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the columns supporting thesmartclub’s website ISSUE 26 - Q4 2013
Issue 26 - Q4 2013 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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thesmartclub ltd … since 2000
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 23
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Welcome Welcome to Issue 26 of ‘4site’ smart magazine, still the world’s only regularly produced magazine for smart car owners and enthusiasts and apologies for the slight delay with this publication.
Al Young Editor, Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd thesmartclub ltd. 1 Corbiehill Park Edinburgh EH4 5EQ UK Tel: +44 (0) 8452 990332
2013 has been a fantastic year within the ‘smart’ world and I was keen to ensure that we could bring you the latest information about forthcoming events in 2014, especially, smarttimes 2014 in Cascais, Portugal. We’ll be bringing you much more information on this in Issue 27. In addition, we’ll be including a comparison of the 3rd generation to 2nd generation smart ed and you can read about our test of the 2nd generation model in this Issue. We’ve more ‘How to’ sections in this issue and will have double the number of ‘How To’ sections in Issue 27 onwards. I am also pleased to say that, just as we were closing the copy for this issue, smart of Edinburgh have signed up to be one of our major motorsport sponsors for 2014 and will be closely involved with us as we build up to the 2014 Madrid Rally in May.
In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site: Event Review smarttimes 2013
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Regular Local Meetings
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thesmartclub Shop
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You and your smart
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Living with a smart ed
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Now you can get any make or model of car or van from a name you can trust
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Dealership News smart of Poole smart of Stevenage smart South Wales smart of Southend
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smarttimes 2014 Cascais, Portugal
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News from smart accessories for the smart ebike World premiere at the IAA Frankfurt: smart fourjoy
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Issue 27 onwards will also include a few persona; adverts from smart owners wishing to sell or source cars and these will support the ‘For Sale’ and Wanted’ sections on our web site.
The 4two Cup
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How to guide Installing pods – 451 model
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We are also delighted to announce the launch of ‘Help my smart’ – a brand new UK initiative to enable you as smart enthusiasts to quickly access the smart related services you require. We’ll be publishing full details online shortly and also be writing to all our Members with details.
S2smarts - BRABUS race forfour
Remember that ‘4site’ smart magazine is your Magazine and we’d love to hear about your own smart experiences for inclusion in future issues. Full details of how to contact us are contained in this issue.
Advertisers 4smart & Merc S2Smarts smart Insurance smart of Wolverhampton
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Meantime, may I wish all our readers, the very best of health, happiness and prosperity for 2014 and thank you for your support throughout 2013. Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd
Issue 26 - Q4 2013 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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smarttimes 2013
It’s always an exciting time visiting the world’s largest gathering of smart car owners and enthusiasts and this year was no exception. For sure, the event is always exciting but the build up and anticipation for such an event always generates a huge buzz. So much activity across the internet – social media, smart club forums and countless emails. And that all happens months before anyone has left home!
We have been participating in smarttimes events for over 10 years now, from their inception in Klagenfurt Austria then the move to Zell-am-See in Austria prior to the ‘show hitting the road’. This meant smarttimes moving to Riccione, Italy in 2011, then to Antwerp, Belgium in 2012. This year it’s off to Buochs, near Lucerne in Switzerland. But before I update you on this year’s Swiss event, let me say to anyone that has not yet had the ‘smarttimes’ experience, I urge you to participate in such future events. It is unlike any automotive gathering anywhere. A multi-cultural eclectic mix of colour, individuality, excitement and activities all relating to smart cars and their owners and all supported by smart. And so to this year’s event. There was always superb interest from the UK participants to travel to Switzerland and thesmartclub again organised a ‘package’ to help smart owners travel from the south of England to the amazing venue in Buochs.
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Although our ‘official’ journey started on the evening of Wednesday 21st August near the port of Dover, England, many of the group had to travel some distance to even reach that point including our own unique ‘motorsport’ smart Roadster. We’d driven the 750km from Edinburgh to the overnight halt at the Dover hotel. This stopover provided everyone with a chance to relax and compare notes, cars and expectations of the forthcoming smarttimes event prior to an early departure for the ‘Dover to Calais’ ferry crossing at 7am the next day. Thursday 22nd August saw a smooth sea crossing and a leisurely drive from Calais to an overnight halt in our ‘regular’ hotel in Saarbrücken. Our chosen hotel (Victor’s Rodenhof) has been used by thesmartclub for the last 12 years on many of our international events and was, coincidentally, ideally placed virtually half way from Calais to Buochs.
After a great evening and superb breakfast, our smart cars assembled on the morning of Friday 23rd August for the remaining 370km drive down to smarttimes in Buochs. The Swiss venue used Buochs airfield and therefore offered superb parking, entertainment and display opportunities. Indeed, the approach to Buochs (and any smarttimes event) is always wonderful as cars and enthusiasts from multiple countries simultaneously converge on the one destination. Although every visit to smarttimes is special, this year was especially important to the UK as we were one of three countries bidding to act as ‘host’ country for smarttimes 2014! thesmartclub had liaised closely with smart UK to bring together a pitch for the city of ‘Brighton’ on the south coast of England as the ideal location for the 2014 event. We were up against strong competition from Vienna, Austria and Cascais, Portugal. As you can imagine, the UK arrival and presence at the venue in Buochs had our UK ‘Union flags’ waving and ‘Vote Brighton’ publicity visible amidst a sea of Austrian and Portuguese flags and promotional marquees. Each of these countries was hoping to grab the attention and secure the votes of those present. Indeed, it is only those smart enthusiasts present at smarttimes who can cast their important vote for next year’s host country.
smarttimes is all about the smart community and 2013 had an additional attraction as it is the smart Roadster’s 10th Anniversary. To celebrate this fact, we joined a special motoring tour of the area organised by smart and held uniquely for these iconic models on Friday afternoon. With less than 50,000 smart Roadsters worldwide, it’s always such a pleasure to be part of a ‘group’ of Roadsters (whatever the collective name for a group of Roadster may be) and Buochs saw over 300 of these cars line up to participate in the drive that afternoon – a memory that will stay with us and all the other Roadster owners for a long time to come! And so it was, after a great Friday night with Dr Annette Winkler officially opening smarttimes 2013, it was into the main day of the smarttimes event – Saturday. Issue 26 - Q4 2013 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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smarttimes 2013 continued...
This is where the event really comes to life with hundreds of additional smart enthusiasts all arriving at the venue. There were competitions throughout the day for a select group of entrants with categories focussing on areas such as tuning and performance or in-car audio and entertainment - I was honoured to be one of the judges. Then, from around noon on the Saturday, over 1100 of the cars attending started to line up for the traditional ‘corso’ run. This ‘corso’ is now a firm tradition for every smarttimes event where cars drive a prescribed route in and around the smarttimes venue and the Swiss team had excelled themselves. Despite the pouring rain on the day, the 45km route took the participants from the airfield, along the edge of Lake Lucerne and then through the beautiful Swiss villages all the way to up to Seelisberg. What made this run extra special was the effort to which the local villagers had gone – there were musical bands, groups of school-children waving smart flags, dancers and a host of locals in national Swiss dress all lining the route – despite the pouring rain, everyone was smiling and waving to each of the smart cars as they drove the route. Seelisberg was the turning point where voting cards for the 2014 host country were handed out prior to the cars looping back through the villages and returning to the airfield. This return drive is always equally exciting as the leading cars have the chance to pass those cars still making their way to the turning point – it’s a mass of waving hands, loud horns and flashing headlights as the 1100+ cars pass each other! An experience hard to describe but wonderful to experience!
