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Forces at play in Formula One enough to destroy wheels

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

red bull f1 racer experiences front wheel failure

All this Red Bull racer wants for Christmas is his two front wheels – Click above to watch video after the jump

It’s no secret that Formula One exerts high levels of force on both drivers and cars. Case in point: As seen in the video after the break, Red Bull driver Sebastien Buemi experienced catastrophic failure of his front wheels under hard braking. Buemi was setting up for a corner and slowing from around 185 miles per hour when both of his front wheels tore themselves away from his race car.

We shared this news last year, but this version of the clip has a few more angles from which to take in the carnage. Click past the jump for a terrific show of F1 force.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Forces at play in Formula One enough to destroy wheels

Forces at play in Formula One enough to destroy wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steering wheels are nine times dirtier than public toilet seats

Filed under: Etc., Safety

international interior and steering wheel

Have you ever driven a vehicle that had a sticky steering wheel? It’s probably one of the most disgusting feelings there is, and a report in IBN Live shows that the adhesive can be more than just grape jelly. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London claim that there are, on average, 700 different kinds of bacteria per square inch of steering wheel. That compares to 80 distinct bacteria types on a public toilet seat. Even worse, the trunk has 1,000 bacteria types per square inch. The most common form of bacteria was bacillus cereus, which can cause food poisoning.

The reason cars are filthy is simple; we simply don’t clean them. While we vacuum, dust and disinfect our home on a semi-regular basis, only one third of study participants cleaned their vehicle once a year or more. That sounds pretty crazy (and a bit lazy), but think about it. You may jettison the trash and vacuum the carpet on a somewhat regular basis, but how often do you wipe down that nasty steering wheel? And when you think about how many Americans regularly eat in their vehicles, our cars could be a solid reason why we are sick as often as we are. Now we know why valet parking attendants tend to wear white gloves.

Beyond cleanliness, the study also shows that many drivers know next to nothing about their vehicles. For example, two-thirds of us don’t know how to change a tire, while one third of those surveyed don’t even know how to put air in the tires. It’s a sad, sad world.

[Source: IBN Live | Image: Zach Bowman/AOL]

Steering wheels are nine times dirtier than public toilet seats originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot Wheels to attempt World’s Longest Jump at Indy 500 [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Toys/Games

We all did it as kids – grabbing one end of an impossibly long stretch of plastic track, heaving it up and attaching one end to the highest object we could find (usually a door) and creating a ramp at the other end with a carefully planned trajectory to score the longest possible airborne distance, then finally setting our favorite Hot Wheels car on a journey of no return.

Team Hot Wheels, a newly created group of stuntmen and extreme sports addicts, are setting out to recreate those childhood memories in the real world. To get there, the group is assembling a 100-foot-tall starting ramp in the shape of a door that leads to – you guessed it – a giant jump. The resulting flight has a goal of reaching 302 feet, which would be a new world record distance.

We don’t know who’s piloting the machine just yet (we suspect we’ll find out for sure if it’s an official record). In any case, it’s the actual off-road truck, which features rear fins reminiscent of a ’59 Cadillac, and the giant Hot Wheels V-Drop replica track that are the real stars here.

Are you asking yourself why Hot Wheels is going to all this trouble to promote kids toys? Well, therein lies the issue. These don’t have to be just toys for kids – Hot Wheels is hoping to attract the attention of adults (males mostly, as you’d imagine) that grew up with these little cars and have fond memories of them. Collectors, take note.

Click past the break for a little teaser video of the event that’s scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 29th. You’ll also find the complete press release for your reading pleasure, if you’re so inclined.

[Source: Hot Wheels]

Continue reading Hot Wheels to attempt World’s Longest Jump at Indy 500 [w/video]

Hot Wheels to attempt World’s Longest Jump at Indy 500 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Yes, you can drive a trophy truck on two wheels

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Videos, Off-Road, Racing

ballistic bj baldwin drives on two wheels

BJ Baldwin goes two wheelin’ in his trophy truck – Click above to watch video after the jump

Putting a car – or, more accurately, keeping a car – on two wheels is challenging. Some cars, we imagine, will be better suited to the task. Say, for example, an old BMW fitted with a roll-cage. Others, however, are less than ideal. We have to imagine that trophy truck is somewhere on that not-so-easy list. Despite this, Ballistic BJ Baldwin is rather skilled at getting his desert-dashing pickup on two wheels… and keeping it there.

The truck weighs more than 6,000 pounds and the suspension travels farther than the Griswold’s on vacation. None of that matters to Baldwin because the man has serious skills behind the wheel. Click past the jump to watch him go two-wheelin’. Top tip, Kilian!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Yes, you can drive a trophy truck on two wheels

Video: Yes, you can drive a trophy truck on two wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2,500 Chevy Cruze sedans recalled for “improperly fastened” steering wheels

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

2011 Chevrolet Cruze – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chevrolet has reportedly issued a recall of 2,100 of its Cruze compact car in the U.S. and 400 units in Canada after one car was found to have an improperly attached steering wheel. While the defect sounds terrifying, Chevrolet says the mishap hasn’t caused an accident or any injuries.

According to The Detroit News, Chevy is confident that only one car had the issue, and the recall is a precautionary measure. According to the story, Chevy says it inspected more than 2,000 vehicles at the plant where the defective Cruze was built and several hundred more at dealerships and didn’t find any with a similar fault.

