TarMag - September by TarMag

Track and Road Magazine

Lamborghini LP560-4 Reviewed 317bbhp Mazda RX7 Life with the L200

KNOCKHILL REVIEW

LING TIME

Strathycruise

Accident Guide

PHOTOGRAPHER DEWARS CENTRE

FREE MONTHLY ONLINE MAGAZINE - WWW.TARMAG.CO.UK

Sept 08 #1

>>>>

The smartest route everyday. ™ TomTom IQ Routes The quickest route to your destination may differ from a Sunday evening to a Monday morning. Now there is a unique technology that calculates the fastest option for that route: TomTom IQ Routes.™ It takes any hold-ups that might slow you down into account (e.g. rush hour, zebra crossings, traffi c lights), giving you far more accurate route advice and arrival times. So even in areas you know well, you avoid stress and save time and fuel. Making it ideal for everyday use. And weekends. And holidays. And… TomTom IQ Routes.™ Now on the new TomTom GO. For more information www.tomtom.com

wELCOME It’s Finally here! TarMag - Track and Road Magazine. I’m Max Manford, Chief Editor and I personally would like to welcome you! So what to expect from TarMag? Well all the latest motoring news, reviews including all aspects of the motoring industry from 4x4’s, modified cars, supercars and of course “general” motoring.

Topic of the month and every other month is Cars! We here at TarMag aim to set new standards in automotive journalism with an editorial style unique to TarMag. Our reviews cover everything you would expect from a Car Magazine but with so much more! We put the cars through our rigorous road tests, and report on the practical elements that you our readers want to read about. We also review Motoring industry business/websites and we ask the important questions that you want to know. Topped with gadget reviews and manufacturer news. TarMag covers everything from the latest super cars to GPS satellite navigation systems. Being an online digital magazine, we will also be including video reviews.

Whether you work within the motoring industry, sales person, or a consumer, our news has got it covered. The mix of information provided combined with the talents of our editors and their drivers, make TarMag a worthwhile read! So are you ready to turn the page?

Article by Max Manford

max.manford@tarmag.co.uk Chief Editor

Feel free to email into to us any questions you may have! Thanks again.

TARMAG

THE ULTIMATE IN PERFORMANCE DRIVING

To truly appreciate a supercar it must be driven in the kind of environment it was intended for. RIO Prestige has created a range of unique Driving Adventures designed to offer the ultimate on-road driving experience in the UK. Experience the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest sports cars on some truly epic routes.

www.rioprestige.com 0845 0095 911

INDEX M o t o rin g Ne ws 7 - 11 Spotted 13-15

THE TARMAG TEAM Managing Editor: N icholas Bradford Nicholas@tarmag.co.uk Tel: 0870-312-1827 Assistant Editor: Max Manford Max@tarmag.co.uk Tel: 0870-312-1827 Adver tising & Marketing : David Daniels D avid@tarmag.co.uk Tel: 0701-740-0827 Contributing Editors: N icholas Bradford, Ben Weston, Max Manford, David Daniels General Enquiries: Tel : 0870-312-1827 Fax: 0870-315-6827 info@tarmag.co.uk Subscription and back issues contac t sub@tarmag.co.uk TarMag -Enquiries 199A Borough Road M iddlesbrough TS4 2BN

G e n e ra l M o t o rin g 1 7 - 2 1 K n oc k h ill 2 3 - 2 7 C o l in M c Ra e Trib u t e 2 9 - 3 1 A c c id e n t Gu id e 3 3 - 3 5 G a d g e t Re v ie ws 3 9 - 4 1 M i t su b is h i L 2 0 0 4 3 - 4 7 F i a t 5 0 0 Alp in e Re v ie w 4 9 - 5 3 S t r a t h y c ru is e 5 5 - 5 9 M a z d a RX- 7 6 1 - 6 3 L a mb o rg h in i 6 5 - 6 9 A d a m Ru s s e ll 7 1 - 7 5 L i n g Time 7 7 - 8 1 D e wa rs Ce n t re 8 3 - 8 4 C o mp e t it io n 8 6 Wr e ck e d Ex o t ic s 8 7 - 8 9

INDEX 5

écurie25 Supercar Club

More supercars, more days, no mileage limit, & more membership options... We have recently added the following cars to the 19-strong fleet:

Aston Martin DBS Porsche GT3 RS Maserati Quattroporte Bentley Flying Spur

Our membership plans and credits system have been updated to give members more days driving - specifically more weekends. To see exactly what you can expect as an écurie25 member, plan your membership year using the membership configurator at www.ecurie25. co.uk/configurator. Membership provides an economical and stress free alternative to ownership. We provide members with an immaculate fleet of supercars, whilst taking care of all depreciation, maintenance, servicing and insurance. Membership plans start at £5k per year plus £1,500 one-off joining fee. Payment plans also available. Fees are inclusive of VAT and insurance.

Want a closer look? We hold regular open evenings at our base on Old Street in the City. Alternatively you are welcome to book an appointment to view the fleet at a time convenient to you.

Please call or register on our website for more details.

écurie25 limited, 250 Old Street, London, EC1V 9DD. t: 020 7159 2543 e: info@ecurie25.co.uk w: ecurie25.co.uk

This Months NEWS

All the latest news and gossip in the motoring industry from TarMag.....

Why have 1 Fiat when you can have 72!

Models purchased include engine sizes of 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 litres and with Spor t or Lounge specification interiors. All engines boast outstanding per formance and economy, coupled to ultra-clean green cre dentials, as illustrated by the 1.2 Pop version, which scooped top honours in the Green Supermini categor y at the What Car? Green Awards held in London last month. Of special interest to fleet buyers, residual value guides for the Fiat 500, (which has a star ting price of just £8,100), have recently increased, due in par t to the model’s huge success. Current estimates rate the entr y level 500 1.2 Pop as having a retained value at 47 per cent after three years.

Seventy two all-black Fiat 500 superminis have been acquired on contract hire by communications specialist Nokia, in a fleet deal that will see the distinctively liveried Fiats help kick-start a new high profile promotion by the phone manufacturing giant. This summer, Nokia is launching ‘Nokia Connectors’ sending teams of student brand ambassadors on to UK streets, parks, beaches and parties, to help the public unlock the full potential from their phones. Based all over

the UK in 18 key cities and armed with Nokia handsets and Fiat 500s, the aim is for brand ambassadors to entertain and connect with potential consumers, particularly in relation to Nokia’s new 6220 phone. The vehicle purchasing brief was for a great looking car that fitted Nokia’s youthful brand image. The 500, currently Car of the Year 2008, is rapidly becoming a lifestyle must-have, and was selected over stiff opposition. The 500s will be driven on contract hire over the next three to six

“ This business win is typical of the fleet interest being shown in the Fiat 500 right now by companies large and small,” says Fiat Auto Financial Services’ Business Finance Manager David Joyce. “ The retro-styling of the new 500, which has already captured the public’s imagination, is now filtering through to fleet users.”

The “Quantum of Solace” special edition Ford Ka

The Name is KA, Ford Ka..... The “Quantum of Solace” special edition Ford Ka

“Quantum of Solace” the highly-anticipated new James Bone Adventure features a cameo appearance from the all-new Ford Ka. A special edition “Quantum of Solace” Ka has been created with metallic gold paint with excusive interior graphics and interior trim! Compact in size, great looks, lively dynamics and a fun personality - retaining all the qualities which made the Ka so popular.

A tremendously popular car amongst small car buyers, in total throughout its 12-year life, the Ka production has exceeded 1.4 million vehicles. The new Ka is a perfect match for the films feisty leading lady Camille played by Olga Kyrtlenko - a woman on a mission who quickly becomes an unlikely ally for Bond! The new Ka continues the re-

The New Toyota Avensis

lationship with Ford and the James Bond Films following the Latest Ford Mondeo which featured in the 2006 Blockbuster “Casino Royale” Staring Daniel Craig as the legendary secret agent, James Bond “ Quantum of Solace” opens in the UK 31st October. We look forward to reviewing it in the November issue of TarMag.

MEET THE FAN IN THE VAN!

An all new, British-built, Toyota Avensis will make its world debut on 2 October at the fashionable Paris motor show. Taking centre stage on the Toyota stand Avensis has a sleek design that reflects the car’s strong and dynamic character. New Avensis is the third generation of the model to be built at the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. Due to go on sale in January 2009 it features engines that are both more powerful and emit less CO2, a crucial factor in today’s new car market, and it retains the high quality, refinement and equipment levels that are an established Avensis

Football fans across the country will have the opportunity to vent their views from the comfort of a British-built Vivaro Doublecab during the 2008-09 season, thanks to a tie-in between Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles and talkSPORT radio. Towards the end of the 2008-09 season, a Vivaro similar to the ‘Fan in the Van’ one will be given away as part of a talkSPORT listener competition.talkSPORT’s Match Day Live programme is broadcast every Saturday during the football season, between 12.00pm and 5.00pm.

“F” Prefix Released DVLA Personalized Registrations is unlocking its safe, and releasing the F-Series Registrations. Over 20,000 new F-Series plates will be available. F1, F2, F3 racing series drivers and supporters will be able to pick up such plates as “F1 DAD”, “F1 SON”, etc. The F-Series registration plates will start at £599 and you will be able to view the plates available from Monday 8th September at www.dvlaregistrations. co.uk, and available to purchase from Tuesday 7th October.

