Octane TV

With only 6 days until the Bullrun 2008 Rally gets underway, check out some more action from last year's Montreal to Key West run.

Team Texas return from their record-breaking NY-LA dash and, it turns out, speeding in Virginia is not a good idea, as one Bullrunner discovers.

Bullrun Rally 2007 Episode 6 of 10

Television and radio comedian Adam Carolla, champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust, and TV construction guru Eric Stromer, will lead NBC’s pilot of the international smash hit series “Top Gear.” The production will begin later this week.

Produced by BBC Worldwide America, the U.S. version of the hit franchise will mirror the UK show’s irreverent humor and camaraderie between the three presenters, epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation and eccentric methods of testing cars.

"This franchise is a proven winner worldwide and the hosting team of Adam, Tanner and Eric that we have brought together for the U.S. version offers a perfect match of humor, insider know-how and priceless track experience," said Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment. "We are going to create a high-powered show that, like the original, will keep viewers in every demographic clutching the edge of their seats."

“These three guys will get to drive the world’s most amazing cars, go on incredible road trips and blow stuff up. It’s a dirty old job but someone has to do it…why didn’t I get the job?!” said Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, TV Sales and Content & Production, BBC Worldwide America.

Jeremy Clarkson, executive producer and host of the UK “Top Gear” said: “This is fantastic news - but how on earth you lot are going to do it on the wrong side of the road I’ve no idea.”

Adam Carolla
Television and radio personality Adam Carolla is host of the daily, nationally-syndicated radio program “The Adam Carolla Show,” based out of Los Angeles’ KLSX 97.1/ FREE FM. With partners Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison, Carolla created Jackhole Industries where he produced and starred in two hit Comedy Central shows, "The Man Show" and "Crank Yankers." Carolla also co-hosted the nationally-syndicated radio program “Loveline” with Dr. Drew Pinsky for 10 years, as well as its TV version on MTV. Carolla also recently wrote and starred in the independent, award-winning feature film, “The Hammer.” In season six of “Dancing with the Stars,” Adam became the first ever contestant to complete a Paso Doble on a unicycle. Carolla is an avid car collector and owns several classic collectible Lamborghinis, Maseratis, two Ferraris and an Audi S4.

Tanner Foust
Tanner Foust is in high-demand as a stunt driver, with film credits including “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” and “The Dukes of Hazard.” Foust is a winning competitor in rally, drift, ice racing and time attack with multiple champion podium placements including the 2007 X Games Rally Champion and 2007 Formula Drift Pro Drift Champion. His varied race experience includes open wheel competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb (2002 - 2004), five Ice Racing championships and the 2005 PGT Rally Championship. He also holds class lap records at numerous U.S. road courses in Time Attack. In addition, Foust also hosted “Supercars Exposed” for the SPEED channel. Foust’s car of choice is a tricked-out M3.

Eric Stromer
Eric Stromer, host of the HGTV show "Over Your Head," started life in construction and remodeling houses after a short acting career as a soap opera hunk was abruptly ended by a Styrofoam boulder on the set of “Santa Barbara.” For 20 years he ran a successful building company before becoming the face of HGTV’s hit show. He’s a regular on Adam Carolla’s nationally-syndicated radio show giving out construction advice, and also appears on TLC’s “Clean Sweep,” NBC’s “Three Wishes” and is a special correspondent for “The Insider.” Stromer prefers his Camry hybrid. Autospies

The Bullrunners leave the college town of Staunton, VA and head towards Savannah, GA. Alas, the VA cops have heard of the rally's progress South and are out in force.

This leads to much discussion about what counter measures teams are using to avoid the hands of the law. The lunchtime stop is in Concord where the teams are treated to a Viper drfit demo and get to do a few laps of the small track.

Bullrun Rally 2007 Episode 5 of 10

Lewis Hamilton is the darling of F1 and, as he proved at the Monaco Grand Prix, storming to victory in a rain-soaked race, his driving skills are phenomenal.

The same cannot be said, however, for his Dad. Evidently, Lewis did not learn all he knows from his Father, whose own car control evidently leaves much to be desired.

Case in point: a quiet, English country lane, a grassy verge, a big hedge and a $425K Porsche Carrera GT that's plowed straight through said hedge.

There is no doubt that the car is extremely powerful and extremely fast but how Mr. Hamilton managed to spin out of control on a straight road is a bit beyond us.

