Cool Virtual Rally Support Team Thing

It's quite difficult to describe this effect but it is pretty smart to say the least. Check it out here.

Bernd Dohrmann has plenty of other 3D panoramic worlds for you to immerse yourself in at www.360bilder.de

If you are interested in getting into motorsport you may be interested in this book by Sam Collins. Click here for more info.

Features * The complete guide to starting motorsport as an amateur * Written by a beginner for beginners * Covers all the major disciplines * Every discipline featured was competed in by the author * Features the history of every major discipline * Contains Personal experiences of debut events * Advice from experienced competitors * No complete guide written for a decade until now * Some stunning photos by Andy Manston * Unique glossary of motorsport terminology Description The long missing starting point for any wannabe motorsport competitor, it contains all the basic knowledge needed to get involved in modern British motorsport. This book covers all the major disciplines in club motorsport and how to start competing in them. Written for novices, all advice is based on the first hand experiences of a novice competitor.

SPEEDPRO SERIES

Vist www.velocebooks.com for all your 'how-to' needs with Veloce Publishings SpeedPro range of instructiional books.

If you didn't already know www.boingoing.com is one of the best blogs on the internet and whilst on there I found this cool video on diesel engines.

Any One Fancy a Game?

Some would say it is a bit of a waste, but it is cool none the less. Into splitties? Well, you might like to have a look at VW Bus - 40 years of Splitties, Bays & Wedges by Richard Copping.

VW Bus - 40 years of Splitties, Bays & Wedges

By Richard Copping Click here for info.


Features Applies to over 6 million VW Buses!
Unique format and style of illustration
Dedicated to the classic VW of the moment, the Transporter
Re-lives the VW spirit through five decades
Contains much rarely seen and valuable archive material
Text compiled by a VW expert
Comprehensive in nature, ideal as a reference volume
Designed to appeal to all those with a general interest in Volkswagens, as well as Bus enthusiasts
A collectable treasure in its own right

Description

A unique volume dedicated to three generations of VW’s legendary Transporter making extensive use of the highly sought after artwork and photography of the age.

Synopsis

A methodical, yet lively record of VW’s Transporter over its first 40-years, which presents the vehicle in the same lavish formats of artistry and photography selected by Volkswagen over the decades. Model history and range development outlined, (including Campers) specifications, (including USA terminology) and performance discussed, with a particular emphasis on marketing and advertising strategies.

Independent Reviews

Review from Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, June 2007
US magazine

"Volkswagen lovers will find this book a great addition to the shelf."

Few vehicles are as iconic as Volkswagen's vans, and few automakers have inspired the level of fanatic loyalty as has Volkswagen. While thousands of books have been written about the Sedan and its variants, the utilitarian Microbus and its descendants have been largely ignored. An excellent new volume, VW Bus: Forty Years of Splitties, Bays & Wedges, by Richard Copping, has arisen to fill the void and educate a new generation of VW van fans.

The title of the book refers to the popular nicknames of the three generations of these air-cooled rear-engine Volkswagens. 'Splitties', or split-windshield models, were the first Sedan spin-offs, conceived in 1948 to add another vehicle to the company lineup and built from 1950 to 1967. Despite their similar looks, the 1967-1979 'Bays' were completely redesigned and got their nickname from their curved, one-piece windshields. Volkswagen's final rear-engine vans, the angular 'Wedges' built from 1979 to 1990, were powered by both air- and water-cooled engines.

UK-based author Richard Copping has compiled a fantastic number of original VW brochures from markets around the world, and has used their artwork, texts and technical specifications to great benefit to illustrate the development and evolution of these hard-working vehicles; early Microbuses are seen in the beautiful drawings of Bernd Reuters, while newer models are seen through evocative period photography.
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Review from Australian Classic Cars, February 2007

This new English publication tracks the first 40 years of the Transporter’s history but, unlike many publications, it does not rely on period and modern photos but uses brochures, advertisements and other promotional material to illustrate the text. Through Richard Copping’s interest in the marque and the collection of brochures, readers can follow the marketing and advertising strategies employed to present the Transporter to motorists. Extending beyond straightforward reproductions of the material, a narrative provides details not only on what the images represent but also on significant events in the history of Volkswagen and the Transporter.

