the columns supporting thesmartclub’s website ISSUE 28 - 2014
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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thesmartclub ltd … since 2000
www.thesmartclub.com
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Page 2
‘4site’ : Issue 23
2012
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Welcome Welcome to the latest issue of ‘4site’ smart magazine any my apologies for the slight delay in bringing this to you. Although 2014 is a somewhat quieter year for thesmartclub in terms of national and international events, the second quarter has seen us with a hugely successful smarttimes 2014 in Cascais, Portugal in addition to the amazing launch of the new 453 models - the new smart fortwo and the new smart forfour!
In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site: News from smart The new smart fortwo & forfour: 4 Adding a new shine to a proven concept Dealership news Discover the new smart fortwo and smart forfour at smart of Wolverhampton
Al Young Editor, Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd thesmartclub ltd. 1 Corbiehill Park Edinburgh EH4 5EQ UK Tel: +44 (0) 8452 990332
This issue of ‘4site’ brings you reviews from these major events and, if you were unable to personally attend either smarttimes 2014 and/or the Berlin 453 launch, hopefully provides you an insight into the days themselves. I’m also delighted to say that thesmartclub continues to grow from strength to strength. For our Members with online access, our revised homepage (thesmartclub.com) brings you embedded news from our Facebook and twitter feeds in addition to our Forum, Retailer Car listings, help, advice and more. Of course, we have a large number of Members who prefer to receive all their ‘smart club’ related information by conventional post and again, those numbers continue to grow and still benefit from our merchandise, event and smart related offers. I’m also delighted at the growing support of the smart Retailer network and the next Issue of ‘4site’ will be brining you closer to the world of smart, the inside information, interviews and special insights into smart Operations. The world of smart motorsport continues and, in this Issue of ‘4site’, you can read about our fantastic success in the Madrid Endurance Rally – a really challenging event and one where our smart Roadster yet again excelled. In addition, our regular readers and Members will no doubt recall our superb race prepared smart forfour that competed in (and finished) the 2012 Britcar 24hour race. That car is now in the hands of S2smarts (see inside front cover) and, after months of further modification and preparation, is set for more on track action. We’ll be bringing you more on this car and its development in future issues.
16/17
Regular Local Meetings
18
thesmartclub Shop
18
You and your smart
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How to guide Changing the brake pads on a 451 model
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ebike Review
22
Smart times 2014 Cascais Event Review
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Madrid Rally 2014
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helpmysmart
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Your articles Oldest smart driver in the UK? Crossblade Days 2014
29 30
Advertisers JCMotorhomes S2Smarts smart Insurance smart of Wolverhamption
28 2 31 16/17
Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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: r pt
e t u c n r o o c a f n e m r s fo prov a w to e & n o hine s e w w e h t T orng a n fAddi
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Böblingen/Berlin. The revolution enters the next round – the smart fortwo has undergone improvements in virtually all areas and is markedly more comfortable. The hallmark smart rear engine concept is being offered for the first time in the four-seater smart forfour as well. Drive power is supplied by state-of-theart three-cylinder engines rated at 45 kW/60 hp, 52 kW/71 hp and 66 kW/90 hp, while power transmission is performed by a five-speed manual transmission or the twinamic automatic dual clutch transmission. A host of innovative details guarantee even more fun in the city. The new smart generation will be launched onto the market in Europe in November. The price for the smart fortwo will correspond to that of the current smart series, while the smart forfour will cost only around 600 euros more with the same engine. “As Europe’s youngest car brand, smart enjoys global success today. No-one combines functionality and emotionality as well as we do, as the inventors of individual urban mobility. The new smart fortwo and forfour adopt the proven concept while offering more of just about everything – more space, more colour, more equipment … and even more fun in the city! Only the vehicle length remains as unique as ever, at 2.69 metres,” says smart boss Annette Winkler. “Our idea based on a total rethink of urban mobility has won through.” “In the planning phase we were clear that we wanted to retain the rear engine for the new smart, so as to continue to exploit the vehicles’ strengths to the full in the city,” explains Jörg Prigl, head of the product group Compact Cars at Mercedes-Benz. “On this basis, we then developed the new fortwo and forfour together with our partner, Renault.” “We are proud to have made the fortwo even safer and in sum more grown up whilst retaining its length of 2.69 metres,” adds Markus Riedel, head of development at smart. “In doing so we even reduced the turning circle to 6.95 metres and thus set a new benchmark. The fortwo shares its architecture with the new forfour; both cars are tailor-made for the requirements of modern city traffic.”
embody pure details attest the new of
The brand appeals to the heart and mind in equal portion. An expressive design idiom and colouring joie de vivre. The compact proportions and clever to unique functionality. The new smart fortwo and smart forfour are clearly recognisable as members the same family. Many design features such as the headlamps, the cooling air grille in the front and the iconic tridion safety cell are identical, for example. And both vehicles are fitted with rear engines, making them particularly agile in urban traffic.
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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“smart stands for Fun.ctional design, as the brand is defined by two poles – the heart and mind. The design idiom is clear and purist and therefore very progressive. The typical smart attributes are being carried into a new era: the typical silhouette with the ultrashort overhangs, the clear lines, forms and surfaces, the tridion cell and the updated, likeable smart face,” says Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG. “It is never easy to design the successor to a design icon – but it is all the more exciting.”
me
Extre
city e h t n fun i e r o m ace – p s f use o m u m i t nd op a y t agili
Short overhangs, minimal length, high steering angle. The new smart models have everything it takes to manoeuvre elegantly into any parking space - and around every corner, too. When it comes to the turning circle, the new smart fortwo sets a new benchmark: at 6.95m (from kerb to kerb) and 7.30m (from wall to wall) it makes turning manoeuvres extremely simple. And the new smart forfour turns almost as compactly as the previous fortwo (wall to wall: 8.75m). Its statistics are 8.65m (kerb to kerb) and 8.95m (wall to wall). The new models also come up trumps once again with regard to the maximum of space packed into minimal dimensions, as documented by the excellent body space index. Additional highlights include the rear doors opening by almost 90° on the smart forfour and the folding front passenger seat backrest which comes as standard for all variants. 6
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Real
y –
Safet Life
res
featu y t e f sa
The essential safety concept embodied so successfully by the preceding models has been retained. Like a nut, the soft interior is protected from harm by a rigid shell: the tridion cell. A high proportion of ultra-high strength hot-formed steels and maximum-strength multiphase steel is now used on the new smart. In keeping with the Mercedes-Benz “Real Life Safety” philosophy, the focus in car-to-car crash tests was on compatibility with substantially larger and heavier vehicles. The new smart vehicles performed well in frontal collisions with the S- and C-Class. Advanced assistance systems which were previously the reserve of higher classes of vehicle further enhance safety Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
and comfort. These include Crosswind Assist (standard), forward collision warning (option) and Lane Keeping Assist (option). A new front axle design adopting elements of the previous Mercedes-Benz C-Class, an optimised De Dion rear axle, substantially increased spring travel all round, tyres with higher side walls and an unprecedentedly small turning circle are the highlights of the new chassis. The chassis and suspension of the new smart generation have been evolved on the basis of the experience acquired with previous smart models and designed for markedly enhanced ride comfort.
