Why Driverless Race Cars Are The Answer To Motorsport’s Biggest Problem

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 Threw Up Mexican Food In A Former F1 Driver’s Race Car
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.…
How To Drive Fast At Thunderhill
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.
2013 Dodge Dart: The Jalopnik Review
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…
How To Achieve The Perfect Lap: As Told By The World’s Fastest Drivers
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…
How McLaren Built The Greatest Formula One Car Of All-Time
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…
Why You Should Brake With Your Left Foot
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…
Why A Man Wants Me To Race A 600-hp Stadium Super Truck
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 Ultimate Guide To Hooning: Fiat 500 Abarth
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…
Every Sport Is Full Of Lance Armstrongs
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 A Good Driver Great?
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?
Why Today’s Racecar Drivers Are So Damn Boring
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.