Crash at California 200 off-road race – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Associated Press is reporting that eight people are dead after an off-road racing truck hit spectators near the start of the California 200 off-road race Saturday evening. Witnesses say the truck had just completed a jump called “the rockpile” that occurs about two miles from the start of the race when it lost control, struck spectators and came to a rest on its roof. Six people died at the scene, two others after being airlifted to the Loma Linda University Medical Center and 12 others were injured. It reportedly took rescue vehicles and helicopters a half hour to reach scene, during which time spectators tried to help the injured. Witnesses say the driver of the truck, who remains unidentified, had to flee the scene after some spectators became hostile and began to throw rocks at him. [UPDATE: Reports of the driver being pelted with rocks have not been verified, with some witnesses .]
The California 200 is a 200-mile off-road race that occurs in the Mojave Desert close to the city of Lucerne Valley, just 100 miles away from Los Angeles. As with most off-road races of this type, there are no barriers separating spectators from race vehicles that can rocket by at near triple-digit speeds while facing obstacles like jumps that are designed to get all four wheels off the ground.
While the California Highway Patrol normally does not investigate crashes at organized motorsport events, AP reports that the CHP has taken the lead on this one due to its “scope”. The Federal Bureau of Land Management is also assisting. At this point, it’s not known what caused the driver of the truck to lose control, though we expect that and the driver’s identity to be revealed in due time.
The families of the victims will be in our thoughts as we try to process this tragedy, and we’ll let you know as soon as more information is available.
UPDATE:The non-profit organization is to assist families of the victims. 100% of the donations will go to assist the families, which is pretty great.
RM Auctions always reserves its most prestigious cars for Saturday night during the Monterey car week, and this year’s lineup of vehicles was one of the most impressive in recent history. No less than 14 cars broke the million dollar mark, although the highlight of the auction, a 1958 Ferrari 250 TR, failed to meet its reserve price despite a $10.7 million offer on the table. Here’s a rundown of the million dollar cars at the auction:
Lot 359: – $4,620,000
Lot 351: – $4,620,000
Lot 353: – $3,300,000
Lot 360: – $2,612,500
Lot 347: – $2,090,000
Lot 365: – $1,925,000
Lot 335: – $1,760,000
Lot 345: – $1,622,500
Lot 346: – $1,622,500
Lot 342: – $1,567,500
Lot 341: – $1,430,000
Lot 349: – $1,155,000
Lot 339: – $1,127,500
You can see the highlighted cars from RM’s auction in the high-res gallery below.
Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery. to watch video.
The isn’t the only special kitty making its debut out in Monterey. Jag’s new limited-production coupe is joined by the one-off Platinum concept created to honor of the brand’s 75th anniversary. Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance attendees will find it parked on the Concept Car Lawn.
Pearlescent white paint provides a stark contrast to the big saloon’s blacked-out grille, D-pillar, and custom 22-inch wheels. Inside, black leather seats get quilted, diamond-stitch suede inserts. The same material also adorns the headliner. Additional glitz comes courtesy of the Bremont Watch Company, which is responsible for the bespoke clock installed in the XJ75’s console.
If the 470-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8 doesn’t provide enough entertainment, the XJ75 Platinum also features a 1,200-watt, 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Check out both the official photos and live pictures in high-res galleries below or for video walkaround by Jaguar design Boss Ian Callum.
Morgan EvaGT – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Morgan Motor Company has been making new cars all along, but some people seem to have forgotten that fact as most of their “new” models looked a heckuva lot like their old models. That started to change with the introduction of their Aero cars a few years ago – and we predict the name “Morgan” will be a little more common once their latest concept hits showrooms. The company took the wraps off their new EvaGT in Pebble Beach on Sunday, right in front of the Pebble Beach Lodge on the concept lawn of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. We had seen a partial sketch a few weeks ago, but holy wow is this car stunning in person. There’s a full press release after the jump and a gallery of high-res pics for you too, but the basic stats are these: It uses a 3.0-liter BMW straight six that produces 306 horsepower, a six-speed automatic or manual transmission, weighs just 2,755 pounds, gets 40 miles per gallon (Imperial) and can scoot from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds.
