If you look up “Motorsports in Lahore” on google this is what you get…

...

But this joke is losing it’s humor. And that’s because there have been at least four proper motorsports events in Lahore within the last year including a 4×4 mud rally, a couple of go-kart races and a so called drag race. Finally there’s some excitement in the Lahoree petrol-heads’ life.

Last weekend Lake City was home to a go-kart race organized by Racing Pakistan and sponsored by Bank Alfalah. A race track was improvised on the excellent streets of Lake City (a rare sight in Lahore). The race was held at night under flood lights to avoid the scorching heat of the day. It was a five hour endurance race so each team had 3 to 4 drivers who replaced one another at the end of a stint.

Karting is considered as the most basic form of motorsports. And although a go-kart might look like something you’d buy for your five year old boy but don’t be fooled by its benign looks. Go-kart racing is all about agility and acceleration. That’s why go-karts weigh next to nothing and have very high power to weight ratio. As a result a go-kart changes direction like a gazelle and goes like stink. And that’s why go-kart tracks are very tight and twisty.

F1 replica

This is the second time that Racing Pakistan has organized a kart race in Lahore. The first event was held back in August 2008. Adnan Sarwar is the front man of this organization who is working with Bank Alfalah to promote motorsports in Pakistan.

When I went to see this race last year I saw a Ferrari followed soon after by an Aston Martin and several Porsches. So I wondered how long would it be before I wake up. But then i was forced to realise that it wasn’t a dream. So the next explanation I came up with was that I had somehow reached a European town located on Raiwind Road. Because to me, that was a less ridiculous idea than actually seeing a Ferrari and an Aston Martin in Lahore.

Altough I didn’t see the Ferrari and the Aston this year (maybe I missed them) but the car park was still quite dream-like.

There are many things I can think of that could have been better on this event but I think it’s more important to appreciate the effort for bringing motorsports to Pakistan which is something we really need.

In case you’re wondering why you never found out about some or all of these events, well you’re not alone, because many people missed these events because they didn’t know about them. Anyway cheer up! I’ll do my best to keep you informed about any future happenings. And if you know about any upcoming events please do share this information with us.

Here are some pictures from the event…

racetrack

And here are some pictures from the last year’s event…

Here’s a video report of the event which isn’t very good but it’s all I could find.

Lahore Karting Championship

Originally posted at: Horse Power

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I am talking about Tata’s Nano. Tata, for those who do not know, is another one of India’s fairy-tale companies; they not only produce a wide range of cars for the Indian market, in India, but they not-so-recently acquired iconic brands like Rover and Jaguar. (Those even still wondering, yes, Jaguar and Rover are now Indian companies — don’t know about you, but it sounds weird).

The Tata Nano - which at roughly 1300 pounds (comes to about one lac fifty thousand rupees) - is the cheapest car in the world, is no accident. Tata announced it eons ago, it seems. What I mean to say is that unlike Mehran, Tata Nano is no accident - they actually planned it that way!

What about the design?

But the over riding question in my mind is that when it comes to a unique concept, where do all the designers run off to?

Toyota took a unique concept - hybrid cars - and made the Prius. It looks like a freak-of-nature, overly stuffed insect, that comes in different colors no doubt. Only recently, Honda has made a much better looking Hydrogen fuelled car that doesn’t induce a gag reflux.

Tata took a unique concept - the cheapest/most-affordable car - and made this Nano that looks like an angry midget. No seriously, just look at it and imagine an angry midget - that is what this car looks like.

But seriously though, we all could do well with cars with a price tag like this to be on the roads… what do you think?

Inside of Tata Nano

The Nano Dashboard

The Nano Dashboard

The Tata Nano

Rejoice - it has gears

• Made in China
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These days you can buy a Chinese fake version of almost anything for a fraction of the price of the original.

You can buy a carbon copy of the Honda 70 for half the price, or an iPhone look-a-like with a logo that shows an apple eaten from all sides…

Even cars from Chinese brands are not that uncommon these days.

