No Replacement for Displacement... Except Turbos

For many, the chance to see an insane, high-revving, Formula 1 car is coming to an end.  The current 18,000 rpm 2.4 liter V8s will show their full fury for the 2011 and 2012 seasons then go the way of the Mastodon and Saber-toothed tiger.  With the FIA's focus on greener technologies in racing, smaller displacement engines have constantly supplanted the previous generation.  The 3.0 liter V10s gave way to the current 2.4 liter V8s and they will, in turn, fade away in favor of 1.6 liter four cylinders.  However, for the first time in the modern era of F1, the consumer can truly boast about having F1 technology in their daily driver.

RB7 at adamcooperf1.com

Beauty in Racing

When looking at an open-wheel race car as a piece of art, there are many differing opinions on its physical beauty.  To most people, modern cars possess little to no inspiration in their design.  They are just an amalgamation of airfoils, winglets, and scoops.  To others, that is the beauty of the design, the process by which all those little pieces unify to create a blisteringly fast car that seems to cheat fluid dynamics and defy the laws of physics.

grandprix.com

Still, nothing can ever compare to the classics...

Unobtainium

Ever have that dream where you're a leper who has a weird craving for Sunchips while sailing the globe in a catamaran and can't get internet service on your laptop's wireless card?  No?  Just me? Anyways, I wake up and wonder why I'm looking for an internet connection.  Knowing me, I'd probably be searching for my perfect sports car to drive to a high-end leper colony to get some damn Sunchips finally!

Then as I keep thinking about it, it hits me!  There are so many niche segments in the automotive world that anybody can find the perfect car for them.  Now, I don't know what kind of car would be perfect for a rich, junk food-eating leper but I'm sure there's one out there.  As for the enthusiasts in the United States, we have a plethora of options but Europe and Japan still tempt us with forbidden fruit.