Belgian GP this weekend
spa
And let us all hope and pray that we see a
motor race, and not a procession, such as we saw in Monza!
Spa is a real driver’s circuit, and there
is always the threat of rain, which could help bring some
drivers forward, and see the ‘power’ drivers slip back
somewhat.
The almost nine mile Spa-Francorchamps
circuit was the quickest of all the classic road circuits and
many would say, the greatest. It used public roads through the
mountains of the Ardennes in Southern Belgium and even in the
dry was a circuit for which you needed a good set of cojones.
In the wet it was only for heroes and as the region is known
as ‘The Pisspot of Europe’, races have frequently been
held in the wet.
Spa was first used for racing in 1924 and
the first Belgian GP was run in 1925, won by Antonio Ascari,
father of the double World Champion, Alberto Ascari.
Serious discontent with Spa began after a
downpour in the 1966 race caused several crashes, most
significantly one involving Jackie Stewart which led to his
campaign for improved circuit safety.
In 1983 a new 4.31-mile circuit was built
incorporating some of the original track, but with an improved
surface and run-off areas. The new Spa, which still includes
some public roads, is the longest circuit on the F1 calendar
and, many believe, the most challenging.
The GP should be at 7 p.m. Thai time, but as always, check
your local feed to confirm this. I will be watching as usual
from my perch at Jameson’s Irish Pub on Soi AR (next to Nova
Park), and we watch the South African feed which has some
decent commentators and no adverts! Join me for a meal and a
natter first.
RAAT meeting
at Bira
Last weekend was also the RAAT meeting at
the Bira circuit. The events included many of the “Run what
you brung” category, which had huge fields and lots of
novice drivers. When I say it was run what you brung, that
included a hero in a Honda Jazz, who was going round the
outside of everyone. There were also events for Mitsubishi
Evos, another for Subarus (I did suggest to the organizers
that mixing those two categories would be fun, but the entry
list exceeded the capacity of the track). For the VW fans,
there was a VeeDub only category, complete with a number 53
Herbie look-alike. There was also a wild Type 3, complete with
Weber carburettor and a turbocharger. Not quite how it left
Wolfsburg.
Local hero-in-the-making is James Grunwell,
who I have mentioned before. Still too young to have a road
license, but going very well on the track. He set a new
fastest lap in qualifying in the Concept I class, and was set
to take the win in the race, until given a helping hand into
the shrubbery, which took off James and three other cars. This
is one lesson in racecraft that James will now have learned.
In a longer race you can take the time to plan your moves. You
only do ‘desperates’ on the last lap!
The next RAAT meeting is on the 8th and 9th of October.
Is a Chinese
Rover really a Rover?
Rover
75
The MG Rover saga is far from dead, with
now three Chinese companies in line to pick up the pieces, or
some of the pieces anyway. Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp
(SAIC), Nanjing Automotive and Geely Automotive Holdings are
apparently all in there, looking for a slice of the action.
Who would have ever predicted that “Every Inch a Rover”
could end up in Shanghai?
The whole situation is complicated by the
fact that apparently SAIC bought the intellectual property of
the Rover 25 and the Rover 75, but the use of the name
“Rover” in the UK requires an agreement with the former MG
Rover owner, BMW in Germany!
A right proper mess!
Gasohol is Go for
January 1 2007
The Thai government has decreed that from
January 1 2007, there will be no 95 octane, but rather it will
be Gasohol 95 from that date. Shell have said they will be
ready, prepared to spend many millions to have the pumps and
supplies ready, and are also guaranteeing that it is safe to
use. I believe it will be, but despite the fact that it will
be 1.50 baht cheaper per litre, since it is not as efficient a
fuel, you will probably find you use more, thereby cancelling
out any presumed “savings”.
More on the “new”
Chonburi circuit
Have been asking around and the general consensus is that
it will not happen, despite the fact that it is being pushed
by Sontaya Khunplome, the ex-minister of tourism and sport.
Khun Sontaya has been driving in the Porsche Infineon Carrera
Cup Asia all this year and has been enjoying himself in the
amateur class, rather than setting the tracks on fire.
What did we learn from the
Italian GP?
