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RIDENDRIVE Seychelles Magazine
Mahe, Seychelles.
Email: [email protected]
Editorial
Editor in Chief Jean—Francois Robert Barallon
(editor, article writer, magazine designer, photographer)
Contributors
The general public, world wide web, Facebook, Google im-
ages and other doo-das.
Founder
Owner Jean—Francois Robert Barallon
Distribution
Distributed worldwide on Facebook
Join us online…
Disclaimer
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or be transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or
mechanical, included photocopying and/or recording, without prior
permission from RIDENDRIVE Seychelles. The opinions expressed in
RIDENDRIVE Seychelles are not considered those of the publishers, who
accept no liability of any nature arising out of or in connection with the
contents of this magazine. While every effort is made in compiling
RIDENDRIVE Seychelles, the publishers cannot be held responsible for
loss, damage or inconvenience that may arise therefrom RIDENDRIVE
Seychelles does not take any responsibility for any services rendered or
products offered by any of the advertisers contained in this publication.
E&OE on all advertisements, services and contents (text) in
RIDENDRIVE Seychelles.
Copyright 2013 ©RIDENDRIVE Seychelles, All rights reserved
It has been a long, difficult and without a doubt
complex journey. Eight months ago when I took this
challenge I thought, how hard could it be? Famous
last words, I know. Really hard is the answer. Did I
give up? At one point yes. I was so dis-hearted that
people here could not embrace the idea of an
automotive magazine. “We’re too small”, “Not
enough to write about”, “too difficult to do”, were
some of the reasons against my idea.
Such limited fore-sight, for we just recently held our
very first ‘proper’ modified car show. I give credit to
the SMC (Seychelles Modified Cars) club for organ-
ising a truly kickass event. Finally a legal outlet for
true modifying enthusiast. And if you attended the
event, I am sure you agree that we definitely showed
them our skills!
Even my pals in Mauritius stood up and took notice.
They have been doing this for a while now. We could
learn a bit from them. They now have an official
Drag racing and rally events for the locals. The
government even backs them. As long as they follow
the rules of course. I hope we follow eventually.
That is why I did not give up. I knew the task ahead
was difficult, foolhardy and strewn with problems. I
had to do one at least. And finally, it is here.
And the best part is I have put it up to download for
free!
Now it is up to you Seychellois to support this new
idea, participate, join, sponsor and advertise. When
you stand together, good things really do happen…
Thanks to my family for supporting me...
I hope it was worth the effort.
OLY CRAP!
What the hell was that? For a
second there, I thought Batman had
just sped passed me on his Bat-cycle!
Black on black, floating rear license
plate, massive rear wheel and cool
LED brake lights. Except it could not
be Batman as he is fictional.
Instead I followed it until it stopped at
a parking area in town. The ponytailed
rider got off leaving me admiring the
crotch rocket he just got off. The bold
capital letters that shone on its tank
was DUCATI. Of course! now it
makes sense. If one motorcycle manu-
facturer could make something like
this, it would be the Italian giant.
Known for the exciting two wheeled
racers, DUCATI (still in capital) is
held high on the list of great motorcy-
cle builds by many enthusiast across
the world. I couldn’t get any closer to
reveal its model, so I quickly took a
picture and went home. On the net I
searched for the notorious bike until I
eventually found it.
The Diavel. In this case it was the Di-
avel Dark. I read the specs. V-twin
engine, 1198cc, a whopping 162 hp!!
What. No wonder the rear wheel was
that huge. Any thinner and it would
have absolutely no traction at all. It
also has a 6 speed trans and weighs
over 400 pounds. It is heavy. That en-
sures the bike is steady at speed but
must be a nightmare if you ever (god
forbid) lose control. Still, it looks
damn good. I especially liked the Car-
bon version which has Marzocchi
forks, Marchesini wheels and Carbon
bodywork. Wonder if the Marzocchi’s
here know that their family lineage
makes DUCATI parts?
I here that this one belongs to Paolo
seybuggy on Facebook and it is for
sale. A warning though, it costs rough-
ly the price of a new car! You must
really love DUCATIs, if you buy it...
Text: Jean-Francois Robert Barallon
Photo: www.autoevolution.com
QUICK SPECS:
Engine: dohc V-twin
CC: 1198cc
Induction: EFI
Trans: 6 speed Final drive: Chain
Front brake: Dual discs
Rear brake: Disc
Wheelbase: 62.6 in.
Seat height: 30.3 in.
Fuel capacity: 4.5 gal.
Models: Diavel, Carbon,
Dark, Strada
NO, NOT THE HOLLYWOOD FILM…
Although the modern version would definitely have this truck
in it. The new FORD Ranger is an astounding vehicle. Not
only is it bigger than its older version it also boasts lots of new tech and a eco-friendly 2.2 turbo engine which has the same
output as the 2.5 turbo. This has reduced the Ranger’s price to
an even more affordable level. It helps that it looks amazing as well. The platform is shared
with the MAZDA BT50, but it is the Ranger that looks the
more serious one, at least compared to the BT50’s wide eyed
look of surprise!
It now joins the legendary F150 behemoth from the USA in
the size department. Not exactly as large as its American cousin, the new Ranger is still quite big, and higher too. First
time I had to climb into a Ranger! This gives it a lot of road
presence. Now when you see one in the rear view mirror you feel like it will mow you down if you accidently slow down
too quickly.
This brings me to the modifying part of this amazing truck. I have literally spent hours browsing the amount of add-ons,
accessories and upgrades for this truck. There are a lot! I’ve seen one recently in all black, with a custom black grill and
rims which looks mean as heck.
