Short answer is a) I screwed up when a file corrupted and b) I don't know. \
a). I corrupted the template I use for the post and did not repair it completely. Thanks for pointing that out.
b) My guess is that the 2009 calendar is a system thing related to the change in forum versions.
The change over to the new vBulletin system had people dealing with all sorts of things and I decided not to bug them about this. Put a note in my tickle file but has not come up yet.
Perhaps, I have fixed the template so future posts will take you to the right month in 2009 . For the rest keep in mind I am just a forum member with a lot of posts and no power.
ThereÔÇÖs plenty to keep fans of the S 1000 RR interested over in Phillip Island this weekend, with a whole host of riders using BMW machinery ÔÇô not just in World Superbikes, but also in the Australian Superbike and Prostock Championships. ...More
asphaltandrubber.com: Silverstone round scrapped, World Superbike calendar shakeup
Superpole ÔÇô Phillip Island leftovers
worldsbk.com: Carlos Checa wins Tissot Superpole at Phillip Island
Ducati.com: Checa and Team SBK Ducati Alstare storm to pole on the new 1199 Panigale
bmw-motorrad.com: Start from second row for BMW Motorrad Goldbet SBK Team
Sunday Warmup ÔÇô Phillip Island
Times and rankings special test sessions with a grain of salt with a grain of salt because we don't know what was being tested and how.
1 7 C. CHECA ESP Team Ducati Alstare Ducati Panigale 1199R 1'30.795
2 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'31.508
3 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'31.586
4 2 L. CAMIER GBR Fixi Crescent Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'31.588
5 19 C. DAVIES GBR BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK BMW S1000 RR 1'31.600
6 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'31.707
7 34 D. GIUGLIANO ITA Althea Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'31.713
8 91 L. HASLAM GBR Pata Honda World Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.784
9 33 M. MELANDRI ITA BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK BMW S1000 RR 1'31.827
10 58 E. LAVERTY IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'32.015
11 76 L. BAZ FRA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'32.028
12 27 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER MR-Racing Ducati Panigale 1199R 1'32.033
13 65 J. REA GBR Pata Honda World Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.063
14 18 I. CLEMENTI ITA HTM Racing BMW S1000 RR 1'32.107 1.312
15 14 G. ALLERTON AUS Next Gen Motorsports BMW S1000 RR 1'32.757
16 23 F. SANDI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'33.033
17 16 J. CLUZEL FRA Fixi Crescent Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'33.037
18 5 A. LUNDH SWE Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'33.102
19 21 J. STAUFFER AUS Team Honda Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1'33.933
Race 1 ÔÇô Phillip Island
Checa took the pole. He lost his P1 before the end of the first interval of lap one. At the end of the lap he was in P3 behind Laverty and Sykes and just ahead of Melandri and Haslam. Through the first ten laps of the race Checa and Melandri would engage in a serious duel, along with others, until the duel ended in a draw as both riders crashed.
The crash of Melandri and Checa promoted Davies to P6. Davies was fighting with both Kawasaki drivers for position. Sykes had fallen behind him and Baz was ahead. As the race closed Haslam was passed and he was able to hold off the Kawasakis to take P4 in his BMW debut. More importantly he took P2 in the manufacturer hunt.
Guintoli may be number two on the Factory Aprilia depth chart but he was number one in Race 1. The Aprilias remain fast sweeping the Race 1 podium. Tyre management may have made a difference for Laverty's fall from the lead to P2 at the end.
Davies performance is the first plus in the 'Judgement' column. He put in a solid blue collar effort in. He will have to find less speed to have better lap times. Both Davies and Melandri had some of the top trap speeds but with the v2 that does not always translate into fast lap times on an intermediate track such as Phillip Island.
P5 and 6 for the Kawasaki's of Sykes and Baz. I suspect Sykes rode the tires off his bike during his time in the front. Baz may have done the same with Haslam and Davies. They remain on the edge.
Haslam and Rea were next in the finishing order. Rea was a mid-fielder the entire race. Haslam on the other hand was a frequent visitor to the front of the pack. Often when you loose a duel you loose more than one position. Haslam proved the point and fought back running out of time and distance before he could improve his final standing.
Camier's P9 may have had more to do with dealing with traffic than problems with the bikes performance. Phillip Island will not be the true gague of what the team is able of.
Checa's crash was not his first the weekend. How it happened will be an interesting story. Rrible start for Ducati in 2013.
