Archive

Note: This week we are very pleased to have a piece from John Twist of University Motors on the dangers of ethanol, or alcohol, in modern gasoline. Those of us who drive classic British cars, especially ones with original fuel system components, need to be aware of what modern fluids can do to our rides. We appreciate John letting us reprint this article from his most recent newsletter. “Nearly all of the gasoline sold in the United States contains 10 percent ethanol, which can safely be used in all of today’s gasoline-burning cars and trucks.” (From http://www.ucsusa.org) The operative word is “today’s.” Ethanol is a cleaner burning fuel than gasoline. It is created from biomass, especially corn. Arguments rage about the true environmental impact of growing corn to create ethanol versus drawing crude oil from wells and then refining it. But […]

Bentley Team M-Sport will return to Mount Panorama in Australia next month (5-7 February) to take on the Bathurst 12 Hours with two Continental GT3s in the team’s new 2016 livery that was unveiled at the Autosport International Show  today. Bentley Boys Guy Smith (GB) and Steven Kane (GB) will once again be joined on the mountain by Matt Bell (GB), and Andy Soucek (ES) and Maxime Soulet (BE) will welcome Aussie V8 star David Russell (AU) to their team.

The Lotus 3-Eleven is the most powerful road car to wear a Lotus badge and Hethel’s quickest ever road car. It joins the ranks of those rare cars that can reach 60 mph in under three seconds and 100 mph in six seconds. To complement these figures, the Lotus 3-Eleven possesses a purity of the driving experience and the benchmark handling for which all Lotus cars are renowned, enabling a lap of the challenging Hethel circuit to be completed in 1 minute 19.5 seconds for the Race version. Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus commented ”The Lotus 3-Eleven is a game-changing car, not only in terms of what has come before it from within our own rich heritage of sports cars, but also in terms of anything else comparable brought to market by any other manufacturer. Extreme, focused and phenomenal […]

The Toronto Triumph Club hosts the largest British car show in North America, held on the third Sunday of September for the past 32 years. Over 1000 British cars and 8,000 spectators, plus 50+ Vendors. About British Car Day British Car Day® is hosted annually by the Toronto Triumph Club, on the third Sunday of September. Since its inaugural event in 1984, it has grown in leaps and bounds, and now draws over 1,000 British cars and 8,000 spectators, with room to grow even bigger. British Car Day® is open to vintage, classic and current British manufactured vehicles, including motorcycles. The event is the largest, one-day, all-British car event in North America, with visitors from Ontario, the northeast United States, the Maritime provinces, Quebec, and Manitoba, representing membership in 100 British car clubs. However, you do not need to be […]

Our video this week is a great period piece celebrating the Chimney Rock Hillclimb which ran in North Carolina for approximately four decades. The Chimney Rock Hillclimb was the most legendary hillclimb in the South. Held in Chimney Rock, North Carolina, it was a rite of spring for both drivers and spectators. Beginning in 1956 when sports cars and sports car racing was still in its infancy, the climb challenged Triumphs, Jaguars, MG’s and their drivers to a high-speed rollercoaster ride that scared even the most fearless. With two miles of hairpins and switchbacks and trees for guard rails, it was an event to behold. Sadly the challenge to the mountain came to an end as a result of “changing times”. In 1995 “the Rock” fell asleep again.     To quote the Chimney Rock website … Engines roared. Tires […]

Already the class benchmark for driving dynamics and driver engagement, the All-New Jaguar XF will, in 2016, offer an even greater breadth of dynamic ability. For the first time, Jaguar’s business saloon offers all-wheel drive (AWD) together with a four-cylinder diesel engine – the clean, refined, 180PS 2.0-litre Ingenium unit. This combination will offer customers exceptional fuel efficiency together with enhanced all-weather traction and performance. Jaguar’s torque on-demand AWD system features Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD) – a next-generation control technology developed entirely in-house. Launched in the F-TYPE AWD, IDD delivers rear-wheel drive character and agility but can transfer precisely the right amount of torque to the front axle when required, maximising the performance and dynamics benefits of the additional traction. The result is superb composure in even the most adverse weather conditions. “The all-new Jaguar XF is already established as […]

Enthusiasts seeking a balance of pure performance and affordability from every driving experience now have a fresh alternative from British manufacturer Avatar. The Devon-based track and race division of long-standing specialist car producer Marlin Sports Cars has developed the 250bhp 2.0 Ecoboost-engined Roadster to offer road and track day fans a responsive, involving, lightweight car that offers plenty of scope to adjust and upgrade during ownership. The first car will make its public debut at The Performance Car Show on 14-17 January 2016 (Hall 19, Stand 19215), held at the Birmingham NEC alongside sister show Autosport International. Eschewing the handling and styling compromises of transversally mounting the Ford 2.0 engine behind the driver, Avatar’s engineers mandated the race-substantiated longitudinal installation, driving the rear wheels through a proven Porsche Boxster five-speed gearbox. Underlining an emphasis on performance and commitment to offer […]

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced Monday that its 2015 sales were the second-highest ever recorded in its 112-year history. A total of 3,785 hand-built motor cars were commissioned by customers worldwide last year. Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, said, “2015 was a year of tremendous challenge for the entire luxury industry. I am very proud of our success which was achieved against a backdrop of considerable global uncertainty. We have proven that our long-term strategy of globally balanced, sustainable and profitable growth is delivering and we have maintained our position as the world’s leading luxury manufacturer. I am quietly confident of a strong year in 2016.”

This year’s Mini Meet East will be in Oak Ridge, Tennessee at the end of June and beginning of July. There will be a car show, a rally, a drive-in movie, a funkana, art and model contests, an autocross, and more. Stay tuned for more details as they become available, but make plans now to attend.  

