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Racing neptune all about the journey...
Threads counT luxton – the most prestigious cotton in the world
Contents
7.Threads Count
52.Air Kisses
The story of the world's finest yarns
You'll never forget your first negative g loop
10.Racing Neptune
56.Par Fr ançais
The Everest of Sailing
Four days, four courses, in the South of France
14.Just Add Water
58.Much To Sea And Doo
Dame Ellen MacArthur
The jet ski of champions
18.Zero To Powerboat Hero
60.Surf Tribe
Powerboat racing off the Suffolk coast
Big waves and board shorts
26.A Taste Of The Country
64.The Elixir of life
32.Commitment
66.Review
A Land Rover adventure
Lotus Exige S
40.Time For TT
The world's most famous motorcycle race
You could look 20 years younger…
68.Dining 74.Billion Dollar Hotel Turkey's first five star hotel
44.Life Cycle The lost art of cycling
78.Hide Away Relax in style
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ContRIBUtoRs
neil Davey After 11 years in private banking, neil Davey realised that he hated it, that the bubble was about to burst and decided to do something different. having been proved right about the recession some, er, 12 years later, he's now a freelance journalist specialising in food, drink, travel, films and video games. Anything you can sit down and do, basically. in the meantime, he's also been a cheesemonger, an advisor to a project importing chinese wines to the uk, attempted to assist a famous socialite launch a lifestyle website (with predictable results) and did a stint writing showbiz gossip for a famous lad's mag. Accordingly, he now knows more about kerry katona than any 41 year old man really should.
greg hardes greg hardes graduated from nuSAD with a view to adventure, so he decided to cycle from canada to costa Rica. upon his return, his legs needed a rest, and he is currently focusing his energies on surfing and waterskiing, in between chasing his dream of becoming a world-renowned photographer/ journalist/designer/footballer. greg is a big believer in living simply and refuses to be caught up in the materialistic mentality of our society. greg would one day like to purchase his very own Aston Martin DB9 and is currently saving for one of those new iPhones.
Damian harty he's been very keen on motorcycles since his mother told him they were 'weapons of the devil', but has yet to see any evidence of that assertion. he has another life as engineering contractor to Prodrive, and in that role has worked for Triumph, harley-Davidson, Suzuki, Subaru, Porsche and BMw among others. he has a rich history of breaking and crashing cars, but strangely this does not seem to extend to motorcycles.
I
don’t know about your summer, but ours, and, mine in particular, has been so hectic that I’m in dire need of a holiday. Although I’m conscious that once you’ve read the following pages, you’ll probably think life is one long holiday! By a holiday, however, I mean being able to stow away my phone and computer for a month, so that I can spend unhindered time with my girls (dogs!!) and hours riding my fabulous Bianchi bicycle, as despite not having a V8 engine, it is surprising just how great it feels to be back out on a bike, especially a superb one like the 928! Cheers,
suzannah sorrell
editor and chief
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True Character
True characters are a rare breed that stand out from the crowd. Just like the new Lotus Evora, they lead, not follow. An exclusive proposition, the Evora uses unique and innovative aluminium chassis technology wrapped in iconic Lotus styling. Its character traits of sophistication, agility and dynamism are clearly portrayed, backed up by legendary Lotus ride and handling. Inside, bold shapes and beautiful materials are linked in unison, offering a virtuous combination of simplicity,
comfort and style using exquisite detailing and handbuilt craftmanship. A unique mid-engined 2+2 layout offers striking levels of everyday practicality without compromising the characteristics of a true sportscar. An extraordinary combination of performance and economy confirm the Evora as the 21st century sportscar, a true Lotus, worthy of the name.
