London 2012: Michael Phelps motivated by racing Ryan Lochte - BBC News
Swimming superstar Michael Phelps has told BBC Sport he is relishing going head-to-head with fellow American Ryan Lochte at the Olympics.
The pair are due to meet at the US trials which begin in Omaha on Monday, with both aiming to qualify for numerous events in London.
"Being able to watch some of the things he's done and be on the receiving end of some of the defeats he has given me has definitely motivated me, just because I hate to lose," said Phelps.
"One of the cool things about being able to race him, it doesn't matter what shape I'm in, I always leave every ounce of energy in the pool.
"He brings every drop that I have out of my system."
Phelps, 26, won a record eight gold medals in Beijing four years ago, taking his tally to 14 and making him the most successful Olympian ever.
However, Lochte, who has three Olympic golds to his name, is rivalling him for supremacy in London, having won five titles, one more than Phelps, at last year's World Championships.
Phelps says he is looking forward to the challenge of taking on Lochte and told BBC Sport's Matt Slater that he does not like finishing second to anyone.
"I can't stand losing," said Phelps. "It doesn't matter what it is, I always have to be the best.
"I'll practise and do anything, work on some of the small things that make you better. I just despise losing."
Phelps and Lochte are due to face each other in six events at the trials.
Lochte, 27, is entered in 11 events and Phelps seven, although they are unlikely to compete in all of them.
They are scheduled to meet in the 400m individual medley on Monday, then later in the week in the 100m and 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly.
"He's somebody I enjoy racing against and look forward to racing a lot over this year," added Phelps.
Phelps has admitted he struggled for motivation after Beijing, missing six weeks of practice and being suspended from swimming competitively for three months in 2009 after photographs were published appearing to show him smoking cannabis.
Asked about his performances in the pool, he responded: "2009 were OK, but 2010 was a joke. I mean, it was just horrendous.
"I know it was all because of the decisions that I made. Every choice you make, there comes consequences. I may have made the wrong choice but I was able to learn from it, I was able to grow up from it.
"Getting back into it wasn't that good, wasn't that fun, but I had a lot of motivation. Some of the races I didn't want to remember always popped into my head and fired me up even more.
"It's a good thing I was able to go through what I went through and it's kind of going to help fuel the fire."
The Baltimore-native knows his rivals got closer to him while he was not focused on the pool, but he remains confident heading into London.
"I'm playing catch-up," he said. "While they have been working, I've been sitting around doing nothing. It's not easy but it makes it more interesting and it makes it a little more fun. We're going to get there."
Among the others in action in Nebraska are 17-year-old star Missy Franklin and Olympic veterans Natalie Coughlin are Dara Torres, the latter trying to reach her sixth Olympic Games at the age of 45.
London 2012: this week's best events in London, from Wimbledon to art and architecture festivals - Daily Telegraph
London Festival of Architecture
London’s standout buildings and design talents are the focus of the London Festival of Architecture, which this year pays tribute to the forthcoming Olympic Games with the theme The Playful City. During the festival’s two-week run a series of roving hubs will be set up at boroughs throughout the city to engage with local residents, while a varied programme of one-off special events and ongoing exhibitions cater to architecture aficionados of all levels. Although the focus is on London the complementary International Architecture and Design Showcase goes a long way in expanding the festival’s international scope. For three months from June 21, 50 international embassies and national cultural institutes across the capital will open their doors and display works by their most celebrated designers and architects.
When: until July 8. (The International Architecture and Design Showcase continues until September 23.)
Where: citywide
How much: prices vary
Masterpiece London
Three years old this year, Masterpiece London has already grown to be one of the capital’s leading art fairs. The focus here is on luxury goods so although all manner of objects are on display the prices are high – buyers here are often wealthy investors rather than casual visitors who’ve happened upon something beautiful. Vintage jewellery, historic automobiles and vast collections of art are all on show, with the social highlight likely to be the midsummer party in aid of CLIC Sargent on July 3.
When: June 27 – July 4
Where: South Grounds, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3 4SR
Tube: Sloane Square
How much: from £20
London 2012 Festival, London and nationally
The Olympics begin on July 27, but in advance of this massive sporting spectacle London and the country as a whole will be joining together to celebrate the London 2012 Festival. The culmination of the four-year Cultural Olympiad – the Olympic Games’ cultural complement – the festival sees cultural organisations, landmarks and artists join together to host a series of ambitious events that showcase British creativity at its best. In London next month’s BT River of Music festival sees a series of stages along the Thames host free concerts by artists such as the Scissor Sisters and the Noisettes – each different stage will represent a different continent so expect exceptionally diverse experiences and settings dependent on where you station yourself.There’ll also be an expanded Proms programme that will see Wallace and Gromit make an appearance; a celebration of Shakespeare with Shakespeare: Staging the World at the British Museum and countless special events for communities in every part of the city. Keep up to date on what’s happening when and where through our London 2012 Festival section.
