For example: Cars For Sale in Hertfordshire, Cars for sale in Ceredigion or even Cars for sale in FIFE!

For more information on cars you can click “more info” underneath them, so go on – go and grab a bargain new or used car locally with wheels-near-u!

You can buy fixed gear bikes at your local bike shop (probably) but they might call them single-speed’s or track bikes. You will likely have seen them on the olympics but if you watch the above video you will see they are used far from this original intended arena. Swamping the worlds cities – fixed gear biking is set to be the next big 2 wheeled phenominon. Watch out for them in a city near you, they tend to skid in an almost downhill slalom way instead of breaking (as if you stop pedalling that is effectively breaking with the rear wheel!

This years Orllwyn Teifi Vintage Show marked the 20th year of the events running and was an excellent weekend for all, despite the unhelpful weather conditions the show continued to run where possible and was visited by a huge number of spectators and show participants.

Wheels-Near-U was there for the whole weekend catching all of the action as it happened, we would like to thank the organisers including Derrick Davies for an excellently clean and well serviced site and for a fair few tows’ in and through the mud!

As per last year you can see all of the Orllwyn Teifi Vintage Rally Photographs in our Orllwyn Teifi Vintage Rally 2008 gallery and there is also a 2007 Orllwyn Rally gallery for those who want to look back on last years show!

This year Wheels-Near-U reporters took on the International British Motorshow, taking over 600 photographs of some of the finest supercars, most original concept cars and most anticipated motors to be released in the last and forthcoming years.

Some of the best bits included the Supercar Paddock, home to several Pagani Zonda’s, a Koenensigg, several astounding Ferrari’s including a classic F40 – a chance to sit in the new Nissan GTR, a heavily anticipated car heiled a supercar killer for £50,000 (Second generation datsun/skyline.) as well as several exceptional concept cars, the Genesis Coupe from Hyndai – the Peugeot Concepts and a fantastic Alfa Romeo Stand featuring 2 new 8C’s.

As well as ExCel london being a superb venue for the motorshow there was also a number of other attractions such as powerboats, a ride in a Caterham 7 driven with umpf and the Honda Theatre of Dreams show.

If you weren’t lucky enough to make it to the British Motor show this year we would certainly recommend it for next year, you might even see us there!

• More Photos from the British Motor Show
• The Cars from the British Motor Show
• The Honda Theatre of Dreams at the British Motor Show

The new GT-R is said to have a cruising speed of 186 mph and is capable of a lot more – although perhaps not pushed to this limit Jeremy Clarkson did manage to clock up Bill Oddie’s speeding tickets using a clever mask.

According to Jeremy Clarkson this was ” the best film we’ve ever made” and we just happen to agree – the fantastic scenery of the Japanese mountains, tunnels and Tokyo’s racing roads almost distracts you from the purebred GT-R, but only momentarily until you see it from another beautiful angle.

Apparently people are complaining that the race’s are fixed on top gear, but we couldn’t care less because its cracking television! If you havent yet watched this epic battle of modern public transport against the snarling GT-R then catch it while you can on the BBC iPlayer (Click here to watch Top Gear Series 11 Episode 4)

In the price war to keep petrol customers buying there are several loosers, but you won’t find any big companies on the list. Rural filling stations are hit hard when local supermarkets offer reduced prices to draw the masses, drivers of diesel cars who would have historically benifited from lower costs are seeing increases beyond everyones expectations and haulage and transport companies are suffering increased running costs.

What do you think will happen in the next 6 months? Petrol prices don’t show much sign of slowing, but ultimately any more substancial rises will take some drivers off the road due to costs beyond their means! let us know what you think!

Last week the local Norfolk press reported on a piece of art unlike no other seen before. Parked up in a meadow and used for living in this trailer had lived a far from conventional last few years.  Originally brought for £1000 by Nathan Wellard and Maeve Neal this artic box was until recently used as a family home, however it is now in the process of being auctioned off as a piece of world famous Banksy Graffiti artwork.

