Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Help Save The Nürburgring! Initiative to Save the Nordschleife
In 1927 one of the worlds greatest race tracks was opened to the public after two years of construction. The track created legends.
Facebook Page – Initiative to Save the Nordschleife
http://fb.me/SaveTheRing
See Sabine’s Season’s Greetings and support Save The Ring!
Germany’s Nürburgring is the world’s automotive playground. A public park for gearheads. Sadly, it’s been handed over to privateers who’ve put the entire ‘Ring at risk. Michael Frison of 20832.com explains why we need to save the Nürburgring! —Ed. Blog: www.mikefrison.com (Mike’s Profile: www.facebook.com/renn.tv)
You might be surprised by reading this headline and I’m aware the subject has not gained much awareness abroad, but there’s currently a serious threat to the Nürburgring.
Since it’s opening in 1927, the Nurburgring has been under complete public ownership and administration, but in May of this year the complete Nurburgring race track and park was rented out to two privateers (Kai Richter, Jörg Lindner). They have no motorsports background whatsoever, but are the driving forces behind the makeover, which includes the addition of a theme park with a new roller coaster that doesn’t work, more hotel capacity than the area needs, a 3,000-seat event arena, and a shopping mall. Everything appears to be far too big and remains empty most of the time.
They promised private financing, but this soon turned out to be a fake. The Minister of Finance had to resign as a consequence. Despite lack of funding completion of the project continued.
(NOTE: Video is in German, if you go to the video on Youtube , check the recent comments. You will find English)
The heavy burden now sitting on Nordschleife’s shoulder is the debt of approximately 400 Million Euros, which seems completely unnecessary considering complete race tracks have been constructed for a fraction of this amount.
The issue is complex and has kept fans of the ‘Ring busy, but I want to share with you what just happend last week: Nürburgring officials always claim a total of two million visitors per year, but in true Wikileaks style we got ahold of an older internal document (PDF) telling a different story. Promoters always engage in number polishing, but this is of different quality. It appears there’s double bookkeeping for real vs. published visitors for all events held at the Ring. Have a look at the graph summarizing the figures:
Who would dare to claim two million spectators while only 370,000 actually turned up? The Nürburgring did and they based the business plan of the new leisure park on these numbers.
You don’t believe me? Ask Sabine next time you meet her. Several investigations have already been triggered by the Department of Public Prosecution, a governmental board of inquiry and the competition department of the European Commission.
And anyone who criticizes the current direction of the ‘Ring is answered with force. Wilhelm Hahne — the oldest of the racing Hahne brothers (his brother Armin finished 6th last weekend at the track) — had his house searched in June of last year and as recent as last week received again a warning letter from the Nürburgring lawyers for speaking the truth.
It really hurts to get sucked into politics and to witness how they treat the heritage we all love. The worst that could happen is enthusiasts be forced to pay the price of a privateer’s blunder in the form of higher prices or worse.
Please spread the word if you care about Nordschleife and its heritage. Follow ringumbau.de (the documentary community site accompanying the development) and question the information shared by officials.
Michael Frison founded the 20832.com Nurburgring site 10 years ago (ever seen the red-and-white-N logo when at the ‘Ring?). He’s also the person behind the renn.tv movies (you have probably seen Hans Stuck / BMW M3 GTR / Nordschleife Onboard), and donated the engine/idea of the Gixxerkart. He wears a Che Geuvara T-Shirt when he drives the ‘Ring.
Post is copied direct from Jalopnik
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Porsche presents GT3-RSR Spec 2011 - GT racer
Porsche is now unveiling the 2011 911 GT3 RSR, the latest iteration of what’s surely the most successful GT race car of all time.
What's new? More power, for one thing.
Porsche has made extensive changes to the 911 GT3 RSR to be competitive in the coming season on the routes of the world.
Her world premiere of the 2011er version of the world's most successful racing car in the GT racing season party "Night of Champions" at the Development Centre Weissach. When developing the GT3 RSR had a redesigned aerodynamics at the front and rear, changes to the suspension kinematics and on the engine in the foreground.