If you’re interested in motor vehicle advertising and especially the very creative writing produced for Volkswagen, it makes great reading.
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Review by Mark Holman for New Zealand Classic Car

Making copious use of original VW artwork and advertising campaigns, this delightful new book plots the story of the many variations of the VW bus from its 1100cc air-cooled beginnings in Germany’s austere post-war years to its demise in 1990 when you could get one with a water-cooled 2.1 litre motor and even 4-wheel drive.

The artwork by Reuters for the early models is delightful. Author Copping is editor of the VW Motoring magazine and has obviously gone to a deal of trouble to source original advertising and brochures to illustrate the book.

Throughout the book some of the very clever US advertising by Doyle Dane Berbach is featured – “the car that comes in a box”, “… the truck that picks you up more for less” and a super one with a Beetle painted on the side of the station wagon to show how compact it was.

The book ends with 35 pages on the various forms of camper vans, from the factory endorsed Westfalia to various UK and US conversions, with pop-up roofs and rear seats which feature “glove soft fabric backed vinyl”.

You are not likely to find a more entertaining or better-illustrated story of making and marketing these classic workhorses and early people movers than in this large soft-covered book.
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Review from Practical Motorhome, September 2006

VW Bus – 40 Years of Splitties, Bays & Wedges is a 'coffee table' book to delight aficionados of VW campers. It's a labour of love by VW Motoring magazine editor Richard Copping.

The full-colour, 176-page paperback features 342 illustrations, including original brochures and promotional material.

The book traces five decades of classic VW campers, during which time over six million vehicles were produced. It is a fun flick-through read for those who love to look at classic campers, though Richard's training as an historian adds a dimension of detail for the enthusiast as a great deal of archive material has been hunted down for this book. The Reuters news agency images of the early VW buses from the 1950s are especially good and have been well reproduced thanks to the good quality of paper used throughout the book.
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Review from Classic Car Mart, August 2006

This superb new title from classic VW guru Richard Copping is an all-encompassing tribute to the marque’s vast array of commercials and campers produced over the years.

Interest in the Type 2 Volkswagen (to give the ‘Splitties’ and ‘Wedges’ their official moniker) is at an all-time high these days, with hefty asking prices for the best examples and an incredibly loyal following worldwide. All of which means perfect timing for Veloce’s latest VW tome.

It’s the sheer nostalgia value of this title that appeals more than anything, with just about every incarnation of VW commercial and camper featured via its original promotional material, accompanied by informed and educational text from the renowned Mr Copping.

‘Want to get away from it all? Then you should look into our Volkswagen Campmobile’, proclaims a 1962 ad for the US-built Westfalia camper. And that just about sums up this great book. If you want to indulge yourself in VW nostalgia, then you really should take a look inside this title…

Body Poppin' 2CV

Great video by Singularity2035, not pleased by the bit at the end though. In case you didn't know - 2CVs rule and so does this book from Veloce. Visit Veloce Publishing here.


Citroën 2CV – The Essential Buyers Guide

By Mark Paxton

Features

- Unique, no other buyer’s guide on the market
- Author has repaired and restored these cars for over 20 years
- Full colour illustrations of the major defects likely to be found
- Handy size, take it with you
- Logical, easy to follow, lay out
- Comprehensive coverage of models
- Clear, jargon free text
- Real life cost analysis
- Lists key players in the 2cv world
- Author is a life long enthusiast

Description

Given the small cost of this book, you would be foolish to spend thousands on an example of Citroën's classic and iconic 2CV without taking it's expert advice ...

Synopsis

STOP! Don’t buy a 2CV without buying this book FIRST! Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from Mark Paxton’s years of 2CV ownership: learn how to spot a bad car quickly and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right car at the right price!

