Tag Archives: Sadly

Motorsport

Searching Google Earth For Old Race Tracks Is Our New Favorite Rabbit Hole

Once upon a time, the one technique to discover the world was to really discover it. Sadly, we won’t spend our whole lives road-tripping for cool issues to see, and even when we might, some locations aren’t simply noticed at floor stage. For instance, who knew there have been stays of a quarter-mile drag strip hidden by timber within the suburbs of Chicago? We know, due to Google Earth. And now, you understand too.

Before we go any additional, contemplate your self warned. What follows might result in one of many largest rabbit holes of your life, particularly for those who maintain even a slight curiosity in automobiles and racing. Some people within the Google Earth, Structure, and Anomalies Facebook Group tipped us off to this motorsport-themed digital journey of discovering outdated race tracks, and you understand what? Searching for these locations is as addicting as deep-fried cocaine.

Oval horse tracks are fairly widespread and so they’re generally mistaken for outdated automotive haunts. But there are some places that, with out query, as soon as loved the sounds of engines and the scent of race gas. We might spend years looking for all of them, however since that is not sensible, be a part of us for a brief Google Earth tour. And when you’re addicted (and you’ll be), bounce into the feedback with images and coordinates of outdated tracks you discover.

For now, listed here are a couple of to whet your urge for food.

Track: Brooklands
Location: Weybridge, England
Coordinates: 51°19’16″N 0°25’47″W

Arguably probably the most well-known ghost observe on the planet, the final race at Brooklands came about in 1939 (excluding James May’s Scalextric slot automotive tomfoolery in 2009) however parts of the steeply banked oval nonetheless exist at present. For that matter, a lot of the unique structure reveals by means of from the air regardless of appreciable improvement on the web site since its glory days.

Track: Mid-America Raceway
Location: Wentzville, Missouri USA
Coordinates: 38°50’48″N 90°54’57″W

This is the observe that piqued our curiosity, recently shared by David Williams within the Google Earth, Structures, and Anomalies Facebook group. Once a 2.8-mile highway course with a drag strip, the observe closed in 2004 and is now a sprawling subdivision. The southern finish of the observe is gone, however on the high of the photograph, you possibly can see parts of the unique pavement nonetheless snaking by means of the panorama.

Track: EG&G Proving Grounds
Location: D’Hanis, Texas USA
Coordinates: 29°24’42″N 99°21’48″W

The stays of this large oval observe are baking within the solar roughly seven clicks northwest of D’Hanis, Texas. This was additionally shared within the Google Earth Facebook group, however it’s not a race observe. After some digging, we discovered a YouTube video describing the placement as a five-mile take a look at facility as soon as utilized by the now-defunct firm Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier, Inc. The nature of the testing, in addition to the present standing of the power, is unknown.

Track: Surfers Paradise International Raceway
Location: Carrara, Queensland Australia,
 Coordinates: 28°00’46″S 153°22’25″E

The ring highway of this seaside group serves as a top level view for the old 2.0-mile road course. The small straight stretch of damaged pavement barely up and proper of heart (subsequent to the Master Mindset textual content) is all that is still of the unique observe, which noticed quite a few endurance races and was a daily cease for the Australian Touring Car Championship till its closure in 1987.

Paramount Ranch Raceway
Location: Agoura Hills, California USA
Coordinates: 34°07’05″N 118°45’10″W

This one is likely to be tough to suss out, so we have expertly outlined the unique 2.0-mile course in crimson with a little bit of assist from David Williams, who tipped us off to the track. Several parts nonetheless exist, corresponding to the massive curve on the decrease proper and the straightaway. Other stretches are nonetheless seen as dust paths, however the observe’s official life solely lasted from 1956 by means of 1957 because it was deemed too harmful. It lived a second life as a location used for filming by means of the ’50s and ’60s. Today it is a part of the National Park Service as a historic web site.