Bugatti GP cars at The Quail – Click above to watch video
Monterey’s classic car week means a long days of big events, with Concorso Italiano and The Quail anchoring our Friday schedule. We’ve brought you a sampling of those shows already, but the parade of race cars from Laguna Seca over to the Quail cries out for a little video. The cars come in, the owners take a little break, and then the whole parade heads back to the track. The cars selected for the side trip are usually chosen to match the theme of the year’s Quail gathering.
This year, organizers went with a group of cars that were being featured at the track as well. had a particularly large turnout at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, bolstered in part by the presence of the new , which made its first track appearance in the U.S. About three dozen Bugs were entered in class 4A, and most made the trek over to Quail Lodge. As the video demonstrates, they sounded fantastic. Take a look and listen .
Carroll Shelby Tribute at the Quail – Click above for high-res image gallery
Every year, the selects a few major automotive themes to celebrate. Carroll Shelby is a 2010 honoree in recognition of his contributions to American motorsports. “Carroll Shelby is one of America’s great success stories. He has been a World War II aviator, a champion racecar driver, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans amongst other races and a legendary automobile designer,” said show co-founder Gordon McCall about The Quail’s decision to feature Shelby. “It is important to celebrate his passion and ingenuity that is an inspiration for Americans and motorsports enthusiasts alike.”
Several significant Shelby automobiles were on display, perhaps none more so than the . There were also multiple GT350 R models, including the first one produced, plus the , a (one of three made), the , a 1966 GT350 Convertible (one of four made) and many more pristine Cobras and Mustangs. You can see all of the Shelbys at the Quail Motorsports Gathering in the high-res gallery below. Keep visiting Autoblog throughout the day for more ongoing coverage from Monterey.
2011 Dodge Durango teaser site (test version) – Click above for high-res image gallery
Magnum? Durango? There’s been plenty of banter about which nameplate will ultimately wear, but now it seems we can put the debate to rest. At least two Autoblog readers have stumbled across the test version of the forthcoming 2011 Dodge Durango teaser website. Not only is “Durango” in the test URL, but “2011 Durango” is in the page’s title tags, and the landing page of Dodge’s test site . (Note to Chrysler: if you want to keep this sort of thing under wraps, don’t use a public-facing test subdomain.)
The teaser site itself is fairly typical. Visitors can page through several close-up images, join a mailing list, and spread the news via social media. In fact, the Facebook share feature . Finally, the website appears to confirm that the Durango will be sold as a 2011 model and as has been speculated. Our favorite part of the test teaser site, however, is the embedded audio. The music currently being used as a placeholder/audio test is the .
With both the and the now on unibody platforms, it’ll be interesting to how consumers perceive the two vehicles. While Ford is pushing the Explorer as an SUV rather than a crossover, the new Durango’s Jeep lineage (it shares its basic architecture with the , remember) could give it a significant advantage among those looking for a “real” SUV. Thanks to Matt and Bored for the tips!
2011 Dodge Durango teaser site (test version) – Click above for high-res image gallery
Magnum? Durango? There’s been plenty of banter about which nameplate will ultimately wear, but now it seems we can put the debate to rest. At least two Autoblog readers have stumbled across the test version of the forthcoming 2011 Dodge Durango teaser website. Not only is “Durango” in the test URL, “2011 Durango” is in the page’s title tags, and the landing page of Dodge’s test site . (Note to Chrysler: if you want to keep this sort of thing under wraps, don’t use a public-facing test subdomain.)
The teaser site itself is fairly typical. Visitors can page through several close-up images, join a mailing list, and spread the news via social media. In fact, the Facebook share feature . Finally, the website appears to confirm that the Durango will be sold as a 2011 model and as has been speculated. Our favorite part of the test teaser site, however, is the embedded audio. The music currently being used as a placeholder/audio test is the .
With both the and the now on unibody platforms, it’ll be interesting to how consumers perceive the two vehicles. While Ford is pushing the Explorer as an SUV rather than a crossover, the new Durango’s Jeep lineage (it shares its basic architecture with the , remember) could give it a significant advantage among those looking for a “real” SUV. Thanks to Matt and Bored for the tips!