Independent Reviews

Review by Mark Holman for New Zealand Classic Car, October 2007

As with previous books from this series, these are 64-page soft-cover books, small enough to fit into a coat pocket and pretty well guaranteed to come in very handy if you are buying any of these cars from very different ends of the classic scale.

All follow a similar layout, starting with 'is it the right car for you?', and then going through the 15-minute quick check (walk away or not?) followed by a very detailed checklist which you can use to 'mark' the car, and what to look out for on a test drive. There are also chapters on whether you want to restore a model, paint problems, things to watch out for if the car has had little recent use, and lists of clubs and spares specialists.

The books are well-illustrated, and the advice looks really practical. They don't pretend that classic car ownership is easy, or necessary profitable in purely financial terms, yet they are clearly written by guys who are enthusiastic about the pleasure you can get from a good example of any of these cars.

While I have never been in the market for them, I would want to have one of these books if I were – definitely recommended.
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Review from Australian Classic Car, September 2007

Veloce has now published 13 of these handy pocket size books. Each serves as a useful guide for enthusiasts and assumes that readers will already know a little about older cars. The publications follow a pattern, starting off with the question, "Is this car right for you?" – it's a valid question, since many first-time owners buy with their hearts and not their heads, and live to regret it.

Items to watch out for are helpfully divided into a 15-minute evaluation and a more serious investigation examining mechanicals, body, trim and so forth in close detail. The author then compares the various advantages of auctions against private sales before discussing the all important paperwork – after all, you'll want to make sure that the seller actually owns what you are buying. Internet links and tips on where to find spares are helpful as is the list of relevant publications. Put it in your pocket before you start looking.
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Review from The Automobile, August 2007

These invaluable little books follow the same format and provide very useful information if you are thinking of buying one of the relevant models. Written by marque experts, they guide you through the whole process from first buying thoughts to final inspection and assessment of likely restoration problems. They close with a review of the relevant clubs and an introduction to other books to help with the restoration process.
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Review by David Burdett for 2CVGB News, July 2007
UK magazine

If you're going to look at any second-hand car, taking an expert on the model along with you is the obvious ideal. If that car happens to be a 2CV then Mark Paxton's well-written book may be even better.

Mark first asks the questions that few about to be 2CV owners ever do. Is the 2CV the right car for you? Could you live with one? In the world of the power-assisted, servo-braked. non-rusting, dependable, quiet supermini these are important and relevant considerations. Looking wistfully at a shiny 2CV through a rosy haze, with thoughts of sunny days and the wind in your hair and no consideration of how you are going to get it home and look after it, or whether you mind it dripping on your leg when it rains, can be an expensive mistake. As can omitting to check the whole car for hidden mechanical or structural nightmares due to being distracted by the very friendly and chatty seller. Which, of course, is the whole point of this guide.

After explaining the different models, from early ripples through to the last Portuguese examples and pointing out their pros, cons and relative values, the book takes you through finding and then meeting your potential purchase for the first time. You are told what equipment will be useful to you and what questions it might be pertinent to ask the seller before you start. Then, by guiding you round the car in a logical order, examining all the 2CV's known problem areas with colour photos and easy to follow text, Mark's 'Fifteen Minute Evaluation' should tell you whether you ought to stay and undertake further investigation or catch the next train home.

If the condition and price seem right, the next chapter is the 'Serious Evaluation'
with a unique point scoring system for each area of the car. This is where the book scores over the expert. It is completely impartial and if used properly doesn't miss a thing. Here again, colour photos and clear explanations help the uninitiated. Mark allows about an hour for this part including a fifteen-minute test drive during which you are advised about what to look and feel for, and even what the car should sound and smell like. Following this thorough examination the points are added up to see if your first impressions were correct.

With an inflation-proof spare parts price guide and sections about vans, paperwork, the 2CV community, restoration, auctions, problems with paint and lack of use, and lists of specialists and parts suppliers this really is a comprehensive little book. Taking it with you and using it will undoubtedly put you in a very strong position when it comes to agreeing a price.

