WHAT KIND of racing would you find at Pee-wee’s Playhouse? Second-generation racer Wes Conklin of Novato and hundreds of other racers will demonstrate at Infineon Raceway during this weekend’s round of the world’s looniest racing series — the 24 Hours of LeMons.
As a tongue-in-cheek, foot-to-the-floor mockery of the world’s most prestigious sports car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France each June, the participants of LeMons delight in being the antithesis of high technology, elegant decorum and efficient aerodynamics … Pictures & More
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The race track has long been an attractive test bed for street car technology. Forced-induction system, fuel injection, tire construction and even the rear view mirror were innovated through competition. Controlled but public arenas, the race track seems like the perfect proving grounds for hybrid technology. Several automakers have recognized the closed circuit combat as the chance to further gasoline-electric hybrid by educating the public as well as advancing the technology. In the mid 1990s, Chrysler toyed entering a hybrid vehicle called the Patriot into the 24 Hour of Le Mans. While the Chrysler Patriot never made it into competition, sports car magnate Don Panoz did attempt the feat in 1997 but failed to qualify into the Le Mans field. Most recently, Peugeot and Zytec launched hybrid race cars in the prototype class of sports car racing with limited race success.
Becoming one of the first car companies to  … Pictures & More
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When Porsche first unveiled the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid to the world, the future of the car was far from set in stone due to the incredible cost that would be associated with producing it. But after receiving considerable positive attention, Porsche decided to gauge the interest for the car and said if it could garner 1,000 serious buyers, it would take the model to production.
Porsche reached that requirement, and today the German automaker has officially made the 918 Spyder available for order, starting at roughly $913,000 for those purchasing with the U.S. dollar, or 645,000 Euros.
Changes from the concept – As expected, a few changes from the concept car to the production model are in order, including … Details
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Roger Wiersema is the president of Polarity Post Production, an audio-for-video post-production facility in downtown San Francisco.
Ferrucio Lamborghini, the man who founded the car company that bears his name, liked bullfighting and gave many of his cars names related to the activity. Espada is the name for the ceremonial sword used  … Pictures & More
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