issue11

September 2011 Issue No.11

Ksh 200 Ush 4,000 Tsh 2,500

All the news, races, the cars, the drives @ www.motortraders.co.ke

VW Passat CC Comfort, style and sports car handling ?

Performance Evolution 8 convert to Evolution 9

Bike Review Kawasaki ZXR 600

Motorsport Kisumu Rally Road Map! 6 164001 538000 >

NEWS

REVIEWS

CAR CLINIC

TECH COUNSEL

MOTORSPORT

INTERVIEWS

Contents

All the news, races, the cars, the drives @ www.motortraders.co.ke

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Local News Phasing out Matatus Page 6-9 4 Wheel Drive Review We have a look at the new FJ Cruiser and what’s new about it.

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www.motortraders.co.ke

Page 10-11 Cover Story The new VW Passat CC Page 12-16 Ask the Mech How Antilag works.

Page 18-19 Used Car Review Trying out the Prado 1993 model Page 20-21 Performance Evolution 8 Specs Page 29-32

FEATURES Motor Sports Rally, Motor cross and the highlights Page 33-50 Learn Your Pacenotes Lets Talk Pace Notes Page 47 Book and Movie Review Get to read and watch whats new in the market Page 48-49

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Feedback Girls Only

Still Going Strong

Love the Magazine especially the girls only section.

Eunis Njambi via Twitter

I have an old dutsun, still runs well and I use it for my day to day routines. Can you guys do story on it?

Mike via Email.

Thanks Njambi. Editor.

Ask The Mech Hi, ive seen some crazy wananchi drifting in town late hours of the nite. I was thinking we should have a race track where guys can push their cars to the limit.

Deniss via E-mail Well Deno, thats a great idea. Actually there were a couple of race tracks in kenya a few years ago(Nakuru and Embakasi that i know off). But we really hope something will be done soon.

Editor.

Sure send us some pics and your number and we will come over. Editor

Write to us: Motor Trader P.O Box: 21824, 00400 Email: info@motortraders.co.ke

Follow us on:

Performance Ive been looking for some of this cars on the performance section. Where can i find them.

James via Facebook Well thanks James. Check our webite we have a couple listed. Editor.

CAPTION CONTEST John of Buruburu was the winner of last issue’s caption contest. His caption: Keep your mouth shut and we’ll reach safely home.

Think you can do better than that on this month’s photo? Send us your caption. If it comes out tops , we’ll reward you with Ksh2,000.

Email: info@motortraders.co.ke or text: 0738-135889; 0718223838

Publisher:

Motor Trader Co. Ltd. P.O. Box 21824, 00400 Tel. 020 8079558/9 Mobile: 0718223838 info@motortraders.co.ke Nairobi

Editor:

Joseph Murai joe@motortraders.co.ke

Sub-Editor: Muroki Gititu

Sales and Marketing:

Rose Wambui Charlse Kamau Judith Monari Winnie Muli Keren Tito Sarah Oyoo James Mugwanga Samuel Karinga sales@motortraders.co.ke

Marketing Manager:

Susan Njuguna susan@motortraders.co.ke

This MONTH This September is a motoring month, we have Total Motor Show, Concours, and Kisumu rally. This year total intends to shock all motoring enthusiasts making it the biggest show in Sub-Saharan Africa. Join us as we take a look at whats new in the motoring industry. Well let have a look at this edition; Read about the all new VW Passat CC. VW has done to the Passat exactly what Mercedes did to the E-class, the difference being that the latter acquired a standalone badge - the CLS - whereas this new VW must struggle through life burdened with all the attendant baggage of the Passat name. Personally, I’ve always found the Passat saloon to be an entirely worthy proposition, but I seem to be in a minority amongst my peers.

This edition also gives you all details about the new FJ Cruiser ,think TOYOTA LANDCRUISER and chances are the classic FJ40 from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s springs to mind.But that classic rock hopper is really only present in the face of the ‘new’ FJ Cruiser, since the rest of the package is significantly larger, softer and far more refined.

The question is, what new features does it bring along and what makes it unique compared with its counterparts?

In Motor Sport, Macharia takes over KMSF and other changes in KMSF, learn Pase Notes and saftey tips during rally. Are you intending to go for Kisumu Rally? well you are in luck, we have the route map.

Lastly, we have the book and movie review. We have a look at, Automotive Book Review: The Car Design Yearbook 2 and Transformers 3, Dark of the Moon Movie.

Enjoy!

Art & Layout:

Motor Trader Ltd

Joseph Murai

Photography:

Motor Trader Ltd KMSF Pixel Creations Motor Trader magazine©, the original motoring magazine in Kenya, is published monthly by Motor Trader and distributed in Kenya by Jetsam Distributors Ltd. While utmost care will be taken to ensure accuracy both in the published articles and prices of listed cars and equipment, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any omissions and errors arising. The opinions and representations in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to verify the authenticity/safety of the products/services advertised herein by independently contracting the adviser. No part of this publication including artworks and pictures or any part of the contents (articles) thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior permission of the publisher in writing.

www.motortraders.co.ke

joe@motortraders.co.ke

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LOCAL NEWS

Humane phasing out of matatus to cost Ksh 150bn

P

hasing out the 14-seater matatus is not going to be a walk in the park.

The public will have to fork out a whopping Ksh 150 million (50 million dollars) to do so. The phasing out, according to Cooperative and Marketing minister Joseph Nyaga , will be conducted over time to avoid hurting the operators.

The policy became effective in January 1 this year and bans licensing of new 14-seater vehicles for public transport.

The matatus’ place will be taken by bigger capacity public service vehicles. There are an estimated 60,000 matatus in the country, with approximately 14,000 in Nairobi.

The minister was speaking on August 15, during the release of a study carried out by the Cooperative College of Kenya to assess the impact - both financial and in job creation terms - of the government policy to do away with the 14-seaters where he said the matatus would continue to play a complimentary role in the transport sector in the country.

“The 14-seater matatus will continue to play a role in this country but mostly in rural areas, we will, however, have to look for ways for phasing them out in towns without hurting the operators.”

Titled Analysis of Social-Economic Impact of the new Integrated National Transport Policy

By Muroki Gititu on 14-Seater Matatus, the study is aimed at opening up the eyes of both Saccos and the line ministry to the impact of the move.

The matatu operators were as a first step directed to form Saccos or companies to be issued with operating licences. And then from January this year the government stopped issuance of new 14-seater matatu licences aiming at phasing them out through attrition.

The public service sector did respond well to this directive and as now there are more than 500 new matatu Saccos. This has brought in a semblance of order in the sector pointing to the fact that it is possible to have a selfregulatory mechanism in the sector whose potential to generate funds is humongous. But it is a sector whose catch word has been chaos all along until the then transport minister came along and introduced the famous (or is it infamous) Michuki Rules where a semblance of order never imagined before had started taking root.

Unfortunately, the moment MIchuki was transferred from the transport docket it reverted to a case of when the cat is not present, the mice rule and the chaos started creeping back. The unmitigated disasters in forms of accidents resulting to so many lives lost in such a short span is a stark example of the fruits of the said disorder that will do no good if allowed to take root.

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Sept 2011

And apart from this road carnage, passengers are subjected to so much pain in the hands of some matatu owners and their crews. This range from impromptu fare hikes at the sign of the slightest shower and the traffic jams to some of the matatus to being mobile discos with music played at earsplitting volumes.

The questions that beg answers are: What does the poor passenger have to do with the rain?

What about the road jam? And that is not all: The crew’s rudeness is unfathomable. If the first thing that you read is a pamphlet with the message “If you find it too loud, then you are too old”, what choice do you have?

You have been silenced right at the start not that any one would have heard you complain in the earsplitting din coming off the speakers out of the discos the matatus have become.

With order in the sector and improvement on the roads the matatu sector would be big beneficiaries. The government hopes to create a seamless transport system through major infrastructure projects that will include highways, railways and the airport with the matatus are expected to operate as feeders to major highways.

Minister Nyagah says a matatu Sacco or company could be assigned to operate on a specific route.

LOCAL NEWS

Motorist, that phone while driving could turn you into death merchant

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ou are heading for the office in the rush hour morning traffic in a matatu with the driver doing a cool 80kph. In a span of 10 minutes the driver makes five calls on his mobile phone. As he does this, he changes gear using the left hand. The right hand is on the phone. So at that moment when he is shifting gear, guess who/ what is handling the steering wheel? Of course nobody/ nothing! It is free. And the matatu is cruising at 80kph!

And as usual, the passengers, including myself, have been cowed into silence.

Nobody can lift a finger to protest this blatant impunity. The matatu driver is king and the matatu his kingdom. Fourteen citizens are being hurtled down to their graves without a whimper, just like sacrificial lambs. Should anything (God forbid) happen, and these innocent soul s make a date with their Maker, would it be right to describe it as an accident or would that not be a classic example of misuse or better, abuse of words?

Using the mobile phone while driving is not confined to matatu drivers only. But like any traffic law in the book, they are the most notorious breakers because they are a law unto themselves. Private vehicle drivers have been inflicted with this disease too and it is now a matter of throwing caution to the wind.

Interestingly, all drivers are aware that using the mobile phone while driving is a traffic offence but the itch is too much, the drivers claim; they just can’t resist it and will still go ahead and do it. And when they are flagged down by a hawk-eyed traffic police officer and charged for the offence, a litany of excuses as to why they should not be charged extends from Nairobi to the United States and back.

The charge sheet will describe the offence and the place and time committed and direct that the offender reports to a certain court of law to answer to the charge the next day at a specific time.

And now the circus begins. Most offenders will spend the day trying to make sure the charge is withdrawn so that they don’t report to court. And even long before this they’ve tried in the first place to ‘talk nicely’ to the traffic police officer not to charge them giving them this or that excuse and seeing whether he or she will accept something placed between the driver’s licence although the licence has nothing to do with the offence. We know that a driver should display his driver’s licence through the window from inside the vehicle. The policeman should be able to take whatever details he needs, soo this business of drivers handing over their licences to the officers who then must go round the vehicles before coming to hand them back smirks of some monkey business.

Thus the traffic police need to stand their ground and tell off the offending motorists otherwise they become accomplices to crime.

They hurtle from this office to that other one seeking influence peddlers to have the charge watered down to a warning or dropped altogether. I asked an offender why he had to go to all this trouble instead of just obeying the court summons.

“I’ve never been charged with any offence be it criminal or traffic. This will soil my record. I’ll go in as an offender and it is not good for my record”.

“Shouldn’t you have thought about that before you picked that phone my friend?”

I just had to chip in.

“Well, you have a point there,” he conceded.

Police sources MotorTrader talked to about this law were in concurrence that it is for the good of every motorist to adhere to it. “The major issue with using the mobile phone while driving is that it causes distraction. That distraction leads to a lapse in concentration,” one traffic officer who sought anonymity told MotorTrader, adding, “and before you know it the drivSept 2011

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By Muroki Gititu er has banged into the vehicle in front of him or has veered off his lane and a trailer from behind has swept him to hell. You can imagine the subsequent mayhem – injuries, deaths and total inconvenience to so many, all caused by this gadget; yet this could be avoided.”

The matatu driver who leaves the steering wheel to the gods is well aware that even a very small pebble can send his vehicle spiralling out of control to the premature end of so many innocent souls and causing anguish to so many relatives and friends.

The national loss to the economy as a result of unnecessary accidents runs in the billions of shillings and this needs no gainsaying.

And the traffic police need to be even more hawk-eyed than ever. Motorists are playing clever to catch and thus beating the law. They are using headphones attached to their mobile phones and carrying on business as usual. The danger here is the same because the news the driver might receive might either excite him to distraction or unsettle him to the point of forgetting he is on the road and he becomes a merchant of death to himself, his passengers and all those around him.

It is thus vital to for every motorist to remember that it is illegal to talk on the phone while driving and the best way out of it is not to do it. The fine for talking on your phone while driving is up the discretion of the Magistrate and ranges from Ksh 400 to Ksh 5,000. This is light alright but the more poignant thought that should preoccupy your mind is the anguish you can cause in case of an accident resulting from that very action of talking on the phone while driving – the lives cut short, the dreams unfulfilled, the maimed bodies and lives changed for the worse forever out of what is nothing but some selfish unnecessary act.

“Girls Only”

It’s the driving school, not the woman driver!

E

by Emily Kamau

USED CAR OF THE MONTH

very now and then you will be up and about and you’ll see someone pull a foolish stunt on the road, without a doubt, the most likely rhetoric will be ‘Huyo ni mwanamke, ngoja uone tu’ and most times they are right. Don’t get me wrong, there are quite a number of female drivers who are really good but the majority (at the risk of getting rotten eggs thrown at me), really suck.

Which leads to the question: What makes women drive the way they do? We did not just wake up one day and decide the wisest thing to do on a highway was to apply instant brakes; we must have learnt this stuff from somewhere, maybe even missed a class. This is a journey on exploring the reasons why. Indulge me for a while then.

For most people who want to learn to drive, the logical thing is to join a driving school .So we probably pick the one where the cars have so much graffiti, you’d think they were rejects in a Transformers movie, (3D to be precise).

Next an instructor, who is meant to impart this knowledge, is assigned to you. He is meant to teach you the rules of the road, how to handle the car e.t.c.

After this for sure, you must know how to drive, you paid good money and are a fast learner, that’s just

about right, isn’t it?

So wrong! The instructor will try to throw game to you on Day 1 and since he knows listening to his one-liners and keeping eyes on the road while handling all the parts as a learner is no small feat, he will do everything for you. (For those who don’t know, the cars they use in driving school have an extra clutch and brakes on the passenger side to ease it for the instructor.)

