2011 Silverstone GT1 Crash

The 2011 Silverstone GT1 race served to have one of the strangest racing accidents in the history of GT Racing. It looks like Aston Martin driver Stefan Mücke, saw red after being spun out by Richard Westbrook and decided to take justice into his own hands.

In the video you’ll see Stefan pull a flying run by the GT-R, ripping the wheel off the Nissan, but then losing control and severely wrecking his own Aston Martin. According to the report the impact was so extreme the engine was dislodged from the chassis! DAMN!

BTW the Ford GT40 looks sweet driving racing around the track.

Justin Pawlak meets a wall in Atlanta

Justin Pawlak and Matt Powers killing it at Formula Drift Long Beach Round One. Justin got 1st place and Matt finished 2nd. It seems like there is a lot of pressure on both drivers for this season as they started really strong.

Justin Pawlak crashed in practice Thursday but hes not the only one. It seems Atlanta is putting everyone down. Jonathan McWhorter of MotorMavins say “During the first practice session, Long Beach champ Justin Pawlak got carried away with his recent victory and tried to win at practice. Truth be told, I didn’t witness the wreck as it occurred because I was moving to a new photo location; but, judging  from what I heard, it sounds like JTP went to initiate into the first corner and his rear wheels caught the rumble strip or the grass and immediately introduced him to the wall. The damage looks severe in this photo but the Falken team was hard at work in the paddock putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. We hope to see him back out as soon as possible! In addition to JTP, Eric O’ Sullivan in the Gardella Racing Pontiac Solstice also gave the wall a solid love tap coming out of the final corner back up the hill. However, O’ Sullivan was able to drive off on his own without the aid of a flatbed.”

Team Falken works hard through out the day to get the car back into one piece and ready for today’s practice. Afters hours and hours of work you can see its ready to rock again.

Matt Powers looking at the Falken Mustang becoming whole again.

Fredric Aasbo suffered a broken control arm. From the picture taken by Larry Chen it seems it failed under load.

Matt Powers also had some offs

Thanks to Speedhunters.com Larry Chen and Charles Kha for the photos.

New Taurus SHO Inspired by Club Enthusiasts and Customers

When it came time to design the 2013 Taurus SHO, Ford asked SHO enthusiasts what they would change from the current model. What those enthusiasts had to say made a difference in the car that was revealed recently at the New York International Auto Show.

“Listening to SHO buyers and enthusiasts encouraged us to strengthen the design and the driving quality for the new 2013 model,” said Gordon Platto, Chief Designer. “For us, this was a clear indication that SHO customers have passionate feelings about aesthetics and design as well as performance.”

Do you have an idea that you’d like to see in the next Taurus SHO or another Ford vehicle? You can submit your idea attheFordStory.com/your-ideas.

SHO dynamics have been enhanced with larger brakes, torque vectoring control – using slight braking to provide the effect of a limited-slip differential – and unique sport-tuned suspension.

Specially calibrated electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) has been further optimized for enthusiast-pleasing road feel and direct, communicative response. In addition to helping Taurus SHO deliver up to 25 mpg highway, EPAS enables the car to park itself with active park assist.

Taurus SHO brake system upgrades include a larger master cylinder, revised booster tuning for improved pedal feel, larger front rotors with 19 percent more thermal mass and 67 percent more swept area to help brakes run cooler. Now vented, the rear disc brakes offer 53 percent more thermal mass.

As with the previous edition, all Taurus SHO models come standard with the award-winning and fuel-efficient 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, delivering 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed high-capacity 6F55 SelectShift Automatic™ transmission. They also feature a standard advanced torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system to help deliver optimum traction in all weather conditions and to enable the vehicle to efficiently deliver ample torque through all four driven wheels when driving in a sporty, enthusiastic manner.

For the new Ford Taurus SHO, subtle differentiation from the other members of the Taurus family starts up front, with a performance-inspired grille in black mesh – unique to the SHO – flanked by series-specific high-intensity discharge headlamps. Behind the front wheel openings, a fender-mounted scallop contains a subtle SHO badge.

Unique 19-inch premium painted wheels wearing standard P255/45VR-19 all-season tires fill out the openings, giving SHO a muscular, athletic look. Buyers can choose 20-inch machined and painted wheels.

SHO-specific sideview mirrors – also in contrasting black – are heated, have memory functionality and contain downward-facing puddle lamps; the driver’s side features auto-dimming. In the rear, Taurus SHO features a unique decklid-mounted spoiler.

Inside, the new Taurus SHO communicates its sporty characteristics with a perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-trimmed sport seats with embroidered SHO graphics, unique woven aluminum trim and adjustable aluminum pedals with memory.

