Victory Erbacher Ignition Concept Motorcycle

European drag racer and custom bike builder Urs Erbacher took on the challenge of wrapping a pre-production 1200 cc engine in a package capable of putting the world-class power to the ground. The concept features an aggressive stand and frames the engine with a cast aluminum chassis, performance suspension and brakes with an aggressive Project 156 inspired paint scheme.

The Omega Man

Words: Roderick Eime

Louis Brandt

If you were told one of the world’s most prestigious watch brands was founded by a 23-year-old in 1848, you might raise an eyebrow. But it’s a true story.

A combination of business acumen, attention to fine detail and a pursuit of excellence saw the fledgling “Comptoir d’établissage” formed by the young and brilliant Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, soar from strength to strength.

Brandt passed away in 1879, but by the turn of the century, his two sons Louis-Paul and César who possessed at least as much flair as their father, had a staff of 800 employed in their La Generale Watch Co. which produced almost a quarter of a million watches each year, among them ‘Omega’ as a special brand using then state-of-the-art production facilities.

The company produced many ‘firsts’, including the first minute repeating wristwatch in 1892, the first full calendar watches with “big date” in 1893 and a new Carillion repetition system in 1894. The Omega watch’s first great success was in 1896, when it won a gold medal at the Swiss National Exhibition in Geneva.

The sons’ marketing and manufacturing skills were a runaway success, in particular with the ‘Omega’ brand and in 1903, hence the company officially changed its name to Louis Brandt & Frére - OMEGA Watch Co. in 1903. But in 1903, tragedy struck and both brothers died, well before their 50th birthdays.

This left the massive company in the hands of their three sons, the eldest, Paul-Emile, a mere 23. But the genes were strong and the boys grew the company in a way that would have made their grandfather proud. History, however, gives greatest credit to Paul-Emile, who grew the company exponentially and became a senior figure in the Swiss watch industry and commerce. He died in 1954.

Such was their accuracy and robust construction that Omega won numerous lucrative contracts especially in the military with the Royal Flying Corps and US Army equipping their servicemen in the field.

1932 pocket chronograph

Omega was called upon in many fields and the medals kept rolling in. But it wasn’t until 1932 when the venerable Swiss brand was appointed Official Timekeeper to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympiad that their reputation for precision sports timing was cemented. Omega supplied 30 certified chronometers and it was the first time in Olympic history that one brand was asked to time all events.

Omega still enjoys this responsibility and their engineering and research talents are now called upon to create even more precision devices for sporting events, not simply for the Olympics alone. These include Scan’O’Vision photo-finish cameras, false-start detection technology and high-speed video systems. Their chronographs are used widely in swimming, sailing and athletics everywhere.

Beyond the sporting field, Omega precision timepieces have enjoyed numerous other places in history on the arms of some of the world’s most famous people.

Beginning with the US Mercury space program in 1962, Omega proved beyond doubt through a series of brutal tests that included extreme temperatures and g-force shocks they were the brand for astronauts. As a result, the “Speedmaster” reference ST105.003 was certified “Flight Qualified for all Manned Space Missions” on the 1st of March 1965 and the watch went into space and on the 21st of July 1969, became the first watch on the moon.

Speedmaster X-33

In 1995, astronauts stopped wearing ‘off the shelf’ Omega watches and assisted in the design of a special ‘space watch’, the Speedmaster X-33.

Many of these historic and commemorative timepieces can be seen by visitors to the Omega Watch Museum in the company’s home town of Biel, Switzerland.

Some of the watches on display include:

• The Ultra Thin watch worn by President John F. Kennedy at his inauguration as America's 35th president in January 1961.
• The original Speedmaster ‘Moonwatch’ worn by astronauts on the moon in an authentic display that includes items from NASA’s control room as well as a gold Speedmaster Professional (#1 of 1,014) presented to President Nixon to mark the occasion.
• James Bond 007 switched brands to Omega in 1995 and several of the iconic Seamaster timepieces are displayed including the trick Seamaster Professional featured in ‘The World Is Not Enough’
• The first Calibre 19″ that gave the name (Louis Brandt & Frere – OMEGA Watch Co) to their company in 1903.

Beyond this, Omega watches continue to adorn the wrists of celebrities, sportsmen and women, famous explorers and world leaders. Just some of them include Michael Schumacher, Prince William, Ian Thorpe, Jacques Cousteau, George Clooney, Gerard Butler, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt both in their movie roles and their private lives.

Owning an Omega precision timepiece is not just buying a watch, it is entering a world populated by the world’s elite who have relied on the Swiss brand’s accuracy and ruggedness not just for good looks, but often because their lives depended on it.

Watches of the Omega 2016 Olympic Collection

As the world's greatest athletes prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, OMEGA has already set the winning standard in watchmaking. To celebrate the excitement and anticipation of this global event, two new timepieces are topping the podium, inspired by glory and triumph, and the unbreakable unity that brings the world together.


Inspired by the spirit of the Olympic Games, OMEGA created the Seamaster Bullhead Rio - a sporty timepiece that makes use of the colours of the five Olympic rings.

