The lure of the Bat Cave was too strong for this Czech Batmobile. Though Alfred the Butler and Stately Wayne Manor were nowhere to be seen, the Bronson Caves, in Hollywood, California — once made famous as the entrance and exit for the original Bat Cave in the 1960s television show “Batman” — were pressed into service again, this time as a location for the new television show “Face Off” and they hired Paul Greenstein and Dydia DeLyser’s 1941 Tatra T87 to feature in an upcoming episode.
In the US SyFy channel’s “Face Off” series ( http://www.syfy.com/faceoff/) make-up artists transform their subjects into zombies, monsters, animals, and even cars. Season three begins in the US in late August (check local listings and their website for your own region). What on earth will they do with a Tatra T87?! Stay tuned!
Dydia DeLyser
The lure of the Bat Cave was too strong for this Czech Batmobile. Though Alfred the Butler and Stately Wayne Manor were nowhere to be seen, the Bronson Caves, in Hollywood, California — once made famous as the entrance and exit for the original Bat Cave in the 1960s television show “Batman” — were pressed into service again, this time as a location for the new television show “Face Off” and they hired Paul Greenstein and Dydia DeLyser’s 1941 Tatra T87 to feature in an upcoming episode.
In the US SyFy channel’s “Face Off” series ( http://www.syfy.com/faceoff/) make-up artists transform their subjects into zombies, monsters, animals, and even cars. Season three begins in the US in late August (check local listings and their website for your own region). What on earth will they do with a Tatra T87?! Stay tuned!
(Sent by Dydia DeLyser)
New Delhi – Even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has written to the Ministry of Defence to seek a detailed information of the Tatra truck deal meant for the Indian Army, it has also summoned Ravi Rishi, the Chairman of the London-based Vectra Group and the largest shareholder of Tatra trucks.
The CBI has asked Rishi to come for the meeting with all records of his company’s deals with the Indian Army.
It has already registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the Tatra- Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) deal under which all-terrain vehicles are supplied to the Indian Army.
The FIR has been registered under Section 13(1D) of Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code Sections 120 B and 420 for crimminal conspiracy and cheating.
Rishi has been summoned Army Chief General VK Singh’s allegation that he was offered a bribe of Rs.14 crore to clear 600 sub-standard vehicles supplied by Tatra.
General Singh has alleged that a recently retired army officer representing Tatra trucks offered him the bribe.
The name of the retired officer doing the rounds is that of former army defence intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Tejinder Singh, who has filed a defamation suit against General Singh and four other senior army officers, including the Vice-Chief of Army Staff S.K. Singh
The investigating agency is likely to search Tatra’s offices in India in connection with the case.
Rishi met senior CBI officials on Thursday and offered his cooperation in the investigation into the bribery allegation levelled by the Army Chief.
Earlier, Rishi had denied that his company offered bribe to General Singh claiming that he did not deal directly with the Defence Ministry or the army chief.
New Delhi – Even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has written to the Ministry of Defence to seek a detailed information of the Tatra truck deal meant for the Indian Army, it has also summoned Ravi Rishi, the Chairman of the London-based Vectra Group and the largest shareholder of Tatra trucks.
The CBI has asked Rishi to come for the meeting with all records of his company’s deals with the Indian Army.
It has already registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the Tatra- Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) deal under which all-terrain vehicles are supplied to the Indian Army.
The FIR has been registered under Section 13(1D) of Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code Sections 120 B and 420 for crimminal conspiracy and cheating.
Rishi has been summoned Army Chief General VK Singh’s allegation that he was offered a bribe of Rs.14 crore to clear 600 sub-standard vehicles supplied by Tatra.
General Singh has alleged that a recently retired army officer representing Tatra trucks offered him the bribe.
The name of the retired officer doing the rounds is that of former army defence intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Tejinder Singh, who has filed a defamation suit against General Singh and four other senior army officers, including the Vice-Chief of Army Staff S.K. Singh
The investigating agency is likely to search Tatra’s offices in India in connection with the case.
Rishi met senior CBI officials on Thursday and offered his cooperation in the investigation into the bribery allegation levelled by the Army Chief.
Earlier, Rishi had denied that his company offered bribe to General Singh claiming that he did not deal directly with the Defence Ministry or the army chief.
