Issue 24 — Summer 2014
miles ahead...
Myths About MPG
Find out which myths about MPG are just not true
The Cars in Cartoons
From Flintmobile to Lightning McQueen, the TV cars which graced our screens
I Will Be Back - Goodwood Festival of Speed The Alice in Wonderland for car enthusiasts!
Keith Camilleri, the F4 Adventure Local motor sport is etching a new chapter in its illustrious history
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Issue 24 - Summer 2014
Editor’s Note Fleur Balzan Publishers b.Right new media Ltd. 19, Parish Street, St. Paul’s Bay, SPB 3362, Malta
Editor Fleur Balzan fbalzan@b.rightnewmedia.com
Summer is here, in full swing too, and with it another issue of Wheelspin magazine. This is the 24th issue, meaning we have been around for 6 full years already! Does it seem that long? Not to us. 24 issues, many, we have no doubt are still in some closet or other. At least that is what most of our readers tell us. In this issue we give you originality at it’s best. Mark Attard takes us through the vehicles of the cartoon world. We are sure many will enjoy the ride down memory years, reliving the cars of our childhood.
Contributors Pierre Vella Ben Glover Mark Attard
Graphic Design Chris Mahoney www.chrismahoney.eu chris@chrismahoney.eu
Hair Cut Coiffeur
Ben Glover tells us about some other toys, this time the toys or gadgets we look to have in our cars. That besides taking us through the myths of MPG, that is miles per gallon. Pierre can’t stay away from the racing and once again he visits the Goodwood Festival of Speed plus tells us more about Keith Camilleri, the Maltese youth racing in the Formula 4 Racing Championship. And I, well I am left driving the different cars that arrive locally. Couldn’t include every car driven in the last weeks however on this issue we have included a few of those vehicles we really enjoyed driving.
Make Up Shasha
So once again we invite you to enjoy the read.
Advertising & Sales Fleur Balzan (+356) 21 576 154 (+356) 99 805 763
Pre-Press & Printing Impressions Ltd., Marsa
No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written consent of the publisher. WHEELSPIN
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In this issue Summer 2014
Features 8
Myths about MPG
12
In-Car Gadgets
14
Keith Camilleri, the F4 Adventure
16
I Will Be Back: Goodwood Festival of Speed
18
The Cars in Cartoons
Launches
Test Drives
10
4
The latest cars to arrive in Malta
Cars Driven Lately: Seat Leon FR, Mercedes Benz C Class, The Skoda Rapid Spaceback and Skoda Yeti, The Audi A3 Cabriolet
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CARS DRIVEN LATELY By Fleur Balzan
D
uring the last few months, we have had the opportunity of driving a number of vehicles, most of which have just made it to our shores. It is at times like these, when you have a lot of driving to do that we appreciate more the job we have. Driving can be tedious, that’s for sure, but when you have the choice of driving a different car every other day, the traffic becomes tolerable. At least with the cars experienced recently!
Seat L eo n F R One of the first cars to write about in this issue is a Mediterranean style vehicle with distinctive, sexy lines and a sporty look. This is the Seat Ibiza FR, a car with a very attractive face particularly around the headlamps. Here one will find the daytime running lights which, unlike other vehicles, are not vertical or horizontal, but are in a form of a triangle all around the front headlights. Something I thought made the face seem more aggressive and again in my opinion, increased the attractiveness of the car. On the inside the dashboard is slightly angled towards the driver. We have seen this on some other brands and every time I mention that this particular feature gives a feeling that the car is built, even more so, around
the driver. With a touch screen in the centre of the dashboard featuring a car information system, an audio system, the Bluetooth, and visually indicating obstacles through the front and rear sensors, amongst other
features, this car indicates sporty comfort. Style on the other hand is also apparent in the materials used on the interior, the stitching on the seats and steering wheel, in this case in red, offering a sporty feel to the car, as does the lower driving position and the drive of the vehicle. The model driven is a 2 litre DSG diesel, with an automatic 6 speed gearbox but with the choice of shifting gears through the same gear leaver for more manual style driving. Offering 150bhp and reaching the 100km from standstill in just 6.2 seconds this vehicle can offer all the options of a family car with thrilling, sporty driving.
