Only the Best Spinners to Honour Bongos “Rn1”

by Robert Mabusela

Leopards gets a Brazilian manicure

Picture from internet

Mamelodi Sundowns beat Black leopards 5-1 in an ABSA Premier League fixture at the Loftus Versveld stadium on Sunday, 30 October.

 Leopards failed to sink in their claws to an already injured Sundowns team which suffered an attack from swallows in their previous match. The first goal of the six goal thriller came in the first half after Mamelodi Sundowns striker Nyasha Mushekwi netted in the opening goal which left leopard’s keeper Posnet Omony   pouncing on air, Mushekwi went on to score a second goal in the 63^rd minuet  making  most deserving  of the  man of the match prize. 

 Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela scored two goals making him the top goal scorer of the ABSA Premiership league, with a total of seven goals to his name. Richard Henikani scored his first long awaited goal in two years which came in the 87^th minuet, shortly after leopards scored their consolation goal from a brilliant direct free kick taken by Khethokwekhe Masuku and further denied downs keeper Calvin Marlin a clean sheet in the 85^th minute.  After scoring all their goals downs still aspired to score more until the final whistle which ended leopards’ spa treatment that left the team with blunt claws

Downs moves to 3^rd place on the log with 19 goals to date, as part of cancer awareness month the Brazilians contributed R50 000 towards breast cancer research, the amount was calculated according to the amount of goals scored by the team.

By Robert Mabusela

Audi Voorsprung durch “Techno luxurious”

A8 W12 Luxurious interior

Photo by Robert Mabusela

The Audi A8L W12 LUXURIOUS performer, Audi say “Led by Luxury, completed by performance, dynamics and efficiency. Throughout its full length. I think this is Audi working its way to the big luxurious league where the likes of Rolls Royce and Maybach operate.

This German saloon is available in two models, the A8 4.2 TDI (258 Kw) and the top of the L range A8 6.3 W12 FSI which produces 368 Kw. Twin-turbo is used in the V8 diesel motor seeing that it needs a centaury plus a decade more kilowatts to match up to the more powerful twelve cylinder twin. The W12 reaches 100km\h in 4.9 seconds with the help of 625Nm of torque which peaks effortlessly at 3250rpm, according to Audi magazine. Audi`s Quatro all wheel drive system plus a eight-speed tiptronic gearbox comes standard in both models.

 Standard equipment list includes xenon plus LED daytime running lights, Multi Media Interface (MMI), single DVD player, Audi drive select, Audi adaptive air suspension, and Audi pre sense basic. For customers who appreciate the full luxurious feel some of the optional equipment includes LED headlights, TV (R14, 900), Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system (R68, 900), rear seat entertainment, and night view assist which identifies and highlights pedestrians priced at R26, 300.Bang & Olufsen have put together a powerful 1, 400 watt 5.1 surround system which has 19 speakers including subwoofer, each speaker has its own amplifier channel.  The W12 basic price is 1, 5m while the full package is priced at R1, 7m VAT inclusive plus optional extras.

No compromise on quality this is German engineering at its best 

By Robert Mabusela 



TUT bowled out by TUKS



TUT batsman Michael Voysey facing, scored the only half century for TUT



Photo by Robert Mabusela

TUT lost their eighth cricket match against the University of Pretoria at the Pretoria campus on Saturday, October 22.

TUKS won by 145 runs leaving their total score at 322/7, while TUT only managed to score 177 all out with 3 wickets for 45 runs in 15 overs taken by TUKS bowler Ekemm. In the first innings, an impressive partnership of 212 runs between TUKS batsmen C. Letcher and J. Richard set the pace of the match and contributed to TUKS victory.

Letcher contributed almost half of TUKS` total runs with 155 runs, followed by Richard’s 82 runs. TUT followed behind with batsman Michael Voysey scoring 55 runs making him the only player to hit home half a century. Northern Gauteng player Tom Khoza put up a brilliant performance scoring the second highest runs with a total of 34 runs to his name. Tom also took the most wickets with 3 wickets with 78 runs and 15 overs. 

TUT has managed to secure 6 victories out of the eight games they played to date this year.

By Robert Mabusela

Three Car Pileup outside TUT

Smashed Fiat Strada after it caused the accident

Photo by Robert Mabusela



Eight people were taken to hospital after they were involved in a three car pileup, the accident occured yesterday late afternon just outside The Tshwane University of technology Pretoria campus in Pretoria West at the robots of Staartsartillerie and Technikon Rd.

The accident was caused by a Fiat bakkie that bumped into a Ford bakkie from the rear, the Ford went on to hit a taxi. Both the bakkie and taxi were stationery when the fiat hit them while waiting for the robots to turn green, “I was waiting at the robot when suddenly the Ford Cortina behind me crashed into my taxi due to the impact from the Fiat bakking that bumped into it” said the taxi driver. Six passengers from the taxi and a child who was at the back of the Fiat bakkie were taken to the Pretoria West Hospital, while the eighth person was taken to the Eugene Marais Hospital in Gezina North of Pretoria. None of the people taken to  both Hospitals were seriously injured paramedics had to follow procedures and have them checked, the other two from both bakkies only suffered minor back and neck injuries . 

