Valentino Balboni has been ripping around in Lamborghini’s since the late 1960’s. He’s driven every model there is and his input to the factory has helped make the raging bull what they are today. You see Balboni has the greatest job in history as he is Lamborghini’s top test pilot. Maybe thats why the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 is such an amazing automobile. Lamborghini went back to basics by offering only rear wheel drive as an option, a proper 6-speed manual and an engine that sounds like a symphony. This is something that the guys at Motortrend Magazine found out first hand when they had the chance to take this new bull for a spin.
Some cars are quick, others are fast and some are just downright ridiculous. Take Eddie Bello’s Porsche 911 Turbo for example. This puppy just set the record for a Porsche running the standing mile. Bello was running Ignite Racing Fuel which is two parts HOLY SHIT and one part WHOOP ASS!
You’re looking at the most insane car ever built. It’s a 1935 Monaco Trossi racer with an air-cooled, two-stroke 16-cylinder radial engine driving the front wheels. Just picture it howling down the straight at Monza at 150 miles per hour, looking like a lit cigar on wheels, engine roaring, headers glowing.
It was the brainchild of technician Augusto Monico. It was built on an aircraft-style space frame and rocked independent suspension all around. It also had hydraulic brakes, a rarity for the time. Unfortunately, the car had 75/25 front/rear weight distribution and suffered from uncontrollable oversteer. It never actually raced and was only driven a few times during the testing phase. Today it’s locked up in the Museo dell’Automobile in Turin, its version of Arkham Asylum. Will the batshit car ever escape and get a chance to vaporize its front tires and kill race car drivers? One can hope.
The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is an embarassment of riches; no matter where you turn, there are amazing cars as far as the eye can see. The organizers do a good job of providing content for everyone, from early “horseless carriage” cars all the way through contemporary street and race cars. Want the eclectic? You’ll find one-of-a-kind prototypes and concepts alongside multi-million dollar Duesenbergs and Bugattis.
I’m not going to get into the technical aspects about why the V8 engine was, is and always will be the king mill amongst car guys. What I’d rather do is simply explain why these big lumps of iron draw respect and admiration from the millions and millions of people who have owned them. There are those of you that after reading this, are going to comment and tell me that I’m wrong, that I have no basis for my comments or that you have some 4, 6, 10 or 12 cylinder plants that can blow the doors off of everything… and that’s fine. It’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. I’m writing this article because I simply felt the need to tell you mine.
Not long ago we put up some posts about Nissan’s first true electric car, the Leaf. We also sighted that Nissan said the car was going to be priced around that of a typical family sedan, which in my estimation was around $25,000 – $30,000. My estimates seem to be a bit off as the online rumor mill is now saying that the Leaf will be priced around $45,000. Maybe it’s me, but why the hell would I pay 45k for a car that has a range of 100 miles and is the size of a Tic-Tac box.
For those of you who don’t know who Big Willie Robinson was, let me give you a quick introduction. Big Willie was a SoCal street racer and Vietnam Veteran with the Army Special Forces who, in the late 1960’s formed the Brotherhood of Street Racers. This was an organization that catered to all forms of gearheads and it mattered not what color you were or what car you drove. Willie was the Brotherhood’s president and was known for running a wicked 1969 Dodge Daytona.
The 2010 One Lap of America is rapidly approaching which means I’ve got a crap load of work to do on the old Charger. Yesterday was a good day as I got most of my parts, but now comes the exciting part of installing everything. The Charger as a whole is in pretty good shape but definitely needs some TLC before we leave for the event on April 28th. Over the past 6 years I beat this car to death mercilessly on racetracks, on the auto cross and on the street… in short, I drive the crap out of this thing. What this means is that parts wear out, things sometimes leak and performance drops. This cannot happen on an event like the One Lap of America.
Sure it sucks to get pulled over for speeding, but if you do, just be polite. Don’t admit guilt, but don’t ever get into a confrontation with the guy wearing a badge. You’re not going to win, and you may just piss him off enough to show up in court when you see the judge about your ticket.
Oh, and when the traffic stop is over, don’t put your car in reverse and floor the accelerator, either.
Missed your chance to buy a new McLaren F1 back in the 90s? Got a spot in your garage for a mid engine, rear drive 600 horsepower supercar, but want one that’s easier to live with on a daily basis than the original McLaren F1? Then get your financing in order, because the McLaren MP4-12C may be just the ticket. More pics after the jump.