Rishi in an interview claimed he owned 66 % of Tatra Koprivnice
“After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Rishi started picking up “business assets” from Czechoslovakia either to “turn them around and then sell to make good profit or to retain them”, he says. “We acquired 17 factories in 1991-92 alone. Czechoslovakia was well-known for automotive engineering units. So we picked up factories making bearings, woodworking, cranes, etc,” says he.
“We got into trucks the year Czechoslovakia was divided into Slovakia and Czech Republic – in 1993,” says the man who has never lived in East Europe. “You have great incentives in going there, but not in living there.” He guffaws and then settles for a bland smile.
Vectra owns 100% of Tatra Slovakia and nearly 66% of Tatra Czech Republic, claims he. “The undercarriage [for Tatra trucks] is made in Slovakia. Engines, cabin etc are made in the Czech Republic,” he says of the vehicle that is in the eye of a storm in India.
“We sell Tatra trucks to 58 countries and 38 armies and they include the US, Russia, Israel, Brazil, UAE and others,” Rishi says. Interestingly, on Tatra Czech Republic’s website, Rishi finds mention only as a member of its supervisory board.” http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-04-01/news/31267007_1_tatra-trucks-vectra-group-army-chief-vk-singh
India is questioning the quality of the Tatra trucks
A joint team of the Ministry of Defence and CBI, which recently visited the defence PSU, BEML, at four locations near Bangalore, has found that an “obsolete technology” was being used for manufacturing Tatra trucks.
The four-member team visited BEML plants at Bangalore, Mysore, Kolar Gold Fields and Palakkad.
The joint team included three colonel-level officers from Defence Procurement and Wartime Equipment, MoD. The team will shortly submit a detailed report.
Sources said the indigenisation target of Tatra trucks, as agreed upon in the documents signed in 1987, 1997 and 2003, have not been met so far. According to the contracts signed by BEML with Tatra Sipox, it was agreed upon that more than 80 per cent of indigenisation of the trucks should have been completed before 2003. It has been learnt that the cabin, backbone tube and half swing axle being used in the trucks are still being imported. The axle and backbone are being supplied by Slovakia and the cabin by Czech Republic. “According to terms of agreement, Tatra Siphox, UK, is responsible for procurement of these items which form nearly 60 per cent of the trucks being supplied to the Army,” said a senior official.
The technology used in these trucks is ‘obsolete’, and when the BEML signed a new agreement in 2003, they agreed for a 10-year-old expertise, said sources. The 2003 agreement was signed after BEML CMD V R S Natarajan took over the company.
The team also examined some BEML officials at different plants to understand the transfer of technology. The agency has learnt that transfer of technology was part of the original agreement between BEML and Czech company Tatra, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for supply of the trucks, in 1986. However, Natarajan signed the new contract and is alleged to have misled the defence PSU into signing a fresh agreement in 2003 with UK-based Tatra Sipox, an intermediary firm and not an OEM.
Part of India’s investigation and Tatra’s ownership questions will be a visit to Koprivnice.
The CBI is planning to approach Czech-based Tatra a.s to ascertain the reasons for supplying older technology based all-terrain vehicles to BEML even though it has better versions available.
Although the CBI has decided to send the query through Letters Rogatory (Letters of Request), the agency is also planning to send a team to Czech Republic to meet the executives of the company in this regard, sources in the agency said.
This is the first time the CBI will be approaching Original Equipment Manufacturer Tatra a.s in connection with the all terrain vehicle supply case even as it had questioned Vectra Chairman Ravinder Rishi and BEML officials repeatedly.
The CBI sources said no irregularity has surfaced on the part of Tatra a.s so far and neither the company is an accused in the case so there are no reasons to not cooperate in the probe.
The sources said despite clause of indigenisation and upgradation of technology in the original agreement signed with Tatra a.s, the indigenisation process remained way behind satisfactory levels.
They said the trucks which are now assembled by BEML and supplied to Indian Army have not performed well in higher altitude and despite red flags raised by Army several times, the PSU continued supplying older technology vehicles.
CBI sources said DRDO also procured vehicles from Tatra for its missile systems which fared much better than those procured by the Army through BEML.