Signature Ford technology is also a key attribute of the new Taurus SHO, with the addition of standard MyFord Touch™ powered by SYNC® driver connect technology and the replacement of several traditional knobs and controls with clear, colorful LCD screens and five-way buttons. These screens can be personalized to display information relevant to each individual driver using voice command, a simple button click or touch-screen tap.

Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters enable the Taurus SHO to match revs for smooth, quick, manually selected downshifts. For the new model, these have been reconfigured for more intuitive operation, with one paddle for upshifts and the other for making smooth, matched-rev downshifts.

For the ultimate in driving dynamics, there is also a SHO Performance Package available on the 2013 Taurus SHO. The package includes:

• Package-specific sport-tuned suspension with unique dampers and springs
• Performance brake pads and unique track-tuned calipers
• Recalibrated EPAS
• Electronic Stability Control track mode with true off
• 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio for enhanced off-the-line acceleration
• Enhanced extreme-duty cooling system
• 20-inch machined and painted wheels
• 245/YR20 performance summer-compound tires

Formula Drift Round 1 Long Beach

Formula Drift (FD) Round 1 was this past weekend. Its always and amazing turn out on the streets of Long Beach. I did not have the opportunity to make it out to this event and I hate myself for it. Since I did not we will let Photographer and Speedhunters blogger Larry Chen show us what happened.

Team Need for Speed models Courtney Day and Vanessa James are rocking the pin-up look this year. The fans seemed to like it.

It’s the three energy drink amigos!

Vaughn Gittin Jr. had a string of bad luck going into the first round of the 2011 season. I am sure things will pick up for him next event.

I really wanted to see the friendly Fredric Vs. Vaughn rivalry “part five”. I am sure we will see the two titans clash later this season.

The Long Beach Grand Prix course is a very nice track. I wouldn’t mind an extra round of Formula D on another street course.

Dai just can’t seem to get a break.

It seems like no matter what he does, he ends up battling a Ford Mustang in the finals.

Justin chose a bad time to do his victory dance.

If you are going to rub it in, you will get tackled.

Congratulations to Justin Pawlak, Matt Powers, and Dai Yoshihara.

Lesson learned. If you beat Matt Powers in the finals, you get a wet willy.

Round 2 should be good.

How FORD does it. Great gas mileage

Have you seen the price of fuel these days? Of course you have, and now more than ever buyers are paying attention to not only a vehicle’s fuel-economy figures, but also the ways in which it was engineered to further improve fuel efficiency. Ford employs some pretty cool technology to do just that.

For example, did you know there’s a job called aerodynamicist? Well, vehicle aerodynamics is an important consideration when it comes to the topic of fuel efficiency. Aerodynamics help Ford vehicles achieve class-leading or unsurpassed fuel efficiency in each segment where they compete, and these fuel economy improvements can result from reducing friction and drag – not only within engines and transmissions, but as air flows over and around the vehicle as it efficiently skims through the atmosphere at cruising speeds. Wind-tunnel development time enables Ford engineers, designers and, yes, aerodynamicists to optimize vehicle fuel efficiency.

But let’s talk specifics: The all-new Ford Focus employs an innovative active grille shutter system to help deliver up to 40 mpg highway by improving aerodynamics. Focus four-door models feature an innovative system to improve vehicle aerodynamics – and fuel efficiency – at cruising speeds. The active grille shutter system will open grille slats when extra engine cooling air is required, such as low-speed stop-and-go driving. When cruising on the highway at steady speeds, the grille slats automatically close to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. Also cool? This active grille shutter technology will be migrating to other Ford nameplates.

Carefully balancing aerodynamic details such as the front air dam, sideview mirrors and rear liftgate spoiler adds nearly 1 mpg on the highway to the all-new Explorer SUV, the 2011 North American Truck of the Year. Now you can better understand just how the Explorer is able to deliver class-leading fuel economy of 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, when equipped with front-wheel drive and the standard 290-horsepower V6 engine.

In fact, the Explorer and the stylish Ford Flex crossover both enjoy improved fuel efficiency from painstaking detail work by designers and aerodynamicists collaborating in the wind tunnel. The Flex has a boxy shape requires only 8.90 horsepower to maintain a 55 mph cruising speed; its crossover competitors GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander require 9.30 horsepower to move at the same velocity. Using less power to carve through the atmosphere saves fuel, lowering the cost of ownership for Flex drivers.

The F-150 trucks feature a chamfered shape to the rear of the cab that helps direct aerodynamic wake over the pickup box in an efficient manner. The top of the tailgate angles outward to create a lip, which in turn does its part to direct airflow over the cargo box. The front bumper valance and spoiler have been configured to properly manage airflow beneath the truck, with no compromise to off-road capability.

