Japanese GP this weekend
Fuji Speedway
Japan remains one of the most exotic
destinations on the Formula One calendar. Tokyo is one of
the most exciting and lively cities in the world, juxtaposed
with rural Japan, which is a chaotic mix of total isolation
and dense population. The mountains, particularly in the
north of the country, are stunning but uninhabitable. The
flatter areas of central and southern Japan have to house
most of the country’s 127 million people and the bulk of its
agriculture.
Fuji Speedway returned to the F1 calendar in 2007. Prior to
that the track last staged a Grand Prix in 1977, but since
then it was bought by the Toyota Corporation and given a
complete facelift. Track designer Hermann Tilke tried to
maintain the spirit of the Speedway’s original layout -
specifically, its unique one mile pit straight - while
updating its safety features and facilities.
Fuji Speedway is located 100 kilometers from Tokyo, Japan’s
capital city, and is overlooked by one of Japan’s most
famous landmarks, Mount Fuji. At 3,776 meters, Fuji is the
highest peak in Japan and one of the country’s most popular
tourist attractions. With there being seven points between
leader Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes) and second placed Massa
(Ferrari) it promises to be a tight race. Raikkonen has
acknowledged that he must help Massa, now that he has no
chance to retain his title (of course that is something
which cannot possibly be ‘team orders’). Unfortunately,
Hamilton’s team mate Kovalainen seems to have dropped the
ball recently, and will be of no use to Hamilton.
The Japanese GP will start at 11.30 a.m., our time, so check
your TV feed. I will be watching the big screen at Jameson’s
Irish Pub (Soi AR, next to Nova Park). We watch the South
African feed which does not break for adverts, and the
commentary is also better. Get there well before noon and
we’ll have lunch.
Bruce Willis car
collection to be auctioned
The mega movie star Bruce Willis needs no
introduction. He has been a continuous part of popular
culture since he burst onto the world stage more than 20
years ago, first in the television series Moonlighting and
then in the cinema tetralogy Die Hard. Now, this leading
man’s collection of American muscle cars is being offered by
renowned auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields in Los Angeles
on October 25th.
1969
‘Bullitt’ Dodge Charger
The cars in the collection are representative of Willis
himself in that they are purely American and focus on
strength, performance, individuality and quality. Following
are highlights of five of these magnificent automobiles.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, a gift from his then
wife Demi Moore, it received a thorough restoration and
retains its original 283 cu-in engine delivering 220hp, has
Powerglide transmission, front disc brakes, power booster,
power steering, and comes with both soft and hard tops.
(Est. $70,000/$90,000)
1967 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster. Considered the most
desirable year-model Corvette in history, this 427 cu-in big
block offers 435 hp and takes off like it’s turbocharged
when the second set of Holley 2-barrel carbs comes on line.
Like all of Willis’ cars, it has extras like power brakes,
power steering, Cragar S/S alloy wheels, and an Alpine 5-CD
changer in the glove box with an infrared remote so it
doesn’t detract from the otherwise stock appearance or
require removal of the original AM-FM radio. (Est.
$110,000/$150,000)
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible. This gorgeous,
essentially stock car with 400 cu-in V8 engine and 330 hp is
fully equipped with factory A/C, front disc brakes with
power assist, power steering, 4-speed manual transmission
(recently rebuilt), dual exhausts, Power Flex fan, twin hood
scoops, and its original radio which has been augmented by
an Alpine stereo system whose custom speakers are tucked
into the back of the car. (Est. $30,000/$50,000)
1968 Shelby Mustang GT 500 Convertible. The perfect, updated
convertible version of the iconic car that launched Steve
McQueen through the streets of San Francisco in the classic
movie Bullitt, though McQueen’s car in the movie was a 390
fastback. Willis had leading professionals exhaustively
rework the engine to 468cu-in delivering 570hp! A full
mechanical restoration included drivetrain, suspension, body
and cosmetics to the utmost degree. The list of add-ons is
staggering but what’s most interesting about this powerhouse
is that there are only two visual hints that this car isn’t
stock: the polished Cragar S/S alloy wheels and, when seen
in motion, a controlled suspension that informs onlookers
that this is a serious driver’s car. (Est.
