Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Want to park? F-U

This is a rather unfortunate combination of alphabets...and a rather angry one

FUEL PRICE: ROn 97 up 15 sen - oil stays above USD80/barrel


Premium RON 97 fuel will go up in price tomorrow while Shell V-Power will go up by two-sen.
Ron 95 stays at the same price..


What else can we say?
Below is world oil prices as of two days ago


MARKET METRICS   Mon., Nov. 29, 2010
Crude OilOpec Basket82.34+2.20
($/bbl)ICE Brent87.34+1.50
Nymex Lt Swt85.73+1.87




Oil is persistently above USD80 per barrel and the approaching winter will only push up prices, so will the tension in North Korea as countries hedge and build stockpile.

Brace ourselves for higher fuel prices and throw away any dreams of the good old days of sub RM2.00 fuel

VIDEO: Heikki Kovalainen's cash at the Race of Champions

Apparently it was due to sticky throttle...hmm sticky  throttle epidemic is with us...who has the cure?

Full Race...with funny commentator



just the crash with instant replays and slow mo

Friday, November 26, 2010

Hybrid shootout...result in next week's Mail Motor

Today we took the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius for a comparison test.
We want to find out which is better, Honda's Integrated Motor Assist or Toyota's Hybrid Synergy drive.
Read the full result of the comparison test in next week's Mail Motor

To see the whole album click HERE

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Luca di Montezemolo in the NEW Lancia Stratos

Well, its not really the New Lancia Stratos it is actually a one-off special built by Pininfarina for a very wealthy collector, but it does pay homage to the original. Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo gave it a go.

There's really nothing interesting to say about it other than the facts themselves so watch the video.


Luca di Montezemolo testing the New Stratos from New Stratos on Vimeo.

BIG BOYS TOYS: Coolest thing you can do with a die-cast car

Artist Chris Burden took 1,500 Hot Wheels die-cast cars and hundreds of metres of aluminium extrusions and turned it into a huge installation called Metropolis 2 (No I don't know what Metropolis 1 looks like) basically it is a pair of mechanical lifts which raise the cars and let them zip down the miniature highways and back roads.. gotta see it to believe it

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

TestDrive Video: Perodua Myvi Limited Edition

TEST DRIVE VIDEO: Proton Satria Neo CPS

TEST DRIVE VIDEO: Hyundai i30 test drive .wmv

MailMotor TestDrive: Nissan Navara Calibre

TRACK TIME VIDEO - Three laps around Sepang in the Megane RS



We had a load of fun with the Renault Megane RS, it is a superb handler, composed on the track and comfortable to boot.

The engine not only sounds great but delivers power from early on and keeps going into the upper rev range.

MEDIA RELEASE - SHEIKH SALIMEE IS SEPANG DRAG KING


SEPANG DRAG BATTLE 2010
SHEIKH SALIMEE IS SEPANG DRAG KING

Malaysia's top drag racer Sheikh Mohd Salimee Mohd Fowzi was denied a stylish conclusion to his 2010 Sepang Drag Battle campaign his Nissan Skyline machine lost in the final run at the season-ender Round 5 at Sepang Circuit on Saturday night.  

Tan Wai Loong, who recorded an impressive 10.650 seconds in his Mitsubishi Evo to win his semi-final battle, simply cruised in a casual 17.992 seconds to complete the 400-meter dash after Sheikh's car encountered mechanical problems at the start in the deciding run.


It was a disappointing end for Sheikh, who came to the final round in search of a hattrick after winning the third and fourth round. Fortunately, the defeat did not come affect the final standings as Sheikh was crowned as the 2010 champion for Class A, which is the open class.

After five rounds, Sheikh garnered 13 points to take the overall championship with Tan Chun Li, who was scoreless in the final round, taking second place with eight championship points. Suzaimi Ahmad, who came in fourth in Round 5, was third overall with six points.

It was a battle to the wire for Class B with Mohd Ainul Asri Mohd Aini taking victory for Round 5, five championship points  and the overall championship; edging out Mohd Amirullah Mohd Ali, who was leading the championship by a single points before the commencement of the final round.