Stratton Motor Company (Norfolk) Ltd. Ipswich Road, Long Stratton, Norfolk, NR15 2XJ Please contact Guy Munday for further information Tel: 01508 530491 • Web: www.strattonmotorcompany.com
Fuel consumption in mpg (l/100km): Urban 22.8 (12.4), Extra Urban 43.5 (6.5), Combined 32.5 (8.7) CO2 emissions: 205g/km 6 . www.1degreeonline.co.uk
Threads Count Egypt's nile delta, Luxton’s most precious cotton, Maiestas, and the world’s most expensive shirt. 1º learns more about the art of producing the world’s most luxurious yarns. Writer: Hugo Stephenson Photography: luxton / eton
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J
ust as Champagne can only be produced in the Champagne region of France, the finest cotton in the world, Giza 45, is a controlled appellation that can only be cultivated in a single 3000-acre area off Damietta, east of Egypt’s Nile Delta, in limited yearly yields. The Nile Delta is one of the world’s largest deltas, the point at which the Nile and Mediterranean Sea merge and, with them, two cultures. Extending to the north of Cairo, between Lake Mareotis in the west and the Suez Canal in the east, it forms a 240km wide arc along the Mediterranean coast. Formed over millions of years by deposits of mud brought down by the regular annual inundation of the Nile, it marks the end of the river’s long journey from central Africa, where it breaks up into separate arms towards the sea – the two main distributaries being Rosetta (west) and Damietta (northeast). With a rich history, the region of Damietta benefits from a yearround Mediterranean microclimate; nutrient-rich soil, which when combined with the area’s traditional farming methods, provides the perfect growing conditions for the raw cotton Giza 45, which cannot be mass-produced. The Dom Perignon of cotton is produced by Luxton. Respected throughout the world, Luxton’s exquisite yarns are transformed into some of the worlds most beautiful and unique cotton fabrics. Yet it is their most exclusive superfine yarn - Maiestas - and in particular their vintage ‘Maiestas Reserve label’, produced from the top bales of the rarest and highest-grade Giza 45 cotton, that is so alluring to the most prestigious brands and their discerning customers from royalty and movie stars to captains of industry and sportsmen. Eton, the Swedish shirt-maker, used Luxton’s Maiestas yarn– woven by the renowned Italian weavers Atelier Romentino – to create the world’s most expensive ‘diamond’ shirt, worth an estimated £25,000, to commemorate the company’s 80th anniversary; which is surely the ultimate accolade. The 1920’s Art Deco inspired garment was then auctioned off at Eton’s Diamond Party, to help raise vital funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. So what is it that makes Luxton Maiestas so special? As with all true luxury marques it is an intricate story of many chapters – a celebration of traditional techniques and craftsmanship passed down over generations. It is here that the Maiestas story begins. After being sown by hand, cotton seeds are left to grow and after around two months flower buds appear – the blossom blooming white, changing to yellow, then pink, and finally dark red – a truly majestic sight! Once the blossom falls only the green pods, known as bolls, remain; it is inside these bolls that moist fibres grow, expanding under the warm sun until the boll splits into an eruption of fluffy cotton. The fibres are then harvested by hand rather than machinery – a painstakingly slow and laborious harvesting method, but one which allows Luxton to only garner fibres that are at their peak. Once harvested, the raw fibres are ginned (short for engine) – a machine that converts seed cotton fibres into lint. As with picking, there are different techniques to this, but Luxton use a roller ginning process which gently teases the cotton between rollers to separate the seeds from the fibres, rather than saw-ginning, a far more destructive method. Whilst the roller technique is considerably slower, none of the cotton’s silken
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character is sacrificed, which is vital in giving Luxton yarns their unique characteristics. Once transformed into lint, the highest-grade Giza 45 cotton is baled up for selection and testing. Sampled one by one, every bale is painstakingly examined and graded according to its staple, strength, micronaire, colour and purity. The cream of the limited premium Giza 45 crop, from the best year’s harvest, is classified as ‘vintage’; for just as vintage denotes the provenance and taste of the finest Champagne, the Luxton Maiestas Reserve label denotes its quality, strength and silken properties. Of course only the ripest, intensely flavoured pinot noir, pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes, grown in ‘above average’ weather and soil conditions, are chosen for use in the production of vintage Champagne; similarly only the purest Giza 45 cotton is selected, before undergoing rigorous tests by a master of cotton, to ascertain the length of fibre, its solidity, colour, sheen and purity, before it can be classified as a ‘top bale’ and used in the vintage Maiestas Reserve label. It is worth noting that Luxton has owned the largest amount of Giza 45 harvests since 1998 and through their ‘Reserve Bales Program’ have been carefully selecting and classifying a very limited number of bales, known as ‘top bales’ ever since. This year Luxton is offering the top bales of Maiestas Reserve 2005 for sale. Shirts made from this limited quantity of bales will probably be the most exclusive ever to go on sale to the world’s most discerning and affluent customers. At this point the bales go to Luxton’s state-of-the-art spinning mill where they undergo further preparation before moving onto the carding process, to be further purified and separated until they become ‘sliver’ – loose strands. This sliver is then produced to a specific twist and count, before being wound onto cones. The speed at which this happens depends on the desired quality of the end product: for a medium-count range a spinning machine will produce more than 300kg of yarn each day, but for fine counts like Maiestas, only a few kilos, perhaps less than 5kg in a day. Slow perhaps, but who said perfection had a timescale? After being dyed or bleached depending on the desired colour, the yarn goes to looms to be woven into fabrics, in much the same way as the first weaving machines did hundreds of years ago. The looms create a vast range of styles, with collections being added to every season, but only the best of weavers will use the luxurious Maiestas yarns in their products, as Luxton’s exclusive label can’t be bought by just anyone. Instead, it is reserved for the most distinguished designers and textile manufacturers throughout the world, such as renowned Italian shirt fabric weaving mills: Grandi & Rubinelli and, Testa, who choose Maiestas for their luxury line – Atelier Romentino. The final chapter in this yarn is that expert tailors will cut their patterns out of Maiestas fabric, according to the practices of their art. With each exclusive shirt costing from £300 and taking anything upwards of 16 hours to make; all on behalf of the world’s most renowned shirt brands and discerning loyal customers worldwide, who know and appreciate the luxurious tactile sensation and timeless quality that only Luxton knows how to deliver.