This would be an awesome tuning project to show-off at the next Modified car show. Now I want one…
Article: Jean—Francois Robert Barallon
Photo: www.google.com/images
SPECS:
ENG: 2.2 INLINE 4 TURBO
DIESEL
POWER: 150PS@3700RPM
TORQUE: 330NM@2500RPM
I t’s the first thing we change on our car or bike. It is simple and
cost effective. It sounds great when revved and you definitely feel the improved en-gine response. There’s a but. Do not worry, it is more of a warning than a bad thing. The thing is, changing to an after-market filter can be both good and in some cases a little detrimental to one’s engine. I said a “little”. So stop worrying. It really depends on your setup. Ask yourself a question. “What do I want to achieve?” Is it just a freely revving engine with that growling induction noise? Then by all means buy any open pod aftermarket air filter and install it. You must realise though, that some engines, lower than 1300cc can and will lose power. Many times I have seen little Kia Picantos going past with really nice induction noise and hardly moving despite the massive acceleration I hear...true story. Only after the racket does it really start gaining speed and probably in third gear… Anyway. Back to the main point. If you are tuning an engine and squeezing as much power from it, aftermarket air filters makes perfect sense. Why? Because NOW you really need that freely revving en-gine to get that speed up faster! So… what types are there?
Let’s start with the most popular one. The open pod filter, or conical filter as it is called sometimes. It resembles a pod or cone and is usually open to the air it is sucking in. This setup most times requires the use of an extension arm from the intake manifold to lo-cate the filter in a position better suited to its use. Luckily, these extensions are available for most makes and models or can be easily made as well. Newer engines only require the correct holes for sensors to guarantee it works perfectly. The other type you can get is the OEM replacement one that offers as much as the same performance without having to change anything in your engine bay. These are closed box filters. Er… called that as they are usually closed...in a…box. Right. You get the drift. These are simpler to install and can easily give the same effect. The downside will be the lack of an induc tion roar that the open pod filter gives. But you’ll be running a tuned engine setup with a loud exhausts probably, so you won’t even notice. Now, there is a third reason why we change this filter in the engine bay. Espe-cially to the open pod version. Looks of course! Many enthusiast will tell you that a good engine bay is a good looking engine bay as well. And this seems
to be catching on here. From what we saw at our island’s first ever modified car show, good looking engine bays are high on the list. And the air filter is one of the first mods you will no-tice. So, it all depends on what you want
to achieve. Yes the air filter might be one in many mods, but it can be very important or just a show-off item you wanted to add. And you can find them everywhere. I mean literally everywhere! Check the air filter on the Glanza barbe-cue below… not what I had in mind when I told the guy to replace his engine with something better…
Article: JEAN—FRANCOIS ROBERT BARALLON
THE DUBAI AUTODROME, is an experience I truly
recommend. I had the chance, not too long ago to achieve one of
my dreams, driving a race car on a race track. And to be
completely honest, IT WAS AWESOME!!
Dubai Autodrome is situated in Motorcity, where Sheikh
Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (formerly known as Emirates Road) meets Umm Suquiem Road at the Arabian Ranches
roundabout – 20 minutes from Dubai city centre, or 45 minutes
from Dubai International airport. Once there, you have a choice of the Dubai Autodrome, home to the country’s best races and
events or the Kartdrome next door for all out karting fun.
You have to book in advance for either the race track or Karting experiences as they have a tight schedule. Visit the website on
http://www.dubaiautodrome.com for all the information,
booking procedures and introduction to motorsport racing in
Dubai. The prices are very reasonable, as you can see above,
a 350 Bhp Subaru Impreza experience is about SCR2900
(AED875) and the 518Bhp Audi R8 experience at SCR4300 (AED1295) depending on the exchange rate of course.
If you meet all the above displayed requirements and after paying a insurance waiver fee (which incidentally can also be
paid together with the experience up front when you book it),
you will attend a driver briefing which the Head instructor will introduce you to the rules, the event, the instructors (its one on
one) and the most important aspect to the whole experience,
ENJOY and HAVE FUN. After all, it isn’t a serious race or
anything.
Following the briefing, the instructors will introduce you to
the car you’ll be driving, familiarising you with its specs and assisting in putting on your balaclava, helmet and then
strapping you into the seat’s four-point harnesses.
Once you are snug in place, it’s time to start the engine, and set
off for your laps. I won’t spoil the fun by telling you how that
was. You will just have to make that next trip to Dubai the one
where you attend and find out for yourself. I promise it will be
worth it.
After this experience you might appreciate daily driving in a
wholly different perspective. You’ll enjoy every corner, focus on the road more, know your stopping distances better and
realise that road surface does affect stability.
If you are only out for fun, next door you’ll find the Kartdrome. All out karting experience in a fun and fast paced track.
Motorcity is a growing place, full of interesting shops and
things to do which I am sure will make you want to come back for more.
Below are the contact details for both places, remember you have to book in advance!
Dubai Autodrome
• P.O.Box 57331 , Dubai, UAE
• Tel: +971 04 367 8700
• Fax: +971 04 367 8750
Kartdrome • +971 (0)4 367 8744
(If you rent a car and drive, google it to get directions)
Next issue I’ll disclose another track experience that will tantalise
your senses before and after you try it, that’s right, Abu Dhabi’s
Yas Marina’s circuit for, wait for it, DRIFTING! (Note: Above information and photos courtesy of
http://www.dubaiautodrome.com website.)
Article: Jean—Francois Robert Barallon
THE DUBAI AUTODROME, is an experience I truly
recommend. I had the chance, not too long ago to achieve one of
my dreams, driving a race car on a race track. And to be
completely honest, IT WAS AWESOME!!
Dubai Autodrome is situated in Motorcity, where Sheikh
Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (formerly known as Emirates Road) meets Umm Suquiem Road at the Arabian Ranches
roundabout – 20 minutes from Dubai city centre, or 45 minutes
from Dubai International airport. Once there, you have a choice of the Dubai Autodrome, home to the country’s best races and
events or the Kartdrome next door for all out karting fun.
You have to book in advance for either the race track or Karting experiences as they have a tight schedule. Visit the website on
http://www.dubaiautodrome.com for all the information,
booking procedures and introduction to motorsport racing in
Dubai. The prices are very reasonable, as you can see above,
a 350 Bhp Subaru Impreza experience is about SCR2900
(AED875) and the 518Bhp Audi R8 experience at SCR4300 (AED1295) depending on the exchange rate of course.
If you meet all the above displayed requirements and after paying a insurance waiver fee (which incidentally can also be
paid together with the experience up front when you book it),
you will attend a driver briefing which the Head instructor will introduce you to the rules, the event, the instructors (its one on
one) and the most important aspect to the whole experience,
ENJOY and HAVE FUN. After all, it isn’t a serious race or
anything.
