Tag Archives: working

News

Watch This Rusty 1960s Jawa Undergo Meticulous Restoration

Part of the joy of the two-wheeled lifestyle is working on our motorcycles. There’s something satisfying about doing maintenance, repair, and restoration work yourself, even if doing so doesn’t result in a perfect finish. On top of that, we get to save some money in the process. Needless to say, like all things in life, wrenching on bikes is a learning process, and takes lots of time and skill.

Personally, with a garage consisting entirely of modern motorcycles, I don’t find myself wrenching on my bikes all too often, save for the periodic oil change, brake pad replacement, and whatnot. My friends who own classic bikes, on the other hand, seem to be working on their never-ending projects incessantly. I live vicariously through them, and of course, the multitude of satisfying restoration videos you can find on YouTube.

Watch This Rusty 1960s Jawa Undergo Meticulous Restoration

Speaking of which, a recent video posted on YouTube by a channel called Rescue Story has had me watching it over and over again. The video shows the meticulous restoration process of a rusty old 1960s Jawa, and the detailed step-by-step procedures needed to bring it back to its former glory. The bike is obviously in terrible shape, and looks like it’s been exposed to the elements for years. The video is curated in a very satisfying, ASMR style, so it makes for some easy watching, even if it’s more than 20 minutes long.

As with all restoration videos, it starts with a complete teardown of the bike. After each and every single part has been dismantled, the builder goes on to work on the engine, where the crankcases are dismantled. The cylinder head and other parts of the engine are then given a thorough clean with a variety of chemicals, and then painted and finished to look brand new. The engine is then put back together, looking as fresh as it did back when it was brand new.

Watch This Rusty 1960s Jawa Undergo Meticulous Restoration
Watch This Rusty 1960s Jawa Undergo Meticulous Restoration

What I found particularly interesting was the restoration of the fuel tank. Once it was taken apart, it was clear that it was in terrible condition thanks to the sheer amount of rust that had built up. While other people would resort to sourcing a replacement tank in better condition, Rescue Story, as its name suggests, decided to rescue it. There were quite a lot of procedures involved – from removing all the rust, to buffing the bare metal surfaces, and handling a couple of dents and dimples. One of the coolest parts just has to be the D.I.Y. chrome plating they did on the tank garnishes.

The video concludes with a bunch of beauty shots of the fuel tank, strangely surrounded by nature as if it were some sort of wild animal. It seems that the whole bike isn’t finished yet, as the video only shows the restoration of the engine and fuel tank. This leaves the frame, wheels, suspension, and pretty much everything else still left to cover.

Indeed, restoration projects like this can take months, if not years to complete. As such, the saying “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey,” really applies here. I’ll be sure to check back once the rest of the build has been shared. In the meantime, check out Rescue Story’s YouTube channel for a bunch of other satisfying restoration projects.

Motorsport

New Variant of the Alpine A110 Spotted Testing at the Nurburgring

New spy shots have revealed that Alpine is working on another version of the A110. While the exact name of the model is still unknown, the photos suggest that it will be a more powerful and extreme version of the already capable sports coupe.

The prototype of this new A110 variant is currently being developed on the Nürburgring and nearby roads. The front of the car resembles the existing A110 R model, but with some noticeable enhancements. It features canards on the corners and an additional layer for the front splitter. The hood also has larger inlets near the base of the windshield.

Alpine A110 Extreme Spy Shots

Alpine A110 Extreme Spy Shot

2023 Alpine A110 R

2023 Alpine A110 R

The side profile of the car remains largely unchanged. It is equipped with polished wheels featuring Y-shaped spokes, as well as slotted front and rear brake discs with red calipers. The ride height appears to be even lower than the current A110 R variant.



News

How The Submarines Of The Civil War Were Constructed

In the midst of the Civil War, both the Union and Confederacy were striving to develop submersibles. However, it was the Confederacy that successfully turned submarines into practical weapons to counter the Union blockade of Confederate ports. One notable inventor in this endeavor was Horace Lawson Hunley, who designed a vessel called The Pioneer in 1861. Around the same time, the U.S. Navy also commissioned its first submarine, known as the Alligator, which weighed 275 tons and was painted green.

Both the H.L. Hunley and the Alligator were constructed using a combination of iron and wood, and required human power to operate. The Hunley, manned by an eight-person crew, relied on seven individuals to manually power its single propeller. On the other hand, the Alligator initially employed 16 individuals to row oars by hand, but later switched to a hand-cranked propeller. Each submarine could only reach speeds of approximately four knots (around 4.5 mph). Nevertheless, these vessels were considered highly advanced for their time, incorporating features familiar to modern submariners such as ballast tanks and movable hydroplanes for direction control.

However, the weapons utilized by these submarines differed significantly. Confederate submersibles employed “spar torpedoes,” which bore little resemblance to the torpedoes we are familiar with today. Essentially, these were contact mines equipped with barbed points attached to a long boom extending from the front of the vessels. In an attack, the submarine would aim to ram its target and ideally embed the barbed mine into the hull. The attacker would then retreat and trigger the detonation from a safe distance by detaching the mine and unspooling a trigger cable.

