When Driving Is Silly Ride a Custom Bicycle From Behind Bars, Inc.

Think about where you go in the car around town for a minute. How close are your destinations? It takes too much time to walk but if you could run far enough it might be okay, right? Consider taking the bicycle. Statistically, over half of us need to more often. So take the bike, enjoy the scenery, save some gas (duh), stop sitting at stoplights and get some exercise.

When you do, consider a bicycle to add function and form. But if you're going to be exposed to the elements and others, make it unique, fun and something to smile about. Dominick Guida of Behind Bars Inc. knows this and acted on his vision. Check out his workmanship and ideas in the slide show. His enthusiasm is contagious and the designs inspired me to write this article along with the initial suggestion from my pretty navigator.

Driving is great. The effortless power, the comfort, adjustable temperature, music, flexibility to go far and fast are all very appealing. But sometimes it's just a waste of gas. All those creature comforts are not always needed, especially on a short trip. Friends houses, post office (backpack), lottery tickets, bank, etc. I would imagine it's not easy to get mugged riding a bike, by the way.

The retro bikes are making a comeback. Weight isn't a consideration for cruising so why not? And when that supply is gone, customize. Make unique and make it yours. Cookie cutter is for the office parking lot. Have a lime green with pink polka dots (okay, maybe not pink) and chrome wheeled ride for going to the store. Bet your dog needs some exercise too. Just be careful out there.

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Ferrari 599 GTO Hits the Mark!

Just over a year ago I wrote how the Ferrari 599XX missed the mark and I challenged Ferrari to make it right. Well they did a great job. The 599XX was excess that was only available to a chosen few, never driven in competition, less than 30 produced, not street legal. It was a Ferrari that couldn't be driven on the street and had no competition pedigree. Seemingly the very antithesis of what Ferrari stands for.

Now the 599 GTO is a street legal work of art from Ferrari. It's European dry weight is reported at 3,296 lbs which doesn't seem so bad for a front engine V-12 supercar on a decent sized platform. US safety spec seats tend to weigh more than European seats but many owners may swap them out anyway. Also keep in mind most enthusiasts weigh their car with minimal gas in the tank. The Ferrari, with a 27.7 gallon tank (compare to 18 gallons or less for most cars) would mean roughly 172lbs of gas depending upon temperature.

The Viper ACR will be dethroned as the King of the 'Ring and Laguna Seca with production car laps records. Even Ferrari says this is their fastest road car ever. It produces 670hp from the 6.0L (5999cc or 366.08 cubic inch) V-12, a super fast shifting 6-speed paddle shift transmission capable of shifts in .06 of a second, carbon-ceramic brakes and magnetorheological shocks like the Corvette ZR1.

A few comparisons are inevitable, others are misguided. Some say it looks too much like a Corvette. That is like saying airplanes look alike, or race cars for that matter. Corvette owners should be happy they own the best bang for the buck in the automotive universe. And there are functional elements with serious exotic styling like the rear diffuser. The ZR1 has little window in the hood for a view of...another cover.

While somewhat of a late arrival in the model line-up, and my challenge to put it on the Nurburgring still stands, I think we all know the outcome. The horsepower race may be over but Ferrari keeps improving the breed.

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2010 Ford Mustang GT500 - Brief Impression

Recently I had the opportunity to have a couple of rides in a 2010 Ford GT500. What I learned during that brief time was pleasantly surprising. I used to be "down" on the car due to the weight. And actually still am. It's woefully overweight at 3917lbs as tested by Car & Driver, not to mention a bit front heavy in terms of weight distribution. But Ford continues to revise the solid rear axle and has anyone ever said a low 12-second car isn't fun to drive if it's generally refined? The other reason I frowned on it was when it had excessive badging making it a Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra SVT GT00.

The owner stated it's quite difficult to launch despite the solid rear axle (SRA) and weight. Managing a clutch and accelerator isn't easy with a car of this power on unprepped surfaces. Even Car & Driver managed a lousy 12.9 second ET despite a 113mph trap speed. I would suspect excessive wheelspin that shortened the distance of the track. The car should be in the mid-teens.

Besides a tasteful dark blue color, my next favorable impression was the exhaust note at start-up. "How is that street legal from a production car?" was my first thought. It has a nice bark and a great burble. When inside, it isn't intrusive at all.

The door shuts with a very satisfying and surprisiningly refined "thunk" with close tolerances. It was at this point I started to re-think the car. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to put 200 fun miles on a Hertz Shelby GT Mustang convertible. The sub-standard interior wasn't exactly impressive and a 4-speed automatic was archaic.