1 6 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 22 1'31.339 319,5 1'30.683 320,5 25 25 1
2 2 58 E. LAVERTY IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 22 1.352 1'31.440 315,8 1'30.429 317,6 20 20 2
3 3 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 Factory 22 1.359 1'31.323 320,5 1'30.581 319,5 16 16 3
4 12 19 C. DAVIES GBR BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK BMW S1000 RR 22 5.702 1'31.482 317,6 1'31.870 311,2 13 13 4
5 4 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 22 5.753 1'31.716 315,8 1'30.615 312,1 11 11 5
6 11 76 L. BAZ FRA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 22 6.769 1'31.495 317,6 1'31.576 310,3 10 10 6
7 8 91 L. HASLAM GBR Pata Honda World Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 22 6.830 1'31.623 308,6 1'30.998 305,9 9 9 7
8 9 65 J. REA GBR Pata Honda World Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 22 17.944 1'32.106 316,7 1'31.742 310,3 8 8 8
9 7 2 L. CAMIER GBR Fixi Crescent Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 22 19.152 1'31.977 308,6 1'30.991 307,7 7 7 9
10 13 27 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER MR-Racing Ducati Panigale 1199R 22 26.557 1'32.300 305,1 1'32.010 304,2 6 6 10
11 17 16 J. CLUZEL FRA Fixi Crescent Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 22 30.305 1'32.420 313,0 1'32.402 309,5 5 5 11
12 15 18 I. CLEMENTI ITA HTM Racing BMW S1000 RR 22 30.411 1'32.266 303,4 1'32.773 304,2 4 4 12
13 18 5 A. LUNDH SWE Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 22 45.185 1'32.906 297,5 1'32.487 296,7 3 3 13
14 16 14 G. ALLERTON AUS Next Gen Motorsports BMW S1000 RR 22 48.632 1'32.975 304,2 1'32.352 300,0 2 2 14
15 14 21 J. STAUFFER AUS Team Honda Racing Honda CBR1000RR 22 53.453 1'32.690 302,5 1'32.353 294,3 1 1 15
16 20 23 F. SANDI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 22 1'22.730 1'34.240 308,6 1'32.898 303,4
17 21 31 V. IANNUZZO ITA Grillini Dentalmatic SBK BMW S1000 RR 18 4 Laps 1'34.034 300,8 1'33.082 302,5
--------------------------------------------------Not Classified--------------------------------------------------
RET 1 7 C. CHECA ESP Team Ducati Alstare Ducati Panigale 1199R 12 10 Laps 1'31.517 311,2 1'30.234 306,8
RET 5 33 M. MELANDRI ITA BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK BMW S1000 RR 12 10 Laps 1'31.338 315,8 1'30.615 318,6
RET 10 34 D. GIUGLIANO ITA Althea Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2 20 Laps 1'32.183 311,2
visordwon.com: Is now the time to invest ina classic motorcycle?
visordown.com: Slice of Life
FWIW: Forget all the big buck race drivers, the Iron Butt, Dakar and all that. The toughest hard corest (if there is such a word) are London's PTW delivery riders. Those guys and gals are incredible.
The passion for extreme driving fun, a richly varied model range and the wide selection of personalisation options for which MINI is renowned form the centerpiece of the British premium brandÔÇÖs stand at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show. As part of its ongoing model push, MINI is introducing further additions to its portfolio of attractive design models. Indeed, this yearÔÇÖs Geneva Show will host the world premiere of the MINI Clubman Bond Street. Generously equipped and with a searching eye for detail, this is a MINI tailor-made for style-conscious customers of the particularly discerning variety. ....More
The One World. One R 1200 GS Tour continues apace with the South African stage of this incredible journey about to start for Spanish rider Salvador Echevarria, who has arrived in Cape Town. Ahead of him is eight days of the kind of riding that most GS enthusiasts can only dream about. ... ....More
By the mid-1920s, BMW had established itself as a manufacturer of quality motorcycles. The R 32 was the touring motorcyclists' choice, while the sporting R 37 was the machine for the discerning and well-healed riders looking for power and performance. The world was moving fast and technology was progressing at speed. BMW had to keep pace and develop its motorcycles further ...More
Aprilia gets 1-2-3 at Phillip Island World Superbike Race 1. It's the second time that the manufacturer from Noale monopolise the podium (first one was at Nurburgring last year) with works rider Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) taking his 4th win of the career in his first race onboard the RSV4, ahead of team mate Eugene Laverty.
The race started with Eugene Laverty moving off well from second position, trying to run away from his opponents. The Irishman was able to keep the gap between himself and the rest of the field until he was caught up by Guintoli, who overtook Laverty on lap 15 and led the race until the chequered flag.
Later in the race Laverty had to deal with a confident Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia), who closed the gap and had a shot at 2nd place. Laverty waited until the last lap to make the perfect move on the Italian at 'Lukey Heights'. Right outside of top-3 is Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team) who battled hard with fellow Englishman Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) up to the finish line, to end up ahead of his rival for just 0.016 seconds, with team mate Loris Baz to follow.
After a competitive first part of the race, Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) struggled a bit to keep the pace and eventually finished 7th ahead of team mate Jonathan Rea. Two potential contenders for the podium positions got out of the race during lap 13, as Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare), accidentally hit Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team) from behind after outbraking himself, while entering Turn 4.
