Van Halen

Eddie... what a legend. Alex... Legend. David Lee Roth... Legend! Sammy Hagar... Legend, Michael Anthony... Legend. Gary Cherone ... Semi-Legend. These days Wolfgang is playing in the group.

I only managed to see VH in Australia on the Van Halen III tour. It was the first time they had toured there.

Hot For Teacher intro.... THE best start to a song ..... EVER, I think alex was rockin 4 bass drums in his setup those days! Pitty the video ain't so great.

Eruption... If you can play this, you are pretty good. it's a guitar learners benchmark.
Have seen many stuff this up.
BTW. I can't play it all. Just parts.

Soooo many highlights for me. I could almost list all the albums and singles. But I guess the 1984~5150 years are those that most remember.

I think that 5150 and dreams kind of took things to another level too. The Blue Angels video was pretty cool too.

"Edward Van Halen's 1984 and 5150 guitars are one of the most recognizable guitars in rock history. Ed assembled the guitars himself at the Kramer factory, and even painted it himself with Krylon "rattle-can" paint. The guitars consisted of an original Floyd Rose tremolo, one humbucker, and a single volume knob. A very simple guitar, for a very simple sound that is truly amazing." from ultimate guitar.com and I agree.

These Franenkramer guitars feature the EVH designs that these days Eddie has turned into a mini industry. You can also get some Frankenstein theme sneakers these days from the EVH site.

Some fan chopped this Diabolo. I think Eddie had a Miura with a special Wide body. It's rumoured to be revving in the song Panama!

Russ.

Lindt

Why is something so sweet so bad for you. I could eat about 5000000000 of these white chocolate balls. The ultimate experience for any white chocoholic. the smooth centre melts like nothing else.

Russ.

Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl

When you see this logo, obviously ferrari comes to mind. The cover of Jamiroquai's "Travelling without Moving" CD release looks like a ferrari engine cover.

I think the first time I saw the Cosmic Girl film clip I was like --- COOOL! Production company + Diabolo + F40 + F355 + driving pretty hard.

Jay owns some pretty cool cars. Below is Jay's Lambo. It didn't fair too well on a london day.

Some of the tracks on this album, probably indicate some form of halucinagenic drug at work. Lots of Jamaican reggae and digital sounds with didgereedoo and ethnic influence, but it works.

But I guess the main memory I have from this album is that, its a favourite of a friend, he would always have it on the CD player as we did some Wangan or C1.

Russ.

Back to the Future

Back to the future... on its release held so many cool things for me. The interesting (but as we all know impossible) issue of time travel raised some cool questions about possible realities.

A huge Guitar amp that blows you across the room. Turn it up.

M.J. Fox aka Calvin Klein. did a reasonable job.

And there was that crazy looking delorean. 1.21jigawatts!!!!.

and of course ... Lea Thompson. (I'd probably answer her name to the fave all time actress question.)

When you look back now Promotional trailers were very very lame.

Rent it... go on.

Russ.

Play Station

Here is my Play Station driving station. I bought the Logitec PS2 wheel a long time ago with my Blue transparent playstation 2 (Skeleton) .

I used to play GT4 and Battle gear all the time, so this setup was ideal.

I designed it to slide up to my couch. I would sit down. then pull the table towards me therefore creating a cockpit.

Made from MDF, the table height and pedal positions were fully adjustable with wing nuts. And I had a place for all those JDM stickers.

It's now gone to the jusnk yard, but it was fun for ages. These days 32" screen is rediculously small.

Russ.

Blade - Opening Scene

Watch and admire one of the coolest scenes. The Bloodbath at the start of the first movie has it all.

Watch the start of the movie here.

Russ.

Dukes of Hazzard

Of course the original.

Whenever I hear the opening theme, I know I will see Catherine Bach and some cars Jumping. Cool. But my favourite character was Rosco P. Coltrane! The noises that came from his mouth... Wierd but funny. "You got your ears on Flash?!"

Interesting test here.

Russ.

Wipeout for Playstations

I remember the first version of Wipeout for the original sony Play Station. It made me pay a lot of money for one. The speed in those days was truely amazing.

Then I played 2097 forever. I watched this intro about 10000 times, I never fast forwarded it. Turn it up!