When: until September 9
Where: throughout London, and nationally
How much: costs vary
City of London Festival, the City
The Goldner Quartet at last year's City of London Festival. Image: Robert Piwko/City of London Festival
Fifty years old in 2012, the City of London Festival returns again this year with an extensive programme of concerts, exhibitions and recitals all held in spectacular landmark locations throughout the City. This year’s theme is City of London – Trading Places with the World, and with a nod towards the Olympics, it explores the history of the City and its relationship with other regions throughout the world. With events taking place over 34 days there’s plenty of entertainment on offer but highlights include the English National Ballet’s performances of two new commissions for the festival by Anthony Downson and Van Le Ngoc, the temporary installation of live music sculptures at Tower Bridge and Monument and a series of free lunchtime concerts by musicians from the Guildhall School.
When: until July 27
Where: throughout the City
How much: prices vary
Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, Greenwich
Reliably engaging and innovative, the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival fuses theatre, dance, art and music to create a ten-day-long cultural spectacular. This year highlights include the world premiere of Crow by the Handspring Puppet Company, best known for their work with the National Theatre production of War Horse; the return of the Greenwich Fair and the Word on the Street series of outdoor theatre performances. As ever, festival organisers have done a good job of making many of the major events and performances free and open to all.
When: until June 30
Where: throughout Greenwich
How much: prices vary
Free Range Art and Design 2012; The Old Truman Brewery
Brick Lane becomes even more vibrant in mid-summer, with the return of the annual Free Range Art and Design show. Lasting two months, the continually changing exhibition showcases works by some of the country’s most talented young creatives, with displays featuring art, photography, textiles, illustration, interiors and product design. This is the biggest show for graduates of art and design in Europe so you can expect to discover some exceptionally promising emerging talents if you visit. For those inspired to learn more, a series of workshops and talks run alongside the main exhibitions.
When: until July 16
Where: The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
Tube: Liverpool Street
How much: free
London Wonderground, Southbank Centre
The Boom Boom Club at this year's London Wonderground Photo: Boom Boom Club
Cabaret, circus and music are all fused at the all-summer-long London Wonderground, now on at the Southbank Centre. In its inaugural year, the free-spirited festival is being held in a 1920s Spiegeltent and brings a Coney Island-style celebration of the curious and eccentric to the South Bank. The headline production is Cantina, a sultry combination of acrobatics, vaudeville, magic and music intended for adults, while there will also be performances from Irish chanteuse Camille O’Sullivan and playful cabaret shows hosted by the Boom Boom Club.
When: until September 30
Where: Jubilee Gardens, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Tube: Waterloo
How much: prices vary
Udderbelly Festival, the Southbank Centre
Image: Belinda Lawley
Now in its fourth year, the Udderbelly Festival has already made a significant impact on Londoners thanks to its excellent comedy programme and distinctive venue – performances are held in a huge, partially inflated, upside-down purple cow. Performing this year are Tim Minchin, Sean Hughes, Andi Osho, Patrick Monahan and many more. As well as comedy, there are family shows, theatre performances and musical experimentations.
When: until July 8
Where: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd London SE1 8XX
Tube: Waterloo
How much: prices vary
Anxious wait for Olympic hopefuls as Gemili ponders London decision - BBC News
Dwain Chambers celebrates his 100m victory at the Trials. But will he secure an Olympic spot? Picture: Getty
Some, like Dwain Chambers, 800m man Mohammed Muktar and former world 1500m silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey, have their fate in their own hands. For these two and others who finished in the top two in Birmingham this weekend but without the 'A' standard, they have until 1 July to secure the required mark and guarantee their selection.
The European Championships in Helsinki, which begin on Wednesday, will provide the ideal stage for some.
Others, like long jumper Lorraine Ugen, whose second place on Sunday came with a leap just a single centimetre off the all-important 'A', will be desperately seeking good conditions at a far more low-key meet.
Ugen is one of the more unlucky ones. The 'A' standard for the women's long jump is 6.75 metres, in an event where 6.76m was good enough for a world bronze medal last summer.