That image above speaks for itself. All you really need to know is that this isn’t Dubai, Russia or even Germany – it’s right here in Monterey for classic car week. You can probably identify the inside that shiny wrapper on your own, but just in case you’ve recently taken an amnesia-inducing blow to the head, it’s the – the race version of the company’s new gullwing sports car. There’s something to be said for having a mirror with you wherever you go, but this is a bit extreme. No matter, we think it looks amazing, even if it is just a wrap and not a polished car that’s been stripped of its white paint to shed precious ounces before a race. Click on any image to see our full high-res gallery.
Every event staged during Monterey week has a unique flavor. The Concorso Italiano was populated with new money and regular folks just plain enamored with la belle macchine. , on the other hand, is a bit more formal, a lot more exclusive and always full of surprises.
This year was no exception, as a string of about thirty Grand Prix cars thundered in from the nearby Laguna Seca racetrack. The drivers noshed, checked out some of the cars on display, said hello to some old friends and were back underway in a puff of blue smoke. What they left behind was an array of cars that the only event formally known as The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering can pull together. Rare and legendary race cars – as well as sports cars from automakers that cut their teeth in racing ( think , , , , etc.) – are the norm.
Along with all the Series I Pinin Farina Cabs and 275 GTCs, Ferrari even had a couple of new models on hand for the crowd to check out. One was a stunning blue 458 Italia, another was was the drop-dead awesome 599 GTO. Porsche didn’t bring its new 918 Spyder, unfortunately, but it did haul out the GT3 Hybrid. Bugatti had some blue carbon fiber thing on hand, and several other manufacturers rolled out their shiniest new models as well. The old cars are really the stars, though, because almost every one of them has a backstory that would keep you enthralled for hours.
For instance, Carroll Shelby was honored at The Quail this year, and there were about thirty Shelby Cobras, Mustangs and GT40s there that Ol’ Shel’ had personally laid hands on, like the very first Shelby GT350 Mustang ever made. The very first Cobra was there, too – serial number 2000 – one lower than the first production Cobra, which is a past best-of-show winner here.
That’s the magic of The Quail. Along with all the “free” food and drink (tickets are $400 after all, ifyou can get one), the motoring icons and the cars that made them legends are right there in front of you, ready to be adored. It’s a spectacular event, and those of you who couldn’t be there can check out our massive gallery of images by clicking below.
2010 Concorso Italiano celebrates Alfa Romeo centenery – Click above for high-res image gallery
The year 2010 marks the 100th birthday of Alfa Romeo, the great Italian automaker that has given us some of the most lust-worthy road and race cars of, well, the last century. It was fitting, therefore, that Concorso Italiano celebrated the occasion with gusto. They even let the Alfas spell out the annual message to the heavens: a simple “100.” It would have been interesting to see them try to use 100 cars to do so; goodness knows there were at least that many Alfas on hand.
Check out the gallery and you’ll see a small sampling of the great variety of Alfas on display. As much as we like the new 8C Competizione, we have to say our favorite Alfa Romeo at Concorso was probably John Shirley’s . Just take a look at !
Ferrari F40s at the 2010 Concorso Italiano – Click above for high-res image gallery
Concorso Italiano threw a party for the legendary Ferrari F40, and the turnout was, well, almost as good as the car itself. Thousands of show attendees were treated to more than a dozen examples of Enzo Ferrari’s final project.
As you probably know, the F40 was named to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, and the celebration at Concorso honored the 20th anniversary of the car’s 1990 arrival here in the States. (Let’s not quibble over the fact that Ferrari the company was actually born in 1947, meaning the F40 should have actually arrived in 1987. The show car was first unveiled in 1987 and that’s good enough for us.)
The late arrival of what some still view as the ultimate supercar did nothing to dampen the spirits of the men and boys who fell in love with it at first sight and still carry a torch for it today. The F40 celebration was one great reason to go to Concorso Italiano this year. If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend in person, hit the gallery below to see how the lineup of F40s looked at one of Monterey week’s biggest exhibitions.
2008 Fioravanti SP1 at the 2010 Concorso Italiano – Click above for high-res image gallery
Concorso Italiano is always fun. Every car has a story behind it, and this year, the organizers pulled off something of a coup.
Back in ‘08, a was spied at Fiorano. Once initial speculation settled down, the prevailing wisdom suggested that the car in question was a one-off coachbuilt special designed by former Pininfarina (and now independent) stylist Fioravanti for a wealthy customer. Those reports wound up being true, and yesterday that very car was on display at Concorso Italiano.
