Tag Archives: Racing Cars

Nissan Skyline GT-R 2000GT-R Hakosuka Race Car at Laguna Seca

April 29, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

Arguably the holy grail of classic Japanese cars, this Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R “Hakosuka” Race Car is so “O.G. JDM” that I can barely contain myself!

This was the first generation of Nissan Skyline GT-R, and a far cry from the modern R35 Nissan GTR. The “Hakosuka” Skyline 2000GT-R was extremely successful in racing, with over 50 victories in just 2 years. Then, in 1973, the Mazda RX-3 took the Skyline’s crown as top dog on the Japanese racing circuit.

“Hakosuka” Skylines are really gaining in value now, with a road version selling the same weekend at the RM Auction for $242,000. We saw a few other classic Skyline GT-Rs in Monterey this year, but this racing car in the pits of Laguna Seca really stood out for us. Along with the Toyota 2000GT, this is classic JDM royalty!

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

American Racing Cars at Laguna Seca

Gallery April 27, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

There’s nothing quite like American Muscle, the brawny style, the thunderous roar of a V8 engine, and the stiff competition between automakers. It’s a hell of a lot of fun!

This gallery showcases the highlights of the American cars that caught my eye in the pits at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Enjoy!

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

Audi LMP Cars At The Radnor Hunt Concours

March 16, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Audi brought two of their diesel LMP racing cars to the Radnor Hunt Concours this year. With all the emphasis on making supercars into “racing cars for the road”, why haven’t we seen a diesel supercar yet? I mean over the last decade Audi has dominated the 24hrs of Le Mans with these TDI prototype cars.

We’d sure love a diesel Audi R8?

-Nick

Car Shows

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 at Laguna Seca

March 13, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

If you love cars, then you have to love old Alfa Romeos. The Tipo 33 was a legendary racing platform for Alfa Romeo, and this Tipo 33/2 lit up the track at Laguna Seca this past summer. Such beautiful lines can indeed be functional for speed.

Enjoy!

-Nick Walker

Auto Idolatry

Autocar Takes Us Around The New McLaren P1 GTR

February 19, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Ferrari has the FXX K, and now McLaren has the P1 GTR. Yet another track car for the plutocrats of planet Earth.

Enjoy!

-Nick

Auto Idolatry

Motor Trend Tests The Le Mans-Winning Audi R18 E-Tron

February 16, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

Race cars don’t come much more awesome than this. Motor Trend’s Randy Pobst gets behind the wheel of the 2014 Le Mans winner, the Audi R18 E-Tron.

Enjoy!

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1970 Hemi ‘Cuda at Hershey and the Quail

February 10, 2015 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

Just because we feature a car here on Mind Over Motor doesn’t mean its fifteen minutes of fame should end. A year and a half ago, a 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda with Chrysler badges was making its first-ever appearance at the Greenwich Concours, and took home the Chief Judge’s Award last year on its debut. Fast-forward a year, and the ‘Cuda was back in action, after spending a bit of time in France–the country where it made history.

This is not a normal Hemi ‘Cuda. Most of them are designed to look good and race along Main Street between Maple Avenue and Pine Street against a Chevelle SS-454 (and win). This one fought for space alongside Porsche 911 racers and BMW 3.0 CSLs all over France–one of just four E-body Chryslers to ever do so. Nowadays, it’s retired, but it spent time in France on some of its old tracks during the past year or so. I can only imagine the sound of that thundering big-block V8 ricocheting across the French countryside, both getting everyone’s attention and ticking off the locals, who probably would rather not see such a brash American messing around their French roads. I personally wish that it happen more often. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda at Hershey and the Quail →

Auto Idolatry

Chris Harris Shows Us Ken Block’s Insane AWD ’65 Mustang

December 3, 2014 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Ken Block is a racing driver, but he admits he’s rubbish at explaining his car. So for that job, Mr. Block has enlisted the help of none other than Chris Harris, of /DRIVE YouTube fame.

The “1965 Mustang” used for Ken Block’s Gymkhana 7 is really a totally custom machine with only a few bits remaining from the actual Mustang itself. In a nutshell, it is a custom built all wheel drive rally car fitted with a NASCAR engine. Sound fun? Then enjoy the video!

-Nick

Auto Idolatry

Ken Block’s Gymkhana 7: Wild In The Streets Of LA

November 17, 2014 ndubs77 Leave a comment

The whole car world eagerly awaits every new stunt-tastic video from Ken Block, and Gymkhana 7 is finally here! This time, Ken attacks the streets of Los Angeles with a custom all wheel drive Ford Mustang, probably his most badass car yet. Have you ever seen anyone drift a car under a bouncing Low Rider? Well feast your eyes!

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Scaglietti Spyder at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

October 30, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

When it comes to the low and lithe 250 Testa Rossa, few other Ferraris have the same combination of sex appeal, speed, and freakish good looks. Paint one yellow and red, and a Concours judge will pay attention for quite a while. It got my attention too, considering I had to fight people tooth and nail just to get a few good snaps of this one. Pebble Beach was happy to feature the 250 Testa Rossa this past year and dedicated the end of the 17th fairway to a fleet of them for all to see and adore. This yellow and red example owned by Harry Yeaggy and Willis Murphy, Jr won 2nd in class and had ownership of an incredible history–this was a customer car, raced for an extensive period of time. It lost its engine and had to race with a Chevy V8, but 19 years ago was reunited with its original engine, which is now back in the car for the first time since this Testa Rossa was delivered in 1958. “Stunning” isn’t the right word. “Terrific” better covers it. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Scaglietti Spyder at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance →

Car Shows

1993 Ferrari F40 LM at Bonhams Auction

October 20, 2014 ndubs77 2 Comments

We toured the Bonhams auction at the Quail Lodge during Monterey Car Week, and we found this monstrous Ferrari F40 LM sitting in all of its red glory. One of just 19 F40 LMs produced, this example was basically untouched with delivery miles and no track use to date. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but someone wound up forking out $2.2 million for it.

The Ferrari F40 is an all-time favorite among most car enthusiasts, and getting to see a rare LM up close is always spectacular. Enjoy the photos!

Continue reading 1993 Ferrari F40 LM at Bonhams Auction →

Car Shows

1980 Ford Mustang GT Enduro at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours

October 15, 2014 Albert S. Davis 3 Comments

When it comes to Fox Body Mustangs, most people think of the notchback Mustangs from the later era, along with stripped-out hatchbacks packing huge V8s (often with superchargers added in) screaming down the drag strip. They’re interesting cars for the era and are slowly becoming more appreciated in the Mustang community for plenty of reasons. However, this is no ordinary Fox. This Fox has been drinking steroids through an IV bag. Thanks to the McLaren body and success Ford had in racing the Mustang in the IMSA-GTO endurance class in the early Eighties, three street display cars resulted to advertise the new 5.0L V8 engine and a new set of Firestone tires. This is the second of just three built, and the only one remaining at this time. Although it’s not a normal car to see at a Concours event, it looked quite fitting on the bottom row of cars at Radnor last month, especially against the crystal-blue sky. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1980 Ford Mustang GT Enduro at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours →