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Attention Men

Separate from the Boring guys

Bellator MMA

Bjorn Rebney

Publisher’s Note

April 2014

f you’re looking for makeup tips and a guide to nice lashes, I’m afraid this isn’t the April Womens’ Issue. Welcome to the April Mens’ edition.

We may not be in total summer mode yet, but April is going to be full of fun things to do in the meantime. If you’re making it down to Coachella this month, we’ve got your survival guide ready! Read up on our feature on Capital Cities, interview with ZZ Ward and a special look behind the scenes with Tada! Catering and The Do Lab production team. Make your plans to see our April feature Marco Andretti tear up the track at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. He tells us everything there is to know about IndyCar competition and we’re gonna get you up to speed on everything happening in Downtown Long Beach. Join us as we step into the cage with Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. The MMA mogul tells us how he made his way and what the future holds for “The Toughest Tournament In Sports.” Not sure where to take your honey? Get some great ideas on summer-fit dates for you and your squeeze. Of course, it doesn’t matter where you go if you’re picking up your date in the new Audi R8 V10.

Rock on!!

contact@naludamagazine.com

he IndyCar torch has been passed down three generations to driver Marco Andretti. Check out his stunning photo shoot and read the full interview where we talk glory, guts, and goals with our April Feature.

8 Bellator MMA founder

Bjorn Rebney

Mister Triple X

Coachella Special

46 TOYOTA Grand Prix Long Beach

Mad Scientists - The Do Lab

Page 20

Camping at Coachella

Page 23

Be a Fun, Fit & Fabulous date

Page 50

Are You an Emotional Eater?

Page 54

Audi R8 V10 Spyder

Page 58

Men’s Hot Fashion: The Daring & of Eclectic Designs

are Showcased at Style

Fashion Week

f you were in the Los Angeles area from March 9th to March 13th, you wouldn’t have been able to go anywhere without hearing about the fashion madness at L.A. Live’s event deck. Both men’s and women’s fashion were represented in shows that showcased many designers’ talents. On Tuesday, March 11th, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation presented Art Hearts Fashion and designers such as M the Movement, MessQueen, Jason Ryan, and Mister Triple X all displayed their beautiful designs on the runway. Of these amazing designers, one collection really stood out with its eclectic style. With a name as daring as the collection itself, Mister Triple X featured an exotic take on men’s and women’s fashion.

Mister Triple X created a wonderful collection that celebrates uniqueness in fashion. Designed by Erik Rosete, Mister Triple X represents the fact that men can be divas too. Each male model looked fierce with one-of-a-kind pants paired with a top that consisted mostly of chain-like attire. While wearing stylish buckles and chains on their torso and shoulders, these men were still able to strut down the runway in elaborate bottoms. Pants of all different designs were paired with either leather boots or lace-up shoes. Each look was more interesting and distinctive than the last. We couldn’t keep our eyes away from these mesmerizing designs.

The ladies’ fashion also had us on our toes! Almost every look had leather incorporated into it, which further illuminated the idea of “rocker babe.” These models wore extravagant designs made of skin-tight maxi dresses as well as short chic pieces. Rosete kept us guessing by throwing in short dresses, long dresses, and even two-piece outfits. The designs created a mix of flowy and sharp designs unlike anything we’ve seen before. The runway show was unforgettable. Skateboards were floating around on the runway while male models rocked their outfits. Beautiful men and women showcased off the true essence of Mister Triple X: dramatic and fierce. As president of Arts Hearts Fashion and creative director of Mister Triple X, Erik Rosete is an on-the-rise designer in the fashion world.

Photos: Anton Oparin

rom Ohio Universtiy to CEO, Bjorn Rebney has made Bellator into the MMA household name it is today. Leaving sports law, boxing promotion, and taking out a third mortgage on his home, Bjorn gave everything he had to make his MMA dream “The Toughest Tournament in Sports.” Rebney made his pitch for the organization to 62 investors in just 14 months until he finally landed an investment that provided millions to finance Bellator's first season in 2009. Since then, the MMA Mogul has landed deals with Viacom and Spike TV to compete in the sports entertainment market with great success. We ask the Bobcat alumni what it’s like to run the show behind the tournament: Where did you first get an interest in Mixed Martial Arts? What made you decide to start your own fighting organization? I have been involved in the fight business for going on 25 years, but I always date it back to sitting around with my friends two+ decades ago and watching MMA. From the first time I watched it, I just fell in the love with sport. It was in my eyes, the greatest display of speed, technique, power, aggression and courage I’d ever seen in a sporting event. When the time was right, I knew I had the ability to build and develop a large scale, multi-national MMA organization. The timing was right, and the vision I had was something I really believed in. In 2008, I made that vision a reality. For someone new to MMA and your organization, what legendary Bellator fights would you recommend for someone to watch? Over the last 5 years, we’ve been blessed to have some of the greatest fighters on earth compete inside our cage and they’ve given us some of the best performances in the history of MMA. Obviously the discussion starts with the first two fights between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez. Without question, they’re two of the best fights I’ve ever had the privilege to watch, and we get to see that trilogy decided on May 17th, live on pay-per-view. This season, we saw an epic world title fight between Pat Curran and Daniel Straus that was just incredible. We’ve now promoted/produced over 114 nationally and internationally televised events, so there are hundreds of incredible fights to choose from, but those three would be a good place to start.

Bellator MMA is different from traditional fight organizations because the contenders for championship title shots are based on tournament results and wins; they are not chosen by committee. Why do you prefer a tournament-style organization over committee decision? From the moment I started this company, I never believed there should be a man or woman in a suit sitting behind a desk deciding who fights who for what and when. That isn’t sports, that’s casting. Combat sports organizations call that casting “matchmaking.” In every other sport on earth, from basketball to hockey to baseball, they each have a season that decides who meets who for the championship. The sporting world gets captivated every year by sporting tournaments like NCAA’s March Madness Bracket, and that’s exactly what we are doing at Bellator. The fights themselves decide who earns the right for the title. Three fights in three months, and whoever comes out as the Tournament winner gets to fight for the title. It’s the way sports work, and we are a real sports organization, not part real sport and part casting. While the success of a fighter in the tournament determines their chance for a title, you added a championship rematch clause to your rules. What goes into deciding a championship re-match? World title fights here at Bellator mean that an existing world champion faced a tournament winner. It was really the maturation of the brand to allow for a rematch when one of those fights pit the best against the best and delivered an incredible result. When two great fighters earn their shot and produce an epic fight, it’s in those instances that we wanted to be able to provide the Champion or the challenger the opportunity for a rematch when one was warranted. In select circumstances, when both fighters won their way through a tournament and the title fight produces a result that I feel like our fans would want to see again, we may schedule that immediate rematch. We are a fighters first organization, but also a fan first organization. We have to walk the line of being a pure sports league while also remembering we are here to give the best fans in the world fights they ultimately want to see. From taking out a second and third mortgage on your home to support the organization, to landing major deals with Viacom and Spike TV, what business principles got you to where you are today? An immense love for the sport, great focus, dedication, a relentless pursuit of the win and an absolute belief that I can make anything happen that I need to make happen. A lot of MMA organizations like Strikeforce and Affliction have come and gone over the years. How has Bellator become such a major competitor in MMA entertainment? By taking a very well constructed and structured business approach to the business of MMA, surrounding myself with the best and the brightest people in this industry, continually striving to evolve and develop as a company and realizing that good is never, never enough. There have been MMA promotions in the past that have seen a meteoric rise in popularity, but as quickly as they rose, they fell. I went into this with

