Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Friday, December 28th, 2007
Women hoping to attract male attention should get behind the wheel of a classic convertible, and be able to drive it well, according to a survey from evecars.com.
The women’s car website polled a cross-section of men to discover which cars they’d be most impressed to see a woman driving. The winner was the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster, a classic model built from 1955 to 1963, and made famous by Grace Kelly who drove the car in the film High Society.
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Wednesday, December 19th, 2007
The Earl of March has today (Wednesday 19 December) confirmed the theme of the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed, which is ‘Hawthorn to Hamilton – Britain’s Love Affair with World Motor Sport’. Britain has always played a key role in the global motor racing industry, forging successful relationships with the rest of the motor sport world. From Mike Hawthorn – who used a Ferrari to become Britain’s first Formula 1 World Champion fifty years ago in 1958 – to current F1 star Lewis Hamilton, driving a British engineered car with German power, British drivers and engineers have utilised global resources to achieve success. The 2008 Festival honours these winning combinations.
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Tuesday, December 18th, 2007
As millions of people prepare to drive home for Christmas this Friday, car care specialist, Comma, is urging people to carry a high visibility vest in their car as one of the busiest days of the year for Britain’s breakdown services coincides with the shortest daylight hours of the year.
Earlier this year, Comma highlighted the dangers of not being seen clearly by the side of the road when it launched its www.safeandseen.co.uk campaign, designed to lobby for a new law, making it mandatory for every motorist to carry a hi-vis vest in their vehicle. Some 250 people are killed or seriously injured each year on the hard shoulder of the UK’s motorways alone.
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Thursday, December 6th, 2007
Part of the Racing Collection 2008, MOMO has added limited edition FIA approved red and blue suede variations of its classic-styled Mod. 78 steering wheel to its racing line-up, to offer teams a greater opportunity to get to grips with its most popular racing wheel.
Already available in black suede or leather, the 78 Model is designed for GT and Touring use and the aluminium based wheel is available in both 330mm diameter – featuring a 29mm x 23mm grip section – or 350mm diameter with a 30mm x 24mm grip section, and is priced at £108.80 subject to VAT.
MOMO’s Racing Collection 2008, as well as the existing range of motorsport products, are available to competitors from appointed stockists, whilst motorsport teams and those with bespoke requirements are invited to contact MOMO UK on 01268 764411 for details of direct availability, or visit www.momo-uk.com to view the complete line-up.
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Wednesday, December 5th, 2007
THE BROOKLANDS MOTORING FESTIVAL 2008, organised by Brooklands Museum and Mercedes-Benz World, will feature a unique competition combining a Concours d’Elegance with driving tests - the “Brooklands Double Twelve”.
The competition element of the two-day event planned for 28 and 29 June 2008 will borrow its name from the historic Brooklands Double Twelve meetings organised by the Junior Car Club (JCC) from 1929, but will take for its inspiration rallies organised by the JCC and the Royal Automobile Club in the late 1930s. In these events, the elegance of the competing car (and even of its crew) was often rated as being as important as the skill shown by the drivers in tricky manoeuvres.
In the new 2008 event, competitors will, over the two days, take part in a series of driving tests using many of the test layouts used in the 1939 JCC Rally at Brooklands, and have their vehicles judged against the exacting criteria of a Concours d’Elegance. The tests will take place in such thrilling and evocative environments as the Members’ Banking and the notorious Test Hill of the original circuit, as well as on the modern handling circuits at Mercedes-Benz World. Marks awarded in the two disciplines will be added to give an overall score, ensuring that the class and overall winners will be selected from the best drivers using the best-kept vehicles.
Following the precedent set by the hugely successful Brooklands Centenary Festival of June 2007, there will be cars and motorcycles of the Brooklands era, but there will also be classes for classic and other special vehicles from more modern times, so that spectators will have the unique opportunity to see vehicles from all decades of the last 100 years competing for prestigious Brooklands Double Twelve trophies.
In addition, there will be spectacular displays from the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows Display Team, Formula One, Formula 3 and other modern vehicles bringing the thrills right up to the present-day.