All credit must be given to the game designers. A simple 3d wireframe allowed the surrounding graphics to be enhanced. The tracks were all the same graphically so frames per second could increase. The Result. One of the most epilesy inducing racing computer games of all time.

Drive fast and power slide everywhere, get massive air time and ludicrous speeds, blow things up and win. All this to amazing aggressive techno soundtracks like Prodigy's firestarter.

Often copied and never bettered. I am yet to get the latest in full , but the demo seems great.

The design of the 3D worlds concept and graphics all come together to make something great.

Russ.

Dirty Diana

I don't actually own any MJ albums. But my brother played them all the time.

But when I was playing guitar, I admired him for using awesome guitarists in some of his music.

Of course "Beat it" contained Eddie Van Halen.

And Slash performed on some of the dangerous album. "Give in to me" was pretty good and a few others also.

But it was Dirty Diana that hit the right spot for me. I was/am a big Billy Idol fan and when his guitarist, Steve Stevens was featured on this song, it worked pretty well. So I did have that single, mainly for the instrumental version on the b-side 3" Laser Compact Disk (remember those). The lyrics were probably about Diana Ross. Who knows.

I think the reason the clip was shot in the dark was to hide the wild hair. Check out the music Video. But it was cool then.

I guess no-one will ever know what really happened to, or effected MJ. But I know if everyone told me I was the best for my whole life. I'd probably believe them too.

I believe those who told me so far. haha

Russ.

Santana - So Smoooooth

I don't mind a bit of latin dancing every now and then. This song I have heard this song (among others) about a thousand times. Some cool guitar also. One of the favourites in the dance studio I used to go to.

Here is the Video. Watch to the end... Remember that girl...

Russ.

Bugatti EB110ss

The EB110ss was the Le Mans version of the EB110gt. Faster and more harsh. These 650hp 4wd 4-turbo beasts produce a blow off shymphony that accompanies very rapid accelleration. You can still drive it around in a civilised manner too. Under 4000rpm there is more than enough torque from the small 3.5litre 5-valve per 12 cylinder v12 to put around town and maybe..... in the rain.
I admire this car for all it's technology of the time that simply made it a missile. There were only about 30 or so made. Still selling for around $800K ~1 big m

If anyone has a good pic of the very rare white one. Please send it to me.

Russ.

ps. I'm still looking for donations. I'd need to paint it white and give it the Veyron "Special" Wheel upgrade. AWESOME!

Meat Pie

MMMMMMM. Some things I used to eat are probably going to be the cause of my early death. haha.

The good ol' Aussie meat pie is one of them.

How to eat...

I prefer no TOMATO SAUCE. That means "ketchup" to you unworldly.

NO KNIFE AND FORK!

No plate. Eat with two hands.

PLEASE use the tin foil pie tin!

You can't drive and eat a pie. That's sausage roll territory.

Take small bites. It's going to be hot. I hope.

Get half way through...

Then say...

"THiS PiE iS SHiT!!"

But keep eating it. Cause, really, we know it's bad, but it's still pretty darn tasty goodness.

Russ.

50 Cent - Window Shopper

I like other 50 Cent songs more than this one, such as P.I.M.P, but this Video Clip is cool just that the Maserati is simply amazing. Fidy certainly has the cash these days.

But If I am going to do some "window" shopping. It's not going to be one of these.

Russ.

Kylie - Spinning Around

Now here she is... The one.

Spinning Around was the one that really made Kylie Minogue famous, but I guess with some older sisters, I couldn't help but become a fan of her music. I have all the albums. Went to a concert. Not a fan of her "acting" though. I was always more interested in other Neighbours characters.

Spinning Around Video was famous for those hot pants! Yowch! I don't know how popular she was in the USA, but in Australia and the UK, this song was pretty big. If it's the first time... Enjoy.

Russ.

My First Car

I might as well reveal my first car. $1800 worth of cool! My 1976 model TX Isuzu Gemini was the best car in the world!!!!

I don't have any pics of it in digital format, so I did the next best thing. This one was the same rusted faded colour, so photoshopped it to the best I could. I added the blackout head and tail light treatment like I did to mine.

