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Archive for June, 2015

Fathers Day: Flowing in the Family Fuel-Line

i-am-your-father

“The Force runs strong in my family. My father has it, I have it. You have that power too”

This weekend, I chose to go back to my homeland to visit my parents. For today is Fathers Day. And as I write my dad sites atop his throne, catching up on the weekends’ motorsport. People say that some thing don’t change, this tradition has been in effect throughout my life and I can’t see this changing. While many people I know are posting wonderfully sentimental Facebook statuses with obligatory father-child photo, I thought I would take it one further. The Glynn family gene pool has been dominated by motorsport since the beginning of time. Today is the perfect day to celebrate and thank the man responsible for introducing me to the world of cars.

While growing up, I never did quite fit in with those around me. Now I’m sure there are a multitude of reasons why this may be, but for me there was always one that stood out. Everyone would always be talking about football; great goals, terrible fouls and my personal favourite of referring to their team as ‘we’ as if apparently they have some say in how the team is run. For me though, all I wanted to do was talk about motorsport. Did I wish I could join in the sports chat? Not one bit.

My love for all things cars can be traced back to my dad. Honestly? I could not be more thankful for it.

Some of my earliest memories consist of three key aspects; my dad, motorsport and Brands Hatch. Many of my childhood weekends were spent with my dad watching all manner of racing, indulging my ever-growing passion for cars. I can recall it almost as if it was yesterday; my dad would have his race day clipboard and program, filling in all the results so he could keep a full record of the racing. It was not long until I was doing the same thing. It was around this time that my dad started telling me stories, and entrusted me with a true piece of Glynn family history.

Sitting in the Paddock Hill grandstand, my dad handed to me a clipboard of my own. Covering this clipboard, in much a similar fashion to his was a blistering array of motorsport stickers of seemingly rather considerable age. This was not just any clipboard; this was his father’s clipboard. This was a ceremony, the passing on of a great institution to the next generation. My dad went on to tell me of a time when he was the child and it was his dad taking him to race weekends. I just hope that one day I can pass on the motorsport legacy to a new generation too.

When it comes to cars, there are few opinions I value more than that of my dad. When I bought my first car, my dad was there. If my car breaks down, he always has the answer. If I want some advice on a race weekend or a race series, my dad always knows.

Image taken from: insidebtcc.com

Image taken from: insidebtcc.com

Without him, I never would have discovered the BTCC. If my weekends were not spent at racetracks, then my dad and me would be watching the VHS reviews of BTCC seasons. People may wonder where my obsession with the series came from. Another point for my dad right there.

When I walked through the door upon my return home this father day, the familiar scene I was presented with is what made me genuinely realise how interwoven cars are into my family. It would not be a normal day if I did not find my dad watching motorsport on the television. Without this relationship, my passion for a career in motorsport would never have been born. Just like my dad’s life is scheduled around keeping up with the latest races, mine is based around covering events and keeping the Internet up to date with my take on proceedings.

All that remains for me to really say is thank you. For me, there is no motorsport without my dad. He passed his lifestyle onto me and I just hope that I can uphold this as we plough on through into the future. As I place my hands around what would have been my grandfather’s race day clipboard, it all becomes clear. By enjoying motorsport I am celebrating who I am. And where I come from.

Happy Fathers Day, Dad. And thank you for everything.

Keep up with me on Twitter @lewisglynn69

Keep Driving People!

Peace and Love!

 

 

  http://credit-n.ru

Private Fleet Car Review: 2015 Range Rover Evoque Dynamic.

