Racer Driving Suit on 2040-parts.com

Autoweek in review: What you may have missed

It was a slower week in the newsroom as 2012 winded down. On Monday, we learned how motorcycles were coming back and got some ideas for last-minute holiday gifts. In the racing world, the Trans Am Series announced that it’s expanding the 2013 race schedule.

Check out British classic cars from The Queen's English

Some years, they get real English weather at The Queen's English car show, a gathering of the Empire's best (and few still running) British cars. Even though it's held in Van Nuys, in sunny Southern California, it has been rained out three of the last six or so years, with only a handful of hearty Land Rovers showing up and peeping out of their SUVs beneath bumbershoots. But this year was all glorious sunshine, the likes of which might never have been seen back in Jolly Old.

Mini: the 50th anniversary and new models galore

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 27 May 2009 13:14 Mini’s renaissance is entering a new phase of electric power, 4x4 crossovers and yet more bodystyles, said BMW marketing chief Ian Robertson at the British brand’s 50th birthday party. Over the last May bank holiday weekend, some 15,000 Mini fans converged on Silverstone, for a three-day festival of cars, racing and music. The company revealed three special editions: high-spec Camden and Mayfair models, plus the 211bhp World Championship 50 Edition in homage to racing team boss John Cooper.