572 BHP 0-62MPH in 4.5 Seconds

AUDI RS6 SALOON JOINS THE NEW AUDI A6 RANGE 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, 5.0-litre V10 b i -Tu r b o, h a s t o b e t h e a l l n e w A u d i R S 6 S a l o o n ! Av a i l a b l e i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e A u d i R S 6 Av a n t w h i c h w a s l a u n c h e d at the start of 2008, the Saloon is now on sale priced at £76,160 costing £1,570 l e s s t h a n t h e e x i s t i n g Av a n t v e r s i o n a n d 0.01mph faster (but we are not counting?), and deliveries commencing Nov e m b e r. To p s p e e d o f 1 5 5 m p h l i m i t e d , h o w e v e r it can be 175mph as an optional derestriction package! Six speed triptonic

automatic transmission, and surprisingly thanks to its FSI injection efficiency it will achieve a real world economy figure of 20.3mpg. The RS 6 also features the Audi LED daytime running lights. One of the other options available is the 3D Satellite Navigation system which features a 40GB Hard Drive which to store all your favorite music! Who needs an Ipod eh! We a t Ta r M a g a r e b i g f a n s o f t h e A u d i R S series, so we hope to review this as soon as we can get our hands on one! (HINT

The Audi R8 - Race Developed For the first time Audi Sports have developed a racing sports cars for its customers in the form of the 500bhp GT3 version of the Audi R8. Available from autumn 2009. In the mean time Audi AG customer programme, logistics and factory will be created over the next few months in Ingolstandt, Neckarsulm and Györ.

The Audi R8 AKA “R16” within Audi Sport and the first prototype successfully completed a roll out into the hands of Audi Factory driver Frank Beila.

Due to the GT3 regulations, the Audi R8 will come as a typical GT rear-wheel drive with its newly developed six speed sequential gear box, with the suspension system keeping components from the production line R8.

The Audi R8 (R16) will take part in its first test races scheduled for the 2009 season, and deliveries to customers commencing autumn 2009.

The Audi R8 conforms to the productionbased GT3 regulations allowing the car to be in many national & international race series.

First races planned for 2009 season Audi Race Developed version of the R8

TWINGO RENAULTSPORT 133 - THE NEW ENTRY POINT TO THE WORLD OF RENAULTSPORT Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the result of a dual challenge which sought to deliver a car with genuine sporting credentials at the affordable price of £11,550. It is a Renaultsport car through and through, and features the same ingredients that have helped forge the success of its larger siblings, the Clio and Mégane Renaultsport. These include specific styling, coupled with a chassis, engine and braking system engineered for a high standard of performance that is also suited to everyday use All retail customers who place an order for a Twingo Renaultsport 133 within the first 133 days of ordering opening will receive a voucher for a free place on a Renaultsport trackday in 2009 with driver tuition at either Brands Hatch, Oulton Park or Bedford Autodrome. You can find out more information by visiting your nearest Renault dealer, or by logging on to www.renaultsport.co.uk.

08 Spotted

Spotted ? Seen a sweet ride, modified car, supercar recently, and by chance you took a photo of it? Well send it into to TarMag spotted@tarmag.co.uk Each month we give away the best picture prize! This month prize is some TarMag Goodies so get sending in your pics...

Article by Max Manford Photographâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by our readers

SPOTTED 13

Alex From London

3 Rollers - Taken DORCHESTER HOTEL, LONDON

Tom From Oxford

Lamborghini spotted - Marlow, Bucks

Mike From Essex

Sunny From Middlesbrough

Aston Martin - Spotted in london

mERCEDES slr - tAKEN IN LONDON

08 general motoring

The Cars : Jaguar XKR-S Vauxhall Insignia The General Motoring section : This section of the magazine covers the latest in concept and production cars.

Articles by Ben Weston

general 17

The Jaguar XKR-S of 2008 S i n c e t h e I n d i a n a u t o m o t i v e g i a n t , Ta t a , bought Jaguar from Ford, we’ve seen a new flare of innovation and ‘Britishness’ coming through in their cars. From t h e b r a n d n e w X F, t h e f o r t h c o m i n g X J , and now this XKR-S, it is evident that the Big Cat is firmly back in the game. Now you’d expect a Jaguar XKR-S to be stunning, but the model on display at the British Motor Show was on a whole new l e v e l f o r J a g u a r. I t w a s , q u i t e s i m p l y, the most beautiful car of the whole Show – an opinion shared by everyone standing around me. The S in XKR-S stands f o r ‘ s u p e r c h a r g e d ’ – J a g u a r ’s p r e f e r r e d way of turbo-charging their engines. A supercharger sits on the inlet manifold and provides instant torque boost from the beginning of the rev range and the figures really are quite impressive.

been tweaked with an even more sporting bend in mind. The figures aren’t mind-blowing but then again the XKR-S is designed to balance raw speed with on-road composure. The aluminum chassis has been stiffened and the body has been tweaked for a lesser drag coefficient with subtle changes such as a revised front airs p l i t t e r, b e t t e r d i f f u s e r a n d n e w s p o i l e r. T h e X K R - S s i t s o n 2 0 ” Vo r t e x l i g h t weight alloy wheels and the ride has b e e n d r o p p e d 1 0 m m f r o m t h e X K R ’s . Inside, is pure luxury of course? Piano b l a c k l e a t h e r, t w i n - n e e d l e s t i t c h i n g a n d a 5 2 5 - w a t t B o w e r s & Wi l k i n s s u r r o u n d sound system are all to be expected.

H o w e v e r, t h e e n g i n e , i n t e r i o r a n d e v e n drive dynamics are null and void because you’ll want to hop in to bed with Wi t h a 4 . 2 - l i t r e a l u m i n u m V 8 p u m p i n g i t a n y w a y. I t ’s t h e a u t o m o t i v e e q u i v a out 420bhp and 413lb ft of torque, you lent of Paris Hilton – you really don’t get from 0-60 in under 5 seconds and on care about the substance because it to a top speed of 174mph. The brakes l o o k s s o g o o d . A l t h o u g h t h a t ’s n o t e n have been up-rated from the standard tirely fair because the Jaguar really XKR with Alcon R does have the brains to match. Now P e r f o r m a n c e b r a k e s a n d t h e S u s p e n s i o n , t h a t ’s m y s o r t o f J a g u a r. dampers and anti-roll bar have

V a u x h a l l ’s M o n d . . . s o r r y, I n s i g n i a . Like all car lovers, I went to the British M o t o r S h o w w h e r e I s a w s o m e , f r a n k l y, stunning cars. This may not surprise you. After all, they featured the gorgeous Jaguar XKR-S concept and a surprisingly un-Peugeot 308 RCZ concept that, again, w a s t r u l y s t u n n i n g . H o w e v e r, y o u m a y b e surprised to know that among the pletho r a o f c a r p o r n w a s t h e n e w Va u x h a l l Insignia, set to replace the sore thumb of t h e Va u x h a l l f a m i l y, t h e Ve c t r a , i n 2 0 0 9 . Before you stifle your laughter and turn t h e p a g e , h e a r m e o u t . Va u x h a l l i s n o t a bad word in motoring any more. No, rea l l y. T h e A s t r a i s a t r u e G o l f - c h a l l e n g i n g pocket rocket and the Corsa and Agila are both class-leaders and somewhere thereabouts. The black sheep has long b e e n t h e Ve c t r a – d a t e d , p o o r q u a l i t y and with a range of asthmatic engines. The Ford Mondeo, especially in its new guise, proved a much better proposition i n t h e p r i c e r a n g e . H o w e v e r, t h e Va u x h a l l badge commands a smidgen more respect than the Blue Oval which is reflected in t h e 5 1 , 0 0 0 s a l e s o f Ve c t r a s s i n c e t h e r e launch of the Ford Mondeo. Back to basics For the first time since the VX220, it f e e l s l i k e t h i s Va u x h a l l w a s m a d e b y p e o ple who love cars. As any Bentley owner w i l l t e l l y o u , i t ’s t h e l i t t l e t h i n g s t h a t make the difference. For example, a push of the Sport button changes the in....

strument, dash and cabin lighting from a subtle white to a sporting red. Why? No idea but it dosen’t half put you in the mood for some right-foot-fun. Oh yes, and for those of you who want a fast drive home after dropping the kids off a t s c h o o l , t h e r e ’s a S p o r t b u t t o n – a n d i t actually does something! On models fitt e d w i t h F l e x R i d e ( Va u x h a l l ’s n e w a l l wheel-drive technology) 60% of torque is sent to the rear wheels and the suspension is stiffened for better handling during hard acceleration and cornering. Even out of Sport mode, it detects which wheels have little or no traction and diverts drive to the wheels with most grip. What does that mean? Better handling through corners and less risk of d a n c i n g i n t o a d i t c h w h e n i t ’s s n o w i n g . Of course, FlexRide won’t be available on the basic models but I can’t emphasise enough how much of a change this i s o v e r t h e o l d Ve c t r a w h e r e t h i s j u s t w a s n ’ t a n o p t i o n . H e l l , i t ’s n o t e v e n a n o p t i o n o n t h e M o n d e o . O n e - n i l t o Va u x hall. As is common with all new cars, the Insignia comes overflowing with technolo g y. F u l l y - s p e c k e d , y o u ’ l l g e t t h e a f o r e mentioned FlexRide, Adaptive Lighting to let you see “around corners” with improved visibility at night, Speed Limit Recognition that flashes up the speed of the zone you’re in on the dash computer in case you missed it, CD multichangers, s a t - n a v, t h e l i s t g o e s o n . I ’ v e y e t t o s e e how the Adaptive Lighting works but I’m interested in the speed limit recognition.

