Smartimes Summer 2008 Now Available!
July 31, 2008
The new issue of Smartimes Magazine is now available and ready for download.
If you have already subscribed to the Smartimes Magazine simply login and follow the link below or view the new issue from the navigation menu at the top of our site.
For those who haven’t yet subscribed nows the time to take advantage of our special offer before it ends.
The Smartimes Team would like to thank all of the smart car enthusiast from around the world for your support, we set ourselves a pretty big challenge to get the new issue out in such a short time but we met our deadline and we couldn’t be happier.
Once again thank you for your support and we hope you enjoy the new issue of Smartimes Magazine as much as we enjoyed creating it for you.
New Issue Link: Click Here!
Regards,
The Smartimes Team
Related Articles
Smart Faction Smart Car Club
July 27, 2008
Club Name: Smart Faction
Club location: Los Angeles California/Glendora
Website Address: www.smartfaction.com
Contact Person: Andrew Dilwicius
Email: adilwicius@gmail.com
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Motoflow Fuel Magnetic Installed On A Smart ForTwo
July 8, 2008
Improved power, fuel saving and better for the environment.
“She’s finally lost her mind!” I muttered to myself, as she raved on about this ‘magnet – thingy’ that you put on your car and it makes it go faster. I think I made the appropriate grunt in the right places to keep her thinking I was following her, and believed what she was saying. Well, she certainly believed it. Can it be true that I only married her in February, and here we are just a few months later, and she has already lost her marbles? “No-one warned me that this would happen,” I mumbled. [pay]
Returning home a little later, she bounced in the door and said, “I’ve bought you a pressie. Now close your eyes and hold out your hands”. Well, maybe married life wasn’t so bad.
“There!” she said. I opened my eyes and saw that she’d only bought me one of those ridiculous magnets. Feigning pleasure, I smiled and thanked her. “Well, aren’t you going to clip it on?” she questioned. How could I tell her beaming expectant face that this was a waste of time? I couldn’t – so I dutifully trotted out to my Smart and popped it on. The instructions for fitting were simple, and it was easy to fit.
About a week or so later, we were out in the Smart car. As I accelerated, my wife said, “that feels a lot pokier to me”. I denied it – what does she know about power and cars? Nothing at all. The same happened next time we were out in the car. This time she was adamant that there was more power. “You’re imagining it, I replied”. However, I was not so convinced myself now, and began to read up on the science behind the magnets…
Ecoflow have a patented Central Reverse Polarity (CRP) magnet on each side of the grip. This means that the magnet simulated the pulsing effect. Two magnets double this effect and also have a relay effect between the two – thus agitating the fuel in the pipe.
Hydrocarbon molecules are very complex, and a small change in the molecular structure can mean big changes in the end product. Fuel that has been subjected to the Motoflow magnetic field has benefited from electron movement, producing molecules that combine more efficiently with oxygen. This action allows for a quicker and more complete combustion, resulting in more energy being available earlier in the combustion stroke of the engine. An increase in power and torque and a reduction in pollutants are resultant. The combustion chambers tend to remain ‘cleaner’, that is less carbon is deposited in the areas of combustion allowing gases to flow freely.
As a definitive test, I decided to put my car back on the rolling road having only done it a couple of weeks earlier with the Smart Club. Cool! – An extra 2bhp at lower revs! To prove it, I have the two graphs printed. Unequivocal!! Getting excited about this, I then worked out my fuel consumption. In two weeks, I have gained an extra 30kms on average per tank of fuel (about a 10% gain).
The instructions say that you should allow up to 1,000 miles before expecting any results. But this has been instant. What may happen a bit further down the line as the miles clock up?
To make matters even more interesting, I recently discovered that my exhaust is without a catalytic converter. This has proved a problem for other smart car owners in the same position when trying to pass the emissions check for the mot. I decided to take my car, with magnet fitted to ‘Specialist Service Centre’ in Portsmouth to have the emissions tested. To my great delight, it passed the emissions test. Ecoflow do say that their magnet reduces emissions, making it more environmentally friendly, and there is an independent report from the DTI to verify this. This comes as a relief as the last time I changed my exhaust I managed to break a manifold stud which cost £200 to repair, and meant my car was off the road for a week.
Actually, I think my car gets pokier every time I drive it, but then that could just be the sheer pleasure and Cheshire cat grin it gives me every time I drive it! It certainly is fun to drive.
And my wife? Needless to say I got the “I told you so” remark numerous times. She was already a convert to Ecoflow as she wears a Bioflow magnetic bracelet that gives her remarkable energy levels (more’s the pity!) and pain relief that previously required prescription drugs. She is now so hooked, that she decided to become a distributor and plagues everyone she sees with her boundless enthusiasm for the benefits of magnets.
