Just before the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Arabian Business magazine published the salaries of several current drivers. MSN has an article listing the salaries, along with an interesting Points Per Million Dollars Spent Ratio. So which team got the best bang for their buck in terms of dollars spent on driver versus points earned in 2009? See the table below:

Felipe Massa was out halfway through the season due to a severe head injury, which resulted in Giancarlo Fisichella switching from Force India to Ferrari. So those two drivers probably don’t count.

The article also mentions the widely known stat, that in 2009, after Tiger Woods, Kimi Räikkönen was the second highest paid athlete in the world. Incidentally, Räikkönen is now out of a job (Kimi Quits Formula 1) as Ferrari has given his seat to Double World Champion Fernando Alonso. I doubt he’s too concerned though.

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[Source: Autos.ca.msn.com]

F1 Breaking News! Kimi Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson announced late on Tuesday November 18, 2009 to Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat that Kimi will not be racing Formula 1 in 2010.

“The only option for F1 next season was McLaren or nothing,” Robertson said. “Kimi and McLaren were unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at F1 level, at least not next year.”

Raikkonen and McLaren failed to come to terms based on salary, sponsor duties and Kimi’s freedom to rally race. Turun Sanomat speculated that 2011 Raikkonen could most likely return to Formula 1 Grand Prix with Red Bull Racing.

Keep in mind that Kimi’s severance deal with Ferrari will net him more money by taking a year off in 2010, than if he would have raced the year!

Next year, he is likely to be active in rally cars and possibly the Le Mans 24 Hours, the newspaper added.

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Father Hamilton Crashes Porsche Carrera GT
Lewis and Heikki receive BLINGY DIAMOND HELMETS

[Source: USAToday.com]

Earlier this week we witnessed the drowning of a Bugatti Veyron Lake Crash, and Friday November 13th it was revealed that the owner and driver was Andy House. Andy House (Performance Auto Sales which sells repaired exotic cars) also owns the Eddie Griffin Crashed Ferrari Enzo (now repaired).

Checkout the video below caught (or staged) by two dudes listening to Sublime’s “Wrong Way” thinking that they were witnessing a Lamborghini crashing into the lake!

According to previous reports, Andy House purchased the Bugatti Veyron for $1.25 million , from a Jonesboro, Ark., dealer last month. According to House he’s one of the largest salvage auto dealers in the world.

His Bugatti Veyron was insured through Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance, according to the La Marque Police report. An insurance sales agent said that it would cost around $8,000 yearly to insure a 2006 Bugatti Veyron. NOW THATS A DEAL!!

The National Automobile Dealers Association set average retail value for a 2006 Bugatti Veyron at $900,000.

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[Source: Jalopnik.com, LufkinDailyNews.com]

Less than a year ago we witnessed the uber talented action sports / X Games / DC Shoes founder super hero Ken Block jump his WRX STi Video rally car 171 feet and a max height of 25 feet for the Discovery Channel show Stunt Junkies. Prior to this monster jump we also saw his Ken Block Gymkhana Practice Video which was done in his 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi prepared by Crawford Performance which pushes 530 whp! Checkout his newest toy: Ken Block Subaru TRAX STi which I photographed at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Gymkhana (jim-kah-nuh) is an automotive sport that takes place on an open field ord parking lot and requires drivers to skillfully maneuver their cars around a series of cones, slaloms, 180 degree turns, 360 degree turns, figure eight turns or other obstacles using extreme acceleration, braking, and drifting.

Similar to ‘autocross’, Gymkhana courses are often very complex and memorizing the course is a significant part of achieving a fast time.

The southern California native has excelled in skateboarding, snowboarding, motocross and, in the last few years, rally racing.

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[Source: 0-60mag.com]

Yesterday, November 11, 2009 at 3pm a man yet to be identified drove his $2 million dollar Bugatti Veyron into a saltwater lagoon (Galveston County, Texas) when apparently a low-flying pelican distracted him as he traveled north on Interstate 45 just south of the hurricane levee near Omega Bay.

The offending pelican still cannot be reached for comments at this time.

I remember when I got into my first accident at 16, as we don’t have pelicans up north in Canada, so I had to use the excuse that a big black bear made me swerve into the ditch wrecking my parents car.. wildlife excuses are marvelous

The YouTube video creator, exoticcar2009, claims:
“I recorded this 5 miles away from my house in Galveston County, Texas. We have a very rich neighborhood right next to the beach. I was stunned! Third or fourth Veyron Crashed A distracted owner of a Bugatti Veyron, one of the world’s fastest production cars, accidently drove Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, into a lake in Galveston, Texas. The driver was uninjured, but the car, which can sell for around $2 million, was partially submerged in three feet of water.”