'This is my first crash in almost 30 years and it had to happen in someone else's car,' he said. 'Thankfully the only thing hurt was the car, and a bush fence - for which I am extremely sorry.'

The Carrera GT sports German license plates, so we're unsure to whom it belongs but we're fairly sure they won't be too happy with the outcome of Hamilton Sr.'s drive. Daily Mail

Audi is aiming for market domination over the next few years: there will be 17 new models introduced between now and 2015. Due in 2010 is the A7, a 4-door coupe set to rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW's upcoming 8-series

The car's based on a new platform that will also form the basis for the next A6. Based around the MLP (Modular Long Platform) matrix unveiled on the A5 last year, it concentrates as much weight as possible within the wheelbase for optimum weight distribution.

Like the CLS, the A7 will utilize air springs in order to provide a luxurious ride. Powering that ride will be 3 choices of direct-injection gasoline engines: a 2.8 FSI V6, a 3.0L TFSI V6 and a 4.0L TFSI V8 (yes, please!). Diesel power will also be available by way of a 2.7L V6, plus turbocharged and, even better, twin-turbo'd versions of the 3.0: V6 TDI. Gear duty will be either a standard 6-speed manual or optional 7-speed twin-clutch or 7-speed automatic.

Along with a hybrid model that's in development, expect S7 and RS7 versions to follow in quick succession after the A7's introduction. The RS7 will use a tweaked version of the RS6's twin-turbo 5.2L V10, good for around 600hp.

Audi may be arriving slightly late to the 4-door coupe party, but they're arriving with style. AutoCar

Seems there's another new car in Jay Leno's garage this week: a Dodge Challenger SRT8 in gleaming black paint has been spotted in Jay's parking spot at NBC.

An eagle-eyed car-spotter saw the new ride - surrounded by barricades - parked out back of The Tonight Show studio. According to sources at Chrysler, Jay picked the car up at Valley Dodge in Van Nuys only yesterday but we've no doubt he's already put the 425hp, 420 lb-ft RWD monster to good use.

Of course, the real owner is actually someone totally different. We think it actually belongs to Nancy O'Dell, who parks right next to Jay, and they thought they'd play a trick on us... AutoBlog

The Bullrunners continue their journey South, peeling out of Vineyard 49 on Long Island and headed for Atlantic City.

Unsurprisingly, Claus in the TechArt Cayenne arrives in 1st place, having caught the early ferry. Behind him, Bullrunners jostle for position, attempting to beat traffic, stay ahead of the law and head in the right direction. Yeah, the whole 'Head South' thing can get confusing.

Meanwhile, Team Texas' Richard Rawlings and Dennis Collins have been tearing across the country and, at around 5am East Coast time, they make a triumphant phone call to Jay Riecke to call in their $50,000 bet. Their transcontinental time? A ridiculously-fast 31:59.

Morning in Atlantic City means bleary eyes and sore heads all round (boy, those blue rinse old ladies in A.C. sure know how to party...) as everyone heads for a checkpoint at Bullrun National Park. Alas, Team Lotus and Team CEC both fall prey to the cops and Team Riecke 2 just can't seem to find the right road.

A quick pit stop and the cavalcade heads for Staunton, VA. This small town ain't seen nothing like this before and all the locals pack the streets to welcome Bullrun to town. They're rewarded by Mardi Gras beads, thongs & t-shirts thrown from the top of a Hummer and a night of partying they're likely to remember for years to come.

Bullrun Rally 2007 Episode 4 of 10

In an astonishing turn of events, Max Mosley has won a vote of confidence to stay on as president of motorsport's governing body, the FIA, despite having a 5 hour Nazi-style orgy with numerous prostitutes that was splashed across the front page of a British tabloid newspaper.

103 out of 169 voted 'yes' to keep him in his current position, but many names in motorsport have spoken out about their disappointment at the outcome.

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill said he was 'astonished' by the result. "In my position as president of the British Racing Drivers' Club trying to safeguard the future of the British Grand Prix, we really need an organization like the FIA to help us protect our position so that we can have reasonable terms with the commercial rights holders.

"But it's very difficult when you have a president who is as controversial as Max is to go to governments and argue the case for Formula One. "Not taking on board the political atmosphere can be a strength sometimes, but in this case it just seems to be inconsiderate for the sport.

Although Mosley has said he'll stay through until the end of his fourth term, in October 2009, Former F1 team boss, Eddie Jordan, said he hopes Mosley will step down now.

