Cars, Cameras & Chronic Illness: V8

Showing posts with label V8. Show all posts

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Around the web today; November 7th, 2013.

Here's some very cool slow-motion footage, showing the amazing tire deformation of various drag cars while launching their way down the quarter mile. Much of it is shot at 300 frames per second, but about halfway through there's a Corvette Stingray launching shot at 600 frames per second, or 5% of normal speed. You can even see the firing order of the engine from the side pipes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfJejgODr3E

A huge gallery of photos from SEMA 2013: http://www.gtspirit.com/2013/11/07/sema-2013-day-one-and-two-highlights/

Pirelli is currently negotiating with Formula 1 officials in regards to extending their contract to supply teams with tyres for the next few years: http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/new-pirelli-deal-to-be-for-three-years-only/

In related news, F1 head honcho Bernie Ecclestone had an awkward moment due to a revolving door and lots of cameras outside the High Court in London: http://jalopnik.com/bernie-ecclestone-is-so-rich-he-doesnt-know-how-to-ope-1459536635

A photographer's attempt to sue Australian newspaper 'The Age' for psychological damage, post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression, claimed to be a result of working on stories about the terrorist bombings in Bali just over a decade ago, has been declined. However, the court did declare that it was almost certain the claimant would never be able to work as a photographer again: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/age-trauma-leads-to-calls-for-industry-to-act-on-risks-of-reporting/story-e6frg996-1226733834070

In my line of work, which has mostly been focused around shooting trucks and cars for magazines, I've not witnessed even a small fraction of what a news photographer would over years of service. The difficult situations I've been presented with are minimal, generally traffic or racing accidents, but even those have had an impact on me, despite being fairly removed from the situation. Constantly working on the subject of terrorism, seeing and photographing terribly injured victims would have to be very difficult to deal with.

Some interesting runs between a ridiculously LSX V8 powered Willys Jeep and several others cars, including a ZO6 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 996 Porsche 911 GT3 and CBR 600 motorbike; but doing it the dumb way on the street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAoeyAJ6XXk

A brief teaser clip for American stunt driving master Ken Block's 'Gymkhana 6' video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxgzt6S_Qxo

The Atherton Police Department in Silicon Valley would like some Tesla police cars. Pretty please.
http://jalopnik.com/ludicrously-wealthy-silicon-valley-town-wants-tesla-pol-1459679199

Strong crosswinds and a semi-detachable home on a trailer aren't a good combination: http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1892582/semi-detached-half-a-home-falls-off-truck/?cs=2452

Sunday, 3 November 2013

Around the web today; November 3rd, 2013.

This is a very cool and unique version of one of the most popular hot rod bases out there, an early 1930s Ford roadster. While looking fairly 'normal' from outside sitting on the salt flats at Bonneville, a closer inspection under the hood reveals a very unusual power-plant for an old hot rod; a 600hp turbocharged Nissan RB20 motor, the same as my Cefiro. Bonus points to the owner for thinking outside the box, although some traditional hot rodders might not be huge fans of sticking a newer Japanese engine into an old American hot rod:
http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/10/hot-robbing-rb20-motor-174mph/

Recovering a rolled vehicle with a tow truck and winch cables isn't as easy as it looks, as this unfortunate operator discovered when putting this Mazda hatch back onto four wheels. The car would have almost certainly been a write-off anyway, but still: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBxSntGGm8U

Some great ideas for Halloween costumes for special needs kids in wheelchairs here; I think my favourite is the ice-cream van. http://www.pinterest.com/woodbinehouse/cool-halloween-costume-ideas-for-kids-with-special/

There's also a video of the ice cream van in action being wheeled along by young Carter, who is confined to a wheelchair due to suffering from spina bifida.. The costume was constructed by his Dad, who should win some sort of parent of the year award for making such an epically awesome costume: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/best-halloween-costume-wheelchair-special-needs-buster-ice-cream-truck_n_1928714.html

Some drool-worthy photos of homemade donuts, including a recipe for making them yourself: http://sincerelykinsey.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/homemade-doughnuts.html

A very cool old Japanese cruiser in immaculate condition up for sale; a 1988 V8 Toyota Century: http://www.ironchefimports.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=522&Itemid=1

Well this is a bit crazy, a Dodge Ram becoming a battering ram with what was likely a drug-affected driver behind the wheel: http://www.carthrottle.com/witness-an-acid-tripping-truck-driver-do-a-savage-hit-and-run/

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Around the web today; October 30th, 2013.

