Akrapovič Magazine vol. 14 by Akrapovič

NOVEMBER 2013 ISSUE 14

Rally Champion Walter Röhrl

Rolls-Royce

Greubel&Forsey

At Wayne Rainey’s

K. Schwantz spent the night at my house!

Good Vibrations

R 1200 GS

R 1200 RT

S 1000 RR R 1200 GS Adv

K 1600 GT

K 1300 S

R 1200 GS

R 1200 RT

S 1000 RR R 1200 GS Adv

K 1600 GT

K 1300 S

Contents

05 letter

AKRAPOVIČ Akrapovič Lifestyle Magazine Issue 14, November 2013 Akrapovič d.d. Malo Hudo 8 a SI-1295 Ivančna Gorica Slovenia www.akrapovic.com Publisher: Korpmedia d.o.o. Tomšičeva 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia www.korpmedia.si Managing Director: Mateja Kos Pregelj ID No.: 2272237000 VAT No.: SI14601737 Editor-in-chief: Miran Ališič Photo editor: Bor Dobrin Art directors: Neja Engelsberger, Saša Kerkoš Cover design: Zdenko Bračevac Contributors: Alenka Birk, Matevž Hribar, Gaber Keržišnik, Mitja Reven, Julian Ryder, Karin Sturm, Tina Torelli, Michael Noir Trawniczek Contributing Photographers: Ray Archer, Bor Dobrin, Matevž Hribar, Luka Ileršič, Saša Kapetanovič, Reinhard Klein, Marc Robinot, Alex Štokelj Translation: Matjaž Horvat Lectorship: Michael Manske Client Editor: Primož Jurman On the cover: Audi RS 4 Avant Exhaust Photo by: Alex Štokelj Printing: Florjančič Tisk d.o.o. Nad izviri 28, 2204 Miklavž, Slovenia

// Si

NOTE All the longer articles in the Akrapovič magazine

will include a text that will be marked with the // Si sign and placed in a special frame. The Akrapovič company is based in Slovenia and this is why we decided to keep this part of the text in Slovenian as well.

Contents

06 akrapovic news

Letter

10 5 MIN BEFORE THE RACE

12 ON THE TRACK

16 CAR Action

1 8 SHOW TIME 05

22 INTERVIEW

26 DRIVE WITH US

38 ROAD TRIP

46 LEGEND

60 ORIGINAL

66 HIGH GEAR

Copyright notice This magazine and its entire textual and pictorial content are subject to copyright. Any reproduction thereof without prior written consent of the copyright holder is prohibited. The articles contained herein do not necesseraly correspond with the opinions of Akrapovič d.d. the publishers of the editors. Not for sale. Printed in Slovenia in October 2013 in 5.000 copies.

Gentlemen start your engines!

32 VISIT WITH US

That sentence always reminds me of the early, romantic years of motor racing, when drivers in a race like Le Mans had to run to their cars, shift as fast as possible, start their engines and then compete and fight to the last lap. These days, motor racing is much different. However, when considering how the high-tech Audi R18 e-tron quattro again won this year’s Le Mans with an Akrapovič exhaust, the romance hasn’t vanished completely. Riders are still a special kind of people, dedicated to only one thing: winning the race. There’s no such thing as second place. Business has many things in common with racing. Especially if we think of a company like Akrapovič, which was born in the racing world and has, from the very beginning, been committed to high performance, perfection and winning… whether that means a world championship title or a best brand award. The 2013 racing season has started beautifully for our company, with new championship titles in the MX, Enduro and Super Enduro series and a commitment to top factory teams in all of the most important motorcycle race series, like the Yamaha Factory Racing Moto GP team with Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi on board. This year we have reconfirmed our commitment to the BMW Motorsport DTM team and Audi Sport for the FIA WEC series and significantly enlarged our partnership with automotive factory racing teams via a partnership with Audi Sport in the DTM series and with Aston Martin Racing in the FIA WEC.

52 GO WILD

Our commitment will always be to bring technology and dedication from the racing world to our products for street use. We don’t differentiate and compromise, that’s why the materials, resources and technology are the same for both worlds. But there is nevertheless a significant difference between racing and business. Riders practice and practice to perform their best during a race, but in business there is no such thing as free practice rounds and qualifications -- each move and decision is a real one. We’re always racing the real race and focusing on the three most important points for our company: The best products – Only the best is good enough, People – Dedicated people are the ones who make things happen, Customers – are always treated and respected as partners. That’s why, in closing, I’d like to quote a race driver: „You must always give your best. If you relax, you won’t be concentrating anymore and you will fall… It doesn‘t help if you say to yourself, I will drive slowly and risk less. No, in that way you risk more, that‘s why you must always be fully concentrated and give it your best…“ Uroš Rosa CEO

Warning

Because of the world-wide distribution of Akrapovič d.d. products, neither Akrapovič d.d. nor any of its subsidiaries make any representation that the products comply with the air and/or noise emissions laws, or labeling laws, of any jurisdiction. The purchasers are entirely responsible for informing themselves of the applicable laws where the products are to be used and to comply with those law.

pecially as those parts and systems modify, remove, or replace original equipment catalysts. Please consult the appropriate laws in your area before installing any aftermarket part or system on your vehicle to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. Neither Akrapovic d.d., Akrapovic America LLC nor any of their subsidiaries or the sellers of the parts or systems make any representation that any of their parts or systems comply with any such laws.

Warning / USA

Warning / California

Various U.S. states and the U.S. federal government have individual laws regulating the use of aftermarket exhaust parts and systems, es-

California laws prohibit the use of any aftermarket exhaust part or system that modifies, removes or replaces original equipment catalysts

unless the California Air Resources Board has issued an Executive Order regarding such part or system or unless the part or system is exempted by being used only on racing vehicles on closed courses. Neither Akrapovic d.d., Akrapovic America LLC nor any of their subsidiaries make any representation that any of their parts or systems has received such an Executive Order or that any of their parts or systems conform with the racing vehicles exemption. The purchasers are entirely responsible for informing themselves of applicable California laws and to comply with those laws.

Contents

05 letter

// Si

NOTE All the longer articles in the Akrapovič magazine

Contents

06 akrapovic news

Letter

10 5 MIN BEFORE THE RACE

12 ON THE TRACK

16 CAR Action

1 8 SHOW TIME 05

22 INTERVIEW

26 DRIVE WITH US

38 ROAD TRIP

46 LEGEND

60 ORIGINAL

66 HIGH GEAR

Gentlemen start your engines!

32 VISIT WITH US

52 GO WILD

Warning

Warning / USA

Warning / California

Various U.S. states and the U.S. federal government have individual laws regulating the use of aftermarket exhaust parts and systems, es-

California laws prohibit the use of any aftermarket exhaust part or system that modifies, removes or replaces original equipment catalysts

06 / 09

Rockenfeller Crowned DTM Champion

Everybody at Akrapovič is used to hearing the roar of MotoGP, WSBK, MX and other motorcycles from the racing department as well as seeing Harleys (equipped with Akrapovič exhaust systems) drive by. But it was anything but an ordinary day at work when stunt master Chris Pfeiffer paid a visit. The four-time world champion rode his BMW F 800 R through the offices, manufacturing halls, passed the dynamometers, navigated through the lab and even “climbed” on the roof. His exploration of the world of Akrapovič was dutifully recorded, giving us the Akrapovič video of the year! Ladies and gentlemen, click on http://goo.gl/je0lZH to see Chris jump, ride on his front or back wheel, and do every trick imaginable – as he tries to find company owner Igor Akrapovič. “It was really cool to ride my stunt bike through the Akrapovič factory,” Pfeiffer says. ”I guess I left a few skid marks behind, but that’s my signature.”

Audi Sport and Akrapovič expanded their cooperation in 2013 into the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) championship. And the “best driver” title came to us right in the very first year! Coming second at the race in Zandvoort was enough for Mike Rockenfeller to win the series at the penultimate race. “Winning the DTM title one race before the end of the season is fantastic,” the new DTM Champion said. ”I

Get km/h in the Wind Tunnel As part of the preparations for some races in the Superbike class that required high top speeds, the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team stopped by BMW’s wind tunnel in Munich, with testing carried out by Chaz Davies. “The riding position is a main factor for the aerodynamic efficiency

think it’ll take me a while to realize what we managed to do.” This is not the first time Audi Sport, Mike Rockenfeller and Akrapovič have joined forces to win. They did the same in 2010 when Rocky, as he’s known among fans, was the first to pass the chequered flag in Le Mans, then with teammates Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas.

of the overall package of rider and bike,” according to Stephan Fischer, Technical Director of BMW Motorrad Motorsport. “The position of the head and the upper body, of elbows, knees and feet can have an enormous influence on drag, and subsequently on lap times.”

Photo: Audi

Lighter Tables for Yamaha

Photo: Archer R. / KTM Images

The Champions are Coming

M Flight Comes to Town A very special group of people visited Akrapovič in the summer – the M Flight Club. They toured the exhaust development and production facilities and were especially impressed with the dynamometer runs, where Akrapovič engineers were testing a BMW M3. The visitors drove to the factory in their own BMW M’s, and each one of them was unique thanks to tuning.

Following the featherweight titanium pit boards, which are used by the Yamaha Factory Racing team to notify its riders from the pit wall at all MotoGP races, Akrapovič also created carbon fibre tables for the 2012 world champions. These light tables are used by mechanics to carry out maintenance for the fast YZRM1 Yamahas of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.

Photo: Marc Robinot

Photo: Bor Dobrin

Bruno Spengler not only drives a special BMW in races, he also has one for his everyday commute as well. His BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition was modelled on the BMW Bank M3 DTM race car, with which Bruno took last year’s title. Spengler’s BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition, is one of only 54 made, and is equipped with an Akrapovič exhaust system.

Before this news roundup made it to the printing presses, Akrapovič partners had already won a total of eight world championship titles and it looks like 2013 is going to be an excellent season. Tadeusz Blazusiak (KTM) won the title in the World SuperEnduro class; Jamie McCanney (Husaberg) did the same in the FIM Youth Cup 125; Christophe Nambotin (KTM) in the World Enduro E3 Championship; Antoine Méo (KTM) in the World Enduro E1 Championship; Tony Cairoli (KTM) in MX1; Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) in MX2; Klemen Gerčar (Honda) in MX3; and Kiara Fontanesi (Yamaha) won the overall WMX title. And the season isn’t over yet.

Photo: BMW

BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition

Photo: Marko Ocepek

Chris Pfeiffer Stars in the Latest Akrapovič Video: ‘In Search of…’

Akrapovi] News

06 / 09

Rockenfeller Crowned DTM Champion

Photo: Audi

Lighter Tables for Yamaha

Photo: Archer R. / KTM Images

The Champions are Coming

Photo: Marc Robinot

Photo: Bor Dobrin

Photo: BMW

BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition

Photo: Marko Ocepek

Chris Pfeiffer Stars in the Latest Akrapovič Video: ‘In Search of…’

Akrapovi] News

Photo: Aleš Rosa

06 / 09

Akrapovič and IAA Akrapovič made its appearance at the “IAA Frankfurt Motor Show” in Germany for the second year in a row. The company used the opportunity to unveil its new titanium exhaust systems for Porsche’s Boxster and Cayman models, the Audi RS 4 Avant and RS 5 Coupé/Cabriolet, as well as the BMW M6 Gran Coupé. Apart from the sound chair, the stars of Akrapovič’s booth were the Aston Martin Vantage GTE racing car, straight from the FIA WEC championship, and racing driver Bruno Senna, who made many a visitor’s day by signing autographs and posing for photos.

The company was also voted number 1 for the fourth consecutive year by the Sport Auto car magazine. The magazine’s readers have been persuaded by Akrapovič’s exhaust systems for cars since 2010.

Photo: Audi

The Audi LMP1 race car, equipped with an Akrapovič exhaust system, has won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans for the fourth year running. Loïc Duval/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish were unbeatable in an Audi R18 e-tron quattro at this year’s edition of the classic French race. Audi is also doing extremely well in the FIA World Endurance Championship, as Audi Sport drivers won the Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Interlagos and Circuit of the Americas races and are well on their way to defending the world champion title. Last year, the title went to drivers Marcel Fässler/ André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer in a car equipped with an Akrapovič exhaust system.

Dindo’s Original

ing Chris Pfeiffer, Valerie Thompson, Troy Corser, Chaz Davies and Croatian world traveller Željan Rakela. Just a few weeks later we were in Austria for European Bike Week, where we displayed our custom segment aftermarket exhausts, including the new SlipOn system for the Harley-Davidson Sportster.