Dakota Intermountain Dragway
Location: Belle Fourche, South Dakota USA
Coordinates: 44°42’33″N 103°53’41″W

Nestled close to the Wyoming border, this quarter-mile drag strip and small oval observe was once referred to as Black Hills Dragway. Dragstriplist.com tells us it opened in 1972 and as soon as had seating for 500 individuals. The seats and buildings are lengthy gone, however the damaged strip nonetheless stays … albeit with timber rising by means of the cracks.

Track: Century 21 Raceways
Location: Aurora, Colorado USA
Coordinates: 39°44’55″N 104°43’46″W

Here’s one other oval/drag strip combo, this time discovered within the shadow of Denver. Aurora is a northern suburb, and in keeping with na-motorsports.com, this small facility had an equally small lifespan from 1971 by means of 1973. It consisted of a 3/8-mile oval with a figure-eight characteristic and a quarter-mile drag strip that linked to it, seen right here on the backside of the picture. Both clearly present up within the satellite tv for pc view, however switching to road view reveals latest developments within the space which have doubtless worn out the damaged stays.

Track: Oswego Drag Raceway
Location: Oswego, Illinois
Coordinates: 41°41’10″N 88°23’15″W

Roughly 40 miles west of downtown Chicago is a dense grove of timber hiding the stays of a once-thriving drag strip. Oswego Drag Raceway opened in 1954 and stayed in operation for 25 years, finally succumbing to the growth of the Windy City’s suburbs. Everything however the observe itself is gone, although at this level it is lined by timber and surrounded by subdivisions.

Motorsport

The Mazda6 Is Dead In Japan

Mazda has sadly referred to as time on its midsize sedan in Japan. The getting older 6 is being discontinued in its home market the place manufacturing is ready to finish in mid-April. If you hurry, there’s nonetheless time to position an order. Since its launch 22 years in the past, the Atenza/6 has amassed 226,437 gross sales.

Having been round since 2012, the present technology of the 6 sedan/wagon duo was getting up there in years. Its retirement from the Japanese market follows the automotive’s withdrawal from the United States and United Kingdom in 2021 and 2023, respectively.


Motorsport

Step Aside Nissan Titan, This Is The Fiat Titano

Stellantis has a bunch of vans we sadly do not get right here within the United States. A couple of that spring to thoughts are the Fiat Strada, the Ram 700, and the compact Rampage. The final one may make it stateside finally, however nothing is official. There’s additionally the Peugeot Landtrek, which now lives a double life because the “new” Fiat Titano in Latin America and Africa.

Carrying a reputation originating from Greek mythology similar to the Nissan Titan, the Fiat Titano competes in the identical phase because the Ford Ranger. The midsize truck traces its roots to the Changan Kaicene F70, a Chinese pickup developed by Changan Automobile and PSA. It’s been round since 2019 and is produced in a number of factories internationally, carrying completely different badges to higher go well with regional markets.


Motorsport

Take A Tour Of Volkswagen’s First Electric Wagon In Walkaround Video

Electric wagons are unfortunately still rare in 2023, but Volkswagen is set to change this with the upcoming ID.7 Tourer. Our colleagues at Motor1.com Italy had the opportunity to get a close look at Wolfsburg’s first estate without a traditional combustion engine in Marseille, France before its official release, hence why it’s still camouflaged. If you’re not fluent in Italian, you can use the auto-generated subtitles in your preferred language.

Sharing the MEB platform with the ID.7 sedan (technically a hatchback) and all the other custom-made electric cars from Volkswagen, the zero-emission wagon aims to be an alternative to the SUV-dominated market. As a dedicated EV, it’s not linked to the new-and-not-available-in-America Passat Variant or the Arteon Shooting Brake, even though the exterior design might suggest otherwise. The camouflage doesn’t conceal much on this large wagon with a remarkably low drag coefficient of just 0.24, nearly matching the sedan’s 0.23.