the right business model and with a clear vision of where this company would be in five years, ten years, and beyond. We are in this for the long haul, and the sky is truly the limit for what we will accomplish here. Bellator 111 was quite an exciting night (only Ivanov vs. Hale went to a decision). Do you prefer to see a fight go to the full length of time or do you prefer a night of knock outs and submissions like Saturday? At the end of the day, I’m a fan of MMA and while I love a great knockout or submission, some of the greatest fights I’ve ever had the honor of watching have been 3 or 5 round decisions. It honestly it depends on the fight. Chandler vs. Alvarez II was an incredible example of that, an epic 5 round split decision. So as long as the fight delivers, I’m happy. What do you like about fights in different weight classes? What can you expect from a bantamweight fight vs. a light heavyweight fight and vice versa? Again, it really depends on the fighter. Our Bantamweight Champion Eduardo Dantas is one of the most dangerous, explosive and dynamic finishers in all of MMA. So when I hear people complain that the smaller weight classes don’t finish as much as the heavier fighters, I point them to Dantas, Curran and Chandler, three of the greatest finishers in the sport. Fights boil down to the fighters in the cage. Smaller vs. Bigger doesn’t tell the story, the story gets told in the game. In Bellator’s tournaments, no elbow strikes are allowed in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Do you believe that elbow strikes and cuts, particularly above the eyes, disrupt the rhythm of a fight? It’s not so much a matter of disrupting the rhythm of the fight as it is about keeping our tournament fighters healthy to advance to the next round of the tournament, which is usually 4 weeks after their last tournament fight. Elbows open up cuts. Cuts above the eyes stop fighters (even when they win) from being able to compete often for 60 days. This was a way to keep fighters who win moving forward in our tournaments. We eliminated elbows for that reason. Your twitter bouts with Dana White have gotten a lot of press, but it only seems natural to see fight entertainment organizations have a little back and forth right? My focus has always been building the Bellator brand, our domestic and international ratings and putting on the greatest fights in MMA. I’ve never wasted much time with the classic promoter back and forth. However, in certain instances when our competitor makes comments that warrant a response, I’ve responded and will continue to respond. Sometime’s softballs are thrown over that plate so clean you just have to take a swing. What’s your favorite drink to have while watching a Bellator tournament? Sparkling Water.

Describe your typical work day for Bellator. What does your schedule look like? There isn’t much in the Bellator world that can be described as “typical,” but when I’m not on the road for an event, you’ll find me in our office around 7a.m. catching up on emails from the morning and mapping out the rest of the day. I’m on the phone most of the day dealing big things and small. I review pieces for our show (features, teasers, bumps, institutionals, etc.) and I’ll do interviews, talk to fighters, work with venues and sponsors, talk to new and existing international partners, work on marketing and advertising for upcoming events etc. There are always a thousand things to do and my days fly by so quickly it usually shocks me when 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. rolls around. When I’m lucky, I get to head to the gym after the office for about an hour, then set up shop at home for a few more hours of emails. The good news is that I don’t sleep a lot, so if I can pull 5 or 6 hours a night, I’m good. Then it’s rinse, wash and repeat for the next day. It’s a wild ride, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Bjorn Rebney

bellator.com

Since it’s inception in 1999, bands and performers of every kind have gathered in the heart of the California desert for what has become one of the largest festivals in America. While Coachella has garnered extreme popularity in the past decade, it started as a much smaller festival at Indio’s Empire Polo Club. A crowd of 160,000 people are expected to attend this year, but a mere 10,000 attended the inaugural event in 1999. Beck, Tool, Morrissey and Rage Against the Machine were some of the main headliners of the first festival and the event went very successfully. However, Goldenvoice, the company behind the organization of Coachella, lost $800,000 the first year. This prompted many headliners to agree to delayed compensation and no event was held in 2000 following financial difficulties. In 2001 the organizers tried their hand at the festival once again, reducing the event to one day and moving the event date to April to avoid the intense heat of the summer. Organizers were able to make the event profitable after gathering a few years of momentum and turned the festival into one of the largest music and art festivals in America. Covering two weekends, the event currently draws so much support that tickets sold out within the first three hours of going on sale. This year, more than 150 acts will perform on each of the weekends. Headliners include a highly anticipated reunited Outkast, British rockers Muse, Arcade Fire Lorde, The Replacements, Beck, Neutral Milk Hotel, Queens of the Stone Age, Nas, Calvin Harris, Broken Bells, Motörhead, Haim, Neko Case, MGMT, Girl Talk, Foster the People, Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Ray, Pharrell Williams, and many more.

If you’re heading into Indio this month we’ve got everything you need to know about Coachella Camping. Have an indepth look at Tada! Catering, the team feeding an army of hungry musicians. Also, see how The Do Lab produces the most amazing art pieces that make Coachella a truly unforgettable occasion. Not sure how you’re gonna survive the heat? We’ve got light-weight, trending fashion styles for guys and gals to help you keep your cool.

