adminmyself that this was one messed up bunch.
As I write this I am converted, on Wednesday after a brief meeting with Theo Diaskouris, the ever so energised organiser of the spinning and drifting motor show in Harare, convinced me to ride with him this
Saturday at their show in Borrowdale at the racecourse. Sitting with this man for about an hour, I got to understand that if you are passion driven, the sky is the limit and when you put your mind to it you do it way better than one who is doing it for financial gain.
From 12pm till late and the idea is to get all the motoring enthusiasts together in a secure and controlled environment to show the spectators an unbelievable and unforgettable experience. This isn’t something new, Theo and his crew have had similar acts before in Harare, they have also attended and participated at other festivals in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Supercharged and modified BMWs and Nissan Skylines will make an appearance and an outstanding performance is in store for those who love the fast and furious things on wheels.
Riding with Theo will be fun I know and I think it will be like a scene from Transporter 3. Theo being my Jason Statham and me being the hot red haired package . . . ha ha ha. Of course, unlike in the movie, there will be no Merc E class chasing after us and we will not be driving an Audi A6 but Theo’s M5 . . . it’s going to be smoking.
There will be a spinner all the way from South Africa which is great for the spectators and the growth of the show itself. The city of kings, Bulawayo will also be representing in H-town babie.
Locally we will have our incredible boys with their crazy 325 is doing what they know best going round the track doing doughnuts with the ultimate goal of blowing the tyres. So to complete a course on the track, you have to pop the tyres. BMWs will be spinning, drivers jumping out of the cars or even doing push ups on the roof are some of the things to expect at this event. For the first time at such a show in Harare, spectators will witness an insane supercharged 600bhp BMW M5 ripping up the ground.
There will be entertainment for all ages since this is an event for those young at heart. DJ Rax and Raydiz will be spinning the decks. Full bar and catering and entertainment for the whole family will be available.
Imagine running up five flights of stairs or just finishing one of those 440 yard running tests in a high school physical education class . . . you find yourself gasping for air. That is what your engine experiences when you’re driving up those winding mountain roads or just getting onto the highway. So imagine being in a closed controlled area and driving and spinning so fast your heart skips a beat . . . well that’s what is going to be the order of Saturday this week. Now let me share a few facts on engines which some may have no clue.
For those who have no clue how a turbo charged engine works let me school you a little. A turbocharger can increase the power of an engine from 20 percent, to as much as 50 percent in some cases. Consequently, with the addition of a turbocharger a four-cylinder engine can deliver the driving performances of a non-turbo charged V-6 or V-8, and still deliver excellent fuel economy.
Since you may own a turbocharged car, or possibly be wondering about the possibility of purchasing a car equipped with a turbocharger, today I will address two popular questions about “turbos”.
A turbocharger is essentially an exhaust-driven air compressor. And since an engine’s performance is directly related to how much air (mixed with fuel) it can pump, a turbocharger helps it breathe better. Here’s a somewhat simplified example of the turbocharger function: A turbocharger uses two fans (“turbines”) mounted on a single shaft. Each of the fans operate inside a separate hallway and are spun using the same principle as a typical water wheel. Used exhaust gasses blowing out of the engine spin the first fan. The first fan drives a second fan operating in the other hallway, where incoming air is being channeled into the engine – thereby pressurising (pushing) fresh air into the engine.
One fan spins from exhaust going out and the other fan pushes fresh air coming in. The more you mash down on the gas pedal, the more the exhaust gasses drive the boost of incoming air into your engine. More air helps the engine produce more power, and zoom you go!
What good would all that power be if you don’t get reliability, too? In one survey, a company found that only 30 percent of turbocharged car owners follow the special factory maintenance tips from car manufacturers.
The survey also found that only 10 percent of the owners followed the important driving technique prescriptions. With those figures it is easy to see that most of the turbocharger failures probably occur due owner neglect or abuse.
While your car’s engine spins at between 2 000 and 3 000 revolutions per minute (rpm) at highway speeds, a turbocharger spins at as much as 100 000 rpm! That high-speed performance, along with the fact that hot engine exhaust gasses flow through the turbocharger, make a strong case for tough work.
Getting maximum turbocharger life is really pretty simple. Since the turbocharger is lubricated and cooled by your car’s engine oil, if you own a “turbo” car, follow these three main tips:
l When you first start your car, drive at moderate speeds for the first five minutes to allow oil to adequately lubricate the turbocharger.
l Keep the engine on and idling for at least one minute before turning it off after a hard run — such as mountain driving or traveling on the freeway.
l Pay particularly close attention to frequent and regular oil and filter changes, since the extra heat generated from the turbocharger places an added burden on oil life. Additionally, be sure to use a heavy-duty oil that is specified for use in turbocharged engines (if in doubt, consult your owner’s manual or dealer).
Keeping these tips in mind will keep your turbocharger from early failure or interrupted performance. Remember to follow your car’s regular maintenance schedule: “Prevention is the cure!”
So there you have it, an adventure with Theo and his gang and a bit about engines.
Till next week, pump it harder this weekend.
- Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended auto shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected]
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