Subaru Rally Team USA Debuts New 2011 Rally Cars at Speed with X Games Stars Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra
Subaru Rally Team USA unveiled its new 2011 Impreza WRX STI rally cars to journalists in dramatic fashion at the Pala Raceway in Pala, California. The team provided full speed ride-alongs to journalists during practice for the ESPN Summer X Games 16. Travis Pastrana, Dave Mirra and new teammate, European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen, demonstrated that they were ready for the SuperRally X Game competitions, being held at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Saturday, July 31st.
“The team has worked very hard to get these vehicles ready for the X Games,” said Pastrana. “The competition is going to be tough but I am confident that our STIs will be the cars to beat.”
The team’s technical partner, Vermont SportsCar, first began with a stock 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI right off the showroom floor. The car’s interior was then stripped bare and the shell lightened then fully seam welded for added strength. A multipoint roll cage, manufactured from T45 steel, was then welded into place.
Major differences from the stock STI include the addition of a competition fuel cell — which keeps race fuel contained within a flexible Kevlar bag tank — and lightweight carbon/Kevlar RECARO SPA ProRacer competition seats (w/HANS- Head and Neck Restraint System). Other interior additions include a custom STI dashboard, carbon fiber door panels, a Coralba C-Giant Rally Odometer, and an onboard Fire Suppression System.
The stock dampers are swapped out for heavy-duty rally dampers made by EXE-TC competition suspension. The rally dampers are fully adjustable and are built to take the abuse that off-road gravel rallying entails. Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled STI engine running VP Racing fuel and producing in excess of 500 horsepower and 560 lb/ft of torque (running with 45mm restrictor for X Games). The clutch is a high performance-racing clutch provided by EXedy. Launch control, a turbo anti-lag system and a hydraulic handbrake are just a few of the features at the driver’s disposal. Read more
The Silverdome Asks Soccer Fans: Embrace or Ban the Vuvuzela?
Venue deciding for AC Milan vs. Panathinaikos FC on August 6
When two of Europe’s premier professional soccer teams play at the Silverdome next week, will attendees and TV viewers hear the now-famous drone of vuvuzela noisemakers?
The owners and managers of the Silverdome are asking for soccer fan input at their SilverdomeEvents.com web site in advance of the “Match of the Titans” featuring AC Milan and Panathinaikos FC on August 6.
One long-time soccer fan already knows how he’ll vote. Roger Faulkner was the chairman of the Detroit host committee for the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the Silverdome, which was the last time top-level international soccer was played in Metro Detroit. Today, he’s a senior advisor for soccer to Silverdome managers Triple Sports & Entertainment.
“I simply cannot stand those terrible things,” he said “The noise drowns out the singing, the chants and the cheers that make a soccer game such a unique experience and replaces all of that with the sound of an attack by giant plastic bees.”
However, rather than simply following international venues that have banned the vuvuzela outright, the Silverdome is asking fans for their input before making a decision. Read more
Team RadioShack Rides in Honor of 28 Million Living With Cancer
In support of LIVESTRONG, Team RadioShack devotes the final stage of the 2010 Tour de France to the global fight against cancer
The final stage of the Tour de France was flooded with color but, the color black is what stood out from the pack. Led by cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, Team RadioShack started the finale by swapping their official red-and-gray racing kit in favor of exclusive black “28″ jerseys, dedicating their ride to the 28 million people worldwide currently living with cancer. Although race officials mandated that the team return to their official Team RadioShack kits, the messaging still broke through the pack.
“RadioShack’s partnership with Lance Armstrong has always been about more than cycling. It’s about engaging our customers and more than 35,000 associates in the global fight against cancer,” said Lee Applbaum, chief marketing officer for RadioShack Corp. “We understand that for 28 million people around the world, the race is not over.”
By dedicating the final stage of the Tour, the Team RadioShack riders have become global ambassadors for the 28 million survivors worldwide who are battling cancer and are determined to help them fight it. RadioShack is proud to stand with LIVESTRONG in support of those brave millions who are in the fight for their lives.