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TEST DRIVES • Cars Driven Lately by Fleur Balzan
M e rc edes B en z C Cl ass I had the chance of driving the new Mercedes Benz C Class soon after its stylish launch and as expected, this Mercedes vehicle showered me in luxury throughout the few hours I had it to drive. As a child I always loved driving with my father in his Mercedes just to savour the luxuries of these vehicles. From the wood interior to the leather seats and the many extras which added to the comfort yet which are nowadays found in practically all cars, I could never stop looking at the detail in each feature. Even after so many years, (over 35 to be honest) and with many features becoming standard on many a car, Mercedes Benz always seem to have that distinctive touch of luxury rarely
found in other brands. And so yet again, I was as mesmerised studying this vehicle as I used to be when being driven to school in my father’s car when I was barely 9 years old. The Mercedes Benz C Class is a classic Mercedes. A luxury, executive vehicle which has retained its endless class while still modernising its looks to be as stylish as ever! The model driven is the Avantgarde line C 220 BlueTEC diesel engine with a 7G-tronic plus gear box and with Co2 emissions at no more than 117g/km. At first glance the car is dumbfounding with attractive chrome inserts on the radiator grille
and a touch of chrome and aluminium on the side. The same style is also visible in the interior of the vehicle with touches of chrome around the air vents and other features giving the car an even more luxury feel to it. With comfortable leather seats and a 3 spoke leather steering wheel it gives one the impression that you are ready to take off to an amazing journey lost in the wonders of this magnificent vehicle. The drive is nothing less than spectacular! With a choice of different driving modes, depending if your mood is easy and you prefer comfort, or adventurous and prefer sporty, the car is utterly responsive to the drivers senses! Agile yet sturdy, fast yet easily controlled, simply dynamic. A car that offers the ultimate package of luxury, good looks and phenomenal performance!
T h e S ko da Ra p i d Spaceback and Skoda Y eti It had been a while since I had driven a Skoda and so after the official launch of the Skoda Rapid Spaceback and the Skoda Yeti, I was glad to be able to drive both these vehicles within the space of a week. Once I got in the driver’s seat of the Rapid Spaceback I immediately realised that this was a car that would leave a positive impression on me. The second you open the door to the car you realise that this car is solid. No flimsiness in the body parts and once you start driving you realise that
Photo: Pierre Vella WHEELSPIN
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TEST DRIVES • Cars Driven Lately by Fleur Balzan
body and the drive, with the same 1.2 litre TSI engine in 2 wheel drive, is also impressive. The dashboard is simple yet clean with a touch screen for the audio system and other functions. The space in the rear is very good and for further improvements the rear seats are all individual and can be moved backwards or forward as may be required.
Photo: Pierre Vella this, in no way at all effects the drive of the car. The model driven was the 1.2 litre TSI petrol with Elegance standard equipment including the style pack options. Soon as you press the gas pedal one realises how much this turbo powered engine offers a great drive! It seems the brand has retained all its positive aspects from days gone by while improving on other aspects since Skoda has been part of the VW Group. The Rapid Spaceback is neither a hatchback, nor an SW vehicle. At first glance it looks like a longer hatchback with not three but four pillars and so offers so much space inside. The model offers many extras. A modern yet uncluttered dashboard including a touch screen from where one can control different features such as Bluetooth and audio system, a chilled gloved compartment, various driving features such as traction control and hill control and a digital indicator showing the direction one is travelling, to mention but a few.
weather, never once did we feel the heat it gave while uncovered was intolerable. And what can we say about the space. The car is spacious plus!! Space is definitely not lacking anywhere in the car, especially the boot which besides being large also includes a window in the middle back seat which may be opened for even longer items. Wouldn’t mind having this car for longer to explore further! The Skoda Yeti on the other hand is a Compact SUV or crossover which is definitely not lacking in space. Like the Rapid Spaceback it has a solid
Features are many and all increase in the comfort of the use of the car. Some of these features are really nothing spectacular yet they are utterly useful and convenient. These include simple hooks in the boot to avoid having things running around and also side belts, again to help keep order in the boot. With a slightly hard suspension, a precise steering wheel and lumber seats, the car is comfortable. However one other thing which adds convenience, especially to those who love to service their own vehicles, is the space around the engine. Everything under the bonnet is easily reachable and makes life easy for any mechanic or hands on owner. One thing however which is very much worth mentioning in these cars is that, besides them being practical, the costs won’t break the bank even for the most fully loaded vehicle so definitely worth a closer look.