There’s SUV’s. There’s AWD. Then there’s Luxury. Brands once thought of as never going down the luxury SUV path, such as Jaguar, Bentley, even Lamborghini, have done so. Yet there’s one brand that spans luxury through to bare bones and offers a very diverse range to boot. A Wheel Thing looks at the lifestyle choice offering from Land Rover’s luxury arm, Range Rover’s Evoque, in Dynamic specification.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic profile 2Powersource: The vehicle supplied came with the EcoBoost turbo 2.0L petrol engine (a diesel is also available), pumping out 177 kW and 350 Nm and puts those numbers to the tarmac via a sophisticated all wheel drive system with electronic terrain selection and a nine ratio automatic transmission.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic engine 2 It takes fuel from a 68L tank whilst motoring to 100 km in 7.6 seconds. Range Rover claim 10.3L per 100 kilometres on the urban cycle, 6.4L/100 km for the highway and 7.8L/100 km in the combined cycle.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic profile

The Suit: It’s a style not to everyone’s taste, with a stocky presence; a sharp wedge shape, a bluff front end that tapers into a steeply sloping roof line that hints at a lack of interior rear seat room. There’s different front end treatments for the Evoque, with the Dynamic’s front being served a horizontal cross bar in the lower air intake, bracketed by sharply angled joiners, whilst the main grille receives the blackout treatment.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic front 2

LED driving lights frame the Xenon main lights, with a strong Range Rover look under the current design philosophy highlighted by an almost “Spirit of Ecstasy” profile to the head and tail light cluster design.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic rear

The Dynamic Coupe is, by virtue of its name, a three door design, with two longish main entry doors and a powered rear tailgate. The doors themselves are nicely balanced, not requiring any major extra exertion to open or close. The rear door itself rises and falls at the mere touch of a rubber button on the outside, a push button in the lower plastic extremity.

Range Rover Evoque Dynamic cargo 2

Rolling stock is 20 inch six spoke alloys, wrapped in 245/45 Continental tyres. There’s little give in the sidewalls, making the electronically adjustable suspension do the work. It’s a compact car, too, at 4335 mm in length, 1605 mm in height and a whopping 2090 m in total width at the front with the mirrors folded out.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic wheel 2

On The Inside:No surprises that it looks and feels sumptuous inside; from the soft touch and fabric covered dash, to the rising and rotary gear selector, from the superbly comfortable and supportive seats to the surprising amount of rear seat room.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic front seats 2

From the moment you unlock the door via the remote or touch pad on the handle, it’s luxury all the way. There’s provision for three memory positions for the leather wrapped driver’s seat, the premium look and feel of the dash, the blue backlit Range Rover logo in the door sill, complemented by the logo that shines from under the wing mirrors. The test car came fitted with the optional full length glass roof, opening up the interior to the outside world visually.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic glass roof

The seats have a flip lever and are motored electrically in order to allow access for rear seat passengers. It’s a nice touch but no good when you’re in a hurry. The rear seat itself is configured for just two, not three, people but due to the width of the Evoque, it’s a comfortable pew, plus the seats are set deep which provides better than expected head room.

Although the engine provides a nice purr, Range Rover fitted the Dynamic with a Meridian speaker system, a well known high end British company; it’s operated via the touchscreen, has numerous sound parameters and is, as expected, a full and nicely balanced sound. Below the centre dash is a hollow back panel, lit by LEDs and changeable in colour and brightness.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic centre console

 

Also, in the centre console is a set of buttons for the various off road driving options, including one called, naturally, Dynamic. When pressed, it changes the driving mood plus lights up the dash in a stark red. The profile, however, precludes seriously wide vision rearwards from the front seats; yes, there is a camera when Reverse is selected but when on the move it’s difficult to get any rear clear vision.

On The Road:
The turbo four has gained much acclaim for its flexibility, with that torque figure and the range it’s spread over making for a easy driving experience. It’s smooth and linear with a gearbox that works. The nine speed auto does, mostly. There were some occasional clunks, indecision and hesitancy, with enough lack of smoothness in the change at times to dull the effect of that engine.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic logo

Acceleration is decent by the seat of the pants feel, seeming to be quicker than the official figures, when the right pedal is given the command. It’s here the gearbox shines, with rapid, imperceptible, shifts, digging deep into the torque curve. It was more under light throttle the aforementioned issues appeared.