Following the briefing, the instructors will introduce you to
the car you’ll be driving, familiarising you with its specs and assisting in putting on your balaclava, helmet and then
strapping you into the seat’s four-point harnesses.
Once you are snug in place, it’s time to start the engine, and set
off for your laps. I won’t spoil the fun by telling you how that
was. You will just have to make that next trip to Dubai the one
where you attend and find out for yourself. I promise it will be
worth it.
After this experience you might appreciate daily driving in a
wholly different perspective. You’ll enjoy every corner, focus on the road more, know your stopping distances better and
realise that road surface does affect stability.
If you are only out for fun, next door you’ll find the Kartdrome. All out karting experience in a fun and fast paced track.
Motorcity is a growing place, full of interesting shops and
things to do which I am sure will make you want to come back for more.
Below are the contact details for both places, remember you have to book in advance!
Dubai Autodrome
• P.O.Box 57331 , Dubai, UAE
• Tel: +971 04 367 8700
• Fax: +971 04 367 8750
Kartdrome • +971 (0)4 367 8744
(If you rent a car and drive, google it to get directions)
Next issue I’ll disclose another track experience that will tantalise
your senses before and after you try it, that’s right, Abu Dhabi’s
Yas Marina’s circuit for, wait for it, DRIFTING! (Note: Above information and photos courtesy of
http://www.dubaiautodrome.com website.)
Article: Jean—Francois Robert Barallon
CAR OR BIKE?
DECISIONS, DECISIONS…
ER...BOTH PLEASE!
E are easily distracted. I mean, why wouldn’t
we be? We’re always looking for some kind of
entertainment, or new thing to quite literally
distract us. Which is why we turn to things like
sport, movies, clubbing and of course tinkering
with cars and bikes.
Which brings us to our little escapade here. A last
minute phone call brought us to Eden Island’s infa-
mous underground parking lot. We were to meet
with two distinctive distractions. No not two russian
girls…
My good friend Hudson Matthieu in his ’90’s Sub-
aru Impreza STi and my cousin Jean-Philip Delpech
on his Regal Raptor cruiser motorcycle. We are here
to observe why these two distractions keep us happy
and...er...distracted.
It was a Saturday morning and I was enjoying the
coolness of the parking lot when in the distance I
heard the familiar rumbling of an Impreza.
The iconic Subaru started
life as the run of the mill
family saloon. Subaru
Technica international
(STi) saw that the chassis
had potential so started
work on a race version to
compete in the world rally
events. Subaru itself first
introduced it in a road
version called the WRX.
The WRX became a huge success
after its rallying counterpart, the STi
started achieving world success in
competitions. Soon a road version
STi was rolled out. Minus the rally
spec roll cage, and empty interior of
course. Anyways, it was a huge suc-
cess again. It hard more power and
better handling than the WRX. Soon
though, there were a plethora of
aftermarket tuning options availa-
ble, meaning no matter which car
you owned, it could be turned into a
mean growling machine for the
street, track or occasional rally
blast. The flat opposite twin engine
known as the boxer has one of the
largest list of tuning parts in exist-
ence! It rivals Toyota’s 1JZ and 2JZ
Supra engines for popularity and
use in tuning scenes.
The other ace in the deck is Sub-
aru’s own equally distributed four
wheel drive system thanks to the
engine’s unique layout. Apart from
expensive Porches that share the
same engine design, no other four
door saloon with space and manners
to carry a family and their belong-
ings offer the same type of special
attention that the Imprezas do. It is
the car that made Mitsubishi stand
up and say “Hey! We want some of
that!” and promptly introduced the
four wheel drive Evolution sports
saloon that has competed directly
for generations with the Impreza.
And the Impreza has improved over
each generation. Agreed it has had
some bizarre twists, like when it
became a hatchback for a while, but
I fancy that was merely a brief flir-
tation as now it is back in full sa-
loon sports mode as seen in another
part of this magazine.
It even competes with the
Mitsubishi Evolution X in the mean
looks department.
I am glad I got Hudson and his Im-
preza here. His model is the grand
daddy of the rest. The one that
taught the world what Subaru could
do, with a family car...and this one
is modified within the best of its
limits.
If anyone asks, why I chose this one over all the rests, I would have to admit, it was
one of the few that attracted me. If I were to chose between the new one and the old
I would take the old one any day. Why? It’s everything old school is about. It started
it all. It is the best distraction invented, albeit with the most adrenaline inducing pow-
ers. I drove a 350bhp 2005 STi in Dubai, kicking over 150kmph in a 60 degree cor-
ner at one point, with the instructor screaming “accelerate, accelerate!” and I was
thinking, “accelerate? You mean there’s MORE?!” You can’t do that in just any car
mate, you just can’t…
Following the Impreza is the motor-
cycle. The way the sun shines off the
motorcycle’s chromed parts, the
drumming of the exhaust note, the
classic easy rider style of its body-
work, harking back to what made
them so hugely popular in the 50’s
straight through to the present day
still makes me all gooey inside.
Of course that is only one type of
motorcycle. We have your basic A to
B daily commuters, like Scooters and
small displacement motorcycles, to
weekend racer like the various
650cc+ crotch rockets and their heavy
duty easy rider cruiser opposites.
They all have one thing in common
and that’s the riding pleasure. Ask
any biker why and their choice of
words usually will be, “Freedom, af-
fordability and economy.”
Oh and it’s a ton of fun too…
I have fond memories on my big
cruiser, going around the island on a
beautiful day, stopping at key loca-
tions to relax and soak up the atmos-
phere, there’s really nothing like it.
Hell, biking has been around for so
long it probably makes the car history
look rather short.
I rode this bike a while back when
it was on sale by the owner of
BRAVO restaurant here on Eden
Island, so it is only normal for it to
be back here, in its original location
for its debut in this magazine. I realise that although I chose an easy
rider for this article, it didn’t really
matter. It could have been some guy on a scooter for all I care. What I felt
was for any two wheeled machine and
the choice it represents. For many
youngsters today, it is their first real vehicle before owning a car. Its sim-
plicity to maintain, its fuel economy an
advantage and it takes barely any more parking/kerb space than your average
bicycle, it is cheap motoring at its fin-
est!