Caterham Cars has introduced the ‘S’ Pack and the wider-bodied S5 chassis as options for the fastest road car it has ever produced. The Seven 620 S is the mildly saner, more road-oriented sibling of the ballistic 620R and features comforts such as a full windscreen, hood and side screens, as well as leather seats. For the first time, the Seven 620 can also now be specified with the wide-bodied S5 chassis as an option costing £2,500. The S5 is wider and longer than the standard S3 chassis, providing an experience better suited for more generously-proportioned customers, with other benefits including added interior and luggage space and increased range thanks to a larger fuel tank. The 620S, priced at £44,995 (incl VAT) fully built, joins the 620R at the summit of the Seven range by harnessing the same 310bhp two-litre, […]

A Weekend Celebration of the British Lifestyle and all Great British Motor Cars in Bristol, Rhode Island. Thursday, June 9th 2016 The Bristol Hidden Highway Hundred Rally Friday, June 10th 2016 British Motorcar Festival Weekend Begins British Marketplace Open to Registrants – A collection of British Companies and vendors selling British, and British-inspired products and services. Hard to find car spares, motoring accessories, British food, British Car Corral Open to Registrants – An opportunity to buy or sell a British Motor Car or Motorcycle. Bristol Merchants Association Fun Rally – The local Bristol Merchants Association has organized a self-guided scavenger hunt through town. Concours Reception – A special reception for the owners of the British motorcars that have been selected for judging in the Concours d’Elegance. Registrants Reception at Independence Park Friday Night Street Party with Live Music by Abbey Rhode […]

Well-known car designer Henrik Fisker filed civil extortion charges against Aston Martin. He says that the British luxury sports car manufacturer threatened to sue him if the sports car dubbed as the Force1, which resembles the DB10, makes its way to the Detroit Auto Show. As a countermeasure, Henrik filed a civil extortion lawsuit against the British carmaker asking for US$100 million for damages. Fisker is a recognized designer in the automotive industry. He served as BMW’s DesignWorks president before he was brought to Aston Martin. The British automaker only sold 400 cars per year during the mid-90s. By the time Fisker designed two cars for the British carmaker that made it to production, global sales have grown and the company sold 7,000 cars worldwide.

MINI UK is reporting a record sales year in 2015, with 63,581 full year registrations. The milestone represents MINI’s 6th year of consecutive growth in the United Kingdom, with vehicle registrations up 17.9 per cent on 2014, securing the brand 2.41 percent of the market. MINI 3-door Hatch remained the brand’s biggest selling model, closely followed by its 5-door sibling. In the first full calendar year of sales, 44,560 Hatch models were sold in 2015 (3-door Hatch 25,443, 5-door Hatch 19,117). MINI’s performance brand, John Cooper Works, also celebrated a record year following the June launch of MINI John Cooper Works Hatch. The fastest production MINI ever built with a 0-62 time of just 6.1 seconds, 1,487 John Cooper Works Hatch models were sold last year. Total John Cooper Works sales across the range increased 134 percent to 2,213 vehicles.

The British Motor Club Of The Cape Fear presents its 18th annual British Car Show. Classic British cars 50/50 Raffle Raffle with Great Prizes Music from our own Rusty Bumpers Band Food Show runs from 10 am until 4 pm. Registration from 8 am till 11 am.  

As the Christmas displays disappear, shoppers in London’s Knightsbridge are to be treated to the sight of a very special Aston Martin window display in Harrods, the world’s most famous luxury department store. Three stunning Aston Martin sports cars will take over the iconic Harrods storefront in a month-long celebration of the British marques’ ‘DB’ nameplate. Since their debut in the early 1950s, the ‘DB’ models offered by Aston Martin – named after Sir David Brown who bought Aston Martin in 1947 – have been synonymous with sophisticated grand touring and thrilling sports car performance.

Original “Italian Job” movie stunt driver and Mini racer, Phil Wicks, is offering his highly successful 1967 Mini Cooper S 1275 race car for sale. The price is listed at $55,000. This car was originally an SCCA racer and has the original race log book from 1972. There is also the current up to date log book. Wicks has raced and prepared the car for the past five years, competing in 42 vintage races with 39 first in class and many overall Group 1 first places. First place in the Walter Mitty at Road Atlanta for the past five years. First place at the Gold Cup at VIR for the past five years.

The Lake Erie British Car Club will be hosting their 18th annual car show ‘The British Return to Fort Meigs’ at the Fort Meigs Historical Site. The show runs from The show runs from 10am to 3pm. Registration is from 9am to 12 noon. After viewing and voting on your favorite British vehicles, you will have opportunities to tour the restored fort from the War of 1812 and its museum, eat lunch at one of the food vendors or shop at one of the vendors. Voting is by popular vote. Dash plaques to the first 200 registered, goody bags, and door prizes. Pre-registration is $12.00, Voting is by popular vote. Dash plaques to the first 200 registered, goody bags, and door prizes. Pre-registration is $12.00, day of Dash plaques to the first 200 registered, goody bags, and door prizes. Pre-registration […]

Jaguar Land Rover reported a 22% growth in registrations today – a record year for the UK market. For the full year 2015 a total of 100,787 vehicles (versus 82,845 in 2014) were registered thanks to a combination of new and updated products making the UK the number one market for the company. Land Rover UK registrations reached a new all-time high of 76,837 vehicles, an increase of 19% and surpassing last year’s figure of 64,544 vehicles. Jaguar was up 30% with 23,950 registrations in 2015 versus 18,401 vehicles in 2014.