The ride quality was, somewhat unexpectedly, a touch harder than anticipated. The size of the wheels and the rubber would certainly have contributed, however the suspension didn’t feel as if there was much “give” past a minor amount of small bump absorption. As a result, however, there’s minimal body roll, dive and squat, with road undulations reduced to a single pogo.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic logo external

Steering is light, responsive, communicative yet the big tyres don’t tramline, allowing the tiller to stay well within the driver’s control. On most road surfaces, too, there’s minimal external noise or tyre rumble that makes it way into the cabin. Handling wise it’s planted, no discernible understeer and thanks to that wide footprint, no provokable oversteer.

Braking is well modulated on the pedal, with feedback from within the initial travel downwards of the pedal providing a positive impression; there’s bite aplenty and hauls up the Evoque confidently and without any fuss, under light braking. When the brake pedal is given the heavy foot, ABS makes itself known but not to the extent that people unfamiliar with how the pedal will pulse and the system chatters back will lift the foot….Range Rover Evoque Dynamic dash

The centre console has buttons to change the driving dynamics, through Snow, Gravel, Mud, Wet Grass etc and it works. The changes seem minor but they are effective in how the handling and overall setup of the car changes, with sensors reading the road surface conditions and adjusting the throttle and brakes as required thousands of time per second.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic centre console PRND

The Wrap: Range Rover delivers on its luxury SUV promise. The Evoque Dynamic Coupe is, certainly, a lifestyle choice vehicle, in that two doors and four seats really aren’t a family orientated gear set. Price wise, at over $70K, it’s not within the “average” family sights, pricewise.

There’s plenty of tech to play with, for the technologically minded and it’s got a tractable, flexible engine with a gearbox that worked near nigh perfectly and more than enough room for one or two people and their luggage. At 1640 kilos, for its size, it’s not as light as it should be and Range Rover’s official fuel figures of 10.3L per 100 kilometres for an urban cycle, however, won’t trouble the likely buyers of the Evoque Coupe.

Fit and finish is of the quality one expects, from the feel of the cloth through to the sight of the gear selector rising majestically through the centre console.Range Rover Evoque Dynamic centre console 2 The driving position imbues confidence, and there’s plenty of vision forwards. Rearwards, though…..
There’s an astounding range of options available, allowing a new buyer to personalise the Evoque to within an inch of its life and that’s what a true luxury brand offers discerning buyers. The Range Rover Evoque Dynamic is not in the reach of ordinary men (and women) but those that can grasp it, it’s well worth the time spent with it.

For information on Range Rover and Land Rover, head here: http://www.landrover.com.au/index.html

The Car.
Engine: 2.0L petrol with turbocharger.
Transmission: 9 speed automatic.
Power/Torque: 110 kW/340 Nm @ 5500 rpm/1750 rpm.
Fuel: 68L tank.
Economy: 10.4/6.4/7.8 (L per 100 km, urban,highway,combined).
Weight: 1640 kg.

Warranty: 3 year/100,000 km with Roadside Assistance.private_fleet_logo http://credit-n.ru/debitovaya-karta.html

Stereotypes: The Urban Tractor

Chelsea tractorUsually Seen: Parked in suburban driveways (but only in the better suburbs), outside the gates of private schools and near sports clubs. Occasionally spotted near chic cafés, shopping malls and hairdressers.

Typical Examples: Audi Q7  , Mercedes M-Class and Range Rover  at the expensive end of the spectrum; Mistubishi Pajero , Hyundai Santa Fe  and Ford Territory  at the cheaper end.

Description: For a start, we need to define an urban tractor. An urban tractor, unlike a farm tractor, doesn’t get to see much mud, unless you count mud on the bottom of soccer boots. An urban tractor lives in the suburbs and was purchased as a family vehicle for safety reasons. The idea is that bigger cars will come off better in a ding and the high position gives the driver a better view of the road… when she (usually she) is not relying on the rear parking sensors, the blind spot monitor and all the other safety gadgets. It has AWD either part time or full time, but this is because it’s safer on the road rather than because the family goes off road a lot – unless you count mounting the kerb so the kids can be dropped off as close as possible to the soccer club gate as possible.