With Shara Proctor already nailed on for long jump selection following her Trials win in a new British record of 6.95m, Ugen is up against one of the unshakeable principles of UK Athletics' selection policy: while an athlete who has two 'B' standards can be picked on discretion, it can only happen if no 'A' athletes have also been picked.
Chambers is a little more fortunate. He needs a far more forgiving 10.18 seconds or less to secure a 100m slot, and Helsinki should see him do it comfortably. But even then he, like Dobriskey, has hope; as an athlete with two or more 'A' standards from last summer, he can also benefit from the selectors' discretionary option.
Then there are those who have the 'A' standard but not the top-two finish - European 800m silver medallist Michael Rimmer, 400m hurdler Rhys Williams, 100m man James Dasaolu.
Rimmer will aim to make a convincing case for the discretionary place in Helsinki.
Others - including injured stars like Jenny Meadows - may have to wait with fingers crossed, hoping the selectors both believe that they can improve before London and decide that they can make an impact when they get there.
If that sounds complicated, it reflects the tense, frenetic nature of the entire Trials. Seldom has so much been riding on so many events.
There were athletes who came out of it all with spirits bolstered.
World 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene and reigning 400m Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu showed with their dominant victories that they are getting back towards their best; on-form stars like Shara Proctor, Greg Rutherford and Robbie Grabarz underlined their medal potential in difficult conditions; young stars like Andy Pozzi, Lawrence Okoye and Holly Bleasdale confirmed their burgeoning talents.
In places the quality was high. British records for long jumper Proctor and pole vaulter Bleasdale were all the more impressive for the cold, windy weather.
Adam Gemili drapes the British flag round his shoulders after securing an Olympic spot by finishing second in the 100m. Will he take up the place? Picture: Getty
Elsewhere there was sobering evidence that Olympic qualification is only the first step in a far more difficult process.
A day after Chambers won the 100m in Birmingham in 10.25 secs, Justin Gatlin was winning the US Trials in 9.80 secs. 9.93 secs only got you third. With the Jamaican trials next weekend likely to showcase similar times, British sprinters are, on current form, unlikely to even make the Olympic final.
I said there were three categories. That's not quite true. There is a fourth, as abnormal as it is intriguing: those who have automatic qualification, but aren't yet convinced they should take it up.
Adam Gemili's second place in the 100m, a month after going a tenth of a second under the 'A' standard of 10.18 secs, means he is the sole athlete with this unique decision to make.
Less than a year ago, the 18-year-old former Chelsea trainee's sole aim was to make the relay team for the World Junior championships this summer.
Thanks to a brilliant few months, this rawest of talents (he only switched to athletics full-time at the start of the year) now has an opportunity many far more experienced sprinters would kill for. Whether he will take it is another matter.
Gemili himself seemed unsure at the weekend. His coach Michael Afilaka, wary of the problems experienced by other young sprint talents like Asha Philip and Ashleigh Nelson, says the decision is no more than "51-49" in favour of London.
"If you throw him into the cauldron of Olympics and he gets burned then he might never recover," Afilaka says.
"I'm very clear what that competition is and it's brutal - from getting kitted out to walking into the Olympic Stadium. I've been there, seen it, trust me. He's not just a young kid, he's young to athletics. I'm not saying no, but it really has to be a day-by-day decision."
Should he stay, or should he go? London might be calling, but this is one man who may yet not answer.
Rider fighting for life after Eastbourne crash - eastbourneherald.co.uk
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London 2012 Olympics: Dwain Chambers set for Team GB - Daily Telegraph
Speaking after Saturday's win, Chambers – who had to apologise for swearing into a television camera after crossing the line, said: "I would like to be selected outright.
"If there's a way the selectors can look on my history I will gladly take that opportunity, but hopefully I am able to secure the qualifier in Helsinki.
"It's been rough this summer. Running 10.18 is something that I could do with my eyes closed, but for some reason it's just not materialising this year.
"It (the dream) is alive, there's a rainbow but the pot of gold ain't there yet, I've still got to get the qualifying time."
Although Chambers does not possess the "current" A standard – which relates to times set since April 1 this year – it was noticeable that UKA head coach Charles van Commenee referred to him having 22 other A standards when attempting to explain the selection policy before the trials.
Having those older standards also offers hope to the likes of Lisa Dobriskey, Hannah England and Jenny Meadows, who will all need to rely on being picked when the selection panel meets on July 2, the day after the European Championships finishes and the day before the Olympic team is announced.
