Archive for October, 2008

MotoGPOD

October 31st, 2008 at 08:00pm Under Racing

The definitive MotoGP podcast. If you’re not listening, you’re missing.

www.motogpod.com

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Friday funny: David Attenborough on bikers

October 31st, 2008 at 07:45pm Under Motorbikes

This week’s Friday Funny comes in the form of a David Attenborough spoof video about bikers and their habits during winter. The video follows the lives of two bikers through winter as if they were animals in a wildlife documentary, using…

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Brazilian GP free practice 2 live blog

October 31st, 2008 at 06:30pm Under Racing

Join in the Brazilian Grand Prix free practice 2 live blog below.

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British press fury over Hamilton hate site

October 31st, 2008 at 05:45pm Under Racing

Lewis Hamilton was the target of racial abuse earlier this year

Lewis Hamilton was the target of racial abuse earlier this year

Several of the major British newspapers are reporting today about a Spanish-registered website set up to direct taunts at Lewis Hamilton. Here’s a typical example of the coverage from The Sun:

F1 ace Lewis Hamilton is facing another vile race hate campaign from Spanish yobs as he prepares to win the drivers’ title.

Racist abuse of Hamilton (and many other sporting personalities) on the Internet is, sadly, nothing new. So why has this website been singled out?

As anyone who’s searched for a Lewis Hamilton video on YouTube or put his name into a search engine will know, there is a huge amount of hate aimed at him from some quarters. Much of it comes from Fernando Alonso’s fans, responding to the rivalry between the two last year, and the conspiracy theory that McLaren impaired Alonso’s ability to contest Hamilton for the championship.

Over the winter racist taunting of Hamilton during a test at the Circuit de Catalunya and the suggestion that Hamilton had been the subject of racist abuse in Shanghai <a href=”“>prompted the FIA to set up the ‘Everyrace’ campaign to condemn racism in motor sport. Since its inception, very little has been heard of it until now.

The cause celebre of the moment is a site called Pincha la Rueda de Hamilton (which, for obvious reasons, dignifying with a link) which means ‘Burst Hamilton’s tyre’. I think it’s pretty clear from the appearance of the site it’s intended as a joke - users are invited to place items on the track to give Hamilton a puncture and one of them is a porcupine. But the appalling and racist remarks directed against Hamilton, apparently with the approval of the site’s owners, have to be taken seriously.

The FIA has condemned the site:

The FIA’s position is very clear. Discrimination and prejudice can have no place in sport or society. Everyone in our sport will join us in condemning these abusive and hateful comments.

I support their position but I’m confused by their approach. Why single out this particular website and why now?

Presumably the FIA wants to use the high profile of the season finale to draw attention to its anti-racism campaign. It’s going to look rather cynical if they don’t issue similar denunciations in future to every other website where racist remarks are posted about Hamilton (or, for that matter, any other racing driver).

I also wondered if there might be something in the FIA’s choice of words: “Everyone in our sport will join us.” Alonso refused to criticise the racist abuse of Hamilton in February. Is the FIA trying to force him to do so this time? Or is this reading too much into it?

The press, of course, is delighted with the opportunity to play up Hamilton as the victim, and run a few holier-than-thou headlines about racism in another country, as if it never happens in Britain.

For the record, there is a strict policy against racism (and other forms of discrimination) on this site which has been enforced on a very small number of occasions, and not just regarding comments aimed at Hamiton.

More of the coverage

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Rumormill: Turbo & High-Tech Performance Magazine gets the axe

October 31st, 2008 at 03:58pm Under Cars

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The first issue hit newsstands in June 1985, and after 23 years in the game, Turbo & High-Tech Performance Magazine is rumored to be at the end of its rope. In its late 90’s heyday, Turbo Magazine boasted over 150 content-filled pages in each issue during the the import drag racing boom. And the small displacement engines of Japanese sports and compact cars provided the perfect platform to show off turbocharging technology. The complexities of a turbocharged vehicle used to intimidate many consumers and engine builders, but the vision of Turbo Magazine founder Kipp Kington brought the technology within reach of the average enthusiast.

But in recent years, the pages of the magazine have dwindled significantly. Even with an increased demand for smaller displacement, forced induction engines, Turbo has been left behind for shark bait. Its widespread distribution has been reduced to a trickle and finding an issue of Turbo on the rack became as rare as spotting Sasquatch. If the rumor holds true, we will be sorry to see it go, but its place in automotive history will not be forgotten.

Rumormill: Turbo & High-Tech Performance Magazine gets the axe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On My Way To EICMA 2008

October 31st, 2008 at 03:30pm Under Motorbikes

Spare-Motorcycle-on-bike

I’m on the way to attend the Milan EICMA motorcycle exhibition, back next week Friday afternoon.

HINT: If you’re on Twitter, you can follow photos I’ll be posting with my iPhone.

…

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Keyring copies motorcycle knee-slider

October 31st, 2008 at 04:00am Under Motorbikes

Here’s a clever way to stop your keyring scratching your top-yoke. The Keyslider attaches to a patch of Velcro on your bike to stop it flapping around. Extra patches can be bought to hang the keys up when you get…

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Video funny: Long Way Round spoof episodes

October 31st, 2008 at 04:00am Under Motorbikes

Check out these hilarious videos from Big Face TV, parodying the well known TV series Long Way round with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. The mini-spoofs of the pair’s TV adventures show Boorman as a loser whose name no-one can…

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Taz Motorcycles receives ‘Best Performing European Dealer 2008 for Aprilia Motorcycles’

October 31st, 2008 at 04:00am Under Motorbikes

Aprilia dealer Taz Motorcycles, of Peterborough has received the accolade of Best Performing European Dealer 2008 for Aprilia Motorcycles at a ceremony held in Sepang, Malaysia. Taz is already established as an Elite Aprilia Dealership in the UK, and Taz’s…

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Speed control Danish-style

October 31st, 2008 at 04:00am Under Motorbikes

Here’s one European speed control measure we wouldn’t mind the UK sharing. Topless babes wave speed limit signs at motorists in an initiative from the Danish Road Safety Council. The ‘speed control bikini bandits’ are seen slowing traffic to well…

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