As both Ainul and Amirullah sweep aside their rivals, the leading duo met in the final run, which saw Ainul's Proton Satria  finishing the 400-meter dash infront of SIC's main straight in 10.997 seconds. Amirullah clocked 11.544 seconds in his Mazda machine.

Mohd Maziz Abdullah defended his Class C crown; but was upstaged in the final round as he lost his semi-final battle against Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahman. However, it did not turn out as a night of glory for Jalil as well when he edged out in the final; losing to Ikmy Adzwan Jamuri.  

Maziz, however, re-discovered his form to win third place and two championship points to take his total tally for the season to 12 points. Ahmad Firdaus Azman, who lost in the quarterfinals at the night, was second overall with 11 points and Ikmy taking third overall with 6 points.

Class F for V-Tec engine street legal machines up to 2000cc saw Mohd Hanapi Ismail and Mohd Iqram Ismail Tajinder finishing the season with 13 points. The championship crown, however, was presented to Hanapi after he won the final round; coincidentally beating Iqram, who came in second last Saturday.

For the non V-Tec street legal machines up to 2000cc under Class FX, the overall title was already won by Sharulnizam Mohd Sain even before the start of Round 5. He again showed his prowess in his Nissan Sentra as he romped to his third victory of the season; taking his final tally to 17 championship points.

Season 2011 would feature another five rounds with the opening round scheduled on March 19 next year. Round 2 has been slotted for May 21; Round 3 on July 16; Round 4 on September 10 and the final round scheduled on October 1 next year.  

 SEPANG DRAG BATTLE 2010
RESULTS FOR ROUND 5

CLASS A
(open category – turbo,supercharged & NOS allowed) 

1.Tan Wai Loong (Mitsubishi Evo)       5 pts
2.Sheikh Mohd Salimee (Nissan Skyline)                    03 pts
3. Isharunizam Ismaon (Proton Satria)                       02
4. Suzaimi Ahmad (Daihatsu Mirage)              01


CLASS B
(two-wheel drive with no limit on engine capacity and only either turbo, supercharged or NOS allowed)

1.Mohd Ainul Azri (Proton Satria)                               05 pts
2. Mohd Amirullah Mohd Ali (Mazda)               03
3. Khairul Anwar Ahmad (Proton Satria)                    02
4. Mohd Fadhil Othman (Proton Satria)                      01

CLASS C
(Naturally Aspirated engines up to 2000cc and NOS not allowed)

1. Ikmy Adzwan Jamuri (Honda Civic)                         05 pts
2. Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahman (Honda Civic)    03
3.Mohd Maziz Abdullah (Honda EK)                02
4. Gam Tiam Leng (Honda Civic)                                01

CLASS G
(Turbo engines Street Legal Machines)
-          Cancelled -

CLASS FX (V-TEC)
(V-Tech Street Legal Machines up to 2000cc)

1. Mohd Hanapi Ismail (Honda Civic)              05 pts
2. Mohd Iqram Ismail Tajinder (Honda)                       03 pts
3. Mohd Iqbal Ismail Tajinder (Honda)                        02
4. Nur Faizun Nasri (Honda Civic)                  01

CLASS F (NON V-TEC)
(Non V-Tech Street Legal Machines up to 2000cc)

1. Shahrulnizam Mohd Sain (Nissan)              05 pts
2. Mohd Redzwan Abdul Basir (Proton Satria)           03
3. Kalaichelvan Govindapillai (Proton Satria)            02
4. Mezan Akram (Proton Satria)                                  01







FINAL POINT STANDINGS AFTER FIVE ROUNDS
THE TOP FIVE OF CLASS A

1.Sheikh Mohd Salimee (Nissan Skyline)                    13 pts
2. Tan Chun Li (Mitsubishi Evo 9)                               08 pts
3. Suzaini Ahmad (Daihatsu Mirage)               06
4. Ahmad Firdaus Azman (Mitsubishi Evo)      05
5. Mohd Zaidi Amzah (Proton Wira)                05