By Sara Ehlers

Men, you have it easy. In three simple steps I can tell you how to achieve a look that will make you look good, yet still give off the vibe that you didn’t try “too hard” (even if, admittedly, you did). First off we have the basics: basically, the top portion of your outfit. Keep it simple. Wear a graphic tank or a plain t-shirt, maybe a cut-off button down but don’t overdo it. If all else fails, don’t wear a shirt. It’s hot, you’ll be fine. Secondly, shorts are a must. Leave your pants at home for this desert adventure. Jean shorts are offically out. Don’t wear your “jorts.” Wear instead some classic shorts with a nice print. Something slightly bright will work since your top is on the plainer side. As for shoes, some slip ons or sneakers will work. Even flip flops are acceptable in Indio. The key is to look comfy, calm, and collected. Go get em, studly.

t’s true what they say about craigslist; you never really know what you’re gonna get. In the case of Ryan Merchant, he met the guy that would complete the smash-hit electro-duo that is Capital Cities. He and Sebu Simonioan made their way through L.A.’s music industry for two years in jingle writing before even working together as an original project. Inspired by the classical sounds of Beethoven and Komitas and classic rock bands like Pink Floyd, they released an independent EP in 2011 that included the song “Safe and Sound.” To support their EP and new single, the group toured extensively in South America and around the U.S. before creating their debut album “In A Tidal Wave of Mystery.” The album was written, produced and mixed entirely by Simonian and Merchant alone, perfecting the cool combination of electric and acoustic instruments that results in their unmistakable sound. The song “Safe and Sound” has made international impact, going multi-platinum in the U.S., Mexico, and has been certified gold in countries around the world. The accompanying music video to the single is a brilliant mash-up of dance moves and styles from the past 100 years of culture. The video won a Grammy nomination and won the 2013 MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects. Most recently, the group played SXSW and will be making another South American Tour before heading up to Coachella. Catch them on Saturday April 12th and 19th.

ombining the grit of down-home delta blues and the rhythm of hip-hop, ZZ Ward has created a unique, soulful sound all of her own. Somewhere at the intersection of Muddy Waters and Notorious B.I.G., you get the music that’s taken the stunning Oregon native across the continent. ZZ’s made performances on Letterman, Conan, Leno, Kimmel, and her music has been featured on hit shows Pretty Little Liars, Awkward and in promos for ABC’s hit series Nashville. To name a few, she made stops at Sasquatch, Bumbershoot, and Voodoo Music Festival in 2013 and she’s taking her “Last Love” Tour to Coachella. We had the privilege of interviewing ZZ following her appearance at SXSW.

Your music has qualities of blues as well as hip-hop. Where did you first get an interest in both styles of music? I grew up listening to blues because of my parents. My parents moved to Oregon from Pennsylvania and got really into blues artists like Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton and Etta James. I found myself listening to them alongside my parents. Most of the live shows I went to growing up were blues shows. On the hip hop side, I became exposed to hiphop from my older brother. He listened Nas, Jay Z and Outkast. Who would be your top picks for a fantasy hip-hop all-star group? Kendrick Lamar, Biggie Smalls, and Snoop Dogg. You’re known for your signature fedora and have designed your own Broner hat. Do you have any future plans for fashion design? I am working on more hat designs right now because I think that’s something I see a lot of my fans interested in, so I want to make more of my designs available to them. I would love to be involved in more fashion designing in the future though! What’s your dog Muddy Waters’ favorite treat? She likes things that smell really, really bad. She’s also a big fan of pepperoni. If you have one, what is your pre-show ritual? I get together with the band beforehand and talk about what the show is going to be like. I get them hyped up with a couple jokes. I like to make them laugh. Between Motorhead, Skrillex and Muse, Coachella hosts a ton of bands of different genres. What kind of crowd do you expect you’ll have at the festival? I usually draw a lot of different people. People from all different kinds of backgrounds and ages come to my shows because I think my music transcends time. I just hope to have a lot of people who love music at my set. What artists are you most excited to see at Coachella? Outkast and Muse! Any plans for a new album? What’s around the corner for ZZ ward? I just released my third single, “Last Love Song,” and am out on the road with my “Last Love” tour which is taking me all over the country. I’ll be releasing the music video for “Last Love Song” here shortly and I’m super excited about that. I’m also playing some incredible festivals this year and supporting Eric Clapton. It’s a big year!

ehind the entire Coachella Festival are thousands of hungry performers and staff. From top performers to security staff, how could you possibly feed that many people over the course of a multi-day festival covering two weekends? As it turns out, one catering service has become synonymous with Coachella and the entertainment business on the whole. Whether it’s Warped Tour, Coachella, or Stage Coach, you can expect that performers of every kind call for “Mama” by name. Alongside executive chef Michael Goerdel, Shelleylyn Brandler is the rock and roll chick that envisioned Tada! Catering. Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder…when we say she’s catered for everybody in the business, we mean everybody in entertainment business. Whatever concert, game, or awards show you’re at, you can be sure to find a Tada! semi truck-trailer with the signature crown-wearing skull parked close by. “Mama” took some time to talk to us about how it is a punk rocker became the Queen of Catering. Shellelyn’s passion for food and parties started long before she ever had a business in catering. Shelleylyn got her start producing parties for punk and ska bands at Cal Poly with friend Kevin Lyman. After working the college party circuit, she earned her stripes working as a production runner. While her tasks and jobs were never the same on two different days, her job to “make it work” remained a constant. Going from gig to gig, she noticed that bands and entertainers would often draw the short straw when it came to complimentary meals. The food was often poor and meal choices were scarce to non-existent. To make up for the poor catering, she started making meals for bands and word got around that the PA girl had an uncanny knack for cooking. Friends and musicians alike encouraged her to try her hand at catering full time, and she took over catering with Kevin Lyman as he produced one-off shows for bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and No Doubt in the 90’s. Shelleylyn started Tada! Catering in the following years and took an interest in the work of chef Michael Goerdel. Goerdel had a serious resume, working at top restaurants like Wolfgang puck at Spago, Chinois, and Granita. She offered him a spot as chef in her new catering company and he remains there today as Executive Chef.

Coachella presents itself as a uniquely challenging event for Tada! There are hundreds and hundreds of hungry performers with appetites ranging from ultra-strict vegan to voracious carnivores. The team has to be able to provide bean cakes at the same time that someone’s asking for a foot long chilidog with fries. While Shellelyn comes across many different diets and tastes, she’s no stranger when it comes to rolling with the punches. More than anything, she points to grit and dedication when it comes to why Tada! has become so successful. She believes that no matter what, when you offer the best product and service, the demand will follow.