Together with LIVESTRONG, RadioShack has made a commitment to reduce the global cancer burden by raising awareness, eradicating stigma and encouraging people to join the cause. Team RadioShack wore this support as a bold reminder that cycling is not just about winning races, it’s a way to spread a message of support for those who are tirelessly battling this disease. Read more
SIRIUS NFL Radio Training Camp Tour Kicks Off July 25
Annual radio series will feature live on-site broadcasts from all 32 NFL team training camps Plus live coverage of 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
SIRIUS XM Radio, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, will kick off the sixth annual SIRIUS NFL Radio Training Camp Tour on Sunday, July 25, featuring extensive coverage of all 32 NFL team camps plus the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.
All programs are available to both SIRIUS and XM subscribers nationwide exclusively on SIRIUS NFL Radio, SIRIUS XM’s 24-hour NFL channel (SIRIUS channel 124 and XM channel 124 for subscribers with the “Best of SIRIUS” programming package).
Over 26 days – July 25 to August 19 – SIRIUS NFL Radio hosts will broadcast live on location from all 32 NFL training camp sites around the country, giving listeners access to their favorite teams and players as they prepare for the coming season. Each show will present an expert breakdown of every team, one-on-one interviews with players, coaches and franchise executives, and reports on rookies, veterans and free agents.
A schedule detailing show times, hosts and locations appears below.
SIRIUS NFL Radio personalities on the tour include former players, coaches, front office executives and other insiders including: former NFL MVP Rich Gannon, three time Pro-Bowl offensive lineman Randy Cross, longtime Dallas Cowboys pro personnel executive Gil Brandt, former NFL defensive lineman Tim Ryan, former NFL front office executive Pat Kirwan, former NFL QB Jim Miller, former NFL defensive back Solomon Wilcots, former NFL lineman Ross Tucker, former NFL coach Dean Dalton, plus NFL experts Adam Schein, Vic Carucci, Paul Allen and Bryan McGovern.
On Saturday, August 7, SIRIUS XM will present a full day of live coverage from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH for the 2010 enshrinement ceremonies. Listeners will hear live coverage as the class of 2010 is inducted – which includes Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little, John Randle, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith.
A detailed tour map featuring camp locations, dates, times and featured hosts can be found at www.sirius.com/trainingcamp2010. Fans can also interact with SIRIUS NFL Radio hosts and other listeners on SIRIUS NFL Radio’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/siriusnflradio) or by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/siriusnflradio.
As the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, SIRIUS XM broadcasts every NFL game live nationwide, from the preseason through the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl. Listeners can hear home and visiting team broadcasts, national radio broadcasts and Spanish-language broadcasts for select games. Read more
Tiger is Still America’s Favorite Sports Star, but Shares Title with Kobe Bryant
Serena and Venus Williams retain their titles of America’s Favorite Female Sports Star
Despite his public image taking major hits this year, there is one bright spot for Tiger Woods. While he is no longer alone on top of the list, he is at least tied for first place as America’s Favorite Sports Star. Since 2006, this was a title he held solo, but this year, besides another NBA championship, Kobe Bryant can also share in being called America’s Favorite Sports Star, a jump up from the 4th position he was in last year.
Rounding out the top five are New York Yankee Derek Jeter at number 3, up from 5th place; Minnesota Viking Brett Favre at number 4, a leap from his 9th place position last year; and this season’s losing Super Bowl quarterback, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts at number 5, up from 7th place last year.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,227 adults surveyed online between June 14 and 21, 2010 by Harris Interactive.
Looking at the rest of the top ten, LeBron James left Cleveland for Miami and dropped three spots to number 6 on this year’s list while another NBA superstar — but one who no longer plays — Michael Jordan, drops from the 2nd spot on the list to number 7 this year. New England Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady, returns to the list after a one year absence at number 8 and the winning quarterback from this year’s Super Bowl, Drew Brees, debuts at number 9. Finally, a NASCAR superstar, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is at number 10, down from number 8 last year.
Two stars dropped off the top ten this year: another NASCAR legend, Jeff Gordon dropped from number 6 and baseball great, Albert Pujols dropped from number 10 last year. Read more