Beating the Tamburo!
The opportunity to take more than one friend or member of the family in a Lamborghini has not been possible since the demise of the fabled LM in 1993. Until now that is, with the launch of the new Lamborghini Urus. Whilst the LM was more of a truck (the ‘Rambo-Lambo’ conspicuous by lack of even a mention at the launch at Barangaroo in Sydney), the new Urus is a luxury super suv. At its Oceania premiere I was able to sample the new Lamborghini experience, which combines the DNA and qualities of the current Lamborghini offering. Take the very best bits of the Huracán and the Aventador super sports cars, such as four-wheel steering and carbon ceramic brakes, throw in air suspension and lots of other high-tech stuff including torque vectoring, and Lamborghini has created an SUV capable of 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 305 km/h. Despite its increased centre of gravity and the fact that it is much higher and heavier than the other models from Sant’Agata Bolognese, the Urus is capable of stopping from 100 km/h to a stand-still in just 33.7 metres
This is a sports car on steroids that is capable of running on sand, snow, gravel, race-track or tarmac, with breathtaking performance and amazing all round capability. This is in no small part due to its exciting new V8 4.0 litre twin-turbo engine, the first occasion that Lamborghini has utilised turbo power. All controlled from the Tamburo, or Drum at the centre of the ultra-modern interior which comfortably seats four. And the name, well, as has been the tradition at Lamborghini, the name Urus is derived from the world of bulls. The Urus, also known as Aurochs, is a wild ancestor of domestic cattle. The Spanish fighting bull, as bred for the past half-millennia, is still close to the Urus in its appearance.
La Dolce Vita in Riviera
The first weekend of the Italian summer season was spent on the Italian Riviera photographing classic Riva speedboats. It was a fantastic trip, and thank you to the organisers and the Hotel Lido Palace for making my stay such a pleasant one. Keeping up with speedboats and having a platform to photograph from is no mean feat so my thanks must also go to my ‘chauffeur’, Rodolfo Gozzi. Rodolfo has the patience of a saint and ferried me around in the fantastic Invictus (www.nauticabertelli.it) – I could not have had a better...
read moreLiving the Dream
It is that time of year again – early summer in Italy. The Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza is taking place on the 22nd -24th May and I am lucky enough to be in attendance once more. Having covered this fantastic event for the last couple of years I am really looking forward to spending another fabulous weekend on Lake Como. The following weekend I will then be attending a Riva boat rally in Santa Margherita Ligure. So, if you see someone walking around with a permanent grin on his face, then you know that is me. For those...
read moreHighest Bidder
As a specialist consultant to Theodore Bruce, Australia’s oldest auction house, May 10th saw me involved in an exciting auction of popular culture and motoring memorabilia. With that sale successfully completed it is now time to turn my attention to the next big task in hand – the 2015 Motorclassica Auction. We have been appointed to run this prestigious sale at the heritage Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne for the next three years after our successes of the last two years. I am now actively seeking the consignment of...
read moreNew Section
If you have not already spotted it there is a new section for this website entitled Image Gallery. Please check out some of the images that I have taken over the last few months by clicking on the tab above. It is amazing what a modern camera can do when set to automatic! This shot is one of my recent favourites and has appeared in several magazines including the latest issue of the new magazine Volante, A Journal For The Gentleman Driver, published in the Middle East.
read moreBEING A SPECTATOR
Being interested in cars and TV it was impossible not for me to contribute this piece to The Spectator Australia recently. (click to zoom in)
read moreAggressor
One of Australia’s most important racing motor boats of all time was on the water for a rare outing recently and I was lucky enough to be there. ‘Aggressor’ the fabulous unlimited three point hydroplane built by Dave Tenny, a 20 year old apprentice fitter and turner achieved a remarkable ten wins from ten starts, including the prestigious Griffith Cup one of the world’s oldest motor-sport trophies, in the 1971 – 72 season. After years of neglect the hull and the apocalyptic 27 litre super charged Rolls-Royce...
read moreRETROMOBILE 40th Edition
I have just got back from a cold but sunny Paris where I was visiting for the 40th Edition of Retromobile. Retromobile is the classic car show with the tag line, “The past still has a future”, and if what I witnessed is anything to go by then it most certainly does. It was a fantastic show celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Citreon DS, some fabulous Peugeots, the 50th birthday of the Renault 16, the heritage of Skoda, the most stunning collection of Pegasos ever gathered together, three Bugatti Royales; the list of exciting...
read moreHAPPY NEW YEAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR. Much of the very end of 2014 was spent on the water covering the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, the Extreme Sailing Series, and most excitingly the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race for which I was commissioned by Invictus and Rewind Magazines. The first big event I will be covering in 2015 will be the 40th Anniversary of Retromobile in Paris in the first week of February. Seeing the incredible barn find collection of 60 cars including the ex Alain Delon Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider to be auctioned there on...
read morePeace on earth and goodwill to all men!
Merry Christmas and season’s greetings to one and all! This website is now 12 months old and what an exciting year it has been. As well as hosting the second largest classic car auction ever held in the Southern Hemisphere, I have also been working on Car Chronicles which should be seen on television screens next Easter. Next year, like this year, will involve travel to exciting destinations in search of more interesting stories about cars and boats and other things that take my fancy and hopefully the fancy of magazine editors....
read moreMan With A Camera
Whilst out in Western Australia at the Lake Perkolilli Centenary of Speed races it was great to take the opportunity to photograph some of the action from on board one of the other cars. Here I am working away, obviously having some issues with my borrowed goggles and looking through the viewfinder, out on the red dust track 100 years after racing first began in this very remote area.
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