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2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup

Editor — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:17:56 +0000

The Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois, will be the venue for Round 6 of the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup on Sunday August 1 at 09:50. Practice and qualifying sessions for this event will take place on Saturday July 31, where drivers will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the 21-turn, 3.56 mile racetrack. Launched in 2008 with the goal of giving beginner drivers the opportunity to develop their talent, while at the same time introducing clean diesel technology to the United States market, the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup has earned its place on the calendar as a popular motorsport event.

During the racing season, drivers between the ages of 16 and 26 who have been recognized as having potential to take on the fast-paced world of auto racing and succeed, compete on road courses at venues around North America. Driving identical factory-prepared clean diesel powered Volkswagen Jetta TDI’s, competitors are awarded a professional racing license from SCCA Pro Racing at the successful conclusion of the season. In addition to the sheer exhilaration of competing in this series, drivers who achieve can look forward to generous prize money, with the Series Champion being the recipient of up to $100,000 worth of career advancement support from the sponsors, Volkswagen.

There are a number of factors that sets the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series in a league of its own. It is the only clean diesel racing series to be held in the United States, with Volkswagen being the only manufacturer participating on a full-time basis in motorsport with diesel-powered cars. In keeping with the growing demand for reducing our carbon footprints, the TDI diesel engine technology provides improved fuel economy when compared to gasoline engines, as well as boasting a 95 percent sooty emission reduction, even under the most demanding of racing conditions. As the cars are maintained by Volkswagen of America, competitors are assured of a level playing field, where driving skill is paramount. From a marketing viewpoint, the series appeals to spectators as the cars on the racetrack are similar to the cars available at local Volkswagen dealerships. If they make the grade under punishing racing conditions, they can be counted on to make the grade as a day-to-day means of transport.

2010 Canadian International Auto Show

Editor — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:33:32 +0000

The Canadian International Auto Show will kick off on the 12th of February 2010, and will feature a variety of activities and expos for visitors to enjoy. Motoring enthusiast will be able to attend and enjoy, such as the Cruise Nationals, Shelby Showcase, Subaru Sweepstakes, Centre Stage, and for the younger visitors, there will be a Volkswagen Children’s Play Care Centre. Over and above the cars and entertainment, there will also be contests and give-aways throughout the show.

For more information in regard to this spectacular event and ticket prices, visit the official website at http://www.autoshow.ca/info/.

Date: 12 – 21 February 2010
Venue: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
City: Toronto
Country: Canada

Bug Jam VW Festival 2009

Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:45:39 +0000

The Bug Jam VW Festival is hands down the most thrilling and action packed celebration of VW vehicles, in all shapes, sizes, models and ages. Over and above VW racing and drag racing events, VW enthusiasts are invited to camp for the weekend and enjoy other activities and entertainment such as Wheelie Cars, Jet Bugs, Concerts, stunts, exhibitions, Black Nights parachute display, traders, fun fair and much, much more.

For more information in regard to this fun weekend, visit the Bug Jam website at http://www.bugjam.co.uk/

Date: July 17, 2009
Venue: Santa Pod Raceway
City: Podington, Wellingborough
Country: United Kingdom

Final Race of 2009 Jetta TDI Cup Announced

Editor — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:16:06 +0000

Up until now only nine of the ten events for the 2009 season of the Jetta TDI Cup had been announced. Now Volkswagen of America, Inc. has finally announced the last host in the series of races – Miller Motorsports Park. The track, which is located in Salt Lake City, is set to host Round Three of the event from May 15-17.

The 2009 Jetta TDI Cup is SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned and fans already know that they can expect top racing from this fantastic auto racing event. Clark Campbell, the Motorsport Manager for Volkswagen of America, Inc., said: “I’m very pleased with the addition of Miller Motorsports Park to our schedule, as it is an excellent circuit to host one of our events. In addition, this race helps us broaden the geographic reach of our series in hopes of spreading the word about the many benefits of clean diesel performance and technology.”

This is only the second season of the still new and young Jetta TDI Cup and it is scheduled to begin at Virginia International Raceway on April 24. The racing action is always exciting since it sees 30 young, undiscovered and unproved drivers take to the track to compete in a series of ten different events on as many as eight different road courses around the country. There is no way of telling what will happen or who will come out on top. The prize money is good, with the series champion taking $100 000 home with him, while each and every driver also gets to earn a Pro Racing license from the SCCA by the end of the season. Drivers are aged between sixteen and twenty-six and the resulting explosion of talent and skill is nail-biting to watch. Competitors in the race are also aware that it is a great opportunity to kick-start their racing careers and they take it very seriously.

