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Posted
Nov 30 2011, 01:00 PM
by
Rod Chong
with 20 comment(s)
Before we move to part two of our Porsche Museum tour , I'm going to take you for a quick look around their gift shop. It's filled with all sorts of Porsche rarities and is perfect fodder for any serious Porka memorabilia collector. The entrance to the Porsche Museum shop contains what must be the coolest 1/43 die cast display on the planet. See those graphical lines? They contain a complete collection of mini Porsche machines. I'm a bit of a predictable creature as my camera is always...
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Posted
Nov 29 2011, 04:30 AM
by
Rod Chong
with 49 comment(s)
Unless you're living in New Zealand and are enjoying the height of the D1NZ drift season, this time of year is slim pickings for us race fans. The sound of unhinged racing engines has fallen silent at motorsport venues across the world. Champions have been crowned, celebrations finished, and post mortems completed. For people like me, this isn't necessarily a good thing. I absolutely love car racing in all its various forms, so any month without the smell of race fuel is not something to...
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Posted
Nov 26 2011, 12:41 PM
by
Rod Chong
with 26 comment(s)
Eleven months ago at the Tokyo Auto Salon , we showcased what the top Japanese car builders had to offer the world. Then just a few weeks back, we were treated to the automotive delights of the American SEMA show . And now it's time for the Europeans to display their wares. Welcome to the Essen Motor Show 2011, a showcase of the European tuning, aftermarket and motorsports industry.... ... with a bit of a slant towards German metal. I'm sure all of you are familiar with VW modified cars and...
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Posted
Nov 15 2011, 11:34 PM
by
Rod Chong
with 25 comment(s)
Die Casts are dangerous. Very Dangerous. Be warned. Once you start a die cast habit it's almost impossible to stop. My first Die Cast was a 1/18 scale Mercedes CLK-GTR from the 1997 FIA GT series which I purchased in the late 1990s. At the time I was thinking to collect every single GT1 spec car from 1996 through to the demise of the formula in 1998-9, however 1/18 models take up a lot of room so I quickly gave up on the idea. Instead, I decided to concentrate on collecting 1/43 scale Group 5...
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Posted
Oct 01 2011, 10:00 AM
by
Rod Chong
with 14 comment(s)
Hi all. Well it's time to showcase PT2 of our visit to the S&N Automobilzentrum facility (it's too large to use the word "Shop"!) in Aachen, Germany. In part one of our shop tour, we showed you the work rooms and the front of house, and now we're going to head over to the back of the warehouse. I always enjoy looking through the storage areas of big race car shops. You never know what gems you will uncover -like this complete, ready to run flat 12, Porsche 917 engine. Speaking...
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Posted
Sep 26 2011, 04:00 AM
by
Rod Chong
with 27 comment(s)
Every so often we receive emails from young people asking for advice in their careers. How does one become a professional automotive photographer? Or a professional automotive video game designer? How does one take an interest in cars, talent behind the wheel and turn this into a full time career as a professional race car driver? Unfortunately we don't have time to answer each and every email we receive along these lines. The subject of making your dreams real is a long and complex one. But...
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Posted
Sep 01 2011, 01:00 AM
by
Charles Kha
with 15 comment(s)
The AvD Oldtimer GP is one of the biggest historical racing events in Germany. For me it´s like a Festival of Speed here in Germany. At this event you can see such racers like historical Grand Prix cars, GTs, Touring cars, Prototypes, cars of the golden DRM (Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft), DTM, STW and much more. Just being around these amazing cars makes you feel like you've been thrown into the past. A small glimpse of the newly restored historical paddock. A memorial wall has been...
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Posted
Jul 18 2011, 01:22 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 5 comment(s)
Tommy Milner: Race day arrives, and I’m feeling good. The start looked like it was definitely going to be wet, and it was. Edward Sandstrom: I was relieved that the race would soon start. I felt in good shape and the experience from last year made it easier to prepare. There was a big chance it would be warmer this year, so I really tried to be prepared. But actually, you learn from this sort of race how you personally react. I think it isn’t the same for all of us. During two hours driving...
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Posted
Jul 12 2011, 11:14 PM
by
Rod Chong
with 13 comment(s)
Tommy Milner: Nordschleife. There isn't another track in the world that is the training ground for just about every modern sports car today and also hosts one of the biggest endurance races in the world. The “North Loop” is one of the most demanding circuits in the world, both mentally and physically. One lap on your own is tough enough as it is; throw in 200+ others, from the most bad-ass GT machines to little Renault Clios and everything in between; and manage that for twenty four...
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Posted
Jun 26 2011, 02:30 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 8 comment(s)
After witnessing the dominance of the Manthey Racing cars in previous years, I wasn't surprised to watch them once again battle their way to the top. Today's win at the 2011 Nürburgring 24HR makes it their fifth win in six years, with last year's win by BMW the only dent in this incredibly impressive record. We'll be bringing you more coverage from the event shortly. - Paddy McGrath Provisional Result after 24 hours : 1. #18 Manthey Racing Porsche 997 GT3R - Marc Lieb, Lucas...