Checa did not return to compete in Race 2 promoting Sykes to the top of the grid chart for the start of the race. He was able to hold P1 for two laps until Laverty and Guintoli were shown ahead of him as Lap 2 was done.
Farther in the back Baz then Davies went down. Baz was not able to return but Davies did complete the race but way off anyones pace.
Melandri made a late push after pressing the Aprilia pair for most of the race. He moved past laverty with six laps remaining. And began to open a gap on Laverty behind him but was not able to reel in Guintoli ahead.
With two laps remaing Laverty turned in a new fast lap. In short order he made his way past Melandri then Guintoli to take the flag.
1 2 58 E. LAVERTY IRL Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 22 1'31.168 317,6 1'30.429 317,6 20 25 45 1
2 6 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 22 0.418 1'31.506 315,8 1'30.683 320,5 25 20 45 2
3 5 33 M. MELANDRI ITA BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK BMW S1000 RR 22 1.382 1'31.549 316,7 1'30.615 318,6 16 16 5
4 3 84 M.FABRIZIO ITA Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 Factory 22 2.282 1'31.517 317,6 1'30.581 319,5 16 13 29 3
5 4 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 22 11.545 1'31.856 314,9 1'30.615 312,1 11 11 22 4
6 10 34 D. GIUGLIANO ITA Althea Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 22 12.508 1'31.830 314,9 1'31.283 309,5 10 10 12
12 16 14 G. ALLERTON AUS Next Gen Motorsports BMW S1000 RR 22 42.809 1'33.082 297,5 1'32.352 300,0 2 4 6 14
13 14 21 J. STAUFFER AUS Team Honda Racing Honda CBR1000RR 22 42.893 1'33.221 294,3 1'32.353 294,3 1 3 4 16
14 20 23 F. SANDI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 22 44.899 1'32.640 304,2 1'32.898 303,4 2 2 18
15 18 5 A. LUNDH SWE Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 22 57.824 1'33.302 295,9 1'32.487 296,7 3 1 4 17
16 21 31 V. IANNUZZO ITA Grillini Dentalmatic SBK BMW S1000 RR 22 1'22.574 1'33.693 303,4 1'33.082 302,5
17 12 19 C. DAVIES GBR BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK BMW S1000 RR 20 2 Laps 1'32.007 314,0 1'31.870 311,2 13 13 10
--------------------------------------------------Not Classified--------------------------------------------------
RET 15 18 I. CLEMENTI ITA HTM Racing BMW S1000 RR 11 11 Laps 1'32.609 304,2 1'32.773 304,2 4 4 15
RET 11 76 L. BAZ FRA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 0 1'31.576 310,3 10 10 13
fim-live.com: Laverty the first leader
FWIW: Guintoli won the first race so he would technically be the first leader but Laverty won the second race and thus is the leader after the Phillip Island Round so the FIM is right in their world and when you are rule maker you win but that was Laverty and Guintoli but the FIM gets the final word and as the last winner they make Laverty the first leader. I am so confused.
worldsbk.com: Eugene Laverty wins race 2 at Phillip Island
The Game is Afoot | Solving the 2013 WSBK Manufacturer Championship Mystery
For fans of Sherlock Holmes the phase ÔÇ£The game is afootÔÇØ instantly conjures up vivid images. In my mindÔÇÖs eye I see Holmes transforming from a sullen man sitting in his lodgings at 221B Baker Street discussing crime, or the lack of it, into one vibrant with the sense of purpose. In a flurry he recounts his initial outline of the crime as Watson and I, the reader, try to catch up with Holmes on the way to the scene of the crime and then the uncovering of the crimes solution for the rest of the book.
In most mysteries we are taken to the scene of the crime after it has happened. There the detectives try to discern what their initial view of the scene and subsequent investigation tells them as they attempt to solve the mystery. Who will win the 2013 WSBK Manufacturer Championship is a multi chapter mystery. In the first chapter we are taken to Phillip Island Australia where we are confronted with the standings after Race 1 and 2 of the first round of the 2013 season.
This is the Manufacturer table after the end of the round in rank order, showing points won in the round and the +/- compared to last year after Round 1. I plan on presenting the standings in this manner through the season.
The idea of rank ordering is fairly intuitive particularly when the points used to determine the ranking are included. In this case, unlike golf where the player with the fewest strokes wins, here the more points the higher your ranking. How each team scored the points is not as intuitive and adds more layers to our mystery as a result. Lets look at the three main headings in the 2013 FIM Codes and Regulations for World Superbike rule: 1.30 Championship Points and Classifications.
1.30.1
Riders and Constructors will compete for the FIM Road Racing World *World Championship Superbike or Supersport or the FIM Superstock Cup.
1.30.2
For riders, the points will be those gained in each race.
1.30.3
For constructors, only the highest placed rider of a Constructor will gain points, according to the position in the race.
