While the Monaco Grand Prix is know for it’s glamour the Isle of Man TT is more about raw courage.  Much more aligned with the chips and beer crowd, than Monaco’s champagne and caviar demographic, the Isle of Man TT is one of the few motor sport events that still intimidates world class riders.

With a history of over 100 years, only three of which have occurred without a fatality, the Isle of Man TT is an event that bridges the gap between our safety minded modern sensibilities and an era when life threatening risks were much more acceptable.

This quick slow motion teaser from Duke video gives you an idea of what the bikes look like at speed.

For a more in depth look at the TT check out this great documentary about the 2012 edition.

The post 2>4: Isle of Man TT: A Dangerous Addiction appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

Image: Russell Whitworth@flickr

The streets of Monte Carlo have seen every iteration of Formula 1 car over its illustrious history.  From the cigar shaped racers of the fifties to the modern aerodynamic marvels of today, Monaco has pushed cars and their teams to the limit.  Hit the jump for a brief look at one of the strangest cars to every grace the streets of the principality; the Tyrrell P34.

Formula 1 cars have always been at the cutting edge of automotive technology.  Current F1 cars are marvels of modern computer design and extensive wind tunnel testing.  As a result, modern F1 cars are quite similar in appearance to the casual observer and frequently the teams arrive at similar solutions in their attempts to increase the cars’ outright performance.  This wasn’t always the case.

The disco and cocaine fueled decade of the 70s was probably the high point for dramatically innovative F1 cars, at least from a fan perspective.  While the 80s and 90s saw incredible leaps forward in technology the appearance of the cars followed a more conservative evolutionary path.  In contrast, the 70s saw numerous six wheeled prototypes and the Brabham BT46B “fan car”, which only managed on race before being outlawed.

The most successful of these unique cars was the Tyrrell P34.

  by  Dave Hamster 

In an attempt to increase front down force, provide a larger contact patch for the front tires and increase braking performance Tyrrell came up with an entirely unique design that stunned the Formula 1 world and became an instant fan favorite.

  by  Dave Hamster 

Tyrrell’s dramatic outside of the box thinking required that the car run specially designed 10″ diameter front tires.  In it’s debut 1976 season the Tyrrell P34 was initially competitive but outright performance fell off later in the season as Goodyear simply didn’t want to spend the R&D money required improve the unique front tires.

  by  Supermac1961 

Despite the lack of Goodyear support the Tyrrell P34 managed to finish second in the constructor’s championship, scoring a 1-2 finish at the Swedish Grand Prix and finishing second and third at Monaco, behind the Ferrari of  Niki Lauda.

The lack of tires, as well as the increased weight and complexity of the four wheeled front end, ultimately doomed the Tyrrell P34, and the development of its six wheeled chassis ended in 1977.

I doubt that anyone would be able to argue that six wheeled cars were ever the future of Formula 1 but it is interesting to note that the Tyrrell P34 was good enough to take it’s drivers, Jody Scheckter and Patrick Depailler, to third and fourth in the driver’s championship in 1976.  Let’s not forget 1976 was the year James Hunt and Niki Lauda had their epic duel so finishing behind those two and above the likes of Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi was no mean feat.

What did the Tyrrell P34 sound like when driven in anger?

1976 Monaco Grand Prix from Alex King on Vimeo.

This video really shows the front end of the Tyrrell P34 at work.  It’s interesting that Depailler is driving without the cover over the cockpit, perhaps to show off the Tyrrell to best effect.

Monaco Grand Prix On-Board with the 1976 6-wheeled Tyrrell P34 from Alex King on Vimeo.

  by  hugh llewelyn 

The post Film Friday: Tyrrell P34, the strangest car to race Monaco. appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

Monaco is the slowest and most technical course on the Formula 1 calendar.  With a history stretching back to 1929, the Monaco Grand Prix is something special in the world of motorsports.

With relatively minor changes, in the interest of safety, the Monaco Grand Prix circuit is a piece of history and for a modern Formula 1 driver it is like stepping back in time.  There are no run off areas, the track is narrow, the penalties for a mistake are dramatic and F1 cars have been too “fast” for the circuit for at least 30 years.  It’s no wonder that every F1 driver views Monaco as the ultimate test.

Flat Out: Monaco Teaser 1 from Alex King on Vimeo.

How does one win at Monaco? Watch as Graham Hill, the most dapper gentleman in Formula 1 history and five time winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, describe the best way to navigate the treacherous circuit.

Now we take a quick look at what it’s like to drive a lap of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit during the golden years of Formula 1

Five wins at Monaco is an amazing feat that has only been accomplished by two drivers: Graham Hill and Micheal Schumacher.  The great Ayrton Senna was somehow able to win six times, a feat that is even more amazing when you consider that five of those wins were consecutive.

Ayrton’s approach to driving was slightly different to Mr. Hill’s but even in his transcendental state of supreme oneness with the car Senna wasn’t without fault as this clip from the Senna documentary shows. The Monaco Grand Prix has no regard for even the greatest of driver’s.

If you haven’t had a chance to see the Senna documentary you really should.  It is an amazing look into the life of one of the greatest and most controversial Formula 1 drivers of all time.

The post Film Friday: How to – Monaco Grand Prix appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

MONACO – This street circuit is extremely tight and twisty, rendering overtaking almost impossible. It also has the biggest elevations of any grand prix circuit. The cars power up the Beau Rivage to Casino Square and then wind their way back down through the famous hairpin section.

There is very little grip, so soft tires and the highest possible downforce setting are the order of the day. Most corners are taken in first or second gear, requiring teams to install low ratios.

The most challenging corners are Turn 1, Sainte Devote, where drivers are greeted with an Armco barrier if they turn in just 1km/h too fast. It’s easy to miss the braking point as the entrance to the corner is so bumpy. Massenet, at the crest of the Beau Rivage, is blind on entry, and often the scene of pile-ups. The Hairpin – the most famous turn in F1 – is also the slowest and requires full lock and gentle throttle application. The Tunnel – the only one in F1 – really is a shock to the eyes as drivers plunge in and out of darkness; the sound as the engine noise bounces off the walls is incredible. The chicane at the Swimming Pool really does defy physics as the cars bounce across its curbs.

This circuit requires 100 percent concentration from all the drivers, as the slightest mistake could ruin their weekend. After qualifying, the drivers’ eyes appear to be on stalks.

Local start time: 14h00
Number of laps: 78
Circuit length: 3.340km
Race distance: 260.520km
Grand prix debut: 1929
Lap record: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari, 2004), 1:14.439

2012 QUALIFYING:
1) Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) – started with grid penalty
2) Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
3) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
10) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)

2012 RACE RESULTS:
1) Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
3) Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
4) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)

Source: PRNEWS USA

The post Monaco Track Guide appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

Stumbling across cars like this excites me. I can not quite put my finger on why, except for that it is exceptionally well done. Now I invision you guys over on the west coast see awesome rods every day, but here in the Midwest, especially at the smaller shows these top tier hot rods are rare. That’s not saying we don’t see hundreds of cool rods every year but….well let’s get on to the pictures so you can see what I’m going on about.



Awesome custom wheels go a long way to making a car.

The rear fender can barely contain that fat meat back there and the air ride suspension has the car sitting just right.

No offense to anyone who puts those rubber mats on their hot rods, but it completely ruins the look. Oh I get the functionality but check out how sweet the Chevy looks with those super long, low, and wide running boards unmolested by a rubber mat? I just can’t imagine this car with them, and I’m so glad I don’t have to wonder what it would look like with out them.

I’m not sure how functional those tiny wipers are, but I don’t suppose this car sees much rain.

One feature of this car is ghost flames, they are very ghost. The camera had a hard time catching them, heck my eyes had a hard time catching them. They are really awesome though and all over the hood and side vents.


Moving to the interior where sometimes a hot rod can be let down a bit, the elegance and breath taking beauty carries over well. I love every thing about it. It all fits well in a way that makes it look like it was designed this way from the factory.

Here’s a little better shot of the shifter knob.

