SUMMER TRADITION // THE GREENWOOD CAR SHOW

A Summer tradition here in the Northwest, the Greenwood Car Show is Seattle's premiere show 'n shine event held every year along Greenwood Ave. Classic Ford, Chevy and Mopar muscle, as well as a host of British, Italian and Bavarian cars line the street for nearly twenty blocks during this one day event. Food vendors are spread throughout, not to mention all of the bars, cafes and restaurants that stretch the length of Greenwood Ave. An event that has seen tremendous growth over the course of its 17 year history, the Greenwood car show is a must for any motorsport enthusiast living in the Northwest.

Follow the link for a look at some of the cars that were on hand... [read more]

A great opportunity to meet and greet with motorsport and automotive enthusiast from all over the Northwest, we spent much of the afternoon discussing color schemes and factory options for some of our favorite muscle cars.

This Mini Cooper was obviously not in original condition, being powered by a Honda Integrea Type R motor. Needless to say, this is probably the fastest Mini in the Northwest...

My father drove a 1956 Chevy Sedan Delivery when he was in high school. White with a teardrop hood, Camaro bucket seats, a pistol grip shifter and a 283 c.i. V8 bored out to 301 c.i., it was anything but the grocery delivering wagon it was intended to be. This '56 Chevy, which was at one time a two-door station wagon, has been converted to look like a Sedan Delivery and was powered by a 350 c.i. V8

A personal favorite, I always felt the Mercury Cougar was an under appreciated piece of machinery. This particular one, powered by a 390 c.i. V8 mated to a four speed manual tranny, is just the kind of think I am looking for.

So cool. A 1974 Cadillac convertible finished in 'Deep Purple.'

There were plenty of Rat-Rod's on hand. This particular one, which I believe is a 1931 two-door coupe, featured a louvered roof, Chevy power and a flat rust brown paint job.

There were even a few vintage JDM cars on hand, to include this 1958 Toyota Super Crown.

There were a handful of 'Woodies' on hand. What was once a car desirable only to those bordering on poverty (think Kerouac, Ginsberg and the '60's surf movement) is now a true classic, fetching huge dollar amount when sold at auction.

Another classic convertible, this one however was parked in front of the 'Kabab House,' a seemingly unfit location for such a cool car.

You should have seen the look on peoples faces when they finally started this thing up! All 502 c.i. of belt driven, super charged bow-tie horsepower spewed onto Greenwood Ave. A crowd soon formed to listen to the monster draw air, and when the throttle was tapped a cheer erupted from the crowd. The owner then proceeded to clear her throat, running the big block V8 up the RPM scale until the only thing you could hear was the sound of raw horsepower :)

A great collection of vintage Volkswagen's were on hand to include this 21 window transporter. A car that is as iconic as any American muscle car, the VW transporter is another personal favorite.

The only Ferrari that I saw was this 1958 (?) 250 GT. There were however a handful of Alfa Romeo's and even an early Maserati roadster on display.

This Porsche 911 was powered by a normally aspirated 3.4-liter good for 425bhp and featured a Porsche Turbo transmission, 12" wide Fikse's and a fiberglass widebody kit. This was the first time the car had seen pavement and the owner was forced to trailer the car, as the cam would not allow the car to idle properly on city streets. With plans to run the car at Pacific Raceways, I am sure we will meet again...

The interior of the Porsche was race ready, with a pair of Sparco seats, MoMo steering wheel, a 12-point roll cage and a fire suppression system.

As we were leaving, an E30 BMW parked along one of the side streets caught my eye. Sitting low on a set of OZ Racing wheels, with a Sparco Sprint race seat, harnesses and a full roll cage, I couldn't help but notice the long list of stickers adorning the back window...

For additional information on the Greenwood Car Show, click here

Photo/Editorial: Justin Coffey

EYE CANDY // HONOLULU'S HOTTEST TURBO MIATA

Came across this turbo Miata while browsing the photo gallery at Forever MX-5’s website. Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, this might be one of the cleanest looking NA Miata’s I have ever seen. Follow the link for a spec sheet and additional photos... [read more]



Spec Sheet:
Greddy TD04 15G kit @ 10psi
Stripes FMIC
Walboro 190LPH fuel pump
BIPES (Timing Controller)
HKS SSQV
2.25inch dual exhaust
Dual HID Projector conversion
Mazda Speed Swaybars
Megan Coilovers
C's Short shifter
AT to MT converted,
Infiniti G35 Red Pearl
Rota Track R's 16x7 +35
Dunlop DZ101 215/45/16

Photo: Jonathan Tabarejo

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT // DTM @ THE NORISRING

The Norisring is to DTM what Monaco is to Formula One. The premiere event set early in the season, this years DTM race at the Norisring was everything one would expect from a Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters highlight race.

