GTAm

Oh yes bumped into him this morning. I've been up there and seen those show cases. I want to get some done like that for my collection too. Its so space efficient. Btw. I sold him the Fulvia Coupe and the X 1/9 seen in your pics as I had extras

I've been feeling depressed and annoyed all Sunday and today as well , eventhough this was kind of expected. Yes we can blame Bush, China and India but I'm afraid we have to blame the Chinthanaya for screwing up the economy. If our economy was on a better footing we could have weathered the storm a lot better. Inflation is rampant, interest rates are sky high, large export oriented manufacturing companies are re-trenching staff, Turnover of local market manufacturers/supplier and dropping like crazy, while the freakin government spends like crazy on themselves. We could lose GSP+ in the near future and our governer of the CB says that GSP is not that important. Does he even know that a large number of smaller garment factories are running because of this advantage? Thousands will lose their jobs. Did you guys read about the story regarding the ministry of nation Building that was carried in the news papers a few weeks ago? Less than 10 officials using something like 63 vehicles and a monthly fuel bill of 750,000/- !!!! And they're supposed to be nation-building!!!???? I mean everything seems to be totally out of control. What an ass we've made ourselves to the International community as well? Yesterday's papers said that the World Bank is ready to dole us a crisis fund. This is after the govt. went on record to dismiss the IMF and World Bank, refuse their lending at 0.5% and borrow from HSBC at 8% in $$$s!! It's more or less economic scuiscide. Who do they(our govt.) think we are? The USA? Then of course they leaped into the hugging arms of the Iranian president much to the total surprise of our biggest donors. And what have we got? Nothing tangible so far. They've thrown in US$300m to moderize the oil refinery when the total cost is 3 times that. Where is Mr. Mousche going to find the balance USD600m? HSBC??? Sorry to spoil everyones day but I've just got to learn that if oil hits $150 a barrel, we could run out of forex and there could even be rationing!!!!!!! As usual I'm very sure they'll say we have to sacrifice to win the war. How can you win or even fight the war when you don't have money for fuel? I think our country is going into the worst economic crisis that we've faced in a long long time. And the worst is yet to come!

I've been feeling depressed and annoyed all Sunday and today as well , eventhough this was kind of expected. Yes we can blame Bush, China and India but I'm afraid we have to blame the Chinthanaya for screwing up the economy. If our economy was on a better footing we could have weathered the storm a lot better. Inflation is rampant, interest rates are sky high, large export oriented manufacturing companies are re-trenching staff, Turnover of local market manufacturers/supplier and dropping like crazy, while the freakin government spends like crazy on themselves. We could lose GSP+ in the near future and our governer of the CB says that GSP is not that important. Does he even know that a large number of smaller garment factories are running because of this advantage? Thousands will lose their jobs. Did you guys read about the story regarding the ministry of nation Building that was carried in the news papers a few weeks ago? Less than 10 officials using something like 63 vehicles and a monthly fuel bill of 750,000/- !!!! And they're supposed to be nation-building!!!???? I mean everything seems to be totally out of control. What an ass we've made ourselves to the International community as well? Yesterday's papers said that the World Bank is ready to dole us a crisis fund. This is after the govt. went on record to dismiss the IMF and World Bank, refuse their lending at 0.5% and borrow from HSBC at 8% in $$$s!! It's more or less economic scuiscide. Who do they(our govt.) think we are? The USA? Then of course they leaped into the hugging arms of the Iranian president much to the total surprise of our biggest donors. And what have we got? Nothing tangible so far. They've thrown in US$300m to moderize the oil refinery when the total cost is 3 times that. Where is Mr. Mousche going to find the balance USD600m? HSBC??? Sorry to spoil everyones day but I've just got to learn that if oil hits $150 a barrel, we could run out of forex and there could even be rationing!!!!!!! As usual I'm very sure they'll say we have to sacrifice to win the war. How can you win or even fight the war when you don't have money for fuel? I think our country is going into the worst economic crisis that we've faced in a long long time. And the worst is yet to come!

Call Chandana on 0714715810. He's the Club secretary. The Club has been v quiet for a while now. Odel Unlimited has some 1:18 s. Not sure they'll have but check for the Defender there.

Could the Kuwaitis be calling it "Astin Marton"?

June 14 and 15th right? Any guesses? Audi vs Peugeot - LMP 1 Class? - I'll go with Peugeot, Audi's won it 8 times in a row and needs a break. Aston vs Corvette - GT1 Class? - Corvette for me as the fuss and hype the Brit press will make if Aston wins will be daunting to endure. Porsche vs Ferrari - GT2 Class? - Ferrari.

Well It's being done as a special favour by a company who usually does not do anywork for outside brands (they handle a very successful brand). So I'll check with them first if making the name public is ok. All I can say is the top people there are big Italian (and especially Alfa) fans and that's why they volunteered to do it for me. I feel lucky

Yes black brother scene I guess . Btw Nico was going so well before that almighty crash.....

