Get a life, get a hog!
Every year Americas spend billions on life coaches, self-improvement courses, plastic surgery and botox. Harley Davidson offers an affordable alternative… as their TV ad explains: Read more…
Mama I want a Marcos
You know what happens. You go online to do some research, inevitably end up on YouTube and loose track of time as videos of fast bikes and supercars jump right into your screen. Like the TopGear video of Richard Hammond raving about the Marcos TSO GT2.
“Marcos” – sounds like a Portuguese name but it ain’t. As Wikipedia explains, the name is a combination of founders Jem MARsh and Frank COStin who set up shop in Luton, England in 1959. The company has new owners and again makes great cars.
Look closely at the video: 1) listen to the sound of that 6 liter (366 cu in) V8 engine; 2) look at the great interior; 3) have you ever seen a sober grown man having more fun?! Read more…
Beautiful naked Czech
You get big and you get beautiful. And then there’s beautifully big that is also big on beauty. Think Yamaha VMax, Ducati Diavel, Harley Davidson XR1200X, Suzuki B-King, MV Agusta Brutale RR, Travertson V-Rex, and, of course, the Truimph Rocket III with it’s massive three-cylinder 2294cc (140 cu in) thumping engine.
But now there is a naked Czech that is even bigger: the FGR Midalu 2500 V6. That last bit explains the BIG part of the FGR: 2442cc (149 cu in) housing 6 cylinders and huge set of lungs to pump enough air down the throats to spit out 240 wild horses. Read more…
California revisited
Took the Greyhound all the way from my hideout in Florida east-west across the United States and then north-south back some time ago. It was a trip to discover small town America. The real United States. It left me with a lifetime of great memories.
Skipped most of the cities, giving the noise and smog of places like Huston and Los Angeles a wide berth. San Francisco is different, though. It is unlike any other big city in the world. Big mentality, big attitude, but with friendly folksie people. At the Ferry Building Marketplace I drowned some oysters and dungeness crab properly with ample amounts of local Pinot Gris. The latter was not to my liking. Tried the local Marsanne. Frankly, I am still to acquire a palate for California wines. In the meantime, I gladly keep on practicing the taste buds. Read more…
Finally earth is hotting up
After a rather coolish season, earth is finally hotting up again. Nothing to do with the temperature. We’re talking about exciting human happenings. And therefor lots of names.
> Great American Le Mans Series racing: Patrón Highcroft Racing team David Brabham and Simon Pagenaud pipped the Aston Martin Racing team Harold Primat and Adrian Fernandez to the post by a breathtaking 0.353 seconds at Long Beach in a race that was run at a hot pace throughout.
> Spectacular Formula One racing: Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Nico Rossberg – frankly, all the drivers in the F1 circus performed well in the wet but wonderful Chinese Grand Prix. Read more…
I don’t want to know
When the Ferrari F1 team radioed Fernando Alonso during the last laps of the Australian Grand Prix that Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber were catching up fast with him, Alonso replied, “I don’t want to know!” It will probably go down as one of the most classic responses ever by a racing driver. It was, however, not a cry of desperation by the two-time Formula One champion; rather, it was testament of his absolute concentration on the track. Here was an example of a master at his craft. After all, Fernando Alonso is considered by many to be, pound-for-pound, the best F1 driver on the track today.
Alonso drove like a champion and although he did not win he did manage to stay ahead of the charging McLaren Mercedes and Red Bull Renault, coming in fourth after Button (McLaren), Kubica (Renault) and Ferrari team mate Massa. Read more…
The new Ferraris
Simply awesome. The two new Ferrari models look like a million bucks just standing still. The Ferrari 458 Italia, which replaces the equally awesome F430, has already received rave reviews. It’s mid-mounted 4.5 litre V8 pumps out 562bhp and 398lb ft of torque, hurling this beauty from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds on it’s way through a seven-speed dual-transmission gearbox up to its 202mph top speed. And it is absolutely beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful Ferrari yet. That is a big claim considering Ferrari’s illustrious history
The new Ferrari 599 GTO is the road-going version of the mighty track-only 599XX. Read more…
How to lose your heart to a beauty in 3 seconds
Half the world’s population now live in cities – in the United States it is 80%. You don’t need to be a scientist to work out the transport problems. Road vehicles often travel at slower than walking pace, less than 5mph, in city centers. Development in public transport will obviously help to address the problem. But don’t expect it to happen soon because the government gave the money to the banks (probably the reason why Switzerland has the world’s best public transport system).
Oddly, it is in the slow-moving city transport mazes that you’ll also find the world’s fastest cars. I’m a avid proponent of advanced public transport systems. But, hey, I’m just a man and when I walk past a beauty my heart skips a beat and I can’t help myself taking a second look. Now, add these mouth-drooling figures to that smooth skin and you might just drop your beer too: 562bhp, 0-60 in just over 3 seconds, 202mph. That’s the Ferrari 458 Italia. Read more…
Beautifully made TV commercial
Everything else is History – the Renault Mégane TV commercial is a beautifully made ad. The “Back to the Future” concept uses modern TV editing tools marvelously to create a sense of comparison from the old to the new era of motorcars, excellently bringing across the design of the new Renault Mégane Coupe. Read more…
TTXGP : racing with electric motorcycles
Electric cars were introduced in 1896 and by the end of the century almost 50% of motorcars worldwide were electric. The first official land-speed record was set by an electric car: outside Paris on December 18th, 1898 Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat (the “Electric Count”) drove the electric Jeantaud automobile to a speed of 39.2mph (62.8 kph). Yet, by 1905 80% of cars were petrol driven and by 1920 the era of the electric car was almost over. But not quite.
Introducing the TTXGP, racing with all-electric motorcycles. At the 2009 Isle of Man TT Team Agni reached 102mph, with 16 other teams close behind. And now the race is on to continue development. To their credit, the FIM also created a series for electric motorcycle racing in 2010. Read more…