Saturday evening provided everyone with a chance to sample local Swiss cuisine prior to Dr Winkler taking to the stage to present awards to each of the competition category winners. And then, it was ‘2014’ voting time! Each candidate country (Austria, UK and Portugal) had 5 minutes each on stage to present their ‘pitch’ and sell the benefits of hosting smarttimes 2014 in their respective countries. I can honestly say the tension was high but the camaraderie between those countries waiting to take the stage was superb. I was representing the UK pitch along with Rebecca Osborne from smart UK. We drove our UK branded car on stage following an impressive and professional presentation by Corinna Widenmeyer and the Vienna team. We’d rehearsed our presentation and had a superb promotional video to support us. Our time on stage went really well and five minutes later we drove off the stage to be followed by Bernardo Villa and Lara Silva representing the Cascais, Portugal presentation. Later that evening, once all the votes had been counted, the candidate countries were invited back on stage with Dr Winkler to witness the results of the votes. The stage lighting went into a frenzy and the music built up to announce that ... the highest number of votes had gone to Portugal. An ecstatic Portuguese team (and the whole audience in the smarttimes marquee) cheered and applauded and people immediately began planning their smarttimes 2014 adventure to Cascais.
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After a fantastic Saturday night party, our UK group finally made their way back to the local hotels for a good night’s rest before the following day’s drive back to Saarbrucken, Germany and then back to the UK. Of course, virtually all those leaving on the Sunday met at the Buochs Airfiled on the Sunday for one last ‘get together’ to say ‘au revoir’ to old smart friends and to new friends made over the course of the 2013 event. To those smart owners who have not had the pleasure of experiencing a smarttimes event, I urge you to find time in your calendars and attend this unique, community focussed event. It really does bring owners and enthusiasts together from multiple countries to an event hosted by smart themselves – it’s not a motor show, trade exhibition or sales arena. It really is an event for smart customers and the smart community by smart and it’s an event once experienced, never ever to be missed! My thanks go to Dr Annette Winkler, smart and all involved behind the scenes, Rob East and the smart UK team, thesmartclub Members, the superb teams at smart of Switzerland, Austria and Portugal and, of course, all the other smart enthusiasts who go towards making smarttimes the very special event it has become.
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Regular Local Meetings
Although thesmartclub is represented in multiple countries around the world, we are aware of a number of ‘local’ regular smart related meetings that take place in the UK. The meetings we currently have in our Events Diary are shown below and the map provides you a quick overview of ‘what’s on where’. 1 Greater Manchester & North Lancs Meet 4th Thursday of every month from 7:30pm, Wilton Hotel, just off M60 at Heaton Park
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Sussex Smarts Sunday breakfast Our Breakfast meet is every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month.10.00 am, Chalet Cafe, Cowfold, West Sussex. (approx half mile south of Cowfold on A281).
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Milton Keynes & Northampton smart meet Every 2nd Monday, 7:30 pm onwards, Navigation Pub, Stoke Bruerne
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South Coast Smarts Meet 1st Tuesday of every month from 7.30pm. The Fox Inn, Waterloo Road, Felpham, West Sussex.
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Wessex Three Counties Smart Meet 2nd Thursday of every month from 7.00 pm. The Haywain, Southampton Road, Bartley, Hampshire.
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North West Smarties Meet 3rd Thursday of the month from 4.30 pm. The Hollow Tree, Tarporley Road, Stretton, Warrington.
5 4 2 Please note that as many of the above meetings are outside of the direct control of thesmartclub, details and dates may change.
If you regularly meet with a group of local smart owners and enthusiasts and you would like your meeting included in our future listings, please email: events.team@thesmartclub.com or telephone us on +44 (0) 845 299 0332 with details for inclusion in the next issue of our ‘4site’ magazine. For LATEST information and location details always check the ‘Diary’ link in our Online Forum (www.thesmartclub.com)
thesmartclub Shop
Towards the end of 2013, thesmartclub launched a whole new range of branded clothing for Members and non-Members of thesmartclub. In previous years we had a limited range of products but now we are pleased to bring you clothing and clothing accessories across a wide range of products. Many of the products offer you colour choices plus, of course, a wide range of sizes across the clothing range. What makes the new range even more exciting is the option to personalise the majority of clothing items with up to 20 characters of your choice under the logo. So, for example, you may simply wish your name embroidered under our logo or include the name of your local meeting or event. It only costs £2.50 for this feature and represents great value and superb personalisation. The range of products now available ranges from a simple branded ‘ripper wallet’ through a full range of T-shirts, polo shirts, caps, fleeces, rugby shirts, lightweight outdoor jackets and full ‘heavy duty’ outdoor clothing. Members of thesmartclub also benefit from an automatic and superb 7.5% discount across our entire product range simply by selecting the Member Shop link on our homepage or, for our ‘offline Members’, by phoning thesmartclub and quoting your Membership number. 8
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You and your smart
We really want to hear from you if you have a special story about your car whether it’s a special car by way of modification or simply a standard car that is special to you in some way.
NEW for 2013 We understand that you may have a story to tell but the last thing you want to do is sit down in front of your computer and type up some text. So this year we’re making it even easier – as well as having the options to email or post us your story, you can now do it by phone! Just let us know a good number to call you on and we’ll have a chat with you – that will then form the basis of a printed story that you can preview and approve prior to publication.
No typing and you still get your story and pictures in 4site! With a truly international audience, ‘4site’ provides you with an ideal additional channel to tell smart owners and enthusiasts about your ‘smart’ filled holiday, vacation, modifications, tours, competitions and ‘smart’ lifestyle. We make it easy for you to submit articles to us, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. We’ll acknowledge all submissions received and advise you when/if your article is being included. Just let us know a good number to call you on and we’ll have a chat with you – that will then form the basis of a printed story that you can preview and approve prior to publication.
You can submit articles directly to us via a dedicated page on our web site.
You can email articles, images and graphics to us any time, any day.
Visit www.thesmartclub.com and select the ‘News & Events’ menu option, then ‘4site Magazine’.
Your text can be created in an email, pasted into an email or sent to us in any file format.
You can type your text directly into the page we provide or paste text you have created elsewhere.
Emails should sent to: 4site@thesmartclub.com
We understand that not everyone has access to the internet or email services. You can send us typed or handwritten letters along with any pictures* and we’ll transcribe your text. Letters should be sent to:
Click ‘SUBMIT’ and you’re done!
‘4site’ magazine thesmartclub ltd Corbiehill Park Edinburgh EH4 5EQ UK
Or you can phone us on +44 (0) 845 299 0332
‘4site’ magazine
‘4site’ is an independent quarterly magazine produced, published and distributed by thesmartclub ltd. The magazine is not for resale or commercial redistribution. All content © thesmartclub 2012 and global Daimler media © 2012 Daimler AG. All rights reserved. The submit button © Kiankhoon, email image © Tomislav Stajduhar, party people image Poznyakov, girl writing © Showface | Dreamstime.com. Design and layout by Oliver Whittaker. thesmartclub is a brand of thesmartclub ltd, Company number SC259434, registered in Scotland, UK. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, no legal responsibility is accepted by thesmartclub ltd nor its associated third party companies for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. Views expressed in ‘4site’ are not necessarily those of thesmartclub ltd. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the firms whose advertisements appear within this publication however thesmartclub ltd cannot accept responsibility for the offers made by the advertisers even when making specific offers to Members of thesmartclub ltd. * Note that any pictures posted to us cannot be returned. Issue 26 - Q4 2013 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Living with a smart ed
In the previous issue of ‘4site’ we commented on the fact that whilst there was a vast amount of information available about the smart electric drive (ed), the majority of this publicity described the car’s functionality, specifications or technical data. Despite the fact the car has been ‘in production’ for some time now, there has been little coverage from an ownership perspective – in other words, “What’s it like to live with a smart ed?”