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passion, prime and proxy – the new lines Three equipment lines (passion, prime and proxy) and a wealth of optional items, some of which were previously the reserve of higher segments, make every smart fortwo or smart forfour a unique gem in its own right. Even in the entry-level version, both models offer a comprehensive scope of safety and comfort features. These include LED daytime driving lights, central locking with radio remote control, visual locking-verification signal and immobiliser, cruise control with limiter (variable speed limitation), exterior temperature indicator with frost warning, instrument cluster with monochrome LCD display and trip computer and electric windows in the front. passion, prime and proxy are the names of the three lines which serve to upgrade the smart fortwo and smart forfour and provide for differentiation particularly in the interior. Their features include a leather multifunction steering wheel, an instrument cluster with 3.5 colour display and heated seats. To tie in with the market launch of the new smart generation, the edition #1 will also be available for a limited period. This offers exclusive design features such as a tridion safety cell in lava orange combined with bodypanels/body in white on the fortwo and graphite grey on the forfour. The multimedia systems meet the highest standards, with comprehensive smartphone integration, real-time navigation and intuitive operation with touchscreen. For the first time, smart is offering the JBL sound system, which produces an impressively full sound. It incorporates a 6-channel DSP amplifier (240 W) in the fortwo and an 8-channel DSP amplifier (320 W) on board the forfour. A total of eight (fortwo) or twelve (forfour) highperformance loudspeakers provide for outstanding listening pleasure. smart cross connect is a revolutionary new app which is available to customers free of charge from smart for the smart fortwo and smart forfour. smart cross connect offers even more features while on the move and outside of the vehicle. smart parking is among the features which now offer a more user-friendly design and incorporate new functions.
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
New
der
thre
lin e-cy
es, ngin
e
dual
ran ch t t u l c
Two state-of-the-art three-cylinder engines will be available for the new smart models at the market launch: the naturally aspirated engine generates 52 kW/71 hp from a capacity of 999 cc. The engine’s ample torque from an engine speed as low as 1000 rpm (maximum: 91 Nm at 2850 rpm) enables particularly economical driving in high gears, even in urban traffic. Top of the range is the turbo engine rated at 66 kW/90 hp. The 898 cc engine mobilises maximum torque of 135 Nm at 2500 rpm. The totally new turbocharger features an electronically controlled wastegate which enables increased engine dynamics in conjunction with a sustainable reduction in fuel consumption. Another distinguishing feature is the automatic start/stop system. Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
smis
the – n sio
em
st e sy v i r d
Apart from the turbocharger, a whole range of other technical measures also contributes to the engine’s excellent fuel efficiency and performance. These include variable swirl control and variable adjustment of the inlet valves. Another defining trait of the all-aluminium three-cylinder engine is the square bore/stroke ratio. A few months after the market launch, a basic petrol engine rated at 45 kW/60 hp will extend the range. Both transmission variants are also new for smart: customers can choose between a five-speed manual transmission and the twinamic six-speed dual clutch transmission.
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FUN.ctional – the exterior design Extremely short overhangs at front and rear – the new smart generation also possesses these typical proportions. And thanks to the 100 mm wider track, the wheels are positioned further outwards. These characteristic proportions offer outstanding visibility and agility and, together with the rear engine, enable a passenger cell accommodating an unrivalled amount of space in such compact dimensions. The colour contrast between tridion cell and bodypanels is another characteristic feature of the smart brand. The smart designers refer to the evolutionary development of the silhouette as the “one-and-a-half box” design. A change to the previous one-box proportions became necessary for two reasons: The higher bonnet lends the smart a more grown-up and sportier character. The smart sports a friendly but self-assured face. A decisive feature of this friendly face is the signature smart grille, which is now slightly larger. The grille’s perforated structure results from a honeycomb pattern. The honeycomb is paler towards the outside - the designers refer to this as fading. The radiator trim is available in a variety of colours to match or contrast with the bodypanels, including black, cool silver and white. The second, black cooling air opening in the bumper also features the honeycomb pattern. The markedly larger updated smart logo in the middle of the grille also demonstrates self-confidence.
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It is now three-dimensional and almost spherical in shape, harmonising with the smart’s distinctly more sensuous lines. The logo features a matt finish rather than a high-gloss look, similarly to all the sparingly applied chrome accents. The rhombic front lamps are truncated slightly at the top, producing an attractive sporty look. The U-shaped daytime driving lights add a characteristic design feature. In combination with the LED & Sensor package, the headlamps incorporate a welcome function: when the car is unlocked, the light in the headlamps pulsates, as if the smart were welcoming its owner.
A loving attention to detail is demonstrated, for example, by the way in which the honeycomb pattern is cited in the headlamp covers. On the indicators, the honeycomb pattern even performs the function of dispersing the light. The bonnet also highlights the new sculptural lines, describing a powerful and sporty downward sweep between the headlamps. The new smart forfour is clearly recognisable as a member of the new smart family, sharing many design features with the smart fortwo. Naturally enough, it is in the profile that the greatest difference is to be found between the fortwo and the forfour: the smart fortwo has a large door extending into the B-pillar with a frameless window. The typical smart genes are thus recognisable from afar on the road: the striking door contours and the unique tridion cell. A characteristic swage line, such as features in the middle of the doors, underscores the brand image. This is followed by the fuel filler cap on the right and the air inlet for the rear engine under the B-pillar on the left. As previously, the door is lined with a panel in high-quality lightweight plastic. This allows the king of the car park to shrug off any knocks and bumps from other road users.