[Source: Jalopnik.com]

Here are all the current Meccan Exciter Supercar renderings released so far. It’s design was just currently completed. All required CAD/CAM drawings and specs have been completed and are ready to proceed with the production of a rolling prototype. There are expected to be 3 versions of the Meccan Exciter available: Hard Top, Targa Top, and a Competition model.

The Meccan Exciter utilizes a tubular chassis with extensive Carbon Fiber body work. The car will house a GM Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel engine tuned by Banks Engineering mated to either a Gearfox or Xtrac Sequential transmission. This engine should be tuned to deliver 650hp and 800ft-lbs of torque.

The Meccan Exciter is planned to be built in Toronto Canada at the now decommissioned Downsview Airforce Base. They would sell customer competition cars as well as field their own team. They are currently seeking an investor to fund the build of the first car.

Popa Lucian (aka Sleepy) intended to build this car together with Christopher Mahoney a former superbike racer, who has worked with the team at HTT and helped design the HTT Plethore. Popa graduated top of his class from Machine Engineering Faculty at the Technical University “Gh. Asachi” in Romani and is currently pursuing his masters degree in CAD design.

[Source: Popa Lucian]

Well the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas has come and gone, so here is more of what I have to show from my 4 days of coverage this year! Enjoy this 2nd installment and make sure to checkout my 1st post: 2009 SEMA Show Girls Pictures! You can click on the pictures to see the full size pics! I also personally guarantee, that you won’t find higher quality photos (or quantity) of these girls anywhere on the net… Cheers

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[Source: WhipDaddy.com]

Here are some pictures, videos and press release details on the new BMW M3 GTS due out for delivery after May 2010 in Germany and North America by August 2010.

* Registrations in other countries will be possible from summer 2010
* 450 BHP (4.4l V8)
* 1490 kg / 3278 lbs (DIN standard)
* 6 / 4 piston brake system
* 6 point harness
* 255 35 19 F
* 285 30 19 R
* Rollbar behind the front seats ( only 2 seats )
* Front splitter and Spoiler ( adjustable )
* Fire hydrant
* Racing combo with helmet

Munich. BMW M GmbH now offers a truly outstanding performer based on the BMW M3 Coupé also ideal for Clubsport events – exactly the right car for the truly discerning customer demanding the very utmost in terms of power and performance. The BMW M3 GTS is largely hand-built by the most skilled craftsmen at BMW M GmbH as a perfectly harmonised package of outstanding modifications, with production exclusively to the customer’s personal order. Focused on motorsport, the modifications comprise both the drivetrain, the suspension and the body of the car, as well as its interior. Market launch of the

BMW M3 GTS will be in spring 2010.

Offering this truly exclusive model for the genuine motorsport enthusiast, BMW M GmbH is continuing a great tradition introduced on former generations of the BMW M3. Once again, the outstanding sports potential of the BMW M3 is being consistently enhanced and upgraded to an even higher level, the customer benefiting from the Company’s wide range of know-how in the development and production of racing cars. Through its race-oriented modifications enhancing both performance and safety, the BMW M3 GTS is ready to go in Clubsport events on the track and comes with the option for homologation on the road. So that the driver is able to make his way to the race track in the very same car he will use for racing.

Consistent lightweight technology.

Consistent lightweight construction, adjustable aerodynamic units, an increase in engine size and output on the V8 high-speed power unit and suspension technology meeting all the requirements of motorsport – all this gives the BMW M3 GTS a top position among high-performance cars built for Clubsport racing. Unladen weight according to the DIN standard is less than 1,500 kg (3,300 lb), the lightweight body comes with special mounts for six-point seat belts and a rollcage fitted behind the B-pillar.

Through its design and construction, the materials used and its special equipment, the BMW M3 GTS is a lightweight performer all the way, offering a genuine motorsport driving experience in every respect. In addition to the carbon fibre roof already featured as standard on the BMW M3, weight is consistently optimised by features such as silencers made of titanium, the extra-light centre console and door linings, the omission of rear seats, automatic air conditioning and an audio system, as well as sound insulation tailored specifically to this very special model.

V8 high-speed power unit: derived from motorsport, optimised for motorsport.

The eight-cylinder power unit of the BMW M3 GTS enlarged in size to 4.4 litres and boosted in output to some 450 hp boasts construction principles and technical details carried over directly from motorsport. A supreme surge of ongoing power throughout a wide range of engine speed characterises the outstanding performance of the V8 with its high-speed concept. The features typical of a motorsport engine include the crankcase made of a special aluminium-silicon alloy and constructed in bedplate design, individual throttle butterflies, anti-knock sensors with ion flow technology, and, wet sump oil supply optimised for supreme driving dynamics.

Seven-speed M DKG Drivelogic with race-bred gearshift.