Kyle Novak, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup SCCA Program Manager, noted that the 2009 Jetta TDI Cup season would see these young drivers competing on some of the most challenging and illustrious road courses in North America. He said that these circuits would be a “test of driving ability” and that the result of this would be that “drivers will be equipped with the skills necessary to launch their careers in racing.” He added that the events provide “great exposure because they’ll often be racing alongside some of the best road course drivers and teams from Grand-Am and ALMS.” The 2009 Jetta TDI Cup is certainly not one to be missed so start making your arrangements now!

Production Vehicles

Editor — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:50:11 +0000

Production vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, from family cars to off-road vehicles and much, much more. Each production vehicle manufacturer will create a number of models for mass production, thus providing people with a wide choice of vehicles to suit their needs and budgets. The auto production industry is a perfect example of market forces in action – successful vehicles sell in great quantities and for a long time, while models rejected by the market are soon withdrawn. The history of the automibile reflects the changing tastes of the buying public, whose demands are quickly met by the production vehicles designed and produced by automakers worldwide – and competition for consumer dollars is fierce.

In the United States, the main manufacturers of production vehicles are General Motors, Ford and Chrysler (now officially DaimlerChrysler) – traditionally known as ‘The Big Three’. There used to be many more independent automakers, but almost all have gone out of business or have been absorbed by their larger rivals. Some of these bygone makers of American production vehicles were Studebaker, Packard, Hudson, Nash, Willys and Kaiser. A few of these small independent manufacturers joined forces to form American Motors (AMC), but even this wasn’t enough to ensure survival and AMC was bought out by Chrysler in the mid 1970s.

Foreign production vehicles began arriving on American shores after the Second World War. Names like MG, Triumph and Jaguar (England), Volkswagen and Mercedes (Germany), Fiat and Alfa Romeo (Italy) and Renault (France) achieved varying amounts of success here. However, it was the Japanese who have made the biggest impact, and are now the largest foreign-owned manufacturers of production vehicles in the USA. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Subaru are the biggest names and most successful.

Many types of production vehicles are manufactured to directly meet certain automotive needs. Jeep specializes in off-road vehicles that are able to cope with rough terrain and are perfect for adventurous people who want to explore. Porsche and Lamborghini are well known for their powerful and luxurious sports cars. If there’s a recognizable need in the market, you can be sure the automakers will address it with a new production vehicle!

VW Uses L.A. Auto Show To Showcase Diesel Technology

Editor — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:10:27 +0000

German Automotive manufacturer Volkswagen recently took advantage of the 2008 L.A. Auto Show to showcase its entire range of diesel powered technology. It debuted at a news conference at the event with the all-new Touareg V6 TDI clean diesel SUV which is compliant with the regulations of 50 states. It also showed off the new purpose-built VW Red Bull Baja Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck which will be used at the 2008 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

The impressive Touareg V6 TDI clean diesel was the talk of the show with its 3.0 L, turbocharged, six-cylinder engine. The engine is capable of producing407 lbs-ft of torque and 221 horsepower. It combines technology with more conventional systems, making use of the most advanced catalytic convert system on the planet, as well as ordinary rail injection. In designing the vehicle, developers worked hard to ensure that it met the very strict emission requirements enforced by the state of California, making it a viable option for all 50 states.

The new Touareg V6 TDI is part of Volkswagen’s commitment to developing clean diesel technology and it sets a new standard for SUVs by making them extremely economical and ensuring that they have lower emission rates than previous SUVs. It appears that there is a general feeling that diesel is one of the most sensible alternative fuels available and using clean diesel technology can greatly reduce the impact that vehicles have on the environment. The innovative developments put into practice in the new Touareg V6 TDI also help to reduce fuel costs quite drastically. In fact, the engine is seen as being one of the most advanced diesel engines of our times. The fuel tank of the Touareg V6 TDI has a 26.4 gallon capacity and drivers will find that they can get about 600 miles to a tank!

The race version of the vehicle revealed at the show, the Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck, will be taking part in the 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. It will be racing in the SCORE Trophy Truck class, where its 5.5 liter V-12 clean diesel engine and incredible fuel economy will no doubt prove to be of benefit.

Less Foreign Car Manufacturers Interested In NASCAR

Editor — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:56:46 +0000

A number of local car manufacturers that have been involved in NASCAR for a long time are now looking to downsize their racing ventures because of financial woes. One might think that this would see more variety hit the race track, but instead it seems it may be the start of hard times ahead for NASCAR.

Apparently representatives from several overseas car manufacturing companies have said that they are not interested in getting involved in NASCAR races, such as the Daytona 500, in the near future. Volkswagen, for instance seemed more concerned about environmental concerns than getting involved with big NASCAR races. They commented that they were not at all interested in investing their money in gasoline-powered racing at this point in time, but also noted that if NASCAR allowed turbos and diesels to race in their series they might start to consider it. With the company set to open a new manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, it would seem that getting involved in big local motor sports is the next logical step. But instead the company seems dead-set against it, citing the fact that it is not as financially viable as other forms of racing. Motosports manager for VW America Clark Campbell noted that their entire involvement in the Jetta TDI Cup amounts to only about “two weeks worth of budget for a NASCAR team.” Hence, their efforts will continue to focus on the Jetta TDI Cup series while they work hard at tripling their current share in the U.S. car market during the next ten years.

