Singapore Grand Prix this weekend
Singapore
Grand Prix
With a circuit as dull and boring as
Singapore, no wonder they have to try and entice spectators,
by promising them A and B list “celebrities” (people you
have never heard of). I have never met any A, or even B,
list celebrities. What’s more, I don’t care what they do,
think or eat - especially at Grand Prix meetings. I
represent that group of people in the world who enjoy wheel
to wheel, cut and thrust, supreme car control, motor racing.
So undoubtedly I will be disappointed by the Singapore GP,
unless of course Ferrari are telling one of their drivers
how and where to crash, but wait a bit, that’s been done
before…
Mind you, if you are thinking of going,
as Singapore is reasonably close to Thailand, Singapore GP
is releasing an additional new prime seating category Marina
Pit Grandstand to meet the strong demand for grandstand
seats in Zone 1, or that’s what the press release says.
With limited inventory available in the
Marina Pit Grandstand, organizers expect the 398 passes
available per day to sell out fast. The three-day ticket is
priced at S$1,288 (that’s 958 USD). As with all other
three-day grandstand and walkabout passes, Marina Pit
Grandstand ticket holders can access the LG Live at 2010
Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix stage where
headliners Mariah Carey, Missy Elliot, Adam Lambert and
Daughtry will be performing. It’s what I have always wanted
- go to a race meeting for a rock concert. Next thing they
will be doing is having Formula 1 cars on stage at the next
Rolling Stones gig.
By the way, Single-day Zone 4 walkabout
tickets are still available in limited quantity for Friday
($38), Saturday ($108) and Sunday ($128).
The race starts on Sunday at 7 p.m. Thai
time. Join me in Jameson’s (Soi AR, next to Nova Park) in
front of the big screen around 6 p.m. for some food and a
natter before the race. Very inexpensive!
Chevy Volt passes battery testing
If
electric power is to be viable, the big question mark
remains battery life and performance, as well as battery
costs. General Motors are staking their hopes on the
Chevrolet Volt to be launched in November this year, and
have been very forthcoming with the development of their
electric car for the future.
Chev Volt
Hybrid
power technology development is ramping up globally in
today’s ultra competitive automotive industry - and these
technologies of the future demand vibration test solutions
that can efficiently perform accelerated lifetime tests even
on large and fully operational assemblies.
General Motors’ 3000 m2 battery test laboratory at The
Alternate Energy Center, Warren Technical Center, Warren,
Michigan, USA tests battery cells and packs for the
Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle - and an LDS Vibration Test
System is used for electric vehicle pre-production
qualification and functional test of a complete T-shaped
battery assembly designed to be mounted underneath the car.
The weight of the battery unit can exceed 190 kg.
Anthony (Tony) Cullen has worked for GM for 20 years, mainly
for the Milford Proving Ground Group. He says, “The main
purpose of the vibration lab is to test the battery’s
durability by simulating its lifecycle. The targeted
lifetime of the battery is ten years. In addition to
vibration, various other tests such as thermal and
mechanical fatigue are carried out. The random vibration
test lasts for 48 hours, that is, 48 hours of random
vibration input and shock pulses. The data to power the
shaker is acquired from a Volt on the GM proving ground.
They test the battery in the x, y and z axes - one at a time
- and each axis test takes 16 hours.”
Vibration testing also takes place in a climatic chamber
where temperature and humidity are strictly and closely
controlled. The environment in the climatic chamber can
range from - 30°C to +78°C, and each 16-hour axis test is
carried out under controlled temperature and humidity
conditions. To meet GM’s testing demands, the system used
had to be high-performing and versatile and easily adaptable
to several test demands on large heavy payloads in multiple
axes.
The
LDS Vibration Test System fulfils GM’s requirements for a
heavy-duty system, able to perform accelerated durability
test simulating the lifetime of the car. This includes
several days of continuous testing at very high vibration
levels and extreme temperatures.
That
rigorous testing should mean that the Volt can be safely
used in most parts of the world. Will we get it in tropical
Thailand? I would hope so, but I doubt if we will.
Autotrivia
Quiz
Last week I wrote that there was a model
of a car was named after a race that it never competed in,
and also earned the title of the most expensive refrigerator
in Europe. I asked what was this car? It was the Porsche
Carrera, which was released after the race in South America
was no longer being run. The competition versions had no
heaters to save weight.
So to this week. What Italian GT car,
built by a motorcycle manufacturer commencing in 1962, had
the following engines: Chev V8 (up to 7.4 liters in 1970),
Ford V8 (5.7 liters in 1973) and ceased production in 1974?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be
the first correct answer to email [email protected] Good
luck!
How much
does your car really cost to run?
How does your car stack up? Or the next
car you’re thinking of buying? Here is a list of operating
costs for some vehicles on the Australian market. In Aussie
dollars per week, but you will get some idea.