The illusive Banksy has managed to keep his identity largely unknown to the masses, leaving his contriversial artworks adorned in difficult to believe places, mostly walls, worldwide. Famed as an underground artist, Banksy originally asked Nathan and Maeve for permission to use their arctic trailer as a canvas back in the 1990′s where he painted the huge murial down the sides at the Glastonbury festival, since then whenever Nathan and Maeve have seen Banksy he has added, tweaked and furthered the graffiti, a sign of an ever concious artist.

Now encased in plastic, headed for an auction the artwork is set to be seen by thousands more eyes, all depending on who snaps it up on the 28th of June we may be seeing these fantastic works in a gallery soon. We can’t think of anything better than talented artists using transport as a canvas and wish Nathan and Maeve the best of luck with their sale!

More information on the Banksy Auction

Banksy Site

The BMW Gina, released this week is a car which more than fits these alternative shoes. The BMW Gina is a good example of a new idea, G i n a is supposed to stand for “Geometry and Functions in ‘N’ Adaptations”, however like the abbreviation avoids the inclusion of the F from “Functions” so does the concept sports car avoid the need for a shell. Using a textile fabric BMW have created the first concept car that seems to mimic the human form.

The first thing you will notice when you look at the Gina Concept is its styling. Look at a standard 1 shot photo and you may be forgiven for thinking its just another devilish car from BMW, but the lines and curves of this concepts bodywork are not created with steel or aluminium. Taught textile fabric acts as a skin like barrier, tightened around a space frame made from a mixture of carbon and metals.

Although it sounds basic BMW have taken this concept one step further than simply wrapping an aerial atom with lycra, as well as a car with skin they also gave it movable features. The lights open and shut like a wild cats, the “bonnet” can open at the middle seam showing just a hint of a large BMW engine and an artificial rib cage, the doors – not to be outdone – don’t open but twist and contort to allow entry into the bespoke all in one seats. The skin is the one big factor in this concepts creation, it allows new and interesting mixtures of both concave and convex body panels, made with a material that looks very much like traditional steel panels. In true BMW style it continues along the progressively angular design, with a stunning moveable flared spoiler to cap off a stunning rear end.

All in all the BMW Gina is a fantastic concept car, recently housed in the BMW museum it will go on show and perhaps influence BMW cars to come. We can’t wait to get our hands on a real production equivalent, but that might take BMW some time.

You can see more of the BMW Gina Concept car in our concept car gallery!

Rules? In this rally there is only a few- first up each car entered in the rally must be of a capacity of 1000cc or less – no big sand buggies or off-roaders here! Secondly each team entering this rally must raise at least £1000 for charity – Team Zebra are choosing to raise this money for “Send a Cow” – a charity specialising in providing real, sustainable help to the people of Africa. They are still fund raising and you can show
your support by sponsoring them (and perhaps helping them send several cows!) at
www.wheels-near-u.co.uk/teamzebra.

See more in the Team Zebra 08 Gallery

Apart from these simple basics there is really very little guidance for Team Zebra on this adventure – part of the ideals behind ‘The Adventurists‘ is to provide as little support, guidance and absolutely no backup in order to make the experience as real and adventurous as possible.

Once they agreed they wanted to do this rally Jacob and Jay set about coming up with a name, opting for a suitably African themed one they became Team Zebra and began the hunt for the ideal Zebra-Mobile – something slick, fast and capable of dealing with all manner of terrain, protecting them from wild animals and dealing with the worlds harshest conditions, then they remembered the 1 litre restriction and threw that out of the window, opting for a reassuringly low mileage A Reg 997cc Ford Fiesta. While this old Ford Fiesta may not sound like the best Sub-Saharan rally car it has only travelled 25,000 miles so far and was a snap at £250.

