Friday, December 31, 2010

Zaniest thing I've seen in a while, the Jade Warrior from 1985








Skip the first 30 seconds

Learned about it from http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/ information from http://www.dragzine.com/news/the-jade-warrior-a-truly-insane-and-one-of-a-kind-ride/

The creation of British motorcycle racer Angus MacPhail, who built it himself in his garage, it's called the “Jade Warrior,” did the quarter mile in under 8 seconds a quarter century ago without the use of nitromethane. That's riding on the tip of a bullet.

It was powered by an inline 4-cylinder that blended MacPhail’s own engineering with that of a Ford Cosworth and sported a Roots supercharger producing somewhere between 400 and 500 horsepower.

The frame was, obviously, a completely one-off piece that was built monocoque-style – with a main center section made of alloy and put together with Araldite adhesive and Monel rivets. A well-designed body with ground effects incorporated helped keep it stable and hooked up at close to 200 MPH. Angus claimed it was actually very easy to navigate down the track.

Coolest damn thing you'll see all week. 1913 Harley, heavily optioned,TANDEM !, unrestored, with a quick history and instructions how to start it. WOW


the bike's options are discussed for the first 5 minutes, then the bike is started up and the procedure is wonderfully demonstrated, step by step. (starts at minute 5:30)
Thanks Mike! This is great!

The Camelback locomotive design, used in conjunction with the exceptionally wide Wooten firebox, not safe though

The "Camelback" design, which straddled the cab over the center of the boiler, allowed the exceptional width of the Wooten firebox, which burned lower BTU anthracite coal from Eastern Pennsylvania.

The Locomotives in the picture were also called "Mother Hubbards" among other names. They were discontinued from freight service because if a side rod broke, it would wipe out the cab and if on the engineer's side, the engineer also. In yard service they were much safer because of the lower speed which was not so likely to break a rod and sling it through the cab.
photo from http://www.shorpy.com/node/9335?size=_original

Revamp for UK bike test

The current format for the UK’s motorcycle licence test was only introduced in April 2009. Consisting of two parts, the first is conducted away from the roads and includes hazard avoidance and emergency stop exercises. The second element is a road riding assessment, which lasts for at least thirty minutes.



However, the system has received a lot of criticism. In particular, the first module has been slated for its content, as well as the number and geographic spread of the locations where it is carried out. Additionally, there have been calls to make the test a single event, rather than being split into two distinct parts that can rarely be taken on the same day.





In response, the government commenced a review back in June 2010, and the Department for Transport has now announced its initial proposals.



The aim is to return to a single, on-road test. This could mean that the hazard manoeuvre is carried out on the public road, provided the assessment still complied with EU standards. Meanwhile, the slow speed exercises (u-turn, slalom and figure of eight) might be delegated to examiners at training centres ahead of the main test.



Wisely, perhaps, the changes aren’t going to be rushed through. With the details still needing a lot of work, the plan is to trial the proposals in the early part of 2011, followed by a public consultation. The target would then be to introduce the new test during late 2011 or early 2012.

ZX-10R recall explained

A couple of weeks ago, Kawasaki announced a ‘technical hold’ notice for its new 2011 Ninja ZX-10R in North America - in other words, a recall.





Under the notice, all bikes already delivered to customers and those at dealers had to be returned to Kawasaki. The cause was said to be unexpected engine behaviour, but an official reason wasn’t disclosed at the time.





Now, though, it seems that Kawasaki engineers have got to the bottom of the problem. A statement from the company reads:



"It had been discovered that when some examples of the new 2011 Ninja ZX-10R were operated at high rpm under unique riding conditions - such as operating on a racetrack - the intake valve springs could surge. Should this rare incidence occur it could cause one or more intake valves to seat improperly, resulting in poor engine performance.



"Having examined the very small number of machines which exhibited this surge phenomenon, the Kawasaki factory engineers have designed and fully tested a countermeasure which solves the problem without affecting any facet of the new engine’s outstanding performance.



"On the limited number of machines produced so far, the camshaft, valve springs and spring retainers for intake valves are being replaced to prevent the valve spring from surging. The same design update is automatically being incorporated into the ongoing production run of the newest and most powerful Ninja yet produced."


The European launch of the bike, which was delayed because of the technical issues, is now expected to be at the end of January 2011. In the UK, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R will be priced at £11,699, with ABS costing an additional £1,000.



Gold-plated Tata Nano

The Tata Nano and Ferrari 458 Italia don’t have much in common, but an unfortunate characteristic shared by early versions of both was a willingness to burst into flames.



For the Nano, that might partly explain why its sales figures are in freefall. Tata managed to shift 9,000 units in July, but the tiny car found just 509 buyers in November.



In such a situation, most manufacturers would resort to a special edition to help boost interest. And sure enough, it’s a tactic that Tata is using with the Nano, except the result is a little, well, unconventional.





Produced ostensibly to celebrate the 5,000th anniversary of Indian jewellery, the Goldplus Nano will be gold-plated. It’s named after a Titan Industries jewellery brand which, conveniently, is also part of the Tata Group. Might as well keep things in the family…



The design was chosen following a competition, and the Goldplus Nano is expected to be launched in April or May of 2011. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Jaguar’s 2010 XF Is Sleek And Sophisticated

Jaguar’s 2010 XF

Jaguar is well known for its distinct looking luxury autos; you can usually tell that a vehicle is of the Jaguar brand by simply looking at it. However, the renowned British auto maker is taking it in a whole new the direction with the ultra contemporary Jaguar XF. This car looks completely different from any other auto the auto manufacturer has ever produced; this vehicle is sleek, sophisticated and completely modern inside and out.

There are various engine choices to select from. The XF Premium trim comes equipped with a 8 cylinder 5.0 Ltr with 385 horsepower. The XF Supercharged engine has the same specs but puts out 470 horsepower. The ultimate Supercharged XFR puts out a total of 510 horsepower and 461 lb feet of torque. Acceleration is very fluid as you can imagine due to all the horsepower. When it comes to gas mileage, the base model receives around 16 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the freeway.

The interior is extremely modern with ultra modern and high tech features such as a start button that flashes red and pulses when you start the engine plus a rotary shift dial which automatically emerges right into your hand. The navigation system, music and temperature can be controlled by utilizing a seven inch LCD touch screen. The upper level trims come equipped with a premium stereo system manufactured by B&W which provides up to 440 watts of bass thumping sound. All models come with a dual zone climate control system, keyless ignition, compatibility with Bluetooth devices, plus seats produced out of quality leather and a navigation system with constant traffic news and in-depth directions to your destination of choice. JaguarSense allows you to turn the lights on and off by simply motioning your hand near the lighted surface. There is 17.7 cubic feet of trunk space available to store all of your belongings.

A plethora of safety features have been included in the XJ. There are active head restraints which protect the head and neck during impact plus an air bag system. Other safety precautions include ABS and Traction and Stability control. The upper level trims are available with a system that lets you know when another vehicle is in your blind spot.

If you are looking for a high performance luxury vehicle that is built to impress on the exterior and interior then the Jaguar XJ might just be the perfect choice. If you choose the Supercharged XFR trim you receive a car that can run with the top of the line German cars such as the CL63 AMG. Starting cost for the XF is approximately fifty one thousand dollars.

Browse the 2010 XF vehicles at Jaguar of Marin, your bay area Jaguar dealer. We have a large selection of new Jaguar vehicles you can browse and an excellent inventory of used Jaguar cars.

Infiniti, BMW And Mercedes Benz

2011 Infiniti M Series

BMW And Mercedes Benz

Without a doubt, driving a crème de la crème luxury car is thrilling, exciting and loads of fun. We often hear the saying “Money Can’t Buy Happiness”. Perhaps it can’t buy you happiness but it sure can buy you one might fine car, even one with twelve cylinders and more horsepower than you’ll ever need! Here is a list of the top luxury car brands in the automotive market.

Mercedes Benz- This is the first brand that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “luxury car”. Studies have shown that Mercedes is the number one brand prestige brand that consumers immediately associate with wealth, affluence and social status. For 2011, Benz has updated the look of its mid-level E-Class trim with a set of new angular lights and a new modern look. Mercedes is no longer just prim and proper, she can also be daring and aggressive! It is rather interesting to observe that many older C-class models are being utilized as taxi cabs in many European countries. This is testament to the durability of Mercedes engines; some of the engines on the taxi cabs have reached and surpassed the six figure range. Lots of young Hollywood stars opt for Mercedes; pop sensation Britney Spears has been often seen causing mayhem in the streets of L.A in her white Mercedes SL65 while actress Lindsay Lohan has been involved in an infamous car crash in her black SL65. This top of the linemodel comes with a V12 engine and an incredible 604 HP with a heavy price tag of approximately around $199k.

BMW- Known as the “The Ultimate Driving Machine”, this brand is targeted to consumers who crave an athletic and performance oriented vehicle. The difference between BMW and Benz is that the first is engineered to be performance oriented while the latter is aimed towards driver and passenger comfort. The most famous trim by a mile is the 3-series, which offers quality performance, handling and power at a competitive price in the entry-level market. The 335 model comes with an engine that puts out an incredible 300 HP and 300 lb feet of torque. My personal favorite has to be the top of the line 7 Series, which oozes power and class; the 2010 model boasts a eight cylinder engine with 400 HP.

Infiniti – Nissan’s luxury line is making big waves in the market with its sleek, high-performance and powerful vehicles. Infiniti has recently unveiled its high performance IPL line to the public, which is a more affordable alternative to Benz’s AMG line and the M3 series from BMW. The advantage that Infiniti has versus the other upscale car manufacturers is that its service and maintenance costs are towards the lower end of the scale. In general, Infiniti is also more competitively priced when compared with BMW and Benz. A stand out is the top of the line M56 which comes equipped with a mighty eight cylinder engine and 420 HP, with the AWD model starting at around $60k. For more info about Infinity, visit Luxury Cars Bay Area for a great selection. Bay Area Infiniti Dealer has the M56 plus the super sleek Infiniti G37 Bay Area in stock. For a more affordable line-up, check out the more affordable Used Cars Bay Area selection.