Honda, on the other hand, is currently the only car manufacturer involved in the IndyCar Series. But that might soon change. Despite the fact that the company has enjoyed a steady rate of sales in the U.S., they do not share the same sentiments as NASCAR when it comes to developing racecar technology. Honda wants to use what they learn on the track in the cars they put on display in the show room, but NASCAR wants to keep all the cars on a level playing field by restricting technology. Hence Honda is not particularly impressed with the NASCAR racing situation at present.

Meanwhile Nissan seems to be harping on their racing heritage, saying that they have always been involved in championship road racing and so it seems that they will stick to that form of racing in the years to come. Of course there are many other car manufacturers that also need to decide whether or not to get involved in NASCAR racing, but if the trend continues, fans could be at a loss for good racing in the near future.

Enthralling Racing at the Olympus International Rally

Editor — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:31:13 +0000

The United States held its first Rally Championship in 1973, and the Olympus International Rally was a part of this historical moment. Sponsored by Toyota, it later became an important stage during the World Rally Championships from 1985 to 1988 and was again included in the United States Rally Championship in 2006. From 2007 it was added to the Rally America National Championship and it has many legendary rally drivers associated with it.

One of America’s well known rally racing champions, John Buffum, has raced at the Olympus International Rally many times, taking home four wins. Another driver who also has four Olympus wins to his name is the New Zealand Rally Champion, Rod Millen and in 1985, Hannu Mikkola won the World Rally Prototype here. Other famous rally drivers include Juha Kankkunen, Miki Biasion, John Nagel, Markku Alen, Alex Fiorio, Ilkka Kivimaki and Arne Hertz.

This year the Olympus International Rally will form part of the Rally America National Championship, and takes place between the 18th of April 2008 and the 20th of April 2008. Here, drivers will be putting their navigational and driving skills to the ultimate test, as racing at Olympus is known to be a challenging event. The rugged rally terrain of this course in the Washington State will not only see drivers battle against each other but they will be tested on every turn by unpredictable weather conditions and the vast variety of road surfaces they will have to face.

It is a course that provides excitement and thrilling racing for the participants and the spectators, as every bump or turn in the road can have an overwhelming effect on the race. The Olympus International Rally is a serious race for teams, as it is a fight for points and a place at the X Games 13. Spectators will be able to see eleven great vehicle manufactures represented at the rally, including Ford, Subaru, Volkswagen, Dodge and Mitsubishi.

For rally racing at its best, and to catch a glimpse of favorite teams and drivers, supporters and racing enthusiasts should ensure that they don’t miss out on the action and exhilaration of this rough rally spectacular. The Olympus International Rally is an event worth supporting.

Baja 1000: A Joy in the Dirt – Auto Racing

Editor — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 09:32:44 +0000

Since 1967, off-road enthusiasts have been converging in northern Baja Mexico to partake in the legendary Baja 1000. A race that covers a 1000 miles of rugged terrain from Ensenada to La Paz in the south. For many this weekend in November is the highlight of the off-road racing season and the winner reaches legendary status by crossing the finish line with the fastest time.

The race is a timed event and the start is staggered to make the start equal for all who enter. Just about any type of vehicle can be entered into the race with the most popular being the dune buggie. Recently a majority of the winners has been the factory sponsored truck teams, but the crowd favorite has always been the Baja Bug. With the conversion of a Volkswagen Beetle to an all terrain vehicle, this little car has been a mainstay at the event since its inception.

This is not a race for the novice. This race takes skill, a good vehicle, and guts the size of Baja itself. Whether on motorcycle, dune buggie, Baja Bug or like Erik Carlsson in 1969 and ’70 a stock front-wheel drive Saab96, you need to have the endurance for this grueling race. The drivers of these vehicles will experience punctured tires, over-heated engines, and exhaustion, but to win you must possess a determination that is beyond sane.

The people of Baja Mexico are hospitable, warm, friendly, and inviting, unfortunately for the drivers the terrain is not. For many of these drivers deal with desert heat, getting airborne from the many hill and bumps that line the course, and a sore rear from the uneven terrain that is off-road racing.

If you plan to visit Baja and witness this amazing event, book your hotel early for this is one of the most popular events of the year in the area. When arriving, you will be welcomed with a smile from your host, scenery unlike any you have seen before, cold beer, great food, and you will be able to witness a test of endurance that is the Baja 1000.