We have been keen to cover this aspect for some time now and, thanks to Graham Affleck and his team at smart of Edinburgh, we were provided with a 2nd Generation smart ed to ‘live with’ and review. As many readers will know, the 2nd Generation car is just about to be replaced with the latest 3rd Generation models that are already appearing in many Retailers and with this in mind, we’ll be providing a comparative article in a subsequent issue of ‘4site’ smart magazine comparing the 2nd and 3rd Generation models. Meantime – what’s it like to live with the 2nd Generation smart ed? Well, I remember being criticised by some of my colleagues recently when I picked up a diesel hire car in Spain (ok I confess it was a Citroen C4 for reasons of car availability) – the focus of their criticism was not directed to the C4 however but more towards the fact that I was driving the diesel just like I’d driven every petrol car I’d ever owned. You know, lots of revs, hard acceleration and expectation of immediate response – not exactly suited to diesel powered cars and one learns to adjust one’s driving style to benefit from the diesel’s torque , low revs and amazing mid range ‘pull’. And so it was that I stepped into the smart ed from the smart of Edinburgh Retailer site to head off onto the nearby dual carriage way to start the ‘living with a smart ed’ adventure. Now, although I’d driven several smart eds during the early prototype days, these tests were always short, normally within a strictly controlled environment and with little chance to ‘open it up. 10
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I had only been in this 2nd Generation car for about 5 minutes when I was somewhat concerned that I seemed to have ‘topped out’ on power and maximum speed at around 55 mph (88 kph) and not much else was happening… had I left the parking brake on? Was I really that heavy? There was something not quite right. But I persevered and entered the outskirts of the City of Edinburgh. For the remaining drive back to my house, all seemed well within a 40mph speed limit. I genuinely noticed however that amidst the overall driving experience is that surreal mix of seamless gear change, whispering silence outside and an equally surreal whine of technology taken straight from an episode of Star Trek but without ‘Scotty’ warning me about overloading some key component. It was during these latter stages of the return drive home that I recalled my Citroen C4 diesel experience. Could it be that there was an equally fundamental shift in driving style that was required? Time to play I suspected and so it was, a detour from my planned homeward destination to one that took me down to the shores of the River Forth estuary and the ability to experiment with throttle position, pedal pressure and associated throttle response times all within the relevant road and traffic legislation of course. Within 30 minutes of experimentation it was like driving a different car – wait a minute I hear you cry, it’s the same car! Indeed so and yes, it was of course my driving style that had changed. An understanding of the performance, pickup points and that hidden last 2cm of pedal position that kicks in what I’ll call a ‘wee boost’. More on that later but suffice to say at this stage, the driving experience was now not only vastly different but genuinely enjoyable. 4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
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This latter aspect is equally fascinating to see with conventional loads such as headlights, heater and wipers using battery power whilst the braking generates charge through kinetic energy recovery. This charging can generate several kilowatts of recharge and it fairly proportionate to the deceleration and braking being experienced to provide intermittent boost of charge to the lithium batteries under the seating area. Having the car out and about on the outskirts of the City and on dual carriageways and nearby motorways meant that speed could be built up and as such, deceleration from those speeds, either simply by lifting off the accelerator or by additional braking, would generate charge. Indeed, the braking effect of the ‘engine’ is quite noticeable there’s a sense of satisfaction that one can visibly see that this is generating some additional ‘kick’ back to the battery. Now that the driving style had been sorted it was time to focus more on the internal instrumentation and, with this being 100% electric, one’s attention immediately focuses on the two dash mounted pods – one showing percentage of battery charge remaining, the other showing whether the battery is being charged or drained of power at any moment in time. In addition to the pods, there’s also a ‘Performance’ bar shown along the lower edge of the speedometer – this consists of eight separate segments. Each segment represents (in kW) the currently available power under your foot and when all eight segments are illuminated, you have full power delivered available. It reminded me of my old rally days. At that time, there was the constant threat that if the oil pressure warning light came on, it was potentially ‘game over’ and a sign of impending doom. On the other hand, no oil pressure warning light meant all was well or the warning bulb itself had blown – either way, carry on regardless. Then, along came an oil pressure gauge to accompany the light. Now it was possible to instantly see just how much, or how little, pressure there was at any point as the engine heated up, the oil thinned and pressures dropped on tick-over. It’s the old story – provide a bunch of information and there’s a directly proportional link to that volume of information and the level of paranoia it generates! And so it was with the left hand ‘Battery %’ pod. It had dropped from 100% to 90% and I felt I’d only been in the car a few minutes. Forget looking at any other instrumentation, I became obsessed with this pod … how quickly was the needle moving anti-clockwise? How long did I have until I had nothing? Should I stay nearer home? Just what would I do when I ran out of juice?
The instructions that come in the handbook recommend that you charge the car from a state of charge of less than 20% - in other words, when the left hand pod has moved anticlockwise around into the brightly illuminated orange section of the gauge. After a couple of days town driving equivalent to about 45 miles, I still had around 45% charge left and I was really keen to find out more about the charging logistics. And so, the next day and evening it was off around the town with a not inconsiderable amount of ‘enthusiastic’ driving and even more enthusiastic use of electronics such as headlights on, heater on, rear window heater on at intervals and liberal use of windscreen washer and wipers. By the time I returned home that evening I had, somewhat enthusiastically and successfully reduced the battery charge from 45% to just under 20%. It’s worth noting that if the high voltage battery is completely discharged and you’ve ignored all the warnings ‘en route’, the drive system switches off to protect the battery from what is termed ‘exhaustive discharge’. In the unlikely event you, or should I say your car, reaches this stage, there is a safety mechanism built in – you have one last chance to briefly reactivate the drive system by switching the ignition system off then on again and this will deliver just enough power to the drive system for you to park the car safely. As it was, I was nowhere near this ‘exhaustive’ stage despite excessive playing during the day and safely returned home. Happy days! Now time to play with the charger!
But as with all things, normality resumes and paranoia decreases when I objectively looked at what’s happening. Sure it’s all contained in the one dial – 100% down to 0% but there’s SO much in between! As it was I had an entire afternoon’s playing and had only used about 15% of the charge by the time I returned home. All good stuff and attention actually began to shift to the right hand pod showing whether or not I was discharging the battery or charging it.
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Living with a smart ed continued...
This socket is located behind what would be the fuel filler cap on a conventional fortwo. Indeed, convention is maintained as one discovers this is also the location of the sticker indicating tyre pressures in addition to a new sticker helpfully indicating that the car must be plugged directly into a power socket and not connected via any extension cable. The reason for this will be come clear shortly. The charging cable itself is a somewhat chunky bit of kit consisting of (on my UK version) a standard 13 Amp plug on one end that was in turn connected to the RCD unit referred to as smart’s ‘circuit interrupter’ – this similarly chunky, robust and well waterproofed unit is designed to cut the electrical feed in the event of a problem in much the same way as your conventional RCD unit used on external electrical equipment. The unit consists of an indicator lamp, a push ‘ON’ button and a ‘TEST/OFF’ push button. This cable is normally stored in the stowage compartment in the smart fortwo coupe and I understand that for those purchasing a smart ed cabrio, a separate storage box is available as an accessory. The other end of the lead is equipped with a beautifully designed connector that plugs into the car’s charging socket.
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Having opened the flap, there’s a 7 pin socket available (5 pins of which have connections) and it’s into this socket that the other end of the recharge cable is connected. Now that the car’s umbilical cord is effectively hooked up and ready to go, power can be switched on at the main power socket and the ‘ON’ button pressed on the ‘circuit interrupter’. It is at this stage that the socket will now be illuminated in a somewhat alien style red glow indicating that charging is underway.
An indication is also shown on the dashboard coupled with the right hand kW pod indicating approximately a 3kW charge rate. Make no mistake, 3kW is a lot of power being pulled out your 13A socket (12.5Amps from a 240v supply) and that’s serious stuff. It is for this reason that extension cables should be avoided at all costs and absolutely avoid using anything that resembles a coiled extension cable that will almost certainly overheat. So now, charging is underway and it’s a case of just leaving the car to get on with it. The good news is that a quick glance at the left hand Battery % pod will give a real time indication of charge level without you having to unlock the car.