www.luxtonworld.com
‘…just as vintage denotes the provenance and taste of the finest champagne, the Luxton Maiestas Reserve label denotes its quality, strength and silken properties…’
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sailing
R acing Neptune SAILING AROUND THE WORLD, WHAT A ROMANTIC IDEA...OR PERHAPS NOT! Writer: Suzannah sorrell
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sailing
pHotograpH: Dave Kneale / volvo ocean race.
e
ver found yourself wondering what it would be like to take part in a round the world yacht race? if so, this is what you would be signing up to‌ gale force winds, waves so high you can't see the top of them, freezing temperatures and icy waters pummelling you with such force that it feels like thousands of tiny needles are puncturing your skin. not to mention sleep deprivation and hunger, of course! The volvo ocean Race is the toughest global sailing event bar none. The 'Everest' of sailing! Staged every four years and over nine months, sailors pit their skills, physical endurance and competitive spirit against mother nature, as they race day and night often for more than 30 days at a time, over a ten leg course. This year's race, which came to a thrilling climax back in June in St Petersburg, Russia, followed the most demanding course in the history of the race, which dates back to 1973. conceived and organised by the Royal naval Sailing Association, as the whitbread Round the world Race – rebadged in 2001-02, as the volvo ocean Race - it was the first ever attempt at a global, crewed yacht race. with a mixture of excitement and trepidation 17 race yachts, carrying 167 crew from seven countries, hoisted their spinnakers as they embarked on a trip of a lifetime from Portsmouth for the first leg of the unchartered 27,500 nautical miles course. Back then yachts ranged from the 1936-built Peter von Danzig of
germany, to the uk's Burton cutter, which was still being finished during the race, and was no different to many of the 3,000 spectator boats that turned out en masse to witness the historic start. nowadays, they race exceptionally powerful volvo open 70's. when the first iterations were introduced for the 2005-06 race, they irrevocably raised the bar for offshore racing. For the 2008-09 race, seven teams used an even more powerful version of the open 70, representing the most extreme yachts ever used in the 36 years since the race began. with their high freeboards, voluminous angular hull sections, towering rigs and canting keels, capable of canting transversely up to an angle of 40 degrees, they cut an impressive yet aggressive and intimidating profile in both the harbour and at sea. "These boats are scary. Things can spiral out of control quickly. They're stronger this race, but that just means we'll push harder" said wouter verbraak, Delta Lloyd's navigator and meterologist. The yachts needed to be more reliable and more powerful than ever before to deal with the introduction of the event's longest and most gruelling course. The 37,000 nautical miles course takes in some of the world's most treacherous seas, across five continents and, for the first time, includes the Middle East and Asia. Beginning on the 4th october in Alicante, Spain, the teams stopped over in cape Town, South Africa; cochin, india; Singapore; Qingdao; china; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Boston, uSA. From galway, ireland to goteborg/
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SAiling
Just add water Name five sailors – I'll bet your list starts with Ellen MacArthur!… conummodiate Writer: suzannah sorrelL Photography: th Martinez
W
ith an interview granted and just a few hours to research one of the most famous sailors of the 21st century, I was bemused to find that every conceivable question I could think to ask Dame Ellen MacArthur, had, in fact, already been answered. More importantly, very well documented. Turning to a few salty sea dogs for inspiration, it struck me as odd that all they seemingly wanted to know about Ellen, was her sexual preference. I listened intently as, individually, they debated, often at some length and in graphic detail, whether she was straight or gay. Unbelievable, given her vast achievements and successes, resulting in numerous accolades, including her Dame-ship, but still the burning question of who she prefers to go to bed with remains. It’s sad. I mean, really, who gives a damn? What difference would it make to yours or my life if her sexuality were confirmed either way. It certainly wouldn’t make me sleep any better, or you? They aren’t the only ones concerned with such matters. At a recent hotel press conference, an outwardly gay journalist from a national Irish newspaper, asked both Richard Gere and Sharon Stone, ‘Don’t you think celebrities should be more open and honest about their sexuality?’ Afterwards, you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife, but it wasn’t just the celebrities who were close to walking out; half the 200 or so international journalists felt it was a completely inappropriate question for the launch of a luxury hotel. I guess the trouble is two-fold. They are in the limelight due to their profession and are interviewed, written about and scrutinised by the media on a near daily basis; the world at large thinks they know them and, because of the celebrity-obsessed culture now adopted, we now feel it’s our right to know every single last detail about their lives, which extends to all things personal. As humans, we are inherently nosy. Ellen’s forebears explored the world to see what was over the horizon. The history books called them explorers, but they could just as easily have been called ‘nosy’. We’re not so different, we want to see and want to know everything about everything, and everyone, but it’s still a fairly slim excuse for invading someone’s privacy obssessively. Jeffrey Ross, a racing/sports journalist for nigh on 40 years, thinks many journalists have lost all morality, empathy and humanity, especially where sports personalities are concerned. “Winning consistently, at a highest level, is incredibly difficult and if they fail to perform, as expected, they know about it. Their job isn’t made easier by the media’s obsession with all aspects of their personal life; When Leicester Piggott was around, I didn’t care what he did with his whip after a race...”
Right: Ellen in her uniform. Left: The entire BT Team Ellen line up.
