Frédéric Sausset, first quad amputee in history to participate as a pilot in the 24 hours of Le Mans, came to repeat its ranges driving his LMP2 prototype.

to get the video translated to your language, use the tool icon in the bottom right area, first to turn on Closed Captions, then to select your language


While on vacation in southwestern France in 2012, Frédéric Sausset, a 47 year-old French businessman, sustained a scratch on his hand, which developed into a potentially deadly infection called purpura fulminans. After battling the infection, Sausset fell into a coma and later awoke with his arms amputated at the fore-arms, and his legs cut off just above the knees.
http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/the-fascinating-way-this-quadruple-amputee-will-drive-a-1782186560

For many recent years, there have been 55 race cars at the start of Le Mans, plus a wild-card invite known as "Garage 56", sanctioning one car strictly outside the regulations of the cutting-edge Prototype and production-based GTE classes, but promoting true innovation – as Nissan’s DeltaWing in 2014.

This year there were 59 participants, and so the  “innovation” invitee actually was named "Garage 60", because of the enlarged grid, and this year the twist is more about the driver than it is about the car.

Frédéric Sausset has limited racing experience, but that isn’t unique given 180 drivers on the grid.

Enabled by extraordinary control solutions, he can not only share Car 84 with his two able-bodied team-mates, but can race on equal terms against the finest sports car drivers in the world. Such things do not happen in many sporting events at this level, but all credit to Le Mans that it will happen today.

It is the one headline that sets this Le Mans apart. That’s because the Le Mans regulations have quietly evolved to further emphasize efficiency in a way that has meaningful real-world benefits.

Another significant presence is the return of a “works” Ford effort. The Blue Oval may “only” be back in the GTE category, but it is taking on Le Mans regulars Aston Martin, Chevrolet, Ferrari and Porsche in the class that often delivers the most intense racing of all.

Evocatively, the Fords carry race numbers 66, 67, 68 and 69, commemorating the company's four consecutive wins in the glory days of the Ford-Ferrari wars in the mid-Sixties.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/features/feats-of-endurance-le-mans-gears-up-for-a-record-grid/

The #84 Morgan LM P2-Nissan entered by SRT41 by OAK Racing gets the slot specially reserved for innovative projects. David Lecleach, data and systems engineer at Onroak Automotive, has been assigned to the team and tells us more about the technology installed for Frédéric Sausset

Brakes: “We are the only car to have ABS which is a massive help when it comes to braking. There is a Master-Vac brake booster that creates a vacuum to provide assistance when the driver presses the pedal. Without it, he wouldn’t apply enough pressure to brake himself.”

Steering wheel: “It is unique. The prosthesis he wears has a tip at the end that he uses to turn the wheel. It has practically the same steering rotation as a standard wheel.

Extraction: “The regulations mean he has to be able to get out of the car himself if there is a problem. There is a compressed-air system that lifts his seat so that he can then tip himself out of the car.”

The other drivers: “There is a special steering wheel for Frédéric Sausset while Jean-Bernard (Bouvet) and Christophe (Tinseau) use a standard wheel. Frédéric’s pedal set is also different and he controls it with his thighs. He is connected to rods that are used to accelerate or brake, and there is no clutch as it’s an automatic gearbox. The steering wheel and the pedal set are removed when one of the other drivers takes over.”

Lights: “Eduardo Freitas, Race Director, has asked us to fit blue LEDs that only light up when Fred is in the car. When his steering wheel is connected, it automatically switches those lights on. They are on the front end, the roll bar and the rear extractor. A broad blue strip warns the drivers in front and behind.”

http://www.lemans.org/en/News/stand-56-the-innovations-on-board-frederic-sausset-s-car/41459

thanks Phil!

cool VW concept

if they ever built these, they would sell...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1631935880418477/  via https://www.facebook.com/groups/413414438697407/  from https://www.facebook.com/stephen.bamber.75

There are good Samaritans and there are great ones, and into this latter category falls Hugh Logie.

Hugh offered unbidden to trailer the car to Montana from Canada for Jamie Kitman, Automobile in house grouch and odd car collector.

But first he would have to drive to Red Deer Canada, 265 miles from his home in Medicine Hat. He wouldn’t accept payment for his efforts, other than reimbursement for his gasoline.

It was then learned from the intended shippers in Montana that the 404 absolutely had to run and stop before arriving, and that it wouldn’t be loaded if either didn't. It would sit until it did both. So Hugh decided the only thing to do was to drag it back home to Medicine Hat to fix, which he did, restoring braking facility and troubleshooting the fuel system while rebuilding the carburetor, all at no charge.