This particular model also features a panoramic roof going the full length of the roof. This roof we found very ideal as it was in a tinted black glass which increased the appeal of the vehicle in appearance. During driving however, this was never a hindrance, and although our test drive was held in late June, meaning in very warm 6
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TEST DRIVES • Cars Driven Lately by Fleur Balzan
T h e Au di A 3 Ca briolet Our latest test drive was again ‘to die for’! On a very warm July day we took the newest Audi vehicle for a drive, and this was the Audi A3 Cabriolet. Well, Audi vehicles do not need any introduction to the exquisite richness and stability they provide but when the car is also a convertible, the smile on my face simply makes my jaw ache. Having driven the Audi A3 Saloon just a few weeks before, I was very much aware that this award winning vehicle was going to make my day when it came to drive. But when I drove out of the Audi showroom in a dark beige coloured vehicle with a chocolate coloured roof and leather seats, I surely felt like a million dollars! When I had seen this particular Audi Cabriolet at the launch, I
applauded the choice of colours chosen which, in my opinion, simply made this car even more stylish and utterly classy! The design of this vehicle is elegant, with distinctive lines from above the flat headlights ending at the rear finishing in a kind of spoiler shape rear. The front features a single frame radiator grille, immediately recognisable as AUDI and air intakes in the bumper. The roof is a soft top which may open and close even while the car is travelling up to 50km, something which is however not recommended for safety’s sake! A four seater vehicle, the Audi A3 convertible is sporty yet comfortable. The TDl engine driven has an automatic gearbox with a choice to switching to the manual shift simply by shifting the same gear leaver to
the left. The drive was impressive. Acceleration is excellent thus offering the thrill of a sports car yet with the stability of a closed vehicle even when driving at high speeds with the roof down. A dream car that simply tells you to drive, drive and keep on driving. An elegant, light weight, technically advanced vehicle which leaves nothing to compromise but gives the max is style, elegance, performance, and technical systems simply to make our lives and our drives superior!
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The one thing I have loved about Malta is the fact we make the most of what we have! If it isn’t broke why change it? It is the same when it comes to our cars. All too much in the UK we have cars that are damaged and are written off at the slightest dent. Here in Malta we simply repair it and we get on with it. Saving money is what it is all about. >>
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Feature• Myths About MPG
by Ben Glover
With fuel becoming one of the main burning holes in our pocket it is important to economise. The more miles per gallon we do the more money we have. Think of it as liquid money being poured into your fuel tank and as the dial goes down the time will come when we have to spend to fill up again.
but I was in a 6 cylinder BMW diesel. Although we have no great need for cruise control in Malta if you are abroad it may come in handy to be in total control!
It used to be that the diesel engine was king of economy, from the faithful 1.5 Toyota lump that we still find in many of our older cars on the road. Now we see that the petrol engine is fighting back with many car manufacturers opting for three cylinders with a bolt on turbo for extra power. Cars like the brilliant Ford Fiesta for instance offering over 125 BHP and 65.7 MPG from a 1 litre engine!
A dirty air filter can give you low miles, maybe back in the 70’s, but now many modern cars have an onboard computer. The ECU’s job is to work out a fuel-to-air ratio. In a modern vehicle, air goes through the filter and then through a mass airflow sensor that lets the ECU gauge the airflow and adjust the fuel accordingly. Less airflow means less fuel is sent to the engine. While gas mileage may not be affected, dirty air filters can lead to sluggish acceleration.
In previous issues there have been tips on how to save fuel. But did you know there are some myths about MPG out there that are just not true?
