I love it when you write me an email and tell me something. It means that someone is actually reading what I write and that makes me tremendously happy. It’s been a while since I had a guest blogger on here, but Gregorio Baracchi was kind enough to write a story for publication, so without further ado, here ’tis:

Having a Maserati is like having a nice and rare watch that doesn’t stand out easily. The Maserati Granturismo is a car that if you want you can drive on an every day basis. Unlike many other exotics the Granturismo is a car that can be driven down the street without attracting too many eyes.

Continue reading…

Yesterday, I flew down to Frankfurt to pick up an Aston Martin DBS that was going to take me to Le Mans for the annual 24 Heures du Mans. Overnighting in Paris to pick up a friend, I am now in a house 7 kms east of the Mulsanne straight. I actually drove on the Mulsanne straight in the DBS today, however only averaging about 50 kp/h with the occasional bull run acceleration to please the waving and cheering onlookers.  At this time, it is 13 hours, 45 minutes left to start.

OK, so I have spent a full two days with the DBS now and I can truly say that it’s a fantastic car. It looks gorgeous first of all. It’s like driving around in Dountzen Kroes. Heads turns, people whistle and clap. In a DBS, I automatically become a star. That’s also probably why some people buy it.

Let’s talk power. The DBS has an abundance of it and it’s the kind of power you normally only associate with the nuclear arsenal of the US or Russia. 20 bombs are enough to blow the entire world to smithereens, yet they both have several thousands of them. That’s what it feels like flooring the throttle on the DBS. Like I’m about to extinguish the world.  A normal overtaking procedure is over and done with in less than 3 seconds and by the time I have passed whatever it was I passed, I’m averaging 170 kp/h.

The Touchtronic gearbox is a splendid tool for most anyone but me. I like a proper gear lever and three pedals. I’m not chasing tenths of a second on paper but care more for the feel when driving. I like heel toeing, I like blipping the throttle for crowd pleasing and being able to choose to stay in gear when hitting the redline. However, for rolling around Paris for an entire day while Putin’s entourage had half the city closed off for traffic, I was pretty satisfied with having an automatic.

Hitting the kerbs in the first chicane on the Mulsanne straight!

Arriving at Le Mans was slightly chaotic but absolutely wonderful. Cars and fans galore and what cars. People sure bring their best when coming here. I can’t name a car I haven’t seen today, totally amazing. The Danish contingency is very strong and there are emply Faxe Kondi cans everywhere. Tom Kristensen has sure made an impression. Actually, it seems to be mostly Danes and Brits here.

This evening, Aston had a BBQ and I happened to sit next to Aston’s head of design and we had a very interesting chat about everything Aston Martin. More on that later. I also had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Ulrich Bez. I kind of feel sorry for Aston Martin Europe’s Manager of Brand Communication, Manuela Höhne, as I keep badgering her to drive every single car Aston has, including the Rapide that competed in the Nürburgring 24 hours. She has only said no on the One-77 so far but that’s because Aston doesn’t have any to test drive. I’d have to know an owner to get behind the wheel of one of those.

To get hourly reports, and pictures, follow me on Twitter, http://Twitter.com/TheCartorialist.

And I’m complete!

Here’s a teaser. More to come next week.

I am about to realise one of my current dream projects! Aston Martin just confirmed a DBS for me to use getting to and fro Le Mans for this years iteration of the 24 Heures du Mans. I’ll try not to go Bond style (getting shot at by a secret international conspiracy of criminals) but rather enjoy that big V12 and the glorious road trip with plenty of sideways action to please the eyes of my fellow motorists!

It feels good to be in bed but I must say Katarzyna behaves way over expectations. I imagined doing 80-90 km/h tops and writhing in pain from back ache due to piss poor seats. Nope, the car easily does 120 km/h and the seats are really comfy.

The mechanics had 5 spare engines and one spare car to start with, they have now used them all. Now it’s a matter of ingenuity and makeshift solutions. Knowing we’d be going to Poland, driving a Polish car 1400 kms in a rally across Europe we brought with us the necessary tools to handle it: a flashlight, duct tape, screwdrivers (one flat one Phillips), pliers, polygrip and steel wire. Today we used it all. Perfect.