I have one of these energy monitor units in the house and it brought it home just how much juice was being pulled through my electricity socket whilst the car was on charge – that said, I also know that I’d spent zero on fuel etc.! Of course, across the UK and Europe, there are many power points cropping up that have dedicated charging points. Many of the UK service providers have standard domestic 13A style sockets but the majority use a specific style of socket particularly those across continental Europe. Each smart ed is equipped with a communication module and, when the car is charged at such a ‘public’ charging station, contract data is exchanged between the vehicle and the charging station when the charging cable is connected. As such, the cost of the electricity used is carried out automatically and billed to the owner of the car. This is all setup online at the time you purchase your car and, at handover, you will receive a unique user ID and password that can be used for online access purposes. This online service provides you with a range of information about your car’s status as well as holding details about your own energy supplier and your energy contract. The online information about your car also includes key information such as the current charge status and current potential vehicle range. And so the next day, filled with even more enthusiasm for the car and with a 100% filled pack of lithium batteries, it was off for another day’s testing. Around town the car really began to grow on me – so super smooth, super quiet and really very responsive – this was especially so from a standing start when you discover the last couple of centimetres of pedal travel give a boost and, whilst it does mean some hefty although short term energy drain, it’s quick off the mark and I can honestly say, it surprised a few cars next to, or behind me, at the lights. Opening the rear hatch area presents you with an internal luggage space virtually identical to that in any conventional fortwo. The nicely designed plastic panels at the left and rear sides are actually access panels for diagnostics or provision for access to the electrical systems rather than any inbuilt storage area.
In our tests, it took an average of around 6.75 hours to bring the car from 20% to just under 90% charge. When the car is fully charged, the ‘red’ glow around the charging socket turns green. In reality, it took us just under 8 hours to go from 20% to a full 100% and green light showing. If one assumes that the UK average cost of electricity is around 16p/kW hour (and with the majority of energy companies raising tariffs balanced against fixed rate deals, this figure is very much an average across suppliers in Q3 2013), this means that charging your car (3kW) for one hour would cost a domestic user around 48pence per hour. From there one can estimate that a six hour charge would therefore cost you about £3.00 (3 GBP) or £4.00 (4 GBP) for an 8 hour charge.
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OK so what about some technical stuff for those after stats of simply a comparison with your existing fortwo: Weights & Measurements
Unladen weight coupe/cabrio
965kg/985kg
Vehicle length
2695mm
Max luggage area load Vehicle width
Vehicle height Wheelbase Battery
1559mm 1542mm 1867mm
Type
Lithium-ion
Range (NEDC)
135km (84 miles)
Energy content Opening the engine cover resulted in a strange experience of not seeing the conventional smart 3 cylinder engine. Instead, I was presented with a recognisable radiator/cooling unit at the lower left with a couple of extremely tidy boxes of electronics. After over 13 years of expecting an array coils, HT leads, injection rails, oil filler and dipstick, this was something very different.
50kg
16.5kWh
I’d set out to take an objective look at the 2nd generation smart ed albeit with a few preconceived ideas and perceptions. I have to say I was not only pleasantly surprised at the car, it genuinely got better and better day after day. For sure, the car doubtless remained the same but I had let the car shape my driving style and from there, and it sounds super clichéd, there were some great synergies generated. It’s smooth, conformable, great around the city, there’s some real buzz about knowing that the car doesn’t need to drink fuel and the seamless drive still brings a smile to my face. Of course, there are always other aspects top consider – constant crawling in city traffic is easy but offers little chance to use much kinetic energy to recharge the batteries and sitting in crawling traffic at night, with the heaters on and minimal kinetic energy recharge can impact battery drain. During the course of my trial, the recharge intervals would work out around one full recharge every 5 or so days based on my driving around 80 miles over a five day period. On that basis, and with a recharge cost estimated at £4, that’s about £25 per month in electricity costs on the (somewhat guesstimate basis used above). So that’s 480 miles of city driving for £25 which compares very favourably against the cost of fuel for the same distance. The only other consideration in terms of ‘living with a smart ed’ is the charging cable. From my perspective, I could have the car tucked up in a garage and plugged into power or have the car sitting in a courtyard with internal power fed through an external garage door to the car. This charging cable is expensive and with neither end being physically locked into the car, there is always a risk of a cable being unplugged and stolen (although the potential use by someone else would be limited to another smart ed user!). One other non technical consideration when driving through the city is one applicable to virtually all electric vehicles and that’s the silence. It’s ideal inside the car but externally it does mean that unless you are observed, it’s possible that pedestrians and cyclists are genuinely unaware of your presence. On this basis it’s refreshing to know that sounds modules are becoming available to help with raising awareness of such cars. But of course, there’s much more to a smart ed than these considerations.
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The smart ed was not only a real pleasure to drive, it’s a car that fits its purpose well. It’s a joy to drive around town and between towns, on country roads and in traffic. I openly confess, as a true petrol head, I was genuinely sorry to hand the car back to smart of Edinburgh as I had fallen in love with the smart ed experience and the car. My disappointment at handing the car back however is tempered by the fact that we’ll soon be bringing you a 2nd Generation versus 3rd generation smart ed comparison in a forthcoming issue of 4site. So meantime, if you have not experienced a drive in a smart ed, get along to your local smart Retailer now and ask for a test. Al Young, Chairman & Managing Director, thesmartclub ltd.
Classified Ads
Every month, thesmartclub receives a number of ‘For Sale’ and ‘Wanted’ adverts from Members and smart car owners. These adverts are always published on our Forum via our homepage (www.thesmartclub.com) and now, we are pleased to say that where such adverts reach us close to a publication date for ‘4site’, we’ll also include the advert in that forthcoming issue.
For Sale
Smart Roadster, MOT until 26th Sept 2014, Taxed until 31st March 2014, Service History and in lovely condition, 98,000 miles. We have toured France in it 3 times, for a fortnight each time and it is surprisingly spacious, holding 2 weeks worth of luggage plus we managed to fit in rather a lot of bottles of “plonk” on the return journey too. The custom built luggage is included in the sale, as well as an unused spare tyre. We have had the Roadster 5 years and have had tons of fun with it. Reluctantly a change of job means we now need an estate car, so the Smart has to go. For sale at £3,500 ono - cash on collection. Give me a call to arrange viewing Roger 07793 806646 (UK)
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Now you can get any make or model of car or van from a name you can trust Smart of Wolverhampton is firmly established as one of the country’s leading smart dealerships. With its own dedicated showrooms, reception and even workshops, it’s experienced and knowledgeable smart team, it sets the benchmark for smart customers in the heart of the country. What you may not know is that as part of the award-winning Drayton Group, the Wolverhampton based franchise enjoys the support of one of the most successful motor groups in Europe. Now, the Drayton Group is using its experience, expertise and purchasing power to launch a completely new division of the business. Drayton Vehicle Solutions offers customers the choice of any make or model of any car or van, with a range of competitive finance packages and free delivery to anywhere in the UK.
In the driving seat. Smart of Wolverhampton General Manager, Matthew Harris, will also be heading up the new Drayton Vehicle Solutions team at the award-winning Drayton Group. Team members Aaron Powell (l) and Bob Foster look on.
The new division is headed up by the smart of Wolverhampton General Manager, Matthew Harris, who told us more: “The Drayton Group name is highly respected throughout the industry and we’ve recognised an opportunity to provide any kind of vehicle to drivers who love our customer service, but require something in addition to their smart or MercedesBenz. This might be another car for one of their family, a car for work or a van – whatever the requirement, we can provide that vehicle at a very competitive price using our industry contacts and purchasing power.” One of the founding principles of The Drayton Group is “a total commitment to customer service”, which is demonstrated by their national Mercedes-Benz “Customer Service Team of the Year” award, which the Drayton Group has now been awarded for the last 2 years in succession. Drayton Vehicle Solutions has invested in the latest e-Commerce technology to create a new website that constantly searches and updates the best offers currently available on the market. The site takes away the need for endless trawling through the internet trying to find the best deal – it’s already been done for you!
