Blog of Hamlesh

Just spotted this in the car park I use in Mayfair, not seen one before.

Full size are on my flickr photostream

• http://flickr.com/photos/hamlesh/2731457576/
• http://flickr.com/photos/hamlesh/2730624527/
• http://flickr.com/photos/hamlesh/2731457944/

Ok, i’ve been banging on about the awesomeness of the Triumph Rocket III for a while, and although I prefer low rider “chopper style” bikes, this is definitely one that I want to add to my collection in the longer term.  A few days ago however a very foxy seductress caught my eye, while I was in a bike shop picking up some bits for my XVS Dragstar… the 1900CC Dragstar, its *HUGE*, huge like you wouldn’t believe, about the same length as a small car huge… made my Dragstar look like a dwarf had parked next to a goliath.

So I got home and started doing some research, the next bike I was planning (and still plan to get) is a 600CC Dragstar, in either black and red livery, or (custom paint job will be required for this) in orange and white livery.  It turns out that Yamaha have stopped making the 600, 1100, 1300 and now only produce the 1900… oh well, I wasn’t planning on buying it new anyway (I see little point of doing that).

Some more research, and I came across the Star Custom Raider 2008, which has now trumped the Rocket III from the top spot on the motorcycle wish list.  Star is Yamaha’s custom performance shop, think AMG for Mercedes, and NISMO for Nissan, and you’re along the right lines.

Just look at this thing, check out the rake on the front end, the tyre size balance is just right, 1900cc V Twin engine, those pipes… hmmmmmm!

I’m going to have to get one, in all black livery of course!

This is the new Ferrari California, a new member to the Ferrari range/family (which brings them up to four). Its set for release after the Paris Motorshow in September (which I will be organising a road trip to!). Set to cost a little more than the 430 Spider, its aiming to be a daily usable Ferrari for the ultra-rich.

It gets from 0-62 in just under 4 seconds thanks to a 460bhp at 7500rpm 4.3-litre engine. Which is actually slightly less than the same engine produces in the 430, but being a grand tourer, has a more sustained torque delivery curve. The seven speed gearbox might be a little too much choice through the power range though.

The usual carbon brakes you’d expect, the traction control system lifted from the epic 599 (which I’ve driven :P). It has an aluminium body shell, and it’ll be both light and stiff as a convertible, given that the 430 has awesome handling even without a roof.

Personally, I dont like it, granted I havent driven it (yet), and someone I know will be getting one to play with in a few months, so it won’t be long

Ferrari’s arent supposed to look like the barstard child of a Lexus, Peugot and a Toyota Soarer… although if you squint a little it looks like a Maserati… what were they thinking…

(it looks ok from the back though…)

Ok, this is just crazy, and naturally its a given, I want one… no, infact, I NEEEEED one…

This marvel of modern engineering ladies and gentlemen, is the mouth watering, insanity machine, the Acabion GTBO. Built on a 1300cc engine, and a streamlined body modeled and built using the latest cutting edge F1 technology.

With a top speed of 324mph, the Acabion GTBO can go from 0 to 300mph in an underwear moistening 30 seconds… To put this into perspective, the 1001bhp Bugatti Veyron takes 55 seconds to reach 253mph. Think about it, from 0mph to just under half the speed of sound in 30 seconds.

Nice

Ok, I actually started to drool when I saw this… well what do you expect… check this out. The Caterham Levante has a 2.4l V8 engine kicking out just over 500bhp… now seeing as the damn car weighs just 520kgs, so thats almost 1000bhp per tonne. Compare this to the Bugatti Veyron’s 520bhp per tonne… bah ha ha!

I want one… shame its £115k…

Thats right folks, some crazy cat (27-year-old Joe Harmon) has built a super car made of wood. Dubbed the ‘Splinter’ it packs a 700bhp 4.6-litre V8 engine, nice

Joe: “Wood has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than aluminium or steel, and it possess a versatility which makes many types of construction techniques possible. The satisfaction involved in making something from a piece of wood is awesome.”

Now this is cool, built around a Lotus shell, with an electric 73bhp engine, capable of 74mph.

Environmentally friendly, no congestion TAX (yes its a tax!), and its capable of diving underwater
Rinspeed’ sQuba, enjoy;

This ugly thing will be hitting our streets in 2009, supposedly with a 4.8l 500BHP v8… I wonder if they will keep putting the engine in the wrong place…

I’m sure some of you out there think this is a good looking car… you don’t really deserve sight…

Still the same old TT, although now with a 264 BHP engine at 0-60mph of 5.2 secs.

I’ve never really liked Porsche’s, never seen the point, overpriced, no passion, yada yada yada. Sorry, bored thinking of something to say about them…

My views of our Fuhrer; over tax the car, cars are bad although short haul flights are worse for the environment, congestion tax is about reducing congestion and not about revenue generation, yes you should use public transport, although its more expensive than driving, even with my brilliant congestion taxing policy/revenue generation/tax, and I use taxis to get around, use public transport, not for me thanks, Ken Livingston… *breath*

The car park I use on Park Lane is also a transit location where cars that have been evading the congestion tax are clamped, picked up and taken to. Walking from the car park to the office this morning, this made me feel all warm inside.

Begs the question… is the Westminster council on a mission to rid our streets of crappy Porsche “cars”… I feel ill even associating the word “car” with P…