Proton Savvy BT 5D hatch 1.2L 5-SP man.
$98.89
Toyota Yaris YRNCP90R ’08 3D hatch 1.3L 5-SP man. $101.40
Ford Focus CL LV 5d hatch 2l 5-sp man. $124.32
Toyota Camry Altise ACV40R ’09 4d sedan 2.4l 5-sp auto.
$166.61
Hyundai Sonata SLV NF MY09 4d sedan 2.4l 5-sp man. $167.13
Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 JT MY08 2d wagon 2.4l 5-sp man.
$152.88
Holden Captiva SX CG MY10 4d wagon Dt4 2l 5-sp man. $175.93
Nissan Patrol ST 4x4 GU VI 4d wagon DT4 3l 5-sp man. $227.01
The survey was based on private vehicle
ownership in New South Wales, Australia on an assumption of
15,000 kilometers travelled annually over an ownership
period of 5 years.
Cost per week includes depreciation and
opportunity cost, a calculated estimation of registration,
CTP and membership fees, fuel, tyres and general
maintenance.
The Ford
Fiesta publicity
The long-awaited Ford Fiesta has been
released. Ford took out a full page advertisement in the
Bangkok Post, and perhaps in others I haven’t seen. Great.
And what did the local Ford dealership do in Pattaya? As far
as I could see - nothing. There was a lone Fiesta parked
outside the showroom during the day. No banner, nothing.
Just a car sitting on its own.
Ford
Fiesta
With Mazda enjoying around 10 percent of
new car sales, and Ford around one tenth of that, just what
are Ford doing? And doing wrong! I would have expected the
local Ford dealer to have a huge banner proclaiming “It’s
here now! The new Ford Fiesta! It has been worth waiting
for!” At night have spotlights on the cars on the forecourt.
But what did they do? Nothing. No wonder
Ford does not do as well, as a brand, as they should. Ford
makes cars that people want. Their cars are reliable.
Financially the company is strong - remember it was the only
one of the Big Three in the US that did not need a
government bail-out.
Sales come through marketing. It is time
that Ford realized that ‘marketing’ is much more than having
cars in the showroom and an advert in a newspaper.
Pencils
out, here is the 2011 F1 calendar
13 March - Bahrain Grand Prix
27 March - Australian Grand Prix
10 April - Malaysian Grand Prix
17 April - Chinese Grand Prix
8 May - Turkish Grand Prix
22 May - Spanish Grand Prix
29 May - Monaco Grand Prix
12 June - Canadian Grand Prix
26 June - European Grand Prix
10 July - British Grand Prix
24 July - German Grand Prix
31 July - Hungarian Grand Prix
28 August - Belgian Grand Prix
11 September - Italian Grand Prix
25 September - Singapore
9 October - Japanese Grand Prix
16 October - Korean Grand Prix
30 October - Indian Grand Prix
13 November - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
27 November - Brazilian Grand Prix
The new circuit is the Indian GP, which
is on the list subject to passing FIA inspection, just as
the Korean GP this year, whose readiness is still in doubt,
despite Karun Chandhok running a Red Bull there a couple of
weeks ago. The photos show that the track surface is far
from being finished. But if Bernie says it is fine, then
guess what? It will be fine!
SME
Businesses on Wheels with Chevrolet Colorado
Bangkok - General Motors (Thailand) and
Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) has unveiled a pilot project to
support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the
“Chevrolet Colorado Mobile” program. In cooperation with the
“Chai Si Mee Keow” noodle franchise, the company will
provide reasonably-priced mobile noodle vending units for
investment by aspiring investors or entrepreneurs.
Colorado
noodle truck
“We are starting the pilot project with
Chai Si noodle because it is a well known brand, at its
nationwide outlet network. Together our expertise in cars
and trucks, we believe the market has started to respond
well to this product as proved by the booking rate as of
now,” said Worasak Chanpaiboonrat, the Retailer Operator of
Chevrolet Bangbuatong. “We plan to further expand the
business to cover the logistics and other types of
businesses.”
Panrop Kamla, President of Chai Si Mee
Keow Noodle Franchise, said the project serves as an
alternative for those looking for new businesses with
investments as low as 299 baht per day.
With the world downturn economically, the
next wave of entrepreneurs will be the leaders of the
future. Is yours a noodle truck? Mobile food delivery trucks
such as these have been in use in Australia for many years,
supplying lunches to small factories. It just might work
here as well.
For more information, please contact Chevrolet
Bangbuatong at 0-2922-7077 or 08-9770-3672.
Nitto 3K race meeting this
weekend
Bira circuit will have the Nitto 3K
series this weekend. Very much a “club” style of meeting,
but great fun and usually some great racing. Get there
around 11 a.m. for the action Saturday and Sunday. Remember
the Bira caf้ at the back of the pits for cold drinks and
very inexpensive food.