Overall the race seemed rather sedated, with only a few position changes early on. Then, with 10 laps remianing, a four car and what was to soon be a seven car battle ensued for the checkered flag. Follow the link to watch Timo Scheider, Jamie Green, Bruno Spengler and Mattias Ekström battled it out for Norisring glory... [read more]

NEW RELEASE // 2010 SHELBY GT500 SUPER SNAKE

Just released this week is the 2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snake. At 725bhp, this supercharged snake is the most powerful Mustang to come out of Shelby Automobiles and is currently being offered as an 'upgrade' for those that just purchased a 2010 GT500. While details are limited at this time, follow the link for a few more shots of the new Shelby... [read more]

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE // DAVE CONOVER'S LE MANS GALLERY

Team Seattle is supported by a group of motorsport enthusiasts who are not only interested and involved in the teams on track efforts, but are equally involved in Team Seattle's connection to Seattle's Children's Hospital. So when Don Kitch approached this group of supporters, intent on competing in the worlds foremost endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he not at all surprised to see the level of support and interest that soon followed.

Having collected over a quarter of a million dollars in donations, Don Kitch and Team Seattle not only succeeded in testing their skill at the famed Circuit de la Sarthe, but have generated a tremendous amount of support for Seattle's Children's Hospital in the process. One of these supporters, Dave Conover, travelled with the team to Le Mans and was able to provide Team Seattle fans unable to make the journey to France, with some great real time photos throughout the weekend. Follow the link for a look at Dave's perspective from this years 24 Hours of Le Mans... [read more]

On Friday, the 55 teams that make up the Le Mans starting grid paraded through downtown interacting with fans and supporters. In this photo, Team Seattle drivers Joe Foster, Patrick Dempsey and Don Kitch Jr. ride in a vintage convertible, with Don's daughter Sienna sitting on her fathers lap.

The Team Seattle Ferrari 430GT gets some fuel during Thursday's qualifying session.

Team Seattle's pit crew consisted of Milan based AF Corse Advanced Engineering technicians, mechanics and engineers.

A shot of the Team Seattle 430GT after the sun had set on the Circuit de la Sarthe.

An evening pit stop for fuel and tires. With Don Kitch Jr. having become ill early on, driving duties were shared between Dempsey and Foster for the remaining 20 hours of the race.

Dave took this shot from his grandstand seat just above the pits. You can see two of the three Peugeot 908's crossing the finish line, followed shortly thereafter by Team Seattle's Ferrari 430GT.

For a look at more photos from Dave Conover's visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, click here

Photo: Dave Conover
Editorial: Justin Coffey

VIDEO // DON KITCH JR. POST-RACE INTERVIEW [PART 1]

Following the grueling test of endurance that is the 24 Heures du Mans, Don Kitch Jr., Team Seattle founder and co-driver, sits down to answer a few questions upon his return to Seattle. Be sure and stay tuned for Part 2 of Don's post-race interview // [comment]

SHOWDOWN // TOP GEAR PITS VEYRON AGAINST MCLAREN F1

In what might be the ultimate street car showdown, Top Gear decided to run the Bugatti Veyron against the McLaren F1 in a one mile drag race. Taking place along a desolate stretch of road somewhere in Abu Dhabi, The Stig, at the wheel of McLaren's F1, gives Richard Hammond a run for his money before what is a rather expected conclusion. Enjoy // [comment]

THE NOSTALGIA OF 35MM FILM // CIRCUIT CLUB ORAN PARK GP

A few weeks back I was cleaning up my ever growing magazine collection and i came across a local motorsport news magazine which displayed a preview for last year’s V8 supercar round at the Historic Oran Park Raceway, the last V8 race to ever be held there. I didn’t really care about the story, it was the old film photography that inspired me. With Oran Park Raceway closing down at the end of this year to be turned into a housing estate, I thought it would be a perfect reason to use the film camera that I purchased late last year and to pick up some film from the local camera shop. With the initial purchase price and cost of processing being so expensive when using film, I had to learn to respect the shutter button with each roll of film offering only 36 exposures... [read more]

The track day began like most others with a general walk around pit lane to see what cars were on offer. To my surprise there were some really nice cars, I guess everyone is trying to make the most of any track time at Oran Park due to it closing down.
 
This Porsche GT3 is a regular competitor in the Shannon’s Nationals series. I think the driver was enjoying the relaxed environment of track days compared to race meets with a new face in the passenger seat being driven around for a hot lap every session.

