Australian Eff Wun GP next weekend
Sunday March 18 sees the return of the F1
circus to Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. It will also
be the first time without Michael Schumacher for 15 seasons.
Webber
and Coulthard
The lead-up to this meeting has not been dramatic, in that
no team has been showing dominance. And even more
importantly, no driver has been showing dominance in any
team. World champion Alonso is not quicker than his new
rookie team mate Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, laughing boy
Raikkonen is no quicker than Massa at Ferrari, Kubica no
quicker than Heidfeld at BMW, and Webber and Coulthard seem
to be about as slow as each other, taking it in turns to be
close to the bottom of the pre-season testing time sheets in
the new Red Bulls.
This all-new Red Bull F1 Adrian Newey designed vehicle seems
to be the biggest disappointment in the 2007 series cars,
showing neither pace, nor reliability. Much was expected of
the car, looking at the pedigree of the designer, who has
penned many championship winners, but unless something like
a two second lap time improvement is found between now and
March 18, do not expect to see Webber, the Aussie home hero,
on the front row (or anywhere near it).
McLaren have been looking much better than they did at this
time last year, so 2007 could be a good year for them,
whilst Renault have only been mid-field runners at this
stage. Ferrari is, as you would imagine, up near the top of
the time sheets in testing, and I believe you will see good
solid drives coming from both Massa and Raikkonen.
However, testing is only testing. The proof of the pudding
will be seen at then end of one and a half hours racing at
Albert Park on the 18th.
Autotrivia Quiz
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the Citroen SM
was announced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970. I asked
what did the initials S and M stand for? Peter Eades
claimed a friend who had one said it stood for
Sado-Masochist! (The correct answer was S for the
project code and M for Maserati.)
So to last week. The world’s first half-tracked vehicle
to traverse the snow was built for the Tsar of Russia. I
asked when was this? Clue: Kegresse. Kegresse was the
engineer who came up with the rubber half-track belts
and fitted them to the Tsar of Russia’s vehicles. Dates
are given variously as between 1902 and 1909.
So to this week. The name Cooper is famous in motor
racing. When and where did a Cooper first have its
overseas success? Clue: it was in Asia.
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first
correct answer to email auto [email protected]
Good luck!
Radurra is Italian for clear
If you own a show car, the latest ‘must have’ accessory
comes from the Forgiato people. The wheel with no spokes!
The creator and patent holder of ‘the clear wheel’ Doug
McGoon and Forgiato have combined to turn this idea into a
really drivable wheel.
Radurra
spokeless wheel
The end result of this tie-up between the creator and
manufacturer was shown at the end of 2006 at the SEMA show
in the US, and it caused a minor sensation, and I can see
why.
Apparently the method of inserting the clear plastic center
into the alloy rim uses the same technique as getting
diamonds to stay in a ring, where the diamonds are just
slightly larger than the bezel they are set into, and held
in place by pressure. However, instead of diamonds, the
Radurra uses a hard coated polycarbonate center with a
glass-like finish, inserted into the rim.
According to Forgiato, “much the same way the diamond is set
into a bezel setting, the polycarbonate center is set into
the forged aluminum hoops with precision machining and a
jeweler’s touch. The end result is a wheel that is strong,
safe and beautiful.”
The Radurra is currently available in 20 and 22 inch, and
are custom built on order for your car or motorcycle, and
the center is 4 cm or 5 cm thick polycarbonate, with a
chemical hard coating on both sides. They are not
lightweight, with the 20 inch at around 14 kg and the 22
inch at around 20 kg. All other parts of the wheel are
forged 6061t aluminum (inner and outer hoops and hub
center).
Forgiato also say that they are SAE tested, certified and
passed impact, cornering and radial tests. Now in
production, average delivery time is six to eight weeks,
with a suggested retail of $5000 per wheel.
For a show car, I think they are just sensational, showing
off your ceramic brakes and fully anodized suspension arms
or whatever, but for a daily driver, trying to keep them
clean would drive you nuts!
Pizza Company to rival
Red Bull?
The involvement of the Pizza Company in motor sport in
Thailand is now very deep, encompassing Formula BMW, sedan
car racing, go-karts, and even a scholarship scheme for up
and coming junior drivers.
