Historic Trio Gears Up For A Big Ride At Mille Miglia

The Mille Miglia 2014 starts today, May 15, in the north Italian city of Brescia and will cover more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) on a route that includes Padua, San Marino, Rome, Siena, Pisa and Bologna before returning to the start point.

60 years on from its Mille Miglia debut, a BMW Isetta is once again lining up at today’s start of the legendary endurance tour through northern Italy. The diminutive two-seater with green paintwork is competing in this year’s Mille Miglia as part of the BMW Group Classic squad, which also includes two BMW 507 models along with four BMW 328 historic racers. BMW Group Classic is thus deploying all the models that were at the start of the historic race events held from 1927 to 1957, which automatically qualifies them to take part in the revived version for historic cars launched in 1977.

In May 1954 a total of seven Iso Isetta models took part in the Mille Miglia. They were the predecessors of the “Motocoupé” built under licence by BMW from 1955 to 1962. With no prospect of beating their high-performance rivals but displaying remarkable stamina, these “smoochballs” quickly won over the hearts of the spectators. The following year saw four Iso Isettas line up for the race, which already started and finished in Brescia back then.

The BMW 507 made its sole appearance in 1957, the last Mille Miglia to be staged as a race event. In 1992 it rode to victory in the revived event for historic cars. But the most enduring and spectacular success story belongs to the BMW 328. In 1938 this extremely lightweight and reliable sports car drew attention to itself by capturing a class victory at its debut appearance in the Mille Miglia. Two years on an even greater triumph lay in store – overall victory for Fritz Huschke von Hanstein and Walter Bäumer in the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé.

The winning car of 1940 will also be at the start of this year’s Mille Miglia. The Coupé with its tubular space frame and “superleggera” body has been one of the showpieces of the BMW Group Classic collection since 2002. It landed a very special coup in 2004 when Giuliano Cané and his wife Lucia Galliani as co-driver took the car across the finish line in Brescia to a second victory, making the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé the first car ever to win not only the classic race event but also the new version of the Mille Miglia for historic automobiles. Besides this winning model, the BMW Group Classic fleet lining up this year also includes the BMW 328 Touring Roadster as well as a 1938 BMW 328 which finished third in 1940 – the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster.

A total of 430 historic vehicles have registered for the 2014 Mille Miglia. This year, for the first time, the round trip will be carried out over four days rather than three. Launching from the traditional starting point at 6pm today, May 15, the cars will initially head towards Padua. The second and longest stage finishes in Rome on Friday evening, while the following day the route leads to Siena and then along a new section via Volterra, Lucca and Pisa to Bologna. From there, on Sunday, May 18, competitors will tackle the final stretch towards Brescia where the first cars are expected to heave into view around midday.

The Countdown Begins: Starting at Midnight Tonight, Vote for How Audi’s Super Bowl Spot Will End

• Audi to let audiences choose the ending of its Super Bowl XLVII spot on YouTube
• Voting to take place for 24 hours beginning at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thurs., Jan. 24 and closing at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Fri., Jan. 25.
• Final spot to be revealed online on Saturday, Jan. 26 and will also air during the big game on Super Bowl Sunday

For the first time in its Super Bowl history, Audi will let audiences select the spot they want to see run during the big game. Audi will post three versions of its Super Bowl spot, each with a different ending, to its YouTube page and allow viewers to choose how they want the spot to end. The final spot will debut on YouTube in advance of the game and on CBS during Super Bowl XLVII in the first break after kickoff. Voting on YouTube will be open for 24 hours, beginning at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, January 24 and closing at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, January 25.

In the spot, viewers will follow a nervous teenage boy as he embarks on one of the most pivotal moments of American adolescence: prom night. With no date and no confidence, the teen is discouraged until his father tosses him the keys to an all-new 2013 Audi S6. With the power of the Audi S6 at his fingertips, the teen is suddenly determined, inspired. When he enters the gymnasium, he heads directly towards the prom queen and kisses her. What happens next is up to the viewer to decide.

“Audi has a long history of experimentation with social media, especially during Super Bowl season,” said Loren Angelo, General Manager of Brand Marketing, Audi of America. “This year, Audi – which is Latin for listen – is listening to our fans, allowing them to take part in the creative process and have a voice in how our spot should end.”

Audi’s Super Bowl spot was created by San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners.

Every year, Audi challenges the status quo with a Super Bowl spot that celebrates emotion and individuality. This year, Audi’s ad salutes the unconventional bravery that propels people to take risks and pave their own paths. The spot will feature the 2013 Audi S6 performance sedan – a vehicle that stands for power, confidence and pushing limits.

Proven on the track, Audi’s award-winning and progressive technologies such as TFSI engines and quattro® all-wheel drive inspire the new S6 and provide a driving experience that is engineered for the driver. The S6 is fitted with the 4.0T twin-turbo V8 – delivering 420 horsepower – and is fitted with a seven-speed double clutch S tronic® transmission and cylinder on demand technology. The S6 offers incredible interior design and craftsmanship such as Atlas carbon fiber inlays, diamond-stitched sport seats and the highest levels of technology through the Audi MMI Navigation plus system with Audi connect™.