Now the improvementst of the 2010 is apparent and a nicer interior with steering wheel controls. The screen for the satellite radio doesn't have the sharpest resolution, but I didn't see the navigation portion. The hoodline is still excessively high so placing the car in the corner is more of a guess than a proper sports car. It doesn't have all the creature comforts and might be one of the lowest content cars for the money. But that isn't what it's about. It's about nostalgia, power, heritage and acceleration.

Also easily upgradable in terms of additional horsepower due to the supercharger, it is the muscle car alterative to the Corvette. In other words, a bigger, heavier cruiser that does well on the dragstrip but is second place on the road circuit.

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All Wheel Drive Toyota Supra?

Hey Car Guy,

Can you tell me if the Supra came in an all wheel drive configuration?

Thanks,

JH, Seattle, WA

Thank you for writing, JH. The Toyota Supra was never offered by Toyota in an AWD configuration although a search online reveals some aftermarket attempts. The Supra was sold in the United States from 1979 to 1998 with the 4th generation (MKIV) from '93 to '98 having the most notoriety. However there was an AWD Toyota Celica sold in 1988 to 1993 which spanned two different generations. It featured a 190hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and saw success in World Rally Championship racing before Mitsubishi and Subaru were competitors.

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California Mille 2010 in Downtown San Francisco

Last weekend marked the beginning of the 20th Anniversary of the California Mille. A 1,000 mile driving and social event for pre-1958 cars throughout Northern California. In the tradition of the Mille Miglia in Italy, it is more than just classics being driven around with a $5,800 entry fee. For the public, it is essentially a free Concours D'elegance at the Fairmont Hotel at Nob Hill in San Francisco.

Participant cars are parked in front of the hotel and other gorgeous classics on the street. The variety and caliber of the cars is extraordinary. As a matter of fact, cars from the Palo Alto Concours were present as well.

The beauty of event is these cars are not sitting in a garage undriven and unappreciated except by a few. They are gorgeous, mostly in excellent condition being driven hundreds of miles a day. Many of them do not have air conditioning, radios or other modern comforts. Somewhat like all the benefits and detriments of motorcycling come to think of it. In some cases, about the same amount of storage space.

The event is primarily for the owners to enjoy their cars, venues and driving experience. And for the public, who would normally pay $25 to $150 to see such classics gathered in one place minus the trailer queens and storage princesses, it is a special treat.

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Ultima GTR - Now Built and Wildly Fast

Building and assembling your own vehicle is immensely satisfying, hard work. Adding personalized and custom touches makes it all yours, unlike anyone else’s. It also requires great patience with trial and error, potential mistakes, backtracking and repeating steps. Four years of painstaking, creative and very rewarding work. Nearly a year ago I profiled this “Street Legal Race Car”. Well now, it’s built!

Chris Julian finally has completed his Ultima GTR, registered and street legal for maximum fun. Imagine legally driving a car – at least legally from a technical standpoint, if not technique, that would be at home running against true race cars. Running with meaning; just as low, just as quick and almost as light. The Ultima GTR looks similar to the Daytona Prototypes, and it weighs roughly the same, 2300lbs but in this case with a significantly larger motor making more horsepower.

Climbing over the wide sill into the tight, cramped passenger seat takes technique. The fire suppression system interferes with legroom. Don’t disable it accidentally! The 4 point racing harness feels comforting considering how low you sit. The view forward is spectacular, the road looks like it's just in front and right under you with wide bulging front fenders on either side.

Starting up the Corvette Z-06 sourced 427 cubic inch V-8 (LS7) with the headers right behind the passenger compartment announces the fun is going to begin. Even owners of exotics who haven’t assembled anything on their cars all look to see this impossibility roll by. It’s loud, visceral, a little smelly and it’s begging to be run fast. Surprisingly, sitting just 2.75” off the ground at the lowest point still makes for a decent ride on decent roads. The acceleration is fierce, making one laugh out loud and start thinking about only a handful of cars that could accelerate harder on the street. Cornering is flat, period. The limits are far, far too high to explore on the street.

Think about the legendary Cobra. Now lower it, enclose it, add air conditioning, modern brakes, mid-engine layout, fuel injection, modern suspension, minimal weight gain. This is the ultimate modern kit car. It isn’t perfect. It has a minor rattle here, a slight rubbing/clearance problem and a minor tune to optimize the intake and exhaust work the engine has. It was a warm day and despite sitting in traffic and the small cockpit, stayed comfortable inside. It’s well sorted and fantastically fun for home assembly.