Even now, I am in my 30’s I am still
wondering what my next bike will be.
Maybe this time a sport, or a monster road bike? Who knows, when I find it
I will know. I am typically an easy
rider type of person, but I can adapt.
JACKET?? Yeeeeees.
The day finally comes to an end
with both driver and rider needing
to carry on with their journey for
the day. I relinquish my grasp on
them, savouring the bikes looks as
it leaves and the Impeza’s rumble
as it too exits Eden Island’s vehi-
cle playground (to me at least).
I feel the need to ride or drive
something. Maybe that is how I
originally got the title for this
mag. A need that I wanted satis-
fied so badly I had to share it with
everyone…
I enjoy and am an enthusiast for
both bikes and cars, there are no
rules except the ones you make for
yourself. It is all good fun, so re-
member to enjoy yourself.
After all, that is the point of riding
and driving, it supposed to be fun,
right?
Article: Jean—Francois Robert Barallon
Poser? Model? No, Biker...
DIRT
BIKES
SCOOTERS
SPORT
BIKES
DAILY
COMMUTERS
CRUISERS
S unday 11th May 2014 finally saw our first Modified Car show, hosted by the SMC (Seychelles Modified Cars) club. And what an amazing turnout! The place was
absolutely packed! There were all types of cars on display from Honda’s civics, Toyota Starlets and Glanzas to seri-ous machines like Mitsubishi Evos, Subaru Imprezas, Toyota Mr2s and Honda Preludes. Special attractions like the Nissan 370z, a Peugeot GTi, the time attack Lancer, a Vauxhall Corsa VXR and a Crysler 300c were some of the limelights. The sounds stage was excellent as was the gen-eral atmosphere. People of all ages attended, pictures were being taken es-pecially with the three classic cars on display at one corner. There was music, laughter and everyone seemed to have a good time. Heck even the media was there having a ball! The event stretched into the night where towards the end it gave way to some wicked donut competitions. SMC point-ed out that by that time the show was officially over so they had no control over the donut display. After all, they would-n’t want to ruin all their hard work, would they? ARTICLE: JEAN-FRANCOIS ROBERT BARALLON
Nobody touches my
stuff…
SMC models were out in full force...
A wide range of vehicles showed up...
Bikers making their presence felt
Beautiful engine bays...
Bikers making their presence felt
Local 370z, speechless I am..
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
SMC Crew, the KIA, HYUNDAI, NISSAN
and HONDA dealerships, the sponsors and
participants, local authorities for the venue
and permissive event, the media for coverage
and the general public, fans and enthusiasts
that made this event a huge success!
THANK YOU!
RND STAFF.
The classics never die...
R U Feeling gangsta??
RnD Mechanic and assistant horsing around as usual...
RnD Editor and assistant in full nuts mode...
ot family saloons used to be rare, but now you have your pick of the bunch. Bmw’s, Mercs, Audis, Nissans, Mitsubishis and of course Subarus. There are other makes too but the latter stands out in todays competition for
hottest four door saloon. And nothing says hot saloon like a mental turbo charged beast pushing through the best
all wheel drive system available.
The new Impreza is a statement to Subarus unwaivered approach to building cars. The boxer engine remains alt-hough polished with better performance, the symmetrical all wheel drive is more refined and now incorporates dif-
ferent settings to adjust traction on different surfaces with a mode select switch in the cabin. And the cabin is miles
ahead of the model it replaces. And in the metal, it has never looked so good. Forget the Mitsubishi Evo, the Impreza is the new mean kid on the block. Street fighter front end, bulging bad boy arches, massive rear wing all create an
attack stance usually found on most fighter jets. See this angry thing in your rear view mirror, wooshing, banging
and popping on the over-run will cause you to sway manically out of its way. It really looks like it will literally take a chunk out of the rear of your car. And did I mention it is an affordable four door family saloon? With a boot, seat
belts and good mileage, what’s not to like, or want? Go for it.
Article: JEAN-FRANCOIS ROBERT BARALLON
THE REMOTE
CONTROLLED VERSION OF
TUNING AND RACING…
IS JUST AS ADDICTIVE!
f you have never tried an R/C car or truck you don’t know what you are missing. These mini versions of their larger counterparts are a
lot of fun to use. Highly detailed bodies of your favourite vehicles can
be purchased and installed over RTR (ready to race) chassis. Engines,
suspensions, wheel and tyres can be changed or upgraded. It can be changed from rear to all wheel drive. Damaged components can be re-
placed. Then there’s the racing. Track, drifting, off-road rallying and
drag racing can all be done competition style. Teams and competitions can be organised with real prizes. What’s not to like?
Get started in R/C racing now!
As an addition to our Glanza special at the end of this issue, we have included here some of
the best tuning parts available from ID-Workz in the UK. Check all their performance parts
out on
www.id-workz.co.uk
Cool your intake charge with Blitz intercooler set
up for your 4efte. All necessary connections, elbows
and fittings are included for easy installs.
Allow better airflow from your engine bay
with this hood from Cruise. Combine it
with their front bumper and fenders for
maximum airflow and looks...
Upgrade your engine rebuild with these ARP head studs from ID-
Workz. ARP’s head studs will withstand whatever you throw at it
and allow your 4efte engine to throw power without any worries...
Lighten your flywheel action with this Competition
lightweight flywheel for your 4efte. Feel the new in-
creased revs of your engine.
Unique style helmets for those riders who like to be
noticed when they ride. Available on ebay.
Also on ebay are these special rider hardpacks.
With hard padded sections to provide that extra
safety if falling off your bike on your back. Plenty
of room for those necessary items too.
Pioneer’s AVH-P4100DVD in dash entertain-
ment unit covers all the bases. Music, video,
radio, pictures, internet and GPS navigation
are all fully integrated into this beautiful look-
ing screen
A range of tuning parts to change your Peugeot 206 into a uniquely modified
machine. Visit http://peugeot-tuning-parts.co.uk
“I’ll just do a quick burnout and leave the photo dude…” “er...sorry mr photo dude can you like move a little??…”
beast by any other explanation is something that scares you. And the truck you see here scared the hell out of me! I’m getting ahead of myself.
