tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83202305143507235572024-03-14T04:03:57.294-04:00eBrakeMurphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-13707422180325011942012-11-24T09:36:00.001-05:002012-11-24T09:36:23.398-05:00SLS AMG and 300SL<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/4433967126/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4059/4433967126_c8eddc00c3.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/4433967126/">SLS AMG and 300SL</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/">Murph32256</a>.</span></div><p></p>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-66088713247642541492012-03-26T00:56:00.001-04:002012-03-26T00:56:43.316-04:00We're moving!Going forward, this site will be converted over to FlatOutMotoring located conveiniently at....
<a href="http://flatoutmotoring.com/2012/03/26/moving-4/">FlatOutMotoring.com !</a>
After a few years with Blogger and being disappointed/tired of their interface, it's time to move everything over to WordPress. Going forward, all content will be located there, please feel free to hit the link above to continue following!Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-61367201643156313292012-03-22T22:12:00.007-04:002012-03-23T01:11:39.965-04:002012 12 Hours of Sebring - Road TripIf you're a sports car or racing fan and you live within a few hours of Sebring, Florida then you have no excuse for having not attended this race. Seriously, go buy tickets for the 2013 race, disregard the fact that it has a yet-to-be-announced field. The race is a must-attend for anyone in North America who wants to see both the spectacle that is world-class racing and the spectacle that is the infield. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/7007639971/" title="Cayman pre-roadtrip by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7007639971_339720a5f5_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Cayman pre-roadtrip"></a><br /><br />I was heading down to Sebring to cover the 12 Hours of Sebring for <a href="http://www.bmwblog.com">BMWBlog.com</a> and after last year, where a drunk guy hit my car while it was in the media lot, I had to sleep in my car and I netted about an hour's sleep before getting up at 6:45AM to cover the full race, the aftermath and then drive 4 hours home - I was hoping to avoid a lot of those hang ups. So, I got up at 3AM, dropped a Nikon D90, <a href="http://www.lensprotogo.com/product/nikon-70-200-f28-vr-ii/">rented 70-200mm f/2.8 lens</a>, and a few others into the front of the Cayman, gassed up on some Shell Premium and hit the road by 4AM. Being a finance and accounting guy, I'd already mapped out my route - I-95 to I-4 to US-27 South straight into Sebring - and mapped out an aggressive time and speed to hit the front gate within an hour of the gates opening on Saturday morning. God willing and with the help of a 997 Turbo and Corvette as lead cars - I managed to break my pre-conceived time and was walking thru the front gate by 7:30AM. The Cayman performed admirably - returning about 26MPG, comfort and a lot of fun for my first road trip in a Porsche.<br /><br />A quick tram ride later and I was into the circus that is the infield, standing atop the Gurney Terrace overlooking the pit lane, paddock and a bit of the infield. It was time for morning practice and a few shots in the lovely Florida morning light as the drivers and teams got one last shot at getting it right before the curtain went up on the 60th 12 Hours of Sebring. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6995868811/" title="#17 Falken Tire Porsche GT3 RSR by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/6995868811_a0a62e628d_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="#17 Falken Tire Porsche GT3 RSR"></a><br /><br />For the start of the race, I tucked back into a front row seat on the Gurney Terrace, just above BMW Team RLL's pit boxes. Sitting third and sixth in GT, the team at Rahal Letterman Lanigan had their work cut out for them. With guys like Auberlen, Hand and the two Mullers(Jorg & Dirk) - it was almost a forgone conclusion they'd make it around the Vette's and Ferrari's impeding their progress. My other major interest in the race? Watching what the trio of Audi R18's were going to do. <br /><br />When trying to take shots I had to remember a few things about the R18's: They're always leading the pack by a good few seconds and if I look away for a second, I could easily miss them bounding between turns. They're literally so quiet that if I looked down to change camera settings - a mechanical whoosh would brush by me only to look up and find an R18 right on top of me and already too far gone to get a shot. The R18's alone are worth trying to make it to an FIA WEC race before they go the way of Peugeot. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/7002006911/" title="Audi plowing thru 17A by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/7002006911_64a3762bd8_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Audi plowing thru 17A"></a><br /><br />I spent the afternoon wandering the infield, grabbing shots from a few small bluffs overlooking a handful of turns before finding a luxurious clump of trees at the edge of the run-off just beyond the Gurney Bend between Turns 6 & 7. From there I could people watch during the full course yellow from an accident a few turns away. Young and old, drunk and sober, clothed and partially nude - the 12 Hours of Sebring has it all in terms of people. The infield is a sea of beer bottles, cook outs, and pick up trucks mixed with high priced automotive exotica. The whole feeling is a enormous dichotomy that unknowingly still manages to work - even with guys wandering around, <a href="http://993c4s.com/porsche-motorsports/american-le-mans-series/sebring-cows-20th/">drunk and in cow costumes</a>. Rumor has it The Pit in the infield of Sebring has been a very raunchy place over the years but it would seem the current iteration has scaled it back somewhat - perhaps less sex on top of RVs in front of everyone to make it more family friendly?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/7001996089/" title="Pair of BMW M3 GT's by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7001996089_05a267c4eb_z.jpg" width="640" height="369" alt="Pair of BMW M3 GT's"></a><br /><br />By early evening, there were still seven GT cars on the lead lap and contending for first in class with a pair of BMW's some Corvettes and Ferrari's all pushing each other. Ironically, not much later the pair of Luxury Racing Ferrari 458's went out - I'm not sure what the problems were but their day ended prematurely. I found my way back over to the BMW Hospitality chalet on the edge of Turn 17A where I was treated to gourmet food while indulging in deafening racing mixed with another long full course yellow as one of the GTC 911's managed to have an off and plow directly into the tires. No injuries but it definitely took out the GT3 in addition to a big chuck of wall. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6855880502/" title="458 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/6855880502_fc2bf0341c_z.jpg" width="640" height="422" alt="458"></a><br /><br />Dinner was followed by a quick climb into the BMW Team RLL guest racing suit and it was into the pits right after a driver change with Dirk Muller coming out and Joey Hand going in to close out the last two hours of the race. In addition to the driver change BMW was able to get both cars out ahead of the Corvettes who had been some of the biggest competition over the previous 10 hours. Joey's car was beginning to develop a possible misfire so concerns were growing that the engine's health would quickly deteriorate before reaching the end of the race. Ironically, as everything seems to in ALMS, it came down to the last lap and it wasn't an engine problem which reared it's head but an AF Corse of Gianmaria Bruni who, 90 laps down, tried to make an improbably pass on Joey where there was no room to pass. Thus, Joey was bounced off-track while Bruni's teammate Olivier Beretta, who actually could have taken the lead from Hand after the spin, inexplicably spun as well and gave Joey the chance to rejoin the race and ultimately repass the limping Bruni and take first in the GT class. Amazing - after 12 hours of flat out racing, it still came down to the closing corners of the last lap. