A roadside memorial to a pensioner who died when was knocked down by a car on her way home from work has been stolen.
Senga Elder was killed after a car mounted a pavement in Auchtermuchty in Fife, sending her flying into a skate park.
The 67-year-old – who was on her way home from Myres Castle – died instantly of head and spinal injuries in the 2008 accident.
Her family had laid down the white steel cross at the side of the road as a touching tribute.
But it went missing at the weekend.
“Heartless”
Fife Constabulary are now appealing for help in getting it back.
PC Gordon Cameron said: “The theft of the white cross occurred between 3.30 pm on Sunday 14th March and 8.30am on Monday 15th March 2010.
“The cross was situated at the side of a busy road and I would appeal to anyone who knows the identity of the persons responsible for this heartless crime or who now knows the whereabouts of the cross to contact the police.”
Last year the driver who hit Mrs Elder – Grant Whyte – was jailed for six years for causing death by dangerous driving.
He was racing his modified Vauxhall Corsa behind his friend Alan Duffus’ BMW Z4 when he lost control of the car and skidded off the road.
At the time of his trial, Whyte said that he had taken his eyes off the road and glanced back to see the other car braking sharply.
He said he was forced to brake harder and felt the back of his car slide away before he left Station Road and hit Mrs Elder before smashing into a metal fence.
The other driver, Alan Duffus was sentenced to 240 hours of community service for dangerous driving.
No big surprises here, only question is would you rather have the Mercedes E Class estate in black? No doubt the Beemer would be a great steer, but with the return of the E Class back to the glory days of yore (I’m thinking W124), it simply oozes class. So, if it’s a sedan, it’d be the 5 Series, if it’s the estate, then I’m afraid it’d have to be the E Class.
Officially Official: 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring [w/video] — Autoblog.
Many see the 2010 Academy Awards best film field as groundbreaking because the number of nominees has been increased from five to ten. There is however another way this year’s nominee field is groundbreaking; for the first time, product placement plays an important role in a number of the best picture contenders.
Of course, product placement is not totally new to Oscar-nominated films. Who can forget the bashing K-Mart took in 1988’s Rain Man. In 1994 Pulp Fiction idolized McDonald’s “Royale with Cheese.” Two years later Jerry Maguire was begging you to help you help him… with a Reebok endorsement. In 2003, Lost in Translation put Bill Murray’s gravitas behind Suntory whiskey. Juno quirkily lampooned Sunny D and Tic Tac. Then there is the “original” product placement, Reese’s Pieces in 1982’s E.T. Even 1953’s Roman Holiday was a boon for the Vespa brand. But aside from a few iconic inclusions and a bunch more forgettable background placements, Oscar-caliber films have been largely free of brands. Not this year.
Both The Blind Side and Up in the Air are films in which product placements not only figure prominently, but also serve as character- and plot-driving props. The brand inclusions both inform the story and move it forward. In the former, a Taco Bell franchise empire pays for the BMWs and tony private school education of both hero and heroine. Boasting even more brand integration, the latter film takes at its very core a commercialized world, where brands like Hilton and American Airlines can be a protagonist’s familiar compatriots and conflict-creating antagonists.
The real groundbreaking development this year is that both Up in the Air and The Blind Side serve as rebuttals to the argument that product placements ruin films. The very contention of these films for the year’s top spot is also a contention that, if done properly, “product placement” and “good movie” do not have to be mutually exclusive concepts.
South Florida’s premier event producer, Fè Domenech, of Miami’s “The Event Firm” (TEF) has been nominated for the 2010 “Designer of the Year” Spotlight Award by the prestigious Event Solutions Magazine. Event Solutions Magazine has recognized top industry companies and professionals from all over the world since 1998. Fè Domenech has been nominated for this honorable award for six consecutive years, consistently proving to be an international top designer. In order to be nominated for the award, the designer has to demonstrate superb ability, creativity and achievement in the design of events and/or event décor. Since 2005, TEF has been a national leader in the event design industry, resulting in numerous honors for consistently creating cutting edge and spectacular designs. Among them are the 2008 ISES Award for Design and multiple recognitions for Service and Design in nationwide publications.