Getting it to street legal status takes a few steps. First an application to the DMV, a brake and light inspection by CHP as well as a VIN number assigned and smog for paperwork only. There is no actual smog test nor sound test required. Awesome! The California SPCN/SB100 Street Legal process, although limited to 500 vehicles a year is a process that allows your dream to be licensed for everyday use.

A thorough appraisal was recently done on the car and thanks to the Chris’s talent and innovation; the appraisal by the established Pacific Automobile Appraisers compared the end result to world class one-off concepts from automotive manufacturers and national show winners. I have to concur; it’s nearly a masterpiece thanks to his resources and ability to create special parts.

Many enthusiasts like to assemble and install their own performance parts. Imagine the pride and joy assembling your own car, then improving it like none other of the same model. And then once complete, instead of computer control or interference with the engine power, transmission, suspension, brakes, steering and rear differential, this is a driver’s car, not a car with driver’s “enhancements “ also known as handicaps.

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Porsche Panamera

Three letters in the March 2010 Car & Driver question the 3.3 second 0-60mph time of the Porsche Panamera Turbo that was tested the December 2009 issue. That makes it potentially quicker than many cars with much more power and less weight including the McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo and Porsche's own GT-2. Weighing 4409lbs with 500hp, on paper it shouldn't beat any of them. There are three reasons it's so quick.

All-wheel drive, the dual clutch transmission and gearing that is probably more aggressive than any performance car in history make it accelerate quicker than much more powerful and lighter cars. The Panamera Twin Turbo is in 3rd THIRD! gear by the time it hits 60mph. Many extreme cars like the Bugatti Veyron, Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 and others go over 60mph in 1st gear. Check out the Bugatti Veyron road test with the top 10 quickest cars they have tested.

The all-wheel drive ensures no slippage unlike the others where power delivery has to be managed with available traction. I eluded to this challenge in my 60-130mph article. A 1.2 second 0-30mph time is extraordinary, on par with the AWD Veyron and GT-R. I would guess this translates to a 1.6 second 60ft at the dragstrip given the previously mentioned gearing.

The horsepower deficit is apparent in the trap speed in the 119mph range vs. the 125-130mph or higher times of the other cars. With excellent track preparation, technique and usually drag radial tires, a few have been able to match the launch of the Panamera and therefore run a much quicker quarter mile. Modern-day street car drag racing legends such as "Ranger" and "Furman" are examples of Corvette and Viper drivers who have done this.

Finally the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission means nearly uninterrupted power delivery. As one clutch disengages, the next engages with a speed and consistency that can't be humanly repeated. With 5 non-overdrive gears, it's fierce.

There is no other-worldly driving skill excuse or strongly suspect fudging of power levels in any gear with the Porsche Panamera Twin Turbo, unlike the Nissan GT-R. The car doesn't defy physics but it's transmission sure tries to make it seem so. Just wait when the new 911 Twin Turbo is tested.

The 2010 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo assuming the gearing is the same as the Panamera is that it will accelerate even quicker since it's about 800lbs lighter than the Panamera. So besides still not matching the GT-R's "factory" 'Ring time, it still won't accelerate to 130mph 1.6 seconds quicker than production models nor accelerate from 120 to 130mph in .9 seconds either in production form.

A great link for various automotive calculators courtesy of Wallace Racing. There are several for 60ft translations and various speed indicators.

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BMW 318is - Better Mileage With Gearing? Ask Rob About Cars

Hi Rob,

Great articles and photos, thanks so much ,

I have a 1994 BMW 318is. It gets great gas mileage and would love to get even better mileage . The rear end (3rd) member locked up when I first got the car, so I found a deal on a 325 axles and rear end , put it in never changed any gears do you know if the 325 is different than the 318is both were manual transmissions. Should I leave well enough alone ?

Thanks,

FAN

Hello Fan and thank you!

I found this excellent website that lists a LOT of BMW gear ratios, perhaps all of them

It seems that you now have a less-aggressive final drive ratio of 3.15 vs. 3.45. So if you like your mileage and the acceleration is adequate, I would leave it alone and congratulate yourself on a fuel saving modification.

I wouldn't suggest trying anything numerically lower than 3.15 such as the 2.93, even if you can find it. My concern would be inadequate acceleration with the 4-cylinder engine. This would mean using higher revs and consuming more gas, effectively negating your intended result. Also, it may mean using a higher gear for cruising at certain speeds and poor acceleration in 5th gear. If you know anyone that has done it, be sure to write back and share!

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