RobiNZ Personal Blog

FIAT Lingotto at Google Earth Hacks

Google Earth Hacks have the a Google Earth kmz location file for FIAT Lingotto; the former FIAT Car production plant with test track on the roof. Google Earth Hacks - File Downloads - Other Famous Buildings - FIAT - Lingotto Read more →

A1 Grand Prix - New Zealand

I haven’t posted much about it but it’s great to see Matt Halliday will be representing New Zealand in the inaugural A1 Grand Prix race this weekend. NZ should honour Colin Giltrap for making this happen. Pity it sort of clashes with Formula One. They are not on at the same time but if I stay up watching A1 till about 03:00(?) and then get up at 04:45 for the F1, Monday will be a very long workday! A1 Grand Prix A1 Team New Zealand TV3 Sport: A1GP ~ 11:55 PM Sunday 25 Sep 2005 'A1GP Motorsport: Race 1 Live'.... Read more →

More on the Fiat/Ford minicar pact

Auto News have more detail on the Fiat/Ford mini car alliance. It seems like a true platform share where no exterior components will be alike rather than a re-badge/nose-job as seen with the C1/107/Aygo trio. Fiat get a “new 500” and Ford a new Ka. Sounds OK so far. I hope this one makes it to NZ as the last sub-Punto Fiats we saw were the old Panda. Maybe a stylish new 500 will have enough “cult status” to justify importing it even if the price isn’t bargain basement. Ford and Fiat make mini-car pact : Auto News Read more →

Mini Transat 2005 News

Yachting World have good coverage of the 2005 Mini Transat. Chris is not competing this time due to family commitments. Yachting World: Mini Transat 05: news index Read more →

Autoblog Podcast from Frankfurt

Autoblog go to Frankfurt and rave about Fiat, Alfa and “the French cars” they cant buy in the USA. Fiat Panda 4x4: 07:45 ~ “Little Hummer” Alfa Romeo Brera: 09:45 ~ “Solid”, “Alfa Romeo is Italian right?” Fiat Grande Punto: 12:50 ~ “Outstanding” Autoblog Podcast 14: From Frankfurt - Autoblog - www.autoblog.com Read more →

What might specials do?

David Farrar has a excellent summary of the impact special votes may have on the final result of the election. David Farrar: What might specials do? Read more →

NZ Election not boring

After a long campaign 2,052,813 votes were counted and there is no result. The gap between the major parties is 1.11% and New Zealand now awaits the count of approx 200,000 special votes. We will await the outcome of coalition deals as the parties try to form a government. It’s probable the current government, Labour Party, will hold power but the worst case could be another election. I doubt anyone could stand going through that in the near future! A bizarre sideshow was provided by a stolen light aircraft buzzing Auckland City near the Prime Ministers electorate and home. The... Read more →

Save Minardi.com - SIGN OUR PETITION

Save Minardi, Red Bull own it now but the name should live on. Today ForzaMinardi.com has learned that Minardi's new owners, Red Bull, consider renaming the team. This would mean that 20 years of F1 history would be lost. ForzaMinardi.com - SIGN OUR PETITION Read more →

Williams F1 lose HP Sponsorship, to BMW?

Pure speculation but blue and white HP logos would fit on a 2006 BMW (Sauber) without clashing with the BMW corporate look, wouldn't they? Williams lose HP sponsorship deal - BBC News Read more →

Fiat Fords or Ford Fiats?

Fiat (new 500) and Ford (new Ka) will share a common platform. Is this a good thing? I’m not sure. Fiat, Ford to Jointly Build Small Cars to Cut Costs - Bloomberg.com: U.S. Read more →