Dobriskey finished second in the trials over 1,500m as she continued her recovery from potentially life-threatening blood clots on the lungs, but has decided to focus on her training rather than chasing times in Helsinki.
England, her successor as a World Championship silver medallist, did not compete in Birmingham as she recovers from a spike to her Achilles but will be confident of being selected, while 800m specialist Meadows – who won bronze at the World Championships in 2009 – has not raced all year due to injuries and will need to prove her fitness in Helsinki.
Other athletes will hope to have already done enough to be selected, with European and Commonwealth champion Andy Turner (110m hurdles) and Michael Rimmer (800m) both finishing third in the trials. Neither will compete in Helsinki.
Long jumper Lorraine Ugen, who was just one centimetre from booking her Olympic place in the trials, could not be selected for Helsinki as she was not in the original squad, so the 20-year-old will look to jump 6.75m or better at a low-key meeting in England this week.
A statement from UK Athletics read: "The original squad size of 109 athletes has been reduced to 82 following the weekend's Aviva 2012 Trials.
"Track athletes who have gained automatic qualification for Team GB and other selected athletes have been deselected in order to focus on their preparations for the Olympic Games.
"Field event athletes have been permitted to compete in Helsinki should the additional competition opportunity benefit their overall build-up."
Aviva GB & NI Team squad:
- Men
100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Mark Lewis-Francis
200m: Chris Clarke, Danny Talbot
400m: Richard Buck, Luke Lennon Ford
800m: Mukhtar Mohammed, Gareth Warburton
1500m: James Brewer, Tom Lancashire
5000m: Mo Farah, Rory Fraser, Mitch Goose
10,000m: Keith Gerrard, James Walsh
3000m SC: Luke Gunn, Rob Mullett, James Wilkinson
110m H: Richard Alleyne, Gianni Frankis, William Sharman
400m H: Rhys Williams, Nathan Woodward, Rick Yates
High Jump: Robbie Grabarz, Samson Oni, Tom Parsons
Pole Vault: Luke Cutts, Max Eaves, Andrew Sutcliffe
Long Jump: JJ Jegede, Julian Reid, Chris Tomlinson
Triple Jump: Larry Achike
Shot Put: Carl Myerscough
Discus Throw: Abdul Buhari, Brett Morse, Lawrence Okoye
Hammer Throw: Mark Dry
Decathlon: Ashley Bryant
4x100m: Aikines-Aryeetey, Dwain Chambers, Tyrone Edgar*, James Ellington, Christian Malcolm, Danny Talbot
4x400m: Buck, Michael Bingham, Lennon Ford, Nigel Levine, Rob Tobin, Conrad Williams
- Women
100m: Jeanette Kwakye*, Ashleigh Nelson,
200m: Abi Oyepitan,
400m: Lee McConnell, Kelly Massey, Nicola Sanders
800m: Jenny Meadows, Lynsey Sharp, Jemma Simpson
1500m: Charlene Thomas
5000m: Julia Bleasdale, Helen Clitheroe, Stephanie Twell*
10,000m: Jo Pavey, Charlotte Purdue, Gemma Steel
3000m SC: Hatti Archer
400m H: Meghan Beesley
High Jump: Isobel Pooley
Pole Vault: Sally Peake
Long Jump: Abigail Irozuru, Shara Proctor*
Shot Put: Eden Francis
Discus Throw: Francis, Jade Nicholls
Hammer Throw: Sophie Hitchon, Sarah Holt
Javelin Throw: Goldie Sayers, Laura Whittingham
4x100m: Montell Douglas, Hayley Jones, Kwakye, Nelson, Anyika Onuora
4x400m: Eilidh Child, Shana Cox, Massey, McConnell, Christine Ohuruogu, Sanders - *Participation to be confirmed Tuesday morning
London 2012: Saudi embassy says women will be allowed go to Games - The Guardian
The Saudi embassy in London says the kingdom will permit women to compete in the London Olympics provided they qualify.
The embassy said, in a statement issued Sunday, that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will oversee the participation of women athletes "who can qualify for the games."
An official in Saudi Arabia, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday, said an announcement by King Abdullah about Saudi women's first ever participation in the Olympics was expected some days ago but was postponed after the death of Crown Prince Nayef.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. So far no women have qualified, though athletes in judo and in track and field are considered possibilities.