Money may not necessarily buy you happiness but it can sure buy you a fine looking car. If you’re looking for an upscale auto, you really cannot go wrong with any of the brands listed above; they are all top notch in their own right. Luxury Cars Las Vegas boasts an incredible selection of Aston Martin vehicles such as the Vantage.

Buying guide: E55 AMG by Mercedes-Benz

The E55 AMG of Mercedes-Benz is a game changer. Under £20k, a used E55 AMG is of great value. With this post we list down tips on what to look for when buying one.

p19 Mercedes-Benz

Brakes

The pads and discs are reasonably priced at around £450 per set. Fitting the brakes will add a bit to the tag especially when the brake fluid will be changed. This generation of Benz requires you to plug it to a computer when you change the fluid.

Cabin

When you get an E55 with high specs you can expect that the cabin will have a ton of gadgets. You have to take note that these systems will be expensive to fix.

Chassis

The brand speaks for itself through the years and it has been known to produce tough chassis with no weak joints or bushes.

Engine

The powerplant of the E55 is hand-built and you will be able to see the names of the persons who assembled it.

Bodystyle

You only have an option between a saloon or an estate. The wagon is easier to put again onto the market later, and still you can give it a good price.

Wheels and tires

Every corner will cost you about £200. We advise that you avoid the aftermarket rims since an original wheel set on the car that is chip-free will give a hint of a careful owner who is careful with parking or spent some sum to take care of the car.

Probably the coolest damn tank I've seen

from http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/

Porsche tractor gallery


Something new in the world of 3 wheelers


No information, just a gallery of photos on http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/2010/11/pak-rak.html

innovative use of wrenchs


from http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/

president of the Packard Motorcar Company in a 1913 Packard doing a trailblazer journey across the USA scouting a route for the Lincoln Highway


Conceived in 1912 by Carl Fisher, (founder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway), the Lincoln Highway would be the first highway to stretch coast-to-coast. In those days few “improved” (graded) roads existed, and those few were only found within city limits. Long-distance auto trips weren’t something even considered by prudent individuals, but the highway would prove instrumental in making cars a viable mode of travel.

What a day, so far I've posted fire trucks, motorcycles, a movie about cabs, train wreck photos, locomotives, and a dragster

Top that Jalopnik.

1933, 5:54pm, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Long Beach. Imagine what the result of that catastrophe would be today in LA rush hour?



for a photo gallery, or to read about it: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-longbeach_1933earthquake-pg,0,3546233.photogallery

DB9 special editions

Aston Martin has been busy during 2010 creating special editions of its DBS (Carbon Black and UB2010), V8 Vantage (N420) and V12 Vantage (Carbon Black).



Now it’s the turn of the DB9 to receive the ‘let’s see if we can shift a few more units’ treatment.



The DB9 Morning Frost specification is aimed at those wanting a little more luxury. Finished in pearlescent white with a metallic bronze leather interior, other distinguishing features include silver grilles and brake calipers, plus 19" ten-spoke alloy wheels.





By contrast, the DB9 Carbon Black and Quantum Silver editions are intended to be sportier. Named after their body paint colours, both feature Obsidian Black interiors with coarse silver stitching, real glass switchgear and a piano black centre console. They also come with a remapped sports exhaust for a better sound (Aston Martin isn’t claiming any increase over the standard car’s 470 bhp / 350 kW / 477 PS), graphite tailpipes, 19” ten-spoke gloss black alloys and black grilles.





The DB9 Morning Frost, Carbon Black and Quantum Silver will all have Touchtronic II transmission fitted as standard. They are available to order now, although curiously pricing has yet to be revealed.

The Big Boy, used coal so fast that shovels couldn't feed it fast enough, so they built a conveyor belt direct from the coal to the firebox





1910's to 1950's fire engines

1910 Peerless

1928 Seldon and I noticed that this and the 1910 Peerless are moth barked Ft Washington

The High and Mighty, mopar engineers and (street racers by night) used it to develop intakes and engines

Above from http://musclecardreaming.tumblr.com

In the woods of Maine are the neglected remains of two locomotives




The Eagle Lake and West Branch (ELWB) Railroad Locomotive #1, was built in June 1897 at Schenectady Locomotive Works (4-6-0 stamped #4552), it was originally a steam locomotive but later converted to burn crude oil to eliminate the forest fire threat caused by cinders. Number 1 was purchased by Great Northern in 1926 and used to haul pulpwood in the Allagash area from 1927-1933.

ELWB Locomotive Number 2, and its tender, were built in December 1901 at Brooks Locomotive Works (2-8-0 stamped 4062). Number 2 was also used as a steam locomotive and later converted to burn crude oil. It was purchased by Great Northern in 1928 and used as the main engine for hauling pulp cars from 1928-1933.

The railroad tranferred logs and crossed over the northwest arm of Chamberlain Lake where it reaches toward Allagash Lake. In September of 1933 both locomotives were relatively obsolete and not worth the cost of transporting them back out of the Allagash area. They were both on the Eagle Lake end of the tramway and the entire railroad was abandoned in place.

 

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