Blog

Honda Performance Development Fills The Gap

Honda Performance Development has decided to reach out to enthusiasts. They have implemented a program that will include the development of products and services which support the amateur and entry-level competition ranks and will also include integrated marketing activities designed to raise the profile of Honda Racing and HPD.

“For many years, Honda enthusiasts have campaigned our products in racing series throughout the U.S.,” said Erik Berkman, President of Honda Performance Development. “On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Honda brand in the United States, we are pleased to announce that we will now support those efforts directly, by introducing products and services geared toward helping our customers fulfill their racing dreams”.

Happy VTECing
Leo Diaz

F-1 Crash and driver seriously hurt

Budapest, Hungary – Hospital official felipe massa is in “life threatening” condition after undergoing emergency surgery on a skull fracture following a violent crash in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying yesterday.

Officials at AEK military hospital said massa will be kept sedated on a respirator overnight in the intensive care unit. Medical director Peter Bazso said “Massa’s condition is serious, life threatening but stable”. Bazso and chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros said they expect the Brazilian driver to be awoken today. Ferrari denied Massa’s condition was life threatening, with team spokesman Luca Colajanni saying his state “was a positive one”

Massa underwear surgery one hour after arriving at AEK hospital, the doctors said. The 28-years-old Massa also suffered a concussion but was conscious and in stable condition when he was airlifted to the hospital, Ferrari said. A spring that had fallen off Rubens Barrichello’s formula one car flew up and struck Massa in the helmet during qualifying. An apparently dazed massa continued straight through a curb, across the track and through the gravel area along side the circuit before slamming into the tire barrier.

The impact of the rear suspension part a standard component believed to be made of steel damaged Massa’s helmet, ripping out the visor and leaving a dent on its side. Blood was seen above Massa’s left brow. Following complete medical examination, it emerged he had suffered a cut on his forehead, a bone damage of his skull and brain concussion, Ferrari said in a statement.

Marcus Gronholm on pikes peak

I’ve been waiting for this since Sunday night and its finally out Marcus Gronholm in a ford fiesta on pikes peak on you tube HD turn up your laptops or desktops speakers and enjoy the short video.

S2000 replacement will be FWD?

I don’t know about how true is this but Honda forum must be buzzzzzzing in red, the Japanese magazine claims that the S2000 replacement will still have the 2wd but for RWD enthusiast specially the S2000 owners this wont be the replacement for their car. The S2000 for me is one of the best perfectly balance car out the show room no mods, So Honda rethink what you’ll do, don’t follow what Toyota did to the AE86.

Honda’s Future Looks Green

by Leo Diaz

As most of you know, in February 23rd of 2009, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced Takanobu Ito, at the time the company’s Senior Managing Director, as the seventh President and CEO of Honda Motor. The previous CEO Takeo Fukui has assumed a Director position and will remain on the Board as an advisor.

Ito-san joined Honda back in 1978 in R&D Operations as an engineer in the area of chassis design and in the early 90’s was in charge of the development of the all aluminum uni-body for the NSX.

So it came as a large surprise to many when he followed in Fukui-san’s steps and decided to pull the plug on the S2000 and Honda Motor’s participation in Formula One. Keep in mind that Fukui-san is responsible for pulling the plug on the NSX project as well as the NSX successor. This all comes into play with the need to be sustainable over the need for Honda to sport Japanese muscle.

As a direct result in the declining global economy and the insane fluctuation in fuel prices, Honda has taken the direction that products in which larger audiences want and are capable of paying for, will protect the company from more exposure to the global economic crisis.

Where this will take products like the S2000 (Honda’s final flagship sports car) is very unclear. Many sources believe that several rear-wheel drive Acura cars meant to compete with BMW, a new V8 VTEC engine, and the convertible Honda CR-Z will also be shut down.

Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has made it very clear that the company’s objective is to build a solid future in Green cars. Honda has made plans to build 500,000 hybrids by 2012 including the Honda Insight and the Jazz which sports a brag-able 80mpg. It’s too bad they couldn’t figure a way to keep my beloved S2000 in the line up.

I do hope that as the economy recovers that some of these projects get a second chance.
Either way, keep looking forward to me bringing you the latest in Honda News!

Happy VTECing!
Leo Diaz

Tribute to Rally Group B

This video was made thanks to amjayes a WRC rally enthusiast, giving us throwback videos when rally was rally great man drive great cars. The memorable Subaru impreza, Mitsubishi evolution, the innovation of the AWD Audi Sport Quattro S1 that made rally more faster and better, Lancia Delta S4 made the short wheel base hatch much cooler, The toyota Corolla and the Celica GT4 , Ford escort cosworth and RS200, Renault 5 and many many more.

Honda not to return to Formula One

The NSX is gone, the S2000 has also run its 10yr course.  And now, Honda is officialy out of the Formula One game. 

I’m still in shock from the news a few months ago, when Honda announced retirement from F1. A lot of us were expecting that Honda might return to F1, however it was confirmed by the new CEO, Takanobu Ito, that Honda won’t participate in the future of F1. Formula One has changed and the interest is reduced due to the new regulations; with that said more media gathering in Tokyo is scheduled.

I will keep everyone updated.

Top Gear: Ken Block Takes James May Sideways

Ken’s a master of sliding sideways in his specially-equipped Subaru. And as you can see, he gives May the ride of his life — even if he doesn’t have the guts to say it. And by guts, we mean of course playing his role as the anti-stereotypical “Captain Slow” by decrying his inability to drive fast in a straight line.

What would you feel like if you sat in a car with Ken Block? After seeing that video, it makes me want to learn how to drive like him!

Super Autoballs – Legnum

Although the “big name” Japanese performance machines like the RX7, GT-R, Evo, and Impreza are great cars, I’ve long been intrigued by the lesser known models that were produced by Japanese companies in the ’80s and ’90s. There are several of these cars that fit into our AWD theme this month and I plan on looking at a few of them during the next few weeks. One model that I’ve always been interested in is the Mitsubishi Legnum or in other words, the Galant Wagon. The early 4G63-powered Galant VR4 has become a cult favorite, and it’s an important car to Mitsubishi’s AWD performance history. For that later versions of the Galant VR4, Mitsubishi powered the car with a twin turbo 2.5L V6 that was rated at the standard 280hp limit of the day. Combined with a high tech AWD system, the Galant and Legnum VR4’s were potent machines, and a good rival to Subaru’s Legacy.

Being the wagon fan that I am, I always kept an eye out for Legnums when I was in Japan and unfortunately I never saw too many. Earlier today I was browsing Minkara checking out the Legnum owner’s pages and was pleasantly surprised to find several nicely tuned examples.

Next Page »