The next section outlines the positions receiving points and the points allocated for them. For example P1=25pts, P2=20pts, P3=16pts and P4=13pts. Points are awarded in ever diminishing amounts to P15=1. The rules go on dealing with a variety of possible outcomes and issues. For now we can apply this paragraphÔÇÖs opening sentence to understanding our mysteryÔÇÖs opening scene.
Aprilia scored fifty points using the points for different riders in each race. Guintoli won Race 1 and 25 pts for P1, Laverty won Race 2 and 25 pts for P1 in that race and together gave Aprilia 50 pts for the round.
BMW riders were the second manufacturer across the finish line in both races. They did not score 40 points for P2 but the points for where the riders were in the standings when they did. Davies finished Race 1 second in the manufacture race but P4 in the rider standings thus scoring 13 pts for BMW. Melandri came across second in the Race 2 manufacture race but in P3 in the rider standings and scored 16 pts for the team. *
I have included the plus or minus as one way of measuring progress compared to last year. Ducati is the biggest loser this round using that measure. The other Ducati riders on the grid were not able to make up for his loss. That takes us to a discussion of the concept of scoring points and denying points to your opponents. LetÔÇÖs save that for another time and end here.
I want to dig further into the clues the Round 1 results give us to our mystery of who will win the WSBK Manufacturer Championship. Before we tackle scoring and denying points lets compare some numbers from ChecaÔÇÖs incredible 2011 season with and 2013 at Phillip Island. This will expand in the real world some of the themes to watch in 2013 I mentioned before. Next time: BMW Goldbet and the Goldilocks Solution.
pirelli.com: The new 17 inch Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres did not disappoint expectations in the first round of the season allowing the riders to significantly increase their lap times compared to 2012
worldsbk.com: Checa leaves Melbourne hospital and announces Aragon return
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today confirms that its new model Wraith will be a fastback, and has issued the final image, in the series of teaser images, before WraithÔÇÖs launch in Geneva. This illustrates the three lines that underscore the carÔÇÖs striking profile. ....More
Munich/Hanover.*The BMW Group and the international automotive supplier Continental are stepping up their collaboration in the field of driver assistance systems. ...More
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indiancarbikes.in: 2014 BMW F10 5 Series LCI sedan facelift spotted in China
FWIW
BMW Goldbet and the Goldilocks Solution
Lets continue our detective work into Solving the 2013 WSBK Manufacturer Championship Mystery by digging a bit deeper into the numbers from both the 2011 and 2013 Phillip Island Rounds. The goal here is, not so much to solve the mystery, but *to understand [i]racing pace[i] a bit better. Hopefully In the process we will better understand how the 2013 usual suspects perform and score a bit better. To do this I want you to look at best laps, maximum speeds and gap to leader at the end of the race for three riders in two seasons.
Street sport riders are fond of talking about ÔÇÿThe PaceÔÇÖ. This was an idea put forward some years ago in Sport Rider Magazine. In simple terms it is heading out to your favorite twisties, staying in your lane, staying within the speed limit while working on carving the perfect line. The goal is alacrity not raw speed as you ride the straights and through the turns.
In road racing Racing Pace is balancing the racing demand for speed with this idea of carrying speed through the twisties to make you faster overall. In 2011 at Phillip Island Checa began a spectacular championship season that confounded writers that did not understand this idea of racing pace. Checa consistently turned lower top speeds and often slower lap times than the competition but the level consistency of his racing pace confounded the competition. They were faster at times but it was when they were done fighting among each other behind Checa as he motored away.
With the 2012 version of the same package Checa had very different results. I believe if you look at his numbers alone you can argue his ÔÇÿPaceÔÇÖ may have been the same; however, he had lost relative speed to the competition and his ÔÇÿRacing PaceÔÇÖ could not offset their improvements in combining speed and handling.
Now look at some of the evidence numbers three of our suspects left behind at the 2013 Phillip Island Round
If you are scratching your head after looking at the 2013 numbers it is because you have dandruff and not because they tell some unexpected story. The lap times fall in the way one would expect given the positions of the riders. Top speeds are not all that different and offer no real indicator of position. The gap to leader is not out of the range of what you would expect. In the case of Davies you might be impressed given his drive to within six seconds of the leader at the end of the race began from a distant P9 at the end of lap one with many very good riders to pass. What makes these numbers interesting is how they were put together. To understand that you will have to accept information from my race notes and the observations from them.
In 2012 I would watch Melandri on live timing tracking the gap between the rider in front and the rider behind. Watching these numbers I could see him set up Biaggi, Sykes and others and then predict with some accuracy where and when he would pass.