The scholarship was decided after a traditional ‘shoot-out’
formula, but the young hopefuls were not just judged on
speed, but also on race craft, attitude and commitment.
James
Grunwell
The drivers were very close, and at the end of the day after
all the tests, the judges still had three drivers whom were
equal on most points, but they all agreed that 10 year old
Wautier Khan just had that little special thing about him
and he was awarded the 2007 scholarship.
Wautier Khan is a Thai national with a Belgian father and a
Thai mother. He is now having his team racing wear made up
so that he will be in full team race colors when he joins
his first race in Pattaya on the 11th of March in the Mini
Rok class.
Italkart is having a brand new 2007 frame flown in from
their factory overseas, which he will be racing in during
2007, and the importer of the Mini Rok engines is currently
preparing his brand new engine for collection next week.
Paul Kenny, CEO of the Minor Food Group, told the press that
he did not expect young driver Khan to go and win first out,
but that it was important for him that Khan got the proper
teaching during the year, and grew with the task as the year
went on, and he wished him all the best.
Another recipient of Pizza Company sponsorship is James
Grunwell, a young driver who did well in his first year in a
world series, competing in Formula BMW. Last week the Pizza
Company confirmed continued support for Grunwell in the 2007
FBMWA season, after he came second in the Thai National
Go-Kart Championship.
Grunwell said, “I am (now) ready for the Formula BMW
championship. The level of competition in the Thailand
Nationals was higher than ever before and it shows how much
Thai motorsport is developing. The Meritus team and I are at
the moment still trying to finalize the plans for the 2007
season, which includes finding more sponsors for the BMW
races and testing in Europe and USA.”
Official testing for BMW begins in March with the first race
in May at Sepang. Formula BMW returns to Thailand in June
for the second round at Bira International Circuit.
Meanwhile, the ‘original’ Pizza Company Race Team of Paul
Kenny, Thomas Raldorf and Martin Stuvik, who competed in the
Toyota Vios series last year, has decided they enjoyed the
experience so much that they have all moved up a category
into the Toyota Yaris one-make series for 2007. Having been
a guest driver with the Pizza Company Racing Team for the
Four Hour Endurance race in January, I am looking forward to
having a drive in their new vehicles as well. More on this
another time.
In the meantime, if you think you would like to experience
the thrills of sedan car racing, it is possible to have a
drive in the Pizza Company racing Vios vehicles. More
details on this by contacting Thomas Raldorf on 081 929
1940.
The team also offers corporate events, where they take
company staff or customers around the track as passengers,
and if requested, also let some of them drive themselves.
Bookings for events like these have to be made minimum three
weeks in advance, and can only be on Saturdays or Sundays.
Thomas Raldorf
(L) and Paul Kenny (R) with Wautier Khan.
Natter Nosh and Noggin
The monthly car enthusiasts meeting will be at
Jameson’s Irish Pub on Soi AR next to the Nova Park
development. The car (and bike) enthusiasts meet on the
second Monday of the month, so this time it is Monday March
12 at Jameson’s at 7 p.m. This is a totally informal meeting
of like minded souls to discuss their pet motoring (and
motorcycling) loves and hates. Bring along any magazines,
photos of old vehicles, old girlfriends or the latest
Porsche for us all to drive.
28th Bangkok
International Motor Show
The officially world recognized Bangkok
International Motor Show kicks off at the end of this month,
running from March 30 through to April 8.
Held again at BITEC (Bangna Km 1), this is the largest show
of its kind in the ASEAN region, and a tribute to the
foresight of Grand Prix International’s Dr. Prachin
Eamlumnow, who has been the guiding force behind this motor
show for the past 28 years. With well over 1.6 million
visitors, it is definitely popular with the masses. There is
parking within the BITEC grounds as well as parking areas on
LaSalle Street for another 4,000 vehicles. If you are coming
by public transport, then go to On Nut Skytrain terminal and
catch one of the 10 shuttle buses going to BITEC.
Many concept cars and concepts in new technology are
promised for this year’s show, including automotive
directions in making this a ‘green’ motor show. Alternative
energy sources will be on display as well.
The main halls are of course for cars and pick-ups, but
there are also halls for motorcycles, heavy machinery, auto
equipment and after-market gear for off-road activities as
well as the usual go-faster modifications and another hall
for sound systems.
