Video: Dashcam captures Taiwanese motorist escaping mudslide, Indiana Jones-sized boulder

Filed under: China, Videos

mudslide and boulder in taiwan

Talk about a close call! During a recent rainstorm in Taiwan’s Badouzi Coastal Park, a mudslide and accompanying colossal boulder nearly flattened a car on the roadway below. Fortunately for everyone involved, the iceberg-sized rock stops just short of the car and its very lucky occupants (hey, maybe they should play the lottery).

Fortunately for us, the whole incident was captured on another driver’s dash cam, making for one insane video clip. Check out the full video below for this disaster movie scene come-to-life, and as ThisIsColossal points out, pay special attention to the mountain peak at 00:03 to see the boulder begin its descent.

Continue reading Dashcam captures Taiwanese motorist escaping mudslide, Indiana Jones-sized boulder

Dashcam captures Taiwanese motorist escaping mudslide, Indiana Jones-sized boulder originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Sep 2013 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Dashcam captures Taiwanese motorist escaping mudslide, Indiana Jones-sized boulder

Filed under: China, Videos

mudslide and boulder in taiwan

Talk about a close call! During a recent rainstorm in Taiwan’s Badouzi Coastal Park, a mudslide and accompanying colossal boulder nearly flattened a car on the roadway below. Fortunately for everyone involved, the iceberg-sized rock stops just short of the car and its very lucky occupants (hey, maybe they should play the lottery).

Fortunately for us, the whole incident was captured on another driver’s dash cam, making for one insane video clip. Check out the full video below for this disaster movie scene come-to-life, and as ThisIsColossal points out, pay special attention to the mountain peak at 00:03 to see the boulder begin its descent.

Continue reading Dashcam captures Taiwanese motorist escaping mudslide, Indiana Jones-sized boulder

Dashcam captures Taiwanese motorist escaping mudslide, Indiana Jones-sized boulder originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Sep 2013 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Learn how Hot Wheels built a life-sized Double Loop

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Videos, Racing

Hot Wheels Double Loop Dare documentary screencap

At the 2012 X-Games, Hot Wheels attempted a death-defying, double loop. Unlike when you were a kid and actively trying to destroy your toy cars, though, this was a life-size attempt, with real drivers behind the wheel. The massive stunt, with two 66-foot-tall loops, was completed by Tanner Foust and Greg Tracy, and now there’s a short YouTube documentary on the process involved in setting up the stunt.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, but there were crashes in practice. Hot Wheels rigged up a poor Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback with a remote-control system as a practice vehicle, which eventually pancaked itself into the track midway through its run. The full-size RC car showed the lengths that the team went to get this stunt right, while making it as safe as possible for the two drivers.

You can check out the complete documentary below, along with the live lap from the 2012 X-Games in Los Angeles.

Continue reading Learn how Hot Wheels built a life-sized Double Loop

Learn how Hot Wheels built a life-sized Double Loop originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Aug 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kid-sized Mini Seven is perfect for minimalist children

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games

Mini Seven go-kart

Mini Seven – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re a little torn on this one. You’re looking at what could possibly be the most awesome go kart ever crafted by human hands: the Mini Seven. Mini is a company that specializes in high-end electric golf carts that vary from a proportionally-correct Hummer resort vehicle to a Bentley Continental GT lookalike. This, however, is different. The Seven was built specifically with children in mind, and Mini says that the pint-sized interpretation of Colin Chapman’s wonder is safe for operation on tarmac or in fields. Powered by a Honda gasoline engine, the car has a top speed of around 19 mph.

Four disc brakes with a fully-adjustable proportioning valve are standard, as are a set of four-point harnesses to keep your budding speed demon firmly planted in the optional leather seats. Even the pedals are adjustable to keep up with a kid’s growth.

Unfortunately, all of this unbelievable kit comes with a similarly eye-widening price tag. Expect to fork over £6,995, or roughly $11,305. Awesome? Sure. That awesome? Probably not.

Gallery: Mini Seven

[Sources: Born Rich, Gizmag, Mini Electric Vehicles]

Kid-sized Mini Seven is perfect for minimalist children originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harrington’s half-size classics to start pint-sized car nuts early

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Toys/Games

Harrington Group replica Mercedes-Benz 300 SL for kids

Harrington Group’s replica Mercedes-Benz 300SL – Click above for image gallery

Want your little car nut to stand out from the neighborhood pack of wheeled terrors? Go for one of these fantastic looking half-scale classics from the Vietnam-headquartered Harrington Group, and wave goodbye to mediocre renditions of roadgoing vehicles as little Bobby (or Bobbie) cruises in style. These replicas use composite for both the body and chassis, and the detailing is good enough that they look convincingly like the real thing. Until, that is, someone steps into the picture and you get a scale reference. The company claims to have distributors in the U.S. and U.K., as well as Canada and the Netherlands.

A range of gasoline engines brings real internal combustion thunder and the sweet smell of exhaust to the party. Engines start at 50cc and can go all the way up to a terrifyingly irresponsible racing kart unit. Automatic and manual transmissions are available and there is enough room for adults to ride along with their six-year-old and up progeny. Seats and pedals adjust, too, so when Junior is asleep, you can sneak out for a spin without feeling like a circus bear riding a tricycle.

Interestingly, Harrington Group also makes restoration products for real classic cars, including stainless steel reproduction bumpers and interiors for the Volkswagen Beetle, Citroen 2CV and BMW Isetta.

Fisher Price’s Power Wheels are extravagant enough that there’s a healthy trade in used battery-powered backyard buggies. Harrington has yet to respond to an Autoblog request for pricing information, but these cars are likely to be significantly north of the $250-$400 you’ll spend on a tricked out Power Wheels at the local big box store. Available models are Porsche 356, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Jaguar E-Type, Willys Jeep, and Bugatti T35, along with mini scooters that ape Vespas of yore. Put one of these under the tree this (fast approaching) Christmas, and you’ll see what the face of bliss looks like. Thanks for the tips, all!

Gallery: Harrington Group’s Children’s Cars

[Source: Harrington Group]

Harrington’s half-size classics to start pint-sized car nuts early originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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