I may have jinxed us yesterday when saying Katarzyna was in tip top shape. Well she was, and is, except for that litte mishap with the engine oil cap.  Our makeshift one did its job and we made it to Malmö just 10-15 minutes after most teams, but not last, despite us doing a mere 90km/h with two stops to check everything was OK with the engine. That means tomorrow when the mechanics wake up, we’re going to pester them for a new cap and some fresh winter tyres. Then we’ll show those other teams whose car can handle it. We know we’ve got the straight line speed as we have left everyone behind us once we’ve tried. After my quietest Saturday in months, it’s time for some shuteye before the real challenge starts.

We have definitely underestimated som teams desire to take home the trophy. When someone can do 291 kms in 3 hours in a Fiat 126p, with a petrol stop in between, then clearly there is only one mode good enough and that is the pedal through the metal. Optimising the Maluch to reach speeds of 130 km/h is possible, the question is whether the engine can take it. We now have proof that it can, on shorter stints.

Tomorrow Sunday is the last leg to Stockholm. This journey will be 50 percent longer than the other two legs and it’s 604 kms flat out on motorways. No breaks but petrols stops, no ferry to take the heat off the engine and no construction work to get the speed down. The winner will be the one that reaches the final destination in Stockholm before anyone else despite accumulated points on earlier legs. Like I have stated before, it’ll come down to whose engine is the most solid.

Five spare engines is soon down to four!

The start has been pushed back a couple of hours due to car maintenance. Some of the top ten cars are out there which bodes well for us. This car has to run 1400 kms problem free or else any chance of winning goes bye bye.

It seems there’s come controversy around the top ten list. The organisor’s Land Rover got stuck in Autobahn mode so he couldn’t be at the hotel in time to certify the running order. Instead the participants themselves had to keep track and that never leads to anything good. Especially in a group this competitive.

I don’t want to jinx anything but Katarzyna is really in tip top shape. She started up immediately and without hesitation this morning, a quick oil check later revelad that she’s in perfect condition. She will see us through and considering our responsible driving I am sure we can bring her in top five. Like I have said before, winning is pretty much out of the question because we don’t have what it takes, or lack what it takes I should say (braincells).

We’re finally at the hotel, which is only half a step up from a Formule 1 mind you, and exhausted. The rain started some 20 kms outside Berlin and kept on pouring. Slowly we have learned to trust Katarzyna and she’s treating us well so far. Our initial fears  were unfounded and we will be stepping on it hard tomorrow. Others have had problems with batteries, fuel pumps and cam shafts. We can’t even hear a sputtering sound at full throttle which some others seem to. All in all, Katarzyna is perfect, apart from some cosmetic blemishes but that just makes us like her even more.

It’s well cramped.

Here’s a link to a video from the track Tor Poznan, filmed from Katarzyna featuring the entire field of contestants. Click here.

Some fellow Norwegians from Team Race Universe didn’t have windscreen wipers so they did 110km/h in pouring rain on pure faith! Them’s got mucho cojones!

We have basically given up on winning. We got to Stadt Wittstock in 12th place after having run around the town looking for the bloody thing for about 10 full minutes. We could’ve been in the top 5 had we just followed our gut, damnit! Back to the winning thing. It will come down to who sacrifices the most and some seem to think that overtaking lorries on the right and tailgating is fine in order to win, we don’t. We’ll be observing caution but will also make sure to keep the pedal welded to the metal as Katarzyna obiously can handle it. I am guessing that the car with the most structural integrity will be the final winner, not the most daring driver.

If you know Swedish and want to follow the Auto Motor & Sport blog, click here

10:30 – The breakfast of champions! This could make or break our efforts.

Actually, this could make or break our efforts:

Some of our competition mounting two 20 litre jerrycans in the backseat of his car for longer fuel range. Due to lack of regulations in the rally, some have taken it upon themselves to modify their cars beyond recognition. I am hoping this guy will be slapped with a penalty of some sorts. At least he’s going to be nauseasted by the smell of petrol fumes coming from his contraption.

