NASCAR’s Tony Stewart pulls out of Sunday race after hitting, killing driver

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Source: Associated Press

Tony Stewart pulled out of the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen Sunday, 12 hours after the three-time champion struck and killed a sprint car driver who had climbed from his car and was on the darkened dirt track trying to confront Stewart during a race at upstate New York’s Canandaigua Motorsports Park.

Kevin Ward Jr. had crashed following contact with Stewart one lap earlier and got out of his car as it was stopped along the fence. Video of the incident showed Ward walking from his crashed car onto the racing surface as cars circled by, and, as he gestured at Stewart’s passing car, he was struck.

Authorities questioned Stewart but said no criminal charges were imminent. Stewart travelled to Watkins Glen International following police questioning.

Stewart released a statement Sunday afternoon that read as follows: “There aren’t words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. It’s a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason I’ve decided not to participate in today’s race at Watkins Glen. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Greg Zipadelli, competition director for Stewart-Haas Racing, said at a news conference that Stewart “feels strongly” about not racing Sunday following Kevin Ward Jr.’s fatal accident. The decision was an about-face for the organization, which had previously said that Stewart would race on Sunday.

“We gave Tony some time to sleep on it. He feels strongly this is the right thing to do,” Zipadelli said. “All you can do is what you feel is right, and we feel this is right. We get through today and do it the best we can as a group.

A witness said it appeared Ward was trying to confront Stewart, the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion. The video showed Ward standing to the right of Stewart’s familiar No. 14 car, which seemed to kick out from the rear and hit him.

Moments earlier, Ward and Stewart were racing side-by-side for position as they exited a turn. Ward was on the outside when Stewart, on the bottom, seemed to slide toward Ward’s car and crowd him toward the wall. The rear tire of Stewart’s car appeared to clip the front tire of Ward’s car, and Ward spun into the fence.

Ward, who was wearing a black firesuit and black helmet, had walked into the racing area and one car swerved to avoid him before he was struck by Stewart.

“The next thing I could see, I didn’t see (the other driver) anymore,” witness Michael Messerly said. “It just seemed like he was suddenly gone.”

A spokesman for Stewart’s racing team called Ward’s death a “tragic accident.”

The dirt track located about 30 miles southeast of Rochester cancelled the remainder of the race and later posted a message on its Facebook page encouraging fans to “pray for the entire racing community of fans, drivers, and families.”

Ward’s website kevinwardracing.com says he began racing go-karts in 1998 at age 4, but didn’t start driving sprint cars until 2010. The 20-year-old from Port Leyden, New York, was Empire Super Sprint rookie of the year in 2012 and this year was his fifth season racing the Empire Super Sprints.

Stewart often competes in extracurricular events like the race on Saturday. The multimillionaire is known to participate in races with purses worth less than $3,000 and drive alongside drivers of varying ages and talent levels.

“Everybody has hobbies. Everybody has stuff they like to do when they have downtime, and that’s just what it is for me,” he said last month following his return to sprint car racing. “That’s what I like to do when I have extra time. I don’t think there is anything wrong with doing it. I feel like there are a lot of other things I could be doing that are a lot more dangerous and a lot bigger waste of time with my time off do than doing that.”

He’s struggled a bit this year since returning from his leg injury, and heads into Sunday’s race winless on the season and ranked 19th in the standings.

The site of Saturday night’s crash is the same track where Stewart was involved in a July 2013 accident that seriously injured a 19-year-old driver. He later took responsibility for his car making contact with another and triggering the 15-car accident that left Alysha Ruggles with a compression fracture in her back.