The seats are well done and look quite comfy. The stitching is excellent.

Only two pedals needed on this ride.

The engine choice was made long ago for this car as the owner told me that this has been a nearly 10 year project. So you might be thinking LS1, but in fact it’s an LT1. Still plenty potent I’m sure.

Maybe my favorite thing of all about this 1934 Chevy is it gets driven. Too many times I see these pristine show cars with literally no miles on it, but not this one. No it’s not a daily driver, why would you do that to this beauty but it does have nearly 7,000 miles on it which in our book is something very nice to see.

At the end of the day I’ll go any where to see a bunch of cars getting together. The stories, the variety, the custom touches are all great, but it’s gems like this that really get me excited to get up early drive a few hours and get to a show.

The post 1934 Chevy Hot Rod appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

If you think the image above will look good on your desktop, and let’s not kid ourselves it will, hit the jump for two sizes of wallpaper taylor made for your computer screen.

1680x945

1600x1200

The post Hot Rod and Mustang Wallpaper appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

© Repsol Honda Team

Wet weather always makes for an interesting race and round 4 of the 2013 MotoGP season was no exception.  Hit the jump for more about the race at the famed alternate Le Mans course.

Lorenzo and Rossi MotoGP Round 4 Le Mans 5/18/13

Le Mans and motorsport go hand in hand, however most people only think of Le Mans in connection with the legendary endurance race held there every June.  The somewhat lesser known, though still with nearly 50 years of history, the Bugatti Circuit makes up part of the 24hr circuit and it plays host to MotoGP.

Valentino Rossi MotoGP Round 4 Le Mans 5/18/13

The weather played a major part over the weekend, which is pretty typical for Le Mans during this time of year. Qualifying went well and the usual suspects were sitting at the front of the grid.  The one surprise was the appearance of Andrea Dovizioso’s Ducati in third.  One can only hope that this is a sign that the Ducati is finally coming around.

Sunday’s race proved to be wet and as a result the race turned into a test of who could maximize their tires without using them up completely.

© Repsol Honda Team

Dani Pedrosa proved to be the master of the wet Bugatti Circuit.  Riding away from the field after a multi lap battle with Dovizioso’s Ducati, which spent a surprisingly large number of laps at the front before finishing fourth.  Pedrosa showed that he is a real title contender.

Lorenzo, Pedrosa’s main title contender and the reigning world champion, struggled in the wet conditions and simply fell back in the pack finishing 7th.  Le Mans marked the first time the Spaniard hasn’t finished on the podium in nearly 20 races.

Finishing second, Cal Crutchlow kept it from being another Spanish dominated podium.  Riding with a cracked tibia and blood on one of his lungs, received in a big crash during an earlier practice session, Crutchlow showed that he really deserves a shot with a factory team.  Crutchlow is a rider that really hearkens back to the glory days of Gardner and Doohan, he simply will not quit!  There are rumors that Crutchlow will be going to a factory team next year, most likely Yamaha or perhaps Suzuki, let’s hope that happens.

What about Marquez and Rossi? Well, Marquez continues to impress by essentially learning to ride a MotoGP bike in the wet and over 28 laps he fell back to ninth then clawed his way up to third.  At the end of the race Marquez was lapping a full second faster than everyone else.  The mind boggles at how quick he is going to be with even more seat time on a MotoGP bike.

Rossi continues to be a draw and fans pack the seats to watch him.  His Yamaha looked like it didn’t have the pace of the Honda’s but his setup looked better than Lorenzo’s and he was holding station in 5th before low siding the bike.  The crash obviously means that he should hang it up and he simply can’t compete with the current crop of riders, or so the numerous comments on blogs and fan forums would have you believe. I think Rossi has definitely lost a little bit of his edge, or the current crop of riders is so good it seems that way, but he still seems to have the passion for it and his results have been quite a bit better than say Micheal Schumacher’s last couple of years in F1.  Claiming Rossi is done is probably a bit premature.

