down to the final lap of the feature race.

Andy Kern took the win in the time attack event with 1:29.473 in another Lotus 2-Eleven, but retired from the feature with mechanical issues. Fried was close behind Kern for second in time attack.

The Lotus Evora Experience kicked off at Willow Springs last weekend as well. The Evora Experience gives 12 VIPs seat time in the Evora, including track sessions. The next round of Lotus Cup USA racing is at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, AZ the weekend of April 9 and 10.

Gallery: Entry-Level Lotus 2-Eleven

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus Cup USA kicks off at Willow Springs

Lotus Cup USA kicks off at Willow Springs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESPN: Ford submits Mustang for 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup approval

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ford, Racing

2010 Ford Mustang Nationwide series race car

Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Race Car – Click above for high-res image gallery

Forget the Fusion, Ford is making a move to bring the Mustang to Nascar’s Sprint Cup Series. Ford has informed NASCAR decisionmakers that it wishes to begin racing the Mustang in the highest level of left-turning motorsports.

Replacing the Fusion is a process that could take all year, and Ford is required to show that the Mustang is a competitive equal to the cars it will race against. The reason behind the move is that Ford wants to show fans they can buy a car right off the showroom floor that mimics the one they watch every weekend on TV.

As fans of the roundy round are already aware, the Blue Oval already races a Mustang stock car in NASCAR – in the Nationwide Series. The pony car shown above made its competition debut last July during the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

We understand you can’t purchase the same exact Mustang that will be hunting down rival racers around the county. In fact, we already know that you won’t be able to purchase anything like a Sprint Cup Mustang for street use. But Ford knows that millions of people tune-in and show up to support their favorite drivers and brands. At least on some level, adding the Mustang to the mix makes more sense since the production car provides real driving thrills for its owners. Besides, unlike the Fusion, it’s actually available in a coupe bodystyle like those used in NASCAR.

Now… if we can get Chevrolet to bring in the Camaro and Dodge to show up with the Challenger, we could be on the cusp of something special. Thanks for the tip, JR!

Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Series race car

[Source: ESPN]

ESPN: Ford submits Mustang for 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup approval originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW splits from Oracle after America’s Cup win

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, BMW

BMW Oracle racing

America’s Cup champion BMW Oracle Racing says German automaker BMW is ending its sponsorship at the end of the year by mutual agreement.

BMW has been part of the syndicate since 2002, contributing in the areas of structural engineering and lightweight, composite construction.

BMW Oracle Racing swept Alinghi of Switzerland in two races in February to win the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sports. Its radical trimaran design was the fastest boat in the history of the America’s Cup.

BMW Oracle Racing is owned by Larry Ellison, CEO of software maker Oracle Corp.

The reason for the bust-up? BMW is said by sources to want to separate from technology partner Oracle over business issues.
The BMW-Oracle team won the America’s Cup in February with a convincing 2-0 victory.

“In winning the 33rd America’s Cup, we achieved all of our ambitious goals,” said Ralf Hussmann, general manager BMW sports marketing. “We will continue to be involved in the sport on a national level.”

[Source: BMW | Image: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty]

Continue reading BMW splits from Oracle after America’s Cup win

BMW splits from Oracle after America’s Cup win originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Volkswagen, Design/Style, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start

2010 VW Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start – Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2.0-liter turbo diesel in our long-term 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition is a very modern mill, so we were curious how it would handle starting in the frigid clime of northeastern Ohio this time of year.

Diesel engines typically have three vulnerabilities when it comes to cold weather starts: the fuel, the battery and their glow plugs. First, the new Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel we all use begins to gel at a higher temperature than the old fuel. Sulfur is also a lubricant, and with less of it, the fuel pump has to work harder in cold temperatures to keep the thicker diesel fuel flowing. Fortunately, most diesel fuel sold in colder areas has ant-gelling additives mixed in already.

Batteries are also less efficient when cold, while at the same time having to work much harder to crank the engine more times. Finally, diesel engines use glow plugs to heat the point of combustion in each cylinder, which is a much tougher job when the mercury drops below freezing. Optional block heaters can help a diesel engine start in cold weather, but Volkswagen has enough faith in its 2.0-liter TDI that it doesn’t even offer one.

So how did our Jetta TDI Cup Edition do when being started in 25-degree weather after sitting for over 24 hours? Follow the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video]

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Porsche, Racing

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Click above for high-res image gallery

As many Porsche 911s as you think you might see at the golf course, yacht club or shopping mall, that’s nothing compared to the legions regularly running around racing circuits worldwide. Aside from the myriad open GT grids dominated by Stuttgart machinery, the iconic German sportscar is the spec racer of choice for various national Porsche Carrera Cup championships and the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup that supports F1 races around the year. Those series use the versatile 911 GT3 Cup. With over 1,400 sold since 1998, Porsche maintains that it’s the best-selling racing car of all time, and it has just announced a new model for the 2011 season onward.