As someone who has, on several occasions, let emotion preside over common sense when looking at a second-hand A-series, I wish Mark Paxton had written this guide about ten years ago. He might have saved me a lot of money.

Security Measures for your 'Auto'

I came across this on my travels. If your into the more regular car electrics take a look at Veloce's book Classic Car Electrics by Martin Thaddeus



Features
1 Goes back to basics in term anyone can follow.
2 Covers the subject in depth , without getting too technical.
3. Useful for the enthusiast who is not familiar with electrics.
4. The only book you need.
5. Covers simple servicing to serious fault finding.
6. Keeps your classic on the road and in peak running order.
7. Covers all models from the 30s to the 90s
8. Tips and hints on fault finding and servicing.
9. Save money, do it yourself servicing and repair.
10. Clear language and photos throughout.

Description

This full colour book provides clear and complete information for the
classic enthusiast who wishes to service, repair or improve any motor
vehicle themself.

Synopsis

This book provides clear and complete information for the classic enthusiast
who wishes to service repair of improve any motor vehicle. The format
allows the reader to take what he needs. The early chapters look at
electricity and its properties, while the later look in detail at the
various components.

Independent Reviews

Review from New Zealand Classic Car, October 2007

Most of us suffer from the Penn McKay syndrome – when it comes to the electrical components of our classic cars, we simply wait for them to break down then trace the smoke back to the fault. This book may well supply the answer – providing clear steps towards ongoing maintenance and fault finding. Thaddeus doesn't assume all his readers possess sound auto-electrical knowledge, so starts with the basics and works up from there. In 16 well-packed chapters, the author looks at all the main electrical systems of a car – charging, ignition, starting, lighting and accessories. Well written and illustrated, this is the perfect book for the home handyman and a sure-fire cure for McKayitis. Recommended.

Secret life of Motorways on BBC iplayer

Came across this show whilst trying to get sleep one night. If your into the future dreams of a bygone age, like me, you will lap this up. Click here

NEW FIAT 500 TO LAUNCH WITH FLIGHT ON THE LONDON EYE

FIAT Group Automobiles UK Ltd is launching its new FIAT 500 in the UK – with a flight in one of the capsules on the British Airways London Eye!

The new Fiat 500, which has recently been voted Car of the Year 2008, will take to the air on Monday 21 January at 8.00pm – exactly 500 hours into the New Year.

FIAT is also staging a celebrity and showbiz ticketed event around the launch, featuring live bands, top presenters, and a fantastic light show.

FIAT UK Marketing Director, Elena Bernardelli, says: “It will be a great event, and we at FIAT are committed to making the country smile for the night.”

London Eye Head of Sales and Marketing, Helen Bull, says: “After celebrating 2008 with a phenomenal firework display, what better way to continue the party than with a fantastic event only 500 hours into the New Year, with 2008’s Car of the Year.”

Fiat Books from Veloce Publishing

DOHC ROCKIN' IN 3D

I found these cool videos of the DOCH in a virtual realm. Quality Stuff




Into DOHC stuff? Well you will be into the new book from Veloce Publishing Alfa Romeo DOHC High-performance Manual by Jim Kartalamakis.

Features

Simple explicit steps with supporting illustration.
All important measurements given.
Unique LSD building procedure.
Unique inductive distributor recurving step by step.
Affordable big-brake mods.
Complete suspension subsection.
Twin Spark head mods.
Electrical system mods.
Up to date supplier/specialist list, including web info.
Exciting cylinder head airflow diagrams and dyno data.

Synopsis
Models covered in chronological order –
All 105/116 series Alfa Romeo 1300/1600/1750/2000 DOHC (Twin Cam) engines and relevant cars, TwinSpark and 1.8Turbo included.

Exclusions from coverage -
GTA models and front-wheel-drive cars

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM VELOCE PUBLISHING