There was also a selection of older race cars in attendance with two nice Datsun race cars painted up in team colours.  Both had nicely worked, naturally aspirated SR20's.

There was an unusual amount of Lotus' present as well. Although there such a perfect track car, most owners actually don’t drive them on the track. There was a nice selection of different models from a supercharged Elise S to fully decked out Exige race cars.

One of the race cars had a very expensive interior decked out with a carbon dash with all the best bits Motec has on offer.

It was also refreshing to see some hardcore looking 180sx adopting the JDM time attack style. This 180sx was equipped with Voltex rear wing and front canards and it defiantly went as well if not better than it looks.

Jayne, the Circuit Club events manager was out doing the girls proud in her very nice Nissan 180sx. She defiantly tries her hardest to keep the guys honest. She is a real inspiration for other girls who have thought about driving their car on a race track.

A car that most of the US readers know nothing about is Scott Buctons IPRA Spec Holden Commodore who was taking a break from competing in IPRA to do some testing for next year’s season.  This car is sporting the drive train from a V8 supercar with a motor producing almost 600hp.

The mighty yellow MX5 that you may have seen in some of my previous post was out again sticking it to the Lotus and Porsche race cars. This shot defines the day for me with the sun setting in the background. It’s defiantly the end of an era and its going to be a very sad day when they finally shut the doors on this almighty circuit. Oran Park you most certainly will be missed.

To see more photos from the day click on the following links:
 
Film
 
Digital
 
To find out more about track days in Sydney, Australia check out circuit clubs website here
 
Photo/Editorial: Matthew Mead

NEWS // MAX MOSLEY TO STEP DOWN - FIA & FOTA COME TO TERMS

In a seemingly expected turn of events, the FIA and FOTA have quashed their differences and will now go about the business of auto racing. Following a meeting in Paris earlier this week, Max Mosley, current iron fist ruler of the FIA, announced that he will step down from his position as president and will not seek re-election in 2010. A bit of news that has many in the Formula One community wondering whether the FOTA's proposed split, announced earlier this week, was nothing more then a ploy to get Mosley out of the FIA. Whatever the case, it appears Formula One will continue on as a single championship, at least until 2012.

Follow the link for a list of teams and constructors confirmed for 2010... [read more]


Teams confirmed for 2010:
SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO
VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM
RENAULT F1 TEAM
PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
RED BULL RACING
AT&T WILLIAMS
FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM
BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM
CAMPOS META TEAM
MANOR GRAND PRIX
TEAM US F1

Constructors confirmed for 2010:
FERRARI
McLAREN MERCEDES
BMW SAUBER
RENAULT
TOYOTA
STR TBA
RBR TBA
WILLIAMS TOYOTA
FORCE INDIA MERCEDES
BRAWN TBA
CAMPOS COSWORTH
MANOR COSWORTH
TEAM US F1 COSWORTH

Image: Bing.com
Info: 0-60 Magazine
Editorial: Justin Coffey

A LOOK BACK // 1950 BRITISH GRAND PRIX @ SILVERSTONE

Following last weekends British Grand Prix, I thought we'd take a look back at the famed Silverstone Circuit and the early years of Formula One.

The first round of the World Drivers Championship and the fifth race of the Formula One season, the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a rather important moment in the history of F1. Contested over 58 laps, it was the Alfa Romeo of Giuseppe Farina, whom having started from pole, was able to hold off teammates Luigi Fagioli and Reg Parnell and collect his first win of the season. Farina would go on to claim the 1950 World Drivers Championship, collecting two more wins (Switzerland and Italy) before the season was over. Notable spectators to the Silverstone Circuit that year included King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, as well as Earl & Lady Mountbatten, and with a grid of 24 cars, eight of which were piloted by British drivers, it is no surprise Silverstone holds a special place in the hearts of many British F1 fans.

Follow the link for a great bit of film from the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone... [read more]





Photo: Abhishek Dubey
Editorial: Justin Coffey
Video: Juha

GETTING TECHNICAL // A1GP PITSTOP STRATEGY EXPLAINED

Ever wondered how during F1 races the pitstops seem to run like clockwork, every time without fail, thus meaning there is no chance for a team to really make a ‘difference’ in the pits? Well the answer is that Formula One teams are allowed an unlimited number of pit crew members to carry out repairs and fuel/tyre replenishments!
 
