Harley-davidson: Sportster on 2040-parts.com

The big prize awaits on the Autoweek America Adventure

It is the last morning of the Autoweek America Adventure, as I write this. Our traveling circus heads toward the big top in an hour or so, and we should be in Las Vegas before noon. There is anticipation in the air, unlike other rallies I've attended, as this one has a significant main prize: a 2011 Mopar Charger will be given to one lucky contestant on the stage at the Specialty Equipment Market Association convention.

Bedford Autodrome to get Ariel Atoms for 2012

Corporate track-days at the Bedford Autodrome will get lairier in 2012 - Somerset-based Ariel has announced it’ll supply ten cars for the PalmerSport track-day events next year. Stopping short of the unhinged Atom V8, the PalmerSport-spec cars get the normally aspirated 245bhp Civic Type-R engine, and some key changes to set it aside from the Joe-Public Atom. The Palmer-spec car will get a Sadev paddle-shift sequential gearbox, which swaps ratios in 60 milliseconds, whilst some choice chassis mods optimise the Atom for its full-time track-toy brief.

White Van Man 'worst for tailgating'

MOTORISTS should beware of White Van Man on their tail, according to a survey of thousands of accidents. Van drivers were 47% more likely to be involved in a crash when they were following other drivers too closely, the survey by AXA Business Insurance found. The survey also found van drivers were much more likely than other drivers to crash while reversing, doing a U-turn and changing lanes, while they were more liable than other road users to get tired or distracted.