Italian Grand Prix this weekend

Monza

Think of the great race at Spa in Belgium two weeks ago, and now pray for the same at Monza in Italy. This is another driver’s circuit; however, like many other circuits, Monza has not been a single layout, but a series of more than a dozen layouts which have ranged in length from 2.4 km to 9 km. The circuit was opened in the Monza Royal Park, near Milan, in 1922 and featured bankings, though these were demolished in 1939. The bankings which featured in some races, 1955-69, were new structures built on the format of the original. Bankings were used for the Italian GP in 1955, ‘56, ‘60 and ‘61, and were last used for racing of any form in 1969 when the concrete became in need of substantial resurfacing and rebuilding.

The 1971 Italian GP holds the record for the fastest-ever Formula One race but, emphatically, that is not the same as saying the fastest race for Grand Prix cars. That honor remains in the possession of the 1937 Avusrennen with Rosemeyer in the Auto Union recording a 276 kph lap.

After 1971, the circuit underwent some revisions to discourage slipstreaming and to lower the average lap speed. Chicanes were added in 1976 and, in 1994, the second Lesmo Bend was tightened and the Curve Grande was re-profiled.

The World Championship which Sebastian Vettel has his eye on, is not a 100 percent surety yet and is still quite open, with seven more GPs after this one (175 points up for grabs). We can expect that the main protagonists will still be trying very hard, in particular Alonso, racing in front of the passionate Ferrari fans. We will be watching from our perches at Jameson’s Irish Pub (Soi AR, next to Nova Park) and the racing commences at 7 p.m., but join us around 6 p.m. for dinner (I do recommend the specials), and a beer and a chat before the race begins at 7 p.m. We watch on the giant screen, with the BBC telecast which is of top value and there are no adverts!

Thomas Raldorf moves up championship ladder

Thomas Raldorf at Kaeng Krachan

Following a very successful weekend at the Kaeng Krachan Pro Race meeting, Pizza Company/CEA Projects driver Thomas Raldorf is now second in the Thailand Touring Car championship with his Honda DC5.

In the first race, he started from pole position and had pulled out a commanding 10 second lead when the retainers from the inlet valves on cylinder 1 broke and he was forced to slow for the last seven laps, but still came in second.

Fortunately, the valves did not make contact with the piston and Thomas was able to compete in the next three heats, ending up with two more second places and a third. This has moved him up to second in the Thailand Touring Car Championship, and hopefully with the new reliability he is in with a very strong chance of winning the series.

Some more ‘oldies’ in Pattaya

Sweet little A30

After complaining that there were no ‘classics’ in Pattaya, I have had to change my opinion. Here’s three more which are being made way for three larger oldies, and priced to sell. I know these cars personally, so can vouch for their descriptions. First off, a 1968 Mercedes 200 Fintail, truly immaculate condition, inside and out. Mercedes diesel engine. Recent full service, new tyres, battery. Air-con, tinted glass, new leather seats, etc. Correct Blue book, taxed and insured. Baht 585,000, email [email protected]

Or how about a 1966 Ford Cortina 1600 4 door saloon for the British car enthusiasts. Car is in superb condition, after a bare metal restoration (full photographic record), with immaculate paintwork. Very good interior, with new carpets, headlining, etc. Mechanically very sound, with new starter, alternator, brakes, suspension, tyres, battery, and much more. Blue book, taxed and insured. Baht 315,000. Phone 081-834-3260.

Or what about this funky little gem? 1952 Austin A30 4 door saloon. 59 years old, but in first class condition, and utterly reliable. Interior has cream leather, new carpets, headlining, etc. Mechanically excellent; recent full service. Blue book, taxed and insured. Baht 395,000, 081-834-3260 or contact [email protected]

Toyota drop “technology” to concentrate on “benefits”

New Prius C

Toyota is discovering (rather late in the piece) that the average car buyer is not interested in the technology in the car, but is more interested in tangible benefits to the consumer - and not the environment.

Senior Toyota executive director sales and marketing David Buttner came out to say, “Do you know how your plasma TV works? Do you know how your microwave oven works? Do you care, as long as you get a good picture and your food comes out hot?” And of course, he is totally correct.

“We are really questioning from a marketing and strategic point of view whether we have been spending too much time trying to educate the consumer rather than talk about the benefits of the technology.”

