Australian GP this weekend
Usually the first GP of the season, this year Australia hosts
the third round after Bahrain and Malaysia. Albert Park in
Melbourne is one of the longer circuits at a tad over 5 km
around. Total laps for the Grand Prix will be 58 and you can
expect lap times around the 1 min 24 mark.
Although this is a relatively new circuit, Albert Park was
used in the 1950s, including two Australian Grand Prix but
these did not count towards the World Championship.
I believe the GP should start around 10 a.m. Thai time, but
please check your local TV feed. We watch the South African
feeder with Brundle and Allen giving knowledgeable
commentary, as opposed to the tele-bletherers on Star
Sports.
Why not join me in Jameson’s Irish Pub, Soi AR next to Nova
Park for a late breakfast or early lunch. Incidentally, I
had dinner the other evening with Eddie Irvine – not THE
Eddie Irvine, but THE Eddie Irvine’s father (who is also
called Eddie) – so my gossip is now fully up to date!
Bangkok
International Motor Show
Bangkok is in the somewhat ridiculous situation of
having two motor shows. However, only one has the backing of
the international motoring charter organization, and that is
the one which this year was held again at BITEC, and closes
on April 2 (so you can still get there if you rush!). It was
also the 27th Bangkok Motor Show, so it has the history as
well as the credentials. The other one (in November) is more
of an excuse to unload the year’s models before the end of
December when they become superceded.
Press
Day, held two days before the first public days, is also
very interesting. There appears to be around 300 “motoring”
writers, with most under 21 years of age and obviously
writing for “Hip-Hop” weekly or the “Teenyboppers Knitting
Monthly”, taking high quality, never to be published
photographs with the hand-held Nokia. They are, however,
first in line for the feeding frenzy for the free T-shirts.
The displays this year ranged from stunning to absolutely
abysmal. For example, DaimlerChrysler had two new cars (the
M and R classes) and a very professional dancing troupe to
add sparkle to the presentation. On the other side of the
coin were Isuzu, who featured a lurid green T-Max as the
highlight of their boring display, and Nissan who had
(believe me, this is true) an NV Wingroad, which is probably
one of the world’s all-time forgettable 10 year old baby
pick-ups!
If
a show has to have a “star” it was the Honda FCX concept
vehicle. This was simply sensational. Honda claims there is
no plan to produce this experimental vehicle, but parts of
this car will find their way into Honda production cars,
believe me. The styling was new, practical and
mouth-watering. The interior being every bit as sensational
as the sheet metal (and carbon fiber). Well done Honda!
In the category of motor cars you can actually own now (if
you have deep enough pockets) were the AMG Mercedes SLK 55,
a snip at a pocket of change under 10 million baht, plus a
scaled down pedal car version for the children of the
well-heeled AMG enthusiast, or the (I desperately want one)
Bentley Continental GT at around the price of two AMG SLK’s.
On the Bentley stand was their PR and Event Manager James
(ever so British) Barclay, who was a veritable
treasure-trove of knowledge. The fact that Thailand has an
allocation of 10 cars, and seven of them have been sold
already, shows that there are still some true enthusiasts in
this country (with money)!
AMG
SLK
In the category of “He’d turn in his grave” was the Cooper S
with a ridiculous wing tacked on the top. John Cooper, who
built and designed the original Coopers will certainly be
doing 7,000 RPM in his box over that one. A stupid piece of
kit that will do absolutely nothing, but I suppose would
allow you to hang your coat on it from the outside.
On the new and innovative front, was the Segway company,
demonstrating their incredible personal mobility vehicle.
This two wheeled device works on your balance – lean
forwards and it goes forwards, lean back and it goes in
reverse. With an in-wheel motor on both sides, which are
independent of each other, it is highly maneuverable. I was
most interested in this, and hope that I can do a “road
test” on this soon.
I will cover individual makes in some more detail next week,
while I go through the several metric tones of PR material
brought home from the show!
Baby SLK
Wingroad – or
Wrongroad?
Stupid Mini
Cooper wing
Segway
Bentley
Continental GT
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I asked which Porsche driver in the Targa
Florio put a wheel off the road and damaged a radius rod. He
walked back to the pits to be asked, “Is that what broke, or
is it all that’s left?” Clue, he was English. Answer, it was
Vic Elford in 1971.
So to this week. Many vehicles featuring in-wheel motors at
the Bangkok International Motor Show this year. This is no
innovation, however. Who was first with this idea?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