In stark contrast to that, the A1GP series restrict the number of pit crew that are allowed to work on the car during a stop. With this fundamental difference in mind, CTD's Neil Tozer with the help of A1GP.com, has decided to take a closer look at the challenge that is a A1GP pitstop... [read more]

So let's imagine for a while that you the 'punter' had license to influence the regulations with regard to pitstops within a worldwide top line single seater race series.
 
OK! what would you do to perhaps provide the chance of potential place changes in the pits to complement track generated passes for position? Well, the A1GP brass have thought about this with a considerably more innovative way of thinking than most other single seater series.
 
For starters there are, over the course of a race, 3 compulsory stops, one in the Sprint Race along with two in the far longer Feature Race. Then lets think about how we might mix it up a bit when these stops actually happen.
 
Lets limit the number of 'Team Personnel' that are allowed anywhere near the car and also make them stand away from the actual pitlane behind a painted line in front of each teams pit garage. Good! your getting the idea! So lets now make the permitted 8 team members run out to the car carrying all their equipment along with rear tyres that weigh 20KG and fronts only slightly lighter at 18 KG.
 
Sounds good? well yes a pitstop that actually involves some skill! and parameters that can actually influence the total time taken for the pit work to be completed. 
 
This years A1GP Pitstop Challenge winners were Team Australia and with the the help of A1GP.com Team manager Adam Gotch an insight into each member of the pitstop crew's responsibilities is given below.
 
'The Eight Ball' - what each crew member does -

Everyone has a specific role in a pitstop, as Gotch explains (the following assumes the pit lane is on the right hand side of the track, and you are looking at the car from behind):
 
Inside (right) rear tyre changer: 
“This person takes the short step from the pits with the tyre and air-gun and changes the tyre all by themselves.  This is one motion for them – our man has one hand for the wheel and one hand for the gun.”
 
Inside (right) front tyre changer: 
 “Similar to the inside-rear changer. It’s a short walk and they get no help.”

Outside (left) rear tyre changer: 
“They run around the rear of the car and remove the left-rear tyre. By the time they have placed it on the floor, the fifth man has placed a new tyre on the axle, ready for them to tighten with the air gun.”
 
Outside (left) front tyre changer:
“They run around the rear of the car to the front-left tyre. They operate the gun and remove the wheel, and then wait a few moments for the new wheel to be placed on his axle by the fifth man. They then screw the nut in place. The nature of this late arrival means that they are usually the last to finish.”
 
The ‘fifth’ man / tyre runner: 
“His job is to run out around carrying the two tyres to the outside wheels, placing the rear one directly on its axle first, before doing the same for the front one. By the time he gets round to each corner the used tyres have already been removed. The rear wheel is about 20kg and the front is about 18kg. When you are running with that weight, it’s not the easiest job in the world.”
 
Front jack operator: 
“Runs from the pit line to the front of the car and lifts the car up so the tyres can be changed.”
 
Rear jack operator: 
“Runs around the rear of the car. It is essential they get the positioning of the jack correctly, or they could damage the carbon fibre parts on the undertray and it could really ruin the race.”
 
Lollipop operator:
“They control the entry and exit of the car to the pit stop and stand out in the pit lane to make it easier for the driver to determine where his pit box is when coming in. While the stop is going on they hold the lollipop out in front of the driver, which signifies they cannot move yet. When they have seen a hand signal from the operators on all four wheels and checked there is no other car coming down the pit lane in their vicinity they can lift the lollipop and release the car. Even though he is wearing radio equipment at the time, it is not used, unless in an absolute emergency.”
"While technically teams can use their eight men how they like, provided they stick to the one person per tyre rule, many pit stops look very similar, because essentially there is one recognised route to achieve the best stop. However, teams do employ different strategies".

Gotch explains: “Some teams have their outside (left) front tyre changer run around the front of the car to get to his tyre quicker, but if they do this they have to drag their air-gun around the front of the car and that air-line would have to be cleared before the car left the pits. We have that person running around the back. It takes a few moments longer for him to get to his tyre, but then we don’t have to even think about where his air-line ends up. The driver can just drive straight out when the wheel is changed.

Bearing in mind that over the course of a race weekend Adam puts his team through its paces with up to 80 practice stops, this is really different from the 'norm' and we at CTD applaud this as another example of 'Improving the Show' for the very people that keep our beloved sport solvent, the race fans!
 
Be sure and stay tuned for 2009/2010 A1GP coverage right here at ColdTrackDays, as the A1GP visits the 'Gold Coast' for the opening round at Surfers Paradise in Australia on October 25th, 2009 with teams from over 20 nations battling it out over the 4.47km beach side street circuit.

For tickets, click here
 
Editorial: Neil Tozer and A1GP
Photo: A1GP