Singer Sewing Machine Co. is BADASS

Who would've thought that they had been awarded a production study contract to manufacture one of the most famous and iconic pistol of modern times eh?

A Marine Expeditionary Unit service M1911 sidearm

In total, 500 serialised pistol were produced in 1940 and these days, an excellent, genuine example of one could fetch in excess of $25 000. Compare this with a super custom shop 1911 like an Ed Brown or Nighthawk Customs which retails anywhere from a minimum of $2000 onwards.

For a more detailed history, follow the link below to read up Singer's involvement.

Singer M1911 Pistol Story

Note: Picture above taken off the internet a long time ago. I cannot remember where it was from, however, if the owner of the image stumbles across this humble site of mine and would like it removed, please shoot me an email and it will be done. Thank you kindly.

I'd love to handle and shoot one of these at least once in my lifetime. For awhile now I've been amazed and in awe at the engineering genius that is the designer of this firearm; Mr. John Moses Browning.

Single action only to provide a short, crisp and light trigger pull and intuitive thumb and grip safety which demands sufficient training for proper use of firearm under duress marks this out as a fighting pistol through and through. The .45 ACP chambering also provides more than adequate stopping power that a fighting pistol requires albeit at a reduced round count in the magazine.

The 7+1 round count has in some ways placed this pistol into the self-defence category instead of active war duty as the new generation Glocks, H&K, Sigs, Berettas and S&Ws pack more user friendliness, firepower in terms of round count and to a certain extent, reliability as well.

Anyway, I think its time for a trip to Thailand or the States for some shooting...

Currently listening to: 憨過頭 by 梁静茹

New websites added to 'My reads' Section

Check them out:

MotoIQ

Phil Saunder's blog

Cheerios~

Why I like racing and racing cars

I love racing. I love race cars.

Really, I do. As much as I don't write a lot or talk alot about this, racing technology, cars and automotive racing has a place in my heart.

The spartan functionality, directly a result of the form over function appeals to me. No nonsense, no assisted braking, no traction control, no driver aids. Just the plain basics.

Fastidious attention to detail, both in the engineering phase as well as the final execution of the design. The wonders of rubber technology that allows a 1100kg GT500 NSX to rail Sepang's Turn 5 at constant speeds of over 100 km/h. Imagine that, just 4 patches of rubber with a total area amounting to roughly an A4 sized paper holding up to 3 tonnes of lateral force.

Graceful patterns and bodylines, interspersed and accented by forms required by the demands of racing. Beautiful colour, tasteful placement of sponsors' names and logos. Well balanced, pleasing to the eye. Not all of them manage to achieve it, but Raybrig seems to have hit the jackpot with this catchy scheme.

As has RE Amemiya with their 2003 car...

Obviously, there's the driving sensation to consider as well. Dog engagement gearboxes, sequential shifting. Stiff and easily modulated brake pedal. A steering wheel which tells you what the fronts are doing. A positive clunk with every ratio selected giving marvelous marvelous marvelous feedback. Road cars from the late 90's to present day is just so... too cosseted, too refined, too soft, lacking all forms of enjoyable tactile feedback.


Unmuffled roar of exhausts and induction noises add in to the feast for the senses. Very little would come close to a 3 rotor screaming at 9000 rpm rev limit married to the high pitched whine of straight cut gears to the appreciative ear.


Lots more reasons but pictures speak of a thousand words, no?

The excitement...



The technology...








The people...





The girls...



Motorsports engineering companies in the West or East Midlands, hire me please. I graduate in 2010.

Currently listening to: 'Renegade' by Yanni

Real novel...

I chanced upon this gem of a site while doing the usual trawl online and the author has a put forth an interesting application of the double wishbone suspension design; on the front of a motorcycle!

Bott 1000 Morlaco

A litre class bike with racecar style double wishbone front suspension and drop dead gorgeous styling. I can't quite see how the dampers are actuated but assuming that he wants to display his dampers on top of the fuel tank it's probably remotely pushed or pull by a rod or rocker of some form. Refreshing from the blingy Ohlins black and gold inverted beauties we're used to seeing.

He must have had quite abit of fun playing with instantenous swing arm length during his geometry optimisation phase. Lovely design and packaging as well. Good craftsmanship too.

Picture taken directly from the website. Rendered by a Mr. Jose Garcia. Please drop me a mail if anyone would like this taken down for intellectual property reasons.

I'll definitely be keeping tabs on this...