I’m convinced that we’d all be happier if public figures were forced to have permanent web cams installed into their domains – big brotherstyle – for our entertainment. That way, we’d know, once and for all, whether or not Brad and Angelina were happily married and who does the washing up...! As someone who has found the constant scrutiny difficult at times, which include various spoofs of her emotional ‘at sea’ videos, I’m sure Ellen would be horrified at this thought. “Losing your anonymity is a huge thing. It is one of the most precious things that you ever have, but you don’t realise it until you lose it!" One of the strongest memories I have of the Vendee Globe is of getting off my boat into a life that wasn’t my own anymore and I had to make it my life again.” Ellen first shot across the bows, into public conscious, in the winter of 2001, having finished second in the fiercely competitive Vendee Globe; a solo round-the-world sailing race, that doesn’t allow participants the luxury of stopovers or assistance. She was the tender age of 24, making her the youngest ever participant in the history of the race. “I loved it! It was challenging, it was hard and all those things, but I loved it. I had dreamt of sailing around the world all my life and with the Vendee, I did it, but I didn’t just do it, I came second, so it was an amazing experience.” Ellen completed the 24,000 mile course in just 94 days, and in doing so, set the record for the fastest female solo ‘round the world’ circumnavigation in a yacht with just one hull; in 2004 Ellen went one better, sailing her 75ft Trimaran B&Q around the world, establishing a new outright record for the fastest solo circumnavigation ever! This record stood until last year when Frenchman, Francis Joyon, reclaimed the record after smashing her time by almost two weeks. All is not lost, however, as she still retains the record of the fastest ever solo circumnavigation, by a woman.
watersport
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watersport
Zero to Powerboat Hero NEVER ONE TO TURN DOWN A CHALLENGE… HAS THE EDITOR BITTEN OFF MORE THAN SHE CAN CHEW? Writer: Suzannah Sorrell Photography: Jarowan Power
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waterSPoRT
I
t all started with a telephone call, which went something like this: “Fancy doing some powerboat racing,” “Are you serious?” “Yes!” “well, of course i do. when is it and where?” “it’s in two weeks time at Lowestoft.” “great, i’m up for that!” “ok, i’ll come back to you.” click. And with that, i went off to the goodwood Festival of Speed without giving it another thought. well, there were Ferraris to drive and i figured nothing was likely to come of it, given the time frame. on Monday of the following week, i received the following email on my iPhone, as i was sitting in a service station, close to the M25: 'Suz, Your honda race boat has arrived! This boat won both races in Liverpool 2008 - so no excuses! You will need to spend as much time in the boat as possible if you’re going to win. i also have a few little ‘tweaks’ that will be done. i will be putting the boat in the water tonight so that it will be ready whenever you are. Please can you let me know some days/times you will be able to come down, so i can start your training. Your navigator, Jeff weake will be arriving from new Zealand on the 15th July. once the race instructions have arrived i will forward on to you. Basically this is what will happen over the weekend. Friday morning: Signing in / Scrutineering / Boat Launching. Afternoon: Testing / Drivers Briefing / Drinks Reception. Saturday morning: Signing in / weather Briefing. Afternoon: Racing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / Podium / Party time! Regards, Dave'
Top: Temperamental coastal weather made practise a choppy business. Above left: Course layout. Above right: The Ed's ID bangle. Right: Weather conditions, surprsingly calm for the first race of the day.
no pressure then! Later that day i met David cowle – former 150hp champion and current driver of the 225hp boat, ‘Miss Toft ii’ for Lings honda, in the highly competitive honda Formula Four Stroke off-Shore Powerboat Series (F4SA). we met at Lowestoft haven Marina, with a view to checking out the boat and planning my training schedule. on Friday of that same week, training commenced. This would be the first time i’d ever driven a boat! 16-days later, i walked into Lings honda dealership ready for my first race, only to find my navigator lying on the sofa in their café, still half cut from the night before... The good news; it was sunny and the sea was flat calm. “Are you nervous yet? inquired David, “not yet” i responded, “but if you keep asking, you’ll make me nervous." Although it would be helpful if my navigator could talk, what on earth did you do to him?” Thankful that i didn’t indulge in the night out, i made my way over to the Marina, where ‘Suzi ii’ (h20), our hugely capable honda-powered 150hp boat was moored up. closely followed by kiwi Jeff, who was feeling a little more human, having eaten a couple of bacon rolls. with just under 45 minutes to go until the start of the race, we changed into our race overalls and settled ourselves in the boat, only for me to have to take mine off again, as i needed the toilet. The nerves had
tr aining journal After getting to grips with powerboat basics in the class room and at Lowestoft Haven Marina, Powerboat Champion, David Cowley, and Editor, Suzannah Sorrell, headed out to sea, just as a large black cloud emptied its entire contents of freezing cold rain and hailstones on top of them… We tried in vain to shield our faces from the onslaught; akin to a thousand tiny acupuncture needles all
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puncturing your skin at once, but it was no use. We turned the boat around and headed back to the marina, sodden! Once the rain had subsided, we ventured back out. A couple of demo runs by David, who is a genius behind the wheel of Honda’s 150's. “Right, happy with that?” Asked David, “It’s your turn! Sit here, get yourself comfortable behind the wheel, attach the safety cut-off cord to your leg and then floor it!”