Director of Brooklands Museum Allan Winn says: “This unique event takes the traditional Concours d’Elegance to a different level. Beauty, preparation and condition will be important, but so equally will be performance and driving skill. It is that combination of two disciplines which will make the event exciting for competitors and spectators alike, and pay true homage to the heritage of Brooklands as ‘The Ascot of Motor Racing’. We hope that everybody will enter into that spirit by dressing to the appropriate period as well.”
Peter O’Halloran, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz World commented: “Finally we will have a world class concours event in the UK which can go on to rival the best in the world.”
For enquiries about The Brooklands Motoring Festival 2008 - featuring The Double Twelve, Call 0870 400 4000.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2007
Having recently grabbed Europe’s top gong in the in-car, audio-visual stakes - In-Car A/V Head Unit of the Year* - Clarion is showing no signs of let-up in the development of cutting edge in-car entertainment, with the launch of its intuitive VRX578RUSB multi-media masterpiece.
Featuring DVD R/DVD RW, CD R/CD RW, MP3, WMA and AAC file playback, as well as USB and optional iPod control, the new VRX578RUSB is the easy-to-use answer for getting the most out of multi-media in-car.
A fully motorised 7” touch panel control glides effortlessly upon command from the elegant single DIN housing. Once open, a sensibly styled ergonomic control panel, makes speedy navigation of the range of audio and multimedia functions on offer a breeze, whilst Bluetooth connectivity makes it safer than ever to stream voice calls via a mobile phone on the move.
The VRX578RUSB’s hideaway USB terminal allows for the link-up of portable MP3 players and subsequent access to 255 folders, each supporting 15,000 tracks, whether they’re MP3, WMA or the iTunes-friendly AAC files.
Equipped with the industry’s latest method of video compression, “DivX”, the VRX578RUSB is more than capable when it comes to video playback.
Demonstrating Clarion’s ongoing commitment to providing the most user friendly environment for in-car enjoyment, the VRX578RUSB utilises 2-Zone technology to keep all passenages entertained, for example, whilst front seated passsenges enjoy audio, those located in the rear of the vehicle may enjoy either video, DVD or Television, via means of additional add-on head rest or overhead monitor/s.
To ensure the VRX578RUSB is also a serious player in the sound stakes, the new multi-media stunner boasts a two-band parametric equalizer, Z-Enhancer Plus sound customisation, Magna-Bass EX dynamic base enhancement - including separate Subwoofer volume control - and 4 x 50 watt MOS-FET amplification. A 24-bit D/A Converter delivers brilliant audio resolution and clarity along with a built-in High-pass and Low-pass filters to match the audio signal to each channel, creating superior acoustics in the subwoofer, front and rear speakers.
The VRX578RUSB is available via Clarion appointed dealers across the UK, with a typical selling price of £499.00 – or £449.00 for members purchasing through Club Clarion - and for more information on your nearest stockist, as well as full details on the multimedia masterpiece, call Clarion (GB) Ltd., on 01793 870400, or visit www.clarion.co.uk, or www.clubclarion.co.uk.
For further information, call Clarion (GB) Ltd., on 01793 870400, or visit www.clarion.co.uk.
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Friday, November 23rd, 2007
Even snow failed to stop buyers flooding to Buxton this week (November 20/21) – they came from as far afield as Malaysia, California and South Africa for H&H’s final sale of the year. And what a cracking auction they attended, with new homes being found for some 425 items of automobilia, 30 bicycles and motorcycles and 80 collectors’ cars, the combined value of which was c.£1.5million – a house record for an H&H Buxton sale. This put the seal on another record year for this burgeoning auction house.
Prancing horses
A veritable stable of Ferraris was on offer, the star of which was arguably the 1973 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Complete with the registration 365GT, it changed hands for £148,500. The time warp 1972 Dino 246 GT that had covered just 20,400 from new was eventually knocked down for £83,600.
The prices of AC Cobras have reached stratospheric levels in recent years and those of Aces have also been moving up steadily. Even so, the £126,500 achieved for the bright red 1957 Bristol-engined Ace was mighty impressive and well above its top estimate.