Dindo Capello experienced what has been Audi’s most unusual vehicle delivery so far. The former Audi factory driver and owner of three Audi partner companies in the Piemont region received an authentic LMP1 race car, the R18 TDI, equipped with an Akrapovič exhaust. In the car with chassis number 102 that was actually fielded in races, Capello, together with Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, celebrated his last victory as a factory driver at the Sebring 12 Hours in 2012. The permanent loan is Audi’s way of saying thank you at the end of his successful career. The Italian was a factory driver for the brand from 1994 to 2012.

Unicum for WEC Champion

New Best Brand Awards PS Sport-Motorrad Magazine readers voted Akrapovič as the best exhaust making brand for the sixth year running. Akrapovič has been the readers’ favourite exhaust maker since 2008!

Another Le Mans Victory

Photo: Audi

Event after Event

Summers and autumns are extremely busy for Akrapovič, which attends numerous events. Prior to the autumn EICMA show in Milan, the company travelled to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the BMW Motorrad Days, where we unveiled numerous novelties, especially for the all-new GS. Our booth was visited by many celebrities, includ-

Akrapovi] News

Benoît Tréluyer, the two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and last year’s FIA WEC Champion, likes to take his KTM out for a spin when he has enough free time. The speed addict also uses his enduro ride to prepare for races where he and teammates Marcel Fässler and André Lotterer drive an Audi R18 e-tron quattro. His KTM is equipped with an incredibly light and capable Akrapovič exhaust system with a special engraving, dedicated to the WEC 2012 champion.

Photo: Aleš Rosa

06 / 09

The company was also voted number 1 for the fourth consecutive year by the Sport Auto car magazine. The magazine’s readers have been persuaded by Akrapovič’s exhaust systems for cars since 2010.

Photo: Audi

Dindo’s Original

Unicum for WEC Champion

Another Le Mans Victory

Photo: Audi

Event after Event

Akrapovi] News

10 / 11

5 min before the race

5 min before the race 11

Valentino Rossi

“W e b o t h g r e w u p”

by Primož Jurman photography Bor Dobrin, Yamaha, Marc Robinot

A large yellow 46. An icon that has marked the last 15 years of world motorcycle racing. Only one man can be “The Doctor”: Valentino Rossi, nine-time world champion.

What drives you to keep on being motivated, even after clinching the world title nine times? The passion and pleasure of riding my bike. This season some new young riders, like Marc Marquez, were quite fast. Even though they were rookies, they were hard to catch. They also seemed to use a new, more aggressive riding style. In your opinion, why they were so fast? I think it’s normal that youngsters do a little better than the “old guys”. There was Lorenzo’s and Stoner’s generation, and now we have Marquez, who’s doing even better. You’re teammates again with Jorge, but it seems your relationship is better now than it was a few years ago? Honestly, the relationship between us is very good now, much better than it was in the past. First, we both grew up. Jorge has also improved a lot and finally there is a different situation within the team now. I’m happy because we’re working together to improve Yamaha. We try to take it to the podium at every race. Some say that the premier class relies too much on electronics - do you agree? In my opinion there is too much electronics in MotoGP. The bikes are all “too perfect” and the races, as a consequence, can sometimes be a little boring. I think we all need electronics in order to guarantee riders’ safety but, at this level, 50% of the current technology would be enough. Do you miss 2-stroke 500cc machines? How you would compare them to modern 4-stroke MotoGP bikes? I miss the 500cc two-stroke bikes because they’re the most “evil”

machines I’ve ever ridden in my life but I like a lot of the current MotoGP bikes. We saw Casey Stoner help Honda develop their bike. From your point view, where does Yamaha have an advantage over Honda and vice-versa: where does Honda perform better? Honda and Yamaha are two very different bikes. The Yamaha is an easier bike to ride and more “rider-friendly.” It’s easier to let it slide into the fast corners while Honda is more surly and its power-points are acceleration and braking. It’s more of a physical bike. Both provide great performance, though. Yamaha and Honda are the result of two different “philosophies” and they are both very competitive. We see you are quite active on your Ranch. What’s the idea behind having such facilities? Having a private track is the dream of every rider or motorcycle fan. We built it from scratch and the process was very nice to be involved in. We thought about what I needed to be able to train off-season and, since I’ve always trained riding modified motocross bikes, we thought that it might be a good idea to build a flat track. Mine is a unique track because it includes an oval flat track but also left and right corners, slopes, and jumps. It’s a unique regimen. It’s nice to hear riders’ comments after they train there. The most common feedback is: “That’s great!” How do you prepare for races – mentally and physically? Do you train a lot, either by biking or riding off-road bikes? I train a lot at the gym. I do weights and run a lot. I don’t like indoorcycling. I train a lot at my Ranch and also drive karts -- a great workout. The most important thing is to remain on track. It’s very important for me to be involved in different sport disciplines and not just racing bikes.

This year you raced with Akrapovič exhaust. You also have this brand on your M3? What’s your opinion of them? In my opinion, Akrapovič has made the difference in recent years and now represents the benchmark for every other manufacturer. They have been able to able to stand out from the crowd and I’m very happy to be racing with Akrapovič because they’re the coolest. It’s a young brand and they make very good things. I have a good relationship with them. I also use Akrapovič on my M3 and it’s amazing. I’d also like to try it on my Ferrari! The difference compared to other exhausts is huge, both in terms of sound and performance. Why do you use the sun and moon on your helmet? Any special reason? I chose the sun and the moon because when I talked to Aldo Drudi we came up with the idea. They represent the two sides of my character, inside and outside the track. What would you do if you weren’t racing? I’d probably be a sportsman, involved with other disciplines. I would be a pro somewhere else. At a high level, at least. If I wasn’t racing, I would do my best to find something that allows me NOT to work!

10 / 11

5 min before the race

5 min before the race 11

Valentino Rossi

“W e b o t h g r e w u p”

by Primož Jurman photography Bor Dobrin, Yamaha, Marc Robinot

A large yellow 46. An icon that has marked the last 15 years of world motorcycle racing. Only one man can be “The Doctor”: Valentino Rossi, nine-time world champion.

12 / 15

On the Track

LEGENDS OF THE 12 HOURS OF SEBRING

Concrete Racing by Mitja Reven photography Audi, Mitja Reven

BACK IN MARCH 2013, THE LEGENDARY AMERIC AN RACETRACK SEBRING PLAYED HOST TO THE LMP1 CLASS PROTOTYPES. EVEN THOUGH THE SEBRING RACE IS ONLY HALF AS LONG AS LE MANS, ITS CONCRETE AND ASPHALT SURFACES ARE BOTH EQUALLY RUTHLESS FOR RACE C ARS AND DRIVERS AS THE ENDURANCE RACE CLASSIC AT LA SARTHE. TRADITIONALLY, THE 12 HOURS OF SEBRING KICKED OFF THE FIA WEC SEASON. LAST YEAR THE RACE WAS PART OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT THIS YEAR IT WAS REPLACED BY THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS. EVEN SO, LMP1 CARS STILL THUNDERED OVER ITS CONCRETE SURFACE, WHICH IS OFTEN NOT SURROUNDED BY RUN-OFF AREAS BUT RATHER AN UNFORGIVING WALL THAT PUNISHES EVEN THE SLIGHTEST ERROR. BUT AFTER THE MARCH 2013 RACE, THE FASTEST PROTOTYPE CARS BADE FAREWELL TO FLORIDA, WHERE THEY WILL NO LONGER CHASE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS.

Because two US series, the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and GRAND-AM, are about to merge, new rules are coming into effect in 2014, which do not include the Le Mans Prototypes 1 (LMP1) class. It was these cars in particular, especially Audis, that left a big mark on Sebring. The German brand scored a total of 11 victories there since 1999, the last two with race cars sporting an Akrapovič exhaust.

Sebring holds a special place in the history of Akrapovič. This is the first race that saw Akrapovič compete in the FIA WEC as an official partner of Audi Sport and win the race to boot. This 2012 milestone was reached by the Audi R18 ultra, piloted by Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish. The Dane, also known as Mr. Le Mans, is also a record-holder when it comes to victories at Sebring, with six victories under his belt. The German company remained unbeaten in its last appearance at Sebring, which was also the first race of the hybrid prototype Audi R18 cars in the States. The exciting 12-hour race saw a tense fight between two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars, both equipped with Akrapovič exhausts, with the victory going to race car #1, driven by Marcel Fässler, Benoît Tréluyer and Oliver Jarvis. Audi Sport’s Marcel Fässler also made sure his name would not be easily forgotten, setting a new best lap time of 1m 43.886s on the 6.02 kilometre track, beating the previous record by more than one second. Since its opening in 1952, the track has greatly changed and its 6th revision in 1999 made it over 2 kilometres shorter than its original 8.356 kilometres. Like many other tracks created after World War II, the Sebring International Raceway was created on an airfield. You can land a plane next to the track even today. Did you know that the circuit even hosted a Formula 1 race in 1959? The 12 Hours of Sebring takes place during both the day and night. The rough surface, with large seams between its concrete sections, causes sparks to fly from the under floor. It’s a vivid demonstration of the unrelenting nature of GT and prototype races. The drivers don’t have it easy either. “Compared to a modern European racetrack, Sebring is a relic from the 1960s,” according to Marcel Fässler, who took the podium in 2013 alongside teammates Benoît Tréluyer and Oliver Jarvis. “But the track gains enormously in character as a result: the concrete slabs of the old airfield are aligned in rows one after the next and have very noticeable gaps between them -- and even big steps. You have to be brave around the first and last corners. The first turn has a blind entry – the track width narrows down from about 20 to only eight meters there. You have to be careful of the big bump by the corner exit. It can be very tricky at night.”

12 / 15

On the Track

LEGENDS OF THE 12 HOURS OF SEBRING

Concrete Racing by Mitja Reven photography Audi, Mitja Reven

12 / 15

On the Track

There are no run-off areas at some parts and at others they merely serve as track extensions – until they terminate with a concrete wall. Legendary driver Mario Andretti joked once that the hardest part of the original Sebring track was separating the track from the run-off areas. Many drivers have had problems, especially at night. The Sebring International Raceway is special not only because of its air of romance from the 1950s and 60s when race tracks were being built on the site of former airfields (including a few in Europe, such as Silverstone, the most famous of the lot, which hosted the first Formula 1 race). In Sebring you can park your motorhome next to the concrete wall that separates race cars and spectators, climb on the roof, sit down on a comfy chair and watch the race, US-style. But it is the smell of overworked brakes and seeing pieces of worn tires flying around that makes it a true racing experience. You can also go for a walk and admire the motley collection of vehicles, mostly pickups, cruising on the side of the track with people sitting in the cargo area seemingly more interested in enjoying the sound and cruising than in the actual results of the race. Indulge yourself with pancakes, roasted peanuts or jumbo boiled peanuts. Should you be a guest of one of the teams and eligible for VIP treatment, other delicacies pepper the menu as well. Day or night - time is irrelevant. It’s a pleasure to watch the cars in the first turn nearly graze the barbed-wire concrete wall, examine the different race lines taken, and peek into the cockpits to see the drivers frantically dealing with the bumps and humps of the demanding

first corner. Every few hours, a pickup with marshals and blazing lights enters the track on the other side of that turn. Someone has either been overcome by fatigue, Sebring concrete or crashed into a competitor. Or the material simply gave out. It pays to walk around, just to see the numerous exceptional, even unique, vehicles in the parking lot or next to the trailers. Yep, Sebring really is a special race that will be missed by many. Teams would usually stay in sunny Florida even after the 12hour race, carrying out tests and preparations for Le Mans. Sebring is an excellent test of a racing car’s speed and endurance. But the sound of racing cars won’t die down at the track -only the extremely fast LMP1 class will not be heard there anymore. As an official Audi Sport partner, Akrapovič is very happy to have scored victories there, both in 2012 with the Audi R18 ultra and this year with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro. Last year’s victory was the first of many for the German company in the 2012 FIA WEC season, which saw Audi winning both the driver and constructor title.

12 / 15

On the Track

16/17

Car Action

Bruno Senna:

Putting the fun back in racing at the WEC

> > >

by Karin Sturm photography Aleš Rosa, Aston Martin Racing

17 away a secure lead and heavily hitting the crash barriers. It was a huge disappointment for all of us. We, the whole team really wanted to win for Allan and for his family. We had pulled ourselves together for that goal. We drew strength from it. When the dream shatters so suddenly, you feel a huge emptiness inside at first, then sorrow takes over with a bang. Nevertheless, my first thought was about Fred. The most important thing was that he was fine. There are other races we can still win.