To make your lesson easier, he will balance the car for you, adjust your steering wheel, read the traffic situation and signs for you and tell you exactly how to react. Even better, he will take you for the lesson on straight roads with little distraction; why get stressed with traffic in Ngara. For those of you who left the CBD to have all your lessons in Parklands and Hurlingham, that was no class, your instructor had game.

Toyota Prado 2010

Smart view: How the new AMG compares with the rest!

STORAGE It’s now more luxurious than ever for suburban work and tougher and more flexible for off-road use. As you would expect with a seven-year gap between model changes.

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Get back on the bitumen and the suspension feels more plush, there is more ‘stuff’ to enjoy, and the cabin is a little more roomy and significantly more practical.

“Girls Only” Our male-counterparts, on the other hand, are having the lessons in Industrial area and down-town Nairobi with no help whatsoever, with an instructor whose main aim is to make their one hour hell. Surely after the training, those two drivers can never be on the same level. Though I am not proud, personally I never learnt that the brakes, apart from being used when starting and stopping the car, had any other use. When I got behind the wheel after driving school and my father told me to reduce the speed I was going at, all I did was’ wachilia mafuta’ as my instructor always asked me to and wondered why the car was still moving . I had never had to brake as my instructor always did that for me.

Then comes the dreaded driver’s test.

I think the officers at the testing centre make their day from terrorizing the women. Naturally, only a woman will stay up the night revising the Driver’s Manual.

We like to be prepared. The older one is the crazier they get.

In my class the older women had a daily discussion group to discuss the lessons and keep up-to-date with the class.

For driving school, that’s pretty extreme.

Anyway after a sleepless night revising the manual, one would definitely be a bit wired on the test-day.

All the reading is tested in the small room where one goes to test their board knowledge on driving and of the signs. A

traffic policeman who has spent God knows how many years in Kiganjo is in charge; he gives you a small car and tells you to drive on the board. The minute you start pushing the toy car, he barks “Madam umesahau nini?’ You pick your brains over and over to no avail so you give it another shot.

“Madam, rudisha gari parking mara moja na ufunge mshipi. That is a traffic offence, driving without seat belt na ata ukitoka parking you did not indicate.”

A truck-load of obscenities cross your mind but he has the gun, so you just breathe and start again …remember it is on a mockroad using toys. You simulate putting on the seat-belt the ‘toy-car’s indicators’ and start driving. And the officer even smiles and you think the worst is over. Wrong!

“Madam, unaendesha aje ni kama ulienda ‘chini ya mti driving school.’Wacha kuniangalia, unaniendesha mimi ama gari. Haiyaa, ona huyu, ati hii gari yake imepita juu ya wall. Wachilia gari mara moja, umepiga corner vibaya na unajua kuna stage, hapo. Si umeua kila mtu hapo.

Toka,toka mara moja, umeanguka mtihani. Na usijaribu kutoa machozi ya mamba hapa. NEXT! “ Surely Afande, relax, it’s not even a real car!

After an experience like that, can you imagine how much fear that particular woman associates with getting behind the wheel. You are all bright people: put two and two together; this particular lady

never got to learn how to drive as her instructor spent the lesson hitting on her, she has never driven out of Nairobi’s leafy suburbs and the joke about ‘wewe ni mjinga hadi ulirepeat driving school’ was made about her. Do you think she will ever want to be associated with a manual car? Has she really equipped herself with enough skills to be left on the road alone? I am not making excuses just trying to explain why some things happen.

When she parks the car on the road to read a text and unfortunately realizes it’s a ‘please call me’: puts the ‘L’ sign and six months later you still see it on: when you see her putting instant brakes on Mombasa Road: parking with the tail on the road: still parked when the green light comes on and even when she rarely goes over 80kph, don’t blame her, she just got some shoddy training.

On another note I hope we have all contributed in our own ways to the ‘Kenyans for Kenya Initiative’. I know some of you and their money shall only be parted when they see how it’s being used. Don’t use that as an excuse, just bring the initiative closer home and feed or clothe a needy person in your neighborhood.

Safe driving.

What’s beneath?

ENGINE: The latest V6 has definitely got more go that you can feel for more of the time, even if less than 20 per cent of Prado buyers go for petrol power.

DRIVE: It is just plain phenomenal in the bush, where the latest range of driver aids particularly the ‘Crawl’ system and driver-selectable multi-terrain package - mean it can practically drive itself.

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INTERIOR: Comes with the seven airbags, ESP stability control, cruise control, smart-start system, alloy wheels, USB input and Bluetooth, and power steering that is standard on all models.

4 Wheel Drives

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hink TOYOTA LANDCRUISER and chances are the classic FJ40 from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s springs to

mind.

But that classic rock hopper is really only present in the face of the ‘new’ FJ Cruiser, since the rest of the package is significantly larger, softer and far more refined.

But a lack of a diesel engine or manual transmission will limit its appeal, while the conceptually similar Jeep Wrangler wagon remains significantly cheaper.

It says ‘TOYOTA’ up front (the first vehicle without the company’s familiar bull’s horn logo since the early 1990s).

But for all we knew – before actually driving the FJ Cruiser – it may as well have read ‘TONKA’.

Big, brash, and not even in the bloom of youth, Toyota’s fifth SUV series to reach Australia did not fill us with anticipation, frankly.

Underneath that retro-meets-Rambo exterior lays the bones of two generations

FJ Cruiser

of Prado (2003’s 120 and 150 Series of 2009), complete with olde worlde ladder frame chassis, V6 petrol consumption, and a decidedly passé five-speed auto gearbox – all mated to a part-time 4WD system that is years behind Toyota’s other larger SUV offerings’ advanced terrain response hardware .

The joy of specs? Reading what the FJ Cruiser offers on paper, there are none.

What we were afraid of was another lumbering Hummer-like anti-hero suitable only for high school kids whose mums couldn’t afford a BMW X6.

But then the big day arrived, when we could finally get behind the wheel – as well as behind the story – of the 15 Series FJ Cruiser. And you know what? Toyota might sell every single one it can get its hands on.

For starters, the design certainly stands out, infusing plenty of the muchloved (but not very Toyota in genesis – it was derived from the WWII Jeep) FJ40’s style (round headlights set within a painted grille, white roof, boxy wheel

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arches, wrap around window, T-O-YO-T-A spelled across the nose – all that stuff) within a fresh, modern, and distinctive body.

Aided by a set of Mazda RX-8-style clap-hand doors, the FJ is sufficiently two-door-ish enough not to be confused with a Prado. And that’s a good thing for the intended market Toyota is trying to talk to.

The rugged centre console – swathed in questionable body coloured painted plastic but otherwise disappointingly generic in execution – does suit the FJ’s off-road aspirations, but words like ‘stylish’, ‘lush’ or ‘exquisite’ would never enter the equation.

Yet the interior has great ventilation, good seats up front, surprisingly easy access out back (it is a five-seater) and a handily large cargo area that can washed out, lengthened via split/fold rear seats, or completely opened up through the (somewhat fiddly) removal of said back bench altogether.

Several oversights do remain, how-

4 Wheel Drives ever. The rear doors (that require the front ones to be open before they can be operated) have windows that do not lower, crack or slide; the tailgate is set to open up towards the traffic (i.e. Toyota has not re-engineered it for right-hand drive), meaning that it could be a. dangerous and b. prone to swinging open onto an unsuspecting person/object if the car is parked on a slight left-bias incline kerbside. Getting out from the rear seat requires somebody to open the door for you if you’re not tall enough to reach the front door handle yourself; there’s limited rear-seat knee room; there is no cargo shelf to shield from prying eyes or road-noise intrusion and the driver’s overhead grab handle intrudes so far that a head strike over bumps is a very painful possibility.

SPEC-SHEET

Toyota Fj Cruiser Engine 3956cc 6-cylinder engine

Performance

11.4L/ 100km

Torque (EEC Nm) @rpm 380Nm / 200kW

Transmission

5 speed automatic

DriveTrain

4WD

Being a car originally meant solely for US customers, Toyota did not bother engineering a diesel engine, so we have to make do with the familiar 200kW 4.0L petrol unit seen in the Prado and HiLux. Now this is no chore, since the V6 is fairly smooth and punchy, with a willingness to rev without sounding too breathless (it is hauling a 2.5 tonne body, after all).

The default-choice five-speed auto makes the most of the available torque on offer, dealing out the gear ratios with requisite speed and smoothness. Too bad there’s no separate sequential shift gate for spirited manual pulling and pushing, while the lever itself looks like an escapee from a 1971 VH Valiant Regal – retro but from another era to what the FJ is trying to emulate.

On the road, the steering is light and easy to control, but not exactly ultra responsive or oozing feel or feedback. This is one of those aim-and-shoot systems that encourages a laidback attitude that is rewarded with surefooted and steady progress. But the turning circle might be a little large for urban dwellers, we fear.

Besides some very accomplished offroad abilities, the single most impressive thing about an FJ Cruiser on the move is how absorbent the ride is. Now we only had the ancient and magnificent Wilpena Pound National Park and surrounds to assess this car’s bitumen behaviour, but there were loads of 4WD tracks for us to tackle, and never did we have reason to curse the ride engineers’ work.

Being Prado based, the slightly ponderous on-road dynamics translates to terrific off-road transportation, with excellent wheel articulation from the allcoil suspension, handily short overhangs for fording dry river beds and incredibly steep rocky paths, and a lockable rear diff aided by low gearing and other 4x4 gubbins. We were certainly convinced.

Some of the more off-road focussed journalists complained that the FJ Cruiser lacks the Prado’s more sophisticated electronic terrain response systems, and we are sure there would be many people out there who would scoff at this vehicle as a result.

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But by Toyota’s own reckoning, you cannot get a more off-road capable Toyota for anywhere near the FJ Cruiser’s allin-one. It’s a bargain!

Throw in plenty of equipment, like six airbags, the holy trinity of safety acronyms (ESC, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist), active front-seat head restraints, rear parking sensors, cruise control, a reverse camera with display in the rearview mirror, air-con, tint, rear fog lamps, and an eight-speaker CD stacker/USB/ iPod/Bluetooth phone connectivity audio, and the FJ’s value-for-money argument looks compelling.

Indeed, as whole, the latest Toyota SUV is a much more interesting alternative to something like a Jeep Wrangler than initial on-paper impressions suggested.

It does ache for a diesel, and a manual gearbox would probably be preferable for most, but by and large there is plenty of style, character and non-bogus 4x4 heritage for larger SUV buyers to consider.

So forget the toy looks and take the FJ Cruiser seriously. We now do!

COVER STORY

VW Passat CC by correspondent No, the VW Passat CC isn’t a folding tin-top elder bother for the Eos... Nomenclature connotations of Coupe/Cabriolet are entirely misleading. CC first stood for Concept Coupe when the show car was revealed, and as the real deal hit the streets in 2008, actually it stands for, .....uhm....., Comfort Coupe.

12 Sept 2011

COVER STORY

Sept 2011

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COVER STORY

VW has done to the Passat exactly what Mercedes did to the E-class, the difference being that the latter acquired a standalone badge - the CLS - whereas this new VW must struggle through life burdened with all the attendant baggage of the Passat name. Personally, I’ve always found the Passat saloon to be an entirely worthy proposition, but I seem to be in a minority amongst my peers.

Ultimately, I suspect, your views on the CC will largely depend on whether you consider the Mercedes CLS to be quite the best-looking thing on the road, or merely something else.

There seems to be more than a hint of the Phaeton about the front end…

Indeed. And those of us who’ve always felt that the current giant grille treatment

meted out on one unsuspecting Audi after another makes them all look like inflatable dolls wearing chrome lipstick will be delighted to see that Walter de Silva’s recent efforts to subject Volkswagens to the same fate have, in the case of the CC at least, been mercifully shunned.

In the metal, the CC is an entirely handsome, although when u see it along Kenyan roads at first looks like a girly car which artfully melds oven-melted Passat saloon styling cues with an aggressive new hooter and a coupe roofline. Interestingly, unlike the CLS, the CC doesn’t appear to be colour sensitive, and even looks pretty sharp coutured in the new black, white.

Happily, not. In fact, the new interior positively oozes class. Switchgear and instrumentation have been rigorously revamped to include a new instrument binnacle which, backlit in white, is a paragon of clarity. A brushed metalfinish centre console houses a tidy new aircon panel and the latest generation touch-screen multimedia system fea14 Sept 2011

SPEC-SHEET

VW Passat CC Engine 2.0 TDI V6 ,inline 4 cylinders

Performance

0-100kph in 9.8sec

Torque (EEC Nm) @rpm 320.0Nm/1750-2500 rpm

Transmission

6-speed Speedshift

Top Speed (kph) 235kph

COVER STORY inder turbocharged petrol unit making its first appearance in VW here. It’s this 1.8 TSI that we’ll concentrate on here.

Surprisingly, though giving away 52lb ft of torque to the 236lb ft of the 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI - and considerably more to the four-wheel drive and DSG gearbox abetted V6 - this new 1.8-litre engine from the right side of the pumps feels better suited to the CC. It’s as smooth as a freshly buttered banister, revs with first-date enthusiasm and sounds delicious. Moreover, thanks to a slick six-speed manual transmission, it also gets quite a heavy car moving with slightly more alacrity than the oiler.

turing a 3-D sat-nav system that zooms in on junctions life a fighter-bomber on a staffing run.

One version I saw at an office building in Upper Hill, featured a two-tone, black-and-cream trim which extended to the leather upholstery. It was so elegant that even the fillet of wood spanning the dashboard (and I never thought I’d hear myself say this) looked the part. Don’t worry, though, the wood will be replaced with either brushed aluminium or carbonfibre.

