Hail damage? Try this first, it can’t hurt!
October 30, 2008 by Krutch · 3 Comments
With our summer being rather wet and hot at the same time, it also means the conditions are often perfect for hail. Now hail is great for clearing dead leaves off trees and getting rid of spiders in my garden, but it’s close to No.1 on the “Bad for my car” list. Hail damage is the worst kind. It doesn’t really break things, it just makes things look untidy, unkept, miff. Having your pride and joy look like a golf ball is never, ever a good thing. Paintless dent removal is your only fix, and that can cost thousands. Have a look at this video and see the magic. I have no clue if it works, but I shall be testing it soon, hopefully not on my own car though.
Fix hail and other dents by spending 5 minutes here.
Fast n Furious 4 - New model, same parts!
October 28, 2008 by Krutch · 9 Comments
Yeah, we know everyone thinks the Fast n Furious movies are cheesy at best. But you know what? These movies kicked the aftermarket tuning scene into high gear in just about every country around the world. From unbelievable stunts and insane driving (also unbelievable), to hot cars and sexy woman, the movies had everything they needed to become worldwide hits. Well the 4th installment is due for release in June next year, and it features the original cast from the first movie - New model, same parts. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rogriguez and Jordanna Brewster are back with a bang and some mad stunts and a story line that actually looks like it could make sense. If the official preview is anything to go by, this movie will be a huge hit too. Can’t wait!
Back to the future, I mean past. Past-future… Oh whatever!
If you’re younger than 25, chances are you won’t have a clue about the Back 2 The Future Trilogy. In short, there was a nutty professor (Christopher Lloyd) who build a time machine out of a DeLorean. He had a young friend in highschool who travelled through time with him, Marty (Michael J. Fox). In this time (well the 80’s) and any other time Marty went to, his arch enemy was Griff, a typical highschool jock who made Marty’s life miserable. In their future travels, Griff had a cool (ok, back then it looked cool!) BMW hover-car. It seems Jeff Chabotte thought it was really, really cool, and so he built himself one. Does it hover? Who cares?
Take a look at this wicked BMW and the build process!
And now? GT-R production halted!
October 28, 2008 by Krutch · Leave a Comment
Why? No really, that’s all you should ask. This car is a monster, it’s hot, it’s fast and it’s more affordable than anything else with similar performance. It’s already been sold to the public in a few countries, hell we even have three cruising around and more are on the water. What would cause them to stop producing what’s possibly the best car to come out of the Nissan stable, ever? Gearbox issues as mentioned on a few forums around the world, like that chap in Russia who blew one up? Launch control issues? A few have killed the clutch already and been told it’s because the drivers used launch control… Well, as soon as Nissan release a statement, we’ll let you know, but for now…
Porsche cry, Nissan kick them in the teeth!
October 27, 2008 by Krutch · Leave a Comment
I love this one! Back in May the monster Nissan GT-R hit the ‘Ring and dessimated all the competition’s lap times. Now seeing as Nissan is a Japanese brand, the larney brands got all in a huff about it, particularly Porsche. They claimed that the times must have been achieved on “special tyres” or a non-factory-spec GT-R.
Obviously this rant made it to the Nissan top brass who were quick to respond. You simply have to read what Nissan had to say to Porsche, I’ll make the link out of the best quote in the story
“Nissan has also offered free driver training for Porsche if it wants to attempt a second lap.”
The Nissan boys even have the actual tyres on display to prove it… Way to go Porsche!
Bloodhound after Thrust SSC’s record.
October 24, 2008 by Krutch · Leave a Comment
It was eleven years and two weeks ago that Andy Green, a British fighter and test pilot cemented his place is history as the man with the biggest set of brass nuts, ever. Ok, he actually set the land speed record in the jet-powered monster called Thrust SSC. That hot day at the Black Rock desert in Nevada he posted a cool 1228km/h run, Thrust even created a sonic boom as it passed Mach 1 (if you want pics of that insane sight - Google is your friend!). It seems Thrust SSC isn’t up to the job of the new target speed, a cool 1610km/h (1000mph), and so a rocket is being bolted to a Eurofighter-Typhoon jet engine and the result will be named Bloodhound. They want to have it ready for the attempt in 2011, and they appear to be on track for it.
For the full story, clickey here…
And if you’re in the mood to see just how mad these chaps are, take a look at their previous exploits on these links to the YouTube vids:
Thrust SSC - Still the fastest land vehicle.
And to get a good idea of how fast Bloodhound will be, you need to click on this line…
Metro “The Beast” unleashed!
October 23, 2008 by Krutch · Leave a Comment
Ahh, nice to see our hard-earned money at work for a change. While I usually give ten kinds of kak to the Metro chaps for enforcing ridiculous speed limits and other petty and out-of-date laws, this time around, I’m giving them a serious criminal-bashing high-five!
I break the law (by speeding!) and I pay the price - I do the crime, I do the time. That’s me though… Throughout SA there are loads that do the crime and dodge the time, stacking up fines like they’re proof of driving skill or something. These chaps aren’t the worst though. The guys I hate are the ones who are cruisuing with stolen plates/cars and out of date licences. They’re the real criminals, and also insurance risks. If one of these unlicenced idiots ploughs into you, YOU foot the bill through YOUR insurance.
Well The Beast not only weeds out fine dodgers, it weeds out all real criminals too. There’s almost no escaping Metro’s huge roadblocks these days, unless you’re obeying the law. For once it seems ALL motorists will be treated fair, so expect to see loads of taxis being impouned at these blocks - AWESOME!
Clickey here for the full story, it’s in your best interest!
Mini gets charged - in a different way!
October 22, 2008 by Krutch · Leave a Comment
When the Mini was released it took the market by storm. Granted, it was overpriced, but that was as a result of it being built by BMW I’m sure. The Cooper S started off with a bit of charging from a supercharger, and this year’s updated model was charged by a turbocharger… The latest incarnation from Mini is also charged, by electricity! I guess it’s only a matter of time before we have electric cars from all manufacturers, but I think out of the one seen so far, the Mini must be the best looking. According to the release, it should be on the roads by next year, although it’s anybody’s guess as to if and when it comes to South Africa.
Charged Mini of a differnt kind
Sad farewell to VDub Magazine - for now…
October 22, 2008 by Krutch · 8 Comments
The current econimic climate has everyone tightening their belts. Items previously bought as luxuries are being left on the shelves, and manufacturers the world over are feeling the effects. While VDub Magazine has been a very popular niche publication, the very thing that made it a hit has harmed it. With a smaller target audience it really is hard to make ends meet, and when you consider the different ways money is put into a magazine, you soon realise that these things that are necessary to sustain any business are the first things to be cut. This applies to both the readers and the advertorial content.
While the 20th issue is the last one on the shelf, it’s not the last one ever. Oh no, far from it. Contingency plans are in place and in the not too distant future, VDub will most certainly make a welcome return. Until then, your VDub content can be seen in Speed & Sound Magazine of course.
Road safety different for the aged?
Yup, it would seem so. If you’re bored, and I mean really bored, click on the link to see what the Arrive Alive folk are blabbering on about. One thing that needs attention more than all their ideas is that older folk, like really old, should have annual eye tests and reaction tests to see if they can still handle a car on our ever more dangerous roads. Not only will it save their lives, but other road users too. Well that’s my take on it, leave a comment if you agree or not…
