The drivers will compete on a purpose built course designed to test car and driver alike.  The course will feature a long straight to ensure high entry speeds on the first big sweeping turn and then onto a number of challenging technical turns.  The course should prove to be exciting for spectators who will be allowed to get close to the action.

Judging will be based on current Formula DRIFT rules and regulations with the possible addition of two international judges.

“We believe it may be possible that the money could be spent more effectively on permanent road-calming measures and flashing signs rather than … speed cameras,” Bluh said.

This move by Swindon Borough Council is likely due to changes that mean local authorities can no longer keep money raised in speeding fines.

“We don’t get the revenue that comes from the fines to invest in road schemes and therefore this may be a way of us investing more money in our road-calming measures locally,” Bluh added.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership, which operates the cameras, claims they have reduced deaths on the sections of road where they are sited by two thirds over three years.  There is however evidence to prove that other road calming measures (such as speed activated flashing signs) are just as, if not more effective than speed cameras.

The £250,000 raised from speed cameras last year in Swindon, at £400,000 for upkeep of the 13 fixed cameras Swindon Borough Council were never going to break even anyway.

References

TRL Report for Department for Transport (TRL548)
SafeSpeed on Vehicle Activated Signs

Performance figures for the RX-8 R3 are impressive with a maximum power output of 228bhp (231ps) at 7500rpm and 155lb/ft of torque (211Nm) at 5500rpm.  A fettled six speed manual gearbox with shorter gearing through gears 1 to 5 and a longer 6th gear for cruising will see the R3 will reach 62mph in just 6.4 seconds and go on to a top speed of 146mph.

Mazda have taken steps to improve the reliability by incorporating an improved and relocated oil pump, larger oil cooler and increased oil capacity.  Also included is a “Red Zone” feature which limits the revs when the engine is cold to protect the engine from over enthusiastic owners.  Once warm the limit is removed and full use of the 9000rpm rev band is available.

On sale from late August, the new Mazda RX-8 R3 will have an on the road price of £24,995.

Gallery

With these modifications the Abarth Opening Edition will go from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 7.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 131mph (211km/h) through a 5 speed gearbox. This is an improvement of 0.5 seconds in the 0 to 62mph and an extra 3mph at the top end over the standard Fiat 500 Abarth.

Externally the Fiat Abarth Opening Edition has few notable distinguishing features; red brake callipers (which are optional on even base spec 500’s) and tinted windows.  There are two colours available, Pearlised White and Campovolo Grey and special decals. Inside it is a different story with distinctive two tone read and black leather seats, sporty aluminium and leather gear knob with red detailing and a limited edition plaque.

No official word on a release date or price but expect to pay and least £1000 more than the standard Abarth.  Only 100 will be released in Italy and no mention as yet on numbers available to other markets.  There was an “Essesse-Essesse” performance kit mentioned a while back that was to be released in November 2008, this may or may not be it but it may give an indication of the Fiat Abarth Opening Editions intended release date.

Gallery

• S14 SR20DET ECU Pinout Reference
• S15 SR20DET ECU Pinout Reference
• WGC34 Stagea RB25DET Automatic ECU Pinout Reference

Highlights

Whilst there were a number of other races on the day; the Mini Cooper Cup; Scottish Legends; XR2 and Formula Ford Championships. We were there primarily to watch the Sports and Saloons Championship races although the Classic Sports & Saloons were enjoyable too. The sports and saloons race first race was a little disappointing. It had been cold and wet in the morning but both Andy Gallacher and Charlie Shaw had gambled on the track drying enough for them to run slicks. Unfortunately it hadn’t and it was evident that neither Andy Gallacher nor Charlie Shaw (driving Andy’s old white Ford Focus) could get sufficient power down on the wet track. Andy Gallacher’s blue Ford Focus retired after the first lap with a broken drive shaft and with Charlie Shaw struggling to make his Focuses superior power count he only managed a 4th place finish.

The 2nd Sports and Saloons race of the day saw Andy Gallacher returning (having fixed his car during the break); however he was now starting at the back of the grid. As it turned out this wouldn’t matter, Colin Simpson in his blue Marcos Mantis was unable to start the second race due to a gearbox failure sustained in the first. This meant the only real competition left for Andy Gallacher on a now mostly dry track was Stewart Whyte in his ex-BTCC Accord and Charlie Shaw in Andy’s old white Ford Focus. When the race started the brutal power of Andy Gallacher’s Ford Focus was immediately apparent; passing four cars on the starting straight and continuing to pass cars till he was in the lead. Charlie Shaw also started well but seemed to slow to a point where it seemed he was just cruising round the track. I assume he picked up on a problem and decided not to destroy the hard work he put into the engine on the first meeting of the season. Andy Gallacher finished first with Charlie Shaw eventually finishing last.