The front seats are instantly comfortable, and my only gripe with an appropriately flexible driving position is that the steering wheel rake won’t drop quite down enough for those of us who like to sit low within a car. Though 31mm longer than a Passat saloon, none of that

IN DETAIL

gain has gone into the CC’s wheelbase, so accommodation dimensions are much as you left them.

The rear bench has been deliberately sculpted into just two seats, set further inboard than usual to guarantee a surprising amount of headroom whilst effectively negating an increase in car width over the saloon of some 36mm.

The boot, though not too tall, is of badminton court proportions.

Presumably the usual mix of VW powerplants are on offer?

Yes, but with one notable addition: joining 138 and 168bhp variants of a 2.0-litre turbodiesel, and 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged and 296bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol derivatives on the launch pad is an Audi-sourced, 1.8-litre 158bhp 4-cyl-

And it handles just like a Passat saloon?

Hard to say, havent tried all models, but every variant I’ve tried was fitted with a new, active damper, Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) system boasting Comfort, Normal and Sport settings and complimentary adjustment to the weight of the electro-mechanical steering assistance. However, extensive button stabbing merely confirmed my view that, all too often, such systems merely obviate engineers from the responsibility of hunting down the proper compromise between ride and handling in the first place.

Differences in ride quality between the three settings don’t exactly yell out at you, though sport mode does offer perceptibly more nuggety progress on all but the very smoothest surfaces, allied to

DRIVE:

Every variant I’ve tried was fitted with a new, active damper, Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) system boasting Comfort, Normal and Sport settings and complimentary adjustment to the weight of the electro-mechanical steering assistance.

ENGINE:

138 and 168bhp variants of a 2.0-litre turbodiesel, and 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged and 296bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol

Sept 2011

ENGINEERING:

This new 1.8-litre, V6 engine from the right side of the pumps feels better suited to the CC than the other offerings I sampled.

15

STYLING:

The new interior positively oozes class. A brushed metal-finish centre console, new air-con panel and the latest generation touch-screen multimedia system.

COVER STORY

a considerable, and entirely artificial feeling build up in steering weight. Left in normal guise, the system offers continuous, active adjustment to the damping anyway, offering an acceptable balance of ride comfort and cornering poise. So unless you wish to modify the steering feel to something akin to opening a submarine hatch, I remain gently baffled as to why one should need ACC here.

Any other toys we should know about?

Something called Lane Assist proved highly entertaining at 200kph on the highways. This system uses a camera mounted above the rear view mirror to identify the lane markings on the road and, should you stray, actually introduce steering input to bring you back on course. And we’re talking proper input you can feel, here; so much, in fact, that trying a little hands-free motoring became essential… But Please dnt try this. Usually when guys hear such things when they one or two drinks with the boys, they persume that the car will take them home. I believe you,ve heard such stories out there.

Hands off the wheel at a good lick, the car drifted gently towards the line, and neatly caught itself on the point of crossing into the next lane. I left it alone and, having slightly over-corrected, it promptly repeated the process on the other side of the car.

Further overcorrection mapped a

sine wave of ever decreasing frequency on the road, and by the third correction, the CC had had enough, yelling audibly, and via message screen, for driver assistance in a carefully crafted tone of voice that drew a fine line between ‘Ahem…’ and ‘Wake up you dozy bastard…’

Amusingly for a German product, this system also promotes rotten motorway driving practice, only leaving the helm alone once activated if you indicate before crossing lane markings. Which leaves it in the realm of the increasingly numerous numpties who will insist on indicating as they pull back in after overtaking.

Whisper who dares… I think I may want one after a while looking at how the dollar is behaving.

And why not? Priced at around ksh300k (£1500) more than the comparable Passat saloon, the CC consistently presents itself as a considerable bang for your bucks; remember, the Mercedes CLS is double the price of this humble VW. Which makes it all the more peculiar that VW is talking about total global sales figures of just 300,000 over the entire lifespan of the car.

However, and despite voluble protes16 Sept 2011

tations of an ‘intensive growth strategy’, I suspect the VW top brass are entirely conscious of the fact that their elegant Glass Factory in Dresden now spends most of the time building Bentleys, and do not want another niche marketing, rose-without-trace, Phaeton incident on their hands. Which makes it all the more ironic that the Passat CC should boast an almost identical radiator grille.

I don’t think VW has any real cause for such overt caution here though; the Phaeton is a fine car with the wrong badge being sold too cheaply in the prestige segment. The new Passat CC is a fine car being sold at the right price in a segment that presents no direct rivals at all.

List your vehicles Absolutely Free

@ www.motortraders.co.ke

ASK THE MECH

How Anti-Lag Systems Work

W

e’re sure many of you have heard or at least wondered about the loud but somehow strangely arousing bang-bang sound some rally cars and few fellows on Uhuru Highway or Waiyaki Way make usually upon nearing a corner, junction or round-about at decreasing speed. Before we get into the details, we should probably say a few words about the anti-lag system’s.

The first hint should be found in the system’s actual name. In short, it is a technique that allows turbocharged engines to minimize the lag of the turbo in certain situations. As you all probably already know, virtually all turbochargers out there have a “condition” which doesn’t let them provide their maximum amount of pressure at lower revs.

In other words, the so-called “lag” is the actual time needed for the turbocharger to reach its full potential from an intermediate or low rotational speed. Because at low rpm the turbocharger will provide almost no boost whatsoever, and lot of motorsport disciplines such as rallying use turbocharging, various methods to decrease that lag have been invented over the years.

Since most of these technologies are a bit noisy, to say the least, they were almost exclusively

fitted to rally cars. First, there was the so-called “turbocharger dump valve”, or “blow off valve”, which can be heard going into action every time a rally driver lifts his foot from the accelerator creating a ‘Wiishh’ sort of sound.

In essence, the blow-off valve evacuates some of the pressurized air coming out of the turbo while the inlet manifold is closed, therefore allowing the turbine not to lose its momentum. Since most turbocharged race cars have oversized turbines, they normally also display large amounts of turbo lag, so the blow-off valve is insufficient to overcome it.

Skyline GTR, GTT Citroen C4 WRC Prodrive P2 & Some Subarus Evolutions This is where the anti-lag systems comes in. When the driver lifts his foot from the gas pedal, such as when approaching a corner, the ignition timing is retarded (no, really) and the fuel and air intake supply is enriched. Next there are two versions: Either the air inlet is kept slightly open or an extra air injector which bypasses the air manifold is used to keep air supply for the engine. Using either method means that the fuel and air mixture keeps getting inside the engine’s cylinders even if the driver is no longer pushing the accelerator pedal. With the ignition being retarded (OK, delayed), this means that the air/fuel mixture gets into the exhaust mostly unburned.

When the spark plugs fire for the first time in this cycle, the exhaust valve is just getting open because of the ignition delay. In contact with the high temperature exhaust, the unburned air/fuel mixture explodes in the actual exhaust tubes, right before the turbocharger. This micro-explosion keeps the turbo spinning to provide and adequate amount of pres18 Sept 2011

sure even if the driver no longer presses the accelerator pedal.

Obviously, we’re talking only about a single explosion here, but in the course of a few seconds tens of them are actually happening, hence the “bang-bang”

ASK THE MECH the fact that it can make parts of your car explode.

Let’s take a look at the actual advantages and disadvantages now.

Advantages: - The turbo lag almost completely disappears, since the turbocharger provides large amounts of boosts even with the engine idling; - The sound ALS makes is awesome if you’re either A) popcorn lover or B)rally racing fanatic; - Anti-lag-equipped cars can sometime shoot flames from their exhaust;

noise you sometimes hear on rally cars.

The main effect is obviously the almost total absence of turbocharger lag, without the need for the engine to be “manually” revved.

It’s all fun, games and bang, until the turbocharger or the exhaust explode with a total lack of delight. This is why the system is only used in racing cars, which have engine rebuilds between almost every race. In most countries, the system is banned from road use for obvious reasons, such as an extraordinary amount of noise pollution and

Disadvantages: - The turbocharger’s interior temperature rises at over 1100 degrees celsius every time the system is used; - The exhaust manifold and the turbocharger itself are pretty well shaken up during the ALS procedure, since they have to cope with an explosion which should have taken place inside the engine itself; - engine braking is very much reduced during ALS operation

Photo: On the left a display of UNICHIP, SIMTEK and MOTEC from Simon Sharp

Sept 2011

19

Photo: An Evolution 8 flamming up at Hot Rides Car Show at Westgate

Photo: Inside ‘Monster’ a fully modified Toyota Supra

USED CAR REVIEW

Used Toyota Prado Diesel Review Often underrated but owners report good service. Decent off-road capabilities are matched by good road manners and a body that is a sensible size. Seven-seat option wins friends.

O

ff road or on, this mid-sized pioneer still holds its own.

We tend to think of fragmentation within the fourwheel-drive class as a relatively new thing.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that you either bought a full-sized off-roader, with its bone-shaking ride and clumsy dynamics, or you bought a conventional car.

Believe it or not, one of the best in-between 4WDs, the Toyota Prado, has been around this market since the early 90’s.

It was confirmation by Toyota of the ethos of Mitsubishi’s clever, mid-sized Pajero and recognised that not everyone who wanted a 4WD either needed, or wanted, the bulk of a full-sized unit.

But they did want some off-road ability, along with the tough looks that differentiate such a vehicle from the people-mover crowd. And, as sometimes happens, the marketing department got it just right.

These days, the pioneering work of the Prado (and the Pajero, of course) can be seen in schools, bars and restaurant parking lots and supermarket car parks everywhere.

But how does the original Prado stack up? Pretty well, partly because of Toyota’s reliability but also because the concept still seems relevant to a lot of families.

While soft-roaders have been a bit of a growth industry lately, the early Prado differs in that it offers a high degree of off-road ability, thanks to a set of lowratio gears and proper 4WD rather than a front-drive set-up with on-demand allwheel-drive.

Also unlike many soft-roaders, the Prado has a proper engine. In the basemodel RV version, you got a 2.7-litre fourcylinder petrol engine, with a 3.4-litre V6 petrol on both the mid-spec GXL and the upmarket Grande. To get the V6 engine in a cheaper version, you had to stump up

an extra ksh 300k for the RV6. The base model had a five-speed manual transmission, while the GXL had the choice of manual or four-speed automatic. The VX was automatic only.

The traditional five-door station wagon was the only body style offered but it was roomy for its footprint and miles ahead of the old HiLuxbased 4Runner that the Prado effectively replaced. You sat quite upright but that served to give passengers a good view while maximising available space.

And when it came to occupants, the Prado, in every iteration bar the base-model RV could handle eight. The first five were seated conventionally, with a middle bench seat, and the last three were housed on a third-row bench that folded in two and stowed against the side panels when the extra capacity wasn’t needed.

The only catch was that the third row was strictly for children and agile ones at that because access wasn’t exactly easy.

With the third row in place, luggage space was also reduced but the Prado made up a little for that with a reasonable-size glovebox, door pockets and a lockable storage unit in the centre console.

When considering a Prado, check that the gearbox in automatic versions picks up gears from neutral smoothly and quickly and that the shifts aren’t jerky or slurred. If they are, the gearbox could be getting towards the end of the road and a replacement unit won’t be cheap.

The manual gearbox should shift smoothly and quietly with no baulking or graunching noises during quick shifts from first to second. A noisy transmission

20 Sept 2011

is also a sign of a hard life, either towing big loads or working off road.

Since the Prado is, in fact, quite good at getting itself deep into the bush and back, many owners have used that capability.

Many a Prado, however, has never been off road and, frankly, that’s the one you want to buy second hand.

The best way of deciding whether a car has been off road is to get underneath it with a torch. The odd mark can be caused by anything but serious scratching and scuffing underneath is a sure sign that the vehicle has been worked in the bush.

Uneven wear on tyres is not a good sign and is either an indication of hard towing or wheel alignment that’s incorrect, either through worn suspension components or simple wear and tear.

Speaking of suspension, both the front and rear suspension of the Prado were the subjects of recalls when the vehicle was new. In both cases, the potential suspension failure could have been catastrophic

USED CAR REVIEW

but any affected vehicles should have been sorted out by now.

It’s not really a test you can perform in a driveway but if you’re getting a Prado professionally inspected, ask that the condition of the front and rear differential oil be checked.

Milky oil indicates water contamination, which also suggests the car has either been used for numerous river crossings or has been stuck in a river for some time.

The other big giveaway of a vehicle that has been used off-road is one fitted with mud tyres, a winch and multiple radio aerials.

The Prado was offered with optional driver and passenger airbags for the newer prado’s, so any fitted bullbar needs to be compatible. Toyota offered a bullbar as a genuine accessory but some after-market bullbars might render the airbags useless in a shunt.

Other Prado safety gear included the option of anti-lock brakes (on all versions) but even with those fitted, the age of the Prado’s design means it is only an average performer in crash tests.

Another thing to check is a vehicle’s fuel system. On all but the RV, the Prado got a 90-litre main tank and a 69-litre sub-

rld Wo y s ta

Fan

tank. Both tanks are filled from the same location on the car but some owners will never have needed, or bothered, to switch to the sub-tank. That can mean the electrically operated switching mechanism hasn’t been used for years and could need some maintenance. It can also mean the fuel in the sub-tank is almost as old as the car. Any fuel that old will be stale and potentially useless. It’s worth checking.

The system is doubly worthy of scrutiny because the V6 versions of the Prado were recalled for potential damage to the solenoid system, which could lead to broken fuel lines and a potential fuel leak.

The recall was issued in 1997, so any affected vehicles should have been checked or fixed by now.

The subject of fuel will certainly come up in any discussion on Prados because they have a decent thirst. And since there’s no diesel option in this model (that didn’t happen until the next model), you’re stuck with unleaded petrol. Expect a V6 Prado to use about 15 litres/100 kilometres to 18L/100km around the suburbs.