Featured

Miller Motorcars Organizes An Impromptu Bugatti Hypercar Meet

Monterey Car Week 2023 has concluded, leaving us with unforgettable memories of incredible cars and events. Among the futuristic unveilings and classic car shows, one of the most exciting parts of the week was the spontaneous gatherings organized by brands and car owners. Miller Motorcars, recognized as one of the most successful Bugatti dealerships, delighted its passionate clients by arranging the ultimate Bugatti meet-up.

Miller Motorcars, which is known for its exceptional Bugatti hypercars, brought together a collection of world-class models for a dream drive through Pebble Beach’s iconic 17-Mile Drive. These incredible configurations were proudly sold by Bugatti Greenwich. The impressive lineup included four Chiron Pur Sports and two Chiron Super Sports, all featuring stunning factory finishes and exceptional performance. Photographers and spectators in attendance documented this last-minute Bugatti gathering against the breathtaking backdrop of California’s northern coast. The gathering of these multi-million dollar Bugatti hypercars highlights the status of Monterey Car Week as the ultimate event for automotive enthusiasts. If you’re interested, you can view all the current inventory for sale by Miller Motorcars on duPont REGISTRY.

These photos capture the essence of the Miller Motorcars Bugatti meet:


3 Photos

News

Best Used Cars That Comply with ULEZ Standards


Ford Mondeo

The Ford Mondeo is no longer in production, but you can still find ULEZ-compliant models made until 2021. For example, a 1.5-litre petrol version with 65,000 miles on the clock can be found for under £8,000.

Jaguar XF

The Jaguar XF is an elegant saloon car with many used options available for as little as £6,500. This includes both petrol and diesel models, such as a ULEZ-compliant 2.0-litre 178bhp diesel from 2016.

Volvo S60

While most diesel versions of the Volvo S60 are not compliant with ULEZ standards, you can find a compliant one-owner 2.0-litre diesel from 2018 with 56,000 miles for £12,999. Alternatively, a petrol version of a similar age will cost around £13,000.

Skoda Superb

The Skoda Superb is a practical and reliable car with excellent turbocharged engines. Prices start from around £13,000 for a 1.5-litre petrol version, while a well-equipped diesel version can be found for as low as £10,000.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Mercedes C-Class is a premium saloon car known for its comfort and advanced technology. It is available with petrol and diesel engines. For example, a 2017 diesel model can be found for £13,250, while a 2015 petrol model is priced at £11,499.

ULEZ-compliant estates

Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer

The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is a spacious estate car that offers a larger interior than many SUVs. It provides a pleasant driving experience as well. Low-mileage second-generation models can be purchased for around £11,000.

Ford Focus Estate

The Ford Focus Estate may not be the largest estate car, but it is still spacious enough for family vacations and offers a pleasant driving experience. It is available with 1.0 and 1.5-litre petrol engines, as well as 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesel engines. A tidy five-year-old model can be found for around £15,000, but if you consider a 10-year-old model, prices can go below £10,000.

Gaming, News

Warning: Final Fantasy 16 Spoilers May Be Spreading on Social Media

Regrettably, it’s not uncommon to see major spoilers for video game storylines circulating online just before the game’s release. A similar incident occurred in late October 2022 when Sony alerted “God of War” fans about significant “Ragnarok” spoilers making their rounds online. Despite Sony’s attempts to contain the leaks, once something is released on the internet, it’s nearly impossible to retract. In that particular case, it was discovered that a retailer had started selling physical copies of the game a few weeks before its official launch date. As a result, it’s highly likely that “Final Fantasy 16” leaks may also surface before its release.

Currently, “Final Fantasy 16” can be preordered from the game’s official website, the PlayStation Store, and Amazon. Initially, the game will only be available on the PS5 as a timed exclusive, but it will eventually become available on other platforms for those who prefer to wait. According to one of the teaser trailers, the game will launch on platforms other than the PS5 on December 31, 2023.