The Vauxhall Ampera — Experienced By A Doubter - CleanTechnica
The Prius has never excited me. And, in any case, is the relatively energy efficient model really worth getting that excited about? I’m just not sure the green credentials are impressive enough to warrant abandoning conventional cars.
On 100% electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf or Mitsubishi i, I’d still like a bit more range, or a lot more fast-charging stations, before going for one of them.
So, how is the Ampera, a so-called E-REV (extended range electric vehicle), any different? Well, put simply, the wheels are always turned by an electric motor, but there’s a 74 bhp, 1.4 litre petrol engine to help things along if need be. In other words, electric will take you as far as it can on its own, and then a relatively efficient petrol-driven generator kicks in to lend a hand.
It’s a clever idea, and the judges at the Geneva Motor Show obviously thought so too, naming it the ‘Car of the Year’. Clean, green motoring, with back-up. Great — no more range-anxiety. But is this a car you’d relish seeing outside your house and driving to work every day? Here’s what I thought when I took it for a spin:
Looks Matter!
The Ampera looks like a normal car. Hardly a ringing endorsement, but, for many, that’s important. In fact, it looks like a really nice normal car, with a curvy roofline and cool boomerang headlights (flavour of the month for Vauxhall).
The solid aerodynamics are very apparent from the front, particularly in the design of the wing-mirrors. In fact, I much prefer the Ampera from the front. The high-positioned lights at the back seem to create a slight impression of bulkiness.
How It All Works
The technology used by Vauxhall’s engineers for the Ampera sets out to solve the age-old problem of electric vehicles: zero emissions = not the best range! This is indeed an age-old problem, with the first electric vehicles being designed over 100 years ago. So did they crack it?
Well, for journeys of 25-50 miles, with a fully charged battery, you can be satisfied with the knowledge that you’re running on pure electricity. The lithium-ion batteries in the Ampera offer 2-3 times more power than the NiMH (nickel metal hydride) versions found in conventional hybrids. So, there’s plenty of juice on full charge, but when they become totally depleted, something happens:
The 1.4 petrol engine swings into action to power an electricity generator, which tops up the electric motor’s battery. With this system, you can drive on for up to 310 more miles!
So, at all times, the Ampera’s wheels are turned by electric power, which is a significant engineering step forward. Plus, the regenerative electro-hydraulic brake system converts braking energy into electricity, which is constantly fed back into the motor. This switches to friction braking when the battery is fully charged.
Driving The Ampera
I’m sure you can imagine how odd it is to move from stationary to 60mph in 9 seconds, with no noise! The weirdness of this was what first struck me when driving the Ampera. I found it very disconcerting at first (not least on behalf of passers-by who didn’t hear me coming!), but pretty soon I loved it.
Lots of people have observed that it’s rather like flying, and I see their point. Cruising around long S-bends at decent speed, in absolute quiet, is a really fun experience. The Ampera features hydraulic ride bushings on both suspensions, which helps to preserve the feeling of a smooth, effortless ride even on less than perfect roads.
The all-round performance is, unsurprisingly, very similar to that of the Astra. The solid build and rack-mounted power steering combines with McPherson strut front suspension, to produce sensitive and responsive handling.
Practicality — Is This A ‘Real’ Car?
So, the Ampera offers zero CO2 emissions on the electric motor, plus decent drive quality. But what would the reality be of owning one of these cars? For many people, the petrol equivalent, the Astra, is a very practical and reliable family car. Could the Ampera fill its shoes?
Well, for starters, there’s the drawback that it only has 2 backseats. For some families that ends the debate right there. But Vauxhall chose to sacrifice a third back seat by positioning the battery compartment where it would have been, in order to preserve the maximum possible boot space. That was probably quite a shrewd move, as, together with the absence of range-anxiety, it makes the Ampera a car that can deal with family trips and holidays (for families of 3 or 4 at least).
The driving area is not difficult to figure out. There are 2 colour LCD screens, on the dash and at the top of the centre console. The dashboard screen displays how many miles you have left on battery power and the miles remaining with the petrol generator. The centre screen gives you control of the entertainment system, temperature and so on.
I was pleased to discover that there are 2 horns available to the driver. The first is the usual full volume blast, whilst the second is gentler little ‘toot’, for alerting pedestrians who might be oblivious to your silent approach.
Filling up the Ampera with petrol for its petrol generator is done in the usual way, but what about charging the battery? Well, on the other side of the car to the filler cap is the connection point for the charge cord. Simply push it in, press the button and attach the plug to any standard 240V power supply.