The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, including lots of detailed improvements in the new season.
The naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six gets a 5-hp bump to 455, the full power of which is unleashed at 7800 rpm. Maximum torque is 332 lb-ft, and the powerhouse still redlines at a screaming 9400 rpm. Vrroooom!!!
To achieve the slight power gain, Weissach engineers tweaked the engine control to adjust even more precisely to differing fuel quality. The intake is also reworked, while the exhaust system is entirely new. The four-valve-per-cylinder engine sports individual throttle bodies and dry-sump lubrication. It’s an evolution of a tried-and-true engine, not the new, direct-injection powerplant now used in most of Porsche's street-legal 911s.
The task of routing the power to the rear wheels falls to a sequential six-speed gearbox with a three-disc carbon clutch. The traction-control system is adjustable and tuned to enable maximum acceleration. Eighteen-inch BBS wheels are fitted; the fronts are wider than last year’s—12 inches instead of 11—while the rear wheels remain a staggering 13 inches wide. The suspension is completely adjustable. Despite a galvanized-steel body, the new long-distance racer weighs a claimed 2690 pounds.
From the outside, you can tell it's the 2011 model by the LED taillights taken directly from the street-legal current-gen 997. There is a new front lip spoiler with improved airflow; the rear is also tweaked, adding additional apertures for ventilation. While the rear now looks much like the current 997, the GT3 RSR curiously keeps the looks of the “phase-one,” pre-2009 997 at the front. The cutout for the front turn signals looks almost exactly like that of the 2004–2008 models. It's a surprising decision as the GT3 Cup and the GT3 R, the RSR's sister models in Porsche Motorsport's lineup, showcase the latest 911 styling in full.
The 911 GT3 RSR is not street legal, and the price is steep: In Germany, Porsche will charge €410,000 before taxes. At current exchange rates, that’s more than half a million dollars. But for those on a budget, Porsche Motorsport will offer a kit to upgrade last year’s model to 2011 specs.
Technical description Porsche GT3 RSR (2011 model year)
Engine
Water-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine; 3,996 cc; stroke 80.4 mm; bore 102.7 mm; 455 hp (335 kW) at 7,800 rpm; max. torque 450 Nm; air restrictors 2 x 28.6 mm; max. revs 9,400 rpm; four valve technology; dry sump lubrication; individual throttle butterflies; fuel injection.
Transmission
Porsche six-speed gearbox with sequential jaw-type shift; oil/water heat exchanger, single-mass flywheel; hydraulic disengagement lever; three-plate carbon-fibre clutch; rear wheel drive; limited slip differential 45/65 percent.
Body
Monocoque body (basis GT3 RS) of hot-galvanised steel; aerodynamically optimised front end with front spoiler; aerodynamically optimised front underfloor; adjustable rear wing; 90-litre FT3 safety fuel tank with fast filling function; air jack; welded-in safety cage; race seat (driver’s side only) with flame retardant upholstery; six-point seat belt adapted for use of the HANS Head and Neck Support; electric fire extinguishing system.
Suspension
Front axle: McPherson spring strut axle; Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and auxiliary); front axle arms adjustable for camber; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar; power steering.
Rear: Multi-arm axle with rigidly mounted axle sub-frame; Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and auxiliary); rear axle tie-bar reinforced and infinitely adjustable; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar. Complete suspension infinitely adjustable (height, camber, track).
Brake system
Brake system with balance bar control.
Front: Single-piece six-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner vented, 380 mm diameter; racing brake pads.
Rear: Single-piece four-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner vented, 355 mm diameter; racing brake pads.
Wheels
Front: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (12J x 18 ET 34); central bolt.
Rear: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (13J x 18 ET 12.5); central bolt.
Electrical system
Motec display with integrated data recording; multi-function display with integrated gearshift indicator; adjustable traction control; battery: 12 volt, 80 Ah, 140 Ah alternator.
