Follwing a string of unofficial sightings in the form of spy shots and what appeared to be an impromptu, frankly lackluster teaser video, Ford has finally taken the wrapping off their new production Baja 1000 trophy truck, the 2010 Ford F-150 Raptor SVT. Engineered by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT), the F-150 Raptor has been gaining attention within the off-road circuit as the first production street-legal desert hauler.
A teaser video showing the new, SVT-tuned Ford F-150 Raptor in action has hit the media recently, generating some fresh hype for Ford’s newest pickup truck. Tentatively scheduled for release in 2010, the Ford has been overheard boasting to its dealer network that the F-150 Raptor will be “The first and only Baja 1000 Trophy Truck you’ll be able to buy from a dealer.” Obviously intended to be the off-roading expert of the F-150 family, the F-150 Raptor will be outfitted with customized Fox Racing long-travel shocks, 35″ all-terrain tires, and Ford’s 6.1L BOSS V8 engine, tentatively expected to produce 380 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
A collaborative effort between Britain’s Ministry of Defense, various government agencies, and several private corporations, the Bloodhound SSC rocket car is undergoing the preliminary phases of assembly as the future world’s fastest car. Initially proposed in 2006 by Britain’s Minister of Science, Paul Drayson, formal plans to build the car weren’t confirmed until last Thursday during an official announcement by Drayson at the Science Museum in London.
Initial designs plan for the Bloodhound SSC call for the super car to be outfitted with both a Eurofigher jet engine and a “bespoke” hybrid rocket, the latter which will be designed by literal rocket scientist Daniel Jub. If all goes according to plan, the Bloodhound SSC is expected to reach 1,000 mph in an estimated 40 seconds, propelling it past the 766 mph record held by the current fastest car in the world, the Thrust SSC.
In Baltimore, Maryland, the local government has passed new laws allowing police officers to seize and later destroy any unlocked dirt bikes they find - be it in an alley, driveway, front yard, or street. An extreme yet necessary measure, police and citizens alike have depleted their capacity for tolerance and are ready to reclaim ownership of the streets. Baltimore has been battling the widespread use of illegal dirt bikes on public roads for a little more than a decade, but in recent years, the blatant disregard for both law enforcement and basic civil decorum has reached uncharted levels. In addition to several reports of bikers cornering motorists and pedestrians, groups of riders have been routinely spotted circling community areas like Lake Ashburton and Druid Hill Park, presumably “patrolling” their territory.
Originally, the 12th and newest season of Top Gear was scheduled to kick-off October 26, but for whatever reason (and much to the dismay of TG junkies everywhere), the official debut date was pushed back to November 2. Feeling our agony and mercifully deciding to throw us a bone, the BBC leaked out a 30-second promo vid giving us a sneak peak of the utter awesomeness that is to come.
Spoiler Alert: A Top Gear-head who knows someone who knows someone says that the guys are filming a Vietnam special that will air during season 12.
28-year-old motorcyclist Sandor Ferenci was jailed today after appearing before the Crown County Court in relation to video footage he posted on YouTube recording Ferenci performing various stunts on his motorcycle. Apparently, police received civilian complaints about Ferenci’s reckless behavior on the road, and they were dispatched to his home to speak to him about it. At the time, authorities were unaware Ferenci had filmed the event, but they were quickly enlightened when Ferenci asked them point-blank, “Is this about the YouTube video?”
In Morgan, Utah a man driving what authorities now believe to be a golf cart fitted with a standard automobile engine was able to escape authorities during a high-speed pursuit. Officers initially began pursuing the clandestine caddie after receiving reports of a man in a golf cart performing “spin outs” in a nearby city park. When police arrived at the scene, the man fled in his cart, tearing across an alfalfa field. Apparently underestimating the golf cart’s off-road capacity, the officers were forced to abandon the chase after the man jumped several irrigation ditches the following police cruisers were unable to clear. The man’s victory over the long arm of the law was short-lived, however, as he was reportedly arrested at his grandmother’s house the following day.
Filmed at a tractor pull in [insert Midwestern state of your choosing here], the footage below captures Farmer Feely’s overworked engine exploding mid-pull. So great was the force of the detonation, the tractor engine is physically ejected from the frame and is launched a good 10-15 feet into the air.
In Newark, New Jersey, Nik Wallenda broke the Guinness World Record yesterday for longest and highest bicycle ride successfully completed without a net. 235 feet across and roughly 13 stories up, Wallenda’s high-wire ride was partly publicity stunt, designed to drum up enthusiasm for Walledna’s upcoming performance with the Flying Wallendas at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s circus later this month.
Covered extensively by the Today Show’s witty commentariat, my favorite part of the footage occurs when the on-the-ground reporter struggles to be heard over the drone of the helicopter circling overhead as he attempts to explain somberly “The greatest concern now…is just the slightest gust of wind [could] catch him off guard here…” FAIL.
Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has had a miraculous escape in a high-speed car crash. There’s not much info on the crash just yet, but apparently it wasn’t nearly as bad as Richard Hammond’s 315 mph rocket car crash back in 2006.
It was a high speed, head on collision during filming for the show, but Clarkson suffered only minor injuries to his legs, hand, and back. He described it as his first serious road traffic accident in 31 years.