Those affected by the recall will be asked to take their Cruze in to the dealership to be inspected for the fault, which will be repaired for free if a problem is found.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT: Review

2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT

[Source: The Detroit News]

2,500 Chevy Cruze sedans recalled for “improperly fastened” steering wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot Wheels gets playful with full-scale advertisements

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Toys/Games

hot wheels loop advertisement

Hot Wheels throws Columbia for a loop – Click above for image gallery

Diecast cars are a fun distraction regardless of your age, in fact, we’ve got a few on our desk at this very moment. Hot Wheels may be the king of scale-car fun, but its marketing department likes to think big.

Recently, we saw how it turned a historic Australian building into a 3D racetrack. Now it’s apparently focused its creative attention on Bogota, Colombia. Going low-tech this time, Hot Wheels has placed a giant ‘loop’ in the middle of an overpass.

It’s certainly more eye-catching than a traditional billboard, and it still gets the message across that Hot Wheels are all about fun. Thanks for the tip, Andrew!

Gallery: Hot Wheels Full-Size Outdoor Advertisement

Hot Wheels Full-Size Outdoor Advertisement

[Source: Paper-Plane.fr (translated)]

Hot Wheels gets playful with full-scale advertisements originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hot Wheels holds 3D race on side of historic Aussie building

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Australia

Hot Wheels 3D Ad

Hot Wheels 3D advertisement – Click above to view video after the jump

Hot Wheels teamed up with an Amsterdam-based company called Muse Digital to create a 3D commercial that can be projected onto buildings. In this case, Hot Wheels had Muse make them a 3D, computer-generated race between four of its iconic models.

The race was projected onto the side of the historic Sydney Customs House. So advanced are the projected 3D graphics that the building appears to get destroyed throughout the course of the race, as familiar orange track bursts through the walls and a number of other calamities ensue.

The video itself is pretty campy, but the technology behind it is seriously cool. Click past the jump to see the clip in its entirety.

[Source: YouTube via MotorworldHype]

Continue reading Video: Hot Wheels holds 3D race on side of historic Aussie building

Video: Hot Wheels holds 3D race on side of historic Aussie building originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Kickboxer Concept is all-wheel-drive diesel insanity on two wheels

Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc., Subaru, Motorcycle

Kickboxer Diesel all-wheel drive concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been a while since we heard anything from Ian McElroy. As you may recall, he’s the twisted mind who came up with the notion of lodging a Subaru boxer four-cylinder between the rails of a motorcycle frame. Well, it appears that he’s been a busy bee since showing off his first take on the Kickboxer Concept. McElroy has set about reimagining his creation with a diesel boxer lump at the heart of the action. The engine is still sourced from Fuji Heavy Industries, though it’s both smaller and more efficient than the old gasoline lump.

The newest addition to the Kickboxer family boasts new body work and a different swing arm design along with a new turbo configuration. Not quite mad enough for you? How about sticking an all-wheel drive version of the oil-burning moto in your pipe? McElroy worked up a twin-chain design that works with some help from a jack shaft, idler sprocket and a drive axle.

These aren’t just some random renderings, though. McElroy says that he has all of the CAD files he needs to have the bikes machined and built. All he needs is the coin to do so. Shall we start passing the hat?

Gallery: Kickboxer diesel all-wheel drive concept

[Source: The Kneeslider]

New Kickboxer Concept is all-wheel-drive diesel insanity on two wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot Wheels Video Racer coming this Fall for $60 [w/video]

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Toys/Games

Hot Wheels Video Racer

Hot Wheels Video Racer in action – Click above to watch the video after the break

In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re firmly entrenched in the year 2011. Clearly, it’s high time for the little 1:64-scale cars your fathers were playing with when they were your little boy’s age to get an update, and Hot Wheels has just stepped up to the plate in a big way.

Come Christmas time, you’ll be able to fill stockings with the Video Racer, which, as its name suggests, adds a tiny camera to the front of your favorite little micro-sized motorer. Even cooler is the itty-bitty LCD screen you see when you flip to the bottom of the car, where you can then watch up to 12 minutes of recorded footage.

You can also use a USB connection to hook the Video Racer to your computer, and the little cars come equipped with attachments that allow them to be worn on the wrist (for covert spy work?), helmet, bicycle, skateboard or anything else that suits your fancy.

For $59.99 (we’ll let you be the judges on the value proposition), you’ll be able to purchase one of these little jewels this fall, and that price includes video editing software that works on Windows-powered PCs. Well done, Mattel. Check out a video of the Video Racer after the break.

[Source: Pocket-Lint, YouTube via Inside Line]

Continue reading Hot Wheels Video Racer coming this Fall for $60 [w/video]

Hot Wheels Video Racer coming this Fall for $60 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Plank + tiny wheels + V8 Supercar engine = Aussie for “skateboard”

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos, Australia, Humor

The Aussies prepare a special skateboard for Tony Hawk – Click above to watch video after the jump

Tony Hawk will be in attendance at the Telstra 500 V8 Supercar race in Sydney next weekend, where he’ll demonstrate his undiminished skills on the Monster Vert Ramp. As part of his welcome to the Antipodes, the locals have built him a ‘skateboard’ powered by a 630-horsepower V8 Supercar engine. Unlike the race cars, with their fancy roll cages and steering wheels, Tony just gets a throttle and a panic button. We’d love to see him run the ramp with it, but we’ll settle for him going just a little faster than the guy in the video after the jump. Hat tip to Allan

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Plank + tiny wheels + V8 Supercar engine = Aussie for “skateboard”

Video: Plank + tiny wheels + V8 Supercar engine = Aussie for “skateboard” originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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