Let’s start at the beginning. I’m sitting in my car waiting for him
to arrive. One or two other guys waiting for him are also hanging
around. An Impreza, a starlet and a large Isuzu truck. Suddenly there’s the sound of thun-
der behind me, a million thundering hooves galloping towards us. I lean out the window to see the source of the racket. And jumped right back as a black object speeds inches past my face. Whoa! It screeches to a halt a few metres ahead and the owner steps out. Audrey Monthy, otherwise known locally as Paspartou (roughly translated; “go everywhere”…) named after an incident involving a car and a gate… He is beaming as usual. Nothing un-sual for someone who runs a success-ful breakdown service, a car hire, a garage and owns an Evo, an Mr2 and this truck, the Holden Maloo Ute. An insanely powerful utility truck from down under. Australia’s own motor monster. A thing of beauty when you see it in the metal. In black with large 20” black rims with polished lips. I am really jealous. Lucky though to be able to be this close, to take a ride and wit-ness automotive perfection in action.
He tells me it is up for sale. I feel a tang when I realise I could never pull over 600k to pay for it.
“er...sorry mr photo dude can you like move a little??…” “OH CRAP!!”
PHOTOGRAPHERS
SLIPPER BEING
RUN OVER...
GRRRRRR...
Obviously I had to pop the hood on this monster. The V8 cover emblazoned with the code that made Chevy Cor-vettes and Camaro’s the Amer-ican classics they are today, the LS. As if not already power-ful enough, it was breathed on by WALKINSHAW perfor-mance, whom saw fit to boost it with over 500whp on tap! To prove how mental that is, Audrey launches into a mental burnout. I coax him into a small spin, which almost backfired when I almost get run over by the wildly spinning truck. Never mind, the pictures are
worth being run over. I collect my slipper, right where I had been standing before the Ma-loo attacked me. Told you it was a Beast. And shit did it scare me! I thought for good I was going home in an ambu-lance. But having perfected last minute escape moves from es-caping beatings as a child, I narrowly missed handicap by millimetres. After the escapade, I grab a quick shot of it coming back with the mountains in the back-ground, the local buildings sur-rounding the truck. It is beautiful to watch. The Ma-
loo Ute is at home in its new tropical habitat. This was the best job in the world. Some people are right now either at home watching telly, or entertaining family, and I’m here doing what I love. I couldn’t own it, or afford to run it, but I could definitely afford to enjoy its insanity, the growling V8, the lack of traction and the beauty of its Dark sculpted bodywork. A beast was unleashed. The beast scared me and almost killed me. But in the end, this beast left me in awe and want. Some people are just so lucky. By the time you read this, some other lucky person will have bought it. Good for him! Text and photos: Jean-Francois Robert Barallon
The BEAST eyes up its prey...
I spy American
muscle tuned by no
other than
WALKINSHAW
performance… just
don’t ask about the
fuel bills.
He term ‘Bakkie’
was coined in South
Africa. It is in its sim-
plest form in Afrikaans;
a bowl (‘bak’). In Aus-
tralia they are known as
UTE’s (Utility).
Made popular in the past
by Ford, Datsun (Nissan)
and Toyota, these little
pick-ups were all the
storm. People loved their
simplicity, their robust
yet small and economic
engines, and their ability
to carry a multitude of
things. Then canopies
were designed and the
bakkies shape changed
into a versatile and use-
ful carry-all vehicle, now
also protected from the
weather.
This brings us to our test
-bed. The Nissan NP200.
Available through the
local dealership Sun
Motors located in provi-
dence on Mahe, this little
bakkie has won many
fans within the local
businesses. You could
stand by the road right
now and easily spot
more than twenty of
these little nippers run-
ning here and there for
different companies or
individuals.
The NP200 is a Nissan/Renault joint
venture. By using the Dacia Logan
front end and mating it to a bakkie rear
end they created this little workhorse.
Slap on a couple of NISSAN badges
and voila.
Stepping inside reveals a cabin with
hard plastics and everything seems to
be in the right place. The instrument
cluster is simple and informative and
has a warm orange glow with the back-
lights on. The steering wheel is meaty
and has a nice feel to it. Moving to the
centre console which houses an after-
market head-unit for music (a Pioneer
on ours) and the climate controls
which all feel quite solidly put togeth-
er. Below and in front of the neat little
gearstick you have two drink holders
fashioned into the gear surround. The
gear itself is a standard affair if a little
loose. The passenger side hosts a long
storage bin above the acceptable glove
compartment.
Hints of sporty inheritance resides in
the circular air vents reminiscent of the
350z and 370z. Sadly for a 270,000/-
plus vehicle, the lack of electric door
mirrors or windows is questionable.
These are optional as is the rear sliding
window and extra body armour. Espe-
cially when many cheaper vehicles
have some of these items as standard.
Must be the badge.
Unlike the Fiat Strada which it una-
shamedly competes with, it does not
have the nifty rear bench behind the
driver and passenger seats, which is
a no-no. If Fiat could do it, you
could too Nissan. The reason is ap-
parent when surveying the large and
deep rear load bay which does win
it points. The bay comes rubberised
as standard and has fix points on the
bay floor. Handy for tying down
loose cargo. The rear bay door is
typically Nissan heavy and resem-
bles the larger Navara truck’s door.
As this is partly a Renault, there is
only one reversing light on the pas-
senger side. Luckily they all come
with heavy duty tyres to withstand
that 800kg load rating. Back in front
is a Renault sourced 1.6 litre engine
in either 8 or 12 valve options. The
gearbox is strong and allows it to
pull cleanly in third.
Dashboard is simple and informative
There you have it then. The NP200 is
a proper tool. A workhorse for the
masses. A capable load lugger.
Apart from a few issues, a loose ac-
celerator pedal and some dash panel
gaps the NP200 is a sturdy little bak-
kie. I know it has Renault written all
over it, but don’t forget that they gave
us the awesome Clio V6, the versatile
Kangoo van and recently the cheapest
crossover, the Duster. Well at least in
its Dacia form.