Bruno Senna is a Brazilian and former Formula One racing driver as well as nephew of the late three-time Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna. This year Bruno is at the wheel of the #99 Aston Martin Vantage GTE race car for this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

You didn’t attend a single Formula One race this year; not even in Monaco, right around the corner from where you live... I don’t want to give the impression that I’m looking to participate in the Formula One again at any cost. Why should I run around there when I don’t have something specific to do? I concentrate on what I’m doing right now: on my races in the WEC. And I’m very happy there. Meaning you don’t miss Formula One at all? If I miss anything, then it’s the cars: Driving the most demanding racing cars in the world and competing against others. But not much else... Formula One at any price, just to be part of it, doesn’t seem right to me anymore. To be perfectly clear: During my last three years of Formula One, I was rarely very happy. I had lost the joy in racing. More and more. There was always so much pressure, a feeling of charging against windmills – especially off the track – that you never really got the chance to show what you can do under equal conditions... And now as a factory driver for Aston Martin Racing in the WEC you’ve found that joy again? Exactly. The atmosphere is so much more relaxed and I’ve found success again. Back then, in all these junior-series I competed in, I won races, I knew

my skills and how it felt. These experiences, these emotions you have when standing up there make it so much easier to deal with stress and temporary setbacks. I missed that very much over the last few years. Now in the WEC, I immediately won my first race in Silverstone. In Spa we were second and in Le Mans we were on the road to victory for 19 hours until my teammate’s accident... How was the experience at Le Mans as a whole? It really was the toughest racing weekend of my career. Right now I can’t imagine ever having a more difficult one. The 24 hours of Le Mans is probably the most difficult race as such already, but this year’s circumstances made it really extreme. The fatal accident of my teammate Allan Simonsen at the very beginning was a huge shock, of course. It wasn’t easy to go on. Each time going through the corner where it happened, Allan came to mind. With four hours left to go, my teammate Fred Makowiecki crashed in the rainy conditions, giving

What’s the most important thing during an endurance-race for an exhaust system? Of course, reliability and strength is the most important thing of all. The challenges are very high, first due to mechanical strain when driving for 24 hours, but also due to the high temperatures that develop, especially during pit-stops, when airflow isn’t cooling the machine down anymore. You have to find the right compromise with the components-layout and the installation to create a maximum of poweroutput, but without creating excessive temperatures.

16/17

Car Action

Bruno Senna:

Putting the fun back in racing at the WEC

> > >

by Karin Sturm photography Aleš Rosa, Aston Martin Racing

18 / 19

ShowTime

1 5 y e a r s o f t h e B M W M S a f e t y C a r i n M o t o G P TM

15 YEARS IN FRONT by Primož Jurman / photography Marc Robinot

15 YEARS ON THE TRACK Over the last 15 years, BMW M has consistently introduced innovative ideas. Thanks to BMW M’s support, the status and general awareness of the road racing World Championship have improved considerably. At the same time, the MotoGP was and remains the ideal platform for high-quality international business relationships, marketing activities and brand communication. In 2001, the BMW Z8 was launched within the MotoGP. The BMW Motorrad Boxer Cup, renamed the BMW Motorrad Power Cup in 2005, also made its debut on the same bill as the World Championship of the same year. At the end of the 2003 season, the best qualifier was presented for the first time with the BMW M Award. Ten years down the road, the list of winners now includes: Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Nicky Hayden. In 2006, BMW M took on the role of “Official Car of the MotoGP” and in 2007 its cooperation with Akrapovič began: first with bikes, and subsequently with cars. Today, the whole fleet of safety bikes and cars is equipped with the exhausts of the Slovenia-based company.

A HEAD OF ALL OTHERS In all these years, the BMW M has consistently introduced innovative new ideas through fascinating events: on several occasions it brought the MotoGP riders together with the yachtsmen and women of the BMW Oracle racing Team, organised popular press events and, through its fleet of cars, made a significant contribution to the success of the first night race in Qatar in 2008. In the 2009 season, the company used the MotoGP stage for the first time to present one of its models – the BMW X6 M Safety Car – before its actual market launch. A BMW M once again expanded its commitment in 2011: threetime world champion and Dorna safety consultant Loris Capirossi joined the team of BMW M MotoGP experts last season. An exclusive incentive programme was also introduced, in the form of the BMW M MotoGP experience. The 2013 season kicked off with another highlight: the MotoGP opener in Qatar was the scene of the first public outing of the new BMW M6 Gran Coupé, which spearheads the MotoGP Safety Car fleet this season.

The Akrapovič exhaust system for the serial production BMW M6 Gran Coupé is made from materials that were also tested on the Safety Car.

1999 was a year of millennial celebrations. In motorcycle racing, Spain’s Alex Crivillé was crowned Motorcycle World Champion in the elite 500-cc class, while a talented young Italian Valentino Rossi won the title in the 250-cc class. The same year marks the start of a partnership that is still ongoing today: the cooperation between BMW M and Dorna Sports, the company that runs the MotoGP TM World Championship. Since 1999, BMW M Safety Cars have always been there, at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, whenever points and titles have been up for grabs.

WITH FULL THROTTLE We had a chance to try the new M6 Gran Coupé Safety Car during the racing weekend in Brno. With former rally driver Carlos Pratola behind the wheel, we experienced the thrill of going rapidly around the Czech track. We could easily imagine how it is to drive the M6 Gran Coupé on a racing weekend. Usually, Pratola takes care of the safety of MotoGP riders, but this time we had chance to test the new M6 at full throttle! A rare occasion, indeed! Within the pits of the rumbling V8, the Akrapovič pipes announced that this would be a ride

to remember. Carlos put the pedal to the metal before the first corner, braking hard and leaving us sideways -- sliding with smoking tires. Then: second gear, third, and up until the next sequence of corners. We could smell the burning rubber – and brake pads, for that matter. The car was stable, exuding confidence the entire way. We were constantly on the curb and at the edge of the track. As we made it back to the pit, our faces were full of smiles, demanding more. “I like pushing the car around the track,” Carlos explained, “and I like the Akrapovič sound.” The smell of cooling hot tires was in the air. But yes, we couldn’t agree more. Hey, Carlos, how about another lap? Please?

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1 5 y e a r s o f t h e B M W M S a f e t y C a r i n M o t o G P TM

15 YEARS IN FRONT by Primož Jurman / photography Marc Robinot

The Akrapovič exhaust system for the serial production BMW M6 Gran Coupé is made from materials that were also tested on the Safety Car.

Hot stuff

Hot Stuff from Akrapovič Akrapovič exhaust systems are designed for riders who demand maximum performance from their motorcycles. They feature exceptional production quality, hi-tech materials, increased engine performance and of course amazing sound and appearance. The change is also visual, as our mufflers perfectly fit the exterior line of modern motorcycles and add a clean racing image.

Car Stuff

Welcome to our range of aftermarket exhaust systems for cars. We offer complete, partial, open or EC-type approved products that significantly improve performance. We use only the best and exclusive titanium and stainless steel. We combine these two materials with high technologies and craftsmanship of our welders that divide this exhausts systems from anything else on the market.

Porsche Boxster S + 8 HP/3,700 rpm + 18 Nm/3,800 rpm - 4 kg Titanium Wireless kit for sound control

Ducati 1199 Panigale + 13 HP/5,150 rpm - 5 kg

Honda CBR500F + 1 HP/7,600 rpm - 2 kg

BMW M6 Gran Coupé + 10 HP/5,950 rpm + 17 Nm/5,200 rpm - 11 kg Titanium

Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200X Forty-Eight + 2 HP/4,900 rpm - 1 kg

Yamaha XJR1300 + 9 HP/8,050 rpm - 2 kg

Audi RS 4 Avant + 7 HP/3,900 rpm + 12 Nm/3,900 rpm - 9 kg Titanium

Piaggio MP3 400 + 1 HP/7,950 rpm - 5 kg

BMW F 800 GT + 2 HP/5,420 rpm - 2 kg

Car stuff

BMW 335i + 7 HP/5,850 rpm + 11 Nm/3,500 rpm - 1 kg Stainless Steel

Hot stuff

Car Stuff

Porsche Boxster S + 8 HP/3,700 rpm + 18 Nm/3,800 rpm - 4 kg Titanium Wireless kit for sound control

Ducati 1199 Panigale + 13 HP/5,150 rpm - 5 kg

Honda CBR500F + 1 HP/7,600 rpm - 2 kg

BMW M6 Gran Coupé + 10 HP/5,950 rpm + 17 Nm/5,200 rpm - 11 kg Titanium

Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200X Forty-Eight + 2 HP/4,900 rpm - 1 kg

Yamaha XJR1300 + 9 HP/8,050 rpm - 2 kg

Audi RS 4 Avant + 7 HP/3,900 rpm + 12 Nm/3,900 rpm - 9 kg Titanium

Piaggio MP3 400 + 1 HP/7,950 rpm - 5 kg

BMW F 800 GT + 2 HP/5,420 rpm - 2 kg

Car stuff

BMW 335i + 7 HP/5,850 rpm + 11 Nm/3,500 rpm - 1 kg Stainless Steel

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Interview

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Interview

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Interview

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Interview

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R O L L S - R OY C E S TAY S O N TO P – FOR 100 YEARS

W H AT T RU E G E N T L E MEN DRI V E by Tina Torelli and Miran Ališič photography Bor Dobrin, Saša Kapetanovič

If you spent some time driving on Alpine roads and over mountain passes in June 2013 you have probably come across a fair number of quaint, old, large, slightly clumsy cars, leaving plumes of smoke in their wake. If they reminded you of the pioneer era of car design, you would be absolutely right and for many these were simply old cars, well, ver y old cars. But those who ventured close to the posing vehicles at a square in Vienna, Trentino, St. Moritz, Portorož, Bled or some other place, might have noticed that almost all of more than 40 vehicles had the same bonnet ornament. Emily a.k.a. Spirit of Ecstasy. So it was not a group of just any vintage car collectors after all. These were owners of Rolls-Royce motor cars, vehicles with a badge that meas far more than just vintage. And not just any Rolls-Royce model mind you. Silver Ghosts only.

From Alpine Trial to Superstars Rolls-Royce was and remains the choice of presidents, kings, princes, sheiks and sultans. It is driven by athletes, superstars and business moguls like David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington, Donald Trump, Ben Affleck, 50 Cent, Brigitte Bardot and Christina Aguilera. It was owned by John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Freddy Mercury, Michael Jackson... Serious car collectors cannot go without having at least one in their garage, especially if the said collector is a billionaire and can be found on the Forbes List of World’s Richest People. So why

were the Alpine roads in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia swamped with such a large number of 100-year-old Rolls-Royce cars? Because this year marked the centenary of the Alpine Trial, a race that fully deserved its name. 100 years ago this was the most prestigious and toughest endurance race in Europe. It meandered over numerous (of course unpaved) mountain passes and in 1913 spurred Rolls-Royce to prove that they were the best in the world. And they succeeded. While the scorekeeping was tangled and convoluted, the company managed three cars on top in several categories and then drove off into the sunset. Well, almost literally. As it transpired, never again would Rolls-Royce take part in any race with a works car.

Like a hundred years ago at the Stelvio Pass in the Dolomite Alps.

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R O L L S - R OY C E S TAY S O N TO P – FOR 100 YEARS

W H AT T RU E G E N T L E MEN DRI V E by Tina Torelli and Miran Ališič photography Bor Dobrin, Saša Kapetanovič

Like a hundred years ago at the Stelvio Pass in the Dolomite Alps.

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Reliable, snobby, Evergreen.

Chip Connor, one of the world’s biggest vintage car collectors.

The Only Rolls-Royce Race so Far

John Kennedy as James Radley

Bentley is Good, Rolls-Royce is Excellent

The 1913 Alpine Trial (Alpenfahrt) started on 21 June in Vienna. On a Saturday, the same day that saw Georgia Thompson Broadwick in Los Angeles become the first woman in the world to jump with a parachute and witnessed the crumbling of the Serbian government under Nikola Pašić, with the Second Balkan War erupting only a few days later as a new government came to power. But no other major events took place that day to leave their mark on posterity. Alpenfahrt was a deadly trial for engines and drivers alike: 2,613 kilometres, 19 passes and 8 days to complete it all. After a disastrous showing in 1912 by James Radley with his privately entered Rolls-Royce, the factory decided to send a grand total of four vehicles to the hellish Alpenfahrt. Well, three more exactly. The fourth with the chassis number 2260E was semi-works, had the same equipment as the other three but came with added electrical lights, signified by the letter E. It was driven by the same James Radley, who was, however, considered too much of a loose cannon to be trusted with following a works team discipline. So what exactly did Rolls-Royce bring to the Alpine passes? Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce met in 1904 in Manchester. Only two years later their acquaintance gave birth to the Model 40/50 HP and it did not take long before it was nicknamed Silver Ghost. It soon became known as such officially as well and was entered into the Alpenfahrt with an additional designation continental.