Last year, Audi’s entertaining spot “Vampire Party” showcased the power of progressive engineering with the brand's signature LED headlight technology. In 2011, Audi’s "Release the Hounds," featuring the Audi A8 and a cameo by Kenny G, redefined luxury and became the first Super Bowl spot in history to use a Twitter hashtag. In 2010, Audi's Super Bowl ad showcased a soundtrack created by rock legends Cheap Trick and featured the A3 TDI "Green Car of the Year" showing how easy being green can be. The brand's 2009 spot featured actor Jason Statham in a series of high-speed chase scenes involving luxury competitors, sending the message that luxury is evolving. In 2008, the brand's first Super Bowl spot delivered a parody of the movie "The Godfather," signaling that Audi was ready to take on the perceived luxury leaders.

Tim Tebow fans can get ‘Time With Tebow’ through FRS campaign

LANCE ARMSTRONG FACTFILE

• 1971: Born September 18, in Dallas.
• 1991: Signs with Subaru-Montgomery and becomes US national amateur champion.
• 1993: Crowned US national champion. Wins first stage in Tour de France but fails to finish. Beats Miguel Indurain to win world championship.
• 1994: Wins Liege-Bastogne-Liege spring classic.
• 1996: October 2 - Diagnosed with testicular cancer. The disease later spreads through his whole body. Founds Lance Armstrong Foundation for Cancer.
• 1997: Declared cancer-free after brain surgery and chemotherapy. Signs with US Postal Service team after being dropped by Cofidis.
• 1998: Wins Tours of Holland and Luxembourg.
• 1999: Claims first Tour de France title, winning four stages.
• 2000: Wins second Tour. Secures time-trial bronze in Sydney Olympics.
• 2001: Victorious in Tour of Switzerland.
• July 29: Becomes only the fifth rider to win three Tour de France titles in a row.
• 2002: Wins Dauphine Libere and Midi Libre.
• July 28: Becomes only the fourth person to win four successive Tour de France titles.
• 2003: Equals the record of five victories in the Tour de France, but is pushed to his limit by German Jan Ullrich, who finishes just 61 seconds off the pace.
• 2004: July 25 - Clinches record sixth Tour de France victory.
• 2005: July 24 - Wins his seventh Tour de France, two more than anyone else, before retiring.
• September 6 - Claims he is considering coming out of retirement after being angered by drug allegations against him.
• 2008: September 9 - Announces he will return to professional cycling and will attempt to win his eighth Tour de France in 2009.
• 2009: March 23 - Suffers a broken right collarbone when he crashes out on stage one of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon in Spain.
• May - Appears in first Giro d'Italia, finishing 12th. Tour is somewhat marred by financial cloud over Armstrong's Astana team and the American is linked to a takeover.
• June - Astana's financial issues are resolved and Armstrong is named in the Tour de France team, but with 2007 champion Alberto Contador of Spain as leader.
• July - Contador and Armstrong endure a fractious relationship. Contador claims a second Tour title, while Armstrong finishes third. Armstrong announces he will launch his own squad in 2010, Team Radio Shack.
• 2010: January - Team Radio Shack make their debut at the Tour Down Under in Australia. Armstrong finishes 25th overall.
• May - Armstrong's former US Postal team-mate Floyd Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title for doping, launches allegations at the Texan.
• June 28 - Announces that the 2010 Tour de France will be his last.
• July - Finishes final Tour in 23rd place, 39 minutes and 20 seconds behind winner Contador.
• 2011: February 16 - Announces retirement for second time.
• May - Forced to deny claims made by former team-mate Tyler Hamilton that they took performance-enhancing drugs together.
• 2012: February 4 - An investigation into alleged doping by Armstrong is dropped by federal prosecutors in California.
• June 13 - The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) confirm they have initiated legal proceedings over allegations of doping against Armstrong.
• June 30 - The USADA confirm they will file formal doping charges against Armstrong.
• July 9 - Armstrong files a lawsuit in a US federal court asking for a temporary restraining order against the agency. Armstrong also claims the USADA offered "corrupt inducements" to other cyclists to testify against him.
• July 11 - Armstrong re-files lawsuit against the USADA after initial lawsuit was dismissed by a judge as being a "lengthy and bitter polemic", designed to attract media attention and public sympathy.
• August 20 - Armstrong's legal action against the USADA dismissed in court.
• August 24 - Armstrong announces he will not fight the doping charges filed against him by the USADA, saying in a statement he is "finished with this nonsense" and insisting he is innocent. He is stripped of all his titles banned for life from cycling by USADA.
• October 10 - USADA claim 11 of Armstrong's former team-mates have testified against him. The organization say the US Postal Service team "ran the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen", with "conclusive and undeniable proof" of a team-run doping conspiracy.

Lance Armstrong is the "Come Back Kid!" 