Domenech is the CEO and lead designer of The Event Firm, which is the go-to agency of the stars both in the corporate and entertainment world. Prestigious clients have all sought out the award-winning agency. Some of its clientele include: John Travolta, CitiGroup, UNIVISION, NASCAR, MTV, HBO, BMG, Louis Vuitton, Sony, NCR, The Agency, Dignitaries and many DMC companies. As a preferred designer for Nikki Beach South Beach, TEF recently produced the ‘New Year’s Eve Spectacular’ at Nikki Beach in St. Barts where Beyonce performed live. Some of the guests at this new year’s star-studded event were; Jay-z, Usher, Lindsay Lohan, Bon Jovi, and Todd English, to name a few. TEF has also produced the ‘Tropical Nights’ event for the University of Miami Autism Foundation at the Biltmore Hotel, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of South Florida’s 2009 Fashion Ball in the Fontainebleau Hotel, MARS for Moss Warner at The Harbor Beach Marriott, The Liberty Mutual soirée at Casa Casuarina, and the Operation Helmet Gala.
Event Solutions Magazine hosts The Spotlight Awards Event each year and brings top industry professionals together to network, celebrate and experience the newest in awards presentation strategies and events. Spotlight Award recipients will be announced at the Spotlight Awards Event at Event Solutions Conference & Trade Show in Las Vegas on March 8, 2010. “I’m honored to be a finalist as well as grateful to be able to do what I love as my career,” states Fè Domenech. “What greater gift can I ask for than creating ever lasting memories by transforming dreams into reality for my wonderful clients.”
Born in Cuba, raised in Minnesota and having lived in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Miami, Domenech not only has immaculate taste, but also has her finger on the pulse of up-and-coming design trends. The goal behind all of The Event Firms creations is to supersede any client’s dreams and expectations. This boutique agency works as a full-service production company for one-of-a-kind designs and includes in-house production capabilities such as, master carpenters, set designers, seamstresses, fine catering, film and video editing, culinary teams and event producers that are always ready to customize any soiree.
TEF plans to continue its growth and further develop its reputation as a trendsetter. Its ultimate goal for every event is to have its designs inspire recreation. For more information on the company please visit their website at: www.theeventfirm.net.
Originally published at Autosnewspaper.com. Please leave any comments there.
Like most other automakers, BMW has depleted copiousness of research as well as devel opment upon hydrogen fuels. But distinct each alternative automaker, BMW has focused upon liquid hydrogen with
A decade ago, cars like the BMW X5 and Lexus RX300 were some of the best sellers around the world. As gas prices began to hit all time highs, though, many individuals started looking for cheaper, cuter, and yes, smaller, cars that could grab a tank of $4 a gallon gas without impacting the trust fund they’d set up for their kids. As the economy continued its downward spiral, more and more people moved into the smaller is better camp, and since we still can’t seem to shake the effects of world finances gone awry, these days, they’re selling as well as almost any other car category. Once relegated to kids headed for college and individuals long past empty nest syndrome, these days, families take vacations in these smaller cars over their large gas tank counterparts on a pretty regular basis. And actually, most of us are learning, they’re not as bad as we feared.
They Really Are Greener
Despite the fact that none of us cared to go green with regard to our cars until gas started draining our bank accounts faster than a sixteen year old daughter with a store credit card could ever imagine, these days, most of us love to talk about nothing more than how green our lives have become. We buy eco-friendly cleaners for our home, choose energy-saving appliances, and spend our winters thinking about eco-tourism in the summer. These cars fit right into that lifestyle too. Compact choices emit half as much carbon as their larger counterparts, and given how much time we spend driving these days, that’s far more than you could do even if you switched all of the lightbulbs in your house over to those cool looking fluorescent choices.
Smaller Price Tag, Smaller Gas Tank
Not only will you pay tens of thousands less for one of these cars than you might for their bigger counterparts, you can also expect to pay less at the pump every time you drive up. Imagine filling your tank for less than thirty bucks and have that tank of gas last you for more than 300 miles. It’s pretty appealing, yeah?