Like the riders, by race two I had overcome my frenetic feeling of Race 1 and settled in to a more comfortable Race 2 form. I began watching MelandriÔÇÖs gap times to see if and when he might make a move. At the start finish line on one lap he had narrowed the gap to the leader to 0.2887 seconds. Certainly he would reel in the competition on that lap or the next. To my surprise they had opened the lead to perhaps 0.488 seconds by the third interval only to have Melandri narrow the gap in that bit of straight stuff before the start finish line once again.
If you remember my World Superbike theme thread the potential of the new crop of Aprilia riders to harness the speed and with their handling skills combine the two and secure another championship in the process. This is only the first round yet the Aprilia riders seem to be the early leaders in defining Racing Pace using this limited set of data.
BMW Goldbet is not far off when you think of in Goldilocks terms. Aprilia found a solution that was just right for both races and scored maximum points in the process. BMW found a solution that I suggest was just too fast. They found the speed but not the pace; therefore, came in behind Aprilia because they were too fast. The rest of the field had a combined racing pace that was just too slow no matter how the two elements were balanced to deal with Aprilia or BMW.
This is a serial mystery and we only have results from the first round. Teams are on their way home to prepare for the next round. They will tweak and work on many things. Next time we will look at The Ideal Lap as one way to predict how these suspects will do in the next race.
ROLLS-ROYCE SUPPORTS FUTURE MANUFACTURING TALENT
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently visited East Preston Infant School as part of the CompanyÔÇÖs commitment to the Government-led ÔÇÿSee Inside ManufacturingÔÇÖ initiative. The programme encourages manufacturers to engage with children and young people and inspire future British manufacturing talent. ....More
Alphabet remains on track for further growth
Leading Business Mobility provider has half a million company cars under management ...More
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jalopnik.com: Go for an icy test drive in BMW's i8 Hybrid sports car
I had a Road Runner, think I would have like this as much.
NHTSA Recall ID No. 13V041000 : Lotus
Dated: JAN 29, 2013 Lotus is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from December 1, 2006, through October 31, 2007. The oil cooler line may become detached from its fitting.
www.bimmerfile.com: BimmerFile ÔÇô cage news options & reviews that matter
FWIW: Bringing back as a permanent link
BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team: Marco Melandri undergoes successful surgery.
BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team factory rider Marco Melandri is confident that his right shoulder will not cause him any more problems. Over recent months, the Italian has been struggling with a lot of pain in his shoulder which particularly affected him when riding. After returning home from Australia, Marco underwent a small operation on Wednesday 27 February. The operation went well, without any major problems....More
worldsbk.com: Marco Melandri undergoes successful surgery
cycleworld.com: GOOGLE GLASS FOR MOTORCYCLESAre these forthcoming ÔÇ£digital glassesÔÇØ the ultimate navigation and heads-up display for motorcycle riders or just another threat to traffic safety?
backpacker.com: 2013 Back Packer Gear Guide
Motorcycling is back packing on two wheels. The 2013 Guide is out now, take a look to see what they talk about.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ  February 28, 2013Fueling the desire of motorcyclists who are restless to ride, BMW Motorrad USA is rolling out a national television advertising campaign  Feed Your Restless -- beginning March 1 ....More
New, globally unique function is part of the updated MINI Connected app ÔÇô Drivers collect points for skilful acceleration, gear changes, steering and braking ÔÇô Intuitive operation and familiar MINI presentation using the joystick and on-board monitor. ....More
From now on time will play an even more important role for BMW Motorsport in the DTM: The Belgian watch brand Ice-Watch will make its debut in the popular touring car series as Premium Partner of BMW Motorsport. For the 2013 season, Marco Wittmann (DE) of BMW Team MTEK will take to the track at the wheel of the Ice-Watch BMW M3 DTM, which bears the start number 21 and features a striking Ice-Watch design on the front, roof and rear of the car. ...More
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RECALL NHTSA Recall ID No. 13V0580000
Dated: FEB 22, 2013 Porsche is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 vehicles manufactured from March 7, 2012, through November 12, 2012, and equipped with a standard (not sport) exhaust system...
www.bimmerfile.com: BimmerFile ÔÇô cage news options & reviews that matter
FWIW
Dear BMW,
Unfortunately I will have to decline your invitation, but thank you very much for asking. Maybe are reader could attend and report back to us.
