Messer Chups - Twin Peaks Twist - GOOD NIGHT !!

Mister Freedom® Spring 2013 MFSC collection “Viva La Revolución” & “The Sportsman” Lookbook

Inspired by imagery of the 1910-1920 Mexican Revolution, here is a short preview of the Mister Freedom® Lookbook for our Spring 2013 “Viva la Revolución” MFSC collection.
Like with previous historical events that inspire our clothes, nothing is ‘literal’, as we do not target the re-enacting market. We just dig in a rich Past to find ‘threads’ to weave into clothes we would like to wear. Again, our loose boundaries are just the ‘historically plausible’.

We are also introducing a new Mister Freedom® classic concept for 2013, “The Sportsman“, which we will add to every season. This one is about classic ‘no brainers’ with our twist, for easy everyday wear, made in the USA with Japanese & USA milled fabrics.

Both full collections will be available starting mid-February 2013 from our Mister Freedom® Los Angeles headquarter and via email to jordan@misterfreedom.com or john@misterfreedom.com, as well as from fine retailers Worldwide.

Soundtrack: To keep it light, I chose “La Guerilla” by Valérie Lagrange (1964, All Rights to the Publisher).
This song was written by Serge Gainsbourg. He originally recorded a track of a similar vain, he penned circa 1961, called “Viva Villa”. Awesome tune 

An HD version of this clip is available on Vimeo (make sure HD is on, bottom right corner of the video screen.) A lower res version on YouTube

For those who have the patience to download and view a hi-res PDF file of the look book, click HERE(WARNING: Very heavy file! About 83MB, this will eat up your entire data plan on a mobile phone when roaming. Use Wi-Fi!)

“FOLLOWING FILLMORE” trailer....Nice !

First episode premieres March 7th!

ROCKY AUTO’S RB30 POWERED Z

Nothing is as it seems in Japan. As a rule of thumb you should never, in any circumstance make any sort of assumptions about any car you see on the street. This is especially true if that particular car proudly wears the Rocky Auto name, a shop we are all pretty familiar with these days. With the Nostalgic Two Days show coming up tomorrow I though we might as well start getting into the vintage swing of things and what better way than a high performance classic from Watanabe-san at Rocky.

“Modernizing” is something a lot of people are attempting to do with their cars, even those that aren’t that particularly old. Heck I’m attempting to do the same to my GT-R, trying to add upgrades and other little bits and pieces that will help bring some aspects of the whole package into the new millennium. Except what you see here sort of takes that whole notion to extremes.

This is the point purists should probably look away. While Watanabe-san does offer authentic restorations, it’s not something his customers are exactly into. The whole idea behind one of these cars is the fact that they manage to combine the looks and feel of a classic car – in this case an S30 Fairlady Z – with a modern, reliable and more powerful engine and driveline.

Built last year, this is one of a few rides that Watanabe-san classifies as his “favorite.” Looks wise he has gone with the “ZG” look…

…painting the car in the period correct dark maroon and adding the long-nose conversion, the fender flares the trunk spoiler and the fender-mounted mirrors.

The car is fitted with special modern-day dampers that Rocky Auto developed for the classic Z and sports a set of 16-inch Watanabes wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza GIII street tires, 205/50 up front and 225/45 at the rear. It’s from this point on that you begin to notice the subtle yet important changes that have been made, like the front 4-pot AP Racing brake calipers and cross-drilled rotors.

But things don’t really get serious until you lift the stock hood…

…revealing the awesomeness that powers this Fairlady. As Watanabe tells us, it’s not all about horsepower numbers; he’s built some very powerful Z’s in his time, but he much prefers creating something more balanced, a conversion that builds upon the car’s original character, making it even more evident.

He has found all of this in the RB30-based engine he has created for this, as well as a few other builds. It’s a straight six just like the L24 that powered the S30 in the first place, naturally aspirated and delivering just the right about of power to the rear wheels. It all started with an Australian-sourced RB30 bottom end, onto which he dropped an RB26 twin-cam head. The engine breathes in through six aluminum velocity stacks – part of the “sports injection” system that Rocky Auto devised. If you recall the Rocky carbon bodied Fairlady we featured last year was also powered by an RB30, except it was running on 50 mm Solex carburetors and higher lift & duration cams. Watanabe really liked that car but wanted something a little bit easier to live with, something more street oriented.

As if seeing a gold RB26 head in the engine bay wasn’t enough, Watanabe-san made sure that the visual aspects of this engine swap didn’t end there…

…fabricating a beautiful and complex set of stainless steel headers, the same 46 mm 6-into-1 items that were used on the carbon car…

…helping to really emphasize the unmistakable straight-six sound that exits through the rest of the exhaust system.

The engine is good for just under 300 HP, about double what the S30 came with back in the early seventies. To transfer drive to the rear Cusco 2-way LSD a R32 Nissan Skyline 5-speed transmission was fitted, more than able to deal with the power at hand and the occasional track day abuse.

