Continental Tire North America has extended its partnership with GGI European Tuning, and will be the sole tyre supplier for all Carlsson Mercedes-Benz tuning packages sold in the United States. The exclusive use of Continental brand tyres extends Conti’s ongoing relationship with GGI – Hartge BMW and Sportec Porsche tuning packages that GGI sells in the United States are already fitted with Continental tyres as standard.
All tyres on HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) cars are now automatically scanned as the cars drive into the pit lane, in what tyremaker Dunlop says is a world first. This technology ensures that each car is using the correct and allocated tyres at all times.
The scanning is achieved by a miniature Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag embedded inside every tyre allocated to every car. The tag – just one centimetre in length – enables officials from computer systems firm Datalinx, which has been central to the development of the technology, to track every tyre from production and allocation to each team right back to their return to Dunlop for recycling.
A certain Italophilic member of the Tyres & Accessories staff likes nothing better than to see Fiat’s smallest current creation in full flow, so the Abarth version was undoubtedly a big hit with him.
Ever driven to work and realised you can’t remember any of the journey? You are not alone. A new study commissioned by Continental Tyres reports that 59 per cent forget parts of their journey, while 60 per cent admitted “zoning out” whilst behind the wheel. Over half (51 per cent) say they switch to “auto-pilot” on their daily commute to and from work. The survey of 4,000 motorists found that drivers were only fully concentrated on the road for 67 per cent of the time spent in the driver’s seat. And tuning the radio, talking to passengers and gawping at the scenery topped the list of everyday distractions. Nevertheless 86 per cent of the stereotypically humble and self-deprecating British driving public rate themselves as “good drivers”!
Guy Frobisher at Continental Tyres commented: “These statistics are really worrying. When driving, so much can happen in just a few seconds that you need to be able to react quickly so you can brake safely. If you’re not fully paying attention you are less likely to anticipate the risks that emerge during a journey and reactions are slowed. The net effect is that people are not avoiding the risks and they are less likely to brake in time, meaning more accidents.”
Representatives from the custom, tuning and motorsports industry have met in Dubai to discuss the Barbican Turbo show, which will be held between the 8th and 10th October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Last year’s inaugural show was attended by more than 19,000 enthusiasts, a very respectable headcount for a first-time show. Critical to the show’s ongoing success, believes organiser United Business Media, is direct input from the industry about Barbican Turbo’s future development and how it can meet the needs of participating companies.
“We are especially pleased the organisers have decided to involve us and other companies in the event process as it allows them to produce an event that we actually want and need to support our businesses goals,” stated Foilacar managing director Swen Roters, who was present at the Dubai meeting.
Praise for Federal Tire’s 595 RS-R has been handed out by Japan’s Rev Speed magazine. The popular performance and tuning magazine recently described the semi-slick tyre as a “a high-performance offering features a sporty personality, with a genuine bargain of attractively and affordable price.”
In testing the tyre, Rev Speed sent a team of evaluators to the Nikko Circuit in central Japan, where they spent a full track day behind the wheel. The Federal product was pitted against four competitors from the UHP tyre sector. Testing on the 235/40R18 size tyres was carried out using a Subaru Impreza GRB, which performed numerous time attack and drifting manoeuvres.
Dave Molyneux’s Avon shod Suzuki has given the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer its very first three-wheeled victory at the Isle of Man TT. Molyneux and passenger Daniel Sayle’s victory with A&J Racing Suzuki brings Molyneux’s TT win tally to 14, and marks the 20th anniversary of his first victory on the island.
“The Avons worked brilliantly and were a pleasure to use,” Molyneux commented. “I was delighted to use Avons this year, as I’ve not used them since 1993 when I won on them. In fact my first race win at the TT in 1989 was on Avons too!
Isle of Man sidecar legend Dave Molyneux recently took his tally of Isle of Man TT victories to 14, with the assistance of some Avon tyres. Molyneux and passenger Daniel Sayle took Suzuki’s first three-wheeled victory ever on the Island. The victory on his A&J Racing Suzuki outfit also marked 20 years since Molyneux’s first sidecar victory on the island back in 1989.
The Manxman said: “The Avons worked brilliantly and were a pleasure to use. I was delighted to use Avons this year, as I’ve not used them since 1993 when I won on them. In fact my first race win at the TT in 1989 was on Avons too! The guys at BMTR put together the tyres and we picked some good compounds. It was a hard race, but we achieved what we set out to do. We had some trouble with the engine tuning but we ended up doing things ourselves, and it held together so it’s nice that we also managed to be the first bike to complete the race distance in under 59 minutes with laps over 115mph: we’re happy with that!”