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/7002014127/" title="CORE by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/7002014127_e2965e322e_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="CORE"></a><br /><br />Despite an invite to camp out in the infield, I had to work the next morning. Piling all of my gear back into the Cayman, I extracted it out of the back of Lot 2, a grass and mud pit, and hit the road again drafting behind a Corvette Z06 most of the way to Orlando before getting slowed by late night traffic. Opening back up from Winter Park onward to Daytona and then onto Jacksonville I was hustling to just get home and into bed. Parking the Cayman, I realized I'd just driven over 7 hours in a day along with the fact that I'd been awake for about 23 hours and paced much of the full Sebring track. Yes, I was exhausted but to witness a sports car race of the caliber of Sebring? I'll sleep when I'm dead.<br /><br />For the full gallery - check out my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/sets/72157629618560143/">2012 12 Hours of Sebring</a>.Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-8550218409319570572012-03-13T22:19:00.005-04:002012-03-13T22:41:15.028-04:00The 2012 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in PhotosI was lucky enough to spend the entire weekend just 45 minutes North of Jax at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours. If you're reading this - you probably know Vic Elford was the guest of honor and 10 to 12 of the Ferrari 250 GTO's(nearly 1/3 of the word's population of the GTO's!) were present along with a handful of Shelby Cobras. <br /><br />I also was lucky enough to spend part of the weekend cruising the island in a 1971 Maserati Ghibli Spyder - 1 of 125 produced. More on that later, though! Below are a few of my favorite shots from the Concours and Saturday's Italian car show: The Concorso Atlantico. For those who haven't been yet - the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is a massive event - Porsches, Chevys, Caddys, Bentleys, BMWs, Ferraris - you name it, they've got a historically important road, concept or race car to represent those brands! This is definitely one of the premiere events in North America for classic cars. We even had a chance to speak with Wayne Carini of <span style="font-style:italic;">Chasing Classic Cars</span> fame on the Velocity Channel. I plan to continue going every year!<br /><br />You can find the full gallery here on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/sets/72157629201736698/">Flickr</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6974806327/" title="Ferrari 250 GTO #24 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6974806327_e70295937a_z.jpg" width="640" height="373" alt="Ferrari 250 GTO #24"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6828808788/" title="Another Balsawood shifter in the Porsche 907 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6828808788_21796afafc_z.jpg" width="640" height="341" alt="Another Balsawood shifter in the Porsche 907"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6828540888/" title="Ghibli and 330GTC by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6828540888_a2468cdfa7_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Ghibli and 330GTC"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6828613394/" title="Ferrari 250 Lusso Interior by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6828613394_8974fb58ba_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Ferrari 250 Lusso Interior"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6828884578/" title="unknown classic by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/6828884578_dd758b7028_z.jpg" width="640" height="464" alt="unknown classic"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6974869797/" title="Car #1 - Ford GT40 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6974869797_87b90f5e06_z.jpg" width="640" height="386" alt="Car #1 - Ford GT40"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6828389126/" title="Ferrari 250 GTO tour of Amelia Island by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6828389126_18dcfab1fa_z.jpg" width="640" height="326" alt="Ferrari 250 GTO tour of Amelia Island"></a>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-55730976369509606792012-03-13T20:57:00.008-04:002012-03-13T22:17:39.500-04:00The Times They Are a Changin'For the last 12 years I've been a BMW nut. Big time. For the last 10 years I've had an E46 3 Series in various forms and even segued that into working for the incredible <a href="http://www.BMWBlog.com">BMWBlog.com</a> for the last nearly 4 years. After deciding that having a 110,554 mile old BMW might not be practical - it was time to find a new car. <br /><br />After nearly pulling the trigger on an 2008 Melbourne Red E90 M3 with 48k miles and nearly no warranty left, the same weekend I managed to find a used 2007 Porsche Cayman at local Porsche dealer and race team Brumos Porsche. With the wife in tow, we went to check out the car on Saturday afternoon before shooting down to Daytona to take advantage of free tickets to the Bud ShootOut. In the brief test drive, one thing was readily apparent: the Cayman really is one of the best handling cars in the sub-$100k range and it's a tight car in terms of steering and feel, showing me that the 3 Series is still a lot of fun but feels much more loosy-goosy in terms of the controls. Having a flat-six engine buzzing away over your shoulder is also quite an experience. The Cayman does manage to quiet down some once you're into higher gears - but the noise it makes at 4,000+ RPMs will probably keep you from wanting to grab the next gear.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b44dcQpQano/T1_7TGWICEI/AAAAAAAAAtw/WG93DXtExzA/s1600/6960648797_efbbafc610_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b44dcQpQano/T1_7TGWICEI/AAAAAAAAAtw/WG93DXtExzA/s400/6960648797_efbbafc610_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719566357323319362" /></a><br /><br />After a day to think it over, on Veteran's Day I put in a full day at the office then headed back to Brumos that evening to pull the trigger on my first Porsche. The car itself was a 1 owner car with 43,905 miles when I picked it up. The Cayman is fairly stripped down with the only options being:<br /><br />-18 inch wheels<br />- Colored Crests on the Center Caps<br />- Premium Sound Plus package<br />- Heated Seats<br />- 5 Speed Manual (Obviously!!!)<br />- Standard Black Paint over Sand Beige Leather Seats<br /><br />The previous owner did quite a job on keeping the car both well-maintained and super clean. For a 5 year old car, the Cayman manages to hide its age on the outside while the interior feels basically brand new - I hope I can do it justice over my next few years of ownership. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zAkgeIisJHE/T1_7xxz8CQI/AAAAAAAAAt8/WasXJbCEMYw/s1600/6814548174_2b4476a213_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zAkgeIisJHE/T1_7xxz8CQI/AAAAAAAAAt8/WasXJbCEMYw/s400/6814548174_2b4476a213_b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719566884387162370" /></a><br /><br />So far over the course of the last three weeks the car has not disappointed. At just a hair over 2,900lbs and with Michelin Pilot Sports - the car's rear does not relinquish grip one iota. Fuel economy seems to be estimated at an enthusiast rating by Porsche at 19 City / 27 Highway(I've averaged 25 MPG on the highway at best) but perhaps it's my own prodigious right foot that's killing the economy. <br /><br />All in all, it was time for a change - let's see if PCars will be as rewarding an enjoyable as BMW has been(and continues to be!) I've not left the BMW brand forever - but it was time for a change. <br /><br />The Cayman will get it's first big test this weekend on my commute to the 12 Hours of Sebring, a 4 hour, 229 mile jaunt from Jacksonville to a tiny speck on the map of Central Florida. Be sure to keep an eye out on BMWBlog for our coverage of the 60th 12 Hours of Sebring and some photos to make an appearance here.Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-58467904314095970972012-01-01T14:07:00.007-05:002012-01-01T15:17:24.442-05:002011 in Pictures2011 has been a busy year and I've been slacking here so I figured I would give a quick recap of the year in photos thanks to my handy little D90. I've got a long way to progress with photography but I'm looking forward to 2012 and all of the opportunities to continue practicing!<br /><br />Fiat 500's at 2011 Detroit Auto Show<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5357314652/" title="Fiat 500 and...Fiat 500 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5086/5357314652_f214ffb56e_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Fiat 500 and...Fiat 500"></a><br /><br />Porsche 918 RSR Hybrid at 2011 Detroit Auto Show<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5357829341/" title="Porsche 918 RSR by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5010/5357829341_aa2483e6c2_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Porsche 918 RSR"></a><br /><br />BMW 1 Series M Coupe<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5356651085/" title="BMW 1 M Coupe - Rear by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5170/5356651085_00197fbb55_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="BMW 1 M Coupe - Rear"></a><br /><br />BMW E90 M3 from the Performance Center turning laps prior to the start of the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399621233/" title="BMW M3 burn outs! by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5057/5399621233_c86b68b846_z.jpg" width="640" height="521" alt="BMW M3 burn outs!"></a><br /><br />A crew member waits for the pit-in at the 24 Hours of Daytona<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399649521/" title="DSC_0806 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5213/5399649521_2f5ae95e44_z.jpg" width="425" height="640" alt="DSC_0806"></a><br /><br />Hometown Heroes Brumos Porsche running the night stint at the 24 Hours of Daytona <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399638891/" title="Brumos Porsche GT3 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5018/5399638891_2826b6a293_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Brumos Porsche GT3"></a><br /><br />BMW Team RLL M3 GT at the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5543990064/" title="BMW M3 GT leaving turn 17 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5172/5543990064_3dc8edd26d_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="BMW M3 GT leaving turn 17"></a><br /><br />Diesel Power<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5544020082/" title="Blitzing Audi R15++ by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5251/5544020082_a3d8ff19a3_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Blitzing Audi R15++"></a><br /><br />BMW M3 GT being escorted into Parc Ferme - after winning the grueling 12 Hours of Sebring<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5543483251/" title="Rolling the BMW M3 GT into Parc Ferme after winning the 12 Hours of Sebring by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5019/5543483251_dbe65294f1_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Rolling the BMW M3 GT into Parc Ferme after winning the 12 Hours of Sebring"></a><br /><br />Fishing in North Carolina<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5525024748/" title="DSC_0226 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5300/5525024748_8f40568d8e_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="DSC_0226"></a><br /><br /><br />Key West Trip<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5724290911/" title="DSC_0213 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2641/5724290911_54804fde55_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="DSC_0213"></a><br /><br />Key West Trip<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5724901814/" title="DSC_0295 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3157/5724901814_938354b9ee_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="DSC_0295"></a><br /><br />Downtown Jax<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6016743180/" title="Friendship Fountain by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6130/6016743180_ea70943e24_z.jpg" width="425" height="640" alt="Friendship Fountain"></a><br /><br />Playing with the GoPro<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6117538543/" title="GOPR0827 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6187/6117538543_54a75cff49_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="GOPR0827"></a><br /><br />9/11 Tribute at Everbank Field<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6138212516/" title="9/11 Tribute at Everbank Field by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6179/6138212516_d454470cb8_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="9/11 Tribute at Everbank Field"></a><br /><br />Audi R18 TDI - Debut at the Petit Le Mans<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6201948105/" title="Audi R18 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6152/6201948105_b20798beed_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Audi R18"></a><br /><br />Flying Lizard GT3 RSR at Turn 1 at 2011 Petit Le Mans<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6224383996/" title="Flying Lizard GT3 RSR thru Turn 1 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6040/6224383996_d84aa5a25a_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="Flying Lizard GT3 RSR thru Turn 1"></a><br /><br />BMW Team RLL M3 GT losing a tire!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6202477598/" title="#56 BMW M3 GT by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6173/6202477598_715cc072ba_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="#56 BMW M3 GT"></a><br /><br />BMW Z4 - powered by the new N20 motor - Hilton Head Island Concours<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6333812936/" title="BMW Z4 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6236/6333812936_63ffd0977e_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="BMW Z4"></a><br /><br />2012 BMW 528i<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6338795981/" title="DSC_0489 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6231/6338795981_3a5d67c966_z.jpg" width="640" height="424" alt="DSC_0489"></a><br /><br />Porsche 356 Coupe<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6338721155/" title="356 - Mesh by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6211/6338721155_e952e3604a_z.jpg" width="425" height="640" alt="356 - Mesh"></a><br /><br />Beach in Sea Pines - Hilton Head Island, SC<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6338781439/" title="DSC_0440 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6093/6338781439_c0972deb1c_z.jpg" width="640" height="425" alt="DSC_0440"></a>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-76178670710938864632011-10-08T10:13:00.006-04:002011-10-08T11:38:28.566-04:002011 Petit Le Mans in PhotosLast weekend (Yeah, this post is late!) I was lucky enough to attend the 14th Petit Le Mans at the beautiful Road Atlanta. It must be said that if you enjoy racing then the longer endurance races like Petit Le Mans(and really any race that is part of the ILMC) in North America are great just because of the turnout from the teams. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6201946991/" title="BMW M3 into turn 1 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6179/6201946991_17d48017a2_z.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="BMW M3 into turn 1"></a><br /><br />I was able to attend it due wholly to my association with <a href="http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/10/04/2011-petit-le-mans-gallery-and-season-wrap-up/">BMWBlog.com</a> and, aside from ripping the crotch out of my pants while scaling the pit wall, I had a great time! Audi brought their powerful but near silent R18's - the first closed cockpit answer from Audi to the reigning Peugeot 908's(at least in the US).In the GT class BMW had already locked up the team and driver championships but were still angling for an overall victory for the manufacturer's championship - however, they found themselves wedged behind an AF Corse Ferrari 458GT who eeked out pole position. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6201969477/" title="Audi R18 thru turn 1 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6201969477_4c175be882_z.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Audi R18 thru turn 1"></a><br /><br />Road Atlanta, and ALMS races themselves, are great to attend just for the high level of access it grants to all fans to the paddock and teams - something that lends to heightened interest by fans. Petit Le Mans opens up the grid for about 30 minutes with all cars and drivers in attendance to give fans a closer look at the machinery they're about to watch duke it out for the next 10 hours or 1,000 miles - whichever comes first. The field is so packed and the race so long there are bound to be a few retirements. The Lotus Evora seemed to struggle all day keeping grip before letting go and crashing out late in the day. There were also a few LMPs that has some off's and weren't able to re-enter the race. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6202468958/" title="Two wide into 12 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/6202468958_65a651d110_z.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Two wide into 12"></a><br /><br />Once the race kicks off - everyone settles in to their favorite spot on the track (usually the ones with the most shade) to see gleaming hunks of steel blast around the wavy, tree-laden hills of North Georgia. I found, as many already know, that Turn 10 is a great place to be and is what amounts to basically a mid-sized valley of red Georgia clay with a massive slab of asphalt snaking through, into a gravel pit, and up over a massive hill. I found this to be one of the best spots on the track to grab shots of the cars as they braked for 10 and climbed the hill and under the Audi bridge. Another great spot to shoot photos is the top of 5 to watch the cars pour into and up through the Esses on the back half of the track - unfortunately, I didn't make it over that way this year. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/6202464604/" title="Augusto Farfus by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6202464604_00f20ec074_z.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="Augusto Farfus"></a><br />I did manage to get a few decent shots while I was there. Here is a link to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/sets/72157627796965974/">Flickr gallery</a> and I've included a few shots here. Enjoy!Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-29116178370263322592011-07-30T22:17:00.001-04:002011-07-30T22:17:25.096-04:001970 Francorchamps Pits<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimculp/5273214572/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5123/5273214572_7034d6d6d1.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimculp/5273214572/">1970 Francorchamps Pits</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimculp/">prorallypix</a>.</span></div><p></p>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-6172552049657780542011-05-18T00:16:00.003-04:002011-05-18T00:22:51.225-04:00Vacationing in a McLaren MP4-12cI'm a bit nonplussed by the generic styling of the McLaren MP4-12c but equally excited about what it seems capable of. If the car is truly as good as described then it may be that the Ferrari 458 is going to quickly find itself in the number 2 spot of this segment. <br /><br />Regardless of all of that, I just got back from nearly a week of fishing, drinking, biking and swimming in the Florida Keys - a few days and over 2,000 miles in the newest baby McLaren still sounds like it might be a better proposition...Autocar seemed to think so!<br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vRy1zHAB2N8?hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-15974938070702340402011-04-25T18:26:00.004-04:002011-04-25T18:42:35.469-04:00Mk I Ford Escort Rebuilt - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cDR_CcxDOx4/TbX4KQdlS-I/AAAAAAAAAVc/BrfLxNVIvng/s1600/Escort%2BMK1%2B12.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Of all places, a British Ford Escort Mk I of rallying lore has turned up in Abu Dhabi for a quick restoration. Though, the quick restoration has turned into a 3 year project - it looks like things are going quite well. So far, the major upgrades are a full cage, a replacement 2,000cc Ford Duratec 4 cylinder and the deletion of leaf springs - all for good cause! <div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cDR_CcxDOx4/TbX4KQdlS-I/AAAAAAAAAVc/BrfLxNVIvng/s400/Escort%2BMK1%2B12.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599654566806506466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
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<br /></div><div>If the upgrades aren't enough for you - then hopefully the period orange will push you over the edge. </div></div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=fr&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.crankandpiston.com/20117783/ford-escort-mk1-reborn-in-dubai/&usg=ALkJrhidVUllWEqmAvoWlruaMy4gEXk7_A">Crank & Piston</a> via <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.blenheimgang.com/">Blenheim Gang</a></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-52675562874929161662011-04-24T20:40:00.002-04:002011-04-24T21:34:11.912-04:00Just Because It's Great...I'm eagerly awaiting the Senna debut on a wider scale in the U.S. - apparently coming this July. However, Top Gear did a great job summing up Ayrton Senna's career in a nearly 20 minute segment from a season or two ago. I happened to watch it again this morning and it gets me excited for the full film on his racing career. <div><br /></div><div>In case you haven't watched this yet - check it out now. Then I won't be alone in waiting in agony to see the full film! </div><div><br /></div><div><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F_rJH9XVIQA?hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kC9ZeCr5bEA?hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-61468332138639253772011-04-03T16:21:00.014-04:002011-04-03T21:16:06.969-04:00Quick Canon 60D ReviewI've been a Nikon fan since picking up a D40 during the Christmas of 2008. This was further reinforced by the fact that I'd inherited a large number of older, manual focus NIKKOR lenses. <div><br /></div><div>However, after watching a large number of videos of car reviews and just general camera-related videos I quickly caught onto the fact that Canon makes the best videos you can ask for in the DSLR market. I've gone from a D40 to a D5000 (for video) to my current camera - the Nikon D90 coupled with a handful of lenses. I've been impressed with the image quality of Nikon and I love the build quality of the D90. It feels like a tank and conveys a very solid feel to it with high quality plastics. The replacement camera - the D7000 - reportedly takes things a step further with two card slots and a higher megapixel CMOS sensor and better video frame rates, resolutions and in-video autofocus. </div><div><br /></div><div>The D90 has unfortunately been a disappointment when it comes to video. With a mono mic and no auxillary port to plug in a external mic, you're more or less stuck with either terrible sound from the tiny onboard mic or having to use an external mic and then sync up the audio with the video in post-production. The other big issue with the D90 video function is the jpeg-based codec which seems to create a significant amount of shutter roll if the camera or subject is moving too much. I've had a hard time trying to work around that. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hence the 60D. I picked it up from Best Buy during the 14 day return period just to confirm if I would like the camera or not. I've not shot with Canons before but of any other camera manufacturer - they are the most direct competitor to Nikon at every price point and feature. The 60D is said to be an evolution of the 50D and carries with it much of the guts of the notoriously good 7D. All good things - plus it has a 3.0 inch 1.04 million dot VGA screen that articulates. Some don't like that feature but I think its fantastic for shooting video - which was my main interest in the 60D. Speaking of the LCD display - it's quite beautiful, it makes every shot look clean and bright - perhaps deceivingly so as sometimes I was a little disappointed in lens shake I saw on my laptop that I didn't necessarily detect when reviewing a shot in-camera. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nikon D90 @ 165mm @ f/10.0:</div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5544024558/" title="Risi 458 GT by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5544024558_8190345269.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Risi 458 GT" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Other benefits are the in-camera audio control, 720P HD video at 60 frames per second and 1080P at 24 and 30 fps. First off, this thing is smooth at 60 fps in 720P. I played with that setting while in a moving car and had significantly less shutter roll and very sharp picture quality. Motion seems far less disruptive to the video than my experience with either my D5000 or D90. The stereo mic is also much less sensitive to my hands adjusting the lens or playing with settings while recording. That said, the autofocus on the EF-S 18-135mm kit lens is very, very loud compared to the Nikons and you will hear some "whirring" while recording if you try to autofocus. However, this can thankfully be offset as the 60D comes with an input jack for an external mic to sync up the sound and video at once. I haven't had a chance to play with this feature yet but it's reassuring to know its there compared to my D90 or even the newer D3100. Canon has made a point of adding this feature to most, if not all, of their line-up and its definitely a feature Nikon needs to get onboard with. </div><div><br /></div><div>Build quality on the Canon feels a little disappointing compared to the Nikon, though. The body feels plasticy and almost a bit hollow despite a nice overall weight. The lens feels like a bigger disappointment with a lot of play in the lens tube from the body of the lens. It also feels like a lesser quality plastic - that said, the lens does take quite sharp pictures. The EF-S 18-55mm lens has a received a bit of criticism for not doing the most for the user in terms of sharpness but I didn't detect any of that with the 18-135mm. It's also nice to have an extra 30mm of zoom over the similar Nikon 18-105mm lens that comes with the D90/D7000. </div><div><br /></div><div>Canon 60D @ 135mm @ f/9.0:</div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5586943626/" title="Elvis by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5586943626_cf70d4b061.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Elvis" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My only other qualms with the 60D are the controls - I do prefer Nikon's layout and ergonomics over Canon. The D90/D7000 has two wheels - one just below the shutter button on the front and one at the back and to the right of the view finder - easily actuated by the index finger and thumb without moving the camera from your face to tweak the shutter speed and aperture. The 60D executes the same function but instead of a rear-mounted dial for the shutter speed it makes due with a wheel further down the rear of the camera by the LCD - harder to reach and actuate without moving the camera from your face. </div><div><br /></div><div>Canon also made a poor decision ergonomically by the need to press a button before you're able to move the camera settings dial on the top left of the camera - hard to do in a snap. Additionally, the menus feel less refined/intuitive compared to Nikon's interface. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still on the fence with the Canon 60D at the end of the day. I really love the ergonomics of Nikon. It's hard to make a justification for the 60D given the picture quality is very similar. The 60D as a video camera AND DSLR is where it really shines for someone who's getting into videography/photography for the first time or needs a slightly more affordable camera than the 7D. I haven't tried Nikon's latest offering in the D7000 yet but I get the impression that the Canons still have the upper hand with video. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've included sample videos that I shot with the D90 and then the 60D - both were run through Final Cut Express to process. The D90 video is from the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring and shot in 720P at 24 frames per second while the 60D was shot in 720P at 60 fps and a simple video in the car and of the pets. The quality should improve with your own results, I'm still working through how to get the best output possible from Final Cut.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nikon D90 - shot with 18-55mm VR lens and 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens</div><div><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mcR5pWxuAro?hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Canon 60D - shot with 18-135mm VR lens</div><div><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lr5QPJN_8bw?hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-80319878030711999042011-04-02T00:33:00.001-04:002011-04-02T00:33:36.563-04:00McLaren F1 & 3.0 CSL<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49513238@N06/5435356614/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5435356614_775bc2721b.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49513238@N06/5435356614/">McLaren F1 & 3.0 CSL</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49513238@N06/">swerney</a>.</span></div><p></p>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-85257453493557372352011-02-20T21:08:00.005-05:002011-02-20T22:13:27.419-05:00Historic Cars of Historic SavannahSurprising how many interesting little cars cropped up this weekend while in Savannah, Georgia. We cruised up I-95 for a quick weekend getaway and stayed in downtown historic Savannah right off of the waterfront. Most of the trip seemed to revolve around eating at the local places like Uncle Bubba's Oyster House and the Lady and Sons restaurant (if you know who Paula Deen is then you know these places). I'm definitely not complaining though - best Southern food I've had in a long time! <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5463577176/" title="Lady & Sons by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5463577176_0c788ffb22.