New Whiteline Suspension Kits
Whiteline have released new or revised kits to suit Commodore VT, Mitsubishi Lancer GSR, Nissan Bluebird U13, Pulsar N14, N14 GTiR, N15, Skyline R33, Toyota Starlet EP90 and EP82 GT. New Australian-produced strut braces have been developed for these applications: BMW E46 3 series, Daewoo Lanos, Commodore VK/VL/VT, Honda ED Civic, Hyundai Accent front and rear, Excel front and rear, Mitsubishi CA/CB Lancer, Nissan Pulsar GTiR, NX Coupe, Silvia/S13 front and rear, Skyline R33, Toyota AE82 Corolla, Starlet rear. sales@whiteline.com.au
Citroën Opens All-New Motor Sport Centre
Citroën has demonstrated its commitment to win the World Rally Championship with the opening of a massive 25,000 square metre all-new motorsport complex just outside Paris. The purpose-built complex at Versailles includes twin rows of car preparation bays, each capable of taking six cars; 3,600 square metres of workshops and test areas for engine development; computers and electrics workshops; body preparation and transmission preparation; a 2,400 square metre parts storage area; undercover storage and preparation areas for support vehicles and a second floor of offices and team management areas.
The site itself is also alongside a purpose-made test area that allows on-site testing of both tarmac and gravel set-ups for the rally cars, significantly reducing the time required for test periods as testing may be completed without transport to and from test tracks. The multi-million dollar complex is completed by public areas and a shop from where team merchandise will be sold, along with parts and equipment for non-factory Citroën teams.
The new centre will be the home for the Citroën Xsara T4 World Rally Car, which will be fully homologated on 1 March 2001. Based on the Citroën Xsara Coupe VTS which is set to arrive in Australia early in 2001, the new Citroën rally car is a four wheel drive, 300 bhp, six speed super car which has already shown its ability by enabling Citroën to take the French Rally Championship in 2000 for the third year running.
Boys in Blue
No.51 in a series of 52 interesting facts about Ford Australia to celebrate its 75th Anniversary Year
Many Victorians will remember the 'powder blue' police cars of the 1950s. The colour was unusual amongst police vehicles and came about because the then Police Commissioner, Mr. Porter, had been using a Ford Customline V8 which was painted in the Ford colour - Festive Blue - and he liked it! Mr. Porter reasoned that it would be good to have all police vehicles in a uniform colour and that the light colour was easily seen at night. Prior to 1955, when this happened, all police vehicles were in whatever colour they came from the factory. (In South Australia, Power Blue police cars were used right up until the mid-1980s.)
Quickies
- Melbourne's GT Production racer and specialist car importer, Craig Dean, recently returned from New Zealand fresh from victory in the "Land of the Long White Cloud's" premier tarmac rally, the Targa New Zealand. Craig claimed 1st Outright place in the 5-day event that spanned 1370 kilometres in his team's supercharged 500 horsepower 351 cubic inch Saleen Mustang that was shipped to New Zealand especially for the event. "We had a very good result with it in Targa Tasmania, securing an 8th outright in 1999 and not quite so good this year due to some bad luck. The Mustang is a very willing performer and I knew we could mix it with the serious end of the field, but naturally to take 1st place is absolutely fantastic", said team owner and driver Craig Dean.
- Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd (MMAL) recently hosted distributor representatives from a number of Middle East countries. Representatives from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon and Bahrain arrived to tour the MMAL manufacturing plant and discuss plans to further develop export vehicles. Re-specified Magna Executives will be positioned for the larger volume vehicle segment which includes models such as Camry, Commodore and Maxima.
- The only driver to ever win the Australian Driver's Championship plus the Australian Sportscar and Touring Car Championships, has been awarded the Australian Sports Medal for services to motorsport. Cat Racing star John Bowe recently received the award which was instigated this year to commemorate Australian sporting achievement. Authorised by the Governor-General, the new award is a new addition to the Australian honours system.
- Interesting rumour: The spare wheel on the new MY01 WRX is apparently exactly the same size as it was on the MY00 and earlier Rexes. However, the new WRX's standard wheel is said to be 12% bigger in circumference than the spare. Since the owner's manual explicitly states that the use of different tyre sizes will result in damage to the drivetrain, you wonder what will happen when WRX owners drive a long distance on the spare....
- Ford Motor Company's Automotive Consumer Services Group, the Mopar Parts Division of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, General Motors Service Parts Operations and Bell & Howell have jointly that they have combined efforts to form a business-to-business integrated original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and service web portal. This new, yet-to-be-named venture will be the OE connection for parts and service, providing dealers and their wholesale customers a secure single source for their parts and service needs. It will facilitate the flow of OEM parts between franchised dealers and their customers, beginning with independent collision shops. Plans are to first launch this portal in the US and Canada, with the vision of going global.
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