ave you ever wondered who’s behind all of those crazy tents and art pieces at Coachella? For the tenth consecutive year, the LA-based Do Lab will be constructing stages, structures and more for the major music festival. Specializing in interactive elements, event production and creative lighting, the Do Lab are the brilliant team behind the most captivating and downright funky visual elements of events like Boom Fest and Lightning In a Bottle. We at Naluda met with Do Lab co-founder and principal designer Josh Flemming to learn more about how the production team creates and operates. Alongside design partner Heather Shaw, Flemming is one of the leading minds behind the outstanding art of Coachella and future events of the year. After a month of planning and pre-production, their Coachella team will set up for the event in just seven days. Josh and Heather create concepts for Coachella year-round, brainstorming and thinking up what next year’s new angle will be. Six months of sketches, drawings, and designs are reviewed before they select their very best concepts. This year, they have

the opportunity to show off in their own designated section of the Coachella festival. Flemming explains: “We’re back in our own little corner so we’re trying to create a whole different feel for that area. We’re excited; it’s going to be different. It will be very tall, very colorful.” In all, The Do Lab encompasses a lot more than just event production. They make a conscious effort to be as environmentally friendly as possible, using found objects, natural materials, and sustainable resources to make the least environmental impact as possible. Josh’s brother Jesse coordinates the music lineup and artists for the Lab’s own stage at Coachella that features up-and-coming artists every year. Flemming notes: “It seems like every year someone from our lineup makes it onto Coachella’s lineup, so it’s a good opportunity for everybody. We all support one another in that way.” In an effort to: “…become more of a channel for all kinds of artists…one place they can all gather,” Flemming also co-founded the Do Art Foundation. Do Art is a worldwide, non-profit organization working to generate revenue that will sponsor public art and murals as well as donate art and music supplies to local schools. Do Lab and Do Art work as a team to create a supportive, cooperative, and creative space for artists of all kinds to work together. As an extension of that idea, they also put together their own art festival called Lightning In A Bottle. Up-and-coming musicians, performers, and artists of all kinds have the opportunity to gather and express their creative work to hundreds of festivalgoers. See The Do Lab’s work firsthand in Coachella, their Lightning In a Bottle Festival, and the Boom festival in Portugal to see what the lab is up to next.

hether you’re a die-hard fan or an anxious first timer, surviving the campgrounds at Coachella can be very challenging.

This magical festival happens twice a year in April (yes, this is the thing everyone can’t stop tweeting and posting about on Facebook). The time has come, and in t-minus two weeks, you will be one of the chosen ones to enjoy glorious music in one of the most popular musical festivals in the country, or you will be left behind to sulk in your bedroom watching Netflix. The choice is yours. If you’ve scored a ticket to this festival, then you’re one of the lucky ones. And whether you’re a deer in headlights with no idea what to expect, or you’ve gone the last five years and think you know it all: I’m about tell you all you really need to know about camping at Coachella.

The Weather

The CONS:

You are in for a lot of heat, my friend. The weather in Indio ranges from 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit on a good day. One of the hottest Coachella weekends was 106 degrees, so brace yourself for anything. You won’t be sleeping in, the heat will wake you. In the mornings, if you walk outside of your tent and get yourself something to eat at the nearby food trucks, you might catch a nice breeze. After the initial wake-up, it’s actually quite enjoyable weather in the morning. Your Hygiene Want to take a shower? It’s going to be an hour or two wait in line for a 15-minute shower. You need to bring your own toothbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant. If you hit the dollar shelves at Target, you’ll be in good shape with convenient travel sizes of every product you could need. If you wake up early enough, you’ll avoid the masses and you might wait only 10 minutes for a shower. As they say, the early bird gets the worm! Food If you’re camping, the food at the festivals and in the campgrounds can be a bit pricey. It’s wonderful-tasting food, but not the best for your wallet or health. Sandwiches are your best friends. Bring your essentials: chips, beer, and lots of water. You’ll save money and have a full stomach so that you can enjoy your day at the festival. If you get hungry, you can always make your way back to the campsite. Neighbors Everyone’s usually pretty happy-go-lucky at Coachella, but it doesn’t mean that your neighboring tents won’t sometimes get on your nerves. There’s always that one person who sets their phone alarm way too early and presses snooze a hundred times–prepare for that. Also, at night, some tents never want to party to end… and they’ll be bumping music while you’re trying to rest up for the next day. Two words: ear plugs.

Good vibes

The PROS:

Camping at a music festival is like one big party. Everyone’s drinking, the sun is out, and everyone’s just in a good mood. You’ll probably make best friends with everyone in the tents around you. Everyone here thoroughly enjoys music and knows how to have a good time, so you’re in good hands. Nature Whenever you’re at Coachella, there’s a sense of belonging. There’s this lovely feeling of being at the campgrounds and being barefoot on the grass. The sun is shining bright overhead, and there’s so much green everywhere. There’s something very peaceful about Indio. It’s an unforgettable experience to camp at Coachella. Convenience Not only can you bring in your own alcohol and food, but you have a place within walking distance to nap when you get tired (and you will). The campgrounds are quite of a long walk away, but it definitely beats the bus ride back to a hotel. Unforgettable memories The friendships you make at Coachella last forever. Whether you go with best friends or you have a “Coachella Family” that meets up once a year for this special occasion, it’s always a great excuse to get everyone together. Take photos, but still enjoy the moment. These are the memories you’ll be telling your grandchildren about. When you’re telling these stories, you’ll want to say you experienced every amazing second of it. As was written on the infamous Snail that floated around last year’s festival, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Photography: Caitlin Mitchell Stylist: Eric Nicholson (Atelier Management) Grooming: Kristan Serafino for Exclusive Artists Management using Layrite

Studio: Canoe Studios

arco is the third generation of racecar drivers from the famous Andretti Family. From Go-Kart Races in his younger years to becoming the youngest Indycar winner of a major open-wheel racing event in history (at the time), Andretti III has dedicated his life to victory on the track. We ask the speed demon himself what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to train, race, and live like an Indycar fanatic.

Hometown: Nazareth, PA All-time favorite movie: American Gangster Favorite restaurant: Prime 112, Miami Favorite video game: Ferrari classic Song that gets you on the dance floor: None

Racing Suit: Marco Andretti Shirt: Hugo Boss

You come from a family legacy of racing. When did you know that racing was what you wanted to do professionally? I always hoped I would end up a driver, but it became a reality around age 10 when we started winning some races. Did the local police get any kind of notice when you first earned your driver’s license? No, but when I bought my dad’s house and moved back into town they lowered the speed limit on my road. What are your favorite street cars to drive? McLaren. What songs are on your pre-race pump-up playlist? Ice T – “I ain’t new ta this” Driving hundreds of miles an hour to slow into a turn has got to be a major strain of g-force. How do you physically train for races? A lot of running/cardio, core exercises and I need to do yoga because I am the least flexible person out there. For the less savvy, what are some of the major differences/challenges between an oval track and road track? Ovals are extremely high speed with very little room for error; it’s more mental than physical. Road courses require more shifting and braking. They’re bumpy and very physical on your body. Both are pretty different disciplines.

