Celebrity Classics up for grabs from Bonhams at Brooklands

Few auction houses have dealt with as many celebrity automobiles as Bonhams, and the upcoming event at Brooklands is poised to carry on the tradition.

Among the lots up for grabs during the auction at Mercedes-Benz World will be this unique Rolls-Royce Phantom III. The first of 24 Phantom IIIs sold to the United States, this particular 1936 example – a five-seat limousine with custom Inskip coachwork and 7.3-liter V12 – was used in the bizarre fantasy film Pan's Labyrinth in the chase scene against a Bentley.

Also crossing the auction block at the event on December 6th will be a 1934 Lagonda M45 Tourer once owned by Nick Mason (of Pink Floyd fame) and a Mercedes-Benz 600 formerly owned by Elvis Presley. Other highlights include a '64 Maserati, a '55 Mercedes Gullwing, a 2000 Ferrari 550 GTZ and a '64 AC Cobra. Follow the jump for the full press release and check out the trio of Rolls-Royce photos in the gallery below.

Ginetta releases official renderings of new G55

The Ginetta G50 has so far been the star of the Ginetta GT Supercup, a one-make support series for the British Touring Car Championship. There's a brighter star on the way next year, though, when Ginetta introduces the G55. The new car will compete alongside the G50 in next year's races but in its own class and with separate a points system and podium ceremony.

To go along with its more aggressive looks and aero, the G55's Ford engine is 3.7 liters instead of the G50's 3.5, and it puts out 370 horsepower - 70 horses more than the G50. Other tweaks include beefier brakes front and back and a new exhaust. Current G50 owners can upgrade to the G55 for £25,000 ($39,219 U.S.), or privateers can buy the car new for £75,000 ($117,661 U.S.).

Ginetta's latest will be publicly unveiled at Autosport International on January 13 in Birmingham, England. Follow the jump for the press release, and get a couple of glimpses in the gallery of images below.

Report: Roundabouts proliferating in America, drivers confused

Roundabouts are the scourge of many a motorist and a favorite calming device of traffic engineers, and they're spreading like crazy across the United States roadscape. As anyone who's had the joy of driving in Massachusetts or New Jersey will tell you, plenty of drivers have absolutely no idea when to yield or how to successfully navigate these rings of macadam.

According to The New York Times, the fertile Midwest has sprouted a bumper crop of these sometimes-confusing intersections, with 100 popping up in Wisconsin since 2004, and almost 100 blooming in Kansas, as well. Other states have a richness of roundabouts; Maryland has nearly 200, for example; and there's more on the drawing board across the nation.

Despite a public that's apparently skeptical of the change, there are plenty of positives to roundabouts. Speeds are low, and any crashes that do occur are less severe because the head-on collision is virtually eliminated. Emissions are also purportedly lower because there's less starting and stopping (though drivers waiting in epic backups approaching these things might disagree), they don't require electricity to operate and they keep traffic moving simultaneously in multiple directions. Since they do seem to be the favorite device of traffic engineers, roundabouts won't be going away any time soon, so we're all going to get the chance to try them out. Like brussels sprouts at Thanksgiving dinner, they might even turn out to not be so bad.

A Day Advenure in Iguazu Falls, Argentina

I know TLC told us that we shouldn’t go chasing waterfalls, but I bet you Chilli, Left Eye and T-Boz have never seen the Iguazu Falls in Argentina. If so, they would never “stick to the rivers and the lakes that they were used to”. Instead they would be taking speed boats under massive water avalanches, zip-cording through the jungle and repelling blindly off giant cliffs.

Me at Iguazu Falls

These waterfalls are ridiculous. There’s no doubt why they are considered one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. Seeing the incredible magnitude of these bad boys almost makes me feel sorry for Niagara. Don’t get me wrong, I love Niagara Falls, I grew up with them virtually in my backyard. They have been a great excuse to cross into Canada between ages 19 and 21. Both are great for their own reasons, but both are completely different.

Niagara Falls is developed and commercialized. Iguazu Falls is… jungle. You drive down a busy street filled with souvenir shops and restaurants to see limited viewpoints of the Niagara Falls. You walk down a dirt path lined with exotic birds and plants to see a million different views of the Igauzu Falls.
If done right, I think you only need one solid day to cover the falls and surrounding area. This is how I managed to experience the best of Iguazu Falls in only one long, amazing day (and night).

How to Avoid a Turkey Thanksgiving

Gobble. Gobble.

I say no more. Fellow Americans, you don’t need another Thanksgiving of watching the James Bond marathon on Spike TV, or waiting in line at the Gap. Just say no.

Instead, by all means, visit the family, have that extra slice of pumpkin pie, but don’t squander away your precious vacation days in store lines (you can buy it online, you know you can) or in front of the television. Break free of the Thanksgiving monotony and go do something fun. Actually have a vacation on your vacation days. This is radical thinking I know, but stick with me here, I have ideas. And I am practicing what I preach, I convinced my whole family to try my suggestion for Thanksgiving this year.

Here’s what I propose: If you live within reasonable drive or train ride to a major city (say around 2 hours or less), have an urban adventure. But, DO NOT SHOP. Instead, visit a museum, indulge in a helicopter ride, treat the kids, or take a day cruise. On Viator.com alone there are over 1,250 things to do in the USA just around the major cities, so no excuses, I am sure you can find something fun to do near you.

If you don’t live close enough to have a big city adventure, visit a National Park near you (or State park, I am not picky). They are blissfully crowd free around winter holidays, and everyone could stand to stroll or hike off a little gravy. Plus, when is the last time you went to your nearby national park? I bet it has been awhile. Stop by and say hi. Take the kids.

Fellow Americans, I urge you, nay, implore you, to GO OUT AND HAVE FUN! If you are home watching the Hallmark Channel’s Festival of Original Movies, or circling for parking at the mall, instead of out having a good time, you are so not going have the best Thanksgiving pictures or stories in the office on Monday. Make a Thanksgiving you’ll be thankful for, the only turkey should be the one you eat.