This week, a major new television advertising campaign has been launched in the USA, with a variety of BMW motorcycles starring in the action. Filmed to express the thrill and camaraderie that comes from riding, the national TV ads will premier on 1 March and air nationally until early June ....More
The launch of the new R 1200 GS has whetted the appetite of many adventure travel enthusiasts, who will be eagerly awaiting the latest version of this iconic model line to arrive in their local BMW Motorrad dealer in time for the New Season Start. By this time though, adventurer Miquel Silvestre will already be en route to Samarkland, in the heart of central Asia, on the new boxer. ...More
As the One World. One R 1200 GS series of once-in-a-lifetime motorcycle tours continues to entertain and inspire us, BMW Motorrad has an exclusive interview with Eric Massiet du Biest, the French adventure traveller responsible for helping the five lucky Ride of your Life winners live their motorcycling dreams from the saddle of the all-new travel enduro ....More
In the five years since the launch of the R 32, BMW had established itself as a manufacturer of quality touring motorcycles. They were well engineered, reliable and, on the racetrack, they were more than capable of finishing in the winnerÔÇÖs circle. It was now time to consolidate this success with a more diverse model line-up. ...More
Woodcliff Lake, NJ  March 1, 2013 The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported February sales of 25,613 vehicles, a decrease of 2.2 percent from the 26,184 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. ....More
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www.bimmerfile.com: BimmerFile ÔÇô cage news options & reviews that matter
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents the world debut of Wraith, the most powerful and dynamic Rolls-Royce in history. At its heart lie hallmark Rolls-Royce attributes of luxury, refinement and hand-craftsmanship, but the new model from the worldÔÇÖs pinnacle super-luxury marque also presents a unique character defined by power, style and drama. With just a hint of the noir. ...More
FWIW ÔÇô Maybe, but I am thinking I might look for at a drop top RR.
A good month and a half after winning the Rally Dakar, MINI is launching the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Racing Dakar Winner 2013 ÔÇô in a seriously limited edition. ....More
BMW Group Canada (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported monthly sales of 2,293 units in February 2013, up 5.1 per cent compared to February 2012. ...More
Munich. Ulrich Knieps has assumed an additional role as head of BMW Group Classic, effective 1 March 2013. Knieps now heads the companyÔÇÖs competence centre for BMW Group and brand history in addition to the central department for Product, Technology and Sports Communications. BMW Group Classic had been managed since 2007 by Karl Baumer, who retired at the end of January 2013. ....More
The BMW i3 Concept Coupe celebrates its European premiere in Geneva, while the BMW i8 Concept Spyder also makes an appearance. These two concept models reflect the current status of the ongoing development process and illustrate the potential breadth of an extended BMW i portfolio. At the same time they show how high-performance, zero-emission mobility is also able to deliver when it comes to emotional excitement and sheer appeal. Both models are built around BMW eDrive technology, which will provide a unique driving experience in all future BMW electric and plug-in hybrid models. These BMW eDrive powertrains, comprising the electric motor, lithium-ion battery and intelligent powertrain management, form the core of all BMW i models. ...More
The BMW M3 DTM that won the 1987 German Touring Car Championship and the BMW M1 Procar racer from 1980 are back in action on the track ÔÇô Historic racing cars will be entered as ÔÇ£race taxisÔÇØ ÔÇô Debut scheduled for the curtain-raiser to the new season at the Hockenheimring on 4/5 May 2013.Hockenheimring. ....More
Extensive programme at the Villa dÔÇÖEste and Villa Erba +++ Third motorcycle Concorso +++ Special ÔÇ£90 years of BMW MotorradÔÇØ and ÔÇ£60 years of CorvetteÔÇØ exhibitions +++ Auction held by RM Auctions. ...More
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mclaren.com: The McLaren P1 borne out of 50 years of racing experience
ktm.com: KTM at the International Geneva Motor Show
bloomberg.com: BMW shrugs off Europe drop as Daimler seeks more capacity
www.bimmerfile.com: BimmerFile ÔÇô cage news options & reviews that matter
cycleworld.com: AMA SBK Yamaha unveils new livery for 2013
The bike and riders look good too
On the Street
sportrider.com: American Suzuki Motor Corp to become Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court approves Chapter 11 restructuring plan that involves closure of struggling automotive sales division and ÔÇ£sellingÔÇØ the motorcycle/ATV/marine division to newly created Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
visordown.com: Aprilia to join the 250 battle
FWIW: So will BMW every join the 250/500 ranks with a cut down RR engine variant?
RECALL : Transport Canada Recall # 2013073 BMW R1200GS 2013
On certain motorcycles, the threaded plugs which secures the front fork tubes to the upper triple clamp may loosen over time. This could allow a fork tube to detach, which could result in a sudden loss of steering...
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autoblog.com: Watch the jaws of life tear apart a Tesla Model S
e cars present new issues for fire fighters
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The engine of this extraordinary motorcycle is the work of independent engineer H L 'Bert' Fruin of Hillingdon, Middlesex, who constructed a series of technically interesting 'specials' in the 1950s and 1960s, including a DOHC 125cc twin-cylinder racer and a modular V4/V8 engine. Proprietor of H L Fruin Motorcycles in Hillingdon, Bert began competing on his Italian Demm-based 50cc two-stroke Dartela racers in the late 1950s and rode them at the Isle of Man TT in 1962 and 1963, retiring on both occasions. The first Fruin-built 200cc Four was featured in The Motor Cycle magazine (3rd May 1962 edition, copy on file), which also revealed his plans for future multi-cylinder 'strokers'.