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Posted
Jun 26 2011, 03:00 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 16 comment(s)
It's currently 03:52AM here at the Nürburgring as I sit down to try and recap on the last few hours. It has been a couple of very long and hard days with all the team putting in twenty plus hour shifts to try and keep on top of this behemoth. It's innocent looking enough but trying to get around as much of the track as possible in an attempt to bring as much variety as we can into the stories is starting to take its toll. All around me, people are vanishing away to try and find a quite...
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Posted
Jun 25 2011, 01:10 PM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 9 comment(s)
Just five hours down and this already feels like one hell of an endurance race. Eleven changes of lead already which is un precedented this early on. I have never seen anything like it. You couldn’t move behind the paddock, in the pit-lane or even the grid. I made a slow escape through the crowds to go out into the Forest and see the Mecca which is otherwise known as the Karussell. WOW! It is just amazing, most cars take the quickest route. The car bump and grind around the corners, many of...
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Posted
Jun 25 2011, 07:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 3 comment(s)
The weather just about held out as the cars crossed the start / finish line this evening to begin one of the toughest endurance races of the year. Over 200 cars have begun the twenty four hour battle. Not only a battle with each other but a battle with the Nordschleife itself. Head on over to the desktops section to grab this image in the usual resolutions. - Paddy McGrath
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Posted
Jun 25 2011, 09:23 AM
by
Rod Chong
with 1 comment(s)
... well not really. The opening scene at the 2011 running of the Nurburgring 24Hs was more one of controlled mayhem. The size of the crowds were so far beyond anything we've experienced before it almost defies comprehension! We'll be back soon with more... :Rod
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Posted
Jun 23 2011, 06:00 PM
by
Rod Chong
with 31 comment(s)
Hi guys. I hope you're enjoying our Nurburgring 24 Hour coverage! Tonight it's my turn to prep the Behind the Scenes coverage, as Paddy and Andy are still at the track shooting. Organizing our Speedhunting trip to the Nurburgring 24H isn't straight forward. Compared to other events, this is on a whole other level of magnitude. So I've made a point to pace myself. I haven't even ventured out to shoot the Nordschleife yet, so far it's Paddy and Andy Blackmore who've been...
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Posted
Jun 23 2011, 06:04 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 7 comment(s)
The rain is still hitting us hard here at the Nurburgring, making the already difficult course even worse. The cars and drivers who are taking part in the Classic race this weekend have just wrapped up their qualifying session a few minutes ago. I read (somewhere) that one of you asked us to try and accurately portray just how extreme the Nordschleife is. Pictured above is the run down towards the infamous jump at Pflanzgarten. While this is the run out of it. It's my first time at this part...
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Posted
Jun 23 2011, 03:00 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 14 comment(s)
To be fair, I can't say we didn't see it coming. An ever so brief spell of sunshine this morning was our only glimmer of the big yellow chicken in the sky. From pretty much the moment we set off from our hotel to the track, the skies continued to darken and darken. If you're just joining our coverage (and mostly wondering what in the name of God is he talking about), a strong contingent of Speedhunters are gathering at the mecca of all that is motorsport - the Nuburgring Nordschliefe...
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Posted
Jun 21 2011, 04:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 34 comment(s)
Rarely can the phrase 'looks can be deceiving' be so appropriate. Carving its way through the Eifel region of Germany lies probably the greatest racing circuit we will ever know. It epitomizes everything that one can love about motorsport. It is a genuinely beautiful place to be, one of those very rare times where man and nature have met in almost perfect harmony. The surface of the entire course is a piece of art, contributed to by those who have come to worship at this altar. However, it...
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Posted
Jun 21 2011, 11:57 AM
by
Rod Chong
with 10 comment(s)
Over the next few days, the Speedhunters team will be kicking off a big event production at the Nurburgring 24 hours. You'll be treated to extensive behind the scenes stories, galleries, live facebook updates, event reports and the like. I have every confidence in the world that we'll be able to take you into the heard of the Nurburgring 24Hs with some fantastic imagery and reporting. But as we get started with our coverage, I'd like to ask that you spare a thought for the drivers. After all, they're the ones who will have to survive 24 hours of racing on the world's toughest race track.
Just bear that in mind when you watch this video. There is someone at the wheel of this car, in this case Tommy Milner, who is using every ounce of his concentration to stay on the road -at maximum levels of speed and adhesion. I can barely comprehend this fact as I watch this imagery. Sure you and I know how to drive a car, but what he is doing here with the Team NFS Schubert BMW Z4, is something else all together. It's flying.
Enjoy!
:Rod
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Posted
Feb 12 2011, 12:30 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 74 comment(s)
At the recent Autosport International, I came across a small retail stand selling various DVDs from the continent. Most were either classic Group B cars in France or the other option was the Berg Cup season reviews in German. Since I'm trying to expand my automotive tastes, I picked up a copy of the 2010 Berg Cup season review. I found the above clip on YouTube which just about captures the essence of what surely will be my own personal automotive related find of 2011. I've no idea how this escaped me before ! Ex-DTM, Ex-WTCC, some Group B inspired cars along with a host of classic BMWs and Opels and the odd JDM machine. It's an incredible watch although a little bit painful to watch at times. It just goes to demonstrate how these drivers are pushing 110% the entire season. This video showcases the high and lowlights of one season.
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Paddy McGrath
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