Scientists at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom on Tuesday unveiled a Formula 3 race car powered by vegetable oil and waste from the manufacture of chocolate, and constructed partially using plant-based materials.
Kerry Kirwan, assistant professor in the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, says his team recognizes that people like to drive fast and don’t want to be told that they can’t do certain things to be ecologically correct. As engineers and scientists, he and his team are trying to deliver technology that meets the need for speed while still mitigating environmental damage…Â Details
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Roger Penske is making a bid for Saturn.
The 72-year old Penske, the highly successful head of Bloomfield Hills, MI, Penske Automotive Group, which operates more than 300 franchises in the United States and internationally, selling 40 different brands, told the Paul Smith Show on WJR radio in Detroit on Tuesday morning that he’s not interested in manufacturing Saturns, but in distributing them between the factories and their dealers.
General Motors’ once highly-touted and progressive Saturn division is on the auction block…Â Details
American sports car star Patrick Long has diversified this season by moving into stock cars. He’s raced in NASCAR’s Camping World East, Whelen Weekly Late Model Series and ASA Late Models. Considering he had almost no previous oval experience — and none on pavement — he has done pretty well with a string of top-10 finishes. But is he just another accomplished driver looking to make the move to one of NASCAR’s national series? No, Long says. Not at all.
“I’m on a multi-year deal with Porsche, and I’m committed to Porsche and sports cars,” Long explained. “They have the trust to allow me to race in some different forms of racing on the off-weekends, that I won’t get hurt and will be ready to race for them when they need me.” …Â Details
Location: Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Florida
Distance Traveled: 1743 miles
After the war of attrition that was Sebring, we don’t expect to see many happy faces after the 200 mile hike north to Gainesville Raceway — home of the NHRA’s Gatornationals. Suprisingly, wide smiles and blaring car stereos greet us when we pull in for the second half of One Lap’s most grueling day so far.
First up the tech and safety inspection. Then Gainesville Raceway’s Dan Robertson — looking like a tall Johnny Cash in his dark black cowboy hat — gives interested drivers a quick primer on the basics of drag racing. He covers everything from where to line up, how to stage, and what to do when the light goes green. It’s a basic run through, but important as there are just as many drag rookies here today as there were autocross newbies on Sunday… Details & Pictures