A Year's Worth of Nissan GT-Rs at the Nürburgring

If you live within the European Union or at least in a neighboring country like Russia or Turkey, and you happen to own a Nissan GT-R (or any sports car, for that matte), the best place to thrash your car is without doubt the world famous Nürburgring race track in Germany.

And given the price of the GT-R, it shouldn't surprise anyone that many owners were indeed able to afford the trip and live the magic of the Nordschleife.

For the rest of us, we'll have to do with a four-minute long video prepared by a YouTube user, which includes many of the Nissan GT-Rs that were spotted on the 'Ring throughout the year. Enjoy the video right after the break.

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2012 Dakar Rally Starts on Sunday

The 34th edition of the Dakar Rally, which is regarded as the toughest auto racing event in the world, starts in Mar Del Plata, Argentina on Sunday, January 1, 2012. This year the event covers 5,000 miles through Argentina, Chile and Peru. It will finish in Lima on January 15, instead of returning to Argentina as it has the past three years.

As we reported a few weeks ago last year's winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah from Qatar, has teamed up with Robby Gordon to drive a second Hummer in 2012. In many ways this gives Gordon a greater chance than ever to capture the victory he has long relished.

While Americans and Middle Easterners will be cheering on the Hummer duo, Europeans will undoubtedly be rooting for the Monster Energy Rally-X team of five Mini All4 Racings and three BMW X3CCs. Two of the Minis are being driven by Nina Roma, a former motorcycle winner, and Stéphane Peterhansel, who has won nine times.

Since Volkswagen is not competing after winning for three years in a row, the only sure outcome of this year's event is that we will see something other than a Volkswagen Touareg or Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero on the podium for the first time since 2000.

Other American competitors to follow include Mark McMillin/Gary Arnold in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Darren Skilton/Skyler Gambrell in a Baja Automotive Revolution 6 and Robb Rill/Benjamin Slocum in a Desert Warrior. It's also worth keeping an eye on the Mexican team of Joaquin De Uriarte/Ivan Klein who are driving the Ford Raptor that Sue Mead/Darren Skilton drove in 2011 to a class win. Famous Baja motorcycle racer Johnny Campbell is co-driving for Robby Gordon, while Gordon's former co-driver Andy Grider is co-driving for Argentinean Orlando Terranova in a Toyota.

A daily summary of the Dakar Rally will be shown at the ungodly hour of 1.30 am EST (or 10.30 pm PST) each night on NBC Sports, which is the new name for the Versus Channel, from January 2. However, if you would like to keep track in real time check out the Dakar Rally website, the blog on Robby Gordon's Speed Energy website, or that of Toyo Tires, his tire sponsor.

http://blog.roadandtrack.com/2012-dakar-rally-starts-on-sunday

Give Me a Break GM

If you purchased a 2012 Chevy Sonic you might want to check and see if the car's brake pads are all there as GM now admits they may have shipped as many as 4,296 of them without them. Also, they're not notifying anyone until mid-January. Happy New Year! More »

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/jalopnik/full/~3/vo9M-QQr3Ts/gm-admits-it-maybe-forgot-to-put-brake-pads-on-your-chevy-sonic

Cost-saving measures are getting out of hand! And this on top of taxpayer bailouts of a failing auto industry...

The original General Lee is for sale [Video]

The Dukes of Hazzard's first General Lee is going up for auction next month at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson. This is the 1969 Dodge Charger that started it all and it's expected to change hands for something north of $450,000. More » 

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/jalopnik/full/~3/J7x-ibo16X8/the-very-first-general-lee-is-for-sale

The show probably destroyed enough to increase costs due to the rarity of surviving Chargers...

Official: Lotus Exige R-GT rally car gets first shakedown test

Lotus has been busily preparing its new Exige R-GT rally car, and the automaker just put the racer through its first shakedown tests in Turin, Italy. So far, the Lotus team is happy with the vehicle's progress, but testing will continue in 2012 as the company prepares to take on the 2012 FIA World Championship. Don't expect the Exige R-GT to take on too many gravel stages, however. Lotus says the rally car will lock horns with competitors in the FIA GT Class on the asphalt events in Monte Carlo, Tour de Corse and San Remo.

