Low Riding Riggs

The photos of the 11:11 are pretty cool. The colour, lighting location. A modern classic.

First the truck is insane.  low riding low profile truck! yes it's a TRUCK!

read more here here

It's not the only one, if you have to transport something. why not in something cool.

NB NOPRO GT

Following my previous post. I couldn't get te37V to look good on the stock body. Problem solved. Thanks to Nogami-san.

For those who don't know. NOPRO is Nogami Project. Nogami-san has raced in many kinds of motorsport in Japan but specialized his tuning company on the MX5. This NB Coupe was the final NB bodykit version. Front is +40mm and rear is +50mm per side as GT/N2 regulations allow. This particular car ran a 1.8 with NOS for that extra kick. Filling those guards, some deep 16" te37V LL face wheels would be perfect.

 I have started a new blog called .RSG. (.resonant simple graphics.) for my new and customer projects. Race car livery design is the main purpose.

If deep RS Watanabe in about -31 offset don't get enough attention.

Don't add msg. Add some .RSG. for a bit of spice.

The GT fenders are also available with skirts and extra bits as shown on the 2 Nopro demo cars.

The convertible / later a hardtop is awesome in itself, but the coupe is on another level!

Cosmagician

F1, Daniel Simon, HRT, Kamui and more.

Where to start? One post or many... we shall see. Sometimes worlds collide.

Let's start with Daniel Simon. I'll call him the cosmic magician.

A long time ago, I saw his design book called Cosmic Motors. Unlike Syd Mead's concepts, Daniel's use of very modern tools creates a totally different image thats's finished and incredible.

While I dable with design on paper and basic photo manipulation, the time to turn my designs to art doesn't eventuate. Maybe one day.
My scrap book is large.

Anyway. Somehow he has managed to carve a design career with cars. Recently he was linked to HRT f1 team to design Kamui and co's F1 Livery

The result is something very cool! I'm recently designing a few more vehicle liveries myself so I'm always interested in this kind of merging of artists and mechanics.

Maybe I'll post some sketches of the Bently LM I've been working on.

F1 recently has a lot of changes. Some I like, some I don't Some are useless. Maybe thats another post.

Russ.

Syd Mead

If you don't know this guy, you should.

A huge influence on me as a young guy with a big imagination.

Tron Bikes

Blade Runner vehicles.

and more.

http://www.sydmead.com/

Gypsy

 Me Want!

In the late 60's and seventies the van scene in OZ was on fire.

Drifter, Sandman, Sundowner in Falcon and Escort form were the rage. But somehow the little Gem had my attention.

I like the TX~TD models best with the round front headlights. My father had a TF that we swapped a 5 speed and a 1800 into, added a lip spoiler and red velour but it never progressed.

These days they are pretty much all rusty, but restoration is always an option.

Love the Gem.

Split Window

Type in "Split Window" and your search results reveal two of my favourites.

The 1961 VW Bus. "The Kombi" and to a lesser extent the beetle.

And

the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette.

These are two of my favourites.

1.. Kombi.

While my parents owned a Kombi camper, I spent a lot of time sitting up front on a 20L paint drum between the front seats. Safety? What was that.

A Kombi has a Zero crumple zone. Later, I remember seeing one that had been in an accident and thinking. Wow those people died.

Anyway, I digress. The Ute holds a level of coolness. Sooo classic.

The split window versions hold another level of cool with the opening front and side windows.

DAMN! THATS WHAT I'M TALKIN' 'BOUT.

Or MAYBE THAT! YO! MF!

But don't get carried away.

2. The Vette!

The style is amazing, so much going on but it works. 1/2 bumpers, half windows, half deep front and rear.

Revolving lights and double cookers at the rear. Bulbous and pumped, vented and chromed

Whitewalls and those hub caps. Almost the last car with super bold styling.

There's only one thing better than a Split window Vette. And thats a no window vette with a 454 and huge lake pipes!

YAAAAAAAAAAA! FECK THAT!

Tim Tam - White

The Aussie Tim Tam is awesome.

No. It's just a chockolate biscuit with some more chock on it. And Very Sweet.

Of course, I love white because I am a white chocolate fiend. I don't often buy them because I simply eat the whole pack. Cold is best, straight from the fridge.

But If I have to eat an original one. Sucking coffee through one like a straw is delicious. The whole thing melts and you have to down it quickly and lick the remaining warm chock from your fingers.

I'd recommend double coat for this as they stay in form a little longer.

Natalie Imbruglia can demonstrate. Double YUM!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHzMfZ1FaqA

Some people call this the tim tam slam, but I just call it, sucking coffee through a tim tam.

Russ.

Thunderbirds are FAB!

What an awesome series. As I kid I was glued to the TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RzCB3VRruE Still cool!

My Dinky Toys FAB1 Lady Penelope Rolls Royce was an absolutely awesome toy.

Fold down the grille and press down on the front tyres to shoot a large rocket.
Press down on the rear tyres to fire the 4 rear rockets.