THE TOP FIVE OF CLASS B

1. Mohd Ainul Azri (Proton Satria)      17 pts
2.Mohd Amirullah Mohd Ali (Mazda)    16
3. Mohd Fadhil Othman (Proton Satria)          04
4. Mohd Syukri Mohd Nor (Proton Satria)       04
5. Shahril Azuar Mustafa (Nissan Silvia)        03

THE TOP FIVE OF CLASS C

1. Mohd Maziz Abdullah (Honda)                                 12 pts
2.Ahmad Firdaus Azman (Honda Civic)                      11
3. Ikmy Adzwan Jamuri (Honda Civic)                         06
4. Nurfaizun Nasri (Honda Civic)                                06
5. Aloysius Wee Chin Kwang (Honda CRX)      05

THE TOP FIVE OF CLASS F (V-TECH ENGINES)

1. Mohd Hanapi Ismail (Honda Civic)              13 pts
2. Mohd Iqram Ismail Tajinder (Honda CRX)   13
3. Nur Faizun Nasri (Honda Civic)                  08
4.Mohd Iqbal Ismail Tajinder (Proton Satria)  05
5. Ahmad Firdaus Azman (Honda Civic)                     04

THE TOP FIVE OF CLASS FX NON V-TECH
1.Sharulnizam Mohd Sain (Nissan Sentra)      17 pts
2. Kalaichelvan Govinapillai (Satria)              08
3. Azri Abdullah Safian (Satria)                                  06
4. Mohd Asri Saad (Satria)                              05
5. Mohd Redwan Abdul Basir (Satria)                         04


BMW Group Malaysia warns of scam emails



BMW Group Malaysia highlights danger of scam emails


Kuala Lumpur. Following a spate of bogus emails across South East Asia, BMW Group Malaysia would like to emphasize that the organisation does not offer cash prizes or BMW nor MINI cars as part of free prize draws. An email entitled 'BMW Car International Promotion Program' which has been circulating the Internet is not a bonafide BMW Group campaign, and the entities 'BMW Lottery Department UK', nor 'The BMW International Awareness Promotions' have no relationship whatsoever with the BMW Group nor with BMW Group Malaysia and we have no relationship with the people responsible for issuing the notices.


Sashi Ambi, Corporate Communications Manager, BMW Group Malaysia in a statement said, "We are aware that there are and have been a number of similar emails in circulation and we are currently investigating how to prevent those responsible from using BMW's name in such a way. We advise anyone who receives the email to not enter into correspondence with the sender."
Example of the scam email is enclosed.


Lexus launch LS and RX hybrid

They launched the LS600hL and RX450h.
The LS is RM1million while the RX is a shade under RM600K

TEENAGE SENSATION HAFIZH SYAHRIN READY TO OUST THAI RIDERS




MALAYSIAN SUPER SERIES 2010 – PREVIEW FINAL ROUND
TEENAGE SENSATION HAFIZH SYAHRIN READY TO OUST THAI RIDERS

The 2010 Malaysian Super Series enters its final round this weekend at Sepang Circuit with Malaysia's teenage sensation Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah looking set to take the centrestage in his fight against Thailand's top juniors 
Wilairot Rathaphong and Apiwat Wongthananon in Supersports Championship.

Though the Supersports Junior Championship crown is effectively out of reach for the 16-year old Hafizh, Walairot, who is leading the championship with 168 points and virtually assured of the junior overall title, would not want to come second best again in his fight against the fast improving PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha rider.


In his first season on a 600cc machine, Hafizh – who is on track to win the premier CP130 cub prix crown this year - scored a double win in Round 4 to declare himself ready to challenge the big boys and also for the 125cc wildcard ticket at next year's Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

"It's not about the crown anymore … it's about winning races and the bragging rights. That's how motor racing is … It's going to be an exciting end to an exciting season," says Datuk Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali, the Chief Executive Officer of Sepang International Circuit.

The 2011 season kicked off in May with SIC – promoter and organizer of the Malaysian MotoGP – announcing that the top three junior Malaysians in 2010 would be selected for test for the 125cc wildcard ticket during the Shell Advance Malaysian MotoGP which is scheduled in 23rd October 2011. 

The wildcard tickets proved to be a strong pull for Supersports Championship with more than 35 riders on the grid in all its races; outnumbering the other MSS championships – the Superbike Championship and the Superstock Championship.  