Competitors Mitsubishi Pajero The vehicle that started the mid-size off-roader phenomenon. The Pajero has not always been so good off road (Seen a couple been towed during rallies) and pretty handy on bitumen, too. The V6 is civilised but turbo-diesel is more frugal.

3/5 Nissan Pathfinder Broke the mould by going to monocoque construction in the 1990s. Capable off road but won’t cope with eight occupants. A bit more car-like in some respects and a capable all-rounder. 2.5/5.

Although not so many of this babys are in Kenya, its not a bad looking car.

Need to know Be prepared for big fuel bills and make sure the twin-tank set-up is functioning properly.

Check for evidence of bush-bashing, then buy a vehicle with no such evidence.

Make sure the bullbar is airbag com-

See how YOUR vehicle compares against the best

VS

ER

TORQUE

0-100KPH

TOP SPEED

PRICE

DRIVEN BY?

Great

621 bhpp

750 NM

4.2 Sec.

320 Kph

aprxt 10m

Your Boss!!

OK

Mercedes S65 AMG

201 bhp

244 NM

9.3 Sec.

204 Kph

POW

Great

patible and that the airbags have never been deployed because chances are they might not work or they might cost an arm and a leg to replace.

Check the gearbox has a smooth, quiet operation.

Sept 2011

21

850k used

Maina, kimani, waweru!!

Mercedes W126 1979

OK

BIKE REVIEW

2010 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R

T

his bike has plenty of features to start with, but probably the most interesting among them is the Showa Big Piston Front Fork. The system makes use of a large-diameter internal piston which is more effective under hard braking, especially before a corner, reducing damping pressure and improving front end feedback. Another strong point of the BPF is that it reduces the fork’s weight as it simplifies construction.

124.3-hp fuel injected inline-four engine Having seen that it can break, we’re now more interested in ZX-6R’s engine performance.

by correspondent The manufacturer claims greater midrange torque after adding new double bore velocity stacks, high-load cam profiles as well as new piston profiles, coated piston skirts and piston rings. We’re also sure that the revisions to the cam chain and the light, cool exhaust collector layout have much to do with achieving the low-and mid-range performance without affecting the top end of the powerband.

But Kawasaki didn’t just declared themselves satisfied with that, it needed to bring that power and torque to the rider’s right hand without this involving jerks, only smooth and instant throttle response and control. In order to achieve that, engineers added cylindrical guides to the top of the air cleaner box, bringing chirurgical precision to air intake systems and getting the maximum bang from every fuel load going into the cylinders. The throttle bodies were

22 Sept 2011

lengthened, increasing distance between oval sub-throttle and round main throttles 10mm, resulting in a much smoother transition, reducing inlet turbulence and increasing efficiency. Also, the cylinder porting and ignition coils were revised in the quest for performance.

As weight is a key factor, the making of this inline-four involved finding solutions for reducing it. And if that meant making the camshafts from SCM, revising the top injector mounting plate, narrowing the transmission gears, revising and relocating coolant reservoir and heat pads, Kawasaki engineers didn’t boggle in doing it.

There was nothing to stop them at the chassis chapter either and the recipe was pretty much

BIKE REVIEW the same. They aimed at lighter weight so they’ve made the subframe from a two-piece aluminum die-casting, revised the frame brackets and brought a new throttle housing material on the scene.

Chassis balance and mass centralization are achieved by revising the frame stiffness around the swingarm pivot and the rear engine mounts optimizes front-rear rigidity balance. Strangely, the engine’s center of gravity is 16mm higher as it gets mount with a stepper cylinder bank angle. Like on all modern super sport motorcycles, the new ZX-6R offers a short side muffler, which lowers the weight and an exhaust pre-chamber for the same purpose.

Practically built around the rider, the chassis offers a 10mm lower seating position, making it easier for riders to flatfoot the ground, but the sport riding position is enhanced by the handlebars, which have been brought closer to the rider.

Also, the design of the gas tank (flat on top, narrow on the sides) reveals more space for the rider to tuck into the fairing and keep its knees close to the tank.

The rake angle is now stepper for sharper cornering.

At the front, all that braking power is applied on a pair of 220mm rear petal disc (10mm larger than on the previous generation model) while the rear brakes feature a revised brake lever mounted coaxially with the footpeg, increasing that way mid-stroke braking efficiency and feel.

SPEC-SHEET Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R Engine (2ltr tfsi/tdi & 3ltr)

599cc, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4valves per cylinder, inline-four

Bore x stroke

67.0 x 42.5mm

Ignition

TCBI with digital advance

Transmission 6 speed

Top Speed (kph)

320 Kph

History Competition Kawasaki is among the last of the four Japanese manufacturers to introduce the 2010 lineup, so it has who to fight against with in the middleweight super sport class.

For starters, the 2010 Honda CBR 600RR ABS is a highly evolved model, which now features the electronically controlled Combined ABS system, something that, like ZX-6R’s Big Piston Front Fork, is aimed at improving speed around the corners. The difference is that Honda does it by helping the rider brake in the very last moment before engaging in a high-speed corner while Kawasaki makes sure that the corner is being successfully negotiated.

With a revised ECU, longer exhaust and new color schemes, the 2010 Yamaha YZF-R6 can’t claim being upgraded, but definitely a strong fighter against the 2010 middleweight Ninja. So is the Suzuki GSX-R600, which also gets new color schemes for 2010.

Exterior While the mechanical and chassis features are top notch and a comparison between it and the previously mentioned 600cc bikes in its class will position the Kawasaki ZX-6R on a more than decent position, it seems that designers haven’t had the best idea when inspiring on the ZX-10R for a 2010 design of the liter bike’s smaller sibling.

The fairing (body shell) is completely new and it features an aerodynamic shape that offers improved wind protection for the rider and also minimizes the effect of crosswind. Even though completely redesigned, the front end gives the impression that things could have gone much better as the headlights are practically masked into the fairing and the windscreen looks completely separated from it. The mirrors are a high point though as they offer good rear end visibility so at least the bike is practical if not beautiful.

Also up front, the one-piece fender annihilates any form of attraction that this bike might still have exerted on a Kawi fan.

At the rear end, the new inner fairing Sept 2011

23

is mounted above the swingarm and reduces turbulence while keeping the tail clean. The massive exhaust muffler looks perfectly integrated even though it isn’t as discrete as the one of the Honda (underseat exhaust) and Yamaha.

Wheels are 17-inch five-spoke aluminum and they are black-painted no matter the color of choice for your 2010 Kawasaki ZX-6R. By the way, this can be Passion Red, Metallic Spark Black or Lime Green/Metallic Spark Black.

Kawasaki claims their Ninja ZX-10R is “the middleweight sportbike that won just about every magazine comparo,” so let’s just see what the magazines have to say regarding to it: “...the new ZX-6R blew everyone out of the water this time. Not only did it turn the quickest lap time, but every rider who finished riding the Kawasaki at the end of a session had nothing but praise for the little green Ninja in nearly every aspect of performance.” – sportrider “This extremely capable all-around package proved to be number one in our outright Superpole Session lap times by a tenth of a second over the race-bred Yamaha.” – motorcycle-usa “Strong bottom- and mid-range, together with a screaming top end, makes the Ninja second only to the 675 Daytona in terms of engine satisfaction.” – superbike “The 2009 ZX-6R is the most powerful standard 600 MCN has ever tested with a beasty 115bhp at the back wheel.” – MCN “...the ZX has proved it’s as good as it gets in the 600cc category. Combining class-leading power with a highly responsive and trustworthy chassis are the major elements of the formula for middleweight class success.” – motorcycle Price A used Kawasaki ZXR 600 goes for around ksh700k.

Conclusion Kawasaki managed to pull it through more than decently with this one. Even though stylistically it isn’t quite the definition of success, the refinements suffered are surely expected to bring it on top of the favorites again this year as no other manufacturer has come up with anything better than the great Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R.

TECH TOYS Photo: Mobile use of Facebook, Google Streetview and Google Panoramio

Lamborghini Yacht - the New Toy for the Jet Set

N New Mercedes Apps for Facebook, Google Streetview and Panoramio

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he automotive world is no longer a place where horsepower, torque, styling, and comfort meet, as multimedia is also added on the list of must-haves that any above decent vehicle should offer. And Merecdes-Benz is one car brand that sure knows how to make the most of it.

Only a few months after the launch of the new multimedia generation, Mercedes-Benz is extending the range of integrated apps: new apps for the Facebook online network, for Google Streetview and Google Panoramio will be available for COMAND Online from this autumn.

Streetview enables locations all over the world to be seen in 360-degree perspective views and at street level.

Panoramio allows access to millions of photographs which have been taken and uploaded by other users at locations all around the globe.

The COMAND Online multimedia system, available in the SLK, C-Klasse, E-Klasse, CLS and, from the autumn, in the new M-Klasse and the new B-Klasse, now offers internet access for the first

time.

All customers will be able to use the new apps. Additional apps which have already been introduced are Google Local Search and Weather and the facility for downloading a route which has previously been configured on a PC using Google Maps and transmitted to the car.

Mercedes-Benz is successively extending the range of apps.

But this is not all, as more is yet to come from Mercedes-Benz in the near future. “We are also pursuing research on 3D displays. Three-dimensional onscreen presentations enable information to be absorbed more intuitively,” explains Bharat Balasubramanian, Vice President Product Innovations & Process Technologies in Group Research & Advanced Engineering at Daimler AG. “This simpler and faster recognition of warnings provides for a further improvement in road traffic safety.”

24 Sept 2011

othing in more spectacular than an enthusiast passion taken to the extreme. This is what happened when Italian designer Mauro Lecchi envisioned the Lamborghini….yacht, which we must say is like a drop of quick silver in the crystal clear waters which are dreamed up as its playground. The yacht was penciled in such a way so it would resemble its asphalt walking brother, the Laborghini Reventon.

But the yacht does not only resemble the car’s looks. It also carries the same attitude that we see in the Lamborghini vehicles. The Italian designer successfully managed to incorporate the soul of Lamborghini supercars into a luxurious and imposing yacht. Concerning the yacht’s dimensions, it features a 15m length, 4m width and is 3.8 meters in height, as related by designboom.

In order to maintain the manufacturer’s legacy, the yacht will be built using carbon-fiber composite materials, keeping its weight low which is always a good thing when it comes to floating objects. The prototype of this yacht is currently in the works and will feature a pair of V12 Motori Marini Lamborghini engines which put out a total of 550 hp each. Another option would be a pair of Seatek Turbodiesel engines with a capacity of 950 hp.

The amazing interior is expected to be penciled by famous designer Fenice Milano, who is famous for his work on Rolls-Royce Ghost.

The company has not announced the estimated price of one of these sea jewels but it is expected to be significantly high.

TECH TOYS

Clarion Introduces NZ501E and NX501E Units

I

CE (in car enterntainemnt) is growing stronger than ever these days and thus every producer has to constamtly up the ante, regardless of their previous work. The latest developments of this kind comes from Clarion, which has recently introduced multiple goodies.

The list starts with a single-DIN sized NZ501E unit that relies on a 6.2-inch motorised flip-out screen to keep you happy, continues with a double-DIN sized NX501E receiver with integral 7” screen upport AM/FM radio, CD, DVD, MP3, AAC and WMA playback. Customers also get TeleAtlas based SatNav and iPod/iPhone connectivity.

Both systems offer Flick Operation, which lets the user to scroll through the menus with ease, also offering the possibility to highlight and drag icons to alternative positions. In addition to that, Clarion has incorporated a Parrot Bluetooth module in its multimedia showcase for the first time, thus offering compatibility with multiple mobile phones and PDAs. “Also putting the GUI to good use is a comprehensive navigation package, populated by a TeleAtlas map database covering 44 countries, all stored on a mighty 8GB microSD card. In addition to the pre-installed data, new maps and content such as POI can be downloaded from Clarion’s dedicated portal site – navi extras – while there is a Latest Map Guarantee to provide a download of the most up-to-date data free of charge, upon registration of the product,” a company statement reads.

World’s First Replacement Electronic Suspension Package

L

abelled under the heading ‘Mechatronic’ (mechanical and electronic) Ohlins has created one of the world’s first production electronic suspension systems, found on the Ducati Multistrada.

Now, Ohlins is offering BMW R1200GS riders with ESA the chance to upgrade their suspension without sacrificing its electronic adjustability.

The system is interacting directly with the bike’s ECU and existing user interface.

The R1200GS ESA replacement package consists of Ohlins EC front and rear shocks as well as an ECU that allows the entire system to plug directly into the BMW’s own user-interface. The Ohlins system allows the rider to choose between BMW’s multiple driving modes and damping levels, along with various spring pre-load settings on the rear shock.

In Comfort mode, the Ohlins ECU monitors the bike’s speed and when it exceeds 80kph automatically alters the suspension’s damping to a firmer ‘Normal’ setting. When the speed exceeds 120kph the damping is further increased to ‘Sport’ mode, creating a more accurate ride. When the speeds decrease, the damping reverts back to its original settings through the intermediate ‘Normal’ mode.

“No other motorcycle on the market has suspension that responds to the vehicle’s speed, this is yet another World first from Öhlins and a further demonstration as to why we are the premium brand in suspension and trusted by riders all over the globe,” stated Ola Lennstrom, Marketing Communications Manager at Ohlins Racing.

Sept 2011

25

Hacking a Subaru Outback using Android smartphone

A

s technology evolved, car manufacturers began to incorporate more of it into their models, at the same time investing a lot in systems which not only managed to control the mechanics of the car more efficient manner but also provided an increased level of security. Thus a modern car proves to have more capable technology than a computer had a couple of years ago.