‘I walked into Lings Honda dealership ready for my first r ace, only to find my navigator lying on the sofa in their café, still half cut from the night before…’
Within seconds I was pelting down the coast, riding the waves like a thing possessed; whooping and wailing as I went along, once the nerves had subsided and I realised I was enjoying it. (Unlike when I’m in the navigator's seat!) Suddenly David’s comments about making the boat become part of you began to make sense. Approaching every wave was like preparing to jump a fence at the Grand National, except I had
to throttle off slightly, as the boat started to mount a wave (if it was a big one) and power on when we hit its crest, if I were to avoid the rear of the boat crashing down, destroying our backs and kidneys, but as importantly, retain my speed. A few more runs produced a straight line speed of 48 miles per hour. Not bad for a beginner, apparently! But, I had the feeling there was much more to learn than just point and squirt...
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A Taste of the Country from coast to coast, it was a landie adventure! Writer: suzannah sorrell Photography: jarowan power
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motoring
T
he all-consuming fascination, or should that be fanaticism, that Landrover owners have for their beloved Landies has always perplexed me. Some spend hours tinkering, tuning and pimping, with huge rims and acres of checker plate. Others even go so far as adding snorkels, despite the fact they will probably never take them anywhere near deep water, let alone in it, for fear of rust. Meanwhile, others prefer to keep them au-natural, coating them in mud at every available opportunity. All however, wax lyrically about them to anyone who will listen. There are even organised events where they can compare differentials, drive ratios and mud, one assumes, much to their partner’s dismay! Take a close friend, who recently lost the battle with his wife to keep his limited edition Challenge T5 90. With a second child on the way, the need for a more practical ‘family friendly’ car far outweighed his alleged self-indulgent fantasies of playing farmer. The question on the table was, ‘did he really need a vehicle that had previously crossed deserts and jungles to deliver him eight miles to work and back, albeit along country roads?’ Although I could see the practicalities of its fully wipe-clean surfaces, and the appeal of a bouncy ride, especially where children were concerned, it was incredibly noisy and utilitarian so I initially found myself siding with his wife. My Discovery-driving friend, whose first car was a 110, was quick to put me to rights though, declaring, “She’s being utterly ridiculous. Landie’s are the best vehicles in the world!” Before adding, “He shouldn’t get rid of it under any circumstances.” Well, she did name her 110 Edith, and when forced to sell it, placed an advert in Horse and Hound saying something along the lines of… ‘A loving home needed for Edith, my 110 Defender!’ Despite her familys protestations that she’d gone
‘completely insane’, she had the last laugh, as the day after the advert ran she received a call from a couple saying, “We just have to buy Edith as you are obviously a true Landie person!” The deal done, they proceeded to send her regular ‘update’ letters containing photographs of them with Edith. She even got Christmas cards...! As I said, it all starts to get somewhat mystifying, but never one to make ill-informed judgements, I thought I’d better give Landrover a call and take one for a long drive... I needed to visit the Isle of Wight to interiew a sailor, so it seemed an appropriate vehicle to take across the Solent and trundle around a small island. Besides, the 300 mile six hour journey from Norfolk would provide the perfect opportunity to take it on a variety of roads, as that’s where most of them end up. “Are you sure you want to drive a Defender that far? They aren’t the most comfortable of vehicles over long distances…” said the press officer. With that I nearly changed my mind, opting instead for the more comfortable Range Rover, but then thought ‘where’s my sense of adventure?’ Had my bottom gotten so accustomed to the finest hides of the world’s super cars that it was unwilling to rough it anymore? Before I could answer my inner voice, someone from the other side of the office noticed my hesitation and yelled, ‘get the Defender, it will be fun.’ I was in London when it was delivered so it was left to our fabulous photographer, JP, to drive it into the city. From the moment I spotted Larry the Landie, as it will now be known, circumnavigating Sloane Square, a big grin appeared from nowhere. Although completely out of its intended environment, it looked very cool indeed. “Don’t tell me what you think of it. Let me get behind the wheel and I’ll see how I get on,” were my first comments to JP, having never driven anything quite so organic. Navigating our way through the city was surprisingly easy. A new lower ratio first gear means the Landie can pull away better, which together with its 360 nm of torque, aids off-road and towing performance. The clutch action is light, and it can be manoeuvred out of tight spots with ease, thanks to its short wheelbase. Bus drivers were looked in the eye and cabbies figured they'd met their match, despite probably thinking we were some young toffs from the countryside, lost in the big smoke. So far, so good. Making our way out to the ever-congested M25 at a slow crawl, we headed south towards Southampton and our hotel. Hotel TerraVina is situated on the edge of the beautiful New Forest, but crucially just a few miles from the Red Funnel ferry terminal. I’d discovered the hotel during a frantic Internet search a few days prior, but at the time of booking hadn’t appreciated the calibre of our hosts; it turns out that owners Gerard and Nina Basset are effectively ‘hotel royalty’, having co-founded the Hotel de Vin hotel group, along with the Ecole du Vin (School of Wine). And what a warm welcome we received from the amiable French owner and his English wife.
