Newsletter 3 - Chicagoland Sports Car Club

The Downshift - Page
“More Than I Know” - Random Industry News Bytes
By Larry Best
- At the 36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, held at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca (August 14-16), the sound of the initial stirrings of over 450 race cars was complimented
by the 2010 Porsche Panamera gran turismo, making its North American debut.
In addition to the 145 Porsche racers already entered by their owners, or one-third of the
450-plus field, Porsche showcased the Panamera on the world-famous race track and also
provided display vehicles on site, including four special cars with significant American connections,
on loan from the new Porsche Museum in Germany. Jay Leno drove the Panamera
Turbo at the Rolex Monterey Historics at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway and concours
d’elegance at Pebble Beach.
- BMW ActiveHybrid technology featured in the BMW 7 Series luxury saloon is made up of
a three-phase synchronous electric motor, a lithium-ion battery, and the power electronics
required for the high-voltage on-board network. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 combines a V8
gasoline engine featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology with a three-phase synchronous
electric motor, developing overall system output of 342 kW/465 hp and maximum
torque of 700 Newton-metres/516 lb-ft. The car can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds
and reach a top speed – electronically limited – of 250 km/h or 155 mph. At the same
time average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is only 9.4 litres/100 kilometres or 29.1
mpg imp, while the CO2 rating is 219 grams per kilometre.
- On August 13, 2009, Volvo Cars celebrated the 50th anniversary of the standard-fit threepoint
safety belt, which appeared for the first time on a Volvo PV544 delivered Thursday
August 13, 1959 to a Volvo dealer in the Swedish town of Kristianstad. Over the next 50
years, the V-shaped three-point safety belt saved over one million lives. The modern safety
belt is the cornerstone of the car’s interior safety system, working alongside additional features
such as airbags, belt pre-tensioners and force limiters.
Meadowdale Car Show and Reunion: September 19th
Plans are moving forward for a Car Show at the site of the Meadowdale International Raceway, now called Raceway
Woods on Route 31 in Carpentersville, Illinois. Due to limitations on access to the area that was used last year for the
50th Anniversary reunion, details are still being worked out concerning the location of the access and parking.
The event will showcase the Meister Brauser Racing Team, which will be celebrating their 50th anniversary reunion.
Planning to attend from the Meister Brauser team are the team owner and driver, Harry Heuer, as well as drivers Augie
Pabst, Don Devine, and Bill Wuesthoff. Tom Stephani of the Nickey Chevrolet family plans to show the famous Purple
People Eater MKIII 1959 B Production National Champion. Don Devine will be showing his continuation Scarab.
There will be many other race and street cars of the day.
MIRPA will be pleased to accept memberships later this Summer. For more information, or to showcase your car, car
club, or to volunteer to help at the car event, please contact MIRPA at 847-421-2891.
Frank Riemann has installed a digital video camera on the RF rocker of his Swift. Ask Frank for a Video tour of BHF.