M an y a t i m e h a ve I been in unknow n te rr i t o r y, n o t r e g i stered the speed limit for o n e r e a s o n o r another (usually because I’m l o o k i n g a t a m ap) and gone sailing past a c a m e r a , o b l i v i ous to the speed limit. You k n o w, 6 0 i n a 50, that sort of thing. Ea si l y d o n e , b u t with a quick glance you’ ll be a b l e t o s e e w h at limit you’re in from the d as h . N o w t h a t is useful, for m e anywa y. G ett i n g i n si d e th e Insign ia J u s t a s F o r d e l evated the Mondeo in to a n e w c l a s s o f l u xury and refinement, so too h as Va u x h a l l w ith the Insignia. It is bei n g h a i l e d a s o ne of the best-looking cars o f 2 0 0 8 a l t h o u gh I’m not sure who exactly c a m e u p w i t h t hat. I could have even made i t u p m y s e l f b u t it certainly seems true. I h a d a c h a n c e to sit in various Insig nias a n d t h e c a b i n i s a truly nice place to be. T h e d a s h ( w h i ch bears no resemblance to t h e Ve c t r a ’s ) i s a wrap-around, cosseting a n d l u x u r i o u s affair. The instruments are t a c t i l e a n d t h e steering wheel has been r e s h a p e d t o f a l l better in the hand. It’s just m o re e rg o n o m i c . I could go as far as sa yi n g t h e i n t e r i o r feels a little more so lid t h a n a M o n d e o ’s although I’m not sure it’s q u i t e a s i n t u i t i ve in term s of the positioni n g o f t h i n g s – you feel at home in the M on d e o

right away, you just sort of seem to k n o w where everything is. The only thing t h a t breaks the façade of luxury is the g r i ff i n ba dge sitting in the middle of the s te e ring wheel. But hey, that’s been red e s i g n e d too. Be hind t he whe e l Where the Mondeo really shone wa s i n the driving. The great range of pot e n t a n d f r uga l For d e ngine s mixe d with unb e a table driving dynamics earned the M o n d e o much praise and the Insignia will h a v e a very hard time topping it. For a sta r t , i t ha s a longe r whe e lba se tha n it’s pre d e c e ssor with the whe e ls 50mm f ur the r ap a r t on e a c h a xle . This should ma ke it fe e l more grounded and builds on the Ve c t r a ’s already-robust road holding. A crit i c i s m of the Vectra was the amount of wi n d a n d road noise that leaked into the cab i n a n d this has been sorted too thanks to r e t u n e d suspe nsion bushe s. Eve n be tte r, the I n s ignia was tuned on British roads rath e r t h a n perfect Bavarian Autobahns and sh o u l d ride more comfortably because of i t . The Insignia will launch with three petrols and two diesels, all of whic h a r e f a ste r tha n the ir Monde o c ounte r pa r ts a lthough the I nsignia is slightly he a v ie r.

Th e d i e se l s a r e expected to be the bigg e s t s e l l e r s a s they were on the Vectra so i t s e e m s o d d t o have more petrol opt ions avai la b l e . I ’ m n ot a fan of G M diesel e ng i n e s , t h e y n e ver seem to be as quiet or refi n e d a s t h e Ford, H onda and P eugeot l u m p s – e s p e c i ally the great HDI engines u s e d i n t h e C o oper D, 307, etc. Aware of t h i s , Va u x h a l l are bringing tw o brand n e w 2 . 0 - l i t r e t urbo diesels to the party i n 1 2 8 b h p a n d 158bhp variants, returning 4 9 m p g . T h a t ’s almost 20bhp more than F o r d ’s 2 . 0 - l i t r e Duratorq engines and just as ec o n o m i c a l .

Va uxha ll will la unc h mor e e ngine s in c lu ding those f oc use d on e missions a nd e c o nomy in 2009 a nd the die se ls, whic h a lready fully comply with next year ’s E u r o 5 Emissions Regulations, are to be m a d e e ve n mor e e ff ic ie nt to me e t the str ic t r equir e me nts of the f if ty U.S. sta te s. Be t t e r t han a M onde o?

And the million-dollar question – w i l l i t drive as well as a Mondeo? Sorry t o l e t you down but I just don’t know. It’ l l b e close, I can tell you that much. It m i g h t even be better, but that’s a big stat e m e n t to ma ke . On mode ls without Fle xR id e , I In t h e p e t r o l c am p, there are tw o freecan’t see the drive being a world a p a r t revv i n g t u r b o V 6s. A 2.8-litre V 6 w ith from the current Vectra. The tweak e d a u t o m a t i c ’ b o x sits at the top of the range, c ha ssis, suspe nsion a nd e ngine s wi ll p r o bo ff e r i n g u p 2 5 6bhp – 36bhp more than a bly ma ke it a mor e e njoya ble , dyn a mic t h e M o n d e o ’s t op-of-the-line 2.5-litr e V6. drive but I doubt it’ll stray in to M o n d e o Th er e ’s a l so a 217bhp 2.0-litre engine te r r itor y. Tha t’s not a ba d thing – t h e Ve cw h i c h w i l l a p p eal to those who don’t want tra wasn’t bad as it is. However, Fl e x R i d e an o i l - b u r n e r. I t provides 259lb ft of tor que (if executed properly) should pose a m u c h f r o m j u s t 2 , 0 0 0rpm and is available right bigge r thr e a t. Ac r oss the boa r d, Vau xu p t o t h e t o p o f the rev range. These V6s ha ll’s e ngine s a r e a bit pokie r a nd th e tw o a r e g o o d , s p o r t y engines and will couple cars weigh almost the same. Add to t h i s v e r y w e l l w i t h Vauxhall’s all-wheel-drive the subje c tive ly be tte r inte r ior of t h e I nt e c h n o l o g y b u t it’s a shame the 3.0-l itre signia and Ford certainly have som e t h i n g V6 fr o m t h e Ve ctra isn’t making an a pto worry about – the Insignia reall y h a s p eara n c e . T h e r e’s also the basic 1.8-litr e , c omple te d Va uxha ll’s e ve r- be tte r ra n g e 1 3 8 b h p p e t r o l f rom the Vectra for ba se ve r y we ll inde e d. m o d e l s – n o t h i ng to write home about but Ben Weston refi n e d n o n e t h e less.

Tel 01592 643260

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08 weekend review

The Scottish Tuning Show Knockhill, Scotland Sun August 24th Full Review

Article by Max Manford Photography by David Daniels/ Adam Russell

knockhill 23

Knockhill racing circuit was host of the Scottish Modified Show on the 26th of August 2008. The weather on the day was okay for Sunny Scotland, patchy rain, clouds, and Sun! And strangely I managed to get a slight sun tan! Around 4000 people turned u p t o t h e e v e n t o n t h e S u n d a y.

With over 130 cars taking to the tack on the different events from drifting, drag racing, and your general racing k e p t t h e a u d i e n c e b u s y. T h e D r i f t ing proved most popular with a BMW managing to have a blow out with a b i g c h e e r f r o m t h e c r o w d s . Yo u c a n check out the blow out on our youtube channel and bebo page, along with other track action videos from Knockhill. Several packed trade stands, and lots of show cars all sparkly and well looked after made the Scottish Modified Show day worthwhile! Just over 4 0 0 c a r s w e r e o n s h o w. T h e d a y d i d h o w e v e r s t a r t t o w i n d d o w n m i d a f ternoon however the track action continued until the very end.

The main award of “ Car of the Day “ w e n t t o Wa r r e n G r a h a m w i t h h i s h i g h ly modified Peugot 206. We w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k t h e f o l l o w ing people for a great day out up at Knockhill Racing Circuit : Gemma @ Knockhill Racing Circuit, Adam Russell our photographer, Sam @ Wildcats PR, Stacy Kristina Danielle @ Scotish Modifiers & Advanced Audio Soultions, Kayleigh & Mel @ Falkirk Cruise, John @ American Car Travel, Graeme @ Executive Cars & L i m o ’s . We h o p e t o m e e t u p w i t h y o u all soon! Next month we review the Knockhill Supercar Sunday which took place on the 31st of August. Ch ec k o u t a l l t he pictu res an d vid e os at our be bo page www.be bo.c om /t ar m a g An d f o r t h e l atest vid eos ch eck ou t www.yout ube .c om /t ar m agaz ine

Book now: 01698304385 07903279509

Limo Hire: Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh

Call us now on: 01698 304385 / 07903 279509

* Professional, Personal and reliable chauffeur limousine service * Uniformed drivers * Limousines for every special occasion * Perfect for Proms, Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversary, Concert, Sport Events, Kids Party, Hen & Stag party.

Telephone: 01698 304385 (ofďŹ ce) Mobile: 07903 279509 E-mail: actlimos@blueyonder.co.uk Post: 9 Hamilton Road, Larkhall, Lanarkshire ML9 1DB

Tribute to Colin McRae 5th August 1968 - 15th September 2007

Nearly a Year on, and 20 miles of Subaruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.....? 29

The 30th of September 2008 was host to the Colin McRae Gathering. The Convoy traveled from Lan a r k w h i c h w a s C o l i n ’s h o m e t o w n i n S c o t l a n d a n d w a s l e d b y C o l i n ’s Dad Jimmy McRae. Jimmy was beh i n d t h e w h e e l o f C o l i n ’s p e r s o n a l Series McRae Car to mark the occasion.

The convoy which stretched nearly over 20 miles travelled the full 300 Miles from Lanark to Banbury along

the way picking up more cars to the c o n v o y. Sunday the 31st of August around 1300 cars gathered at Pro-Drive in Banbury before heading in a 20 Mile long convoy to Prodrives t e s t t r a c k i n Wa r w i c k s h i r e . A n y body landing at Brimingham Airport should of been able to see the half mile long writing of “COLIN MCRAE” in cars!