Weight
1,220 kg
Source: Porsche
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche – The legendary designer of the Porsche 911 turns 75
Stuttgart. Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, Honorary Chair of the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, celebrated his 75th birthday on 11 December 2010. As a designer of true genius, F.A. Porsche was the creator of such legendary automobiles as the 904 Carrera GTS, or the Porsche 911. After stepping down from the management of Porsche KG, in 1972 he founded the “Porsche Design“ Studio, and achieved worldwide fame and recognition as an independent product designer.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was born on 11 December 1935 in Stuttgart, the eldest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche. As a child his world was already being influenced by automobiles, with him spending a lot of time in the design offices and development workshops of his grandfather Ferdinand Porsche. In 1943 the family, together with the company of Porsche, relocated to Austria, where he went to school in Zell am See. After returning to Stuttgart in 1950, he passed the final school examination, the “Abitur”, at the Waldorf School, and registered at the College of Design in Ulm. In 1958 F.A. Porsche joined the design department of what was at that time Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG.
His talent for design very soon became apparent when, with the Type 754 “T7“, he formally presented to the world the direction which was to be followed in the succession to the 356 Series. In 1962 he took charge of the management of the Porsche Design Studio, and one year later took the world by storm with the Porsche 901 (also referred to as the 911). As well as passenger cars, F.A. Porsche was also deeply involved in the design of the racing cars of the 1960’s. Among his most famous designs were the Formula One Type 804 racer, or the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, which motoring fans have always regarded as one of the finest and most beautiful racing vehicles ever made.
With the conversion of Porsche KG into a share company in 1971/72, F.A. Porsche and all the other family members stepped aside from the operational business of the company. As a shareholder and member of the Supervisory Board, he oversaw the development of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG for many years, and from 1990 to 1993 he served as the Chair of the Supervisory Board. In 2005 he passed the mantle of responsibility as a Porsche AG Supervisory Board member to his son Oliver, and took on the position of Honorary Chair of the Board.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche founded the “Porsche Design Studio“ in Stuttgart in 1972, the headquarters being relocated to Zell am See in Austria in 1974. Over the decades which followed he designed a wide range of classic men’s accessories, such as watches, spectacles, and writing implements, which achieved worldwide fame under the brand name “Porsche Design“. In parallel with this, he and his team, using the trademark “Design by F.A. Porsche“, created a large number of industrial products, domestic appliances, and consumer goods for internationally famous clients. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche has been acclaimed for his work as a designer by the bestowing of many honours and awards.
In autumn 2003 F.A. Porsche and the other shareholders of “Porsche Design“, together with Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, founded the Porsche Lizenz- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (PLH, Porsche Licence and Trading Company). The aim of this company is to make best use of the potential of the name Porsche in sectors which go beyond the automobile. The focus here is on the trademark “Porsche Design“, which in recent years has developed to become one of the world’s leading brand names in luxury articles, with its own marketing network.
12/7/2010
Photo credits: Porsche AG
[Source: Porsche]
About dedeporsche
I am a girl "Car Enthusiast" of all cars, racers, exotic, vintage and rare.
Friday, December 3, 2010
In tribute to Matt Drendel of the Porsche Community - CEO/Founder of Heritage Motorwerks LLC.
Footage courtesy of Paul Powell….”my buddy Matt“
Catchfence.com
Open Wheel Editor
PPowell6@Catchfence.com
UnfairAdvantageRacing.com
Historian/Web Master
Paul@UnfairAdvantageRacing.com
http://www.unfairadvantageracing.com
Matt Drendel was very special to many of us. For me he was like Family. We spent many of hours on the phone talking about everything from Porsches, Mark Donohue, Al Holbert to how much we missed our Moms who have passed away. He was like a brother from another Mother. This one for me is going to take a long time to digest, but will never be forgotten. His everyday kindness was remarkable as he always had a smile and something nice to say no matter what when we talked or saw each other. He was always so proud to share what he had going on and always willing to hear an idea or get my opinion on something, it was as if we had a connection with each other from the moment we met.
