Don't worry about this Beetle rusting out -- but beware of the termites
Wood you want to drive this car?
Auto lovers in Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina, check out this unusual Volkswagen Beetle, which owner Momir Bojic, 50, replaced the sheet metal with oak tiles. The wooden Beetle is road-worthy and Bojic occasionally drives it around town, where it often becomes a moving attraction.
Fancy gadget-holder a smart solution
While it may be a good thing that portable electronics manufacturers put all of their research and development acumen into creating better products, it wouldn't hurt to put a bit of effort into bundling in a good device holder. I cannot count how many times I've been victimized by a GPS unit dismounting from a shoddy windshield mount and hitting me square in the face during hard braking. For those who wish the contraption holding their precious gadgets in place were constructed as more than an afterthought comes Bracketron's line of high-quality mounting solutions, featuring smart adjustable wings, durable material and quick lock-and-release levers.
To be a fine producer of vehicle gadget mounts can often be a thankless task, but those dissatisfied with their current mounting solutions may wish to have a look at the company's offerings and may be inclined to express some gratitude with their wallets.
Prices vary; www.bracketron.com.
Brain removes uncertainty
The Battery Brain is a unique value proposition. It is a device that attaches to the car battery and monitors voltage levels, activating a solenoid when levels are low to isolate the battery from the electrical circuit and preserve the charge needed to start the engine. In other words, it'll make sure you never again return to a dead battery when you leave your headlights on at the Park 'N Fly. The base Bronze low-cost model offers an intriguing cost-benefit question. Most of us rarely, if ever, end up with a dead battery. So, is the frustration associated with this rare occurrence considerable enough to spend $60 on the possibility that it may happen? It's difficult to gauge exactly the value of mitigating such frustration until the car battery is actually dead. Thus, not knowing in advance the value one might place on mitigating frustration when the car battery needs juice, we'll suggest considering this inexpensive Battery Brain to remove the uncertainty altogether.
$60; visit www.batterybrain.com.
Simulator expensive but not as much as a race car
The Motion Pro II Racing Simulator, built by CXC Simulations, was designed with the assumption that I am unlikely to be able to afford it. This stand-alone race-car simulator includes a force feedback steering system and a full-motion construction that emulates the sensation of an actual race car. Perspective is provided by way of three HD 1080p 46-inch LCD screens as well as integrated 5.1 surround-sound piping in race-car audio at 505 watts. You can even race friends over a direct network or via high-speed Internet.
US$20,000; www.cxcsimulations.com.
-- Canwest News Service
Mopar to build limited-edition Dodge Challenger to NHRA specs
The first factory-prepped dragsters built in 40 years are set to start rolling off Chrysler's Brampton, Ont., assembly line.
The last models were based on 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas -- both went on to solidify the Mopar brand as a quarter-mile force. Mopar will build a minimum of 100 Challenger Drag Race Package Cars to National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) requirements.
Based on the production version of the Dodge Challenger SRT8, the wheelbase will be shortened by 12.5 millimetres and the body will be lightened -- 450 kilograms will be lopped off the stock Challenger.
The prospective dragster/customer will then have a choice of installing three powerplants -- 6.1-litre or 5.7-litre Hemis or a 5.9-litre Magnum Wedge.
All the NHRA Challengers will be offered with manual or automatic transmissions.
Each dragster will carry an identification plate with a sequential serial number.
-- Canwest News Service
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