The Life of Colin McRae, MBE born 5th August 1968 was The Scottish rally born driver from Lanark. Colin became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship Drivers’ Title. His Subaru won the World Rally Championship Constructors title three times in succession 1995-1997. Four years continued with a spell at the Ford World Rally Sport Team which saw Colin win nine events! 2003 saw a move to Citroën however not winning any events Colin helped the team win the their first three consecutive manufacturers titles. 1998 saw the first ever Colin McRae 2.0 Rally game released by Codemasters, and to date new titles are still being released with the latest in 2007 “DiRT.” The Playstation 3 edition was released on September 14th the day before Colin McRae’s Tragic Accident. 15th September 2007 - An AS350B2 Squirrel Helicopter belonging to Colin crashed 1 mile north of Lanark close to the McRae home. The tragic accident took the life’s of Colin McRae, his five year old son Johnny, and two of the families friends; Greame Duncan and Johnny’s six year old friend, Ben Porcelli. It shows still to-date that Colin McRae is a well missed Legend and our thoughts go out to his friends and family..........

08 ACS - Accident Claims

Had a motoring accident. We find out the facts from a Top Accident claims Company Including there Guide on what to do after a Road Traffic Accident....

Feature by Max Manford

& ACS Claims Middlesbrough

feature 33

Tw o o f t h e m o s t d a u n t i n g e x p e r i e n c e s i n a d r i v e r s l i f e a r e p r o b a b l y h a v i n g a n a c c i dent and then the resulting aftermath of that accident. Dealing with insurance comp a n i e s i s n e v e r a n e a s y t a s k , a t t h e e n d o f t h a t d a y, i f t h e i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y d o e s not need to pay out or can find a way not to pay out then quite simply they will not pay out. This experience leaves a bitter feeling. A claims management company such as ACS aim to take the stress and hassle out of the insurance claim. Using our experienced solicitors we deal with the litigat i o n f r o m t h e s t a r t o f t h e c l a i m t o t h e p a y o u t . We a l s o p r o v i d e f r e e r e c o v e r y o f y o u r vehicle and store it at our secure facility giving you peace of mind. In addition to this service we provide all our non fault claim customers a courtesy vehicle similar to their own, so if your beloved supercar is involved in an accident rest assured we will provide you with a similar vehicle throughout the duration of the claim. If you o r y o u r p a s s e n g e r s s u ff e r e d p e r s o n a l i n j u r y d u r i n g t h e a c c i d e n t t h e n w e c a n a l s o d e a l with that, our claim process is simple, we require you fill out a few simple forms and we then handle the claim from there.

We c a n d e a l w i t h a l l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , l e a v i n g y o u f r e e t o g e t o n w i t h y o u r d a i l y l i f e , s t r e s s f r e e . U n l i k e o t h e r c l a i m s m a n a g e m e n t c o m p a n i e s a n d s o l i c i t o r s w e o ff e r o u r clients 100% compensation, which means you get all of the money from any claim you put through us. Our fees are taken directly from the insurance company so rest assured you get your full compensation.

A r e y o u a t a x i d r i v e r ? h a v e y o u h a d a n a c c i d e n t i n y o u r t a x i ? H a v i n g a r o a d t r a ff i c accident in your personal vehicle is one thing however when your business or your l i v e l i h o o d i s a ff e c t e d t h a t i s s o m e t h i n g t o t a l l y d i ff e r e n t . A C S u n d e r s t a n d t h a t w h e n our client has an accident in their business vehicle, namely a taxi that they need to be back on the road as soon as possible. This is why we provide replacement taxi vehicles to our taxi driver clients. This allows them to continue earning and not have t h e i r i n c o m e a ff e c t e d t o o m u c h . We p r o v i d e r e p l a c e m e n t t a x i â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a l l a r o u n d t h e c o u n t r y so you can get in touch with us today and see if we can help.

A C S To p Ti p s w h e n y o u r i n v o l v e d i n a n a c c i d e n t . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Check for any casualties, inform Police/Ambulance (if required) Exchange details with the third party Arrange for recovery of your vehicle (if required) If it is a non fault claim call ACS so we handle your claim Aw a i t y o u r r e p l a c e m e n t v e h i c l e

R e m e m b e r A C S c o v e r s a l l a s p e c t s o f y o u r c l a i m . We c a n r e c o v e r y o u r c a r, s t o r e i t , p r o v i d e y o u w i t h a r e p l a c e m e n t v e h i c l e ( i n c l u d i n g Ta x i â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s f o r Ta x i d r i v e r s ) a n d p u r s u e your personal injury claim.

SME Eurofinance Group Plc: Company Registration No 4472534 The Nucleus Building, Brunel Way, Dartford, Kent, DA1 5GA Tel: 01322 312123 Email: finance@smeeuro.com Web: www.smefinanceuk.com

Car Funding Solutions SME Eurofinance provides finance for all new, used and classic vehicles. We provide a full portfolio of financing products so that businesses can maximize their capital allowance, tax and cash flow positions. We can also provide facilities for directors / partners and key employees who want to have their vehicles outside of company car schemes.

We provide competitive finance solutions for most business assets including the following; Brake Testers, Diagnostic Equipment, Diesel Testing Equipment, Gas & Smoke Analysers, Headlamp Aligners, MOT Bays, Workshop Packages, Bodyshop Spray Booths, Lifts & Ramps, Wheel Balancers, Compressors

• • • •

HIRE PURCHASE LEASING CONTRACT HIRE PCP (PERSONAL CONTRACT PURCHASE)

For More details check out Tel: 01322 312123 Email: finance@smeeuro.com

www.smefinanceuk.com

Sat Nag

The Sat Nag is the greatest in-car invention since the Sat Nav. Actually no, it’s better than a Sat Nav, and even if it’s guaranteed to get you nowhere fast, it’s one of those jokes that just keeps on giving. With such crackers as: ‘In 100 metres turn left. No right, err, no left. Sorry, I never can tell my left from my right.’, as well as ‘In 50 meters I’m going to put on my most annoying voice and say ‘Is your short cut really faster when we get stuck in traffic like this, well, is it darling?’’ and ‘In 100 meters I’m going to talk to you in that special voice, which should let you know you’ve upset me in some way that is bound to be your fault.’ There are loads of them, and the main reason they’re so darn funny is that (whilst ducking a flying shoe) they’re so accurate, we’ve all been there, and boy are we all going there again. every car should have one.

£7.99

iTrip

You, your car, your music and the open road, there’s nothing better to clear your head! The iTrips are the ideal companions for your road trips, or even short journeys for that matter.

£29.95

LED Car Sign

Isn’t it strange how when you’re driving along it’s always everyone else who’s the idiot? Well the LED car sign let’s you express yourself in more efficient and most of the time a very much more considerate manner.

£24.99

Briefcase BBQ

7’’ DVD Tablet

£24.95

£159.00

The BBQ is made from pressed steel, the ‘Briefcase’ folds out to provide a generous 48 x 35cm cooking area it and comes with a carry bag, so it’s a breeze to whisk off to your perfect BBQ spot.

Watch movies, show slide shows of your photos, listen to music, watch TV, it’s all possible with the Xoro, making this one of the slickest portable multimedia machines we’ve ever seen.

08 GADGETS

This month we Review : Nokia E71 Dads Taxi Cab SatNag TOMTOM GO 930 Traffic

Got a product you want us to review, get intouch with us at: david@tarmag.co.uk

Feature by David Daniels

REVIEWS

Nokia E71

www.nokia.co.uk

Email made easy: The New Nokia E71 The New Nokia E71 has been designed for people who lead a mobile lifestyle and want quick and easy access to their personal and work email. The E71 offers all the latest multimedia features you can desire. Fully equipped to handle your personal and business emails the E71 comes with easy-to-use program. With reliable real-time access to your email, calendar, contacts and tastes, you are also able to download attachments with your emails including Word files, Excel, PowerPoint and even PDF files. With a stainless steel case, etched graphics and available in two colors - grey steel or white steel – the Nokia E71 bears the hallmarks of Nokia quality and craftsmanship. The cool metallic finish is complemented by the bright color display, which showcases the Nokia E71 device’s brilliantly simple user interface. Designed for both one-handed and two-handed use, the Nokia E71 pays special attention to ergonomics, as evidenced by its narrow shape and specially designed keypad. In addition to email and personal information management, the Nokia E71 support’s the latest Ovi services including maps, music and media sharing that power users expect from their device. This includes fast and seamless browsing with HSDPA, wireless LAN and 3G connectivity, Assisted GPS (A-GPS) and Nokia Maps for navigation, a music player with support for up to 8 GB expandable memory and a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera. The Nokia E71 is available Now!

www.gadgets.co.uk

Dads Cab Taxi Meter - Set the meter running

You've spent the day slaving away in the garden, washing the car, at work, or doing something else suitably gruelling, and then comes the dreaded "Dad, can I have a lift round to the shops please?" It's guaranteed to come just as you've settled down in your favourite chair to watch your favourite TV show. You want to tell them they've got two legs and could walk, but what sort of parent would that make you? The way things are going it'll soon be a genuine reason to ring Childline as well! Set the meter running at the start of the journey, and upon arrival at their destination the kids will be given a receipt with an appropriate forfeit such as 'make dad a cup of tea', or 'tidy your room'. The Dads Cab Taxi Meter looks just like the real thing, and attaches easily to the dashboard. When not being used to measure mileage it also doubles as an alarm clock. While it won't stop you feeling like a taxi service, it will add a bit of fun to your journeys, and if you should manage to get the odd cup of tea made for you as a thank-you all the better.

www.iwantoneofthose.com

SATNAG - The in-car gadget that gets you nowhere fast.

