Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Koenigsegg Agera R 0-322-0 km/h and 0-200-0 mph GPS-verified

I have to say that despite the amazing numbers this looks pretty anodyne, particular when you compare it with what Ken Block does.

And the driver is very brave indeed driving at these speeds without, it would appear, any PPE at all: no helmet,  gloves or overalls!  And I don’t think he’s even wearing a seat belt.

Ken Block’s At it Again

I just love what Ken Block does with cars.  How does he do it?

Jezza…eat your heart out!

Saturday, 26 November 2011

Beware the Warriors of Goja

Tired of Britain’s got Talent?  Find the stuff boring and unexciting?

Then tune into India’s Got Talent for something completely different.  Tame nutters!

OMG!!!

Thursday, 24 November 2011

The Generals Speak

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In a rather astonishing prediction General Richards, Chief of the Defence Staff asserts that:

History Will Judge Afghan War Positively

I should have thought that this is would apply only if we win; by no means a foregone conclusion.

I must say that I am starting to have serious concerns about the geopolitical understanding of our senior military leaders who seem to be living in a colonial time warp.

Jolly good show chaps!

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

You Don’t Have to be an Idiot But it Helps

Despite the best intentions of Ron Dennis and Luca di Montezemolo and the aspirations of teenagers this only goes to show that the majority of people who buy supercars are nothing but idiots.  The only criterion that you have to meet is being rich.  Imagine if Civil Aviation worked like that!

Norovirus?

This sounds like Norovirus to me (do the Americans call it stomach flu?)

 


How to Deal With Aggressive Drivers in German Cars

This piece of South African Kit would be ideal for dealing with aggressive drivers in German cars like the one today in his Audi Uberwurst who came within 2 feet of my rear bumper at high speed with Xenon lights blazing because I dared to pull out to pass an Army Landrover when he was at least a quarter of a mile behind me!

 

Monday, 21 November 2011

Boeing Unmanned Little Bird landing on moving trailer

Whoa! I like this.  If it can land it can take off and you can probably fly it from your iPad.

Think of what you could do to BMW drivers with all that firepower!

I feel the need the need for speed (and a little birdie).

RIP Sergio Scaglietti

 

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Ferrari have announced the death of Sergio Scaglietti the legendary coachbuilder for the company.  Best known for the Ferrari 250 GTO he was creator of many cars from scratch and builder of many Ferraris and one of the greatest car designers of all.

May he rest in peace

Thursday, 17 November 2011

“Ethnic Food” and the West

 

Owen-Barder

Owen Barder, the prominent development economist, has posted this on http://www.owen.org/.

The nice thing about Owen’s blog is that it is both whimsical and serious at the same time.  Whilst he blogs about matters of huge importance he is never didactic and always amuses.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

The Latest “Diplomatic Row” Between UK and Oz

David Cameron’s Mansion House speech has threatened to create a diplomatic row because he did an impersonation of Julia Gillard, the wonderfully articulate and erudite prime minister of Australia.

Well all I can say is:

Strewth mate the sheila’s more touchy than we thought.

Judge for yourself:













Norwegians Have All the Fun

Oh to be  a young fit Norwegian.  What fun! 

 

Saturday, 12 November 2011

The Tough One for the Big Country

Toyota have just released a version of the the legendary Land Cruiser just for Australia.  The Big Country is harsh and unforgiving.  Only the strongest survive.  Range Rovers, Discoverys and Mercedes Benz G-Wagens wilt and die as the Outback pounds them into submission, breaking their suspensions and ruining their power trains.  90% of 4WDs in the Outback are Toyota Land Cruisers!  And for good reason….they are just about the toughest thing this side of an Abrams MBT.

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The Land Cruiser GX is specially built for Oz.  This is not the Land Cruiser of Surrey and Bridge of Allan providing Young Mothers with the idiotic notion that their darling kiddies will be safer in a big vehicle on their half mile trip to school.

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No this is a real Land Cruiser with vinyl mats, vertically hinged rear doors and a snorkel designed to go where none can go.  This is a tough mutha for a tough country

Thursday, 20 October 2011

The Sound and the Fury

Driving along Henderson Street in Bridge of Allan….if only, dream on!

