Check out the chase car action. I am not quite sure if the industry standard is to use a Mini with the boot open and a tripod lashed to the boot floor to get moving shots but it is bloody well good enough for me.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
My Stab at Vimeo Crown
Here it is, this should increase my status of Blog legend to internet legend. The peeps over at Vimeo will love it, it's got shit loads of blur and stuff.
Check out the chase car action. I am not quite sure if the industry standard is to use a Mini with the boot open and a tripod lashed to the boot floor to get moving shots but it is bloody well good enough for me.
Check out the chase car action. I am not quite sure if the industry standard is to use a Mini with the boot open and a tripod lashed to the boot floor to get moving shots but it is bloody well good enough for me.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Masters Race Series / Donington 09
Little video I made last weekend at a Masters Race Series meeting at Donington. Sorry the editing is a bit shite but I was forced to use iMovie 08 and you would need to enjoy pain more than Max Mosley* to be able to even tolerate iMovie 08 for too long.
*I know it's old taking the piss out of Max Mosely but I didn't jump on the band wagon before and now everyone who has any sort of motoring related blog, column, TV show or even phone conversation has done it except me. Until now that is, it makes me feel part of the gang.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Best Laid Plans...
... o' mice an' men, Gang aft agley.
On my recent trip to Francais, and a little bit of Italy (a holiday isn't a holiday unless I go to Turin, I'll let you draw you own conclusions why), I had intended to create a masterpiece. What I was going to do was take loads of photos of the front of my car from the same angle in lots of different locations then make some sort of video slide show like those people do when they take a picture of themselves once a day for a year then miraculously get catapulted to the most played on YouTube. I wanted to be a YouTube star. It failed because I wasn't nearly dedicated enough and only took a handful of photos.
As is expected of me; I toured around some of the Automotive hot spots of France. I went to the old pit-stop at Reims, drove on some very winding roads through the Alps, Turin (not in France I know), Monaco (still not in France) and Le Mans. That meant I got to drive on 3 tracks (the road sections of the Circut de la Sarthe, the street circuit of Monaco and the straight of the no longer used road circuit west of Reims). Unfortunately I only went to one museum (Le Mans) this year and it really wasn't that great.
One of the problems with the museum (other than not having enough cars, let alone cars that had actually competed in the 24 hour race) was that up until the past couple of years the French haven't really, other than hosting the 24 heures du Mans, had much involment in the race. The French are very patriotic so when their drivers and cars don't win it seems like they don't care too much... well thats the impression I got from the museum. The French however have a company called Cibié who, from what I could gather from the over exuberant displays promoting the brand, have made the lights for every car ever to compete at Le Mans ever. I should have milked this for all it was worth seen as I have over 14 inches of Cibié up front on my own car, you never know I may not have had to have paid the extortionate fees* to get me in.
*It isn't actually that expensive but I had to pay for two tickets as I dragged along someone who didn't really want to go. This meant that I payed double and it really wasn't worth €16.
On my recent trip to Francais, and a little bit of Italy (a holiday isn't a holiday unless I go to Turin, I'll let you draw you own conclusions why), I had intended to create a masterpiece. What I was going to do was take loads of photos of the front of my car from the same angle in lots of different locations then make some sort of video slide show like those people do when they take a picture of themselves once a day for a year then miraculously get catapulted to the most played on YouTube. I wanted to be a YouTube star. It failed because I wasn't nearly dedicated enough and only took a handful of photos.
As is expected of me; I toured around some of the Automotive hot spots of France. I went to the old pit-stop at Reims, drove on some very winding roads through the Alps, Turin (not in France I know), Monaco (still not in France) and Le Mans. That meant I got to drive on 3 tracks (the road sections of the Circut de la Sarthe, the street circuit of Monaco and the straight of the no longer used road circuit west of Reims). Unfortunately I only went to one museum (Le Mans) this year and it really wasn't that great.
One of the problems with the museum (other than not having enough cars, let alone cars that had actually competed in the 24 hour race) was that up until the past couple of years the French haven't really, other than hosting the 24 heures du Mans, had much involment in the race. The French are very patriotic so when their drivers and cars don't win it seems like they don't care too much... well thats the impression I got from the museum. The French however have a company called Cibié who, from what I could gather from the over exuberant displays promoting the brand, have made the lights for every car ever to compete at Le Mans ever. I should have milked this for all it was worth seen as I have over 14 inches of Cibié up front on my own car, you never know I may not have had to have paid the extortionate fees* to get me in.
*It isn't actually that expensive but I had to pay for two tickets as I dragged along someone who didn't really want to go. This meant that I payed double and it really wasn't worth €16.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
My Ha'pennies Worth
I always start a new post with an apology and it is always for the same thing. I have neglected all my loyal readers and left you floundering in a pool of motoring uncertainty. Well lets hope this dose of, just as ever, concise, reasonable and down right fair prose will sort you out.