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
The side view of the smart forfour reveals the same elements as the fortwo, but has a longer tridion cell as well as the additional door. The front and rear overhangs appear just as short as on the fortwo. The forfour’s roof line slopes downward towards the rear in coupé style. A new feature on both models is the pronounced shoulderline. This provides both variants with a firm look on the road and establishes a visual separation between vehicle body and greenhouse.
New, rich exterior colours and around 40 combination options between bodypanels and tridion cell boost the brand’s upbeat image. New colours now available include moon white (matt), lava orange (metallic) and hazel brown (metallic), which can be applied to contrast with new colours for the tridion cell such as cool silver (metallic) or lava orange (metallic).
The twin-section tailgate is close to smart drivers’ hearts. The new smart fortwo thus boasts this special feature once again, enabling the vehicle to be loaded even in the tightest parking spaces. The rhombic tail lights framed by the tridion cell are reminiscent of the first smart generation and combine with the large track width to emphasize the width at the rear. A unique LED scenario is optionally available in conjunction with the LED & Sensor package: eleven individually illuminated cubes are allocated to each tail light, providing for a striking night design. The typical honeycomb pattern features once again in the clear glass over the indicators and reversing lights in the middle of the lamps. The smart forfour essentially has the same elements as the smart fortwo. It is fitted with an upward-opening single-section tailgate, however, to enable convenient loading of the lower luggage compartment.
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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chassis e h t – ortable
f ore com m y l d e Mark
The new smart has essentially been configured for gently understeering handling characteristics. The different tyre sizes at front and rear have thus been retained, whereby the narrower front tyres in conjunction with a high outside wheel turn angle contribute to the unprecedentedly small turning circle. ABS, ASR and ESPÂŽ are ready to intervene at the critical limits of road-holding. A hill hold function and brake assist are integrated in the brake system. The engineers have designed a new McPherson suspension with a triple-path head bearing for the front axle. Each wheel is controlled by a wishbone under the wheel centre, the McPherson strut and a tie rod. Comfort and guide bearings for the wishbones provide for added comfort, along with the markedly increased overall spring travel. During the compression phase in particular, the new smart runs markedly more smoothly over uneven surfaces than previously. 12
The new smart models also feature a sophisticated De-Dion rear axle, which has been modified for substantially greater comfort. New elements are the twin-tube shock absorbers and separate barrel-shaped helical springs. Two elastomer shims provide for effective noise decoupling of the helical springs between body and rear axle. The Sports suspension package is optionally available to those seeking sportier handling from their smart. The springs are firmer here and the vehicle is ten millimetres lower. As standard, the new smart models come with mechanical rack-and-pinion steering. The Direct-Steer system with variable ratio and electric power assistance provides for considerably enhanced driving enjoyment, even better handling and increased efficiency.
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
The key dimensions of the two new smart models:
smart fortwo
smart forfour
Length (m)
2.69
3.49
Width (m)
1.66
1.66
Height (m)
1.55
1.55
Wheelbase (mm)
1.873
2.494
Turning circle (kerb-to-kerb) (m)
6.95
8.65
Turning circle (wall-to-wall) (m)
7.30
8.95
Interior length (accelerator pedal to rear end) (mm)
2011.6
2707.3
Body space index (ratio of length to interior length) (%)
75
77
Luggage compartment capacity (behind front seats) (L)
260
730
Luggage compartment capacity (behind front seats to roof) (L)
350
975
Luggage compartment capacity (behind rear seats) (L)
-
185
Luggage compartment capacity (behind rear seats to roof) (L)
-
255
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Easy-going and charming – the interior design
“Loop” is the designers’ name for the emotional sweep that features as a leitmotif in the interior, embellishing the dashboard and doors, for example. The sculptural dashboard itself consists of two sections - a bold and sensuous outer section which can optionally be covered with fabric, and a large, concave inner section incorporating the functional elements. In front of the dashboard, the instrument cluster and the infotainment centre with radio/navigation appear to hover in front of the dashboard.
The dashboard and the door centre panels feature extensive fabric coverings in the three lines. This high-quality textile surface is very pleasant to the touch and is reminiscent of the mesh inserts in modern sports shoes.
The mesh structure is a USP in this vehicle segment.
The colour and material concept underscores the easy-going and charming character of the new smart generation, with the equipment lines standing for a distinctive and individual appearance. The sporty front seats with bold contours are designed as integral seats. The instrument cluster and its semi-circular segmentation for speed and warning indicators cites the previous smart models, but in a new look. The striking spherical air vents are simple and fun to use. The centrally positioned air conditioning control unit also features an unusual appearance: the desired temperature can be set on a scale in the middle with the aid of a sliding magnifying glass. The three-spoke steering wheel is optionally available as a multifunction variant which can be used to control the radio or navigation unit positioned in the centre of the dashboard. The infotainment centre in modern consumer electronics style appears to hover in front of the dashboard. The interior thus reflects the values of a young, active and networked generation. The doors take up the “loop” of the dashboard with their ellipsoidal sweep. The large armrest provides for comfort. The honeycomb pattern from the exterior is cited on the integrated loudspeaker and the tweeter in the mirror triangle.
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
ept
conc e h t r – a c any f o rcle i c g rnin u t est l l a Sm Short overhangs, minimal length, high steering angle. The new smart models have everything it takes to manoeuvre elegantly into any parking space - and around every corner, too. When it comes to the turning circle, the new smart fortwo sets a new benchmark: at 6.95 m (from kerb to kerb) and 7.30 m (from wall to wall) it makes turning manoeuvres extremely simple. And the new smart forfour turns almost as compactly as the previous fortwo (wall to wall: 8.75 m). Its statistics are 8.65 m (kerb to kerb) and 8.95 m (wall to wall). The smart fortwo and smart forfour makes exceptional use of the available space.