The Sat Nag is the greatest in-car invention since the Sat Nav. Actually no, it's better than a Sat Nav, and even if it's guaranteed to get you nowhere fast, it's one of those jokes that just keeps on giving. Press the button on the front and a very well-recorded, patronising woman's voice will come out with one of a host of hysterical Sat Nav-type commands. With such crackers as: "I know you're a man, but it's been 35 minutes now, so can you please admit you're lost and ask someone the way"; and "In 100 metres turn left. No right, err, no left. Sorry, I never can tell my left from my right", as well as "In 50 meters I'm going to put on my most annoying voice and say 'Is your short cut really faster when we get stuck in traffic like this, well, is it darling?" and "In 100 meters I'm going to talk to you in that special voice, which should let you know you've upset me in some way that is bound to be your fault". There are loads of them, and the main reason they're so darn funny is that (whilst ducking a flying shoe) they're so accurate, we've all been there, and boy are we all going there again. There are a few 'not in front of the children' comments, but none that are too offensive. This anti-compass has a holographic screen, highlighting the important roads such as Whiny Lane, Backseat Drive and Earache Avenue, and will have you howling with laughter both at the idiosyncrasies of women in passenger seats and also how dumb men are behind the wheel - every car should have one. www.tomtom.com One of the latest TomTom’s is the GO 930 Traffic, one of the best GPS Devices on the market. Its IQ Routes™ technology calculates your routes based on the real average speeds measured on roads. This will always provide you with the smartest route hour-by-hour, day-by-day, saving you time, money and fuel.

TOMTOM GO 930 Traffic

Its Advanced lane guidance gives you extra clarity when navigating difficult junctions always handy in and about towns you have never been/driven in before. The TomTom Map Share™ technology allows you to make corrections to your own map and benefit from thousands of corrections made by TomTom users every day free of charge. Now with Voice address input, just tell the device the city, street and number you need to go to and let it do the rest, so now you finally have your chance of taking back to your satnav! Of course the latest TomTom’s feature Hands-free calling which allows you to make and answer phone calls safely while driving, making you in control and in touch and that all important staying legal factor. Always wanted to play the music on your TomTom through your speakers in your car, well now you can, thanks to its Built-in FM transmitter now allows you to play the music on your device wirelessly through your car stereo

Signs And Decals Made For you! • Car Customizing • Magnetic signs • Business signs • Window Signs • Graphics • Logos • T-shirt printing • Variety of Colours

Visit www.easyvinyl.co.uk Or Email Adam@easyvinyl.co.uk Phone 01527 570798 Mobile 07730528605 For A Quote

08 Mitsubishi L200

The Car : Mitsubishi L200 Warrior Pick-up The Spec : 08â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Plate - 2.5 Turbo Diesel Engine,

Armadillo Roll Top; Chrome Sports Bars; Checker Plate Load Liner

The TarMag Rating : Build Quality 8.5/10 Road Rating 7/10 Preformance 8/10 Interior 8/10 Overall Rating: 7/10

Article by Max Manford Photography by David Daniels

fULL rEVIEW 43

T h e M i t s u b i s h i L 2 0 0 , i t ’s n o E v o - X h o w ever the L200 blew us away! The looks, build q u a l i t y, e n gi n e, e co n o my and road presence was outstanding. It arrived on a damp Thursday morning for our long weekend re v i e w. B i g t h a n k s to t h e delivery driver a very nice and informative chap.

I n t e r i o r. . . 8 / 1 0 R a t i n g

The L200 has been out for a while n ow, 1 s t M a rc h 2 0 0 6 wa s w h e n t h e “new ” shape was launched, with over 53,000 previous models sold since 1998, and the L200 is a popular pickup when it comes to both commercial and private use! The L200 Warrior is a v a i l a b l e i n D r a m a t i c b l a c k , s i l v e r, g r e y and red paintwork; also the chrome styling pack really sets the car off with detailing on the wing mirrors, sidesteps, and roll bars. The handy armadillo roll top cover over the rear loading bay provides additional security for any items stowed.

B u i l d Q u a l i t y. . . 8 . 5 / 1 0 R a t i n g

Electric windows all round including a funky rear opening and closing w i n d ow. E a s y to re a d i n s t r u m e nt s a n d dials with attention to detail of the electric blue stitching on the leather seats, at night the dash board comes alive with blue and red backlighting. Everything inside the L200 is placed a n d b u i l t p e r fe c t l y. Th e Ste re o s ys te m i s o f gre at q u a l i t y. The new shape has been inspired by the Dak ar R ally which hasn’t comprised on comfort, refinement or Engine noise within the cabin is near nonexistent considering the size of the 2.5L Diesel engine! If I was to be honest the front seats could have a bit more back support. Both the driver and passenger seats offer an excellent commanding view of the road ahead and its surroundings. The other thing we liked...

was the sidesteps, in other vehicles I have owned in the past the side-steps felt as though if used they would buckle under the load of climbing in, but these ones were great. The felt safe and solid to use. Per formance... 7/10 Rating We had the Warrior model, which was just great, no problems with it at all. The all new 2.5-Litre common rail turbodiesel engine which has 134bhp as standard it really does not need much more than that however the Animal models are fitted with a revised ECU tak ing this pick-up to 165bhp. It handles the road well, response is excellent in throughout the gears even in 5 t h g e a r, a n d y o u d o n’ t n e e d t o d r o p down when you wish to overtake. The new engine has the latest technology w h i c h d e l i v e r s 1 7 % m o r e h o r s e p o w e r, 30% more torque, 26% improvement on f u e l e c o n o m y t h a n i t s p r e d e c e s s o r. On the road... 7/10 Rating Switching from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive is done with ease. The suspension system is great, handles bumps well, tight bends with no rolling or hesitation. We managed to achieve about 36.4 miles to the gallon c o n s i d e r i n g i t ’s a 2 . 5 - L i t r e t u r b o d i e s e l we felt this was really good! We would expect around 650miles from a full tank.

This makes it great for town driving or motorway miles both commercial and personal! S u m m a r y. . . O ve r a l l R a t i n g 7 / 1 0 I was sat thinking why these Mitsubishi pick-ups are so popular? Having dr iven one, I now k now why! Fur thermore because pick-ups are classed as a light commercial vehicle anyone w h o i s V AT r e g i s t e r e d c a n c l a i m t h e tax back, in the days of the credit crunch this is an added bonus. Residual values also are extremely good compared to other brands. On the Sunday we decided to do our photo shoot, when we left it was ra i ny, c l o u d y, a n d by t h e t i m e we got on location the sun was shining, we could see blue skies. The L200 was great with the camera; it loved the camera just as much as it loved the pick-up. One thing we noticed is o t h e r M i t s u b i s h i L 2 0 0 ’s o w n e r s s e e m t o w a v e a t e a c h o t h e r, l e t e a c h o t h e r out at junctions, etc... The L200 is a b i g p i c k - u p a n d w h e r e v e r i t g o e s i t ’s noticed by everyone! O ve ra l l t h e b u i l d q u a l i t y, p e r fo rm a n ce, e co n o my, re s i d u a l s a l l a d d up to make the L200 pick-up a must have! By Max Manford

Guide your Ride. PMD-B200P Portable Navigation System

4â&#x20AC;? Wide Touch Screen Display Built-in Bluetooth for hands-free mobile phone operation 2D and 3D Map display Split screen display Built in TMC tuner to avoid traffic congestion 7 Digit UK postcode search Slot for SD or MMC cards Built in MP3 music player with Quick Search Direct docking with the IVA-W205R/IVA-W505R

www.alpine-electronics.co.uk

08 Audio & Visual

Alpine Demo Car : Fiat 500 Alpine Demo Car Got a demo car you want us to review? emails us demo@tarmag.co.uk

Feature by David Daniels

ALPINE DEMO

Alpine Electronics Europe demo car Compa c t dime nsions, tr e ndy de sign, a nd pl e n ty o f powe r. No, we ’ r e not ta lking about the Fiat 50 0 t h i s time , but a bout the in n o v ative technology insid e t h e new Alpine demo car. B u t wha t’s so spe c ia l a bo u t th is MS De sign- r e f ine d m o d e l ( whic h, by the wa y, i s n u mber 5 of a limited edi t i o n of 100) ? Ma nf r e d Sten g l a nd his te a m c omple t e ly revamped the interio r a n d installed all multimed i a components visibly a n d i n the order of the signa l p a t h , thus presenting the st r u c t u r e of the syste m in a c o mp r ehe nsible ma nne r. T h e H I F I p o w er base for the speedy 100 hp mini is a PDX-5, the latest innovat i o n i n Al p i n e ’s c o m pact am plifier series. Its r ic h f ive c ha nne ls de live r sonic a c c ur a c y a n d d ri v e t h e F i a t ’s entire m ultim edia sy ste m. 4 x 75 wa tts ( RMS) powe r two pa ir s o f A lp i n e S P X - 1 7 P R O com ponent 2-w ay spe a ke r s whose spe c ia l f e a tur e , a f r e que ncy d ip le xe r w i t h p h a s e correction, creates a convincing sound stage in the vehicle. The P D X 5 ’s f i f t h ( b a s s )