The agency is probing alleged irregularities in assigning supply from the Czechoslovakia-based Tatra, with which the agreement was originally signed in 1986, to the Tatra-Sipox UK owned by Rishi in 1997 showing it as Original Equipment Manufacturer and the fully-owned subsidiary of the Czech company which was against rules, they said.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_cbi-likely-to-approach-czech-based-tatra_1698043
A special award winner was Slovakian Karol Pavlu, who received the Trofeo Automobile Club di Como for driving his Tatra 87 from farthest away. Making the most of its wind-tunnel developed design, the Tatra was capable of top speeds of 150 km/h (93 mph) despite the modest 75 horsepower from its air-cooled V8.
Celebrating its 140th year as a luxury hotel, the vast Villa d’Este previously served among other things as the summer residence of the Cardinal of Como and the private home of various wealthy Milanese families.
To us automotive enthusiasts, it is best known for the Concorso d’Eleganza first held in 1929. After a hiatus of decades, the event was brought back to life in 1995 and has since 1999 thrived under the patronage of the BMW Group. The Villa d’Este along with its lovely gardens and Lake Como shoreline provide the same perfect backdrop as it did back in the original Concorso’s heyday.
An exclusive crowd mills around the 51 valuable automobiles at Concorso Villa D’Este. (Photo: Ultimate Car Page)
These days, the event predominantly focuses on classic cars, which this year ranged in age from a 1922 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost to a 1975 vintage Lamborghini Countach. In an effort to fine-tune the popular event, subtle changes were carried through, mostly aimed at making the public day at nearby Villa Erba even more interesting and visitor friendly.
As always, our photographers had the enviable task of spending three days in one of the most beautiful places in the world, capturing equally evocative machines. The result is a 200-shot gallery from Villa d’Este and a 50-shot galleryfrom Villa Erba.
Class A: Graceful Open Air-Style
Of the six cars in the first class, three were built by Rolls-Royce. Among them was a Phantom I bodied by little-known coachbuilder Manessius. Even more unusual was a later Phantom III, clothed by Voll & Ruhrbeck from Berlin.
This Rolls-Royce Phantom III Voll & Ruhrbeck Cabriolet was hidden away in Germany during the Nazi years. (Photo: Ultimate Car Page)
It was ordered and used by Baron Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Foreign Minister of the German Reich, who was forced to store the car during the World War II as per government directive, Germans could only drive German-built cars.
Immediately after the War, it was briefly owned by the Dutch crown prince, who had a fine taste in cars and would become one of Enzo Ferrari’s best clients. Among the very finest of those German-built cars was the Mercedes-Benz 540K with Spezial Roadster bodywork.
Brought to Villa d’Este by Berthold Albrecht, this one was even more special; it was built to custom order for industrialist Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach on a short wheelbase chassis with a five-speed gearbox. In this guise, the range-topping 540K looks even more purposeful than the standard Spezial Roadster.
Class B: Interpretations of Elegance
Class B celebrated the metamorphosis of automotive design during the 1930s when cars gradually become lower and more curvaceous. Certainly the most historically significant car in this grouping was the Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara, originally ordered by Il Duce Benito Mussolini as his personal car. He entered the car in the 1936 Mille Miglia where it was driven to third in class and 13th overall by his chauffeur.
The Delahaye 145 Chapron Coupe was brought to Villa d’Este from the Mullin collection in Los Angeles. (Photo: Ultimate Car Page)
A rare sight on this side of the Atlantic was Peter Heydon’s Chrysler Town & Country. One of the finest examples of a woody, the car features side and rear paneling crafted from ash and Honduras mahogany. The name Town & Country was Chrysler’s marketing department’s way of explaining just how versatile the car was. Heydon acquired this particular Town & Country in 1981 but still remembers vividly being driven to school in a similar example.
Marking the completion of the metamorphosis was Peter & Merle Mullin’s Delahaye 145 Chapron Coupe. Based on a pre-War competition chassis, the body was created by Chapron immediately after the War and is significantly lower than was the norm and also sports integrated pontoon-fenders.
Class C: The Art of Streamlining
One of the more extreme design themes of the 1930s was streamlining. Often inspired by the shape of a water droplet, stylists strived to cheat the wind with curvaceous designs.