Revised front and rear fascias, front and rear tire shields, an underbody shield and optimized cooling air flow into the engine compartment help the Ford Fusion travel farther on a gallon of gas. Optimized airflow over, under and around Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid sedans help these popular offerings deliver class-leading fuel efficiency. The subcompact Fiesta is available with a Super Fuel Economy (SFE) package that enables the car to achieve 40 mpg highway. This package features cruise control, low rolling-resistance tires and several additions to enhance vehicle aerodynamics, such as underbody shields, side air deflectors and lower grille blockers.

“Aerodynamic development has yielded significant improvements in fuel efficiency across the full line of Ford vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford Group Vice President of Global Product Development. “Full-size trucks, family-friendly utilities and cars in each segment add fuel economy from careful attention to aerodynamic details.”

Should Police Vehicles Get Better Fuel Economy?

Since the all-new Ford Police Interceptors were first announced in 2010, there has been quite a bit of conversation about the new vehicles. Here’s something new for discussion – the Police Interceptor sedan and utility is expected to deliver average fuel economy gains of between 20 and 25 percent better than the Crown Victoria police car. This can save law enforcement agencies millions of dollars a year on fuel costs.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – the largest sheriff’s department in the world – operates a fleet of 6,200 vehicles that patrol an area the size of Connecticut. In 2010, those vehicles drove more than 27 million miles. A fleet-wide 20 percent fuel economy gain would save the department at least $20 million a year at today’s fuel prices of nearly $4 per gallon.

“We set out to deliver our new portfolio of Police Interceptors to be industry-leading from durability to performance, including taking on one of the most important challenges for agencies today, fuel efficiency,” said Kevin Koswick, Director of Ford North American Fleet Operations. “With our new Police Interceptors, we took the industry benchmark, our Crown Victoria, and improved every element including delivering up to a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy.”

The improved efficiency of the new Police Interceptors is part of the Ford corporate goal to lead or be among the leaders in fuel economy in every segment in which the company competes – and that includes not just the vehicles that consumers buy, but also the cars, trucks and utilities built for fleet buyers such as law enforcement agencies.

Even small towns would see significant savings with the new Interceptors. For example, the city of Berkley, Michigan, just north of Detroit has a police fleet consisting of 13 Crown Victoria police cars that patrol the city’s 2.2 square miles. Berkley had been spending about $2,500 per month on gasoline for its police cars before the recent surge in oil prices. A 20 percent fuel economy gain for Berkley’s patrol cars would have equaled a savings of $500 per month or $6,000 per year. With higher fuel prices, the potential savings is much higher.

The new Ford Police Interceptors, both sedan and utility vehicle, can be ordered with a choice of three powerful V6 engines that deliver more horsepower and better fuel economy than the 250-horsepower, 4.6-liter V8 in today’s Crown Victoria police car.

The base 3.5-liter Duratec V6 engine in the new Police Interceptor sedan will deliver at least 280 horsepower. Also available in the sedan is the award-winning Ford EcoBoost™ twin-turbo V6 that will have at least 365 horsepower. The EcoBoost-equipped Police Interceptor comes standard with all-wheel drive that enhances handling and safety during high-speed pursuits. The new Police Interceptor utility model will be powered by a 3.7-liter V6 and features all-wheel drive delivering at least 300 horsepower.

In early testing by police agencies, both new Ford Police Interceptors delivered outstanding performance and won praise for acceleration, handling and braking. The new Police Interceptor sedan with the V6 EcoBoost engine outperformed all V8 competitors in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department testing in November. You can read more about this testing and what actual police officers had to say about the new Police Interceptors on theFordStory.com.

Friday Lunch is on us.

This past Friday we had employee appreciation day. We do this every month if the dealership does well and all departments do good. What we do is we push all the cars out of the show room and get everyone inside for lunch. Sales and the service department have done a great job this past month so everyone deserved this.

We had to push the race car out of the showroom even though it was pouring rain outside. Since all the service spots were full we parked it under the mini tent we have outside. The race car is not set up for rain right now. No front windows and the cowl cover for the windshield is not in.

All the cars that need to be moved are finally out and we are starting to set up.

Since it’s raining outside all the tables got wet bringing them in so we have to clean them up. In a couple of minutes this place will be packed. BOOM……..

Let’s go check real quick and see if anyone is still in Service. I vote no. Who is going to pass up on BBQ?

Yup no one in service. Everyone is still on the sales floor talking up a storm and socializing. It’s fun doing this. You get to meet all the new staff and talk to some old faces.

As people get full, it slowly starts getting empty and people head back to work. Lunch is over.

It was a fun lunch. People still talking on there way back to work.

Well that’s it. We better do good next month again cause this family BBQ every month is nice.