See more in the Team Zebra 08 Gallery

“a kind of boot meets bed that allows the lads to sleep in the car without too much worrying about wild animals”

Since they picked up their blue Ford Fiesta they have spent a lot of time kitting it out, preparing it for the adventure to come this summer. They started by designing a back compartment that is fit for sleep and supplies – a kind of boot meets bed that allows the lads to sleep in the car without too much worrying about wild animals.

Next up they set about acquiring a few extras they needed to improve the old Fiesta. First up a roof-rack – a necessity if they are to fit everything for their journey they need onto/into the car. Their first purchase of a £1 roof-rack from eBay was never going to cut it and they soon tracked down a much more substantial roof-rack. A little angle-grinding and modification and the Team Zebra car has a ideal, custom fitted roof-rack!

See more in the Team Zebra 08 Gallery

With that sorted they set about getting some sounds for their journey – Jacob used his wiring and electrical know-how to set them up a fine sound system which should more than fit the bill! Some kind local donations of a CB Radio, Aerial and a battery along with some excellent spot lamps further kitted out the Zebra-mobile.

Safe in the knowledge that most of their intended modifications are now complete Jacob and Jay decided the paintwork of the A Reg Fiesta could do with a bit of livening up before the cars big trip. They decided that their best bet was to paint the car – something fitting.

See more in the Team Zebra 08 Gallery

As you can see they decided to stick with the heard and painted the car with black and white zebra stripes – now team zebra will definitely fit in on the plains of Africa.

Off on the 19th of July Team Zebra are nearly all set leaving from London’s Hyde Park their first stop will be the Adventurists African Rally European party in Prague, Czech Republic on the following day.

Wheels-Near-U has sponsored Team Zebra and wish them the best of luck and a safe journey through europe and Aftica!

Want to show your support for Team Zebra as they conquer the Sahara? – Please Sponsor them now at
www.wheels-near-u.co.uk/teamzebra

Please note: Please drive and ride safely at all times, we do not condone, support or recommend anyone attempts any stunts or anything which they see in videos shown as part of this series, they are shown only to provide a varied range of material from around the world – Dangerous Driving Kills.

First up – A novel invention from across the world – Japan brings you the walking motorbike! – Far from your usual two wheeled road bike this comical machine will transport you from a to b – at a leisurely speed.

Next we go to another motorbike from Japan that runs almost silently – “a new electric motorbike with a hybrid plug-in, electromagnetic-permanent magnet motor, and is seven times more cost-efficient than scooters running on petrol.”

Finally we visit America for a few motorbike stunts – don’t try this at home!

“Germans are flummoxed by humour, the Swiss have no concept of fun, the Spanish think there is nothing at all ridiculous about eating dinner at midnight, and the Italians should never, ever have been let in on the invention of the motor car.” – Bill Bryson – (American Writer)

“I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather… Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.” – Will Shriner (American Comedian born in 1953)

“They think they can make fuel from horse manure – Now, I don’t know if your car will be able to get 30 miles to the gallon, but it’s sure gonna put a stop to siphoning” – Billie Holiday (American jazz singer from the 1930s to the 1950s)

“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.” – Ernest Hemingway (American novelist who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954)

“What Englishman will give his mind to politics as long as he can afford to keep a motor car?” – George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist who won the 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature)

First up is a video of a frankly mad tuned tractor, entitled only ‘GSI Engine in a tractor’ – Not the sort of tractor you see everyday, this tractor drives down a track at speeds you would expect from a racing car! – Believed to be German.

Next up a Solar Power Converted tractor that makes the news in America – This 1954 Farmall tractor was converted to run off huge solar panels fixed where the roof would usually be, then using a power take-off to run the motor. The tractor remains original but uses absolutely no fuel. This news story describes how this eco-friendly tractor was built and the story behind it and its creator!

Finally this week we turn our attention to cinema – This video shows a novel use of the tractor – as a combat tool! The star of this film uses the tractor too disable a group of men riding tractors in order to escape..

James May is an award winning journalist best known for presenting Top Gear, alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. Once a week he writes a column in the motoring section of The Daily Telegraph.

