Jesse James working on custom chopper for Airstream
This is the second time that James has released a new bike at the show, the first being back in ‘06 with his Radial Hell bike (shown above) that is powered by a Rotec 7-cylinder radial engine normally reserved for powering aircraft. We’re always up for a new take on motorcycle design, and the idea of strapping the Monster bike to an old Airstream trailer has us wondering just what Jesse’s bike will look like.
[Source: Legend of the Motorcycle]
Bond stunt driver takes plunge into lake in Aston Martin DBS
At 6:30 that morning, a stunt driver coming a scene for the next James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, lost control of an Aston Martin DBS additonally filming a chase scene and plunged to Lake Garda in Italy. The film’s executive producer, Anthony Waye, alleged who the scene was making shot in the pouring rain, and although the DBS did not go on it is unplanned excursion to the water, the driver sustained one and only tinier injuries and was released according to the hospital in the past right now afternoon. MI6 declined to comment on the incident, but a spokesperson for the agency remarked such a the submersible kit for the Aston was underneath development. Too little, too late Q.
Thanks for the tip MaTTia.
[Source: Reuters.it - translated]
9-year-old Mick Schumacher makes his race debut in Spain
[Source: F1-Live, Photo: as.com]
With seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher retired from Formula One and his kid brother Ralf moving on to DTM, the racing world was just getting used to the idea of the post-Schumacher era. Racing fans, however, can look forward to the continuation of the dynasty, as Michael’s nine-year-old son has taken to the track himself.
Mick Schumacher got behind the wheel of an Alonso kart, ironically, for a low-level event in Spain, finishing the two races tenth and eighth, and will proceed to three more rounds in the series.
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VIDEO: Danica Patrick hits crew member on pit lane at Indy
We are soooo glad Danica Patrick hearts Autoblog because during practice at Indy yesterday, she accidentally struck a pit crew member of a competing team. Dale Coyne Racing’s Charles Buckman, the chief mechanic for Mario Moraes, suffered a concussion as well as scalp and facial cuts after being hit and then sailing over Danica’s car in pit row.
According to several trackside eyewitnesses, the incident was completely not Danica’s fault. Apparently, Indy’s pit area was busier and more congested than usual due to a weather delay, and Buckman took one step too many to the right just as Danica was pitting. He was taken to Methodist Hospital and is expected to recover fully from his injuries. For his part, Buckman says he doesn’t remember many details about the incident.
People at the track said Danica and her teammates were visibly shaken by the accident. Marco Andretti saw the accident happen, and told Sports Illustrated, “It’s a dangerous situation; a crowded pit lane, a lot going on. You don’t like to see that kind of thing but it’s not Danica’s fault. Stuff happens. Racing is dangerous. We’re very concerned and hopefully it will turn out good.” Thanks for the tip, Joe!
[Source: Sports Illustrated]
Knight Rider producer interviewed: Turbo Boost, Battlestar Galactica and new Attack Mode
We all know what a disaster the 2-hour Knight Rider movie was (click here for a refresher). Regardless, the return of the series has been green lit for the Fall and Shadowy Flight recently sat down for an interview with Gary Scott Thompson, Executive Producer and Showrunner of the series. Thompson’s credentials include creating the show Las Vegas and the original Fast and the Furious movie, and he also points out that he had nothing to do with the 2-hour Knight Rider movie that aired in February. The show’s new EP revealed that he and his writers are leaving the 2-hour movie in the past. His new writing staff, which includes writers from Lost, Prison Break and Smallville, but also Walker, Texas Ranger and Charmed, is dealing with some of those plot points introduced in the movie that now can’t be ignored, but are basically going to start all over again with the first episode.
You can check out the two-part interview by hitting the source link below, but the major bit of news revealed is that Turbo Boost will again be part of KITT’s arsenal, though the technology will be reinvented for this era where fast cars that jump aren’t all that mind blowing. Thompson also told Shadowy Flight that the overly winged Attack Mode KITT is being redone and will be different than the one seen in the movie. Finally, Thompson compares his Knight Rider series that’s still in gestation to one of our favorite shows on TV, Battlestar Galactica. Both are reinventions of older TV shows, but BG is currently the shining light of modern television, while Knight Rider has gotten off to an extremely rough start. We hope it compares to the weekly trials of Admiral Adama and the crew of Galactica, but we’re not holding our breath. Thanks for the tip, Neil!