Well, the first thing we learned was that
it was dreadfully dull. When the highlight of the action is
Sato and Webber “racing” each other down pit lane with the
speed limiters on, this does not say much for the action on
the track. Even Raikkonen’s pass on Alonso was not for track
position, and Alonso would have been told by his pit to let
Raikkonen through as he had one more stop to make. To show the
lack of action, Button slipped down from 3rd to 8th and Sato
from 4th to 16th and was never passed by anyone on the track.
It was all done in the pits. Yawnnnnnn!
Mark Webber is starting to become involved
in too many accidents for it to be ‘accidental’. Another
first corner tangle, and he gave away all chances of a points
finish, while Pizzonia in the other Williams kept his nose
clean and finished 7th. There is a lesson here that the Aussie
does not seem to be learning. I will say it again (slowly),
“You do not win the race on the first corner, you only lose
the race on the first corner!”
Ferrari are even more in the doldrums than
ever. Schumi couldn’t get past Barichello, who certainly is
not going to move over any more, is he! 2005 is definitely a
year that Maranello would like to forget. And so would
Bridgestone, who seem not to be making race tyres, but more
like mill-stones around the necks of the Ferrari team cars.
Juan Pablo Montoya kept it all together for a change, and
pressed on conservatively at the end to see if his damaged
tyre would hold up. It did, and he deserved the win, though I
could not find too many Montoya fans in the group watching at
Jameson’s.
Natter Nosh and Noggin
The monthly car enthusiasts meeting has
changed venue, and 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 (September 12) at
Jameson’s at 7 p.m. This is a totally informal meeting of
like minded souls which meets to discuss their pet motoring
(and motorcycling) loves and hates. Just ask any of the lovely
Jameson’s girls where the group is and they will point us
out and give you a push.
Thai debut for
Mitsubishi’s new Triton pickup truck
On August 26 2005 Mitsubishi Motors
Corporation announced the release on the Thailand market of
the new “Triton” 1-ton pickup truck. Replacing the current
Strada after a full redesign, the new Triton pickup is
assembled at Mitsubishi Motors’ local facility in Laem
Chabang, Thailand. Following the Thai launch, the company
plans to start shipping this pickup model to other countries
and regions, and thus, it is expected to play a major role in
terms of the company’s global market strategy and of
achieving the Mitsubishi Motors Revitalization Plan.
Triton has been developed as a global
strategic model to the following three key concepts: 1 To
fully satisfy user needs in terms of pickup economy,
durability and reliability; 2 To offer levels of quality that
further raise and consolidate the standing of the Mitsubishi
Motors brand on a global scale; 3 To accommodate the needs of
a broad customer base not limited to commercial use.
The major features that distinguish the new
Triton pickup are: An original and stylish exterior/interior
design that adds a sporty dash to pickup toughness; packaging
that provides a best-in-class roomy interior living space; and
suspension and interior appointments that realize sedan levels
of comfort and ride. These elements serve both to highlight
the originality and advanced qualities Triton brings to the
pickup segment and also to eliminate the commonly held image
of a pickup being a vehicle design purely for commercial use.
As such, these characteristics are expected to make a major
contribution in expanding the customer base for Mitsubishi
brand pickup trucks.
Triton models are powered by a
newly-developed common rail direct injection diesel engine
that delivers high outputs while returning low consumption,
clean emissions and quiet operation. Other customer-winning
features include a new body with top-rating crashworthiness in
the class and a Dakar Rally-honed four-wheel drive system that
delivers outstanding all-surface performance. The attractive
design and go-anywhere component specification puts the Triton
next-generation pickup ahead of the market in all aspects of
performance, claims the automaker.
I think it does look rather good, compared to most other
pick-ups, but will the average buyer agree? Only time will
tell.
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week, I mentioned that a very high
performance American two door coupe featured a cartoon
character and a crazy horn. It was capable of over 300 kph in
the track versions, but even the road-going version was
capable of 225 kph. I asked what was the cartoon character’s
name? It was the Road Runner, that wild muscle car from
Plymouth with the wing, that did zero to 100 kph in 4.9
seconds 35 years ago! Powered by a 7 litre Hemi, the racing
models would top 300 kph. They were outlawed in 1971!
So to this week. An easy one. A
Scandinavian car had its body made in Scotland and the rest
put together in England to share the assembly line with the
Big Healey’s. Where in Scotland was this plant, and what was
the car?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be
the first correct answer to email au [email protected]
Good luck!