It really is wonderfully simple to recharge your car using an ordinary wall socket, as you would a camera or phone! It takes about 6 hours to reach full charge, so if this were your main car it would simply be a case of plugging it in every night or so. The estimated cost per charge is around, wait for it, £1!
Safety Points
An electric car obviously presents a few unique safety challenges. But, according to Vauxhall, there are about 500 tests constantly running to check the battery is in good condition and at the right temperature. As a result, there’s actually far less chance of the Ampera catching fire than a conventional petrol car.
80% of the Ampera’s body is comprised of high-strength steel, and there are frontal, side, knee and curtain airbags. A handy ‘ISOFIX’ system makes it really easy to attach a child’s seat. The all-round safety record of the Ampera earned it the maximum 5-star EURO NCAP rating.
Summary
I think there’s no doubt the Ampera is a big step forward for electric motoring. It’s more than just a token for short trips to the shops! With a spacious interior, large boot, and complete absence of range-anxiety, this ticks all the boxes for a main family car.
Often the most groundbreaking products don’t actually invent something truly new, but make existing technology more applicable to the lives of ordinary people. With the Ampera, I think Vauxhall have just opened the door to realistic and practical electric motoring.
Author: Josh Austin works for County Motor Works, which have been new and used car dealers in Essex since 1907. He is a motoring enthusiast and has had the chance to put the entire current Vauxhall range through its paces.
Image: Ampera at Geneva Motor Show via Gustavo Fadel / Shutterstock.com
Rihanna treats Hackney Weekend to a cracking view of her fishnet-clad crotch before hitting east London (in the same t-shirt as Rita Ora... awkward) - Daily Mirror
Rihanna closed Hackney Weekend in east London last night wearing the smallest, most pointless pair of tights there ever was. It was as if she couldn't be bothered to deal with a ladder, so rather than taking her shorts off and taking her tights off and putting her shorts back on again (talk about laborious), she just lopped the bottom three quarters off of her nylons.
After a surprise appearance during Jay Z's set on Saturday night (watch it here, it gave Picture Bitch goosebumps and everything) , Rihanna looked sexier than ever as she performed during the climax of Radio 1's festival in east London.
Aside from the fishnet cycling shorts, Rihanna looked as if she'd just stepped off the streets of Shoreditch, wearing unique sunglasses and a customised leather jacket over a relatively normal (if not rather small) pair of shorts and a t-shirt.
Watch her doing her thing on stage last night - to the sound of Disturbia..
Following the show, Rihanna looked like one of the locals as she hit a small pub called The Birdcage in Hackney - usually full of edgy types like Alexa Chung and Peaches Geldof.
Wearing the same outfit, she was snapped having a few pints with her entourage before heading back to her hotel - after apparently being told that it was Rita Ora's turn to wear the t-shirt.
Given that they're always being compared to one another, Rita and Rihanna have probably decided to just start sharing everything - instantly doubling their wardrobe. Mind, they'll have to come up with some sort of rota to avoid situations like these.
Rita was snapped hitting Soho wearing exactly the same leopard print t-shirt and a Rihanna-style visor in the early hours of this morning. Awkward.
Shall we see if a fishnet tight comes in our list of Rihanna's most daring moments? YES LET'S.
PH CARPOOL: VAUXHALL VXR8 BATHURST S - Pistonheads
Name: Gary Handa
Car: Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst S 6.0
Owned since: October 2011
Previously owned: Boxster S, MX5 Supercharged, Mitsubishi Galant VR-4, 360hp Mk4 Golf ... and, er, quite a few others....
Why I bought it:
With the imminent arrival of our first child, I was on the look-out for a four-door saloon.
But...after the tragic loss of some close friends last year, I decided that I never wanted to be in a position when I was older to look back and say 'I wish I'd done that'. So I knew it had to be loud, rorty and with a completely anti-social thumping great V8 - definitely not your usual four-door 'family' car.
I was all set to sign up for a C63 AMG, when my wife suggested buying something instead of leasing. And after seeing Hammond's review on Top Gear, I knew what I was looking for.
The previous owner had seen the same feature too, because he took his Silver 6.0 VXR8 to Walkinshaw Performance and said: "Make my car a Bathurst S". They said: "But we don't make the Bathurst in Silver - and besides, we use a 6.2 engine, not the 6.0 in yours. And anyway, you'd need the supercharger, the larger injectors, the chargecooler, the fully adjustable coilovers, the 6-pot AP brakes upgrade..." He handed them a blank cheque and the keys to his car.
