Here is an extract from the review: "With the Festive Season fast approaching, Drag Bike Racing in Britain should be placed immediately at the top of the Christmas list of any drag bike fan, or indeed any drag racing fan. It is available direct from Veloce Publishing at www.veloce.co.uk for £14.99 plus postage and packing." Click here to read the review in full.
Check out this Drag Bike video from Keith Lee's YouTube channel!
Congratulations to Arvid Linde who has won the headlineauto 2010 award for RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (TRADE)!
Arvid Linde is a car engineer from Estonia, with an MSc in Engineering and Logistics. Electric cars and other means of alternative transportation are his favourite subjects. Having successfully completed his Masters project on Electric Car Economy, and following extensive research in the field, he is now editing an independent green motoring blog at electriccarnews.co.uk.
Arvid has been known to take a rather sceptical stance on electric cars, but in this book he shows, even-handedly, both their good and bad sides; ultimately encouraging people to embrace the future of green motoring.
Headlineauto describe Arvid's writing style: "Grabs his readers by the throat, throws them against a wall and pummels them with facts until his point is hammered home."
Electric Cars - The Future is now published in summer 2010 is his first first book title in the English language and is referred to by headlineauto as "The consumer guide to the world of green motoring."
What if we all had to say goodbye to petrol cars tomorrow? Would you be ready? This book will help you find out. With a concise catalogue covering the best production models and the most promising prototypes, this book is the definitive guide to the future of motoring.
Rally legends Paddy Hopkirk and David Richards will go head to head driving MINIs at the RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge this weekend. The inaugural RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge will showcase to the latest electric, hybrid and low-emission passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Royal Automobile Club trophies will be awarded in different categories for the most energy efficient vehicles that have completed the 60-mile Brighton to London run starting in Brighton at 8am. These future cars will be on display in Regent Street from 12.30am till 4pm.
Former British and World Rally Champion, Paddy Hopkirk, drove to victory in the Mini Cooper in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. On Saturday 6th November Paddy will be back behind the wheel of a MINI; this time a MINI Cooper D – the brand’s most efficient model, emitting just 99g/km CO2 and achieving an impressive 74.3 mpg (on the combined cycle).
Prodrive boss, David Richards CBE, will drive MINI’s 100% electric powered car – MINI E. As well as being a former British and World Rally Champion, David Richards is today best known for his more recent successes in motorsport. His latest venture will see MINI returning to the World Rally Championship with the latest model – the MINI Countryman in 2011.
Paddy and David will drive the differently powered MINIs in a 60-mile challenge. Each will be trying to be the most efficient in terms of energy used by their respective cars.
David Richards said “The MINI E is an incredible car and this event will highlight its amazing versatility. I am really looking forward to the event and competing against Paddy to see who can be most efficient. However, I will have to dampen down my competitive spirit, as will Paddy, to ensure we get the most miles out of the MINIs to take the trophy in each of our classes.”
To celebrate “British Pubs Week” author John Rosamond held his latest book signing of Save the Triumph Bonneville - The Inside Story of the Meriden Workers' Co-op on 3rd November at the canal side pub “The Cape of Good Hope”. Situated in Lower Cape Warwick, publicans Sandra and Mick Barfoot provide hospitality second to none. This picturesque pub has particular relevance in the history of the Triumph Motorcycle Company as it was here that workers from the temporary Warwick factory relaxed after long hard shifts during the Second World War when the Coventry Priory Street Triumph factory was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in The Blitz of 14th November 1940. A temporary operation was set up in a former foundry building in Cape Road Warwick. The foundry's most eye catching feature was a corrugated iron structure that resembled a church complete with bell tower and was known as the “Tin Tabernacle”. This temporary facility equipped with tooling rescued from the Priory Street rubble became Triumph's home for about 2 years whilst a new “shadow” factory was built on green belt land at Meriden north west of Coventry.
Ford's 1970 London-Mexico winning Escort is making a rare public appearance at the Classic Car Show in November.
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of its famous victory, the Ford Escort, which was driven by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm, will be on display from 12 – 14 November at the NEC, Birmingham, as the showpiece of a stand celebrating the gruelling 16,000-mile rally.
In 1970 Ford Escorts secured one of the most spectacular results in rallying by taking 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th places in the six-week event. Ford celebrated this success by launching the iconic Ford Escort Mexico. The original winning Ford Escort, registration FEV 1H, is retained by the company as part of the Ford Heritage Collection.
Forty years after the Ford Escort proved so unbeatable, the Ford Focus is continuing the legacy. Earlier this year the Focus WRC of Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila won Rally New Zealand, providing the company with its 75th win and making Ford the most successful manufacturer in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship.
John Nevill, heritage fleet administrator, said: "There are few endurance events that compare with the 1970 London-Mexico, which was held to mark England's 1966 football World Cup victory and the start of the following World Cup in Mexico. During this anniversary year our most famous Escort has been in great demand and we are pleased to end the year with an opportunity to display this great car to so many fans."
Continuing for six weeks, and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents, the 1970 World Cup Rally was a unique high-speed event, attracting many serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland. Despite the tremendous amounts of money spent choosing and developing new cars, completing months-long route surveys, and analysing every detail of diets, oxygen provision, and the number of crew members, out of an entry of more than 100 cars, only 23 cars made it to the finish. It was then, and remains now, the toughest rally of all time. More info.
A unique collection of behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes as told, in their own words, by former Grand Prix mechanics who have worked at the top level of the sport during the past 50 years. 40% of all royalties to the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust. More info.
The future of one of Britain’s greatest race circuits, Donington Park, has been spectacularly confirmed by the launch of its own annual Historic Festival – a new venture which aims to rival the very best UK and international historic motorsport events. The inaugural Festival will be held on the weekend of 30 April to 1-2 May 2011.
To help establish the Donington Historic Festival as a showcase for the very best historic racing, Donington has teamed up with well-known race organiser Duncan Wiltshire, who will be responsible for running the event from 2011 onwards.
Says Kevin Wheatcroft, the circuit’s owner, “After a period of uncertainty, Donington Park’s future as a race circuit is now assured. The circuit has a fabulous history that is an important part of British heritage, from the days of the pre-War Silver Arrows GP cars right through to modern times. The launch of the Donington Historic Festival is one example of how we intend the circuit not only to survive, but to thrive in the years to come.”
As the son of Tom Wheatcroft, who bought the long-disused and derelict race circuit in 1971 and reopened it for racing in 1977 thanks to huge personal investment, Kevin Wheatcroft is carrying on a family tradition by honouring Donington’s history.
Meanwhile Duncan Wiltshire, who will be running the Festival in partnership with Donington, believes that the event has something fresh to offer the historic racing world.
“The Donington Historic Festival aims to fill a very clear hole in the calendar,” states Wiltshire, “by placing the needs and wishes of owners, drivers and knowledgeable enthusiasts at its heart. This will be a truly prestigious annual event, inviting only the very best race series and the highest-calibre cars and drivers. We aim to delight serious historic motorsport fans, and the owners of the most original, most fascinating and most important cars, by focusing on the pure motor racing experience, over and above any add-on attractions.”
The first annual Donington Historic Festival will take place on the Bank Holiday weekend of 30 April to 2 May 2011. Further information will follow, as individual races are confirmed.