“...Racing was a reality at 10 when we started winning races”

Hat: Gents Co Shirt, Trousers, Socks, Shoes: Hugo Boss Watch: Hublot Cufflinks: Ermenegildo Zenga

After nine seasons and a lifetime on the track, what are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned? To never doubt myself. Confidence is a very important part of what we do, or anything someone does for that matter. You went on vacation with Ludacris and Kevin Hart in the Caribbean in the off-season. How did you become friends with them? How do you know each other? I met Kevin Hart at the Palms in Las Vegas, which was a former sponsor of mine. I met Luda when he came to my rookie Indy 500 in 2006, then again in Miami where we started kicking it. Where else do you like to travel on vacation? I love Miami in the states; I want my old condo back there! But the closest/easiest island getaway for me is pretty much anywhere in the Caribbean. My grandfather also owns a lake property of around 700 acres in the Poconos, which is a one-hour drive north of my house. It’s a good getaway for a racecar driver to disconnect for a few days. What is your drink of choice? Snapple. What is your dog Moodie’s favorite treat? She wants to eat anything Marta and I eat; she waits for us to drop something. How many hours a week do you practice on the track on average? The test time is extremely limited because of cost. It can cost over 75k/day, so we only have about 6 test days per year aside from the race season. You’ve raced at the Long Beach Grand Prix before and you’re gearing up to go again in April. What is the track like? Are there any major challenges in Long Beach? Long Beach ranks #2 on my win list next to the Indy 500 because of my family history there. The major challenge is just simply the competition, although anywhere we go is very competitive. Overall, the track is a pretty normal street course with a lot of bumps and 90-degree corners. Long Beach has great seating for fans and normally has good weather, but I probably just jinxed us. You had the opportunity to test the new Formula1 car in 2006 and 2007. What is it like to test a new car? That must have been quite an honor. Yes, F1 is the cream of the crop in our sport. The biggest thing that surprised me was the braking. The acceleration was intense too, but it’s everything a driver wants!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Long Beach ranks #2 on my win list because of my family history thereâ&#x20AC;?

Jacket, Shirt, Tie, Trousers, Shoes: Hugo Boss Watch: Hublot

How do you maintain your focus for races that last for hours on end? Focus is a huge part of our sport; we can’t afford to lose focus for even a split second. Being physically fit helps the mental game a lot! Dr Pepper/Snapple has sponsored you for over six years. What’s it like to have such a longstanding relationship with a sponsor like that? It means the world to me. It is a very expensive sport and without people like them, we can’t do what we love. They have become family to me. What hobbies do you maintain off of the racetrack? Basketball with friends, tennis and running. I always try to stay as active as possible. What is your favorite thing about Indycar racing as opposed to other kinds of races? Our on-track product is amazing, our risk is very high (especially on the high speed ovals because of the open cockpit and open wheels), the amount of passing, the spec cars make the competition second to none, and I would argue the Verizon IndyCar series is as competitive as Formula1.

“Verizon IndyCar Series is as competitive as Formula1”

Jacket: Dsquared Shirt: Gents Co Jeans: Diesel Hat: Gents Co Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it like to have your grandfather tweet you? That must be an odd experience. His last one was making fun of me tweeting my workouts. I have to tweet them because otherwise I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it, right? What are your racing goals within the coming years and for the future? An Indy 500 victory is very attainable as I have had 6 legitimate shots winning there already. I have led 7 out of 8 tries, and on the 8th I was taken out at the start. Also, an IndyCar title is a huge goal of mine. I was 5th last year, so I need to do 4 better to make that happen. Any last thoughts for Naluda readers before you head back on the track? Come to the races!!!

Where can we follow you?

Shirt: Gents Co Trousers: Shipley & Halmos Watch: Hublot

“...Focus is a huge part of our sport; we can’t afford to lose it for even a split second”

Hat: Gents Co Tank: Calvin Klein Trousers: Hugo Boss Watch: Hublot

Shirt: Gents Co Pants: Carlos Campos Watch: Hublot Sunglasses: Oliver Peoples

Check o

Marta K

rupa Amazing ’s Photosh oot Here

Hat: Gents Co Pants: Carlos Campos Watch: Hublot

thletic. Masculine. Minimal. Clean. Sophisticated. Fashion-forward. Luxurious. Aspirational.

Gents is a men’s lifestyle brand offering the highest quality product with a fashionable and sophisticated design aesthetic. Launched in November 2012 with men’s luxury baseball caps, apparel, accessories, and a custom-built e-commerce web site, Gents provides customers with items of lush, relaxed comfort and personal style. Like most men, Gents CEO and founder Josh Reed always loved to wear baseball caps. He would wear them any chance he could: to the gym, on weekend afternoons, to dinners, to work when it was appropriate and even to red carpet and industry events with a suit or tuxedo. “Baseball caps are a must-have for a man’s wardrobe, but lately seem to be flat brimmed or with a sports team logo. Gents aims to fill this niche by providing luxury, curved brim caps that one can custom build to fit their personal style and wear in a more upscale manor. Made of the finest fabrications, these caps exude a minimal and clean aesthetic that is still masculine and fashion forward,”founder Josh Reed. Starting with a base fitted silhouette, anyone can stylize their very own cap. Choose from a range of colors from neutrals, including black, navy and white to bolder colors such as royal blue and maroon. After selecting the base color, cap enthusiasts can select one of 24 pre-made graphics in a variety of embroidery colors and monogram as well. Each luxury cap comes with the brand’s signature royal purple detailing, including signature taping and a stretch-fit band inside that provides the ultimate in comfort and the perfect fit along with the brand’s vertical stripes as the rear logo. Turnaround time for custom caps is about 7-10 days and styles are available in S, M and L sizes. Prices start at $48.50 for the base collection and customization and run through $58 for a custom built monogrammed cap. Visit gentsco.com today to create your very own stylized cap or shop apparel.

By Kurt Tellez

n 1975 a man named Chris Pook would put Long Beach onto the radar of the racing world with a single Formula 5000 race. What started as a simple idea would eventually propel the racing fan into the promoter of the largest street race in North America. While he was able to bring F1 races to the Grand Prix by 1976, Pook desperately needed a major race victory to get the attention of the racing community and the nation at large. Pennsylvania native Mario Andretti finally granted his wish just two years after the race’s inception. Andretti maneuvered his Lotus 78 through a first-lap multicar collision and edged out Jody Scheckter and Niki Lauda for the victory. Mario Andretti had become the first American to win an F1 race in a U.S. Grand Prix and solidified the Long Beach Grand Prix’s status as a major F1 phenomenon. Facing the increasing costs of F1 racing, sanctions, and shipping charges, Pook was approached by Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) and signed for Champ Cars to make their Long Beach Debut in 1984. Mario Andretti came to the rescue of the track once again, winning the CART IndyCar/Champ Car races in 1984 and 1985. Since then, the famous track has seen historical victories like Mario’s son Michael taking the checkers twice, American Al Unser Jr. winning the race four years in a row, and a 1-2-3 Brazilian Finish line in 2001.