The great twist is that WP transplanted everything off the demo car they built for Vauxhall (and driven by Hammond in said episode...) onto my car. So after carrying out a history check and an independent inspection, I went to collect it. From Aberdeen. I don't think I could have gone much further to buy a car. But with Walkinshaw making fewer than 20 examples of the Bathurst S, they don't come up very often.
Since I've had it, the power has been increased - once by WP themselves to 580hp and then finally by LSV8 Power to 610hp. Torque runs fairly constant at the mid 500lb ft level more or less right across the rev range.
Official performance figures are a little thin on the ground. Theoretical top speed is 195-200mph. The 0-60mph sprint should be sub-5, 0-100mph is around 8 seconds and the trap speed at a 1-mile marker is 167mph, bouncing off the limiter in 5th.
What I wish I'd known:
It's not the kind of purchase you make on a whim; do your research and everything should be OK. The manual gearboxes can be a weak point (mine had a warranty-covered replacement 10 months previously), discs and pads won't leave much change from 2K and treat suspension components as consumables and you'll be fine.
Having said that, on day 10 of ownership, my (warranty-replaced) gearbox went bang again, it needed discs and pads all round and I replaced the clutch. This despite doing everything I could to ensure all was well to begin with. Just unlucky I guess - these things happen.
Things I love:
The sense of occasion. It sounds very clichd, but the sheer pleasure of just driving it is huge. From the second it bursts into life with that ever-so-slightly uneven rumble at tickover and then, when you get going, it always feels brilliant. Not only when you're on the limit at Spa or Rockingham, but also just popping down to Asda for some nappies or milk.
Also, the shriek of the supercharger is utterly addictive, as are the pops and bangs on the overrun. The novelty of parking in 'Parent and Child' spaces and then producing a buggy, much to the disdain of Mr and Mrs Hybrid, will also never wear thin.
Oh, and I'm quite partial to the 610hp - it makes for quite nippy progress.
Things I hate:
It helps that I'm a compulsive tinkerer, so anything I knew I didn't like about the car I've fixed - from extensive sound-proofing and panel dampening, to upgrading and enhancing the stereo (with DAB, GPS and touch-screen iPod control), to adding convenience features that are standard on German execs. I've also 'refined' the looks (my wife's only request was to lose the original spoiler).
The gearbox is quite agricultural and 6th is ridiculously tall, but apart from that it's all good really. The tall 6th gear even has a positive side - it's great for un-stressed cruising, but no good for V-Max type events...
Costs:
A question that's asked more often than the one that's answered with 'iIt's a Vauxhall'...
Average mpg since I've owned it (10K miles now) is just under 17. However, on a long motorway run, leaving the cruise control at 75 (where it's ticking along at 1,800rpm), I have seen 27mpg.
Servicing is cheap. It's a 6.0-litre lump of pushrod pig iron, where services cost between 200 and 300 every 10K miles. What gets expensive are the bespoke parts on this car. Holden made thousands of Commodore VEs but HSV only made 100s of HSV R8 Clubsports - which have different bumpers, wings and even rear lights - and which are over 1000 a side!
Insurance is great when you get to my age with full no claims, but I did have a little hassle as all the mods needed to be declared and it couldn't be registered as a factory Bathurst S (as it's a 6.0 not a 6.2). However, Bridle Insurance were very good.
Where I've been:
Driving it home from Aberdeen was a bit of an adventure in itself, Brands Hatch Indy was too small, Bedford is always great fun and I'm looking forward to doing Spa very soon - time, money and son allowing.
What next?
Nothing for a while yet - I can see this car becoming a 'keeper'. At the moment I've got some more tinkering to do until it's 'my' car completely, so the next car will depend on the child/children situation. Supercharged M5 Touring perhaps? Chances are it won't be 'normal'...
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us atcarpool@pistonheads.com!
Euro zone turmoil may prolong London revamp - Reuters UK
LONDON |
LONDON (Reuters) - When Bill Hanway began designing a 20-25 year blueprint to revamp the area of east London that will host this summer's Olympic Games, he factored two to three recessions into his plans.
What the Aecom executive failed to foresee back in August 2003 was the failure of Lehman Brothers, or any possible euro zone implosion.
But now the severity of the downturn which began in 2007 means the revamp timeline may be extended, Hanway said. He declined to say by how much, but one source familiar with the situation said it could be five to 10 years.
"What happened in 2007 was an aberration," said the serene, shaven-headed New Yorker, who is also the brains behind a post-Olympics revamp in south-west Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian city hosting the Games in 2016.
