Skip to Content

race

World Race 2011 Recreates Historic 1908 New York To Paris Race

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events


Imagine the scene, Times Square, February 12, 1908 over 250,000 people cheering the start of the race to circle the globe from New York to Paris by automobile. The historic event become the longest auto competition in history, a perilous adventure with uncertain roads and no friendly gas stations at every turn. The Great Auto Race covered 22,000 miles in 169 days as teams from Italy, Germany, France and the United States proved that the newfangled "horseless carriages" were more than just a mechanical curiosity. When he returned to the U.S., the winner of the event, George Schuster, driver of the American built Thomas Flyer, received a hero's welcome.

Edox WRC Rally Chronograph Automatic Watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is the mechanical version of the 2010 Edox WRC Rally collection of timepieces based on Edox's strategic relationship with rally car racing. The other watches are quartz movement based timepieces with red trim (that I wrote about here). The mechanical version gets a nice gold colored trim and a Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 chronograph automatic movement. Dial is easy to read despite being a bit on the avant garde side, and mostly in carbon fiber. Funny how a few years ago I prophesied the the decline of using carbon fiber in timepieces, and that never really came to pass (though it did lessen!).

The automatic version of the Edox WRC Rally comes in a 45mm wide steel case with a sapphire crystal and has 100 meters of water resistance. The design is marked by the massive chronograph pushers and crown - especially the gold colored start and stop button. I like the little visual bulge on the left side of the case meant to balance out the visual weight on the right side of the case. Strap is tire tread patterned rubber and the price is set to be $3,120. Should be out soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Day At the Races: MotoGP At Laguna Seca 2010

Filed under: Sports

There is an amazing amount of wealth at motorcycle races. You might picture the populous at a NASCAR race as being a bit above poverty level (no offense NASCAR fans, but you know what aura some of your fellow race lovers give off), but the followers of the world famous MotoGP series include some well to do participants. Many of them fervent collectors and sophisticated gear-heads. As such, you could easily quality MotoGP as a luxury sport (just for a different class than say the Kentucky Derby). At least the motorcycles themselves use top-notch hardware and technology. Amazing to think that the bikes themselves have serious computers on board. I went to the MotoGP race day at Laguna Seca historic race track near Monterey, CA - here are some of the sights and sounds of the excitement.

I've put together a bit of a visual article below when you go to "READ MORE." Much of what you see if pretty self explanatory. If you've never been to a motorcycle race, then be aware that most people attend and shove earplugs in their ears due to the incredible sound of many high-powered engines operating at full revs simultaneously.

Porsche Cayman Interseries Kicks off in Georgia [Video]

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Video

This past weekend, Porsche's newly formed Cayman Interseries staged the second race of the inaugural season at the famous Road Atlanta racetrack n Braselton, Georgia. Established in 2009 by Napleton Porsche of Westmont, Illinois, the Cayman Interseries is North America's only auto racing championship featuring the exclusive use of the 320 hp Porsche Cayman S. Sanctioned by Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), the Cayman Interseries is conducting its first official season in 2010 and will crown a pair of champion drivers in both the sprint and endurance racing formats. Races will be run on legendary circuits such as Daytona, Sebring, Road America, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta and other premier venues. Every competing Porsche Cayman S is exclusively supplied and prepared by Napleton Porsche and each car competes with an assigned and specific heritage livery themed after a famous Porsche racecar from the past, such as Steve McQueen's Le Mans racer. Check out the video for details on the new Cayman spec-series, interviews with the series founders and on-track footage of the heritage livery-themed 2010 Porsche Caymans.

Stefan Johansson Växjö Mark VIII Watch Line

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches


I love it when someone get's to the point of wealth and taste in their life when "starting a watch brand" seems like a good idea. Who wouldn't like their own watch brand anyway? Shows good taste - at least I think so. Well that is more or less what Stefan Johansson did. So here is the Stefan Johansson Växjö Mark VII collection, which has about 15 watches to choose from. It is Stefan Johansson Växjö's largest line, and is a luxury racing inspired watch if I have ever seen one.

Stefan Johansson is a European race car Driver and this shows in the watches. For example, the hour indicators are all racing flags, and little touches on the speak of sport racing. Interestingly enough, unlike some other auto sports watches, the timepiece focus more on racing as a sport than just the cars. This is an interesting touch as most of race watches have design elements all over them meant to look like pieces of cars. Here it is a bit different.