Rossi and Hayden MotoGP Round 4 Le Mans 5/18/13

For all the official results check out  the fancy Official MotoGP site.  We’ll see you again in June as the MotoGP teams head to the Gran Premio d’Italia  TIM at the famed Mugello Circtuit.

The post 2>4: MotoGP Le Mans Race Recap appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

You’ll get a cockpit, brakes, tires, and three LCD screens powered by an Intel I7 processor. It appears these will not be sold in stores. Those wanting to purchase one will have to buy it and then wait 12-18 weeks for delivery. When IG moves into it’s new office (and wins the lotto), we’ll have to consider one of these for the lobby.

Source: engadget

The post In The UK, Costco Offers A Full-Size F1 Simulator appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

There’s something here for everyone to help you get through your Monday.



Shelby Mustangs are hugely popular, and for good reason. They look great, handle well, and have plenty of go. It’s no surprise we stumble across them regularly at the shows.

This one looks great coming and going.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget there was a time when the Mustang wasn’t a muscle car. It had rather humble beginnings, in fact. Here’s an immaculate example of one before it grew in size and gained muscles. The blue and white combo looks sweet.

If I may, here is a little more Mopar from the show. The Plymouth Satellite is a nice ride when put back to original. It’s often forgotten about when people look back at this era of American motoring history but it’s easy to see why it’s becoming more and more popular.

The 350z follows a long lineage of sports cars. While it was popular when released some 10 years ago, it was often denigrated for being over-weight and under-powered. Still, it makes for a fun car to drive and sounds good as far as imports go. I’m pretty sure this convertible version has some aftermarket graphics on it, although admittedly I have not kept up as well as I should on the option list for Z cars.

It’s often said that SUV’s began with the Ford Bronco, but I have to disagree. While maybe not a traditional SUV this is certainly a much cooler alternative.

I don’t have a whole lot to say about this one, except it has to be one of the classiest looking cars I’ve ever seen. What a cool hot rod.

Another fine example from when American cars had elegant lines that could compete with any car in the world.

Above, we took a look at an early Mustang. Here now we see the result of the muscle car era on the Mustang. clearly bigger, more muscular, and ready to go racing.

I will have plenty more from the show later in the week, as well as a few feature cars. In the mean time be sure to check out part one from the Loafer’s Show if you missed it.

The post More From The Loafer’s Car Club Show: Dodge Dart GT, Mustangs, and Imports appeared first on Infinite-Garage.

Of course we will also continue to bring you the latest new from the car world as well as race recaps which have grown quite popular here on the site. Probably because our own Renowrench has done such an awesome job covering the events.

Week In Review
We of course love Formula One here at IG and we have ramped up our coverage of F1 considerably this year. It is no easy task as access is rather tough to get but Reno always seems to find a way. So if you need to get caught up on all the action from Spain we had you covered this week.

Nitrous Powered Fury
Mopar is always close to my heart. I love all cars, and particularly muscle cars but it seems like the Mopar variety was just a little more wild, a little more outrageous, and they have always caught my eye. Really they are quite rare around these parts as there just have never been many Dodge/Plymouth dealers around. So it is always a rare treat to see one up close and personal, which I had the pleasure of doing with an awesome Plymouth Fury last weekend.

Wallpaper Wednesday
Wallpaper Wednesday this week featured a cool Ford Mustang wallpaper. Shot at one of the White Hall Drag O Way fifth Friday Cruise ins if you like classic Mustang you’ll want to check it out.

The Week Ahead
The up coming week is already filling up. With still plenty of cars to check out from last weekends Loafer’s Car Club show we will have more hot rods, muscle cars, and other assorted classics from that show.

We will also have a whole host of racing recaps including V8 super cars from Austin. I also have a special trucks only article coming up of some of the coolest trucks I’ve seen out at the shows recently. Classic trucks are so hot right now in the collector market that I sometimes see more of them out and about then I do classic cars. So be sure to stay tuned for that.

Obligatory hot rod shot

That will wrap up this weeks edition of the Sunday Commentary. Until next time keep it shiny side up!
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The post Sunday Commentary: classic trucks, hot rods, and some muscle cars appeared first on Infinite-Garage.