Never mind, the NP200 is still a
cracking little performer. Maybe the
next instalment will be even better.
Solid tonneau cover op-
tion now available from
many after market mak-
ers.
Deep load bay gives it a
high volume capacity.
Soft top cover.
Canopy installed gives it
increased security and
protection from weather,
also increases capacity
volume.
Words: Jean-Francois Robert Barallon
Photos: www.google.com
MODEL: NISSAN NP200
ENG: 1600cc/4 CYL/ 8 VALVE
GEAR: 5 SPEED FRONT DRIVE
POWER: 86HP/5500RPM
TORQUE: 123Nm/3000RPM
MAX PAYLOAD: 800KG
MAX TOW LOAD: 650KG
LOAD BAY:
1808mm LENGTH
1374mm WIDTH
535mm HEIGHT
RUBBERISED
SUSPENSION: McPherson STRUT WITH WISHBONE
(FRONT)
H-SHAPED AXLE WITHCOIL SPRING
AND ANTI ROLL BAR (REAR)
BRAKES: VENTILATED DISCS (FRONT)
DRUM (REAR)
SAFETY: PASSENGER AIRBAG
ABS AND EBD ANTI-THEFT ELECTRONIC SYSTEM
NISSAN DATADOT (ANTI-THEFT)
WHEELS: 15” STEEL WITH NISSAN HUBCAPS
TYRE SIZE: 185/65 x R15
www.nissan.co.za
Have the need for speed? How about a bit of Rivalry? How
about online? No problem. Then you need EA’s new flashy
racing series NEED FOR SPEED RIVALRY. This upcoming
title brings back ‘Most Wanted’s’ cop vs racer (with both play-
able), expect plenty of luxurious metal including the return of
Ferrari and vehicle customisation. Set in gorgeous scenery this
looks to be a real blast. XBOX360/XBOXOne/PS3/PS4/PC
Juice up your phone or tablet with Merlin’s
new Power Bank. This portable battery charger
stores enough power to fully charge two units
at once or one unit up to 3 times! Comes with a
variety of connection bits.
Meet the new Dragon from MSI. This
powertop (powerful laptop) looks as good
as it sounds. And it has the specs to match
it; the latest Haswell 2.4Ghz cpu, 4Gb of
super fast ram, Geforce GTX 870M graphics, for the latest games, solid state
and raid hard drives and much more. Update
your life with the Dragon!
www.msi.com
The world’s best and fun driving simulator is making its
sixth outing soon. Exclusively released for the new PS4
console it features more cars, tracks, graphics and
challenges. Expect the usual amazing experience, then
multiply it by 4.
A curved screen!? Only at
Samsung folks can you get a
phone with a curved screen.
Enter the Galaxy Round. A
huge 5.7” curved screen run-ning Android 4.3. Expect all
the power of the Galaxy S4
within its curvy shell.
Apple isn’t slowing down.
Hot on the heels of the new
Ipad 2 is the Ipad Air. Run-
ning IOS7 on its silky
smooth display and backed by Apple’s A7 cpu power.
This unit was designed for
connectivity on the go.
Expect lots of fuss after its
initial release.
THE BEST GADGETS AND ITEMS THAT KEEPS US SANE...!!
AND THE BATTLE RAGES ON!!
The all new PS4 and Xbox One are head
to head again with their releases causing
quite a stir. Although slightly boxy
looking, the new consoles represent the latest in hardware, graphics and entertain-
ment available this side of the universe.
Expect tons of A+ titles and heated com-
petition for the top spot.
Or if you have more money then sense,
buy both and enjoy everything.
WHAT KEPT US ENTERTAINED DURING THOSE REALLY BORING DAYS...
With their huge big screen success, it’s no
wonder that it’s a big hit in the music
industry as well. With top artists like T.I.,
Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, deadmau5 and
others compiling some of the very best tunes to accompany the stunning cars and action in
the Hollywood blockbuster.
A definite must buy for any fan. Do it for
Paul.
In keeping with its franchises, EA spurred a Hollywood blockbuster full of expensive fast
cars, cop chases, accidents and stunts. It is
reminiscent of the game ‘Need for Speed:
The Run’ with the storyline. A revenge plot for...well you’ll have to watch it if you haven’t
already, sorry no spoilers here. But be ready to
embrace the full on Need for Speed action, which funnily after watching made me want to
play the games… that could just be me
though. Directed by Scott Waugh.
Casts include Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Scot
Mescudi, Imogen Poots, Ramon Rodriguez and Mi-
chael Keaton.
www.3dtuning.com has a unique approach to online modifying. Choose a make, a model and
modify its appearance without ever owning the car! The tuning engine is fantastic and features
accurate models of all vehicles. The parts are all real parts that are available for those vehicles.
Lose some hours creating that perfect tuning project you always wanted...
Let’s not beat around the prickled horn bush here… Top Gear,
whether it’s the uk or American
series is officially the most
watched and best car show, on the planet. Period.
So what makes it such a huge hit? The cars? No doubt. The hosts?
Of course. The challenges? Abso
-bloody-lutely. Not a moment passes by that we don’t think of
what the next great adventure
they will face.
Will the UK boys be able to out-do their Hovervan? Will the
USA boys come up with another
way of decimating old cars? Whatever it is, we, the viewers,
fans, stalkers (they exist!!) will
be waiting and watching in abat-ed breath for what comes next.
Stig in his new favourite toy
The Stig make’s all of this worthwhile then, as he makes mincemeat out of tracks with the latest in automotive porn. It helps that he is silent, easy to pack and carry around and
downloads information from the web through his helmet, which, some say was a gift,
from an advance race of Pigmies. And that if you took it off (again) this time he will self
destruct into a shower of car shaped paper clips.
Catch Top Gear on BBC Entertainment and BBC
Knowledge on DSTV, courtesy of INTELVISION Seychelles.
Photos: www.topgear.com
IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY
HEARD, THESE GUYS ON THE
RIGHT, ARE A PRETTY BIG DEAL
RIGHT NOW.