Closing down operations here to get to the garage and Tor Poznan. More updates to come in a few hours.

We settled on Katarzyna after the previous owner because we found it unsettling to ride a Pjotr, Marek or Stanislav. As you can see she’s got number 4, not 17. The 17 was based on a misunderstanding from our side. And we did get a Wunderbaum, the entire car reeks of chem industry.

At the briefing some rather disturbing points were brought up. Apparently a head on collision with a Mercedes S500 will flatten the Fiat 126, whereas the Merc will only have €250 worth of bumper damage! Oh, and averyone in the Fiat will die!

A question was raised whether we had seen any “Maluchs” (”the small one” in Polish) coming in from the airport as the organisors has bought all the stock in the area. I saw two and was promptly asked if I had gotten the registration number as there were another 40 teams on the waiting list.
- It’s both wonderful and a little disconcerting to see all the interest, said Peter who’s organising the event.

I also found out that the fuel gauge is not to be trusted. It works in our car but in some others it doesn’t work at all. The range is supposed to be 200 kms no matter what the fuel gauge says or doesn’t say.

First thing tomorrow we’ll be doing some laps around Tor Poznan in our “Maluchs” and we’re advised not to try and cut any apex’ as the car will flip over. Hmm…. Good thing also we’ve got proper winter tyres, NOT! I am starting to dread Autobahn and the lorries that will be flying past us while we’re trying to hold the car steady.

The one thing that was repeated over and over again at the briefing was safety.
- If no one dies we’ll do this again next year, said Peter.

Upon arrival at the hotel, this yellow thing greeted us, complete with stickers and all. I naturally had to add my own The Cartorialist branding, albeit just for show here. My car is number 17 and I will have to wait until tonight or tomorrow morning to lay my hands on it.

The evening is full of anticipation. Theories afloat about everything from top speed to the route. I am choosing to keep quiet about my choice of route as I am worried by the mapped route that is the suggested one as it’s far too slow for my liking.

It is certainly as cramped as it looks with very offset pedals. The accelerator is the size of a credit card! My co-driver and I will be shoulder to shoulder, literally, the entire way. The radio has been removed to save weight! Hello iPhone! I wonder if my car will be equipped with a Wunderbaum as well? I’d like one for novelty purposes but I am not so sure about the smell.

More news to come after the briefing and dinner at 7pm.

With its trademark Renault Sport yellow, this Clio V6 is one of the coolest cars you can own. It’ll fight you in every way possible, but once you master it, it is pure heaven. The short wheelbase make it notoriously prone to spin while trying powerslides, but again, once you master it, nothing no longer fazes you.

Continue reading…

It looks hot, it is hot and I love it! There’s not much more one could ask for in a car for €30′000, and if you want to experience what it’s like having your intestines trade places during rides on less than absolutely smooth surfaces, then definitely. I am not much for comfort in a car, as long as it’s fun, involving and with a good grunt, then I can bear almost anything. I once drove 5000 kms in a BMW M3 CSL in less than a week and those bucket seats are still the most comfortable I have ever experienced. I’d have those over the Bentley Flying Spur any day. This Ford is fantastic. Time and time again has U.K. Ford bitch slapped its American relative with great cars when all the Yankee can deliver is a retro-futuristic version of a 40 year old car, which is God-awful to drive.

Continue reading…

Winner of the Monza 1000 km parked on the street in Stockholm!
The owner had to sell his 330 GT and a Jaguar E-Type to land this baby. Well worth it I say.

Continue reading…

Thank you AndersK for the pictures.

Pontus Gårdinger, ex model, TV-host, glamour man about town. If you’re not Swedish, you certainly have no idea of who this guy is, but, and it’s a big and full-rounded but, it’s his car.

The Aston Martin V8 Zagato was produced in a mere 52 examples and Mr Gårdinger owns one of them. I have not been a fan of Mr Gårdinger’s. I have met him on a few occassions and I’ve found him to be rude and full of himself. This however, changes it all. If he is willing to spend such a substantial amount on such a controversial car, then I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt. He gets one more chance in my book, and he can thank Udo Zagato for that.