A hundred years later the very same silver-bluish 2260E navigated almost exactly the same route with a different man behind the wheel – New Zealander John Kennedy, who bought the car decades ago. We sat down with Kennedy for a cup of tea (at around 5 o’clock as is proper) at the Passo di Rolle mountain pass in the Dolomite Alps. “If you don’t know how to drive these vintage beauties it’s better that you don’t do it,” said Kennedy, who owns three or four similar cars and drives them all himself. He is usually accompanied by his wife, who does occasionally move to a more contemporary accompanying vehicle. This was especially pleasant for her during the 2013 event, as this vehicle came in the guise of a brand new Rolls-Royce Ghost in the same colours. “This is a car that you take for a spin and not a long distance drive,” Kennedy sagely went on. He usually uses the cars in his collection for short trips, “To a nearby pub, 20 or 30 miles away, for example.” He shells out a lot of money for maintenance, has a few mechanics dedicated to maintaining his oldtimers and has to carry out a minor but important service check every 800 kilometres or so. “If you service the car, it pays you back.” When asked which part of the route was his favourite, he immediately shot back, “Ljubelj!” He explained that he minutely examined the maps of the Alpine Trial between 1911 and 1914 and that Ljubelj stood out at once. The first time he experienced the pass was in 1988, but only after taking his family through the tunnel below and then backtracking from Austria’s Villach on the next day. Alone. The country was still Yugoslavia back then, the border was closed, but there was

We stopped an American in Croatia’s seaside town of Opatija. He spelled out his name for us and, as an American, was proverbially very open to conversation. We were also attracted to him by his car which stood out from among the Silver Ghosts parked in the marina. It looked more sporty and less boxy than the rest and just as elegant as its 60-year-old owner with an old school leather racing cap, who was well aware that he would look plain silly wearing a large beret or a straw hat. As one of the biggest collectors of prestigious vintage cars in the world, he only rarely misses out on events such as this one. While he does not own as many Rolls-Royces as the Sultan of Brunei, he owns a wide range of all types of rarities, including Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione, Gurney Nutting’s Bentley Speed Six Tourer and a 1938 Alfa Romeo Touring Spider. His 1912 Rolls-Royce, having been made for the London-Edinburgh race, is fitted with several racing add-ons and thus boasts a pretty good performance for a vintage vehicle. It was commandeered in 1914 by the British Army before being brought to the US in the 1950s by an American

no one around. So he lifted the border gate by himself, drove through fog and rain almost to the top and then walked to the boundary stone and the obelisk. “I read every report about the Alpine Trial that the British media published 100 years ago and found an interesting 1912 article which meticulously described every rock between Ljubljana and Klagenfurt. They stayed the night in Ljubljana that year in the Slon hotel, I think. After reaching the top, I recognised the obelisk and the wooden hut from the article. There wasn’t a soul around, I checked the road, walked around for a few miles and realised that the Alpine Trial could be brought back to life.” Kennedy added that the road to the top of the pass was relatively well maintained and that he was convinced a negative response to his idea could only be political in nature. He had to leave us then, but not before revealing that already in the times of Yugoslavia he and his friends from Slovenia started lobbying in Belgrade, Rome and Vienna for the passes on Ljubelj and Predel to be opened. But John Kennedy was not the only, though arguably the most popular and besieged participant, at the centenary of Rolls-Royce’s Alpine Trial triumph.

soldier. Why Rolls-Royce of all brands? “Because it was an excellent motorcar 20 years before Bentleys became good. Taking into account its age it’s got to be the best car in the world.” Apart from driving vintage cars, Chip Connor also rides old motorbikes. He is especially enamoured with his 1967 Triumph TR6V and the legendary Vincent Black Shadow. You could meet almost 50 gentlemen such as him at the event.

You Can Crash into a Rolls-Royce Something was slightly off when looking at the cars parked in front of Kempinski Palace, the most beautiful hotel in Slovenia’s seaside resort of Portorož. As half of Silver Ghosts spent the night outside, the majority of Flying Ladies was temporarily removed. The participants of the memorial race came from 12 countries, ranging from New Zealand to the United States of America. Before the departure we managed to corner Robert Kilburn from England’s Worcestershire as he was having breakfast. “This is not my first Rolls-Royce, I’ve had about 20 of them. I sometimes sell the one I own and buy something else, a Bentley or an Aston Martin, say, before coming

back to my first love. I fell in love with RollsRoyce cars as a student. My children think I’m crazy but my wife obviously loves me, since she puts up with it all.” Kilburn made it sound as if this was the most important romantic relationship in life, something you cannot live without, while occasionally feeling smothered (or at least so you think), because it is making you miss out on everything else out there. Kilburn’s enthusiasm was quickly becoming contagious. “The story of this model is more than just fascinating – there is nothing more British than two men joining forces. I love this car and I love its history. I also love all the emotions that crop up when sitting behind the wheel. People stop to admire it. I really cannot understand the man who sold me this beauty for a relatively modest price,” he added before inquiring about a copy of our magazine. Robert Kilburn also made history at this race by suffering the only crash among the participants. He was side-butted by a bunch of guys in a Ford Fiesta, destroying his fuel tanks. Undaunted, Kilburn managed to complete the remaining half of the race with the aid of an improvised fuel system, composed of two ordinary jerricans and a fuel pump. >

28 Obvezna oprema (pravega) gentelmana Alpska vožnja je danes zabava. Nostalgična zabava za ljudi, ki so v življenju uspeli in si lahko privoščijo milijone dolarjev za stare avtomobile, ki so nekoč prestavljali mejnike mogočega. Čeprav danes za večino mimoidočih izgledajo ti rolls-roycei le

starine, ki so glasne, neudobne, brez strehe, brez dobrih zavor, nimajo katalizatorjev, za njimi poka in se kadi ... A zgodba o rolls-royceu in Alpski vožnji dokazuje, da je ves čas treba iskati več in bolje. Rolls-royce tudi 100 let kasneje, čeprav ne dirka več, dokazuje prav to.

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Drive with us

Reliable, snobby, Evergreen.

Chip Connor, one of the world’s biggest vintage car collectors.

The Only Rolls-Royce Race so Far

John Kennedy as James Radley

Bentley is Good, Rolls-Royce is Excellent

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Georgina Wood, the youngest trial competitor.

John Kennedy from New Zealand.

John Kennedy: “If you don’t know how to drive these vintage beauties, it is better that you don’t do it.”

Tragedy on the Titanic, Fortune with a Rolls-Royce A bit of aid was required, but the Ljubelj pass was also successfully negotiated by the oldest car at the event. The number 1 was proudly worn by a 1908-model, which was the first Silver Ghost to also be named The Silver Dawn. Sitting behind its wheel was Paul Wood, one of the brothers and owners of P&A Wood, RollsRoyce Motor Cars Dealer from Essex, who also brought a crew of young mechanics to the race. The owner of the oldest and bulkiest-looking model is the Seychelles-based British billionaire Robert Gaines Cooper, while the car has been for many years meticulously cared after by Hamid. He was not in a chatty mood, though, countering all our questions with “Sorry, I have to clean the car.” Tina suggested she might help him and jokingly picked up a small bottle labelled Supreme Car Polish. “No, you could scratch it,” was the blunt reply, followed by a return to polishing.

Meanwhile, the only female driver at the event, Paul’s 22-year-old daughter Georgina Wood, sat behind the wheel of the P&A Wood-owned vehicle. Georgina, who works in the family firm, told us that she prefers horses, regardless of the number of hp’s under the bonnet. The car she was entrusted with has a long and illustrious history. It was made in 1914 for the Duke of Westminster, was used by the armed forces during World War I and was bought by her family in 1928. We spotted another slightly extraordinary model. Alex Joyce, the owner of the yellow Ghost with number 37 said: “If you drive a very good new car you are constantly breaking the rules and putting your life in danger, but when you drive an oldtimer, you can push it as hard as it goes without breaking any speed limits while keeping a similar air of competition. This car was made in 1922 and was severely damaged in a traffic accident in 1926, when its chassis was completely destroyed. It was sent back to the factory for repairs and was later bought by a Mr. Bond (not James, though), who sent it to his tea plantation in Ceylon, now

Sri Lanka. It was bought from him in 1947 by a young British officer, who drove it until 1952 before selling it for a pittance.” Meanwhile, the car currently being driven by Doug Finney, belonged for his entire life to a man who was born to Madeleine Talmage Force and Manhattan millionaire John Jacob Astor IV. John and the pregnant Madeleine took the fateful Titanic voyage and, like many other unfortunates, John could not get a seat in a lifeboat, while Madeleine was more fortunate. This was in April 1912, four months before Jakey Astor, the aforementioned first owner of the Silver Ghost carrying the number 48, was born at the Astor’s residence on New York’s 5th Avenue. The car, manufactured in 1926, remained in the family until Jakey’s death. It spent many years collecting dust in the garage before being acquired by Doug Finney, who said that he knew of no vehicle that could be as forgiving and as loyal as his Rolls-Royce.

Over the Passes almost Without Brakes We spotted Tim Shippton polishing his Emily with a cloth at a square in Trentino. “I take it off at every stop, it’s an original from the 1920s and has irreplaceable value,” explained the former investment banker and manager, who owns several other Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. Amazing, us ordinary mortals think, as we look at what we merely see as a symbol made of sheet-metal or steel. Even though one almost a hundred years old. “These cars only have brakes fitted at the

rear,” Shippton reminded us and explained the technique of driving over the treacherous passes. “You must always be careful of the speed, you must never get too reckless, you must be especially patient when descending.” The turns must also be tackled in a different manner than in modern cars. “You must use up every inch of the tarmac, from one side to the other. You must be very precise in your handling of the steering wheel as there is no room for error or for mitigating one. A precipice is never more than an inch away…”« Driving across the Alpine passes is fun nowadays. Nostalgic fun for those who made it in life

and can afford millions of dollars for old cars, which in the past moved the boundaries of the automotive industry. Even if most onlookers nowadays see these Rolls-Royces merely as loud, uncomfortable and roofless oldtimers, without quality brakes, no catalytic converters, producing only bangs and smoke, the tale of Rolls-Royce and the Alpine Trial proves that it is always necessary to strive for more and do things better. And 100 years later, even though it is not racing anymore, Rolls-Royce is living proof of that.

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Georgina Wood, the youngest trial competitor.

John Kennedy from New Zealand.

John Kennedy: “If you don’t know how to drive these vintage beauties, it is better that you don’t do it.”

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Visit With Us Greubel&Forsey - The World’s Most Unusual Watchmakers

The town of La Chaux-de-Fonds

Every Timepiece has a Unique Sound

lies

by Miran Ališič

Centuries ago, the fierce, un-

photography Bor Dobrin, GF

tamed

than

1,000

metres

above sea level in a part of Switzerland

where,

without

watches, almost nothing would exist.

natural

surroundings

forced people living in towns along the Jura plateau on the border with France to try something special: watchmaking.

Even today, the not-exactly-dazzling town built on a grid street plan (uncommon in Europe) is the watchmaking capital of the world. As you drive through it, signs for Tissot, Patek Phillippe, Tag Heuer and many other names flash by. You may start thinking that you actually know something about watches, or even that you own a precious and beautiful timepiece. But your view of the watchmaking world will change forever if you stop in a small parking lot by a narrow path leading to an old farmhouse, which has been transformed into a studio. A slanted, slightly dug-in building adjoins the venerable farm, but its glass and wooden architecture is the least unusual characteristic of this modern creation. The real surprise is on the inside.

The watch has to be something special

Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey are completely unknown to the wider public. This is understandable, since their company is less than ten years old and the studio opened here just four years ago. The idea that they’re pursuing is also less than 15 years old, making them newcomers to the watchmaking guild. This despite having been crowned horology innovators of the year three times in the last decade and being amongst the names most coveted by watch collectors. “We create,” explains co-owner Stephen Forsey. “We aren’t primarily about design.” We’re chatting beneath centuries-old wooden beams in the former farm. “It’s also about art,” he continues. “Our watches have to be something special.” Forsey and Greubel met while working for other watchmakers. The former comes from England, a country not immediately associated with watches. His father was an engineer with a passion for cars.

Tourbillon 24 Secondes (T24S) (left) Tourbillon 24 Secondes Contemporain (right)

Frenchman Robert Greubel was born to a watchmaker in Alsace, close to Switzerland. Watchmaking giants failed to pay attention to the pair’s innovations, dismissing them as too expensive and timeconsuming to create.