"No masterplan project could claim to accommodate or predict this range of economic fluctuation," Aecom's executive director of operations said, emphasising the flexibility needed to plan the 741-acre site in London's Lower Lea Valley.
In July 2005, London beat rivals including Paris and New York to host the Games, its winning bid built around the regeneration of an area of east London more famous for its noxious industries, slaughterhouses and polluted waterways.
The post-Games plan is an increasingly important factor when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selects a host city. The now-derelict and graffiti-covered venues of Athens, which held the Games in 2004, are a reminder of why.
FINAL GREEN LIGHT
The London plan is due to receive its final green light by planners on Tuesday.
Development of the east London site, the majority of which is publicly-owned, will be overseen by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which will let venues to new operators once the Games are over and oversee the phased sale of leasehold land to housing developers.
The biggest impact of the financial crisis on the 9.3 billion pound ($14.6 billion) London Olympics project to date was a 2009 decision by the British government to fund development of the athlete's village itself rather than sell to developer Lend Lease, a deal that came with the associated risk of debt finance.
The 11 tower blocks housing 16,000 athletes and officials will be turned into 2,818 homes after the Games, work that requires the installation of kitchens, as competitors eat in communal dining halls. The site was bought by a joint venture that includes the development arm of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund for 557 million pounds in August.
Other changes enforced by the unexpectedly harsher economic climate will include a greater emphasis on job creation when the LLDC selects the future tenant for the media centre once the world's press have left town, Hanway said.
The contract to operate the aquatics centre and the multi-use arena as leisure venues after the Games was also packaged into a single, more financially viable, deal.
Otherwise the message was "don't panic", said Jason Prior, chief executive of planning, design and development at Aecom who oversaw the London project. "We had a long-term view and couldn't over-react to the collapse of Lehman Brothers."
REAL-LIFE SIMCITY
"We've always talked about the Olympic Park as another of London's great estates," he said, referring to the city's aristocratic landowners who have guarded their ancestral good fortune by taking a long-term view of real estate over several hundred years.
Like a real-life version of the computer simulation game SimCity, Aecom uses software to calculate each square metre of housing, schools, dental surgeries and outdoor parks for the area's 14,000 future inhabitants, in addition to the number of swimming pool lanes, police officers and fire stations.
The aim is to attract and retain a mixed group of residents, including the middle classes, to a wider area that is one of the most socially deprived in Britain.
"We knew this wouldn't be the next Mayfair or Kensington," said Prior. "If we create a 'nappy valley' in east London we will have succeeded," he said, referring to the popular description of areas attractive to affluent young parents.
Two primary schools, one secondary school and nine nurseries will play a crucial role in ensuring wealthier families stay. "Bluntly, parents move to be near decent schools and they act as massively important glue in communities," Prior said.
Striking a balance between housing that residents can both afford and aspire to live in was also important. There will be up to 6,870 new homes and the target is 35 percent affordable and social housing and 65 percent private housing, which includes four bedroom townhouses.
"One of the big complaints from the Mayor of Newham at the outset was that once people could afford to, they left the area," Hanway said.
"What will be interesting is what happens in 10 to 15 years when the children of young families leave home or go to university," said Sarah Elliott, Aecom's head of planning in Europe.
GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE
She is responsible for the software the company developed several years ago to plan such large-scale regeneration projects, which has also been used in Abu Dhabi and Australia, and will monitor population changes through regular surveys.
"We have calculated the floor space people will need right through from nursery schools to sheltered accommodation for old aged people," she said.
There was human input too. Prior and Hanway began work on the Olympic plan in an office in the north London borough of Islington, a neighbourhood they took inspiration from for its Georgian architecture, leafy squares and the gentrification it underwent when affluent people, including former British prime minister Tony Blair, moved in after the 1960s.
"One of the lessons of Islington was that although it has a high proportion of social housing it became a very desirable place to live because of the quality of its housing stock and its accessibility," Prior said, referring to the myriad transport links around the Olympic site.
Masterplanning a 300 acre area of Rio de Janeiro faces the challenge of a Brazilian economy and middle class that are growing at high speed, Hanway said. Discussions about striking the delicate balance between low and higher-cost housing are still underway.
The only certainty around both projects is that the lessons of Athens have been learned, Hanway said, a plan in which Aecom had no involvement.
"We probably won't ever see that level of disuse after the Games again."
($1 = 0.6354 British pounds)
(Editing by Ossian Shine)
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