Tag Archives: interest

Everything To Know About The T28 Super Heavy Tank

The National Interest notes that this automobile was nearer in construction to a “self-propelled gun.” Typical tanks typically characteristic a revolving turret, however on this case, the gun was mounted to the entrance hull and will solely fireplace ahead, leaving the T28 weak to assaults from the again.  So whereas it was initially designated merely because the T28 tank, the Army re-designated it because the 105 mm gun motor carriage T95 in 1945. However, in 1946 they switched it again and renamed it the T28 Super Heavy Tank. 

Unfortunately for the tank, the naming battle was the one one it noticed. By the time the automobile handed trials, the mission for which it was commissioned —  breaching the heavy fortifications of the German Siegfried Line — had already been completed by that time within the struggle. By the time the primary tank was delivered in December 1945, the struggle was three months over. So the tank remained within the U.S. as an engineering research, with solely two prototypes constructed, and neither went into service attributable to heavy weight and excessive upkeep prices.

But the streak of dangerous luck did not finish there. In 1947, one of many T28s was broken in an engine fireplace and finally bought for scrap. In 1974, the opposite was found deserted in a subject at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and now has a correct dwelling at Fort Moore, Georgia. There it retired, apart from a small accident in 2017 reported by the National Armor and Cavalry Museum, when the T28 slid off a trailer throughout transport and rolled right into a ditch.

[Featured image by Randen Pederson via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC SA 2.0 Generic]

This Honda Stream Was Team Red’s First Leaning Trike Design

Here in 2024, relying in your specific space of moto curiosity, you may be aware of the Honda Gyro. If you’ve got been following Honda’s efforts at electrification as of late, you may additionally be aware of the newest model, the Honda Gyro e:, which makes use of these swappable Honda Mobile Power Pack e: models.

If you thought that the Honda Gyro was the primary Honda leaning three-wheeler, although, you would be incorrect. As it seems, the Gyro had a couple of predecessors within the Honda lineup, starting with the Honda Stream. (Yes, we all know that there is a Honda automotive that got here later with the identical mannequin identify, however we’re speaking in regards to the OG Honda Stream three-wheeled scooter right this moment.)

In 1981, Honda first launched the Stream as an especially sensible and mild-mannered three-wheeler. As you’ll be able to see on this reasonably wonderful exploration of the Stream from Small Bike Stuff, the 2 wheeled rear portion can also be the place the engine sits. It stays in fixed contact with the bottom, whereas the rider can lean the entrance portion backward and forward nearly as a lot as they need. The result’s a fairly secure journey for whoever’s within the saddle.

Why A Leaning Three Wheeler, Honda?

Ask anybody who’s aware of Honda motorcycle historical past and so they’ll inform you that a very long time in the past, Honda took a couple of extra design dangers than it has been recognized to do within the 2000s.

Still, even when the Honda Stream did not keep in manufacturing lengthy, the truth that Honda went on to refine it into further three-wheeled designs just like the Honda Just and later, the Gyro, reveals that the corporate was clearly onto one thing. The Gyro and now the Gyro e: have been well-liked supply autos for companies in a number of nations throughout Asia for many years.

The Idea Came From England

The many and various threads of motorbike historical past intersect in unusual methods generally, and that is a kind of instances. See, with out BSA, there would arguably have been no Honda Stream, Honda Gyro, or every other Honda leaning three-wheelers. 

BSA Ariel 3 and Daihatsu Hallo

BSA was wanting to get into the moped market, and a British designer named George Wallis had been engaged on arising with a safer bicycle design for a couple of years. Prior to his involvement with BSA, Wallis had additionally began engaged on motorized three-wheeled prototypes. Some of them even utilized an engine from a Triumph Tina scooter.

Anyway, BSA went on to license a design from Wallis that finally turned the Ariel 3 leaning three-wheeled scooter, which premiered in 1970. While it in all probability wasn’t the one factor liable for the corporate’s downfall, the Ariel 3 undeniably proved to be a large gross sales flop for BSA. The firm had reportedly anticipated to promote round 25,000 Ariel 3s, and as an alternative solely shifted 7,000 in that first 12 months.

After that, for a really quick time within the Seventies, Daihatsu briefly acquired into making scooters. It additionally licensed Wallis’ leaning three-wheeled design for the leaning three-wheeled Hallo, which you’ll be able to see above.

The third firm was evidently the allure, although, as Honda determined it wanted a few of that candy leaning three-wheeled scooter design for itself. Thus, it launched the Stream, and finally the Gyro, which has now been going sturdy in its area of interest for many years.

This 1984 Honda Stream That’s For Sale

1984 Honda Stream - Left Side

Now, ultimately, we come to a 1984 Honda Stream that somebody is promoting proper now on Bring a Trailer. While Honda by no means bought the Stream within the US, it was imported a while in the past and is at present registered in Maryland. It’s powered by a wee little 49cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine, and has a complete of 610 kilometers (about 379-ish miles) on the clock. As with all used autos, complete precise mileage is unknown.