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="Lady & Sons" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>On the second day of the trip, I had to get up early and walk from the hotel up River Street (great spot on the waterfront - pinnacle of the Historic area) and over the Congress Street to get in line for a reservation at Lady & Sons restaurant. After about an hour of waiting, I made the reservation and began to head back to the hotel at which point I unsurprisingly got lost. The silver lining was that I stumbled across this original, off-white Toyota Land Cruiser in daily driver shape. I love original SUVs because they were actually built for utility - not hauling kids to school. This particular model is an FJ40 and had a few signs of rust but was in otherwise great shape. I'm unsure of the year but my guess is its one of the earlier model years. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5463582552/" title="DSC_0556 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5463582552_6080451a3a.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0556" /></a></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5462981757/" title="4 Wheel Drive! by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5462981757_dbcb616621.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="4 Wheel Drive!" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I shot these on my Nikon D90 with a NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8 so I couldn't frame these as well as I'd liked but it worked(I also had to get back for breakfast!) After lunch, we stopped by the Murphy House in Chipewa Square and I found this Mercedes-Benz 220 Diesel parked right out front. I wandered around and snapped a few photos of it. This W115 had a great little "200,000KM" badge on the front (almost 125,000 miles) and was accompanied by the earlier "100,000KM" badge. Given the wear and tear of the Benz I'd say it's done far more miles than that. The lamp and bumper over the tail pipe looks like it too quite a bit of soot from heavy diesel exhaust. The paint looked gone and the wheels were showing rust but the car seemed to fit in perfectly amongst the old world buildings in Savannah.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5462994451/" title="nose of the 220 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5462994451_a6caa4f148.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="nose of the 220" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5462995357/" title="220 Diesel by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5462995357_6432b3dbea.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="220 Diesel" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After that, I spotted a standard looking but fit E28 5 Series hiding out in the parking deck of the hotel. The 5er came with period square driving lamps under the front bumper. I happened to see a few other E28's scattered around some of the small squares and diving across back alleys. Old German iron seems to be the perfect car of choice for Historic Savannah!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5463586014/" title="E28 hiding in the parking deck by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5463586014_3e8c73d9e3.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="E28 hiding in the parking deck" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-28877501452161046692011-02-14T20:45:00.003-05:002011-02-14T21:53:40.076-05:00Racing with Clean DieselsFound this little gem after poking around for historic racing footage. It's a small documentary of the inaugural season of the Volkswagen TDI Cup from 2008. The TDI Cup pits equally-matched Jetta TDI's against one another with the focus on determining which of the thirty drivers selected should go pro. <div><br /></div><div>Volkswagen's intent is to build a feeder series that whittles 600 drivers down to 100 and on down to 30 as the best of the series. The point being to both highlight the up and coming drivers between 16 and 26 years old and the efficient-yet-still-quite-enjoyable Jetta diesel. </div><div><br />From first glance, one would think that a diesel race series would be a boring but from the footage it appears to be anything but! Cars slamming into each other, flipping, spinning and running into the armco is far more exciting and plays out across some wonderful North American tracks like Mid-Ohio, Road America and the VIR. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is great little documentary to see what its like in the feeder series in North America. I believe it's two parts - I'm looking for the second part of the documentary. Also attached is the 2009 documentary in full with some of the drivers from the original series reprising their helmets for a few more laps in the Jetta's as veteran drivers. Either way, interesting to see such young drivers compete for a professional drive - some still under 20 years old! The racing seen in this series is in many ways more intense and interesting than many of the U.S.-based racing series' you'll see.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19048785" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/19048785">Racing Under Green pt 1</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/alexking">Alex King & Mito Media</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/9187457" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/9187457">Racing Under Green 2009</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2803361">Volkswagen Motorsports</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-81937058688084905482011-02-12T12:03:00.004-05:002011-02-12T12:06:40.462-05:00Why I'm a Nikon Fan...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0j3ayFooZw/TVa9yPsZPBI/AAAAAAAAAVM/xo-MmSOFB2M/s1600/tumblr_lc59uxTxb11qapwfro1_500.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j0j3ayFooZw/TVa9yPsZPBI/AAAAAAAAAVM/xo-MmSOFB2M/s400/tumblr_lc59uxTxb11qapwfro1_500.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572850259821411346" /></a><br />I love my Nikon D90 - and my love is reaffirmed through Sir Jackie Stewart's own appreciation of the brand - as exhibited here.<div><br /></div><div>via Tumblr of <a href="http://sharonov.tumblr.com/post/3164933649">Coolamundo</a><br /> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-26699827924582573242011-02-12T10:45:00.006-05:002011-02-12T11:45:49.737-05:00Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona<div>At 4:30AM I departed for the 49th 24 Hours of Daytona in sunny Daytona Beach, Florida - mercifully less than 2 hours South of my place. I piled into a tastefully modified E46 330i with heavy Dinan upgrades and was blasted down to Bill France Boulevard and by 8:30AM on race day I was putzing around the paddock. </div><div><br /></div><div>I ran into a friend, Steve Maguire of United BMW of Roswell, and a handful of instructors from the BMW M School who I'd had the pleasure of learning from previously. After very little coercing on their part, I was seated in the passenger seat of a 2011 E90 M3 Competition Package and off for a hot lap around the freshly paved Daytona circuit. More on that lap is <a href="http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/02/08/155mph-in-an-e90-m3-around-daytona-video/">here on BMWBlog</a> - who was nice enough to get me down to Daytona in the first place!</div><div><br /></div><div>After the lap, we got out and tried to sneak into the Brumos Porsche Panamera S that was pounding around the circuit courtesy of the legend Hurley Haywood. However, after digging for well-fitted helmets in the Brumos bin they shut down the VIP sessions for the historic racers to take some laps.