What did we learn from the Hungarian GP?
Well, we saw that it was Mark Webber’s
day. He outdrove everyone, pulling out over 20 seconds on
the second and third placed drivers, enough time to make a
stop and rejoin in first place. Webber described the race as
“it was a bit of a gift today for me. But I have not had
many of them, so I will take today’s.” I agree that a win is
a win, is a win, but Webber’s performance was exemplary.
We also learned that Vunderkid Vettel is
too young to be in F1. His immaturity really came through
with a first class pout on the podium after coming third,
following his drive through penalty. In Sulky Seb’s words,
“Well, as I said I did not understand inside the car what
was happening and I still do not really understand why I did
get a penalty. In the end I should have won. For some reason
it did not happen and we finished third.” The poor little
dear!
Ferrari had no team orders and second and
fourth (Alonso-Massa) was as good as they were going to get.
When the Safety Car went out, the pits
descended into some sort of slapstick comedy routine, with
Renault releasing Kubica into the path of Sutil in the Team
Poppadum, resulting in too much damage for Sutil to
continue, and a drive-through penalty and subsequent
retirement for Kubica and a $50,000 fine for Renault.
To add to the pandemonium, Rosberg’s
Mercedes was released without the nut being tightened on the
right rear wheel, with the wheel then hurtling down pit lane
and fortunately nobody was severely injured. That was the
end of Rosberg’s race, and the FIA extracted another $50,000
from Mercedes. This is nonsense. Will that stop this type of
incident in the future? Of course it doesn’t.
However, all the chaos in the pits, as
everyone dives in for a stop when the Safety Car is
deployed, can be easily averted. Just make a rule that there
is no pitting under the safety car. Simple, as there is no
refueling these days. No crashes, no $50,000 fines (though
the FIA might like the financial penalties). There would
also be none of the re-arranging of the running order,
waiting for cars to pass the Safety Car to get into
position. More equitable and less dangerous. In fact, so
obvious, that the FIA will not do anything about it!
We all saw Michael Schumacher force
Barichello to the pit wall in his attempt to stop being
passed by the Williams driver, once his old team mate at
Ferrari. Totally unnecessary and totally reprehensible.
Schumacher was two seconds a lap slower than Barichello and
no matter how much blocking he tried, Barichello was going
to get past. Has Schumacher lost it? Is Schumacher now past
it? Well the maneuver, as well as being downright dangerous,
showed a total lack of considered judgment, especially from
a seven time World Champion. He has been penalized with a 10
grid slot demotion next meeting, but he should be threatened
with exclusion for the rest of the season for a repeat of
that type of behavior.
By comparison, rookies Petrov in the Lada
and Hulkenberg in the Williams drove exceptionally well and
deserved their fifth and sixth points finishes. Sauber’s De
La Rosa also kept his nose clean and was rewarded with
seventh and Kobayashi had a storming 23rd
to ninth.
McLaren had a weekend to forget, Hamilton
tried hard but broke his car, while Button did not drive
like a current champion, saying that he tried to go four
wide on the first corner but got stuck on the outside and
lost four or five places. Forgivable mistake in a new
driver. Unforgivable in a ‘World Champion’.
As for the rest – mobile chicanes.
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
(August 9) 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. Come along and meet guys who have
a common interest in cars and bikes, and enjoy the Jameson’s
specials, washed down with a few beers.
Autotrivia
Quiz
Last week I asked how do you know if a
‘Traction Avant’ Citroen built between 1938-1940 and
post-war 1948-1955 was built in the UK and not in France
(and it wasn’t the placement of the steering wheel)? The
correct answer was they were equipped with leather seats and
wooden dashboards, very popular in the UK, had a 12 volt
electrical system and were distinguished by a different
radiator grille and different bumpers. Some models also had
a sliding sunroof.
So to this week. What car did Bob Lutz
and Carroll Shelby put together?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first
correct answer to email [email protected]. Good luck!
Benz going
Gangbusters
Chinese Mercedes.
In the middle of all the banking crises,
doom, gloom and disaster comes the news that Daimler-Benz
second quarter revenue was up 28 percent and the unit sales
of cars and commercial vehicles was also up by 27 percent.