A multimedia power houseFiat 500 CUP ch a n n e l m o b i l i z e s 300 watts (R M S ) t h a t a r e c hanneled in t o a p o w e r e ff i cient 10” S W S - 1 0 4 3 D s u b woofer. For o p t i m a l s o u n d t h e vehicle b o d y w a s f i t t e d with Bimast B o m b m a t s f r o m S tandartp l a s t t u r n i n g t h e Recaro S p o r t s t e r C S s e a ts into relax re cl i n e r s. In t h e f r o n t a n I VA-W505R m ob i l e m e d i a st a tion is effe c t i v e l y p r e s e n t ed in the re d e s i g n e d d a s h b oard. With th e l a rg e a n d c o ntrast-rich W VG A d i sp l a y t he new A l p i n e 2 D I N d e v ice als pro v i d e s a n o p t i mal playback p l a t f o r m f o r videos, w h e t h e r o n i P o d s or DVDs. Vi a an i n t e r f a c e it integrates the vehic le displa y a nd the ste e r ing r e mote c ontr ol t h u s f aci l i t a t i n g a n e rgonomic, safe, and conve nie nt Monic e ive r ope r a tion e ve n if the d ri v e r m a n a g e s an iPod w ith severa l giga byte s of music . But the I VA- W 505R m o b i l e m e d i a s t a tion does not only impress in terms of input. Its output is remark a b l e a s wel l . A m o n g t he highlights is the up gr a de option f or a lowc ost a tta c he d PXA- H1 0 0 so u n d p r o c e sso r to deliver impressive I MPRI NT sound qua lity by utiliz ing sophis tic at ed so u n d t e c h n ologies such as A udysse y’s MultEQ. I t is a c tua lly quite simple : A ll v eh i cl e i n t e r i o r s are different w ith reg a r d to siz e , ge ome tr y, a nd ma te r ia ls. To pr o d u c e q ual i t y so u n d n o t only the size of a car ma tte r s. I m p o rt a n t a r e a l s o the m aterials used suc h a s f a br ic or le a the r, a nd how the se a ts a no t her “ a c o u st i c b arriers” are arranged. Until r e c e ntly, the se sound- impa ir ing f a c to r s c ou l d b e a d j u st e d only w ith m any hour s of f ine - tuning a nd ma nua l me a sur ing by H I FI p rofes si o n a l s. With IMPR IN T A lpine now off e r s a de vic e tha t a utoma tic a lly tune s th e c ar ’s i n t e r i o r so nic environment to per f e c tion whic h not only r e duc e s the initia l s y s te m set up a n d p r o f e ssional fine-tuning to le ss tha n a ha lf hour but a lso pr ovide s a si g n i fi c a n t l y e n h anced sound stage and tona l ba la nc e . T h e F i a t ’s e l e c t r ic system also includes sta te - of - the - a r t mic r o Wi t h a sp e c i a l l y programmed PL C a volta ge monitor pr e ve nts M anfre d S t e n g l a nd his team installed a n AI V Gr e e n Powe r, a w i t h a p o w e r f u l c ontinuous current sup ply. This ma nuf a c tur e r w i ri ng , f i b e r g l a ss mats, resins, and fille r ma te r ia ls.

pr oc e ssor e le c tr oni c s : tota l ba tte r y disc ha rg e . high c a pa c ity ba tte r y a lso supplie d the e n tir e

08 Scotlands

The site : www.strathycruise.com The Facts : Started 8 years ago Over 18,000 Registered members Over 1Million page views per month We learn from Rikki about Strathycruise and how it all started...

Article by Rikki Photography by Rikki

STRATHYCRUISE

Back in 2000 when I was just getting into cars there wasn’t much in the way of info online, e s p e c i a l l y n o t w h e r e I l i v e d u p i n G l a s g o w. There was Cruiseboard (which I think is gone now) for England but not a thing up here. I’d been into computers since I was a kid and used them for everything from games to writing music, recording my DJ mixes and doing graphic design, so when the net took a hold of the UK I got into web design and had already worked on a few sites (including one for the pirate radio station I was involved with). So in the middle of 2000 I launched Strathycruise, the name relating to the cruise scene at Strathclyde Park in Motherwell, near Glasgow - the place I would head to every weekend to see the modified cars and to meet friends. As you’d exp e c t t h i n g s s t a r t e d o f f s l o w l y, t h e n a l o c a l n e w s p a p e r w e n t m e n t a l a n d r a n a s t o r y on the cruise (and the site) on the front page - you just can’t buy that kind of publicity :D The site grew from there, new people came on board, older ones left as they tired of the scene then in 2001 the first Fast & Furious film came out and everyone aged 1 7 a n d u p w a n t e d i n o n i t . Wi t h t h e m a g a z i n e s a l e s g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e r o o f , c o m p anies appearing everywhere selling everything from full under car neon kits to alloy spoilers things were going great and the site got busier week on week. In the middle of 2003 I got approached by AutoTrader as they were interested in starting a modified car magazine as they’d seen the volume of cars around that had wheels, kits and sound systems. Me and one of the other guys who helped out came on board with them at the tail end of 2003 and worked on producing a car magazine that would then become known as Fast & Modified. Things kinda peaked with the fibreglass and flip paint period at the start of 2005 and people started refining w h a t t h e y d i d w i t h t h e i r c a r s . N o m o r e s i l l y a d d o n s “ j u s t b e c a u s e n o - o n e ’s d o n e it before me”. I ended up leaving the magazine I started in 2006, almost 3 years to the day that we’d first talked about starting it. Even though the magazine sales were down across the country (Max Power dropping from over 250,000 a month to less than 70,000) and no-one was interested in 22” chromes, Strathycruise stayed b u s y. I s u p p o s e b e c a u s e i t ’s f r e e o f c h a r g e a n d a d a p t s a s t h e m a r k e t c h a n g e s t h a t ’s w h y i t ’s a l w a y s g r o w n a n d g r o w n u n l i k e t h e m a g a z i n e s t h a t w e r e c o s t i n g n e a r l y £ 5 every month. By this time Revs mag and JTuner had closed their doors but we kept on keeping on.

Loads of other cruise sites had started up in-between times. It was easy to register a domain name for £10, get some cheap hosting and throw up a copy of phpBB and start a forum. But most of these sites soon disappeared as the owners weren’t usually in it for the right reasons. Some started them to be cool, most started them as a way of getting back at another site that had kicked them out. There were a lot of areas that splintered like this and at one point there were places that had more than 4 sites covering the same patch. Though we’d been busy updating our site continually since 2000, at the start of last year I started work on a redesign. A new front page, a new events area and a general tidy up to reflect the current trends of web design. We’d had a news section since 2002 but updated this dramatically and it now lives on the front page of the site as a blog covering things we find interesting either to do with cars, modifying, motorsports or local events, gigs, nights out and funny vids and pics we find. The redesign was a welcome change and helped increase visitors yet again which was fantastic. At the start of this year we started filming our videos in high definition. We’d got a Canon HD camcorder last year but the PC we were using at the time wasn’t up to the task so a big beefy system was custom built for us last year and we put it to good use right away. The most recent video we put online was covering the Scottish Modified Car Show in Edinburgh, a show where our display stand and PR girls picked up an award for best on show. They put a lot of effort in with a full digitally printed PVC banner, flyers and the girls had a costume style that no-one had tried before and was miles ahead of the usual outfits that have become common place at shows and events over the last few years. We also run features on site users cars though we’ve been so busy this year we haven’t covered as many as we’d like to. Since I’ve got a background in magazine’s behind me and still do freelance work for newspapers and mags I’ve got decent quality camera gear and the results using it are as good as if not better what you’d expect to find on websites costing millions! For our first car feature last year we shot a 360 degree rotation so visitors could see the car from every angle. Our next cars were also filmed and a short video feature on each made which gets uploaded to the site, YouTube, Bebo and DailyMotion. Since most web upload areas are crumby for playback we use Daily Motion based in France to host our high definition videos for online streaming, plus we upload them to our site for people too.

Of course girls go part and parcel with the car industry so we have an area on the site for photoshoots with girls and if we’re at shows where there are a LOT of girls (too many to mix into the main show report and gallery) we sometimes split the photos up and move them into the Babes area too. Again using decent equipment returns the results and when we do shoots we take the girls either to a professional studio with the right kind of lights and equipment or we choose locations that are a notch above what people expect. Time is an issue here too and this year we’ve been so busy with the events, site itself and cars that we’ve not managed to get any more girls booked - but we’ll be on the case with that in the next month or so! For the future we’re always looking for new ways to expand the site. As much as it started as a cruise site its now grown into much more than that and although some locals have the perception that its full of “wee boys with Saxos and Corsas” that might have been the story half a decade ago but either those users have left or they’ve grown up and now drives Evo’s, Skylines and Subaru’s. We’ve got a mixed bag of users from young un’s who have just passed their test up to the big boys like Keith Cowie who holds the world 0-300kph record on street tyres. The modified car and cruise scene still gets a bad rep but the way I explain it to people is that just like you can have a football match with 50,000 people at it - you only hear about the 20 that are causing the bother. Is everyone who’s into football a hooligan? Our plans from here onward are to do a LOT more video work. YouTube and the like have really laid it out to people that the next phase of the web will be rich media. Why read text and look at small photos when you can watch better than TV quality video online. We’re now more than 8 years in and still enjoying it. Things change, people grow up and move on but some stay and there’s always new faces getting into cars (just as we did and our dads did) so it will be a constant evolution. We’ve lasted this long and we’ve made some great friends along the way, who knows, we might even organise a massive party for our 10th birthday bash :D

Modified rEVIEW

The Car : Mazda RX7 The Spec : New blue print engine water injection apexi BNR33 fuel pump hydraulic handbrake More details on the next page...

Fancy your car being featured ? email cars@tarmag.co.uk

Article by Max Manford Photography by Phill Randal

mODIFIED RX7 61

M e e t P h i l f r o m W i l t s h i r e a m e m b e r o f w w w. s o u t h c e n t r a l c r u i s e r s . c o m , h e i s 2 3 years old, single, and well into his motors. In the past Phil has owned another f e a t u r e c a r, a P e u g e o t 2 0 5 . H e c u r r e n t l y w o r k s f o r L o t u s a s a t e c h n i c i a n . H e spent 3 years at Audi going through Btech and got a national diploma in mec h a n i c s . “ M y l i f e c o n s i s t s o f f i x i n g m y c a r, r a c i n g , d r i f t i n g , a n d k e e p i n g a l l o f m y m a t e ’s c a r s o n t h e r o a d , u p g r a d i n g a n d h e l p i n g t h e m o u t . ” P h i l h a s o w n e d t h e R x 7 f o r 3 m o n t h s n o w, a n d h i s l u c k w i t h R x - 7 h a s n ’ t b e e n the best. He purchased a standard black Rx-7 which he managed to blow the engine, new engine fitted by Roktecknics. Then whilst driving, unfortunately hit a diesel spill at 60mph which resulted in a visit to the scrap yard, however Phil kept the engine and suspension which he then transferred into the new dragon s h e l l w h i l s t a d d i n g e x t r a ’s i n c l u d i n g a r o l l c a g e , a n d m u c h m o r e . T h e c a r i s c u r r e n t l y r u n n i n g a t 3 11 b h p , w i t h a r e c e n t r o l l i n g r o a d t e s t r e s u l t s of a quarter mile at 13.4 seconds. Phil is looking at getting into the Racing cup c a l l e d “ n i p p o n ” r u n b y D r a g o n R a c i n g n e x t y e a r ! We w i s h h i m a l l t h e b e s t w i t h that! Phill would like to personally thank... Dragon Performance, Janspeed in Salisbury & South Central Cruisers.

