Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Battery tech as you know it will be massively different in 5 years.
Solid state energy storage is going to change the way people think about battery powered devices, and more importantly, motors. Weight and life span will no longer be such a crippling factor.

Battery tech as you know it will be massively different in 5 years.
Solid state energy storage is going to change the way people think about battery powered devices, and more importantly, motors. Weight and life span will no longer be such a crippling factor.

Is the same cat? B-)

How did you get that speed out of landie? very optomisitc speedo Freewheeling hubs and overdrive along with the a different carb?

On the back of a rescue truck.

off a cliff...

With weights attached?

Ta. I have a proposition for your friend which might be of interest, even if I don't actually buy it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271917453082?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

My Mini Cooper S for sale. Forum price is £5200. Dead reliable well looked after car...only selling as bought a new range rover

Left a can of coke in my car's cup holder, got in it this evening to find it exploded.

Got excited thinking it was the red one.

Ha @Sparky add a zero to the price and then maybe ;)

Nurburgring.
Who's been? Hints/tips for a successful roadtrip? Thinking of sneaking in a quick trip with a mate. Out friday, laps on the saturday, back sunday. I'm assuming doing that during the week would mean the ring will be quieter, but I'm short on holiday, so not sure if i want to use up three days for this.
Bad idea driving the M135 uninsured on the track during touristenfahrten? Could always rent a track day car when I get there, but know this is pretty pricey.

Check before you go that its open for touristenfahrten - we went several years ago (as we were nearby) and it was closed for manufacturer testing, this was on a weekday iirc.

yeah, have had a look at the calendar already.
Although apparently it can be closed at very short notice during the week for manufacturer testing.

Been some times, my top tips:

Go to Dunkirk and drive through Belgium.

Belgium has shit roads and batshit drivers. If you leave a normal sized gap expect someone to fill it and be super pissed off if you beep your horn. People will join the motorway doing 25mph more than the speed of traffic and thread an impossible line through to the outside lane without slowing down, and then put their left indicator on as though everyone else is driving slowly for the hell of it rather than actual volume of traffic reasons.

There's many hotels and B&Bs to stay at, I've camped 5 mins away and stayed at hotels 25-35 mins away. Camping is cheap when you're there for a week, but I wouldn't recommend it for a weekend trip. Basically I'm suggesting you could stay for cheaper if you stay further away.

Pistenklause for steak on a stone is mandatory and the giant pizza at Pinocchio in Adenau is also highly recommended.

Saturday WILL be rammo. Don't drive at 100%, drive at maybe 70-80%, use your mirrors, observe the speed limits where there are some, use your mirrors but don't get distracted by them. Some cars will have a phenomenal closing speed that sometimes you just won't be able to comprehend with a quick glance, but don't worry, 95% of the super fast drivers are experienced and will be paying attention. Basically, don't spend the entire lap off the racing line with your indicator on because you're worried about cars behind you, enjoy yourself, but watch out.

If you're happy doing a few laps on Saturday, then come back Sunday morning as soon as it opens and you'll get a chance to do a quieter lap or two before the rush turns up.

Do try and blag some passenger laps

There's a lot of different opinions regarding insurance, I've aggregated a lot of information over the years from Pistonheads, Bridge to Gantry, Northloop, and other forums and my understanding is this:

Most UK insurers exclude the Nurburgring specifically. Those who don't are obligated to provide you with 3rd party cover while on the Nurburgring - this is how Nurburgring GmbH get to wash their hands of the well known issue - and those who do exclude it specifically will most likely provide you with 3rd party cover from what I've read online in the event of an accident. HOWEVER, in both circumstances, there are documented cases where the insurance company come after you directly for the amount they've paid out to the 3rd party. Essentially meaning, you pay in the long run.

You also will get charged for loss of earnings of the track if they have to close.

Also read, understand and follow the rules.

That's literally the very worst case scenario but yes, if you wreck so badly that they have to close the whole track to clean up your mess then you will get charged something insane like €50,000. If you need to get recovered from the track on a flatbed it's about €500. Barriers are charged at €1,000/metre and come in minimum of 3 metre lengths.

No pressure Hoops ;-)

It is not a worse case senario, if you have an accident that leaves debris or it is possible that the road needs cleaning then they will charge. Suspect it is the number of idiots that go there and have a chip on their shoulders with a point to prove after having been on the track in umpteen games console racing games.

No idea of the costs breakdown, but have seen the bills hence it is wise to get indemnity.

Dunkirque is the only port open at the mo.

Nothing is faster than a hire car

New master assembly has arrived from Sweden- does not include the mother fucking pressure switch, which apparently has "expired" and is nla.

Thanks dude!
Might wait til next summer and take a few days off to do a midweek trip.

Have actually looked into repair costs of the track! Costs are as follows, FYI:
Base fee for attendance of armco truck: €150
Removing damaged armco: €10/metre (x2 or x3 or x4 for multiple-height sections)
Replacement armco: €31/metre (x2 or x3 for double/triple height)
Removing damaged armco posts: €5.10 each
Replacing armco post: €39 each
Safety car attendance: €82 per 30 mins (car + 2 people)
Circuit closure: €1,350 per hour
Recovery truck: €250 (inc VAT)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=UsbfzmPCYX4

I feel like I really should have bought a Mazda RX-8:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mazda/rx-8/mazda-rx-8-rx-8-192ps----------------2004/4389289