This model, of which only 316 pieces will be produced, features a white dial with a blue 60-minute scale on an inner rotating bezel. There is a 30-minute recorder at 12 o'clock, a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock and a date window at 3 o'clock. The screw-in caseback is stamped with the logo of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The eye-catching timepiece is presented on a blue leather strap with black, yellow, green and red stitching. At the heart of the Seamaster Bullhead Rio is the OMEGA calibre 3113.


Inspired by the 1969 model of the OMEGA Speedmaster Mark II and created with the excitement of the Olympic Games in mind, the Speedmaster Mark II "Rio 2016" evokes the feelings of glory and triumph that come with a place on the podium.

This model, of only 2,016 pieces will be produced, features a matt black dial with a 30-minute recorder, 12-hour recorder and a small seconds subdial at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock which are decorated with a bronze, 18K yellow gold and 925 silver ring respectively. The transparent tachymeter scale on the sapphire crystal is illuminated from beneath by a fluorescent orange ring filled with Super-LumiNova. The 42.40 mm stainless steel case is presented on a matching bracelet. At the heart of this chronograph is the exclusive OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 3330.

Bose next-generation SoundTouch wireless music systems

BOSE ANNOUNCES NEXT-GENERATION SOUNDTOUCH® WIRELESS SYSTEMS WITH BLUETOOTH® AND WI-FI®

The Easiest Way to Stream Music at Home Adds Little SoundTouch 10 Speaker, Instant Listening through Bluetooth, Full Multi-Room Capability, and

Upcoming Spotify® Integration

With millions of people streaming music every day, Bose ushers in a new era for playing it all at home with its next-generation SoundTouch wireless music systems. Now, every SoundTouch system -- including the new little SoundTouch 10 speaker -- all have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built right in for the best of both worlds, perfect for instant music and multi-room listening. With Bluetooth, you can stream any song, playlist, music service, and YouTube directly from your phone or tablet. With Wi-Fi, you can broadcast it to as many SoundTouch speakers you have, or use the intuitive SoundTouch app to explore integrated music services, set personalised presets, and enjoy different music in different rooms. Bose also announces two wireless music system “firsts” with Spotify, available soon: In addition to Spotify Connect -- which lets you control any SoundTouch system from the Spotify app -- Spotify will also be integrated in the SoundTouch app. And Bose.com will offer ReadySet with Spotify, a way to preload any SoundTouch system with Spotify playlists.

“SoundTouch has always been about the experience -- what listening to streaming music at home should be like,” said John Roselli, general manager of Bose Wireless Speakers. “We engineered everything around that simple idea. So, SoundTouch systems are easier to use than anything else available, they sound incredible, and now they let you listen to anything from your phone or tablet in as many rooms as you want. There’s nothing else like it, and the SoundTouch 10 is a great way to get started.”

THE LITTLE SOUNDTOUCH 10 SPEAKER JOINS GROWING FAMILY

The SoundTouch® family of products is the most comprehensive in the industry, and today it welcomes the new SoundTouch 10 speaker. It’s ideal on its own, you can add more over time, or mix and match with other SoundTouch systems. The SoundTouch 10 speaker joins the new SoundTouch 20 and 30 Series III speakers, new SoundTouch soundbars, and new SoundTouch home theatre systems. They’re all friendly and compatible, they all talk to each other through walls and ceilings, and now they all include Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi®.

SoundTouch 10

The new SoundTouch 10 wireless speaker measures just 21.2cm H x 14.1cm W x 8.5cm D. It combines Bose’s digital signal processing with the new Unidome transducer, a 2.5" powerhouse that produces the highest excursion for any transducer of its size in Bose history. The resulting performance is remarkable. The SoundTouch 10 plays cleaner, deeper, and louder than any single speaker of its stature.

SoundTouch 20

The new SoundTouch 20 and 30 Series III speakers are the updated big brothers to the SoundTouch 10 speaker. The SoundTouch 30 Series III is Bose’s best-performing one-piece solution, and the SoundTouch 20 Series III delivers rich, room-filling sound from a more compact enclosure.

New SoundTouch soundbars and home theatre systems are also available, including two soundbars, the SoundTouch 120 and 130 systems; and a 5.1 system, the SoundTouch 520 home theatre system. They’re all immersive for movies and TV and double as wireless music systems.

SoundTouch takes you outside, too. A new, more efficient SoundTouch SA-5 amplifier powers weatherproof speakers for patios, balconies, and backyards.

INSTANT MUSIC STREAMING AT HOME, EASIER THAN EVER

SoundTouch® systems are effortless -- the easiest, most versatile home wireless music systems available today. With Bluetooth®, they connect directly to your phone or tablet right out of the box. And with Wi-Fi®, they’ll send whatever’s playing to multiple SoundTouch speakers at long range.