Range Rover’s 550 HP SVR sets fastest lap time at Nordschleife loop

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The folks at Car and Driver recently posted a very cool story about Land Rover setting a new record with their upcoming Range Rover Sport SVR. This new record is not something you see everyday as it is the fastest lap time around the 12.9-mile Nordschleife loop ever for a production SUV.  At 8 minutes and 14 seconds the record is definitely impressive as it is 20 seconds quicker than its next competitor the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

This is an extra incredible feat when you compare the Range Rover with sports cars that are hundreds of pounds lighter, inches off the ground and have the maximum aerodynamics. For example, the Dodge Viper SRT10 roadster of ten years ago finished only a second faster over the same circuit. And the original Aston Martin Vanquish was three seconds slower. This, from a giant square, four-door SUV that will spend most of its life shuttling celebrities and pro athletes around big cities.

According to Land Rover, to get the record number it has stiffened the SVR’s anti-roll bars, modified the eight-speed automatic, and recalibrated the four-wheel-drive system for greater response. Having reviewed both the 2014 Land Rover Supercharged and Sport model earlier this year, we are well aware of these lions in sheep’s clothing. And judging from the incredible fun we had in the 2014 Land Rover Supercharged we can hardly wait to get behind the wheel of this new monster rig when it comes to Canada in 2015.

Pro Snowboarder John Jackson shoots cool Sand Rail video

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GoPro is the king of creating amazing video content and they have done it again with today’s posting of a very cool video of pro snowboarder John Jackson. In this new clip, John is taking advantage of the high desert terrain near Mammoth, California while behind the wheel of his powerful and well used sand rail.

As car guys we are usual in the know about all things auto but we were not that familiar with the term Sand Rail. Since here in Canada, we typically call vehicles designed for the sand dunes just Dune Buggies. Long story short, these Sand Rail’s look awesome and we need to test one out here in Canada.

After watching the video you realize how California’s climate really does have so much to offer the auto enthusiast. And John’s hair just goes so well with the whole Sand Rail mountain experience.

2014 Jeep Cherokee Review

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The 2014 Jeep Cherokee marks the return of a classic Jeep nameplate which has been missing from their model line-up since 2001. Originally, Jeep Cherokees were relatively no-frills off-road vehicles that focused more on function over fashion.  However, the model quickly evolved in the 1990s to become one of the most popular mid-sized SUV’s for both families and off-road enthusiasts.  Growing up, my father had a white coloured 1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo.  I have such fond memories of that truck as I first learned to drive on it and it was a beloved chariot on a father-son mountain biking adventure to Mt. Snow, Vermont.

1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo

1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo (not the actual one) hence California plates

Compared to Cherokees of the past, the 2014 model is totally unique as it has been designed from the ground up leveraging the shared platform architecture of the Dodge Dart. While it still provides an adequate level of all-terrain ability for an SUV, this new Jeep Cherokee’s bigger mark is its spacious and well-appointed cabin, smooth ride and powerful V6.

2014 Jeep Cherokee North 4x4

2014 Jeep Cherokee North 4×4

Our tester came in the North 4×4 trim model paired with the beefy Pentastar six-cylinder used in the Grand Cherokee. This 3.2-liter V6 engine makes an impressive 271 horsepower and delivers it ponies in a refined manner via an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission. The nine-speed automatic is also included with the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Although on paper, the four-cylinder makes competitive power for this class, based on the Cherokee’s curb weight the V6 is the best option if you want increased power and towing capacity.

Both engines are available with front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations. Jeep is actually offering two 4WD systems with the Active Drive I designed as your basic light-duty 4WD system (basically what most consumers think of as all-wheel drive), and it’s just fine if you merely need a little extra traction in winter snowstorms. While next up is Active Drive II, which adds low-range gearing and is aimed at Cherokee buyers expecting to venture farther off the beaten path. Although it’s nice to have that go-almost-anywhere capability when you need it, the reality is most consumers will likely make more use out of its variety of tech features. With an 8.4-inch touchscreen interface available in most models, and an optional safety package that bundles forward collision, lane departure and blind-spot warning systems with automatic high-beam control, adaptive cruise control and an automated parallel and perpendicular parking system this truck is serious about safety and convenience. In fact, this 2014 model is the first Cherokee that will park itself which is a bonus feature in this segment.

