Looking for a corkscrew? If it's a bottle of wine you're looking to open, we're afraid we can't help you there, pal. But if you want to take an interactive look at one of America's best race tracks, Mazda and Google have come to the rescue.
The Japanese automaker has captured the Laguna Seca race track (which it sponsors) from every which angle and placed it on Google Street View, making it the first circuit available on the online service. The interactive feature allows you to check out the track from start to finish, Andretti hairpin to the famous Corkscrew downhill kink, all from the comfort of your own home.
The XJ was, for the longest time, the model most commonly associated with the Jaguar brand. Like Porsche's iconic 911, the XJ's basic shape had soldiered on for decades with significant platform changes hidden behind an all-too-familiar face. When Jaguar switched things up by introducing the forward-looking midsize XF a couple of years ago, people started to take notice that it wasn't going to be business-as-usual anymore in Coventry – or Mumbai for that matter. Heritage and tradition were one thing, but Jaguar needed something radical to reclaim its place at the top of the luxury sedan class. Enter the 2010 XJ, an all-new vehicle with an all-new look that should help Jaguar capture some all-new customers.
Borrowing heavily from the XF playbook, the new ultra sedan offers tastefully modern styling with a dash of traditional elegance and a healthy dose of British class. Sure, the tail lamps might look like they were borrowed from a Citroen, but in person this car has genuine presence. It is a large vehicle compared to the previous XJ, but not as big as, say, an S-Class Benz. The proportions remind us of the BMW 7 Series and the new Porsche Panamera.
There's a special place in our hearts for classic Ferraris, especially red ones with long, swooping fenders. That's why we were so excited to hear that the four remaining 1959 Ferrari TR59s would be all at the Pebble Beach Concours this year.
Lighter and more powerful than the 250TR on which it was based, the TR59 featured coachwork by Pininfarina and Fantuzzi as well as upgraded features like disc brakes and coil valve springs that increased horsepower to 306. Coming off a successful 1958 season including a victory at Le Mans, the TR59 continued the winning tradition with a 1-2 debut finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring. While the TR59 model doesn't have the simple elegance as its predecessor, we would still consider it one of the most beautiful Ferrari racing cars of all time.
When it comes to auctions during the Monterey car week, the best is saved for last. Held in conjunction with the Pebble Beach Concours, the auction house Gooding & Company offered up an incredible selection of cars on both Saturday and Sunday night. By the time the last lot had crossed the block, two cars had sold for over $4 million including a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Drop Head Coupe that went for $4,180,000 and a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider that commanded $5,115,000.
Seven other cars passed the seven figure mark, including a 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Roadster ($3,000,000), a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider ($2,750,000), and a very unique 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Special Coupe ($1,375,00) previously owned by Ettore Bugatti himself.
As the featured marque at the 36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, Porsche decided to open up their vault and bring out some of their most iconic race cars to entertain the crowd. About 150 Porsches were entered in the various classes of racing action over the weekend, but a special group of unique racers was on display in the paddock as well. All of the cars made it out to the track for some parade laps, but even standing still they had no trouble conveying that Porsche is a company committed to racing.
There were about a dozen great racers on hand, but four extra special cars stood out. On loan from the new Porsche Museum in Germany was a 1960 Type 718 Formula 2 car, a 1962 Type 804 Formula 1 racer, the "Grandma" 1962 Type 718 W-RS eight-cylinder Spyder, and the GT1 98LM that helped Porsche score a 1-2 at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. Outside that group, you could find a 917/30, a 906 Longtail, a very special cadmium-hooded RSK, a 550 Spyder, an RS60, a 917K, plus a 956C and a newer RS Spyder. In separate display areas, you could also find the Bruce Leven Havoline 962, a 908 Longtail, and the Jules 936.