Parts Are Just As Available
Seriously, this isn’t even a valid concern when you have Hirsch on your side. You always have the chance to shop with confidence at Hirsch. One of the most reliable auto parts dealers online, your part gets shipped out the same day, and orders of $49 or more always qualify for free shipping. If you’re looking for auto parts for a BMW, Lexus, or even your Volkswagen, we’re always going to be right here to help.
It seems to be M3 month this February. So many different tuners giving their take on the German sports car. Yet another one has taken the E92 path and has nicknamed it Green Hell. If you’re an adamant follower of the car world, chances are you that the Green Hell is none other than the Nurburgring. Jackie Stewart A.K.A The Flying Scot, a Scottish race car driver call the ring one of the most dangerous and most demanding purpose-built race tracks in the world. He called it the Green Hell. So if that is what the name represents what would a car that carries that title be like? Well it would be a monster!
You’re looking at an ESS Supercharged 600hp engine. As IND describes it “The ESS kit offered power levels that were bordering terrifying.” Well strap me in!
This car has got all the goodies a power junkie can handle and like its name it is specifically built to thrash records on the greatest German race track.
Most people who know me realise that my current car is quite important to me. It is my ‘mid-life’ crisis car and goes fast and drinks petrol at an astonishing rate. Last week the £78 petrol bill was consumed in just 168 miles. Short journeys might be fast – but they are expensive. This ignores the tax – which is £604 per month as a benefit in kind.
Nissan GTR - dream car, nightmare tax
I have also ignored the green credentials of the car – which are around zero. Or just below.
Sadly the car is reaching the end of its (leased) life and I need to contemplate a replacement. This is not easy!
I am very lucky in that I can choose pretty much any car within reason.
Performance is important – but super-cars tend to have very high CO2 emissions and thus attract lots of tax for The Treasury. Low carbon emission cars tend to have performance times measured in minutes not seconds! Maybe except the Tesla – but you need a second mortgage for that.
Yesterday I started looking around. I visited a number of dealerships.
I carry some prejudices – good and bad. Nottingham Audi have been superb over the last three years – the staff are friendly and helpful. Nottingham BMW (same ownership) were appalling during the ownership of my last car. Mercedes I similarly struggle with – the level of arrogance in the main dealership is palpable – my wife has an A Class and we now have it serviced privately by the excellent MBNottingham.
Image is quite important in my business but the Jaguar leaves me feeling I need a pipe and smoking jacket – maybe this is unfair. But a Porsche definitely places you in a certain category – especially as the golf clubs need to occupy the front seat!
Which leaves a limited number of cars in reality. We found ourselves at Lexus. I had a Lexus IS200 sport back in 1999 – and loved it. I think I might surprise all of my colleagues (and some of my family) by actually looking at a Hybrid – but the RX450h does offer quite a lot. The level of luxury is high. But the emissions are low resulting in a tax bill monthly of around £260 – a massive £340 saving on what I pay now! But if I am honest the real attractions to this car are the ‘toys’ – Mark Levinson sound system, keyless entry, air suspension and very cool lighting….
And the compromise? Performance. Audi 0-60 = 4.6 secs; Lexus 7.8 secs. So, I will have to find an extra 3 seconds from somewhere!
I don’t have to make the decision immediately – but it looks like I may become a reluctant tree-hugger yet. Or will I?
BMW ActiveHybrid technology offers a significant increase in driving dynamics and at the same time reduces fuel consumption by approximately 20 percent versus a comparable vehicle powered by a combustion engine alone. The result is even greater driving pleasure combined with enhanced fuel economy and CO2 management providing the kind of progress tomake the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 a genuine BMW in the hybrid market.
The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 may run on electric power alone regardless of the ambient temperature, as long as minimum operating temperatures are reached for the engine coolant, transmission fluid and high-voltage battery. Top speed in the electric mode is 37 mph, maximum range is 1.6 miles.
