The desire for improved fuel economy is rapidly driving change in the design of automatic transmissions. Asian, European, and North American OEMs are increasing the number of gears in newer transmissions from four or five to as many as nine. In addition, CVT transmissions are becoming more popular because of the fuel economy benefits they deliver.
“From Red Square to Tiananmen Square”
A grueling offroad rally from Russia to China, the Silk Way Rally tests the strongest racers from all over the world will take off through scenic twisting roads of China, Kalmykia, Kazakhstan and Russia—rushing towards steps and boundless fields, where only the best navigators will be able to find the right direction in high grass.
One of the most entertaining drivers in Japan over the past few years has been Kazuya Taguchi, an Up Garage employee (Imagine if Walmart and Autozone had a baby) who is competing in his first season Formula Drift. In his first year stateside, this 4.1-liter R35 Nissan GT-R, which makes more power than you’d ever need, as builder and Team Owner Jerry Yang claims over 1000 horsepower with 26 pounds of boost, all while sporting black 21-inch rims.
The 25-year old Taguchi travels from Yokohama, Japan to each round of Formula Drift—bringing our partnership full-circle as the Ryan Family and TOP 1 Oil hail from Yokohama, Japan roots.
Take a lap in the only stock car circuit in Central America! TOP 1 is proud to support the Ford factory team in the Costa Rican Touring Car Championship as drivers fueled by big dreams from all over Latin America travel to San Jose, Costa Rica to gain experience in the hopes of one day reaching the ultimate pinnacle of stock car racing—NASCAR
Since 2013, the Afflick Land Speed Racing Family have set SEVEN different Motorcycle Land Speed Records in three different classes! This team of Proud Australians have traveled to any salt flat they can find to breakthrough new boundaries for the 50cc, 100cc and 350cc motorcycle classes…
After competing at the highest level of motocross in the United States and Brazil, Roberto Castro decided to start his own team in Costa Rica—putting into practice everything he has learned for 18 years in the sport of motocross.
The primary goal for Team CMX is to establish itself as the best professional team at a national level, taking advantage of and applying the knowledge acquired by its members from different international teams and encouraging and training professional athletes in international quality motocross.
George Kiriakopoulos of Modified Performance breathes the millennial demographic…Edgy, Unique and Exciting. George is an up and coming Formula Drift pro 2 driver who is focused on creatively capturing the attention of the largest notable demographic with social media engagement, content marketing and new age technology of driving style, drifting. Watch for George as he Drifts on by….
Born and raised in Southern California, Jeff Jones’ (“The Ultimate Grass-Roots Racer”) career began for one simple reason; he never found a street he didn’t want to drift a car on.
Jones is widely-regarded as one of the most creative drivers in drift culture—competing with a 1985 Celica GTS, 1995 Mazda RX-7 with a 3-rotor engine, and, for his 10th Formula Drift Pro season, a Nissan 370z.
Jeff’s unique style has landed him features and cover spots in various publications like Import Tuner, Super Street, Performance Auto and Sound, and Modified Magazines.
297 mph (477.98 kph) 1000cc—Fastest Sit-Down Motorcycle in the World
At the 2018 Top of the World Land Speed Shootout, ageless wonder Ralph Hudson succeeded in making his first one-way pass of over 300 mph, with a speed of 304 mph/486 kph—the highest-ever recorded by a sit-on motorcycle (partially streamlined) at an FIM event. Simply Amazing!
Born in Okinawa to a US Air Force retired Senior Master Sergeant, Robbie Nishida was first exposed to drifting on the mountains of Japan around the age of 20. He has been drifting professionally since 1998, and in his first Formula Drift USA event in 2005, he placed fourth after beating the then reigning Formula Drift Series Champion Samuel Hubinette in a tandem battle. After a 15-year career in both Formula Drift USA and FD Asia, and taking home hardware like Most Improved Driver and Best Drift Style Award, Robbie is forever immortalized as a Drifting Legend.
Kyle Mohan’s extensive driving career knows no boundaries. From professional teaching with Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari, worldwide professional drifting circuits, and even a Rock ‘n Roll music video—Kyle Mohan has done it all!
The team currently campaigns a Mazda RX-8 in the Formula Drift series. The car, designed and developed with renowned Mazda rotary engine builder, Mazdatrix, is a proven crowd favorite. In sea of cars using similar V8 engines, Mohan’s turbocharged Mazda howls to nearly 10,000 RPM at each round of the Formula Drift championship.