For further details, please contact Sharon Cummins on 01329 231738 or email s.northeast@ntlworld.com. Website: www.magnatherapy.ik.com.
All products come with a 90-day money back guarantee policy. Free postage and packing to all sales quoting SMART when ordering.
Submitted By:
Mike Northeast [/pay]
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Modifying A Smart Roadster On the Cheap
July 8, 2008
Since purchasing my roadster I have steadily added bits to it, 1st thing I did was to fit some carbon fibre look mirror shells made by michalak. I also fitted some wide-angle mirrors not pretty but I am glad of them in traffic.
Then I painted the Speedo surround and gearshift and ignition surround using Halfords chrome paint however it has not come out in bright chrome finish more of a very shinny silver
After that I purchased two of the silver stalk end caps, which match quite nicely. [pay]
Then I fitted two of the 4 disc CD holders into the centre console.
I have since fitted the city coupe/ cabriolet wheel arch eyebrows front and rear I found that if you fit the right one to the left and vice versa on the rear they sit much tighter on the arches.
With the help of a friend who is sheet metal fabricator who has worked on various projects XJ-S estate and is now on the MG Super car The SV -V8. We have fabricated some dummy tailpipes, which I think helps the look of the car from the rear.
This however is work in progress and we are currently working on some laser cut mesh grilles for the front side and rear of the car.
I would hope to have these fitted and photographed ready for the next issue. He will also be turning his attentions to the city coupe/ cabriolet soon after.
The part numbers of the smart items that I have fitted are as follow:
Data plate (oval smart badge on sill)
Q0012921V002000000
Wheel arch eyebrow l/h/r
Q0014440V001C22A00
Wheel arch eyebrow r/h/r
Q0014447V001C22A00
Clips for above 3 required per eyebrow
Q00144448V000000000
Roadster CD Holder for four CD’s
SQ0013113V003C96A00
Submitted By:
Matthew Beaumont [/pay]
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Smart Car London to Le Man 24 Hour Race
July 8, 2008
Some call us mad or insane for driving around in those “things” (ha ha), Well here’s the maddest of them all, London to Le Man for the 24hrs car race.
Starting off on a Monday afternoon and heading out from home in East London with a suitcase of clothes for the week sleeping bag and a Marshalling bag was fun in its self, just room for me. Setting the trip to 0 it was off I go through the Blackwall tunnel to meet up with the others at Maidstone service area on the M20 to avoid the nightmare that is the M2.
Pulling into the service area to a round of laughter and you are mad I tell them that I maybe mad but cheap. After a Fill up it’s off to get the 20:15 Sea France crossing (They are still doing the deal if you have crossed in your smart before). Oh well no duty free this trip theirs no room. We arrived in Calais at 22:30 Pete the one with the sleeping area on the back of his car has planed the route so its now a convey with me having the advantage of a Left hand drive car (not so mad now) was told your at the front oh well so I get told the top secret route it Haute Picarde for the night so off down the Peage at a cost of 10 euros but at least it got us a place to stop and food. [pay]
Tues Morn dawned sunny and bright and off we go, just to make sure of getting to the route N137 to Le Man I filled up at the great expense of 6 euros which is about 3 gallons worth of fuel. The others have gone ahead so I’m now doing a 130 km chase to them (dam missed the turn) oh well its a good job that my late wife was French and id done this run so many times before so I went over the N29 to Avanche to meet up.
Taking the road to Rouen we found the tunnel closed following the diversion we get back on track as we leave Rouen behind us we take the road to Le Man after an 8 hour drive we get to Post 70 the way in is through the woods ok lets take this slow.
Once I know the tracks in the wood it was let the Smart go these tracks at between 30 to 60 mph where some very good fun but then most things are in a Smart. The total trip was 1102 miles all done in Footix Deux.
See you all around sometime and stay SMART.
Submitted By
Dave [/pay]
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Smart London to Brighton Run 2003
July 8, 2008
Full of anticipation the couple in the numeric blue Smart City Coupe pass under the finish banner at Brighton and into the car park, smiling and waving to all.
I don’t know who they were but they looked like nice people. Jenny and I arrived some time before and never did get to the “finish”.
The Smartclub London to Brighton run has been eagerly awaited in the Broome household since the 02 event. Our [sorry Jenny’s] numeric blue City Coupe, known as M&M, “cos it looks like a blue one”, has been seen every where, Hambach, Billing, Bruntingthorpe, loads of meets and many more places besides. [pay]
The day starts fairly early for us considering it is a Saturday [no lay in today then] to join local Reading smarties for a tube to Kempton via Sainsbury’s near Bracknell to, hopefully, meet up with smarties from the south. In fact the day actually started the day before when guess who had the job of valeting and applying stickers to the wee thing. Bless!
