VIDEO> Wangan Midnight Tokyo Highway
Mannnnn… following up on the cool video that 0-60 Magazine‘s Alex Bernstein shot of Nakai san‘s Rauh Welt Porsches cruising through the highways of Japan, one of the friends of the MotorMavens Crew, fellow Japanophile Edwin Reyes from NYC sent me this video through our Facebook page.
For those who haven’t heard of the Wangan Midnight comic book in Japan, it stars a certain S30 240Z and tells exciting stories of Japanese highway (wangan) battles with other high speed streetcars. I think the Wangan Midnight live action movie looks pretty cool – in fact, I can’t wait to see the entire thing. Hopefully someone has a torrent of it somewhere that they’d like to share? If you have it, let me know please!
It’s too bad NBC Universal didn’t make their Fast&Furious movies into something more like this. Movies like this would be off the hook! In fact, watching this makes me want to drive a black JZA70 or JZA80 Supra on the highway right nowwwwww!!! Or a Porsche GT3RS! Or an R34 Skyline GT-R V-Spec… Or… (What else?)
:: Antonio Alvendia
VIDEO> Rauh Welt Porsches on Japan Streets!
I just posted up a Papercuts story about 0-60 Magazine’s newest issue, which includes a feature on Nakai san and his Rauh Welt Porsches and on one of my favorite cars of all time – the AE86 Corolla GT-S, but I thought I should just go ahead and post this video as well! This video features clips from 0-60′s photo shoot in Japan, and some handheld video footage so that you can hear the Rauh Welt Porsche 911′s AMAZING exhaust note as it cruises through Japanese city streets and freeways!
Enjoy!
:: Antonio Alvendia
PAPERCUTS> AE86 & Rauh Welt in 0-60 Mag
It might have been just a kewinkydink, but since we all celebrated Hachiroku Day, August 6th, this past Friday... I thought it would be cool to point out that O-60 Magazine just printed an in depth article about the AE86 this month, in their column, The Sixty.
0-60 knows that most die hard AE86 owners are pretty crazy about their cars, so they were looking for a super clean AE86 to shoot for this month's feature. They apparently heard that I had some pretty clean AE86s in my collection, and called me up to ask if they would be able to do a photo shoot with one of my cars. Actually, they were asking if I'd be willing to shoot one of my cars for the magazine... of course! Everything was all going to be good, until we spoke further, and I realized that they were actually looking for a bone stock AE86 Corolla GT-S. Ummm... oops. None of my cars are bone stock. Read more...
WEBMINING> Porsche 356… with Audi V8?!
As I spent most of my time starring at thread pictures and scratching my head as to how he was going to accomplish this, it soon became evident that the person behind the build truly has a pair of big bullocks. Grant or "Crafty" as he is commonly known as on the forums, is currently residing in Hong Kong. I can't say I've seen anyone even attempt something of this magnitude stateside. I was truly amazed by how extensive this project was turning out. No surface on the car was left untouched, as Mr. Grant took on everything himself - from the widening of the shell in order to incorporate the massive V8, to the custom intake ducts that now take the place of the rear quarter windows. Read more...
SHOPAHOLIC> GMG Racing Open House
For you MotorMavens readers out there who aren't familiar with GMG (a Porsche tuning company), here's a little info. Founded in 2001 by James Sofronas and Fabryce Kutyba, GMG quickly rose up in the ranks as a premier tuning facility through racing in the SCCA World Challenge GT Series and ALMS race series. The guys were able to draw on their extensive racing background (with knowledge gained through painstaking R&D) to bring racing performance to their customers' street cars. GMG's primary focus is Porsches, but their shop doesn't shy away from Ferraris, Audis and Volkswagens - they cater to all German/Italian automobiles. Read more...
WEBMINING> The Porsche GT3R Hybrid
While researching this new GT3R Hybrid, I stumbled upon some interesting facts. For example, this isn’t the first time that Porsche has toyed with "green" technology. Over a hundred years ago, Porsche's founder (Ferdinand Porsche), began his automotive career by making electric hubs that were later put into the wheels of horse carriages. In 1900, Porsche unveiled his hub motor design at the World’s Fair in Paris. Most people thought at the time that an electric driven carriage would be an epic fail. (But they didn't say it in those exact words, LOL) Little did they know that what Mr. Porsche was doing would become a precursor to another "green" technology in a century or so. Read more...
CARSPOTTING> AE Performance Porsche GT3 RS
By now you're probably thinking, "Enough already, dude, what's up with the sexy car?" You may even be asking where I got the plane for this shot. Well, this picture was totally a fluke. While wandering aimlessly around AE Performance's shop, which is located at the Chino private air field, we happened to stumble upon this nice gentleman's immaculate 1939 Lockheed executive twin prop plane. In the early 1940s, this was the plane of choice for shuttling around the ultra wealthy. Over 70 years later, it makes for an amazing shot, doesn't it?
The Porsche GT3 is no slouch. It's the embodiment of the whole "rear-engined sports car" vibe. Just climbing into one evokes a Zen-like feeling of oneness with the road. For me, what makes a Porsche so great (I mean, besides those sexy hips it calls fenders) is the tone the engine produces at idle or wide open throttle - siiiick. It's everything from the undeniable racing pedigree to the fact that Porsche actually took out a patent on the 911 body style. Need I say more?
Straight out of the box, the GT3 is ready to conquer any track you throw at it. But for some people, that's just not enough. This particular Porsche is for those people. For them, Porsche decided to put the GT3 on a strict diet regimen to shed some unnecessary weight - a mere 44lbs. "What good is that," you say? Let me tell you - it makes a huge difference. So when I heard that the guys at AE Performance had a rare white Euro-spec 2007 Porsche GT3 RS sitting at their shop, I just had to check it out! Read more...
WEBMINING> Wagenwerks and DubKorps AWOL Teaser
AWOL – The Teaser from wagenwerks on Vimeo.
First off, I recently realized something. Just because I may have seen a video, it doesn’t mean everyone else has. This being said, my New Year’s Resolution will be to pass on video links to every bad ass video I have seen.
So, I bring you a Wagenwerks and DubKorps video from 3 months back. This was the first time I had heard of DubKorps, so you Euro guys hold your horses!! I am incredibly familiar with the Wagenwerks videos and the guys who make them. Hey! They are from my home state of Virginia! After watching this video I suggest you check out their website Wagenwerks.net (their DVD is beast by the way) then hop on their Vimeo channel and watch everything you have not yet seen.
These guys produce legit videos. Their film and editing style are top notch in my opinion. If anyone actually could muster up the ability to claim their videos suck and back it up with a proper argument, send an email my way! I have a knuckle sandwich my mom made me a few years ago that has been waiting to be gobbled up. HAHA!!!
And one more thing… Our readers will begin to learn a few things about me… I don’t just stick to one car scene, I love them all (in a manly kind of way). While I do have a passion for rotaries, I follow the Euro, Honda, and Toyota scenes just as much. I even ride a fixed gear bike, (that would be a fixie for those of you want to call it that!) Bet you might never have guessed that!
(In case you are wondering: First song: Hollywood Undead_ City , Second song: Innerpartysystem_ Don’t Stop ) Both of which are amazing bands.
:: Scottie Scheetz
CARSPOTTING>Porsche 718/8 W-RS Spyder
In my previous post about Porsche’s new Boxster Spyder you may have noticed that this was the car that greeted me as I entered the hallway of the Porsche gallery. I didn’t include it as a part of the other story because I was so enamored with this beautiful machine, I wanted to allow it a brief moment in the spotlight – alone.
In the early 60′s, rules governing sports cars were modified and automakers had to follow suit. Of course if you ask me, I don’t need rules to make me modify a car! Haha. The frame of the earlier 718 RKS was widened, the wheelbase lengthened and the rear swing axle suspension was replaced with the more modern wishbone. In doing this Porsche created the RS 60 and 61. The beauty above is the open air version of the 718 RS 60, 61. The 718 W-RS.
One of my favorite things about this particular car is that in 1963, Edgar Barth won the European Hill climb with the W-RS. Not only is this car outstandingly sick looking, it has a serious race winning history as well. Today, Barth’s 240bhp modified 718 W-RS wouldn’t beat anyone racing up Pikes Peak , but DAMN you’d look good going up, down and around it. I’m thinking more like a road trip to Vegas. Maybe with the weather like it is right now, I should be driving down the New Zealand coast where it’s summer. Mmmmm warm weather…..
Where would you like to be driving right now? Let me know.
:: Travis Hodges
COVERAGE> San Francisco Auto Show 2009
Since the FD wasn't back in San Francisco yet, I figured it would be a good chance to debut my RHD S14 and display it at this week-long show so I could show some love to my sponsors. Read more...
WEBMINING> Gulf Blue Porsche 911 Carrera
I wish I had an extra $69K laying around. If I did, I’d be inclined to pick up this gorgeous 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera, which is the only “big bumpered” Carrera I’ve ever seen that made me drool with this much intensity. Wait. Do people drool with intensity? Maybe salivate is a better word.
I can just imagine myself rocking my favorite Kangol, aviator glasses and a Steve McQueen replica Gulf racing jacket (the white leather one, of course) and driving this car up and down the California coast. If it were in a movie, I feel like California Dreamin by The Mamas and the Papas would be playing as I drove off into the sunset… but if I were actually driving this car, most likely I’d just be listening to the sweet sounds of the finely tuned carburetors screaming, with both windows down so that the crisp ocean breeze could blow into the cockpit. (more…)
CARSPOTTING> Porsche Boxster Spyder
WEBMINING> 480hp Porsche 911 GT3R
What do you get if you take one of the most capable cars and keep refining it and refining it? The answer is sophisticated and beautiful. The Porsche 911 GT3R. 480 horsepower in a car that weighs only 2646 lbs. WANT.
