A biweekly roundup of automotive news, good, bad and just plain weird:
Alonso chasing triple crown at Indy 500
The triple crown of motorsport has two definitions, depending on whom you ask. In order to gain this theoretical accolade, you need to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as either the F1 Grand Prix in Monaco, or the whole F1 championship. Either way, you also have to win the Indy 500.
This year, F1 champion Fernando Alonso will be competing behind the wheel of a Honda-engined Indy car fielded by Andretti Autosport. Doing so means he’ll miss the Monaco Grand Prix, but McLaren’s F1 team has granted Alonso special clearance to do so. It probably doesn’t hurt that his car has been anything but competitive this season.
How many drivers have clinched the elusive three-fold victory? In all of racing history, only one: dashing English racer Graham Hill. If he manages to win at the Indy 500, Alonso will have completed two of the three legs, and an appearance at Le Mans wouldn’t be out of the question. It should be noted that former F1 driver Mark Webber successfully moved to endurance racing with Porsche, winning the 2015 race.
Further, Alonso has a pretty good mentor in Mario Andretti, who also has two of the three pieces of the triple crown prize under his belt. The Spaniard will need all the help he can get, with Indy’s constant oval-track speed. Using spotters to set strategy and hitting corners at 350 kilometres per hour is very different from running an F1 road course.
However Alonso does, the result will be more eyeballs on the Indy, and that’s a good thing for the sport. If you’re planning on watching the Indy – held Sunday, May 28 – be sure to cheer on Canada’s favourite, James Hinchcliffe. He’s not quite our hometown hero, but years ago he gave a pair of Greg Moore’s red gloves their long-awaited lap around the course, tucked inside his racing suit.
Nissan armrest could save your life
Sometimes the simplest ideas are best. If you have trouble resisting the urge to sneak a peek at your phone every time you hear the ding of a text, Nissan’s got some assistance for you. It’s called the Signal Shield, and it’s basically a way to remove the temptation to glance at your phone while driving.
Essentially a Faraday cage built into the armrest of a Juke, the Signal Shield is pretty straightforward. Just plunk your phone in or plug it into the USB ports so music still works, and off you go. With the lid shut, your phone can’t receive calls or texts, so you won’t be tempted by that tell-tale ding.
While still only a concept, the Signal Shield does at least show that manufacturers recognize that it’s not enough to create slicker integrations of technology into our cars, but that they also need to assist owners to drive as safely as possible – and that includes keeping your eyes on the road.
If you don’t want to wait for something similar to be available in a road car, I’ve got a simple trick for you. Just toss your phone in the glovebox, and lock it. It takes less time than turning on airplane mode, and is far enough out of your grasp that you won’t be tempted to check the screen when you’re stopped at a light.
No Corvette factory tours for 18 months
There are a lot of Corvette fans in British Columbia. The local club is very active, and with more than 60 years of ‘Vettes to spark passions, there are everything from track days to show and shines, right through the summer.
However, most Corvette fans consider a trip to Bowling Green, Ky., to be like heading to Mecca – it’s something you have to do at least once in your life. If you’re a ‘Vette fan who’s been putting off the trip, then bad news: the factory has suspended its popular tour program for the next year and a half.
Why’d they do something like that? Well, it’s not a safety concern or a lack of interest. GM isn’t saying, but the hint here is that the factory is setting up for some kind of overhaul. Further, it’s got to be the kind of retooling that GM wants to keep prying eyes away from.
After enduring myth after myth about the change to a mid-engined version of the Corvette, could the change finally be occurring? The current C7 shares many basics as far back as the C5, but moving to a mid-engined layout will take a complete reworking of the assembly line.
This shutout might be a clue. There’ll likely be others.
Moke America great again
The Mini Moke is one of the weirdest vehicles to ever see production. A cross between a Jeep and a pancake, it’s a tiny little open car with not much in the way of off-road credentials. It was originally intended as a light military vehicle, perhaps used by paratroopers, but the lack of ground clearance didn’t work.
Instead, the Moke (Moke means donkey) became a sort of beach buggy and all-around hilarious machine to drive. Classic versions are still around, often in the hands of Mini collectors, and there have been reproduction models in the past.
Most recently, a new company called Moke America seeks to fill a void you didn’t even know existed with the e-Moke. Boasting a range of 65 kilometres, it’ll have a top speed of just 40 km/h. That’s little more than a glorified Power Wheels.
However, Moke America has further plans too. As a follow-up, they’ll have a gasoline-powered model with a top speed of 105 km/h. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but in a car that’s as exposed as a Moke, I’m sure it’ll be suitably terrifying. That’ll do, donkey.
Watch this space for all the week’s best and worst of automotive news, or submit your own auto oddities to mcaleer.nsnews@gmail.com.
