Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Salon Privé 2011: Night Shift

Salon Prive does a Night Shift for the Pommery Picnic It may be a bit of an exagerration to say that Salon Privé – one of our favourite ‘Car’ outings – is going to include a night shift in 2011 – but almost. Salon Prive’s move from the Hurlingham in Chelsea out to the less central – but more hospitable – Duke of Northumberland’s gaff at Syon Park means there’s room to expand the event, so we’re getting treated to the ‘Pommery Picnic’ on the Friday evening – 7pm ’til 11pm. As we never fail to mention when we bang on about Salon Prive, it’s just like a Garden Party in a wealthy friend’s house where he just happens to have littered the grounds with the world’s greatest cars.

One Lap of the Web: We invented the Miata!

-- Sochi or bust! Is there anything more Russian than driving a Lada Niva to the Winter Olympics? (Flagrant corruption, perhaps.) Documentary producer Vlad Ketkovich calls the venerable Niva "the closest thing to an automotive version of the Russian soul," and we'd wager that the Niva belongs in quintessential Russian-ness next to the Bolshoi Ballet and the movie "Russian Ark." (Or "Ninth Company," if your attention span has been blown to bits.) -- A gorgeous Alfa Romeo ventures into the woods by itself.

Chinese Grand Prix qualifying: Hamilton on pole for Mercedes ahead of the Red Bulls

Lewis Hamilton (pictured) taking pole position in 2014 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying for the 2014 Chinese Grand Prix was a damp, chilly affair which had the effect of levelling the playing field. But no one told Lewis Hamilton. His cracking form – and a crackingly good Mercedes – took Hamilton to his 34th pole position in F1 – beating Jim Clark’s record in the process – 0.6 seconds ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and 1.1 seconds ahead of world champion Sebastian Vettel.