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
The smart engineers have developed the body space index (BSI) to describe how efficiently space is used. It describes the ratio of interior to exterior length, whereby the interior length is measured from the accelerator pedal in unused position along a horizontal line to the rear end, as a simple means of comparison between different vehicles. Both the new models from smart attain top ratings for this criterion: 75% (smart fortwo) and 77 % (smart forfour). The new smart forfour naturally offers even more loading capacity. The rear seat backrests can be folded down to produce a level load surface measuring 1285 x 996 mm with a cargo volume of up to 975 litres – the benchmark in its segment. The loading length with the front passenger seat backrest folded forward is also exceptional, at 2.22 metres. And on top of all this, reversible cushions are optionally available for the rear seats in the forfour. The “ready space” seats in the rear can be turned around and lowered substantially in next to no time to produce 12 cm more loading height inside, which is very simple to make use of thanks to the rear doors which open to an angle of almost 90°.
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Discover the new smart fortwo and smart forfour
at smart of Wolverhampton
The revolution enters the next round – the smart fortwo has undergone improvements in virtually all areas and is markedly more comfortable. The hallmark smart rear engine concept is being offered for the first time in the four-seater smart forfour as well. A host of innovative details guarantee even more fun in the city. The new smart generation will be available to view and test drive at smart of Wolverhampton in November. The side view of the new smart forfour reveals the same elements as the fortwo, but has a longer tridion cell as well as the additional door. The front and rear overhangs appear just as short as on the fortwo. The forfour’s roof line slopes downward towards the rear in coupé style. Three equipment lines (passion, prime and proxy) and a wealth of optional items, some of which were previously the reserve of higher segments, make every smart fortwo or smart forfour a unique gem in its own right. Even in the entry-level version, both models offer a comprehensive scope of safety and comfort features. These include LED daytime driving lights, central locking with radio remote control, visual locking-verification signal and immobiliser, cruise control with limiter (variable speed limitation), exterior temperature indicator with frost warning, instrument cluster with monochrome LCD display and trip computer and electric windows in the front. passion, prime and proxy are the names of the three lines which serve to upgrade the smart fortwo and smart forfour and provide for differentiation particularly in the interior. Their features include a leather multifunction steering wheel, an instrument cluster with 3.5 colour display and heated seats. To tie in with the launch of the new smart generation, the edition #1 will also be available for a limited period. This offers exclusive design features such as a tridion safety cell in lava orange combined with bodypanels/body in white on the fortwo and graphite grey on the forfour. This will also be available at smart of Wolverhampton. The multimedia systems meet the highest standards, with comprehensive smartphone integration, real-time navigation and intuitive operation with touchscreen. For the first time, smart is offering the JBL sound system, which produces an impressively full sound. It incorporates a 6-channel DSP amplifier (240 W) in the fortwo and an 8-channel DSP amplifier (320 W) on board the forfour. A total of eight (fortwo) or twelve (forfour) high-performance loudspeakers provide for outstanding listening pleasure. smart boss Annette Winkler: “ No-one combines functionality and emotion as well as we do, as the inventors of individual urban mobility. The new smart fortwo and forfour adopt the proven concept while offering more of just about everything – more space, more colour, more equipment … and even more fun in the city.” smart of Wolverhampton, General Manager, Matthew Harris, echoed those sentiments: “New styling, an all new model and new engines make the smart fortwo and smart forfour more fun and exciting than ever. Please call us on 01902 276961 to pre-book your test drive and be amongst the first to discover the smart future.”
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4site - the columns
To find out more or arrange a test drive, please call 01902 276961 or visit www.draytongroup.co.uk that support thesmartclub’s website
Make the smart choice.
At smart of Wolverhampton we have both an incredible new car range and a huge used car range for you to choose from. We have an experienced team to advise you on your next perfect smart car. We believe you will love your smart adventure once it begins. You can browse both ranges on our website www.draytongroup.co.uk or why not pop in and see us at the dealership?
>> Call us on 01902 276 961 for any enquiries. Drayton Group smart of Wolverhampton Penn Road, Wolverhampton, WV2 4HD 01902 276 961 www.draytongroup.co.uk
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
smart – A Daimler Brand
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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 Bristol Area Smarties Meet Meet 3rd Sunday of every month at 12.00 pm. Gordano Services, just off M5 at Junction 19. Meet then moves on to a different venue.
5
1
6
3
2
Sussex Smarts Sunday Breakfast
3
Baldock (North Herts & Central Beds) Smart Meet
4
South Coast Smarts Meet
5
DAFT Smart Meet – Nottingham
6
Shepperton Meet
4 2
Please note that as many of the above meetings are outside of the direct control of thesmartclub, details and dates may change.
Breakfast meet every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 10.00 am. The Chalet Cafe, Henfield Road, Cowfold, West Sussex. RH13 8DU (approximately half mile south of Cowfold on A281) Meet 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7.30 pm. The George IV, Baldock, London Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire. SG7 6LZ Meet 1st Tuesday of every month from 7.30 pm. The Fox Inn, Waterloo Road, Felpham, Nr Bognor Regis, West Sussex. PO22 7EH Meet 1st Wednesday of every month from 7.00 pm. The Snipe Inn, Alfreton Road, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. NG17 1JE Meet 1st Monday of every month from 12.30 pm (believed to be one of the longest running meets). The Thames Court, Shepperton, Towpath, Shepperton. TW17 9LJ
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) 8452 990332 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
thesmartclub has 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. 18
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
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 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) 8452 990332
‘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 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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How to guide Changing the brake pads on a 451 model Our continued thanks to FQ101 for their continued contribution to 4site Magazine. With the advent of the new 453 models, it may be time for those 451 owners to start thinking about some routine checks and maintenance on any 451 model they own. The following is a simple sequence to guide you through a brake pad change on the front of your car. The smart OEM brake pads are generally good for about 30,000 miles whereas the discs last longer. Standard smart pads can be bought for around ÂŁ35 and are quite straightforward to fit as this guide aims to show.
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To start, you need to slacken off the front wheel bolts, jack up the car and remove the wheel. We recommend supporting the front of the car on axle stands for extra safety.
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With the wheel removed, you can access the top bolt of the calliper. Use a 17mm spanner as shown to hold the bolt piston while you slacken the bolt with a 13mm socket.
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Once the bolt it removed, the calliper will swing down revealing the two brake pads. Lift both brake pads out of the frame taking care not to breathe in any brake dust.
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The following picture compares a new pad with ones of those removed. Note how low the pad on the right has become. Any lower and there is a risk that the pad backing would have made made contact with the disc. Apart from making an awful noise, there is a risk that this would start damaging the disc.
