iRacing at Autosport International Show in January

iRacing will be making an appearance at the Birmingham NEC for the Autosport International show on January 14-15, 2012, with two state-of-the-art VRX simulators loaded with all the current cars for anyone to try out.

In addition to the full car list, the simulators will also offer the full range of 50 tracks, from Spa-Francorchamps to Brands Hatch. Kevin Bobbitt of iRacing.com said: “We are looking forward to showcasing our motorsport simulators at Autosport International and inviting visitors to drive a few laps.”

Autosport International is a motorsport show with live demonstrations and appearances from stars including F1′s Paul Di Resta, along with displays of a variety of motorsport vehicles. Tickets cost £30 for adults, with children £19.50 (Under fives go free). For more info contact 0844-5811420 or visit www.autosportinternational.com

ORD at the NHRA Nationals

Greetings ORD fans around the world! Time for a little show and tell at this years BIR Lucas Oil Full Throttle NHRA Nationals in Brainerd Minnesota two weeks ago!

This is the motorsports event of the year in the great north woods, and one I always attend with my trusty and knowledgeable sidekick “Cuda500″ (a.k.a. Warren). Rather than give you a boring list of names of winners and losers from a sport that I realize many of you have no knowledge of, I’ll just caption the following pictures for you.

Well, I hope I wasn’t too brief and that you all enjoyed the pictures. I can’t show you what happened each every night after the races, but drinking adult beverages was high on the list.

Full Throttle,

GTDon

OnlineRaceDriver goes ‘Back to the 50’s’

Once again it was, “Back to the 50’s” this past weekend at the MSRA “Back to the 50’s” 37^th annual car show in St. Paul Minnesota. With 11,795 cars on display only the State fairgrounds is large enough to handle this record setting outdoor summer event. In fact, this is the largest 3 day rod and custom car show in the world! 125,000 spectators were drawn in this year. The only restriction to be in the show, is to have a 1964 or older car.

My own entry is a candy apple green 1955 Chevy, originally purchased new by my grandfather in 1955. With 120,000 original miles on its 265cid V8, and 3-speed manual transmission, it still glides over bumps like it has four over inflated inner tubes, rather than tires. Driving the old car is a real step back in time as it has no power brakes or steering. Everything happens in a kind of ‘take your time’ slow motion whether turning or braking. Acceleration provided by its approximate 165hp small block V8 is merely average in these modern times, but was actually above average in 1955. Maybe that’s why seat belts were only an option. Gas mileage for the first OHV V8 Chevy ever produced, is about 25mpg on the highway thanks in part to a manual overdrive, and not a single pollution control device. Not bad for a 3600lb car that turned 55 years old this year!

Without further ado, I give you, “Back to the 50’s!”

Full throttle!

GTDon

ORD meets Midwest MOPARs in Minnesota

Greetings all you lovers of motorsports, I bring you coverage of the, “26th Annual Midwest Mopars in the Park National Car Show & Swap Meet” from Farmington Minnesota. This is the largest car show dedicated to MOPARs in the Midwest, with nearly 2,000 Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge/AMC cars on display!

Such MOPAR racing notables as, “Akron” Arlen Vanke, “Miss Mighty Mopar” Judy Lilly, and the, “Hawaiian” Roland Leong were on hand with replica’s of their legendary race cars for handshakes and autographs. An actual Sox & Martin Championship winning 1968 Hemi Super Stock Barracuda was present as well.

It was a bit of a soggy weekend two weekends ago, but well worth the drive in a black 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT/8. Enjoy the pics of what many believe to be the pinnacle of American Muscle Cars in all their glory.

Full Throttle,

GTDon

Hot Rod and bike shows in the Midwest

It’s Spring here in the upper Midwest, but don’t let the calendar fool you. In Minnesota, the state I hail from, the earliest Spring car shows are held indoors due to the inclement weather this time of year. Temps are only in the 50’s (teens Celsius) at best usually, and snow at the worst. It is at this time of the year that we occasionally look forward to visiting two annual motorsports shows unrelated to each other, but usually on the same weekend and in the same nearby city.

The first would be this year’s, “54th Annual GSTA Rod & Kustom Spectacular.” The GSTA (Gopher State Timing Association) is Minnesota’s oldest car enthusiast organization associated with hot rods, and drag racing in the state. They began in 1954 promoting hot rods and organized drag meets. It’s not the most popular show during the year, but it is the most venerated being the original, that could rightly say they started it all in this state.

The atmosphere was its usual sedate and luxurious self, like waking up after a long hibernation to beautifully wrapped sparkling Christmas presents all around you. If you’re like me, and on a working mans wage, it’s all just so much “unobtanium.” Like looking at the gorgeous model you have no business thinking about, –she’s out of your league. Still it was nice to look, and get the Spring car juices flowing again for another great year in motorsports.

The other annual venue was of the two-wheeled variety. Not just any bike show, a serious hardcore biker show, but with a family friendly face. The, “23rd Annual Donnie Smith Bike Show” in St. Paul, Minnesota, was for a weekend the Mecca for Midwest bikers.

Donnie Smith is a legend among bike builders with a 30 year career, and clientele that stretches around the world. Smith was inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame in 1995, with 3 of his famous bikes on display at the Sturgis museum. A drag racer back in the early 70’s, Smith listened to his accountant one day, who told him his skill at building custom bikes was greater than his skill at drag racing, so, Donnie made the switch, and the rest is history.

The Donnie Smith show was packed with thousands of biker fans , dozens of venders, and a few club chapters not the least of which was the Minnesota chapter of the, “Hell’s Angels.” Adult beverages were as plentiful as the leather clad biker chics, a somewhat unusual activity at more demure shows.

The atmosphere was calm and peaceful in the same way rival immortals behave on neutral holy ground, tense but restrained. A remarkable and stunning “Bettie Page” lookalike was also on display for pictures too.

The bikes were mind blowing, and are starting to reach a level in some cases akin to cartoon art, or maybe more dignified comic book art. Many of these super hero creations are so extreme and pristine, the last thing you think of doing with them is going for a ride on one!

Both shows were good ‘warmer uppers’ on this cool March weekend in the land of 10,000 lakes, and we will no doubt return next year for more.

Full Throttle,

GTDon