Dubbed SP1 (for Sport Prototype 1) the Ferrari F430-based machine was commissioned by a prominent Ferrari collector in Japan. It was the first product out of Maranello’s Portfolio program – an initiative that lets the extremely wealthy collaborate with various Italian design houses (including Fioravanti, Pininfarina and Zagato) with full factory support on custom, unique vehicles. While most of these clients prefer anonymity, it’s hard to keep a low profile when you’re driving a custom Ferrari.
Making its only U.S. appearance, the Fioravanti SP1 was one of Concorso’s centerpieces, parked next to the F40 gathering and a stone’s throw from the stage. Photos can’t do the car justice. Looking at the SP1’s creases and curves, you see influences from a variety of cars in the Ferrari family. It’s so cohesive, yet it’s difficult to accurately convey the sheer presence that this car exudes in person. We did our best to capture it, however. Take a gander at the image gallery below, and maybe you’ll feel the vibe as well.
Lancia Stratos – Click above for high-res image gallery
The revival project that we’ve been hearing about for the past week or so is much farther along than we thought, as engineers did some running at northern Italy’s Balocco test track in late June. For the first time, we’ve seen the new car alongside an original Stratos and the designers have done a remarkable job in recreating the classic’s unique shape, size and proportions.
This new Stratos arrives during the 40th anniversary year of the Marcello Gandini-designed Stratos Zero concept, whose name was later resurrected for the rally car and homologation special. Like the 1970s-era Stratos, power reportedly comes from a Ferrari engine, this time a V8 probably donated from the F430. (The original used the 2.4-liter Dino V6.) that the new car is so true to the concept of the original that it even has door-mounted helmet storage. The bodywork has apparently been crafted in carbon fiber and as many as five prototypes may already be running. If so, this is not likely the one-off that was originally speculated, but a car that could see a limited production run like the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.
Check out Top Gear’s take on the original Stratos . For a good history lesson on the Lancia Stratos, pick up the September 2010 issue of at your local bookstore, as one of this month’s feature vehicles is a 1976 Stratos, and the article has an informative backgrounder on the car’s journey from design concept to rally icon.
Perana Z-One – Click above for high-res image gallery
Monterey has seen its share of debuts and this year stays true to form. We’ve already seen the unveilings of the , the new , the , , and . It doesn’t end there, either. Tucked among the exotica at Concorso Italiano was the new Zagato-styled, Hi-Tech-built and Superfomance-sold, Perana Z-One sports/GT.
It’s beautiful. And the build quality is exquisite. The panel gaps put all the high-priced Italian vehicles surrounding it to shame. The styling is definitely that of a European GT, a shape that holds its own in the company of an Alfa Romeo 8C, or a Ferrari 599. With that Corvette engine under its long nose, however, it’s reminiscent of classic Italian/Amercan collaborative sports car efforts from companies like DeTomaso, Iso and Bizzarrini.
We weren’t alone in being smitten by this new $100,000 sports car either. It was mobbed all day, even amidst the dazzling variety from the likes of and . We’re hoping to arrange some seat time on the Perana Z-One, but for moment, feast your eyes on the gallery below and you’ll understand why we see big things in this vehicle’s future.
2010 Concorso Italiano – Click above for high-res image gallery
Monterey coverage continues with one of Friday’s staples. Concorso Italiano has been one of Monterey’s largest gatherings of primarily Italian vehicles for years. Laguna Seca Golf Ranch played the hospitable host, giving throngs of Italian-car lovers the opportunity to get up close and personal with hundreds of le belle macchine.
, , Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, DeTomaso and , were well represented – long lines of each marque appearing almost mirage-like down the fairways of Laguna. You know those shots you’ve seen of exotic cars lined up outside the factory? Multiply those by ten. It is absolutely crazy. Special gatherings honored the Ferrari F40, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of U.S. citizenship. The Italians were never really that great at dates, as the F40 was originally intended to be a 40th anniversary treat for Enzo himself to celebrate the company’s 1947 birth. Unfortunately, it appeared around 1990 instead. Don’t even get us started on the F50.