Out on the roads around the Rocky Auto HQ in Okazaki, the Zed looked phenomenal, the RB30′s scream reverberating across the hills we went to shoot around on. The three liters of capacity and the somewhat mild stock RB26 cams all help deliver a very strong low and mid range, making it a pleasure to drive around on a daily basis. Despite the longer stroke the RB30 is still and RB, so has no problem to rev to higher than normal rpm. For durability however the redline has been set at 7,000 rpm.

The restoration-slash-modernization of this S30 continues inside where, along with a dose of spot welding around the door openings, glasshouse, front and rear suspension turrets, engine bay and other strategic locations – a bolt-in roll cage was added.

This spans to the rear of the car and down behind the seats, helping increase torsional rigidity of a frame which is well over 40-years old now.

There’s no doubting that Nissan really got the interior design right all those years ago, standing up to the test of time rather well. Still, to make things nice and comfortable Watanabe spent some time adding a few nice touches like the R32 Skyline automatic climate control system, modern HD navigation with pop-out LCD screen…

…and a pair of Recaro leather/alcantara seats – with Willans harnesses for the driver.

The mix of old and new continues with a classic Datsun steering wheel…

…original main gauges….

…and the addition of a triplet of modern clocks from Blitz, neatly recessed into the air vents.

The period correct wooden shift knob and well used leather boot serve as a constant reminder of the car’s vintage-ness.

It might be a different school of thought to those that restore older cars in a more period-correct way, but for some reason the Japanese manage to pull it off so well especially when applied to cars like the Fairlady Z. Even if you may be a purist, it’s hard not to admire and appreciate the work that went into creating something so special. If that’s not the case maybe a quick ride in this RB30-powered Rocky Auto creation may change your mind…

Specs:

Engine: RB30/RB26 hybrid engine swap, Rocky Auto engine mounts, Rocky Auto sports injection with aluminum velocity stacks, Tomei Powered fuel rail, RB26 injectors, Rocky Auto 46 mm 6-into-1 exhaust header, Rocky Auto stainless steel exhaust system, Billiion power steering reservoir tank, Rocky Auto gold head covers, clear cam covers, Koyo radiator, HKS oil cooler, R32 Skyline fuse box & wiring loom, Power FC ECU

Transmission: R32 5-speed transmission, Exedy single plate clutch, Cusco 2-way LSD

Suspension & Brakes: Rocky Auto front coilovers, Rock Auto rear dampers, Cusco carbon front strut tower bar, AP Racing 4-pot front calipers, cross drilled rotors

Wheels & Tires: Watanabe wheels 8Jx16″ front 9Jx16″ rear, Bridgestone Potenza GIII 205/50R16 front, 225/45/R16 rear

Exterior: ZG nose, ZG front & rear overfendes, ZG rear spoiler, ZR side mirrors

Interior: Spot welded and reinforced shell, bolt-in roll cage, Recaro driver & passenger seats, Willans drivers-side harness, Datsun spot steering wheel, R32 Skyline A/C unit, Carrozzeria HD navigation system, Blitz dials (ex. temp, oil temp., water temp.

Rocky Auto 

-Dino Dalle Carbonare

Pegaso Z-102 Coupé and Spyder: A perfect pair

A product of Spanish truck manufacturer Pegaso, the Z-102 was the high point of a short stint in automotive production led by ex-Alfa mastermind Wilfredo Ricart. Respected for its pioneering approach to engineering, the Z-102 could also be regarded as the first of several legendary cars born solely from an individual’s dispute with Enzo Ferrari.

Still reeling from the effects of the Civil War, Spain desperately needed to develop its own automotive industry to meet commercial transportation needs. Consequently, the State formed Enasa in 1946, adopting the old factories of the troubled Hispano-Suiza marque. A number of its experienced engineers were also recruited. Ex-Alfa engineer Wifredo Ricart was charged with heading up Enasa, which would sell commercial vehicles under the Pegaso brand.
Since he was not only a pioneering engineer but also a bitter rival of Enzo Ferrari (the pair famously fell out during their stint together at Alfa), it seems in retrospect almost inevitable that Ricart would lead a charge to build supercars rivalling those produced in Maranello – but the Z-102’s debut at the 1951 Paris Salon stunned everyone. In many ways it was ahead of its time: a five-speed gearbox, supercharged V8 (an unusual configuration at the time) and sodium cooling for the exhaust system all featured, yet in other respects the Z-102 was outdated. Power steering was a notable omission, while the all-round drum brakes proved disappointingly ineffectual.


Owing to their hand-built nature and the significant outlay required for ownership, only around 100 Z-102s were built over the car’s lifespan of less than a decade. Coachwork could be specified in an Italian (Touring), French (Saoutchik) or Spanish flavour (by Serra, or in-house by Enasa as seen here), with most available in coupé or convertible formats. The bodies were continuously developed over the years, as were the engines; capacities rose progressively from 2.5 litres, through to 4.7 litres in the final years. At one point in 1953, the Z-102 was the fastest production car on the planet.


