CATS

HOT WHEELS AND BIG CATS

PRITESH RUTHUN FOR more than 40 years, Hot Wheels has been working with Jaguar to create unique collectibles that can be enjoyed no matter how old you might be.

From the legendary E-Type to the Project 7, you can actually get your hands on these cars in a Hot Wheels sense, considering the rarity of the actual cars.

Jokes aside the toymaker and automaker’s relationship goes deep, so much so that the pair or companies partnered up for their latest products launches. We attended the Track Builder series Triple Loop Kit launch and F-Type test-drive at the Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre in Lonehill last month, where we got to try out both products.

The Hot Wheels team had set up multiple challenges for press throughout the day, in between presentations and interviews. We had a go at the Triple Loop Kit, which proved very easy to set up on our own too, considering the number of pieces that’s included in the kit. As part of the Track Builder range of Hot Wheels toys, the Triple Loop Kit is one of the company’s most ambitious products to date.

It’s the first triple loop of its kind and with the right car and the right “smash” technique it’s a whole lot of fun.

The massive track that Hot Wheels South Africa laid out inside the experience centre was also unique, sporting more than 1 000 pieces, loops, bends, boosters and jumps. Completing one lap of the purpose-built track proved challenging and engaging and it was interesting how we all got into the process of refining the track and the technique of launching the cars.

When it came to the actual Jaguar on offer to test drive for the afternoon, we had to complete several Hot Wheels

challenges, which included mastering the Triple Loop Kit, a drift kit and several head-to-head races with Jaguar’s driving instructors before jumping into the cars.

The latest supercharged F-Type was first on my list as I wanted to see if Jaguar had managed to somehow make the car more drivable than its predecessor.

Don’t get me wrong, the pre-facelift big cat handled as well as it could for a relatively square wheelbase, highoutput machine, but on the edge, the old car was, to put it frankly, quite beastly when making haste and not the most confidence-inspiring thing on earth.

The latest supercharged V8 F-Type, both on the road and on the Jaguar test track, shows a massive improvement in driver friendliness.

It’s still massively overpowered and demands respect, but in the hands, with the electronic systems switched on, there’s this heightened level of ease to the whole thing. It steers with a lightness that defies its front-end mass and it grips and goes out of the corners with such ferocious intent that there’s the front-mid-engine feel to it now.

We drove a few of the other F-Type models too, but the main thing about the F-Type is that you want the the big V8 model. It’s the character of the car; able to feel like a muscle car, a sports car and a grand touring car all in one. There’s space inside and if you overlook the odd Range Rover button here and there, it’s actually a bespoke place to be, plush and inviting.

Overall, we had an excellent day out learning about the Hot Wheels products that are coming to South Africa later this year, as well as the latest Jaguars that you can head out and buy right now.

If you would like to learn more about the Jaguar F-Type range that’s available in South Africa, contact the Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre in Lonehill, Gauteng, or one of the Jaguar dealers situated nearest to you.

• For more information on Hot Wheels, visit the

Mattel website. We’ll be building a unique Hot Wheels Triple Loop Kit this month so be sure to follow @ pritzthecarguy on Instagram to see if we are able to master the art of the triple loop.

10 HOT WHEELS FAST FACTS

• Hot Wheels was launched in 1968 during the New York Toy Fair • The first Hot Wheels car off the line was a dark blue Camaro • The first Hot Wheels cars to be sold were the “SWEET 16” • More than 6 billion collectible cars have been produced since 1968 • On average, 519 million cars are produced per year • On average, every kid in the USA owns at least 50 Hot Wheels • There are more than 20 000 variations of official Hot Wheels cars in existence • Nearly 10 000km of Track Builder orange track is produced each year • The most expensive Hot Wheels car ever sold was the Beach Bomb for nearly R1,2 million • The Star Wars Dart Vader car is the world’s best-selling Hot Wheels character car.

D360 PRESENTS: Sports Stars & Cars

•Follow @ IOLMOTORING on Instagram and Facebook for more Sports Stars & Cars

CLIVE BARKER, who is regarded as one of the greatest soccer coaches, is best known for leading Bafana Bafana to victory in the 1996 African Cup of Nations.

But, he almost didn’t take the Bafana job. “I thought I would miss the vibe that you have when you’re at a club, like secretaries telling you to pick up your phone, the banter with the players. That’s what I love,” he says. After all, at the centre of his lifelong affection for club football stands Amazulu FC, which has been a constant in his career. “They gave me my first shot at coaching, after my playing days were cut short by a ligament injury at 28,” he notes. “Once I stopped playing, I thought that all the things that I dreamt of were gone,” he admits.

In recent years, Barker has concentrated on helping young footballers hone their handling skills, and because we at Drive360 are all about the handling, we thought we’d talk to the former South African football coach about cars to see if he’s had any hilarious handling experiences of his own behind the wheel …

DRIVE360: What was your first car?

CLIVE BARKER: My first car was a Morris Minor. It was a two seater and grey in colour. I bought it for R120. It was a very pleasant car to drive.

D360: What car do you drive now?

CB: I’m currently driving a Honda CR-V, which is also grey in colour.

D360: What motivated you to buy the Honda?

CB: I needed something easy to live with and it is a very decent looking car for an old man like me.

D360: Do you think the vehicle fits your personality?

CB: Yes, I hope so (he chuckled). It is very comfortable and reliable. In the past I’ve had a Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. I’ve been very fortunate. Now, I got older and I’ve got a little bit slower.

D360: If we gave you an unlimited budget, what car would you buy and why?

CB: It would have to be similar to the Honda, so a big luxurious and lovely SUV that’s comfortable with lots of features.

D360: Which is your favourite car you have owned?

It was a BMW 5 Series. If I could afford it, I would certainly buy it again but I’m comfortable with my Honda.

D360: Does your car have a name?

CB: No! I’m not that type of a person. I haven’t got a name for my car. I chuckle when I hear people talking about their cars in that way.

D360: What was your most memorable road trip and why?

CB: Road trip, I’m not quite sure. I used to like driving long distances when we won something. I love driving. I used to drive from Joburg to Durban but, of course, I can’t do that now. I really enjoy the open road.

D360: So, what’s your favourite road in South Africa?

CB: I don’t have any specific road but, like I said, I used to love driving long distances. I used to coach at Michael House and enjoyed that road to Michael House.

D360: If you were a racing driver, what formula would you like to compete in and for which team?

CB: I’ll certainly race in Formula One for Mercedes-Benz.

D360: Finally, can you name one motorsport personality or athlete you respect or admire and why?

CB: Lewis Hamilton. He is a fantastic driver and has a fantastic personality. He is good for the game.