Shifting To Neutral (coasting) Our fathers may have told us to use neutral when we don’t need full power (such as going downhill) to save fuel but this is simply not true. In fact it is dangerous. By using your gears to slow the car down or keep a constant speed you are in fact obtaining higher MPG. The engine may be revving at over 3,000 RPM but if your foot is not on the accelerator then no fuel is passing through the engine. By coasting you are not in full control of the engine which technically is a secondary braking system.
Manual Gearboxes over Auto I have always maintained the fact that if you drive an automatic gear box then you are simply not a driver’s driver. Cars are meant to be played with and if this involves your hand grinding through a set of gears, then the more the merrier. However, my latest car to my collection does have an auto. And while I may still hold the fact that manual is better for me I’ve eaten some of my words because the BMW gearbox fitted to my car is truly brilliant. Modern autos are geared to economise with maximum power. Despite the fact I only have a four speed box I am only using 20 Euro a week compared to my 30. And it is great for sitting in island traffic queues.
Cruise Control Recently in the UK I set myself a challenge. I was to set the cruise control to a steady 70 mph on a stretch of motorway. I would then repeat the same journey the next day with it switched off. It was the same amount of traffic and within the same conditions. With the cruise on I was averaging, according to the trip computer, 38 MPG. With it switched off just over 42. Yes, I know not great numbers
Change the Air filter Regularly
Additives While many of us like a clean set of injectors, adding a bottle of additive will not necessarily offer better MPG. Many of our fuel stations in Malta have filters that stop the dirt from reaching our tank and more and more are having additives already put in. While fuel-injector cleaners may lead to better fuel economy, if the ones in your car are dirty and clogged, other fuel additives — even if they work as advertised — probably would not save enough to cover their added cost.
Age The older the vehicle the less MPG! Correct. If you don’t actually maintain and look after your vehicle. Things to look out for: dirty fuel injectors/carbs, defective oxygen sensors, worn spark plugs, HT leads, and a defective or leaky fuel cap. Drive a diesel? Make sure you keep the EGR (emissions gas recirculation) clean. Carbon deposits can build up to 3-4mm thick.
A Valet Believe it or not there are some people out there that believe a full on car wash can actually save you fuel. I guess if you have vacuumed out the interior, washed off all the dirt and cleaned up the wheels this may have made the car a bit lighter. One colleague of mine in the UK was so convinced of this he invited me on a test drive of his new Land Rover Discovery. After clocking up a few miles after a full valet I’d found out why he was getting more MPG afterwards. He simply wasn’t driving it quick enough as he was afraid to get it dirty…
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Launches
Feature• Online Crime
by Ben Glover
The Porsche Macan The newest Porsche vehicle has arrived in Malta. The Porsche Macan is a sporty yet elegant SUV. Continental Cars Ltd. unveiled the vehicle at the National Aquarium during a beautiful evening which saw media and clients mingle together for the presentation of this car. The new Porsche Macan may be viewed at the Porsche showroom in Testaferrata Street, Ta’ Xbiex.
The Mercedes C Class
The new Mercedes C Class has been launched surrounded by style as it was unveiled as part of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week during the last week of May. The car was unveiled right before the Tiffany Pisani Fashion show held in the beautifully decorated St. George’s Square in Valletta, a most appropriate location for this beautiful, elegant vehicle. With stunning and distinctive lines, this car spells out luxury at first glance! The New Mercedes C Class may be viewed at the Kind’s Auto Sales Ltd., Mercedes showroom in Lija.
The Sporty Alfa Romeo 4C and Alfa Giulietta Sporty, beyond sporty the car from Alfa is pure Alfa Romeo Cuore Sportivo! A two seater sport car which is stunningly thrilling just to look at! The vehicle was presented at the Alfa Romeo showroom in Valley Road, Msida where details of the car were presented by Kenneth Rizzo Naudi to both media and Alfa Romeo enthusiasts.
The new Alfa Giulietta has been given a face lift and the new look of the vehicle was presented to the media during a lunch time event held in mid July. Sporting Italian style at its best, the Giulietta may be viewed at the Alfa Romeo showroom in Valley Road, Msida.