The watches come in a wealth of fun colors and themes. With two movement options, the automatic ETA Valjoux 7750 and 7751. The 47mm wide steel cased watches have a variety of dials, some being perforated, and some have carbon fiber - all embody the track theme well. There are a few women's versions of the watch, but they are also 47mm wide, for the lady who likes things big (with diamonds too)

The hour indicator for the chronograph has a double ring so that you can feasibly measure 24, instead of just 12 hours. Maybe something connected with Le Mans, that Stefan Johansson was a participant in I understand. The watches can also be customized with your name on the caseback sapphire window, and further comes in watch winder boxes. A cheeky collection of timepieces that incorporate some popular elements in a nicely cohesive manner. Average price for the Stefan Johansson Växjö Mark VIII collection watches is about $10,000.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Louis Moinet Watches Sponsor Primetime Race Group's American Le Mans Viper Car

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports



I never thought I'd see such a nice brand on the side of a race car, an American race car at that. Swiss watch maker Louis Moinet is one of the major sponsors of the Primetime Race Group's # 11 Dodge Viper race car that will compete in the American Le Mans racing season - now in Primetime's second full season in the race. This is the only Viper that will compete in the race series and I believe was specifically chosen by Louis Moinet. They are attempting to appeal to affluent American watch buyers by participating with an American race car, in an American race.

Whether the move will pay off has yet to be seen, but Louis Moinet is not the only watch brand to sponsor race cars. One obivous other brand is Tissot, which has ties to NASCAR and motorcycle racing. You can tell that the branding on the side of car # 11 is very prominent., with the name of the brand, the website, as well as an image of their new Tempograph watch. No doubt that this will be the first time many Americans are exposed to the unique looks of Louis Moinet whose watches are based on 200 year old designs.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Bentley Goes Electric with Greenpower

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green


Cute, streamlined, and boasting zero emissions, the new electric Bentley Greenpower tops out at 40mph while running on two 12-volt batteries that power its lightweight motor. Built by a group of Bentley factory apprentices (who are now referred to as Team Bentley) the one-wheel-drive car is comprised mostly of carbon fibre and features a bright chromed grill, Bentley leather interior and a custom Bentley-branded steering wheel. The car will participate in several races throughout the summer with the final one happening at Goodwood in October.

Via Edmunds

The Fireball Run, A Rally With A Purpose

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events


The Fireball Run has a unique take on the transcontinental rally experience. The rally is composed of 100 teams who embark on a 3500 mile nine-day adventure from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each Fireball Run team is assigned a different missing child, through the Child Rescue Network, and eah team must draw as much attention to as possible by speaking with the communities and distributing as many posters as they can along the 3500 mile trek. The first year, 2007, helped to find 12 missing children. Fireball Run 2: Back to the Track will run from September 25th - October 4th and will have an 1980s themed auto rally. Entry costs $6800 per vehicle inclusive and to enter you must be referred by an existing team (you can apply via the web but the chances of getting picked are slimmer).

Jerry O'Connell and the Drambuie Pursuit

If your wife has a popular TV show and a busy film career and your own show just got canceled it might just be time to take yourself on an adventure. At least that's what I imagine was Jerry O'Connell's thought process in signing up for the 2008 Drambuie Pursuit. The liqueur company sponsors an interesting competition, a two-day adventure race of ten teams in the Scottish Highlands. It is supposed to symbolize the voyage of Bonnie Prince Charlie for whom the Drambuie elixir was created in 1745. After attempting to take over the British throne, he fled Scotland. The Drambuie Pursuit takes place in April 2008 and includes an archery contest on the first day and then a second day that includes kayaking, a castle run, boating, mountain biking, rock-climbing, rafting, cross-country biking, off-road buggy racing and canoeing. Jerry O'Connell and his three teammates will compete in the 100-mile race across Scotland against the other nine teams who all won contests in various magazine websites including Men's Journal and Penthouse, to be there. It looks like the only thing the winning team wins is honor and the chance to defend the title in the 2009 contest.

