I’m not sure how to say this and still sound rational, but if I were going to stalk anyone, it would be Sabine Schmitz.. I’m sure she’d eventually come around to my way of thinking, then we’d settle in some German village in the shadow of the Nürburgring and turn out blond haired, blue eyed progeny. Really, really fast progeny, given mom’s genes and my own talents on two wheels and four. We’d sing “Deutschland, Deutschland Über Alles” while roasting bratwurst and swilling Helles; it would be the ideal life, if only she’d return my phone calls, text messages, postcards, Tweets or Facebook friend requests.
A Lap of Hockenheim On A BMW S1000RR With A Gyro Stabilized Camera
September 29, 2010 By 4 Comments
The problem with most bike or helmet mounted cameras is that they lean with the rider or the bike, eliminating the sensation of lean angle. Gyro stabilized cameras, on the other hand, remain parallel with the horizon and give the viewer a sense of the extreme lean angles involved in motorcycle racing. Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo have gyro stabilized rigs, but they also have sky-is-the-limit budgets and lots of techs to post process the video footage. Schmucks like you and I are SOL when it comes to filming track day motorcycle footage that’s actually worth watching.
New BMW M5 Flexes Its Muscles On The Nürburgring
September 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Photo: Automotive Addicts
BMW is putting the finishing touches on the next M5, and if the video below (courtesy of Automotive Addicts) is any indication, it will be impressive. It can’t sit well with the boys from Munich that Cadillac set a lap record around the ‘Ring in a CTS-V. In fact, I’d be willing to bet a lifetime supply of Bratwurst mit Mittelscharfersempf that BMW won’t give a thumbs up on the new M5 until it laps the Nordschleife in under 7:59.
I’m Not Sure Who Has The Better Job
August 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The best job in the world has to be road testing new cars on the Autobahn, and on racetracks across Europe. The second best job (and it’s a very close second) is being a spy photographer with a tuned M3, hunting down BMW prototypes on the Autobahn. In the case of this video, the prototypes in question are the new BMW 6 Series convertibles, still undergoing both road testing and final design tweaks.
BMW i100 ActiveHybrid Coupe: Finally, A Hybrid For Enthusiasts
August 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The BMW i100 Active Hybrid Concept. Photo: Bild
I’ve yet to drive a hybrid vehicle that I could get passionate about, since most are either aimed at commuters who see driving as a chore or at full size truck buyers looking to squeeze the maximum MPG out of something large enough to have its own gravitational pull. If you believe Lexus’ marketing hype, the HS 250h is a hybrid sports car; I’ve driven it, and I’m here to tell you otherwise.
Drive A Vintage BMW? Now You Can Have The Factory Restore It.
July 20, 2010 By 2 Comments
BMW Classic Workshop delivers their first restoration. Photo: BMW
Anyone who’s ever driven a vintage BMW knows how good these early cars were. Cars like the 2002 and the 3.0 CSi were decades ahead of their time in terms of handling and road feel, and gave rise to BMW’s marketing claim of the “Ultimate Driving Machine”. Honest cars with adequate power, early BMW coupes and sedans were focused more on handling than on luxury. At a time when Detroit was cranking out bloated barges that handled as well as an ocean liner, BMW was building simple cars that were actually fun to drive.
BMW Teases The 1 Series M Coupe, And We Already Want One
July 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Rumors about a BMW 1 Series car with an M badge have been flying, ever since the car was filmed testing on the Nürburgring earlier this year. BMW had (more or less) confirmed the cars existence, but didn’t release video or give a clue about the car’s name until now. Per Dr. Kay Segler, BMW’s CEO, their new pocket rocket will be dubbed the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, since the M1 name was off the table. The M1, for those not in the know, was BMW’s one and only attempt at building a factory supercar. The M1 saw limited production in the late 70’s and early 80’s and the name is much revered by the BMW faithful.