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Visit With Us

Visit With Us Greubel&Forsey - The World’s Most Unusual Watchmakers

The town of La Chaux-de-Fonds

Every Timepiece has a Unique Sound

lies

by Miran Ališič

Centuries ago, the fierce, un-

photography Bor Dobrin, GF

tamed

than

1,000

metres

above sea level in a part of Switzerland

where,

without

watches, almost nothing would exist.

natural

surroundings

forced people living in towns along the Jura plateau on the border with France to try something special: watchmaking.

The watch has to be something special

Tourbillon 24 Secondes (T24S) (left) Tourbillon 24 Secondes Contemporain (right)

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“We joined forces, handed in our resignations and founded Complitime, a company for horologic innovations, before setting-up our own watchmaking company Greubel&Forsey.”

Forsey, also a lover of vintage cars, gave us a tour of the studio and hinted at what may come. The smallest screw has a diameter of 0.35 mm and they are mainly made of steel, nickel or silver. “But every watch is first conceived in our heads,” Forsey continues. “The design, specifications, diameter, thickness, available volume for the movement, length of operation, what the watch will measure and display, the manner of winding…These come at the beginning. Technology is where I come in. Robert is more adept in strategy, creating, design and takes care of the commercial part of the studio.” We are told that the designation “studio” fits watchmaking a lot better than, say, company or factory. They make the complicated components by themselves, using special tools and machines, which are sometimes tailor-made for them. “The quality of material plays a very important role in achieving our goals. This is why we employ extremely stringent triple material control, which requires a very exact and rigorous supervision process.” Every conceived timepiece is first built as a prototype and only then is a decision made on whether to manufacture it or not. “All our requirements regarding the control of material quality, component manufacture, assembly and movements are a lot more exacting than those of our competition. We set our own quality criteria and by that I mean 100% quality,” Forsey explains.

“We wanted to change one more thing,” Forsey adds. “Until now such watches were only collected to be kept in display cabinets and boxes. We wanted them to be used daily, despite their price. And we’re pleased that the vast majority of our buyers do use them on a regular basis.”

Completely Handmade

Are you currently wondering how on Earth a wrist watch without any precious stones could cost half a million euros? The answer to that question interested us as well. “Because of the precision of the movement mechanism, which we want to bring as close to electronic watches as possible. Because they are worn in different positions, mechanical watches are almost never completely on time. Our uniqueness lies in new and different movements as well as the manufacture of every part of our watches. This is the secret and uniqueness of Greubel&Forsey timepieces.”

The simplest, if such an adjective can even be used for any Greubel&Forsey creation, is the Tourbillon 24 Secondes. The most complex one is the Quadruple Tourbillon, while the most unique one is the GMT, closely followed by the Double Balancier 35*, of which only six have been made and, naturally, already sold.

Tourbillon is the name of these miracle movements, placed under different angles inside the watch. Furthermore, by placing more of them into a single watch, its precision can be maximised and deviations minimised. Another unique characteristic of their timepieces is that they are completely handmade from parts designed and manufactured in the studio. “Every component in our products is 10 to 100 times more expensive that a similar part in a different watch,” Forsey says. “Every watch has between 260 and 590 components and some screws are so tiny that you need a microscope to see them.”

“If the secret of an exhaust is in its sound, as personified so magnificently by Akrapovič, then the entire secret of watchmaking is in the assembly and completion, apart from innovating, of course. Well, some of it is in the sound as well.” Stephen Forsey

But first the datasheet: The company makes about 100 watches a year, priced at between 500,000 and several million euros. It sells five to six different models and annually manufactures around 25 pieces of the cheaper ones and only five pieces of the more expensive ones. The majority of the watches are sold in advance, a fact quickly confirmed by glancing at their catalogue, where at least half of the models made so far have been marked in red – sold out.

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“Timepieces have existed for over 500 years,” Forsey explains, “but physicists, mathematicians and other scientists have only begun paying attention to them over the past 20 years. Only now do we measure, employ specific measuring methods, do material analysis…Our laboratory is unique in the world of horology and an increasing number of other watchmakers come to us to get the know-how and answers to their questions.”

Quadruple Tourbillon Every watch has between 260 and 590 parts.

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“We joined forces, handed in our resignations and founded Complitime, a company for horologic innovations, before setting-up our own watchmaking company Greubel&Forsey.”

Completely Handmade

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Quadruple Tourbillon Every watch has between 260 and 590 parts.

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Every one of their timepieces requires between three and six weeks to assemble, meaning between 500 and 800 hours of manual labour. It also has to pass numerous rigorous tests. “First we test the components, then the materials, and the assembly,” Forsey says. “We follow-up with the post-assembly control and finish with the most demanding tests, where every single finished product is subject to extreme conditions in special chambers. Only if it passes all of these tests without errors is it delivered to the buyer.”

Delivery in person

The way the watches are sold is also unique. Regardless of where in the world a potential serious buyer might be, the models on sale are presented in person. Every watch is also delivered in person as well. The majority of the customers decide to come to the studio for their timepiece, where they can see the manufacturing process and take in the surrounding valley of watchmakers. However, the owners and the general manager do embark on numerous trips as well. “The three of us, Robert, myself and our general manager, a financial expert who also makes trips to the owners of our watches if

“Our laboratory is unique in the world of horology.” Stephen Forsey

necessary, make several trips a year. It’s not too demanding.” Forsey is proud of the company’s success since “the watchmaking world didn’t believe we could make it in 1999, saying that the Tourbillon is just a pipedream and potentially a toy that could never achieve perfection. Our uniqueness is in aiming to achieve the impossible. In 2011, we were awarded the innovation Concourse d’ Chronometrie prize, but up until that time, watchmakers and the media said that we were building castles in the sky.” During the first years of their independent manufacture, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey also often heard that nothing new could be invented in watchmaking – they disproved that notion in the best manner possible. “If the secret of an exhaust is in its sound, as personified so magnificently by Akrapovič, then the entire secret of watchmaking is in the assembly and completion, apart from innovating, of course. Well, some of it is in the sound as well,” Forsey says, while pressing three different Greubel&Forsey models to our ears. When we noted that each of them had a unique ticking sound, he concluded: “See? Here it’s about the sound as well.” It is not a company or factory – it is a studio.

Stephen Forsey

Robert Greubel

Greubel&Forsey - najbolj nenavadna urarja na svetu Robert Greubel in Stephen Forsey delata zapestne ure, ki brez draguljev stanejo pol milijona evrov. “Gre za natančnost delovanja mehanizma, ki ga želimo vse bolj približati elektronskim uram. Mehanske ure zaradi različnih položajev nošenja ure nikdar niso povsem točne. Naša posebnost je v ideji novega, drugačnega mehanizma in izdelave vsake kompomente v naši uri. Tu je skrivnost in posebnost ur Greubel&Forsey,” odgovarjata urarska inovatorja.

Every timepiece requires between 500 and 800 hours of manual labour.

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Visit With Us

Delivery in person

“Our laboratory is unique in the world of horology.” Stephen Forsey

Stephen Forsey

Robert Greubel

Every timepiece requires between 500 and 800 hours of manual labour.

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Road Trip

European Bike Week, Faaker See 2013

“I’m on the Road Again”

by Primož Jurman photography Luka Ileršič, Harley-Davidson

* (Floyd Jones, 1953) A September morning. Even though they’re not at full strength anymore, gentle late summer rays are still doing the best they can to dry the dewy grass behind the factory hall. Birds chirping completes the image of peace and tranquillity. I am savouring my morning coffee while looking at my Harley parked outside, its pair of chromium-plated

ˇ exhausts shimmering Akrapovic in the morning sun. Today it will be my travelling companion. We’re going to Faaker See. To Austria. To the European Bike Week.

I feel a tinge of guilt as I mount my American steel steed, turn the massive contact key, press on the clutch and awaken the machine. The Akrapovič duo comes roaring to life, awakening emotions with its sound. It gives me a bigger kick than my morning coffee. I allow the engine to warm up to its operating temperature while relishing the two-cylinder roar. I drown out the birds, the sun’s rays are a bit warmer now, and the neighbours are watching from behind their curtains. Their youngest son waves goodbye. Well, they’re used to this kind of reveille by now.

O n the R o ad

In his classic book for travellers “On the Road,” Jack Kerouac wrote that the journey is more important than the destination. His words, “Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road,” are on my mind as I hug the mountain road towards the Ljubelj pass, the highest point of my journey today. Jack was right. I’m enjoying myself. Here. Now. On the road. My Harley gently rumbles, my footrests scrape the asphalt in the tight mountain turns. I feel the road. I am in unison with it. I smell the fresh mountain air. Descending on the Austrian side after passing through the tunnel I feel the temperature rising again. I meet more and more

bikers, mainly on Harleys, and their raised hands affirm the allegiance to the biker tribe. The stereotype of a biker as obese, scruffy, ruthless, and only interested in his Harley is still alive and well. But the present, as the American brand celebrates 110 years, is different. The people who have joined the Harley brotherhood in recent years include more and more middle-aged architects, doctors and lawyers, for whom riding a Harley is a way to spend their free time and relax. Harley has become a status symbol. Women are becoming more numerous as well and I do not mean that they ride pillion. Harleys have evolved from being exclusively male and can now be tamed even by dainty female hands.

T he G o a l a s t he St a r t i n g P o i nt

The Austrian province of Carinthia speeds by me as I navigate a country road towards the Faaker See, the scene of the 16th European Bike Week. I join a group of Italian Harley enthusiasts and we rumble towards the scene of the event together. At a roundabout nearby we’re welcomed by a gigantic, almost three-tonne monument to bikers, which was erected by the town of Finkenstein and has already become a pilgrimage site for bikers. It’s impressive. We reach our goal without hurrying or any anxiety. I park and turn off my machine. The number of bikes that come here

is breathtaking. More than 100,000 arrive every year! They fill the parking lots, the sides of the roads and everywhere else. Chrome as far as the eye can see. I walk to Akrapovič’s exhibition area, adorned by a fleet of parked Harleys, every one of them equipped with an Akrapovič exhaust. Commendable and in the company’s style. The area is dominated by two very specific bikes: the V-Rod Dreamachine and Cote d´Azur by famous bike builder Walz. Also on display are all the exhausts Akrapovič manufactures for Harleys. For almost a week I feel the link: the vein that connects the factory in Slovenia with the exhibition area in Austria.

Later I ask Marcus Walz about the importance of Bike Week at Faaker See. “This is an event that a true Harley fan cannot miss!” he says. “I’ve been coming here since the beginning and I can see it getting bigger by the year. Of course, this is also the place where I put my creations on display for potential buyers.” His sentiment is shared by Tomaž Capuder, the creator of the legendary Morsus, a promotion motorcycle by Akrapovič, which was declared the best bike in the “Radical” and “Best in Show” categories at 2011’s Faaker See meet.

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Road Trip

European Bike Week, Faaker See 2013

“I’m on the Road Again”

by Primož Jurman photography Luka Ileršič, Harley-Davidson

ˇ exhausts shimmering Akrapovic in the morning sun. Today it will be my travelling companion. We’re going to Faaker See. To Austria. To the European Bike Week.

O n the R o ad

T he G o a l a s t he St a r t i n g P o i nt

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Road Trip

W h at i s t h e B uz z ?

Yeah, Faaker See is an action-packed 24 hours a day for almost a week. Apart from the bikers’ meet, it’s also an ideal place for the manufacturers to showcase their add-ons and forge new ties in the “Dealers Area” and “Expo Tent.” Visitors to the “Customiser Area” can see what’s hot right now and check trends in custom bike manufacturing. It’s also the venue for various bike rating competitions. Harley-Davidson is on site exhibiting and allowing visitors to test all of its models, even the ones that will be available in the coming season. The evening programme is perfect for rock lovers, with the main stage playing host to numerous bands.

The central event of the meet is a motorbike parade on Saturday, when over 20,000 bikers take part in a noon ride around the Faaker See lake and its surrounding villages. This is also why Carinthia is visited by people from all over Europe and the world. While Italians, Germans, and Austrians dominate the scene, the number of Eastern European participants has been steadily increasing over the past years. Also notable is the large number of families coming to the meet, while the town itself is bustling with bikers during the traditional rally.

Re g ula r Vi s i t or s - W hy do they K e e p Retur ni ng ?

I tug on the sleeves of several participants, who share their reasons for coming to Austria. Kevin (44) from Scotland says: “This is my fifth year of coming here with friends. Visiting the European Bike Week is a tradition that I cannot miss out on. Why? Because this here is the biggest and best meeting of Harley riders in Europe.” Dieter (51) has been coming to the event since its inception, “I remember us numbering around 20,000. The number is more than 5-times that now. In the past 15 years I’ve always associated the end of summer

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Road Trip

W h at i s t h e B uz z ?

Re g ula r Vi s i t or s - W hy do they K e e p Retur ni ng ?