Classic Aston Martins have long since been on the rise too and, despite needing a complete repaint, the 1961 Series II DB4 in the sale was knocked down for £64,900. The stunning red 1970 Maserati Ghibli SS emanated from the same superb private collection as the Daytona. Better than new, it fetched way over estimate at £53,900.
Exceptional interest
The c.1917 Hispano-Suiza 8/10CV T24 was one of a quartet of lots previously on show in a Danish museum. One of the Spanish built examples, the pretty little Runabout caused great interest – finally selling for £34,100. Entries that prompted an exceptional number of commission and telephone bids were the 1935 Riley 12/4 Falcon Special that was made for and has competed in numerous VSCC events (£28,600), and the delightful little maroon 1959 BMW Isetta 300 (£4,290).
The sale featured some fine offerings from over the pond, the star of which turned out to be the massive 1932 Nash 1097 Ambassador 8 Brougham (£26,400). The delightful blue and white 1933 Hupmobile B-316 Roadster found a new home for £24,750, while the equally evocative 1939 Chevrolet Standard Business Roadster made well over estimate at £15,950.
Automobilia for all
The automobilia sale was arguably the most successful H&H have ever held at Buxton and one of the company’s most rewarding of all ephemera auctions to date. It certainly comprised one of the most wide ranging selections H&H has amassed, with everything from petrol pumps and enamel signs to automotive literature and art, and models to pedal cars. Of particular note were:
* The splendid Michele Conti 1958 250TR, 1:10th scale model – £11,812
* Assorted items of Stirling Moss ephemera - £1,237.50
* A pair of diamond encrusted Bentley brooches - £1,237.50 each
* A set of Howes & Burley Acetylene headlamps and Lucas sidelamps - £618.75
The next H&H sale of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, registration numbers and automobilia will be held at The Centaur, Cheltenham on February 26/27, 2008. Already entered is a pair of Works Mini rally cars and an ex-Colin McRae Works 1992 Subaru Legacy.
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Tuesday, November 20th, 2007
The world’s fastest ever track-biased, ultra-performance road car, the Caparo T1, has smashed the lap record on BBC TV’s popular motoring programme Top Gear. The two-seater sports car, which utilises lightweight materials and technology more commonly found in Formula One cars, set a new lap record time of 1:10.6; an astonishing seven seconds quicker than a modified Koenigsegg CCX which held the previous record.
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Tuesday, November 20th, 2007
Christmas is coming early for classic car enthusiasts as BCA stages its special Vintage & Collectors’ sale at the Blackbushe auction centre on Tuesday 27th November at 12 Noon.
BCA will offer a superb selection of vehicles spanning the years of motoring history – and being Christmas – there will be something to tempt the most discerning of palates. With a selection box that includes Vintage and pre-war models, sports cars and low mileage modern classics, collectors might need to clear a bit of space underneath the Christmas tree this year!
The 1934 Packard Eight Sedan was originally supplied to Fiorello H. LaGuardia, a prominent political figure in the US who served three terms as Mayor of New York from 1934 to 1945. The car was imported to the UK and restored some years ago and has been maintained as part of an impressive stable of Packard motorcars. The body is finished in two-tone grey livery and trimmed inside in fawn Bedford Cord and West of England Cloth.
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Tuesday, November 13th, 2007
Following a period of strengthening across its entire team, the Honda Racing F1 Team is delighted to announce a further key appointment. Ross Brawn is to join Honda where he will take up the position of Team Principal with full responsibility for designing, manufacturing, engineering and racing Honda’s Formula One car. Ross will work alongside Nick Fry who continues as Chief Executive of the team. This appointment reaffirms Honda’s absolute commitment to success in F1.
Ross spent ten years with the Ferrari team where, in the position of Technical Director, he helped them regain glory in the form of six consecutive constructors’ championship titles from 1999. Prior to joining Ferrari, Ross held the position of Technical Director with the Benetton F1 Team, helping them win back-to-back World Drivers’ Championships in 1994 and 1995 with Michael Schumacher and take the Constructors’ Championship in 1995. In the course of his 30 year career in motorsport he has worked with a number of Formula One teams and in sports car racing.
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