Right top: A rubber duck in everyroom! Bottom far right: Yarmouth Pier, Isle of Wight. Bottom right: Larry crossing the Solent with Red Funnel Ferries. Left: The Ed tests out the Defender's handling.
motoring
‘as we began to embark, the maximum height 6ft 6” restriction sign loomed’
motoring
Commitment As the lotus exige approaches its 10th birthday, Dr sorrell explores its dual personality on both road and track. Writer: suzannah sorrell Photography: jarowan power
N
umerous ideas spring to mind for putting the 2010 Lotus Exige S through its paces. Take it to the Isle of Man and blast it around the extremely quick and twisty mountain stretch, which forms part of the legendary 37.73 mile TT circuit that just happens to be de-restricted. Head to the notorious ‘Ring’, pay a fiver and see what lap times it could achieve, or take it to Reims, France, and let it sniff out the old Formula One circuit, nestled amidst the stunning Champagne region. Either way, taking it away from its home soil, and the chance to abscond from the office, was preferable. All this indecisiveness was, however, driving our long-suffering photographer round the bend. Everytime he thought he’d worked out the photographs to illustrate this feature I’d change my mind, driving off in a huff when he suggested photographing it next to some wind turbines. “Wind Turbines! What on earth have they got to do with it, it’s not the Bioethanol Exige!” I exclaimed, before he could counter with, “Aside from the fact it would make for a strong static shot, with the wind turbines providing the back drop, it is positively eco-friendly when compared to other sportscars, given its massive performance output from such a tiny engine.” You’d never guess he used to work for them! As I drove down the road with Muse Hysteria blaring out of the stereo, via my iPod, I thought about his logic. He was right to a point. The latest Exige S, although not what the ‘greenies’ would deem officially ‘green’, still has a puny supercharged 1.8 engine which, when combined with its lightweight composite aluminium chassis and body, delivers an impressive 240 bhp; making it much more environmentally friendly than, say, Porsches’s 911 GT3RS. And, Lotus has managed to reduce the CO2 emissions to only 199g/km, whilst also increasing fuel economy.
Still, after commencing my powerboat challenge, it occurred to me that we didn’t actually need to take it very far at all because, a few days into the training, it became apparent that the Exige S was an incredibly similar proposition to that of my Honda-powered Cougar powerboat. Both have been designed with enough creature comforts (in the Exige, air conditioning is a necessity, due to heat produced from the engine sitting just behind your head) to make them useable enough on a day-to-day basis and, more importantly, with enough potential performance to be demons on their particular circuit. So in theory, after spending your Saturday perfecting lap times, you could take your partner for a Sunday blast. Perhaps with a picnic and some sparkling apple juice, as you couldn’t possibly drink because then you'd have to hand over the keys, and where’s the fun in that! Provided, that is, your ever-supportive partner doesn’t mind their insides being jerked about and isn’t bothered that the carefully prepared picnic would probably be a mushy mess at the end of the journey! Yes, the Exige S and the powerboat had much in common: a headon collision of two great Japanese powerhouses – Honda and Toyota. Since Lotus ditched the Rover engine back in 2004, as it no longer met strict new EU emission tests, they have gone from strength to strength. Furthermore, after finding the magic formula – the supercharger – they’ve been able to drastically increase horsepower, making the latest version a world away from the mark I Exige in both performance and looks; its restyled front end and new larger, rear ‘drag reducing’ wing (181mm wider) makes it look even more like a radio-controlled car than ever before. You have to hand it to Lotus. Unlike others, they’ve steadfastly stuck to producing small, neat little packages, that deliver an incredibly focused, low slung, go-kart-style drive, which has earned them the reputation of being arguably THE ‘best driver’s cars in the world.’
Left: The Exige's restyled front adds to it's aggressive racer for the road appearance.