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Matthew Harris again: “We have matched the best offers available with competitive finance options, our excellent customer service and free nationwide delivery. It’s an exciting package and we are confident that Drayton Vehicle Solutions delivers a winning formula. Put us to the test: visit www.draytonvehiclesolutions.co.uk or call us on 01902 618 222 and let our friendly team help you to find 4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website your next vehicle.”
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thesmartclub ltd since 2000
be smarter with your money.
Shopping List Used smart ed prov Ap fits er Bene al ain De M y nt ra ar W th Mon 12 ll Se to d Price reviewed Prices regularly the st ain reviewed ag t ne inter rhampton Smart of Wolve
to Priced sell. Our aim is to ensure our prices are the most competitive online and locally! At smart of Wolverhampton we have a fantastic selection of Approved Used smart cars which all have outstanding benefits and offers which means it is easier for you to make the smart choice. Benefits you will receive with your Approved
Used smart car purchase:
• £0 Tax† • 100% Recyclable scratch/ dent Road †† resistant panels • Up to 83 mpg • Group 3 insurance • First class cabin comfort • Low running costs • Stand out from the crowd with • Perfect for commuting your smart car • Congestion charge free with • Excellent size means Diesel smart cars excellent parking qualities Call us on 01902 276 961 for more information • Unique safety features on our Approved Used smart offers.
Drayton Group smart of Wolverhampton 46 Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV2 4HD 01902 276 961 www.draytongroup.co.uk †£0 Road Tax applicable to diesel cars only. ††Up to 83 mpg applicable to diesel cars only. Photographs for illustration purposes only.
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smart – A Daimler Brand.
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Dealership News Runaway success
smart of Poole certainly went the extra mile when it came to helping the first Bournemouth Marathon Festival to get up and running! The Retailer supplied three fortwo models for organisers of the UK’s newest marathon to use during the main event of its race programme over the weekend of 5-6th October, the distinctive smarts acting as the lead car, ‘sweep’ vehicle and transport for the course manager. Over 9,000 runners entered to take part in the Festival’s races and the smarts proved to be ideal for ensuring the marathon literally ran without a hitch. Taking in Bournemouth Pier at the centre of seven miles of golden sand, the 26.2 mile marathon course was no problem for the smart as the car’s compact dimensions made it very effective in negotiating the narrower two-way sections of the route. With their distinctive style there was no way that the runners could miss the smarts either and the organisers were delighted with how effective they were. As Neil Jackson, smart Team Leader at smart of Poole, explained, the Retailer was delighted to assist with the inaugural Bournemouth Marathon Festival. “Supporting our local community is very important to us and we’re thrilled that we and smart were able to be a part of what is destined to be a major highlight in the area’s sporting calendar,” said Neil.
Students lock on to smart It’ll be hard for many to forget the cool smart as not only did it stand out on the night, smart of Stevenage also gave away stacks of free smart pens for students to use in their lectures. “The smart was quite an eye-opener for the students, many being surprised at how affordable the cost of owning a smart is and also how spacious it is,” said Darrell Stone, smart specialist at smart of Stevenage.
smart proved to be a ‘key’ attraction at the recent Student Lock-In at Hatfield’s The Galleria outlet shopping centre thanks to smart of Stevenage. The Retailer took along a smart fortwo pulse cabrio 71bhp mhd to the student-only event, which took place on October 17th between 6.30pm-8.30pm and offered exclusive discounts at many of the shopping centre’s 80 stores, to showcase the many benefits of the stylish brand. Close to 500 students attended the event and the smart certainly proved a hit with them, the car enjoying a prime position next to the DJ booth and many visitors taking the opportunity to try it for size and find out more.
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“With low running costs, being easy to park and, perhaps most importantly, very cool, smart is perfect for students and they were amazed at our event offer where they could be driving one of our hand-picked approved used models for just £99 deposit and then £99 per month with 0% finance.” Darrell continued: “So good is the offer that we’re now opening it up to everyone who’s interested in an approved used smart and to take advantage all anyone needs to do is contact me and quote ‘lock-in’.” Darrell can be contacted at smart of Stevenage on 01438 737800 and he will be delighted to provide more information on the fantastic opportunity and arrange a convenient test drive of any of the Retailer’s approved used smarts.
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Maria’s smart move The chance to work with smart got Maria Beer revved up for a major change in her career. Already an enthusiast of smart and having owned one for three years, Maria jumped at the chance to swap her role at the Sinclair Group, which operates smart and Mercedes-Benz Retailers in South Wales, for one that solely revolves around the iconic brand. For the last seven years she has worked in the group’s Customer Support Unit but is now the smart Sales Executive at smart of Swansea. Keen ice hockey fan and follower of the Cardiff Devils, Maria is already off to a flying start in her new role and has successfully introduced a number of new customers to the many benefits of smart.
“It’s been a massive change and there’s so much to learn, but I’m really enjoying it and the opportunity to take on a new challenge yet also stay with the Sinclair group was really appealing,” said Maria, who originally bought her smart to share with her daughter who was learning to drive. “I’m a big fan of smart and it’s fun demonstrating to people new to the brand exactly what it has to offer, smart being affordable, economical, safe, stylish and convenient as well as completely unique.” Maria continued: “In my previous role I was assisting customers but it’s nice to have that face-to-face interaction once again and meeting people interested in smart is excellent – they are all so friendly and very enthusiastic.”
Southend gets smart smart enthusiasts in Southend and the surrounding area will find that there’s a new driving force for all their motoring requirements – the brand new smart of Southend. Sharing a site with its Mercedes-Benz of Southend sister Retailer, smart of Southend offers an official ‘one-stop’ location for anyone with an interest in the iconic brand. Customers who call on the exceptional expertise and second-to-none facilities of smart of Southend enjoy access to new and hand-picked approved used smarts together with full after sales support, spanning servicing to parts to accessories to lifestyle merchandise. Simon Kempton, General Manager of Mercedes-Benz and smart of Southend, believes that the brand’s presence in the area is long overdue. “smart is a cool brand with a conscience and its arrival at our Stephenson Road site means we are able to offer our customers even greater choice,” said Simon. “We’ve only been open a very short while but reaction has been very positive and we’ve already sold a number of cars to local drivers who are completely new to the brand.” Simon continued: “smart is a perfect fit for our business and we’ve got big plans for it, the brand set to be even more impressive at Stephenson Road with the proposed redevelopment of our showroom next year.” Issue 26 - Q4 2013 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Heading up the dedicated smart team at the Retailer is Melissa Martin, Brand Specialist. “smart’s the kind of car where once you drive it you just want to have another go,” said Melissa, who turned down a number of opportunities with other automotive retailers to join smart of Southend. “It’s definitely the car of the future – it’s clean, funky and a real eye-opener – and there’s so much potential for smart in our area. smart is ideal for busy and built-up Southend, while it’s particularly good for commuting too.” Melissa continued: “Keeping up with demand is going to be the biggest challenge and once people start to experience smart and see our cars out and about; I think smart is going to be massive around here.” 19
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smarttimes 2014
Following the amazing smarttimes 2013 event in Lucerne, Switzerland, attention now turns to smarttimes 2014 being held in Cascais, Portugal. And this change of country also brings with it a change of event date, moving from the more conventional August period back to July with the main event being held 17th to 19th July 2014. thesmartclub is working closely with the teams is Portugal, Stuttgart and Vienna to ensure that we bring you the best, more appropriate and most informative package for the 2014 event in Portugal. The main portal for your online information for this event can be found at www.smarttimes2014.com. This site will enable you to gain access to not only thesmartclub’s own package information, but full timetables, route planning and smart’s official event information in addition to links with our colleagues in other European countries, all of whom are liaising with thesmartclub to make the journey to and from this event as much fun as the event itself. More on this later but meantime, what about Cascais itself?