After selling off the Nick Alexander Woodie collection on Thursday, RM continued with their Sports & Classics of Monterey auction this past weekend. The sale was highlighted by a 1952 Jaguar C-Type that was originally owned and raced by the late Phil Hill. The legendary driver's son, Derek Hill, drove the car up on stage where bidding immediately passed $1,000,000 on its way to a $2,530,000 final selling price.
Despite the downward trend of the collector car market, RM managed to sell 85% of the 239 cars it offered last weekend. In addition to the C-Type, several other notable cars found new homes, including a 1955 Aston Martin DB3S that sold for $1,980,000 and a Duesenberg Model SJ Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe with a final sale price of $1,430,000. Some of the no-sales included a 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 with a top bid of $900,000, a 1938 Talbot Lago T120 that went unsold at $950,000, and a 1953 Ferrari 166MM Spider Scaglietti that didn't meet its reserve despite being bid to $1,100,000.
Even though it's essentially run just for fun, the track action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca can be downright menacing during the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Just ask the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa driver who had a severe pucker moment on Saturday. Sure, the cars survived relatively unscathed, but some drivers may probably going to have second thoughts come Monterey 2010.
Given our current economic and environmental attitudes, it is conceivable (if unlikely) that historic racing might not last far into the next decade. What a pity it would be for vintage racing to go away, but quite honestly, this event could easily continue as nothing more then a classic motorsports car show. The cars themselves certainly draw more than flies – and even at rest, they look so amazingly fast and stylish that simply touring the paddock can be enough entertainment for all but the most jaded fan.
At the 59th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Bugatti was allotted two classes: 100 Years of Style and Speed, and a second class devoted solely to the Type 57. Check that, a second class devoted to Type 57 models with special coachwork. As if any Bugatti Type 57 wasn't special enough, back in the day, customers could order an off-the-rack Type 57, or they could opt for a custom coachwork job arranged directly through Bugatti. They offered six different body styles: The Stelvio, Aravis, Galibier, Ventoux, Atalante and Atlantic.
Those bodies rode on standard chassis or lowered ones labeled with an "S." Customers also had the choice of either the standard naturally aspirated 8-cylinder engine or a supercharged version putting out 210 hp. Supercharged, lowered vehicles were dubbed the 57SC and those were and are the most desirable setup no matter what coachwork it wears. The four 57SC Atlantics built demand the most money, though.
When car people think of Morgan, they probably picture trikes or think of wooden frames. Perhaps they envision the cross-eyed late-model cars that attempt to update the classic British roadster with aesthetically mixed results. What gets lost in the discussion is the fact that Morgan started out building cars a full century ago. That's right, it has been 100 years since the first Morgan automobile was produced. To honor that centenary accomplishment, there was a special tribute to the boutique automaker at the 59th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
The entrants ranged from a 1909 Morgan 7 hp Runabout to the 2009 Morgan LIFECar Concept. Filling out the class were cars from the '30s, '40s, '50s and '60s. The three-wheeled 1937 Sports 2 Seater Barrelback and 1947 F-Super Sports 2 Seater (above) represented the old guard three-wheelers, while four +4 models rounded out the group. Highlights included the LeMans-inspired SLR (one of three) and the 1965 +4 Coupe, which wasn't as successful as hoped for and ended its run with just 26 built.
Mercedes-Benz has had more than their share of entrants in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance over its 59 years. The classic Teutonic automaker has even had an overall winner or two in the Best of Show judging. This year the marque was honored in another special class, with a twist. The organizers invited Mercedes to bring a sampling of their Silver Arrows race cars, and the company obliged.
For fans of Grand Prix racing, the legend of the Silver Arrows is a memorable one. When the team showed up at a race way back in 1934, the new W25 GP cars were a bit over the maximum allowable weight. To save a few pounds, the team stripped off the white paint and ran the cars through tech again with just the bare metal skins. The cars met the weight requirements and raced on to a win. The press dubbed the cars "Silver Arrows" for their color and speed, and the name stuck.