Cars, News

Elon Musk Reveals Discussions with ‘Major OEM’ to License Tesla FSD Tech

Tesla has spent years developing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Autopilot technology, which combines hardware and software to enable real-time environment analysis and perform various tasks such as controlling car speed, steering on city streets, responding to traffic lights, changing lanes, parking automatically, and more. Elon Musk tweeted in April 2023 that Tesla’s self-driving technology is the most advanced in the real world. However, integrating this advanced technology with other electric car brands would be a challenging and time-consuming process to achieve the same level of integration and efficiency found in Tesla vehicles.

Even if Tesla can overcome computational challenges using powerful supercomputers like Dojo, safety remains a crucial concern. Tesla has faced scrutiny over the safety of its Autopilot and FSD systems, leading to multiple investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into Tesla vehicle accidents involving driver assistance technology. Given these technical and safety obstacles, Tesla may not find as many interested parties for its FSD licensing offer as it did with the NACS charging standard. However, electric vehicle manufacturers may be tempted by the opportunity to bypass the extensive time and financial investment needed to develop their own driver-assist technology on par with Tesla’s system.

NewsNew

ROLAND HINZ & ME

The year was 1980 when I started working at Dirt Bike Magazine. Two weeks prior, the ownership (Bill Golden) had hired an executive to run the day to day operations and play a role in the planning and execution of the two magazines we had, Motocross Action and Dirt Bike. Roland Hinz had come from a successful job working at entertainment mags (Rona Barrett’s Gossip and Hollywood) turning them into big money makers. He was a magazine guru, a newsstand specialist and he had a passion for dirt bikes.

Roland had come into an environment where huge egos worked diligently to protect their fiefdoms and were violently opposed to most of the ideas he brought to the table. Editorial meetings forecasting our plans for the month, cover subject meetings and cover line control and working within a budget led his vision. The reigning staff boiled.

What we didn’t know was that Roland was there to rescue a sinking ship that was hemorrhaging money. His goal was to pay off the debt, then purchase the company. What I remember was that things in the office got tense. I was a full-blown dirt bike enthusiast and was just excited to be working for the magazine. There was talk of anarchy, continuous criticism and zero respect for the future owner of Hi Torque Publications. I was afraid that I’d lose my job right after getting the best job on the planet.

Roland was tough but had enough patience to kickstart the change in the company. By the time he paid off the debt and became the owner, the Editors embraced his plan and amazingly, we flourished. I remember color meetings (where we chose the photos for the magazine and the main cover image) that lasted for hours. He was always enthusiastic about cover lines, knowing that they had the ability to attract attention at the newsstand if they had a good hook. Forty years later, Roland played a role in every cover line that appeared on his magazines.

He was good at allowing the editors with a passion for the sport to drive the content. We just had to convince him how this was good for the reader, beneficial for the advertiser, and aligned with the interests of the newsstand buyer. I remember when Paul [Clipper] tested a Honda ATC in Dirt Bike. It was a highly debated move, disliked by the purists in the office. Roland saw it as an emerging sport and started Dirt Wheels magazine. For decades, it was his most successful magazine.

In 1981, while at a Husqvarna product intro at DeAnza Cycle Park, all the press members got a chance to test ride every new model in their line. Roland was on a trail ride with Mark Blackwell, I was out riding in the canyons with Dick Burleson. Our two groups met head-on in a tight canyon with near misses among the riders. I collided directly with one of the riders. It was Roland. I thought that it was the end of my job. My boss was more scared than mad, and we never talked about the incident again.

There were some unique aspects to the man. He was incredibly successful yet drove a Volkswagen Thing to work every day for years. In the decades that I worked for him, he always wore shorts and tennis shoes. And when it came to religion, Roland was a devout Christian. Every year at our Christmas party, he would start it with a prayer, allowing non-believers to leave if they were offended. After my wife passed away following a long battle with cancer, Roland sat with me in my office every day, talking about life, death, and God, always ending with “are you good?”

When I started working for Roland, I was young and afraid of the stern German. We would clash over covers, argue about budgets for testing and travel, and in over four decades, nothing changed. Except that we became friends. He was a mentor, and in a changing world where magazines were seen as a dying industry, we remained profitable.

Roland passed away this weekend after a long battle with his health. I will truly miss this man. He was a teacher, a tough and strict boss, and had the gift of taking care of the people who made great things happen which was undoubtedly a catalyst for Hi Torque’s success. Rest in peace, my friend.

-Tom Webb

NewsNew

HERITAGE HUSKY TX300 PROJECT

We have been working with Dick Wilk for a long time. He is an experienced desert racer turned tuner and suspension specialist known for building powerful machines and improving their suspension. Recently, Dick brought us his latest creation based on the Husqvarna TX300. He was amazed by the stock engine, calling it the best 300 engine he has ever worked with. Despite his passion for modifying engines, he decided to leave this one stock, an unusual choice for him.