Alfa Romeo 4C Photo: Anastasia Zhukova | www.aprioriphotostudio.com
The Opel Cascada A new car from Opel has been launched with flair during a beautiful evening held at the Couvre Porte in Manuel Island. The all New Opel Cascada is a sporty yet luxury convertible vehicle by the German brand Opel with looks that are very chic. Slightly muscular yet elegant this vehicle is styled to appeal to those with fashion sense and Panache. The vehicle may be viewed at the Cars International Ltd., Opel Showroom in Qormi. 10
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NEWS • Launches
The Skoda Rapid Spaceback and Skoda Yeti Skoda, represented locally by Frank Borda Ltd., presented two vehicles during a warm spring day surrounded by views of B’Bugia Bay. The first vehicle is none other than the Skoda Rapid Spaceback, a name which truly fits the vehicle whilst the 2nd vehicle is the Skoda Yeti that was given a face lift. Two different segment vehicles that offer space, convenience, solidity, are pleasing to the eye and that come at extremely competitive prices. Both vehicles may be viewed at the Skoda showroom in Testaferrata Street, Ta’ Xbiex.
Photo: Pierre Vella
The Audi A3 Cabriolet Another car from Continental Cars Ltd.! The elegant Audi A3 Cabriolet has reached our shores and the vehicle was presented at the Audi Showroom recently. During the presentation Chev Maurice Mizzi, President of Mizzi Group, spoke about the exclusivity of the brand Audi and the car being unveiled, the award winning Audi A3 Cabriolet.This car spells out class, sophistication and style as we ourselves experienced during our test drive which you can read more about in other pages of this issue. The Audi A3 Cabriolet may be viewed at the Audi Showroom in Testaferrata Street, Ta’ Xbiex.
The New Toyota Aygo The latest vehicle to arrive from Toyota is the new Toyota Aygo, a city car with a lot of appeal. Smart, colourful and voguish this small number from popular brand Toyota is just ideal for the young and young at heart! Though still holding the ‘Aygo’ name this smallest car from Toyota has shown that small today is popular and trendy. The new Aygo may be viewed at the Toyota showroom in Zebbug.
The New Peugeot 108 The smallest member of the Peugeot family has been given a new look, and a new name/number, this is the Peugeot 108! No longer does one have to own a higher segment vehicle to be smart and trendy and the Peugeot 108 is proof of it. Small in size yet with a large package, and with the choice of an open top, this car is an eye catcher that is sure to make an impact on our roads. The Peugeot 108 may be viewed at the Michael Attard Ltd., Peugeot Showroom in National Road, Blata l’Bajda. WHEELSPIN
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In-Car Gadgets Ben Glover’s Guide to
There are two things that go hand in hand for me, cars and gadgets. Ever since I can remember I have trawled through various gadget shops with my dad looking for the stuff that I have been missing from my life. And nothing has changed. I have come home with all sorts of tat that my wife has simply ‘moved on’ via an auction site to clear some room. I of course, according to her, ‘Have never used it!’. I am sure I could go through the contents of her wardrobe and spend a whole day doing the same thing whilst making a lot of money. I would then spend that money on gadgets for my cars.
Here are the Top 5 Gadgets that you need for your car: >> 12
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Feature• In-Car Gadgets
by Ben Glover
car’s stereo system. Simply tune it in and enjoy a hands free chat. It is voice activated so in theory there is no need to touch anything apart from the steering wheel.
In-Car Camera Standard in all cars across Russia these installed not only provide legal evidence in case of an accident (with a road incident happening every 3 seconds in Russia) but they also supply a barrage of entertainment. The Transcend DrivePro 200 (£89.00) is currently the best on the market. Not only does it have wide-angled HD recording, it connects to your Smartphone or tablet via WiFi. So whoever cuts you up on a roundabout will now not only be caught but in good screen quality too.
USB Double Charger Smartphones and tablets can be quite ‘juicy’ when it comes to battery life. There is now no need to reduce the screen brightness in order to save battery life thanks to the Go Double travel USB charger (£6.99 from www.gotravelproducts.com). It sits nicely in the 12v socket (some simply just fall out) and doesn’t get too hot as the volts flow through.