[Source: Shadowy Flight]
Nick Hogan sentenced to 8 months in jail
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Today in Clearwater, Florida, a judge sentenced Nick Bollea, son of famous WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan, to eight months in jail for reckless driving. Last August Bollea crashed his father’s yellow modified Toyota Supra into a palm tree while street racing. Not only did he total the car, but his friend John Graziano who was riding shotgun that night will now require lifetime medical care for his critical injuries. The young Hogan was reportedly led off to serve his sentence immediately after it was handed down by the judge. In addition to the jail time, Bollea will also be on probation for five years and lose his drivers license for three. After all the hoopla that’s led us to this point in Nick Bollea’s tragic story, the only thing we can say is that the roads are probably safer tonight.
[Source: USA Today]
Harley-Davidson gets into product placement in new Indiana Jones flick
It seems that the marketing folks at Harley-Davidson have managed to get a bit of product placement for themselves, following the likes of Audi with Iron Man, Volkswagen with The Bourne Ultimatum and GM with Transformers. The new Indiana Jones movie, titled ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull’ features both Harrison Ford and Shia The Le Beouf riding what appears at first glance to be an old Harley. Upon closer inspection, the bike is actually a new model, complete with fuel injection and Harley’s new six-speed transmission. The movie-crew manages to make the bike look much older by using parts from older machines, such as the old Sportster tank and pre-war “beehive” tail light. Look real close and you may even notice the fake kick-starter which must just be welded to the frame.
As a celebration of the upcoming movie’s use of the bike, every Harley dealership will reportedly get the chance to order 30 pairs of free tickets to the movie to be given away as a promotion to customers.
[Source: Cyril Huze Blog, Harrison Ford Web]
New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss starts NASCAR team
America’s two most popular spectator sports – football and stock-car racing – are about to cross paths as the New England Patriots’ star wide receiver Randy Moss has announced plans to launch his own NASCAR team. Perhaps after losing Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants back in January, Moss is really starting to think about what to do with his time after this whole football thing runs its course.
His new team named Moss Motorsports will begin competing at select races in this year’s Craftsman Truck series in preparation for a full-on assault in the 2009 season at the same level. Details like drivers, sponsors and an engine supplier have yet to be announced, but Moss, who has long been involved with urban youth programs, plans to incorporate his racing team into his social projects.
[Source: AutoWeek, Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty]
Eye Candy: “Go Speed Racer Go
The music video for the updated Speed Racer theme, “Go Speed Racer Go”, has hit the web, and while the song itself gets annoying after a couple of verses (how many times can you listen to that refrain before going insane?), the actual video is mesmerizing. There’s a lot of footage that hasn’t been seen in the trailers and ads so far, and the cartoon come-to-life visuals are simply eye-popping. In that respect, anyone who ponies up ten bucks for a ticket is going to get his or her money’s worth. Hopefully, the strength of the story can match the undeniable visual power the Wachowski’s onscreen kaleidoscope is set to deliver. At least one early review indicates that may not be the case, unfortunately. We’ll wait ’till we see it ourselves next weekend to pass final judgement. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the new video after the jump.
[Source: Ain’t It Cool News]
T-minus 45 days to Top Gear and Jezzampsterlow
If you’ve been repetitively clicking the Top Gear website and reading the Sunday Times while you wait for the new season of Top Gear, your hour of deliverance is nearly at hand. Jeremy Clarkson (Jezza), Richard Hammond (Hamster), and James May (Captain Slow) will be returning June 15 with brand new episodes that will deliver more of the same-old same-old: automotive praise and abuse with English wit, absurd car challenges, and general hilarity. Ready, set, Tivo… Thanks for the tip, MIke!
[Source: Final Gear]