And as cars seem to have more in common with computers on wheels these days they are extremely vulnerable to “updated” thieves. The disturbing news came from two researchers who appeared at the Black Hat Conference, an annual gathering of hackers and security pros in Las Vegas. They proved that using only an Android smartphone and some creative programming, they were able not to only unlock a Subaru Outback but also to start up its engine.

“I could care less if I could unlock a car door. It’s cool. It’s sexy. But the same system is used to control phone, power, traffic systems. I think that’s the real threat.”

Don Bailey, Senior Security Consultant for iSEC Partners and one of the pros who hacked the car, told CNN. In order to hack their way into the Subaru Outback, Bailey and his colleague used a method called “war texting,” in order to intercept the password used by the car they hijacked. But the car manufacturers say that it is not possible, which is a normal attitude considering that they have tried to decrease consumer concerns. The main concerns were related to the increasing dependence on remote key and other digital gadgets which might be a threat to safety and security..

TECH TOYS

MSX1 Rear View Motorcycle Helmet from Reevu

D

Sony Xplod to Use TomTom

J

apanese electronics manufacturer Sony announced this week it has selected navigation solutions provider TomTom to be the official supplier for the future Xplod AV Navigation Systems. The new nav will be using TomTom’s LIVE services, which include HD Traffic, IQ Routes and MapShare.

“We are delighted that Sony has selected TomTom as their navigation services supplier in Europe”, said Giles Shrimpton, managing director for TomTom Automotive.

The services offered by TomTom are perhaps the most comprehensive in their field. The HD Traffic function allows drivers access to information regarding both fixed and mobile cameras, provides weather updates as they happen and even allows for local Google business address searches.

IQ Routes and MapShare give those using the system the tools needed to calculate travel time of any given route by taking into account data submitted by

other users, rush hour, traffic lights, and even shopping crowds.

“This endorses our position as the leading location and navigation solutions provider,” added Shrimpton.

“Combining the audio and video know-how of Sony with our navigational expertise has resulted in an excellent product range. Moreover, as the technology incorporates a flexible hardware design based on standard interfaces, it allows for easy updates in the future - a huge advantage in the automotive industry.”

The new product coming from Sony will be available only in selected markets at first. These markets are France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom. No pricing information, nor the exact release date about the product have been announced.

28 Sept 2011

espite the fact that many riders have given up hope that was about all the safety they could get from a helmet, Reevu comes to change all that and launches the innovative MSX1 Rear View, after seven years of development and a year or so in preproduction phase.

But what is it that makes this helmet so special? Well, as its name suggests, it has an adjustable mirror mounted in the the helmet lining above the rider’s eyes.

The adjustments aren’t for on the move though, so some time setting up the helmet before using it will be appropriate.

The helmet reportedly has a high degree of impact resistance, featuring a tri composite material, capable of spreading impact power on the complete helmet surface. The shell is composed of carbon fibreglass, Kevlar and synthetic hi-tenacity advanced fibre, tied up from highlengthening vinylester.

Internal shells made in dual density EPS, Polycarbonate injected visor, completely removable and washable lining, and the Double D ring retention system, are also among the Highlights of the MSX1 Rear View helmet.

A major factor in the design of the helmet was to deliver a low noise solution to the wearers, and wind tunnel testing has now prevailed to achieve that goal.

Also, Reevu helmets are equipped with a ventilation system projected and tested; air will come in across front positioned slots, above and below the visor, moves along many pipes and holes, and comes out across rear slots, positioned near the rear glass. Rider’s head is kept fresh and dry even in torrid climate.

Performance

Performance

THE BUILD ISSUE

STRIPPING YOUR CAR DOWN TO BARE METAL THIS MONTH: Evolution 8 Convert to Evo 9 Street legal cars that rule Kenyan roads Sept 2011

29

Performance

A

dmit it. If you’re any kind of car enthusiast, you’ve had the fantasy of having a race car as your daily driver. Thirty years or more ago, with enough money, it might even have been possible. Sports prototypes were technically streetable, with regulations requiring lights, horns, and even luggage and passenger space. Stock cars were actually based on stock, regularproduction cars. But in either category, even then, comfort, practicality, and state vehicle codes made such an attempt difficult. And, since 1970, race cars in nearly all categories have diverged considerably from their street-legal brethren.

Mitsubishi’s WRC weapon since 1992 has been the Lancer Evolution, series I through VIII. If you haven’t heard of the Lancer Evos, as they are nicknamed, you’re excused. The Lancer was called the Mirage here, and the Mirage, while a pleasant little economy sedan or coupe, was never any sort of performance machine. Before its American introduction earlier this year, you would have had to have been an avid follower of the WRC or a player of some popular racing video games to have heard of the Lancer Evo. The EPA and DOT didn’t want to hear about it at all.

When the Mirage morphed into the Lancer here for the 2002 model year, there were hopes that a U.S.-legal Evolution would appear. Those hopes have now been fulfilled. Note, however, that while the basic Lancer is designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of people look-

ing for fun, economical transportation, the Evo VIII is a very different machine. It is a seriously fast machine, definitely not a car for everyone especially 888. first time you see this car from your rear view mirror, you just have to move off the road.

I’ve just spent some time with Amir the guy who made this Lancer Evo VIII to what it is today. It is remarkably civilized, but requires that its driver be serious, attentive, and committed. It is less a race replica than a high-strung race car slightly tamed for the street, yet has almost all of the comforts expected in a contemporary car.

APPEARANCE: Similar, yet different...very different. There is no question that the Lancer Evo VIII is a serious performance machine. Although its passenger cabin is the same as that of the regular Lancer with a few extras, and the body shape is generally similar, aluminum fenders, blistered to fit the Evo’s wider track and wider tires, replace the heavier steel panels of the stock Lancer. Ditto for the lightweight aluminum hood, vented for engine cooling and aerodynamic efficiency. Extra openings in the front fascia direct cooling air to the intercooler and brakes, and an air dam reduces lift. At the rear, an available and very large wing does more to reduce visibility than create downforce at legal speeds, but it is made of genuine carbon fiber. Wedsport alloy wheels and huge Brembo brakes are not designer-label poseur items, they are the real deal for maximum performance.

COMFORT: The Lancer Evo VIII is luxuriously appointed - for a race car. It’s fine for day-to-day street use, too, building on the standard Lancer interior. As with the wheels and brakes, Mitsubishi has gone to competition suppliers where necessary, in this case to Recaro(r) for sports seats. Although they are very wellbolstered for lateral support, and do have racing harness strap holes, they are wider 30 Sept 2011

and less-bolstered than real competition seats - a good thing if you’re not built like a jockey. They are no harder to get into or out of than any other seats, and provide excellent support and comfort.

A leather-rimmed MOMO(r) steering wheel and properly- placed, short-throw shift lever complete the ``racer’s office’’ ambiance. The instrument panel gets red-lit chrome-bezeled gauges, and the titanium-look center stack has certain items not usually found in a race car - air conditioning and a 140-watt AM/FM/ CD stereo. Power windows, doorlocks, and mirrors are also not competitionspec, but do make life in the real world more pleasant. Four doors, a rear seat that can hold two people, and a large trunk make the Lancer Evo VIII a practical small sedan - that just happens to have near-supercar performance.

SAFETY: The Lancer Evo VIII meets all safety requirements. It also has an impressive array of active safety equipment, including all-wheel drive traction, huge four-wheel antilock Brembo brakes with 4- piston front and 2-piston rear calipers, and plenty of power for avoiding ‘Karaus’.

ROADABILITY: Since few Lancer Evo VIIIs will be used for rally driving on forest roads, as delivered the car is set up for real-world pavement. With five and a half inches of ground clearance and good approach and departure angles, it can deal with hazards like gutters, steep driveways, and chuckholes better than most sports cars. Response is nearly telepathic, and the cornering limits are very high.

PERFORMANCE: Many people got their first look at the Lancer Evo in a video game, which is appropriate. Driving one quickly is like playing an intense, high- speed video game - things happen fast. Pay attention and don’t be distracted.

CONCLUSIONS: The legend is true. Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution VIII gives a real race car experience in a streetlegal car.

Now a look at the Spec sheet..

Performance

AUTO ART EVO 8

2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION 8 BODY LANCER EVOLUTION IX UPGRADE KIT WITH DAMD UNDER CAR SIDE & REAR EXTENSIONS, RALLIART FRONT LIP, CUSTOM ELECTRIC BLUE PAINT, CF REAR VORTEX GENERATOR, CF EYELIDS, DAMD FRONT CANARDS ENGINE K&N HI FLOW INDUCTION, PERRIN SS INDUCTION PIPING, PIVOT VOLTAGE STABILIZER KIT, AEM DUAL H20/METH INJ SYSTEM, ARC 700 BHP I/C, TOMEI ARMS 7960 TWIN SCROLL TURBOCHARGER, HKS POLISHED SS WRAPPED & CERAMIC COATED EXHAUST MANIFOLD, 3” PERRIN POLISHED SS EXHAUST SYSTEM, HKS SSQV BOV, TURBOSMART VARIABLE BOOST CONTROLLER, WALBRO 255LP/H FUEL PUMP, TURBOSMART ADJUSTABLE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, AMS HI VOLUME FUEL RAIL, PRECISION 780 CC INJECTORS, OKADA PROJECT HI-DISCHARGE RACING COILPACKS, WEAPON R VOLTAGE EQUALIZER, HKS DL II TWIN POWER IGNITION AMPLIFIER, GFB LIGHTENED & BALANCED CRANK PULLEY, ACL TRI-METAL BEARINGS, FACTORY SPEC 11 ROW OIL COOLER, KELFORD 272/272 IN/EX HI LIFT CAMS, HKS ADJUSTABLE CAM GEARS, HKS TIMING BELT, ARP RACING HEAD STUDS, COSWORTH 1.2MM METAL HEAD GASKET, CUSCO ENGINE DAMPER, SAMCO SILICON HOSE KIT, SWITCHABLE DUAL MAP FACTORY TUNED ECU. HANDLING & BRAKING D2 36 WAY FULLY ADJUSTABLE RALLY ASPHALT SPEC COILOVER KIT, FACTORY SPEC POLISHED FRONT STRUT BRACE, WHITELINE COMPLETE ANTI SWAY BUSHING, & STEERING DAMPER KIT, PERRIN STAB LINKS F&R, 4 PISTON BREMBO SLOTTED (FRONT), 2 PISTON BREMBO SLOTTED (REAR) WHEELS & TYRES WEDSPORT 18” x 8.5 WITH 235/40-18 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TYRES F&R TRANSMISSION FACTORY SPEC 6 SPEED MANUAL, ACT STAGE 2 RACING CLUTCH KIT WITH LIGHTENED & BALANCED FLYWEEL INTERIOR FACTORY EVO VIII RECARO SEATS, TRIM & 260KPH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DEPO RACING VOLT, OIL TEMP, OIL PRESS, BOOST, FUEL PRESS & EGT GAUGES, AEM WATER/METH CONTROLLER.

Sept 2011

31

Performance

C COAT

ERAMI ED & C

xhaust PP Photo: E SHED SS WRA I L L O O P IF D HK S ST MAN U A H X ED E

Photo: CUSTOM ELECTRIC BLUE PAINT, CF REAR VORTEX GENERATOR, CF EYELIDS, DAMD FRONT CANARDS

CARO Photo: VIII RE O V E Y R FACTO

SEATS,

Photo: DEPO RACING VOLT, OIL TEMP, OIL PRESS, BOOST, FUEL PRESS & EGT GAUGES, AEM WATER/METH CONTROLLER.

T SY XHAUS E r a S e S R : D Photo LISHE RIN PO 3” PER

STEM

d tyres /40-18 heels an TH 235 w I : W o t o .5 8 h P ES F&R ”x ORT 18 OTENZ A T YR P S D E W EP ESTON BRIDG 32 Sept 2011

Photo: Engine Check the spec sheet the list is endless

Still Going Strong

Mr Mugo’s Volkswagon Bettle

Passion for Classics Sept 2011

33

Still going Strong

Rare love affair with VW Beetle

D

an Mugo’s love affair with his Volkswagen Beetle started way back in the year 2006. And nothing, he says, will part them, apart from you know what. He talks with such passion about this rare but meticulously well maintained vehicle you just have to say ‘kudos’ Dan. Dan says his VW Beetle makes every head turn as very few people own such beauties these days.

Getting to be the owner of this vehicle was not easy for Dan. He had to wrack it literally, so to speak, out of his friend Martin (Mato) - who was forced to part with his beloved machine out of some unfortunate circumstances.

“I once visited my friend Mato in Nyeri in 2006 and he had this VW Beetle; after some rides in it I fell in love with the machine,” says Dan showing off his beauty. He adds, “I mean everyone’s head turns and very few people have such.”

It was not all smooth sailing for Dan, his friend Mato and the car. “It once em-

barrassed us by breaking down in the middle of the road while we were going to have lunch at Green Hills Hotel but this did not diminish my love for it in any way,” Dan says adding, “The car was then blue in colour and I bet Mato would not recognize it today. After a few more rides in it, I asked him whether he would sell it to me but he just said a big flat no!”

But as the sages said, one man’s poison is another’s meat. In April 2007, Dan received a call from Mato informing him that he had an emergency and he was about to sell his Beetle. “If I was still interested I could go and we would negotiate,” Dan says.

“I hit the roof,” Dan says exuberantly.

If I play my cards well, I will be the proud owner of my dream car.”

Dan parted with some Ksh 70,000 but told Mato to keep the car until he put together enough money to go for it as well as for some repairs and improvements. It was not until September when Dan collected it. “I took it to two mechanics Dan Odhiambo and Diang’a who run a garage

Photo: Left; Front View.