Nice. But I hear it's going to be 280bhp through the front wheels !!!!

Sounds funny Lewis was very lucky because he hit the armoco at that very point in the race. Just as he went in to replace the tire the safety car came on and he managed to rejoin in 4th. The team pulled a smart one by changing to a one stopper. Ferrari were quite ragged despite being on the front row. Too many mistakes and they handled the constant changes quite badly - looked as if they were trying too hard. Then again Rain+Monaco is always crazy. I felt bad for Adrian Sutil who was 4th and would have won good points for Force India, if Kimi did not lose control and wack him from the rear. But great result for Seb Vettel in the Toro Rosso!

Thanks Peri. Btw our track day will be held next month, will keep you posted.

Sorry mate. Okay try these smaller ones,

At last she's off to the paint shop....... I am salivating with anxiety

Yeah Ratan should appoint these guys as his PR team! Badging the LRX as a TATA - could happen and so scary As for the Competizione - Could they be onto the GTA or GTAm version already ??

Manufacturers usually go racing to improve image, gain a sporting image it helps if Racing is in the companies DNA as with say most Italians, BMW and Audi. What Toyota has proved is that can only win when there's very little competition as in their WRC years. They were very unlucky in Le Mans though. I remember there was a year when they were leading a comfortable 1-2 (hardly any competition) very close to the finish when both cars developed gearbox problems and a private team Porsche won. How that contrasts with Audi 8 wins in a row (9 with the Bentley) in the V10 TDI R8. BMW before that, Jaguar......And how Mazda won it with a relatively small budget...! Yes the C4 is very good, but I think Loeb is very special, just like Carlos Sainz. Remember how he won in the ancient Xsara when the competition was all much newer.

SuperGT is a Japanese series? I don't see it on the FIA site. Yeah Ghosn's not really keen on racing, and wants to see tangible proof that racing well bring economic benefit. We'd have to respect that idea from the guy who rescued Nissan from bankrutpcy not long ago..... Tiida WRC YUK !!! Your right, it'll be time to switch off the Telly. But what about a 4WD Z with a 4 pot TT? It'll be like the Celica GT4. Audi Quattro Coupe, Lancia 037 etc and they all won!

I guess so. Racing is always a drain on resources especially if the 'halo' does not rub off on the lesser models. Mitsu will probably find it hard to survive as an independent in the long term given their financial health and size. Yes it's boring when only one or two teams are dominant. But that guy Loeb is so good. Toyota is in F1 and underperforming there, so I doubt they'll come into WRC. Maybe they don't need to now that they have some influence over Subaru. Mazda - Parent company Ford would not like as they are winning now. Nissan - yes they should. They have no motorsport programme and they are making decent money - but they don't have a suitable car I think. Parent Renault is in the IRC I believe with the Clio. I'd like to see Lancia return with a 3 door version of the new Delta. But then again it might become boring given the scale of their past success. I recently got a DVD about the Delta Integrale - "Greatest Rally car of all Time". The dominance is almost boring...... Despite Toyotas and Carlos Sainzs' best efforts. I think what WRC needs is a Bernie Ecclestone to make a real show out of it just like F1.

Saw this a couple of days ago!

I believe its for the one make race series. I think Abarth - now that it is a separate brand, will off various factory approved kits that can be added on after market. Just like in the old days. The Grande Punto Abarth is the first example. The standard car is 155 bhp and you can upgrade it with the SS kit to take it upto 180.

I think they are not financially healthy enough for a full assault on the WRC. Only a few years ago they almost went bust. Maybe in a couple of years time they'll be ready.

Looks great doesn't it? Only 49 will be built. I wonder what they'll cost.....

.....And where's the Charger from Bullit ?

Are you sure about the year? Is it a Sport wagon? I think the 4 door ended production in 94. Are you in SL? Could we know why an Alfa 33? Disadvantages - Poor build quality, Very hard to find one in good shape, you won't able to sell it in a hurry.

Yes unfortunately Americans live in their own world and anyway they dominate the movie industry. .... Talking of Ferris Bueller's day off..... was that a replica? Seemed too good and expensive a classic to be manhandled like that!? And how can that "Bluesmobile" be ahead of 007s white Esprit ?????

Yes Devinda nothing like a Ferrai V8 for aural pleasure. For me it makes a Lambo V12 sound like a bit like a tractor ! And this is a brand new V8. This Califonia seems to me like the US marketing departments' dream come true. I feel a US customer clinic must have shaped some of the body, together with the guidence of Frank Stephenson who IMO promised a lot and delieverd very little. I mean just look at the Alfa 8C spider and then this! But still I think they're aiming for the folk who think a Merc SL65 is cheap or a DB9 is unreliable (and they have been very) and I think this will be the best selling Ferrari in the range. Considering the design and engineering brief it's likely to be the most 'everyday' Ferrari ever. The 430 is too much of a focussed performance machine for rich lazy Califonians!? And if recent Ferraris are anything to go by this will be a cracking drive. The strange thing is that this was initially developed as a Maserati!