The V8 Zagato was meant as an eighties version of the spectacularly elegant DB4 Zagato. With a V8 and twin-choke Weber carburettors, the V8 Zagato was capable of speeds up to 300km/h.  Zagato made this beautiful body from aluminium as it molds easier and to keep the weight down.

Again I proclaim Stilo Zagato to be the the ultimate coach building studio, ahead of Pininfarina. Whereas Pininfarina can make beautiful cars, Zagato can make beautiful with a twist.

Dodge Charger, probably the ultimate American muscle car, here seen in all its glory. The sheer size of this thing makes you wonder if there is any place to park it but outside? It is nearly 2 metres wide and over 5.3 metres long, that is longer than a current Mercedes S-Klasse with long wheel base!

Continue reading…

The Aston Martin Lagonda, a car so cool it could, if there were more of them, single handedly reverse global warning. A car so cool it makes George Clooney look like a spring chicken. A car so cool it makes Heidi Klum seem invisible.

Continue reading…

Picture courtesy of AndersK

The car belongs to world famous freeskier Jon Olsson.

How I love people that dare to step outside normal boundaries but still manage to retain the style vital to their persona. A matte black Murcielago isn’t really what most people would consider appropriate but I’d say it’s a hell of a lot better than this crap. I have long been a proponent of matte paint jobs as they differ from the norm without retorting to flames and trucker motifs, like naked ladies or fairytale figures (he must really love Zorro).

Another aspect of matte paint is that you can’t get pigeonholed like you would in a Range Rover Sport that Project Khan style-raped (drug dealer) or the preposterous Porsche (idiot), although you need to be careful with just what you colour in matte, or else the whole system will turn faster than King Midas’ ugly cousin turned things into crap, instead of gold. A matte sports car (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg), fine but steer clear of tarting up a Rolls Royce, Maybach or Bentley as that’s the equivalent of hair plugs – tragic.

The fact that he has also mounted a ski box, matching the car’s colour goes to show that creativity takes you a long way. Let me hear the grandfather, a survivor of the Great Depression, say that skiing is an honest job. Didn’t think so. Sure, an RS6 could’ve probably gotten the job done as well, or better, than a Murcielago, but that’s beside the point, in that Jon Olsson’s trademark is doing what no one has done before, be it big air jumps or fitting ski boxes to Lambos. Yes, I said Lambos, plural. He had (or still has, not sure,) a Gallardo also fitted with a ski box, and the whole sha-bang was painted in snow camouflage.

The height of the Otto revolution [sic]!

The question is whether there will ever be built a family wagon as powerful as the Audi RS6? The latest leak from Porsche states that the Panamera Turbo will have about 500 hp and BMW’s M department lets us know that future M versions will be some kind of hybrid solutions. It is indeed probable that we’ll never again see a family car from a major manufacturer with an excess of 580 hp from a classic turbocharged Otto engine. The RS6 is a masterpiece and quite possibly the Grand Finale of an era with petrol driven muscle cars.

For a larger image, please click on it.

Continue reading…

This is forever going to be the ultimate Audi, no matter how many cylinders they cram into the R8, the Sport quattro is always going to be the car that put Audi on the map.

This special model in the quattro programme appeared in 1984, and still enjoys a legendary reputation: the Sport quattro with the wheelbase reduced to a mere 2,204 mm and a newly developed four-valve turbocharged engine with an aluminium cylinder block; this had a power output of 306 bhp. Although nominally a roadgoing car, extensive use of Kevlar and other weight-saving materials along with a steeper windscreen rake to reduce internal dashboard reflections confirmed that this special model was also a serious rally contender. 224 of this ‘short version’, as it was known, were built, and enabled Audi to homologate its rally entries in Group B. The purchase price, too, was high enough to ensure more than a modicum of exclusivity: 203,850 German marks. They cost as much today at about €130,000 for a well kept original.

Continue reading…