Cascais (pronounced kush-kaish) is just 20 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal. Steeped in history, it was once famous as a small fishing village. Over time, the mix of sun, sea, sand and scenery made it an attraction for tourists, royalty and artists and now it also boasts superb water sports such as surfing and sailing. The association of sailing, sea and Cascais was always strong but in 1999, the now famous marina area was built making this one of the world’s leading marine sporting destinations and it now offers 650 mooring berths, space for the extremely large (and expensive) yachts and even a helipad.
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Whilst a number of sea based activities have really pulled Cascais into the limelight (such as the Americas Cup World Series in 2011) the town itself has so much to offer in terms of sights, history and entertainment. There is a wealth of restaurants and bars and, for those wishing to study some history and culture, there is, for example, the ‘Conde de Castro Guimarães Museum’ (formerly a palace) housing an amazing array of historical artifacts. This museum is in addition to the other numerous smaller museums one can find along the winding streets of Cascais as one walks towards the main pedestrianised old town that is filled with more restaurants, designer shops and boutiques. And it’s only 250m from this paved central area (the Rua Frederico Arouca) to the train and bus station. We’ll have much more information in the next issue of ‘4site’ about smarttimes 2014 but meantime, keep checking www.smarttimes2014.com and, for those Members of thesmartclub who do not have regular access to the internet (our Offline Members), we’ll be posting you details as they become available. Meantime, if you have any questions regarding this event, you can always contact thesmartclub directly at info@smarttimes2014.com. Cascais photos courtesy of the Estoril Tourist Board http://www.estoril-portugal.com
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News from smart
New accessories for the smart ebike: A shuttle with a saddle – ride the smart ebike to the International Motor Show The environmentally-friendly smart ebike boasts an unconventional design, functions appropriate for city use and high technology standards. Visitors to the International Motor Show had an opportunity to try out the new mobility concept for themselves as a fleet of 16 smart ebikes was available for test rides between the main station and the exhibition site. In addition to this unusual shuttle service, visitors to the show could test the smart ebikes on a 95 metre track in front of the main entrance to the show. The smart ebike app turns the iPhone® into a powerful trip computer. In addition to the current speed, the average speed, travel time, kilometres travelled and altitude covered can be displayed. What’s more, the smart ebike rider can record tours and share information about them on Twitter® and Facebook®. For this, a picture with the map section of the route covered, the length and duration of the route and statistics relating to altitude and speed relative to the distance are published. Optionally, a Wahoo key, a small plug connected to the iPhone® , can be used to display further data – for example the calories burned that are calculated using data from the pedal power sensor on the pedal or – if using the Wahoo heart frequency belt – the heartbeats per minute. At the smart stand in the “Forum” the urban mobility brand presented innovative accessory solutions that further enhance the comfort and functionality of the smart ebike. A suspension fork will be optionally available to enhance the ride comfort of the pedelec. The RockShox suspension fork adapted for the smart ebike by the renowned specialist SRAM enables the suspension travel to be adjusted by air pressure. Maximum suspension travel of 100 mm is available. In addition, the rebound stage can be externally adjusted. What’s more, the fork can be locked even whilst cycling with an easily accessible lever on the fork crown – a practical feature when riding uphill, for example. The turnkey lockout system prevents damage to the fork when the locking mechanism is not released despite hard impacts. The smart ebike suspension fork consists of 32 mm stanchions made of chrome-plated steel, a forged aluminium fork crown and magnesium sliders. It will be available from the end of September 2013. The USB interface that comes as standard on the smart ebike is a particularly innovative feature. It can be used to charge additional devices and smartphones such as the Apple iPhone® whilst cycling.
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Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH also presented further genuine accessories for the trendsetting smart ebike at the stand. These included the luggage rack in smart design featuring integrated lockable side bags for small items. Panniers are available if more stowage space is needed. The smartphone holder has flexible holder arms and is suitable for all screen sizes between 3.5 and 4.3 inches. The user can choose between a vertical and horizontal format. Furthermore, as an alternative to the sporty low handlebars that come as standard on the smart ebike, higher and more comfortable handlebars are available as an accessory. The comfort saddle with pressure-relieving gel enhances comfort.These accessories will all soon be available from all smart dealers.
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World premiere at the IAA Frankfurt: smart fourjoy Stuttgart/Frankfurt. More than two seats are also fully in keeping with the smart brand experience: the smart fourjoy proves this. The study has all the typical smart attributes and embodies pure carefree enjoyment of urban life. The compact four-seater is the forerunner of a new smart generation and is celebrating its world premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (12 – 22 September 2013). No doors, no rear window and an open roof – the smart fourjoy dispenses with unnecessary ballast. At the same time this gives viewers an unhindered view of the futuristic interior with its striking rear seat bench in the style of lounge furniture. This means that the vehicle has ample space for four people. With its compact dimensions (length/width/height: 3494/1978/1494 millimetres) and a turning circle of 9.1 metres the smart fourjoy boasts the agility typical of the brand and is able to show off its strengths, especially in cities around the world. And thanks to the state-of-the-art electric drive with a 55 kW magneto-electric motor the zero-localemission smart fourjoy offers agile driving performance without any shift delays.
What’s more, the four-seater has inherited many of the genes of the original smart. “The smart fourjoy is the perfect icon of our smart design philosophy that is being carried into a new era. For the first time we are showing the future sporty four-seater character of the new smart family,” says Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG. “The typical smart silhouette, the clear lines and styling and also the further development of the smart face make this study a modern design icon.” Dr Annette Winkler, Head of smart, says: “The smart fourjoy is a study that successfully translates the unique design and the urban driving fun of the smart fortwo to an extremely compact four-seater. Numerous details of previous show cars that received very positive feedback have been incorporated in the fourjoy. The exterior proportions already reveal a lot about the appearance of our four-seater production smart which will be launched at the end of 2014 and will also enable families to travel together in a smart.”
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Numerous design elements are a reference to the first smart model series. These include the extremely short overhangs, the wheels positioned on the four most outer points, the tail lights integrated in the sturdy tridion cell and the spherical instrument cluster. The exterior: polished aluminium meets white pearlescent paintwork The study shows that smart is becoming more grown-up. The deliberately three-dimensional, upright front gives it a very expressive appearance that greets the viewer with a fresh smile that is both friendly and assertive. The smart fourjoy proudly displays the large brand emblem on the front grille. The honeycomb structure of the air inlets on the front and the convex and sensuously shaped body surfaces emphasise the family relationship to the studies smart for-us (Detroit 2012) and smart forstars (Paris 2012).
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“ The smart fourjoy is the perfect icon of our smart design philosophy that is being carried into a new era. For the first time we are showing the future sporty four-seater character of the new smart family,” Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG
The extremely pronounced tridion cell is a new feature. On the study it is made of polished full-aluminium and its brilliant bright lustre finish emphasises the premium character of the brand. The raised smart lettering milled from aluminium on the side skirts is a further sign of the top quality. The pearlescent white on the bumpers, front bonnet and tailgate provides a contrast to the aluminium of the tridion cell. The door mirrors “float” on an aluminium stele. A look back to the future: as with the first-generation smart fortwo the rear lights are integrated in the tridion cell. Like turbines, cubes have been incorporated into the plexiglass there. The headlamps do not have a glass cover and this reinforces the three-dimensional impression of the U-shaped daytime running lights. LEDs are exclusively fitted in the front and tail lights.