1985model Right: White leather seats from a toyota starlet

34 Sept 2011

in Donholm,” Dan says.

Dan says he loves the VW Beetle because first, when the engine fires, no other model makes such a sound and secondly because of the model’s unique shape. On these two points, I don’t think there would be any argument.

On the specifications, the car’s year of manufacture is 1985. It has an engine capacity of 1200cc and as noted earlier Dan bought it from his friend for Ksh 70,000.

However, he has seen to some modifications which he describes thus: “There have been some modifications on the car starting with the front seats (used Toyota Starlet seats), steering wheel (also Toyota Starlet). I’ve also changed the rims to chrome, and the tyre sizes to R15. Further I’ve fixed the music system and done the interior with white leather. I’ve also bought a new carburetor for better fuel efficiency, and overhauled the engine.”

Asked why he picked that shade of colour for the interior and who did it, his answer came in fast. “My theme was red

Still going Strong

Photo: All white an red interior and sony speakers...

Photo: 15inch alloy rims and white coz they go well together. The interior work was done by an interior specialist at Doni called Joseph.”

Dan told Motor Trader they get spare parts for this gem of a car from Kirinyaga Road. He is usually accompanied by his mechanic when shopping for spares.

“Sometimes we have to buy second hand since it is a bit difficult to get new parts.

Servicing of the car is usually done at Doni by Dan,” he explains.

The VW Beetle handles fuel consumption most economically especially since Dan fixed the new carburetor. Hear him. “Since I bought the new carburetor the fuel consumption has gone down significantly. We took a trip to Machakos Town and back beginning of this month on Ksh1,500 worth of petrol. I would say the car would do 50km on Ksh 800 factoring in road jams and Ksh 600 on a jam free road,” says Dan. Dan attracts attention whenever he drives his beauty with passengers in matatus as well as pedestrians admiring this spectacle. But there is also an irritating side to it. “Whenever you go to some clouded place, people keep on asking whether the car is for sale. As for the ladies, they admire it from a distance,” he says with a chuckle.

Dan says the only other accessories he could add to the vehicle could be, “maybe a screen and twitters coz it has very good speakers. For the engine I have no intention whatsoever to change it; that is the only reason it is a Beetle!!!” he emphasizes.

He has had challenges over the car’s insurance too. He says he wanted com-

prehensive cover for the car the last time he went for this but his insurance company could hear none of it.

And on whether he has any plans to sell his love and for how much, Dan Mugo’s answer was an emphatic NO! “Never, ever. I have no intention to sell it. No amount of money would lure me to do this.”

What passion for man and his machine!

If you wish your vehicle to be part of this please contact:

Photo: Toyota starlet steering

The Editor MotorTrader P.O. Box 21824,00400 Tel: 020 8079558/9 Mobile: 0718223838 Email: info@motortraders.co.ke

Photo: Dan attracts attention whenever he drives

Photo: 1200cc engine & new carburetor

Sept 2011

35

MOTORSPORT ALL SPORT NEWS IN EAST AFRICA AND THE WORLD

This Month

1. Macharia is the new KMSF Chairman 2. Rally Queens’ For Kenya Airways E.A. Safari Classic 3. Keith to go with the flow 4. Kisumu Rally Map Sept 2011

37

MOTORSPORT

MACHARIA ELECTED NEW KMSF CHAIRMAN

F

ormer Group N’ navigator champion, Dave Macharia, is the new chairman of Kenya Motor Sports Federation

(KMSF).

Macharia, who is also the chairman of Rallye Sports Club (RSC), ascended to the hot seat amidst enthusiastic pledges to put the sport back on track.

Kenya Rally Drivers Association (KRDA) Chairman, Mark Tilbury, was also elected the chairman of the Motor Sports Council - the supreme decision making organ at KMSF. During the three hour exercise, Macharia was unanimously elected to the post by the Board of Directors of KMSF at the Federation’s boardroom situated at Nairobi’s Riverside Drive. He replaces Jim Kahumbura, who incidentally was his former driver when the pair won the KNRC Group N’ title in 1997.

Macharia admitted that the task ahead of him is indeed gigantic. Macharia was elected a as the chairman at a meeting

that also decided to separate the duties of the Council Chairman from the Board Chairman.

“I agree it’s a hot seat but the end of one race is surely the start of another. My first promise to Kenyans is that the sport is coming back to where it was four years ago. I also believe the team behind me is a capable one,” said Macharia.

Dave also said he has an enormous task of salvaging the dented image of the sport as well as regaining sponsors’ confidence.

The Government, through Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch, acknowledged and pledged its support to the new KMSF Board for holding peaceful elections unlike other federations which have been embroiled in incessant squabbles.

Tilbury, who is a former chairman of the Rallies Commission of KMSF was all smiles. “We had a very good meeting today. We all agreed that from now on, there will be complete board decisions.

We will make decisions collectively; so there will be no decisions made by one person,” explained Tilbury.

The first major task for the new team will be to salvage the three-year Ksh 90 million title sponsorship package from KCB which ends effective December 2011; then improve sponsorship from other areas.

“That’s the major objective; to put the sport back on track. We want to be consultative,” continued Tilbury.

KMSF elections proper took place the previous Saturday but the inaugural Board’s meeting was held on Tuesday, August 9 to elect its new chairman.

During the election outgoing chairman, Jim Kahumbura, Ben Muchemi and Bimal Patel were replaced by Kevin McCourt, Mark Tilbury and Peter Kinyua.

The three joined Surinder Thatthi, John Rose and Dr Sunil Vinayak who was reelected as a director of the KMSF Board.

Viking invasion of Kenya Airways Safari Classic

V

iking Motorsport, located in North Wales, has been commissioned to prepare and run two RS1800 Mk2s for the 2011 edition of the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally slated for November.

Viking Motorsport prepares rally (Ford) Escorts and it is aptly named since its owner, Phil Mills ,was World Champion co-driver in 2003 to Petter Solberg, a man from the land of Fords.

Both cars are brand new, built from scratch in the Viking workshops under the eagle eye of John O’Connor who for many years, built Escorts for David Sutton’s company. The RS1800s will be driv-

en in the Safari Classic by 1984 World Rally Champion, Stig Blomqvist and John Lloyd. John has competed in dozens of WRC rallies including four Safaris.

He has competed on three of the four Safari Classic Rallies, finishing twice.

Blomqvist will be co-driven by Ana Goni from Venezuela, who is herself no stranger to the Safari Classic. Lloyd’s co-driver will be Adrian Cavenagh, brother of multi-Kenyan rally champion, Alastair, who is also doing the rally in an Escort Mk2.

Both drivers were given the chance this week to drive their cars in anger.

They gave them a thorough workout to try to reveal any problems before they 38 Sept 2011

BY SAMSON ATEKA

BY SAMSON ATEKA

are shipped off to Mombasa in a few weeks time ready for the start of the event in November. They were driven all day on Welsh forest tracks and gave no problems at all. In fact, the only things they did generate were big smiles on the faces of their drivers.

Phil Mills announced himself very satisfied and said that he was looking forward to ‘a good run in November when we will do 4,200 kilometres of stages in nine days !’

MOTORSPORT

“Bumble Bee” Murage targets podium in Masinga’s Ganatra Cross Country

BY SAMSON ATEKA

W

aigwa Murage better known as “Bumble BEE” in off road racing circle has exciting benchmarks set for the fourth and last round of Ganatra Cross-Country Challenge in Masinga Dam area on the weekend of September 3-4.

Quite rightly so, Murage has vowed to fight to the very end with his Ranger Polaris 300cc contraption and hopes to give the “big bulls” of quad racing a run for their money.

“I’m fighting every inch of the way,” quipped Murage.

The Operations Manager at Pentagon Agencies Ltd in an interview told RallyKenya that he is not ready to give it up easily to Champion Shazar Anwar (Bombardier 650) and title contender Vincent Boulanger (Can-am Renegade). He also reckons that Abid Ganatra (KTM) won’t be a pushover as well.

“My benchmark is 3rd overall place in the championship points. Basically, that means finishing in top three hopefully in Masinga. My approach to Masinga race is just to go as quick as I can possibly go.

I’m currently lying fourth in Championship and my goal is to finish 3rd overall.

And its only one point separating 3rd and 4th,” explained Murage.

Shazar is incidentally fixing Murage’s quad at Aztek Motorsport workshop while his crew rush to fine tune the rear suspension setup.

For Murage, navigation is very key to cross country success. “ So I have actually just gotten my Garmin GPS. But funny enough, I still don’t know how to use it. Masinga will be the

Photo: Bumble bee first time I am going to be using a GPS. So I’m looking forward to it,” continued Murage.

Murage admits Cross Country isn’t that easy as it comes with its own challenges.

“Running Costs per event and preparation intricacies of the quad (because it an agricultural quad not a racing one) is quite a challenge.”

“We have made it as light as possible.

And you know the exhaust is also modified. But we have been very meticulous in trying to get the suspension setup right (bushes, ball joints), so preparation starts as soon as one race ends.”

The FIM Africa Cross Country Quad and bike Challenge will be talking place in Soysambu in October but Murage is yet to make up his mind.

“FIM is yet to be confirmed because I will need a different quad all together.

But an upgrade is in the pipeline,” continued Murage.

His short term goal is just to keep enjoying x-country racing on the quad. In the long run, Murage wants to venture into autocross and eventually rallying.

“I will try my level best to grow in the sport,” quips Murage, who now runs a workshop which assembles and sells motorcycles “but mainly for boda-boda”.

And how did he did he join quad racing?

“I came across quads when I was in China and I thought of just importing one into the country. Then Dave (Macharia) introduced me to Shazar at last year’s Race of Champions, where I tried to debut but by quad just packed up.

From there on, I was dragged into Sept 2011

39

quads and eventually into my first xcountry which was in Selenkay earlier in the year and Shazar really insisted I should come out and try quad racing.

But motorsport has always been in my blood. So I took up quad racing as a platform to also step into the game,” Murage expounds.

And how did he earn the Bumble Bee nickname? “Ever since we did the exhaust, the sound it makes sounds like a ‘bee’ then the bumble because I am round and chirpy.”

Organised by Rallye Sports Club (RSC) and sponsored by JCB country agents Ganatra Plant and Equipment, the event HQ has been designated at Masinga Dam Resort.

Camping facilities for spectators, officials and competitors stationed at the Resort from September 2 onwards.

CROSS COUNTRY STANDINGS AS AT RD 3 Bikes 1. Shivam Vinayak 50 2. Andrew Pleasance 43 3. Shaun Miller 42 Cars 1. Nish Lakhani 46 2. Eddie Belcher 36 3. Rajesh Maini 36 Buggy 1. Ian Duncan 57 2. Altaf Ganatra 20 3. Mickey Hughes 17.

Quads 1. Shazar Anwar 57 2. Vincent Boulanger 52 3. Abid Ganatra 33.

MOTORSPORT

Father & Son Enter Ganatra Cross Country Rally

M

oses Mugo (KTM525) and his son Charles Mugo (Honda 450) are at it again.

For quite some time, they have been working diligently in readiness for Ganatra Cross Country Challenge season closer.

The event, sponsored by JCB country agents Ganatra Plant & Equipment and organized by Rallye Sports Club (RSC), takes place around Masinga Dam area on the weekend of September 3-4.

The duo are currently fine-tuning their machines at their family garage in Karen.

Asked what it feels as a parent, Moses admits candidly: “It is quite taxing as a working parent devoting all extra time that could otherwise be used to rest or in other social activities and channeling it to sports.”

Being on the same route course in motocross, cross-countries, enduros and auto cross events with his son piles on

BY SAMSON ATEKA extra pressure which Moses staunchly admits as the interview wears on: “Well, when we began riding it was mind-bogging but as we progressed, I got use to it and I sometimes enjoy it.”

Riding in enduro has been fun to both “especially after nurturing him and seeing him grow in the sport” “The bonding of father and son especially out there in the wilderness exploring and expediting nature is wonderful and fulfilling,” Charles commented.

And how did the idea to race cross Moses’ mind?

“As a young boy, I used to see a white family neighbor in Narumoru where I was brought up, ride and I liked it from the word go,” recalled Moses.

While Moses relishes voluntary services of designing tracks, Charles loves training the young and also goes out in villages empowering the young ones and encouraging them to gear up in their studies to own and ride when time comes.

40 Sept 2011

While Charles rides bikes and buggies, Moses is only confined to bikes.

“Sometimes Autocross does distract the bikes’ schedule especially when we have simultaneous events but we try to manage,” Charles continued.

“All motorsport preparations begin immediately you finish a race,” said Moses who is a mechanical engineer.

Charles is a student who joined college life last year and he is studying auto mechanical engineering.

“My hobbies apart from riding, I love traveling, reading and singing,” said Moses whose role model is none other than Jesus Christ,” adding; “Jesus started and formed Christianity at a very young age and is the most blameless and revered human to live on earth. Not to also mention Rev Martin Luther King Junior for their effort in fighting injustice, inequality and advocating for equal rights not only in America and Israel but in the entire universe.”

MOTORSPORT Caption: John Lloyd in action.

Rally Queens’ For Kenya Airways E.A. Safari Classic Rally

A

n all-Kenyan female rally team of Samira Khan, 32, and Safina Khan (not related) is inspired to become the second ladies’ crew to enter and compete in the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally 2011 which zooms off in Mombasa on Saturday, November 19 under the momentous Mombasa Tusks on Moi Avenue. Samira, a pilot with KenyaAirways who flies the Boeing 767, is set to sample the rally cockpit which is truly a far cry from the usual airplane cockpit she is used to on a daily basis.

