KEEP IT CLEAN

Damp, smoke, food debris … all three of these can have a negative effect on the smell of a car’s interior, which can prove a major challenge at resale.

The most effective cure is a deep clean, using Autoglym Professional’s Super Cleaner Sanitiser and Interior Cleaner, but for cars that don’t justify the time and investment involved in a full valet, Autoglym has launched a new trade-focused Spearmint Fogger. The atomised spearmint fragrance is crisp and clean, as well as long-lasting, mean it effectively hides any unpleasant whiffs.

The Royal Warranted car-care expert’s new Fogger requires just ten minutes to work, helping More >

COME FLY WITH ME

Revolving on the end of your crankshaft, the flywheel helps keep your engine efforts to a minimum every time you drive. Once it gains momentum it acts as a mechanical battery and the faster it spins, the more energy it will store.

If you have plans in place for a performance air-cooled engine build in the coming months, you’ll be keen to lighten this rotating mass to encourage engine revs and improve acceleration and performance.

Produced by SSP, their lightened flywheel is for 12v air-cooled cars with 200mm clutch and shaves more than two kilograms off the weight of a standard unit. More >

A DEFINITE BIAS!

Burton Power, in association with Quaife, is now offering ATB units that are a direct replacement for the standard, factory ‘open’ differential. Quaife’s ATB unit can transform the performance of a car.

Unlike a conventional plate-style limited slip unit these units rely on gears, rather than clutch plates for their operation. This makes them much smoother in operation, because, unlike a conventional plate-style LSD, they never lock harshly. Rather, they automatically biases the torque away from the spinning wheel across the axle, to a constantly varying degree and never locks.

The results are significant performance improvements; traction is superior and controllable without More >

MUST GET THE VACUUMING DONE!

The Laser 8003 portable vacuum box is designed to extract fluids under vacuum – this is a lightweight, easily portable unit and once the vacuum has been generated with workshop compressed air, the unit can be carried to any location for one-man operation. The unit features a built-in vacuum gauge and vacuum-relief/pressure valve.

The vacuum box can be used to extract water, coolant, refrigerant, brake fluid and oils (engine oil, gearbox oil, compressor oil, etc). Can also be used for leak testing. Particularly useful for vacuum brake bleeding and a brake bleed tube attachment is supplied. It is not suitable to More >

GULF RACE FUELS TEAM UP WITH FUZZ

Gulf Race Fuels International has appointed Fuzz Townshend’s Classic Oils at Bicester Heritage as their UK Distributor for their new range of speciality racing fuels.

Celebrity television mechanic Fuzz Townshend, who co-owns Classic Oils Ltd, is excited about their new venture: “Ever since I watched Gulf-liveried racing cars winning everything when I was a boy,” he said.

“I’ve loved their iconic colourscheme and logo – it’s synonymous with winning and we like working with winners!” Fuzz continued.

They will be establishing a network of stockists throughout the UK and aim to be selling Gulf Race Fuels trackside at several classic and racing events More >

ON TAPE

Boom Mat Tape has the same noise blocking and sound damping qualities as DEI’s Boom Mat damping material. However, the tape is ideal for those hard-to-reach areas as well as for covering wire and cable harnesses running on or along the sides of floorpans.

Boom Mat Tape is a multi-purpose sound deadening material for use anywhere to help reduce road noise, sound system vibrations, rattles and plastic-to-plastic chafing sounds in the dash, door panels, floor pans and boot area – to name but a few.

The tape will also cover seams and gaps, patch leaks in van, caravan, trailer and motor-home roofs More >

GRITS AIN’T GROCERIES!

Mirka UK is introducing a new and improved formula for all its Mirlon Total grits, designed for both machine and hand sanding, providing 20 per cent higher cutting performance, better mechanical strength and increasing the product’s lifespan.

Developed using Mirka’s innovative Total CoatingÔ technology, Mirlon Total features an open and flexible structure and strengthened fibres that make it stronger and last longer.  It is more aggressive than Mirlon and produces a dense, balanced cutting and scratch pattern and rapid result for both wet and dry sanding.  The double-sided abrasive collects and attracts the dust from the surface delivering excellent dust extraction.

Applications include More >

LOVE THIS

If the name Neil Yates sounds familiar that’s not surprising. He was formerly one-half of the Adrenaline Sportscars operation, the Cornish company that produced the Subaru Impreza-based Murtaya.

When that company hit the buffers in 2010, Yates, by his own admission, wasn’t left with much. “A bicycle to get around on,” is how he describes it. Therefore, faced with that situation he had to literally get on his bike. Falling back on his beloved rallying he founded a new operation called Rally Prep in St Columb Major. Since 2011, he’s been preparing cars for a bank of customers around Europe.

As if More >

ON GUARD

I really like the family-run (the Aistons) Liquid Leather brand and in addition to their considerable knowledge with all things hide they are also the UK distributors for the New York-based Gliptone car care brand.

They’ve been around since 1947 and are massive in their home state and environs, while they were pretty much known here in the UK for their own leather products. Indeed until Paul Aiston and his son, Tom started marketing them people didn’t realise the extent of the Gliptone car care line up.

There really are some outstanding products lurking within their large range – Emerald Clean APC More >

KICKING UP A STORM

It’s pretty scary to think that that the V-Storm is now thirteen years old. I well remember the day, Simon Dickens of SDR Sportscars, wheeled his first demonstrator onto his stand at Stoneleigh show in 2008. Not only was it an exo-skeletal design, but a three-seater with a central driving position, which pretty much set it apart.

Designed by the very under-rated and multi-talented Guernseyman, Simon Keys the car was originally developed to accept Aprilia RSV1000 v-twin motorbike power (there is also at least one in existence that has a Kawasaki ZX-10 Ninja engine, by the way) but it quickly evolved More >

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