Gallery

More Information

Further details on Andy Gallachers 670bhp Project Focus build can be found here:
Andy Gallacher’s Ford Focus (registration may be required)

Full race results for the day at Knockhill can be found here:
MyLaps.com - Knockhill SMRC 30/03/2008

An extensive collection of photo’s from the day can be seen here:
Photo’s of Knockhill SMRC 30/03/2008 (courtesy of Adrian Gail)

A video of the 2nd race featuring Andy Gallacher’s monster can be seen here:
Andy Gallacher’s Ford Focus

Discuss this post in the Kouki Tech discussion forums

Speculation

There had previously been speculation of an RX-8 redesign based on one of the recent Mazda concepts called Nagare, recent information suggests the new RX-7 will be based on the Taiki concept (See gallery) and will be powered by Mazda’s new Renesis rotary engine codenamed 16X. Looking at the futuristic Taiki concept I doubt there is much that will remain of the trimaran rear end with its enclosed wheels. The front end also looks a little too “retro muscle car”, but I can see where the general idea is. In my opinion the Mazda Ryuga Concept is possibly the closest to what I’d imagine a concept RX-7 looking like.

Power

The RX-7’s 16X Renesis rotary engine will be a two rotor 1.6 liter (rotary engines have recently only been 1.3 litres) with direct injection and a turbo charger to produce in excess of 250bhp. Mazda claim the increase in displacement will deliver more torque and improved fuel economy with lower emissions. The engine itself is lighter and physically smaller than the current 1.3 liter Renesis engine despite it having more displacement.

Opinion

I’m looking forward to this one, I’m also glad that Mazda are hanging in there with the rotary engine. The RX-7 has used a rotary engine since its first appearance way back in 1978. I’m not sure how Mazda plan to market the RX-7 alongside the RX-8 which is set to continue, aside from the fact that the RX-7 is expected to be smaller and lighter. Both are four seaters in a 2+2 arrangement, i.e. two adults and two children (or insanely short adults), time will tell how Mazda plans to market these. So long as the new RX-7’s design doesn’t suck I can see it being very popular, in fact, I’d probably buy one.

Gallery

Special Edition ST500 lacks special

The Focus ST-3 uses a 20-valve five-cylinder Duratec 2.5 engine, which develops 225PS at 6,100rpm and 320Nm of torque at 1,600rpm. The ST500 is mechanically no different from the £19,845 St-3, but for £650 more you get a metallic black paint job and ‘classic’ silver racing stripes which stretch across the roof and bonnet and silver side stripes. These are (according to the press release) “designed to echo the livery of the winning GT40 in the 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966″. You also get a red leather interior.

Quite why you’d want to spend the extra £650 for some black paint, stripes and red hide I’m not sure. In fact, the ST500 is a bit of a non-edition, why not just specify panther black for £350 and stick with the ST-3’s leather Recaros? You could always pop down to Halfords later for some masking tape and a can of silver. Mazda had the right idea when they released their RX8 Kuro special edition, at least there you were getting a limited edition of 500 that had more spec for less money.

I’m not even sure how well the limited run of 500 cars will help the ST500 hold its value, I’ve seen no mention of individually numbered plaques, although, if you squint a little at the interior image in the gallery I think the center console does say ST500. Add the fact that its lairy red interior and racing stripes will likely attract a certain demographic, it leads me to believe that in 3 years time finding a well looked after ST500 will be a difficult task.

Gallery

The new reference section isn’t all that busy yet, I’ll be adding to it bit by bit. Right now I have added some Nissan 200SX ECU Pinout diagrams and reference tables. I’ll continue adding these, and hopefully finish my wheel offset calculator/visualiser thats been sitting for nearly a year now.

Section 59 & vehicle seizures

“Where an officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a motor vehicle is being used in a manner which contravenes Road Traffic Act Section 3 (Careless Driving) OR Section 34 (Driving elsewhere than on a road) AND also the manner of use of the vehicle is causing or has been causing or is likely to cause, alarm distress or annoyance to members of the public”

In a nutshell if a police officer believes you to be using your vehicle “in manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance” he or she can then issue you with a written warning which is valid for 12 months. If you are seen to be repeating the offence (I’ll call it that for now) having already recieved a written warning then you car can be siezed there and then. Even worse is the part where it says:

“Seizure can made only if a warning has been given, or believed to have been given, or if a warning is clearly being ignored.”

In other words, you don’t nessesarily have to have been issued with a warning to have your vehicle seized.

I can’t see this being a problem if the act is used as indended i.e. if some idiot is doing burnouts in the street, driving recklessly near a school or blasting thier music at full volume in a quiet residential area. Then I could see the reasoning, however we all know that there are good cops, and bad cops (excuse the cheesy phrase) and the problem lies in the interpretation of the act. In this case it leaves far too much to be open to interpretation, you do not have to be breaking any law to be issued with a warning, your car could comply fully with every legal requirement and you could still be issued with a warning because the officer believes it could be, or is causing an annoyance a member of the public.

Obviously this could cause problems with anybody who likes to modify their car, a performance exhaust could be enough to result in a warning and I don’t imagine anybody would be impressed at having to replace an exhaust (that is not in breach of any law) just to avoid having their car seized!

As I stated earlier, I wasn’t aware until today that any such act was in effect, at least it has never affected me in the past five years. Still, I think the petition to abolish section 59 of the police reform act on the 10 downing street website is worth signing because as it stands the act is too vague and leaves too much up to personal opinion…

Further Reading

The full Police Reform Act 2002 and a direct link to section 59.
Information and Advice at Green Lane Association Ltd.

Links

Online Petition at 10 Downing Street site.