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.
Unique Double
Donald Campbell is the only person ever to achieve new World Land and Water Speed Records in the same calendar year. He did it in Australia 50 years ago in 1964. Having traced his tracks to Lake Eyre I recently followed in his wake to Lake Dumbleyung. It is a great spot in the West Australian wheat belt and Ian,the landlord at the Dumbleyung Tavern is a fine host who tells a great story about when he was a seven year old and Donald came to town. Look out for my articles in various publications as we approach the anniversary on December 31st...
read moreThe Hippopotamus Song
Back in October I was bragging about the opportunity of driving ‘Samson’, the car that held the World Land Speed Record in 1905. Well off I went to Lake Perkolilli near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, but unfortunately I was unable to get behind the wheel. The weather gods intervened and the rock hard clay pan lake turned into a quagmire more reminiscent of the lyrics of one of Flanders and Swann’s hits, “Mud, mud, glorious mud”. Still, undeterred, the Lake Perkolilli 1914 – 2014 Centenary of Speed still...
read moreOver a million reasons to work with me…
UNIQUE FASTBACK TOPS MOTORCLASSICA AUCTION Theodore Bruce Auctioneers and Valuers, Australia’s oldest house established in 1878, and for whom I work as the consultant classic vehicle specialist, achieved record sales at its classic car auction held at Motorclassica in Melbourne on October 25th. Topping the bill was a 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental, the only one of its kind delivered new to Australia and held in single ownership for the last 37 years, which sold for Aus$1.15 million after spirited telephone bidding. This is believed to be...
read moreWay out West
As you read this I will be driving the first British car to break the 100 mph barrier. The Napier L48, known as ‘Samson’, set a World Land Speed Record of 104.651 mph, driven by Arthur E Macdonald, on the 24th January 1905 on Daytona Beach in the USA. I am really looking forward to taking part in the Lake Perkolilli 1914 – 2014 Centenary of Speed and having the opportunity to drive this legendary vehicle. I have never driven anything quite as old before. My previous ‘oldest’ is the very rare 1913 Nazzaro Tipo 2,...
read moreThe Lake District
As well as heading off to Lake Dumbleyung in Western Australia this month following in the large footprints made by Donald Campbell, I am also hoping to make it back to South Australia in November. Campbell achieved the unique double of the World Land Speed Record (Lake Eyre, SA ,17th July 1964) and World Water Speed Record (Lake Dumbleyung, WA, 31st December 1964) in the same year. In between he also broke the Australian Water Speed Record on Lake Bonney at Barmera in South Australia on 23rd November 1964. It should make for a nice little...
read moreGoing once…!
Later this month, on October 25th at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Victoria, will be my major classic car auction of the year. I am rather pleased with the contingent of consigned cars that I have gathered together. Please take a look at the full catalogue on line via the following link: http://arts.theodorebruceauctions.com.au/asp/searchresults.asp?st=D&pg=1&ps=25&sale_no=AS0146. There is also some lovely memorabilia to be had at the auction which can be viewed on line at:...
read moreFor what it’s worth…
I am delighted to announce that along with the other various hats that I wear, I am now carrying out valuations for McWilliam & Associates, Fine Art Valuers. Established in 1987 M & A offers Australia’s most recognised independent valuation service under the aegis and expertise of the highly respected Colin McWilliam. Up until now M & A has offered valuations in Fine Art, Furniture, Jewellery, Collectables and Residential Contents. They will now with my assistance be extending these services to include the valuation of...
read moreFast Boats
At the beginning of September I flew to Queensland’s Gold Coast to meet with Powerboat World Champion, Ross Willaton. Ross works with the Maritimo Factory Offshore Racing Team and took time out to talk with me during his preparations testing a new boat at the Australian Offshore Superboat Championships in the build up to the World Championships in Europe commencing in April 2015. It was a fabulous Queensland day, beautiful sunshine, blue skies and warm breezes and a really interesting interview and tour of the Maritimo Offshore Racing...
read moreMotorclassica 2014
Once again I am running the Motorclassica 2014 auction on behalf of Theodore Bruce, Australia’s oldest auction house established in 1878, and for whom I act as the consultant car specialist. Following on from our resounding success in 2013 where we sold a 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 for a world record price at auction and Holden Prototype Number 4 for a world record for any Holden at auction, we are off to a great start for this year’s event, to be held on the evening of Saturday 25th October at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in...
read moreLake Perkolilli
In October I will be covering the centenary of motor racing on the remote West Australian dust track of Lake Perkolilli out beyond Kalgoorlie. It should make for a fascinating occasion especially as I will also have the opportunity to drive the famous reconstructed 1904 Gordon Bennett Napier L48 “Samson” 15 litre racing car! The fastest British racing car of its day Samson set a World Land Speed record on Daytona Beach in America in 1905. Later its engine was used in the 1914 and 1915 Griffith Cup winning speedboat Nautilus II,...
read more