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Transparent petroleum-coloured moulded parts emphasise the upbeat character of the study. They are found in the wind deflector at the top of the front windscreen, on the A-pillars on the sides and on the rear roof spoiler. The function and colour are reminiscent of 1990s tennis caps. The interior: futuristic lounge seats for four Without doors, a rear window or roof panel the smart fourjoy really brings the city inside. Elements that connect the exterior and the interior are the handles for driver and passenger on the side sills and the openings in the roof structure. The most striking interior features are the two futuristiclooking front seats and the rear seat bench with a similar design. With their organic, sculptural shape they are reminiscent of modern lounge furniture.
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The seat shell has a harmonious design. The rear of the seats is made of dark chrome. A piping-like line winds around the sides of the seats with the same petroleum colour as the plexiglass accents on the exterior. Perforated and smooth surfaces alternate on the vehicle floor. As the floor is dark the seats seem to float.
When completely empty it takes a maximum of seven hours to fully charge the battery at a household socket or charging station on the electricity systems of most countries, i.e. overnight. The charging time at a wallbox or public charging station can be shortened to less than one hour with the 22 kW on-board charger and a rapid charging cable.
The seats and the instrument panel are supported by a continuous central structure. It features a convex surface with touch-sensitive operating functions.
For the last mile: electric skateboards and helmets
The instrument panel gives the impression of depth, and with a honeycomb structure and fading it takes up two themes of the exterior. The solid instrument panel support is made of transparent, illuminated plexiglass into which apertures have been milled. The striking multidimensional honeycomb structure was created by moulding on white plastic with a pearlescent effect in these areas. The design of the spherical instrument cluster and the singlespoke steering wheel are reminiscent of the original smart. Two smartphones are mounted on the dashboard and on the centre tunnel at the rear for cutting-edge connectivity and tailor-made entertainment for all four passengers.
Two longboards are fastened on the roof of the smart fourjoy. With these electrically driven skateboards it is possible to cover short distances in the city without producing any local emissions. Helmets are stowed under the rear seats. A high-definition camera that is simple to remove is also attached here. This enables longboard riding to be filmed and subsequently shared with friends on social networks.
The drive: driving fun with zero local emissions The electric drive housed at the rear is based on the current smart fortwo electric drive. Thanks to the 55 kW magnetoelectric motor the smart fourjoy is agile and lively to drive. The lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 17.6 kWh.
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The 4two Cup
Final race report of the Season Brands Hatch 29th September by Alison Pepler Mark Bloomfield of Fudge Smart was hoping to have his 450 car ready but unfortunately did not quite manage this meeting but it will be ready for next season bringing more excitement for the 450 class 2 cars.
A well organized affair saw this year’s end of season event with a really strong field of cars entered, despite the lack of any Belgian entries, we saw the return of Jake Jackson, Howard Kayman as well as a fresh face, Dirk Smits, racing the 461 S-Mann liveried car normally raced by Theo Berg. The Smart Village was set up in the outer paddock on the Saturday afternoon by the Smarts4you Racing team and it looked fantastic with all the cars under their individual awnings, everyone pitched in including the unsung hero’s, the staff from Dipstick’s garage, owned by James Palmer, who work behind the scenes in preparing the arrive and drive entries and whose continued efforts definitely deserve a mention. With set up done and all the cars ready for the morning, it was time to spark up the BBQ, relax and have a catch up with all the drivers and their guests. The morning saw the remaining drivers arrive and with the cars all ready to go, the scrutineering done, without problems, it was set to be a good days racing. Qualifying was at 10am on a damp track alongside the Honda Civics who were racing with us, Chris Gill who was racing the Class 2, 450 car with the Pure Smart team was caught out at Paddock Hill with a short trip to the gravel trap but easily recovered and was straight back out on track with only a short delay. There was strong performances from a season improved David Nash in his own number 7 car as well as James Palmer in the number 3 JC Motorhomes car and Paul Bates in “Earl” the green and black number 2 Smarts4you Racing car but it was Ashley Craig, G&M Motor company’s driver who took pole position in the number 6 Spacewise car after some last minute engine problems sidelined the number 12 G & M entry just day’s before the race. Best lap time on a damp track was a respectable 1.05.642 by Ashley Craig.
Race 1 – Following the green flag formation lap, the start saw the pole sitter Craig not make the best get away and he dropped straight to 5th before paddock hill bend. Palmer, who had a good start, was closely followed by Jackson, with Nash in 3rd and Bates in 4th. With an almost dry track except a few damp patches, times were dropping and Palmer out in front had his hands full keeping Jackson at bay. Nash was holding a strong 3rd, Craig was setting about catching and passing bates for 4th, just behind, Smits was fast finding his feet in his first ever Smart Car race keeping team mate Baker behind with Gill running strong in his 450 entry. Unfortunately Kayman had to pull out after half the distance with technical issues. The race was tight up front with Jackson trying his best to find a way past Palmer, the front running Honda Civics at around 6-7 seconds a lap faster were beginning to catch the Smarts making it challenging for the smart drivers whilst allowing the faster Hondas past but trying not to lose time to the other Smarts they were racing. As the laps rolled on, Craig managed to pass Nash after Paddock Hill and set about trying to catch the front pair. Although Craig was the fastest car, his poor start had left him too much to do and not enough laps to catch the front runners, in the last minute Smits found the confidence to pass Bates on the final corner and Palmer managed to hold off Jackson to take the chequered flag. Fastest lap was Craig in the number 6 Spacewise car with a time of 1.03.164 Race 1 results were as follows: 1. James Palmer 2. Jake Jackson 3. Ashley Craig 4. David Nash 5. Dirk Smits 6. Paul Bates 7. Rob Baker 8. Martyn Clatworthy 9. Chris Gill
Qualifying positions were as follows: 1. Ashley Craig in the number 6 Spacewise car 2. David Nash in his own number 7 car 3. James Palmer in the number 3 JC Motorhomes car 4. Paul Bates in the Smarts4you Racing number 2 car 5. Jake Jackson in the number 9 Pure D-Zign/Smarts4you Racing car 6. Howard Kayman in the number 10 Trader Containers car 7. Dirk Smits in the number 462 S-Mann car 8. Rob baker in the number 461 S-Mann/S2 Smarts car 9. Martyn Clatworthy in his own number 11 Ski St. Martin car 10. Chris Gill in the only class 2, number 27 Pure Smart car 26
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Race 2 – The starting grid was as per the results from race 1. Palmer and Jackson started well and again were out front from the start with Nash in 3rd, an ever improving Smits was immediately up to 4th also after a good start, Craig was in 5th followed by Bates, baker, Kayman, Clatworthy and Gill. As the first lap ended, Jackson got a great run into Paddock Hill, a move which started at Clearways and he managed to pass Palmer on the outside, Nash was holding 3rd with consistent lap times and the battle behind was between Smits and Craig. By mid race Craig was snapping at the heels of Smits who had a moment after entering Paddock Hill too hot, he managed to avoid spinning by the skin of his teeth but Craig managed to get past him despite having to brake heavily to take avoiding action. Smits regained his composure and set about Craig again, Craig lost out within 2 laps after the Hondas coming through meant he lost some momentum allowing them past, Smits was better placed in the traffic and therefore managed to get past Craig again to retake 4th, the pair continued to race hard for the remaining laps, Smits had another moment on Paddock Hill again requiring some evasive action by Craig but despite all this they were to finish in this order. Up front Palmer and Jackson were still closely battling with the traffic allowing Palmer to close in on Jackson and get ahead at various times, however Jackson managed to get past and hold onto the lead to take a well-earned chequered flag. Howard Kayman once again had to pull out early due to the technical issues with his car. Fastest lap was Jackson in the number 9 Pure D-Zign/ Smarts4you Racing car with a 1.02.389
of G& M Motorcompany, Chris Gill of Pure Smart, Jake Jackson, Howard Kayman as well as Silvano Caira and the Belgian drivers of the Smart cup. Between you all, with your enthusiasm, friendly and fun but professional attitudes, the fact that we have so much fun together at the events, the way that all the drivers and teams help each other is something which we value greatly and what makes this series so great and definitely how we want to continue and grow in the future. A special thanks to the very generous sponsors, Joyce and John of JC Motorhomes for supplying as well as transporting some of their amazing luxury motorhomes to venues in the UK as well as around Europe, they make the lives of the Smarts4you Racing team so much easier and we are forever grateful. Thanks also to all the other generous sponsors of the Smarts4you Racing series and people/companies who have helped in some way who are 1st Containers, Spacewise, Trader containers, Specialized group, Pure D-Zign, Fudge Smarts, Sascho and Mike of Smart car specialist, Smart Roadsters.com, Evans water coolants, Hankook and Ram Records. We would also like to thank the Smart Racing club and all our other supporters for their continued support come rain or shine, it is a joy to see so many of you make the effort to come and watch us and get involved.