311 BHP

MAZDA RX-7

Spec:

New blue print engine Water injection apexi BNR33 fuel pump Hydraulic handbrake Fully seem welded chassis with foam Filled sills for added stiffness Dragon exhaust system Olhins coilover kit Front strut brace

Interior:

Sprayed in Porsche GT3 rs riviera blue Veilside body kit including wing mirrors and rear spats, Scoot fibre glass bonnet, Carbon fibre rear wing Volk racing wheels in white and now glow in the dark.

I.C.E :

Why bother?? Come on Phil!

THE ULTIMATE IN PERFORMANCE DRIVING

www.rioprestige.com 0845 0095 911

27 Lamborghini LP-560/4

The Car : Lamborghini LP560-4

Fancy your car being featured ? email cars@tarmag.co.uk

Article by David Daniels Photography by Lamborghini

review 65

We a l l l o v e d t h e L a m b o r g h i n i Gallardo, the Spyder, the Superleggera.. Could they do any b e t t e r ? We l l t h e a n s w e r t o t h a t questions is YES. This new Lamborghini LP560-4 is bigger, better, faster, and yet manages to achieve 18% better fuel and emissions that its predecessors. 2003 saw the launch of the most successful model that has ever come of the Lamborghini production line, around 7100 Gallardo have left the Sant’Agata Bolognese production plant since launch. At the heart of the Gallardo LP560-4 is a all new 5.2 Litre V10 engine. Producing it, yip you guessed it 560bhp. That will launch you 0-62 in just 3.7 seconds and a whopping top speed of 202mph. So how have they managed to reduce the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions b y a s t a g g e r i n g 1 8 % . We l l “ I n iezzion Diretta Stratificata” is partly the answer, which is the new efficient direct fuel injection system, and the 20KG weight reduction also helps power to weight ratio. So what else have Lamborghini managed to do with this LP560-4, well their engineers at the Sant’Agata Based tech departement have improved traction, handling, and stability at high speed which is impressive. They have re-designed the four wheel drive transmission, new suspension, and optmisied the aerodyn a m i c s a l l c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e i m p r o v e m e n t s i n t h e v e h i c l e . Ye t a g a i n t h i s l a t est Lamborghini prizes its self as a day to day road car, long distance drives, and when you magically end up on a race track it still performs. S o l e t ’ s g e t d o w n t o i t s l o o k s . Yo u h a v e t o s a y y o u w o u l d n ’ t c o m p l a i n i f y o u h a d o n e s i t t i n g o n y o u r d r i v e w a y, o r o u t s i d e y o u r w o r k ! T h e L P 5 6 0 - 4 h a s h a d allot of new design work done, new front, new spoiler, and the magical daytime running lights. Of course if you were not aware 2001 saw the takeover of Lamborghini by Audi, so the daytime lights, to the Satnav are lots of other compon e n t s a n d p a r t s t h e L a m b o rg h i n i w e l l y o u c o u l d s a y i t ’s b u i l t l i k e a n A u d i b u t I t ’s N o t ! I t ’s s t i l l a L a m b o rg h i n i . When it comes to the interior, the interior is at an extremely low height, but welcomes passengers with a fair amount of space. Sport seats which hold you comfortably and give you the support you need for long and short journeys. And the Lamborghini manages to give you a 110 Litre front trunk, so room for a few shopping bags. The centre console boasts a re-design which consist of new elegant flip switches, including not 1, but 7 round instruments in the cock-pit and

0-62 in just 3.7 Seconds and a whopping top speed of 202mph... a new graphical feature which provides the driver with essential important eng i n e d a t a , a n d a m u l t i f u n c t i o n a l d i s p l a y b e t w e e n t h e S p e e d o a n d r e v c o u n t e r. Lamborghini have managed to keep its customer personal preferences at bay when it comes to gear changes which is one of the most exciting things about driving a LP560-4. Manual six speed gearbox via the short gear stick, or my f a v o r i t e a n d t h e m a j o r i t y o f L a m b o rg h i n i ’s c u s t o m e r s t h e e . g e a r ’s p a d d l e - s h i f t system located just behind the steering wheel. The E-gear transmission syst e m h a s u n d e r g o n e a c o m p l e t e r e - d e s i g n a n d h a s i m p r o v e d h e a v i l y. T h e s y s t e m has been reduced in wright and more importantly the gear change time has been reduced by a whopping 40% in “CORSA” mode. The Corsa basically tells the engine to optimize acceleration and allows the LP560-4 to be enjoyed. Automatic, Normal, Thrust and Sport at the other modes you get to play with. U n f o r t u n a t e l y w e a t Ta r M a g h a v e n ’ t b e e n a b l e t o p h y s i c a l l y d r i v e t h e c a r a s of yet, but have been promised a demo in the near future which of course we will write up, and hopefully video review too. But I’m sure this will more than perform. One thing that worries me is the trend that Lamborghini follows, w h i c h i s t o m a k e i t s c a r s b i g g e r a n d b e t t e r e a c h t i m e . L a m b o rg h i n i ’s b i g g e r brother the LP640 should be worried as his little brother should keep up. Will we see a LP560-4 Superligerra which would battle even more with his bigger brother, who knows? The new car is priced at £147,330.00 on the road, including NavTrak vehicle tracking system and delivery package. Interested and want m o r e d e t a i l s , w e l l c o n t a c t L a m b o r g h i n i w w w. l a m b o r g h i n i . c o . u k / a n d t e l l t h e m Ta r M a g s e n t y o u !

Introducing

LAVNAV

The solution to midnight toilet traumas LavNav is the latest offering from leading on-line retail gadgets maestros www.gadgets.co.uk. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a simple, indispensable device that assists those all-important night-time excursions to the toilet by lighting the toilet basin on approach. By way of green and red light beams, it also lets the toilet user know whether the seat is up (red) and down (green). LavNav no longer means you or your sleeping partner have to suffer the onslaught of bright lights and noisy extractor fans when you pop out for your previously disruptive night-time toilet trips. LavNav gently and silently lights the target area so long suffering wives and girlfriends no longer have to wake up to wet seats and floors sprayed by partners attempting to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;navigateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the dark. Women night-time users can also see if the seat is down and so avoid the indignity of falling into the toilet instead of sitting on it. LavNav is also very helpful for the elderly and those with prostate problems.

LavNav turns on when you approach in the dark and off after you leave so its batteries (2xAA) last a considerable while and the device is very energy efficient. The LavNav is now available to purchase on-line from www.gadgets.co.uk priced ÂŁ19.99. Delivery IS USUALLY NEXT DAY . Red means â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;NOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;...

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WWW GADGETS CO UK

Adam Russell

The Name : Adam Russell Job : Automotive Photographer Based : Scotland

Article by David Daniels Photography by

Adam Russell

Photographer

How did you get into photography? My dad showed me the basics on an old film SLR when I was around 6 or 7. I really enjoyed it, however it slipped to the back of my mind until I got my hands on a semi-DSLR. Since I got that, everything flowed back and a college course helped me develop my technical knowledge. How did you know you wanted to be a professional photographer? I was told when I was younger that I had an eye for taking photos. I focused my attention on studying and researching techniques and here I am! What made you choose automotive photography compared to landscapes or weddings? I started off taking pictures of my motorbike when someone asked me to take s o m e p h o t o s o f t h e i r c a r. I r e a l l y e n j o y e d the photo-shoot and was very happy with the results, which led me to looking into t o d o i n g m o r e c a r. S i n c e t h e n I h a v e b e e n shooting cars and on my constant hunt for new locations.

Is there anyone you look up to for inspiration for your photography? I have a few photographers that I admire for landscapes like Colin Prior and Charlie Waite but the main automotive photographer who images I enjoy studying is Webb Bland (based in America.) Has anyone helped you on your way? Th e N i s s a n 3 5 0 z ow n e r s c l u b ( w w w. 3 5 0 z - u k . co m ) h ave re ce nt l y m a d e m e t h e i r re s i dent photographer “Chief Snapper ” This is because I have done a lot of work for them and I have to thank my clients for their feedback on my images as it helps me continue to improve. What is the oddest car you have photographed? It would have to be a Caterham 7. The car is so basic as it is a track car yet it is so powerful and everything in the car has a purpose. What cars have you photographed? Well to name some: 

Ferrari F430



Audi R8



Lotus Elise

What car would you love to photograph? Well my ideal cars to do a photo -shoot with would have to be either a Lamborghini Murcielago or a 67 Shelby Mustang. I h a v e a l w a y s l o v e d t h e 6 7 M u s t a n g s i n c e I s a w i t o n “ G o n e I n 6 0 S e c o n d s ,” i t i s a true American muscle car and this model has just the right relation between curvy and boxy bodywork. The Lambo would have to be either orange or white. I just love the whole body o f t h e c a r. T h e a m o u n t o f a n g l e s t h a t I c o u l d s h o o t w o u l d b e u n c o u n t a b l e . I t i s a b e a u t i f u l c a r.