If you think those were good figures, try
this – sales revenue in China was up 182 percent. The
Chinese are hardly barefoot on bicycles any more – they’re
driving to work in a Benz! Even Asia as a whole was up by 85
percent.
Last year, Daimler-Benz were in the red,
but they have managed an amazing turnaround. After some
sales glitches in the past, this is certainly a staggering
result for the German automaker.
BMW to expand production in Thailand?
BMW is making overtures to the Thai
government regarding having a production base in Rayong for
electric vehicles. BMW currently has the Mini E which is
being trialed throughout the world, including Hong Kong and
also has the Mega City Vehicle project which is slated to
reach dealerships in a couple of years, another electric
vehicle.
BMW Mega City Vehicle.
These electric vehicles do not come under
the Thai eco-car legislation and BOI privileges, as that is
solely for small capacity gasoline engines, so it will
require some lateral thinking from the government
departments involved, not renowned for thinking sideways.
BMW has had excellent returns in the past
12 months, despite the global crisis and internal Thai
conflicts, quoting a 56 percent increase in sales in
Thailand. The manufacturing output from the Rayong plant is
predicted to top 3,000 vehicles this year, a 50 percent
increase over last year’s 2,000 units.
GM
increasing their stake locally as well
Martin Apfel
With the Thailand sales figures for its
vehicles showing a very positive trend, GM’s president of GM
Thailand and GM South East Asia Operations, Martin Apfel,
has announced that his company is forging ahead with the
diesel engine plant in Rayong.
This plant will supply the region with
the new diesel engines, and with SEA sales rising almost 23
percent, this bodes well for the Thailand enterprise. The
predicted continuing increase is expected to include a USD
1.6 billion annual budget for local components, all of which
gives local Thai industry a more secure future.
Paralytic
Pedaling
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM)
says pedals and Pimms don’t mix, and cautions that if you
are planning to have a few drinks at a party this summer
don’t cycle home.
Whoops!
Although drink-driving is socially
unacceptable, many people wouldn’t think twice about cycling
home after consuming more than the legal blood-alcohol limit
for driving.
Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and
Research said, “Cycling crashes are underreported, and we
need more research into hospital-based records to see how
big this problem really is. A lot of cyclists that fall off
under the influence just go to ER, meaning the police never
record the incident.
“Many people will have a bit of a wobble
on the way home, but while you may be of less risk to other
road users than when in a car, you could easily fall into a
dangerous situation or cause someone else to swerve and
crash to avoid you. If your cycling does result in a
collision you are likely to come off worse.
“It is often the case that people who
have had a couple of extra drinks will be cycling home in
the dark, increasing the danger involved.”
In the UK, anyone riding a bicycle under
the influence of drink (or drugs) to such an extent as to be
incapable of having proper control of it on either a road or
other public place, can be fined up to £1,000.
So if you’re planning to use any public
right-of-way with excessive levels of alcohol in your body
this summer, then you are better off in a cab or getting a
lift, says the IAM.
Obviously the worthy members of the IAM
have never been to Pattaya. Motorcycles are dangerous
enough, but pushbikes are suicide – unless you are the
well-publicized gent in the gold lame outfit and the pink
ostrich feathers who pedals along Second and Beach Roads
most afternoons. (If you haven’t seen him, his photo is
featured in my book “Farang, The Sequel”.)
The Volt
is reality
The Chevrolet Volt now has a price tag
(in the US) of $41,000. The project has been developed over
the last four years, and it seems that the initial sales
will be in specially selected states in the US, beginning
with California. The car should be available in the GM
dealerships later this year.
Chevrolet Volt
Whilst $41,000 does not sound too much
for us in Thailand, that price is around $5,000 more than a
Cadillac in the US.
The Volt differs from the Nissan’s
electric car, the Leaf, in that it has an on-board four
cylinder gasoline engine which can generate electricity to
extend the range of the vehicle from 64 km on battery alone,
up to around 500 km.
Performance figures are also good, with a
top speed being quoted as 160 kmh and a zero to 100 kmh time
of 8.5 seconds.
Recharging will be overnight for the Americans on their
110 volt sytem.
