Raymarine Stng Backbone Cbl 1m - A06034 on 2040-parts.com

Michael Schumacher vs the Nurburgring rollercoaster

Michael Schumacher vs the Nurburgring rollercoaster By Ben Barry First Official Pictures 17 July 2009 13:03 Michael Schumacher still holds the Nürburgring GP circuit’s lap record (1:29.468 back in 2004), but he’s never left the startline faster than he did last weekend – when he was strapped into the world’s fastest rollercoaster, subjected to 4.5g at launch and accelerated up to 135mph along 1212m of track. The rollercoaster – originally planned to open in Easter 2009 as part of a €215 million expansion plan – finally got the champers treatment at the German GP, and runs right next to the race track’s start/finish straight before spearing off into a number of tortuous twists and turns. How did the ’Ring people manage to get the former F1 world champ on board?

McLaren launches Special Operations unit for customers' custom requests

British sports-car maker McLaren has launched its Special Operations unit, which will help the company's well-heeled buyers customize their cars. McLaren previewed some handiwork from the new division at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, with a custom example of the MP4-12C. The customized sports car had a variety of carbon-fiber trim upgrades and special treatment such as unique orange paintwork, a gloss-black roof, diamond-cut-finish wheels with gloss-back inners, 12C-branded carbon sill panels, a carbon steering wheel and carbon-fiber cover vents for the engine.

Porsche 918 Spyder spotted in south LA

The Porsche 918 Spyder is nearing its customer delivery date, which means we're seeing more and more of them on public roads. Observant reader Michael Fuschi spotted an example of the new car heading south from Los Angeles. If you're wondering about the yellow car that the photos are being taken from, it's a Lamborghini Gallardo.