By Robert Mabusela 

Chevrolet Miray inspired by Chevy`s heritage

Chevrolet Miray pronounced  "Mi-ray" , featured at the Johannesburg international Motor show has three sources of power

Photo by Robert Mabusela

 When looking at the Chevrolet Miray concept one would think that the design is fresh, concept cars usually give us the impression that “this is something totally new”. Chevrolet`s Miray concept car is inspired by Chevrolet designs dating to the 1960`s so I had no choice but to use Google as a time machine.  I googled two cars from Chevrolet, the 1963 Monza SS and the 1962 Convair Super Spyder which are cousins that have inspired the Miray`s design. Firstly on the looks the Miray takes its body shape from the Monza SS with a similar two door feature except that the Monza has a longer wheel base. While looking at the pictures of the Convair Super Spyder I couldn`t help but notice the similarity of the two windscreens.

In the 60`s the Convair Super Spyder “presented a very accommodating platform for designers to stretch their imagination” the Miray might follow in the Spyder`s web but this will be determined by other concept designs. Chevrolets Miray  is powered by two front-mounted electric motors, each producing 15kw for the front axle while the rear wheels are  powered by a 1.5 litter four cylinder turbocharged  mid rear engine. Current for the electric motors is provided by a 1.6khw lithium-ion battery pack which is charged through regenerated braking.  The Miray is capable of running on electric power alone while the petrol engine kicks in when extra power is needed. A Dual clutch gear box insures quick and precise shifting working in conjunction with a start stop system.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) defines the side view with wedged shaped panels, and front and rear fenders which draw on the styling of the past iconic Chevrolet Corvettes. Introduction to the cabin is made possible by scissor doors which give a cutting entrance to the cabins centre console which features a centre console-mounted start button, ambient lighting, and a dual-cockpit design for both the driver and passenger area. Other features include two cameras one in front which works hand in hand with a GPS that overlays navigation information with real time camera inputs, and a rear camera to  provide rear vision executing traditional rear view mirrors.



 

Scissor doors front view

  





Miray centre consol

   

Chevrolet have produced an impressive concept with interesting features, concepts like this take the motoring industry to a new level while including some key redesigned features from past designs, this is definitely redesigning iconic designs in a modern and innovative way.

By Robert Mabusela

Breaking the law in 3.3 seconds

The McLaren MP4-12c featured at the Johannesburg International Motor Show produces an impressive 441kW achieving 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds.

Photo by: Robert Mabusela



With Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele’s proposed speed limit of 100km/h one could be breaking the law within 3,3 seconds that is if you are driving the new McLaren MP4-12c.  The  rear engined light weight McLaren is promised to be the “first genuine no compromise Sports car”  according to McLaren brouchures, but with the given 0-100km/h figures the McLaren team is just being modest as the MP4-12c deserves to be called a super car, 200 km/h is reached in 9.8 seconds or 8.9 if your car is fitted with Corsa tyres which will play an essential role in reaching the top speed of 330km/h a bit more faster.

Super car manufactures are using their gym memberships making sure that weigh shedding is at the top of their workout programme, unnecessary weight is lost as excessive weight hinders the achievement of maximum performance and by this not only the acceleration improves, other performance improvements include breaking 100-0 km/h in a distance of  30.5m, handling, and fuel efficiency releasing only 279g/km which just might save you from having to paying co² emission Tax. The whole weight shedding is made possible  by using a carbon fibre MonoCell structure which means that the McLaren gets a one piece light weight carbon fibre chassis with rear and front aluminium frames instead of using carbon fibre as used in the Audi R8  which has parted with 100kg, fuel figures stand at 11.7 litters per 100km releasing only 279g/km of co².The McLaren is powered by a handbuilt 3.8 liter twin turbo V8 engine which boasts 441kw/h with  600Nm torque available from 3000rpm right up to 7000rpm, the engine will be put up against  German rivals Audi R8 GT, Porsche 911 Turbo PDK, and the Japanese Godzilla Nissan Skyline GT-R and not forgetting the Godzilla killer Lexus LFA,  as seen on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5R-oi91bd4).

All rivals have between 368 kW (Porsche 911 Turbo PDK) to 441kW (McLaren MP4-12c). According to specs the McLaren is the most favourable with the fastest 0-100 in 3.3 seconds that’s if you`re rolling on standard tyres. Overall the McLaren was smartly built, with high mounted exhausts  and every single component  designed from scratch nothing was considered good enough to be carried over from an existing McLaren, this Mclaren was certainly the highlight of high performance cars  featured at the Johannesburg International Motor Show, but you`ll have to dig deep into your pockets as the McLaren will sell for 3.3 million in South Africa with a limited 20 units set to hit our shores.

by: Robert Mabusela