Now, with the Prius C compact hatch and Prius V wagon set to join the range in the first half of 2012, Toyota believed it was time to place more emphasis on the benefits of hybrid technology, he said.

Benefits from the new technologies can be seen in fuel economy figures, with the new plug-in version Prius PHEV achieving official fuel economy of 2.2 liters per 100 km and CO2 emissions of 49 gm per kilometer, making it almost twice as efficient as the standard Prius that consumes 3.9 L/100 km and emits 89 gm/km of CO2. However, Toyota is still missing the point that the buyers out there are not excited about CO2 levels, unless they are committed tree huggers. The buyers can understand fuel economy. The environment can look after itself, with CO2 levels still being considered a trace gas at a concentration of 0.039 percent by volume of the earth’s atmosphere. Yes, you are reading that correctly, less than four hundredths of a percent. The generally accepted composition of dry air is roughly (by volume) 78.09 percent nitrogen, 20.95 percent oxygen, 0.93 percent argon, 0.039 percent carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. Air also contains a variable amount of water vapor, on average around 1 percent. Lesson over.

The ultimate in snob appeal?

Bentley SUV

For all those people who wear worsted jackets with leather patches on the elbows, here is the ultimate vehicle for you. The most expensive SUV you can buy.

If you thought that the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S was the pinnacle, think again. Volkswagen AG are threatening to build a V12 soft-roader priced “above everybody who is there already.” This is the mooted Bentley V12 SUV, which will also be available as a plug-in hybrid if hugging trees or saving the planet is high on the agenda. Legendary founder W.O. Bentley is revolving in his grave, I am sure.

The VW-owned brand’s chairman and CEO Wolfgang Durheimer has told US site Motor Trend that an SUV built to Bentley standards would change the way buyers think about soft-roaders.

“For all of the hundreds of thousands of SUV customers that are around the world and drive all kinds of vehicles, they would have a product to differentiate themselves,” Durheimer is quoted as saying. This is because the level of creature comforts will surpass everything currently available.

“In terms of price, it would be positioned above everybody who is there already. I think it’s a big chance for Bentley and for this reason, I am promoting this idea.” (Durheimer previously worked at Porsche and introduced the Cayenne SUV models.)

Durheimer expanded further saying, “If you imagine opening the door of an SUV that says hello to you the way we do in a Mulsanne or Continental - big leather, very nice wood sections, lambs’ wool floor mats and so on - and then have a body style that is British, that is uniquely Bentley - I think there is room for a super-luxury SUV.”

The proposed Bentley SUV will be built from VW’s parts bins as Durheimer says they have enough existing platforms, and gearboxes and suspension components currently used by other brands owned by VW, such as Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen itself.

“It will not be a completely new platform because in our group, one of the big advantages we have are shelves heavy with components and modules. The challenge is to make the right combination of what’s already there, together with what we want to achieve.

“I’m sure on the engine side we need to have our (Bentley) engines, but on the gearbox and suspension side we have perfect examples in-group that can be used for our purposes with our calibration in the future,” Durheimer told Motor Trend.

The new high-rider is likely to be powered by a new V12 engine, with Durheimer saying it is his target and objective “to position Bentley as the 12 cylinder company amongst manufacturers,” saying that for him at least, V12s are “very sexy”.

Durheimer also said having a hybrid version of the SUV would be “helpful”, stating that Bentley would “skip the first hybrid generation and immediately go into plug-in hybrids.”

The estimated date for release of this ‘super’ SUV is 2014, so you don’t have to rush down to the Bentley showrooms.

Natter Nosh and Noggin

The next car club meeting will be at Jameson’s Irish Pub on Soi AR next to the Nova Park development. The monthly meetings are on the second Monday of the month, so this week it is on Monday September 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. 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. We should even have a couple of F1 scrutineers with tales from the Parc Ferme. Might even see if I can bring the Securitas Mk1 Escort Retro Racer down for the evening (if it lasted the Retro races at Bira a couple of weekends ago).

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week I asked you to study this picture. I asked what was it called? And who made it? It was a Haflinger, made by the Austrian manufacturer Steyr-Puch, about whom some of its cars were unkindly called “You steer, I’ll push”.

So to this week. Who won a European Hill Climb championship at age 60, and what was he driving?

For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected].