Welcome to The Smoking Tire. Kick ass automotive videos and more.

Beautiful Danger: A Porsche 917 Gallery

Monday, May 21st, 2012

Photos by: Steffen Jahn

by Zack Klapman

 

The Porsche 917/30 was one of the craziest cars ever built. It could hit 60MPH in under 3 seconds, and go beyond 240MPH. In Can-Am qualifying trim it made 1,580HP, but weighed less than 2,000lbs. It was before coal-into-diamonds down-force, so the first cars were scary, getting rear lift at high speed. I’ve only experienced truly bad aero once; going past 135MPH in an E.R.A. Shelby Cobra Replica. It suddenly feels like a wizard installed the power steering from a 1978 Cadillac in between 135 and 136MPH. I only had to learn that lesson once.

 

But in a car that holds the record for the highest speed at Le Mans (246MPH), in 1968, when “fire protection” basically meant “avoid fires”, driving these rocket-powered guinea pigs must have been such an event, such a feeling. You were a monkey in a new rocket. This rocket went on to become an icon, something photographer Steffen Jahn has captured beautifully. Jump for more. (more…)

21.05.2012 Uncategorized No Comments

Ebay Bargains(?): 1963 SCCA Formula Car

Saturday, May 5th, 2012

By Zack Klapman

 

Ebay. Land of bargains, weird over-priced nick-knacks from childhood, and used underwear. Ninja Turtles shaving kit. $28k Neo Geo game. Ebay has it. They also have a great section, tucked away in Ebay Motors. Put “race” in the search bar, and you find some great stuff. This is a 1963 Quantum MK IV Formula race car. Developed with Saab, as a cheap, easy way for enthusiasts to go racing it ran in SCCA’s Formula S (Saab), Junior, and B series. It’s not Italian, rare or expensive, but all I’m think is: light, RWD, open wheel, 5″ wide tires, minimal driver interfaces, minimal safety. Sounds fun. (more…)

05.05.2012 Uncategorized 1 Comment

N. East Residents Must Attend: Rally-X

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

by Zack Klapman

 

I think Rally Cross is the best driving event for mortals. What I mean is, as incredible as WRC (or normal rally racing) is, it’s expensive, time-consuming, complicated, and requires a lot of resources. You have to drag your car into the woods, camp, have a co-driver you trust to not kill you, and the risk of cracking your car on a rock or tree is fairly high. Rally Cross is more contained. You might get some dings from other cars, but you won’t barrel-roll into a spruce.

 

Rally Cross is more accessible; It’s at a track. If you have a track-ready car (proper cage, brakes made of something other than straw), you can enter a Rally America race. And it’s at one location, over a weekend. It’s like a track day. Until I have Juke R money, that seems so much simpler than co-drivers and stage notes. I didn’t get into driving to read. (more…)

03.05.2012 News No Comments

D1 Ain’t Scared of Rain (video gallery)

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

 

by Zack Klapman

 

Driving in the rain is one of my favorite things to do. You get easy sliding at lower speeds, less tire wear, and without announcing your actions to the world with tire squeal. And then there’s hitting big puddles at 60MPH. Nothing like car-made geyser. Whenever it rains, I find an excuse to drive.

 

While some other motorsports believe it goes against god to drive in the rain (You do NOT drive through his tears!!), the ones we like push right through, rain or shine. Obviously,  for rally or F1, it’s old news, but I didn’t think a professional drift event would stay on in the rain. But they do. This year at the Odaiba round of the D1 Grand Prix, it was pouring rain. It wasn’t just damp; there were serious puddles on the course. That made for some sick photos and video. SpeedHunters brought it our attention with their sick photo gallery, and YouTubers provided the video clips, which we’ve assembled below. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going rain dancing. (more…)

18.04.2012 News, Video No Comments

Read Words, Drive Faster

Monday, April 16th, 2012

by  Zack Klapman

 

How many of us would benefit from driving instruction?  All of us. Yes, even you. Ah, you’ve been driving since you were 5? Don’t care. You’re from Finland? Allow me to introduce you to t-shirts, sit there. Oh, your last name is Shumacher and you’re an ageless, battery-powered driving robot from the future who doesn’t make mistakes? Wrong. Sit down, fair-haired cyborg. The fact is, seasoned racers, even driving instructors (as you will read later) can learn new things with the right person riding shotgun. Many enthusiasts possess more skill than the average commuter, but there is a massive gap between simple car control and true technique.

 

This is something Peter Krause addressed in his exceptional post, appropriately titled, “Track Wisdom.” He calls it “A series of ‘pearls’ in response to threads on various [driving fourms].” He goes into the true meaning of “tenths”, tunnel vision, cornering, and more. Remember, Jackie Stewart never felt like he could drive the ‘Ring perfectly. If he had room for improvement, you do too. (more…)

16.04.2012 Editorials No Comments

Video: Jackie Stewart Explains the ‘Ring

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

 

by Zack Klapman

“I never went through the Nürburgring feeling that I’d achieved something in the way of the perfect lap.”

-Jackie Stewart

 

That should tell you something about the famous Nordschleife Nürburgring. The track is synonymous with records, crashes and the insane fans attending it’s 24-Hour race.  Every year it gets more well-known, and more manufacturers rent space track-side, using it as their primary tool to hone performance; a tarmac dick-measuring tool for the population that cares. And Jackie m-fing Stewart, 3-time F-1 World Driver’s Champion, couldn’t ever get it right.

 

For me, the exposure of this track through internet video has made the ‘Ring simultaneously more real and less intimidating. I recently read a Rolling Stone article about Mexican drug lords, complete with full-color pictures of headless victims. Disturbing, but not as much as if I hadn’t grown up playing Gears of War and watching movies like Saw. The influx of ‘Ring videos has had a similar effect, making me think it’s a manageable track for relatively un-trained humans like myself. Jackie‘s quote, and the rest of his video-where he tours the ‘Ring in a Rolls Royce convertible-have brought me back to Earth. The same way 1000HP seems common, maybe even pedestrian, the Nurburgring has become so available and commonly seen it seems normal. As Jackie explains after the jump, it isn’t. I’m glad he reminded me of that. (more…)

10.04.2012 Video 5 Comments

Video: The Greatest Motorcycle Race Ever

Monday, April 9th, 2012

 

by Zack Klapman

 

These are the faces of Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP team during his battle with Jorge Lorenzo at the 2009 Catalunya race. It is the correct reaction for the battle they just watched in the final 3 laps of the MotoGP Catalunya. Each rider seemed to shut the door on the other, yet passes were found where none thought possible. It. Was. Amazing. Those final moments have been called: “greatest”, “historic”, “genius”, and “impossible.” All those words fit. Jump to watch one of the greatest racing battles, ever. (more…)

09.04.2012 Video 9 Comments

(video) 550HP Rally X without Pedals

Friday, April 6th, 2012

by Zack K

 

This man races Rally Cross without the use of his feet. His name is Mats Öhman, and he is paralyzed below his mid/lower back. He drives a 550 horsepower rally cross car, and he drives it well. Feet secured, he steers with his left hand, and his right hand controls the gas, brakes and transmission. Driving a 550HP car at race speeds would give plenty of people too much to think about; ask your local driving instructor of the fear involved in teaching Johnny NewZR1 to drive. Now imagine controlling all those intricacies- properly-timed downshifts, late-braking and over-steer- with just one arm. Wiggle your elbow to up-shift, mediate throttle with your hand and shoulder. Amazing. There’s also the terrifying thought that if Mats crashes, he is at a serious disadvantage when it comes to escaping the car. Watch this video of a race car fire, and the speedy escape, and Mats balls (already bigger than yours or mine) grow by a factor of 2. (Jump for the video) (more…)

06.04.2012 Video 1 Comment

Video: TST’s Ultimate BMW Road Trip Part 2: BMW 650i vs Boston Whaler

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

 

It’s The Ultimate BMW Road Trip Part 2: BMW 650i vs Boston Whaler. For years Matt has wondered what the fastest way from Spring Island to Hilton Head Island was; by car or by boat? Time to find out. Matt is taking the new BMW 650i convertible, and has to watch for the strictest cops we’ve ever met. Zack is in the boat, and has to dress like an idiot. They race to find out which is faster: by land or by sea. Jump to watch.

(more…)

02.04.2012 Video No Comments

Saturday TV

Saturday, March 31st, 2012

by Zack Klapman

 

Saturday. National lazy -AKA “hangover”- day. You don’t want to think, you may have done that all week at work. Your eyes may have difficulty focusing on small words, understanding subtlety, context, sarcasm, or call-backs to previous paragraphs. No worries. We got you. We have 3 short videos that are entertaining and (slightly) educational. There’s vintage Senna footage, some F1 science, and famous drivers acting like children.

 

TV: books for people who can’t read. (more…)

31.03.2012 Uncategorized, Video No Comments

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