Just a little recap of things that have happened while I have been away. I got published. Well, when I say published what I actually mean is I sent a letter into Octane Magazine and it was printed. It wasn't some silly suck-up, a plea for advice or asking for oodles of free history about a car I just bought that would elsewhere cost an arm and a leg to get. No, I continued with my usual style and moaned. The level of my disdain was clearly recognised by the editor but they were unsure whether it was appropriate due to some of the content. I did channel all of my hatred on one particular person, TV chef and motoringwanker enthusiast James Martin. Here is a scan of the magazine with my letter in it.
Just a little recap of things that have happened while I have been away. I got published. Well, when I say published what I actually mean is I sent a letter into Octane Magazine and it was printed. It wasn't some silly suck-up, a plea for advice or asking for oodles of free history about a car I just bought that would elsewhere cost an arm and a leg to get. No, I continued with my usual style and moaned. The level of my disdain was clearly recognised by the editor but they were unsure whether it was appropriate due to some of the content. I did channel all of my hatred on one particular person, TV chef and motoring
It was not letter of the month and I did not win one of the nice Italian leather bags, this has upset me. Unsurprisingly the winning letter started something like this "I think your magazine is fantastic and I wanted to complement you on your massive..."
My BMW had a little mishap before christmas but its all back now and better than ever.
It is also starting to pay me back, half a penny at a time. I found this in the footwell at the weekend, its from 1971.
If you didn't know the government and the world seem to think we are in two major crises. An economical and environmental one. They might be right but they are after all the government so even if they are correct we should, because it is our duty to, ignore them. The motoring world has been hit hard by both so called crises: jobs are being cut, manufactures are going bust and the best our government can do is introduce a scrapping scheme. They had something similar in Germany and they had more than a few people from the father land who weren't quite fans. Cars over 10 years old can be traded in to get some deutschmarks off a new one. The old car has to, without question, be scrapped. They are aloud to be stripped for components parts however, but what is the point; who needs parts for cars that have all been scrapped. So there are warehouses in Germany full of redundant spare parts and the price of scrap metal has plummeted. Our wonderful government thought this was a brilliant idea. Who wouldn't? The most environmentally sound way of getting us out of these two hyped up crises is to just chuck out our old tat and get making some new cars. The new ones will be marginally more economical if a little harsh to the environment to make. How much do you think it cost Audi and the environment when they made an A4 in 1999? For it only to be used for 10 years (and easily doing 50mpg for all of those years) seems ludicrous doesn't it. Right, I could go on all day about how appalling this scheme is but, again, what is the point? This is what our non-elected leader thinks is best for us so we should just let him do what he likes. If he wants to invade Poland next let him do what he likes.
What might have been better and a little more environmentally sound (and you should do this if your car is over 10 years old, rather than trading it in so you can get 2 grand off that sack of shite Citroen C3 you always promised yourself, yeah right) is if your car goes wrong buy the parts to fix it from Germany, they've got shit loads at a cheap price.
Every cloud does have a silver lining. I was watching an episode of Scrap Heap Challenge the other day and I thought that their heap was looking a little sparse. Soon enough the heap will be littered with late 90s jewels that aren't quite worth the £2000 the dealer could offer.
My BMW had a little mishap before christmas but its all back now and better than ever.
It is also starting to pay me back, half a penny at a time. I found this in the footwell at the weekend, its from 1971.
If you didn't know the government and the world seem to think we are in two major crises. An economical and environmental one. They might be right but they are after all the government so even if they are correct we should, because it is our duty to, ignore them. The motoring world has been hit hard by both so called crises: jobs are being cut, manufactures are going bust and the best our government can do is introduce a scrapping scheme. They had something similar in Germany and they had more than a few people from the father land who weren't quite fans. Cars over 10 years old can be traded in to get some deutschmarks off a new one. The old car has to, without question, be scrapped. They are aloud to be stripped for components parts however, but what is the point; who needs parts for cars that have all been scrapped. So there are warehouses in Germany full of redundant spare parts and the price of scrap metal has plummeted. Our wonderful government thought this was a brilliant idea. Who wouldn't? The most environmentally sound way of getting us out of these two hyped up crises is to just chuck out our old tat and get making some new cars. The new ones will be marginally more economical if a little harsh to the environment to make. How much do you think it cost Audi and the environment when they made an A4 in 1999? For it only to be used for 10 years (and easily doing 50mpg for all of those years) seems ludicrous doesn't it. Right, I could go on all day about how appalling this scheme is but, again, what is the point? This is what our non-elected leader thinks is best for us so we should just let him do what he likes. If he wants to invade Poland next let him do what he likes.