Note: The pads with the metal tabs go at the back of the disk (in contact with the piston). Those without tabs go at the front.
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Fit one of the new rear pads to the back of the disc as shown below. As the old pads wore down over time, the brake piston extended to compensate. As a result, you won’t be able to fit the front pad until this piston has been moved back in. 4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
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To allow the brake piston to move, you need to release the pressure in the system. Open the front service hatch so that you have access to the brake fluid reservoir.
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Unscrew the cap so that it is fully loose.
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With the rear pad fitted, close the calliper and pull it towards you. You will need to push against the front of the calliper to stop the steering from turning as you do this. You will need to overcome a lot of resistance in the brake piston at first but it will then move. Keep an eye on your brake fluid reservoir as the level will rise. Be prepared to remove any excess from the reservoir before it overflows!
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With the brake piston all the way back, you can now fit the front pad and close the calliper.
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Check the pad springs are correctly located as follows:
You will need to force the calliper shut in order to get the retaining bolt back in the top. Use the 17mm spanner to hold the bolt piston while you tighten the bolt up with the 13mm spanner. Repeat for the other side.
Before completing the job, check the following: • New pads are fitted correctly with their springs aligned as shown above. • Calliper retaining bolts are fully tight • Brake fluid is at the correct level in the reservoir • Brake fluid reservoir cap has been tightened up. Now refit the wheels and lower the car. Before driving anywhere, pump the brake pedal with the ignition on. Check that the brake pedal stiffens up correctly. Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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ebike Review
As promised in an earlier issue of 4site smart magazine, and following our review of the smart ed, we were keen to provide you with a further review based on us ‘Living with a smart ebike’. Our thanks goes to Mark Bloomfield at ‘Fudgesmart’ who kindly asked us to temporarily store an ebike for him for subsequent collection and, as part of that agreement, he was more than happy for us to conduct a long term review of the ebike itself.
The ‘chain’ to drive the rear wheel has vanished and is replaced by a maintenance free carbon fibre belt – not only does this provide incredible reliability but it also avoids the need for (for those of us who remember) strapping on a set of rather attractive bicycle clips to prevent an oily chain decorating the lower parts of one’s jeans! Also new to my world of conventional cycling is the fact that (ideally) there’s an ‘on’ switch. This is located on the removable LCD dashboard of the ebike.
I recall as a child (and beyond) spending hours and hours cycling to no particular destination and I was extremely excited by the launch of the ebike and the array of technological development that had gone into the ebike. And so it was that the ebike was delivered to me for storage and review. My first impression was how much heavier it as than I expected (weighing in at just over 26kg) I was also impressed by the array of technical goodies that formed a composite part of this machine. So, without even turning a pedal, I first began to look at the mechanical and electrical ‘bits on view’.
This dashboard (or ‘centre console’ as it’s referred to by smart) is a nicely designed bit of kit that clips into the centre of the handlebars and provides a variety of real time interactive information about you and your ebike. Arriving at your destination, you simply unclip the dash and pop it in your pocket. Sitting on each side of the main display are two buttons. The top left is the ‘Power’ switch enabling the various functions on the ebike including the LED daytime running light and rear light. The lower left switch allows a range of functions to be scrolled through on the display providing information on trip distance, odometres, average speed and clock functions. Top right and lower right switches enable functions on the display to be selected or incremental values to be selected for charging or recharging the power unit.
For those of us who recall the rubber brake pads that used to be pressed against the side rim of the front and rear wheels, the brakes on the smart ebike are quite simply awesome. They comprise 180mm drilled discs on front and rear, operated by twin piston brake callipers driven by respective cables on each side of the handlebars.
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Switching on the bike (pressing the top left button on the centre console) ensures that the console display bounces into life and the central area of that display is ready to display your road speed. The lower centre of the screen provides a graphical representation of the battery charge status, similar to that used in mobile phones. Beneath the charge display is the value or values selected to be displayed by using the lower left key (such as average speed etc). The real meat of the display however is the twin bar graph displays shown to the left and right of the screen.
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The display on the right represents the ‘Drive Level’ – in other words, how much electrically powered assistance you are calling upon whilst pedalling. The more shaded bars that are selected (1 thru 4) the higher the assistance. There’s no doubt that this does work well and remember this is not an electric bike .. this is an ebike. OK so what’s the difference I hear you shout? On conventional electric bikes an electric motor will drive one or more wheels; this power can be used when required avoiding the need for some or any pedal power. There’s a whole bunch of regulations across Europe that apply to such electrically powered vehicles and the ebike has cleverly positioned itself in the market to ensure that many of these (potentially restrictive) regulations do not necessarily apply as the electrical assistance being provided to the ebike is only there when you are actually pedalling. Stop pedalling, there’s no electrical assistance and you freewheel to a stop. That’s a big differentiator from an electric bike. Furthermore, we note that there are actually three different motor power outputs depending on the country in which you reside. The UK has a motor with a 200 watt continuous power rating, EU countries benefit from an extra 50 watts of ‘ooomph’ with 250 watts and Canada has an impressive 300 watts. This leads to a maximum speed assistance restriction of 25 kph (15.5 mph) in UK and EU whilst the Canadians can zoom along at an assisted 32kph (20 mph). So, when pedalling, you can select and engage the ‘Drive level’ of choice to immediately feel the benefit of that ‘helping hand’ when you reach an incline, steep hill or, quite frankly, just get a little weary. The effect is very much one of someone helping you pedal – the effort required to ‘push’ the bike forward is reduced proportionality for each additional step in ‘Drive Level’ you engage. The left hand bar chart is the ‘Generator Level’ and this reflects the amount of power being generated to recharge/top up the battery power. There are, again, four levels of generation that can be selected and the higher the number, the higher the braking effect that is applied to the rear wheel of the bike as the forward motion of the bike is used to generate power to recharge the battery when any of the four levels is deployed. As such, if you encountered a long downhill section of road when you may wish to ‘freewheel’ down the road, you can select a suitable amount of ‘Generation’ that will apply a constant braking effect to the rear wheel minimising the need for you to brake and equally providing you with a good level of recharge to the battery. The brakes referred to above also play a key part in the recharge and energy recovery loop. Pressing the left brake lever to operate the front disc brake also automatically operates a switch to flip the motor into ‘energy recovery mode’ and this has the effect of braking the rear wheel. The momentary braking effect of that rear wheel by the motor enables energy to be recovered to help recharge the battery. Only if the battery is fully charged will this ‘simultaneous’ braking effect not be launched.
Within this battery pack is a charging socket (similar to those one would find on a laptop). A nice touch is the ability to swipe your finger across this socket on the side of the battery pack to illuminate a coloured LED that gives an immediate indication of the battery status where Green indicates over 85% charged, Orange is over 25% up to 85% and Red is below 25% charge. The good news is that the ebike does not have to be switched on to do this check. The battery unit itself is locked in place with a key and, whilst the key is not used n a conventional manner to ‘start’ the ebike (!), it does allow the battery pack to be unlocked and removed for charging in a suitable location whilst your ebike is secured elsewhere. Charge time from ‘zero’ to fully charged takes around 5 hours.
The right hand handlebar has a conventional twist grip selector enabling the choice of one of three gear selections to be made. There’s no doubt that the smart ebike is an impressive bit of kit and, with some great offers available at smart Retailers, it’s a good time consider purchasing an ebike this year.
On the centre console display, in between the ‘Generator Level’ indicator and the ‘Drive Level’ indicator, sits a picture of a bicycle and yes, this appears when neither Generator nor Drive are selected and you are simply cycling a ‘conventional;’ pedal powered bicycle.
Overall the cycling experience is great, albiet, somewhat surreal when cycling with assistance from a selected ‘Drive Level’. For the majority of cyclists who may not form part of the ‘semi professional cycling world’, it’s great to have this power assist when required. In addition, for the techno-geeks, this ebike is bristling with innovative technology (it’s even possible to hook up your smart phone for even more functionality). From my own perspective and I speak as someone who has never really been on a conventional bicycle for years and who would really benefit from such exercise, this is a bike that got me out there, enjoying the cycling and the innovation that sat behind it – so that must be a good thing!
Just above the pedal assembly is the 48 volt battery pack that is secured in place by a locking mechanism operated by a key.
If you’ve not tried it already get down to a smart Retailer and take a test – you’d be surprised how good this is.
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Smart times 2014 Cascais
Visitors to smart times 2013 were given the chance to vote where the 2014 event was going to be held. Despite a great pitch from the UK for everyone to #VoteBrighton, and an equally good offering from Vienna, the majority voted for this year’s event to be held in Cascais, Portugal. Due to the distance involved in reaching Cascais, like many I decided early on to fly out and hire a car there. Sadly I didn’t get a smart fortwo hire car and I’m grateful to Alan “smart trailers” Manton for the use of the passenger seat in his hired smart. I arrived on Wednesday, behind those who had driven from as far as Norway via the official smart times roadtrip, but ahead of the main throng of smart owners. Cascais is a marina town to the west of Lisbon Portugal, with a small beach, a modern shopping centre and several large squares and open spaces, many of which were taken over for the time smart was in town. The main area of the event was adjacent to the beach, the shopping centre and the town square, with a road dissecting the various areas. From Friday this road was closed to all but smart owners, and the place truly became alive with smart cars of all types.
As has become the case with smart times, there were pre-event trips organised for those who arrived early, trips to the most Westerly point of Europe (Cabo Da Roca), to Lisbon and to Sintra (a UNESCO World Heritage site). On Thursday we took a short road trip to Lisbon, around 30 cars in a tube, stopping off at Torre de Belém on the way for refreshments. When we arrived in Lisbon we parked up next to Parque Eduardo VII and enjoyed a meal with other smart owners. Thursday evening brought a brief opening ceremony from the perpetually effervescent Dr Annette Winkler, thanking everyone for their attendance and marking the event open.
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On Friday there was a pre-event drive out to Sintra. I chose to stay behind and mill around – enjoying a stroll around the town and then checking out all the smarts already at the venue and those arriving ahead of the weekend’s fun. Late afternoon saw a smart car stunt show at the marina site, a short walk from the main area, a pair of motorbike engined smarts were doing doughnuts, wheelies and the like! Loud, very clever driving which was appreciated by all.
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Friday evening saw the traditional smart times opening ceremony, where Dr Winkler (who on a couple of occasions was heard to chastise people for not calling her Annette!) welcomed individually all the countries represented by the owners in the audience. Our small but perfectly formed UK contingent gave a big woop when the Union flag was on the screen. After a short interlude Annette and the head of smart & Mercedes Portugal drove onto the stage in the new smart fortwo and forfour – for most this was their first sight of these exciting new cars. As always Dr Winkler was enthusiastic about her new offspring, as were the crowd. Once the ceremony was over and the music started I made a decision to call it a day but a call from Alan changed my plans.
In the courtyard of his hotel were a new fortwo and forfour, being ably demonstrated by Dr Winkler. I was wearing my corporate polo shirt from thesmartclub, and she complimented me on my colour coordination, the fortwo being black & orange both outside and in. We were able to explore the cars both inside and out. I think the consensus was that they’re really quite good, the interior being a massive leap in quality and design. As always with smart times, Saturday brings the parade. This time we were starting at the world famous Estoril Circuit, previously home to the Portuguese Grand Prix, a great venue for us smart owners. A special line was set for drivers of the smart forfour, who were celebrating it’s 10th birthday, who were given a special honorary lap of the circuit. While waiting for the off, votes were being cast for the competition category of “Craziest smart” - the winner being a smart covered in “fur” and referred to as Doggy Style........... Second place went to Sue & Trevor Toogood from Wales with Sue’s pink fortwo BRABUS , referred to as Pearly Girly.
After a very short shower (it wouldn’t be a smart times parade without a shower!) we headed off onto the roads via an almost full lap of the Estoril circuit.
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
The madness of the smart times parade then ensued, hundreds and hundreds of smarts all beeping their horns and waving. The route took in some very pretty roads in the Sintra national park, then headed along the coast and back into Cascais where we caused utter mayhem! Personally I think this was the best parade ever, all the side roads closed off to other traffic by the local police who were amazing in their organisational skills.