If you do by chance have a spare €300, the Parrot MKi9200 is the daddy of the hands free world. ‘Parrot’ have come a long way since a pager sized unit mounted on the dash that required half of the dashboard being removed just to fit it. The Mki9200 syncs to an iPhone which not only lets you make the calls but listen to your playlists too. This Parrot gives you input from an SD card, aux-in and USB. The screen is not as big as you would like and may be difficult to see in the sun light however it does offer you something in the higher end of the hands free market. You will require a separate mount for your iPhone as it is illegal not have this when driving.
Espressgo Flask We are a nation of coffee and tea lovers. Although we may not travel too far to work it is good to know there is a handy flask on hand that sits neatly on your dashboard. The Lavazza Espressgo plugs into your car charger socket and costs £129.99. You have to fill the little reservoir, pop in a cap and screw the top back on. Then you wait, not for long, but a couple of minutes and molto bene! instant coffee. Obviously don’t drink and drive - create your caffeine fix before you set off. Or if you are transporting your nan around, it also stores tea.
Hands Free Kit Apps
As Malta’s Police Force get tougher on mobile phone use in the car, the Plantronics Voyager Edge (£93.20 from amazon.co.uk) is the perfect solution to hands free conversation. The Plantronics Voyager Edge packs outstanding call quality and noise cancellation. The headset is also light, comfortable to wear, and compact for a boom-style device. The Edge comes with a handy battery case for protection and charging on the go. Just remember to take it out of the ear when you get out of the car. It only looks cool when driving.
With Smartphones storing so much music it is hard to get the right playlist going first thing in the morning. But now there is an app that will work out the best songs according to your mood with the Gracenote Habu music app. Instead of choosing music by artists, album or genre, you can instead select a road-trip soundtrack according to whether you’re feeling “rowdy, wild, loud” or “romantic, sweet, heartfelt.”
If having a tiny Star Trek ear piece in your ear is just not your thing, then why not check out a visor mounted hands free kit. The Plantronics K100 (£31) fits easily to the sun visor and works via FM transmitter syncing into your
For example, if we don’t do Monday’s very well the app will decide which tunes will suit your mood. If it’s Friday then clearly the party tunes will be flowing through the speakers ready for the weekend. WHEELSPIN
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Keith Camilleri the F4 adventure! The local motor sport community is etching a new chapter in its illustrious history. text Pierre P. Vella images Matthew Scerri
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Feature• Keith Camilleri, The F4 Adventure
local motor sport. Malta Motor Sport Federation is backing this project, with Federation president Tonio Cini spending sleepless nights to make this all happen! Malta Formula Racing consists of a team of professional people that bring experiences from karting, F1 management and F1 engineers. Once the team was setup the next step was to recruit a local driver. Keith Camilleri was selected but, besides the talent, financing was the priority factor. Unfortunately when it comes to sponsorship, as a country we are somewhat restricted. It was the dedication of a group of companies, most of them involved in the local motor sport scene that helped out Keith Camilleri plus a very supportive family. Presently Keith has 15 year old Zach Dante from the US as his team mate. The first event was not short of emotions. The weekend consisted of a practice session, qualifying then on Sunday three races of around 30 minutes each. Keith featured quite well improving on his grid position. However there was contact at the first race, no fault of his. He injured his hand which resulted in unbearable pain yet the young driver did compete in all three races.
FIA President Jean Todt had come up with the idea of initiating a worldwide F4 championship. The scope for this championship was to act as a transition for young drivers to move up from karting to single seaters. Costs are to be kept relatively low with a standard single seater which will be used for all championships staged.
by Pierre Vella
track of mixed emotions. Here it was announced that MFR was increasing its drivers from two to five taking over another participating team. Quite a feat yet clearly illustrating the potential that exists within the team! Imola once more proved to be a thrilling weekend, Keith Camilleri ended the first race 5th after a fantastic race with new Italian recruit Mattia Drudi taking his maiden win in race 2. What we are all witnessing is a young promising team which has suddenly leap frog its previous grid position which definitely argues well, however the team with its personnel have quite a task to manage such a fleet. But this is all good for local driver Keith Camilleri who can really start to gauge himself to his current team mates with one of them already acquiring a race win. The next race was on another incredible circuit, Mugello on the outskirts of Florence, a very interesting and challenging track. This race was held on the 12th and 13th July week end and again showed promise for this young Maltese driver. The race to follow will be on the week end of the 3rd August. Wheelspin team wish Malta Formula Racing and especially Keith Camilleri all the very BEST.