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Time For TT
The TT and the New TTXGP is an Electrifying Experience! Writer: Jarowan Power
Photography: Jarowan Power
CYCLING
Life Cycle
THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE COME FOR FREE, WELL, APART FROM THE BIKES, THE SHORTS... Writer: suzannah sorrelL Photography: Jarowan power / Suzannah Sorrell
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CYCLING
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CYCLING
L
ife's funny when you think about it. You're born, you learn to walk and, just as you've mastered that, your parents complicate matters by perching you on two-wheels. Initially petrified, you're soon whizzing around like a whirling dervish. Hour upon hour, year upon year of happy pedalling
ensues. How free did we feel? How uncomplicated were our lives back then? Then you hit 17 and all you can think about are four wheels; your bike banished to the garage for a long rest. Many years later, during your morning ablutions, you discover a tyre in place of your six-pack. What the hell happened...? You try dieting, but fail miserably. Damn those twin-packed chocolate bars! Eventually, you'll reach the same point as we did in January. "We need to do something. Something quick, otherwise, the food section will have to go, and no one wants that!" We moaned. It wasn't just our excess girths; our bodies were literally seizing up, rebelling against too much sitting down in front of computers, in cars or cramped up in planes. But what to do? Join a gym? Been there, done that. "What you need is a challenge, something to aim for to keep you motivated, otherwise you won't stick to anything," said our marathon running friend. "How about taking on the London Marathon?" Are you kidding! Running is far too much like hard work and, besides, our snapper has a 'get out of running note', thanks to a war wound on his leg. The eureka moment came during a conversation with Superbike rider, Leon Camier, "You should get a pushy! That'll sort you out. Cycling is great for fitness..." He should know; when Leon isn't dominating the British Superbike Championship (After posting 14 wins, he's just broken Niall Mackenzie's record for the most BSB wins in a season and there's still eight races to go!) he can be found racing his 'pushy' around his local cycling club circuit. In fact, you'll find most motorsport stars worth their salt, use cycling as part of their training. It's probably got something to do with how far bike technology has moved on since the days of the Raleigh Chopper. With the cycling industry keen to capitalise on human-power, there's never been a better time to get back in the saddle. And remember, once learned, you never forget, so there's no excuse! Big-barrelled Sturmey-Archer 3 speed gears of old give way to lightweight precision-engineered Japanese or Italian components, offering upwards of 20 gears. Since Lotus burst onto the cycling scene, with it's unique carbon fibre monocoque frame which, when powered by Chris Boardman, enabled the pairing to win Britain's first cycling Gold Medal in 72 years at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, carbon fibre has become the material de rigueur.
Most wheels are constructed from carbon fibre, aluminum alloy or a combination of both, as are seat posts, handle bars, you name it. If they can utilise its lightweight properties, they will. Then you've got disc brakes, wired or disc spokes, shock absorbers, the list goes on and on. Not since the 80's automotive scene – GTI, SRI, RS, XR3i, Twin-Cam, 16 v – have we seen so many acronyms; an achievement in itself, given the space available on a bike. But, what of our goal? Trawling through the Internet, we found scores of organised cycling events to choose from, making it apparent that whilst we'd ditched our two-wheels in favour of four and an engine, many hadn't. Spoilt for choice, we eventually chose the London to Cambridge 60-miler, on the 26th July, in aid of Breast Cancer and the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford, Ireland, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, on the 30th August. Perfect! Two races, two great causes and enough time to get some training in, problem solved. Now all we needed was a couple of decent bikes... After a bit of research; another phone call to Leon, we were straight on the phone to Bianchi. "What you need is a 928 road bike," said the obliging press officer. "They will be perfect for what you're intending to do. I'll put you in touch with Ed, a great guy over at Colchester (5312.co.uk), that's near you isn't it?" Well, kind of... "He'll sort you out, take measurements etc and order the bikes you need." And sure enough, a couple of weeks later, we were being fitted out with two brand new full carbon (with a sprinkling of Kevlar) framed 928's or, 928 C2C Veloce to be precise, which translates as Coast to Coast and 'fast' in Italian. Designed with long distances in mind, these competition-standard road bikes benefit from BAT (Bianchi Active technology), a system designed to balance out torsional rigidity, affecting the frame during pedaling, and vertical vibration by using Kevlar to dampen the front folks and rear stays; increasing comfort whilst reducing rider fatigue. Which in English means, longer, more comfortable rides that don't leave you completely knackered at the end. Two weeks on, we picked up our bikes. Jumping on them for the first time was incredible; so obviously light and reactive and we'd only ridden three miles! Three of the most painful miles ever travelled, I might add! Bike design may be more technologically advanced, but the saddles are still incredibly uncomfortable. It should be noted we were both wearing jeans... as you did back in the old days! Time to get some fetching skin tight lycra with padded bits! Walking into a cycling shop is a minefield. There's longs, bibs, half bibs, (think German male porn star with braces and you'll be on the right
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motoring
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Aviation
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Aviation
Air Kisses
Imagine being able to have your first kiss again, with all you know now, and with someone much hotter! Writer: Damian Harty Photography: supplied & damian harty
A