Assuming you guys have an Intelvision connection for TV (what are you waiting
for?), you might just have stumbled
across this fantastic programme on the HISTORY channel called COUNTING
CARS.
Hosted by Count’s Kustoms, this series concentrates on either a client bringing
in a car, bike or truck or the team scout-
ing the area for one or sometimes, on one of their ambitious projects (Like the
SOAP BOX CAR).
WHO THE HECK ARE THEY????
Danny "The Count" Koker – Koker is the proprietor of "Count's
Kustoms", a shop devoted to the repair
and restoration of motor vehicles, auto-mobiles and motor-cycles in particular.
Danny, who grew up in Cleve-
land and Detroit, is a self-taught me-
chanic who comes from a family of Ford Motor Company employees.
Kevin – Danny's right-hand man and best friend for the past 20 years by the
series premiere. He and Danny enjoy
cruising around Vegas to look for vehicles to buy, and Danny tends to use
Kevin as "collateral" when he takes a
stranger’s car for a test drive. Horny Mike - An airbrush artist whose
nickname is derived from his practice of
putting 3-D horns on everything from vehicles to helmets to clothing.
Roli - Roli is the shop's detailer, responsible for cleaning and polishing of
all the vehicles that Count's Kustoms
works on. His thick Hungarian accent is
often the source of amusement at the shop.
Big Ryan - At 6 feet 7 inches and 350 pounds, Ryan is Danny's project scout,
parts expert and picker with over 15
years of experience.
Scott - Scott is the manager of Count's Kustoms, and Danny's bookkeeper, who
maintains an accounting of the money on
each project to make sure that they are profitable.
Shannon - Bike shop manager and lead
builder whom Danny lauds for his
fabrication and engineering skills,
referring to him as "My A-Number One in the bike shop".
Ryan - (not to be confused with Big
Ryan) works with Shannon in the bike
shop.
Grandpa -
Employee who does body work at the
shop. Though his nickname is derived from the fact that he is older than any of
the other staff, he says he can do twice
the work they do.
George - One of the mechanics who has worked at the shop for
years.
If the series isn’t enough, jump
online to their shop’s official website
http://
www.countskustoms.com/ and enjoy the world of custom
cars, bikes and other types of
transport. It is the biggest show since American
Chopper with the Teutels, and is only
rivalled by its counterpart the Pawn
Shop (who from time to time bring a
purchased deal to the garage to be
restored and sold later at a profit).
Catch Counting Cars on the History
channel on DSTV by Intelvision.
Call Intelvision for more details on
DSTV, internet and telephone packages
and prices. Tel:
Ur no.1 babe is Michelle Rodriguez!
Why? Because she’s in the Fast and the furious
films as hot and hard ass chick Letty Ortiz. She
blends super sexy chick with tomboy racer chick,
making the perfect girl for the majority of guys. Who
wouldn’t want a petrol head, mechanic savvy, brawler
bad-ass woman who looks
so damn good at the same
time? Ok, ok, put your
hands down guys.
Born Mayte Michelle Rodri-
guez, in Texas, USA from
her very first film she au-
ditioned for, Girlfight, Michelle was type casted
as a tomboyish, rough and
ready character. And she
has not wavered from that
since. Every movie she’s been in casts her as a hard as
nails tough cookie, whether shooting zombies in Resi-dent Evil, driving fast cars in the Fast and Furious,
or escaping alien threat in Battle: Los Angeles. Now we know she has many talents, but did you know
that she has been a DJ for major events since 2009?
She is a big fan of house music and DJ’s regularly.
But that is nothing compared to the legal issues she’s
had. Michelle has been in and out of prison (short
stay only) many times, mostly for drinking and driving,
speeding and once a fisticuff. I guess she’s just as a
handful in real life as she is in films. Speaking of
films, she’s returning for the
new release of Machete Kills, by
director Robert Rodriguez. Set
after the events of the first
Machete, the new title is set to
feature even more over the top
action, dialogue and jokes. She
stars alongside main actor Danny
Trejo, Jessica Alba and Tom
Savini. New to the film are Char-
lie Sheen, Mel Gibson, Cuba
Gooding Jr., Lady Gaga and An-
tonio Banderas. For now, while you wait for its re-
lease, enjoy these pics of Michelle in various guises.
Source: Wikipedia and IMBD Photos: www.google.com/images
Born: 12th July 1978, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent
Facts: -She beat out 350 other girls for the role of
Diana Guzman in Girlfight (2000) -Didn't have a driver's license before filming
The Fast and the Furious (2001) and had to
obtain one during her training for the car chase
sequences.
-Plays the piano.
-Is often seen singing karaoke alongside
Lindsay Lohan, Bo Barrett, Emile Hirsch,
and Nicole Richie at Beverly Hills hotspot
"Guys" .
-Has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
-Is a vegetarian...
lanza’s are probably Seychelles most recog-
nised car. A two door variant of the very popu-
lar EP91 Toyota Starlet, the Glanza was market-
ed as a small sports hatchback. Available with a
1300cc engine in either turbo charged or naturally
aspirated forms, this little car changed the way we
saw tuning here. Suddenly, there was a platform
that so many could afford, with many parts swap-
pable between models and a large list of tuning
parts to upgrade it into the ultimate street ma-
chine. Here, the original two door variant is rare.
So many buy the normal four door Starlet and up-
grade it with all the Glanza’s body parts and en-
gine. And there are a lot of them. One particular
meet saw at least eight of them lined up together.
The Glanza is also raced professionally overseas.
In Mauritius they hold special point to point rally
stages in the hills, with the Glanza usually a win-
ner. There is one in eastern Europe with a Supra
2JZ engine in it, imagine sitting in that at speed!
In the UK they are regarded as boy racers. Fast
and powerful little cars that can shame
bigger sport cars on the black dyno (the
tarmac for those who didn’t know…).
Starlet History
Produced from 1973 to
1999.
Started life as a small
Corolla.
The KP60 was the last
rear wheel drive Starlet.
The EP85 and EP95
were the only 4WD star-
lets.
Has seen engines tuned
to over 400bhp!