Lotus began working on its rally fighter in July, 2011, which is a pretty quick turn around for the vehicle's first shakedown run.

But the Exige R-GT Rally Car isn't the only tasty piece of news from the company. Lotus also fired up the company's IndyCar engine for the first time as well. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Lotus Exige R-GT rally car gets first shakedown test

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/27/lotus-exige-r-gt-rally-car-gets-first-shakedown-test

If Mad Max had a rally car

Much as we respect today's crop of four-wheel-drive, turbocharged, high-tech rally cars, there's something that's missing. That something is a massive V8 in a full-caged muscle car charging sideways through a forest. More »

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/jalopnik/full/~3/kS1rjMvarXQ/if-mad-max-had-a-rally-car

At Least Neither is Beige

Why the new Mustang is limited to 112MPH

I was impressed with the new 2011 V6 Mustangs. They could hang with tactical car up to 110mph, unless they had to turn. Well, some one took the limiter off their new Mustang and, at 135MPH, the drive shaft fell out.

http://www.saysuncle.com/2011/12/20/why-the-new-mustang-is-limited-to-112mph

Land Rover LR3 Brakes

 

It's a disc brake! No, wait, it's a drum? What? It's both?

A Curious V-Strom

A curious V-strom, completely converted to ride from Paris to Dakar, which it obviously did. Different suspension, different brakes, wheels, tires, rear frame, saddle... well everything except main frame engine and front cowling I guess...

Objects at Rest...

The big black Vee, silently sleeping.

2012 Smart For-Us Concept

smart is turning the automotive world upside down once again and challenging ideas about what an urban pickup should look like. In a tongue-in-cheek manner the for-us signals that this is the right car for the young and young-at-heart with active lives who attach importance to low emissions and taking up minimum road space. The smart for-us translates the practical loading concept of a pickup to the reality of 21st century urban traffic for the first time.

With its exterior dimensions (length/width/height: 3547/1506/1701mm) it could almost go unnoticed on the loading area of a typical pickup, and it also anything but ordinary under the body. Thanks to the state-of-the-art electric drive with a55 kW magneto-electric motor the zero-emission smart for-us is agile and lively to drive. It will celebrate its world premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (14 - 22 January 2012).

2012 Smart For-Us Concept - Images, Specifications and Information

This little smart runabout reminds me of Suzuki's X-90, but with a small utility bed.

How to Lube Your Motorcycle Chain

It's a query almost as old as the Bard himself: When it comes to lubricating your chain, what is the right stuff?

Well, is the chain an O-ring type? (For practical purposes, we will use "O-ring chains" to refer to all the various cross-sections of such seals.) Or is it just a simple roller chain, with no rubber rings of any kind? Some manufacturers recommend using a lube specifically formulated for O-ring chains; others say these lubes can still harm the O-rings and that you should use 90-weight gear oil. Some OEMs and chain manufacturers insist you clean the chain first with kerosene, gasoline or a high-flash-point solvent (one that won't easily ignite).

To try and clarify the issue, we spoke with P.J. Harvey, president, chairman, CEO and founder of PJ1 Products. He's been in the business for almost four decades, and although he did not actually invent chain lube, he has certainly influenced its formulation for both plain roller and O-ring chains.

I personally prefer to use Bel-Ray's Blue Tac Chain Lube to reduce oxidation and maintain the chain life. In a pinch, I have used chain and bar oil for chainsaws or even 80W90 gear oil.

How to Lube Your Motorcycle Chain

Parisodigy - Smack My Bike Up

I'm not a fan of irresponsible riding on public roads. That being said, this is a great video.

Parisodigy-SmackMyBikeUp - YouTube

Dakar 2012 Rally

It's coming. The 2012 Dakar Rally. I'm getting excited already.