Road safety – in particular the use of seatbelts – is to be the main theme presented by the Emirates Driving Institute when it attends Barbican Turbo the Middle East’s custom, tuning and motorsports festival organised by United Business Media from the 8-10 of October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi.
Road safety is a particular concern in the United Arab Emirates where figures released by the Abu Dhabi Health Authority and the Ministry of Interior indicate 424 people were killed on the roads in Abu Dhabi and a total of 1,071 were killed country-wide in 2008. To combat this issue the Emirates Driving Institute aims to achieve excellence in the field of driver training and road safety and believes a reduction in road traffic accidents can only be achieved by improving the current skills level and knowledge of the driving population; something which they plan to do while at Barbican Turbo.
A total of 15,431 visitors attended Automechanika Middle East during the three-day event. Of this number, notes organiser Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH, 46 per cent were international visitors, converging on Dubai from a total of 114 countries. According to the organiser, buyers arrived in large numbers from the GCC, Middle East, Iran, Africa, CIS and India.
Considering the tough economic climate, adds Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Automechanika Middle East registered a remarkable increase in the number of exhibitors; a total of 966 exhibitors from 46 countries were present, and exhibition space this year occupied 31,000 square metres at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Automechanika Shanghai, reputedly Asia’s largest automotive trade fair and the organiser’s second largest Automechanika fair, will take place from 9 – 11 December 2009 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre. This fifth edition of the fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and the China National Automotive Industry International Corporation (CNAICO). In line with the product profile of the global Automechanika brand, the event will encompass a broad spectrum of products and services for the automotive original equipment and aftermarket. Products on offer cover the sectors Parts & Systems, Accessories & Tuning, Repair & Maintenance, IT & Management to Service Station & Car Wash.
In 2008 Automechanika Shanghai had a record number of 1,982 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions showcasing their products in eight halls covering 92,000 square metres. The show attracted more than 30,800 visitors from 104 countries and regions and half of the buyers had full purchasing authority. The number of exhibitors and visitors were up to 59 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.
Revolution Motorstore has added another retro-flavoured rim to its portfolio. The Cades Eros, says Revolution, mixes old-school cool with the latest production methods. The rim is available in either black, gold or silver and in 15 or 16-inch fitments – sizes that make Revolution confident the wheel will be a hit with the Classic, Retro, Euro and Jap tuning fraternities.
Marangoni continued their 2009 brand support programme by taking title sponsorship of The Marangoni Fast Show at Santa Pod Raceway at the end of March.
This unique event is recognised in UK tuning and enthusiast circles as the first real opportunity of the year to show off and view some of the country’s most modified and tuned cars. It is a key event that is greatly supported by clubs and individuals from the length and breadth of Great Britain. The weekend weather was fantastically spring-like which added even more to the already huge crowd, estimated at well over 20,000 people.
A new entry-level range from OZ is catering for newcomers to the tuning scene that don’t want to look like beginners. Called the X-Line, the rim line-up is, says OZ, intended for those wanting a “taste of tuning”, and the manufacturer reports buyers will be “rewarded with real OZ rims at an entry-level price.” Three different products are currently available in the X-Line range.
The Adrenalina is a five double-spoke rim design that is available in polished matt black or titanium. The outer struts of the spokes and the rim bead between the spokes is always silver turned. Six sizes are available. The five-spoke Energy features, says OZ, no edges or protruding angles. The manufacturer adds that the slightly lowered centre of the wheel gives the outer struts a fresh impetus, therefore rendering an elegant touch. The wheel is available in matt black or matt silver, and in three sizes.
Fast Car magazine has awarded Continental’s ContiSportContact 3 a top prize in its Best for Safety category. The Fast Car Awards purport to celebrate “the best of the best in the tuning industry”. The magazine commented: “Safe is the name of the game with Continental Tyres and their wet weather performance is the absolute best. The ContiSportContact 3 tyre is focused on serving up awesome handling for powerful performance cars. We like Continental tyres a lot.”
Scott Benbow, product manager at Continental, added: “The ContiSportContact 3 is no stranger to winning awards and we are really pleased to add to this collection with the sought after Fast Car honour. Safety is always our main focus when designing a tyre so to be recognised specifically for this is great.”
The ContiSportContact 3 uses a supple third generation silica compound which the company says allows for supreme wet braking performance. A high proportion of rubber on the outer shoulder and a stiff asymmetrical tread pattern is designed to ensure optimum performance handling.
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