Whereas the outgoing Cup racer was based on the street-going 911 GT3, the new model starts life as the harder, faster and sharper GT3 RS. That means a wider body that can accommodate bigger wheels, tires and brakes. It also carries the larger 3.8-liter flat-six with 450 horsepower – 30 more horses than the outgoing model coming from 200cc of added displacement. It also looks more like the RS, with an aggressive aero package and LED lighting for when tracks go dark and dreary.

The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will make its track debut at the opening round of next season’s Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, but you can delve into the details right now in the press release after the jump and in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup

Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: It’s the little things…

Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

2010 Volkswagen Jetta Door Pocket

With over three months and 5,342 miles on our Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition long-termer, we’ve moved from the honeymoon phase to the daily grind, and now we’re appreciating the little things.

Aside from averaging 39.2 mpg since our last update – which included a 10- hour trip to LA and back – there are a handful of thoughtful touches that continue to impress us. For instance? Carpeted bin liners. It may sound trite, but not hearing a plastic-on-plastic smack every time we throw our FastTrak into the door pocket is reassuring. Auto-up and down on all four windows is something you don’t find often enough in this segment and it’s a huge plus when clearing out the heat on a summer day. But our Favorite Little Thing? B-pillar mounted coat hooks. Throw your dry cleaning or sportcoat onto one of the hooks normally integrated into the rear grab handles and you’ve doubled your blind-spot. With VW’s solution, visibility out back remains nearly unobstructed, assuming you hang your coat on the passenger side and not behind the driver’s seat. We’ve also managed to cram four R-compound-shod wheels into the back (not for the Jetta, mind) with the rear seats folded down, and still had room for a toolbox, a few backpacks and a small tent. Not bad for a “compact sedan.”

Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: It’s the little things… originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: How low is too low?

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Volkswagen, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

My daily driver is lowered. Really low. Like damn-near-touring car low. Almost every car I’ve owned over the last decade has benefited from some kind of suspension setup that dropped its ride height. Traversing speed-bumps and steep driveways has always been a slow-speed, one-wheel-at-a-time affair for me. But with all these different cars with their low clearances, I’ve never had as many problems with scraping as I have with our long-term Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition.

The first time it reared its ugly head wasn’t in a parking lot or on a curb, but during my initial blast down a favorite backroad. I went into a banked right-hand bend, and as the left suspension loaded up, I heard a faint scraping noise up front. I figured it was a fluke until it happened a second time. Then a third. After the drive, I stopped to scope out the damage and found the paint stripped down to the base coat under the left bumper.

Since then, it’s only gotten worse, but it’s not the lower fascia that’s taking the brunt of the abuse.

There’s a small lip on the plastic underbody tray that gets caught on driveways and a marginally steep curbs, and after a few dozen scrapes, the four plastic clips holding it to the bumper are approaching their breaking point. It’s not a major issue, but hearing plastic meeting asphalt on a regular basis is enough to make anyone cringe.

As such, I make it a point to reverse into driveways steeper than a few degrees and slowly pull out, careful to drop one wheel, and then the next, when leaving. Yes, this is a sporty sedan. And yes, some concessions need to be made. But with a suspension that’s barely lower than a stock TDI, it’s the front fascia – and specifically this underbody tray – that’s to blame. And considering this is the same kit pulled from VW’s TDI racers, a slight modification to the lower valance might have been in order for street duty. While it’s more than just eye candy and has been optimized for increased airflow over the standard Jetta, the Cup Street Edition’s lower valance must live in the real world, and so far, the real world has left its mark on our long-term tester.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: How low is too low? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus Evora GT4 and Cup cars take to the ‘Ring and Laguna

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Lotus, Racing

Lotus Evora Cup Car GT4 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Lotus has set about proving that the Evora is more than just a pretty face, just recently putting its Evora Cup GT4 and 2-Eleven GT4 racers through their paces at the infamous Nürburgring and most recently at Laguna Seca. Both cars were hooned ’round the Green Hell by none other than Olie Hancock, the Lotus rookie test driver. The company didn’t release any lap times for either car, but we’re guessing the two are plenty quick. Lotus has entered the Evora Cup GT4 in the European GT4 Championship, where it will campaign against the best and brightest of the sports car world.

In order to get the car fit for battle, the company trimmed a total of 441 pounds from the car’s curb weight, landing the track-going Evora at just 2,623 pounds. Throw in a 360 horsepower V6 and you’ve got yourself a recipe for tarmac glory.

Meanwhile, a total of four 2-Eleven GT4 racers will be entered into the same championship, two of which will be campaigned by NFS Racing Dubai. The other two will be flying under the Scuderia Giudici banner – the team that currently leads the GT4 Super Sports category.

Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Lotus Evora Cup GT4 Race Car

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus Evora GT4 and Cup cars take to the ‘Ring and Laguna

Lotus Evora GT4 and Cup cars take to the ‘Ring and Laguna originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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