THE TOYOTA 4EFTE If one engine has seen more action, transplants,
modifications and success here, it would be the fa-
mous Toyota 4efte. This electronic fuel injected
turbo charged 1.3l engine is the main weapon of
choice amongst starlet fans. Sure you could drop in
fancier engines, like the 1.5 supercharged 4agze, or
going as far as a 3sgte if you are brave enough. But
for most, trying to achieve the maximum potential
of the original 4efte stock motor that came with the
starlet GT and Glanza was the true quest. There are
numerous tuning parts available and proven pro-
jects throwing almost 400whp around the world.
That’s testimony to Toyota’s engineering. I still
love ‘em.
BUYING A NEW CAR IS EASY. WALK INTO THE SHOWROOM, CHOOSE ONE YOU LIKE. DONE.
BUYING SECOND HAND? NOW THAT’S A DIFFERENT BALL GAME.
LET’S START WITH AN EASY ONE. THE TOYOTA STARLET.
What you need to know:
Make: TOYOTA
Model: STARLET
Body: HATCHBACK
Type: 3/5 DOOR
Engine: 1300cc 4EFE (N/A) @84-88HP
(year depending)
1300cc 4EFTE (TURBO) @133HP
Layout: FRONT WHEEL DRIVE
Year: 1989—1999
PRICE RANGE
SCR40,000—SCR120,000
THIS CAR IS OVER 16 YEARS OLD
FROM THE LAST RECENT PRO-
DUCTION AND THEREFORE
SHOULD BE A CHEAP PURCHASE
UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.
BUYING A NEW CAR IS EASY. WALK INTO THE SHOWROOM, CHOOSE ONE YOU LIKE. DONE.
BUYING SECOND HAND? NOW THAT’S A DIFFERENT BALL GAME.
LET’S START WITH AN EASY ONE. THE TOYOTA STARLET.
CHECK THE FRONT END FOR SIGNS OF PAINT OR BODY DAMAGE BY CHIPPING FROM GRAVEL THROWN BY VEHICLES IN FRONT. CHECK THE HOOD LATCH WORKS PROPERLY,
THE LIGHTS AND INDICATORS ALL ILLUMINATE. MANY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN UP-GRADED TO A NEWER VERSION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE MODELS SO MAKE SURE ALL PARTS
HAVE BEEN FITTED CORRECTLY.
THE BASIC ENGINE SUPPLIED IS A 4EFE 1300CC UNIT FROM TOYOTA. MAIN THINGS TO
LOOK OUT FOR ARE OIL LEAKS AROUND THE CYLINDER HEAD, THE OIL SUMP BELOW AND AROUND THE OIL FILTER. ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO LEAKS FROM THE RADIA-
TOR AND ITS HOSES. THE ENGINE SHOULD START EASILY AND RUN SMOOTH. ANY KNOCKS OR PINGING SOUNDS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
CHECK ALL FOUR WHEELS FOR KERB DAMAGE AND TYRES FOR TREAD CONDITION. NEV-
ER RUN TYRES THAT HAVE LITTLE OR NO TREAD LEFT. CHECK IF ANY AIR VALVES ARE
LEAKING AND IF THERE ARE ANY PUNCTURES.
CHECK ALL FOUR DOORS FOR RUST AND DAMAGE. LOCKS SHOULD BE TESTED IF FULLY OPERATIONAL. IF DOOR MIRRORS ARE ELECTRIC CHECK THAT THEY STILL WORK. ELEC-
TRIC WINDOWS SHOULD OPEN AND CLOSE FULLY AT A CONSTANT SPEED. INSPECT DOOR RUBBER SEAL FOR DAMAGE OR WEAR. WATER IS A RUST FACTOR.
RUST ISSUES ARE VERY POSSIBLE ON THESE OLD CARS, UNDERCARRIAGE AND SKIRTING
SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR RUST DAMAGE. LIFT POINTS SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR DAM-AGE.
EXHAUST SHOULD NOT FUME BLACK OR BLUE SMOKE WHICH IS AN INDICATION OF EN-GINE TROUBLE. CHECK FOR RUST AND HOLES IN THE EXHAUST BOX AND PIPING.
REAR BOOT DOOR SHOULD OPEN AND CLOSE PROPERLY. CHECK GAS STRUTS FOR WEAR
AND RUBBER WATER STRIP FOR DAMAGE.
INSPECT REAR WINDSHIELD FOR CRACKS AND IF A WIPER IS INSTALLED SEE IF IT WORKS
CORRECTLY.
CHECK AROUND ALL THE ARCHES FOR RUST AND DAMAGE. WATER SPLASHED UP FROM THE ROAD ENTERS MOST CARS FROM THERE. INSPECT THE SHOCK ASSEMBLIES FOR
LEAKAGE OR DAMAGE. WHEEL GAPS SHOULD BE EVEN ON OPPOSITE SIDES. ALSO INSPECT THE FUEL FILLER CAP FOR RUST OR FUEL FUME LEAKS.
THE INTERIOR WILL TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT THE PERSON WHO OWNED THE CAR. MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAN, AND THAT MOSTLY IS FREE OF TORN OR DAMAGED FABRICS. DASH-
BOARD SHOULD HOUSE ALL WORKING INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS FOR CLIMATE AND AUXILLARY ITEMS IF AVAILABLE. STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED HORN SHOULD BE OPERA-
TIONAL.
INSPECT THE FRONT WINDSCREEN FOR CRACKS, MAKE SURE THE WIPERS INSTALLED
ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND WORK PROPERLY. ALSO CHECK THAT THE VEHICLE HAD INSURANCE AND ITS ROAD LICENSE.
THE ABOVE ARE POINTS THAT PEOPLE CAN USE TO BARGAIN ON THE SELLERS ASKING
PRICE. NEVER ACCEPT A CAR YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH. ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN. FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF THE CAR. IT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOW
OR HIGH REPAIR BILLS!
PRICE RANGE
SCR40,000—SCR120,000
THIS CAR IS OVER 16 YEARS OLD
FROM THE LAST RECENT PRO-
DUCTION AND THEREFORE
SHOULD BE A CHEAP PURCHASE
UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.
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