The earlier proprietor previous to the present vendor is claimed to have completed some routine upkeep, together with cleansing the carburetor and altering out issues just like the spark plug, fluids, and battery. There’s a working video up prime, the place you’ll be able to see that it was apparently working fairly properly in late 2023. 

1984 Honda Stream - Dash

Does it have what may presumably the best sprint recognized to humankind? Perhaps I’m overstating the case a bit, however I believe you’ll be able to agree that it is fairly wonderful. 

This is clearly not going to win any pace awards (except, after all, you do some form of mad engine swap with it), however it will definitely be a superb dialog starter. 

It’s at present being supplied at no reserve on Bring a Trailer, with an public sale finish date of Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 1:15 p.m. Eastern. The bid is as much as $1,000 on the time of writing. We’ll record the hyperlink in our Sources to see extra images or bid on it when you’re .

Before The Honda Prelude Returns, Here’s A Classic Review Of The Fourth Gen

The Honda Prelude Concept has sparked excitement for the iconic nameplate, although the company has not officially confirmed where a production version will be available. Motorweek has seized on the renewed interest in this sports coupe by revisiting the TV show’s review of the fourth-gen model from March 13, 1992. Host John Davis starts by expressing his frustration with the homogeneous look of many new cars, but he makes an exception for the fourth-gen Prelude, praising its distinctive design features.

The model was lauded for its wedge-shaped crease on the hood leading to the center of the nose, and the rear was likened to a Jaguar XJS. The up-level Prelude Si, which MotorWeek tested, was equipped with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 160 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque, with a four-speed automatic transmission.

In comparison, a 1992 Toyota Celica GT-S made 135 hp and 145 lb-ft from a 2.2-liter four-cylinder, while a 1993 Mazda MX-6 with a 2.5-liter V6 produced 164 hp and 160 lb-ft. On MotorWeek’s track test, the Prelude achieved a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds and covered the quarter-mile in 16.3 seconds, placing it on par with its competitors at the time.

Bing AI Joins Microsoft’s Bug Bounty Program – And The Payouts Are Big

Of particular interest in Microsoft’s latest bug bounty initiative are vectors targeting Bing Chat. A rival to ChatGPT and Google Bard, Microsoft’s AI chatbot is a crucial element of the company’s vision to make the search experience more immersive and rewarding. But given some well-known faults in the not-too-distant past, it is no wonder that Microsoft wants independent minds to have a go and discover issues with a reward deal.

“Influencing and changing Bing’s chat behavior across user boundaries,” “modifying Bing’s chat behavior,” “bypassing Bing’s chat mode session limits,” and forcing Bing to reveal confidential information are some of the areas that Microsoft wants experts to break. These aspects are often discussed on social media and experts also tend to challenge the guardrails of these AI models.

Even Microsoft admits that “Bing is powered by AI, so surprises and mistakes are possible.” That’s not merely a standard warning. The chatbot is occasionally known to go off the rails and act creepy, especially when a person engages in long, deep conversations. That’s also the reason why Microsoft decided to limit user queries to 50 per day and only allowed five questions per session. Then, there’s also the whole saga of Microsoft’s Tay chatbot that truly went bananas on Twitter a few years ago and had to be pulled quickly.

Matt Prior: Is your old Ford Fiesta suddenly worth a fortune?

When products like salad cream and Subbuteo were facing the end of their production, renewed customer interest saved them. Their decline in popularity was attributed to the increasing popularity of mayonnaise and video games.

However, when their makers announced their discontinuation, nostalgia sparked renewed interest and saved them. Today, we can still enjoy tangy lettuce and play with tabletop figurines.

Interestingly, both products were actually saved in 2000. It’s easy to think that it was more recent, as we often mix up memories from several decades ago.

Now, the beloved Ford Fiesta, one of Britain’s favorite small cars, has ceased production. While it’s not clear if there was a sudden increase in demand for the new model, it’s likely that the model’s profitability was affected by safety and emissions regulations.

Despite this, the discontinuation of the Ford Fiesta has led to a surge in interest in older models. Car & Classic, a classifieds website, reported a 70% increase in searches for Fiestas during the weekend when production ended.

This raises the question of whether the value of old Fiestas has also increased. While it’s unlikely that many people are buying Fiestas as an investment, it’s reasonable to assume that prices would rise when demand goes up.

Great resonance: the Yad Vashem exhibition ‘Flashes of Memory’ in Berlin extended – educational partner Volkswagen continues to support visitor formats

In response to the tremendous interest of museum visitors, the exhibition ‘Flashes of Memory. Photography during the Holocaust’ will be extended to January 28, 2024, in the ‘Museum für Fotografie’ in Berlin. The Volkswagen Group will continue to act as an educational partner of the exhibition project, which was originally scheduled to run from March 24 to August 20, 2023. The exhibition in Berlin is on loan from the international remembrance center Yad Vashem and marks the first time that the exhibit has been displayed outside Jerusalem.