The track is 1.968 miles long and carved out of the city streets of Long Beach surrounding the Convention Center, noted for its last section of course that features a hairpin turn and a curved straightaway that runs along Shoreline Drive. Takuma Sato mastered the course last year, becoming the first Japanese driver in history to win an IndyCar race. However, former Renault 3.5 champion Mikhail Aleshin of Schmidt Perterson Motorsports is ranked #1 in the Verizon IndyCar Series and he’s expected to give a stellar performance on the raceway. Australia’s Will Power has won the Grand Prix twice in 2008 and 2012 and he will be looking to take the Grand Prix for a third time in six years. The Team Penske veteran earned three poles in 2013, and his experience is a force to be reckoned with. Ranked at #2 is the hungriest of all IndyCar drivers aiming to be the third generation Andretti in the winner’s circle of the Grand Prix. Marco Andretti has a consistently solid track record, winning two pole starts in 2013 as well as recording 6 top 5 and 15 top 10 finishes for the year.

Convention Center The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach encompasses many events and activities other than just the races. For instance, the Lifestyle Expo is truly a one of a kind experience with more than 150 displays over 270,000 square feet featuring the latest in automotive, home, and recreation products and services. The Green Power Prix-View exhibit looks into the future of alternative energy vehicles and renewable energy resources that will cover 30,000 square feet of the convention center space within the Lifestyle Expo. Drop your kids off for a while at the Family Fun Zone that offers rock-climbing walls, video games, racing simulators and action sports demonstrations to make for an entertaining day all around.

The dining options for Downtown Long Beach are simply too numerous to list. Visit Boston’s Pizza on 90 Aquarium Way for great pizzas, wings and more while you let your ears have a rest from the roaring engines. Try some of Forest’s favorites at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co on 87 Aquarium Way if you’re in the mood for great Cajun-style seafood. CPK, Islands, Hooters, and many other great places to eat are also within a very short distance from the event.

If you’re up for more action and are looking for the nightlife of downtown, make a short walk through downtown to Mai Tai Bar on 97 Aquarium Way, or stop in for an exciting show at Sgt. Pepper’s Dueling piano bar. KDB is another great option for a night out, offering bowling, arcade games, your favorite sports on TV and two full bars.

Dress for warm weather! Light clothes, a pair of comfortable walking shoes and a hat will make your racing day a much more comfortable experience. Be sure to bring lots of sunscreen to protect yourself from the SoCal sun and a lot of water to stay hydrated (especially if you’re picking up margaritas at lunch).

The Celebrity Pro Race makes the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach truly unique. Catch the likes of actor Adrien Brody (The Pianist, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Midnight In Paris) Eric Braeden (“The Young and the Restless”) Corbin Bleau (“High School Musical,” “Dancing With the Stars”) and Carmelita Jeter (Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist) as they battle it out for first place!

Friday, April 11 IndyCar Practice PRO/Celebrity Race Practice+qualifying Motegi Super Drift Challenge Practice+qualifying

Saturday April 12 Pro/Celebrity Race @12:00 p.m. IndyCar Qualifying Pirelli World World Challenge Qualifying Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Finals

Sunday April 13 Indy Lights Race Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks Race Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach IndyCar Race Formula Drift Demonstration Pirelli World Challenge Race

uys! There are so many fun ways you can stay fit while having a super fun time with your girlfriend or date. If you want to impress your date, then set yourself apart from the boring guys by planning fun, healthy activities. Whether you already have a partner, or perhaps you recently found a “Spring Fling” that you wanna keep around for Summer, it’s important to NOT become that boring, “sit-on-your-butt / dinner-&-movie only” guy. Instead, get creative, stay active and consider these other options that will keep you and your date in shape while having a blast!

1. Smash ball - Smash ball is a super fun activity. Did

you know that an hour playing smash-ball burns between 400 - 500 calories for men and women weighing between 120 and 190 lbs? Smash-ball is a swift game requiring quick moves, eye-hand coordination and agility. It’s so much fun that the two of you won’t even realize you are getting a workout together. Plan a date at the beach or a park. Pack a healthy picnic lunch and bring along your smash-ball game. See how many return hits the two of you can smash together and celebrate your wins. This is one of my all-time favorite beach date activities. It is truly good, clean, outdoor fun.

At just about every lake or ocean where there is sunny weather, you will find an SUP sport rental facility. SUP is rapidly gaining popularity among people of all sizes and ages. Why? Because while it is a wonderful coreconditioning activity, SUP truly does not require a whole lot of coordination. For less coordinated individuals, there are larger, more sturdy boards (and you paddle while on your knees). For those who want to really challenge their core and balancing ability, their are more “squirrelly” boards available. Either way, just about anyone can SUP. Kneeling or standing, it’s super fun and a great workout. Take your date on an SUP water exploration. Currently along our Southern California coastline, it is not uncommon to encounter a couple of dolphins, stingrays, seals or a group of gold garibaldi in the waters below. Just last week I was fortunate to come across two migrating gray whales while on my SUP board. It was an experience of a lifetime! Rent a couple of boards and paddles and take your date exploring upon the water. When you’re finished, paddle to shore and rest on a warm, romantic, sandy beach. Next, head to your favorite sushi bar to share small bites of healthy sashimi. Now that’s an awesome date!

One of the most romantic dates I’ve ever experienced called for a hat, shorts and hiking shoes. Just about every county in the country offers trailheads and nature parks. A perfect afternoon could include taking your date to a local, organic farmers market or healthy juice bar for breakfast. Afterward, put on your hiking shoes and hit the hills! Hiking for an hour can burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories depending on your bodyweight. I personally enjoy the scenic hiking trails that run between Laguna Beach and Newport Coast in Southern California. In Northern California, the many trails that run beneath the tree-line upon Mount Tamalpais (just over the Golden Gate Bridge) are absolutely stunning! Wherever you live, there are hiking trails nearby. Be sure to bring plenty of water for both you and your date. And if your chivalrous side encourages you to carry the water in a backpack, you will burn even more calories! Enjoy your romantic hike, look for wildlife and don’t forget to sneak in a romantic kiss or two along the way.

4. LOVE -15. Play tennis! Tennis is a great game for couples whether you’re playing one-on-one or mixed doubles. In most towns, there are plenty of public tennis courts. Just like smash-ball, tennis burns hundreds of calories and requires agility, reflexes and strong hand/ eye coordination. Whether you and your date casually rally back and forth or choose to play a competitive set/match, you both will be on your toes and on your game!