Designed to accommodate Demm top-ends and later NSU Quickly components, Bert's four-cylinder engine was sold in kit form as a crankcase and set of crankshaft blueprints at a cost in 1961 of ?ú16. The engine of the machine offered here was built by engineer Mike Smith of Waltham Abbey, Essex around 1965 and uses NSU cylinders and heads. It was fitted with Wal Philips fuel injectors initially and then Dell'Orto carburettors. Smith housed the Fruin engine in an MV Agusta rolling chassis fitted with Royal Enfield forks and Gilera hubs. Power reached the ground via a Villiers four-speed close-ratio gearbox. Motor Cycling magazine featured Smith's Fruin Four in its 24th July 1965 edition (copy available). The Fruin proved un-competitive in 250 class so Smith used it mainly for sprinting.
At some time in the 1980s Mike Smith sold the Fruin to Kevin Burton, who in turn passed it on to Tony Milk of New Costessey, Norfolk. In 1999 Mark Turner of Track & Classics, Stockport bought the bike from Tony Milk who had advertised it for sale in Old Bike Mart (copy on file). It is understood that the Fruin was run but never raced by Milk. Mark Turner made a new fuel tank and re-commissioned the Fruin, which was run at his shop in Stockport and again at a classic motorcycle event at Elvington Air Museum (see correspondence on file). While in Mark Turner's ownership the Fruin was the subject of an article in Classic Bike Guide (March 2000 edition, copy available).
Turner then sold the Fruin to a collector, from whom it was purchased by the current vendor and restored in 2009. Refurbishment included rebuilding the engine and gearbox, repainting the frame and fuel tank, re-plating the brightwork, overhauling the carburettors and float bowls, and rebuilding the wheels. The electrics remain original and un-restored. Following its restoration the Fruin was displayed on the Carole Nash stand at the NEC, Birmingham and also at the Stafford Show.
Estimate:
?ú8,000 - 10,000
Ôé¼9,600 - 12,000
US$ 12,000 - 16,000
On BMW S1000RRs? liberty-racing.com speedweek.de: Effenbert Liberty: In return threatens trouble
Analysis by speedweek.de: Effenbert: meglomania and lack of a business plan
crash.net: Silverstone WSBK round gets green light
telegraph.co.uk: Pastor Maldonado's plight highlights the perils of Formula Ones pay drivers
FWIW: Maldonado points to both the financial and skill/safety perils
motosprint.it: Polini Maxi Scooter Trophy
FWIW: If they build it someone will race it.
asphaltandrubber.com: AMA homologates 636cc 2013 Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R Supersport
FWIW: Another example why BMW is apprehensive about spending money in the flixibleflyer AMA ProRacing series motorcycle-usa.com: Kawasaki's press release
Some people enjoy riding their bikes to work, others save them for weekend leisure activites, but one BMW owner canÔÇÖt bear to be parted with his new HP4 for a single day, so he keeps it in his work office, close to his desk and close to his heart ....More
Every year, motoring enthusiasts flock to Italy for the Concorso dÔÇÖEleganza Villa dÔÇÖEste in Cernobbio. Held near the shores of Lake Como and considered to be EuropeÔÇÖs most prestigious classic automotive event, the finest vehicles from around the world are proudly displayed and admired by an international panel of judges. For the third year in succession, motorcycles will play an important part in* ...More
s one of the early founders of motorcycling, BMW has experienced much success during its 90 years of motorcycle production. Much of it has come with incredible motorcycle designs that paved the way for the German brandÔÇÖs future. BMW has also become a byword for leading technological design that has set standards for others to follow. But at the same time, 90 years of activity has seen BMW deal ... ....More
From the moment BMW unveiled the 1923 R 32 ÔÇô the first official BMW-branded motorcycle ÔÇô BMW engineers and designers were committed to improving the motorcycle breed. Not just to keep pace with increasing competition, but in order to deliver the perfect motorcycle ÔÇô a working culture still employed by BMW Motorrad today. So when problems did surface, BMW was quick to apply technical thought and . ...More
ust as they did prior to the successful 2012 season, the BMW drivers have launched the final phase of preparations ahead of this yearÔÇÖs season-opener in Hockenheim (DE) with a fitness week in Viareggio (IT). Under the guidance of Riccardo Ceccarelli (IT) and his Formula Medicine team, Augusto Farfus (BR), Timo Glock (DE), Joey Hand (US), Andy Priaulx (GB), DTM champion Bruno Spengler (CA), Martin Tomczyk (DE), Dirk Werner (DE), Marco Wittmann (DE), and test and development driver Maxime Martin (BE) all underwent an extensive programme, during which they worked on their mental strength and received valuable nutritional advice. BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt also visited the fitness camp for two days and took part in some of the training activities. ....More
BMW Group reports best February sales ever : 133,630 vehicles delivered, an increase of 4.7% +++ Year-to-date sales climb 7.1% to 256.929 vehicles +++ Robertson: We intend to continue the positive development +++ ...More