$150,000/$175,000)
1969 Dodge Charger. Having a Bullitt-style Mustang that
McQueen’s character drove meant that Willis needed a Bullitt
Charger that the bad guys drove. This 2-door hardtop has a
440 engine bored and stroked to 502 cu-in offering 700 hp,
along with all the extras like Aries pistons, Edelbrock
heads and intake manifold, Holley carbs, Flowmaster exhaust,
Mopar 4-wheel disc brakes, Hydroboost assist, power
steering, Perfect Fit A/C, Alpine stereo, and much, much
more. (Est. $50,000/$70,000)
These no-expense-spared performance cars personally
upgraded, owned and driven by a legend of the silver screen
will be offered at Bonhams’ annual Classic California Sale
held, fittingly, at the Petersen Automotive Museum in
downtown L.A.’s Miracle Mile District on Saturday, October
25. It would be worthwhile attending, just to have a look at
some of these vehicles.
Complete and detailed descriptions of these cars as well as
the never-before-offered personal belongings of Steve
McQueen, offered by his first wife, Niele Adams, can be
found in the sale catalog. This may be reviewed and
purchased at www. Bonhams.com/us. Interested collectors may
register to bid in the auction - in person or remotely - via
the website, by e-mailing [email protected], or by
calling 415-391-4000.
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I asked why was Rene Lalique
well known among car collectors. It was because he used to
make Lalique glass bonnet mascots. Incidentally, they are
worth big money today for an unmarked one.
So to this week. A maker of aeroplanes decided to go into
production of cars, after WW II. The body was made of alloy,
with thicker panels on the top of the front wings, where
mechanics would lean during servicing. The engine was a two
liter six cylinder which was appropriated from a German auto
manufacturer as part of the war reparations. The body shape
was very aerodynamic and in tests done in 1973 (20 years
after the car had been discontinued), only four current
production cars were found to have marginally better drag
coefficients. What was this car?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
The new Fiat 500 -
practical or just a dream?
The new Fiat 500 has been voted the European Car
Of The Year, so it has already got some credits to its name,
but are these remakes (the VW Beetle, the Mini and now the
Fiat 500) really representative of the originals, and very
much loved originals at that?
New
Fiat 500
Quite simply, no they are not. The ‘new’ beetle has FWD and
you can order a turbocharged dual overhead cam engine
delivering 150 bhp. The original Beetle had a 1200 cc engine
hanging out the rear and delivering a staggering 25 bhp.
The ‘new’ Mini isn’t really ‘mini’ at all, being much larger
than the original Sir Alec Issigonis design which was just
over three meters long, with an 850 cc engine that delivered
34 bhp. The new Mini is over three and a half meters long
and you can get engines from 125 bhp upwards.
Now here comes the classic Fiat 500 which was built for 20
years, starting in 1957. It was designed as a small,
economical car to get Italians mobile. It did have an
air-cooled 500 cc engine in the rear and developed 18 bhp.
It also had suicide doors (rear hinged) until 1965 and had a
four speed ‘crash’ gearbox. Italians loved them (and many
Europeans too), and Fiat made 3.5 million of the little
buzz-bombs.
So now we have the ‘new’ Fiat 500, which although it looks
even more like the original than the VW or the Mini, should
really be called a Fiat 1200, as the engine is now 1.2
liters and is at the front, and can deliver 68 bhp to the
front wheels (though there are variants delivering up to 100
bhp through a six speed all synchromesh gearbox).
An even larger difference is in the manufacture. There is no
spaghetti anywhere, as the Italian icon is actually made in
Poland, so the stains under the seat are more likely to be
soup, such as the popular bouillon or tomato or more festive
barszcz (beet).
So if you are looking to recapture those heady days of
drinking chianti in the piazza of Torino, unfortunately,
like most remakes, the Fiat 500 is more ceremony than
substance. It is, however, a good car in its own right, but
it is not a Fiat 500.
However, today’s equivalent is the Tata Nano. Will we be
lining up for a ‘new’ Nano in 50 years time? I wonder.
I goofed!
OK, I admit it, I am only human. I made a mistake
when I suggested that Lewis Hamilton was robbed in Italy. At
Monza, the very deserving winner was Sebastian Vettel,
without any help from bungling FIA stewards. It was at Spa
in Belgium that Hamilton was given the post-race penalty,
against which no appeal could be made, or even accepted by
the FIA. That is what is so galling. Hamilton was not found
guilty at the hearing in Paris. The FIA refused to even
accept the appeal. What kind of ‘justice’ is that?
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
October 13 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. Many interesting debates
come from these evenings, including whether you can put a
Nissan engine in an Austin A30, and still call it kosher.
Come along and meet guys who have a common interest in cars
and bikes.
