Get out of the way, dammit!

The 2010 NY International Auto Show!

Enthusiasm!

I doubt even the 1941 Auto Show (if there was one) could have been as morose as last year’s show. That said, this year could clear that low bar with little effort. It was cleared, but barely.

I am reminded that most Americans don’t deserve nice things as I saw throngs of corn syrup-addled children climbing all over the cars with little admonition from their corn syrup and hot dog-addled parents.

That’s why the pricey cars and the prototypes are behind little, symbolic fences.

The Honda CR-Z has been met with some skepticism by the car-journalists but I am crossing fingers it will actually be a fun car.

Acura (Honda) at least realize racing helps people mythologize cars. Most other manufacturers omitted their race cars, to their detriment. Or not. Who knows…

To wit: Soichiro Honda’s image should be on currency worldwide.

Electric car.

Mazda 2 looked good.

However, race credentials were somewhat negated by drum brakes.

Scion’s French bulldog wannabe.

Wagons are making a tentative comeback but I still curse S.U.V.s for their original demise.

Mini’s Max Mosley tribute. Har, har.

Future official car of the NYC douchebag.

Maxima’s have to get a couple years on them before becoming suitable for douche ownership.

Notice the teenager posing and kissing his GF like he already owns the car.

Infiniti meshugas that I will never be allowed to even sit inside of so my interest was limited.

Lotus Evora, I love how this is big for Lotus.

You couldn’t get near it but I can’t blame Lotus for calling it like that. Too many kids climbing all over the nice cars.

Fiat Cinquecento.

Holding my breath we might get the Abarth version.

Lexus LFA, Still not convinced that a $12,000/ month lease is in my best interest.

It has a great engine sound but I am still not %100 on board with the styling. It looks incoherent.

Mercedes breaks out the gull-wing doors again.

The guy next to me told his girlfriend: “Those ain’t even Lambo doors, they gull-wing.” He then authoritatively declared that the car “Ain’t no fun to drive anyway.”

So it’s officially a flop.

Race version.

Nearby person sez: “Ooooh, the Dahminatah!”

S.U.V.s were relegated to the basement as all manufacturers tried to hide their shame.

I leave you with a teenager fascinated by Audi headlights.

]]> http://www.sciencebastards.com/?feed=rss2&p=186 0 http://www.sciencebastards.com/?p=183 http://www.sciencebastards.com/?p=183#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:18:00 +0000 admin http://www.sciencebastards.com/?p=183 Valentino Rossi secured the 2009 championship in Sepang Sunday afternoon.

Rossi (pictured above at Laguna Seca in July) needed to finish fourth or better to clinch the title, regardless of Jorge Lorenzo’s final position.  He managed to place a close third to Dani Pedrosa’s second.  Casey Stoner won by nearly 15 seconds.  An unexpected torrential downpour just half an hour before the race threw every rider’s settings from the previous few days into the toilet.  Rossi immediately went from pole position to tenth place after overshooting the first corner while Lorenzo shot back from last (he was sent there as a penalty for showing up to the line late) to battle with Rossi up through the pack.  While the race didn’t play out as anticipated, the Rossi-Lorenzo battle made for a good show once again.

Huge respect to Jorge Lorenzo for making this year so interesting, he needs to score a single point in Valencia in two weeks to hang on to second.

Jorge Lorenzo lifting the front as he goes up the back straight.

My first attempt at shooting MotoGP yielded ok results. A photo pass would have enabled many more vantage points than what I had.

A more comprehensive gallery lies after the jump…

Rossi in free practice 1.

Hayden, FP1.

Jorge Lorenzo in FP1, with collarbone still firmly attached.

It isn’t tough to guess that I have some allegiance to Rossi.

Again…

Jorge Lorenzo is the only other person I wouldn’t mind seeing win the championship. He has really been keeping Rossi on his toes this year.

See Catalunya.

Rossi disappearing.

Dovizioso pushing.

The Rossi fan contingent is completely disproportionate to that of any other rider.

Even Ducati fanboys are Rossi fanboys.

Hayden seems pleased with his scooter.

Morning of day 2.

A parade of rearward glances.

A blown-out Lorenzo.

Marco Melandri on the bike that will likely disappear next season.

Laguna Seca’s hill makes for a great track but causes problems for those not in the best fitness.

Lorenzo, lifting it again at the start of qualifying.

Collarbone dislocation and foot damage are (sadly) in his near future.

Hayden coming over the line in qualifying. Panning these shots takes a few tries to get the hang of.

Rossi and a sizable runoff area.

Lorenzo after chucking it the first time. He ran back to the pits to get back out for the end of qualifying. He went the wrong way at first.

Once back out, he was unfazed by the crash and posted some seriously fast times.

That ended abruptly with a nasty highside. I turned to Kaori to remark how dirty his leathers were from the first crash and missed this, the more dramatic one. He stood up and soon thought better of it and was carried off.

Niccolo Canepa in warmup, day 3.

Gabor Talmasci.

De Angelis and De Puniet.

Sete Gibernau and Rossi in warmup. I wonder if Gibernau was nostalgic for the days of being vexed by Rossi.

Gibernau lost his ride this past weekend so this was very likely his last ever MotoGP race.

Rossi entering the corkscrew.

Dani Pedrosa didn’t surprise anyone by getting off the line in the lead, but based on his recent past, nobody thought he would stay there.

Rossi.

Pedrosa, Stoner, Rossi, Lorenzo. Lorenzo again proved how tough he is by fighting his way back to the podium after a not-great start and large amounts of pain. Stoner faded.

Pedrosa really pulled away for a while.

Rossi got by Stoner and Lorenzo closed.

Again.

Rossi again.

Marco Melandri

Lorenzo, being fast.

Chris Vermeulen has a blue chain.

Casey Stoner.

Poor Niccolo Canepa has had a rough time on the Ducati thus far. Here, the helicopter presages the frontrunners coming up behind him.

Pedrosa in control.

Hayden’s special livery helped him to a respectable 5th place.

Pedrosa eased up near the end and Rossi almost caught him in the last corner.

Friendly Valentino Rossi.

Limping Lorenzo. He is pretty badass.

Parading Pedrosa. A well-earned win.

Edwards seems disconsolate.

Useless orange barriers in pit lane, post-celebration.

Track Control was rightly suspicious of us.

Rossi fan circus in full swing outside of media tent.

Lorenzo smiling after being dismissed by Dr. Costa (left).

Not as if this is news but Pedrosa won at Laguna Seca on Sunday. Here is a photo from later in the race.

Gallery to come as soon as I can manage it.

Jorge Lorenzo, true to form, gave Rossi and Stoner a taste. He is so fast and consistent, it is amazing to see. However, in the end of qualifying he ended up here, twice:

Luckily for him, Stoner did something similar elsewhere on the track. Lorenzo is hurt and Stoner is still sick and maybe hurting from his off too.

It puts Rossi at a distinct advantage.

Valentino Rossi eked out first place in Friday free practice in the last lap or two.

I am taking tons of photos and coming to the realization that I need new lenses.

Will do a large gallery upon return to home.

On the way to Laguna Seca. I will be at all practice and qualifying, hoping to get a spot to shoot photos from.

Dorna will probably have this taken down soon.

This season is going to be absolutely incredible.

The Doctor Visits the T.T. from AC MCoupe on Vimeo.