In addition to the engine, Dick put a lot of effort into upgrading the suspension. He installed his Hybrid AER kit on the air fork, which includes new valving and a spring setup. The goal was to improve versatility, provide a more comfortable ride, and achieve better balance. As for the shock, he made modifications to enhance traction, improve performance in rough terrain, and make the bike suitable for both desert racing and woods riding.

Dick has a special fondness for Husqvarna motorcycles, having raced them since the early 1980s. So, for his personal machine, he chose graphics that embrace the “Heritage” look. He also installed special wheels, made comfort updates, and added features to enhance high-speed handling and off-road protection. Let’s take a closer look at his modified Husqvarna TX300, the modifications he made, and the reasons behind them.

• Dick opted for a Scalvini cone pipe and silencer to handle the exhaust system of the TX300.

• Being an avid Husqvarna fan, he loved the “Heritage” look of the TX300. Decal Works took care of the graphics while Tusk rotors were added. The bike received black hubs with gold rims, Dunlop tires, and Nitromousse foam inserts in both wheels.

• For off-road riding, Dick installed a Seat Concepts Comfort saddle to provide better feel and traction while riding. The comfort shape of the seat maintains a similar contour to the stock seat at the front, allowing the rider’s legs to remain close together. Towards the middle, the seat tapers out to distribute the rider’s weight over a larger area. The Element cover of the seat features four traction ribs.

Custom gold/black wheels, Dunlop MX33 tires, a Primary drive chain and sprockets, Flexx bars, and a Scotts steering damper enhance Dick’s TX300.

The rear end of the bike underwent significant changes to match the performance of the Hybrid forks. A stiffer spring was installed for a 200-pound rider, and the valving was adjusted to provide smoother action, improved rebound, and increased resistance to bottoming out. The new no-tools adjusters made testing easier, although the rebound adjustment was a bit challenging. Nitromousse foam tubes were added inside the Dunlop MX33 tires, and the bike also received Tusk discs, sprockets, and a gold O-ring chain. The stock white plastic was replaced with OEM white plastic covered with graphics designed by Dicks Racing and produced by Decal Works. Additionally, a P3 carbon fiber skid plate with a linkage guard replaced the stock plastic skid plate.

Dick chose Flexx handlebars and a Scotts steering damper mounted on a BRP mount for improved feel, comfort, and stability. He also addressed the vulnerability of the radiator hose located between the frame and exhaust pipe. To prevent potential damage from rocks or debris, he added a tidy-white plastic splitloom protector.

Dicks Racing has been refining the AER forks since their introduction in 2017. Dick’s Hybrid system incorporates a new cartridge that accepts a spring while still utilizing the AER cartridge at a significantly reduced pressure (140psi down to 55psi). This eliminates the initial harshness caused by the excessive AER pressure. The Hybrid system retains the lightweight, progressive, and adjustable characteristics of the AER forks while providing a plush, controlled, and capable performance on big hits. STR also developed special push-button bleeders to complete the package.

Dick Wilk was impressed by the response and strength of the new powerplant. The throttle-body injection system and the electronically controlled power valve have greatly improved the powerband compared to the previous generation. The only modification he made to the engine was adding a Scalvini cone pipe and silencer. Most of his development time was spent on suspension tuning. The all-new frame required new settings to achieve the desired results. Both the front and rear suspension needed adjustments to provide better performance in rocky sections while maintaining proper support through whoops and G-outs.

VolvoCars

Media advisory – not for publication: Volvo Cars at SMMT Test Day 2023

At Volvo Cars, we are busy working towards our ambition of being a fully electric car maker by 2030. There’s the new EX30 small SUV and EX90 large SUV on the horizon, but we have also recently updated our existing pure electric models – the C40 and XC40 Recharge. With a longer range and improved efficiency, these upgraded models are both now capable of more than 300 miles on a single charge.

The international media launch of these (pre-production) cars was in late April, but we have secured two left-hand-drive models from Sweden to bring to SMMT Test Day. This is the first time that anyone will have driven these cars in the UK, so please visit the Volvo stand to sample them.

We will also have the V60 and XC90 plug-in hybrid models to test, complete with our latest Android-powered infotainment system, along with the rugged V90 Cross Country in a rather fetching Bright Dusk colour.

These are the cars that will be available to drive on the hill route at Millbrook:

•    C40 Recharge RWD (updated, single-motor, rear-wheel-drive version)

•    XC40 Recharge Twin AWD (updated, dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version)

•    V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 AWD

•    V90 Cross Country B5 AWD

•    XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T8 AWD

And as if that wasn’t enough, there will be a special appearance from one of our iconic heritage models – an immaculate, low-mileage 240 GLT from 1989 will be on static display.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Volvo if we didn’t add a little Swedish flavour to Test Day, so we invite you to join us for Fika throughout the day. A variety of sweet treats, tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available if you fancy a break and a chat with the team. We all look forward to catching up with you.

See you on Thursday!

The Volvo Car UK PR team

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Descriptions and facts in this press material relate to Volvo Car UK’s car range. Described features might be optional. All information is correct at time of going to press and may be altered without prior notification.