He then towed the car the 421 miles to Livingston and dropped it there before driving another 421 miles and enduring another border crossing the following day.

Understand that Hugh Logie is a gainfully employed 41-year-old with a wife, children, and a busy job. But he is a dedicated Peugeot fan. In the name of preserving the marque and furthering its appreciation, he volunteered to spend many days and several evenings working on a car belonging to someone he’d never met.

 And he took additional days out of his life to drive more than 1,360 miles, all so Kitman might get his 404 wagon home cheaply.

 The guy is a saint and a potent reminder how sometimes old-car people are the nicest people, like family, only nicer and even nuttier.

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/all-in-the-familiale-buying-a-1964-peugeot-404/#peugeot-404-familiale-2

just go get a kleenex box. Then watch this, inspired by a son who lost his dad too soon

The short tells the story of a young man who logged quality time with his father while playing a game called Rallisport Challenge, released in 2002 for the original Xbox. When the father dies unexpectedly, the console is banished to the garage. Ten years later, now age 16, the boy retrieves the dusty console

Already over a million hits on You tube, this is not exactly a true story, its based on comments on a video about "Can Video Games Be a Spiritual Experience?

The video creator and director/producer got his favorite collaborator actor to star.

Wikstrom, 25, graduated from Florida State University's College of Motion Picture Arts and moved to Los Angeles four years ago. He found some work as a treatment designer for the directors of commercials. But he hadn't made any of his own. I think he's just paved the way for a career with a company that can spot talent and make quick decisions

What about Microsoft? The young director said he's heard from "someone high up" at the software giant, who wrote him personally to praise his work, but nothing official.

Adweek contacted Aaron Greenberg, Microsoft's head of Xbox's game marketing, who told us: "This is really inspiring. Connecting players through gaming is one of the best rewards of creating video games, and stories like this are always touching and inspire us to do our best work.

We applaud this fan's courage in sharing his story and the filmmaker's artistry in bringing it to life so vividly."

Wikstrom maintains the project was "a labor of love."

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/heres-story-behind-moving-xbox-video-microsoft-had-no-hand-creating-171051

I found that I posted the story in Jan 2015

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/01/coolest-thing-youll-read-today-might.html

A little girl who was allegedly being bullied at school got some help from her local biker club.

The first-grader at Marshall Elementary in Toledo loves to ride her dirt bike, and she proudly rides up and down her block.

So, Reynolds decided to enlist the help of The Punishers -- a motorcycle club comprised of law enforcement, EMS and military personnel, and firefighters. The club surprised little Audrianna with a ride to school -- on a real motorcycle.

"We got her a vest and told her to think of us like her uncles, and she is part of our family now, and if she needs anything let us know," the group's president, Daniel Bushey, told WTVG. "Any chance we get, we help kids out, we do in a heartbeat."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/local-motorcycle-club-allegedly-bullied-girl-ride-school/story?id=39395162

the power of the car

Found on http://blog.garagistry.com/2016/05/morgan-i.html

Back in 1952, Pete Gutteridge purchased a three-wheeler Morgan in parts, put it in the back of a lorry and drove it down to Dorset, where its rested until he returned from National Service and began the project of rebuilding it.

He would drive to London regularly on the old road to London via Blandford, on this journey which he took on a Saturday morning and returned on the Sunday evening he would pass by a small farm. A young boy aged 6, who lived at the farm would hear that Morgan approach. He'd rush down to the fence and watch the Morgan pass. Come rain or shine, without fail, that little bot would be there.

Some years have passed since the boy saw the Morgan. But these Morgans have a habit of making an impression. The cars that have indefinitely shaped the man that Pete is today, wait patiently in the garage in which they are housed, for the next chapter. The next custodian, the next drive and to influence their environment. And the little boy? He’s all grown up now and has a Morgan of his own now.

"It was a sports car. You wouldn't be seen dead in a Morris Ten Four or an Austin Seven. They hold no charisma to me you see, it had to be something a little bit special."

— Pete Gutteridge

Coolest thing I've seen all day, a garage built tractor / engine hoist to ease the moving of heavy car parts around

Very cool hot rodder, and cool guy blogger Travis, had blown my mind again... check out this fast photo gallery build of an ol Sears garden tractor (or mower)
http://perichbrothers.blogspot.com/2016/05/tractor-time-sears-gt16.html

while learning more about 1970s kids bikes, I came across the 1971 Sears Slingshot. It is so 70's kooky/groovy, it deserves it's own post

Damn... this is some serious drag racing influenced - top fuel slingshot dragster looking bike. I bet this was rarely ever ridden, if at all... and has been sitting in collections or museums for the past 45 years

http://www.rrcbicyclesuperstore.com/19sesl.html

Another cool Massachusetts State Trooper (maybe all state troopers should be sent there for training in humanity) found! Cool guy award of the day goes to Luke Bonin!