Felix Baumgartner History Making Free Fall Jump

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‘Jeah’ Ryan Lochte is creating a clothing line

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Audi and Ducati: The Ultimate Ride & Drive Contest

Throughout their storied histories, Audi and Ducati forged legends racing up Pikes Peak. With the 90th annual running of the treacherous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb at hand, the two iconic brands chose to come together and pit today’s expressions of performance against the mountain that has crowned each with championship glory. For Audi and Ducati fans in the U.S. there’s an added bonus: A chance to experience the power of the Audi RS 5 and the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S together in an unparalleled ride and drive.

And because the Pikes Peak region occupies such a special place in Audi lore, the brand is making a donation to, and raising social media awareness for, the Battle of the Blaze fund also supported by the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The fund is aimed at providing relief to people affected by the wildfires that devastated communities surrounding Pikes Peak earlier this summer. For contest details visit http://www.togetherwetakethehill.com.

Gabby Douglas to be featured on special-edition Kellogg's Corn Flakes

To celebrate U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas' gold medal in the women's all-around at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Kellogg's announced today that Gabby will be featured on special-edition boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes, which will be on shelves this fall. 

"We are proud to support the potential of our young athletes and our amazing team of U.S. gymnasts," said Doug VanDeVelde, senior vice president of Morning Foods, Kellogg Company.  "Over the course of the past week, we have all shared in the thrilling moments and passion of USA Gymnastics, and we are excited to bring that into the homes of families across the country."

"Gabby Douglas has helped Team USA make history this week.  The team gold was the first since the 1996 Olympic Games and this is the first time that USA Gymnastics has captured both the team gold and the individual all-around gold medal," said USA Gymnastics President, Steve Penny.  "She also became the third consecutive American gymnast to win the all-around gold medal, making this an even more significant accomplishment."

The cereal company also announced the kickoff of the 2012 Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions, a 40-city national tour featuring Team USA's top performing gymnasts, which will begin in San Jose, California on September 8, 2012.  

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UFC heavyweight champ makes kid's dream come true

Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos may be wrapped in UFC gold now, but there was a time where he was just another poor kid from Brazil, dreaming of one day becoming a fighter and making a better life for himself.

Nicknamed 'Cigano' after a character in a Brazilian soap opera he resembled, dos Santos grew up in poverty in Cacador, southern Brazil. He gravitated to the judo and jiu-jitsu fighters who trained in a local gym, and fantasized about becoming a martial artist. Dos Santos chased this dream all the way to the neon lights of Las Vegas, where on Saturday night he headlines the huge UFC® 146 Pay-Per-View as the most dangerous mixed martial artist on earth.

Now it is dos Santos who inspires other kids' dreams. As he made his final preparations before flying to Vegas for his bout with two-time champ Frank Mir, dos Santos was taken aside by Breno Luis Ferreira, a nine-year-old boy who, for months on end, had shown up to the champion's gym in Salvador to watch his hero train.

The champion said: "As soon as school ends, Breno always appears. We love having him in the gym. He's been coming to the gym so often now he's become a little friend. We call him the Little Guy. After my last sparring session before flying to the US, he asked me why I had to fight in Vegas, and when I explained he said he wanted to come to help me win.

"He didn't have a passport, his mother didn't have a passport but I was a little guy once and people helped me. If we could make the little guy's dream come true, if we were able somehow, why wouldn't we?"

Two dozen officials and worked on two continents to get everything in order for Breno, his mother Simone and 16-year-old brother Pedro Gabriel to travel to the US in time to be Octagonside for Saturday's event. They touched down at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport on Wednesday and were checked in to a MGM hotel room bigger than their home in Salvador.

Speaking through a translator, Breno said: "It's just so exciting being here in Las Vegas. Even to get to sit on an airplane was like a dream. I could see all things out of the window; big buildings and we were really high above them, flying like a dream. Our room here is so nice and everyone is being so nice to me, but I'm here to help Cigano defend his title."

"Cigano is the strongest man in the world. He can defeat anybody even though he is nice. He will beat Frank Mir on Saturday. I've seen him in the gym and he will win with a left hook followed by a big right uppercut. This will be in the first round."

Dos Santos is happy to have his friend in town. He said: "He really likes to watch and he's fun to have around. He's not shy at all. He's a mischievous kid, he's always laughing."

"Before I left for Las Vegas, he jumped into the ring and shouted 'Now I am a Junior dos Santos! The UFC champion! I am Cigano! I will knock you all out!' and he challenged the other kids to a pretend fight. He is a little louder than the real 'Cigano' but he is so excited every time he is in the gym."

"At this point in my career, I can be a motivation and role model for these little guys from home. The kids see that all the fighters from the gym have good cars; they can see that hard work does lead to something good in life."

Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will defend his crown against former two-time champion Frank Mir and former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez – now fully healed from his knee injury - returns to action against the dangerous Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.

Plus, on the first ever all-heavyweight UFC card, Roy Nelson takes on Dave Herman, unbeaten heavies Stipe Miocic and Shane Del Rosario collide, and 6ft 11.5inch Stefan Struve takes on KO specialist Lavar Johnson.