Chery is one of the leading car makers from China. Their 800cc car “QQ” is

Chery QQ

becoming quite popular in Pakistan. And you have to give them the credit for making a car that offers a much better build quality, performance and more features than its rivals. And the best part is that even the top-spec model of this car costs nearly the same as the cheapest Suzuki Mehran, which, as we all know, is made from used tin foil.

The only thing that lets this car down is its looks. But don’t forget that Mehran doesn’t exactly look like the Mona Lisa either.

But I’m not very interested in talking about 800cc family cars right now. I want to talk about a car, made in China, which has just two seats, an electric folding roof and a 2.0 liter, 195 bhp, turbo-charged, petrol engine. Yes, Chinese sports cars are coming our way…

For those of you with large bank accounts and a fleet of cars parked outside, this might not be something to look forward to. But it is a very exciting piece of news for petrol-heads like me who love cheap thrills.

Chery M14

It’s called the Chery M14. It was introduced back in 2006 as a concept car. Designed by a car designer from Pininfarina, it was displayed in several car shows around the world and received a lot of appreciation from the public. It was promised that its mass production will start by the end of 2007. But it didn’t. And strangely after spending so much time and money designing and advertising this much awaited car, it seems that Chery have suddenly backed out of the cheap sports car business. There are no mentions about this car on their global website and the Chery Pakistan website lists it as an “upcoming model” whose mass production will start in 2007.

If this car ever goes into production, it will cost around $19,000 which roughly equates to 1.5 million (15 lac) rupees. For a car like this, trust me, it’s the biggest bargain in the world.

M14 interior

I know what you are thinking…you’re thinking that it will have a crap build quality like everything else made in China. Well, think again…because it can’t possibly get worse than the cars we are already used to, like the Suzuki Cultus or Toyota Corolla XLi which happen to be two of the highest selling cars in Pakistan. If we can live with these cars, we can live with anything. Bring it on Chery!

Let’s hope that the M14 goes into production soon and then other car companies from China also join the competition.

Chery M14 promo

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There are times, not often, when I tend to look for things that are practically impossible to find. Things like ‘the best car in the world’. It is not possibly for me to say that this car is the best, or that car is the best - how could I? I have not tested the top cars in the world (not all of them, not yet ), but a man can form an opinion, man, a man can form an opinion.

And so I have formed an opinion. It is that the Toyota Land Cruiser is the best car in the world.

I know, I know, it is a big statement and certainly does not sound like a responsible one. It sounds like when you ask a kid about his favorite car, and without blinking, the kid jibes, ‘Porsche’ or ‘Ferrari’. I don’t think the Toyota Land Cruiser is the fastest, most fuel economical nor the most beautiful car I have ever seen. No, in fact, some models of the Land Cruiser I find quite ugly. I don’t find the Land Cruiser to be the ‘hottest’ car or anything, but I do believe it is the best car your money can buy.

Why Land Cruiser

I can vouch for the following:

• The car will take you anywhere a car can possibly go - off road prowess of the Land Cruiser is almost legendary.
• It is the most comfortable - especially the driver and passenger seats. I have traveled in a Toyota Prado, a Land Cruiser and a Toyota Hilux Double Cabin (the much revered daala) - and all in the same day - the Land Cruiser was the most comfortable ride by far.
• Fuel Economy is above average - 5 Kilometers to a litre for such a beast are - relatively, at least - OK.
• The Land Cruiser handling is superb, compared to something like a Prado.
• You feel secure when in a Cruiser - somehow more secure than in a Prado.

Seriously, I have yet to review a Land Cruiser here on CarAdvice.pk, and I - God willing - shortly will review it, but I have enjoyed every bit of this car whenever I have had the chance. This car just - on the whole - beats every other car.

God willing, if I ever change my car, it will be for this. (I will have to perhaps rob the nearest bank to acheive this feat, but a man can dream, right?)

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From 1.2L to 1.4Litres, this car competes with the Mini Cooper. Perhaps they will bring the Fiat to Pakistan as well, like they brought the Cooper.