Safina, who previously sat with Michelle Van Tongeren in the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC), is preparing to dust-off the cobwebs in a comeback bid from long sabbatical. The two ladies will race on a Ford Escort machine previously used by former Air Force pilot and 2008 KCB Classic Car Cup Champion, Aslam Khan. A full ladies team is what the Classic Safari has not had since legendary Michelle Mouton came to Kenya with Ana Goni in the initial Safari Classic in 2003. Being the only ladies team in this year’s event, “The Rally Queens” will without a doubt delight local and foreign rally fans alike. However, being a Kenyan girls’ team the ‘Rally Queens’

are destined to encourage local East African female youth to absorb the sport. In addition, the team are further motivated to drive the same race as celebrated rally champions such as Bjorn Waldergard, Ian Duncan, Geff Bell, Michelle Mouton and Stig Blomkvist amongst many others. It is believed that the 2011 Safari Classic will host a team of Hollywood celebrities sponsored by Kenya Airways.

Amongst them we expect to see the renowned extreme sports legend Travis Postrana.

Furthermore, the Rally Queens intend to enter the KNRC in 2012 and 2013 to compete for the Classic Cup as well as the Coupe des Dames Trophies respectively where they will face off with the likes of “Haraka Mamas” team of Joan Nesbitt and Dr. Tamara K. Jones as well as the “Warembo Bila Make up” team of Hellen Shiri and Stella Macharia.

This will certainly prepare them well for the next East African Safari Classic 2013.

Samira’s flying career started in 1998 when she acquired her Commercial Flying License at 43 Air School in South Africa. She then came back to Kenya and worked from the Wilson Airport Nairobi for the first 5 years of her flying career at ALS Ltd and Air Kenya Ltd respectively.

Sept 2011

41

BY SAMSON ATEKA

Her experience in General Aviation has been extensive. The flying varied from transporting tourists to game reserves in East Africa to flying relief contracts for the the United Nations and the Red Cross in Sudan, Somalia, DRC and Iraq.

Samira’s airline career started in 2003 with Regional Air and then Kenya Airways in 2005 where she flies as a First Officer on Boeing 767 to date. Samira’s debut in the Kenya National Rally Championship was in the Kajiado rally of September 2008. She won the Meritorious Award for successfully navigating and finishing her first race with her uncle Aslam Khan in the KCB Classic Cup Championship. She continued to navigate him in the first half of the 2009 rally calendar and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Samira has been inspired ever since to become a rally driver and fashion an all girls rally team. Finally, the opportunity has presented itself to her this year in early August when ALS Rally Team offered to sponsor Samira by providing her a rally car.

Drive in Style

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MOTORSPORT

Kenya finishes fourth at FIM Africa Motocross Championship in Harare

Member Countries Propose Removal Of ARC Registration

A

ll the countries organizing the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) have proposed to remove registration for drivers participating in the continental event. This proposal has to go to the FIA Rallies Commission for ratification.

The new rule, according to FIA Africa coordinator Mr Surinder Thatthi, will take effect in 2012. This was one of the major resolutions made on the occasion of the annual FIA Confederation of African Countries in Motor Sports (CACMS) Conference which coincided with FIA Institute workshop at the Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Cape Town, South Africa over the weekend.

The meeting ran for two days (August 19-20) combining Officials training which was conducted by Motor Sports Association from the UK with their Regional Training Providers (RTP) staff.

During the conference, FIA Institute conducted a workshop to teach African ASNs the correct way to submit applications for the Motor Sport Safety Development Fund (MSSDF).

Mr Thatthi who is also the Chairman of CACMS said they had decided to drop the registration rule because they felt “some people came into the Championship late and still had a chance of winning the continental title.” “But com-

petitors still have to do two events in the Northern region and two in the South to be eligible to win the Championship,” explained Surinder. The Conference also finalized the ARC 2011 calendar. Currently only one Kenyan, Don Smith, is registered to score points in the ARC 2011 championship.

The CACMS Conference was attended by Francois Pretorius (Motorsport South Africa), Austin Whitehead (Zimbabwe Motor Sports Federation), Sam Ching’ambu (Zambia Motor Sport Association); Chris Eden (K.M.S.F.), George Kagimu (F.M.U.), Mr. N’GOM (Federation Ivoirenne Sports Automobiles); Yves Kagina (Rwanda Automobile Club), Jan De Jager (Namibia Motor Sports Federation), Antonio Marques (Anto. Touring Club de Mozambique), Nizar Jivani (AA of Tz), Jimmy Rokotofiringa (Fed Sport Automobile Madagascar), Abraham Aregawi (Ethiopian Motor Sport Association), (President de la FFSA-Reunion), Ansleme Birigimana (Automobile Club of Burundi).

Others were Jacques Regis (Mauritius & FFSA), Simon Modisaeman (EA 911 Botswana).

Courtesy of Rally Kenya

Sept 2011

43

K

enya finished fourth out of six nations as the 2011 FIM Africa Continental Motocross Championship culminated in Harare on Sunday.

South Africa once again attested their supremacy on two-wheels as they claimed first finishes and country position.

Kenya entered a three-member team comprising Tutu Maina (MX125), Dekker Kihara (MX50) and Rolf Kihara (MX65) but still managed 4th.

Tutu Maina finished fifth position out of 13 Riders in 125 cc. Dekker finished 10th out of 11 in the competitive 50cc.

Dekker who is Rolf ’s younger brother has been riding quite aggressively at MX50 races back home and finishing the race at the continental Championship sounded quite encouraging for the diminutive rider.

Rolf who is leading the MX65 class back home failed to compete due to an injury sustained in practice.

MOTORSPORT

Photo: Arthur Kinyanjui

Keith to go with the flow

BY SAMSON ATEKA

W

ith the championship already in the bag, two more rounds to tackle and 44 points up for grabs, Keith Henrie isn’t just ready to relent on his high octane mode of driving.

Keith was all smiles in the wake of his momentous round 7 victory which he attributed to experience. But all in all, he was indeed elated with his maiden Kenya National Autocross Championship title which was forthcoming in the dry and dusty Athi River plains after two seasons of trying. Last year, Keith had to contend with playing second fiddle to Steve Anthony whom he has taken over the title from.

“I attribute it all to experience. Lots of people who finished behind me are driving in their first year,” observed Keith.

Asked how he intends to approach the remaining two rounds, the KNRC navigator staunchly admitted he would literally go with the flow.

“I don’t have much pressure on me now and I would like to win the last two events. But again, I will have to go with the flow and if a win is forthcoming, the better for me,” said Keith.

Keith’s title victory, however, appeared to be scary from the onset when the engine of his buggy packed up. Having experienced a similar predicament during round two action in Ganze, Ken Anunda was at hand to lend him the buggy they both shared in their heat runs.

“My buggy broke down in the morning and I had to borrow a drive from Anunda. It was a different buggy; totally different handling towards my normal heats. It was not easy. I went out testing on Friday and realized that my engine was calling for help. So I opted for my spare engine which was faulty and I hadn’t run it in since time wasn’t on my side. My dear good friend (Dave Anunda) allowed me to borrow their buggy once again,” Keith admitted determinedly.

The newly crowned champion however sung praises of the newcomers like Rajbir Rai who saw round 7 victory slip through his grasps at the 11th hour.

“Its good to see them (newcomers) drive aggressively. I am happy to see them wake up,” continued Keith.

Rajbir felt his drive was satisfactory only on his third attempt but was left to 44 Sept 2011

rue a sharp corner where he span and lost it all to Keith. Keith achieved the feat with an unassailable 147 points score which can’t be surpassed by his closest challengers in the remaining two rounds.

He clocked 5.31.07minutes and earned two bonus championship points for setting the fastest time of the day (FTD) on his fourth heat run which he cleared in 1.47.23 minutes.

“This isn’t what I expected, not really; I was going to try and push harder but after the second heat, I knew where my time was. I’m feeling a bit disappointed that the spin cost me. It’s only my third race, so I’m not used to that pressure; so I messed up,” said Rajbir.

Rajbir, son of two times Kenya Rally champion Sarbi Rai, gave Keith all that he could handle in the latter stages’ exchanges before settling for second overall cumulatively on 5.31.73 minutes.

Rajbir was nevertheless flattered by being announced the Under24 category winner what with the thrilling behindthe-scenes war with Ken Anunda.

Anunda drove quite aggressively and maintained a steady run in the heat runs before sealing the podium dash and los-

MOTORSPORT ing second place by a whisker. Anunda, who is proceeding to the UK for further studies, was elated to sign off in style.

He lost second place to Rajbir by three tenths of a second!

Raaji Bharij on his first ever Autocross race settled for 4th overall while Amaanraj Rai came home fifth. Like Anunda, Amaanraj will also miss the next two rounds as he is proceeding for further studies at the Edinburgh University.

Round 7 actions was full of hair-raising thrills and some spectacular hairpins too. But the race was delayed for three hours following an accident involving Amardeep Saund’s buggy. Saund lost control of his buggy, spun twice before crashing his red buggy head-on against a tree.

The driver sustained a deep cut on his right shin and was rushed to hospital for further checkup. Pavit Kenth suffered electrical problems in the second heat and dipped further below the leader board. “There was a short circuit in my car which cause the whole system to fry.

Luckily, my good mechanic assisted and we rectified the problem well in time,” said Pavit who restarted and went off yet again to finish 16th and last.

Anunda sounded quite ecstatic. “Initially I was going for it but when Keith started charging, he killed my time and

I was left to fight it out with Rajbir,” said Anunda.

There were some exciting heat exchanges. Keith was the fastest in the first heat but Anunda bounce back when Keith was penalized fives second for cutting a tape on heat two.

Rajbir rai set the fastet lap (1.47.25) which compelled all and sundry to pull up their socks. But Keith exploded in the fourth heat with fastest day’s time iof 1.47.23.

Raaji Bharij was happy with fourth on his first day of racing buggies. “We were sharing a buggy with Saund and when he crashed, I had to drive with broken chassis and suspension arm. I had no pressure at all, but still did well on my debut,” quipped Raaji.

Arthur Kinyanjui aka AK47 finished 9th overall when he shared his buggy with his rally navigator Brian Mbuvi. “I felt quite rusty and saw the need to adjust my buggy. The tyres were also wornout but I intend to come better prepared next time. But guys have become so fast and they are really pushing,” said AK47.

There was also a battle for Land Rovers which treated fans to some exhilarating displays. Eric Bengi drove his Land Rover to 14th overall and Martin Kivuva 15th. Both derivers almost rolled at the tricky corner where Rajbit span.

“That corner was too sharp and I had taken it much too fast but I managed to recover,” said Bengi of the Land Rover tussle.

A total of 17 drivers participated in the RSC organized round including 3 Subaru rally cars driven by Ben Muchemi, Stella Macharia and Onkar Rai. AUTOCROSS 7 –FULL RESULTS 1. Keith Henrie (buggy) 5.26.07mins 2. Rajbir Rai (buggy) 5.31.73 3. Ken Anunda (buggy) 5.32.06 4. Raaji Bharij (buggy) 5.33.89 5. Amaanraj Rai (buggy) 5.34.38 6. Onkar Rai (Subaru gc8)5.36.38 7. Samir Khan (buggy) 5.36.41 8. Charles Mugo (buggy) 5.42.91 9. Ben Muchemi (Subaru) 5.47.30 10. Arthur Kinyanjui (buggy) 5.47.41 11. Anish Chouhan (buggy) 5.48.36 12. Brian Mbuvi (buggy) 5.51.35 13. Stella Macharia (Subaru) 6.19.03 14. Eric Bengi (Land Rover) 6.19.03 15. M. Kivuva (Land Rover) 6.56.88 16. Pavit Kenth (buggy) 7.05.86 STANDINGS AS AT RD 7 1. Keith 147points 2. Charles Mugo 85 3. Samir Khan 84

Senna to replace Heidfeld at Renault for Spa

B

runo Senna will make his Formula One race return in Belgium this weekend, replacing Nick Heidfeld to partner Vitaly Petrov at Renault. It will be Senna’s first Grand Prix start since his final appearance for HRT in Abu Dhabi last November.

Renault drafted Heidfeld in at the start of their 2011 campaign as stand-in for the injured Robert Kubica. His future with the team now looks uncertain and further details are expected to be confirmed on Thursday.

Senna completed a full rookie F1 season with HRT in 2010 before joining Renault as a reserve driver at the start of this year. The Brazilian recently made a Friday practice appearance for the team in Hungary and will appear in Thursday’s FIA press conference at Spa on Thursday afternoon.

His prospects of a full-time race drive with Renault are likely to depend not only on the team’s negotiations with Heidfeld - who could be facing the end of his F1 career should he lose the seat - but

Sept 2011

45

also on their plans for their other reserve driver, Frenchman Romain Grosjean.

Grosjean is on the verge of wrapping up the 2011 GP2 championship and has previous F1 experience with Renault, having made seven appearances for the team in 2009 following Nelson Piquet’s departure in the wake of the Singapore ‘crashgate’ scandal.

MOTORSPORT

SAFETY AWARENESS KISUMU-KCB ADVANTAGE BANKING RALLY 2011

The public in general is kindly requested to follow the safety tips below :

T

his is to inform the general public that the 6th round of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) will be flagged-off from the KCB Main Branch in Kisumu on Saturday 10th September 2011 at 7:00am.

The rally cars will then head towards competitive stages around Ahero, Katito, Awasi, Ombeyi, Miwani, Chemelil, Daraja Mbili, Poto-Poto, Ndurio, Kobujoi, Numba Sita, Chemase, Chepsweta and Kibigori Junction before finishing at the Kenyatta Sports Grounds in Kisumu on the same day from 4:00pm onwards. The Sericve Park will be located at the Simba Limited’s yard in Chemelil which will be visited 4 times during the duration of the rally.