Despite Z-102 production being split between the former Hispano factories in Barcelona and Madrid, Pegaso’s success in the 1950s commercial vehicle market pushed the company’s resources to their limits. A decision was taken to refocus on the core business of producing trucks and buses, and Ricart resigned soon after.


Many believed Ricart was a more adept engineer and designer than a CEO; indeed, it would seem he concentrated more on technical innovation and settling personal vendettas than embracing the core values and securing long-term financial security for the State-owned company. But one thing is sure: it would have taken a brave man to push a newly founded truck manufacturer headlong into battle with Ferrari, not to mention the XK Jaguars and DB2 Astons of the era. The mere suggestion would have sounded just as absurd then as it does now – Scania supercar anyone?

Related Links This pair of Pegaso Z-102s can currently be found in the inventory of London-based Classic Driver dealer Fiskens

Text: Joe Breeze (ClassicDriver)
Photos: Tim Scott of (www.fluidimages.co.uk)

Ice1Racing 2013 Team Introduction

Right Of Passage

 from Blog DEUS Australia

Over the years the Deus Cafe has had some pretty interesting names and faces come through its doors! However its not often that some of these folks have just as exciting motorcycle stories as our guest next month.
Last week Mr Terry Serio Pulled up at the House Of Simple Pleasures for a bit of a catch up. Between theater and TV roles and hosting Wednesday morning Stage Fright on FBI Radio, Terry still has time to front his own group, Terry Serio’s Ministry of Truth (a fresh take on Australian folk touching on country) A lot of the music pays homage and respect to both his past as well as his experiences on the road. With his first major role in 82 in the Australian cult motorhead film ‘Running On Empty’ its no surprise that Terry loves bikes. Besides the 15 od accidents not to mention a collision with a roo which is sort of considered a right of passage back over in WA. He has had some more positive stories which includes a Moto Guzzi which he has owned for the past 23 years.
This Bikes just pumped full of character and personality, with more battle scars than a Arnie film you can tell this bikes had an interesting life. After a bit of time off from two wheels. Terry arrived back in western Australia in 91 where he spotted the Guzzi sitting on the showroom floor where he had en instant connection with it. He snatched her up and quickly broke her in with its first 1500kms. Since then he’s embarked on numerous rides from here to S.A, Melbourne to Coolangatta and so on. The Tacho has ticked over a whopping 160000kms and is still the daily commute. As the bike is a re-issue of the 750s from the 70s the only real modifications is a mild cam providing more torque and heavy duty spokes in the rear to match.
‘Terry Serio’s Ministry of Truth’ will be playing at the Deus Cafe on the 12th, 19th and 27th of March and with songs like ‘Cold .45′ and ‘Dust remains’. You will be in for an awesome night! In the mean time be sure to check out the Stage Fright show on FBI, Wednesday mornings with Terry and Stephen Ferris

 

Deus Bali Suzuki DR650

Motorcycles can be capricious creatures. But there are a handful that are essentially bulletproof—simple machines that are simple to fix, and cheap to run. One of those is Suzuki’s venerable DR650, which has been around for at least twenty years. The stock bike is as ugly as a toad, but it’s not hard to see why it still sells. In the US you can ride one out of the showroom for less than $6,000, and you’ll be riding on a wave of torque from the big aircooled single.

So it’s surprising that we don’t see more DR650 customs around. This one is a new release from Deus Bali, and their logic in choosing the bike is impeccable: “The DR650 is a simple big motor and frame. It’s probably the biggest single-cylinder four stroke out there. The bike is very adaptable—once you strip off all the plastic, you find a frame and engine that is prime for customizing. They have power. They look great when stripped back and done up, and they’re fun as hell to ride. “

The donor bike here is a 1997 model, although you’d be hard pressed to tell it from a 2012 model. Deus dismantled the DR, pulled the engine apart, cleaned it up and painted it in a black wrinkle finish. They fitted a custom oil cooler and a reverse cone muffler “so you can hear her coming down the road”.

The suspension has been swapped out for Honda CRF bits, and the acres of plastic have been binned in favour of a custom tank and seat combo, enlivened with a splash of yellow. A fresh set of Heidenau rubber sits on wider wheels, with the rear upgraded to an 18” to match the front. Minimal instruments sit atop Ventura street tracker bars to complete the look.
The DR650 has always struck me as a bike you’d buy with your head—or wallet. But with a makeover like this, maybe there’s life in the old dog yet. See more on the Deus Bali website.
via BIKEEXIF

New Star on the Horizon

The wait is almost over. Get a thrilling first look at the newest Star Motorcycle before its official debut on March 9, 2013.

. The Dominari by DEUS