When I was 18 a buddy of mine came over to my parents house driving his father’s Morgan Plus 8. It packed an old Buick V8 engine, was what felt like 3-inches off the ground and had a frame that was made of wood. In short, it was one of the most terrifying things I’d ever ridden in up until that point. Jay Leno recently had a buddy stop by his garage with a highly modified Morgan Plus 8 that was set up for the road course. It was loud, low and by today’s standards, like driving an ox cart. It does however look like one helluva lot of fun, so make sure to check it out after the jump.

Source: JayLenosGarage.com

It must be nice being Tom Cruise, as not only are you a world famous movie star, but you’re granted access to some of the greatest toys the planet has to offer. For instance, showing up to Willow Springs Raceway in a Red Bull helicopter (Tom is flying of course) and then having the chance to jump into a million dollar Formula 1 car for some quick laps. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not jealous (yes I am) but I’ve think I’ve chosen to follow the wrong line of work.

Source: RedBull.com

Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Chan and Jamie Farr. These are some the greatest entertainers from the 1960′s, ’70s and ’80s and how they were all coaxed into making this film is way beyond me. This is The Cannonball Run, and if you consider yourself a car guy and haven’t watched this movie, well, turn in your membership card because all hope is lost. Also, if you’re young, and by that I mean under 30, do yourself a favor and check it out. It’s worth it, I promise.

Source: Youtube.com

A Jensen Interceptor, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Dodge Daytona, ANVIL Mustang, Pagani Zonda and a Classic Mk1 Ford Escort. These are the cars of the upcoming Fast & Furious 6 that’s due out on May 24th. One of the most successful franchises in movie history, the Fast & Furious has not only collected millions upon millions in revenue, but has managed to stay current for the last 12-years thanks in part to a great cast, and even better cars. Edmunds.com recently took a look at some of the cars in the new film, so make sure to click through and check them out!

Source: Edmunds.com

What you are about to see is perhaps the most beautiful automobile ever created. It has the presence of an Italian supermodel and the power of a well seasoned prize fighter. This is the 1969 Lamborghini Miura S, and with its mid-mounted V12, scrape-the-ground stance and symphonic exhaust note, it may just be the world’s most perfect automobile.

Source: JayLenosGarage.com

The Triumph Spitfire is adorable. It’s perky. It’s sweet. And that’s exactly why it needs a screaming, searing, sky-splitting, pavement-melting turbine engine from a helicopter. The appropriately named StanceWorks forums member godzillus is installing a 320-horsepower Allison T63C18 turbine into a rusty Spitfire as you read this post. Oh, and it’s a senior design project for engineering school. Who said school isn’t any fun?

Some perspective: The Spitfire was designed in 1957 by Giovanni Michelotti and was based on the sedate Triumph Herald saloon. It was a nimble, fun and very pretty little roadster produced from 1962 to 1980. Originally it was equipped with a torquey little 1.1 liter (1,147 cc) push-rod inline four. By 1974 the engine had grown to a respectable 1.5 liters (1493 cc). It never weighed more than 1750 pounds. Imagine then, a proper little British roadster with a 320-horsepower turbine engine that tops out at 53,000 rpm and generates 425 ft-lbs of torque at idle. Running stock suspension and brakes. Yep.

godzillus tells us, via the StanceWorks thread, that he and a team of students are building the beast as a senior design project for (the world’s most awesome) engineering school. They say they’re doing it to test a digital turbine controller, but come on. We all know they’re doing it in the name of hoons everywhere.

The team received the car as a gift from the local Triumph club and they’re borrowing the Allison turbine, which retails for more than $250,000. The students have scraped together $3,000 for the build, which is mostly going into fabricating parts for the engine swap, a roll cage and safety equipment. Thus there’s no extra cash for upgraded brakes and suspension. Sadly, the team ”will never get to drive this thing in anger,” says godzillus.

As you can see from the pics below, the team has already made great progress. They’ve patched the rusty bits, sprayed the car with primer and have mocked up the engine in the car. They’ve also created some trick 3D CAD files to design the seven-inch exhaust that will no doubt leave burn marks on the asphalt. Heck, if we’re lucky, the exhaust may even light the asphalt on fire.

Godzillus, on behalf of the entire Ridelust readership, I demand a video of this masterpiece ripping a hole in the space-time continuum!

You’ve gotta’ love NAPA Auto Parts for having a sense of humor. Plus anything that Patrick Warburton voices instantly gets my vote!

Source: Youtube.com

It’s a well known fact that many automobile enthusiasts first taste of speed was done through the guise of a remote control car. Over the years I’ve had just about every variety of gas and electric cars you can think of. And even now, at four decades old, I find they’re still a helluva lot of fun. As kids, these RC cars taught us about counter steering, throttle control and overall suspension behavior. Things that many adult enthusiasts fail to ever learn about. In short, not only are these little machines fun, but they have the ability to educate the crap out of all those little petrol-heads who one day want to get behind the wheel of a real car.

Source: RalfBecker.com

In a cinematic world that’s filled with CGI, overpaid actors and rehashed story lines, it’s great to know that we can always fall back on those cheesy automotive flicks from the 1970s. Movies like the original Cannonball, The Seven-ups and Convoy are just a few that come to mind. However there is one that if you haven’t seen it, you really should treat yourself. It’s called Hi-Riders, and it’s got all the elements that made those B-movies from the 1970s so awesome. Check out a clip of the film after the jump.

Source: Youtube.com

Want to know what happens when you put Peter Stormare, J.B. Smoove, a 1970 Dodge Challenger and Call of Duty: Black Ops II together?

Awesome… That’s what happens.

Source: Youtube.com