5. Hit the Lanes. Is it too cold outside to go to the beach, hike on a mountain or play outdoors? Another fun date idea is to go bowling. (Yes, bowling). There are public bowling alleys all over this country and if you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to give bowling a chance! You and your date will love it! Reserve your own private lane and have some fun together. Get competitive with each other and with yourself as you challenge your highest scores game after game. In terms of staying fit, the amount of calories burned bowling is not insignificant. According to the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise journal, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, if you weigh roughly 130 pounds, then you burn 177 calories per hour bowling. If you weigh roughly 155 pounds, you burn 211 calories per hour. If you weigh roughly 180 pounds, you burn 245 calories per hour. Any active movement (even bowling) burns calories, promotes weight loss, and can be a super fun date activity.

Finally, if your date is not in the mood for a sporty/sweaty date activity, it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes we gals want to look pretty and prefer to get dolled-up for a night on the town. If that’s the case, there is still a better option over the boring dinner and a movie date. That option is dinner and dancing! We gals love to kick up our heels and it would be awesome if you joined us from time to time! Find a fun venue with live music and a dance floor. Treat her to a lovely dinner then take her dancing! Dancing can be so fun that you won’t even realize what a great calorie burning workout the two of you are getting. When planning this date, be sure to find out what kind of music she likes. The wrong music can be a deal breaker for sure! And if you don’t dance, that’s ok. Try anyway! You might discover that it’s a lot of fun and an excellent cardio workout. The bottom line is this: While your girl may enjoy being wined & dined from time to time, but she also knows that bikini season is just around the corner. Of course, we all need to eat, and dining-out or cooking-in can be loads of fun, but don’t stop there. Your gal wants to feel like you put some thought, effort and energy in your date planning. She wants to feel good not only about you, but about herself. So the next time you want to impress your date, try to NOT be that boring dinnerand-a-movie only guy. Step up to the plate and show the one you love that you care about her on every level, inside and out. Get creative and have fun together while staying in shape and having fun.

Go get ‘em Tiger!

Dara Sandrini Vitamin “D” Fitness www.facebook.com/vitamindfitness “Make it a great day!”

By JĂŠan-Edward Deme

o you find yourself heading to the fridge whenever you are bored, hurt, angry or feeling alone? You may think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing wrong with a little snack right? Wrong.

Emotional eating and compulsive overeating are deemed as food addiction, and sometimes even classified as a disorder. This may very well be the reason those last 5 pounds keep haunting you in your battle to fight the bulge. According to Jakubczak, coordinator of nutrition services at the University of Maryland, 75% of overeating is caused by human emotion. Emotional eating is the reason you may eat a whole bucket of ice cream without even realizing, trying to fill a void created by some emotion you cannot seem to control. The bottom line is that food cannot fix whatever is going on in your life. When that bag of chips or bottle of wine is finished, you will still have all the same problems. When guilt sets in about what you just ate on emotional impulse, you are dealing with an even bigger problem. This is a cycle that needs to be reversed if you do indeed want to get rid of that muffin top.

get rid of these feelings. Manage stress by taking part in activities like exercising, meditation or even something as simple as picking up the phone and calling a friend. Talk to someone about your problems and don’t bury them in the bottom of a bag of Lay’s. Boredom This is an even more common reason people overeat without realizing. Many people head to the kitchen when there is nothing on T.V. or they are home alone. Are you guilty of this? Solution–Find a hobby. Discover something you love and develop the habit of doing what you love instead of raiding the kitchen whenever boredom strikes. Old habits die hard

The difference between real hunger and emotional hunger is that you will only feel hunger pangs when you go a considerable amount of time without food. When you then feed yourself, you are more conscious of what you are doing and you will not overeat because your body will tell you that it is full. However, when it is emotional hunger, you do not necessarily need the food. Many times you feed yourself subconsciously, so your body does not even realize that you are giving it food it did not ask you for. Before you know it, that whole pizza has disappeared. When you do this, you are programming your body to want chocolate, ice cream or some other unhealthy choice whenever your emotions are on the fritz. This newly developed habit will put more food, more sugars, and more energy into the body than it needs. All that food is automatically stored as fat cells and that’s how you end up with extra baggage that I’m sure you are tired of. The first step to dealing with emotional eating is to come to the realization that you are doing it and you have to recognize what triggers your impulsive behavior.

Did you get rewarded with food when you did something good as a child? Did you get sweets from grandma when you were feeling down? Did you sit and bawl over a pint of ice cream when you were in college and got a little home sick? Do you reward yourself with more food than you need when something goes right in your life? Do you “reward” yourself with cake or cookies when you had a bad day or a breakup? Emotional eating may have a lot to do with habits that were instilled into your brain when you were growing up. Break these habits by finding new ways to reward yourself or by controlling the way you reward yourself. Reward yourself with a new book, new shoes or new clothes to celebrate your weight loss. Clock Watching Are you hardwired to eat lunch as soon as the clock hits 12? Do you go rummaging through the fridge just because it’s your typical dinnertime? Do you depend on the clock to tell you that you should be hungry?

Stress

Many of us don’t realize that this is making eating a habit and if we really check ourselves when the clock says it’s mealtime, we’ll realize that more often than not we are not actually hungry. We eat because we feel like we are supposed to, like “normal” people do.

When feeling stress or tension, do you automatically turn to food to make you feel better? This is a common sign of overeating. Most emotional eaters are stressed out and depressed, but there are many other things you can do to help

To overcome this problem, do not watch the clock. Eat only when you are hungry and if you are feeling a bit hungry between meals, snack healthily. Have an apple or a salad instead of heading straight for the phone to order pizza.

Here are 6 symptoms and solutions you can use to battle the urge.