Sunday, 16 October 2011

Ozy Ozy Oi Oi

Forget the ill-fated and rather pathetic Wallabies.  There are other great Australians in sport this weekend.

Casey Stoner won the Moto GP World Championship:

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Mark Webber shared the limelight in winning the F1 Constructor’s Championship with fellow Red Bull team member Sebastion Vettell:

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And the Kangaroos demolished the Kiwis – how sweet that must have been!

Kangarros demolish Kiwis

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport

Well if the Wallabies couldn’t the Kangaroos could.

That’s the other game with a Rugby ball in case you’re wondering.  A game beloved by down to earth northern men. 

None of your Rugby Union public school  Nancy boys here.  These are real men!

Kangarros demolish Kiwis

Tuscany 2011

Just back from our annual trip to Tuscany for a week.  This year we had the pleasure of catching up with some old friends from Melbourne – Phoebe and Santo – who by happenstance were staying in Creti, Val di Chiana no more than 30 miles away.  So we were able to spend some time with them at their villa:

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We had a wonderful day in Pienza for lunch and later in Bagno Vignoni, the Medici spa town:

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All in all a great week!

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

Exciting New Blog

 

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I have started a blog to chronicle a new Rotary project.

You can read it here

Successor to the LR Defender

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LR (TATA actually) are showcasing a potential successor to the the macho mil inspired all-purpose Defender.

Should appeal to those who want to minimise “blue on blue” friendly fire incidents.

Monday, 12 September 2011

C’mon On Aussie C’mon

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Just now after suffering a huge and uncharacteristic lull in sport, Australian athletes are enjoying a bit of a return to international pre-eminence.

In tennis Sam Stosur won the  US Open in fine style beating the legendary Serena Williams and so becoming only the second Australian after Margaret Court to win the title.

In Cycling Cadel Evans surprised the the world by winning the Tour de France; the only Australian ever to do so.

In motor cycling Casey Stoner is dominating the Moto GP title race and looks like becoming champion.

In Rugby Union the Wallabies stung the All Blacks by taking the Tri Nations Crown for the first time in 10 years and are hot faves to take the World Cup as well.

And Australia’s cricketers are showing a resurgence in Sri Lanka.

Now for the Olympics and the next Ashes series!

Friday, 2 September 2011

Hail the New Champ

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There is a new champ on the block with full bragging rights having set the fastest production car time round the Nordschliefe circuit at the Nurburgring.  A Lexus LFA has bettered the record, previously held by a Porsche 911 GT2 RS, by 4 seconds; a whopping margin at the Nordschliefe.  So that’s another one in the eye for Herr Uberwurst.  BTW Toyota also set the fastest time in an EV earlier this week, nearly as fast as the Lexus!

Wednesday, 31 August 2011

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Melbourne

This is why Melbourne is the World’s Most Liveable City

Scan 31

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And You Thought Monty Python Made it Up

Well they didn’t…the Queen’s Own McKamikaze Highlanders, QOMH, 23 Bn Royal Regiment of Scotland really do exist:

QOMH

All things Must Pass

Time for a change.  Black is boring.  And for you Holden lovers this is what an FJ (my first car in Melbourne, the World’s Most Liveable City) would look like if it were built today.  Please GM, pretty please….

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Saturday, 27 August 2011

A New Primate

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Rejoice! Another new primate has been discovered, this time in an unexplored part of Brazil.

It is described as a type of the exquisitely named titi monkey.  What other new species lurk in darkest Brazil?

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

DC has Fun in the Desert

David Coulthard shows that an F1  car plus an American dirt road equals the ultimate fun

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Welcome Back RCAF and RCN

 

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Canada has just announced that it will restore the names Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air force and Canadian Army.

The traditional names were originally dropped by Trudeau in a petulant display of anti royalty.  All true Canadians will rejoice at common sense breaking out.  No longer will the Canadian military create collective sniggering from others.

Modern militaries are now all joint services and as the Brits, Aussies, Kiwis and Yanks have shown traditional names in no way hamper this and indeed provide a source of inspiration and pride to veterans and serving members alike.

Welcome back Canada, we’ve missed you.

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

The Next Innovation is Here

And you thought the technology of Minority Report was way in the future.  Well you were wrong.  It’s here now and looks incredible:

Friday, 5 August 2011