As for pricing here’s the story – the Cherokee sits smack in the middle of the pack in its small to mid-sized CUV/SUV segment. The only significant options our model lacked was leather seating and a moonroof.

  • Base price: $28,695 (North 4×4 model)
  • Price as Tested: $34,955 CDN
2014 Jeep Cherokee North 4x4

2014 Jeep Cherokee North 4×4

After spending a week behind the wheel in all types of road conditions from summer thunderstorms to traffic in scorching heat we can say the Cherokee model is 100% worth a look if you’re shopping for a small SUV. It provides a ton of value with its stellar drive train and new design features while also bringing back the fun and youthful spirit of the iconic Cherokee nameplate.

As for competitors, today’s small crossover SUV segment is crowded with a field of strong models including the Ford Escape, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V, and Mazda CX-5.  But one last thing to keep in mind is the Jeep Cherokee has its own personality and that you cannot say about every model.

Toyota Supra, BMW Z4 sports cars to share platform

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According to a recent report from the Nikkei Asia Review, it appears the new Toyota Supra will share a platform with the next generation BMW Z4. Based on the FT-1 concept, the new Toyota Supra is a much-anticipated car as it has been over 12 years since the last Supra rolled off Toyota’s Japanese assembly line.  With thousands of enthusiasts all over the world looking forward to the prospect of a new Toyota Supra model this is very exciting news.

The report goes on to explain that the two vehicles will have different body designs, be sold under their respective brands and may be built by the automakers by 2017.

 

 

The Mercedes C63 AMG Experiment

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After spending a glorious day at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park watching the Tudor United Sportscar series we thought it was time to have a little fun with some old school video. Check out this 2012 Chris Harris segment where he takes a Mercedes C63 AMG coupe with the optional 480 HP power upgrade and lets her rip on some smaller rubber. The moral of this video is “Everyone should learn to drive with big power on skinny rubber!

B.C. Government raises highway speed limit to 120 km/h

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Last Wednesday, the B.C. government unveiled changes to boost speed limits to 120 kilometres per hour on some of its highways. The announcement came from Transportation Minister Todd Stone who came out saying several months of public consultation and engineering reviews justify hiking speed limits on 1,300 km of rural provincial highway in the Southern Interior, Vancouver Island the Fraser Valley.

Under the new rules, three sections of B.C. rural highway will be set at the maximum 120 km/h speed limit, including Highway 5 (the Coquihalla) from Hope to Kamloops, Highway 97C from Aspen Grove to Peachland, and Highway 19 from Parksville to Campbell River on Vancouver Island.

Most of the speed changes will come into effect this summer, though increases to the Coquihalla and Peachland highways began immediately last Wednesday.

Other highways will see speed limits rise to 100 km/h or 110 km/h, depending on the route.

Source: Vancouver Sun

Review: goclean waterless carwash

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RedlineNorth recently had a chance to review goclean waterless carwash.  While it might seem odd to have ‘waterless’ and ‘carwash’ in the same sentence, not according to Sunny Yashpal, founder of the company.  Canadian visitors may have caught Yashpal on TV when he brought his product to the Canadian version of Dragon’s Den in the sixth season of the series.

waterless-wash_1_grande

The premise of the product is simple, a carwash that doesn’t require water.  How does it work however? According to the goclean website the carwash – contains plant based and biodegradable surfactants, lubricants and polymers that wash, wax, and protect your car. During the application of process, plant based soaps emulsify dirt particles and lifts them from the surface of your vehicle, while a natural polymer wax remains to keep your vehicle cleaner longer. Waterless Carwash beads water off the surface of your car, while dirt and grime have a hard time sticking around.

Good in theory but does it work?  We took a 2003 Nissan Altima that had gone 4 weeks without a wash, and put goclean waterless carwash to the test.

The challenge - three weeks of dirt and grime.

The challenge – three weeks of dirt and grime.