Nicknamed Captain slow for his laid back approach to track racing, he is one of the few people that has been able to take a Bugatti Veyron to its maximum speed of nearly 253mph (one third the speed of sound.)

James May and Jeremy Clarkson were the first people (aided by a small Icelandic support crew) to drive to the Magnetic North Pole in a customised Toyota pickup truck. James was also, according to Jeremy – “the first man to reach the Magnetic North Pole who didn’t really want to go there in the first place.”

Heres some of his classic James May Motoring quotes:

“He’s not sure whether he’s driving, or in a branch of Dixons.” – Honda S2000

“What’s the Norwegian for “Oh, cock”?“

“I’ve just noticed, looking though these results, that ten of the thirteen bottom cars are French.” – Top Gear Survey

“Would the Element be a car for people who like hip-hop, or for people waiting for a hip-op?” – Honda Element

“Actually, this is why it’s called the F360, this model. You drive along and you go ‘ffffffff’ and you do a 360!” – Ferrari F360 handling

]]> http://www.wheels-near-u.co.uk/blog/2007/09/21/motor-critic-of-the-week-james-may/feed/ 0 http://www.wheels-near-u.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/wheels-of-the-world-mountain-biking/ http://www.wheels-near-u.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/wheels-of-the-world-mountain-biking/#comments Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:00:33 +0000 Wheels Near U Team http://www.wheels-near-u.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/wheels-of-the-world-mountain-biking/ For our next instalment of Wheels of the world we turn our attention to Mountain Biking. Far from the standard push bike or road bike, mountain bikes and trials bikes are a completely different breed of bike.

FreeRide is a form of mountain biking that entails riding off huge cliff faces and other protruding objects, followed by a descent down a steep surface. This video highlights some of the more extreme Freeriders of the world as they seemingly defy gravity and ride off to tell the tale! – Free Ride Mountain Bike Jumps – Includes a double backflip on a mountain bike, canyon jumping and more!

Downhill Mountain Biking – This video shows a downhill mountain biking track done at speed by a professional rider

That’s it for this Mountain Biking instalment of Wheels of the World

Richard Hammond – Presenter of Top Gear on BBC – nicknamed “Hamster” by his co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May is this weeks Motor Critic of the Week.

Born in Birmingham Richard has been in tv and radio for years, as well as Top Gear he also co-hosts the live annual motor show (MPH) held at Earls Court and the Birmingham NEC with Jeremy Clarkson and Tiff Needell (Fifth Gear) and presents the show ‘Brainaic: Science Abuse’.

You may also read his weekly column covering motor related topics, which can be found in the motoring section of the Daily Mirror (Fridays.)

He sustained a serious brain injury in September 2006, in a high speed crash at 288 mph but has since made a full recovery, coming back on air for a top gear episode just 4 months later!

Ever the committed Journalist, comic quoter and general good bloke – Richard Hammond – Motor Critic of the Week – here’s some of his classic quotes:

“the Hyundai Accent, which is wretched, whatever engine it has, but we were particularly depressed with three-cylinder diesel version. It really is less fun than drowning!” – Hyundai Accent

“The last time I saw plastic like this it contained Tic-Tacs.” – American Car Dashboard

“Understeer works like this: [moving a model of a Ford Focus] you drive down the road, turn the wheel, but the car goes straight on, crashes into a tree and you die. Oversteer works like this: [moving a model of a BMW series 3] you drive down the same bit of road, turn the wheel, but the back of the car comes round like this [showing how the car does a 180], and you go off the road, crash into a tree and you die. Now, oversteer is best, because you don’t see the tree that kills you.” – Understeer and Oversteer

“My life is now in the hands of A-level physics.” – Sitting in a car in Germany, waiting to be struck by lightening

“Don’t forget, she was only half a second a mile behind you, and she was in this van.” – Mocking Jeremy Clarkson’s lap of the Nürburgring.