I've been busy and haven't had the chance to post anything for the past few days, so here's a whole bunch of links to make up for it:

A heavily modified Ford GT with 2000hp hits 278mph in only one mile, from a standing start: http://www.carthrottle.com/witness-a-278mph-ford-gt-smash-the-texas-mile-record/

Car blogs and websites frequently post videos and pictures of exotic cars, usually of Italian descent, going up in flames. This time it's a video of a Ford Falcon ute, showing the tray engulfed in flames, which are quickly quelled with extinguishers by several other people nearby. He then continues his drive to work like nothing happened, which doesn't seem like the best idea:
http://www.carthrottle.com/car-mechanics-ute-catches-fire-still-gets-to-work-on-time/

Some great footage of rally cars getting a whole lot of air on a jump in Switzerland. Competition level rally cars obviously have a lot of modifications to handle this kind of treatment, but I can't help but think that the brutal landings must have bent at least a few chassis out of shape upon landing:
http://jalopnik.com/this-is-a-jump-for-cars-on-the-side-of-a-cliff-1453411744

A 600hp Mitsubishi Lancer Evo ascending a treacherously wet and steep hill climb course in Switzerland. There are some pretty hairy moments when the car gets crossed up under power. I don't like the way Evos sound all that much in comparison to its most common rival, the Subaru WRX, but only in the sense that their engine and exhaust note tends to be rather flat and characterless. This particular example has a tough soundtrack though:
http://youtu.be/vdeW_VR8J9o

In stark contrast to the Evo's flat drone, this open-wheeler's 3 litre V8 emits a deliciously aggressive, high pitched howl as it blasts through the course, leaving a deafening roar reverberating around the hillsides in its wake. Turn your speakers up. Lots. http://youtu.be/vdeW_VR8J9o

While your speakers are turned up, watch and listen to this one too; a great variety of cars, engines and noises. The Lancia Delta Integrale at 1:30 sounds particularly deranged: http://youtu.be/mT2kNSOfXZ4

Some food for thought if you're not familiar with trucks and quite how much they cost to operate: http://www.overdriveonline.com/5-more-things-members-of-the-general-public-dont-know-about-truckers/

This Tata Xenon 'Tuff Truck' is something a bit different. I like it. Looks tough, as its name suggests.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/57175/tata-reveals-australian-designed-tuff-truck-xenon-ute-concept

Well this is awkward. It would be embarrassing to stack your chopper anywhere, let alone in your own driveway, in front of your wife. At least it was a very minor incident compared to similar attempts I've seen: http://blog.powerblocktv.com/husband-embarrasses-himself-doing-burnout-in-front-of-wife/

Red Bull is always coming up with cool ideas. Like racing a V8 Supercar against a plane on the beach in Queensland: http://blog.powerblocktv.com/v8-supercar-vs-airplane-race-on-an-australian-beach/

This certainly could have turned out a whole lot worse; a rally car barrel-rolling within arm's length of a crowd usually doesn't end well. The little hatchback rolls over so quickly it's almost impossible to count how many times it went over. The driver must have been awfully dizzy when the car finally came to rest: http://jalopnik.com/watch-this-car-roll-over-about-47-times-and-somehow-not-1454270653

A dramatic and sobering gallery featuring images of the recent NSW bushfires taken by members of the Australian documentary photography collective Oculi: http://www.oculi.com.au/features/oculi-group-nsw-bushfires-october-2013-2/

Some ridiculously tight tandem drifting from two Nissan S13 Silvias in Japan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M_mDbbIDlY

Some good advice from American photography guru Zack Arias about fear, in relation to both photography and life in general: http://zarias.tumblr.com/post/65430999760/i-feel-paralyzed-by-fear-of-rejection-im-in-my-last

Some very scary footage of a Ducati high-siding and rolling before being hit by the following Yamaha R6 with helmet-cam, spraying fuel and bursting into flames during a race on a street circuit. Both riders were very lucky to escape with no injuries: http://www.epiccarnage.com/video-fiery-motorcycle-crash-footage/

Sunday, 15 January 2012

SMASA summer cruise

Just a few shots from Saturday night's Street Machine Association of South Australia cruise. Some very nice cars came out for a run, with a good mix of American muscle cars, hot rods, customs and cruisers in attendance.

I inadvertently came across a group of classic muscle cars on Port Wakefield Road in the late afternoon, and followed them down to the Gepps Cross shopping centre, where hundreds of awesome cars were filling up the parks.

It was hard to know where to point my camera, with so much tasty machinery rumbling past as the sun sank towards the horizon.

The final meet point was at West Lakes Mall, which is conveniently only a few minutes away from home.

My legs were aching after walking and standing around for a couple of hours at this point, so after snapping some shots of the cooler cars parked under the night lights, I headed back home.

Friday, 16 September 2011

Random Car Spotting: 1969 Dodge Charger R/T

I spotted this 1969 Dodge Charger R/T one Sunday afternoon, while going for a drive down Tapleys Hill Road, heading south. As I neared Jetty Road at Glenelg, a hulking black muscle car waiting to turn right caught my eye. My girlfriend Sally was holding my D90 in the passenger seat, so I quickly made a request that she fire off a few shots of the car as we went past it. She kindly obliged, and fortunately we got stopped at the red light, so I was able to quickly rattle off a few shots before it pulled away.

Compared to all the other 'normal' cars around, this thing looked positively mean, particularly with the deep black paint, meaty tires and tough raked stance. Within a few second it had turned onto Jetty Road and rumbled out of sight, but I was very glad I could at least capture a few shots of such an awesome car.

I do love a lot of American muscle cars from the 1950s and 1960s especially, and this Charger reminded me why; they don't make cars like this any more.