It was August 1980, in Jesolo, Italy. Ayrton Senna, aged 20, lay in a deck chair by the hotel pool—steely-eyed, angry. He had been beaten the day before in one of the world’s most prestigious karting events, a race he had dominated until the final lap.
You’ve probably seen the driverless race car that’s set to compete in a new series called “Roborace.” Come later this year, teams will do battle on city streets and purpose-built racetracks in what is being dubbed the “battle of algorithms.” The consensus among race fans remains that this is an awful idea. But I’m not…
I’m a child, just like you. I like to go sideways, in a plume of my own tire smoke. I enjoy opposite lock, balancing the throttle and brake in a smooth, effortless symphony. Generally I prefer to do this on gravel. Sounds familiar, right?
You’ve never felt nerves like those on the morning of the Indianapolis 500.
I knew it was coming. That feeling of utter helplessness, of panic. I was sweating profusely. The question of “if” was gone, replaced by “when”—a question that was to be answered about 15 seconds later. I zipped down my race suit to act as a sick bag, lifted my helmet as best I could, and prepared for the inevitable.…
The 25 Hours of Thunderhill is a race that remains far more grueling than the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Why? Because—in an event designed for amateurs—shit breaks, people crash, drivers sleep in freezing trailers (not $500,000 RVs), and blind corners hide many wayward Miatas.
When life gives you lemons, drive an Acura NSX.
By now, you’ve probably spotted a few Dodge Darts on your local roads; after all, they have been on sale for practically six-months. The first drives of the Dart came around the time we were adjusting our review format, meaning we haven’t yet unearthed its digits. Given the buzz surrounding the resurrection of the…
Throughout the How To Drive Fast series, I’ve offered opinions based on the experience I’ve amassed during my 17-years behind the wheel. The whole basis of this column is to help you drive faster, and learn the tricks and techniques utilized in the quest for victory. But for this piece, I turned to my friends for…
Tucked away in a factory, deep in the heart of England, a group of engineers worked tirelessly through the winter. Their dream was to craft a World Championship winning machine, capable of re-writing the history books. They garnered the most powerful engines, enlisted the world’s fastest drivers, and constructed an…
Most of my “How To Drive Fast” column is, unsurprisingly, about how to drive fast. As well as posing techniques, some of my pieces offer a glimpse into the inner-workings of motorsport, while others are just plain ridiculous. Siphoning through the bunch, you’ll notice I haven’t much talked about safety. So let’s start…
One man has blown up my twitter in the past 48 hours. That man is fellow Jalopnian, James F Johnson Jr. (@dmidwestredneck), and he desperately wants me to race in Robby Gordon’s new Stadium Super Truck Series. And, if you look at the kickass video below, it isn’t hard to see why.
The Fiat 500 Abarth is one of the most hoonable cars on planet Earth. Despite being front-wheel drive, shaped like an Ostrich egg (and measuring about the same size), it oozes character, flamboyance, and drivability. It is, in fact, impossible to drive the little Abarth and not hoon – regardless of what the trip…
Entering the turn, aboard a NISMO 370Z, I stabbed the clutch, hit the gas, and turned a hard left. The backend pivoted heroically, the rear tires bellowed smoke, and I felt like the most badass motherfucker in history.
Stories are told about how drivers change when the helmet goes on, the visor slams shut and the engines roar to life. Some say the "nice guy" demeanor is replaced by a wild, savage creature desperate for success, no matter the consequences.
Ever wondered what happens when a professional racecar driver steps out of his car during a race weekend? You might imagine a mass of flashing cameras, adoring fans, and servants delivering gallons of caviar to $2 million motorhomes. But that, unfortunately for racers, is not the case.
If you've been so busy making tender love to your fake girlfriend and you've been unable to catch the news let me fill you in: Lance Armstrong admitted to cheating. Many of us did know that Lance Armstrong doped throughout his career, and a few nights back, he finally fessed up.
Cheating in sports is unfortunately…
What makes Jimmie Johnson so much better than Dale Jr.? Why can Felipe Massa never keep pace with Fernando Alonso? What is it that makes the top drivers stand tall above the rest? Is it purely a greater dedication to the cause, or maybe they're just braver? Perhaps it is simply a matter of genetics?
Let's face it: racing is expensive. Many people can't afford to purchase a car, make it race-ready, and then proceed to crash it every weekend. Indoor go-karting, therefore, may be the most cost effective way to express your inner Jeff Gordon.
How does one prepare for the deciding round of the Formula One World Championship? If you're 1976 World Champion James Hunt, you embark on a rampage of alcohol, cannabis and cocaine. You might also have sex with 33 flight attendants in two weeks.
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