I will always feel special knowing he was my friend, brother and will always be missed.
All the best,
Paul Powell
Pictures at the Mark Donohue celebration at Road America July, 2010 - Matt Drendel and Paul PowellEdited and Produced by @RLavigne42
Name: Robert Lavigne
Location: Toronto, Canada
Web: http://rlavigne42.com
Matthew Clayton Drendel – May 31st, 1975 – November 24th, 2010)
The Porsche Community has lost an outstanding friend Matt Drendel and uber custodian of one of the most significant private Porsche collections in the world. Among many accomplishments in his 35 years Matt was CEO/Founder of Heritage Motorwerks LLC. The word Heritage is described as “Something that is passed down from preceding generations”, and at Heritage Motorwerks they simply followed in the footsteps of Porsche and their amazing appreciation for detail and how much pride they take in their product. Heritage Motorwerks was founded by Porsche collector, Matthew Drendel and was initially formed as a group that would solely support and maintain his extensive collection. Heritage Motorwerks was invited to Irvine, California to help in the filming of the Porsche Panamera “Family Tree” commercial. Matt being a avid Porsche collector had many of the cars in the Panorama commercial, including the 917/30, 962, GT1, 934, 935 and many others.
Pictures from Pelican Parts Forum Thread – Matt’s Porsche Service Shop -(Matt is wearing the black jacket and baseball cap)
Matt’s first word was probably “Turbo” and he put together what has to be the most comprehensive and quality collections of historic Porsche Turbo models in the world including the first Turbo, and a 917/30….too many more to list here. Matt’s father Frank has long been a Porschefile also. (quoted from a close friend named Tim Herman, N.C. from the Porsche356registry.org)
Matt Drendel also drove a Porsche 996 GT3-R in the GT3 Championship in 2001 with Darren Law, David Murray & Cort Wagner. Pictures of some of Matt’s racing cars
Porsche PANORAMA October 2010 issue features a salon on one of the rarest of Porsche-powered race cars—the TAG McLaren-Porsche MP4/3 owned by Matt Drendel. (Picture from Pelican Parts thread)
Matthew Clayton Drendel was 35 and died quickly of a brain aneurysm on November 24, 2010. The Drendel family is highly regarded in the Porsche community and has contributed a great amount to the quality of life here. Survivors include his wife, Shana Hefner Drendel; father, Frank M. Drendel; son, Zachary Matthew Drendel; and daughter, Alyssa Leigh Drendel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Drendel family.
Share your memories, express your condolences and add photos in the Guest Book for Matthew Clayton Drendel. ….Here View all “guest book entries for Matt….Here
This Guest Book will remain online until 12/27/2010.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Jingle Bells Jingle Bells…Oh, what fun it is to drive a Porsche Panamera Turbo Sleigh!
Dashing through the snow…..in a 500 hp @ 6,000 rpm open Panamera Turbo Sleigh…..o’er the fields we go, drifting all the way…….exhaust notes ringing, making spirits bright….Oh what fun it is to drive a Panamera Turbo Sleigh tonight !…Oh Jingle bells, Jingle bells…Jingle 188 mph all the way.
Oh what fun it is to laugh and sing in a Porsche turbo sleigh…..dashing through the snowdrifts in a big white cloud of snow………with a V8 twin-turbo engine ….HO HO HO a way we go! Oh, what fun it is to drive a Porsche Turbo Panamera Sleigh.
……WISHING YOU HAPPY HOLIDAYS !
via dedeporsche.wordpress.com
Friday, November 12, 2010
Marines run across the US in a 'Gumpathon' - from New York to California
Marines run across the US in a 'Gumpathon'
The Gumpathoners - five Brits and one American - started off at the USS Intrepid in New York City on 10 September and finished on the Santa Monica Pier in California on 11 November - Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day.
Six British and US servicemen have run across the US - from New York to California - to raise money for wounded military veterans, the BBC's Katie Connolly reports.
Colour Sgt Damian Todd doesn't even like to run. "I hate running. I absolutely hate it with a passion," he told the BBC.