Power is transmitted in the BMW M3 GTS by the M double-clutch gearbox with Drivelogic also available as an option on the regular production model. This seven-speed M DKG Drivelogic gearbox follows a principle also developed for motorsport, shifting gears without the slightest interruption of engine power. The transmission was developed specifically for a particularly powerful high-speed engine and offers ideal qualities for truly dynamic acceleration at all times. The gearshift characteristics on the seven-speed M DKG Drivelogic have been tailored specifically to the modified power unit of the BMW M3 GTS and the driver is able to shift gears both through the selector lever on the centre console and through special M shift paddles on the steering wheel.

High-performance suspension with purpose-built brakes.

To convey the supreme power of the engine to the road in equally supreme style even under the most extreme conditions, the BMW M3 GTS comes with suspension technology likewise derived from the highest realms of motorsport. While the suspension is based on the front and rear axle of the BMW M3 Coupé, the rear axle subframe is bolted firmly in position and the suspension features adjustment threads on the dampers for individual variation of the inbound and rebound strokes.

The high-performance brake system of the BMW M3 GTS features fixed callipers with six pistons up front and four pistons on the rear wheels. The race-oriented set-up of DSC Dynamic Stability Control naturally considers the supreme dynamic potential of the BMW M3 GTS. Different-sized tyres front and rear running on 19-inch M light-alloy Competition rims in double-spoke design ensure optimum transmission of acceleration and brake forces to the road.

Aerodynamics: optimised components with variable geometry.

To optimize the flow of air and adjust the car’s downforce as required, the BMW M3 GTS comes with a race-oriented front air dam and rear wing. This allows appropriate adjustment of the car’s aerodynamic qualities in motorsport and for other purposes, tailored to the specific profile of the respective track. The air guidance units on the front air dam, for example, may be varied in their geometry, just like the position of the rear wing based on the wing already featured on the BMW 320si raced in the WTCC World Touring Car Championship.

Exterior features such as the BMW kidney grille and the gills at the side finished in chrome on the regular BMW M3 come in special dark eloxy-plated chrome on the BMW M3 GTS.

Special interior for supreme performance and safety.

The interior of the BMW M3 GTS clearly reflects the focus on supreme performance and safety on the race track. The interior features include classic bucket seats, interior trim in carbon and an M steering wheel finished in alcantara. The door and side panels at the rear also come in alcantara, while six-point seat belts delivered with the car for subsequent use, a fire extinguisher and preparation for an emergency-off switch in motorsport round off the wide range of special features inside the car.

[Source: M3Post.com]

Only 2 days under my 2009 SEMA Show Pictures belt and I have a whack of photos of the SEMA Booth BABES to share with you. So without further fluff or delay, please enjoy this first batch of bolt ons!

P.S. In case you live under a rock (or in a cave) don’t forget to checkout my 2009 SEMA Show Preview post which has a nice summary and links to all my posts of the girls from 2008.

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[Source: WhipDaddy]

Last week I introduced some of you to the finer details in life over in Lithuania via the MotoGP 2009 Lithuania Pit Girls Photos, so I thought I would follow up with another grid girls photo post from the 10th annual 2009 Omnitel 1000km race in Palanga, Lithuania which happened in July. Enjoy.

I am getting on a plane in 2 hours to head to the 2009 SEMA Show, check CarZi daily this week for all the latest, greatest and hottest bolt-on action which I will report on from Las Vegas!

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[Source: mdgroup.it, Autoplius.it]

Because most of you hardcore Chevy Camaro die hards can’t wait until the official production 2011 Chevy Camaro convertible, Drop Top Customs is offering an $18,000 conversion option which will debut at the 2009 SEMA SHOW in Las Vegas!

Checkout the spy photo below that was recently taken outside GM’s Holden plant in Australia of 8 pre-production drop tops! I wonder if the drop top’s will make this car look any better, as I am not a huge fan of them anymore.

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[Source: DropTopCustoms.com, Camaro5.com]

Here are some GREAT shots of the IMSA tuned Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4. It’s officially called the IMSA GTV kit. We have previously seen examples of the GTV kit on the last generation Gallardo as well, most notably on the Verde Ithaca IMSA Gallardo owned by Zahir Rana of ZR Auto based in Calgary. Perfection is not to far off with this package when comparing it to many other tuning houses and aftermarket body kits for Lamborghini. Checkout what IMSA had to say about the design of this kit below.

“Only very recently, the new Gallardo LP560 appeared on the world stage of automotive prodigies – and, already, Lamborghini tuner IMSA has taken care of it. Here, for the first time, the legendary GTV kit for the LP 560 will shortly be available. Of course, it is also made of high-quality carbon from the autoclave. It consists of an aerodynamically optimised front apron, larger fenders for all four wheel arches and a rear bumper with an integrated diffuser.

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[Source: imsa-tuning.de]

Gotta love having your very own sexy Lithuanian model to hold an umbrella over you while you are in pit. Checkout these tall slender MotoGP 2009 Kaunas, Lithuania models as they are photographed doing what they do best; looking smoking hot under those red umbrellas. I think I have to add Lithuania to the list of CarZi events to attend in 2010… who’s coming with me?

