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

Irwindale, Kern County tracks coming back

Two paved circle tracks in Southern California should be up and racing by spring, good lord willing and the creek don't rise. The two facilities plan to cooperate in order to maximize the chances of success. Irwindale Speedway, now officially to be referred to as The Irwindale Event Center, had no races on its oval tracks in 2012 after the former track operators filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February.

Bloodhound 1000mph World Speed Record attempt goes carbon neutral. Piffle.

Richard Noble’s Bloodhound Land Speed Record attempt will now be carbon neutral thanks to sponsorship by Carbon Neutral Investments (CNI). People like Richard Noble – leader of the Bloodhound Project aiming to break the 1000mph land speed record – are made of the same stuff as Spitfire pilots and Biggles, with a gung-ho approach to the inherent dangers and an inability to contemplate failure; British Bulldog Spirit at its best. So it seems almost sad that a proper Boy’s Own adventure like the Bloodhound SSC – a 133,000bhp rocket and jet powered racing car – should bow to trendy PC sensibilities by announcing it’s a ‘Carbon Neutral’ project.

VW to unveil Beetle Dune concept at Detroit Auto Show

The jury is out as to whether Volkswagen's Beetle Dune concept is more Frank Herbert or Bruce Meyers. Equipped with all mod cons, it’s a far cry from the simple, tough desert-race-inspired Bugs that popped up like aggro sandworms during the 1970s. On the other hand, it's still got four gasoline-burning cylinders and two-wheel drive.