An extreme example of 1930s streamlining was presented by the Voisin C25 Aerodyne. (Photo: Ultimate Car Page)
Extreme is certainly the right word to describe the Voisin C25 Aerodyne of Rene Rey. One of just a handful built, this fabulous example of avant-garde design has survived in remarkably original condition. Accordingly it was awarded the Trofeo FIVA for the best preserved pre-War car.
Another special award winner was Slovakian Karol Pavlu, who received the Trofeo Automobile Club di Como for driving his Tatra 87 from farthest away. Making the most of its wind-tunnel developed design, the Tatra was capable of top speeds of 150 km/h (93 mph) despite the modest 75 horsepower from its air-cooled V8.
Also boasting an air-cooled engine is the Volkswagen-based Volkhart V2 Sagita that was entered in the Concorso d’Eleganza by Walter Traxler from Austria. This highly unusual machine could also achieve speeds of up to 150 km/h with only 24.5 horsepower on tap.
As in the previous group, Class C was finished by a post-War design, the Maserati A6 1500 with a Pinin Farina styled and built body. Recently restored, it is part of the collection of the Museo Nicolisand will be displayed in the new Ferrari museum in Modena.
http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/vintage-true-elegance-at-villa-deste/P1
http://www.autobild.de/klassik/bilder/bilder-concorso-d-eleganza-villa-d-este-2012-3461303.html#bild20
DOROTHEUM Auktion Klassische Fahrzeuge & Automobilia, 2. Juni 2012, Dorotheum Fahrzeug und Technik Zentrum Wien
(Doktor-Robert-Firneisstraße 6-8, 2331 Vösendorf)
Bereits 1957 hatte Tatra als tschechischer Hersteller ungewöhnlicher Stromlinienfahrzeuge ein Nachfolgemodell des T87 auf den Markt gebracht. Mit luftgekühltem V8-Motor hinter der Hinterachse und angedeuteter Finne war er sofort als geistiges Kind des legendären Ing. Hans Ledwinka zu erkennen. Ein Luxuswagen, der für den privaten Bürger nicht käuflich zu erwerben war!
Der gegenständliche Tatra wurde, wie es für diese Fahrzeuge in sozialistischen Ländern üblich war, zwischenzeitlich auf die Optik des neueren Modells 2-603 II umgerüstet. Seit Sommer 1991 ist der Tatra in Österreich zugelassen und hat seither nur zwei Haltereinträge. Vor rund 10 Jahren wurde der Wagen umfangreich renoviert, inklusive einer Neulackierung. Aktuell ist die Bremsanlage unter Verwendung neuer Radbremszylinder überholt worden und die Batterien wurden erneuert. Dieses individuelle Fahrzeug fährt, benötigt für ein Pickerl vielleicht noch den ein oder anderen Handgriff, um dann wieder als große Rarität die Umwelt in Erstaunen zu versetzen.
FIN: 6199, Laufleistung: 53.893 km (abgelesen), Hubraum: 2.472 ccm/V8, Getriebe: 4-Gang, Farbe: schwarz/rot (Stoff), Leistung:90 PS, Papiere: Österr. Einzelgenehmigung
Weitere Fotos/further photographs
DOROTHEUM Auktion Klassische Fahrzeuge & Automobilia, 2. Juni 2012, Dorotheum Fahrzeug und Technik Zentrum Wien(Doktor-Robert-Firneisstraße 6-8, 2331 Vösendorf)
Bereits 1957 hatte Tatra als tschechischer Hersteller ungewöhnlicher Stromlinienfahrzeuge ein Nachfolgemodell des T87 auf den Markt gebracht. Mit luftgekühltem V8-Motor hinter der Hinterachse und angedeuteter Finne war er sofort als geistiges Kind des legendären Ing. Hans Ledwinka zu erkennen. Ein Luxuswagen, der für den privaten Bürger nicht käuflich zu erwerben war!
Der gegenständliche Tatra wurde, wie es für diese Fahrzeuge in sozialistischen Ländern üblich war, zwischenzeitlich auf die Optik des neueren Modells 2-603 II umgerüstet. Seit Sommer 1991 ist der Tatra in Österreich zugelassen und hat seither nur zwei Haltereinträge. Vor rund 10 Jahren wurde der Wagen umfangreich renoviert, inklusive einer Neulackierung. Aktuell ist die Bremsanlage unter Verwendung neuer Radbremszylinder überholt worden und die Batterien wurden erneuert. Dieses individuelle Fahrzeug fährt, benötigt für ein Pickerl vielleicht noch den ein oder anderen Handgriff, um dann wieder als große Rarität die Umwelt in Erstaunen zu versetzen.