At first it seemed counter-intuitive to spray on the solution and wipe it off with a microfibre cloth without the use of water, especially given the heavy build up of dirt and grime on the surface.  However, it was quickly apparent that the product was removing the dirt without any scratches.  The application is quick and ease – spray on, wipe off the dirt with a microfibe towel and buff with a second clean towel.  We found additional pressure was needed for some areas with a stubborn build up of dirt to get it clean. However, any hand cleaning product would likely require this. The wash not only removes the dirt but also waxes at the same time.  This is important to note when you are spraying glass.

The result - the product worked as advertised and cleaned the car well

The result – the product worked as advertised and cleaned the car well

At the end of the wash we felt the product lived up to its name and cleaned the car well. It also took less time than a traditional hand wash as we skipped the rising and drying step.

goclean waterless carwash comes in a 700 ml bottle which provides between 4-7 washes and saves up to 3000 litres of water.  In our experience, the amount of washes out of one bottle is probably in the 4-5 range for a mid-size sedan, however, after repeated uses it’s likely we would use less of the product as one gains a better understanding of how much solution is needed.

The carwash costs $12.49 CAD and is available from their website (shipping to both Canada and the US) as well as retailers across the country.

Disclosure: One 700ml bottle of goclean waterless carwash and one package of microfibre towels were provided to RedlineNorth for reviewing purposes.

Deadmau5 in the Gumball 3000 Rally

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We first wrote about the Gumball 3000 rally when it came to Toronto back in 2012 and now seemed like a good time to revisit this incredible event since one of our own was competing in this year’s event. Earlier this month, Canadian native and house music superstar deadmau5 (Joel Thomas Zimmerman) along with driving partner Tory Belleci participated in this epic seven day exotic car rally.  However, there is more to this story than just another rich celebrity having a laugh in an exotic car. Similar to the reality show format we are all so use to Zimmerman and Belleci were tailed by a camera crew who captured each phase of the insane 3,000 mile cross-continental course beginning in South Beach, Miami and finishing in the Spanish party island of Ibiza.

Zimmerman’s “Team Purrari” as they are called traveled the race course from Miami to Ibiza in his outrageous custom Ferrari 458 Spider. “It’s like the Marmite of cars,” he admits on camera. “You either love it, or you hate it, but there’s no, ‘Oh, it’s alright’.”

Ferrari 458 Spider

Team Purari’s Ferrari 458 Spider

Topping off their epic adventure as they crossed the finish line, Zimmerman and Belleci were awarded the coveted Spirit of the Gumball trophy by race founder Maximillion Cooper.  The award speaks to the enthusiasm and extreme fun level the duo brought to this year’s marathon race.

So now the big question is what happens to all the footage from the race?  Well, that’s the second cool thing as they have created a min-teaser video from the video. Even if you don’t like electronic music, this is a must-watch for car fans since it provides a very nice flavour of what this incredible race is all about.

Tesla Opens Up Its Patents

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Tesla-Motors-logo-5

Yesterday, Tesla Motors opened up all its patents to its competitors in an effort to accelerate the creation and adoption of electric vehicles around the world. As Tesla puts it:

Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal. Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.

Tesla has one of the most successful electric vehicles in the Model S and has raised the bar on what an electric vehicle should and can be.  The Model S has a 300 mile range, far greater than any other mass produced electric vehicle on the market today.  In addition, the vehicle can be charged faster than most other electric vehicles using Tesla’s Supercharger network.

Hundreds of patents are going to be released by Tesla including those related to their fast charging system. When asked what Tesla’s shareholders will think of the patent release Tesla CEO Elon Musk downplayed the importance of owning patents saying it was more important for a company to be innovating than pursuing lawsuits against other companies doing similar things.

The opening up of patents is new territory for an automobile company and we here at RedlineNorth hopes this does indeed lead to further acceleration of electric vehicle development and adoption.

You can read the full text of Musk’s blog post on the subject.