Race Car: Audi R18

In Audi's attempt to go for it's tenth win in twelve Le Mans, they have produced this next-gen attempt for dominance-the R18. Going with a closed cockpit due to smaller engine specs, the R18 runs a 3.7 litre V6 TDI with a newly-developed six-speed transmission. Full carbon-fibre monocoque makes it light and more stiff and the LED headlamps are, perhaps with a touch of Audi audaciousness, shaped in the number one. We'll see in June when Peugot shows up in France how this amazing-looking race car will fare in the 24.

Good guys (and gals) drive black

We all know about how inconsequential most things are on the internet. I don't really expect anyone to ever see my blog really, it's really an exercise in typing to myself about something I love. But if you ever happen to come across it, however recent the disaster in Japan or elsewhere, and if you are able to to, please take a moment to donate to the Red Cross. The situation in Japan has touched me deeply, as have recent disasters across the globe. I sit here reading about cars in magazines and run a blog about comparatively meaningless things like automobiles painted black while people are truly suffering from war, revolution, and natural disaster. Please, if you feel like you can, visit redcross.org, dial 1-800-red-cross, or for a ten-dollar donation, text 90999 to REDCROSS. I know racing cars doesn't mean a damn thing when you're worried about an irradiated environment, but I just wanted to mention that many racing series (and car and part makers) will be affected by the disaster in Japan. I've heard as of this posting that the Motegi circuit, around 80-100 miles from Sendai, is affected the most. Many series have postponed events or are considering cancelling them altogether. This doesn't matter but just wanted to put it out there for the hell of it. If you give, thank you and bless you. If you care and have these people in your thoughts frequently, bless you.

Movie Car: Collision Corvette

Perhaps the only reason to watch 1989's Collision Course is for a glimpse of this '59 Corvette driven by a Detroit cop played by Jay Leno before he took over (and later re-took over ;)) hosting duties of The Tonight Show. Back in his stand-up days, he filmed this with the late Pat Morita (Mr. Myagi of Karate Kid), and they both play cops from Detriot and Japan, respectively, on the hunt for the stolen plans of some kick-ass turbocharger. I liked Leno in his stand-up days, and there are, to be fair, a few funny scenes in the flick, esp. the one when he races the blown Camaro. The movie seems to have been ripped-off in the eventual (and much more successful) culture-clash-cop movie series Rush Hour, with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan.

Minivan-go

Ever sit around, pondering the universe, daydreaming about cars, women, the decline of civilization, etc., and then wonder what the world's fastest minivans are? No? Me either. But Speed channel's new show Car Science listed the five fastest minivans and coming in at number three was this Brabus Viano. With a 6.1 liter v-8 pulling this thing to 155 mph, it's every gear-head-soccer-(mom or dad's) dream.

As a bonus I posted a video (no sound) of the fastest minivan. Witness the Renault Espace F1. A minivan with an F1 engine. 800hp. 200 mph. Enough said.