What might have been better and a little more environmentally sound (and you should do this if your car is over 10 years old, rather than trading it in so you can get 2 grand off that sack of shite Citroen C3 you always promised yourself, yeah right) is if your car goes wrong buy the parts to fix it from Germany, they've got shit loads at a cheap price.
Every cloud does have a silver lining. I was watching an episode of Scrap Heap Challenge the other day and I thought that their heap was looking a little sparse. Soon enough the heap will be littered with late 90s jewels that aren't quite worth the £2000 the dealer could offer.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Ex-sightings.
Just a couple of spots.
A gaggle of Range Rovers, some guys with guns and I wasn't even scared for my life. Thats the countryside for you.
A very nice Capri, it was well Ray Doyle.
Coincidentally my out fit was pretty 45 too (wooly cardigan and check shirt), the guys in the Capri were tres impressed.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Waiter/Restaurant Manager/Motoring Journalist
I work in the restaurant industry. I am a waiter, I sometimes like to call myself a restaurant manger but I am not really sure how true this is. I like the idea of owning my own restaurant but I don't want to be a waiter or even restaurant manger for the rest of my life. This is not because I think I am above the job it is just that I think I would prefer to be a Graphic Designer so my degree wouldn't be a bit of a waste. Then if that fails I think I would prefer the job of a truck driver/recovery guy, I am not sure really where waiter/restaurant manager/owner of a restaurant would come. Anyway, when I read a review of a bad restaurant by AA Gill in the Sunday Times' Style supplement it makes me think I can do so much better. I probably can't but this would still please me as I prefer Mr Gill when he is being scornful.
So what would my plans be for a restaurant of my own? (Should there really be a question mark there?
If I couldn't be cloned then I would have to come up with a pretty concise list of acceptable cars. It would also have to include modifications to cars which knock them off the list or revive otherwise hideous cars and make them allowable. Or I could just do the job myself. Either way it brings my nicely to a question which I am asked regularly "What car should I buy?" (Just to clarify: I have been asked this question once but I read articles by motoring journalist that say that they are asked this question a lot and been as I like to think of myself as a bit of a motoring journalist I feel I should say it) What cars should I recommend? If I didn't recommend cars and people didn't know what to buy my fictional and completely imaginary restaurant would go the same way that my invention for a sweet flinging attachment to my quad went, down the shitter! With this possible disaster in mind I have come up with a list to aid you all in buying cars that will allow entry to a meal at my restaurant (I don't have a name... yet).
I have limited my list to only new cars, just so it isn't too huge. I have stuck to price brackets and have limited my suggestion to just one car per section. I have started with a minimum figure of £10,000 not because I am some sort of snob and think cars under £10,000 arent worth having. What I do think though is that you should buy second hand, you can get a much better car than a new one. For example: a second hand Mini is about the same price as a new Fiesta and after living (trying to, in the Fiesta's case) with both I can assure you the Mini is the better option.
£10,000 - £15,000
Fiat Panda 100hp
A Fiat 500 in far less flashy packaging, its quicker and the ride has been compromised because they fit harder racier suspension, ace!
£16,000 - £20,000
Renaultsport Clio 197
The spiritual successor to the Williams Renault Clio. I would go for the Cup version, its the stripped out version and because of that it is cheaper and so doesn't even fit into this price category.
£21,000 - £25,000
Land Rover Defender
For this kind of money I would go for my favourite of the range, the 110 Double Cab Pick-up. The added bonus of this is that you can avoid the SVX (Land Rovers misguided attempt to update the Defender, thank the lord it is "strictly limited edition.")
£25,000 - £35,000
Lotus Elise
I would go for the R model, the reviews said supercharged S model was a bit to... calm.
£36,000 - £45,000
Vauxhall VXR8
It was a toss up between this and the Jaguar XF, this won because you can't get the XF with the V8 unless you start encroaching into Range Rover money and its a bit too dull when compared to a Vauxhall. Well its not just any Vauxhall I suppose.
£46,000 - £60,000
Land Rover Range Rover
It has to be the TDV8, see my review.
£61,000 - £85,000
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
What else? And in Autocar's recent 0 to 100 back to 0 it was qucker than Aston's range topper the DBS by almost 3 seconds.
I have decided to stop there as I couldn't bare the responsibilty of influencing purchases with that kind of money involved, £85,000 though is just fine.
* I mean all cars that carry the Land Rover badge but Range Rover Sport.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
As per usual I am bulk blogging, I went to get some photos developed today so you have a couple of weeks of vehicles.
These weeks include my holiday to Italy. Two car museums, one holiday; only the Beaumonts.
These weeks include my holiday to Italy. Two car museums, one holiday; only the Beaumonts.
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