Red Bull Formula 1 Team visit New York City

Red Bull Racing just love to do unique displays around the world using their Formula 1 cars, which they call show runs.

They have done these show runs in places like Berlin, Australia, Seoul, Kiev, Moscow and Austin in the lead up to the Texas GP track opening. They even have a full support team which travels to these events which brings the Showcar to these event.
This separate squad was established in 2005 to take a full-spec Formula One car to places and countries where there are no races, to give them a taste of F1. From South Africa to Russia, from Japan to Jamaica, the team’s drivers have been providing the fastest street entertainment on the planet ever since.

So with the Grand Prix of America planned in the next few years to be held in New York, it was due to be held this year but has been postponed until 2014, Red Bull Racing thought it would be good the take Red Bull Running F1 Showcar to the East Coast.

Driven by Red Bull ambassador David Coulthard, the RB7 championship-winning car visited New York and drove through Liberty State Park, the Lincoln Tunnel and the streets of the race course, which winds through both Weehawken and West New York.

The next day, the car toured Liberty State Park, showcasing the spectacular views of the New York City skyline as well as the Statue of Liberty. Feeling ever so patriotic, the car ‘sang’ the Star Spangled Banner as the sun was setting.

Moving on to a link between New York and New Jersey, the car made an overnight drive in the Lincoln Tunnel. Reaching staggering speeds, it no doubt set the record for fastest commute from NYC to New Jersey. Wrapping up the car’s American vacation, it became the first Formula One car to lay rubber on the Grand Prix of America streets, bringing residents out of their homes to catch the historic sight.

For more photos and videos from the demonstration follow the jump

Ken Block has new office and new team name, introducing Hoonigan Racing Division

Ken Blocks Hoonigan Racing Division HQ

More images and Full Press Release after the jump

Social Media and the Automotive Industry

It is great to see so many Car Companies getting behind and using social media. Some of the numbers of followers and users that they are getting are very impressive.

To see some of the recent accomplishments check out the videos below.

Loved the TVR from the movie Swordfish? Now you can own one.

2003 TVR Tuscan MkI Targa Convertible Swordfish movie showcar

If you have ever seen the movie Swordfish then there are a couple of scenes that stand out, the first would be Hallie Berry and the sunbathing scene and the second one being the car chase scene with John Travolta and Hugh Jackman and the awesome TVR Tuscan Targa Convertible.

So when I saw that one had come up for auction recently it was very surprising.

To find out out more follow the jump

Is this the new VF Holden Commodore SS ?

We have recently seen the release of the first images of the new VF Holden Commodore, which goes on sale later this year.

But so far we have really only seen images of the new Calais and Sportswagon.

So it was a surprise to find what looks like the new SS model parked by the side of the road in suburban Melbourne.

All the badges except for the front Holden badge were covered up, so hard to tell which model it may have been.

But the rear wing, SSV Redline wheels  and quad tail pipes are all give aways that this is actually the new VF SS Commodore.

It was very hard to see inside the car and from what I could see the interior was all covered with material

After spending 5 minutes having a good look over all of the car I have got to say that this is the sexiest Holden ever.

I can not wait to see and drive the full range, only a few months to wait, just need a release date now so I can start counting the sleeps.

2013 V8 Supercar Teams & Drivers Social Media Guide

This year is the biggest ever year in V8 Supercars history, there are lots of new teams, sponsors, cars and drivers in the championship.

It can be hard to now to keep up with the latest news from our favorite teams and drivers especially with the introduction of social media.

So I have taken it upon myself to create a guide to all the different teams and drivers that have or are using a online/social media presence.

Below you will find the Facebook pages, Websites, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram  accounts for almost all the drivers and teams in this years championship. All the links can be clicked on and will take you straight to the appropriate page.

Feel free to pass this post onto your friends that may be also interested.

Pics of drivers and cars to come after the V8 Supercar Test day on the 16th of February

Erebus Motorsport Announce new sponsor for Tim Slade’s V8 Supercar

Exciting news for Erebus Motorsport this morning with the announcement that Heavy Haulage Australia will be the naming rights sponsor of Tim Slade’s #47 Mercedes Benz AMG V8 Supercar.

To some people the name Heavy Haulage Australia (or HHA) may sound familiar already ? The reason for that is John Kelly the owner of HHAis already well know to a lot of Australian’s as it is Kelly’s company that is the main feature of the Foxtel show MegaTruckers. This fly on the wall doco follows Kelly and his truckers on many different hauling jobs around Australia. Click after the jump to see previews of the show.

The team will now be referred to as Heavy Haulage Racing.

To see more images from todays launch  and to read the full press release follow the jump

Hyundai & Rhys Millen partner up again for 2013 Pikes Peak Hill climb race

Very exciting news this morning with Hyundai & Rhys Millen Racing announcing that they will partner up again to defend their 2012 record as well as challenge for the outright record at this year Pikes Peak Hill Climb Event.

The team will field two cars, one for Rhys in the unlimited class and one for a yet to be named driver in the time attack 2WD class.

Bring on June 30 I say.

Read the full Press Release after the jump

Boxing Day Tradition Down Under

Assa Abloy Volvo 60 on its way up the Derwent River on its way to victory

There are many things that are great about Boxing Day down under.

It’s the day after Christmas so there is always lots of food left over, it’s a public holiday, if you didn’t drink enough on Christmas Day then you still have another day of enjoying your choice of alcohol, those who like shopping can enjoy the Boxing Day sales and oh, the Boxing Day Cricket Test starts .
While these are all good, the best and most interesting thing to happen on Boxing Day is the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Considered one of the toughest yacht races in the world, this annual event  starting in Sydney on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km). 

The event was first run in 1945 and had nine starters. The Yacht Rani, was the winner, taking 6 days, 14 hours and 22 minutes.

The race records for the fastest (elapsed) time have dropped over the years but it was the race record that was set by Kialoa in 1975, of 2 days 14 hours 36 minutes and 56 seconds, that stood for 21 years.

It was broken by the German yacht Morning Glory in 1996, and then only by a dramatic 29 minutes.

I was living in Tasmania at the time and stayed up to see Morning Glory cross the finish line. As it was in the early hours of a Saturday morning all of the people from the pubs along the Hobart waterfront came out to welcome Morning Glory into the docks.

In 1999 Denmark’s Nokia sailed the course in 1 day, 19 hours, 48 minutes and 2 seconds, a record which stood until 2005 when Wild Oats XI  won line and handicap honours in 1 day 18 hours 40 minutes 10 seconds.

In 2001 the Volvo Ocean Yachts joined in on the Sydney to Hobart race as part of one of their race legs. That year was my first year of covering the event as a Photographer. After many years of watching it on TV and then watching the boats come up the river it was great to get out on the water and see the boats come in.

That year it was Swedish Yacht Assa Abloy that crossed the line first. Below is a selection of my images captured during its run to the finish line.

The Sydney to Hobart Trophy

In 2002 I was again back in Tasmania for Christmas and covered the finish of the race.
Below are image from the race finish where Alfa Romeo crossed the line first.

I haven’t had a chance to go back and photograph the event again in recent years.

But when the race start today at lunch time I will be watching the start of the race and enjoying watching one of the best ocean races in the world.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

Enjoy your day with your family and friends