MINI Plant Oxford celebrates 100 years of production ÔÇô Its first car, a Bullnose Morris Oxford, was produced on 28 March 1913 just metres from todayÔÇÖs facility ÔÇô Total car production to date stands at 11,655,000 and counting ÔÇô Over 2,250,000 MINIs built so far, plus 602,187 classic Minis manufactured at Plant Oxford ÔÇô Plant Oxford is the oldest mass-production car plant in the UK and the third oldest in the world, seeing continuous production since 1913 ÔÇô 13 car brands have been produced at Plant Oxford in 100 years. ....More
The bicycle is no longer merely a means of transportation, it is also a lifestyle and fashion accessory. With its newest folding bike, MINI is bringing a splash of colour to the streets and showcasing a fascinating and versatile new way to get around. The eye-catching lime punch-coloured folding bike guarantees confidently stylish visibility on the roads. ...More
BMW History and Heritage on four wheels and two on display from May ÔÇô November, 2013 ....More
New York. The BMW Group continues diversifying its portfolio of innovative mobility services under the brand BMW i. The companyÔÇÖs venture capital entity, BMW i Ventures, is announcing a new investment in the mobile technology company Life360. This will increase the number of mobility services providers which already includes MyCityWay, Park@MyHouse, Chargepoint and Embark. The BMW i Ventures investment in Life360 will expand the companyÔÇÖs efforts to increase freedom and safety of mobility for individuals and families. ...More
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bloomberg.com: BMW regains sales lead from Audi as Mercedes falls behind
www.bimmerfile.com: BimmerFile ÔÇô cage news options & reviews that matter
FWIW
TED: Ron Finley: A guerilla gardener in South Central LA
Spring is getting near and in the spring a young man's fancy turns to...
DOWNLOAD: The March issue of Dunlop Download magazine is here and this special issue is about the 2013 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season. You'll find information about the upcoming season, including close-up looks at the fastest riders and machines for 2013 and the efforts they are putting forth to claim a championship.
supercross.com: Round 10 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series 2013 Daytona Supercorss by Honda
Joey Hand juggles DTM preparations and the ALMS season-opener ÔÇô Bruno Spengler visits the Geneva Motor Show. ...More
[url=http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=R&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=13V063000&refurl=rss]NHTSB Recall No. 120V63000[/url
Dated: FEB 25, 2013 US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera, one 1997 BMW 750IL, and two 1986 BMW 635 CSI vehicles for failing to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors." Whil...
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VIDEO: 1910 Mercedes-Benz Prinz Heinrich Starting at Amelia Island
motorsportsnewswire.com: KTM at the International Geneva Motor Show ÔÇô world premier of the new KTM X Bow GT
VIDEO: Bentley Continental GT: SKI Joring
FWIW: Back in the day with less equipment we called this bumper skiing
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FWIW
technologyreview.com: The ingenious engineering trick that makes Amazon menus useable
VIDEO: Facebook CIA Project: The Onion News Network
FWIW: A quick scan of these will refresh the F1 fan's memory but that is about it. The new TV provider appears to be targeting a rookie viewer rather than long term F1 fans. One hopes that the practice and race coverage commentary does not stay dumb down too.
FWIW: Untangling BMW, Husqvarna and others continues:
The BMW Group is realigning its motorcycle business area and will, in the future, concentrate on expanding the BMW Motorrad brand. For this reason, Husqvarna Motorcycles has been sold to Pierer Industrie AG. This restructuring also has a knock-on effect on partner Speedbrain, with whom the BMW Group has cooperated very successfully in the field of motorcycle racing since 2006. BMW Motorrad and Speedbrain have, by mutual consent, terminated the existing contract with immediate effect. ....More
Successful venture into a new market segment ÔÇô First MINI with four doors, a large tailgate, up to five seats and optional all-wheel drive wins over additional target groups around the world. ...More
The 2013 season of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) is not the only thing kicking off at the 12 Hours of Sebring (US) this weekend. The race also marks the start of a new era in BMW MotorsportÔÇÖs programme in North America: This is the first time BMW Team RLL will line up against opposition in the GT class with the newly developed BMW Z4 GTE. ....More
New version of MINI Product Communications online media service now available ÔÇô Multimedia application for PC and tablet users updated to include all the facts on the MINI John Cooper Works Paceman. ...More
NHTSB Recall No. 120V63000
Dated: FEB 25, 2013 US Specs is recalling one 2002 Porsche Carrera, one 1997 BMW 750IL, and two 1986 BMW 635 CSI vehicles for failing to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors." Whil...
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FWIW
TED: Dan Pallotta: The way we think about charity is dead wrong
and I've wondered when someone would ask.
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