Saturday evening’s show, as usual, consisted of confirming the numbers who participated in the parade (1427 smarts, a new record) and 2380 people. Dr Winkler then went on to thank those involved in organising the event, showing footage of the day, and then time came to announce where smart times 2015 was to be held. This was a tightly kept secret, and this year it was predecided, no voting as in previous times. The video started and it soon became clear, from the effect they used to show the flag, that we were off to Hungary in 2015, to Budapest. The general consensus was that this would be an interesting venue - and we were given fliers with a preview of the location, showing what we can expect for smart times 2015 – you can view this preview document and register your attendance at: www.smarttimes15.com
Our great thanks and appreciation go to Lautstark Austria, smart HQ and to the Residents, City and Police from Cascais for their impeccable organisational skills in making this a superb event. Tony Williams
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Madrid Rally 2014
On Sunday 18th May, at the somewhat unearthly hour of 08:00hrs, we were at the start line ready to commence six days of Endurance Rallying across Spain, into Portugal and back again to the start point, located just north of Madrid in Soto del Real. Peter Davis and Carol Bury behind ‘all that is the Guild of Motor Endurance’ had promised competitors a demanding route that would include “ … spectacular roads across the Sierra Gredos….” and take us“…over the tortuous mountain roads of Monte Muro into the maze of the Rio Douro”. This was truly the ethos of endurance rallying and made all the better when one is doing this ‘against the clock’ made even better by the spectacularly brilliant quality of the Spanish roads! Day 2, Monday - We awoke to some low cloud, not what one would wish for knowing that from now on we were heading up into the mountains. We set on a competitive 414km heading north west and then directly west towards Portugal in the direction of Mortagua. The mist turned into rain which turned into thick fog and although that may sound miserable, it was actually super exciting in terms of quick driving challenges! Better still from a co-driver’s perspective, the 50m visibility hid the precipitous drops either side of some of the mountain sections. The car had been running superbly well and, other than an early couple of penalties where we lost time amongst local traffic on a mountain link road, we’d encountered no problems.
Not only was our smart Roadster the lowest powered car on the event and, by some way, the lowest engine capacity at only 698cc, we were (prior to the start) hopeful that in the ‘Up to 1000cc’ class we’d stand a reasonable chance of a good Class place … and then we discovered that the ‘Up to 1000cc class’ had been binned and we were now part of the ‘big chaps’ in up to 1600cc. We also now knew that car and crew would have to be working super hard to get some good times and good results.
Day 3, Tuesday - morning at 08:00hrs we left the start to head South West to Sao Pedro de Alva before heading further west for a tortuous 280km of mountain sections consisting of a loop around Gouveia and then North near Guarda through further single track mountain sections (and more precipitous drops in the fog) before arriving at the Day 3 finish in Fornos de Algodres.
Day 1, Sunday - Just after 08:00hrs on the Sunday we set off on the six day event, heading north to Rascaeria and then eventually south west to finish at Valdastillas. The route would cover 338 competitive kilometres and with the nice smooth tarmac and flowing roads, each stage was a pleasure to drive on. This first, beautifully sunny day was made even better by a remarkably sensible finish time at an equally good Hotel. Time for a good meal, a beer or two and a chance to review the day’s events, stages and driving challenges.
Day 4, Wednesday - We awoke to more mist but, after a great night’s sleep and great company, we were ready to start the 281km of driving to what was effectively the mid way point of the rally. North out of Fornos de Algodres directly up to the Portuguese border, a quick left to head back South east again, before climbing north all the way to the overnight halt at Vila Real. The early roads were still good, not quite the billiard surface of Spain, but enough to keep the stage times quick enough to keep up with the ‘big boys’ although we were conscious that the Roadster engine was being worked extremely hard. We’d experienced nearly three continuous days of mountain sections and with only 698cc and around 110 bhp under the right foot (and I confess, a few kilos extra given my somewhat out of shape physique!) it was either full throttle or braking with very little in between.
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The rain had already caused problems for a few of our fellow competitors and had also resulted in some mega scares for other including us. The problem was that the volume of rain coming down was now washing the diesel and farm vehicle oil off the tracks and down onto the tarmac. This gathered very thoughtfully on the apex of hard left or hard right sections of the mountain roads meaning one went from super grip to no grip and some frantic juggling of the wheel, and anything else, to keep the car between wall and cliff. Scary stuff but the Roadster was superb. Around half way through the day, and as we started the drive north to Vila Real, the roads deteriorated into rough farm tracks and whilst it meant less chance of hitting diesel on smooth tarmac, it did mean that every component of the car and multiple components of our bodies were being shaken continuously.
At around 15:00hrs there was the most horrible noise from the offside rear of the car... that horrible metallic scraping noise that judders through every element of the body work. The section was narrow but fortunately about 50 metres ahead there was a farmer’s gate – we pulled over, hit the ‘kill’ switch and the noise stopped. OK – it’s either engine or transmission but we’re up against the clock so no time really for theoretical physics. A quick restart of the engine and all sounded OK. The gentlest of revs and still all OK – then engage gear and move forward and all hell lets loose again from the back. So, problem is a transmission one. As I’m now 15 metres back on the main road section with the next car probably less than a minute behind me, I decided to reverse the few metres back to the farmer’s gate – just then there was a bang and the noise vanished. It transpired that a rock the size of Jupiter had wedged itself between the offside rear drive shaft and some part of the bodywork – freak gap in the protection but, hey, we were good to go! As it was, we reached the end of the stage on time and successfully ended up in Vila Real for an over night halt with no other issues.
The weather had improved slightly with the rain clearing but wow, it was cold. That afternoon we faced a tough mountain stage with a control at the foot of the mountain, timed to the top, straight into a control at the summit to immediately leave and blast back down the mountain to reach the next control. Sure it was misty and cold but at least it was dry. We started the section and, as ever, the Roadster stuck to the road as though on rails through every uphill mountain hairpin. Around 1km from the summit the handling characteristics vanished and it was clear we had a rear nearside puncture. With no chance of stopping on the section, we pushed with a very flat flat to the summit, did a very quick tyre change and pushed hard to get down the mountain to arrive at the next controlat the foot of the mountain within our target time – excellent stuff. When heading to the finish hotel that night, we realised that it now meant we had no spare tyre and one day of competition still to go! We knew we were doing well in class and had a good position ‘overall’ but risking Day 6 with no spare made no sense. Furthermore the spare we had was a ‘front’ wheel and we now had this on the rear so it made for some interesting handling. En route to the Hotel we bumped into Dick and Ben, two of the Marshalling team, who advised they’d seen a garage open late and it looked like a tyre bay place. We found the garage with a hugely excited owner who was only too happy to help get this Roadster back into the Madrid rally. Whilst they had no tyre in stock to suit the car, no less than FIVE tyre technicians discussed the damage to the tyre with a view to a repair. A Pirelli specialist coincidentally was on site and between the six people, they worked for just under 2 hours and came out with perfect repair!