So fully breakfasted we arrive at the rendezvous to find we are last there, but right on time we set off on the first leg with André leading in his roadster with four Smarts close behind. At Bracknell we catch sight of another tube and almost link up but not quite. At the Sainsbury’s car park we find the Bracknell contingent waiting but when leaving time approaches there is no sign of the guys coming up the M3 so we decide to move on to Kempton.
The journey to Kempton is achieved by radio-controlled tube and at the M25 junction more Smarts appear seemingly on cue. On arrival we are quickly marshaled into rows but unfortunately many of our number end up in a different group.
After meeting up with friends old and new and taking a few pics [were there really only 800 in the sea of Smarts?] the build up to the start is accompanied by much horn blowing. At 10:00 the signal horn sounds for the first group to leave led by the V6 Brabus beastie.
We are in the third group and pass under the start banner at 10:50 and after one hour have done precisely 15 miles and are almost at a standstill on the M25! having traveled via Hampton Court and Esher High Street. Still at least the slow journey through the High Street allowed Jenny to identify the building in which she first worked after leaving school!
Once the accident on the M25 is passed [on the other carriage way] we move along at a much better pace but attempts to form a tube come to naught especially when most of those we are traveling with pull off at Peas Pottage services and everybody else seems to think there’s a prize for first to Brighton. It was nice to see the people on the bridges over the M23/A23, adults and kids, waving as we passed though.
The barely moving queue at the A23/A27 junction persuades us to take a detour to get into Brighton and we eventually arrive in Madeira Drive [via Woodingdene and cheap blobs] at 13:45 but did not go through the finish because we were directed to the Marina car park. A quick wine accompanied picnic, prepared by the fair Jenny, and we hurl ourselves into the melee that is a Smart gathering. See and talk to a lot of folks we’ve met before and some we haven’t. After looking at the cars in the competitions, talking to some of the owners and taking more pics we take a wander down to Pavilion 2? meeting up on the way with S2massive i.e. Steve the Smartimes editor, and Steve the Gourmet Snapper.
In the “third party area” we find Kevin Ash having his tyres gunged, chat to some of the guys and gals from Smarts-R-Us who are here just for the day out, and sink a refreshing pint.
We only seem to have been here five minutes and there are cars leaving already, so make our way back to the main parking area where we are surprised to find the competitions decided, prizes awarded and the car park almost empty. We are stunned to find that it is almost 17:00! Where does the time go?
It’s been a great day. We’ve only seen one of the people we set out with this morning [Eliot] and he was on his way home! Can’t believe another L2B is over – roll on next year when we will be in a roadster.
Thanks to Al and all at the smartclub.
Submitted By:
NavRog and Smartie Sox & Fox
Additional Images
[/pay]
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London to Brighton Run Poem
July 8, 2008
The L2B 2003
It’s dark outside, time to get up
And get our outfits on
For it’s a very special day Today’s the BRIGHTON RUN!
The polish and the cloths are packed
The car inside is tidy
For hours we have worked on her
Our Smart is VERY shiny!
5.45 ~ its time to go
Speed off into the night
We meet a Smartie on the way
It’s starting to get light.
At Clacket Lane we meet more Smarties
Heading for the meet
We race along the motorway
Our Smartie ‘Tube’ complete.
We arrive at Kempton Park at last
The atmosphere’s electric
With smarts all colours, mods and tweeks
And some drivers, quite eccentric! [pay]
We’ve never seen so many Smarts
All gathered in one spot
There are 14 hundred little dears
Including ‘Polkadot’!
There’s lots of happy people here
Taking photos, chatting, preening
There’s not a grubby Smart in sight
They have been so busy cleaning!
We’re getting nervous and excited
Just preparing to depart
Red Roadster ‘6’ will lead off
Followed by a shoal of Smarts.
Its 10am and time to go
The klaxon is a sounding
A thousand Smartie hooters peep
My heart it sure is pounding!
We’re OFF! We blast off through THE START
We wave, flash, toot and shout
What a marvellous sight to see
We’re crazy there’s no doubt!
For the ordinary motorists
Amazing it must be
To spot the jolly Smarties
A racing to the sea!
Along the streets, on bridges
The people wave and cheer
As we rush along to Brighton
In time for ice-cold beer!
In Brighton, slowly travelling
In traffic stuck, we’re fine
Then cruising down Madeira Drive
To cross the FINISH LINE!