Just. Check. It. Out.

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Every time you sit in your car to drive, do this

You can make some of the most important checks - which are relatively simple - a part of your driving ritual! Basic stuff like “check your windows are clean and mirrors correctly adjusted” are - seriously speaking - just too lame, they are that obvious. Apart from taking good care of your car, you could also take care of yourself and wear your seat belt every time you sit in your vehicle.

The top 4 areas where a problem is likely to arise

These checks are not only to get great mileage from your vehicle, but also because damn it, it’s your car and you better own up and take some care of it. :/

1. Under the hood
   1. coolant levels - a common problem in the older cars, especially the diesel ones
   2. battery water/acid levels - I sometimes have to tap the battery to see the water move to ensure that it is between the Min & Max markings
   3. Engine oil level - and here’s how you can change your car oil
2. Tyres
   1. the tyre pressure should be maintained as properly-pressurized tyres can positively affect not only your car’s handling, but also fuel consumption
   2. check for bald tyres (maybe you need to get the wheels aligned and their camber straightened out?)these can give you anything from a fender bender to a God forbid, 24 car pile up on the Motorway if you are not careful.
3. Defective brakes - pretty obvious why you need to keep a check on these. You can do that taking immediate notice of any sound that comes from the tyres when you brake. Usually the brakes make this annoying sound when the disc pads have run the entire course of their eventful life.
4. Defective lights - they can also be dangerous and here’s how to change your car head light)

The above four are the common areas where most faults are likely to arise in your car. And if you consciously keep a look-out in just these four areas, you are - in all probabilities - set to go. Please note I have not included the obvious ’smoke-belching-out-of-the-car-like-the-car’s-smoking-trees’ syndrome - (you can get a fine from the local government for pollution!) these smoke emissions are more hazardous to the environment than to your car - but please note, the car gives out smoke mostly because of some problem with the engine.

Real life examples are aplenty

How many of us know people - friends and relatives - who have cars giving great service for 20, 25 and even 30 years? I remember my friend’s Father had a 1985 Honda Accord that probably still has that new car smell.Similar Posts:

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If you are the lazy type (is there any other type as well? :/ ), you probably have your car’s headlight in the dark for way too long. Changing the light yourself will not only save you money (some mechanics actually charge like Physicians), but will give you a chance to bond with your vehicle.

Here’s how it is done!

Step 1

Open the hood / bonnet of your car. Pretty simple, right.

Step 2

For the uninitiated (like I was), the car’s head light has two plugs at the back; one for head beam and the other for the ‘normal’ light.

Find the back of head light - it will have something like a round rubber covering/cap. Something like this:

Step 3

Now that you have identified the back of your head light, just reach out to the plug that goes into the light that you want to inspect/replace - and firmly pull out the plug:

Step 4

Now, remove the rubber cap, again using your hands to pull it off.

Congratulations, you have now reached the innards of your car’s light. In almost all cars (as verified by the car mechanic from whom I ‘learned’ this rocket science ), there is a small hook that fixes the actual bulb into place.

Step 5

Just give the hook a firm push and then rotate slightly upwards (or downwards, depending on the hook position in your car) - this should free the hook as you would feel it lighten up and give way.

You should be able to now easily pull out the actual bulb and holder out of the head light. Pull it out gently from the head light. The bulb is still in the holder.

Step 6

Now pull out the bulb - hold the bulb not by the glass, but by the metal casing underneath the bulb, and firmly pull the bulb and holder apart.

Now you can replace the bulb (that is why you took the damn thing out in the first place - no?! Because I took the bulb out and put it back again just to see if I can perform this surgical operation of the highest complexity)

Note, I own a Honda, and the mechanic fitted in a ‘genuine 2 number’ bulb, costing me Rupees Fifty. The ‘genuine’ bulb supposedly costs around Rupees 150. So I am told.

So, hopefully, next time you have a ‘dark side’ at the front of your car, you can replace it easily, safely and cheaply. Not to mention the affection towards your car that you feel after fixing her. Similar Posts:

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