Cars We've Seen

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spotted in Carmel, CA

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Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spotted in Carmel, CA

While out car spotting in Carmel, California during Monterey Car Week we caught this striking Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione lurking amongst traffic. As an object unto itself, the 8C Competizione is a design masterpiece, but getting to see this very special Alfa in the context of the real world, surrounded by mundane normal cars, made it all the more special. I was able to get a few shots of it as it passed by, and I think I captured the 8C’s contrast well. Enjoy the photos.

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Trans-Am Mustangs and Camaros at Laguna Seca

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Before seeing these classic American beasts roar their way around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Nick and I traipsed around the paddock and surveyed the potential field.  While we were walking around, I took some snaps of some of my favorite Trans-Am racers, unsure if I would be able to see them on the track later.  Luckily, I not only got these shots, but was able to see these beasts battle it out on the tarmac later in the afternoon in the blinding sun.  After hearing these old muscle cars run, I was deaf for a few glorious hours.  Searing color, searing sounds, and a thumping exhaust note–just about everything needed to enjoy an afternoon on the track.  Enjoy the photos, and Happy Holidays. Continue reading Trans-Am Mustangs and Camaros at Laguna Seca →

Car Shows

Ford GT40s at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

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Ford GT40 MkII at Amelia Island
Ford GT40 MkII at Amelia Island

The 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance featured a tribute to the legendary Ford GT40. I always say that many of the legendary cars we know and love today were originally created because Enzo Ferrari pissed someone off, and the GT40 is one such car.

Back in 1963 Ford went well into the process to purchase Ferrari, but Enzo pulled out of the deal at the last minute, after a lot of money had been spent by Ford to audit his company, because Ford would not allow Enzo continued total control over Ferrari’s racing division. Henry Ford II was infuriated by Enzo, and decided to get his revenge where it would hurt Enzo most, on the racetrack. With the help of Carroll Shelby, and many others, the Ford GT40 was born, and it unleashed a firestorm upon the Ferrari’s racing efforts, most notably winning the 24 hrs of LeMans four years in a row (1966-1969).

Seeing so many Ford GT40s in the same place was nothing short of an epic experience, and it made quite a good impression on my first trip to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. We look forward to returning this year, and can only hope for another display as spectacular as this one was. Enjoy the photos.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Because we need another Porsche 918 video, here is Chris Harris

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Yes, I know that this is the third Porsche 918 video we’ve posted, but it is also the best one yet. Drive’s Chris Harris just has a special way of reviewing cars that sets him apart from other journalists….. maybe it’s the huge drifts in cars that cost more than a house? But, drifting aside, I think this is the best look yet into what the Porsche 918 Spyder is really like.

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! 1972 Chevrolet K-5 Blazer, Carmel, CA

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While walking around Carmel during the Concours weekend, I am always excited to see what turns up on the street.  I’ll usually expect to see plenty of the newest and best of all exotics, along with a solid smattering of the greatest hits of most historic segments.  Trucks, however, don’t usually cross my mind.  However, when an example as good as this one was turned up right on Ocean Avenue, I stopped and took it in.  It’s a ’72 Blazer, by indication of the main points (grille, body style, location of the rearview mirror) and although it’s not exactly stock with its ride height, I haven’t seen one this straight in my life.  Therefore, I felt like it deserved some attention amongst the Ferraris, Lambos, and other exotics that pepper this very landscape in the third weekend of August.  Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Spotted! 1972 Chevrolet K-5 Blazer, Carmel, CA →

Motorsport, Opinions

In truth, I find racing boring these days….

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Sebastian Vettel in Formula One
Sebastian Vettel in Formula One. Image courtesy of http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/

I have been asked more than a few times why there isn’t more motorsport coverage on Mind Over Motor. The title says it all. I think racing in our modern era pales in comparison to racing of old. Every single genre of auto racing, from Formula One to LeMans to Rally to NASCAR has been totally watered down over the years, and it has gotten to the point where it has not only lost the excitement, but also any semblance of relevancy to people in the real world.

