[Ex Finn.]

Looks like littering, could be modern art also
So what is it ? A Nash. Too big to be a column-shift SAAB.

[RichardS]

The first F1 grand prix of the 2014 season was held in Melbourne on Sunday and it was a huge waste of time. In years past you could hear the howling engines (from V12 to V10 to V8) pulling 18,000rpm, from where I live, 8 miles away. This year ... nothing. A friend who was track-side said they sounded like muffled hair dryers. Here's a comparison

You Tube

You Tube

Pathetic. A Toyota Pious sounds more exciting. And then the second place-getter is disqualified because of fuel consumption problems? This is not an economy drive. It's meant to be a race. Next year they'll probably try to convince us that the race cars need people waving red flags walking in front of them and the "drivers" will probably have to pedal.

Not worth spending the money.

Richard.

[Jean Poitiers]

The first F1 grand prix of the 2014 season was held in Melbourne on Sunday and it was a huge waste of time. ... Richard.

TFS ... and wow, what a difference, J

[robgski]

That's a shame, you have to be able to hear and feel the horsepower.

[Racer X 69]

I caught the tail end of something on PRIs The World today on NPR. Something about the new engine formula being V6 only, and a limit placed on how much fuel can be consumed during the race.

As you say, it is supposed to be a race of the fastest and best, not an econobox parade.

Bernie's Circus continues.

[johnmflores]

Looks like littering, could be modern art also
So what is it ? A Nash. Too big to be a column-shift SAAB.

I have no idea. I was hoping that a keen spotter here could ID it.

Pathetic. A Toyota Pious sounds more exciting.

That's a shame, you have to be able to hear and feel the horsepower.

FWIW, I test road a Zero S electric motorcycle last year.




Virtually quiet, particularly when compared to my normal ride:

You Tube

You Tube

And that's with the noise baffles in the titanium slip-ons.


To be honest, I thought that I would miss the sound. But I didn't, except for misjudging my corner entry speeds due to a lack of aural cues. On an electric, the boom of the exhaust is replaced by a futuristic sounding frantic whine, must softer, and cool in a different way.

[Racer X 69]

So what is it ? A Nash. Too big to be a column-shift SAAB.

I have no idea. I was hoping that a keen spotter here could ID it.

Looks like an early 1950's Chevy.

[Ex Finn.]

They've gone and ruined F1. Should renamed it the Prius1
An other sound sample for a comparison.
Renault F1: 2013 V8 versus 2014 V6 turbo - noise sound - YouTube
Drag the slider to the left to hear the new V6, for some reason this jumps to the middle in the beginning.

[RichardS]

FWIW, I test road a Zero S electric motorcycle last year.

Virtually quiet, particularly when compared to my normal ride:
2004 Aprilia RSV-R Motorcycle - YouTube

To be honest, I thought that I would miss the sound. But I didn't, except for misjudging my corner entry speeds due to a lack of aural cues. On an electric, the boom of the exhaust is replaced by a futuristic sounding frantic whine, must softer, and cool in a different way.

I don't have a major problem with daily rides/drives being quiet apart from a couple of things. We are equipped with several senses that we use to keep us alive and we are used to visual and aural clues to warn us that there's a moving vehicle in the vicinity. Losing the aural clue creates a risk. We get used to the sound of the engine telling us when to change gear. Even if your vehicle has a tacho, you can't look at it all the time. I love the sound of my exhaust. The whistle and pop from the turbo is a wonderful sound.

If someone want's to drive a car that sounds like a hair dryer, then that's cool. But it's not Formula 1. F1 is meant to be loud. it's part of the experience. One of my clients is just across the road from the Melbourne GP circuit - about 400metres - and, in previous years, the howling sound was so loud when standing outside the office that you could feel your body vibrating. A muted whirrr whirrr doesn't really thrill.

Richard.

[RichardS]

Red.I think I might be developing a thing about "red". Here are some red things from my walk today.







