RobiNZ Personal Blog

Fiat 128 Brochures & Magazine Articles

I’ve got photos of my 2nd car somewhere but they are from a pre-digital era, possibly even some 35mm transparencies! Until I find them the articles and brochures on this site are a great reference: www.mirafiori.com - 128 Brochures & Magazine Articles Car of the Year - From CAR, March 1970 My 128 was a 1979 NZ assembled 1300 Bello sedan which I got in the late 80s. It was mechanically sound but a faded orange by then. NZ sun and UV tests paints! Like most 128s, especially the local ones with dubious rust prevention, it eventually dissolved a bit... Read more →

A KiwiAZ sign in Waipu

Saw this in Waipu near the end of my Pedal for Plunket ride. Had to take a photo of this tribute to Kiwi slang captured in a sign. Nice one www.azscaffolding.co.nz! Read more →

Back A Dream in Honour of International Women’s Day, with Kiva

Kiva is a great way to support people around the world through microloans. Kiva gives you the power to help someone work towards improving their life through entrepreneurial activities or education. For a limited time new Kiva users can try it out and back a dream with a commitment-free trial. You can choose a woman whom Kiva should lend $25 to as your initial loan, at no cost to you. Looking at my Kiva portfolio, most likely due to the activities I prefer to fund, there is a pronounced gender bias! Back A Dream in Honour of International Women’s Day... Read more →

Pedalled for Plunket and some cycling karma?

Today I rode Ruakaka to Wellsford for the Pedal For Plunket 2015 ride and it went well. Although State Highway One is busy we had a support car & van following warning of cyclists ahead. The traffic was great, quite a few supportive toots and waves as they went past. The climb up the Brynderwyn Hills, a first for me, was fine. Road works meant the passing lane most the way up the hill was closed to traffic but ok for me to ride. It was great having a lane to myself. I thought I knew this road but was... Read more →

Two yachts, but what a contrast

Both of these are just a way to have fun on the water, but I think the foreground one is more my style (and budget). ‘Serene’ is 133.9m long (439’3” of those other lengthy measure units for US readers) and can cruise at 15kts… I’d cycled into town to check out the Volvo Round the World race yachts. Not quite the mega-race-yacht spectacle of days gone by but they look great in the viaduct. Beautiful summer evening even though it was actually the first day of Autumn. Read more →

A podcast recorded in a Rolls Royce?

I'm listening to "NZ Motoring Podcast 5: The Luxury Car Special", which was recorded in a Rolls Royce. You can listen to it directly here: http://www.globalvoicemedia.com/stats/nzmotoringpodcast005.mp3 View the podcast's website from here http://nzmotoringpodcast.com/ Read more →