"My hope is he will think about the damage [done]. This is not a moral issue, it's a practical one," he said. "There are a lot of countries where F1 goes and lots of the rulers of those countries don't want to deal with him."

Former owner of the Minardi F1 team Paul Stoddart said he was "totally unsurprised" by the result - but insisted it would be catastrophic for motorsport. "It is a sad, sad day for motorsport and it will signal the end of the FIA as we know it," he said. BBC Sport

While it might look like some sort of torture device or, perhaps, part of a new ride at Magic Mountain, the Deus Ex (meaning "Out of God") is actually the brain child of Jake Loniak, a student at Art Center Pasadena, CA.

The Yamaha-branded machine is a concept that's described as 'an electric, single passenger, vertically parking and wearable motorcycle'. (Erm, IronMan anyone?) It basically straps around the driver and keeps them locked in.

The vehicle is powered by ultra-capacitors and nano-phosphate batteries that are housed in the middle wheel. The eco-friendly batteries are similar to the one's used in hybrid cars and Jake reckons the 'bike' will reach a top speed of 75mph. As it accelerates, the 'bike' leans forward on the road, adopting a more conventional riding position.

The bike is controlled by using 36 pneumatic muscles and 2 linear actuators set along a spine consisting of 7 artificial vertebrae. Robocop, eat your heart out! Green Car Design

You know the old joke, what's the last thing to go through a bug's mind as it hits the windshield? It's ass. Well, apparently this is what the automotive equivalent of that joke looks like.

Note to self: avoid Chinese trucks if ever in that neighborhood...

Not only does Mr. Leno have a warehouse full of every sort of car or bike you'd ever like to get your hands on - and likely some you've never heard of - he also gets offered a ton of cool stuff to drive or ride, too. "Hey, Jay, fancy a spin in the Veyron for a week?", is not a strange thing for the talk show host to hear.

Hence his time spent with an $80,000 Ducati Desmosedici RR. (Er, so what else comes with that exactly? Nothing? Just the bike? Got it...)

The bike weights just 377lbs, will rev to 14,000 rpm and has 197hp; as Leno says, it's the bike equivalent of a McLaren F1. Apart from all the road-going stuff that it has to sport - turn signals, mirrors etc - this is basically the race-spec bike.

Which begs the question - where, and how (given mortal riding limitations) are you ever going to use all of that performance? London Times

Some industrious young fellow took the time to stand and video a TV screen just so you could experience the glory that is 7 minutes and 29 seconds of Nissan test driver, Tochio Suzuki, giving it his all as the Nissan GT-R conquers the German circuit in dry conditions.

More rally action from the 2007 Bullrun. The teams leave Boston en route to Atlantic City. Claus Ettensberger of CEC Wheels takes an early lead and is the only one to get the 10am ferry to Long Island, no doubt aided by his hugely powerful Cayenne TechArt.

Lagging behind, Mike "Mr. Angry" Musto gets, er, angry when a Brabus GL450 rear ends his classic Charger. Between that, a run-in with the cops and an extremely empty fuel tank, it probably wasn't his favorite leg.

Bullrun Rally 2007 Episode 3 of 10. Cops bust Angr

Ask any 12-year old boy to name his top 5 cars and it's likely that a Pagani Zonda is on the list, even though the closest he's ever come to it is a Supercar calendar on the wall.

The Zonda R has been keeping Pagani's legendary performance front and center in our minds but, alas, it's a track-only car. Not much point in having a €1.2 million set of wheels if you can't cruise down Main Street for everyone to see.

That may, however, be about to change. Rumor has it that the Pagani Zonda Cinque is to be a road-going supercar for, well, the few. In fact, for only 5 lucky owners, to be precise.

The car will get the same 750 hp, 7.3-liter V12 that powers the Zonda R and will also don the R's carbon fiber body. Power + lightweight = 0-124 mph in 9.8 seconds.

And, all of this can be yours for the bargain price of...€800,000 (so figure about $1.24 million).

We're reckoning that the driver of this Z06 has had better days. Snapped on the back of a low-loader, no doubt on its way to an automotive funeral parlor somewhere, there's something rather sad about seeing such a great car in such a sorry state.

We're thinking a spin was involved, given the amount of damage to so many areas of the car. But whatever happened, seems the cockpit's intact, which bodes well for the driver.

Shame we can't say the same for the car. R.I.P. Z06. You will be missed. AutoSpies