Race 2 results were as follows: 1. Jake Jackson 2. James Palmer 3. David Nash 4. Dirk Smits 5. Ashley Craig 6. Paul Bates 7. Rob Baker 8. Martyn Clatworthy 9. Chris Gill Overall the whole day was excellent and the crowds were rewarded with fun, exciting and close racing. Racing on the same grid as the Honda Civics added another twist to the racing, how everyone managed to deal with the traffic and with the speed differential not being massive, it made the racing much more challenging and yet more fun for all concerned. Some of the Civic cup drivers came over and congratulated Smarts4you Racing on the courtesy and professional attitude of the drivers, which is always great to hear. The Smarts 4you Racing team would like to thank all this years teams and their drivers as well as their family and friends – David Nash Privateer, Martyn Clatworthy of Ski St. Martin, Rob Baker of S2 Smarts, Theo Berg, Dirk Smits and Imro Penders of S-Mann, Geoff Hall and Ashley Craig Issue 26 - Q4 2013 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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And so on to 2014 It is our intention next year that after 3 years of being a race series, we would like to become a full UK Championship, we aim to bring in more entries to reduce costs for all of us, we are encouraging more 450 cars and also looking to allow roadsters to race too. We are as enthusiastic and passionate about this series as ever and we look forward to welcoming you all back for the 2014 seasons racing as well as welcoming new entrants and new sponsors into what we are aiming to make our best ever season so far. Photos courtesy Steven Smith (The Gourmet Snapper/mccsmart) 27
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How to guide
Installing pods – 451 model This is a worthwhile addition for your fortwo. You will need a set of fortwo pods from your smart parts department and a Torx set. Ensure that you correct the correct pods for your style of dial face. In the box you will get a set of pods and two retaining screws:
4. Whilst pushing, swing the retaining arm all the way round until the connector becomes free.
5. Free the Torx screw that is revealed as shown:
9. Position the pods and screw them in place with the screws provided.
10. Push the plug from the pods into the connector socket.
As standard, you can see that the centre console is calling out for something extra.
6. Pull the top of the centre console up from the dashboard. As it unclips, it will swing forward and become free.
11. A small retainer has been provided for the connector. Simply push in.
1. Start by pulling the centre console switch block where shown below:
2. The switch block is connected at the back.
3. It is not essential but if you would like to remove the switch block (to prevent against accidental damage) release the cable connector by pushing down where shown below:
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7. It is often buried quite low down, but you will see a connector taped to the main wiring loom with masking tape.
8. Free this connector from the masking tape.
12. Before you refit the centre console, you will need to cut off two plastic sections where the pods stick out. These can be clearly seen on the underside of the plastic panel. You need to cut the sections as indicated by the red dots:
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15. Finally push all top clips back into place.
13. When you have done this, refit this centre section by pushing the bottom into place first. It may feel tight beneath the radio but use a little force and it will clip into place.
14. Push either side of the radio until you hear both sides click.
16. Refit the lower screw taking care not to drop it inside the lower panel.
17. Connect the switch block and push it back into place.
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18. The clock should start working automatically. Unlike the fortwo 450, the rev counter does not need activating by a dealer. Check to see that the backlights work when you turn on the sidelights.
We are grateful for our partnership with FQ101 in respect of the technical reference guides listed in 4site smart magazine. Please visit www.fq101.co.uk for further details and disclaimers.
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S2smarts – BRABUS race forfour
As our regular readers will know, earlier this year and following significant development and successful competition in (particularly) the Britcar 24 hour race, thesmartclub decided to revisit their motorsport activities moving forward and sell their BRABUS forfour race car. The approach would ensure that the new owners of the forfour could focus solely on race development whilst thesmartclub would focus its own efforts on continued success in Endurance rallying. S2smarts in Watford, England were the lucky purchasers of the BRABUS forfour race car. Rob Baker at S2smarts was already competing in his fortwo in the 4two Cup and was keen to look for further opportunities under the ‘smart’ banner. We caught up with Rob at the S2smarts premises and asked him about his plans for 2014: “Will be rebuilding both the 451 and the forfour for next year and have ordered plexi-glass windows for both, hoping to shed a lot more weight off both cars (and Driver!) before the start of the next season. A new manifold should be here any day for the forfour and we hope to mate this with a Garret T28 Roller Bearing Turbo and Intercooler along with a proper sports CAT for the exhaust too. We have already modified the exhaust and removed the heavy rear box and replaced it with a centre box and new tailpipe which has reduced weight and improved flow too. An oil cooler is being added and a company is looking at making us some Bi-Zenon Headlights - we can then use a hole either side for better induction and airflow for cooling. A carbon front splitter is being made along with a carbon rear spoiler and Bilstein are designing some suspension for us so we can slam the car even further down on the ground. The Interior will be stripped even further with all the door internals removed and maybe sheet carbon or aluminium panels replacing them with just a door handle in. The car is also being stripped of all the current orange wrap so it can go into the bodyshop to be painted in the same colour scheme as the 451. The 451 will be going through similar modifications concerning weight and we will be increasing power too so we can hopefully improve on the 3rd this season next year.
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We already have the dates for the series next year and are looking forward to both cars being on the grid along with one more 451 too.
T p
In addition, we recently attended a dinner dance with the Classic Sports Car Club and was presented with a trophy for coming 3rd overall in my class in the series – this was a shock and a very pleasant surprise at the same time.”
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Protect the car you love. Thousands of our smart car owners each year trust our motor insurance policy to look after their smart. Motor Insurance by smart has been rated 5-Star by independent financial research company Defaqto and offers superb features such as: • Guaranteed GenuineParts and repairs carried out by a smart Approved Repair Centre
2013
• 24/7 UK accident recovery In addition to the above, if you insure a second car with us you’ll receive a 10% multi-vehicle discount on your premium.
CAR INSURANCE
Join in. Call now* for a quote on 0845 600 3429 Or visit us at thesmart.co.uk/ins OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES IN MPG (LITRES PER 100KM) FOR THE SMART FORTWO RANGE: URBAN 44.1 (6.5)-85.6 (3.3), EXTRA URBAN 64.2 (4.4)-85.6 (3.3), COMBINED 54.3 (5.2)-85.6 (3.3), CO2 EMISSIONS 120-86 G/KM. * Our UK-based call centre is open Mon to Fri 8.30am – 6pm and Sat 9am – 2pm. All calls charged at local rate. Motor Insurance is arranged by Daimler Insurance Services UK Limited. A Daimler Company. Tongwell, Milton Keynes MK15 8BA, United Kingdom. Underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited, Registered in Scotland No. 2116, Registered Office: Pitheavlis, Perth PH2 0NH. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. For joint protection calls may be recorded and/or monitored. We may decline to quote in some circumstances.
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Magazine design & production by Oliver Whittaker Š 2013 32
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