FIN: 6199, Laufleistung: 53.893 km (abgelesen), Hubraum: 2.472 ccm/V8, Getriebe: 4-Gang, Farbe: schwarz/rot (Stoff), Leistung:90 PS, Papiere: Österr. Einzelgenehmigung
Weitere Fotos/further photographs
further photographs
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/4100_results.asp?&dealerid=11970&lCarID=1851166
Surprise surprise for his fans before this year’s Ales Silk Way Rally. Participants will InstaForex is the general partner of the professional team EUROLAT Veka MAN!
Alex’s surprise move has its origin already in former times, but accelerated after the end of this unlucky Alex’s crew in the Dakar Rally stage in Iquique, when Alex crashed Tatra Jamal at the coupling section and had to withdraw from the second position overall. “With a team Veka MAN we had a very long good relations, even though we were rivals. Even in Dakar we met. When we crashed on the Dakar this year, was one of the first crews that came to help us, Peter ekipa Versluise, team owner EUROLAT Veka MAN. He then began a new chapter in the story of the future. Peter grabbed my hand and said that once we win the Dakar together in one team, “ said a sudden turn Ales.
Earlier Alex’s special Tatra Jamal was completely destroyed in the crash. “With long-term partnership with the Czech insurance company, we could begin work on the next car that will be even better. Before you finish, however, and we expect it to fall, with many improvements, I decided to take part in the Silk Way Rally, which we won last year and where in 2009 we finished third, another technique to identify and test the concept and operation of large foreign professional team. We very much appreciate the offer, while Russia will use the launch to test how recovery progressed injured my back, and also to become comfortable with the new crew, “ adds Alex, who had already tried his car during a recent testing in Turkey.
Alex would have under an agreement for Silk Way Rally crews also use Veka from the team, so the navigator and mechanic. “They are experienced professionals with several Dakar participations, the engineer on the construction of the car worked and he knows it in detail, so they have full confidence , “ adds Alex. The Dutch team EUROLAT Veka MAN Silk Way airs on four specials, Alex still managed apart from team owner Peter Versluisem, as well as special workshops of the company Toni Maurer, Franz Echter driven car, and even the experienced Dutchman Pascal de Baar. All specials team have had a very successful performance at the Dakar and other endurance marathons.
“After initial tests, I must say that I am positively surprised and happy. Cars are very competitive, with a great engine power and torque curve and excellent brakes. Further evidence can I be up in the rally itself, “ adds Alex.
Silk Way Rally will be held from 7 to 15 July 2012 on the route between Moscow and Sochi Olympic Gelendzik far. Again offer eight heavy and long periods, of which the most important will be placed in the desert near the Kalmyk Caspian Sea. The Russian organizers of the competition, which is not included Since this year the Dakar Series, promise to 100 crews in the category of cars and 30 trucks starters, including the big favorite, home Kamaz.
(source: www.loprais.cz,http://www.rely.cz/rely/index.php?obsah=zobraz&id_clanku=12443
Unblievable but true: Ales Loprais, so identified with Tatra, will race for the Veka team next season. A source, close with the Dutch Dakar participants, had written this on their website.
http://www.omroepbrabant.nl/?news/174650762/Ales+Loprais+voor+Veka+naar+Dakar.aspx
Tatra Register UK’s Annual Rally took place in and around Weymouth, Dorset, this year. Held earlier than usual, the meeting was plagued by torrential rains which came down incessantly. We visited Weymouth, West Bay, saw the Cerne Abbas Giant, rode a classic train from Corfe Castle to Swanage. Needless to say there was a lot of car talk going on – in spite of the weather, we had a great time! Enjoy the pictures, and if you ever want to see a Tatra in real life, keep an eye on TRUK’s excellent website. We’ll be back next year!
Sent by Peter Visser
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davydutchy/sets/72157629800931892/
http://www.viewfrompublishing.co.uk/news_view/19715/11/1/weymouth-tatra-treat-for-motor-enthusiasts