There was a bit of trouble
At Black Rock to park the cars
And the surface under little wheels
Was like the stuff on Mars!
But never mind, we did it
And boy did we have fun
So we’ll all be looking forward
To next years Smartie Run!
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
The L2B 2004
Where ever it is
We will be there
A Smartie Run
For all to share!
Copyright ~ Julie Saltmarsh/Miss Polkadot 29/9/03 [/pay]
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Smart Car Leeds 2 Bridlington Run
July 8, 2008
The Alternative L2B sponsored by Smart Of North Yorkshire 7/09/03
Sunday the 7th of September saw the annual Leeds 2 Bridlington Run. Organised this year by funkysmart.co.uk and sponsored by smart of north Yorkshire.
The weather forecast was dreadful and so I purposely put my raincoat in the back of my Smart. Needless to say the sun shone all day.
The Days agenda:
Set off from Leeds, Birstall, 10.30am, in convoy to Smart of York for refreshments and to collect another 22 smarts then on to Bridlington South shore for a free for all leisurely afternoon. [pay]
For the first time ever Kevin Sands from Smart of York and Jonathan Drummond, Smart of Harrogate donned their buckets and spades to form Smart of North Yorkshire for the day. They provided one of t-shirts specially made for the event and all the days’ refreshments at York, which went down a storm.
21 Smart cars turned up for a very early on the Sunday to start at McDonalds Restaurant Birstall, in Leeds, A free breakfast was provided for all who wanted one.
We all set off in Convoy from Leeds on time at 10.30, proudly wearing the shirts, 2 times round the roundabout on the exit from MacDonald’s which is a trade mark of the club onto the M62 towards York. In true funkysmart style, to the sound of Dixie and horns a blazing we arrived to a fantastic reception at Smart of York. Everyone was offered free drinks and a free Roadster (model) not the real thing I’m afraid but never the less very nice.
A quick mad half hour to have a look round and photo then off to Bridlington with over 40 Smarts in Convoy, Anyone who has led a convoy knows how difficult it is so you can imagine what is was like trying to keep 40 + Smarts in convoy for over 45 Miles, (nightmare springs to mind) How we all managed to get to Bridlington more or less together I just don’t know.
To see over 40 Smarts lined up on the cliff tops on the south beach area was a great site. Everyone gathered to chat and talk Smarts then of to do what ever you wanted to do.
Fish & Chips for me and the family always a favorite then on for a walk on the front and beach.
It was a great day especially when we all took over the Smart dealership in York. Lots of new faces and people who just love Smarts, What more can you ask for.
Submitted By:
Dave Kaye
[/pay]
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Gulf GT40 Smart Car
July 8, 2008
Mathew R Hall BA Hons (Sand)……… Honest…
Research Engineer for a medical device manufacturer based in Reading.
Bought Smart as a cheap and funky run-around after my 2.3 Audi 90… (How wrong was I????)
Other cars in my collection:
1965 Series 11a 88" Land Rover.
Previous cars owned, Audi 90 2.3, Vauxhall Astra 1.8SXi, VW Polo…
Background to the Gulf Smart.
I bought my Smart in the May of 2001; it was one of the limited edition Mk5 Pulse SEs in Bay gray. It wasn’t long before modifications were being made, first off, it was the GB air scoop, soon after came a Smart tune dump-valve and a Turbo boost gauge. At that point, I was happy with my shiny modified smart, little did I know what was about to happen? [pay]
In the summer of 2001, I made the fateful mistake of going to a smart meet. My nearest convenient meet was Fleet, which became the home to the S2 crew. This was a gathering of like-minded individuals with the intentions of making the smart even better. It was there that I met people like Steve Forster, Ian of BIG Performance, Will Bartlam (the original Smart-arse) and so many more to mention. It was these guys who gave me the incentive to make something special out of my humble smart car.
The ball started to roll, first it was the wide wheels, then came the sports exhaust, 6 pot callipers followed the Brabus suspension kit and the S2 remap… Now the car had the speed, the handling and the braking, all it needed now was a new look…. The Gulf Smart was born…
The idea of the Gulf panels came to me about 2 years ago. I mentioned it to a few people at the Fleet meet who thought the idea was good but weren’t sure if it would work. A few sketches later and the final colour scheme was complete.
The idea had stemmed from my passion of GT cars built in the late 60s and early 70s. Cars that battled on the race circuits of Europe such as the Ferrari 512s, 312s, Porsche 908/3 and 917s were and still are my favourites. The cars that always caught my eye were those sponsored by Gulf Oil, these being the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 917 plus a few more I suspect.
