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

Stop-Start Freelander on the way

Land Rover has announced that it will be introducing stop-start technology on its Freelander range from May 2009, thus saving around 8% on the Co2 emissions, and taking the Freelander down a group on VED, which should help move a few more Freelanders off forecourts next year. The technology for the stop-start was developed in-house, with a new engine management system coming from Bosch and an uprated starter from Denso. The stop-start option will be available on the 2.2 TD4, which accounts for nearly half of UK sales.

BMW 1M Coupe – up the Goodwood hillclimb we go

Claire takes the BMW 1M Coupe up the Goodwood hillclimb Although the Goodwood Festival of Speed doesn’t actually start until tomorrow, today saw the second year of the Goodwood  Moving Motor Show kicking off a long weekend of petrolhead joy. The USP of the Goodwood MMS is the opportunity – for a lucky few – to take an interesting bit of kit up the Goodwood hillclimb. This year Claire had drawn the tickets for the day; tickets Volvo had kindly sent us (many thanks, guys) after they asked us to drive the hillclimb in a Polestar car.

Treasures from West Germany lurk at Sonoma Raceway

In my role of Chief Justice of the 24 Hours of LeMons Supreme Court, I travel to Sonoma Raceway, aka Sears Point, at least twice per year. Most of the time I'm there, I'm stuck disciplining miscreant racers with incomprehensible penalties, but every so often I slip away in my Race Organizer Review car to shoot some action photos of the competitors. A good area for shooting LeMons cars is from the access road that runs parallel to the track between turn 10 and turn 11, and getting there takes me past an area of shops and garages… and I always spot some interesting cars parked there.