Celebrations Too many of us are guilty of eating too much at special events like Christmas and Thanksgiving as justification because it’s just one night right? In reality, celebrations like Christmas take place over several nights and you may be invited to many dinners on the same day. Many of us will clean every dinner plate we get in that same day. In all honesty, we may feel obligated to eat for an easy excuse to go with the crowd. It helps to remember that these get-togethers aren’t about the food; it’s about enjoying the company of the people you get together with (otherwise, it would be called a buffet). Curb this habit by being the “odd one out” and opting out of the food when it is offered. Bring your out snack if necessary but remember, you are the one who can battle your bulge. Insecurity Are you unhappy when you look in the mirror? Do you find it hard to accept yourself and so you seek security in food? In most cases, people who are unhappy with their weight tend to be the ones who are emotional eaters. If you are overweight, stuffing yourself with calories will not take the extra pounds off. If you are unhappy with your weight, you can do something about it instead of turning to food. Take control of your life, your feelings and your weight. Take steps towards feeling satisfied when you look in the mirror. Put down the snacks and pick up a pair of sneakers. Swap all the sweets for fruits and vegetables. Most of all, never let the words of others control you.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you hide snacks in your room to eat in “comfort” when you are alone? • Do you feel like you are incapable of controlling when and how much you eat? • Do you feel disgusted or disappointed with yourself after you’re done eating? • Do you eat to fill a void that your emotions create? • Do you eat and eat and still never really feel full? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you have joined the many who have struggled with emotional eating. It’s time to be serious about your weight loss. Avoid temptation; stop depriving yourself of food in the name of dieting. Exercise, and only eat when you are truly hungry. Be in tune with your body and listen to it. Stop feeding it things it neither wants nor needs.

J’ean-Edward Demery is a strength coach, life coach, fitness writer, and owner of The Alive Experience in Sylmar, California. J’ean has published articles in popular fitness magazines and websites. He has coached and helped numerous clients including law enforcement, business professionals & general fitness enthusiasts. See more at: thealivexperienceonline.com

he Audi R8 Spyder is nothing if not unique to its core. It is continental (as in European) to the bone, multi-cultural, and multipurpose. Audi’s R8 series, which originated in coupe form in 2006, is an awesome German design built on top of an already awesome Italian platform – the Lamborghini Gallardo. While the coupe version is easily one of the most exhilarating automobiles presently on the road, the R8 V10 Spyder is every bit the hellcat – albeit, one with a haircut.

By Todd Spear

The Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet and the R8 V10 Spyder carry on one of motoring’s greatest rivalries, though this one does not happen on the racetrack. The car industry’s most notorious rivalry exists between cousins Ferdinand Piech and Wolfgang Porsche, who are both grandsons of automotive industry icon, Ferdinand Porsche. Piech, for years the top dog at Volkswagen (and thus Audi), had a personal hand in the development of the Audi R8 (and the Gallardo beforehand) in an apparent effort to bring to life the ultimate “911 killer.”

So, to what extent does the R8 cut into the 911’s market share? Surely no one sees the 911 backsliding from prominence, but it sure is fun to watch Audi introduce some serious neighborly competition. Here’s what makes the Audi R8 V10, in particular, such a threatening thing of beauty. Its Own Machine The Audi R8 V10 Spyder embodies an appreciable balance of the best aspects of Italian performance design along with German engineering savvy. The result is that the Spyder is one of the few soft tops on the road that is a truly distinct vehicle, rather than merely a decapitated coupe. Visually, the differences between the R8 coupe and Spyder extend well beyond the obvious lack of a hardtop. Gone from the Spyder are the R8’s most distinctive features, its carbon fiber “sideblades” which prominently disrupt the otherwise silky smooth side profile. The coupe’s sideblades add needed weight to the vehicle; nevertheless, even without sideblades, the Spyder weighs 176 pounds more than the coupe version. The R8 V10 Spyder further distinguishes itself from the coupe with eye-catching aluminum engine vent cover details that enhance the rear mid-engine design of the car. That fact that the engine is close to the back of the car is not immediately apparent in the Spyder, so the vent covers add an element of visual intrigue and make it more apparent that “hey, the motor’s in the back.” All 2014 R8s benefit from latest-generation aluminum body panels, which according to Audi, weigh 40-percent less than comparable steel structures while preserving the same level of structural rigidity as steel. It’s What’s Inside that Counts The R8 V10 employs a 5.2-liter Gallardo-derived ten-cylinder, 525-horsepower engine. The engine pairs with an all-new seven-speed dual-clutch S Tronic gearbox and an all-wheel drive system (known as quattro). The engine design includes Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) to maximize output and improve fuel efficiency. Included launch control propels the Spyder from zero to sixty in just 3.6-seconds (slightly behind its quicker cousin, the 911 Turbo S Cabriolet which will do it in 3.3-seconds). The Spyder’s speed tops out at 196 miles per hour (virtually neck-and-neck with the Turbo S Cabriolet’s 195-mph top speed, though that is likely a conservative manufacturer’s estimate). The Spyder drives with peerless confidence and handles like a dream. Front and rear double wishbone suspension makes for a comfortable ride with impressive control, while curiouslooking wave-cut brake rotors have no trouble bringing the R8 V10 Spyder to a gentle stop.

Specifications of the Audi R8 V10 Spyder at a glance: • 5.2-liter ten-cylinder engine • Seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission • All-wheel drive • 525 horsepower • 0 to 60: 3.6-seconds • Top Speed: 196 mph • Fuel Economy: 13/22 mpg city/highway • Price (MSRP): $176,750

A Sporting Interior One thing that many drivers have commented in reference to the R8 V10 Spyder is its decidedly sporty interior design. Audi’s German-design bloodlines feature most prominently inside the cockpit of the Spyder, which is minimalistic. Despite its supple Nappa leathers, Bang & Olufsen sound system, satellite navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and LCD infotainment display, there’s really not much else to the interior. The Spyder also loses 2 inches of legroom over the coupe, so drivers over six feet will have to recline the seats substantially to be able to put the top up. The interior of the Spyder lets in plenty of engine noise thanks to reduced sound dampening in the latest R8 generation in an effort to reduce curb weight. That update is a welcomed one, as the V10 engine sounds deep and really belts out a growl when downshifting. Road noise, on the other hand, is thankfully mitigated by the acoustic soft top. Though minimal, the inside of the Spyder is nicely laid out and well crafted, leaving little reason for supercar buyers to complain. The bottom line? The Audi R8 V10 Spyder carves out its own niche in the sub-$200,000 supercar bracket. It’s as striking, as inspired, and as drool-worthy as its coupe counterpart, but it truly is a machine unto itself. Is it the fastest thing at its price? Nope. Is it the most identifiable? Nope. Those titles easily go to Porsche’s celebrated 911. Though that’s not likely to change, Audi R8 V10 owners need not worry. The R8 is a rarer-seen beast than the 911, and as such, it turns more heads. And with its links to Lamborghini, the Spyder is rightly more exotic than anything else coming out of Germany right now. That makes the R8 V10 Spyder a fascinating choice for car enthusiasts with an eye for German practicality and Italian style. For supercar lovers, there are many angles from which to appreciate the Spyder. From the sleekness of its looks to the bassy grunt of its exhaust, the Spyder is an innovative original that holds its own amid similarly priced Aston Martins, BMWs, Jaguars, and yes, even Porsches.