I wasn't going to post the next red object because it's a really bad shot. I heard some Ferrari V12 music, turned round and snapped the shot. It's crap, but I don't often see a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. It's a proper Ferrari with a 12 cylinder engine. And it sounded so good. So here it is.



Richard.

[Sailor]

Richard you certainly produce terrific "candid" street shots of cool cars, and these shots of red beauties are outstanding examples. There's nothing like a red Ferrari.

Incidentally, a few months ago when my Boxster S was in the shop for repairs to some rodent-chewed wiring (), I had a Cayman - the Boxster's hardtop twin - as a loaner. It was equipped with the 2.7L engine rather than my 3.4L and had Porsche's excellent PDK tranny. Slick as that twin clutch is, the Cayman reminded me how glad I am to have chosen the 6-speed manual.

Also, I wouldn't mind seeing some more pictures of your Mr. Red, itself a very cool customer.

Jer

[RichardS]

Richard you certainly produce terrific "candid" street shots of cool cars, and these shots of red beauties are outstanding examples. There's nothing like a red Ferrari.

Incidentally, a few months ago when my Boxster S was in the shop for repairs to some rodent-chewed wiring (), I had a Cayman - the Boxster's hardtop twin - as a loaner. It was equipped with the 2.7L engine rather than my 3.4L and had Porsche's excellent PDK tranny. Slick as that twin clutch is, the Cayman reminded me how glad I am to have chosen the 6-speed manual.

Also, I wouldn't mind seeing some more pictures of your Mr. Red, itself a very cool customer.

Jer

Thanks for those kind words, Jer. I'm really happy that you're enjoying manual motoring

I may have some more shots of my contribution to redness coming along in a week or so. It depends on the weather next weekend.

Richard.

[RichardS]

Richard you certainly produce terrific "candid" street shots of cool cars, and these shots of red beauties are outstanding examples. There's nothing like a red Ferrari.

Incidentally, a few months ago when my Boxster S was in the shop for repairs to some rodent-chewed wiring (), I had a Cayman - the Boxster's hardtop twin - as a loaner. It was equipped with the 2.7L engine rather than my 3.4L and had Porsche's excellent PDK tranny. Slick as that twin clutch is, the Cayman reminded me how glad I am to have chosen the 6-speed manual.

Also, I wouldn't mind seeing some more pictures of your Mr. Red, itself a very cool customer.

Jer

PS. I think I might have had a tiny part of you deciding to go manual with your Boxster S. I think you were probably considering it anyway, but I'd been talking about manual for ages. I think I might have said something like "you've got a twin-clutch with your 135i, you should try manual with your Porsche." Or something like that. If that is the case, then I'm glad that I've done my bit for the future of humanity (and your enjoyment, of course)

Richard.

[digitalCG]

Richard, those red cars certainly stand out in your photos. As a daily proposition I'd go for the Cayman, though I suppose I could manage any of them in a pinch!

Made my first visit to the Oil Can Cafe in The Carding Shed, West Yorkshire yesterday and what a place! Tea and cakes amongst classic cars and retro shops, with a classic restoration and tuning specialist in the unit next door. Loved this small scale 'lead sled' based on an Austin Atlantic:

[RichardS]

Richard, those red cars certainly stand out in your photos. As a daily proposition I'd go for the Cayman, though I suppose I could manage any of them in a pinch!

Made my first visit to the Oil Can Cafe in The Carding Shed, West Yorkshire yesterday and what a place! Tea and cakes amongst classic cars and retro shops, with a classic restoration and tuning specialist in the unit next door. Loved this small scale 'lead sled' based on an Austin Atlantic:

Thanks for that. If it really came down to ultimate decision time, I think that the Ferrari 599 would be number one, If you've never heard one, then you probably wouldn't understand

We have or used to have a classic car cafe in Melbourne. Dutton's in Church Street, Melbourne. One of my clients was across the road in an old match factory. I used to visit Dutton's nearly every time I visited the client. A genuine GT40 in Gulf colours, Many Cobras. Lots of good stuff. Pity its prices are off with the faeries.

Richard.