While driving electrically, the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 retains all its safety and comfort functions. The brakes remain fully operative thanks to electric vacuum supply, and don’t require the combustion engine to develop their full effect. The same applies to the Electronic Power Steering, with steering assistance being generated on demand by an electric motor.
The electric motors receive their energy from an NiMH high-performance battery pack positioned beneath the floor of the luggage compartment. This battery pack also feeds electric power to the vehicle’s on-board network. Luggage compartment capacity is therefore the same as on the original BMW X6. On brake application and/or on deceleration, kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and is stored in the battery pack. To provide this function either one or both of the electric motors act as a generator, feeding electric power generated back into the high-voltage battery.
Some features of ActiveHybrid X6:
The drive system featured in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 consists of a 300 kW/407 hp V8 power unit with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and two electric motors developing 67 kW/91 hp and, respectively, 63 kW/86 hp. Maximum system output is 357 kW/485 hp, peak torque is 780 Newton-metres/575 lb-ft. This makes the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 the most powerful hybrid vehicle in the world.
7-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Adaptive Transmission Control (ATC), Sport and steptronic Manual shift modes, and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
The film also appeared under the title Nam’s Angels. The plot included a biker gang, the Devil’s Advocates who were recruited by the CIA to execute a daring rescue behind enemy lines in Cambodia. After customizing their Yamahas into combat-ready death machines, the gang roars into action on this unlikely suicide mission. Heavy casualties ensue. I kid you not.
I’m not sure if the movie did much if anything to propel Yamaha sales, but this week there are reports the Japanese motorcycle maker (Yamaha Motor) has plans to close seven factories globally with a loss of 1,000 jobs. This is all in an effort to bounce back from a Y216.1 billion ($2.7 billion) annual loss in 2009. Yamaha is the world’s second biggest motorcycle manufacturer after Honda and this streamlining is in addition to a previously announced 10% reduction in the company’s global workforce of 17,000 which is underway. This is Yamaha’s first loss in 26 years.
Specific plant closure include 5 of its 12 domestic factories by 2012, all in Shizuoka prefecture (central Japan) who now produce parts for motorcycles, marine products and buggies. In addition, Yamaha will close a motorcycle factory in Italy and a marine products plant in Florida.
It looks like the only motorcycle manufacture beating down the 2009 slowing motorcycle trend was BMW Motorrad. New products like the K1300GT, S1000 RR Superbike along with the opening of 8 new dealers in the past 5 months has them bullish on the future.
An interesting side bar on The Losers — it’s playing on a television in the background of a motel-room scene between Bruce Willis and Maria de Medeiros in Pulp Fiction. Clearly Quentin Tarantino is one of its fans.
My friend Jay is an avid car enthusiast. I know, it’s probably one of the most overused terms out there, but I actually have proof to bring a bit of honor back into the label. To me, an avid car enthusiast doesn’t just know one chassis inside and out – they love getting tech-y with (and owning) different models and makes. Simply put, avid car enthusiasts LOVE cars. Going back to Jay specifically, each of the cars in his garage can make your jaw drop. You can really get a sense that he’s put in some serious hours not only wrenching, but researching everything he knows down to the smallest detail. Here’s a peek at his other garage toys:
Audi B5 Stg III S4 details | 1978 Camaro Z28 details
Enough said. But recently, he’s retired his monster S4 from track duty in favor of his new-ish-ly acquired E36 M3. Before I get into the good stuff (which is already in progress), here are some before pics so you can remember what the car looked like:
The Plans:
“Mild” Gut/lighten
4 or 6 pt cage
Corbeau Seats
Harnesses
Complete rear suspension overhaul
Powerflex Subframe bushings
AKG RTABs
Bimmerworld Pocket reinforcements
SPC Camber Arms w/Spacers
All Ball Joints
Inner Bushings
Diff Bushings
Ground Control Track/School C/O’s
Subframe reinforcements
Complete front suspension overhaul
More “cleaning up” of the cooling system
Here are some pics of the initial carnage:
Stay tuned for more on Jay’s project or keep up with it in real time here!
It was a Dark Sky Film made in 1970.