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Road Trip

with the meeting in Faaker.” Italy’s Gianfranco (55) and Francesca (49) think in similar terms, “We love Harleys and everything connected with them. We’ve been coming here for the past 10 years and have met friends from all over the world. We usually come here for several days and especially enjoy the parade.”

P a r ad e M a g ic

The parade! Right. I join in. The excitement in the air is palpable as the first bikers start to gather at around 10 in the morning. The parade officially starts at noon and it takes quite a bit of time before the more than 20,000 machines gather in full. The organisation is perfect. The parade circles the lake,

starting at the Harley Village before going through the towns of Arneitz and Egg, passing the “American Village” and “Cleanwood” and returning to the Harley Village – a grand total of 8 kilometres. During this time, the road is closed for all other traffic and temporarily changed into a one-way street. Thousands of visitors and spectators gather on its sides, waving, welcoming or just observing. The air is pierced by the sound of exhausts coming from the multitude of bikes, with my Akrapovič twins gladly contributing. The parade is an exhibition, a show. I am riding shoulder-to-shoulder with a man dressed as Batman. I see Marilyn Monroe, accompanied by Elvis. Imagination knows no bounds. I meet a group of Vikings, Asterix and creatures that I don’t even

know the name of. Radical! The bikes have a similar story to tell. I roll along in the company of “baggers,” “choppers,” “hardtails,” “old school bikes” a few Japanese models, Bavarians and the home-turf orange representatives. The type of bike doesn’t matter, the party is what it’s all about. Riding in such a huge crowd really is something special. Melded with the group, the adrenaline surges and the goose bumps never go away. Unforgettable. After completing the parade I decide to call it a week. As I hum the Canned Heat hit “On The Road Again”, itself a cover of a 1953 song by Floyd Jones, I feel as if the exhausts are slowly bending to my beat of the song. Or maybe they simply enjoyed seeing thousands of other Harleys.

European Bike Week is an annual motorcycle rally held at Lake Faak in Austria. 120,000 people attended the event in 2012, making it the largest rally in Europe and the third largest worldwide. The first motorcycle meeting at Lake Faak took place in 1998 as a HarleyDavidson anniversary event. The meeting was organized by Daniela Gabriel, who worked for Harley-Davidson Europe. The first meeting attracted some 15,000 participants. The following year, the event was renamed “European Bike Week.” From these modest beginnings it grew into the biggest event of the rocker- and biker scene in Europe.

Ko praznuje Harley European Bike Week je vsakoletno srečanje lastnikov in ljubiteljev Harley-Davidsonov ob Baškem jezeru na avstrijskem Koroškem. Dogodek, ki traja skoraj teden dni, letos je potekal že šestnajstič, pritegne več kot 100 000 motoristov s celega sveta in je eden največjih na svetu. S svojimi izpušnimi sistemi se na njem predstavlja tudi družba Akrapovič.

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Road Trip

P a r ad e M a g ic

44 / 45

Fantastic

By Alenka Birk

Something Different

Are you alive?

These different glasses were designed by athletes, musicians, and artists with talent, knowledge and passion. Their sunglasses, prescription glasses and goggles, with their daring and colourful frames, contain traces of the souls of people like: legendary Slovenian Alpine ski racer Jure Košir, world windsurfing freestyle champion Steven Van Broeckhoven, and many others who belong to the different community. We love the superior design, fusion of metal and wood, and that every product is adorned with a small wooden dot called a “Connector,” which represents the link between an individual and nature. For those with dedication and passion.

“Fuel for Life Spirit” by Diesel looks like a flask, but the sumptuous amber colour hints that it’s not alcohol inside. Instead, it’s filled with a fragrance that’s made for men who live life to the fullest. It skilfully blends 25 ml of enjoyment, 25 ml of seductiveness and 25 ml of freedom. Citrusy notes on top, floral tones at heart, and woody at the base, all combine to create freshness with a sophisticated fougere oriental note and a distinctive touch of amber. For sensual men.

www.diesel.com

www.different-eye.com

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Superior Design

Cognac to go

Samsung’s 7.1 channel home surround sound HT-F9750W is the ideal companion for Samsung’s 2013 smart TVs. It’s full hi-fi sound, courtesy of the world’s first gallium nitride (GaN) amplifier, superior design and numerous easy connectivity features coupled with intuitive sound controls. It all adds up to the perfect user experience.

Those who truly appreciate Hennessy’s Very Special Cognac can now take it with them in a useful, light and fashionable accessory, which comes in the guise of colourful silicone wraps. Available in grey, blue, purple and green. Carefully remove the top of the wrapping and wear it as a fashionable wristband. Individuality with style and flair. In a limited edition only.

www.samsung.com

www.hennessy.com

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Thinking for You

As if Made of Stone

Do you know how many calories you consume a day, your daily intake of vitamins and minerals, your ingestion of fats, sodium, carbohydrates and the exact amount of consumed sugar? How many hours do you really sleep and how many do you spend tossing and turning? What about the distance you cover? The answer to these questions can only be provided by a device that tunes in to your body, tracks your activities, helps you reach your goals and understand your habits. With its holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle, the advanced Jawbone Up is more than just another sporty wristband. It monitors your movement, sleep and manages your meals. Wrap it around your wrist, synchronize it with your smartphone and get a deeper insight into what you do.

The limited tableware collection by London artist Max Lamb is a new hit on the design market. Buy your piece from the crockery section, which includes bowls, jugs and salt/pepper dispensers (pictured), made by using a slip-cast method and hand carving. These raw-exterior sculptures are made in England.

www.jawbone.com

www.maxlamb.com

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Fantastic

By Alenka Birk

Something Different

Are you alive?

www.diesel.com

www.different-eye.com

44 2

Superior Design

Cognac to go

www.samsung.com

www.hennessy.com

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Thinking for You

As if Made of Stone

www.jawbone.com

www.maxlamb.com

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Legend

Way n e R a i n e y

A R ai n e y Day i n S unn y Cal i f o r n ia 46

by Gaber Keržišnik photography Bor Dobrin, Yamaha Motor Racing

“We’re visiting Mr. Wayne Rainey,” I told the security guard. We were standing at the entrance to a gated residential community, lying amidst luscious nature and hills, covered with sunburnt grass and low trees. The community is conveniently located near the Laguna Seca racetrack in Monterey, where one of the corners is named after Wayne Rainey: three-time World Champion in the most prestigious class of motorbike racing.

“I am still not used to the wheelchair, I often think about the crash.”

After being given a thorough glance-over, asked who we were, what we were, and why we wanted to enter the intimate splendour of the residential houses on the other side of the gate, we were let in. We drove to the top of a hill, shared by only three houses. One of them belongs to Wayne Rainey, the 500cc World Champion of the 1990, ‘91 and ‘92 season. The blonde-haired American would probably have won the title in 1993 and even a few others later on, had he not suffered a tragic accident at the Italian Grand Prix in Misano. That’s where Wayne Rainey fell. Initially, it didn’t seem like there was anything special about it. It was similar to many other accidents, but at the same time it was tragically unique. Wayne Rainey did not, and could not, get up. He had to be taken to the ambulance on a stretcher. That was the last race for the now 52-year-old American, who has been confined to a wheelchair ever since, a fate he still hasn’t completely come to terms with. “Every morning when I wake up the first thing I look at is the wheelchair,” he says. “I’m still not completely used to it and I still think often about that crash. Then I start feeling angry but soon realise that what happened, happened and it’s now part of my life.” It was an honor to talk to Wayne, one of my childhood idols. When I was a kid, I looked up to him and other racers (like Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner and Eddie Lawson) the way other kids admired Robin Hood, Superman or Batman. Their photographs and posters watched over my room and I was glued to the screen on Sundays watching them do their magic on their 4 valve 500cc machines. Back then, of course, they did it without the now-common rider aids that prevent back wheel sliding and rear wheel lifting. Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi described the races in the elite class in the 90s as: “Not just racing, but war.” Before the Laguna Seca race, I had the chance to ask Rossi what he thought about the former Yamaha rider. “Ahh, Wayne. What a champion!” he told me. “I was always a fan of his. And of his archrival Kevin Schwantz. They were true riders and those were real races. I would have given anything to have been able to race back then, but I was simply too young. I was a guest at Yamaha’s dinner yesterday at

Rainey’s home and I felt so proud to be there. Wayne Rainey really is such a big name in racing…” Such words coming from the mouth of a 9-time champion really leave no doubt about Rainey’s stature. I was of the exact same mind as I pressed the bell of the Mediterranean-style hacienda. Rainey himself answered the door. He invited our group into his house and showed us around. Because the Rainey family was in the midst of preparing for a visit by other riders and bigwigs, who were invited for Yamaha’s dinner prior to the US Grand Prix, we decided to spend our time with Rainey outside, next to a large swimming pool. “I still swim every day. It keeps me fit,” he told us. “I also do a lot of cycling on a custom bike which is made to be powered by arms. I keep fit in that way. I think it’s important.” Rainey, believe it or not, still looks as if he took off his helmet and hung up his racing suit yesterday. After the accident, he decided not to leave the racing world. Following the advice of Frank Williams, the owner of the eponymous Formula 1 team and himself a tetraplegic, Rainey set up and successfully managed his own racing team after the accident. But only for a few years. Why did he decide to disband it so soon? Money? Sponsorship issues? “No, not at all. None of that,” he says. “I simply realised that I couldn’t do it. It was too demanding. All the races, trips, hotels, airplanes…I couldn’t do it. It was all too much. It was too exhausting and I decided to call it a day. I wanted to relax.” After our photographer completed his tour of the outside, we moved to the inside of Rainey’s new house. A room full of cups and awards. The walls are full of race pictures and helmets with their distinctive Rainey designs, while the middle is reserved for two beautifully restored Yamaha YZR 500 bikes in Marlboro livery. “The first was given to me by Yamaha as a surprise gift after the Misano accident,” he explains. “The second one, also unexpectedly, came from Yamaha a few years later. So I had two of them, but lacked the third, so I became a bit ‘greedy’,” he jokes. “So I asked the Japanese team for a third one to complete my collection, but was squarely refused. ‘We’re not giving it to you. Two are more than enough!’”

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Legend

Way n e R a i n e y

A R ai n e y Day i n S unn y Cal i f o r n ia 46

by Gaber Keržišnik photography Bor Dobrin, Yamaha Motor Racing

“I am still not used to the wheelchair, I often think about the crash.”

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Legend

W. Rainey: “Even though they’re parked in a memorial room, the bikes still require maintenance.“

After we admired the beautiful bikes for a while, Rainey continued: “I almost never enter this room. I sometimes just slightly open the door and peek inside. Just to check if somebody maybe forgot to turn the lights off. But after the Laguna Seca race, I’ll devote a bit more time to the bikes here. Even though they’re parked in a memorial room, they still require maintenance. I recently noticed traces of oil on the front suspension of one of them. Due to lack of use, the rubber spring gaskets on the front forks started leaking. I’ll take the front suspension off the bike in the near future and have Öhlins’ technicians repair the gaskets. The bike will then be good to go for a while.” Sitting in a room full of relics and two priceless motorbikes, I steer the conversation from modern racing, the current lack of young US riders, overuse of rider aids in the MotoGP class and other topical issues back into the past. Riders keep to themselves in the paddock nowadays and barely even greet each other if they meet. What was it like 20 or 25 years ago? Was it any different?

“While riders never were the best of friends, even back then,” he answers, “things were a lot better than today. We would often crack a beer or two after the race or have a barbecue in the paddock. Sometimes these meetings turned into proper parties lasting until the early hours. Come to think of it, the biggest parties were never held when I won, but usually when I finished second or third. But I maintained cordial relations with all the competitors. Especially with Eddie Lawson, who remains a good friend today. After my accident we raced a lot together in the Superkart series. I was behind the wheel of a tailored kart, with customised controls allowing me to control everything by hand. But I stopped doing that a few years ago, whereas Eddie is still going strong. He and my dad have a team and that’s why we still spend a lot of time together. “Yeah, I always had good relations with my competitors. All of them, but one. And that one was Kevin Schwantz. I don’t know exactly why, but we simply never liked each other.“

Kevin Schwantz - also a Legend

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Legend

W. Rainey: “Even though they’re parked in a memorial room, the bikes still require maintenance.“

Kevin Schwantz - also a Legend

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Legend

Rainey pauses for a while before continuing with a smile: “We never got along well, at least until this March. I was quite surprised when a phone rang as I was sitting out by the pool this spring. I pick it up and a voice on the other end says hello and asks if I’m home. It was Schwantz. He was at the Laguna Seca racetrack for an event he was invited to. He thought of me and gave me a call. We were just getting ready to have dinner, so I invited him over. And he was here in a couple of minutes. After dinner we sat in the kitchen late into the evening and talked about everything under the sun – everything but racing. As it was getting late and he was getting ready to leave, I asked him where he intended to spend the night. He replied that he didn’t have anything booked, but would go down to

Monterey and find the first available room. So I invited him to sleep in our guest bedroom. He agreed and stayed over at my house. Before going to bed, I thought to myself: “My God. Incredible. Kevin Schwantz is spending the night at my house. This was probably the last thing that I’d ever thought possible…” A mysterious smile crept on his face as he looked at one of the numerous photographs on the wall. It featured the famous duo in the heat of a race. Rainey with bike no. 1 in the lead, and Schwantz breathing down his neck on no. 34.

