If you’ve ever wanted to get involved in a Gumball style road rally but can’t find your way into the scene, now may be your chance. The folks at Thunderball Rally are planning what looks like a classic event in September 2008. Fantastic cars. A fantastic route. Costumes! That’s right, for a whopping 50 pounds, one can dress up like Dom Delouise and cruise from London through the French Alps, down the Stelvio pass and in to Monaco! That’s a darn sight cheaper than some of the other, more infamous events.
One might think so as he amasses an ever growing fleet of E39 M5’s. This latest squad car comes complete with a roll cage and what looks to be a track suspension set up. Even more interesting is the suggestion that 144R may be used in combat some time soon.
Those of you who have read your copy of The Driver already know that Herr Roy suffered more than a little embarrassment when he planted a brand spanking new Lamborghini into a wall. I’m sure that the sting has subsided a little in the past 3 years, but this video I just came across must cause Alex’s eyes to burn.
Last weekend, in Earls Court, the folks from Top Gear hosted the incredible MPH 07 show and what a show it looks to have been. With stage events being hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, a car show, vip hospitality stuff and more, it sounds like this may have been the car show of the year. Continue reading →
As a pimply faced preteen, I sought out any and every shred of automotive knowledge I could get my hands on. With “childhood” memories of cruising the Tyrol in a Dino and having a best friend that lived in an air cooled mecca, I had to get more knowledge. I had to know everything about cars and the people who built and drove them. I would scour the local library for anything automotive that I could get my hands on. One day, I picked up a plain white book that changed my life. It was called Sunday Driver. Continue reading →
With all the hype regarding his upcoming book, The Driver, Alex Roy has chosen now to release details of his secret transcontinental record attempt that happened over a year ago. Just one thing. This wasn’t an attempt, it was an all out assault, planned with the military precision one might expect from Herr Roy and Team Polizei. The Result? The largely contested Rawlings/Collins record of 31 Hours, 59 minutes was obliterated by almost an hour! Roy and codriver Dave Maher made the trip from New York City to Redondo Beach, California in 31 hours, 4 minutes. That is no less than 2795 miles and 13 states in the Team Polizei BMW M5 interceptor.
As with other records, this one will be subject to all manner of doubters. I can say this though. Either Roy is a great actor or I’m a very poor judge of character, because I find the guy to be completely genuine. If Alex and the others involved say they accomplished this, I believe them. Besides, some of the stories told in the book could potentially get them in very hot water with the po po, so why would they make this stuff up?
Thanks to Spinelli for breaking this one and recounting the story of the departure. Now head over and order your copy of The Driver.
While things here in The Garage are heating up as Gary Faules prepares to do battle at La Carrera Panamerica, friend of The Garage Alex Roy has some stuff heating up in New York City. First off, Alex has launched a series of new wallpapers of the infamous number 144. Now the obvious reason is to build hype for the launch of Alex’s new book, The Driver, which launches on October 16.
Perhaps of more covert interest is news of a new Interceptor. That’s right, Roy’s mystical, magical M5 is being retired. The big question is, what is the replacement? Hmmm… Let’s take stock of things here. We have an international playboy with access to what may be one of the world’s most impressive fleet of exotic cars. What are the options? Bugatti? Naw, no back seat for extra passengers to share the escapades. Audi RS4? Nope, VW electronics are way too finicky. CTS-V? Too common.
I’m betting that Interceptor 144B will be something offbeat, like a Cayenne S that’s paid a visit to our friends at Ruf or some such super fast, super reliable shaggin’ waggon so AR can keep up with that playboy image!
After the break, see the original Interceptor in action as Team Polizei gets a police escort through Florence. Continue reading →
Yesterday we received a comment from the family of Nick Morley. In it, a good chunk of the haze surrounding the crash that occurred in Macedonia during the Gumball event has been cleared up. I thought it was worth posting on it’s own, as it’s too valuable to be lost in the comments section.
As we’ve said before, this case is an important landmark for the rally community. I can’t recall if there has ever been such a high profile situation where a competitor has been involved with a non competitors vehicle. It’s a shame that someone somewhere seems bent on setting a false example of a member of our community.
Nick Morley, driver of the Porsche that was involved in a tragic accident that killed 2 people in Macedonia has been convicted of dangerous driving causing death. In a strange twist, officials have given his a 2 year suspended sentence and will be allowed to leave the country. The whole case appears to have been strangely mishandled, which may have as much to do with the need to make rallyists look criminal as it does with the unusual legal system in Macedonia. It is unlikely that we will ever learn the truth regarding what happened that day.
Once again, our thoughts go out to Cepuljoski family and to Nick Morley.
That’s right, a wild and woolie bunch of rich guys and celebs are leaving London tomorrow morning on their way to Asia and back. This year, they’ve added a helicopter to the fleet of support vehicles, except the chopper’s job is to send video out to the world!