Concorso has hosted several smaller manufacturers over the years as well. Not just the oddball makes that few people have ever heard of, but also fledgling companies that have sometimes risen to prominence – or fallen infamously. This year, Superformance showed off the new Zagato-penned Perana Z-One. The European GT styling combined with Corvette power reminds us of the classic Italo-Amercan mashups from DeTomaso, Iso, Bizzarrini and the like. The Z-One is gorgeous, and we were blown away by its build quality. We’re negotiating some seat time to give you the full rundown, but for now, check out the gallery and you’ll see why Concorso Italiano has become one of the world’s greatest events for lovers of Italian machinery.
McLaren MP4-12C North American debut – Click above for high-res image gallery
With a burst of light and a swoosh of its car cover, the McLaren MP4-12C made its North American debut this evening in Pebble Beach. Gooding auctions unveiled the new supercar at its preview reception, the same locale that has seen the debuts of other significant vehicles from the past few years – namely the Rolls-Royce Hyperion and the Pininfarina P4/5. But tonight McLaren was definitely the star of the show. Besides giving Americans their first glimpse of its latest model, McLaren also talked a bit about the new company they are introducing to build and sell not just the MP4-12C, but a whole range of road vehicles.
This isn’t like the way things were done with the F1, where it was basically a special project inside the technical and racing operations…no, it’s a whole new passenger car company that will have an assortment of vehicles apparently. In fact, McLaren Automotive has already announced the list of 35 cities that will be hosting McLaren dealerships, and the rumor mill is in full swing telling us that a successor to the big-daddy F1 is in the cards for as early as 2012. The last bit of info we gleened from the presentation was that they seemed to talk a lot about their winning history in both Formula 1 and sports car racing and how they love to win. Perhaps a not-so-subtle hint that a racing version of the MP4-12C will be built? Makes sense to us. While we’re waiting for spy shots of that project, do yourself a favor and check out the hot new McLaren in our gallery below.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery
made big news last month when it unveiled the . The 1200-horsepowersupercar smashed the production car speed record by at the proving grounds, and it even made the in the hands of the Stig.
We’ve previously only seen pictures of just one Super Sport model – the record-setting car with the polarizing orange and black paint scheme – but now we know that the Bugatti factory has spewed out at least two examples. The Super Sport made its North American debut at the Quail Motorsports Gathering earlier today with gorgeous blue carbon fiber paint. We have to say we much prefer it over its counterpart.
We’ve heard the record-setting Super Sport is also in town and will be at Laguna Seca, so we’ll hopefully be able to bring you more photos of that car, and expect plenty more coverage from the Quail Motorsports Gathering throughout this weekend.
Having food in your car is usually a bad idea, as leaving your lunch on the seat can make the whole interior stink, or, even worse, attract bears. One Colorado teen recently learned this lesson the hardest way possible, as a peanut butter sandwich left on his back seat attracted a black bear with the unusual skill of grand theft auto.
Police estimate that the bear was searching out a midnight snack and opened the door of this kid’s unlocked on his own and entered the vehicle. When the door somehow closed on its own, the bear went from Yogi looking for a pic-a-nick basket to something out of the Exorcist. At some point during the bear’s utter smackdown of the Corolla’s interior, the transmission made its way out of Park, sending the compact sedan and it’s assuredly un-licensed driven rolling down the driveway and into the woods. There’s no explanation of how the bear eventually exited the Corolla, but we do know he left behind a large steaming present on the driver seat.
to check out the carnage. The first clip is of a British news show that provides most of the details, including images of the bear inside the Corolla, and the second clip is a grand tour of the devastation from the Colorado teen himself.
The Monterey auctions kicked off last night with a special Ford-only sale put on by RM. Despite an offering of significant race cars and a slew of concept cars, bidding was sluggish and many of the final sale prices were well below the pre-auction estimates. Some of the concepts like the and the sold for just $14,000 each, while many of the high profile cars sold for less than half the estimates. The went for $60,000, the sold for $92,500, and the went to a bidder who only had to fork over $100,000.
The top sales of the day were actually a pair of Lincolns, one a ($429,000) and the other a ($385,000). Some most significant cars were no-sales, including a that is the oldest existing Ford ever sold (high bid of $325,000) and a that didn’t meet the reserve at $450,000.
You can see the Ford concept cars and many of the other vehicles at RM’s Thursday night auction in the gallery below, and be sure to check back for more auction photos and results this weekend.