I had some of the awsomest Cheviot Turbo wheels in 13x6JJ, that I later colour coded to be yellow. Everyone else was running hotwires at the time so my car was pretty unique. I installed a moderate stereo that I thought was great, but in reality was pretty bad.

This car spent plenty of time atop springbrook on the dirt. I learned to drift on the dirt and I drove it very hard.

As my daily university beast, it was probably a little neglected. Unfortunately after an engine blow from damaged rings. The car was never the same. I sold the wheels and later, My brother rebuilt it, but it was full of rust and eventually went to car heaven.

Found some pics in as bought condition. ...

Check out http://www.ozgemini.com/ for heaps of gemini pics. They are still a popular car in OZ. I dreamed of something like this below. I loved my car. Maybe I'll build another one. NOT!

Russ.

The Aussie Panel Van

WOW. I can remember droooooooling over my brothers "Van Wheels" magazines back in my childhood. In Australia the Panel Van scene in the late seventies was great. V8, Airbrushed Murals, Usually naked ladies, mirrored ceiling interiors with beds great for "Shagin!"


My older brother ended up with an XB GS 6 cylinder, with American Racing 5 Slot rims not unlike this pic below but he maintained the light blue hood. The rear was vinyl and velour. I really loved my brother's Awesome van!

Around that time I went to many Van Shows (see photo page) and there were some amazing rides. Ford Australia built a very special one with the same front as the Mad Max interceptor.
This history page is great and showcases all.

My father also had two Holden "Belmont" Panel vans he used for work. I later drove his mini Gemini and Corolla Vans a lot. I really wanted to tune the Gemini. So we started with engine. 1.6->1.8 and the rear became red velour. We added a front air dam, but thats about as far as it got. I then got my own Gemini Coupe and started tuning. (another post)

I'm remembering where all my tuning influences came from.

Russ.

Cannonball Run

This Movie had a H U G E influence on me as a kid. 10 years old and my world full of hotwheels cars and plastic models. It was one of the first movies I went to on my own. No Prental Guidance.

The intro is awesome. I just remember the black lp500 screaming....

Ive seen it sooo many times in re-runs and a VHS video I recorded.
So many cool quotes I remember and use to this day.

Cars and star galore.

Hawaiian tropic 1976 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna was one of my favourites.

"I can't see shit... can you?.."

What kind of car would you choose for this event.... Hmmm thats another post.

Russ.

ps. Let's remember Farrah at her best.

Absolutely

Mmmm, Kick back and relax with a shot of this on ice.

You'll feel it in your bones...

Remember always keep you absolut in the Freezer.

Here is my "Killer Illusion" cocktail recipee. May cost a bit to set up though.

1 nip Absolut 100
1 nip Jose Cuervo Especial
1 nip Bacardi Superior
1 nip Gordon's Dry Gin
1 nip Cointreau
1 nip Midori
1 nip Malibu

Now if you are fine with that, just add crushed ice from purified water.
Shake and Share, If you are a little weak... add some pineapple juice.

Russ.

Omega3 Fish Fingers! WTF!

Does a fish finger need to be any more than just a fish finger? I want to understand the reasoning why 33% more Omega3 is important to the purchaser of the "fish finger".

Yes, I did have to click the link to find out "What is Omega3?"

I haven't eaten one since I was about 14 years old, but I recently have a craving for the little crispy chaps. Not something you see on the supermarket shelves of Japan.

Russ.

RE-Xtreme 2048

In 2048 I'll be 77 years old. Is this what I may find hidden away in a secret warehouse out the back of Advan. A perfectly neglected FD! Surely a few of the 300 000 or so cars must be around.

I had dreamed of restoring something like this in my retirement, but those dreams have long ago changed.

These days we restore cars that are basically the same. wheels, tyres metal engines.

But in 2050, what kind of replacement parts will we be installing.I can't even begin to imagine the fast paced 2050 and if I will make it that far. Maybe my fusion heart and carbon limbs will see me through.

If I get there I promise to look upon my time capsule internet and remember.

CU at the 7/7/2048 Meeting. I'll probably be saying something rediculous like....

"I hope I can borrow a particle beam charger to give the tribidium phosphate bio di-millions a hit.
No one seems to have one anymore."


Russ.


items courtesy of NIKE ONE