The number 7 was chosen because when I was researching the colour scheme, I could only find pictures of a Gulf GT40 with number 8 and number 6, so in order to fill the gap, 7 was chosen…
Since putting on the Gulf panels, not much has changed on the car. It’s still a bit of a head turner even though it’s been around for nearly 18 months, but I have to say, every time I walk away, I still have to look back with a smile… Something I have never done with any other car…
Spec of ‘The Gulf Smart’
MCC Smart Mk5 Pulse SE
Reg:
Friday 18th May 2001 Y602 UGN (Now S2 6ULF)
Colour:
Originally Bay gray,
Now, Gulf Blau over Gulf orange, both colours manufactured by Porsche
Interior:
Blue with grey plasticky bits.
Mechanical Mods:
• Graham Baker (GB) Scoop… Later replaced with S-mann.
• De-lipped air intake.
• K&N air filter
• Smart Tune Dump valve, now sold on.
• BIG Performance exhaust (Loud option).
• Brabus fully uprated suspension kit.
• Mk6 replacement Turbo and manifold
• Big Performance 6 pot callipers using standard disks as they work better when they are hot.
• Braided Brake hoses.
• S2 Remap, of undisclosed origins, all I’ll say is that it’s quick…
• Switchable Trust.
• Smart-shift paddle gear change.
• Oil cooler, own sourced components.
• Under car scoop for engine bay cooling
Visual mods:
• Brabus front spoiler.
• S-mann side skirts.
• Modified Brabus side pods with front mud flaps.
• Different headlight bulbs, the type that give a hint of blue.
• Meshed front grills.
• Tinted Windows by Gatwick autoshades.
• Chrome indicators.
• Gulf Panels.
• Silver door mirrors replaced original black.
• Vertical wipers. 21" nearside, 19" offside to prevent wiper collisions at speed.
• Windscreen heavily rain xed… to prevent use of wipers at speed…
Wheels:
• Brabus Mono V.
Tyres:
• Front: Bridgestone potenzas RE720 195/50/15.
• Rear: Bridgestone Potenza S-03 pole position 195/50/15.
Interior:
• TIM Boost gauge with modified S2 face to read to 1.8 Bar.
• Aluminium dash kit Supplied by Mr Forster.
• Aluminium Gear knob, handbrake and pedal set from Bonalume in Italy… Picked up personally on a tour of Europe last year.
• 3rd pod housing a digital compass
• Alloy footrest.
• Momo Shoulder protection.
• Garmin GPS navigation.
I.C.E.
Standard. The music to my ears is the exhaust note at 4000 rpm; windows wide open driving down any one of Berkshires fantastic B roads. Nuff said.
Others:
Registration plate S2 6ULF
Gulf stickers supplied by Gulf Oil UK.
Roundels, Number 7s and other stickers supplied by Paul Murphy.
Some kind of device that keeps my car safe…
Bike carrier
First Aid kit
Allen key
Pavarotti tape (for those moments when it’s too cold to have the window open)
Duster
Mer polish
KFC wipe
Legal number plate for the front… just in case.
Performance:
Good enough. I have seen 119 on the track (M4) officer…
0-62 relative… but surprises a few…
Braking:
Awesome.
Car was purchased from Smart Chiswick, serviced by Smart Brentford…. Modified by me with a little help from Top1, Sasha and BIG Performance. [/pay]
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First Smart Car Club México Meeting
July 8, 2008
We started to plan the Smart Club Mexico since March of this year, but we organized the meeting on September 20th because we wanted to meet as many Smarts as possible. The meeting was held at the Mall Perisur at Mexico City. We were expecting only seven smarts, but they started to arrive and when I looked again, we had 15 Smarts! We had 13 2001 City Coupes, one 2002 City Cabrio, one Second Generation City and one Roadster Coupe, these two were from Mercedes Benz.
We had the presence of people from Mercedes who explain to us about the “Welcome Package”, this is for the ones that bought the Smart to Importers prior to Smart officially launching in Mexico, it consists of a revision of the car and a Warranty and the service of 365 road side assistance.
I think that all the people that went to the meeting are happy about the realization of the Smart Club Mexico. We were from a baby with less than one year old to a couple of grown-up adults. [pay]
We have planned to have some meetings and surprise to the members of the Smart Club Mexico with the help of Daimler Chrysler. I am going to be in contact with you for any news on this.
Thank You to the Smartimes for making this magazine possible. Congratulations for this great magazine by Smart users for Smart users.
Greetings from Mexico,
Submitted By:
Jonathan Chabre
Smart Club Mexico
smartclub.2ya.com (provisional site) [/pay]
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