With the Arnold Clark Thistle Hotels Snowman Rally just around the corner (February 16th), there is an interesting, and hopefully informative, article up on the website about pre-event Scrutineering for those who will be competing. Aimed primarily at newcomers, it will also serve as a reminder to the old hands - and the forgetful! There haven't been many changes to the Rally Car Regs since last year, so the Feature isn't too long.
http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/features/feature-scroots-corner
Friday, 25 January 2013
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Road - Collaboration
The cost of progress in automotive terms is huge these days. It’s not just the R&D costs themselves, but the need to address longevity, reliability and of course safety. All that takes billions of Euros or Dollars, or a helluva big credit card. A bank loan wouldn’t work either, think of the ppi payments!
So the news that BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) are strengthening their existing co-operation comes as no surprise. The aims of this latest agreement are the joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a sports vehicle, and joint research and development of lightweight technologies.
Another area of collaborative research will concern lithium-air batteries, a post-lithium-battery solution. This agreement marks the second phase of collaborative research into next-generation lithium-ion battery cells that commenced in March 2012.
Both companies are to share their technologies and will jointly develop a fuel-cell vehicle system, including a fuel cell stack and system, plus hydrogen tank, motor and battery, aiming for completion in 2020. They also have plans to develop a lithium-air battery with energy density greatly exceeding that of current lithium-ion batteries.
Laudable though these are, of more concern to regular readers is the sporting potential of what they are up to. Both companies have an established record of success in the world of motor sport, and that has not been overlooked in this agreement.
The companies are setting-up a feasibility study to define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle that is to be completed by the end of 2013, and have promised further collaboration in the field of sports vehicle development.
As part of this plan the companies intend to jointly develop lightweight technologies for vehicle bodies using advanced materials such as reinforced composites to develop a sports-vehicle platform as well as other BMW and Toyota vehicles.
Now if that doesn’t tingle your taste buds, think on this – M Sport meets Toyota GT86.
So the news that BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) are strengthening their existing co-operation comes as no surprise. The aims of this latest agreement are the joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a sports vehicle, and joint research and development of lightweight technologies.
Another area of collaborative research will concern lithium-air batteries, a post-lithium-battery solution. This agreement marks the second phase of collaborative research into next-generation lithium-ion battery cells that commenced in March 2012.
Both companies are to share their technologies and will jointly develop a fuel-cell vehicle system, including a fuel cell stack and system, plus hydrogen tank, motor and battery, aiming for completion in 2020. They also have plans to develop a lithium-air battery with energy density greatly exceeding that of current lithium-ion batteries.
Laudable though these are, of more concern to regular readers is the sporting potential of what they are up to. Both companies have an established record of success in the world of motor sport, and that has not been overlooked in this agreement.
The companies are setting-up a feasibility study to define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle that is to be completed by the end of 2013, and have promised further collaboration in the field of sports vehicle development.
As part of this plan the companies intend to jointly develop lightweight technologies for vehicle bodies using advanced materials such as reinforced composites to develop a sports-vehicle platform as well as other BMW and Toyota vehicles.
Now if that doesn’t tingle your taste buds, think on this – M Sport meets Toyota GT86.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Road - Masterful Vauxhall
Vauxhall is offering a free £40 MasterFit voucher to any Vauxhall owner who signs up to its MasterFit Service Club before the 31st March this year.
It’s free to join the club and members will profit from a range of benefits, including 50 per cent off MoTs, 15 per cent off parts and labour for cars aged between two and three years old, and 25 per cent off parts and labour for cars over three years old.
There’s just one provision, the £40 MasterFit voucher is available until 31st March and has to be used before the end of September 2013. Still, it’s worth a thought.
Road - Frustration. Grrrr!
It was with feelings of unfulfilment and frustration that I
handed back the Focus ST to Ford. After a week with the car, there was a sense
of disappointment as it disappeared homewards over the horizon.
That had nothing to do with the car. I blame the Government – and speed limits. Honestly, it has the performance, pleasure and price to be one of the best cars in the world, but it’s so quick you can’t really exploit it to the full anywhere on public roads.
It’s not a track day car either, it’s not hard enough. This is an everyday motor with power and composure in abundance. And yes, I did manage to give it a squeeze every now and again – but all perfectly legally, of course.
Full story:
That had nothing to do with the car. I blame the Government – and speed limits. Honestly, it has the performance, pleasure and price to be one of the best cars in the world, but it’s so quick you can’t really exploit it to the full anywhere on public roads.