Reconnaissance will be done by the entrants on Friday 9th September 2011 strictly from 6:00am to 6:00pm and only 2 passages per crew is allowed on the route.

Below are the tentative times the rally cars will be passing on Saturday 10th September 2011 : KISUMU CITY 7:00am onwards (Start) & 4:00pm onwards (Finish) AHERO 7:00am onwards & 3:30pm onwards AWASI 7:00am onwards & 3:30pm onwards NYAN’GOMA 7:30am onwards OMBEYI 7:30am onwards MIWANI 7:45am onwards CHEMELIL (SERVICE PARK) 8:00am onwards upto 5:00pm DARAJA MBILI 9:00am onwards, 12:00pm onwards & 2:00pm onwards POTO POTO 9:00am onwards, 12:00pm onwards & 2:00pm onwards NDURIO 9:30am onwards & 12:30pm onwards KOBUJOI 10:00am onwards & 1:00pm onwards NUMBA SITA 10:00am onwards & 1:00pm onwards KIBIGORI JUNCTION 2:30pm onwards SPECTATOR POINT AT DARAJA MBILI 9:00am onwards, 12:00pm onwards & 2:00pm onwards

46 Sept 2011

01) Obey instructions from the Police, security guards and rally officials. In case of any accident, please report to the nearest Police officer or any nearest Rally official.

02) Keep away young children, domestic animals and pets away from the rally route.

03) Refrain from mobilizing tractors, motor bikes, bicycles and handcarts until the last rally car has passed from your area.

04) All pedestrians should take extra care and stay well off from the rally route.

05) Do NOT drive in the opposite direction of the rally traffic ! ! !

06) All spectators should arrive at their location at least 2 hours before the first rally car is due and should stay there upto the last rally car has passed the section.

07) If you are going to drive, do NOT consume alcohol before and whilst driving.

Let us all join hands and make this event, safe and free of any accidents !

MOTORSPORT

Learn Your Pace Notes KCB VISA CARD RALLY EQUATOR MOTOR CLUB LEGEND ℓ

Long

S

Slow

ℓℓ

Long long

M

Medium

ℓℓℓ

Long long long

F

Fast

E

Easy

↗

Uphill

O



Downhill

Ω

Bump

THPR

∩

Brow

θθ’s

∫

Over

Mud θ

Mud Holes

@

At

$O

Straight on

<

L

Max Left Turn Hairpin Right Holes

!

Single Caution

!!

Double Caution

Opens

>

Tightens

?

Maybe

!!!

Triple Caution

+

And

yp

Yump

-

Into

Bpy

Bumpy

][ /\

Φ Ψ

Y

J

Bridge Road narrows

Conc

Jump Concrete

Keep Ditch

ou must be wondering how on earth can the rally drivers drive so blardy fast in the twisty winding road not knowing what’s waiting for them behind that blind corner. Actually, they do know what’s coming up ahead of them, in fact, in extreme details. These details are called PACE NOTES. Pace notes are written in tight shorthand notes during a recce & are delivered by the co-driver to the driver during the rally. There are a lot of “standards” being practiced coz there aren’t actually 1 specific standard. In general, pace notes are either numbering or describing system. If you’ve played Rally (RBR), you’ll find the describing system rather familiar with corners being labelled as FAST, KAY, MEDIUM, and such.

As for us, Motor Trader decided to go for the Colin Mcrae Pacenotes System (CMS), a numbering system. Lets just say its not entirely pure CMS, as we had to alter some notes to make us more comfortable & to minimize our reaction time towards a note when its called out.

Here is pace notes from Rally Of Domain, the training ground for students.

Pace notes: Start, 50, 5 left and 2 right minus into 2 left plus long, and 2 right plus opens, 70, 5 left into 4 right over crest Translation by Keng: Start, drive 50 meters into a fast fifth gear left-hand corner, then immediately keep left for slow second gear right-hand corner in half throttle. Then accelerate Sept 2011

47

into a slow second gear left-hand corner, immediately changing direction into a second gear right-hand corner that opens into a straight. Accelerate flat out before lift-off throttle for a fifth gear left-hand corner. Then brake slightly for a forth gear right hand corner over a crest I know it all sounds like jiburish to me and you but it makes sence to them. Its like learning medicine.

We must make sure that he is in sync with the drive when reading these notes to avoid miscommunication which could lead to disaster. As cliche as it may sound, practice makes perfect team, both Driver and co-driver spent countless of hours to practice & develop teamwork trying to achieve flawless syncing. So they say, without a good pace notes, the driver will only be able to drive at 80% of his pace!

BOOK REVIEW Title: The Car Design Yearbook Author: By Stephen Newbury Available: Local Book Shops & online

Automotive Book Review: The Car Design Yearbook 2 any of the online booksellers.

A

renaissance has been taking place in automotive design over the past few years. The industry is now at a stage where good design is vitally important, and not only for high-priced sports and luxury cars.

Concept cars from the international auto show circuit have a way of appearing virtually unchanged in showrooms, and automotive design can appeal not only to the car enthusiast but to artists and others as well. Surprisingly, until recently design received only a passing mention in the annual publications covering the auto industry, most of which are primarily concerned with motorsports. When The Car Design Yearbook 1 was published, it filled a void for the automotive enthusiast.

And it appears that The Car Design Yearbook 1 was successful, because The Car Design Yearbook 2 has just been published. Like The Car Design Yearbook 1, it is a European publication, published by Merrell Publishers Limited. It’s written by Stephen Newbury, and can be found in your local bookstore or from

As with The Car Design Yearbook 1, The Car Design Yearbook 2 is an overview of concept and production vehicles that were new or significantly redesigned during the year previous to its publication - in this case late 2002 and most of 2003. It covers all new production cars worldwide - ``clean sheet’’ designs or those with major generational changes as opposed to the more common minor sheetmetal and specification yearly changes - and all concept cars made for the international auto shows.

In a delightfully dry British style, author Newbury provides clear, concise, insightful commentary on and basic specification for 110 vehicles that debuted in 2002 and 2003, as well as an exploration of design trends and profiles of important designers. There are plenty of wellchosen color photos of all vehicles, and of the chosen designers and their most important cars. New this year is a commentary on the history of and reasoning behind concept cars. It makes for fascinating reading, and is followed by examples of concept vehicles and the production machines that evolved from them.

The cars, trucks, and other vehicles described range in alphabetical order from the Acura TSX sports sedan to the production Volvo VCC ``Versatility Concept Car.’’ Between lies both beauty and bizarreness. There are production vehicles that you’ve already seen in the streets of Nairobi, like the S60, the Chrysler, the latest Ford F150, and imports like the Honda Accord and Lexus RX330. There are Japanese and Euro-

48 Sept 2011

pean production vehicles not imported here, from the Audi A3 to the TVR T350. And there are exotics, such as the Ferrari Enzo and Lamborghini Gallardo.

As last year, some of the most fascinating things (and, yes, ``things’’ is the correct word) covered are the outright no-production-intended concept vehicles. With a lack of truly bizarre Japanese entries, this category is milder than it was last year. But the French and Italians provide plenty of visual entertainment. The Fiat Marrakech looks like a Jolly for the 21st Century, minus the fringed surrey top. The Citroen C-Airdream gets top billing and this year’s cover shot, redefining beauty and aerodynamic style in much the way the company’s DS sedans did over 40 years ago.

There are many more creations besides these inside of The Car Design Yearbook 2. An informative and entertaining read, it belongs on the bookshelf of any car enthusiast.

Happy Reading!!

MUST WATCH Title: Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon Movie Available: Fox Cineplex Saarit, Westgate Rating: ***** Director: Michael Bay

O

ne historical space race, one resurrected Prime, two less racist robots, one dissed Megan Fox and millions of dollars worth of property damage and TRANSFORMERS 3: DARK OF THE MOON is in the books. Michael Bay may not have fully learned his lesson from REVENGE OF THE FALLEN but the third entry to his TRANSFORMERS franchise is still an improvement over the second.

DARK OF THE MOON is an impressive visual spectacle that dips a few too many times in its overused and lackluster comedic bag of tricks.

In DARK OF THE MOON, Optimus Prime is none too pleased about the fact that the humans have hid their knowledge of a crashed Autobot ship on the moon during the historic space race. The ship contained technology that would have been vital to the survival of Cybertron, but instead the Decepticons have devised a scheme that utilizes the technology to beam the planet to Earth and enslave the human race. Sam (Shia LaBeouf) and his new babe, Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), are caught in the trenches as the Autobots fight to save humanity from the evil Decepticons.

Also along for the ride this time around is Grey’s Anatomy star, Patrick Dempsey. Dempsey plays the exceedingly rich boss of Huntington-Whiteley’s character who also appears to be trying to move in on LaBeouf ’s new flame. Megan Fox’s replacement neither harmed nor elevated the proceedings here. Huntington-Whiteley is not a great actress, but she is hardly the downfall of the film; she is a Victoria’s Secret model though and they make sure to point out her key ASSets the moment she appears on screen. Shia LaBeouf gives the same performance he’s given in the first two films and John Turturro is even more over the top than in the first two. John Malkovich just looks strange in Transformers 3 and turns in a cringe worthy moment in which he attempts to play with Bumblebee as if he’s a very large puppy and Ken Jeong also appears wielding more of his signature comedy with extremely goofy Michael Bay-isms.

Gone are the racist robots from REVENGE OF THE FALLEN but replaced with different more subdued stereotypes in a variety of different Autobots. Nothing that is quite as offensive, but it still seems like Bay just can’t function without exaggerated stereotypes in his characters, both human and robot alike.

The TRANSFORMERS series is somewhat of a guilty pleasure of mine; I haven’t completely loved each film as a whole but have been extremely taken with the use of CGI. REVENGE OF THE FALLEN has some hiccups here and there, but the forest battle was pretty awesome, but the action in DARK OF THE MOON eclipses everything from the first two films.

The first hour and a half has much more of the drama and comedy that’s weaved throughout with small bits of action thrown in, where as the final hour or so is very much action packed. The price of admission is completely justified for me in a moneyshot of a scene involving a snakelike Decepticon that is commanded by Shockwave that wraps itself around a glass skyscraper in order to make it collapse with Sam, Carly and some soldiers on the inSept 2011

Shia LeBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as a couple is the least believable thing in “Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon.”

side. With the quality of the action present in DARK OF THE MOON it makes the bloated runtime much easier to endure than it was in REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. The weaknesses in DARK OF THE MOON are usually in moments where little to no action is going on or there are no special effects on screen. A considerable percentage of both this film and REVENGE OF THE FALLEN feel more like cinematic advertising for products such as Cisco, any car manufacturer and now Victoria’s Secret. Ken Jeong and John Malkovich serve as nothing but comic relief and are nothing more than caricatures. More than that, they are caricatures of caricatures. The scripts in the TRANSFORMERS movies have never been their strong suit and while that’s still the case here, it’s still better than its predecessor.

Overall, TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON is exactly what I wanted out of a summer blockbuster. However, it had a little too much of the odd goofy humor that turned me off to REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. DARK OF THE MOON is pure popcorn entertainment that delivers on spectacular special effects and striking action sequences. It won’t blow you away with its wit or scene stealing dialogue, but the CGI work is really something to behold.

Happy Watching!!

49

MOTORSPORT

Franz Tost Feels Michael Schumacher Should Stay in F1

F

rom how thing were looking it seemed that there was no place for Schumacher in the F1, especially when there were voices who said that he should retire, among them being Niki Lauda who said it loud and clear.

He said that he has always been Michael’s supporter because, he did this before and he knows what it is all about.

But it look like not everybody feels the same way Lauda does.

Moving on, Franz Tost, the Australian team boss of Red Bull second F1 team Torro Rosso, said that Michael Schumacher should stay in F1 as long as he wants to. Tost knows the F1 driver well and thus he was asked by Der Spiegel about Shumacher’s decisions.

“First of all.Michael Schumacher, the seven time world champion with nothing to prove, should not care whether

his teammate Nico Rosberg is faster than him or not. What is crucial for him is whether it is still fun or whether the passion is still there. These are questions only he can answer. This is a crucial factor. He continues to attract huge amounts of attention and so I see his comeback as anything but negative,” Tost commented.

“He has had huge success and is a very good driver, but someone should talk to him and try to convince him to let his place be taken by another talented driver,” Franz Tost Autralian Team Red Bull Boss, was quoted as saying by Der Spiegel. We will wait and see if Michael still has the magic touch, either way he still remains an icon for F1.

10 SEPTEMBER, 2011 KNRC / 2WD / CLASSIC CAR – ROUND 6 START

TO KAKAMEGA

TO SHAMAKHOKHO

TARMAC ROAD

TO KAPSABET

MURRAM ROAD COMPETITIVE SECTION

NANDI HILLS

RALLY DIRECTION KOBUJOI

CS START

NDURIO

CS END

GAMBOGI

TO BUSIA KCB KISUMU START

DARAJA MBILI CS 7 19.90 Kms

MIWANI CS 2 22.10 Kms

ITA

KENYATTA SPORTS GROUND KISUMU FINISH & PRIZE GIVING

CS 3 / 5 28.30 Kms

CS 4 / 6 21.90 Kms

NU MB AS

SERVICE PARK

SPECTATOR POINT

SONGHOR SERVICE PARK & HQ

KIBIGORI JUNCTION

CHEMELIL

NYAN’GOMA

AWASI

AHERO LAKE VICTORIA

MUHORONI TO KORU

CS 1 17.10 Kms

KATITO

50 Sept 2011

TO KISII

TO KERICHO

Map Not To Scale !

BY : PARESH KHIROYA 2011

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY KMSF.