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[Source: mdgroup.it, Autoplius.it]

Brad Pitt was recently spotted getting into his new black Chevy Camaro SS.

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[Source: CelebrityCarsBlog.com]

Check back regularly during the 1st week of November for exclusive photos, and videos, as well as hang time updates with the talented Jason Thorgalsen!

Carzi and MadWhips extensively covered the 2008 SEMA Show Photos last year and walked away with 581 Photo Albums (about 90% of the vehicles) for your viewing pleasure!

2009 SEMA Show Exhibit Hours
Tuesday, November 3: 9am – 5pm
Wednesday, November 4: 9am – 5pm
Thursday, November 5: 9am – 5pm
Friday, November 6: 9am – 4pm

Here is a refresher of the 2008 SEMA Show Girls, taken by yours truly

CLICK HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Girls Pictures I

CLICK HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Girls Pictures II

CLICK HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Girls Pictures III

CLICK HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Girls Pictures IV

The SEMA SHOW is more than just about the girls… here is a refresher of the 2008 SEMA Show Cars!

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Lamborghini Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Rolls Royce Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Ferrari Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show BMW Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Porsche Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Bentley Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Nissan Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Mercedes-Benz Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Lexus Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Toyota Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Ford Mustang Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Range Rover Photo Albums

Click HERE: 2008 SEMA Show Hummer Photo Albums

The SEMA SHOW is the premier automotive specialty performance products trade event in the world featuring performance, accessories, restoration and motorsports products in the following 12 categories:

Business Services – Services specific to the automotive industry—hardware, software, computers, store fixtures, warehouse equipment, financial services, fleet services, personnel and human resources services and systems, CAD systems, consultants.

Hot Rod Alley – Street rod/hot rod custom and specialty parts, tires and accessories, including bodies, chassis parts, gauges, aluminum radiators, alternators, catalytic converters, disc brakes, electrical systems and components, exhaust systems, sheet metal, shocks, valve covers and wiring kits.

Mobile Electronics & Technology – Sound systems, LCD video systems, MP3, DVD, CD, satellite radio, telematics, security systems, CB, GPS, on-board technology, antennas, cellular telephones and accessories, computer chips and PROMs and radar detectors.

Paint, Body & Equipment – Vehicle paint, prep stations, paint booths, body work, frame machines, spray guns and safety/filtration/breathing apparatus. Related accessories, equipment, systems, coating/refinishing products, services and publications.

Powersports & Utility Vehicles – Manufacturers of power-driven equipment, such as personal transporters; motorcycles; motor scooters; two-, three- and four-wheel ATVs; pocket bikes; specialty golf carts; mini-bikes; dirt bikes; and accessories and services.

Performance Tires & Wheels (Sponsored by TIA) – Racing, performance, street, track and off-road tires and wheels for passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs. Single and multi-piece wheels, aluminum alloy, steel, forged and cast. Tire and wheel accessories, including lug nuts, wheel studs, hubcaps and spinners. Tires for agricultural, industrial, medium-duty, heavy-duty and OTR vehicles. Alignment equipment, balancers, changers and tire changing tools.

Racing & Performance – Performance and racing products, including engine parts, carburetors, shifters, fuel injection, gears, nitrous oxide systems, racing fuels, racing safety equipment, sport compact enhancements, superchargers, turbochargers, gears, performance brakes, performance enhancements, racing accessories, lighting, racing suits, car haulers and engine building equipment.

Restoration Marketplace – Replacement parts, tires and accessories for muscle cars, classics and restored vehicles 20 years of age or older.

Restyling & Accessories – Paint, striping and graphics, ground effects, interior enhancements, lenses, headliners and door panels, louvers, sun visors, shades, power windows and door accessories, headlight/taillight covers, light bars, dashboards and covers, floor mats, seat covers and sheepskins, steering wheels and steering wheel covers, sun-roofs, window film, ground effects, racks and spoilers.

Tools & Equipment – Lathes, grinders, hand tools, dynamometers, air conditioning, body shop, hoists and lifts, jacks, power tools, paint booths, containers, electrical, testers.

Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road – Caps, bedliners, camper shells, tonneau covers, carriers, bed rails, grilles, towing accessories, bumpers, brush guards, roll bars, tool boxes, nerf bars, roof racks, off-road lighting and light bars, fender flares, running boards, suspension components, shocks and struts, springs and boosters, tie downs, tow ropes, straps, van accessories, off-road accessories and winches.

OEM – The SEMA Show continues to serve as a business-to-business lesson in the benefits of sharing, as SEMA continues to expand its symbiotic relationship between its member companies and OEMs.

[Source: SemaShow.com, MadWhips.com ]