| Big wheels keep up to the marque by buying flash
AS ECONOMIC barometers go, there could hardly be any more dashing a $580,000 status symbol on wheels and at least 80 Australians have already placed their order for Ferrari's slick new model, the F430 Scuderia. The latest street incarnation of the world's most famous motor racing emblem is an eight-cylinder, 503-horsepower, high-performance vehicle its Italian makers would seem wholly justified in touting as a "unique supercar perfect for passionate and sporty customers". Then there's the Porsche 911 turbo, retailing at $370,000. More than 100 Australians put themselves behind the wheel of one last year, and others are queuing to take delivery of the next generation GT2 priced at $425,000. Property developer Zac Brankovic, 38, who has been driving Porsches for about five years, shelled out $260,000 for his Porsche Carrera S convertible.
Little Fiat sexiest car ever
Top Gear magazine has voted the humble Fiat 500, which looks like a cross between a Mini and a VW Beetle, No 1 for setting pulses racing. It tops a list of 100 sexiest cars because the mag claims anyone behind the wheel looks sexually charged ? even a nun. Contributing editor James May defended the bizarre choice yesterday, saying: The Fiat 500 advertises nothing about its owner, except that its someone who doesnt need to try. Top Gears top ten sexiest cars: 1. Fiat 500; 2. Aston Martin DBS; 3. Maserati Quattroporte; 4. Chevrolet Camaro; 5. Citroen C6; 6. Lincoln Continental; 7. Bentley Continental S1 Fastback; 8. BMW M1; 9. Rolls-Royce Phantom; 10. Sally the Porsche 911 Carrera (from the animated film Cars). .
Hawaii collector-car auction hit $5M in bids
The first collector-car auction to be held in Hawaii saw more than $5 million in bids for nearly 200 vehicles last weekend. Auctioneer Kruse International of Auburn, Ind., which held the event at the Hawaii Convention Center, said bidding was more than double what was expected for the inaugural event. Kruse said bidders came from the Mainland, Australia, New Zealand and Japan and that the strong showing suggests there's enough interest for future auctions. "This was one of the best inaugural events ever in the history of Kruse International," president Dean Kruse said in a statement. "We can't wait to return next year and have already begun working on plans for next year." The top selling car was a 1941 Willys Americar Street Rod, which sold for $75,600.
Title belongs to Johnson, but '07 belonged to Junior (cont'd)
Montoya might have made it look too easy. Now here come Dario Franchitti, Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier, all ready to try the same thing. Who's next, Kimi Raikkonen? Fernando Alonso? The ghost of Juan Manuel Fangio? And meanwhile, some talented late-model driver on a local track never gets discovered. 7. Inauspicious debut
You knew it was going to be a tough year for Toyota when its flagship team was hammered by NASCAR for using a fuel additive prior to the Daytona 500. The entire season was a struggle, full of missed races and low finishes that made you wonder where the beast's teeth were. They come out next year in the form of Joe Gibbs Racing. .
Newman Gives Penske Elusive Daytona Win
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- One down, one to go for The Captain. Roger Penske picked up his elusive Daytona 500 victory, a $1 million bonus and a new challenge - pairing the race he just conquered with the one that means the most to him. Ryan Newman gave Penske his first Daytona 500 victory in 24 years of trying, a frustrating span for a car owner accustomed to dominating big events: He's won the Indianapolis 500 a record 14 times. Now he wants one more. Matching victories in two of motorsports' most sought after bounties. "Comparing it to the Indy 500, as Ryan knows, we've been open-wheel guys and coming down here has been tough," Penske said following Sunday's victory. "This has got to go to the top of the charts here, this win. What I'm going to try to do this year is have them back-to-back, have one in May, too.
Apprentice hunting gains momentum
Virginia appears poised to join the swelling ranks of states easing a potential barrier to hunter recruitment. Separate Senate and House bills that would create an apprentice hunting license continue to fly through the General Assembly with bipartisan support. Assuming that the law change is signed by Gov. Tim Kaine, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries would still need to approve a regulation creating the license. However, it seems likely the agency would be able to get through that process in time for the rule to take effect by July 1, when other changes to game laws are set to go into effect. Both the Senate and House apprentice hunting license bills would create a two-year license that would give new hunters the one-time opportunity to take what amounts to a long-term test drive before they would be required to complete hunter education requirements.
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