The team’s next appointment was at one of the legendary Italian circuits, Enzo and Dino Ferrari in Imola, a
Italy was the first country to inaugurate this championship on the 8th June at the International track in Adria, situated to the north of Bologna. A healthy 22 cars are listed to take part in this championship forming 9 teams; one of these teams is registered in Malta under the name of Malta Formula Racing, an incredible feat of a dedicated group who believe the potential of our WHEELSPIN
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G
oodwood Festival of Speed has lived up once more to its tradition! Definitely speed was in abundance both on land and in the sky, and then there was the sound. Many are those worldwide that have been moaning about the new generation of racing noise levels at the top motor sport category. Well Goodwood was giving none to that. Goodwood FoS is just actually Alice in Wonderland, but change the name Alice to the names of all those that love cars! It is four days of sheer excitement for all the family. An event that gathers over 180,000 people on Lord March estate to forget all their worries and indulge in anything that spells cars.
words and images Pierre Vella
Every year gives the opportunity to walk through the history books of both automobiles and sport cars, with this year’s main chapters being dedicated to two great car manufacturers, Mercedes and Maserati. Both firms came to the south of England with their best pedigrees. Mercedes sporting their legendary first GP cars built in 1914, with 4.5 litre 4-cylinder and Maserati presenting cars that are usually held hidden in private collections. Goodwood FoS goes not one but two steps forward. No barriers 16
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Feature• I Will be Back — The Goodwood Festival of Speed by Pierre Vella
hold back the spectators to come up close in the paddock area and most important nearly all exhibits are raced up the hill. This is definitely a unique experience, the sound, the sight, the smell, emotions are running high especially if you manage to recognize from some motor sport book the actual driver or mechanic of the respective car, that makes it simply unbelievable but true. The list of drivers increases every year, all coming over to the paddock on foot greeting the people around them. American Al Unser was driving, blowing! The rest of the competition was at a standstill compared to his racing speed and skills. Taking the tractor ride from the top of the hill I soon realized, after having been thrilled by the rally stage, that rallying was for the courageous, both from the driver aspect and also from the spectator’s. I was ready for a shower as everyone close was covered with dust from the blistering laps and the excellent weather southern England was experiencing.
John Surtees, an annual regular, Emerson Fittapaldi, Andre Lottere, and Damon Hill rejoining his winning Williams FW18. Felipe Massa, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Bruno Senna, regular Rene Arnoux, oh yes, and Kimi Raikkonen. Then, moving on to bikes, there were Giacomo Agostini, Steve Parrish and Freddie Spencer.
The Festival of Speed is all about entertainment! A village setup of stalls ranging from food to some expensive motorsport images, to a children’s area and a chill out place from where one can watch bike trials and with a glimpse up in the air, the fifty year anniversary Royal Air force team, the Red Arrows, commencing their air display. After a rapid pitstop I was just in time to watch the batch
of super cars making their way up the hill. Not one but two La Ferrari, a red and a green coloured belonging to a rather famous singer. Plus a Bentley, Porsche, McLaren, Aston Martin and Ginetta, just to mention a few. My main interest was the Ferrari F12 TRS plus an array of priceless one off cars that make the batch thoroughly Super. I am sure I could have an article on every issue of Wheelspin until next year’s edition of the Festival of Speed in 2015. Yes, I will return because personally it is the best show on earth when it comes to cars. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience! I am at the eleventh edition, and very much looking forward to next year. I had to cut short my text to make space for some images from yet an incredible event. Well done to Lord March and all his team, year after year simply gets better!