It’s not a track day car either, it’s not hard enough. This is an everyday motor with power and composure in abundance. And yes, I did manage to give it a squeeze every now and again – but all perfectly legally, of course.
Full story:
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Road - New Driving Licence
I was reminded earlier today, that as of January 19th (last Saturday) new driver licence rules were introduced which will have more of an impact on those who pass their Driving Test after this date than those who currently have a full licence.
The principal change for new drivers will affect those who wish to tow a trailer. Any driver passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test will be limited to towing a small trailer weighing no more than 750 kgs, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn’t more than 3,500 kgs. So no dragging rally cars to and from events!
Drivers who passed their test before the 19 January will not lose any of their entitlements, but anyone with an HGV (or PSV) licence will have to undergo a medical every five years when they reach the age of 45 in order to renew their driving licence.
A new-style Driving Licence has also been introduced and this will be issued as and when current licences expire or drivers advise the DVLA of any changes, like address or personal details.
However, a word of caution. When you get your new Licence check that all your entitlements have been passed on. When these card licences were first introduced some folk found they had lost entitlement. For instance, prior to 1997 a driver’s licence entitled the holder to legally drive a truck up to 7.5t, but when the DVLA was renewing these at the time, some truck drivers only found out they had ‘lost’ their 7.5t entitlement when the Polis pulled them over.
Fortunately it was all sorted out at the time but only after quite a palaver. So be careful.
The principal change for new drivers will affect those who wish to tow a trailer. Any driver passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test will be limited to towing a small trailer weighing no more than 750 kgs, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn’t more than 3,500 kgs. So no dragging rally cars to and from events!
Drivers who passed their test before the 19 January will not lose any of their entitlements, but anyone with an HGV (or PSV) licence will have to undergo a medical every five years when they reach the age of 45 in order to renew their driving licence.
A new-style Driving Licence has also been introduced and this will be issued as and when current licences expire or drivers advise the DVLA of any changes, like address or personal details.
However, a word of caution. When you get your new Licence check that all your entitlements have been passed on. When these card licences were first introduced some folk found they had lost entitlement. For instance, prior to 1997 a driver’s licence entitled the holder to legally drive a truck up to 7.5t, but when the DVLA was renewing these at the time, some truck drivers only found out they had ‘lost’ their 7.5t entitlement when the Polis pulled them over.
Fortunately it was all sorted out at the time but only after quite a palaver. So be careful.
Monday, 21 January 2013
Road - World domination
Last year, the Volkswagen Passenger Car company finished off the 2012 year with a new record, delivering 5.74 million vehicles to customers for the first time in a twelve-month period, a near 13 per cent increase on 2011 deliveries.
Volkswagen has therefore become the world’s top car manufacturer. At the same time it has just opened its 100th production plant in Mexico.
All very impressive so far, but there was talk at the Detroit Auto Show that Volkswagen has designs on a new ‘budget’ brand. This is attributed mostly to Renault’s runaway success with the Dacia brand, and since both Skoda and Seat have gone upmarket, Volkswagen doesn’t really have a Dacia competitor.
Volkswagen has also entered the World Rally Championship. What next, Formula 1? That would pitch VW against Mercedes-Benz and Renault at the top end of the market while it takes on Dacia at the bottom end of the market.
Interesting times lie ahead.
Volkswagen has therefore become the world’s top car manufacturer. At the same time it has just opened its 100th production plant in Mexico.
All very impressive so far, but there was talk at the Detroit Auto Show that Volkswagen has designs on a new ‘budget’ brand. This is attributed mostly to Renault’s runaway success with the Dacia brand, and since both Skoda and Seat have gone upmarket, Volkswagen doesn’t really have a Dacia competitor.
Volkswagen has also entered the World Rally Championship. What next, Formula 1? That would pitch VW against Mercedes-Benz and Renault at the top end of the market while it takes on Dacia at the bottom end of the market.
Interesting times lie ahead.
Friday, 18 January 2013
Rally - Bogie Buys Focus
Four time Scottish Rally Champ, David Bogie has bought a Ford Focus WRC for this year's ARR Craib Scottish Rally Championship. So who's going to bet against a fifth title? Euan Thorburn for one! Full story on the website at:
http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/rally-news/rally-news-18-january-2013
Game on.
http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/rally-news/rally-news-18-january-2013
Game on.
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