As part of its partnership, the Volkswagen Group will help provide educational opportunities to a broad audience for five more months. Volkswagen will continue to support the visitor formats ‘Ask Me!’ and ‘Close up!’. The program ‘Ask Me!’ is available to visitors on Thursday afternoons, Friday afternoons, and weekend afternoons. On these days, guides provide interested visitors with in-depth information about the exhibits and answer questions. The ‘Close Up!’ series will also be extended through the end of the exhibition. During public discussions, experts in such related disciplines as photography and film, history, Holocaust studies, and Jewish studies share their thoughts on the photographs and films on display. Visitors may use both formats free of charge. Since the exhibition opened, a large number of trainees and graduates of training programs at Volkswagen have learned valuable information during tours through the exhibition and in discussions.

‘We are very proud of the decision to extend the exposition of Yad Vashem’s exhibition Flashes of Memory. Photography during the Holocaust now on display at Berlins Museum für Fotografie,’ says Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. ‘I am filled with profound gratitude for the overwhelming response from visitors. This remarkable showcase stands as a testament to the collective commitment towards preserving the memory of the Holocaust and illuminating the darkest chapters of history.

The significance of this exhibition lies not only in its poignant portrayal of the Holocaust’s harrowing reality but in its unique multilayer perspective. Through the lens of photography, we capture the narratives of the German perpetrator, the Jewish victim, and the liberating armies, intertwining their experiences to form a comprehensive and empathetic portrayal of this tragic era. This mosaic of perspectives serves as a powerful reminder of the human impact, suffering, and resilience amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. The presence of this profound exhibition in the heart of Berlin, a city deeply connected to the Holocaust, sends a resolute signal to the world. It exemplifies how Germany continues to shoulder the responsibility for Holocaust remembrance and awareness. By confronting its past with unyielding courage and preserving historical truth through initiatives like these, Germany sets an exemplar for nations across the globe to foster empathy, tolerance, and vigilance against prejudice and hatred.’

The importance of remembrance culture is also emphasized by Benita von Maltzahn, Head of Volkswagen Culture Engagement: ‘It is extremely important to us that we continuously reiterate together – particularly to the younger generations – how the holocaust came to pass and what fates the countless victims suffered. We do this so that antisemitism, racism, and discrimination can never spread again.’

In the exhibition ‘Flashes of Memory. Photography during the Holocaust’, the Yad Vashem Remembrance Center shows photographs and films that were taken and made of the broadest range of people – perpetrators, victims, and liberators – during the years of the Holocaust. Focal points include the intentions of the photographers and filmmakers as well as the conditions under which the photo documents were made. In the process, the viewing of the images becomes an encounter with their impact.

The partnership for the exhibition is integrated into the comprehensive remembrance work and the Volkswagen Group’s international commitment to culture. For more than 30 years now, the company has been organizing volunteer projects in which trainees support the memorial work in Auschwitz and conduct projects with Holocaust survivors.

Harley CEO Says X440 Bookings In India Are Surpassing Expectations

There is an increasing interest in small to mid-displacement motorcycles, especially outside the US market. In Europe and Asia, the majority of motorcycles on the road are smaller than the typical 1,000cc-plus machines seen in the US. Riders in these regions use their bikes for more than just leisure activities.

In the Asian market, particularly in India, motorcycles with displacements larger than 250cc are considered enthusiast machines. This is why bikes like the newly launched Triumph Speed and Scrambler 400, as well as the Harley-Davidson X440, have become incredibly popular, even though only pre-bookings for these models have opened. The Harley-Davidson X440, in particular, is significant for Indian Harley fans because the brand hasn’t had a stable presence in India in recent years, with Harley-Davidson pulling out of the country in 2020.

However, the Harley-Davidson X440 signifies a renewed commitment by the company in the Indian market. It’s a model developed in collaboration with Hero MotoCorp, one of the established motorcycle manufacturers in India. The Harley X440’s design is ideal for the Indian market as it eliminates the heavyweight nature of the brand’s bigger cruisers, offering a lighter, more agile, and easier-to-ride platform for enthusiasts and commuters to use on a daily basis.

According to Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz, the reception of the new X440 in the Indian market has been extremely positive. He stated, “We’ve been extremely pleased with the reception that the X440 has received since the launch, with pre-orders exceeding our initial expectations.” Zeitz also expressed his belief in the long-term potential of the Indian market, not just for the X440 but for Harley-Davidson overall. He said, “Now I look at India as a long-term opportunity… it’s a huge market overall.”

While Zeitz didn’t provide further details about the brand’s plans for the Indian market, a patent filing by Hero MotoCorp for the Nightster 440 name suggests that the X440 is just the beginning of a new series of small-displacement Harley models. These models are expected to be popular not only in India but also in other Asian markets.