Day 5, Thursday - Penultimate day and now, as the route heads back towards the Madrid finish, you really have to believe that if the car’s made it this far, then the simple things that will fail should have failed by now. And so it’s time to automatically engage the super sensitive hearing and mentally question every strange noise or strange handing experience during each stage. The start took us from Vila Real on a south east route through the mountains with a finish point near Bejar. The morning sections went well and the car, thankfully was handling superbly. Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Madrid Rally 2014 continued...
Day 6, Friday - And so, the final day of the Rally. A judgement call had to be made that morning – stay on the ‘good’ but wrong profile wheel or use the repaired wheel and tyre. One thing we knew is that we could not afford to lose any time if we were to achieve a good Class and Overall position. It was a gamble either way but we decided to stick with what we had and keep the repaired wheel and tyre as a spare. We set off in misty conditions to head East back to Soto Del Real along some superbly smooth Spanish road sections – the sun came out, we and others were ahead of target times and it gave the chance to catch up at various checkpoints.
That evening we pulled into the finish control at the finish Hotel and, within 15 minutes, were sitting in the car park with a beer, great company and some amazingly competitive cars. It had been a fantastic rally – we achieved a 1st in Class (up to 1600cc), 3rd overall and, with our team partners lan Robinson/Ruth Robinson from the UK in a Ginetta and Dirk Meert/Inez (Itse) Jacquemyn from Luxembourg in their Mazda we also achieved 1st Team awards (Team Lettucewin).
Fiona had performed faultlessly on the navigation and our smart Roadster had again performed superbly - our thanks go to Graham Affleck (Market Area Director Mercedes-Benz of Edinburgh) and the team at smart of Edinburgh for their support past and present, to Visirun (Italy), XYZ Brakes (Taiwan) and Optigear (Germany). Of course, the event would not happen without Peter Davis and Carol Bury from the Guild of Motor Endurance and, even then, it could not run without the amazing support and participation of the Marshals Dick Tyler, Ben Hall, Steve & Denise Cherry.
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Earlier this year, a new service for UK based smart car owners launched helping such owners to find a smart service or repair centre in a location to suit them. The ‘Help my smart’ online service allows users to select a geographic location, address, town, postcode of even part of a desired Retailer or Independent 3rd party company name. With full Google map functionality, once the desired area has been selected, markers identify smart Retailers and/or 3rd party companies who may be able to assist. A ‘pin’ on the map identifies the specific location of each such company and, when clicked, will offer full contact details and a direct link to that Retailer or 3rd party web site. As the service uses Google Maps, one can zoom to street level and use Google Street View to locate the premises. Retailers and 3rd Party companies (Independents) are further categorised indicating whether a company is a ‘Featured Retailer’ or ‘Featured Independent’. Such ‘Featured’ companies have further details, offers and promotions available via thesmartclub’s web site and/or ‘4site’ smart Magazine.
The service is providing incredibly popular with over 400 unique visitors per day visiting the service and this is increasing exponentially each month. You can find out more at www.helpmysmart.com or, if you are unable to access the web, you can contact thesmartclub directly on +44 (0) 8452 990332.
Oldest smart driver in the UK? Just a little background about me and my vehicle history. Attached are photos of me and my Smart. I also used to have two Buses that I took to transport shows the Albion I restored from a very sorry state and the Ford I converted to a motorhome; my wife and I travelled the length and breadth of the UK. After becoming very ill (OK now) the DVLA took away my PCV license, hence the Taxi which I now show. When I took my Fiat Doblo in for its MOT I took a stroll around the forecourt and there was this very small, very Smart little car saying “please take me home with you”, so I did after selling my Fiat! I hope this hasn’t gone on too long and has given you an insight into me! Trevor Walters
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Crossblade Days 2014
This annual event was organised by the German Crossblade Club.
Dino, Herm and Peter März between them put the spectacular drive together. There were five participants from the UK namely Ian Weir, David Selmon, Rob and Briony Baker, Nina and Chris Wood and myself. We crossed the channel on the Eurotunnel and drove to our first stop, Nancy in France. The next day, we drove to Lorach and met up with Peter and Inge März at Vitra Campus where were joined by a further group of Crossblade owners. This was the starting point of our real adventure. Peter had planned a spectacular driving experience from Lorach into the Swiss Alps, night stopping in Lavarno, and then continuing on through the Italian Alps into Verona where we met up with the full contingent of 22 Crossblades in all. Our base, for the next 3 days was the 4 star Hotel Corte Cavilli (Lago di Garda) which was set in a vineyard. Over the next 3 days we did a series of superb drives, which including ‘Gardesana Orientale Tour’, ‘Militärstraße über den Monte Baldo’ and ‘Gardesana Occidentale Tour”, which had been pre-planned and put together over old military roads leading up way above Lake Garda.
The next day the weather improved and we drove from Adermat to Lorach where we said goodbye to Peter and Inge März. We continued onto Nancy for our night stop.
Many of the roads passed through tunnels hewn out of solid rock connected to a series of never ending hairpin bends. Our journey also embraced both sides of Lake Garda. We then drove on to Lake Como, crossing the lake via car ferry moving onto Bellagio. During the course of this day the heavens opened up and we had several hours of torrential rain. We took refuge at the Antica Trattoria where we dried out and then progressed on up through the St. Gothard Pass to Adermat.
The following day we returned to the UK. The total for us was an excessive 2100 miles for the 8-day event.
It was a cold 5 degrees.
Article kindly submitted by Colin Hyams although he confesses that “all credit goes to Charlize Hyams because Colin is too slow to type... He uses 1 fat finger.”
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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 • 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.
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. Motor Insurance by smart is arranged by Daimler Insurance Services UK Limited and underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. Registered in Scotland, No. 2116. Registered Office: Pitheavlis, Perth PH2 0NH. Daimler Insurance Services are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Aviva Insurance Limited are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
smart – A Daimler Brand.
Issue 28 - 2014 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Magazine design & production by Oliver Whittaker Š 2014 32
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