"Les Go Fast" was what the French police called a group of drug couriers who used high-end German cars to transport coke and weed throughout Europe. Carrying up to 1400 lbs of contraband, "Les Go Fast" were famous for using an SUV as a "rabbit" to spot police and run over any that tried to block the road. They didn’t go the stealth route, they simply drove so fast it would have been too dangerous to try to stop them.
He calls himself, Proximacentuari, and he did this by hand. Using a CAD model of a real Ariel Atom frame, the tubes were shaped for him by a local Utah fabricator but he did all the welding and sourced all the parts, many of which came from junk. The stainless-steel panels came from old appliances. There are also parts of a kayak in there. The engine, trans and instrument cluster come from a wrecked Acura RSX and the rear suspension uses shocks from a Yamaha R1. He also re-designed and made some parts to fit his parameters. It took him 800 hours and he finished it just before going to college. Here’s his Flickr page for a full set of photos. (Source: Motorcities.com)
Around 10pm tonight, in a stunt to promote BioWillie diesel, two ad copywriters from Atlanta will attempt to drive a Jetta TDI from NY to LA, without fuel stops, in less than 36 hours, or 40 hours, depending on which which website you go to. You have to admire the cause but one can’t help but point out their lack of research. They claim the record is 35:54, which was set by Brock Yates and Dan Gurney in 1971. I think we’re all aware that the record is 32:07.
From storm chasers, to "shambulances" and contaminated NASA engineers, the list of ploys to escape conviction never ceases to amaze, not just for their comedic benefits but also for their ability to work. Read about US Express winner David Morse’s tactics in the comments section beneath the story.
"This is designed to be the best software to defeat that 32:07 record that now stands." Isn’t the record 31:04? In this video Mark Nicholson of EyePatch Films, introduces a software package that integrates essentially all the systems that were used in 144A, with some new additions, in an attempt to break the Roy/Maher NY-LA record by using a ‘07 BMW Z4 M Coupe. We’re not sure it’s particularly wise to announce that you’re going to break the record lest you want to invite surveillance by numerous law enforcement agencies. We’re waiting for the record-breaking announcement and the data and the toll receipts and the witnesses, etc.. BTW, Alex doesn’t believe any of this is real.
Here’s some mesmerizing footage of Hamilton’s pass on Raikkonen a few days ago at Spa (scroll down mid-page for video link). Current drivers, Jarno Trulli and Felipe Massa (for obvious reasons) say Hamilton gained an advantage by cutting the chicane, while former champion, Niki Lauda, said it was fair. From the in-car footage, you can hear that Hamilton still accelerated pretty hard out of that chicane before letting him pass and getting a slipstream before the next corner. Hamilton had the faster car and probably should’ve set him up for another corner. And here’s some non-controversial, yet equally mesmerizing, in-car footage of practice laps.
Perhaps this trucker mis-interpreted the meaning of EZ Pass. When asked later about his disappearing plate, the trucker said he didn’t know anything about it. Apparently the wire (that was connected to the hinged plate) that stuck out of the cigarette lighter socket didn’t seem out of place. He would probably still be using it had it not been for a Port Authority cop driving alonside him.