:: Antonio Alvendia
WEBMINING> Nurburgring Nordschleife Battle!
Yesterday I was talking to our web designer Andy Sapp on the phone about some MotorMavens site updates we’re planning, and the topic of driving events came up. Andy just got his driving fix handled this past weekend by bringing his E46 BMW drift car to the DMGGASD private event in Tennessee (videos to come soon!), but lately I’ve been trying to get some extra parts and money together so I can get my empty AE86 shell back together and take it to the track. I’m not talking about my AE86 street car; I’m referring to a completely virgin red AE86 hatchback rolling chassis that I’ve owned and had in storage for years. Well, it was a complete car until I stripped it and removed the engine and transmission (good job, dummy!), and it’s been sitting for wayyyyy too long so I need to re-assemble it.
So after we were talking, I began thinking about how I wanted to drive Nurburgring Nordschleife really bad when I visited the track for the first time last year… but I couldn’t because I was extremely busy with our two month, four country automotive photography mission, capturing content for Speedhunters when I was still working on building up the SH site with Mr. Chong from EA Games.
Doing a little webmining this morning, I found this really cool video from Race-media.tv of a Dodge Viper battling it out with a Porsche 911 GT3 RS Cup at Nurburgring’s amazing Nordschleife course.
Which one would you rather drive? I’ve driven a few Dodge Vipers on the racetrack before, and I also got the opportunity to test drive a Porsche GT2 last year when I was at Porsche Leipzig. For me, the answer is the Porsche. No questions asked. However, I have some friends who are just huge fans of massive, front engined, big horsepower monsters like the Viper.
I wonder which car our readers would prefer? The raw power and brute force of the Viper? Or the aggressive finesse of a Porsche?
:: Antonio Alvendia
COVERAGE> Kop Hill Hillclimb 2009
On the 26th and 27th of September, organisers decided to do a Kop Hill Commemorative Run to bring the sounds and sights and even smells (mmm, Castrol R) back to Kop Hill again. Over 250 cars and bikes were there, ranging in age from the 1900s right up to 1980s and even some very special modern cars. Read more...
WEBMINING> VW Vanagons at Hockenheimring
While I spend most of my free time dreaming about JDM minivans, I often find myself wanting a sport-tuned German kid hauler. Germany seems to have an abundance of Porsche-powered VW Vanagons out there, and the Deutschlanders just love to take these hopped-up vans to the track. Here we have a vid of a blue VW T3 Vanagon tearing it up around the famed Hockenheimring.
While it’s hard to pick a favorite van, the campervan seen at the 0:40 mark is my favorite just because it’s so absurd. Anyone out there want to help my dreams come true by setting up a Vanagon vs. Estima race?
::Justin Kaehler
CENTERSTAGE> EVOMS Porsche 911 GT750
Since they worked on the development of this particular 996, EVOMS has also launched a standardized package for the 997, dubbed the EVT700, that can be seen here in addition to their own intelligent tuning services. However, for 996 fans around the world, it is easy to see why the earlier variant of the 911 Turbo remains so popular. Read more...
PAPERCUTS> Before Rauh Welt, it was ROUGH WORLD.
Many of you might roll your eyes after reading that statement... but seriously, if it weren't for BM and my other favorite Japanese mags, the only publications my friends and I would have been able to flip through all these years would be the American "import car" magazines, which always featured bright colored, custom stereo-with-neon, non functional rollcage-having, widebody-without-wide-wheels showcars on their covers. (The US magazines have improved a little bit since then... but just try to dig up an old import magazine from 1997 and you'll know what I'm talking about.)
Anyway, this particular AE86 special issue of BM is one of my favorite magazines in existence because of a feature on the legendary AE86 crew, Rough World. Of course, I couldn't read the text, but what was presented to me in color photographs really messed my head up. I didn't even know what it was at first; I just thought the cars looked so cool. At that point, I hadn't even figured out it was because of the perfect blend of camber, stretched tires, wide wheels, and slam that made the cars look so cool. Read more...
SHOPAHOLIC> The Vintage Racers of Racecraft
VIDEO> Porsche Clash at Spa Francorchamps
PORSCHE SPA 2009 from Clashproduction on Vimeo.
Live and direct, MotorMavens brings it to you first! Here’s the newest video from Stephane Benini and friends at Clash Production in France… amazing footage from the legendary Belgian Formula 1 track, Spa Francorchamps, featuring the amazing 997 Porsche GT3 RSR of Lammertink Racing & Engineering.
Props to the expert eyes and lenses of Clash Production for another outstanding video, and thanks to Stephane for letting us be the first to break the news!
::Motor Mavens