The urban tractor is usually (but not always) driven by a woman with the standard issue of 2.5 children. The children in question can be any age but are typically school aged. The urban tractor does a lot of Mum’s Taxi duty, and there’s certainly a lot of duty to be done.  The taxi duty starts when Madison, Ella, Ethan or Jackson started at the Montessori preschool.  Duty continued once the kiddies started at primary school and just about doubled ferrying them to all the extra-curricular activities (got to make sure that they get every possible advantage, you know): piano lessons, swimming lessons, soccer and gym, and probably after-school maths and reading coaching, too. Afterwards, the urban tractor takes Mum to work or to wherever she goes on her day off.

The urban tractor may or may not contain a dog at times. Once upon a time, this would have been a Labrador; today, it is more likely to be a Cockapoo or similar designer dog (with a decent dose of poodle in the makeup because they’re hypoallergenic).

The urban tractor is all about the kids and their safety. You may catch a glimpse of the kids in their Pumpkin Patch clothing when you are beside an urban tractor at the lights (best case scenario) or at an intersection, where it is a pain if you are turning and the massive urban tractor is blocking your view. They may not look back at you – they may be watching a seat-back DVD or fooling around on a tablet device. But it’s for their advantage and well-being that the urban tractor has been chosen. Mum would be driving a smart little hatchback or sleek sedan otherwise.  But it is for the kids’ benefit that the urban tractor is parked on the footpath outside the after-school tutor’s premises and as close as possible to the gate. Can’t have them walking in the rain that might give them pneumonia or the sun that will burn them, can we?

Unfortunately, the safety-first mentality only applies to the kids inside the vehicle itself – the ones that are the offspring (usually) of the driver.  The front and rear parking sensors will help minimise the horrible potential of how a driver can’t see a seven-year-old behind or in front of the vehicle. And woe betide you if you ride a bike past the urban tractor as the doors are flung open (but Sophie’s late for ballet lessons – can’t you understand that she comes first?).

Safe and happy driving, even if you aren’t in an urban tractor with a seat-back DVD screen,

Megan http://credit-n.ru/potreb-kredit.html

The Integrated Road: Android Auto.

Technology can move at a blinding pace, bewilderingly so at times. A person born in late 1903 will have been there when the (allegedly) first powered flight by mankind took place at Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, in the US. Just under 66 years later they would have seen mankind walk upon the moon for the first time and just 12 years later, the beginning of the space shuttle era.

Science fiction postulated the use of mobile communication devices, most notably in the legendary tv series, Star Trek. Motorola pioneered the use of flip phones, exactly like the communicators shown, then, in 1987, the new series showed the crew using touch style badges for communication, as well as media devices suspiciously like the tablets that are commonplace today.

As seems to be the nature of business, there’s two competing brands, Apple and Microsoft. Enter a third option, in the form of the operating system known as Android. Backed by technological giant, Google, Android’s forte is being flexible, tweakable, customisable. Companies such as Samsung, LG and Sony utilise the base platform in their smartphones, themselves a device seemingly around for ever yet have been in the light for less than a decade. Now the automotive industry looks to take on the system, alongside Apple’s version called CarPlay, in a further effort to integrate technology, real and useable technology we use at home and at the office, into our cars.Android Auto

Android Auto uses both touch screen and voice activation, starting with an app that’s downloaded to a car’s built in navigation and entertainment system. A smart phone with Android is then connected. The catch is this, at the moment: it needs to be the Android 5.0 OS in order for the system to work. But if you’re familiar with Android then the Android Auto will fall to hand just as easily in usage.android_cars

Of note is the change in navigation; the setup uses Google Maps and integrates voice activated controls and direction requests. There may also be lane guidance, traffic updates and more. Then there’s the music app, allowing streaming of music, access to your own music library and music from Google Play Music.

The voice activation service has been reported as almost flawless; users have said that the system is quick, responds to almost every word spoken without issue and provides a safer level of control by using vocal rather than touchscreen inputs.

Holden already has plans to provide the service as does Hyundai. Apple also has their version, Apple Play, waiting in the wings, however at the time of writing it’s unclear as to what that service will deliver.
For further information on the basics and an idea of just how many car brands world wide plan to integrate Android Auto, click here: http://www.android.com/auto/ http://credit-n.ru/ipoteka.html