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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, Luxury Cars, SUVs and Crossovers

Test Driven: 2014 Range Rover Supercharged (Grade: B)

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The Range Rover is a hard vehicle for me to place sometimes.  It has the trappings and the appeal of a luxury car, but can tackle off-road trails like nobody’s business.  This year, Land Rover did a ground-up redesign of the old girl and at Pebble Beach, I took a chance on this big black beast after taking a Rolls-Royce out for a spin.  Now, I drove an older one on a short off-road course last year and it was a rather eye-opening experience, where I learned just how capable the old one was.  This time, though, there was no rock-crawling or dune-smashing.  It was just me, a representative, and the 17-Mile Drive.  After I shut the door, I had some interesting things to ponder. Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Range Rover Supercharged (Grade: B) →

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, Pebble Beach, CA

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Yellow Ferrari F12 Berlinetta at Pebble Beach

This was the second Ferrari F12 Berlinetta I ever saw on the street. The first was earlier that morning at The Inn at Spanish Bay, also within the Pebble Beach premises. Monterey Car Week is always a great place to see the newest exotic cars running around, and we saw a few more F12 Berlinettas running around over the course of the weekend.

I think this Ferrari F12 looked especially righteous in bright yellow because it gave the car a crisp appearance that contrasted starkly with everything else around it. As Ferrari’s newest grand touring car, the F12 is the latest in the lineage of my favorite type of Ferrari. It is an incredible sight in person with its scientifically sculpted shape, and with 730hp coming out of its 6.3L V12 engine, I’m sure it is a total beast to drive as well.

Enjoy the photos.

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Opinions

BMW’s new M3 and M4, looking between the lines

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2014 BMW M4 Coupe 2014 BMW M3 Sedan

If you follow automotive news, then you know that the new 2014 BMW M3 and M4 have broken cover in the past few days, after a long, drawn out build up that left few surprises. I’m not here to tell you all of the generic information that you can get anywhere else on the web. I’m here to offer my interpretation and opinion on the information that has been released. So, as educated, free-thinking car enthusiasts, let’s take a look between the lines at what the new BMW M3 and M4 are all about.

Obviously, the number that tends to stick out the most on the interweb is the horsepower figure. People are already complaining about BMW’s official claim of “430bhp” because “It is only like 20 more than the old one, booo!” Those of use who know how the German companies have been operating lately have to laugh at such comments, because we know that the horsepower figures of turbocharged BMWs have consistently been underrated by 10-20%. That means that the new M3 and M4 will actually be producing something in the range of 470-510hp, and that is a substantial increase.

The next number, and the only surprise for me, is the weight of the M3 and M4. BMW is saying that each will weigh in at around 3300lbs, which is quite a bit lighter than the 3700lb E90 generation M3…. which was quite a big girl by M3 standards. The new M3 and M4 are now back around the same weight as the E46 M3, and that is right where I feel these cars should realistically be.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Fiat Dino Spider by Petrolicious

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I swear that the folks at Petrolicious could inspire a deep sense of passion about the most boring, inconsequential car imaginable. The Fiat Dino Spider, of course, is about as far from boring or inconsequential as can be, so naturally I found myself with a warm fuzzy feeling after watching this video about the car.

Basically this is one of just a handful of Fiat Spiders made with Dino Ferrari’s epic Formula 2 V6 in them. In the video the owner says that there are twenty Ferrari Dinos for every Fiat Dino that was built, so a very special car this is indeed.

Enjoy, and prepare to want a Fiat Dino Spider of your own more than you want to take your next breath.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

EVO tests the new Porsche 918 Spyder

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Evo Magazine’s take on the new Porsche 918 Spyder from the race track press launch. This video does a great job of highlighting the different modes of the 918 Spyder, and how much technology really does play a part in the whole package. Enjoy.

-Nick

Car Shows, Motorsport

Alfa Romeos from the paddock at Laguna Seca

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Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 Race Car

There were a number of truly righteous Alfa Romeos occupying the paddock at Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this year. When it comes to vintage cars, Alfas are definitely among my personal favorite. They are some of the sexiest machines around, and back in the day, Alfa Romeo was a serious racing contender… before all of this Fiat Group hierarchy, everyone bow down to Ferrari, nonsense.

The Alfas in the pit lane were among the creme-de-la-creme of Alfa Romeos. We saw a Tipo 33/2 Race Car (pictured above), a TZ, a TZ2, and a very race-prepped Giulia Spider. For context, Alfa Romeo made just 112 TZs, and a scant 12 TZ2s. I’m not sure on the number of Tipo 33/2s that Alfa produced, but I’d bet it’s within the range of the TZ models.

Italian cars are able to make any setting look good. Enjoy the photos.

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