Seen while sharing lunch with a homeless mother of 4, Trooper Bonin had his photo taken and shared online.

https://www.facebook.com/MassStatePolice/photos/a.227475680669756.55919.218158751601449/1022391021178214/?type=3

Trooper Bonin had just left court when he drove by the woman, who appeared down on her luck. She was holding a sign and asking for help from anyone who would pay attention. Trooper Bonin continued to drive on – directly to a local establishment, where he ordered two meals. He returned to the woman, pulled up, and exited his cruiser. Thinking he was there to remove her from the side of the road, she immediately stated to him that she would leave, that she knew she shouldn’t be there with her sign. But Trooper Bonin told her, “I’m not here to kick you out.” He then extended the two meals and told her to pick one. They then sat, shared a meal, and a conversation.

Yes, Trooper Bonin, we know you do not want or expect publicity. We know you didn’t want to be noticed, but you were, and the job is proud of you. We commend you for your selfless act, and for “doing the right thing” for someone less fortunate than most people.

We have extraordinary troopers on the Massachusetts State Police who conduct themselves honorably, and perform selfless acts, every day. Most times, it goes unnoticed. But not this day.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/trooper-brings-picnic-lunch-to-homeless-woman-on-roadside/

the art of Flywheel, made in a German Stalag POW camp, by English prisoners trying to keep up spirits when they were malnourished and imprisoned in drafty huts in freezing northern Europe

they even did art to show what they imagined a auto show would be like if the war wasn't ongoing

and many times they did articles about the history of various car makers

 and had essays on topics like the Gran Prix racers, and the Tourist Trophy, and what British car makers ought to do after the war was over

they even made up their own advertising section

the post about the book that goes into detailed story is at http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-most-amazing-thing-i-saw-today-book.html  this post is just for the art 

Peter Hagberg, of New York, went to a car dealership last week in hopes of crossing off the final item on his bucket list, purchasing a Ford Mustang GT convertible.

While Hagberg was car shopping he opened up to the car salesmen about his health struggles. The West Herr dealership responded by selling Hagberg his dream car at cost.

Days later, the West Herr auto dealership group -- 23 dealerships in all –- gave Hagberg and his wife, Jane, a check for $5,000 to help cover medical costs and pay for a road trip in the Mustang to visit their grandchildren in Maine and Pennsylvania.

“I was blown away,” Hagberg said. “It restored my faith in people.”

James Raymond is the sales manager told ABC News that he and a fellow salesman knew immediately they wanted to help Hagberg even more.

“We were both looking at each other saying, ‘We need to go a step further,’” Raymond recalled. “We were in awe of his spirit and his personality.”

Reynolds reached out to Matt Lasher, West Herr’s marketing director and the dealership donated $5000.

“We were definitely touched by Peter’s story and wanted to do something special and allow him to go on a road trip and see his family and take full advantage of his car,” Lasher told ABC News. “We wanted to surprise him.”

Raymond added, “What we did is small compared to the battles that Mr. Hagberg faces everyday.”

http://www.610kvnu.com/health/577573ad84e7e2d174b41b1a84708567
https://gma.yahoo.com/car-dealership-helps-cancer-patient-dream-car-road-163705211--abc-news-wellness.html?cid=wn_fb

the million mile 2007 Tundra... Toyota has got to be happy with this accomplishment

Victor Sheppard averages over 125,000 miles per year, resulting in over one million miles logged on the odometer of his 2007 Toyota Tundra.

According to Toyota, Sheppard covers this insane amount of miles thanks to regular trips between his home in Louisiana to North Dakota, Wyoming, and Virginia for work. Surprisingly, the truck carries the original engine and transmission, along with the same paint from the factory. (Similarly, a 600k Toyota Prius taxi made the news http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-taxi-in-austria-is-featured-car-in.html )

 Not much in the way of major maintenance was required, aside from regular maintenance including timing belts, oil changes, and the automaker’s scheduled checkups. After breaching the seven-figure mark, Sheppard calculated the 2007 Tundra visited the dealer 117 times over the past nine years.

The Tundra is an invaluable source of longevity and reliability insight for the Toyota, already renowned for reliable and long lasting trucks.

Toyota handed him the keys to a brand-new 2016 Toyota Tundra in exchange for his Tundra so they can disassemble it and have engineers examine every component of the truck from bumper to bumper. Toyota hopes to incorporate the information gleaned from the weatherbeaten truck into future product development.

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/toyota-swaps-brand-new-truck-million-mile-2007-toyota-tundra