And yet he has just led a team of six servicemen - five marines and a British Army member - on a 3,530 mile, eight-week running odyssey, passing through three deserts, four time zones, 10 mountain ranges, 16 states and 789 towns across the US.
Colour Sgt Todd dubbed this trek "the Gumpathon", after the film Forrest Gump, where the title character runs across America. Colour Sgt Todd liked the idea when he saw the film 14 years ago, and stashed the seemingly fanciful notion in the back of his mind for a later date.
That date came on Christmas Eve 2007, when Royal Marine Mark Ormrod stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan and lost both his legs and one arm.
Inspired by the courage and strength of amputees like Marine Ormrod, Colour Sgt Todd revived the idea of the Gumpathon as a way to raise money for wounded veterans.
The Gumpathoners - five Brits and one American - started off at the USS Intrepid in New York City on 10 September and finished on the Santa Monica Pier in California on 11 November - Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day.
Each day - rain, hail or shine - they ran anywhere up to 88 miles, keeping an average pace of 10 minutes per mile or less.
Most days, they ran relay-style for about 10 hours, with one runner completing 10 or more miles before handing off to the next.
Gruelling featOther days they set personal challenges. Master Gunnery Sgt Charles Padilla, the one US Marine, achieved a personal goal of 85 miles (137 km) in one day, which sparked a friendly trans-Atlantic rivalry.
Refusing to be outdone by an American, Army Staff Sgt James Mazzoni-Dalton ran 86 miles. Egged on by his fellow Brits, he completed the run in 19.5 hours. He was so exhausted when he finished around midnight that Colour Sgt Todd had to carry him to his bed.
On his prosthetic legs, Marine Ormrod usually ran one gruelling mile at a time. His prosthetics have no knee joints so he had to run with stiff upper legs - a much more physically taxing style.
Over the course of the Gumpathon, his fitness and endurance increased so dramatically that some days he managed to run up to five miles in one stretch.
Colour Sgt Todd snapped his Achilles tendon just before leaving the UK, leaving him unable to run. He completed his legs of the relay using a hand powered recumbent bike he's affectionately nicknamed "Achilles".
"I have to say, my upper body is quite buff now," he jokes. He has lost at least 11lb (5kg).
Another Gumpathoner, Cpl Lloyd Renner, has lost almost 25lb (11kg), even though each runner has been chewing through about 6,000 calories a day. They have eaten anything - chocolate bars, cookies, pizza - just to get those calories in.
Only Staff Sgt Mazzoni-Dalton had ever completed a marathon before the Gumpathon - which is the equivalent of 34 marathons for each runner. Colour Sgt Todd says he deliberately sought participants who weren't experienced runners to make the achievement even more impressive.
Sadly though, despite their astonishing endurance, the Gumpathoners are falling short of their fundraising goals.
"Every one of us has picked up at least one injury," Marine Jamie Jobson wrote on the Gumpathon blog last week.
"Our bones ache first thing in the morning and last thing at night, we have blisters, shin splints, clicking ankles and knees, bruised heels, colds… the list could go on but I'll round it up by saying we're all hurting, but all of this will be in vain if we don't raise as much money as we can for our chosen service charities."
But Colour Sgt Todd says the idea of quitting never entered his mind - even when running uphill on a humid 110F (43C) day in West Virginia, getting frostbite in his fingers on a chilly night in California or struggling against the driving rain in New Mexico.
His spirits are buoyed by the people he has met and the generosity of the communities they have passed though - many have provided food, shelter and donations.
Among his memories are highs like being cheered by onlookers as he crossed the Hoover Dam, and lows like getting a flat tyre on the downhill stretch he had been longing for on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
But an Arkansas man holds the honour of making the biggest impression on Colour Sgt Todd. After hearing what the Gumpathon was about, the man turned to Colour Sgt Todd and told him: "You're the most remarkable man I've ever met."
Upon hearing such a positive affirmation of his work, Colour Sgt Todd, tired to the point of breaking, had just one response: he cried.
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