»Ahh ... Wayne. What a champion! I was always a fan of his. And a fan of his archrival Kevin Schwantz. They were real riders and those were real races. I would have given anything to have been able to race back then, but I was simply too young. I was a guest at Yamaha’s dinner yesterday at Rainey’s home and I felt so proud to be there. Wayne Rainey really is such a big name in racing…” VALENTINO ROSSI

Pri Wayne Raineyju doma Bili smo na obisku pri svetovnemu motociklističnemu prvaku sezon 1990, 1991 in 1992, ki ga je padec na dirki v Misanu leta 1993 prikoval na invalidski voziček. “S Schwantzem se nisva marala vse do letošnjega marca,” pove Rainey, o svojem največjem tekmecu. “Ko se je mudil na dirkališču v Laguni Seci je prišel k meni na obisk, ko smo ravno večerjali. Potem sva sedela v kuhinji še pozno v noč in sva debatirala o vsem

mogočem … samo o dirkah ne. Ker še ni imel rezerviranega hotela, sem mu ponudil našo sobo za goste. Privolil je in prespal. Preden sem legel v posteljo še sam, sem pomislil: ‘Moj bog. Neverjetno. Sam Kevin Schwantz bo prespal v moji hiši. To je zadnja stvar, na katero bi kdajkoli pomislil, da se bo zgodila’,” je dejal naš gostitelj.

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Legend

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Go Wild

Th e Sun Sings To Wine by Matevž Hribar photography Matevž Hribar, Jim Tannock

52 / 57

Go Wild

Th e Sun Sings To Wine by Matevž Hribar photography Matevž Hribar, Jim Tannock

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Go Wild

The rounded winery roof looks unobtrusive and is used for collecting rainwater.

“Never Say it Can’t be Done” Upon being asked whether they would be interested in an article about New Zealand, the editorial board of this magazine replied with a qualified yes. They were interested, but it had to be an interesting story, not just a travelogue. I agreed, despite some trepidation about what to write about. About a vineyard that plays classical music to grapes using solar energy? You’re kidding, right? But then on a sunny Thursday in November 2012, I drove my rented car past signs leading to “Seaview,” thinking it was just another one of the thousands of local points of interest. But there was more to be found. I had found my story. The gargantuan structure there mimics the surrounding hills, making it relatively inconspicuous. The alleys, lined with young trees, point to the fact that the Yealands Estate hasn’t been around for very long. On the second day of getting to know New Zealand’s fifth largest winery, my conversational partner Peter Yealands explained why that’s the case. He only started purchasing land from local sheep herders in 2001 and altogether bought eight plots over the following six years. This netted him about 2,500 acres on the north-eastern coast of New Zealand’s southern island. “Every person that I bought land from was a very happy seller,” he explains. “It’s very hard to make a living here just farming sheep and that’s what they were doing, so most of them had another job. But everyone was very happy, they are all very proud of what their former property has turned into.” Peter Yealands, born in 1948, has the appearance and cheerfulness that could lead you to mistake

Solar energy allows classical music to be played to the vines from speakers mounted on poles.

him for Santa Claus. Until recently, he had never even dabbled in anything remotely connected with wine growing. But even though he may not be a winemaker by trade, he knows how to make things work. “Never say it can’t be done,” he says. A clever pupil who often clashed with his teachers, he got the principal’s permission to leave school at the age of 14 and start working in his father’s grocery shop. In his biography “A Bloke for all Seasons - the Peter Yealands Story,” his long-term friend and business associate Peter Radich wrote the following about his lack of formal education: “Peter is one of those very intelligent people who hasn’t been ‘spoiled’ by education and so has no real idea of what can and can’t be done. His mind is still free and wideranging and has never really been fenced in. This

has allowed him to venture into areas where more prudent people wouldn’t go.” That’s how Yealands, after stints with groceries, car dealerships, agricultural machinery, construction works, mussel farming (in 1969 his family got the first mussel marine farming licence ever issued in New Zealand – today there are around 650), deer farming and forestry, eventually turned to something he had until then known absolutely nothing about: winemaking. His approach to challenges (he doesn’t know the word “problem”) was instrumental in making the Yealands Estate into what it is today and putting it on track to reach its goal: global brand recognition.

“Many of the Things I Used to Do, I’d Never Do Now” However, before Yealands came along, the sheep were grazing on a terrain that was very inhospitable to grapevines. The Tuscany-like hills were shaped by excavators, primarily under Peter’s command. A 3D GPS system allowed accuracy of up to one centimetre on this diversified terrain. “Only about 5% of all the grapes are picked manually,” he says. “The parts of the estate where the grapes are smaller grow closer together and have a thinner peel. These are picked manually and earmarked for truly exclusive brands due to their very rich mixture of tastes. Because of the orderliness of the rows, the rest can easily be picked by machines.” I get the sense that Peter is already preparing an answer to my follow-up question: namely, is there a difference in quality when it comes to hand- or machine-picked grapes? I have to ask, because I’m familiar with the vibrancy of homegrown Terrano grapes, which are gathered in two old wooden barrels in my friend’s cellar in Slovenia’s Karst region. “I don’t necessarily believe it makes any difference,” he replies. “The perception is that it’s better if done by hand. So I’ll stick with that, I don’t want to break the perception that it’s how you get the best wines, but I don’t actually think it makes any difference.” Additionally, the resilient local varieties and the never-ending breeze from the Pacific mean that pesticides can be kept to a minimum, while using environmentally friendly formulas. The proof is in the English Babydoll sheep, which have partially replaced lawnmowers. This diminutive breed, which is often kept as a pet, was necessary because normal sheep tend to feast on the grapes rather than the grass. Another surprise (and not the last one) is the unusually high number of birds of various breeds that Peter and his team have settled on the estate. While grape-loving birds are usually shooed away by growers, Peter loves them with the same intensity as he loves trees and other plants. (More than 75,000 saplings have been planted all over the estate.) His devotion to nature and sustainable development is his way of making amends for his formerly less-than-environmentally-friendly business: chopping down wood and selling it to Thailand. “Many of the things I used to do, I’d never do now,” he told a business conference in 2008. “If

we go back to my farming days in the 90s, I’ve always had a passion for trees, though earlier the passion seemed to be for cutting them down.” And thus we have birds, trees, careful waste management and smart energy usage. The goal of the estate is to be 100% energy independent, and he’s currently very close to reaching that goal. The roof of the winery collects water, electricity is produced by solar panels and wind turbines, motion detectors prevent excessive energy use for indoor lighting and a fuel cell tractor is currently undergoing trial runs. Under the ‘Full Circle’

brand, the winery even introduced a line of wines in plastic (yes, plastic) packaging. The packaging is lighter than glass and can be fully recycled, while the taste is said to remain the same as with classically bottled wines. Meanwhile, waste wood from vine trimming is used to create 200-kilogram bales, which are dried during the summer and emit the same amount of heat as 60 kilograms of LPG. The winery’s treasured compost is made from sea algae and fish waste from local fishermen.

Despite his years (and paunch) Peter Yealands radiates a youthful desire to work.

Sonce poje vinu Ob dejstvu, da se s pomočjo tridimenzionalnega GPS sistema nasajene trte razprostirajo na tisoč hektarih, bi se človek lahko zgrozil nad industrializacijo nečesa, kar naj bi sicer najbolje naredila človeška roka. A Peter Yealands razbija mite o vinarstvu, čeprav pred letom 2001, ko je od lokalnih ovčjerejcev začel kupovati zemljišča na severovzhodu južnega novoze-

landskega otoka, o zadevi ni imel pojma. Travo med brajdami deloma kosijo angleške ovčke, streha vinarne zbira vodo in s pomočjo fotovoltaike sončno energijo. Iz lesnih odpadkov pri obrezovanju trt izdelujejo bale za ogrevanje, iz morskih alg gnojilo. Na stebrih nameščeni zvočniki, prav tako s pomočjo sončne energije, bodočemu vinu igrajo klasično glasbo…

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Go Wild

The rounded winery roof looks unobtrusive and is used for collecting rainwater.

Solar energy allows classical music to be played to the vines from speakers mounted on poles.

Despite his years (and paunch) Peter Yealands radiates a youthful desire to work.

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Go Wild

The English Babydoll sheep have partially replaced lawnmowers.

The goal of the Yealands estate is to be 100% energy independent.

Plants Like Music Want another hugely positive surprise? Solar energy allows classical music to be played to the vines from speakers mounted on poles. “Tests have produced excellent results,” he tells me. “Just google the phrase ‘plants like music.’” Pretty impressive! Of course, the winery is not just interested in nature, but in its workers as well: its internal ‘I CAN’ programme encourages employees to face

their own fears, awards sporting achievements and, in the middle of writing this story, the company announced on Facebook that it was organising a marathon at the estate. On the second day of my visit, the facility was nearly empty, as almost the entire team was out planting trees. If you could only see the smiles on their faces as they returned for a group photo! Such energy and desire to work must certainly produce results. And it does!

Savignon Blanc, which accounts for 70% of the estate’s produce, won the golden award at the International Wine Challenge: the James Roger Trophy 2012 for the Best Wine in the First Year of Production. That same year the winery also won the ‘Green Economy’ category at the national Green Ribbon Awards, while the previous year it won an award in the Best Wine Tourism category and for being Exporter of the Year to the USA. Only 15% of Yealands Estate wine is sold locally, while the rest goes to Australia, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Chile and Europe, with the Netherlands and Germany being the biggest consumers. And my vote? After a brief tasting, it would definitely go to the wonderfully fruity Pinot Gris. And especially because of the manner in which it is produced.

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The English Babydoll sheep have partially replaced lawnmowers.

The goal of the Yealands estate is to be 100% energy independent.

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Crazy Stuff

y z a r C Stuff CASA LEE -

THE EXBURY EGG -

Spectacular, sexy, minimalist and elegant – it’s Casa Lee, conceived by the Marcio Kogan studio. The Brazilian residence in the city of Porto Feliz on the outskirts of Sao Paolo is characterised by long, unbroken lines, huge open-plan spaces and a wealth of natural materials. The building is revolutionary in its seemingly endless singlefloor horizontal shape. A concrete frame runs its entire width, covering two wooden sections – one containing a guest suite and the other housing bedrooms, a gym and spa, which has access to an outdoor swimming pool. Located in between are the living and dining areas, with panoramic glass windows. Teak wood has been used inside and outside and links the two parts. The ultimate place for relaxation or fun. www.architectism.com/casa-lee-by-marcio-kogan

Is it a boat or is it a floating house? It’s neither! The Exbury Egg is part of an art project that is located at the estuary of the Beaulieu River in England. It’s a floating studio that was brought to life by artist Stephen Turner, who will inhabit the Egg for a year. The project is meant to fuse art and architecture, while preserving the fragile environment where sea meets land. Stephen, an environmentally minded artist, has created a modern, energy efficient and self-sustainable workspace from

HEAVEN ON EARTH -

plywood and local timber. The wooden floating residence will allow him to study the changing patterns of maritime ecology and produce art that will serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting sensitive ecosystems. In bringing his vision to life, the artist joined forces with a skilled team in order to create a minimalist, self-sustaining environment that nonetheless allows for a relatively comfortable existence in order to minimise its impact on nature. “I wanted to intervene in the landscape at a

key moment,” Stephen explained, “when climate change is already creating new shorelines and habitats.” Inspired by the estuary and its ecology, Stephen will incorporate the Egg into his artwork. An ongoing record of his work will be available for the public to see at Exbury Gardens and on the project’s website. www.exbury.co.uk

Perched above the Kobarid basin, on the border with Italy, at the edge of Slavia Friulana, where the Mediterranean gives way to the Alps, there is a stunning panoramic view of the Kanin and Krn mountains, Friuli and the sea. This is where you’ll find Heaven (Nebesa). Heaven consists of four houses with expansive views, offering complete comfort for two guests apiece and almost complete privacy. It stands on its own, 900 metres above sea level and two kilometres from the nearest village. Every house is equipped with panoramic windows from the floor to the ceiling, allowing you to indulge yourself in winter vistas from the warm comfort of your chalet. Or you could spoil yourself

in the fifth wellness building, with a covered swimming pool, massage pool and sauna. Treat yourself to a massage, try the superb local wines and raid your fridge, which will be filled with everything you need for breakfast and snacks. You’ll only need a 10-minute drive to reach the numerous points of interest on the Slovenian and Italian side of the Kolovrat and Matajur mountains. The pristine natural surroundings are far from hectic crowds. Heaven lets you leave your everyday cares behind and be one with nature. Heaven is unforgettable for lovers. You’ll be amazed! www.nebesa.si

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y z a r C Stuff CASA LEE -

THE EXBURY EGG -

HEAVEN ON EARTH -

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2CELLOS: Sex Appeal and High-Rev Music by Tina Torelli photography Bor Dobrin, 2Cellos, Miha Fras

IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO WORDS WHAT MY EARS HEARD. WHAT HELD ME IN THRALL FOR TWO HOURS. THERE ARE NO ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE THE BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH. THERE ARE NO VERBS TO CONVEY HOW MY SKIN REACTED TO THE MUSIC. “GO AND SEE THEM LIVE, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS ASTONISHING!” SIR ELTON JOHN SAID, “I CAN’T REMEMBER SEEING ANYTHING AS EXCITING AS THEM SINCE I SAW JIMMY HENDRIX LIVE BACK IN THE 60’S…”

Work, Jokes & Rock ‘n’ Roll Tender as the flutter of butterflies one moment, wild as cats being dragged around by their tails the next, and always technically perfect. When Stjepan Hauser, the more irrepressible half of 2CELLOS, was asked to describe their music to someone who hadn’t heard it yet, he said: “Our music is intense, emotional and exciting. Yes, we’re happy if you buy our CDs, but you won’t get the full experience in your living room. You’ll only get about a hundredth of the magic that happens at our concert. Our music has to be seen.”

Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić taking a quick nap in a hotel reception.

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2CELLOS: Sex Appeal and High-Rev Music by Tina Torelli photography Bor Dobrin, 2Cellos, Miha Fras

Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić taking a quick nap in a hotel reception.

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Strike a pose

Elton John suggested: “Go and see them live!”

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2CELLOS: Seksapil in glasba na visokih obratih Stjepan Hauser in Luka Šulić sta si sicer precej različna, a živita isto strast. Največja rivala sta modro združila moči, a rivala ostajata in vsak njun nastop se zdi kot dvoboj. Napetost

se čuti v njunih videospotih in čutiti jo je v pogovoru. Ko sta torej začela skupaj ustvarjati, je bila strokovna javnost precej presenečena. A onadva sta se od nekdaj srečevala na tekmovanjih in izpopolnjevanjih in njune poti so se stalno križale. Očitno je bilo, da ju vleče skupaj neka magnetna sila, ki bo slej kot prej zakrivila nekaj norega. Nekaj noro dobrega!

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Strike a pose

Elton John suggested: “Go and see them live!”

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RED HOT RR FANS

THE FLAMES OF DESIRE

The combination of 193hp, 178kg and 999cc found on a BMW S 1000 RR is surely enough to put fire in the belly of any sports bike enthusiast. Add in a mix of burning flames and haute couture, and prepare to stand well back if you can’t take the heat... These shimmering hot pictures are the work of fashion photographer Markus Hofmann and feature model, actress and TV presenter Alena Gerber in a sizzling combination of clothing and accessories from Roeckl, Krass Optik (Carrera), Schmuckrausch®, Closed, Lst Store (Linda Farrow - London), Paisley Park, Porsche Design, and Cos.

Interestingly, 24 year-old Alena is a passionate motorcyclist and it is her own RR that was used on this particular assignment. “It was one of my favourite shootings ever – especially to use my lovely black monster RR,” she said. “I felt comfy and relaxed, the whole team was super-chilled and it was a great experience to do this shoot with my own bike.” As much as she loves the power and performance of her RR, Alena also believes in a sustainable future, so was happy to also participate in the photo-shoot and film of the series production BMW C evolution e-scooter that will be launched next year. However, the idea of presenting the powerful and dynamic RR in a fiery environment was a special challenge she was more than ready to accept.

Photo credits: Markus Hofmann

“My star sign is Leo, so of course I love fire,” she confirmed. “And what I love most is my RR, so my two favourite things in one shooting made it a perfect day – it was 100% me!” The shoot itself took place inside an old flea market in Kunstpark Ost – an industrial area of Munich. Alongside Alena, but keeping a safe distance, was pyrotechnician Jan Singh, whose skills were needed to quite literally fire up the set and help photographer Markus produce the kind of pictures that really allow you to feel the heat. “We used a sterno and propane gas to create the fire,” said Jan. “After having prepared the set I had to ignite it while Markus got the pictures he wanted. The idea wasn’t to have huge flames but more to use them as an exciting background detail, producing interesting light to make the pictures with the stunning RR and the fabulous model even more amazing.” For many motorcycle enthusiasts, a standard RR is simply too hot to handle. Add a fire-breathing pyrotechnician and a hot model to the mix and the results can be potentially explosive. Perhaps fire extinguishers should come as standard equipment for the RR…?

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RED HOT RR FANS

THE FLAMES OF DESIRE

Photo credits: Markus Hofmann

High Gear

FA M I LY VA L U E S

REASONS WHY INNOVATIVE DESIGN.

Akrapovič is recognized as a leader in exhaust-system design. We put design at the centre of our business. Our car exhaust systems set the standard for design right down to the exquisite tailpipes. Akrapovič: there are no better-looking exhaust systems.

PURE POWER. Our exhaust systems are designed to provide you with higher levels of performance. We call it Pure Power. Reduced weight from the combination of the right materials and the best design to ensure optimum exhaust ﬂow. More horsepower. More performance. Pure Power.

THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND OF AKRAPOVIČ.

Our exhaust systems sound like no others. Just the right notes at the right times. Deep, resonant sound. The sound of Pure Power. Add our Wireless Kit to manually adjust your sound levels from the comfort of your driver’s seat. Make your own sound with Akrapovič.

by Julian Ryder illustration Natan Esku

RACE PROVEN.

Racing’s in our blood. Akrapovič has successfully supported racing teams since it was founded. Over eighty world champions rely on Akrapovič when it really matters. Official partner to Audi Sport in the DTM and the FIA World Endurance Championship and four-times winner with Audi Sport of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, the world’s toughest car race. Akrapovič is also an official partner to BMW Motorsport competing in the DTM Championship and official partner to Aston Martin Racing in the FIA WEC. There’s no better proving ground for your exhaust system than on the world’s most demanding racetracks.

What’s the most difficult job in racing? There’s only one right answer to that question: being a racer’s mother. When Axel Pons had a big crash in the Spanish Championship, suffering nasty injuries, his dad and two-time world champion Sito was heard to remark: “Now I know what I put my parents through.” That being said, here’s a question: who did you feel the most sorry for when Leon Haslam bounced down Paddock Hill at Brands Hatch in a 125 race a few years back? Leon himself, as he peeled back his fingernails on the tarmac? His father, Ron, who was in the same race and must have seen the crash from the back of the pack? Or his mother, Anne, back in the pit lane? Yes, there definitely is a tougher job than being a racer: being a racer’s mum. Being a racer’s wife, however, is apparently not as difficult. It comes as part of the deal, as Jean Fogarty - Carl’s mum - once explained to me. She says that when Carl’s dad George was racing, she used to hang over the pit rail waving him on and screaming at him to go faster. But when her son Carl was racing, she’s couldn’t even watch. She’d be somewhere nearby, just hoping he’d go slower. Most mothers put a brave face on it. I once sat next to Troy Corser’s mum Carol during a qualifying session. As you might guess, she’s a strong, witty Aussie lady who quite obviously wouldn’t suffer fools gladly or otherwise.

She was fine until Troy got up to lap-record pace, at which point she made a joke and left the room. The hand that reached for the cigarette packet was trembling ever so slightly. Not that it’s always the relative who suffers. John Newbold’s wife once got so exasperated with his lack of form that she hung out ‘In’ on the pitboard. When Noddy got back to the paddock he was told in no uncertain terms that if he was going to go that slowly that he was wasting his time wearing out tyres and burning petrol for no good reason. Ouch. But if you want to find a dysfunctional family you need to focus on the racer’s dad. Usually, road racers are old enough to have grown out of any problems with their fathers. Or at least to have escaped from any problems caused by their fathers trying to live out their fantasies through their sons. While some dads can be annoying for team managers at the race track, it’s very rare for them to be so exasperating that the team manager has to warn them off. Junior usually realises that he would be better off without him and explains the situation in the safety of his own home -- before management has to get involved. The only recent instance of a father being banned from the pits by his son’s team that I know of was a certain French racer’s dad who was banished by the Yamaha France team on the grounds that he would only listen to his dad’s advice and not Christian Sarron’s. Which seems reasonable.

The article here does not necessarily correspond with the opinions of Akrapovič d.d., the publishers or the editors.

Racers have it even harder when dad used to be a racer - and especially if dad was a World Champion. Various Reads and Nietos have been perfectly respectable racers, good enough for national wins and the odd world championship foray. Unfortunately, they will always be reminded of their parent’s sideboard full of winner’s trophies. It doesn’t seem to be quite as intimidating when your dad was an occasional winner, as Fogarty and Rossi Juniors can attest. But even when dad’s behaving properly, mum still has an awful lot to put up with. As the Brands Hatch crowd saw firsthand, Ron Haslam’s first reaction on seeing Leon’s crash was to screech to a halt, throw his bike down and run to his son - the natural behaviour of any father. Poor Anne, meanwhile, was being ferried to the medical centre where she was greeted by the site of her eldest child immobilised in a neck-brace as the medics checked him out and attended to his injured hand. It was explained to her that most of what she was seeing was precautionary and a matter of routine. Then Ron arrived - with the advantage of knowing that Leon wasn’t too seriously hurt - and said ‘What happened, lad?’ To which the Pocket Rocket managed to answer that his motor had been cutting out. ‘I knew it were running rich!’ came the reply. Anne’s next words were not recorded for posterity.

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTING. Akrapovič invests heavily in research & development. The best people, new materials, new technology, and new processes ensure that we develop innovative new products. We back this up with rigorous measurement and testing to ensure our exhaust systems meet the most stringent EC-type approval standards where required.

THE BEST MATERIALS.

We use only the best materials. Titanium heat-resistant alloys for all the key parts of our titanium exhausts. Austenitic stainless steel for strength and corrosion resistance. Our carbon ﬁbre is pre-impregnated and ultralight with high tensile strength and temperature resistance.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

Akrapovič is a pioneer in developing and using technology to bring real beneﬁts to the driver. Technology and its application are developed in-house. Hydroforming is one such process, where header tubes are molded by applying pressurized water. The material forms the ideal shape for optimum exhaust ﬂow, with no loss in strength. Akrapovič is pioneering the plastic deformation of titanium alloys and also the most exacting and precise welding.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACTORY.

All Akrapovič facilities are state-of-the-art, where control is maintained over quality by designing and manufacturing all exhaust systems in-house. This enables the creation of exhaust tubes to our own demanding speciﬁcations for maximum performance and quality. In-house laboratories ensure that the most exacting standards for type approval and certiﬁcation are met.

PASSION AND EXPERIENCE.

It’s the passion, experience, and dedication of the Akrapovič team that few can match. Over twenty years of devotion to developing the best exhaust systems and a desire for perfection in the design, performance, and sound from all our products. All Akrapovič employees work with a passion for our products, for racing, and for satisfying our customers.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

It’s all in the detail. Not just in the design and the testing, but also in the assembly, right down to the packaging. The right looks, the right sounds, and the right power delivery combined with perfect ﬁt and durability. These are the details that matter.

High Gear

FA M I LY VA L U E S

REASONS WHY INNOVATIVE DESIGN.

THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND OF AKRAPOVIČ.

by Julian Ryder illustration Natan Esku

RACE PROVEN.

The article here does not necessarily correspond with the opinions of Akrapovič d.d., the publishers or the editors.

THE BEST MATERIALS.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACTORY.

PASSION AND EXPERIENCE.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

83 WORLD CHAMPIONS. JORGE LORENZO 2012 MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER WITH YAMAHA FACTORY RACING. MAX BIAGGI 2012 WSBK CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER WITH APRILIA RACING TEAM. 9 OFFROAD 2012 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS. 22 BEST BRAND AWARDS. TM

THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS.

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Jorge Lorenzo 2012 MotoGPTM World Champion Yamaha Factory Racing Team Yamaha YZR-M1 equipped with Akrapovič exhaust system