How to contact Adam: Email: arphotographs@live.com Phone: 07788942320 Website: arphotographs.deviantar t.com

18 LING TIME

The Company : Lingscars.com What do they do : Car Leasing How do i contact them : Web: www.lingscars.com Tel : 0191-460-9444

Article by Max Manford Photography by Ling

LINGscARS 77

Ling rents in excess of £40Million worth of Brand new cars.....

Ling, can you please tell me a bit about your business, and your personal history. I’m Ling, I’m a self-made car-leasing magnate. Actually, I’m an immigrant, female, Chinese female millionaire nutcase who runs LINGsCARS.com, the biggest and best car contract hire website in the UK. To give you an idea of the scale of my business, this year I will rent in excess of £40million of brand-new cars. All that business is done from my website. Why should people lease a car rather than buy? Leasing, or contract hire, simply means “renting over a fixed term”. The term is usually 2 or 3 years. The great thing about renting is that it fixes your costs, you know exactly how much the car will cost you, over that period, including the road tax. If you get a car by any other method, you usually take the residual risk… and as anyone with a big 4x4 has found out over the past few months, values have dropped by up to 25%, leaving many people with an overpriced lemon to sell. Many people think they can buy and sell cars cheaper than renting them. Well, good luck to them. All my cars are brandnew, and I defy anyone to buy and then re-sell a new car in 2-years whilst spending less money than they would on my rentals. Sure, you can run an old banger cheaper, but who wants an old banger? Er… me, I guess. I own a 1970 Zil 7.0 litre V8 6x6 nuclear missile truck, and a 1966 Routemaster bus as well as an old Beijing Jeep.

And why should people go to Lingscars.com? For the experience! My site is the best website in the UK, I think. It has been voted Top 100 in the world in FHM, Top 10 in Car, as well as being voted one of the 10 worst in the world. I guess that depends in you are an anal Mac developer or a normal human. I have won many awards, including Best Car Industry Website. I really take my webpage seriously, even though it is completely nutty with more films and multimedia than YouTube. I even have a LingTube page, and completely blow Top Gear out of the water with my spoof “Chop Gear”. You take off in whatever direction interests you, from the starting point of my 800-car long index page. I take the ‘spider web’ concept quite seriously, too. Once you’re entangled, it takes a desperate effort of will to escape the cerebral attraction of uncharted territory. It’s like having an IV heroin drip via your computer monitor. Every page contains some ‘sticky’ feature that threatens to get you hooked. It’s fun. Why can’t selling or business be fun? Behind the scenes, I have a built an industry-leading customer management system, where customers are walked through the supply process in a similarly crazy website, with a full conversation log, free noodles, cash bribes and a free toy car. On a serious note, I am the only UK car business to conduct all my business online, and all on a 256 bit secure server. I give the highest data security in the industry, everyone else relies on unprotected emails and fax, for the most sensitive personal of information.

Your website is very informative with lots of customer referrals, how many cars do you lease out a month? And year? I lease about 2000 new cars a year, but it’s a moving target. My business grows between 50% and 100% every year, so managing the growth is difficult. I have 1,000 attributed customer letters and an interactive customer map. Even the power of Google Maps is not enough to display all my push-pins on my map. My customers just love my service. There has to be meat and potatoes behind the scenes. Has featuring on bbc1 Dragons Den affected you and your business? Yes, Dragons’ Den was tremendously important to me. I gained loads of publicity, but more importantly two of the Dragons (Bannatyne and Farleigh) offered investment. They saw my business potential. I immediately turned them down and they came back with a better offer! That is almost unheard of in Dragons’ Den. I turned down the second offer too.

Is the credit crunch affecting you and your business? The credit crunch is not affecting me one bit. I think a lot of this is self-induced paranoia by weak-willed people and businesses. Every single month this year has been significantly up on 2007, and at the end of July I was about £90,000 in revenue ahead, year on year. One reason for this is that term-rental is like a fixed mortgage rate - it is very attractive to have fixed costs when the world around you is in turmoil. Another good reason is that providing the best service in the industry helps, too, along with the highest efficiency and lowest overheads which mean that I can offer the lowest prices in the market, more profitably than any other company. Lingsmobiles.com your latest venture, can you tell us more about it? I have taken the opportunity to set up an affiliate mobile phone site, as it is a great fit with my car site. Unlike LINGsCARS, LINGsMOBILES is unmanned and operates automatically. The cars will always be my main business, but the mobile side is pure profit and gives me some opportunity to cross-sell. I have many more ideas in the pot, just ready to unleash on the UK. How do you answer critcisms about your “crazy” website? So many other websites follow strict unwritten rules about layout. They say, “It must be clear!” Really? Subheadings like; “Home” “Contact Us” are almost uniformly boring, but really human beings and the human mind do not operate in that way. Look at your own web-surfing habits. The human mind wants stimulation, not communist era conformity plus a logo. I aim to polarise visitors, some love my site, some hate it, so what? Better than being boring. My latest adventure becoming the sponsor of Fulchester United in VIZ magazine and playing on the “Kung Fu Panda” film with my own version based on my free noodle brand - “FUKU Panda” is a very good illustration. I hold the Billy-The-Fish team to ransom with a Chinese nuclear missile. Why not? Buy VIZ and read it! Gotta have fun!

Dewars centre

The Show : Dwars Centre, Perth The Date : 17th August 2008 The Details : In-door car show Over 90 Cars

Article by Dewars Centre Photography by Dewars Centre

iNDOOR SHOW 83

INDOOR CAR SHOW Cars Arriving from All over Scotland making their way to a new event and venue in Perth Sunday 17th Aug The Dewars Centre was host to 90 cars rolling through its doors on Sunday morning for the Modified Performance indoor show. With club displays on show, a couple of local traders, and a few individual cars including the Ferrari 355 the show was set. From a classic Mini to a 700bhp Impreza, this event was out to cater for everyone. Clubs displays reaching from groups of 4 up to 14 seen that both halls were full. The show came about when Dewars had to ‘pull the plug’ on its summer ice skating, due to technical problems with its refrigeration plant. With the ice hall now empty for summer, it was up to staff for suggestions on how to bring in a little revenue. And low and behold the ‘petrol heads’ in the ice staff straight away wanted a car show. With a presentation put to management, the go ahead was given. With only 6weeks to plan the event, get the cars, mark out the halls, get the traders, sort out the staffing, get the catering, and advertise. This was going to be no easy walk in the park. Adverts were made, catering was sorted, staff for the day had been arranged, a couple of local traders took interest, but where was the interest from the car owners? Panic. They couldn’t fully advertise until they were sure they definitely had a certain amount of cars on display. Forums were targeted time and time again with little response. Doubts were beginning to concern. Finally, a booking of 7 cars came through which set the ball rolling. Forum responses grew, and booking were made quickly there after. Relief, and out went the adverts around cruises, shows, and local newspapers. Starting at 10am the event rolled through the day to 4pm when the ‘Car of the Show’ was presented. The award went to Phil from the Aberdeen Cruising stand with his VW Corrado VR6 Supercharged show winner. The tastefully modified car took a ‘less is more’ approach with subtle styling, a cracking set of deep dished RH rims, and a lush red leather interior. Dewars have announced that this will be a yearly event and are looking into ways on how to improve from the recent show. Ideas such as a ‘Drivers Lounge’ in one of their function rooms seems to be a popular choice, along with an award for Club display too and a lot more advertising. If you attended the show drop them a line at DewarsEvents@hotmail.com and give an input of what you’d like to see different next year. Remember to keep an eye out for next year’s date!

competition

T hi e Month we h a v e te a me d u p with FLI to give a w a y t h i s F L I Tr a p 12 Tw in enclosu re . All you have to d o t o g e t a c h a n c e to win thie ama z i n g p r i z e i s a n s w e r t hi s simple ques tio n ! How much faster is the New Audi RS6 Saloon compared to the Avant? A - 1.0 mph B - 0.10 mph C - 0.01 mph S end i n y o u r a n sw ers to : com p @ t a r m a g . c o .uk Or Com p e t i t i o n TarM a g 1 9 9 a B o r o u g h R oad M i dd l e sb r o u g h TS 4 3 BN

Compet i t i o n C l o s e s 2 5 t h S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8 a n d t he winner wi l l b e a n n o u n c e d in n ex t mo n th â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is s u e.

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WRECKED EXOTICS

Wrecked Exotics : We all love fast, expensive cars, but they crash just as easily as normal cars. The Website : www.wreckedexotics.con

Article Max Manford Photography from Wrecked Exotics

review 87

WRECKED EXOTICS

Q: Can you tell us why wreckedexotics.com started? IÂ´ve always been fascinated with car crashes since I was a little kid and my other love has always been exotic cars. Back then, I would have my parents buy matchbox cars so I could crush them with rocks. So once the internet came along, one of the first things I searched for were wrecked cars. I was disappointed with the results so I decided to start WreckedExotics knowing that there had to be not only other crash fanatics, but crash fanatics who want to see wrecked exotic cars. The site was launched in February 2002. WreckedExotics now attracts about 400,000 visitors per month from all over the world and some of the fans are just as crazy as I am. Q: Where is wreckedexcotics.com based out of today? Bay area, California

Q: How many cars are featured on your wreckedexotics.com? There are over 10,000 photos on the site, not sure as to the exact number of individual cars because sometimes there is more than 1 picture of the same car. Q: Who sends in the pictures? Mostly bystanders or the owners of the car send the picture/s. I´ve had a few people submit photos with a note saying how they´ve been a fan for a long time and never thought they´d see their car on the site. It could happen to anybody. Q: Do you take 'entries' from other countries? Yes, about 60% of the photos are from outside the United States. Many from Germany, Belgium, UK. There was even a Ferrari crash in India, and they don´t have many Ferrari´s there. If you want to find out more, or to see more pictures, check out www.crashexotics.com

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