I think It is still somewhere. Painted Black.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffBh-FOo4gk

reference here

Many more toys with thunderbird 2 and the 4 pod spent many hours in my bath time.

haha.

Shawnee

I like Shawnee's laid back attitude apart from the obvious attractions.

Here is a little best of from her role in Becker as Linda.
Sometimes when you see actresses so much from young age till old, you do become attached. Thats why they are rich. All us dumb ass guys love 'em.

Here's someone quite a lot more obsessed than me.

You may not be aware of her antics in Fydolla Ho. "FIVE DOLLAR HORE" is a pretty raw band. A bit like her vocals... raw. But I like that she doesn't try to be more than is there.

I can't decide which eco car to buy.

These are eco cars that somehow bends the definition a little.

Following on from my previous post. These cars screams "DIE EARTH DIE!"

But there is actually a lot of ECO friendly things about them.

This is an absolute monster. the a.d. Tramontana is F1 inspired fighter jet on wheels. And I want one! Looks can be decieving. Its a big car! those are 20inch Dymags its riding on.

http://www.tramontanagroup.com/adtramontana/adtramontana.php

Catalog

It is a 12 cylinder V60 Biturbo with 5.5liter displacement running Turbo pressure of 1.4 bar making over 720 Hp - 529 kW at 5.250 rpm  and Max. Torque 1100 Nm at 4.000 rpm Transmission is longitudinally mounted with a mid engine, rear wheel drive layout.

There can be two passengers sitting like the F1 ride along cars and the roof is removable for open top running.

Ariel is well known for the "3" and has announced the latest version of the Atom – the Ariel Atom 500, powered by a small V8 engine. With over 500bhp in a 500kilo package the Atom 500 will boast one of the highest power to weight ratios ever for a production car.

The Atom will have over 1000bhp per tonne (compared to a Bugatti Veyron’s 521bhp/tonne) and will be built in limited numbers.

 

So where's the Eco? They have less components made from earthly metals. therefore the extraction process damages the earth less.
They weigh almost nothing! so Theoretically, they use less rubber / fossil fuels etc when driven in a leisurely 40klm/h.
They are built by hand and not energy guzzling robots.
etc etc
etc etc
 
So I just have to come up with the cash now. Maybe I'll steal some eco friendly R&D money from a government by promising alternatives to the Prius. And build my own style Atom or Tramontana.
 
Russ.

On Burleigh Beach

Click this ... Chris Rea On The Beach. Then read.

This song is one of the first I learned as a guitarist. The riff is unmistakable.

I grew up on Australia's Gold Coast and when university time came around, most days involved time in the sun around Burleigh. The above pic is from my favourite contemplation spot on Burleigh Headland.

Afternoon sunsets, skies or storms, and sunny days with empty beaches.
Ahhh..
these pics are 30 years after though. There never used to be many skyscrapers.

Planning a holiday right now.

Russ

The Frog

1983!

I was "Working" at my Dad's shop. I guess I was pretty lucky that my father was a crazy aeromodeller and just happened to own a hobby store...."Brian's Hobby Centre".

I could make some spare cash for my RC car hobby by making "Frogs", "Grasshoppers", "Hot Shot"s and "Hornet"s, for customers who thought construction would be difficult. These were the affordable models since the "Buggy Champ".

The only difficult part was fitting the rear tyres. Pretty tough for a 12year old kid. My dad or bro would slip them on in a second.

But the cool part was... 1 battery test drive! Yehaa.

Russ.

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.

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.

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.

1998, The NSX and the Green TE37 story.

In '98 the FIA Free JGTC All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship test NSX was born. I believe it is the best looking NSX ever. The shapes highlight the squareness of the car and the low widebody is awesome. The way the rear diffuser incorporates into the rear fenders on the car is very cool too. Later models became very very wide and more round.

In 1998 the introduction of the RAYS TE37 MAG wheels was also aligned with Honda motorsports.

The story of the Green TE37 is an interesting one. Who can say whether these are "Takata Green" or "Castrol Green" or "BP Green". Three of the NSX entries in 1998 were to run the green wheels. Starting with the Mugen and Dome collaborations. The predominantely White Dome Takata NSX with BP sponsor and the Mugen Black Red and Green Castrol NSX, The raybrig car also adopted the wheels later during the season to match their BP sponsor also.


From this observation of Castrol and Mugen having all the money. I would say that they are "Castrol Green". The colour is an almost exact match on the Mugen car. But it has been the Dome Takata team that adopted the Yellow and green livery in the following years and later the all green car and kept the green wheels all the time. The Mugen Nsx later adopted a different sponsor and dropped the green livery.


Watch the warm up lap of Round 5 JGTC 1998. 4':02 its the Mugen Castrol entry on pole with GREEN wheels.

Check out the Dome teams car museum. You'll find all the green wheeled beasts

So I'm going with the Castrol Green RAYS TE37. Judge for yourself.

Pics from Akira and Dome

Russ.