SoundTouch also has the world’s most popular music services built in -- Spotify®, Pandora®, iHeartRadio™ and Deezer -- each accessible through the intuitive SoundTouch app. With just a few taps, the SoundTouch app turns your phone or tablet into a powerful controller, letting you listen to the same music everywhere, or different music in different rooms. But there’s even more freedom with SoundTouch systems. The app lets you set six personalised presets to any music service playlist, artist or internet radio station, and change them whenever you want. Each time you do, every SoundTouch speaker in your home remembers them automatically -- so when you don’t want to use the app, you don’t have to. Just press a corresponding button on the SoundTouch speaker or the included remote, and with that one touch, your music starts playing -- no phone needed. Charge it, text, take a call, turn it off, or never take it out. Filling the room with your tracks takes a second, as fast and simple as turning on a light.

Through new 802.11n dual-band Wi-Fi, the SoundTouch connection is stronger and more reliable with less interference and drop-outs. The addition of 5 GHz compatibility also offers a better streaming option in crowded environments like apartment buildings in the city.

SOUNDTOUCH AND SPOTIFY

Early next year, Bose will offer features to make SoundTouch® systems the best way to listen to Spotify® at home.

SoundTouch systems will have new in-app integration with Spotify alongside Spotify Connect. From the SoundTouch app you’ll be able to search for any song, album, artist, or playlist from Spotify or Spotify users. And from the Spotify app, you’ll control SoundTouch systems directly. Switching from the SoundTouch app to the Spotify app is seamless; you’ll pick up wherever you left off.

The new ReadySet with Spotify feature will also be available on Bose.com with any SoundTouch system purchase. With ReadySet, you can use your existing Spotify account or sign-up for one, pre-load SoundTouch presets with Spotify playlists, and have your SoundTouch speaker arrive customised, programmed, and ready-to-go.

“The home is one of the places where we want to deliver music fans innovative experiences,” said Jorge Espinel, VP, Global Business Development at Spotify. “This partnership with Bose enables us

to provide users with a ready-to-use music experience in the home, which blends Spotify's favourite features and playlists with Bose's innovative technology and incredible sound quality.”

“SoundTouch systems are a great example of what we care about,” said Roselli. “We obsess over the big and little details that no one else has, and that includes our integration of Spotify. With

SoundTouch, you’ll be able to play it through Bluetooth, from our app or theirs, or at the touch of a button. And that gives the millions of Spotify users all over the world more flexibility and control than they’ve ever had before.”

Shoemaker to the giants: Worlds tallest men find their feet

At 251 centimetres (8 ft 2 3/4 in) the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen and at 2.46 m (8 ft 1 in) second tallest man Brahim Takioullah pose for photographs with Wilhelm Moerchen, Rolf Mayer, shoemaker Georg Wessels and Abdramane Dembele in Vreden, western Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, after they got shoes in European size 60.

 Images: www.picture-alliance.com

World's smallest hotel? Too small to swing a cat

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says the world's smallest hotel has just one room – and that's a mere 8ft by 10ft (2.43m X 3.04m.)

But small as it is, this miniscule room has a double bed, ensuite with shower and toilet, a stocked mini-bar, flat-screen TV and a stereo unit with iPhone connectivity.

Located in the trendy Vesterbro district of Denmark's capital Copenhagen, the Hotel Central and Café began life in 1905 as a shoe repair shop, the shoemaker adding a 2nd floor and moving into that in 1920. The shoemaker's later became a goldsmith's and then a café, and in June 2013 the second floor flat became the world's smallest hotel.

Guests arrive to find fresh flowers, fruit and a welcoming bottle of wine in their room, and downstairs a tiny café that takes them back in time with vintage signs and various other bits of historic paraphernalia.

It costs 1,800 Danish krone a night (currently approximately AU$384) which includes breakfast for two at the Granola Café that is a half block away and owned by the same people who own the Hotel Central and Cafe.

If you're interested in booking a night, email  mail@centralhotelogcafe.dk


PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] THE downstairs café at Copenhagen's Hotel Central and Café takes visitors back in time with vintage signs, knickknacks and historic paraphernalia…

[]  SMALL as it is the hotel room has an ensuite, stocked mini-bar, flat-screen TV and stereo with iPhone connectivity.

(Photos: Hotel Central & Café)

Mosquito and Spitfire flypast - Merlins galore!

I dare you to watch this and not have chills! (turn sound up loud)

Posted by Bernard Jackson on Monday, 20 April 2015

Restored Porsche 917K returns to US race track after 40 years

This Porsche 917K, the legendary victorious car of the 1,000-kilometre race at Spa in 1971 experienced its roll-out at Porsche Motorsport North America and can now be admired at the “Rennsport Reunion”, the world’s largest event featuring historic Porsche race cars held from September 25-27 at Laguna Seca in California.

 The race car was also successfully campaigned in the USA, for instance at Watkins Glen, before it was finally put into storage at the museum in Zuffenhausen.

In 2009, the vehicle was painted in the famed Gulf colours and exhibited in the museum. In 2012, Porsche Motorsport North America was commissioned to restore the race car to its 1971 condition and get it back on the track.