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the historics the big dogs rolled out and kicked off the 49th 24 Hours of Daytona. I was really happy to see the Brumos Porsche team back in 911's to compete with - theirs was a 997 GT3 Cup Car. I spoke with the team principal(who also owns the team) and their philosophy changed to one that they should only compete in vehicles which they sell on the showroom floor. I especially loved their tribute to former co-owner Bob Snodgrass with the name "Bob" in place of the typical "GT3" badging. I inquired about Hurley Haywood's retirement after last year and apparently as soon as he saw the car for the 2011 season the retirement was off! </div><div><br /></div><div>As the racing kicked off I found my way into the pits for a while to observe each team's pits - I saw Joey Hand, the soon-to-be-winner in the Chip Ganassi Racing pits and fellow BMW GT driver Bill Auberlen in the Turner Motorsport pits ready to drive the M3 in GT class. Unfortunately, both the the Brumos GT3 and Turner M3 ran into problems throughout the night and spent extended amounts of time in the pits for repairs. Shame to see two great teams sidelined by mechanical issues. </div><div><br /></div><div>By morning, the BMW-Dinan-powered Daytona Prototypes were on the move and trying to find a gap between the Porsche Action Express Racing DP cars. Joey Hand drove an incredible triple stint and came out complaining of a numb right foot - rightfully so! However, Joey's driving is probably the reason the Chip Ganassi car ultimately won the race. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even more unbelievable was that after the last caution lap, the final 2 minutes of the race still came down to a sprint race for the BMW's to hold off the Porsche's and taking the 1-2 finish. Ironically, it was the 01 car in first and the 02 car in second! Great to see the youngest Rahal win his first 24 Hours of Daytona and Joey Hand win as well in his first attempt!</div><div><br /></div><div>I put together a few of my favorite photos below. The full <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/sets/72157625812299161/">Flickr gallery is here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399621233/" title="BMW M3 burn outs! by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5399621233_c86b68b846.jpg" width="500" height="407" alt="BMW M3 burn outs!" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399649661/" title="DSC_0801 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5399649661_1c098daf12.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0801" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5400256726/" title="DSC_1027 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5400256726_5730439d22.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1027" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399626135/" title="Ferrari 330 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5399626135_3e6b909ac5.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Ferrari 330" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399620791/" title="Vintage Brumos Porsche 911 S by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5173/5399620791_018932ca16.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Vintage Brumos Porsche 911 S" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399638891/" title="DSC_0428_2 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5399638891_2826b6a293.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0428_2" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5399649521/" title="DSC_0806 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5399649521_2f5ae95e44.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_0806" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/5400254368/" title="DSC_0879 by Murph32256, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5400254368_6d9834f1fe.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0879" /></a></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-71051487883813747762011-02-12T10:44:00.001-05:002011-02-12T10:45:27.996-05:00I'm LazySorry for the long pause between posts - between work and everything else - it's been a busy few months. I hope to be posting more often!Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-69484995915781574712010-12-19T02:23:00.003-05:002010-12-19T03:29:59.613-05:00The Best F1 Documentary You've Seen.I happened to find this on Vimeo after watching the Lotus Goes Turbo video on Axis of Oversteer. <div><br /></div><div>It's an excellent, well-shot and well-narrated movie about Formula One in the mid-1970's - a time many consider to be the pinnacle of F1. A time when racing was simply man and machine, a tenuous grasp on advanced technologies and sponsorship dollars and the grip of Bernie Eccelstone had yet to ruin the sport. </div><div><br /></div><div>This particular movie seems to stretch from roughly 1970 to the 1973 season from what I can tell. It centers around Formula One and Jackie Stewart but most of the time is spent with Francois Cevert and the up and coming world championship. Sadly, we all know how the ultimate race of the '73 ended for Cevert. </div><div><br /></div><div>Beyond just Francois, they have interviews with a handful of other important racers of the time such as Mike Hailwood and Peter Revson and show a very dark side of racing - one that seems to be a race car driver against the world, all alone. What's most shocking is that many of the drivers that were interviewed throughout the documentary are no longer alive - many killed on track. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aside from the insight into the drivers, it has an amazing amount of period footage at Watkins Glen, Montjuic, Monaco, and Monza and many other tracks. If you're an F1 fan - especially one who likes the heyday of racing - check out this video, you'll not be disappointed and this is an excellent way to burn time on a Sunday morning. </div><div><br /></div><div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17632646" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/17632646">Champions Forever</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2790658">gt4zone</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-29543857892581147772010-11-25T17:18:00.003-05:002010-11-25T18:06:14.769-05:00Happy Turkey Day and a Tribute to Jim ClarkHappy Turkey Day, everyone! <div><br /></div><div>I'm about to enter round 2 of turkey day festivities but before I did I wanted to post this up. It's an hour long tribute to Jim Clark and does a wonderful job chronicling his career throughout F1, Formula 2 and sports car racing. It has a lot of period footage of about 3 or 4 seasons from Formula 1 and some great information about his foray into the Indianapolis 500 with Lotus and the challenges that kept the team from taking further victories. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you're tired of football or ready to pass out from too much turkey - this is a good little clip to watch and catch up on the career of one of the best racing drivers of all time. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/8709465" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/8709465">Jim Clark</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user588294">TravisD</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-51033231354176380562010-11-24T18:01:00.001-05:002010-11-24T18:01:13.009-05:00Quickie from Pre-12 Hours of Sebring<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/4495391671/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4495391671_d685ac318f.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/4495391671/">DSC_0857</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/47919079@N04/">Murph32256</a>.