After four rounds of the Supersports Junior Championship, Hafizh, who had a slow start to the season, is fourth with 115 points behind Walairot, Apiwat and another teenage Malaysian Muhammad Farid Badrul Hisham, who rides for AFY Racing Malaysia. Badrul has 125 points while Apiwat has 134 points.

Novice champion in the PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship last season, Hafizh scored third placing in Sepang last Sunday at Round 9 of the cub prix series to put himself in third place in the CP130 championship and just two points off the leader, Norizman Ismail, who has 146 points. With just one more round to go, Hafizh has 144 with two-time champion Ahmad Fazli Sham in second place with 145 points.

In the selection of the GP 125 wildcard for the 2009 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Hafizh managed to put himself in the group of final eight; but was omitted from the final four of Elly Idzlianizar Ilias, Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin, Mohd Farid Ahmad and Mohd Iskandar Raduan.

In the Open Supersports Championship, Hafizh's team-mate at PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman is in a strong position to defend his title as he holds an 18-point lead over his closest rival, Mohamad Suhadi Ali Rahmat, who has 123 points.

It had been an amazing season for Azlan Shah, who had managed 141 points and the championship lead despite missing the opening round. Thailand's top Supersports rider Suhathai Chaermsap is third with 121 points and is the only other rider with more than a century of points.

"Naturally, I am happy to be leading the championship. But, there are still two more races to go and 50 championship points to be won. I am in a good position and I hope everything goes well in the final round," said Azlan in commenting his prospects in winning a second MSS crown.

In the Superbike Championship, Japan's Yasuhiro Kuhara would be driven by a record breaking feat at Round 5 after having sealed the overall title and his third Superbike crown at the previous round in October. Having won all the previous four rounds including three double wins in Round 2, 3 and 4, Kuhara, who had been unrivalled on his awesome Honda CBR1000, would be looking for another double win to add to his current total haul of 195 points.

The fight for second place, however, is still open with Abdul Rahim Sidek – now on 128 points – needing to fight off the challenge from his close friend and former MSS Supersports champion, Mohamad Syahnas Shahidan, who has 105 points after four rounds.

Like the Supersports Championship, the battle for the Superstock crown would also go to the wire at the final round between  Ahmad Zamani Baharuddin and Remon Azrem Abd. Karim, who have 180 and 160 points respectively.

The final round of the 2010 Malaysian Super Series season will be a combined round of both bike and car championships including the final round of the Classic Car Championship. 


MALAYSIAN SUPER SERIES 2010 (BIKES)
Top Five Leaders after Four Rounds 

SUPERSPORTS – OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Azlan Shah Kamaruddin (Yamaha R6)                     141 pts
2 Suhadi Ali Rahmat Idemitsu (Honda CBR600)         123
3 Suhathai Chaemsap (Honda CBR600)                      121
4 Shaiful Bahari Abdul Rahman (Kawasaki ZX6R)      67
5 Ahmad Fazrul Sham (Honda CBR600)                      66

SUPERSPORTS – JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Wilairot Rathaphong (Honda CBR600)                     168 pts
2 Apiwat Wongthananon (Honda CBR600)                  134
3 Mohd Farid Badrul Hisham (Kawasaki 600)                         125
4 Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (Yamaha R6)                     115
5 Muhammad Syafiq Omar (Yamaha R6)                     91


 SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Yasuhiro Kuhara (Honda CBR1000)                         195 pts
2 Abdul Rahim Sidek (Honda CBR1000)                      128
3 Syahnas Shahidan (MV Augusta)                             105
4 Omar Ali Abdullah (Honda CBR1000)                      80
5 Milton Poh Kim Seng (Suzuki SXR1000)                   70

SUPERSTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP

1  Ahmad Zamani Baharuddin (Honda CBR1000)       180 pts
2 Remon Azrem Abd. Karim (Honda CBR1000)           160
3 Nasarudin Mat Yusop (Honda CBR1000)                  73
4 Faisal Yahya (Honda CBR1000)                               68
5 Martin Poh Kim Lim (Ducati 1098)                           58