However, once again the star of the show was Sebastian Loeb. This guy is just incredible taking both stage events with his best time for the rally stage and the hillclimb. Loeb was taking the rally stage with the Citroen DS3 WRC and the hillclimb with the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak. I had witnessed Loeb on track on various occasions but never have I seen him literally race on gravel in a rally stage. The experience was mind WHEELSPIN
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If you’re a car enthusiast, chances are good you can thank one of the machines listed below for starting you down the automotive rabbit hole. From iconic animated machines of yesteryear such as the Flintmobile in “The Flintstones” and The Mean Machine in “Wacky Races” to the more contemporary metal of Mater in “Cars”. We’ve collected some of the best animated vehicles ever to grace the TV or silver screen for a trip down memory lane. See how many of them you know about. If you know them all it does not mean you are getting old. it just means that these cars are all time classics… sort of.
The Jetsons
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George Jetson s flying car No vehicle is more responsible for our burning desire for a flying car than George Jetson’s family transport. With seating for the whole Jetsons clan, “away pods” for the kids and a convenient folding function for storage while not in use, the unnamed Jetsons car is the perfect way for George to get to Spacely Sprockets every day on this TV series.
Scooby Doo, Where Are You! The Mystery Machine Believe it or not, Scooby Doo and his pals didn’t always travel around in a panel van painted with a floral pattern. Early in the mystery-solving business on this TV series, those pesky kids and their dog had to rely on transportation from Daphne’s dad. There’s no telling exactly why the gang wound up with a van dubbed “the Mystery Machine” as their preferred mode of transportation, although ample storage for Scooby snacks may have had something to do with it.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit by Mark Attard
Benny the Cab The automotive hero of the movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” Benny the Cab was the poster child for autonomous
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Feature• The Car In Cartoons
by Mark Attard
family around Bedrock for 166 episodes. That’s a lot of legwork from Fred.
Wacky Races The Mean Machine While the “Wacky Races” TV franchise featured a whole cast of characters with suitably outrageous vehicles, Dick Dastardly took the crown for coolness. As the focal point of the “cheaters never win” lesson, Dastardly and his sidekick, Muttley, never won a race, but that was no fault of the Mean Machine. With multiple fins and rocket engines, the car was built for straight-line speed.
101 Dalmatians
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Cruella De Vil s coupe
driving, before Google ever thought to let a car control itself! Even more surprising, Benny has a a strong or habitual liking for driving other cars. In fact, his only weakness seems to be the nasty Dip, a goo capable of neutralizing cartoon characters of any shape.
Cruella De Vil had the distinction of being named the 13th-wealthiest fictional character by Forbes in 2002, and her classy V8 coupe befits her status. Penned with design cues from long-nose classics of the 1930s, the fire-breathing machine of auto-influenced, satanically surnamed ‘De Vil’, assists in attempts to track down her canine quarry in Disney’s animated movie.
Inspector Gadget Batman The Batmobile Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films reflecting evolving car technologies. Kept in the Batcave accessed through a hidden entrance, the gadget-laden car is used by Batman in his crime-fighting activities. The Batmobile made its first appearance in Detective Comics (May, 1939). Then a red sedan, it was simply referred to as “his car”. Soon it began featuring an increasingly prominent bat motif, typically including distinctive wing-shaped tailfins. Armored in the early stages of Batman’s career, it has been customized over time into a sleek street machine.
The Gadgetmobile The Gadgetmobile, also spelled the Gadget Mobile, is Gadget’s trusty car that he uses when he is on his cases in nearly every Normal episode of Inspector Gadget. It is a 1983 Toyota Supra that has all sorts of gadgets in it. In the Inspector Gadget film series, it is a talking male car with its own personality and mind. In Inspector Gadget 2, Gadgetmobile is given a new look as a purple color instead of his former white color. The Gadget mobile flies in only one episode of Inspector Gadget, which is Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas 1991.
Cars Lightning McQueen
The Flintstones tHE FLINTmobile Horsepower? Try manpower! Made of little more than a few forked logs, two stone rollers and some hide, the Flintstones’ car dutifully hauled the modern Stone Age
Susie’s grandson, Lightning McQueen from the “Cars” movie, features design elements borrowed from far-flung corners of the automotive world, such as the Mazda Miata and Dodge Viper. As a NASCAR racer, he’s built to take on the asphalt ovals of the world, but designers specifically focused on sports greats such as Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan for McQueen’s on-screen outward behaviour. WHEELSPIN
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SPOT INFO
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Wheelspin • Issue 24
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