The Richest Horse Races in the World

Filed under: Events


Going to a big horse race is about more than just cheering on your favorite pick, it's also all about fashion, parties, and socializing with the uber-rich. Depending on where you're headed, carnivals are scheduled around the races, there are parties galore, and no shortage of supermodels or brand name and designer goods up for sale and raffle. Horse races are big money, but the biggest of the them all is The Dubai World Cup. With a prize of $6 million dollars you can imagine what decadent luxuries they have available to keep people in the lap of luxury before, during, and after the actual running of the race. Read up and get an idea of the goings in in Dubai, plus several of the other richest horse races in the world, and get ready to plan your next vacation!

$1,000 Mint Juleps Return to the Kentucky Derby

Filed under: Spirits, Events

Last year Woodford Reserve gave 50 traditional mint juleps a $1000 upgrade at the Kentucky Derby by using exotic ingredients and serving them in gold cups with silver straws. With the drinks providing such a unique keepsake and proceeds benefiting retired horses and jockeys through Thoroughbred Charities of America, the $1000 juleps were huge a success. So this year they'll be coming around again -- only with even more flair than before.

This year there will be a julep cup representing each of the Derby winners all the way from the first, Aristides, to the most recent, Barbaro. Those two, plus the 11 triple crown winners in between, will be auctioned off online between April 17th and May 1st -- and of course somewhat of a bidding war is expected over Barbaro's cup (it will be interesting to see who wins out on that one). Altogether this year there will be a grand total of 133 special edition mint juleps made, with only 10 being held back for sale at the actual race. In addition to those 10, and the 13 up for online auction, 109 are available to purchase online for $1000 each (first come first buy), and one will be reserved and sent to this year's Derby winner, free of charge.

As before, the juleps will leave nothing wanting in the way of exotic ingredients from around the world, featuring mint from Ireland, organic sugar from Australia, ice from the Bavarian Alps, and of course bourbon from Woodford Reserve.

Renault F1 Team Collection

Filed under: Decor


Napkin rings from gearbox hubs, a mirror made from a disc brake and a bottle coaster made from a wheel speed sensor are just some of the unique offerings of the Renault F1 collection.The collection includes items made from the car which took the Renault team to F1 championship victory in 2005. My favorite piece is the glass and titanium table which includes a wing element from the car. It is for sale for 5,520 euros.

[Thanks, Michael!]

Louis Vuitton Cup Sunglasses

Filed under: Apparel, Yachts & Sailing

The 12th Act of the Louis Vuitton Cup began yesterday, June 22nd, in Valencia. With only one act following this one in the run up to the America's Cup, the competitors are all probably feeling the pressure to perform. Louis Vuitton, as the primary sponsor, has a number of logo products that have been created specifically to commemorate this year's races, including totes, calf-skin loafers and a watch, which is particularly appropriate because LV is the official timekeeper of the America's Cup, which the victor of the Louis Vuitton Cup will race in. Perhaps the most useful to the competitors are the special edition sunglasses, which will help shield their eyes from the glare of the water. The glasses offer 100% UV protection and are made of a special plastic that will allow them to float, should they  fall into the water.

The Cost to Run for the Roses

Filed under: Pets

Derby contender A.P. WarriorHow much does it cost to buy a horse who can "run for the roses" in the Kentucky Derby? The short answer is quite a bit because the training and board, along with travel, vet, equipment and entry fees can be extremely expensive, especially if you want to put your horse with a top trainer. All that aside, there is still the initial cost of the horse.

There are three types of horses running, those sold privately, those sold at auction and homebreds, raised and raced by the same owners. Both private sales and home-raised horses can be difficult to assign a value to, but the results of auctions are made public, which can give us a general idea of what it takes to race.

Tracking the Gumball 3000 Online

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

It's Gumball 3000 time again. The rally for the rich and speedy, which dashes through Europe started on April 30 with 240 drivers in 120 cars. This year you can track the race online through the CoPilot satellite navigation service which lets you see where the drivers are and who is driving what. It's just part of the Gumball 3000 live website which includes video clips and pictures (the checkpoint in Vienna is shown here). The eight-day rally started in  London and will wind up in Los Angeles on May 7. Trouble has already hit some of the Gumballers, some cars were impounded by German police.

[via Stuff]

Featured Galleries

Aperion SLIMstage30 Speaker System
Fortis Spaceleader Volkswagen Design White Watch
Gustafsson & Sjogren Stockholm watches
Sensai Summer Skin Care and Makeup Must-Haves
Four Season Provence
Casa Noble Tequila
Turks & Caicos Style
Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver Watch New Colors
Vacheron Constantin Historiques Aronde 1954 Watch