Al Lamb aka “Lambo” has one goal in his life, to be the first sit-down motorcycle to go over 300 mph.“I like the big speed,” Lamb0 said. “To ride a land speed motorcycle takes kind of a different attitude. You have to love speed – the engine screaming; feeling the tires hook then break loose; you have to love being there. Riding the ragged edge, as I call it.”
Lambo set the 1000cc FIM World Record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2012. In 2017 after enduring a logistical nightmare en route to Bolivia, Lambo and his bike “Big Red” set the first ever Land Speed Record in South America at 265 mph/424 kph.
Imagine only 4 cylinders creating 750 horsepower more then the V8 in your car!! Now think what 16 of them would do!! That’s what our “Joint Venture” modified Freightliner is putting to the ground. Owned by Don Lemmons in Kelso WA. It currently holds the world record for Modified Diesel Truck @ 228.8mph!
Joint Venture was created from a highway hauler Freightliner and outfitted with a huge Mid Engine 16 cylinder diesel engine taken from a tug boat then “HIGHLY” modified with giant turbo’s, Boeing 737 rear tires and front tires from a F-15 fighter, one of the strongest roll cages ever built, a really big parachute and so much more… At almost 10 Tons and Creating a vicious sound of its own….. comparing it to a World War II radical Bomber Plane would be an understatement!
Founder and team owner Brian Alder brings over a decade of winning motorsports experience to BAR1 Motorsports. From Toyota Atlantic to Indy Car to the American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Brian has won. With 21 wins and multiple driver championships, all while maintaining a top 3 standings in team/driver championship for 8 out of 10 years, Brian’s record as a crew chief and team manager in the American Le Mans Series can only be described one way. Winner!
As a privateer Brian has competed in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans and won against some of the largest factory teams in the world including, Audi, Porsche, Peugeot and Penske… he is a David among Goliaths.
Led by Erin Sills, Hunter Sills Racing is team of passionate individuals, drawn together to push the boundaries of person + machine. Having earned over 30 World and National land speed motorcycle records and two Guinness World Records, we know how to overcome obstacles in the pursuit of our passions. We are one of the few teams who’ve earned lifetime memberships in the Bonneville 200 MPH Club, the El Mirage 200 MPH Club, and the BUB 201 MPH Club. Erin Sills was named American Motorcyclist Association Female Athlete of the Year and the American Marketing Association’s Woman To Watch. We live and love life by a singular motto…
It’s about the journey, not the destination.
On a serious note, in college Kelsey was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome. Sjogren’s syndrome is an incurable, autoimmune disease where one’s immune system attacks its own healthy cells by mistake. As many as four million Americans are living with this disease. While the diagnosis brought a lot of complications into Kelsey’s life and required several lifestyle changes. Kelsey continued to push herself as hard as she could, and learning to drift became not just an escape; but her passion.
A few interesting facts about Alex:
Josh: “Manolo, You’re Crazy Dude!”
Manolo: “I’m crazy?!”
Josh: “Yeah! You’re Crazy!”
Manolo: “Josh, for your honeymoon, you bought your wife a quad and together you rode 17,000 miles (27,000 km) across Africa?!…and you’re calling me CRAZY!!!
Rest of the World: “I think Manolo’s got you on that one Josh.”
Josh and Anna Hogan took a unique honeymoon. They traveled 17,000 miles on quads across the continent of Africa. Today, Josh and Anna live a more subdued life in Castro Valley, California living the adventure of raising two beautiful daughters.
In the spirit of other Top 1 Racers around the globe Beto Recalde has fullfilled a life long dream….to compete in the Dakar Rally. “The Dakar” is not only physically challenging it is a psychological test of determination and grit. Like the great explorers of centuries past Beto and his fellow Dakar competitors challenge themselves to reach a final destination over the course of the two weeks every January. It is however the journey and it’s hardships that bring the greatest rewards to Beto and his contemporaries.
Ruso: “I think I’m going to take some time and travel the world.”
Ruso’s Friend: “Cool Dude”
Ruso: “Yeah, I’m taking off in a couple of weeks”
Ruso’s Friend: “Really Cool Dude”
Ruso: “Gonna do it on my Vespa”
Ruso’s Friend: “Damn… That’s the Coolest Dude!”
Dos Equis may have the “Most Interesting Man in the World” but Top 1 has “The Coolest Dude in the World.”
Question #1 How many people on the face of this earth can build a motorcycle that has topped out at over 400MPH/640KPH?
Answer. One. His name is Mike Akatiff.
Question #2 How many people on the face of this earth can ride a motorcycle that has topped out at over 400MPH/640KPH?
Answer. One. His name is Rocky Robinson.
We can go on and on about this but it’s easier (and better) to show you a video that 4,100,000 people have already seen….click on the link below.