s a 15-year-old spotty air cadet, I had my first ‘air experience’ flight in a DeHavilland Chipmunk – it replacing the Tiger Moth, yes, that Tiger Moth – awestruck as we nosed into a gentle dive to garner the 175 knots it needed to complete a loop. Experiencing 2g for the first time, and seeing the ground above and sky below, was too much for my adolescent brain to comprehend. I let the stick go and learnt that Gypsy Major engines don’t run upside down! In flying terms it was definitely my first kiss. It was also longer ago than I care to admit. At 17, a failed medical put paid to aspirations of becoming a pilot, but I’ve never forgotten that time in the Chipmunk. In the intervening years I’ve indulged my fantasies with a Tiger Moth flight at Duxford, before the Eurocrats judged that people having a nostalgic bimble presented a clear and present danger to society. The Tiger Moth was an exceptionally gentle thing, although I confess to being completely rubbish at flying it; leaving the pilot in the back to have a whale of a time chasing his mate around the sky in an accompanying Moth, and whilst very agreeable, it was no first kiss revisited. I’ve done hundreds of thousands of miles in commercial jets; functionally whisking me all over the world in safety, style and comfort, but
in kiss terms they are kisses from your auntie. Not one of them looped the loop, although there is a video of a Boeing 707 doing a roll on the 1º website. (www.1degreeonline.co.uk/video) Recently, thanks to the editor’s squeamishness over such things, she effectively put me in the front seat of an Extra 300. The cute little thing weighs a quarter of a Spitfire, sounds like a Porsche and is the preferred mount of aerobatic pilots like Gerry Cooper, one of the members of Team GB, who will form a collective assault on the World Aerobatic Championships, to be held at Silverstone in August 2009. As my co-pilot, Andy Bickmore, ran the engine up against the brakes everything flexed, straining and coiling itself in readiness for take-off. After no distance at all, the tailwheel was off the floor and we were pulling up into a climb at what seemed about the same rate as a commercial jet – pretty impressive considering it was only doing half the speed. A purpose-built aerobatic plane, it has symmetrical wings, so it doesn’t matter which way up it flies; a fixed tailwheel undercarriage rather than a retractable one, to save weight, and ailerons that span the full length of the wings to give it high rolling rate and excellent maneouverability. The inboard portion of the ailerons sit in the wash of the propeller,
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surF'suP
surf tribes
ThEY RiDE ThE wAvES in BoARD ShoRTS oR ThE LATEST Skin TighT nEoPREnE. huDDLE ARounD AnciEnT cAMPER vAnS AnD BoB ABouT on ThE hoRiZon wAiTing FoR A DEcEnT SET oF wAvES. gREg hARDES TRAcES ThiER TRiBAL oRiginS. Writer: greg HarDeS.
pHotograpHy: greg HarDeS.
Corporate Cool Guy Andy, after working his way up the corporate ladder, is now earning a six-figure salary. Although he enjoys the finer things in life – expensive convertibles, a swanky studio apartment in west kensington, and breast enhancements for his wife Susan – Andy sees himself as something of a free spirit. After taking a few surfing lessons in oz with a guy called koby, a tanned dude with long blonde hair that Andy really felt he connected with on so many levels, Andy now regularly relives the transcendental experience of being at one with nature to his young secretary. Andy is arranging a team-building weekend in newquay, where he will pay large sums of money for him and his beer-bellied colleagues to wear neoprene and flounder around on large florescent foam boards. The Geared-up Grom Simon is 15 and has recently had his hair cut in exactly the same style as his favourite surfer, Andy irons, including expensive highlights to recreate that sun-bleached look. To date, his parents have bought Simon seven high-performance surfboards, all of which are completely covered in various surf stickers from Quiksilver to Billabong. This, along with his branded hoody and baggy jeans, gives people the impression that he is sponsored by at least a handful of major surf brands. Simon plays the cool dude around his friends but gets grounded if he doesn’t practice piano every evening. The Thrasher Jack is sick of all these idiot beginners crowding his favorite surf-spots and getting in his way all the time. Don’t they realize he’s been coming to this spot for years? way before surfing became so damned popular! These crowds are like a virus, and Jack chooses to remedy this particular virus with aggression – effing and blinding at anyone who dares cross his path. he of course has priority on any wave he chooses, regardless of the order of the line-up, and everyone else should automatically know and acknowledge that fact. After all, he’s lived here all his life and this is a local spot for locals only.
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Surf'sup
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Billion Dollar Hotel A five star reception for a five star hotel. Writer: Suzannah Sorrell
Photography: Supplied
W
hat is left to say that hasn’t already been said about Turkey’s first proper five-star resort or, if Turkey were totally part of Europe, Europe’s most expensive hotel, other than that it is immense in every sense. One thing is certain. In Paris Hilton’s own words, “It ain’t no Hilton!” Along with Sharon Stone, Italian temptress Monica Bellucci, Richard Gere; singers Seal and Tom Jones and, finally, the biggest diva of them all, Mariah Carey, (excuse the name dropping!) Paris provided the glitterati for the opening launch ceremony. Staged over three fabulously decadent days, it was as elaborate as the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony and as entertaining as E4’s Dirty Sexy Money thanks to eccentric A-list behaviour. The antics were led by Hollywood veteran Miss Stone, who seemingly has a penchant for ‘healing rituals’, in the lobby, on the dance floor and anywhere else her strung-out manager happened to be. I was always under the impression it was the job of the manager to keep the celebrity calm, not the other way around, but what do I know? After flying into Antalya’s airport, where staff in the stylish VIP lounge are incredibly welcoming, a 15 minute drive ensues before you enter the vast Versailles-style gates protecting the inner sanctum of the über resort. Once through, untouched woodland on the left will ultimately be transformed into a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course by the end of 2010. Further along, on the right, you’ll see a gazillion steps with overflowing water, dominated by Turkey’s highly anticipated new palace in all its bleach white glory, with lashings of elaborately painted gold.
acknowledgements
Autumn 2009 Issue 6 1 Degree M agazine
To our readers we hope that you have enjoyed the fifth issue of 1 Degree. Below you will find the contact details for the products, companies and services we have mentioned within the issue.
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FRONT COVER
Photographer: Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race All About the jour ney
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