</span></div><p></p>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-11111892500432373742010-11-22T23:53:00.001-05:002010-11-22T23:53:42.475-05:00Nikon 35mm f/1.8 + Porsche 962<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/4549031862/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/4549031862_00b7963001.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/4549031862/">Brumos porsche Copenhagen 962</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/47919079@N04/">Murph32256</a>.</span></div><p>'nuff said</p>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-65457308208793334242010-11-09T21:20:00.003-05:002010-11-09T22:21:29.467-05:00Being on Team McLaren in 1975I came across this little 25 minute video on Vimeo and thought it would be interesting to pass along. It's a fairly intimate look at the Team McLaren during the '75 season with Emerson Fittipaldi in his last year with McLaren and the secondary driver Jochen Mass - both at the wheel of the M23 powered by the Cosworth DFV. Ironically, this would be Fittipaldi's last season with McLaren before he would leave to endure an unsuccessful stint on his brother Wilson's Fittipaldi Automotive team. The following season, McLaren would pick up rogue driver James Hunt who would battle down to the wire to beat Ferrari 312T driver Niki Lauda by a single point during the typhoon of a grand prix at Mt. Fuji. <div><br /></div><div>What's especially interesting, though sometimes a little slow, is that the video provides tremendous insight into the minds of Fittipaldi and Mass in the moments before a race as they mentally prepare for automotive combat. As I said, there are times where the video is a bit slow and doesn't move but having basically 25 minutes of in-pit time from 1975 is an important view into the manner in which the teams were run 35 years ago. From what I can tell, much of the racing sequences were filmed at Interlagos on a few years after it was added to the calendar - and the team and drivers appear fairly lackadasical by comparison to when the team fell under the iron fist of Ron Dennis bringing it into today's iteration of Team McLaren. </div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16014505" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16014505">McLaren 1975</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2790658">gt4zone</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-13982568970421485262010-11-07T21:22:00.007-05:002010-11-07T21:49:58.978-05:00Self Promotion: My Nikon D5000 for saleI<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> just picked up a factory-refurbished Nikon D90 camera body off of eBay and as a result I'm selling my Nikon D5000 and related gear. The D5000 was just recently discontinued - however, noted photographer and Nikon enthusiast Ken Rockwell thought so much of the D5000 that he called it the "</span><a href="http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">For the best possible camera for just about anything, fun or serious, I'd get the Nikon D5000</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">."</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The D5000 is an excellent, highly capable camera - I just happened to want something that gave me a bit more hands-on control of settings. The D5000 is currently listed on </span><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250723303664&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_596wt_1141"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">eBay</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> for a starting bid of $624.99. With the D5000 body you also get:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- Nikon D5000 12.3MP camera body</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- two-battery Opteka battery grip with vertical shutter release button for portrait shots and increased control</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- 4 D5000/Opteka grip-compatible rechargeable batteries(these work great! used 2 for almost the entire Petit Le Mans shooting 1,800 photos and 1 hour of video)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- Battery charger</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- AV output cables</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- All books and documentation</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- USB to PC/Mac adapter </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- Nikon camera strap</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">- Nearly unused Nikon camera bag</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">* An Nikon 18-55mm VR lens is also available for a bit more money if someone is interested</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The camera has only 12,661 shutter clicks since I bought the camera around March/April of 2010. I shot the entire Petit Le Mans video and my photos on it. You can find the Flickr set of the </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47919079@N04/sets/72157625090750650/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Petit Le Mans photos</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> and the video of Petit Le Mans below. Feel free to contact me regarding any questions! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><object width="640" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ie3o8hdm6AU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ie3o8hdm6AU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="480"></embed></object></div>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320230514350723557.post-47185125795742407132010-11-07T20:35:00.004-05:002010-11-07T21:10:44.402-05:00A 10 Minute History of the Porsche 917I've hit a bit of a slump with content and seem to continually fuel things with Porsche content. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be letting up as I found this clip about the Porsche 917. I've loved this car since I first saw it and not surprisingly due to the McQueen movie <span style="font-style:italic;">Le Mans</span>. While 10 minutes may seem like not much time to cover the prolific history of the 917 - the hosts manage to quite a lot with little time.<br /><br />The clip covers the development of the 917K and 917LH a bit but has wonderful insight from 917 drivers Brian Redman and Richard Attwood. What's especially interesting is to listen to Attwood's account of the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans and how he and the team made the conscious decision to stick with the smaller 4.5 liter flat-12 engine over the larger, more powerful 4.9 liter flat-12. In the end, the tortoise beat the hare as the smaller displacement 917K of Hermann and Attwood was reliable enough to go the distance and take the overall win at the Circuit de la Sarthe.<br /><br />The clip also goes into detail about Porsche's move into Can Am to steal the show from the dominant McLaren's with a turbocharged 917/10 putting out a frightening almost 1,000HP. Additionally, a bit of insight is given to Porsche's test of the 917/30 at Talladega with Mark Donohue behind the wheel to set the FIA record for average closed circuit speed record of about 221 mph. Sadly, Donohue, a very accomplished racer, would be killed a few days later in what was initially thought to be a minor injury in at Austrian Grand Prix.<br /><br />Hope you enjoy it! Shame that outrageous cars like this are no longer fit to race - no modern racers seem to come close to the brutal, relentless 917.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/5712119" width="400" height="229" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5712119">Porsche 917</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2068225">Mee</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>Murphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741103709259713250noreply@blogger.com0